Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Quay County saw its 13th confirmed death from coronavirus last week, and Tucumcari’s mayor fears more deaths will be reported in the coming days. According to an email Thursday from the New Mexico Department of Health, Quay County’s latest COVID-19 casualty was a man in his 70s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. Tucumcari Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield said in a phone interview Friday she knew of three coronavirus-related deaths in the area in the past two weeks and more infections. She said several of those cases occurred in unv...
A Tennessee pilot walked away with no apparent injuries after his small plane crashed and burned Saturday afternoon at Tucumcari Municipal Airport. Little was left of the small aircraft after it crashed and caught fire in a ditch a few hundred yards east of an airport runway. New Mexico State Police officers gathered near the crash site and were investigating. Quay County Sheriff Russell Shafer said the crash occurred about 1:45 p.m. The pilot, who identified himself as Feiyu Chen, 59, of Memphi...
The Logan Board of Education last week approved a resolution to the New Mexico Public Education Department that demands more local decision-making by school districts, but not before the board faced criticism from at least two residents for not challenging the state’s mask mandate. The resolution, which passed unanimously, states the board “believes that standardized, one-size-fits-all school-related mandates from the Governor’s office and the Office of the Secretary of Public Education regarding our students can stifle innovation and creat...
The Tucumcari City Commission during an emergency meeting Wednesday accepted a proposal to buy a new ambulance after a county deputy's vehicle two days earlier crashed into and totaled its only well-working ambulance. Tucumcari Police ticketed the deputy after the crash, and the sheriff placed him on administrative leave, pending an internal investigation. The commission's emergency meeting agenda stated three of the city's ambulances were "out of commission" and "the City needs to purchase...
The Tucumcari City Commission during a brief special meeting Wednesday approved a mediation settlement that will add more than $75,000 to its coffers. City manager Mark Martinez explained the New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department had been negotiating on behalf of 44 entities to settle a lawsuit, and he recommended the commission accept the settlement. Minus nearly $9,200 in contingency fees, the city will receive a total of $75,637.39. He anticipated the city would receive the funds by October. “I feel we got a fair recovery of our p...
The Arch Hurley Conservancy District again voted last week to not allocate water to its irrigation system, despite a steady increase in Conchas Lake levels in recent months. District manager Franklin McCasland reported during the board’s Sept. 14 meeting the lake’s elevation had risen to 4,163.2 feet — nearly identical to the 4,163.5 feet recorded a year ago. McCasland reported that Conchas Lake had received 7,107 acre-feet of inflow in August, with only 2,355 acre-feet of evaporation and other losses. The lake’s level has risen four feet si...
The Tucumcari chapter of the Altrusa International organization recently won an international award for its efforts in providing literacy products to local teachers. The chapter’s “Love & Literacy in the Time of COVID” project gave $200 scholarships to six teachers to acquire products to promote literacy in Quay County schools amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project won the international Letha H. Brown Literacy Award, along with $100 for the chapter. According to the Letha Brown award application, about 300 Quay County stude...
In the movie “The Fellowship of the Ring,” a fascinating scenario plays out in multiple scenes. The titular ring is a magic item that gives its owner control over the whole world. It was made by the ultimate bad guy, a dark entity called Sauron. The ring itself embodies his quest for domination. The question arises several times, though, about whether a good, heroic character might be able to use the ring in a better way than Sauron. Maybe this person could become a benevolent dictator, for eve...
On this date ... 1971: Raymond Edward Valdez, 20, of Tucumcari was arraigned in magistrate court and charged with homicide by vehicle. The charge was levied in connection with a two-car accident that killed Dottie Lou Whitmore, 44, of Miami, Oklahoma, in which she received severe burns over 82% of her body. She died shortly after being transferred from Trigg Memorial Hospital to the trauma unit of Bernalillo County Hospital in Albuquerque. Her husband, Paul, 43, remains in serious condition, also suffering from burns. Valdez suffered...
Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Oct. 2 — Quay County Health Council 5K Fun Run/Walk. The 3.1-mile free event begins at 8 a.m. on a roughly circular and marked course. T-shirts will be offered to all finishers. A new walker or senior citizen half-course of 1.5 miles also will be offered. Those interested will be driven to the halfway point to begin their walk on the regular course. The council also is offering a virtual event for those who don’t live in the county or who are not ready to be in a crowded area....
The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center also offer grab-and-go meals to those who qualify. Those interested should call the Tucumcari facility at 461-2307 or the Logan facility at 487-2287 for more information. Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Breakfast burrito box, orange juice, skim or 1% milk; Lunch: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, country gravy, biscuit, peas, garden salad, buttermilk ranch dressing, skim, 1% or chocolate skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Bagelfuls, fresh strawberries, apple juice, skim or 1% milk; Lunc...
A total of six Quay County youths placed in the top three in indoor exhibits during the recent New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque. The following is a list of the local exhibitors, their ranking, fair event and division: • Kale Griffiths, second, landscape gardening exhibit; second, recipe box with recipes; third, plate of three New Mexico wedding cookies; second, unit action photo; first, unit photo set at night; second, and unit five photos of the same subject taken from different angles (novice division) • Gavin Wallace, first, measuring up...
