Walmart reopening still up in air
Oct. 28—Shipping containers and heavy equipment crowd the Clovis Walmart's parking lot, evidence the construction process is in full swing. But Walmart officials remain tight lipped about reopening plans following the Sept. 3 fire that shut down the region's largest retailer.
Walmart spokesman Joe Pennington said Friday the goal is to make the store operational again, but he provided no additional information.
The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico did announce last week that it's received a $100,000 grant from Walmart Foundation. That will allow for an extended series of mobile food pantries this holiday season.
"With the generous support of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, we will be able to serve 1,000 more families in addition to the 4,000 plus families the food bank serves each month in Eastern New Mexico. This support will last through the start of next year," Dianna Sprague, executive director of Food Bank of ENM stated in a news release.
Communities that will be hosting the mobile food pantries:
— Clovis
— Portales
— Tucumcari
— Logan
— Melrose
— Fort Sumner
The food bank will also be working with the Salvation Army and local church pantries to ensure they have plenty of food for the holiday season, Sprague said.
Also last week, plans were finalized to formally recognize first responders to the Walmart fire. The Committee of 50 Cannon Air Force Base support group, the city of Clovis, Walmart and the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce are hosting a ceremony at 5 p.m. Monday in the Ingram Room of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.
"(We) would like to express ... gratitude not only to Clovis first responders, but to the various other agencies who responded to the Walmart fire," Clovis Mayor Mike Morris stated in a news release.
