Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Tucumcari city commissioners considering changes to the city's zoning laws and their enforcement wrestled with issues that included poor landowners, lack of enforcement manpower and which aspects of zoning should receive priority. The discussion during a Thursday public work session that preceded the commission's regular meeting focused mostly on what to do about the city's abandoned homes and buildings. Connie Loveland, director of Tucumcari MainStreet, which focuses on revitalizing the city's...
Quay County Emergency Manager Daniel Zamora on Monday afternoon accepted an offer to become the county's new manager later this month. Zamora, who's been in his current position for three years, was among about a half-dozen candidates interviewed Monday by commissioners during a three-hour executive session Monday after the commission's regular agenda. Zamora would begin his new position on March 15, giving him time to be trained under retiring county manager Richard Primrose before he departs...
SANTA FE -- The New Mexico Public Education Department and Department of Health announced Monday a goal to reach full school re-entry by April 5, with the caveat that all school staff members will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine before March ends. “We’re going back to school,” Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said. “The time has come to get back to the gold-standard in education, which is students and teachers together in classrooms. Our message to New Mexico public schools is that you can and should move as quickly as possible to get eve...
It appears spectators will be allowed at Quay County high-school sporting events, after all. In a reversal, the New Mexico Activities Association and Public Education Department announced Thursday night that spectators will be allowed at prep sporting events in many counties, effective immediately, based on COVID-19 risk assessments. Quay County, which is in the green zone on risk assessment, will be allowed up to 50% of the capacity of an outdoor spectator area and 25% of an indoor sports venue. Tucumcari and Logan both are scheduled to hold...
New Mexico last week moved past the 500,000 mark in the number of people who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose as supplies reportedly continued to trend upward. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also said during a briefing Thursday that President Joe Biden told governors earlier in the day he was “very optimistic” all Americans would be vaccinated for the disease by May. On a local level, C. Renee Hayoz, administrator for Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari, said she had requested 500 doses of vaccine for this week. If...
Quay County improved from the yellow to green zone in COVID-19 assessments last week, and the governor's office also announced a loosening of health regulations that allow many movie theaters across the state to reopen. Don't expect to see the Odeon Theatre - Quay County's only surviving movie venue - to open for at least a few more months, however. The Odeon has been closed since March 15, 2020, because of the pandemic. Christy Dominguez, general manager and co-owner of the Odeon with husband...
A reader asked for my thoughts on the Parable of the Two Sons given in Matthew 21. Anyone can contact me with questions about my articles or any other biblical topic of interest to them; I’ll respond either directly or in an article. My email address is posted with this article, and my home telephone number is listed. The Parable of the Two Sons is basically a comparison of those who obey God and those who don’t, though they pay lip service. Read the entire context of the parable in Matthew 21:23-32. The Jewish leaders considered the...
Dr. Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari last week announced a relaxation of its visitation policies to the hospital and clinics amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital now will allow one visitor per adult patient with inpatient settings. Previously, Trigg allowed no visitors except in certain situations. Before entering any facilities, all visitors will continue to be screened for health conditions and will be required to wear a mask. The hospital and its clinics will continue to monitor the risk of COVID-19 and will make adjustments...
On this date ... 1971: Frances Olsen was chosen as the new director of the Tucumcari / Quay County Chamber of Commerce by its board after its previous director, Don Long, resigned. Olsen, who manages the Leatherwood Manor motel in Tucumcari, also is president of the local Business and Professional Women’s Foundation club, secretary of the Main Street of America Route 66 Association and a member of the city’s Tourist Commission. • The chamber of commerce also voted to begin preparations for the American Junior Hereford Association’s convent...
Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • April 16-18 — Spay and neuter clinic. A low-cost clinic to spay and neuter pets is being sponsored by Quay County Paws and Claws Animal Rescue. The cost for each surgery will be $40. Payment is due when applications are submitted. Applications are available at Best Care Pharmacy, Logan Subway, Tucumcari Subway and the shelter’s website at pawsandclawsanimalrescueofquaycounty.com. The application and payment must be received by mail by April 10 to: Paws and Claws, P.O. Box 143,...
The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center remain closed to the public indefinitely but will deliver meals to those who qualify. Those interested in meal deliveries should call the Tucumcari facility at 461-2307 and the Logan facility at 487-2287 for more information. Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Chocolate chocolate-chip muffin, string cheese, fresh apple, 1% milk; Lunch: Chicken taco meat, 6-inch whole-grain tortilla, refried pinto beans, Spanish brown rice, lettuce salad, fresh tomatoes, white cheddar cheese, salsa, f...
As I drive to work, past the barricades and the fencing surrounding the New Mexico Roundhouse, I think how it informs public perception about our democratic process and understanding of the “rule of law.” Equally important is how the “rule of law” is required to maintain a civil and democratic society. The “rule of law” is an evasive notion, transformed into a purely aspirational concept. It is something we want a judge to follow or an executive to apply within its limits. But what is the rule of law really? Thomas Paine put it well in Common S...
