Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Quay County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved an employment contract for its next county manager, Daniel Zamora, who takes over for the retiring Richard Primrose next month. The commission offered Zamora, the county’s emergency manager, the job after a three-hour executive session during its meeting March 8 to interview candidates. Zamora had been the emergency manager for three years. “I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to working with you,” Zamora said just before the vote Monday. All three commissioners stated their...
Quay County landed in the turquoise zone – or best rating – in COVID-19 risk assessments Wednesday by the New Mexico Department of Health. Final numbers of daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 people and test positivity rates hadn’t been posted on the DOH’s website Wednesday afternoon, but Human Services Secretary David Scrase during a weekly briefing revealed the map showing the latest two-week risk assessments. Quay County’s turquoise rating for a second consecutive period gives it the most leeway for businesses to reopen to near-norm...
Four Tucumcari city commissioners during a special meeting Friday evening approved, with one abstention, giving another $60,000 in lodgers tax funds to a production company to help it make four more episodes of the "Bands of Enchantment" music television series. The decision prompted applause from about 20 people at the meeting in the commission's chambers. Elkhorn Entertainment will produce in Tucumcari eight episodes of "Bands of Enchantment," which principals envision as a New Mexico version...
The Mesalands Community College board of trustees will go through a shortlist of seven candidates as the college’s next president. Board Chairman Jim Streetman announced the names after a 25-minute closed executive session during the board’s regular meeting March 16. In a follow-up phone interview Wednesday, Streetman said the college’s search committee had winnowed the list from an initial 67 applicants. Streetman said he spent much of Wednesday morning contacting the initial eight candidates. One withdrew at that time due to personal reaso...
The New Mexico Legislature last week approved more than $850,000 in capital outlay funds for Quay County projects during lawmakers’ last week of the annual 60-day session. Legislators approved a total of more than $517 million for projects from around the state. The list isn’t final, though. It is subject to a line-item veto from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in the coming weeks. Quay County’s share of the capital outlay projects are: • Arch Hurley Conservancy District maintenance equipment, $75,000; • Quay County Detention Center renovatio...
The Equality Act is making its way through Congress. I think it will become law. This will expand the scope of current anti-discrimination rules, to include sexual and gender categories. It will be illegal to refuse to hire someone based on their stated preferences or identifying labels. Public restrooms will be open to biological members of the other sex. Most importantly, for this article, the Equality Act denies any exemption due to religious conviction. If taken to court over it, no church,...
On this date ... 1971: San Jon’s Don McCoy and Harold Diaz won the senior division of their school’s spelling bee and will compete in the Quay County Spelling Bee next week. At Tucumcari Junior High School, Dale Ann Pannell won first place in its spelling bee. Libby Haller finished runner-up, and Jenny Williams was third. • The Tucumcari Rattlers baseball team earned its first victory of the young season with an 11-1 demolition of West Las Vegas. Mickey Gares led the Rattlers by going 2-for-3 at the plate, and teammates Dutchy Byrum and Jesse D...
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 — Closed for spring break. Thursday — Closed for spring break. Monday — Breakfast: Blueberry muffin, string cheese, apple juice; Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwich, baked beans, chilled peaches, chocolate skim milk. Tuesday — Breakfast: Cinni m...
Quay County appeared to be on course to remain in the turquoise zone for the lowest COVID-19 risk level when the state’s newest assessments are announced Wednesday. The county has recorded only four cases of coronavirus since March 8 and had gone more than a week without one. The county can tolerate up to 10 cases during a two-week period and still be under the criteria of eight daily cases per 100,000 people. Quay County’s estimated test-positivity rate from March 8 through Sunday was 1.7%, well under that criteria of 5%. New Mexico Human Serv...
I was opposed to attaching a national $15 minimum wage to the COVID-19 bill that President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11. I am still opposed to a national $15 minimum wage. I am in favor of raising minimum wage to provide a better living standard for our lowest-paid workers, but I think the issue needs study and perspective before such a law is enacted. That law should not set an arbitrary standard for the nation. That's because I think the new minimum wages should reflect realities of different regions. A $15 per hour minimum wage...
I can hardly wait to see how President Biden’s second 100 days in office go. So far he’s ripped up Trump’s successful immigration policy by the roots, stopped work on the wall and created a super-crisis on the Southern border. He and his masters in Congress are preparing to screw the rich and corporations with higher taxes on incomes and profits. And because he stupidly agreed with George Stephanopoulos on TV that Vladimir Putin is “a killer,” Putin got mad and recalled Russia’s ambassador. From day one, when he ordered the Keystone Pi...
Well, the weather is warming up, vaccines are getting into arms, and sports are once again making their way into our collective minds. For pro athletes, sports never really left, just modified a little. But for the hybrid creature known as the “student-athlete,” the return of sports is a huge deal. In 2020, the global pandemic robbed an entire class of student-athletes of their ability to showcase their skills for college recruiters. Coronavirus robbed them of one of the most unforgettable times in their lives; a time when they can take the...
