SUNDAY,APRIL 30, 2017 Inside: $1.50 Twelve of 19 registered mushball teams showed up to the Portales Relay for Life Saturday. — Page 1B Vol. 89 ◆ No. 26 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com BACK AT YA Merger details in place ❏ Draggin’ Main, Music Festival set for June 17-24. By Stephanie Losoya STAFF WRITER [email protected] CLOVIS — In less than two months, a recent tradi- tion and a new one will team up, as the 4th Annual Draggin’ Main joins up with “Draggin’ the 30th Main, that’s Annual Clovis just what we Music did.” Festival will be held in — Derek Cockrell, Clovis Music downtown Festival committee Clovis chair from June 17-24. The eight-day celebra- tion begins with 7 p.m. June 17 races at Ned Houk Staff photos: Motor Sports Complex and Tony Bullocks concludes with a daylong Volunteer celebration on Main Street Ruby June 24. Regalado is The Clovis Music covered by Festival will be June 22 and 23 at the Marshall the chalk Middle School Auditorium. that was Each night of music has its blown back own rock ‘n’ roll theme. into her face Monday will be 50s Rock, by the high, featuring covers of Buddy freezing Holly by Johnny Rogers, winds at Roy Orbison by Brian Saturday’s McCullouth, and Richie Valens covered by Ray Prairie Dog Anthony. Tuesday’s theme Dash 5k will be 80s Hair Metal fea- Color Run turing Winger with on the Clovis Firehouse opening. Doors Community open at 6 p.m. and the College show starts at 7 p.m. campus. “Johnny Rogers is kind of our go-to Buddy Holly See more character,” said Derek photos from Cockrell, committee chair this event on of the Clovis Music page 2B. Festival. June 19-22 will include a daily “Tour of Clovis’ Classic Drive-ups,” with tours beginning at 5 p.m. each day. Draggin’ Main is named for the activity that was a staple in the Clovis com- munity for years, while the Clovis Music Festival has been around since 1987. The decision to combine the events was made in A seven-year promise is kept hopes to increase atten- dance for both. ❏ Former classmates, both with Down syndrome, close 1,300-mile gap to attend prom together. Gene Porter, the chair for Draggin’ Main, is also on are diagnosed with Down syn- California, everybody’s kept in By Kevin Wilson hey lived on Plains, we the committee for the MANAGING EDITOR drome. “T touch — the mothers through phone music festival. The friendship took off when [email protected] lived on Circle. For two or calls, the kids through Facebook “A buddy of mine (Bryan their mothers had a chance meeting Messenger’s live video feature. Boone) and I just started a Christian Flores and Ana Mah’s outside of the school. Elizabeth three years, we didn’t even Flores said despite the distance, conversation,” said Porter. families weren’t sure what the Mah and Elizabeth Flores discov- know we were neighbors.” the friendship works because they “There wasn’t anything for theme of Clovis’ prom was ered they shared first names, and provide each other a sounding car people to do.” Saturday night. the similarities never stopped. board. Both families are glad Ana Both Porter and Cockrell “We were both down there fight- — Elizabeth Flores, said they spent their ado- They decided “Kiki and Lala” Christain Flores’ mother and Christian have no physical lim- was a perfect theme, with seven ing for our children’s education; I itations, but every once in a while lescence dragging Main think that’s how we met,” Flores years and 1,300 miles in the mak- the kids do something unexpected. Street as a social activity. said. “They lived on Plains, we the time Christian gifted her a ring “Draggin’ Main, that’s ing. lived on Circle. For two or three and “boots with the fur” because he “Does Kiki do this? It’s OK, then The former classmates and neigh- ... Does Lala do that? It’s OK, just what we did,” said years, we didn’t even know we loved the Flo-Rida song. Cockrell. Regarding bors from a decade ago reunited for The families have their own song then,” is how Flores said many con- were neighbors.” Winger and Firehouse, he a promise from seven years ago to Christian has always been known for the two. Mah starts singing, versations go. said, “Those are the guys attend Christian’s junior prom as “Kiki,” and Ana picked up her “Kiki and Lalalala ...” as both kids Pretty soon, it was Christian’s together. “Lala” nickname when Christian hide their faces in embarrassment. junior year. Flores said it was hard that I grew up with.” Christian and Ana — aka Kiki couldn’t quite pronounce Ana. The mothers insist they sing along to forget, because no grocery store The parade will be 9:30 and Lala — first met at Sandia “Only he calls me