TUESDAY,JAN. 3, 2017 Inside: 75¢ Soldier’s mom: ‘Get up and go on’ — Page 3A Vol. 88 ◆ No. 238 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com A WALK IN THE PARK Ranger rescued ❏ Portales family has no idea how their dog ended up 100 miles from home. By Kurt Munz-Raper STAFF WRITER [email protected] PORTALES — Laura Adkins is calling it a Christmas miracle. Last Wednesday, Laura and Steve Adkins of Portales were reunited with their dog Ranger after Ranger had been missing for seven months. The dog was found in Roswell, about 100 miles from the Adkins’ home. “It is nice to get the dog back,” Steve Adkins said. “We’re in good shape.” The 1-year-old Australian Shepherd, who is partially deaf, disappeared from the Adkins’ home on May 25 after Steve Adkins left to get a haircut on a hot day. “I never left him at home. I left him here that morning. When I got back the gate was open and he was gone,” he said. “Everybody’s 99 per- cent sure somebody had taken him.” Laura Adkins agreed Ranger was stolen. “We can make a lot of speculation, but when my husband came (back home), things that were in the yard were missing,” Laura Adkins said. Staff photo: Tony Bullocks She said Ranger likely went without a fight. Husband and wife Tyler and Maggie Collins of Clovis walk their dogs in Hillcrest Park on Monday. That’s Finn, left, and “He was just one of those puppies that was Dags. High temperatures are expected in the 50s again today and Wednesday. But dog walking will become a little just one of the best dogs you could have. He more brisk starting Wednesday night, when lows dip into the teens through the weekend. trusted everybody and was very dependent on other dogs and other people,” she said. Steve Adkins said he and his family spent three or four eight-hour days looking for Ranger, and “we never gave up.” Rumors about what may have happened grew Area welcomes first baby of 2017 every day the dog was gone. Someone suggested Ranger had been taken to ❏ Allison Jayne it.” become part of a dog-fighting ring. The Adkins’ Logan and Amber were the preferred hoping the dog had become a loyal Hemphill born only family members present friend to another good family. for the birth, as Lawson The next few months included trips to Clovis 4:44 a.m. Sunday. stayed with a neighbor. Logan originally came in with his and Texico, where reports came that dogs look- By Kevin Wilson wife, but left frequently for ing similar to Ranger had been spotted. MANAGING EDITOR family errands. [email protected] “We live really close by,” RANGER on Page 4A Amber said, “so he could let Allison Jayne Hemphill the dogs out, feed our son, get came a week earlier than her stuff we forgot to bring.” parents expected. Hospital staff and area Turns out, Allison was just donors put together a package on time — 4:44 a.m. Sunday, for the first 2017 baby, includ- to be exact — to be the first ing diapers, stuffed animals, area baby of 2017. other baby gear, various gift Born at 21.5 inches long cards and a red wagon big and 8 pounds, 5 ounces, Courtesy photo enough for both of the Allison is the second child of Hemphill children. Logan and Amber Hemphill Logan and Amber Hemphill, with 4-year-old son Lawson Lawson joined the family of Clovis. and newborn Allison, are the parents of eastern New later in the day, and was con- The couple had a delivery Mexico’s first baby born in 2017. cerned his sister was “broken” date of Jan. 15, and had because she slept a lot. planned inducement Jan. 9 Regional Medical Center. until 4:44 a.m. Sunday. I was “He has always been really before Amber had contrac- “We thought we would actually very shocked she was great with my friends’ chil- tions all of Friday. deliver probably before mid- the New Year’s baby since it dren,” Amber said. “He’s They were admitted around night Saturday,” Amber said, was 5 in the morning. I was going to be a great big broth- 10:30 a.m. Saturday to Plains “but she didn’t want to come pretty sure someone else got er.” Four children die in Texas gas poisoning ❏ Officials: Gas released chemical, Amarillo fire officials said. A dents of the home. specific cause of death had not been Davis told the Amarillo Globe-News when someone tried released for the four children Monday he wasn’t sure how long the residents afternoon. The other six people who had been exposed to the phosphine gas to wash away pesticide. were in the home are “not out of the before a visitor arrived Monday and woods yet,” fire officials said. found everyone sick and called 911. