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JAL � EUNICE � HOBBS � LOVINGTON � TATUM � SEMINOLE � DENVER CITY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

Community News

The 2013 United WayCHILI FEST is sched-uled for 11 a.m.-3 p.m.Sept. 28 in the parkinglot at the Lea CountyEvent Center. Therewill be food, music, acar show and lots ofgames and activities.Registrations for theChili Fest can be foundat unitedwayoflea-county.org and bedelivered to the UnitedWay office at 320 N.Shipp.

The EUNICE BOYSCOUTS are hosting aRound Up at the BoyScout hut on 16thStreet starting at 6p.m. Thursday. Formore information, call622-3461 or 443-3383.

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226 W. VegaHobbs, NM

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auto • home • life • commercial

TODD BAILEYNEWS-SUN

Max Clampitt was a man of service.As a teenager, Max worked at the

C.R. Anthony and G.F. Wackers stores,helping customers with their shop-ping.

As a young man, he enlisted in theMarines and fought for his country insuch hotspots as the battle of Tawara

during World War II and in the KoreanWar.

Max worked for the U.S. PostalService for 29 years, making sureHobbs residents received their birth-day and Christmas cards on time, aswell as those pesky monthly bills.

But he was mostly known as a civilservant of Hobbs and Eunice for morethan 25 years. He served as a Eunice

city councilman and as a Hobbs citycommissioner and mayor.

Max died last Monday at the age of88. A memorial service was held forhim Saturday at Christian CenterChurch in Hobbs.

Friends and colleagues surroundedthe large group of relatives asthoughtful and humorous storieswere told of Max, who migrated from

Oklahoma to Jal with his family in1937.

He married Wilma Campbell in 1949and raised two children, Mike andDonna.

Mike entertained the audience witha list of colorful sayings, termed“Maxisms”– from “Cherry Blossom,”which Mike said his father called

Former mayor remembered for community service

KIMBERLY RYAN/NEWS-SUN

Valve replacementWater valve work at Bender and Dal Paso is expected to be finished by mid-September. Traffic has been nar-rowed to one lane in parts of the intersection.

FOR THE NEWS-SUNIn June, Hobbs-area commerce gen-

erated the third-highest revenuesamong New Mexico cities, and theresulting August tax disbursement tothe City of Hobbs shattered the previ-ous record.

The state’s Taxation and RevenueDepartment reported nearly $390million in gross receipts withinthe Hobbs city limits in the month

of June.Of that amount a record $6.9 million

is slated to head back to Hobbs fromthe state. According to the website ofthe Hobbs Chamber of Commerce,which compiles and reports commer-cial data, the second-highest GRTcheck sent to the city was nearly $6.6million last October.

“Essential services provided by thecity are underwritten by commerce

generated by Hobbs businesses,”Hobbs Chamber Executive GrantTaylor said. “It’s our city sales tax —not income taxes or property taxes —that enables the city to pave roads andpay firefighters.”

Hobbs City Manager J.J. Murphysaid the city will see $6.4 million ofthat return headed into the city’s gen-eral fund, which funds police, fire andother city services. About $500,000 of

the $6.9 million goes to pay offfinanced projects, such as improve-ments to the city’s wastewater treat-ment plant.

“It is absolutely a record,” he said.“Our economy is still going strong andour commission and city governmentis going to continue to reinvest themoney into improving the quality of

City sets another revenue record

CLAYTON JONESNEWS-SUN

The prestigious Hobbs boys basketballprogram will make its big-screen debutFriday as the documentary “16 Banners”will be released at Eagle 9 Allen Theatersin Hobbs.

The film, directed by Charlie Minn, is alook back at how an oil town in southeastNew Mexico became a basketball powerunder the guidance of legendary coachRalph Tasker and now owns a state-record 16 championships with an illus-trious history that has seen more upsthan downs.

“This film is like going down memorylane,” Minn said. “It’s going to make youfeel young again. People are going to be‘Oh my god that’s me’ or ‘That’s myuncle.’ It’s an emotional film and some-thing the community should be proudabout.”

Tickets are on sale now at Eagle 9. Theshow times for Friday — along withMonday-Thursday later in the week —are 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.For Saturday and Sunday, the show timeswill be 11:45 a.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 7 p.m.

Hobbs hoops film debuts Friday

LEVI HILLNEWS-SUN

The Economic DevelopmentCorporation of Lea County willsoon be going through the process offinding a new president.

After six years of service to theEDC, Lisa Hardison is resigning herposition to accept an employmentoffer with URENCO USA.

Gary Schubert, EDC board chair-man, will be leading the efforts tofind a replace-ment forH a r d i s o n .Schubert indicat-ed that the searchprocess will beginimmediately.

“We are veryproud that Lisahas this newopportunity andeven more pleasedthat she willremain in Lea County. Lisa hasmade many positive contributionsto the EDC, and the organizationhas thrived under her leadership,”he said. “Lisa’s story is a testimonythat the EDC is accomplishing ourmission of diversifying the econo-my and creating new jobs. A strongeconomy allows great employees,like Lisa, to find new career oppor-tunities within our community.”

