Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Additional elementary students in Quay County didn’t begin classes after Labor Day as previously anticipated because it didn’t meet the state criteria for school reopenings. And Tucumcari Public Schools’ superintendent said he doesn’t anticipate the county meeting those coronavirus benchmarks soon. For schools in New Mexico to offer in-person classes to all elementary students by Sept. 8, their counties were required to have coronavirus case rates of less than 8 per 100,000 people and a COVID-19 test positivity rate below 5% from Aug. 19 to S...
Tucumcari Lake this summer is experiencing what could be described as a good insect infestation - especially when notorious saltcedar trees are involved. Jason Lamb, director and agriculture agent at the Quay County Extension Center, said he recently received two calls from residents asking about apparent damage to invasive saltcedar trees at the lake. Lamb went there and observed saltcedar beetles, also known as tamarisk beetles, and their larvae feeding on the trees. He verified the species...
Forty-five people visited the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum in Tucumcari on Saturday - the first time tourists had been able to tour its exhibits in more than five months. New Mexico's governor announced Thursday that museums with static, non-interactive displays could reopen Saturday at 25% capacity under an amended COVID-19 health order. The state's education chief also announced county criteria that would allow schools to partially reopen to in-person classes after Labor Day. Quay County...
LOGAN - Construction on the new U.S. 54 bridge over the Canadian River stands at 90% complete, with a projected opening to traffic this month or October. New roads were being built to the bridge last week, and the concrete span itself appeared to be largely finished. Travis Martinez, public information officer for District 4 of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, said during a phone interview Thursday the project was 90% finished. Because of minor change orders in the contract and...
The New Mexico Supreme Court last week unanimously rejected a temporary restraining order from an Eddy County judge that sought to stop enforcement of the state’s indoor-dining ban for restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Justices deliberated for less than an hour Wednesday afternoon before issuing the ruling from the bench. Three Democratic justices joined with the lone Republican and presiding justice, Judith Nakamura, on the decision. Justice Michael Vigil, a Democrat, recused himself from the case and did not state his reason for d...
An Albuquerque man remained detained in the Quay County jail this week after he was accused of leading police on a chase at speeds of up to 100 mph, crashed his car into a building in Tucumcari and later was found hiding in its attic. Anthony Vernone Lee Martinez, 22, was charged with aggravated fleeing law enforcement, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal damage to property of over $1,000, criminal trespassing and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. Three of the charges are fourth-degree felonies that can lead up to 18 m...
LOGAN - Ute Lake State Park reopened Wednesday on a limited basis for day-use recreation after being closed for two weeks when several employees there showed signs of coronavirus and later tested positive for the disease. The Logan Park area reopened, which includes the McFarland boat ramp, marina and marina boat ramp. "Other areas of the park would remain closed for the near future as the park manages in line with the public health order with reduced staff," stated public information officer...
A Tucumcari man implicated in setting a 2012 fire in a local veterinarian clinic that killed more than 70 animals avoided jail time when he was sentenced Wednesday in a plea deal on other crimes and alluded to his role in the blaze during the court hearing. The district attorney also mentioned the fire to the judge before sentencing and said the suspect was being investigated for other crimes that were “very concerning.” Kevin Ronnie Garcia, 28, confessed to the Tucumcari Animal Hospital fire to state police earlier this year when DNA lin...
Save for exhibitors and volunteers wearing masks, the annual Junior Livestock Show on Saturday night at the Quay County Fairgrounds appeared normal compared to previous editions - much to the relief of organizers. Quay County Fair board Chairman Justin Knight acknowledged after the sale he was grateful for a routine auction after the county's annual livestock shows were scaled down, then postponed, because of the COVID-19 pandemic that directly affected a board member a day before the...
Tom Sidwell, co-owner of the JX Ranch south of Tucumcari, was tapped last week to serve on the Mesalands Community College board of directors. Board Chairman Jim Streetman announced the appointment after a 20-minute closed session during the board's regular meeting Aug. 18. Sidwell takes over for Craig Currell, who died last month after an extended illness. The board unanimously approved Sidwell's appointment. "He should be a really good asset for our board," Streetman said after the vote....
Initial enrollment last week at Tucumcari Elementary School saw an 11% drop compared to last spring while enrollments at the middle and high schools were stable or slightly higher, according to numbers presented by their respective principals during a regular school board meeting last week. Principals also reported on how well students and staff were adjusting to COVID-19 restrictions after the first official day of school last Monday. Students in prekindergarten through third grade and special education were allowed to take in-person classes...
Improving internet broadband infrastructure and emergency radio coverage prompted the most discussion Monday during the Quay County Commission’s public hearing for its proposed infrastructure/capital improvement plan. The final wish list would be submitted to the state after the commission’s next meeting Sept. 14. It gives the New Mexico Legislature an outline on how to award capital-outlay funds during the next session. County emergency management coordinator Daniel Zamora said he thinks he can improve the county’s radio coverage for first res...
