Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Federal officials recently turned down Quay County’s application for disaster relief in the wake of hail damage and flash flooding that occurred in the wake of late May’s severe storms. County manager Daniel Zamora said Monday after the county commission meeting he received word last week from officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that it had rejected the county’s bid for disaster relief. Zamora said the FEMA official that inspected washed-out roads and bridges assessed only $200,000 in damage in the county — well under t...
Christopher Arias, a District 4 representative for the Tucumcari City Commission, turned in his resignation today, citing personal reasons. Arias posted on Facebook his resignation letter, dated today, to city manager Paula Chacon and Mayor Ralph Moya. Arias had served on the commission for six years. “It is with a heavy heart that I have made this decision, but due to personal reasons, I believe it is in my best interest to step down from my position,” Arias stated in the letter. Arias stated it was “an honor to contribute to the betterment of...
A candidate for Tucumcari City Commission was arrested and jailed Thursday on a battery charge less than 10 days after officially running for election. Tommy Snapp, 52, was booked Thursday afternoon into the Quay County Detention Center after being arrested on a warrant for a petty misdemeanor battery charge, according to jail records and online court documents. Snapp was arraigned in magistrate court on Friday and released that afternoon, according to court and jail records. A pretrial hearing...
The name of Tucumcari's annual Fired Up festival derives from its event-ending fireworks show or the annual fire-and-choreography performance by Odd-Lab. But the "Up" part of the festival also could refer to several low-riders during the car hop contest Saturday afternoon in the VFW Post 2528 parking lot. Hundreds of people gasped, cheered and applauded as they saw the front ends of low-rider vehicles bounce nearly eight feet into the air due to their souped-up hydraulics and suspensions. The...
SAN JON — The superintendent for San Jon Municipal Schools received a one-year extension on his contract and a state-mandated 6% pay raise from the district’s board Wednesday. Alan Umholtz’s annual pay will rise to about $123,000 a year. Receiving a two-year deal upon his initial hiring last year, his contact now will expire in June 2025 with the extension. The board’s action followed a 40-minute closed executive session. Umholtz’s contact was on the agenda for two previous meetings, but action was delayed because of the absence of board mem...
This past Monday was Patriot Day. Like Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Sept. 11, 2001, is a day to remember attacks on U.S. soil that led to a massive loss of American lives (2,403 at Pearl Harbor and 2,977 on 9/11) and got us into a war. Unlike World War II, after which we made real peace with our attackers, we never should consider peace with terrorists such as those behind the 9/11 attack. Rather, we must protect ourselves even to the point of personal inconvenience for the good of all and always be on the alert for more attacks. Terrorism is...
One section of the newly opened Market Gallery in downtown Tucumcari will serve as a community art space for local talent, and Flourishing Desert Creations in that space serves as the fulfillment of a dream. The Market Gallery, housed in the former Jackalope Coffee Haus and Smoothie Bar space at 211 S. Second St., held its soft opening last Tuesday. Nathan Krekula, owner of The Market Gallery, said he heard from Jackalope owner Annie McCauley she was consolidating the coffee shop into her...
Quay County On the Move is inviting residents to spend Saturday afternoon exploring Tucumcari’s four museums for free from noon to 3 p.m. Participating museums are the New Mexico Route 66 Museum at 1500 W. Route 66, Tucumcari Railroad Museum at 101 E. Railroad Ave., Tucumcari Historical Museum at 416 S. Adams St. and the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum at 222 E. Laughlin Ave. Admission to the museums is free during the event. Those who wish to participate should stop by the Quay County On The Move table, register and pick up a scavenger hunt form a...
The Quay County Health Council is partnering with NMSU Cooperative Extension Service and United Way of Eastern New Mexico to provide opportunities this month for suicide prevention training. This evidence-based program will equip community members with the tools to engage and assist people during their most vulnerable moments. Suicide has become more common in rural communities. Those participating in these sessions will feel more comfortable talking to someone about suicide. Most people often are relieved to be able to talk to someone about...
