Press Releases

Press Release: Adopt-An-Air Commando program announced

The communities of Clovis and Portales, NM are partnering with Cannon Air Force Base to announce the start of a new program, Adopt- an- Air Commando. 

The official start of the program will be announced on Friday, February 12th at the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce Monthly Breakfast hosted by the Clovis News Journal at the Underground Embassy at 7am.

 Setting a solid foundation for the military populace, the “Adopt- an- Air Commado” program is supported by base leadership to help the local communities and military families build a strong sense of community. 

The program will focus on meeting two needs for Cannon Airmen and their families, (1) establishing a healthy identity within the community and (2) fostering a stronger bond within the surrounding area. 

The overall goal is to reenergize the partnerships of the surrounding communities and the Airmen of Cannon.

Focusing on community and family resiliency, the program objectives strive to increase morale, strengthen local community connections and provide support to military families and single Airmen assigned to Cannon AFB.  

Implementation of the program will be driven by the Chambers of Commerce for the cities of Clovis and Portales and the Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC).  The Chambers will act as the clearing house for private members of the community to apply to participate in the program. 

The A&FRC will work closely with Wing Leadership to adjust this new program to meet changing needs and security issues of the base.  Airmen and families will be briefed on the program when they attend Right Start, FTAC, and other orientation programs.

 "Sponsors" from Clovis/Portales and the surrounding area will be recruited by Chambers.  The Clovis and Portales Chambers of Commerce will provide the information to their communities and potential sponsors’ information will be submitted to the Chambers. 

Sponsors will be required to fill out information about themselves. This information will then be provided to the Airman and Family Readiness Center to match with base personnel desiring to participate in this program.

Sponsors will be provided options when applying for the program; they will be able to state their preference of the role they would like to take (i.e. sponsor a family or a single member and decide if they want to participate as a grandparent, parent, or friend). 

They will also complete a form describing their interests for the matching process.  Airmen and families will also complete an information packet with their preferences and interests.  Once the “sponsor” is matched with a base individual/family, then their information will be provided to Security Police to be cleared by running them through the “Friends of Cannon’s” clearance system. 

Once the sponsor is cleared, then contact information will be provided to the sponsor for them to contact the matched Airman/family.
 
The program will also include an annual gathering of all adoptive and adoptee families that will take place during the month of October at Cannon Air Force Base.
 
Cannon AFB Contact:
 
Cynthia Friday-Allison, Chief

Airman & Family Readiness Center

Phone: 575-784-4864

cynthia.friday@cannon.af.mil

For additional information please contact the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce at 575-763-3435 or visit our offices located at 105 E. Grand Ave., Clovis, NM 88101.

Lauren Tillman

Event Coordinator

Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce

105 East Grand Avenue

Clovis, NM  88101

(575) 763-3435

(575) 763-7266 fax

events@clovisnm.org

www.clovisnm.org

Also:

Sharon King, Executive Director

Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce

100 S. Avenue A

Portales, NM  88130

(575) 356-8541

Clovis man arrested in shooting

On Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at approximately 5:42 PM Officers of the Clovis Police Department were dispatched to the 900 Block of North Jones Street in Clovis in reference to a shots fired call and a gunshot victim.

Upon the Officers arrival a victim was found on scene in Apartment #B of 921 North Jones Street suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. Clovis Fire Department Ambulance responded to give emergency care and the victim was transported to Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis where she was stabilized and then sent by Clovis Fire Department Ambulance to a Lubbock, Texas hospital for care in critical but stable condition. The gunshot victim is identified as 36-year-old Sandra Bousquet of Clovis. The victim’s family has been notified of her injuries. Also on scene were victims Joe Garza and Rita Nina Cuevas that had been assaulted and threatened by the suspect with the gun as well. Victim Rita Nina Cuevas sustained some physical injuries from having the pistol poked in her head by the suspect and fired beside her head.

The Clovis Police Department’s Detectives were immediately called out to conduct the shooting investigation. The other victims at the scene were brought in for questioning and statements by Clovis Police Detectives. The

investigation quickly led to the identification of the shooting suspect identified as 61-year-old James Fitzpatrick of Clovis, who is a next door neighbor of Joe Garza and Sandra Bousquet. Suspect James Fitzpatrick was located next door in his apartment in Apartment #A in Clovis and brought to the Clovis Police Department for questioning. The pistol believed to have been used in the shooting as well as a rifle were located in Mr. Fitzpatrick’s apartment and seized as evidence.

James Fitzpatrick has been arrested and charged with 1 count of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, 1 count of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and or Great Bodily Harm, 3 counts of Aggravated Assault, 2 counts of Intimidation of State’s Witness, 2 counts of Felon In Possession of a Firearm and 1 count of Felony Tampering With Evidence in connection with the shooting of Ms. Sandra Bousquet and the battery, assault and threats towards victims Rita Nina Cuevas and Joe Garza. A background check revealed that James Fitzpatrick is believed to be a convicted felon in Texas.

James Fitzpatrick was transported to the Curry County Adult Detention Center for booking and is being held on bond. Motive for the shooting is still under investigation at this time, but preliminary investigation indicates the incident possibly occurred over an argument about a debt between the suspect James Fitzpatrick and Rita Nina Cuevas.

More information in this investigation may be released at a later date as it becomes available.