A fire with explosions last week that rocked an asphalt plant at Versatile Construction Co. on Tucumcari's north side caused alarm but no injuries. The fire billowed thick, black smoke high into the air that could be seen for miles around in the region. According to a news release Thursday from Fire Chief Doug Hogan, the fire was reported at 2:01 p.m. Aug. 18 at Versatile's asphalt plant at 800 W. Maple Ave. Firefighters who arrived two minutes later saw the entire plane engulfed with heavy...
Genesis Gardens Homestead on Tucumcari's north side has been growing green chile peppers for customers for nearly 20 years. Soon, Genesis Gardens' crop is all but assured it would earn the coveted New Mexico Certified Chile designation. Genesis co-owner Sally Baker said a member of the New Mexico Chile Association will visit her farm in the next week or two before it earns the certification. "They just have to see our fields and make sure we're compliant with the health rules, which we are,"...
TUCUMCARI - A Tucumcari man, presented with DNA evidence, recently confessed to setting a fire in 2012 that killed more than 70 animals at a local veterinarian clinic. However, the man has not been charged with any crime regarding the fire because the statute of limitations expired on the case more than two years ago. District Attorney Timothy Rose said he's "never had a case where I've been this aggravated that we were unable to seek justice" because of the rule of law. "It's a shame that case...
Ute Lake State Park in Logan will remain closed through Aug. 25 after several employees there tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release from the state Saturday afternoon. The park closed Wednesday after several park employees showed coronavirus-like symptoms. “On Tuesday, August 11th, during routine screening some employees reported a high temperature and were immediately sent home,” stated Susan Torres, public information officer with the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. “The Park was closed out o...
The Quay County 4-H/FFA Expo scheduled to begin last week in Tucumcari was postponed after a fair board member tested positive for COVID-19, and it remained uncertain whether it would be held during its rescheduled dates of Friday and Saturday this week. Fair board Chairman Justin Knight said during a telephone interview last week about 15 members of the board were possibly exposed during an Aug. 3 meeting at the Quay County Fairgrounds. He declined to identify the afflicted person. Lucas Bugg,...
The Mesalands Community College board of trustees last week authorized its chairman to pursue a plan for a presidential search and have conversations to fill a vacant trustee position. Trustees during a special meeting Aug. 11 unanimously voted to authorize Jim Streetman to meet with other college employees to discuss the search for a new president to replace John Groesbeck, who was fired in April. Streetman also is seeking someone to partially fill the term of Craig Currell, who died last month after an extended illness. The actions came...
The superintendent San Jon Municipal Schools last week presented a new policy for student attendance borne out of the coronavirus pandemic and a transition to online learning. Superintendent Janet Gladu said the Attendance for Success Act and an accompanying supplemental policy were to be implemented during the 2021-2022 school year, but the New Mexico Public Education Department enacted it this year. The act states school attendance data must be reported to the PED. “Students are expected to attend in-person or remote instructional p...
The scheduled start of classes Monday at Logan Municipal Schools officially was delayed Sunday night after a staff member tested positive last week for COVID-19, two other staff members showed symptoms of the disease, and many others were exposed. The school board during a special meeting Sunday night via the Zoom videoconference platform voted unanimously to delay the start of school to Sept. 8. Adding two Fridays each month to the fall semester would make up most of the lost instructional days. Another week would be added to the spring...
The Knights of Columbus-St. Anne’s Council 6937 officially will go inactive next week and its hall sold this month partly because of financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one of the council’s officers and a district deputy expressed optimism the Tucumcari organization would resurface in the coming months after a reorganization. The Tucumcari council posted an announcement Thursday on social media, announcing “with a heavy heart and hopeful wishes” the council has gone into inactive status. It cited the council...
The state on Thursday announced new guidelines that would allow family members to have outdoor visits this week with residents of long-term care facilities in 21 counties, including Quay. Earlier Thursday, the state also added exemptions to its quarantine rules for New Mexicans who have to travel out-of-state for medical and parenting reasons. Katrina Hotrum-Lopez, New Mexico's secretary of Aging and Long-Term Services, announced the new long-term care visitation guidelines during Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's weekly COVID-19 briefing. Nursing...
COVID-19 wasn't far from the minds of those involved with the Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center's annual field day. It wasn't just because the pandemic had forced the event to be held virtually for the first time. The Facebook event Thursday dedicated a moment of silence in memory of Paul Quintana, who died of COVID-19 complications in April after contracting the virus on a cruise ship in Florida. Quintana, who farmed and ranched in Quay County, was a founding member of the Tucumcari...
Though this year's county fair in Tucumcari contains a longer name, it is a scaled-down affair from previous editions because of COVID-19 restrictions. The Quay County Fair was rechristened Quay County 4-H/FFA Expo last month to reflect that many of its typical bells and whistles - carnival, vendors, home arts - would be absent this year. "It's going to be a boring show - just livestock," county agricultural agent Jason Lamb said last week during a telephone interview. "There's no vendors, no co...
The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory board and city officials on Wednesday discussed future tourism initiatives that included securing more billboards, erecting banners on the city’s light poles, hiring a full-time tourism manager and working on the city’s branding efforts. A few of those items likely would become action items at the board’s next meeting Sept. 9, when officials would complete a re-examination of the city budget amid COVID-19’s economic effects. Matt Bednorz, giving credit to fellow board member Al Patel for the idea, urged t...