On this date ... 1973: About 40 to 45 local gas station operators elected a committee to travel to Clovis, Albuquerque and Santa Rosa to persuade operators to join their shutdown to protest President Nixon’s fuel price-controls program. Local operators opted to remain closed through 9 a.m. Friday, when they will meet at the chamber of commerce to discuss further action. San Jon also had shut down all its stations except for the truck terminal there. In Tucumcari, Malco, Texaco, Circle K, Shamrock, Alex, Phillips 66, Standard and Bell s...
• Saturday — Pet adoption event. Paws & Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County and the Tucumcari Animal Shelter are holding this free pet adoption event on the lawn of the Roadrunner Lodge Motel from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1023 E. Route 66 Blvd. Visitors can enjoy a free Nathan’s hot dog, chips and a drink. • Saturday — Rotary Golf Tournament. Tee time is 10 a.m. at Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course. Proceeds will fund scholarships for local high school graduates. The four-person scramble for $50 comes with lunch and one mulligan. Call Charlie a...
Tucumcari Senior Center Wednesday — Asado, Spanish rice, beans, crackers, sugar cookie. Thursday — Hot turkey sandwich, scalloped potatoes, Brussels sprouts, tropical fruit salad. Friday — Frito pie with tomato, lettuce and onion, pinto beans, crackers, applesauce cake. Monday — Ham and cheese sandwich, baked beans, cottage cheese, peaches. Tuesday — Meat and cheese burrito, corn, iced chocolate cake. Logan schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Egg patties, toast, cereal, fruit; Lunch: Chicken sandwich, chips, pasta salad, cold veggies, fruit. Thur...
Tucumcari city commissioners during a special meeting Sept. 5 approved fourth-quarter budget adjustments and fourth-quarter financial reports for fiscal year 2023 that were a few days late on a state deadline. Commissioners had delayed action on the resolutions during previous meetings because of lingering questions, and they still voiced some reservations last week. City manager Paula Chacon said the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration originally wanted the reports by July 31 but issued an extension to Aug. 31. Chacon said the...
New Mexico’s governor last week issued an “emergency health order” that bans firearms in all public places in Albuquerque. The only people exempt from the ban are police and security officers. And criminals, of course. Criminals don’t follow laws, so this nonsense does not apply to them either. Michelle Lujan Grisham herself said she expects opposition from those who care about liberty and the U.S. Constitution. She was right. New Mexico’s House and Senate Republicans immediately announced plans to file a federal lawsuit. “It is unacceptable th...
It appears some Republican donors are really concerned that presidential candidate Tim Scott, South Carolina’s junior senator, is a 57-year-old bachelor — and whatever implications that may entail. Top party donors are raising concerns about the fact the conservative Black senator has never been married. and want some of their concerns about the matter addressed before they decide to become committed to his candidacy, according to Axios. Scott has never been known to talk about his romantic life. Apparently, his reluctance has “raised conce...
Almost 100 years ago the great American author Sinclair Lewis wrote a political novel called “It Can’t Happen Here.” The 1935 book was a warning that what was happening then in Europe – the rise of fascism and Nazism – could come to America in the form of a Hitler-type politician who gets elected and then becomes a dictator. Though the power of the federal government has grown enormously since FDR’s days, we never became a totalitarian country like the fictional one Lewis imagined. But out here in California, where parents, public schools and...
State-ranked Raton scored four touchdowns in the second half Friday to put the game out of reach during a 41-0 victory against a host Tucumcari team still coping with the recent death of a teammate. The Tigers (2-2), ranked fifth in Class 3A by MaxPreps.com, racked up more than 350 yards of offense, mostly in the second half. Tigers quarterback Jacob Mattorano went 11-for-22 passing for 143 yards and three touchdowns. Joseph Saenz rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries....