Is it just easier for us to create bogeymen than face harsh realities? In the 1980s, it was the Satanic Panic, as if roving devil worshipers were terrorizing small towns and kidnapping children. Closer to home, we experienced that wave of almost mania about worldwide child sex trafficking, which we ultimately learned was largely inspired by Q-Anon and other online bad actors as a way to take some of the spotlight away from racial justice protests. Sex trafficking is a huge problem, and it’s something federal and local law enforcement work a...
As of last weekend, one of the words that up until recently identified me for this column is a lie. That word is “Tucumcari.” I have moved to Clovis with my wife for personal and professional reasons. Professionally, I will be doing steady part-time work for The Eastern New Mexico News, published by Clovis Media, which also publishes the Quay County Sun. By writing my weekly column, I’m taking a break from staring at boxes and stuff stacked up in staging areas, then hauling portions of that stuff, often heavy, closer to their final resti...
I was reading news on the internet, when the following caught my eye: Dozens of students from the San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento County, Calif., are believed to still be in Afghanistan. Raj Rai, director of communication for the district, said in a statement that 27 students, from 19 families, are in Afghanistan. The students, along with family members, were reportedly in Afghanistan visiting families over their summer break. SJUSD Deputy Superintendent Melissa Bassanelli noted...
Jim Hudson, part-owner of Hudson’s Auto Supply store along Route 66 in Tucumcari for three decades, died Wednesday. Riverside Funeral Home in Albuquerque is in charge of arrangements, and he will be buried at Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery. Arrangements were incomplete as of Monday morning. His wife and the business’ co-owner, Lynn Hudson, said in a telephone interview Friday that a memorial service will be held in Tucumcari within four to six weeks. She declined to disclose the cause of his death. Jim and Lynn Hudson owned the Big A aut...
Wallethub.com, an independent evaluator of junior colleges, ranked Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari in the top 2.9% of all community colleges in the United States and 11th in affordability. Also, Mesalands announced last week the college’s president, Gregory T. Busch, has chosen to be part of Presidents for Latino Student Success and the Excelencia in Action network. The Wallethub ranking is based the evaluation of 942 community colleges in the U.S. Wallethub judged 19 key indicators of cost and quality of each institution. In a...
Logan remained unbeaten this season with 52-0 home victory Friday over Alamo Navajo in eight-man football action. The Longhorns (5-0) led 40-0 after one quarter, and the game was halted at halftime due to the mercy rule. Logan scored three defensive touchdowns. Haden Judd scored touchdowns on a rushing play and a kick return. Park Strong ran for a TD, and Christian Kotara caught a touchdown pass from Brock Burns. Logan coach Dwayne Roberts said because of the lopsided score, he was able to play all of his younger players during the second...
SANTA ROSA - A fired-up Lions squad seized control of their Homecoming game with five touchdowns in the first quarter - including four by speedy running back Andres Madrid - en route to a 55-0 victory Friday over Tucumcari in a game shortened by the mercy rule late in the fourth period. Madrid peeled off touchdown runs of 10, 52, 15 and 89 yards and totaled 248 yards rushing on just nine carries by the end of the first period. Santa Rosa quarterback Nate Rodarte added 104 yards and a touchdown o...
SAN JON - If the eastern New Mexico region gave a Most Improved award for volleyball, San Jon probably would be a contender. The Lady Coyotes, 0-10 during the abbreviated previous season, improved to 5-3 overall after a 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 victory over Roy-Mosquero on Thursday. The Lady Pirates fell to 2-2. San Jon's serving attack kept the Lady Pirates on their heels much of the match, and the Lady Coyotes' net attack gained momentum as the evening progressed. Chantzee Elliott led San Jon with...
SAN JON — Citing competitive, travel and academic issues, the San Jon Municipal Schools board of trustees voted last week to withdraw from the annual Eastern Plains Athletic Conference boys and girls basketball tournaments held each January. The board during its Sept. 13 meeting unanimously approved the withdrawal but wanted San Jon to remain in the EPAC track and field meet, generally held at Fort Sumner, each spring. Board members still wanted to leave the basketball tournaments even if San Jon wasn’t allowed to remain in the EPAC track eve...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Sept. 13 to Sept. 19: Monday • 2:48 a.m.: Accident at East Tucumcari Boulevard and South Rock Island Street, Tucumcari. • 3:34 a.m.: Vehicle theft in 500 block of South First Street, Tucumcari. • 9:04 a.m.: Fraud in 3100 block of Quay Road AY, McAlister. • 9:20 a.m.: Juvenile problem in 1100 block of South Adams Street, Tucumcari. • 10:49 a.m.: Reckless driving in 4300 block of Highway 469, Logan. • 11:46 a.m.: Theft in 100 block of North Adams Stree...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Sept. 13 to Sept. 17: • Johnny Pacheco, 43, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Sabastian Meeks, 20, Clovis, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and receiving/transferring stolen motor vehicles (first offense). • Jesenya Olivas, 19, Portales, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. • Ramon Fares Jaramillo, 27, Tucumcari, contempt of court. These individuals were released from the Quay County Detention Center from Se...