Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
Area voters decided to retain 10th Judicial District Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. to his post, according to unofficial results Tuesday night from Quay, De Baca and Harding counties. Republican challenger Melissa Fryzel won by a 3-to-1 margin in Quay County over incumbent Democratic state Sen. Pete Campos in District 8 that encompasses the northern part of the county. Campos, however, was leading overall in his district 55% to 45% in incomplete results. Quay County voters approved gave President Donald Trump a more than 2-to-1 margin over...
The New Mexico Department of Health on Saturday reported five more cases of COVID-19 in Quay County, all in the Tucumcari ZIP code. According to the DOH's website, the latest cases were three men and two women. The age breakdowns were two age 30 to 39, one age 40 to 49 and two age 60 to 69. The total number of cases in the county grew to 124, with two deaths, since the pandemic began. Quay County has recorded 17 cases in November alone. The breakdown in the county by ZIP code since the pandemic began is 78 in Tucumcari, 36 in Logan, five in...
House Municipal Schools in southern Quay County will be closed until Nov. 30 after a student or employee there tested positive for the coronavirus. Also, a Tucumcari Elementary School staff member or student has tested positive for the disease. It was the third time the elementary school has dealt with a COVID-19 case this school year. House superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot made the announcement Monday evening with a letter to students and parents posted on the district's website. “Due to this positive case, we are forced to close our school a...
The New Mexico Department of Health on Sunday again reported five more cases of COVID-19 in Quay County, all in the Tucumcari ZIP code. The agency has reported 10 coronavirus cases in the Tucumcari area in two days. According to the DOH's website, the latest cases were three men and two women. The age breakdowns were three age 30 to 39, one age 20 to 29 and one age 50 to 59. The total number of cases in the county grew to 129, with two deaths, since the pandemic began. Quay County has recorded 22 cases in November alone. The breakdown in the...
The New Mexico Department of Health on Monday reported six more cases of COVID-19 in Quay County, all in the Tucumcari ZIP code. The agency has reported 16 coronavirus cases in the Tucumcari area in three days. Quay County has recorded 28 cases in November alone. According to the DOH's website, the latest cases were four males and two females. The age breakdowns were one age 9 and under, one age 10 to 19, two age 30 to 39, one age 50 to 59 and one age 70 to 79, The total number of cases in the county grew to 135, with two deaths, since the pand...
The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday reported three more cases of COVID-19 in Quay County, including the first in the House ZIP code. According to the DOH's website, the latest cases were three women – two in the Tucumcari ZIP code and the other in House. Their age ranges were 20 to 29, 40 to 49 and over 90. The total number of cases in the county grew to 117, with two deaths, since the pandemic began. Quay County has recorded 11 cases in November alone. The breakdown in the county by ZIP code since the pandemic began is 71 in T...
State Sen. Pat Woods said he’d try to submit a bill during the New Mexico Legislature’s upcoming session in January to reform the judicial’s system’s so-called “catch-and-release” bail system for criminal suspects. Woods, a Republican from Broadview whose District 7 includes Quay County, made the pledge while participating in an videoconference roundtable last week by the Quay County Health Council’s Intimate Partner Task Force committee in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Several local law-enforcement officials als...
Quay County's clerk said she wouldn't be surprised if crowds at polling places Tuesday for the general election were smaller than usual because so many residents had cast their ballots during early voting. After the final early voter had submitted his ballot a few minutes before 6 p.m. Saturday, the total number of early voters in the county stood at 2,138. That beat the old early voting record by more than 400, according to records kept by County Clerk Ellen White. Another 736 residents had...
The chief medical officer of New Mexico’s biggest healthcare provider said Thursday that hospitals may have to resort to MASH-style medical tents in their parking lots by mid-November if the coronavirus pandemic soon isn’t brought under control. Later that day, New Mexico broke another daily record for COVID-19 cases with 1,082 cases, exceeding the old mark by more than 200. The next day, the state reported 13 deaths from coronavirus, also a record. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also ordered flags flown at half-staff that day after New Mex...
Loretta's Burrito Hut will be closed indefinitely after the Tucumcari restaurant sustained major damage from a fire early Saturday. The owner has vowed to rebuild. Loretta Muller, owner of the Mexican restaurant at 321 E. Route 66 Blvd., said she was alerted about the fire shortly after midnight Saturday after it had been closed for hours. She said a patrolling police officer saw the flames and alerted firefighters. The west side of the building showed fire damage, especially on the roof. But Mu...
The Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari finished fifth in a list of Best Roadside Motels compiled by USA Today. According to USA Today, a panel of experts partnered with the newspaper's 10Best,com editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were chosen by popular vote. USA Today said this about the Roadrunner: "This restored motel on Route 66 blends mid-century style with modern conveniences, like premium mattresses, plush towels, free wifi and HDTVs with more than 120...
