Farm Credit of New Mexico names new manager Brett Valentine has been named the new branch manager for Clovis’ Farm Credit of New Mexico office. Wednesday was his first day in the position. Valentine, who has been with the company since 1997, was serving as assistant branch manager and as vice president, a title he […]
Letters to the editor: Inform — then send in our troops
In the language arts curriculum of major universities, there is a branch of study called cognitive linguistics. This is the field of language that trains students to transform common terms into euphemisms. All of us first became aware of this branch of learning as children when janitors became “maintenance engineers.” Politicians love this discipline. Terrorism […]
Vet profile: Reservist enlisted during Cold War
Courtesy photo Dennis Darrow works on his Army Jeep in Keflavik, Iceland, in 1957. Name: Dennis Darrow Age: 74 Hometown: Shamrock, Texas Branch: Army Reserve Date enlisted: Sept. 4, 1956 Date discharged: April 30, 1962 Served during: Cold War
Education feature: Students operating credit union

CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo From left, Gunar Hawkins, Henry Martin, Maddi Turbeville, Joseph Callahan, Andrew Anaya and Cutter Burnett are six of the students who work at the student-run bank branch at Clovis High School. By Liliana Castillo: CNJ staff writer Freshman Academy students are learning firsthand how to run a bank. The Wildcat […]
Jan. 27, 2008 Anniversaries
Fulcher Pete and Tommie Fulcher of Farwell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 26, 2008, in Lubbock, Texas. A family dinner was hosted by their children. The couple was married January 25, 1958, in Lubbock, Texas. They have two children and five grandchildren. He is a farmer. She is employed at the Farwell branch of […]
How to help
CNJ staff An account has been opened at American Heritage Bank for Patricia (Northrup) Lunn. The account is to help with expenses related to an April 7 vehicle accident that killed her 7-year-old daughter, injured two other children, and left Lunn in critical condition. Information: The bank’s Clovis-branch phone number is 762-2800. In Melrose, the […]
Former college president: Temp job turned into 30 years
After graduating in 1952 from Portales High School, Jim Turner thought his career would come outside of eastern New Mexico. More than half a century later, he has a 30-year career at Clovis Community College. The former college president, who graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1956, is now an inductee of UNM’s […]
Local Roundup: Police bust two meth labs
By CNJ staff Police shut down two methamphetamine labs last week and made one arrest, according to a press release from Clovis Police. Searches conducted by agents from the Region V Drug Task Force on two Clovis homes revealed items used in manufacturing methamphetamine, the release said. John King, 39, of 1309 North Lea St., […]
Hoekstra plea shows need for oversight
Rep. Peter Hoekstra wasn’t a likely candidate to complain about Bush administration secretiveness. The Michigan Republican is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and supported the administration when the New York Times published reports about warrantless wiretaps on U.S. citizens and clandestine surveillance of international banking transactions. He has even hinted that he wouldn’t be […]
FBI raid doesn’t put separation of powers in danger
Freedom Newspapers A number of present and former members of Congress, including such Republicans as current and former House speakers Dennis Hastert and Newt Gingrich, respectively, have criticized the FBI’s decision to search the congressional office of Rep. William Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat being investigated for accepting bribes. The criticism is understandable but a bit […]
Not crisis yet, but executive power bears watching
Freedom Newspapers A term few Americans are familiar with has become almost a commonplace during Judge Samuel Alito’s confirmation hearings. How has the judge used the term “unitary executive,” and why has President Bush used the term more than 100 times in “signing statements” issued when he signs bills into law? Most recently, in signing […]
The Fight for Freedom

Marlena Hartz and Sharna Johnson: Staff writers Today, America honors its veterans. And so do we. These are the stories of High Plains residents who — long ago, not so long ago, and just months ago — donned uniforms, braved the battlefield, and came home. Ralph Finkner Occupation: Finkner spent 21 years working for the […]
Glenn D. Spell, Ben Luck
Editor’s note: World War II officially ended Sept. 2, 1945, when the Japanese signed surrender terms. We’re honoring the war’s area veterans over the next several months with these brief profiles. Glenn D. Spell Date of birth: June 26, 1926 Dates of service: 1944 to 1946 Hometown: Melrose Lives in: Clovis Theater and location of […]
6/28 Business Digest
SOS Staffing names new branch manager The Clovis branch of SOS Staffing Services has named George Ratledge as new branch manager, according to a company release. Ratledge has been account manager with this Utah-based company since November of 2003, the release said. The Clovis branch of SOS was opened in 1998 and received the branch […]
Cops & courts: Clovis man sentenced in child pornography case
A district judge sentenced a Clovis man Tuesday to five years in prison for his part in the production of child pornography in 2004. Marcus Ray, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child by manufacturing and one count of sexual exploitation of a child by prostitution, a […]
Governor’s class opens academic doors
By Ned Cantwell: Guest Columnist Gov. Bill Richardson again steps into the role of pacesetter. He is going to teach a class at the University of New Mexico next semester. The class will attempt to teach students how state government works. Good luck. People who have been observing New Mexico state government for decades are […]
Local non-profit now a local branch
By Ryan Lengerich: CNJ staff writer The Big Brothers-Big Sisters program of Curry and Roosevelt counties has become a branch of the agency based in Roswell, an organization’s official said. Jill Dennis, executive director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pecos Valley, said she hopes to have a program coordinator in Clovis by the middle […]