Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Anticipation, excitement and a little fear those were the emotions felt Friday night by the 48 graduates of Tucumcari High School. "This is so intense," senior Alexander Villanueva said. Tucumcari high school seniors toss their caps in celebration of their graduation Friday night at the Snake Pit. The seniors gathered in the hall and reflected on past events and shared their feelings while they waited for the ceremony to begin. Villanueva said for him the year seemed to pass by so slow but somehow graduation managed to sneak up on him. Fellow...
Messages of quality over quantity were shared by San Jon's four seniors and school officials during Friday's graduation. "Be it four or 40, these kids have heart," said San Jon Superintendent Gary Salazar. The four seniors change their tassels, signifying the completion of their graduation Friday night from San Jon High School. Valedictorian Ashlynn Myers' address to her classmates and guests urged others not to underestimate any of the seniors due to the size of the class. Myers said her class may be the smallest class to graduate in 50...
On Saturday Logan schools will lose more than 26 graduating seniors, they will be losing 5 staff members to retirement. Sherri Gray opens goodbye cards at her desk as a student leaving for the summer break passes by in the hallway. The staff members, all retiring after Saturday ceremonies, are: - Ricky Hazen, superintendent (two years service) - Sherri Gray, special education teacher (17 and a half years) - Russell Feerer, science teacher (26 years) - Theresa Bruhn, math teacher (five years) - Greg Kelly, maintenance manager (24 years) Logan...
A safety message, "Think First", is what University of New Mexico Hospital officials stressed Wednesday to Tucumcari Elementary students. Teacher's assistant Shawn Martinez helps Ruben Arzola put on his free safety helmet Wednesday at Tucumcari Elementary. "We would rather travel the state promoting safety and prevention, then have a family experience a tragedy," said Helen Sisneros, director of Think First. Sisneros said education helps children to make smart decisions that will ensure their and other's safety. The program covered various...
One current and two former employees have filed suit against Mesalands Community College. "These individuals want to bring to light the unethical, inappropriate and illegal actions at Mesalands," said Linda G. Hemphill, lead council for the plaintiffs. Hemphill said her clients, Joanna Gutierrez, Kenneth Cooper and Jennifer DeBord, are trying to shed light on practices that allegedly took place under former President Phillip O. Barry's administration at Mesalands. Mesalands released a statement in response: "We strongly refute the allegations...
Two new injunctions have been filed in the 10th Judicial District Court calling for a halt to current and future construction of an intake structure at Ute Lake that is part of the Ute Water pipeline. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia A shot of the south side lake view from 12 Shores Golf Course at Ute Lake. Both injunctions were filed May 5 and named the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority as the defendant. The water utility wants to pipe water from the man-made reservoir in Logan to communities...
Don Chalmers remains confident Tucumcari will one day be home to a racetrack and casino. In the meantime, he is encouraging area residents to trumpet the history of Route 66 and other treasures the community has to offer its visitors. About 300 residents and business owners heard Chalmers speak at the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Friday at the Tucumcari Convention Center. Many left inspired by the words of the Albuquerque businessman, who has played an active role in efforts to bring a racino to town. "He was really...
Mesalands Community College Board of Trustee Ted Peabody was honored Friday with an honorary degree from the two-year college. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia Mesalands Community College's president Mildred Lovato embraces board of Trustee member Ted Peabody, who was presented an honorary degree. "I can say that I am more surprised by this than you," Peabody said. Mesalands' president Mildred P. Lovato recognized Peabody for his accomplishments and work with the college. "This degree is presented to a man who has inspired and mentor both the students...
QCs photo: Thomas Garcia Economic Development Dept. Cabinet Secretary John Berala speaks to a crowd at the Tucumcari Train Depot Friday. Berala was presenting Tucumcari MainStreet with a $157,000 capital outlay grant. Tucumcari MainStreet Train Depot project received $157,000 in state capital outlay money. The award was annoucned in a Friday event with state Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Jon Barela. "This is one of the larger amounts being awarded by the state," Barela said. Barela said MainStreet projects are one of the...
Prompted by a Tuesday morning fire, Tucumcari city officials approved the demolition of half of the Sands Dorsey building. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia The remains of the Sands Dorsey building still smolders Tuesday afternoon. The building caught fire twice Tuesday morning once at 1 a.m., and again at 3 a.m. "The cause of the fire is unknown at this time," Tucumcari Fire Chief Mike Cherry said, "and is being viewed as suspicious." Cherry and City Manager Doug Powers were overseeing crews from Daniel Construction as they knocked down the west wall...
State Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera made an impromptu visit Thursday to Tucumcari Elementary School. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia New Mexico Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera, right kneeling, visits with a group of second-graders Thursday at Tucumcari Elementary School. Skandera toured Tucumcari Elementary as part of her tour of school districts in the state. It is part of her plan to get a first-hand look at local school districts. "I talked a lot about getting out around the state,"...
Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital is starting a new partnership with Emergency Staffing Solutions Monday to provide an on-staff physician and emergency services for area residents. "This degree of care is generally found only in larger, more metropolitan facilities," said Lance Labine, Trigg Hospital administrator. "A physician is on premises 24/7, 365 days of the year." Labine said this new staff will be implementing a "hybrid" physician model to give patients the same level of attention or "continuity of care," through the entire outpatient and...
Tucumcari city officials have changed park policies after residents raised concerns about registered sex offenders attending youth sports events. "This is a matter we need to deal with now," Commissioner Daniel Lopez said Tuesday. "We need to make sure we do all we can to make sure our children are safe." Lopez, along with Mayor Amiel Curnutt and City Manager Doug Powers, received a call that registered sex offenders have been seen in dugouts at Jennings Field during girls softball games. The city-owned park is the host site for Tucumcari...