I was fortunate to watch Texas’ power supply difficulties from afar. Tucumcari was far enough. I didn’t have to go to Cancun. In Tucumcari, the closest we got to Texas’ Texas-size electricity issues was one 45-minute “controlled outage,” on Feb. 16 after a weekend of deep-freeze temperatures and snow that we shared with most of the country. The power emergency that led Tucumcari into the “rolling blackout” circuit ended 15 minutes into the next 45-minute outage, which involved Santa Rosa. That one ended early as the emergency status that b...
When Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham penned her name to Senate Bill 10, she signed a death warrant. She, along with dozens of New Mexico Democratic lawmakers, approved the order to end the lives of thousands of unborn children. The new law is an immoral, dangerous one -- a law that allows late-term abortion and offers no protections for girls, women or health professionals. It permits the murder of the unborn, endangers the health and lives of women and eliminates any conscience provision to allow a doctor to opt out if he or she opposes the...
New Mexico's education community was stunned Thursday to learn about the death of Las Cruces Public Schools superintendent Karen Trujillo. Trujillo, 50, died Thursday evening after being struck by a vehicle while walking her dogs. Trujillo had been Las Cruces’ superintendent since September 2019, moving into the position after a long career as a New Mexico educator and researcher who served briefly as the state's public education secretary. Dennis Roch, a former state representative and now superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools, said: "...
New Mexico Bank & Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA Inc., announced last week it completed its acquisition of FNB New Mexico at the close of business on Feb. 19. FNB New Mexico has Quay County locations in Tucumcari and Logan. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstBank & Trust, headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. In connection with the closing, New Mexico Bank & Trust acquired six FNB New Mexico locations in New Mexico and assumed all deposits and liabilities of FNB New Mexico. It also acquired a branch from FirstBank...
Quay County remained in a low ebb of coronavirus cases, totaling four in the past week. Three cases were reported the previous week. The latest case Sunday — a man age 6o to 69 — was reported in the Tucumcari ZIP code. The county’s overall total rose to 420 since the pandemic began last spring, with eight deaths. The breakdown by ZIP code through Sunday was 326 in Tucumcari, 59 in Logan, 10 in House, eight in McAlister, eight in San Jon, four in Nara Visa, three in Grady (part of which extends into Quay County), and two in Bard. A total of 35...
If you see a man walking around Tucumcari carrying a cardboard sign, chances are good he's a former motorcycle gang member who now is pastor at First Christian Church. The clincher is if the sign reads: "May I Pray 4 You." Stephen Mason, 56, previously from San Juan, Texas, said he often takes the sign with him in the morning or afternoon while walking in the church's neighborhood. It's led to conversations, with a couple of conversions to Jesus Christ and baptisms. Mason also has opened his...
Tucumcari and Logan's varsity football teams finally learned about their shortened-season schedules Thursday, with a possible fifth or postseason game to be determined later. Tucumcari's cross country teams also learned about their finalized schedule last week. Fans will not be allowed at games because of a statewide ban on public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, many football and volleyball games will be broadcast live at the NHFS Network at nfhsnetwork.com, which offers...
A San Jon High School student was a grand prize winner of a national video contest that urges utility customers to call before starting digging projects. San Jon junior Saisravya Bandla's 59-second video tied for first place with a Pennsylvania student in the "Know What's Below - Call Before You Dig" competition. The video shows Saisravya using a self-created pop-up book and her voiceover to convey the importance of calling utilities before proceeding with digging to prevent damage of...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28: • Misty D. Aragon, 38, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Seth A. Chavez, 32, Tucumcari, probation violation. • Crystal Lynn Cochran, 33, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Ashley Nolan, 38, Tucumcari, contempt of court and larceny ($100 or less). • David Royce Shivers, 35, Logan, contempt of court. • Donovan Billiot, 59, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Steven P. Sandoval, 41, Tucumcari, concealing identity. • Charles Camerino, 31, Tucumcari, contempt of cou...
The New Mexico Human Services Department recently launched a statewide mental health support line to help residents experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cope with COVID-19 Crisis Counseling program provides free and confidential short-term mental health services to New Mexico residents. Anyone seeking free and confidential counseling to cope with social isolation and other challenges brought on by the pandemic can call (505) 954-1057. The phone line is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28: Monday • 7:29 a.m.: Theft in 2000 block of South Mountain Road, Tucumcari. • 9 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 500 block of Walleye Pike Drive, Logan. • 9:07 a.m.: Fraud in 1100 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. • 10:01 a.m.: Civil dispute in 100 block of South Jackson Street, Tucumcari. • 11:09 a.m.: Threat in 300 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. • 11:11 a.m.: Theft in 300 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. • 1:05 p.m.: Ci...