Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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New Mexico's governor on Monday extended her public health emergency order to April 30 and added restrictions to combat the coronavirus pandemic, including limiting occupancy in essential businesses. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's order stated essential businesses — including grocery stores — must limit occupancy to 20% or less of the maximum occupancy of the retail space. Several New Mexico businesses had imposed their own limits before her order. The Family Dollar store in Tucumcari, for example, limited inside customers to five with an emp...
Quay County has its first official case of COVID-19. State officials on Saturday afternoon reported a confirmed positive case of the coronavirus during its daily emailed briefing. The state Department of Health does not reveal the town where the patient resides or any other information. A phone call to the agency Saturday wasn't immediately returned. The first Quay County coronavirus case occurred two days after management for the Quay Apartments in Tucumcari sent a letter to all residents warning of a resident who was exposed to the virus or...
A resident of a Tucumcari apartment complex has been exposed to COVID-19 or tested positive for the virus, according to a letter distributed Thursday to the complex's residents. The letter, dated Thursday, informs residents of the Quay Apartments that a resident was exposed to or tested positive to COVID-19. A partial image of the letter was posted on social media. Miranda Archuleta, manager of Quay Apartments, confirmed to the Quay County Sun the letter's authenticity during a brief telephone interview. She declined to comment further and said...
At a time of crisis, people sometimes step forward to lend a hand. That includes Quay County during the coronavirus pandemic, where at least two women are sewing protective masks and another woman is working to get free internet access for underprivileged children at apartment complexes she manages so they can continue their schoolwork. Lesa Salvador of Tucumcari is crocheting masks to be given away to children or the elderly. For everyone else, she's asking for a $4 donation so she can buy...
Local law-enforcement agencies are more mindful of the coronavirus pandemic and taking more precautions against it, but they're not backing off with their usual duties, either. "We're business as usual. We have to be," Quay County Sheriff Russell Shafer summarized in a phone interview last week. Tucumcari Police Chief David Lathrom said his force already had been taking protective measures before the epidemic, including wearing gloves and washing their hands. "The only thing we've added to that...
When the weather is nice, you can live in a house founded on sand. It’s when the rain falls, and the ground trembles, that you are forced to consider whether sand was the best building material. (See the DIY home improvement tips from Jesus in Matthew 7:24-29.) The COVID-19 virus has brought a big storm. What is important to us? Whom do we think has the best shot at saving us? The disturbing thing, for me, is the number of people whose lives have been captured by fear. Bible readers that we a...
New Mexico voters won’t know until at least mid-April whether everybody will cast ballots by mail for the June 2 primary election. The state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on both sides of the issue April 14 after 27 county clerks asked the court last week to hold a mail-in election because of safety and logistical concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver also stated her support for a mail-in election. The New Mexico Republican Party filed a lawsuit to block such an election, stating in a n...
Events subject to change due to coronavirus concerns. • Thursday — Tucumcari Teacher Parade. This salute at 5 p.m. to Tucumcari teachers will begin at the Snake Pit, go down Tucumcari Boulevard and south on First Street, west on Washington Avenue and will circle Dunn Park at Fourth Street. Parents and children are asked to remain in their vehicles during the parade. • June 25-28 — Rockin’ Route 66. This festival in Tucumcari will be packed with live entertainment, a classic car and hot rod show, a vintage and hand-built motorcycle show, a p...
Quay County schools will be closed through the rest of the school year because of the coronavirus pandemic. For information on children’s meals provided at each school, go to newmexico.gov/education. The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center also will be 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 Senior Center Wednesday — Beef enchilada, pinto bea...
On this date ... 1970: William Lane II, president of General Binding Corp. of North Brook, Illinois, bought the 130,000-acre Bell Ranch northwest of Tucumcari in the largest single land transaction in the Southwest in 23 years. Lane, who resides in Lake Forest, Illinois, said the ranch’s operation of 3,400 head of cattle and 100 horses would continue as usual. Lane said the ranch’s namesake, Bell Mountain, enticed him to buy it after hunting trips in the area. • A jury of three men and nine women convicted two men from Toledo, Ohio, and Shrev...
