Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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As a new year, new season approaches, coaches of the Tucumcari Rattlers began two-a-day practice with this year's football team prospects. There is a strong group of starters returning this year, with several eager underclassmen ready to step up into the program, said Head Coach Wayne Ferguson. More than 25 Rattlers were on the field at 7 a.m., running through drills. Ferguson said they expect more to join the team for the practices throughout the week. Many players did not practice due to work...
Law enforcement, firefighters and first responders from Tucumcari, New Mexico and beyond joined in a mile-long procession July 18 through Tucumcari as part of the Spirit Ride honoring those who have died on the nation's highways. The Spirit Ride features a ceremonial casket, part of the American Towman Magazine's efforts to promote the awareness of the Move Over law that is often ignored on our nations highways, according to their website. Linda Unruh, president of the local based All-Rite...
A reduction in contract funding of more than $150,000 will limit the service range of the home visits for expecting, parents, guardians of children, while eliminating Curry County services from the Presbyterian Medical Services. The contract funding was cut from $259,000 a year to $105,000 a year said Angie Coburn, PMS Central Region Director. Coburn, acting administrator of the Quay County Family Health Center, said the four year contract, that ended in June, was between PMS and the Children Youth and Families Department. She said CYFD was...
Local courts and the local district attorney have concerns regarding changes to statewide bonding procedures, which now allow certain defendants to be released without bail. "How can we keep the truly dangerous criminals in jail," Tim Rose, 10th Judicial District Attorney, asked of the procedures, which took effect July 1. Rose said the new constitutional amendment was well-intended, driven by a thought that dangerous criminals should remain in jail and people who are not a threat should not...
As the new fiscal year begins for nine rural fire departments, county officials centered their concerns on how to continue services under the new quarterly funding system. “The good news is the first portion of the funding will be in sooner than expected,” said Richard Primrose, County Manager. Primrose said the first 26 percent of the expected funds should come in late July or early August. He said despite the early arrival the amount the departments receive may only be enough to make payments to the Finance Authority for their equipment purch...
An intuition of luck paid off in a big way for Tucumcari resident Mark Romero when he won a UTV worth $10,000 off a $25 raffle ticket from the Logan/Ute Lake Chamber of Commerce. “I really can’t explain it,” Romero said. “I woke up that Saturday morning and just felt lucky.” Romero said he was attending the Logan/Ute Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July celebration on July 1 where he bought the ticket. The tickets, of which only 1,500 were printed, are part of the annual fundraiser for the chamber, said Leslie Osborn, former chamber pre...
The Tucumcari Rattler Wrestling team will have the opportunity to learn techniques from a pair of Olympic gold medalists during a camp at Tascosa High School in Amarillo. “Getting a chance to learn from two world-class athletes,” Tucumcari coach Eddie Encinias said, “the guys are sure to gain new insight and skills.” The camp will feature lessons from 2000 Olympic Gold medalist Brandon Slay and 2016 Olympic Gold medalist Kyle Snyder. Both went to Tascosa High. Encinias said this will be the second time the Rattlers attend the camp ran by Slay...
An attempt to fill the void left by next year's absence of the annual Rockabilly on the Route event has been halted after event co-producer Ungie Davila called the proposal a 'theft of common law trademarks'. During Wednesday's Lodger's Tax Advisory Board meeting, an event called Rockin' Route 66 was proposed by City Commissioner Robert Lumpkin and Brian Whitcomb of Hot Pan Productions. "After discussions with residents (and) tourist and event producers, the consensus was unanimous, we'd be...
Local resident Linda Unruh will transport the American Towman Magazine’s Spirit Ride ceremonial casket Tuesday through Tucumcari honoring the memory of her late son and deceased first responders nationwide. “We are all out there together,” Unruh said. “This is an important message to remind everyone to slow down and move over.” Bobby Unruh, 37, of Tucumcari was killed on Feb. 19, at mile marker 318 on I-40 near Montoya. At the time of the accident Unruh was attempting to tow a commercial vehicle on I-40 that was broken down. The ceremonia...
Regional law enforcement officials do not believe a recently adopted strategy approaching opioid addiction as a disease rather than a crime will be effective in rural New Mexico. The new approach, called “do no harm”, has been adopted by multiple larger municipalities across the nation. Taking a different stance to opioid use, this new initiative invites drug users to approach police officers with their problem to get assistance. This approach is being favored over treating opioid use as a criminal offense. “I have yet to have one addict appro...
Quay County is one of many counties across New Mexico that will be receiving more than $38.5 million through the 2017 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. “Funding for this year's PILT program was provided in the bipartisan budget agreement to fund the government through September as part of the Interior Department's Fiscal Year 2017 budget,” according to a press release from U.S. Sen. Tom Udall’s office. “PILT provides federal payments to local governments because of non-taxable federal land within their boundaries, such as Bureau of Land...
Recently while attending a friend’s memorial service, I had the chance to visit with people I have not seen since I was a child. No one likes a funeral, but they always bring people together. At this particular memorial service we were saying goodbye to our friend John Cammack. I remember no matter where I was, if I saw John he would come over, shake my hand, ask how I was doing and inquire about my parents and sister. John’s passing was sudden and unexpected. That might be hard to believe considering he was 74, but he was not one to be slo...
