Week of January 15, 2025
Week of January 15, 2025
A Tucumcari man accused of attempted murder after a shooting at a local health clinic will remain behind bars without bail as his case winds through the court system. District Judge David Reeb on Friday granted prosecutors' requests for pretrial detention for Anthony Kent, 56, who was charged after shooting at and wounding James Hutchison in the hip and ankle after an argument in front of the Quay County Family Health Center on Dec. 30. Kent also is accused of shooting at Hutchison's wife,...
A man once considered to be a kidnapping victim after an apartment shooting in September in Tucumcari now is wanted on a felony charge of harboring a felon and other counts. Tucumcari Magistrate Judge Noreen Hendrickson issued an arrest warrant on Jan. 7 for Nathaniel Marcus Estergo, 22, of Tucumcari on charges of harboring a felon, tampering with evidence and making a false report. The harboring and tampering charges each are fourth-degree felonies that can lead up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. Estergo was not in custody as...
The great philosopher Will Rogers said a century ago, “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” We believe our newspapers are on the right track as we move through the ever-changing landscape of the 21st century. And we’ll be making some significant changes this year in effort to remain a valuable asset to our communities. Some highlights: — Beginning next month, we’ll be rolling the Quay County Sun into our regional publication, The Eastern New Mexico News. That print edition will come out...
The Arch and Ola Hurley House in Tucumcari recently was designated to the National Register of Historic Places. The designation for the century-old home became official on Jan. 3, according to an email Friday from the National Park Service, which administers the National Register program. The home at 117 W. High St., a block-and-frame structure built in 1918 on a nearly half-acre lot, was noted as an excellent example of a Craftsman-style house in Tucumcari, according to the National Register...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Jan. 6 to Jan. 12: — Donald Bruhn, 52, Tucumcari, escape or attempt to escape from jail, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and four counts of felony contempt of court. — Robert D. Ferguson, 37, Tucumcari, attempt to commit a felony (to wit, breaking and entering), criminal damage to property (under $1,000) and disorderly conduct. — Danish William Pervez, 33, Phoenix, contempt of court. — Johnathan James Martinez, 31, Tucumcari, parole violation. ...
A virtual hearing with the U.S. Department of Energy officials didn't allay concerns or skepticism of Quay County commissioners and many audience members about a proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor in the eastern part of the county. More than 30 people showed up for Monday's commission meeting, prompting a move from its usual chambers to the more spacious second-floor courtroom of the Quay County Courthouse. The commission in October sent a letter to the DOE, informing it...
Dorothy Marie Kvols, a longtime director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, died at a nursing home in Colorado in November. She was less than two weeks from her 101st birthday. Kvols led the Tucumcari-based chamber for about 35 years, according to her obituary. She also was active in the Tucumcari chapter of Altrusa International sorority, the Red Hat Ladies group and the Center Street Methodist Church in Tucumcari. Dorothy Marie Thompson Kvols was born Nov. 19, 1923, in Laurel, Nebraska. She married her husband, Damon Kvols,...
The winter storm that struck the Quay County region on Thursday didn't contain a lot of snow, but it still packed a punch. The storm prompted local schools and governments to close early, postponed events and forced the closings of several highways because of vehicle accidents, including eastbound Interstate 40 on Thursday night into late Friday morning. Dozens of trucks and other vehicles with nowhere to go clogged east Route 66 and the exit and entrance ramps around Tucumcari through Friday...
The New Mexico Supreme Court struck down ordinances by counties and cities that would have restricted abortions or regulated abortion clinics or providers. The court’s unanimous opinion on Thursday invalidated ordinances by Roosevelt and Lea counties and the cities of Clovis and Hobbs that attempted to restrict access to abortion services. The court issued an order — a writ of mandamus — prohibiting the local governments from enforcing the ordinances. “Our Legislature granted to counties and municipalities all powers and duties not...
The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board recommended the city proceed with obtaining price quotes for 300 banners and hardware for streetlights on the Main Street, First Street and Route 66 corridors. John Echols, account executive for Amarillo-based Gray Digital Media, the city's tourism marketer, on Wednesday presented to the board three banner draft designs and a preliminary price quote for them. Echols estimated the 2-by-3-foot, sun-resistant banners and the hardware for about 300...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Jan. 6 to Jan. 12: Jan. 6 — 1:56 a.m.: Burglary from vehicle in 1400 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. — 5:22 a.m.: Prowler in 500 block of East High Street, Tucumcari. — 11:11 a.m.: Threat at Adams Street and East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 12:46 p.m.: Juvenile problem in 400 block of North First Street, Tucumcari. — 1:42 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 200 block of West High Street, Tucumcari. — 2:50 p.m.: Found property in 1700...
