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  • $2-an-hour raises suggested for deputies, road workers

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 17, 2023

    Quay County’s manager suggested $1-an-hour raises for most employees and $2-an-hour pay hikes for sheriff’s deputies and road workers during a budget work session Monday for the forthcoming fiscal year. Daniel Zamora recommended the bigger raises for the county’s highway department, which has been struggling to fill positions for months, to make its pay more competitive. That would bring the pay for workers with commercial driver’s licenses to $16 an hour. The pay could be as much as $19 an hour for a mechanic’s position. Commissio...

  • Conchas Lake levels rise only slightly

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 17, 2023

    Conchas Lake saw a mild increase in its levels during the past month, but not enough for the Arch Hurley Conservancy District’s board of directors to allocate water. District manager Franklin McCasland reported during the board’s May 9 meeting the elevation of Conchas Lake reached 4,162.7 feet that morning, nearly a foot higher than the previous month. The district typically needs the lake to reach 4,174 feet before it can release water from the lake into its canals. The lake received 3,246 acre-feet of inflow during April, with 2,224 acr...

  • Melrose stuns Logan in title game

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 17, 2023

    ALBUQUERQUE - For once, it wasn't the Longhorns' day. District rival Melrose - especially starting pitcher Dathan Yeary - dashed Logan's dreams for a third straight Class 1A baseball title and an undefeated season by seizing a 10-run lead at one point during a 13-7 victory Saturday at the Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex. The victory was especially sweet for the Buffaloes (12-5), the No. 3 seed in the tournament, after the top-seeded Longhorns conquered them three previous times du...

  • District 3 choice will take a while longer

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 10, 2023

    Filling a months-long vacancy for District 3 on the Tucumcari City Commission will take a while longer. Because of what he characterized as a “misunderstanding,” Mayor Ralph Moya said during a special commission meeting last Wednesday the city again would take applications for the open seat through 4 p.m. May 17 and advertise it in the Quay County Sun. After that, Moya said the commission would place filling the vacancy on its May 25 meeting agenda. Moya said even those who submitted applications for the position earlier this year must re-...

  • Pay raises likely for city workers

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 10, 2023

    At least two Tucumcari city commissioners said during a work session last Wednesday they wanted to give at least $1-an-hour raises to employees during the next fiscal year. Commissioners held the session to discuss the fiscal-year 2024 budget. The commission scheduled another work session for 3:30 p.m. May 23, which is when city manager Paula Chacon said she would have more solid financial data after meeting with all city department heads. City finance director Rachelle Arias told commissioners the city’s coffers were looking “pretty favorable...

  • Shotgun pellets damage couple's home

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 10, 2023

    On the afternoon in April 21, Donnie and Lora Goode were in their rural Tucumcari trailer when they heard a loud bang. The Goodes found a large hole in the back window of their residence he knew came from a firearm projectile. They called the Quay County Sheriff's Office, and they found seven holes in their trailer caused by a shotgun discharge. "Once inside, she pointed out a line of travel of the projectile they dislodge prior to my arrival," wrote sheriff's Sgt. Rudy Vallejo in his report....

  • County may hire new lobbyist at next meeting

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 10, 2023

    Quay County commissioners asked the county manager to draw up a possible contract for the Hull Consulting of Albuquerque and obtain quotes from two other lobbying firms for action at its next meeting on May 22. Commissioners chatted with and asked questions of the principals of Hull Consulting — Art Hull and Kim Legant — during their regular meeting Monday after Commissioner Jerri Rush requested a personal meeting with them during a previous meeting. The county’s attorney, Warren Frost of Logan, previously recommended hiring the Hull firm...

  • Lodgers tax board hears, tables four requests for funds

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 10, 2023

    The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board heard four requests for funds but tabled decisions on them until they could get more solid numbers on the fiscal-year 2024 budget from the city manager. The board during its regular meeting Wednesday looked over applications for $3,873 for Rattler Reunion, $10,500 for Wheels on Fire 100 bicycle race, $4,000 for a charity golf tournament for the Mesalands Community College Foundation and $115,000 for Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course for new equipment. Addressing fiscal concerns from board Chairman Matt...

