Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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The superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools is resigning next month to take a position with New Mexico Senate Republicans. Dennis Roch confirmed in an email today he told the school board and staff he was resigning effective Dec. 31 to become the caucus chief of staff for New Mexico Senate Republicans. New Mexico Senate Republicans also sent out a news release today announcing Roch’s hiring. Roch has been Logan’s superintendent since 2013. Before that, he was an assistant superintendent at Texico and Tucumcari. Roch was a New Mexico sta...
For the second straight year, Logan Municipal Schools earned the coveted Spotlight designation — the highest attainable — at its elementary, middle and high schools from the New Mexico Public Education Department. San Jon and House schools earned the Spotlight designation at two of its three schools. Tucumcari earned the second-highest Traditional designation at all three of its schools, which means they are in good standing. The PED issued its annual ratings for all schools based on the 2023-2024 year last Tuesday via its New Mexico Vis...
The Quay County Commission last Tuesday approved a canvass of the 2024 general election results without much discussion. That’s a far cry from recent elections after Donald Trump claimed — without evidence — that his 2020 presidential re-election over challenger Joe Biden was stolen from him. Those claims sparked turmoil in many county election operations, including in New Mexico. The commission approved the canvass of the 2020 results, but skepticism about election integrity persisted into 2022, when two commissioners said they were asked...
Because of recent storms, water levels at Conchas Lake have reached their highest point in almost six years. Franklin McCasland, manager of the Arch Hurley Conservancy District, said in his Nov. 12 report to the district’s board of directors that the lake had risen to an elevation of 4,181.12 feet that morning. McCasland said the day after the meeting that was the highest water level in the lake since early 2019, when its elevation reached 4,182 feet. He reported Conchas Lake had received 47,631 acre-feet of inflow this month with just 2,307 a...
Not bad for what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Tucumcari’s volleyball team finished its season with two victories at the Class 2A tournament in Rio Rancho, plus a school record for wins. The Lady Rattlers also finished its district schedule undefeated, the first time that’s happened. They won their third district title in four years. Fourth-seeded Tucumcari (21-6) ultimately finished sixth at the 2A tourney, falling to eventual state runner-up Mesilla Valley Christian 20-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 15-12 on Friday. The Lady Rattlers wer...
The Logan FFA parliamentary procedure team recently received a Gold designation at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The National FFA Parliamentary Procedure career and leadership development event tests students' ability to effectively communicate ideas during a meeting. The team included Braeden Lightfoot, president, and members Charmaynn Hall, Kyleigh Phillips, Trinity Grant, April Lansdell and Jaida Roberts. They were coached by Bonnie Lightfoot. The Logan FFA chapter adviser is...
Logan’s basketball teams will be playing under new scoreboards this season. The Logan Municipal Schools board last Monday accepted a donation of new scoreboards from The Bank of Logan. Superintendent Dennis Roch said the new scoreboards would be installed both in the main gymnasium and the Performing Arts Center, which often is used during tournaments. Roch said a crew would install the new scoreboards before the start of basketball season. He said the devices can operate wirelessly. In addition, new branding reflecting the donation from The B...
Tucumcari's assistant city manager received a promotion. The Tucumcari City Commission on Thursday voted 4-1 to hire Renee Hayoz, a former District 4 commissioner and an assistant city manager since September, as city manager in January. Hayoz will replace Paula Chacon, who is retiring in December after a little more than two years at the helm. After about a 45-minute closed executive session, Commissioner Jonathan Brito moved to hire Hayoz pending an agreement. Commissioner CJ Oglesby...
The Quay County Health Council will offer two suicide-prevention programs on Thursday at VFW Post 2528 in Tucumcari. The council has two contractors trained in a suicide prevention program called QPR, which provides information on the signs of suicide, questions to ask to someone exhibiting signs, appropriate responses and regional resources available. Free sessions at the VFW are scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 14. Each session will be about one hour. “Get this training and maybe you can save a life by being in the right place at t...
Tucumcari’s volleyball team secured a berth in the Class 2A tournament but wouldn’t know of its next opponent until Monday night because a winter storm delayed a key district match. Brackets for the state’s volleyball tournaments traditionally are scheduled by the New Mexico Activities Association on Sunday before matches later that week. However, a severe winter storm postponed a key match in Tucumcari’s district between Raton and Santa Rosa until Monday night. The NMAA stated after the completion of the match, it would seed the teams and set...
Logan’s first-ever boys cross-country team finished seventh in the Class 1A-2A state championships Saturday at Albuquerque Academy. Two Tucumcari runners finished in the top 40 individually, as did a girl from San Jon, in 1A-2A. Devin Kotara was Logan’s top runner, finishing 39th individually in 18 minutes, 30.2 seconds. Other runners for the Longhorns were Bill DeLuca (55th, 19:02.0), Mitchell Wall (72nd, 19:31.9), Christopher Lucero (77th, 19:37.3), Connor Moore (92nd, 20:04.08), Kale Griffiths (105th, 20:22.4) and Kaden Bongers (139th, 21:...
Logan made a splashdown to the six-man football championship. Despite torrential rains and wet snow that made their home football field resemble a swamp, the top-seeded and undefeated Longhorns continued their season-long rampage with a 48-2 home victory Friday over fourth-seeded Elida in the semifinals. Logan (11-0) will host Grady in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Second-seeded Grady (10-1) defeated third-seeded Mountainair 36-18 in the other semifinal on Saturday. The title game...
Powered by their second straight district championship, the Logan volleyball squad on Sunday secured a No. 1 seed in this week’s Class 1A tournament. The Lady Longhorns (19-4), which earned a first-round bye, will play the winner of the Grady-Pine Hill matchup at 2 p.m. Thursday at Cleveland High School. Logan coach Glynna Strand said of her team’s district crown and high seed that she was “just proud of my team and their hard work.” Logan is in the same bracket as No. 4-seed and longtime area rival Melrose (17-6). In the other bracket is No....
