CNJ staff Fred Van Soelen announced Tuesday he will not seek a third term in March. “When I first ran for office in 2004,” Van Soelen said in a release, “I had a three-part platform: Improving pay for our police and firefighters, improving our parks, and improving our streets. I believe that the city has […]
Letter to the editor: Referendums give citizens voice
November 2, 2011
In an Oct. 25 CNJ article on the city charter commission, the CNJ quoted Commissioner Fred Van Soelen as saying that negative referendums cost the taxpayers too much money so it should be harder to have one. However, that is just plain wrong. If you will remember, the referendum this past summer, initiated by the […]
Press release: Clovis’ Van Soelen appointed to state commission
February 25, 2011
Albuquerque, NM (February 25, 2011) – The NM Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the appointment of the following New Mexico residents to the Board of Commissioners: Agnes Maldonado, Chair (Albuquerque) Justine Fox Young, Vice Chair (Albuquerque) Dolores (Lori) Kitts (Flora Vista) Adolfo Alarid (Santa Fe) Gerald Gallegos (Ojo Caliente) Jennifer […]
City switching insurance provider
November 15, 2007
By Kevin Wilson: CNJ staff writer After 19 years, the city is changing its provider for property, casualty and liability insurance. Following more than two hours of discussion, the Clovis City Commission awarded coverage to Aon Consulting, beginning in 2008. Stacy Martin of Clovis Insurance Center, which had handled the insurance for 19 years, had […]
Seven vie for judicial position
August 20, 2007
By Karl Terry: Freedom Newspapers A seventh applicant’s name was added to the list for a judicial vacancy in the 9th Judicial District, according to a press release from the Judicial Nominating Commissions. Fred Van Soelen’s name was left off the original list released on Friday. Van Soelen’s application was turned in on time but […]
City approves wellness center recommendation
May 4, 2006
By Marlena Hartz: CNJ staff writer Discussion about the future locale of the Wellness and Youth Development Center turned into an emotional debate over the lack of quality sports facilities in Clovis at Thursday’s meeting of the Clovis City Commission. Commissioners approved a recommendation from the center’s steering committee to locate a future aquatic and […]
Magistrate voting system debated
April 18, 2006
By Tonya Garner: CNJ staff writer A yellow and green map had some citizens seeing red at Tuesday’s Curry County Commission meeting. The map depicted a proposed plan to change the Curry County Magistrate Court voting system, which attorneys for two county residents say is racially biased, from at-large to two districts. Clovis residents Terry […]
Killer given 21 1/2 years
January 24, 2006
By Eric Butler: CNJ correspondent A 23-year-old Clovis man was sentenced Tuesday to 21 1/2 years in prison for his role in an argument over a cigarette lighter that turned deadly. As part of a plea bargain, Mark Madrid pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for shooting and killing Porfirio Gonzales, 52, of Clovis in March […]
Commissioner proposes manditory energy-effecient water heaters ordinance
January 20, 2006
By Tonya Garner: CNJ staff writer City Commissioner Randall Crowder posed a question to attendees at Thursday night’s City Commission meeting: Do you turn your shower on and wait minutes for hot water? Crowder said his research shows this common practice wastes approximately 25 gallons of water a day per household. “I would like to […]
Escape attempt hits dead end
November 4, 2005
CNJ staff A Curry County Juvenile Detention Center inmate learned the hard way: A life of crime can lead to a dead end. A 17-year-old male tried to escape from his holding cell Thursday afternoon by standing on a chair and crawling into a 1-foot-square vent, Assistant District Attorney Fred Van Soelen said. The problem […]
Rowley pick solid, abstention puzzling
August 20, 2005
Freedom Newspapers Clovis Community College’s Board of Trustees made a sound decision last week when they appointed Becky Rowley as interim president. She knows the programs, faculty and direction in which the school is headed, which should make the transition to the next presidency a seamless experience. Recommended by Beverlee McClure, who leaves next month […]
Privacy concerns prompt meth ordinance revision
July 21, 2005
By Marlena Hartz: CNJ staff writer A task force comprised of city officials and commissioners has revised some provisions of the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s new methamphetamine ordinance. A majority of Clovis’ city commissioners voted July 7 to introduce the ordinance that would require pseudeophedrine-based drugs be kept behind the counter at local stores and […]
Task force tackles city’s proposed meth ordinance
July 12, 2005
By David Irvin: CNJ staff writer A proposed city ordinance that would put cold medicines and other drugs with pseudoephedrine behind the counter at local stores is being inspected and amended by a task force. The point of the ordinance, according to the district attorney, is to make it more difficult for methamphetamine manufacturers to […]
Vehicular homicide suspect changes plea
November 15, 2004
By David Irvin: CNJ staff writer A Clovis man who agreed to plead guilty last week to vehicular homicide in connection with the July 4, 2003, death of a Clovis woman changed his plea in court Monday to “no contest,” an official with the district attorney’s office said. Assistant District Attorney Fred Van Soelen said […]
Commissioners concerned civic center is too small
July 15, 2004
By Mike Linn: CNJ News Editor A multi-million dollar civic center will not be large enough to host high school graduations and large events like the Home and Garden Show. That’s according to the project’s conceptual design, which the Clovis City Commission approved by a 6-2 vote Thursday night. Commissioner Isidro Garcia and Fred Van […]
Incumbent ousted in tight District 2 race
March 3, 2004
By Jack King Fred Van Soelen summed it up in five words: “It was a nail biter,” he said. Van Soelen, an assistant district attorney, won the city commission District 2 race with 285 votes — 37 more than runner-up Len Vohs and 40 more than incumbent Gloria Wicker. Van Soelen said his efforts on […]
Three candidates vie for the City Commission District 2 post: Fred Van Soelen, Len Vohs and the incumbent, Gloria Wicker
February 21, 2004
By Jack King Fred Van Soelen Age: 33 Employment: Assistant District Attorney Contact: 762-7611 Political experience: None. Len Vohs Age: 50 Employment: Senior sales executive, KICA-KKYC radio Contact: 762-0550 Political experience: None. Gloria Wicker Age: 73 Employment: Retired, formerly worked for the Santa Fe railroad and Cannon Air Force Base. Contact: 762-0029 Political experience: City […]