  • Huffman wins two state titles for THS

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 10, 2023

    ALBUQUERQUE - Haisley Huffman became the first Tucumcari girls athlete to win multiple events at a state meet in more than 20 years. The junior used a clutch final attempt to repeat as Class 3A champion in the long jump on Friday. The next day, she broke a school record by winning the triple jump - an event she began practicing for only a few weeks ago. Tucumcari track coach and athletic director Wayne Ferguson said it had been at least two decades since a Lady Rattler had won two individual...

  • Longhorns nab 1A track title

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 10, 2023

    ALBUQUERQUE - Thanks in part to Haden Judd winning four events in record fashion, the Logan boys captured their first team title since 2016 during the Class 1A-3A Track & Field Championships on Saturday. The Longhorns finished with 93 points, well ahead of district rival and state runner-up Melrose's 74 1/2 points for the Class 1A trophy. Fort Sumner finished third with 62 points. The Logan girls finished runner-up during the state meet at the UNM Track-Soccer Complex, finishing behind only...

  • Primrose elected chair of MCC board

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 3, 2023

    Former Quay County manager Richard Primrose attended his first meeting Thursday as a member of the Mesalands Community College board of trustees, then he promptly was elected chair of that body. Early in the meeting, acting chair Teresa Stephenson said the board's policies required a new election of a chair. The previous chair, Jim Streetman, resigned in March after more than 30 years on the board. Board member Tom Sidwell nominated Stephenson as chair, and Phillip Box seconded it. Board member...

  • Number of findings jump in FY21 MCC audit

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 3, 2023

    The number of findings in a fiscal-year 2021 audit for financially troubled Mesalands Community College more than tripled compared to the previous year, and the findings were more serious. The report, released by the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor last week after its submission in early April, contained 17 total findings, including nine material weaknesses (the most serious type), seven significant deficiencies, one material noncompliance finding and three repeated or modified findings. The audit covers the fiscal year that ended June...

  • Tucumcari hosts second film fest

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 3, 2023

    The second annual Tucumcari Film Festival likely will have a repeat competitor when the event returns next April. That would be Brandon Martinez, a student who just completed his third year in cinematic arts and technology at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. He won the Best New Mexico Student Works honor for his short film, "Foresight." Martinez explained during the awards ceremony Saturday night at the Tucumcari Railroad Museum it was the first honor he'd earned for one of...

  • THS softball notches first district win

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|May 3, 2023

    Tucumcari's softball team finally notched its first district win of the season Wednesday largely because its pitcher's bat. Senior Juli Rivera hit a two-run homer over the left-field fence, helping fuel a nine-run rally in the fifth inning during a 21-20 victory over East Mountain. The home run was the first over-the-fence dinger for the Lady Rattlers this season, though they've hit several inside-the-park homers. Rivera, who also earned a complete-game pitching victory, also hit two doubles...

  • Attorney wants county to get new lobbyist

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 26, 2023

    Quay County government’s attorney, alleging a conflict of interest with its current lobbyist, on Monday suggested to commissioners the county share the cost of another lobbying firm being considered by the Village of Logan. Warren Frost of Logan said the county’s lobbyist, Clinton D. Harden & Associates, has showed to have a conflict of interest with other Clovis-area clients regarding Tucumcari’s longstanding bid to land a horse-racing track and casino and Logan’s fight to stop the Ute Lake water pipeline project to the Clovis region. “It see...

  • Tucumcari Elementary to begin classes 5 minutes earlier

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 26, 2023

    School for Tucumcari Elementary students will begin five minutes earlier this fall due to additional, state-mandated instruction time. The Tucumcari Public Schools board approved a calendar for the 2023-2024 school year during its April 17 meeting that also included two additional teaching days on Friday for the middle school and high school. Assistant superintendent Dave Johnson said despite the state mandating additional instruction time, the TPS calendar is “pretty traditional.” Because TES cannot use as much professional development tim...

  • Oversight of biz startup funds questioned

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 19, 2023

    The director of the Tucumcari’s economic development arm said during a city commission work session Thursday that no reports on a state grant program for small businesses have been produced since at least 2018, and he wondered whether those funds were being used for their intended purposes. Tucumcari’s city manager, however, said after the meeting she wasn’t worried about the possible misuse of those funds and regularly reported that fund’s balance since being hired in August. She also plans to give a more complete report at the economi...