On this date ... 1975: Three Tucumcari police officers were commended by the FBI for their alertness and cooperation in apprehending a suspect in a stolen car last fall. Sgt. Pete Rivera and officers Henry Todara and John Mascarenas in November detained the suspect in a car that had been stolen from a drug-abuse program in Virginia. The suspect had been an enrollee in the program. The commendation letter was signed by FBI special agent in charge William Meincke. — Monthly telephone bills would be slightly lower this month due to a 1%...
Feb. 1 — Jump Rope Challenge. The Quay County Health Council is hosting this event for all age groups from 10 a.m. to noon at the Quay County Fairgrounds Expo Center. Each participant will jump in two, 30-second rounds to determine his or her average. Register for the event by Jan. 20 to receive a free professional jump rope. Register at forms.gle/LLb4DDXFVosvc4Uu7 or text (575) 815-4575 for the link. Feb. 7 — Read with a Dog at Tucumcari Public Library. Join therapy dog Pearl for a special dog-themed story hour featuring the classic...
Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Egg, sausage and cheese biscuit sandwich, blueberry overnight oats, fresh pear, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Chicken Alfredo with broccoli pasta bake, buffalo chicken wrap, dinner roll, seasoned peas, garden side salad, ranch dressing, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Whole grain donut ring, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, banana, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Bean and...
The Tucumcari boys basketball team started fast against Class 3A contender Bosque but wilted because of turnovers and poor shooting during a 57-41 loss Saturday to the Bobcats at THS' basketball homecoming. The Rattlers (5-5) jumped to an 11-2 lead in the first quarter and had the THS fans roaring. "They came out ready to play, very excited," Bosque coach Clifton Davidson said, "and we weren't ready for the intensity and the effort that Tucumcari was putting out at the beginning of the game....
You wouldn't know it from the final score, but Bosque hung in there against heavily favored Tucumcari during its girls basketball clash Saturday at Rattler Gymnasium. The Lady Rattlers led by just 10 points at intermission but outscored the largely overmatched Bobcats 47-5 in the second half during a 74-22 victory at THS' basketball homecoming. It was Tucumcari's season-high for points scored. Cambree Benavidez, a sophomore, led the Lady Rattlers (10-3) with 22 points. Caylee Benavidez, her...
Another weekend, another tournament title for Tucumcari standout wrestler Josh Pacheco. The senior, competing in the 152-pound weight class, won all four of his bouts Saturday at the 20-team Sammy Vivian Invitational tournament at Socorro, including defeating Aztec’s Zach Sanders by pin in the championship. “He had to earn it,” THS coach Tim Clark said, noting he toughed out a bout against Isaiah Chavez of Las Cruces in the semifinal. Against Sanders, “Josh actually was losing in the third period, but he was able to turn it and pin...
Local basketball fans can only speculate how the No. 1-ranked Logan boys basketball team would have done at the Eastern Plains Athletic Conference Tournament, better known as EPAC. Last week’s annual eastern New Mexico tournament, scheduled to be hosted by Texico this year, was postponed, then canceled after a snowstorm rolled through the region on Thursday and caused hazardous driving conditions through much of Friday. The Clovis region received about six inches of snow. “Stay safe and warm, and we’ll see you at EPAC next year!...
It’s easy to blame California’s Democrats for the devastating fires that killed at least 16 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles last week. It’s the Democrats in charge of the state of California who have been tearing down dams to protect fish and please environmentalists instead of making sure Los Angeles is sent enough water from the northern part of the state. It’s the Democrats running Los Angeles who have not been clearing the volatile grass and brush that has built up on the mountainsides...
Here’s a crazy idea: Instead of following the federal government’s lead away from cleaner energy sources, New Mexico could lead the way toward a more sustainable energy future anyway. Last November, Travis Kellerman, a senior policy adviser for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, attended the United Nations’ latest conference on climate change, also known as COP29. When he returned, he recalled the “uncertainty in the air” as questions loom large about future U.S. involvement under our incoming president. “Yet amidst the unease,...
One twenty-fourth of 2025 has passed. President Trump’s second inauguration is next Monday, which for most voters foretells a brighter future for the USA. On that same day, we’ll remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a pioneer in America’s brighter future three generations ago, if 20 years is considered a generation. According to various websites in a Google search for “generations,” four generations have come about since 1963 when King made his “I Have a Dream” speech near the end of the birth years of the baby...
While New Orleans and Las Vegas are still attempting to process the New Year’s Day violence that gripped their cities, some are trying to capitalize perversely (and unsuccessfully) on such tragedies. Even before the dust settled, a number of conservatives rushed to social media to blame both events on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Among them was House Majority Leader Steve Scalise who said “some of these agencies have gotten so wrapped up in the DEI movement” that they ignore security altogether. “Call it...
