Serving the High Plains

Articles from the November 27, 2024 edition


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  • Logan superintendent stepping down

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 27, 2024

    The superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools announced last week he is retiring at the end of the year to return to politics. Dennis Roch, 51, a former state representative, told the school board and staff on Wednesday he was retiring effective Dec. 31 so he can become the caucus chief of staff for New Mexico Senate Republicans. Roch sent the Quay County Sun a copy of the retirement letter he submitted to the board. "I've been blessed to served the students, staff, and families of this...

  • MCC sees signs of improvement in latest audit

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 27, 2024

    Mesalands Community College received an unmodified opinion — the best attainable — in its recently completed audit for fiscal-year 2023. Though the audit’s number of findings edged up from nine to 10 in the 2023 audit, its unmodified (or “clean”) opinion signaled a marked improvement from the disclaimer, or second-worst, opinion from the college’s FY2022 audit. It was a sign Mesalands is emerging from its fiscal crisis that came to light early last year. During the Nov. 19 board of trustees meeting, board Chairman Richard Primrose said he’d a...

  • Ex-commissioner gets probation for bad check

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    A former Tucumcari city commissioner was sentenced to probation and community service after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of bouncing a check of nearly $3,000 for outstanding water bills. Christopher W. Arias, 31, pleaded guilty to fraud by worthless check in a deal with prosecutors. According to court documents, Arias was placed on 18 months of supervised probation. He also must perform 50 hours of community service and complete either the ASPEN of New Mexico “Second Chance Life Values” treatment program or a financial acc...

  • New community liaison at TPS earns praise

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 27, 2024

    Tucumcari Public Schools’ new community liaison had been on the job for only two weeks, but he already received praise from principals and the superintendent. Charles Newman was hired to the position of community engagement specialist, aka community liaison, shortly after superintendent Carl Marano announced its creation during the board’s October meeting. Marano said he saw the position as a way to address students who are chronically absent from school. During the board’s Nov. 18 meeting, elementary school principal Deanne McKinney said...

  • Giving thanks act of Biblical faith

    Gordon Runyan, Religion columnist|Nov 27, 2024

    It’s Thanksgiving. This is another holiday that has fallen victim to the secularization of society. Whatever you watch, you’ll hear that Thanksgiving is about gathering with friends and family to belly up to the trough and eat like there’s no tomorrow. There might be some murmurings about Pilgrims and natives and how one group managed to save the other, depending on your own political spin. My favorite football team will almost certainly lose in spectacular fashion. Some will dare to say we should focus on what we’re thankful for. But, the ver...

  • Local election audit confirms results

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    A state-mandated audit last week of one voting precinct in Quay County in the Nov. 5 election confirmed the original ballot count was accurate. Three election officials, County Clerk Ellen White, Deputy Clerk Veronica Manley and District Judge Timothy Rose presided over a hand recount Wednesday of 327 ballots cast in Quay County's Precinct 6, which is bordered by Highway 209 to the west, U.S. 54 to the north, the San Jon school district border to the east and the caprock to the south. The New...

  • Funds going to two area healthcare groups

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    Two healthcare organizations that serve six counties, including Quay, learned they will receive a total of about $2.6 million from the state Rural Health Care Delivery Fund. A news release Thursday from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham stated Multicultural Evaluation and Consultation Associates, also known as MECA Therapies, will receive an estimated $1,617,176 from the fund to enhance maternal healthcare coordination in Quay, Curry, Roosevelt, Dona Ana, Chaves and Lea counties. MECA Therapies, which offers prenatal and early childhood services,...

  • Pages past - Nov. 27

    Nov 27, 2024

    On this date ... 1974: Jackie Andrade, a fifth-grade student at Granger School in Tucumcari, wrote this poem that was published in the newspaper: I am thankful for having live to enjoy. I am thankful for having food. I am thankful for having a mother and father because they feed me, and take care of me, and buy me clothes. I am thankful for my education. I am thankful for my freedom of speech, and I can write whatever I like, and pick what I want. I am thankful for my freedom of going any place in the United States. I am thankful for freedom...

  • Calendar - Nov. 27

    Nov 27, 2024

    Thursday — First Baptist Church’s Thanksgiving Day Lunch. The annual free meal will be served in the fellowship hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 321 E. Center St. Saturday — Very Merry Tucumcari. Tucumcari MainStreet and the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce are combining forces for a fun shopping activity from 10 a.m. to noon. Kandel’s Street Sips will offer a chance to decorate a gingerbread cookie. Sands-Dorsey Park will have a QR code to listen to a Christmas story. Jackalope Coffee Haus will offer a free hot chocolate. Decorat...

  • Menus - Nov. 27

    Nov 27, 2024

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — No school. Thursday — No school. Monday — Breakfast: Turkey sausage breakfast pizza, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, apple, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Chicken nuggets, turkey and cheese deluxe hoagie, mashed potatoes, seasoned baked whole-grain roll, garden side salad, cucumber, ranch dressing, orange, 1%, skim, strawberry skim or chocolate skim milk. Tuesday — Breakfast: Veggie breakfast bowl, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, cinnamon graham cracker, pear, orange juice,...

  • Parade, other activities on tap for Saturday

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    The Christmas season in Tucumcari officially will begin Saturday with the city’s annual Light Parade, along with other activities throughout the day as part of Small Business Saturday. “Our hope is to have enough people stay here and shop in town on Saturday,” Tucumcari MainStreet director Connie Loveland said. The traditional big event is Christmas Light Parade at the 6 p.m., organized by the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce. Parade entries will line up at the Legacy Church parking lot near Lake Street and East Tucumcari Boule...