Press Release: Clovis after school programs cancelled

The After-School Program at the following locations is cancelled due to inclement weather and road conditions:

Arts Academy @ Bella Vista

Cameo Elementary School

James Bickley Elementary School

La Casita Elementary School

Lockwood Elementary School

Parkview Elementary School

If you have questions, please contact the individual school site.

Press Release: Winter storm warning

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST THURSDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...EXPECT TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 8 INCHES. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PLAINS OF NEW MEXICO...PARTICULARLY HARDING AND UNION COUNTIES.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...THEN GRADUALLY TAPER OFF AFTER DAYBREAK ON THURSDAY.

* WINDS...WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

* SNOW LEVELS...TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL LOCATIONS. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE SOUTHERN DE BACA COUNTY...WHERE RAIN WILL OCCASIONALLY MIX WITH THE SNOW THIS EVENING.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...EXPECT SNOW COVERED ROADWAYS. CONDITIONS WILL BECOME MORE HAZARDOUS LATER TONIGHT AS TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING. EXPECT LOCALLY POOR VISIBILITIES IN SNOW AND PATCHY FOG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Chandler running for state attorney general

ALBUQUERQUE: Republican Ninth District Attorney Matt Chandler announced his candidacy for New Mexico Attorney General today. Standing in front of the Metropolitan Courthouse that became the center of a corruption scandal that brought down former Senate President Manny Aragon, Chandler said that the New Mexico Attorney General must be more aggressive in rooting out corruption and not rely on others.

“The corruption and crime related to this building could have been handled swiftly by the previous Attorney General, instead it was neglected and left to the United State’s Attorney. It was the U.S. Attorney who took the lead in holding accountable the politicians that stole and embezzled millions of tax dollars from you and me,” said Chandler.

Chandler added, “When the current Attorney General took over, he promised to do better. He promised that the New Mexico Attorney General’s office would do more to take on corruption. Yet, four years later, it seems that New York Attorney General Mario Cuomo is doing more to prosecute New Mexico corruption than our own Attorney General. New Mexicans deserve better. And that’s why I am running for Attorney General.”

As District Attorney since 2004, Chandler currently serves Curry and Roosevelt counties. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Eastern New Mexico University and his law degree from the University of Tulsa. He is married and he and his wife are raising four sons together. His father was a Democratic state Senator for 12 years.

Chandler will hold another campaign kick-off event in his hometown of Clovis at noon Thursday at the Clovis-Carver library at 701 North Main St.

Press release: Wilhite withdraws from commission race

Clovis, NM – Jarod Wilhite, president of Wilhite Inc., in Clovis, NM, announced today his withdrawal from the Clovis City Commission race. Wilhite was running for the District 4 position on the City Commission.

Wilhite said of his withdrawal, “New business ventures are requiring my primary focus right now, and if I ran for city commissioner, I would want to put 100 percent effort into the job. Unfortunately, the two priorities are competing against one another, and at this time, I am making the right choice to benefit all parties.”

“I wish the other candidates for the position the best of luck,” Wilhite said.

The election for the City Commission position as well as other city positions will be held Tuesday, March 2nd.

Press Release: Winter storm advisory

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON MST
THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON MST THURSDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OF WET SNOW IS EXPECTED.

* TIMING...A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TODAY...BEFORE PRECIPITATION CHANGES OVER TO ALL SNOW THIS EVENING. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF THURSDAY MORNING.

* WINDS...WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

* SNOW LEVELS...TEMPERATURES WILL BECOME COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL LOCATIONS BY SUNSET.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...ROADWAYS MAY BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS...ESPECIALLY AFTER SUNSET WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW FREEZING. VISIBILITIES MAY ALSO BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE MILE
AT TIMES IN SNOW AND FOG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL PRIMARILY CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES.

Ken De Los Santos, NMCEM

Emergency Management Director

City of Clovis/Curry County

Press Release: Chandler to announce for attorney general

Republican Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler will be making a campaign announcement for New Mexico Attorney General today at the Metropolitan Courthouse in Albuquerque.

WHEN:

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

1:15 PM

WHERE:

Metropolitan Courthouse

401 Lomas Boulevard Northwest

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Senator discusses the president’s budget proposal and the future of campaign finance reform

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-NM, today talked with radio reporters from around the state about key components of President Obama’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011 including the outlook for the National Nuclear Security Administration which oversees New Mexico’s labs, the Department of Veterans Affairs, USDA and the Indian Health Services. He also addressed his plans for campaign finance reform. To listen to the audio, click here.

Below is a time key of Senator Udall’s remarks:

00:00 – Udall opens the conversation by highlighting key areas of the president’s budget proposal that would benefit New Mexico and discusses his future plans for campaign finance reform in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a long-established federal campaign finance law that limited electoral contributions by corporations.

05:40 – Comments on the proposed cancellation of NASA’s Constellation program in the President’s budget. Says he is still looking into the potential impact for the NASA White Sands Test Facility.

09:17 –Talks about deficit spending. Explains the reasons the federal deficit is so high and pledges to look for a bipartisan solution to the problem. Discusses Senate measures to already address the issue, including the passage of a PAYGO amendment in the Senate last week.

12:47 – Discusses the future success of the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) site in regard to the president’s budget.

Press release: Bingaman discusses Obama's 2011 budget proposal

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today talked to New Mexico reports

about the president’s fiscal year 2011 budget proposal and how it will

benefit New Mexico. Bingaman’s remarks can be retrieved by going to his

website or clicking on the following link:

http://bingaman.senate.gov/mediaasset/bingaman020110m.mp3