In a battle between Class 1A’s top-ranked teams, Melrose prevailed in a five-set epic against Logan in the championship match Saturday of the Vixen Volleyball Classic at Fort Sumner. Melrose won 25-17, 13-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-7 in a match against Logan that took nearly two hours. In the fifth and deciding set, the Lady Buffaloes surged to a 10-1 lead the Lady Longhorns didn’t overcome. Logan, ranked No. 1 in 1A in the most recent coaches poll, suffered its first loss and fell to 7-1 overall. Melrose, a perennial contender for the 1A title, was...
Logan scored early and often during a 58-0 non-district victory over visiting Magdalena in eight-man football action Friday night. The Longhorns led 36-0 after one quarter. The game ended at halftime due to the mercy rule. Logan started the scoring when quarterback Brock Burns connected with Aydin Kotara for a touchdown pass. Stratton Schoonover, Payson Nials and Devin Kotara also scored touchdowns for the Longhorns. Logan coach Dwayne Roberts noted his team committed just one turnover Friday, compared to six the previous week during a 24-6...
Hundreds gathered at Rattler Gymnasium on Saturday morning to pay their final respects to a Tucumcari teen who died last month. Tucumcari High School freshman football player Javion Martinez, 15, died unexpectedly at home on Aug. 26, prompting Tucumcari Public Schools to cancel or postpone several sports events that week, including a football game against McCurdy on Sept. 1 that will not be rescheduled. Javion's coffin was draped in a purple shroud that stated "Bleed Purple and Gold" - a salute...
Tucumcari and San Jon runners competed Saturday morning at the Amarillo ISD Invitational at Rick Klein Park in Amarillo, Texas. Due to technical problems on the event’s website, results were unavailable. Tucumcari coach Tim Clark said his top boys runner at the meet at Alex Bueno De La O, followed by Bryan Carreon Reyes and Julian Flores. “I think we’re improving every day,” Clark said. “We finished second with long runs during the week. The kids were pushing themselves.” Clark said the 5,000-meter course in Amarillo was flat, though high...
CLOVIS — Twice the previous weekend, police had eyes on Jimmy Guillen, a person of interest now tied to the Sept. 3 Walmart fire. Twice, they let him go. In both cases, officers did the right thing, Police Chief Roy Rice said. “We didn’t have anything to hold him on. If we knew then what we know right now ... they would have placed him under arrest,” Rice said. Going into this weekend, police were actively searching for the 59-year-old California man believed to be transient. “I think he’s still in the area,” Rice said. “Why assume he’s lef...
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a temporary ban on carrying guns in public in Bernalillo County and asked for federal help to address gun violence. The governor and public safety leadership from across the state held a press conference Friday afternoon to announce a comprehensive public health order relating to gun violence. On Thursday, Lujan Grisham issued an executive order declaring a public health emergency with regards to gun violence on Thursday. This was replaced by a more in-depth public health order released at Friday’s news c...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Sept. 1 to Sept. 10: — Paul Nolan, 49, Tucumcari, probation violation. — Rose M. Stroud, 27, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Joaquin Ruiz, 50, Amarillo, Texas, intentional child abuse (no death or great bodily harm), driving under the influence of liquor (0.08 or above, second offense), careless driving and open drink container. — Michael S. Morgan, 38, Barlow, Kentucky, aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug (0.16 or above),...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Sept. 4 to Sept. 10: Monday — 1:54 a.m.: Accident at South Fifth Street and West Hines Avenue, Tucumcari.. — 7:43 a.m.: Property damage in 1700 block of South Monroe Street, Tucumcari. — 11:36 a.m.: Civil dispute in 1400 block of South Monroe Street, Tucumcari. — 1:18 p.m.: Suicidal subject in 400 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. — 5:02 p.m.: Vehicle theft in unlisted block of Mountain Ridge, Tucumcari. — 8:24 p.m.: Disturbance in 1600 block of So...