  • Promised to try to keep politics out of holiday

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Nov 27, 2024

    Ah, Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of them all. As its name implies, it’s a day to give thanks for our many blessings. And for me, it’s family time up in the mountains, in a lodge we rent out every year for a long holiday weekend reunion. This year, we’ll be grieving the loss of a loved one, celebrating the youngest among us, reconnecting as a family and going home exhausted from all the fun. And then there’s politics. I’ve already been warned not to be bringing it up, and I said I’ll try. I’m not a bit happy with Trump’s election and th...

  • Trump picks signal to the public

    Elwood Watson, Syndicated content|Nov 27, 2024

    President-elect Donald Trump has hit the ground running, alerting the public to the sort of individuals he intends to appoint to his second presidential cabinet. He continues to advertise his colorful selections, rewarding his most ardent supporters, setting the tone for what his administration will attempt to accomplish, and demonstrating little if any concern for what anyone else thinks. Trump’s most controversial picks so far include former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to lead the Department of Justice, former Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi G...

  • Americans have much to be thankful for

    Michael Reagan, Syndicated content|Nov 27, 2024

    It doesn’t matter how many terrible wars we’re mired in overseas. It doesn’t matter how many seemingly unsolvable social and political problems we face at home. At this time of year, we Americans have the usual Walmart store of blessings to be thankful for. An extra reason for the entire country to give thanks this week is the fact that the long-dreaded 2024 election is finally in our rearview mirror – and for half of us the outcome was a blessing. Thanksgiving is usually a national holiday that doesn’t get stuck in the swamp of partisan...

  • THS setter voted Player of Year

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    Tucumcari's volleyball team boasted an all-time high of five players making first-team all-district honors, including the Player of the Year. Senior setter Caylee Benavidez, one of the most decorated players in THS volleyball history, earned Player of the Year honors in District 6-2A. Other first-team district choices for the Lady Rattlers were junior middle blocker Kyla Lopez, sophomore outside hitter Cambree Benavidez, senior outside hitter and defensive specialist July Lafferty and senior...

  • Area spikers lift Red All-Stars to victory

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    Two area players played big roles in their team's four-set victory Saturday at the annual 1A/2A Red-Green All-Star Volleyball Game organized by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association. Logan senior setter and middle blocker Haylie Bidegain notched 13 kills and three blocks and Tucumcari senior setter Caylee Benavidez totaled 18 assists and five kills in the Red team's 21-25, 25-21, 25-9, 25-19 victory over the Green All-Stars. The match was played at St. Pius X High School in...

  • Five Lady Longhorns earn all-district

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    Five players from Logan’s state runner-up squad were named to the first team of Region 6-1A all-district volleyball. Lady Longhorns who made the team were senior setter and middle blocker Haylie Bidegain, junior outside hitter Desta Rose, sophomore libero Jadyn Garcia, junior defensive specialist Mylee Stone and junior setter Charli Fuller. Bidegain led the Lady Longhorns in kills (276), aces (43), hitting percentage (.281) and blocks (71) and was second on the team in assists (342). She also was chosen for Saturday’s Class 1A/2A Red-Green All...

  • Logan's Judd named Player of Year

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    A total of seven players from the state-champion Logan six-man football team earned first-team District 1 honors, including Player of the Year. Another four Longhorns earned second-team honors. Player of the Year was senior running back Haden Judd, who totaled over 2,200 all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns during the season for the 12-0 Longhorns, who earned their first-ever state championship in football. Judd averaged almost 120 yards rushing per game and 15 yards per carry. He scored 26...

  • Man charged with fifth DWI after chase

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    New Mexico State Police arrested a Thoreau man on his fifth driving-while-intoxicated charge after a high-speed chase through Quay and Guadalupe counties. Jimmie Glen Yazzie Jr., 44, was charged with 13 total counts: aggravated DWI, aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated fleeing a law-enforcement officer, resisting or evading an officer, criminal damage to property, driving while license revoked, reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain traffic lane, no turn signal, overtaking vehicle on the right and improper equipment. The...

  • DAR taking orders for Wreaths Across America

    Staff report|Nov 27, 2024

    The Tucumcari chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution again is taking orders for Wreaths Across America. Christmas wreaths will be placed on the graves of a specific veteran or any veteran at Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery on Dec. 14. The cost is $17 per wreath. To order, call (575) 403-6959 or mail a check, payable to Tucumcari Chapter DAR, to Susan Taylor, 2202 S. Third St., Tucumcari, NM 88401. Phone or mail orders are due by Nov. 29. The idea for Wreaths Across America began in 1992 when Morrill Worcester, who owned Worcester...

  • Jail log - Nov. 27

    Nov 27, 2024

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Nov. 18 to Nov. 22: — Joe Anthony Montano, 58, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Richard Borders, 52, Tucumcari, concealing or providing false required information, failure to register as a sex offender and warrant from other counties or states. — Jazmine Lyn Holweg, 27, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Rodney Hodges, 49, Tucumcari, two counts of failure to appear on a felony charge, two counts of contempt of court and felony contempt of court. — Angela Harvey, 47, Amarillo,...

  • Police blotter - Nov. 27

    Nov 27, 2024

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Nov. 18 to Nov. 24: Nov. 18 — 2:03 a.m.: Assault and battery at South Adams Street and East Nobles Avenue, Tucumcari. — 8:01 a.m.: Breaking and entering in 1300 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 8:19 a.m.: Breaking and entering in 1900 block of South Mountain Road, Tucumcari. — 8:42 a.m.: Littering at Main Street and Heman Avenue, Tucumcari. — 8:47 a.m.: Property damage at South Monroe Street and East Rankin Avenue, Tucumcari. — 11:14 a.m.:...

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