There was increased participation in the activities at this year's Fourth of July celebration in Logan, according to Logan/Ute Lake Chamber of Commerce officials. The highlight of the event was the awarding of the raffle prize. The winner, Mark Romero, of Tucumcari has his choice of prizes: $10,000 cash, an $11,000 remodeling package by Bryan Roach Custom Builders LLC and a vacation package worth up to $11,000. Romero could not be reached for comment. There were more than 800 people served at...
A Nara Visa volunteer firefighter died on Thursday after suffering burns trying to extinguish a fire that was more than seven miles long and three miles wide. John Cammack, 74, of Nara Visa, was severely burned after falling from a fire engine during a "burn over" Wednesday night, said Nara Visa Fire Chief Gary Girard. Girard said a second firefighter, Kyle Perez, was also injured during the incident. He said the firefighters were attempting to refill a fire engine with a water tanker when the...
The looming possibility of cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture isn’t what farmers in Eastern New Mexico want to see, but if spending on welfare and food assistance programs share the cuts, they say they are willing to face them. The proposed USDA 2018 budget, unveiled in May, shows plans to cut $4.8 billion from the agency, a 21 percent cut. The USDA funds a wide range of programs from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to subsidies for crop insurance. New restrictions on the subsidies will limit insurance premium subsidies t...
A way to go out on top and a push to improve and set new records were what a few of the 3A track and field state champion Tucumcari Rattlers said Monday of receiving their state championship rings. It was the best possible outcome, considering we thought we had tied for third, said Billy Sandoval, a 2017 graduate. Sandoval said winning a state championship his senior year is exactly how he wanted to go out, "on a high note." For junior Xavier Garcia and sophomore Seth Martinez said, a state...
An Arizona-based mobile spay and neuter clinic provided services to more than 100 area residents last week with the goal of reducing uncontrolled pet population. The purpose of this service is to help the community overall, said Peter Estrada, AGAVE Charities volunteer. Estrada was one of the volunteers, veterinarian technicians and veterinarians who staffed the mobile spay and neuter vehicle out of Tucson, Arizona. Estrada said the services provided by the mobile clinic is at a reduced cost,...
Area celebrations for the Fourth of July will kick of this weekend in Logan with a street dance, parade, free barbecue and fireworks display. The Logan/Ute Lake Chamber of Commerce's 45th annual Fourth of July festivities will begin on Friday. The events will include the Friday night street dance featuring Will Banister and the Modern Day Ramblers, said Bucky Stone, chamber vice president. Stone said the recent rains will aid in making this year's event more enjoyable for the residents and visitors. He said this year's raffle features several...
After an early rally to tie the game, the Quay County Minor League All-Stars fell 14-8 Monday to the Roosevelt County All-Stars at Tucumcari. The game was a lot closer than the score showed, said Cole Wallin, Quay County head coach. The Quay All-Stars were down 4-0 in the bottom of the second with two outs when Joshua Griego connected with a fastball and got on base. "I just watched the ball and knew I had to get a hit," Griego said. Griego stole second base and advance to third base on a wild...
QUAY COUNTY —Two Nara Visa volunteer firefighters were transported to hospitals in Amarillo and Lubbock on Wednesday after suffering burns while attempting to extinguish a fire south of Obar. The identity and conditions of the firefighters were not released. Nara Visa Fire Chief Gary Girard said the firefighters were injured while the Nara Visa, Rosebud and Logan fire departments fought five fires south of Obar. He said the fires were fueled by dry grass and spread quickly with wind gusts of 40 mph. Several departments in Quay County were comba...
Century mark temperatures will impact Quay County mid-week once again following a record-breaking weekend of high temperatures for the area, according to Albuquerque's National Weather Service officials. High temperatures are typical for this time of year, said Annette Mokry, meteorologist, adding that a high pressure system remains in place, continuing to deflect any potential storm systems from moving into the area. She said there is a 20 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms on Wednesday...
Three city commissioners will retain their seats on the Tucumcari City Commission after Thursday’s canvas of the June 13 special recall election was confirmed the results. Tucumcari residents voted in favor of retaining Ralph Moya (District 1), Amy Gutierrez (District 2) and Mayor Ruth Ann-Litchfield (District 3) as city commissioners, according to Angelica Gray, city clerk. "I want to thank all the residents who came out, voted and supported me," Moya said Tuesday, adding that the recall election was uncalled for and divided the community. He...
A Nara Visa volunteer firefighter died on Thursday after suffering burns trying to extinguish a fire that was more than seven miles long and three miles wide. John Cammack, 74, of Nara Visa, was severely burned after falling from a fire engine during a "burn over" Wednesday night, said Nara Visa Fire Chief Gary Girard. Girard said a second firefighter, Kyle Perez, was also injured during the incident. He said the firefighters were attempting to refill a fire engine with a water tanker when the...
Three city commissioners will retain their seats on the Tucumcari City Commission following a special recall election Tuesday. Tucumcari residents voted in favor of retaining Ralph Moya (District 1), Amy Gutierrez (District 2) and Mayor Ruth Ann-Litfield (District 3) as city commissioners, according to Angelica Gray, city clerk. "I want to thank all the residents who came out, voted and supported me," Moya said Tuesday, adding that the recall election was uncalled for and divided the community....
A brown bear captured in Tucumcari on Monday has been put down because it exhibited "unacceptable behavioral traits," said Game Warden Capt. Clint Henson. Henson said the bear was spotted in a highly populated area, which is an indication it was not frightened of interaction with humans, which could have proved dangerous. Some area residents expressed disappointment the 125-pound male bear was killed. "They told me it was too young to be released into the wild," Tucumcari's Bonnie Smith said. "H...