A Tucumcari man faces up to 12 years in prison in a plea deal for home burglaries that occurred early last year just days after he was released from the county jail on drug- and stolen-property charges. Donnie Lucero, 55, whose first name was listed as Donie in earlier court filings, was convicted March 25 in Tucumcari district court of two counts of residential burglary, two counts of possession of burglary tools and one count of criminal trespassing. Charges of two counts of larceny, criminal damage to property and possession of a firearm by...
We can probably all agree hand washing and social distancing are key to preventing the spread of COVID-19. But there’s another safety component some officials around the state seem to not understand: Information should be shared, especially information that might help us avoid infection. New Mexico health officials are telling us daily the number of positive tests by county. Sometimes we’re told approximately how old the patient is and whether they are hospitalized, especially if they die. That helps keep the topic in the news, but it’s not m...
Some people just can’t admit they were wrong. Too many of these, unfortunately, turn out to be the staunchest backers of President Donald Trump. They are so unable to admit they were wrong that even after Trump recanted his previous pooh-poohing of the coronavirus threat, they stand by Trump’s original opinions. The prime examples, in my humble opinion, are: • Tony Spell, the Louisiana pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana, who continues to crowd his church for worship services despite the pandemic. It keeps the colle...
It’s lucky I’m being such a good American and sheltering at home. Every day I’ve been able to watch President Trump’s coronavirus White House press briefings and the press conferences of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. It’s been tough keeping up with all the scientific, financial and political twists and turns of our national war on the coronavirus. On Monday, I was ready to dump all my stocks and start hoarding cash when I heard predictions of 37 million unemployed and concerns about the coming of another G...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from March 30 to April 5: Monday • 2 a.m.: Intoxicated subject at Rainbow Street and 540 Loop, Logan. • 1:07 p.m.: Illegal dumping at Highway 469 and Quay Road 50, San Jon. • 5:32 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 200 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. • 7:43 p.m.: Breaking and entering in 1400 block of Sunburst Drive, Tucumcari. Tuesday • 7:10 a.m.: Accident with property damage in 2000 block of South Mountain Road, Tucumcari. • 1:23 p.m.: Fight in 100 block of So...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from March 30 to April 5: • Larissa Anaya, 25, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Mariah Meier, 28, Clovis, failure to appear at time and place stated in citation. • Ashley Nolan, 37, Tucumcari, shoplifting ($250 or less). • James Woodward, 34, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court. • Toby Steve Apodaca, 51, Tucumcari, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and public affray. These individuals were released from the Quay County Detention...
Construction resumed Monday on a $10.5 million reconstruction of Tucumcari’s Mountain Road from Tucumcari Boulevard to Interstate 40. The work, which began in October and was suspended during the winter months, should be finished by winter 2020. It includes new I-40 access ramps at Exit 333 and rebuilding about one mile of U.S. 54, aka Mountain Road, from the interstate. Workers also are installing new 6-inch and 10-inch water lines and a new 36-inch storm drain there. They will add erosion-control measures, install new signs and stripes on t...
In late March, workers were seen scurrying around and on top of the long-closed Apache Motel on Tucumcari's Route 66 corridor. It turns out the motel, aka the Apache Inn, at 1106 E. Tucumcari Blvd. landed itself new owners about a year ago who are renovating it and plan to reopen it in late summer. In a symbol of the motel's imminent rejuvenation, workers hooked up electricity to its massive neon sign. Dozens of more than 200 incandescent bulbs outlining the sign's edge lit up the night sky...
Two girls each from Tucumcari and Logan and one boy from the Grady/San Jon were among the seniors named to the New Mexico High School Coaches Association's all-regional basketball teams last week. Tucumcari's Ashley Shipley and Jasmine Jones and Logan's Karli Webb and Jordan Hines each were named Wednesday to the small-school Northeast All-Stars. Shipley, the Lady Rattlers' point guard, amassed team-highs in points per game (21.1), rebounds (9.2), assists (5.4) and free-throw shooting...