  • Route 66 association awards chamber

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 19, 2023

    The New Mexico Route 66 Association on Friday presented the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce and executive director Scott Crotzer its annual Heritage Award for renovating and beautifying the nearly 60-year-old, midcentury-style building. In addition to the Heritage Award plaque, association President Melissa Lea Beasley-Lee gave Crotzer and the chamber a one-year complementary business membership, a listing in the association's quarterly magazine and a "Historic New Mexico U.S. 66"...

  • Melting snowpack won't greatly boost lake levels

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 19, 2023

    Don’t expect the levels of Conchas Lake to rise much because of melting snowpack in the mountains of northern New Mexico and Colorado. Unlike wide swaths of California and Arizona that have seen record snowfall, the Canadian River basin that feeds the lake has experienced snowpack only 8% higher than normal through April 1, according to data compiled by manager Franklin McCasland during the Arch Hurley Conservancy District’s meeting on April 11. Snowpack this winter is better than the previous year, which was 25% below normal. But McC...

  • Logan sweeps Grady, stays unbeaten

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 19, 2023

    Logan's baseball team stayed undefeated after a district doubleheader sweep of visiting Grady on Friday, with both games shortened by the 10-run mercy rule. The Longhorns stymied the Bronchos 11-1 in the opener, then stopped them 12-2 in the nightcap. Logan, the two-time defending Class 1A champion and ranked No. 1 in the division, improved to 12-0 overall and 3-0 in district play. Grady fell to 6-6, 0-3. In the first game, the Longhorns scored three runs in the opening inning on two hits, a...

  • Ex-county manager tapped for MCC seat

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 12, 2023

    The Mesalands Community College board of trustees during a special meeting Thursday appointed former Quay County manager Richard Primrose to fill an open District 1 seat created by the resignation last month of its longtime chairman. Two others applied for the position: Logan Municipal Schools math teacher Bobby Kandel and Tucumcari retiree Carlos Romero, who worked as a Pacheco Construction safety manager and for 25 years in the New Mexico Environment Department. Primrose had been Quay County’s manager for 14 years before his retirement in 2...

  • County OKs resolution for higher pay for elected officials

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 12, 2023

    The Quay County Commission on Monday unanimously approved a resolution establishing salaries of the county’s elected officials for the 2025 fiscal year. The resolution states that “salaries be paid to the elected officials in Quay County be increased to meet the maximum allowable approved rates upon the date the official takes his/her oath of office.” County manager Daniel Zamora estimated that would cost the county an additional $71,000 for the salary hikes. He said he did not have firm numbers on the cost of benefits. County Clerk Ellen...

  • Moya: Senator wants more funds for Princess Theatre

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 12, 2023

    Now that Tucumcari's long-closed Princess Theatre will receive $250,000 in state capital outlay funds, Mayor Ralph Moya said during a meeting Thursday of the theater's board that a state senator indicated he could land $500,000 or more in additional funds next year. Moya said state Sen. Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas) was "instrumental" in getting this year's capital outlay money from the New Mexico Legislature to the theater and indicated he could bring in "$500,000 or more" during the 2024 session....

  • Lodgers tax board urges funds for three entities

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 12, 2023

    The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board on Wednesday recommended approval of motel tax fund requests for three entities this year, including for a new co-ed softball tournament in June. The board also recommended the city issue a request for proposals to hire a new tourism marketing manager to replace the current one whose contract expires this summer. The recommendations will go on to the Tucumcari city commission, which can approve, reject or modify them. The board recommended approval of these motel-tax requests with no changes: — $7,500 i...

  • Rattlers take tough loss to No. 1 NMMI

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 12, 2023

    LOGAN - The pitching of Josh Griego on Saturday brought Tucumcari tantalizingly close to its first district win in almost five years - against the No. 1-ranked team and defending Class 3A champion, no less. Griego pitched like an ace much of the game, striking out 12 and shutting out New Mexico Military Institute in the first four innings. The Colts finally rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to salt away a 5-2 victory in the second game of a doubleheader. Griego allowed 11 hits, two walks...

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