Lala,” Ana, when only family is around. trip can end without somebody ask- a.m., with vendors, food Elementary when she was 9 and he now 19, said of their bond, which Over the years since Ana’s family trucks and various activi- 8, and frequently interacted as both built over dates at McDonald’s and moved back to Suisun City, PROM on Page 2A ties planned until midnight. Forecast: Today Monday Tuesday Index Calendar............................2A Crossword ........................2A High: 60 High: 76 High: 80 Classified ......................4-6C Obituaries..........................6A Comics ..............................4B Sports ............................1-4D Low: 37 Low: 44 Low: 46 Commentary ..................4-5A PAGE 2A ✦ SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Events calendar Prom Today 356-3940 from Page 1A ■ The Devised Project: ing if “Lala” was coming to Departures — 2 p.m. perform- Thursday prom. ance at University Theater ■ Preschool story hour — “Everybody knows,” Center, ENMU, Portales. 10 a.m. at Clovis-Carver Public Flores said, “everybody’s Library. Information: 575-769- looking forward to it.” Admission: $5. Information: Long story short, the Mah 575-562-1011 7840 family made a few calls to ■ Cassandra Aguillar jun- ■ Teen program — 4:30 school administrators to get ior recital — 1 p.m. in p.m. at Portales Public Library clearance for Ana, now 19. Buchanan Hall at ENMU. for ages 13-18. Activity: Block After that, the family cleared Admission: Free. Information: out poetry. Information: 575- out a few days for the drive to Clovis — 18 hours if traffic’s 575-562-1011 356-3940 ■ good, Mah said. Preschool storytime — 6 Despite seeing each other Tuesday p.m. at Portales Public Library. online over the years, there ■ Blood drive — 9 a.m.-2 Activity: Cinco de Mayo. was still some surprise when p.m. at CCC. Information: 575- Information: 575-356-3940 they met up again. When ■ asked about the reunion, Ana 769-4154 Carson & Barnes Circus ■ — 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. at Curry marveled at how much taller Veteran Resource event Christian got, and Christian — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Campus County Events Center. Tickets: made a heart sign with his Union Ballroom at ENMU, $18 adult, $12 child at the door. hand to signify the love has- Portales. Veterans, interested Information: 575-935-7000 n’t died between them. ■ parties welcome. Information: Andres Labastida senior “The first thing he did,” recital — 7 p.m. in Buchanan Mah said, while touching a 575-562-2195 hand to demonstrate, “was ■ Hall at ENMU. Admission: Free. Avastar virtual music look at her hand and say, competition — 7 p.m. at CCC Information: 575-562-1011 ■ ‘Where’s my ring?’” Town Hall. Admission: Free. Create your Business Plans are in the works to Information: 575-769-4115 Website workshop — 1 p.m. at get a new ring, but the first ■ Get Found On Google Clovis Chamber of Commerce. priority is prom. Cost: Free. RSVP by The next priority is when Staff photo: Kevin Wilson workshop — 11 a.m. at Clovis Wednesday. Information: 575- they’ll see each other again. Christian Flores, left, applies a corsage to the wrist of longtime friend Ana Mah Chamber of Commerce. Cost: 763-3435 “When you guys come to Saturday night before heading to the Clovis High School prom. The two, who both Free. RSVP by Monday. California,” Mah said with ■ National Day of Prayer — have Down syndrome, have known each other for about 10 years, and kept a prom- Information: 575-763-3435 both a smile and a serious Noon at Curry County ise to attend prom together despite Ana’s family moving to California. ■ Books and Babies Lapsit look. “It’s your turn.” CourtHouse or Legacy Life — 10:30 a.m. at Portales Public Church in case of inclement Library for ages 0-3. Activity: weather, Clovis. Information: shade trees were $6.88. Arsenault was also the Let’s Play. Information: 575- 575-763-3435 APRIL 30 Woolco was located in winning pitcher. 356-3940 Clovis’ Hilltop Plaza ■ National Day of Prayer — The 12-year Air Force ■ Afterschool at the Shopping Center. Noon at Roosevelt County On this date ... veteran was assigned to Library — 4:30 p.m. at Portales base supply and worked in Courthouse, Portales. 1982: Woolco was pro- : Staff Sgt. Ernie Public Library for grades K-6. 1967 fire maintenance. He was Information: 575-356-8541 moting its annual outdoor Arsenault had a double Activity: Mechanical Hands. living sale. and two home runs to lead the father of four boys. Information: 575-356-3940 Ongoing A 12-foot by 36-inch Cannon Air Force Base ■ Pintores artist of the swimming pool was $136.