Quay County will have a new commissioner and a new assessor after Republican challengers triumphed over the current officeholders Tuesday during the general election. Republican challenger Dallas Dowell, a rancher and retiree from NuStar Energy, won by nearly a 2-to-1 margin over Democratic incumbent District 1 Commissioner Robert Lopez, a farmer who also served as chairman of the body. Dowell gained 2,311 votes compared to Lopez’s 1,233 in unofficial results announced by the Quay County Clerk’s Office about 45 minutes after polls closed. Lop...
More than 2,200 people in Quay County cast votes early in the presidential election, which is in line with similar elections, reported the county's clerk. After early voting ended Saturday, a total of 1,914 registered voters in the county had submitted their ballots, County Clerk Ellen White said. More than 300 also sent back absentee ballots. The outcome of Tuesday's Election Day was after the Quay County Sun's deadline, though breaking-news updates will be posted at qcsunonline.com. Final...
A woman with Quay County ties saw a Clovis school she leads earn a prestigious national award. Zia Elementary School in Clovis recently received a Blue Ribbon Award — only one of three in New Mexico to receive the honor. Kaylene Davis, who attended San Jon schools, became principal at Zia in 2022. Davis uses a data-driven approach and worked to create an environment that supports teachers and inspires students at the school. “With Miss Kaylene Davis as our guide, it really just warms our hearts to see that all of our work is finally being rec...
Tucumcari ended its football season on a strong note with a 41-0 victory Saturday at Capitan, but it wasn’t enough for the Rattlers to earn a playoff spot. The Rattlers (3-7 overall, 2-3 in district) just missed nabbing one of the 12 postseason berths in Class 2A. THS had been ranked 13th by MaxPreps.com going into Saturday’s game, and its victory didn’t budge that rating. Laguna Acoma nabbed the 12th and final seed. Texico (9-0) landed the top seed, and Santa Rosa (7-3) was second. Against a winless Capitan squad, Tucumcari racked up more...
The Quay County Public Health Office in Tucumcari now is offering updated COVID-19 booster vaccines with an appointment. The office at 310 S. Second St. is taking appointments by phone at (575) 461-2610. Its hours are from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Moderna booster can be administered to anyone age 6 months and older. The vaccine helps protect people from severe illness, hospitalization and death. It is especially important for people age 65 and older, those at risk of severe COVID-19 complications or those...
One of the most decorated players in Tucumcari High School volleyball history committed to playing next season at Lamar Community College in Colorado. Caylee Benavidez, a 5-foot-5 senior setter for the Lady Rattlers, signed a letter of commitment to play for the Runnin' Lopes during a ceremony Friday attended by about 40 fellow players, friends and family members - many wearing blue Lamar T-shirts. Benavidez later Friday signed the actual commitment letter electronically. Benavidez, a four-year...
When Donna Garcia of the New Mexico Children, Youth & Families office in Tucumcari received word from the governor she wanted Garcia's office to participate in a statewide beautification program, she called a local organization that essentially are experts on such efforts. Garcia, a social worker at CYFD, contacted Tucumcari Tuesdays, a volunteer group that has conducted weekly cleanups in various parts of the city since May. "There's power in numbers, and so we contacted Tucumcari Tuesdays,"...
A Logan man was arrested and charged with a felony after being accused of shooting at a car parked near the school’s football field. Christopher Robbins, 56, was charged with shooting at or from a motor vehicle and negligent use of a deadly weapon (intoxication). The shooting charge is a fourth-degree felony that could lead up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. The negligent-use charge is a petty misdemeanor that would lead up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. According to an affidavit written by Logan Police Chief S...
Two Tucumcari police officers were uninjured when someone began shooting at them as they investigated an apparent arson early Thursday. Sgt. Lorenzo Emillio and Patrolman Jesse Ray were dispatched to the 1500 block of West Tucumcari Boulevard about midnight Wednesday to check on a report of property being burned across from the Tucumcari Convention Center. While working the scene, an unknown person began shooting at them, Police Chief Patti Lopez said. The officers didn’t return fire because the shooter couldn’t be seen. “They heard (the bulle...
Tucumcari proved to be no match to an unbeaten and No. 3-ranked Legacy Academy football squad during a 54-0 district loss Saturday afternoon in Bernalillo. The Silverbacks totaled nearly 400 yards in offense while holding the Rattlers to just 110 yards of offense. The game ended in the third quarter by the mercy rule. “They dominated us,” THS coach Doug South said. “It was obvious they were the No. 3 team in the state.” Tucumcari quarterback Nick Romero went 4-for-10 passing for 60 yards and one interception. Eighth-grade running back Robert...
Tucumcari senior Alex Bueno De La O finished fourth overall Saturday at the 21-team City of Natural Lakes invitational at Santa Rosa. Bueno De La O finished the 5,000-meter course on city parks near the Blue Hole in 18 minutes, 2 seconds, which was less than a minute behind the winner. As good as it sounds, Tucumcari coach Tim Clark said the senior can do better. “He had a bad start,” Clark said. “He wants to hang back so he can set up his pace. But he needs to figure out a way to get closer to the front.” Bueno De La O also was without...
The Village of Logan received news Friday it is receiving nearly $400,000 from the state to buy a new ambulance The village was among 37 public entities in New Mexico that received a total of $57.8 million in matching grants for 57 projects from the state’s Department of Finance and Administration, leveraging more than $200 million in federal funds. Logan received $289,000 in federal funding and $96,000 in contingent funds to boost its ambulance service. Village Administrator Rodney Paris said the money would be used to buy a new ambulance. T...