Officials during a Tucumcari school board meeting March 15 talked enthusiastically about the district’s first full day of in-person instruction earlier that day. The landmark day followed weeks of the district using a hybrid model of online and in-person teaching because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before then, the middle school and high school used remote learning exclusively for months. The day also marked a reduced number of Tucumcari students opting for online education. Education Secretary Ryan Stewart announced the previous week all p...
Mesalands Community College likely will offer classes this fall revolving around the care of several wild horses from Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico. Paul Leonard, farrier science faculty member, and Manny Encinias, animal sciences faculty member, gave an update during the board of trustees meeting March 16 about the college’s efforts in launching a wild horse program so the animals eventually can be adopted out. Fees to adopt the horses currently are $125. Mesalands officials first revealed the possibility of a partnership w...
New Mexico administered its 1 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine Friday as state and local officials also expanded the eligibility of residents to receive the shot. On a local level, Quay County saw a decrease in immunizations after nearly 600 people were given shots during several mass-vaccination events during the previous week. Trigg Memorial Hospital, Quay County Public Health Office and Quay County Family Health Center combined to administer about 80 doses of vaccine last week. Quay County Family Health Center received about 100 doses of...
Tucumcari's football team found itself dominated from start to finish in a 50-0 loss Saturday at Dexter that was ended by the mercy rule at halftime. The Demons improved to 2-1 on the season, with its only loss to a stout Portales team during the previous week. The Rattlers fell to 0-3. Tucumcari coach Wayne Ferguson said "there wasn't a whole lot of positives" for his team during Saturday's game. "We didn't look good all," he said. "We struggled defensively; we struggled offensively. We have...
LOGAN - The Longhorns showed what they could do when two of their skill players aren't injured. Logan quarterback Wyatt Wright, sidelined for a game after a concussion during a season-opening loss to Melrose, went 8-of-12 passing for 134 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another score during a 42-0 win Saturday afternoon against a young and inexperienced Menaul team in eight-man football. Jordan Evans, who also was sidelined for one game after a concussion against Melrose, caught five...
The Tucumcari volleyball team showed big improvement this week, notching their first on-court victory of the abbreviated season and giving defending Class 1A champion Logan a tougher match than expected. The Lady Rattlers prevailed over Santa Rosa 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23 in a non-district matchup March 16 at the Snake Pit. “We had some great hustle plays and did better blocking at the net,” Tucumcari coach Dana Benavidez said. “The girls have had some close games that have fallen the other way all season. But this game, they finished and p...
SAN JON - Fort Sumner's volleyball squad made sure Thursday that San Jon remained in the bottom of the district standings, but both teams' records are deceiving. The Foxes prevailed 25-15, 25-13, 25-15 over a young Coyotes team to improve to a respectable 5-3 record overall but just 1-3 in District 6. That's because Fort Sumner's district is widely acknowledged as the toughest small-school schedule in the state. District 6 traditionally sends three and sometimes four teams to the state tournamen...
Invasive zebra mussels have been found in moss balls sold as aquarium plants in pet stores and through online vendors across New Mexico. Any moss balls purchased in New Mexico or online within the last year may pose serious risks to the state's waterbodies, water systems and wildlife. Retailers and anyone who recently has purchased a moss ball are urged to immediately follow these steps to protect New Mexico's waters and wildlife resources. • Remove moss ball and any aquarium items and place i...
The New Mexico Activities Association last week announced its state championship schedules for cross country and volleyball, but there will not be state-title games for football. Football will conclude with a so-called “bowl game” that would allow chosen teams to compete outside of their respective regions. The NMAA stated in a news release Wednesday the New Mexico Public Education Department ruled that championship events could be held “but must take place in accordance with the state’s public health orders.” “Most notably, this means that...
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture will host a pesticide disposal event in Portales from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 30. Held at the NMDA Peanut Grading Station at 721 E Lime St., the event is free and available to all business owners, farmers, ranchers and all other New Mexico residents. Any type of pesticide, treated seed or rinsate will be collected. Held periodically throughout the state, the pesticide disposal events provide the agricultural industry, pest control industry and public a chance to properly dispose of unwanted...
Join the Quay County Health Council for a presentation next week on the updates to the Affordable Care Act and what is available for low-cost or even free health insurance through the BeWellNM website. During the presentation, Misti Dickens, a community engagement specialist, will discuss opportunities and show how to complete an application, how to find free help with the application and what financial assistance is available. It is not too late to sign up for insurance, as the enrollment period has been extended to May 15. The online...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from March 15 to March 21: Monday • 7:37 a.m.: Arrest in 300 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. • 12:59 p.m.: Vandalism in 900 block of Martinez Street, Logan. • 1:23 p.m.: Accident at Cedar Court and Quay Road 64, Tucumcari. • 2:09 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 400 block of West Hines Avenue, Tucumcari. • 2:46 p.m.: Scam in 1200 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. • 3:23 p.m.: Civil dispute in 200 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. • 3:32 p.m....