NMDOT announces Berrendo Creek bridge repairs

Press Release

ROSWELL-The Berrendo Creek Bridges in Roswell will be partially closed beginning in February for resurfacing and repair work on structures.  Work on this $1 million project is expected to be finished by November first.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) will oversee bridge rehabilitation work on the Berrendo Creek Bridges, on US 285 (Main Street) in Roswell.

The original bridges, built in 1963, currently serve northbound and southbound traffic Main Street.  The northbound bridge will be used to accommodate both directions of traffic, while work takes place on the southbound bridge.  Only one lane in each direction will be open across the bridges while work is taking place.

Limited lane availability during this project will prevent wide loads up to 12 feet.  Due to longer wait times expected at the bridges, motorists are encouraged to travel at off-peak hours if possible, or seek alternate routes.  Message boards are being used to notify motorists of delays and keep vehicles moving safely.

For up-to-date road construction information throughout the state, visit www.nmroads.com

Police: Men were fighting over rifle when shot by Hobbs officer

Jared Tucker, PVON Founder/Senior Journalist
plainsvalleyonlinenews@gmail.com

HOBBS- More details have surfaced regarding a police-involved shooting at a bar in Hobbs last week which sent two men to the hospital with gunshots.
According to a press release from the New Mexico State Police, a Hobbs police officer responded to Diamond Lil’s Bar on the 2600 block of North Dal Paso Street around 1:46 a.m. Jan. 17 in reference to a fight in progress and shots fired.

When the officer arrived, he observed two men wrestling over a rifle, the release said.
Ignoring commands to drop the gun, the two men continued the struggle and at one point the rifle was pointed at the officer, who fired at the two men.

“Both men, who were actively in control of the rifle, were struck,” NMSP Public Information Officer Chad Pierce said in the release.
The two men have been identified as 21-year-old Kyle Laghrin and 25-year-old Nathan Trujillo, both of Lovington, Pierce said, and the officer who shot them is two-year-HPD -veteran Royal Hopper.

The men who were shot were both air lifted to Lubbock, TX hospitals where they were treated and released, Pierce said.

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Neither have yet to be interviewed by police, Pierce said.

Charges are pending the conclusion of the investigation, Pierce said.

Ward turns self in as shooting charges re-filed

Jared Tucker, PVON Founder/Senior Journalist
plainsvalleyonlinenews@gmail.com

ROSWELL-One of two men wanted in connection with a non-injury shooting incident in December 2014 has turned himself into police.

According to Roswell Police Public Information Officer Todd Wildermuth, 38-year-old Fabian Ward, Sr. turned himself into police around 2:00 p.m. Saturday.  Ward is one of two men wanted for a shooting incident at Southeast Main and Buena Vista Streets Dec. 9, where he along with another man, 32-year-old Thomas Olivas allegedly fired at another vehicle driven by 22-year-old Angel Martinez.
Martinez suffered cuts from flying glass in that incident, but was not hit by gunfire.

Martinez was named a person of interest in the murder of Fabian Ward, Jr near Midway December 1.
Since then, Martinez and Ward have allegedly exchanged gunfire twice-Dec. 9 as mentioned above, and again Jan. 7.  According to police, Martinez fired at a vehicle carrying Ward and Olivas Jan. 7, just minutes after the duo were released from the Chaves County Detention Center when the charges from the December shooting were dismissed by a judge.
According to police, the charges were dismissed because Martinez didn’t show up to a hearing.  He was arrested the next day when he entered the Chaves County Courthouse to try to convince prosecutors to re-file the charges.

All three men are facing the charge of shooting at or from a motor vehicle.

 

Two hospitalized after police-involved shooting in Hobbs

PVON Staff Report

HOBBS- Two people are recovering from gunshot wounds after an incident inside a bar on Saturday.
According to a short press release from the New Mexico State Police, A Hobbs Police Officer responded to a fight in progress call at Diamond Lil’s Bar on Dal Paso Street around 1:40 a.m. and shots were fired.

Two people were flown to Texas hospitals with gunshot wounds, the release said.
NMSP are investigating the sequence of events that led to the shooting.  The officer was not injured, the release said.

Updates will be published when more information is available.

 

 

Florida company eyes Chaves County to build largest solar farm in state history

PVON Staff Report

ROSWELL- A Florida renewable energy company has it’s eyes on Chaves County as the location for its next solar farm location, and if approved by local officials, will be the largest solar farm in New Mexico’s history.
NextEra Energy Resources of West Palm Beach, FL wants to build a $290 million, 1,300 acre solar farm off of Pine Lodge Road in Roswell, according to a report from KOB-TV.
“We wouldn’t be talking to the county, we wouldn’t be talking to stakeholders if we weren’t serious about the project,” Communications Director Steve Stengel was quoted as saying.

The farm would contain 700,000 solar panels, making it the largest in state history, the TV station reported.
The plan was put before the Chaves County Commission at it’s recent meeting, KOB reports.  If the plan goes forward it could bring around 300 jobs to the area and would be operational by 2016.

View the project fact sheet here. 

1 year later: Community mourns Berrendo shooting

Artesia man gets hefty prison term for raping, robbing elderly woman

Richard Sena (courtesy photo)

 

Jared Tucker, PVON Founder/Senior Journalist
plainsvalleyonlinenews@gmail.com

CLOVIS- A district court judge has handed down a 40-and-a-half year sentence to an Artesia man for a brutal 2012 attack and burglary of an elderly woman in Clovis.

According to a press release from the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, 35-year-old Richard Sena broke into the victim’s home in November 2012 around 3:30 a.m., where he proceeded to rape her at knife point and then stole several of her belongings including a phone, a gun and her wallet.
Investigators were able to track down Sena quickly by following his footsteps to a home five blocks away where he was found hiding in the backyard, the release said and was on parole for residential burglary.

“This crime had to be painfully embarrassing for the victim. No one should have to go through this. I’m just thankful she is alive,”  District Judge Stephen K. Quinn told the District Attorney’s office in an interview for the press release.

Sena was convicted of criminal sexual penetration, kidnapping, criminal sexual contact, armed robbery and aggravated burglary in May 2014.

Sena must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he can be eligible for lifetime parole, and must register as a sex offender.