A new primary care clinic serving Tucumcari and Quay County holds its grand opening celebration Thursday at the Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital. Presbyterian Medical Group will host an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m., which initiates the expansion of rural clinic services for Tucumcari and the surrounding communities. "We look forward to the expansion of the high quality of services from Presbyterian medical services," said Bill Curry, Quay County Commission chair. The Presbyterian Medical Group is located in the former Quay...
More than 100 Quay County residents attended a candidate forum Friday at the Nara Visa Community Center. "The forum brings the candidates to the people," said Renee Rhinestine, coordinator. Rhinestine said when the candidates would visit the area, it was during a time which the rural residents could not get out to see them. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia Nadine Angel speaks to the crowd as the remaining candidates wait on the bleachers behind her. The candidates were attending a forum Friday at the Nara Visa Community Center. "These people can not...
The support of the community and efforts of volunteers helped make the Quay County Wellness Fair a success, said event coordinators. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia Crash test dummy Vince walks around the Quay County Wellness fair promoting seat belt safety with local youth Natalie Hayes. Alida Brown, fair coordinator, said more than 600 residents attended Saturday's Quay County Wellness Fair. Brown said there were 80 exhibitors at this years fair with 30 different health screenings available to the public. "These screenings are done for free to the...
A 11-3 loss Tuesday to the Texico Wolverines at Tucumcari placed the Rattlers in a potential three-way tie for first in district. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia Wolverines second baseman Justin Lopez is forced to move as Rattlers Jordan Walker steals the base following a wild pass from the third baseman Carlos Silva to first baseman Lorenzo Calmenero during Tuesday's game. "We need to take care of business Friday at Clayton," said Senior Esteban Martinez. Texico (11-11, 6-2) blew the game open with a seven-run sixth, bouyed by five consecutive hits,...
A Tucumcari police officer facing criminal criminal charges resigned last week. Pete Vargas, 32, a 3 1/2-year veteran of the police department, tendered his resignation effective April 19, according to Tucumcari Police Chief Jason Braziel. Braziel said he wouldn't comment on the reason for Vargas' resignation. Vargas surrendered Feb. 27 to state police after an incident the day before at his girlfirend's residence. He is charged with breaking and entering and criminal damage to property. Deputy Police Chief Pete Rivera said Vargas was allowed t...
A Tucumcari police officer has resigned in wake of charges of breaking and entering and criminal damage to property filed in the Tenth Judicial District Court. Pete Vargas, 32, a three-and-a-half-year veteran of the police department, tendered his resignation effective April 19, Chief Jason Braziel said. He had been on administrative duty following his Feb. 27 arrest. Vargas had been on administrative duty at the department following his arrest at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Quay County Magistrate Court. Vargas was processed at the State Police Of...
Tucumcari Talks is scheduled Saturday at the Tucumcari Historical Museum. The event will showcase local historians as they share their memories and stories about Quay County's past. Earl Flint is honored during an event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the construction of Conchas Dam. Flint was a worker during the construction of the dam. Now I for one enjoy events like this because history from the people that lived it is 1,000 times greater than history from a book. You simply cannot feel the raw emotion that you'd experience from a...
QCS photo: Thomas Garcia State fire investigator Sam Anaya examines the damage at the Adult Probation office following a fire Monday morning. The probation office is reported as a complete loss with several surrounding buildings reporting heavy smoke damage. The Monday morning fire that destroyed the adult probation office in Tucumcari is being listed as suspicious and the cause is still undetermined according to fire officials. Tucumcari Fire Chief Mike Cherry said the cause of the fire is still being investigated by State fire officials....
Tucumcari city commissioners voted to hire Doug Powers as city manager Thursday night following an executive session. "I am proud to be working for the city," Powers said. "I have been with the city for 20 years." The commission met behind closed doors following Thursday's regular meeting to discuss hiring Powers. Powers had been serving as interim city manager since Sept. 29, 2011, when then city manager Bobbye Rose was fired by the commissioners. "He has done a great job serving as city manager," said Mayor Amiel Curnutt. Curnutt said the...
Five years later, there are no physical signs of the EF1 tornado that hit Logan at 3:20 p.m., on March 23, though the emotional damage remains for some residents. • • • Angie Chavez was at home as tornado touched down, she said the only warning she had was her porch erupting into pieces. "I am still very much paranoid when the wind picks up," said Chavez. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia Angie Chavez points to the Volkswagen Beelte which was crushed by the trailer overturned by the tornado that struck Logan on March 23, 2007. Chavez was home when...
Two veterans from California were greeted by Tucumcari residents Friday as they made a stop on their cross-country bicycle ride advocating for veteran's rights. "The main thing is making people aware of issues facing veterans," said U.S Army veteran Wesley Barrientos. QCS photo: Thomas Garcia U.S. Army Veteran Wesley Barrientos, center, and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Jeremy Staat, right, stopped in Tumcumcari Friday to speak with residents about issues effecting Veterans. The pair are riding from Bakersfield Calif., to Washington, D.C....
A last-second turnover by the Santa Rosa Lions clinched a 45-42 win for the Tucumcari Rattlers Tuesday night at the Snake Pit. The Rattlers' Travis Garcia drives for the basket as the Lion's Zeke Sena tries to draw the charge during Tuesday night's District 4-2A game at the Snake Pit. The Rattlers won 45-42. With less than 10 seconds left in the District 4-2A tournament boys game, Lions forward Jason Sanchez saw Robert Zamora alone at the 3-point line. Zamora had hit two-three pointers in the final period and was positioned to tie the game....