Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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The Tucumcari City Commission finally funded the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce after months of wrangling, but not before losing the chamber’s director. City manager Paula Chacon told city commissioners during their Thursday meeting she received word several days before from chamber Vice President Lee Judd that the chamber’s executive director, Scott Crotzer, had resigned. Commissioners ultimately settled on using $27,000 in lodgers tax funds to fund the chamber during the current fiscal year — $12,000 to pay a part-time emplo...
Tucumcari city manager Paula Chacon told city commissioners Thursday at least eight of its buildings will need a full roof replacements after a hailstorm on May 25 ravaged the region. Those are the Tucumcari Convention Center, Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course pro shop, Tucumcari Senior Center, Tucumcari Community Development office, Del Norte Community Center, Tucumcari Recreation Center and the trailer office at the landfill. Chacon said the cost to replace the convention center’s roof will be about $...
A somewhat divided Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors last week allocated three inches of water per acre — the first time it had authorized the release of water from Conchas Lake in over three years. The vote during the board’s regular meeting July 11 was 3-1, with board member Debra Mitchell casting the only dissenting vote after a long pause when she visibly agonized over her decision. Board member John Griffiths made the motion to allocate water, and Larry Perkins seconded. Board member Jason Box was absent. Mitchell and sev...
SAN JON — San Jon Municipal Schools might receive a $30 million state grant to build a new school in exchange for less than $250,000 in new debt by the district. Superintendent Alan Umholtz said during the board’s July 12 meeting that New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority officials essentially have sweetened the offer for the proposed grant. He said the only requirement would be for the district to add $200,000 to $230,000 in bond debt. Umholtz said he anticipates the board will vote on a resolution during its August meeting to put suc...
The City of Tucumcari’s animal control department has impounded more than 150 dogs since February, and its crowded kennel remains “a revolving door” for those animals. Tucumcari Police Department Patrolman Elijah Huber, also a humane law enforcement officer who supervises the city’s animal control division, gave a report to the city commission during its regular meeting Thursday. The city has beefed up the department’s personnel with two new workers and an intern. Huber also said it has issued more citations for loose dogs. Because of the cr...
Quay County’s manager said Monday that state officials have assured him the county would qualify for a state disaster declaration due to May’s flood damage to numerous roads, including the destruction of a multimillion-dollar bridge. However, county manager Daniel Zamora told county commissioners that he and state officials remain hopeful the county instead would qualify for a federal disaster declaration. A federal declaration would reduce the county’s cost share from 25% to 12.5%. The county has until July 25 to submit damage claims to the s...
The Tucumcari Public Schools board on Thursday chose Jehu "J.D." Knapp to fill the last six months of Bo Wallace's term after he resigned last month. After the board unanimously approved Knapp's appointment, board President Heather Gonzales said Knapp would serve the rest of Wallace's term through Dec. 31. She said Knapp could opt to file for the November election next month. Knapp will be sworn into office during the board's next meeting in August. Wallace, who had served in District 5 in the...
The contents of a survey shocked a parent of a Tucumcari Public Schools student, and what she described surprised several TPS board members, as well. During the public discussion portion of the TPS school board’s meeting Thursday, Lisa Montoya said her teen son received a online health survey from Apex of Albuquerque containing sexually explicit questions that “horrified” her. Two New Mexico Department of Health officials contacted by Quay County Sun said this was the first complaint about the survey they’d heard in their years with the age...
Quay County's manager said Monday he would show storm damage to Federal Emergency Management Agency officials in an effort to receive a federal disaster declaration in the wake of last month's storms. County manager Daniel Zamora said state Homeland Security officials were "surprised" by the extent of flood damage to county roads after the May 25-26 storms. Zamora said he would show storm damage to FEMA officials on Thursday. He said state officials encouraged him to pursue the federal disaster...
City funding for the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce remained in limbo again after a motion for a $47,000 proposal died for the lack of a second during a city commission meeting Thursday. Commissioner Christopher Arias made the motion to approve the chamber funding plan for fiscal-year 2023-2024 with the understanding the chamber would submit quarterly reports and have “better communication” with the city. But the motion failed to attract a second from Mayor Ralph Moya or Commissioner Mike Cherry. Commissioner Paul Villanueva was abs...
A report last week by the chief financial officer and financial documents sent to the state indicate Mesalands Community College’s finances have improved significantly in recent months. At one point early this year, the college was in imminent danger of not making its payroll. A series of cost-reduction moves, including progressive pay cuts for employees, and emergency aid from the state kept the Tucumcari institution afloat. The board of trustees during its June 20 meeting approved budget adjustments and a revised 2023-2024 budget that r...
The Tucumcari Historical Museum that organized this year's Tucumcari Rawhide Days aimed to keep the festival alive as it underwent a leadership transition. It accomplished that, with robust crowds at the museum and at the Quay County Fairgrounds during the weekend. The event pays tribute to the "Rawhide" television show of the late 1950s and early 1960s that starred Tucumcari native Paul Brinegar and a young Clint Eastwood. Several scenes from the western drama were shot at ranches in the...
The Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors didn’t allocate any water during its regular meeting last week, and it couldn’t even if it wanted to. The district will need three to four weeks to repair damage to its irrigation canals after the May 25-26 storms brought hail and flooding to the region. But the district’s manager and president signaled optimism it could allocate water to farmers as soon as its next meeting in July, or sooner if members call a special meeting. District manager Franklin McCasland said in his report durin...
SAN JON — A usually routine approval of an Open Meetings Act resolution resulted in a change in the dates of future meetings of the San Jon Municipal Schools board. Board member Cynthia Lee during the board’s June 12 meeting suggested changing the date of its meetings for the 2023-2024 fiscal year from the second Monday of each month to the second Wednesday of each month. Lee said she suggested the change “for those who want to be more active” on the board but find it difficult to do so because of their work schedules. None of the other b...
If Tucumcari High School's new football coach doesn't succeed, it probably won't be because of a lack of effort. Tarik Embrack, who was informed on June 8 he got the job as the Rattlers' gridiron coach, repeatedly used the words "hard work" during a phone interview last week. He said he'll wake up early each day to prepare his players for practices and games. "I expect the kids to give the same energy," he said. "Over time, you develop those habits, you outwork your opponent, study film, doing...
Officials with Quay County and the City of Tucumcari are hoping for a federal disaster declaration that would make private property owners eligible for aid in addition to local agencies after last month's flooding and hail damage. Tucumcari city commissioners during their regular meeting Thursday unanimously approved a declaration of disaster that seeks state assistance. The declaration was similar to one that Quay County commissioners approved the same week. County manager Daniel Zamora said...
Tucumcari city commissioners on Thursday approved the purchase of five new vehicles, plus vehicle cameras, for the police department. A purchase of cameras for the police building itself was put on hold until it’s determined whether a local vendor would bid on the project. Another purchase of body cameras for officers was tabled until the city manager determines whether cannabis sales-tax revenue legally can be used for them. During a work session, Police Chief Patti Lopez presented bids of five Dodge Durangos from Stellantis Dodge of Kansas a...
The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board on Wednesday tabled Tucumcari MainStreet’s request for $3,000 in lodgers tax funds to help set up a streaming and advertising app with a local radio station. Board member Michael Carlson said the proposal was “vague.” He said it would be helpful if the written plan — which contained just a few sentences — would have more detail on the app’s advertising and events it would promote. Carlson moved to table the matter until the board’s next regular meeting on July 5, which was approved. Connie Loveland, exe...
The Tucumcari City Commission during a special meeting Wednesday approved a preliminary 2023-2024 budget that gives $1-an-hour raises to employees, with a $2-an-hour raise and a $5,000 retention bonus to police officers. The brief discussion and motion from Commissioner Mike Cherry and fellow commissioner Christopher Arias, who attended by phone, followed a three-hour work session earlier in the day. The budget passed unanimously, with Commissioner Paul Villanueva absent due to illness. Commissioners gathered during the work session to go over...
The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a declaration-of-disaster resolution after flash flooding severely damaged numerous county roads, with more rain forecast to be on the way. The declaration seeks to pave the way for state and federal funding for help cover the county's expenses for emergency repairs to washed-out roads. The resolution states that an intense storm on May 25 brought up to eight inches of rain in less than 12 hours in parts of the county. "The resulting 500-year flood,...
The Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce appeared Wednesday to reach an agreement in principle with Mayor Ralph Moya to provide $40,000 in lodgers tax executive funds to cover the chamber’s operations for the upcoming fiscal year. The city commission likely will act officially on the request at its next regular meeting on June 8. During the city commission’s previous regular meeting on May 25, commissioners did not act on the chamber’s request for $47,000 in executive lodgers tax funds, with $12,000 to operate the Tucumcari Visitors Cente...
The Tucumcari Public Schools board last week during a special meeting approved a 2023-2024 budget that includes about a $2 million reduction in its cash balance, primarily so the district can finish its ongoing ballpark redevelopment project. The budget projects a beginning cash balance of nearly $3.67 million that will be reduced to about $1.2 million by the end of the fiscal year. Much of the cash will be used to complete renovations of the high school baseball and softball fields, including the construction of dressing rooms and a...
The Mesalands Community College board of trustees on Wednesday night during a special meeting approved an $8.61 million preliminary budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and several budget adjustments in the current year. The financially stressed college faced a June 1 deadline to submit its budget to the state. The board had been scheduled to approve it during its regular meeting the previous week, but officials said they needed more time to complete financial data. The budget adjustments and preliminary budget are subject to approval from the...
TUCUMCARI -- A jogger encountered the pack of five dogs shortly before they fatally mauled a Tucumcari man in February, and two men approached the bloody scene when the victim still was alive. That’s according to a state police report, which also showed the victim died of blood loss after the attack. The 21-page report was issued by New Mexico State Police agent Eric Fouratt. The Quay County Sun obtained the report last week through a public-records request submitted shortly after the Feb. 1 attack near 11th Street and Gamble Avenue. Mary O...
Quay County's manager said he might request a state disaster declaration after flooding Thursday night and Friday damaged roads and destroyed a multimillion-dollar bridge days from its completion. In Tucumcari, a severe hailstorm that night damaged innumerable vehicles and roofs, and the torrential rain that came with the storm caused widespread flooding. Several buildings closed at least temporarily due to large hailstones tearing through roofs, allowing rainwater to pour inside. Sinkholes and...