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Crews who responded to a 5 a.m. call Phosphine gas can cause respiratory fail- AMARILLO — A poisonous gas to the home originally thought it was ure and in severe cases can cause a pul- believed to have been released when related to carbon monoxide poisoning, monary edema, which fills the lungs full someone tried to wash away a pesticide Amarillo fire Capt. Larry Davis said in a of fluid, he said. statement. One child died at the scene Davis said about 10 first responders that had been sprayed under a Texas Courtesy photo home killed four children and left six and three others died at a hospital. from the police, fire and medical other people hospitalized, officials said Officials didn’t release any identify- response departments were also taken to Portales’ Steve Adkins shares a moment with Monday. ing information, including the children’s the hospital as a precautionary measure, his Australian Shepherd, Ranger. Ranger was Phosphine gas was likely released ages or whether they were related. Davis but none had shown symptoms of ill- brought home from Roswell on Dec. 28 after when water mixed with the pest control said all four people who died were resi- ness. being missing for seven months. Forecast: Today Wednesday Thursday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................5A High: 57 High: 55 High: 36 Classified ......................5-6B Obituaries..........................4A Comics ..............................4B Sports ............................1-3B Low: 26 Low: 19 Low: 16 Voices................................3A PAGE 2A ✦ TUESDAY, JAN. 3, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Obituaries New judge, predecessor Services pending Funerals Beth Vanetta, 75, of Saturday weigh in on work Clovis, died Saturday, Dec. John T. Decker — 1:30 31, 2016, at Covenant p.m. at Green Mountain & Medical Center in Cemetery, Boulder, Q A Lubbock. Colorado Arrangements are by Jan. 10 Newly elected Roosevelt County community how serious I can be in the just needed somebody to talk to. Muffley Funeral Sharon Cowman — 6 officials will be sworn in at 8:30 a.m. field once I’m involved in something Home. p.m. at The Chapel, Clovis today at the Roosevelt County passionately. I want to show that I’m What have you found challenging as Courthouse. One of the newcomers is excited to be back, and I can prove a probate judge and how have you Probate Judge Michelle Bargas. that I’ll be an asset to Roosevelt worked to overcome it? Ollie Lavelle Edwards Wilson Bargas, whose duties include trans- County. The challenge is there is so much to December 21, 1932 – December 18, 2016 ferring the properties of a person who After a brief illness, Lavelle learn; so many laws. You go to train- Wilson, of Fort Sumner, NM, has died, ran unopposed after her pred- What do you think is the most impor- ing every year, and if you’re sick or passed away peacefully with ecessor Barbara George served two tant duty in your position? something, you have to get excused by family members at her side consecutive terms. From my understanding, in talking the chief of the supreme court (of New on December 18, 2016 in Bargas and George answered ques- to Barbara George, the most important Mexico). They film every training, and Lubbock, Texas. Lavelle tions about the job: duty would be being there for having then you have to watch all of those would have turned 84 years to deal with state issues, death of a films that you missed. Training is old just three days later on Michelle Bargas loved one. You have to make a very extremely important. There’s a lot of winter solstice. impartial decision. That’s a very valu- She was born on Decem- information given there. Her previous career experience able part of being a judge, being ber 21, 1932, in Fort Sumn- includes 10 years working with the impartial. What has kept you motivated in your er, NM to Claude James and state of New Mexico Vesta Bea Stephens Ed- position? wards. Lavelle was a 1950 as a juvenile probation and parole officer. A Barbara George I just love the job. I’m sorry I could- graduate of Fort Sumner n’t run again (because she is term lim- High School. She was em- Portales native, she She taught at Portales High School ployed by several Fort Sum- graduated from for 25 years, where she directed ited). I guess I just love people, and I ner businesses upon gradu- Eastern New Mexico Maypole and coached feel I’m blessed to be able to have ation which included Howe University with a dou- both mock trial and helped some of them.