During her tenure, Hardisonworked on the air service project,the branding of Lea County as the

EDCchiefresigns

Hardison

SEE HARDISON, Page 4SEE BANNERS, Page 4

SEE REVENUE, Page 4

SEE CLAMPITT, Page 3

life, public safety and housingopportunities here in Hobbs.”

State records show the statetransferred more than $70 mil-lion in GRT to the City ofHobbs during its July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013 fiscal year.

Year-over-year, businessactivity of many industriesstayed fairly flat.

Those companies classifiedas “mining, quarrying, and oiland gas extraction” posted atwo percent increase in Juneover the same time the previ-ous year.

Major upticks came fromconstruction, which posted a27 percent increase year-over-year, and wholesale trade near-ly doubled with a 97 percentincrease.

Las Cruces has been a regu-lar benchmark for the HobbsChamber in terms of GRT. TheBorderplex city of about100,000 has received compara-ble distributions for its shareof GRT, but the Hobbs’ Augustdistribution of nearly $6.9 mil-lion left Las Cruces in the dust.Las Cruces received a GRT dis-bursement of just over $6 mil-lion.

“For our city to be roughly athird in population, and tohave a lower GRT rate, it reallysays a lot about the commer-cial vitality in Hobbs when wecan bank equal — if notgreater — tax disbursements,”Taylor said.

Total August GRT distribu-tions in communities of simi-lar size, like Clovis (population

37,775) and Alamogordo (popu-lation 30,403), were $2.2 millionand $1.6 million, respectively.

Hosting similar industries inthe natural gas-rich San JuanBasin, Farmington (popula-tion 45,877) brought in justover $4 million.

“In 2011, we were celebratingcrossing the $5 million GRTthreshold,” Taylor said. “Thenwe crossed $6 million in 2012,and now here we are, right onthe cusp of $7 million with thislatest distribution. We oweHobbs-area businesses a big‘thank you.’”

Although the gross receiptstax is imposed on businesses,they commonly pass on the taxto purchasers either by sepa-rately stating it on invoices or

by combining the tax with thesales price. Of June’s $390 mil-lion in gross receipts, $215 mil-lion was taxable.

Hobbs’ total posted grossreceipts tax rate of 6.8125 per-cent includes the state’s shareof 5.125 percent. After the statecollects its portion, the statethen disburses the remainderto the city. About two monthselapse between the time agiven transaction is recordedand the city’s actual receipt ofthe GRT check from the state.

“Residents are staying inHobbs to eat, shop and playbecause more and more, theycan find it in Hobbs,” Taylorsaid. “When you find it InHobbs, you really make a dif-ference.”

ftÄâàxáRosa Espinoza

2 years

Rosa is a woman who is versatile and can accomplishmany different activities skillfully; a Jill of all Trades.

Young’s is fortunate to have such a resourcefulmultipurpose person as Rosa. She is called upon each day

for one of her many skills. She can be trusted to followthrough until the job is completed. Throughout her life, Rosa

has been extremely devoted to her father; a father who wanted herto be self-reliant. So he taught her to be independent while teaching her to care for andtrain horses. To this day she loves riding, training, and grooming horses and would becontent to spend her days doing all that. In 1970 at age fifteen, she came to the UnitedStates from Mexico, acquired her citizenship, married and had three children. Though themarriage didn’t last, she did gain the same self-sufficiency from her husband as he taughther a broad range of skills. She has used those skills to repair, restore and refurbish herhouses in Mexico, Roswell and Hobbs. She is also an excellent cook and experiencedseamstress. She is one of those gifted individuals who can create a Quinceañera,Communion or Prom dress from a photo. Rosa has two daughters and one son; onedaughter is a teacher in Texas and the other works as a computer support technician. Herson works for a local oilfiled company. She is very proud that he was honored with adistinguished medal for his translation skills while serving with the U. S. Navy. She hasthree grandsons and one granddaughter. Rosa, we could look far and wide and not finda more valued member of our team! Thank you for all you do.

– The Johncox Family and Young’s Staff

FROM THE FRONT PAGE 4HOBBS NEWS-SUN • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

EnergyPlex, the ongoing development of theIntercontinental Potash Inc. planned potashmine, the ongoing development ofInternational Isotopes and its planned nucleardeconversion facility and the Joule Unlimitedfacility built west of Hobbs.

“One of the most rewarding and memorablemoments during my tenure at the EDC was theevening that the first United Airlines planelanded at the Lea Regional Airport,” Hardisonsaid. “It was a very proud moment for mebecause so many people had dedicated so muchtime and effort to making this project happen. Ibelieve that securing commercial air service forLea County was one of the most important eco-nomic development initiatives to date. It is aninvestment in our future and gives Lea Countya competitive edge when vying for projects.”

When talking about Hardison’s impact duringher tenure, Schubert said Hardison was a “can-do” person with a high set of standards for theEDC.

“The EDC is often referred to as a model

organization within New Mexico’s economicdevelopment profession and I attribute that suc-cess to the progress that has been made over thelast several years,” Schubert said.

Hardison said the decision to leave was diffi-cult.

