By James Matessino: Guest columnist In July 1968, I was a Vietnam-era veteran traveling from Louisiana to my next assignment at Sacramento’s McClellan Air Force Base. I was driving my old Ford Comet, determined not to go to California without wheels. I made it to visit a gent I was stationed with in Turkey. He […]
Local guardsmen aiding in Hurricane Gustav aftermath
CNJ staff As part of his mission in the New Mexico National Guard, Sgt. 1st Class Terry Stevens of Portales is in Louisiana with 400 other New Mexico guardsmen deployed to regions affected by Hurricane Gustav. The Category 2 storm made landfall Sept. 1, causing flooding and wind damage to homes in the state, according […]
Area National Guard members giving aid in Louisiana
Freedom New Mexico Army National Guard members from Clovis and Portales are in Louisiana to help out in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. Among the more than 500 personnel sent were 90 assigned to the 717th Brigadier Support Battalion out of Roswell, which includes members in Clovis and Portales, according to National Guard spokesman Lt. […]
A story about gambling and Louisiana
By Curtis K. Shelburne: Religion columnist I don’t think I’ve ever been more against gambling than I am right now. At this moment, I could preach a pretty poignant sermon against the sin of filthy wagering. My brothers and I were together in Houston to help with a memorial service for our sister. Ruthie had […]
Foray into fish farming fresh idea
By Grant McGee: Local columnist “If we can grow a garden, we can grow our own fish,” proclaimed The Lady of the House, walking in our front door from the supermarket. “Well, hello to you, too,” I said with a smile. “What’s that all about.” “I just bought frozen fish from China. China! Can I […]
Voter wishes, like grammar rules, must fall
By Ned Cantwell: State columnist A couple of friends who no doubt had crushes on their childhood grammar teachers were carping recently about newspaper writers who split infinitives. They didn’t mention names, but I could sense their glances darting to me when I wasn’t looking. Feigning disinterest, I was mentally cataloguing all the infinitives I’ve […]
Hurricane falsehoods leading to waste
By Mona Charen: Syndicated Columnist Reviewing the falsehoods, myths and misrepresentations spun by the press, politicians and pundits following Hurricane Katrina, one is reminded of Nora Ephron’s bon mot: “No matter how cynical I get, I can’t seem to keep up.” Most recently, we have word from the National Hurricane Center that Katrina was not […]
To revitalize Gulf Coast, suspend rules, regulations
CNJ Editorial The hurricanes that lashed Louisiana and parts of Texas unleashed not only misery but an outpouring of generosity and tangible help from people all over the country. There is little question that most of what has been destroyed will be rebuilt, including New Orleans. The question is: Who will do the rebuilding, and […]
Environmental, fiscal challenges coming into focus
Knight Ridder Newspapers BILOXI, Miss. — Hurricane Katrina damaged or demolished nearly half a million homes in three states, the American Red Cross said Wednesday — four times as many as Hurricane Andrew did when it hit South Florida in 1992. As President Bush prepared to speak to the nation from an undisclosed location in […]
Pioneer Days parade must see for some

Amanda left, and Kaden Myers watch the 35th annual Pioneer Day Parade from atop a truck Saturday on Main Street. “I liked everything, but especially the miniature cars,” said Amanda Myers of her first Pioneer Days parade. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth) By Leslie Radford: CNJ Staff writer Jo Moss of Texico sat with her family […]
Big 12 standouts take different paths
By Sue Jane Mayes: CNJ correspondent One entered the college ranks as a highly touted player out of New Mexico. The other was all but overlooked while attending a small private school in Louisiana. Enter two Hall of Fame coaches who knew talent when they saw it, and Cisti Greenwalt and Sophia Young found themselves […]