Mesa Elementary has a new principal, Julie Howell, and this past week we had an opportunity to talk about education. Although this is Howell’s first principal position, she has 18 years in education under her belt. As a classroom teacher, she’s taught in the Roswell and Dexter school districts before returning to teach in Clovis. […]
New principal at Mesa Elementary
CNJ staff Julie Howell has accepted the position of Principal at Mesa Elementary School. Howell, an instructional coach at Cameo Elementary since 2008, will begin her new position July 21. Prior to her position at Cameo, she was a teacher at Parkview and Lockwood elementary schools, and was a student teacher in 1994 at Sandia […]
Large water leak fixed in Portales system
Water storage levels in Portales have risen 4 feet since a large leak was discovered and stopped, and three more city wells are expected to go online within the next two weeks, the city manager has said. Portales City Manager Tom Howell made the remarks during an emergency city council meeting Friday morning at City […]
Portales rescinds water alert
Freedom New Mexico The City of Portales rescinded its mandatory water alert Monday. Watering lawns was banned under the alert starting Thursday because of broken pumps in city wells. City Manager Tom Howell said one pump was fixed Friday, one Monday and one would be repaired Tuesday. After the city asked residents to stop watering […]
Clovis census numbers slightly down
By Kevin Wilson: CNJ staff writer When it comes to the census, Portales City Manager Tom Howell said there’s never a feeling you can declare victory. “I’ve been in city government a long time, and this is my third census,” said Howell, promoted in from the public works department last fall. “You’re never happy with […]
Norvil Howell: Champion of champions
Clovis schools are celebrating their annual “Music In Our Schools” week. Editors asked readers if they have a favorite music teacher. Doug McGregor’s response: “Norvil Howell, the champion of champions. He has given more students pride, respect for themselves and leadership skills, along with showing them how to have goals and accomplish them to a […]
Democratic Party hosting women’s luncheon
Freedom Newspapers The Curry County Democratic Party women’s luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. today at Golden Corral restaurant, 3501 N. Prince St., Clovis. Reorganization will be discussed. For information, contact Elaine Howell, vice chairman, Curry County Democrats, at 763-7019.
Portales streets flooded again

Freedom Newspapers: Karl Terry Water department employees Roberto Sanchez, left, and Daniel Fetterman start a large pump to aid in evacuating water from around a water main break Sunday. The break caused water service to be interrupted overnight for up to 60 percent of the city. By Karl Terry: Freedom Newspapers PORTALES — For the […]
Racial tension part of Clovis history

By David Stevens: CNJ Editor Clovis’ history has included many difficult days. Retired school teacher Elaine Howell remembers Jan. 15, 1971, as one of the worst. Thirty or 40 black students from Clovis High School were excused that morning to attend a memorial for Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader who had been […]
Public record: Marriages & divorces
CNJ staff The following marriage licenses were compiled from court records from Dec. 21 through Jan. 3: • Juan Manuel Dominguez, 55, to Agustina Salas Betancur, 49, both of Roswell. • Vernon Ray Dobbs, 39, to Felicia A. Chavez, 34, both of Clovis. • Jessie Trujillo, 34, to Evangaline Preciado, 46, both of Tucumcari. • […]
Portales looking to solve dumpster dilemma
By Tony Parra: Freedom Newspapers Portales residents are leaving appliances, sheet rock materials, scattered garbage and furniture items next to dumpsters, and it’s causing a problem, say Portales city officials. Portales city officials said it’s increasing work for the limited solid waste crew and want the items placed in the Portales Convenience Center instead of […]
Longtime band leader plays on

Norvil Howell, 74, of Clovis teaches his grandchildren Jake, left, and Hannahto play the trumpet. Jake has taken lessons from his grandfather since he was 4. Hannah is just starting to make sounds on it. (Andy DeLisle) By Tonya Garner: CNJ staff writer Kind but stern, longtime Clovis High band director Norvil Howell taught discipline […]
6/9 Public record
The following marriage licenses were compiled from court records from June 1 through Wednesday: • Daniel Lynn Graham Jr., 24, to Felica Dawn Henderlite, 25, both of Clovis. • Kevin Ray Coble, 27, to Roberta Jane Sanchez, 26, both of Clovis. • Matthew John Graf, 24, to Stacey Marie Ontiveros, 27, both of Clovis. • […]
Officials say water issues not cause for immediate concern
By William P. Thompson: Freedom Newspapers Eastern New Mexico has been without significant rainfall since mid-October, and local entities are preparing for continued dry weather — but water issues are not cause for immediate alarm, officials said. “Right now, a number of our wells are not even pumping water out because the demand for water […]
Portales officials looking into water system repair
By Tony Parra: Freedom Newspapers PORTALES — Officials have planned a meeting Friday to discuss ways of repairing broken water lines without having to shut off water to the entire city of Portales. The community was without water almost 24 hours on Saturday when a pipe cracked and water began to burst out of the […]
Fiber optic work takes toll on water lines
By Tony Parra: Freedom Newspapers PORTALES — Portales residents in the 600 block of South Avenue A were without water at different times on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Officials blamed broken water pipes on poor maps being used to guide workers installing a fiber optic network for Yucca Telecom. Yucca Telecom held groundbreaking ceremonies on […]
Carpenter, Blanche
Mrs. Blanche Carpenter, 76, of Clovis, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, at her home. She was born March 10, 1929, in Clovis to Jake and Ethel Eller. She was active in theater productions and was the first FHA president. She served as secretary for three Clovis Municipal Schools superintendents. After retirement, family members said she […]
Patterson, Willard
Willard Patterson Services: 2 p.m. Saturday at the Steed-Todd Chapel in Clovis. Willard “Pat” Patterson, 85, of Clovis, died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, at the Muleshoe Area Medical Center. He was born on May 23, 1919, in Curry County, to James and Elizabeth Patterson. He graduated from high school in Floyd. He was an all-star […]