“It was a difficult decision to resign my posi-tion because I truly enjoy every aspect of thisjob, but I am confident that the organizationwill have a smooth transition as it seeks a newpresident and chief executive officer,” she said.

“One of the most rewarding parts of servingas the EDC president has been seeing the prideand excitement of the residents when a newindustrial or retail project is announced,” sheadded. “It is also rewarding when people fromall around the state of New Mexico recognizethe progress that Lea County has made andwish that their community was more like ours.Lea County is a great place to work and live andI’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity toserve our community in this role.”

Hardison said she believes the best is yet tocome for Lea County.

Levi Hill can be reached at 391-5438 orreporter2@hobbsnews.com.

Hardisonfrom PAGE 1

and 9:15 p.m.The movie is scheduled to be

at Eagle 9 for a week.Minn came to Hobbs in

April to interview severalpeople around the program,including former players andcurrent head coach MikeSmith and assistant coachVince Taylor.

Minn also interviewed for-mer Arkansas coach NolanRichardson, who often creditsTasker as a major influencefor his press, as well as 2008Hobbs grad and NBA playerJeffery Taylor, former News-Sun sports editor and editorManny Marquez, Tasker’sdaughters Nancy and DianeTasker, former Hobbs coachRuss Gilmore and manymore.

“People were very honest inthis movie,” Minn said. “Ibelieve it’s a very accurateportrayal of this program.From the press, the tradi-tions, the summer league, therivalry with Clovis, though Idon't know if I’d call it a rival-ry. It’s been more of a ham-mer and the nail relationshipwith Hobbs winning 75 per-cent of the games. But it'sbeen great to dive into thisgreat Hobbs basketball pro-gram. ...

“I can’t be more excitedabout this film coming out.This is so overdue for theHobbs community. Theydeserve it. With the tradition,the excellence, and the colos-sal number of championshipsthis program has, this issomething they do deserve.”

Minn is a former sportscast-er (once working inAlbuquerque) who has madeover 10 documentaries since2010 — most focused on true-crime. Minn isn’t unfamiliarwith doing sports documen-taries, however, as he’s donefilms on the Mayfield-LasCruces rivalry (CrucesDivided, 2010) and on the 1976Texas state championship ElPaso Eastwood boys basket-ball team (March of theTroopers, 2013).

Minn said “16 Banners” —which is 88 minutes long, cor-responding with the last yearRalph Tasker won a statechampionship — mainlyfocuses on the success of theEagles program but does diveinto some other areas, partic-ularly the controversialdeparture of Tasker in thelate 1990s.

“If I was going to tell you theTasker departure part of thefilm was all rosy and greatthen I’d be lying,” Minn said.

“People were very honestabout it. But this isn’t a nega-tive film. I’d say 90 percent ofthis film is positive. The partwhere (Tasker) left makes upthat 10 percent. A lot of peo-ple were upset about it andthat’s what it is. No programis perfect. You had coach(Russ) Gilmore who won fivetitles in 10 years and then hadan under .500 season and heresigned. You show me a per-fect program, I’ll show you aperson who probably isn’ttelling the truth.”

Minn will be at Eagle 9 todayand Monday selling copies ofhis Juarez documentary trilo-gy. With a purchase of DVD,he’ll be giving out a small ver-sion of the “16 Banners”poster. Also portions of theproceeds of the Juarez DVDsgo to victims in Juarez.

On Wednesday Minn andHobbs boys basketball coachMike Smith will have a meetand greet at Hastings inHobbs.

Bannersfrom PAGE 1

Revenuefrom PAGE 1 ATTENTION LEA COUNTY

Persons taking Surveys &Registering Voters in the Name ofConservatism Are not From Your

Good Old Trusted Lea CountyRepublican Party.

If you want to register to vote,pleaseLeave a message at Republicans

Headquarters. 575-393-5419

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) —Environmentalists havereached settlements with theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicethat will allow for directreleases of captive wolves intoNew Mexico as part of the fed-eral government’s efforts tore-establish the species in theSouthwest.

The agreements also call forthe agency to drop plans forcapturing any wolves thatenter New Mexico or Arizonafrom Mexico. The agency isalso proposing expanding thearea where wolves are allowedto establish territories.

The agency first unveiled aproposal in June that calledfor giving Mexican graywolves more room to roam inNew Mexico and Arizona.Independent scientists andenvironmentalists have beenpushing for more room and forreleases of captive wolves inNew Mexico for years, sayingsuch actions would bolster thesuccess of the recovery effort.

But on Friday, U.S. Rep. StevePearce, R-N.M., criticized theproposed expansion of theprogram. He said millions ofdollars have been spent overthe last decade and the wolfpopulation has yet to recover.

“Even worse, these decisionsare not being made by the peo-ple, or even by elected offi-cials, but by the special-inter-est lawyers at the Center forBiological Diversity,” Pearcesaid. “It is outrageous andunacceptable that NewMexicans’ lives and liveli-hoods are being put at riskand our tax dollars wasted.”

Pearce contends that themanagement of the wolf popu-lation should be turned over tothe state government.

The Mexican wolf was addedto the federal endangeredspecies list in 1976.

Pearce blastsgray wolfsettlement