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. Some area schools are using a hybrid model of online and/or in-person teaching. Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Strawberry banana yogurt, granola, fresh banana, milk; Lunch: Chicken fajita with 6-inch whole-grain tortilla, white cheddar cheese, refried pinto b...
On this date ... 1970: Bruce King, a rancher from Stanley and former speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives, won the governor’s seat by defeating Pete Domenici, a Republican, by nearly 12,000 votes. Democrats also won many other state races during the election. The only Republican to win was incumbent Manuel Lujan Jr. for the northern congressional seat. In Washington, Democrats retained control of both the House and Senate. • Tucumcari Mayor Kenneth Schlientz officially proclaimed Nov. 6 to be Tucumcari Rattlers Day. • The Oscar...
The idea that when Jesus showed up on the Earth, he brought the kingdom of God with him, is oddly controversial, even among Christians who say they've at least skimmed through the New Testament. When it is suggested that the kingdom is here, and that its appointed destiny is to fill the world, it's not uncommon to get these words quoted back in argument: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over t...
Tucumcari MainStreet is partnering with the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce to offer virtual “Cash Mob” events later this month and December to help small businesses during Very Merry Tucumcari festivities. “These virtual ‘Cash Mobs’ are a wonderful way to show your love for local businesses this holiday season. One business at a time, we can help save our local small businesses,” Tucumcari MainStreet Executive Director Connie Loveland said in a news release. More information about Tucumcari’s events will be announced later. Tucumc...
If you’re waiting for a high-dose influenza shot, don’t. Any flu shot is better than none. The New Mexico Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend getting a flu shot and underscore it as important this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of broad public immunization is particularly key for high-risk groups such as seniors citizens. Although some studies have shown the high-dose flu shot, approved for people age 65 and older, to be more effective at preventing flu and reducing hos...
Two Amarillo residents died last week in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari. According to a news release from New Mexico State Police, the accident occurred about 7 a.m. Oct. 25. A 2016 Toyota 4Runner was going west on I-40 when, for unknown reasons, it left the roadway, struck a culvert and rolled. The driver, Rena Mozelle Hedrick, 84, of Amarillo, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. The vehicle’s only passenger, Larry Gordon Hedrick, 87, also of Amarillo, was taken to a h...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1: • Daniella Jean Pacheco, 30, Tucumcari, criminal trespass (posted), resisting, evading or obstructing an officer (service of process) and bringing contraband into jail. • Mark Douglus Padilla, 45, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Sarah Roberts, 41, Sacramento, California, possession of marijuana (less than one ounce) and possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor). • Elena Apodaca, 21, Amarillo, probation violation. • Jamie Angel Rivas, 22, Tucum...
With its lethal potential, the coronavirus has injected itself into almost every facet of our lives the past seven months. And the efforts to combat it have triggered no end of arguments over mask-wearing, business limitations or closures, in-person or remote education, public gatherings and even attending church. Even the safety of trick-or-treating. And, oh, yes, participation in high school fall sports as well. The city of Racine, Wisconsin, was at the heart of the COVID hand-wringing over high school sports this summer, after the city...
With the image dancing in my head of a triumphant Harry Truman holding up the newspaper headline “Dewey Defeats Truman” after he defeated Dewey, I refrain from predictions. So I am writing two very brief columns today, the Friday before Election Day, one for either outcome in the presidential race: Congratulations, President Donald Trump Congratulations, Mr. President. I did not vote for you, but I accept your victory. Please prove me wrong about you. I am shaking my head at the prospect of another four years of chaotic, impulsive mis...
Joe Biden wants to take one of the great American success stories of the past several decades and drive it into the ground. He would turn his back on the stupendous wealth represented by proven reserves of oil and gas in this country. Rather than focusing on producing cheap, abundant energy — a key ingredient to human progress through all of human history — he’d embark on the fool’s errand of trying to adjust the world’s thermostat 80 years from now. After a 50-year effort to diminish our reliance on Middle Eastern oil, which has miraculou...
The New Mexico Department of Health on Sunday reported six new cases of coronavirus in Quay County, the largest increase since a similar number was reported Oct. 20. Five of the cases were in the Tucumcari ZIP code, while the sixth was in McAlister. Five women and one man were affected. The age breakdowns were three age 50 to 59, one age 30 to 39, one age 40 to 49 and one age 60 to 69, according to the DOH website. Another case was reported Monday. It was a male age 20 to 29 in the Tucumcari ZIP code. The numbers by ZIP code since the pandemic...
An unusually potent storm nearly two months before the official start of winter dumped at least 10 inches of snow last week in Tucumcari and more in the region north of town. Despite the biggest winter storm to hit in years, Interstate 40 stayed open the entire time snow fell Tuesday and Wednesday. That doesn't mean travel difficulties didn't occur. Traffic on the interstate nearly dropped to a standstill at least twice Wednesday. Daniel Zamora, Quay County's emergency management coordinator,...
A Tucumcari woman received an unexpectedly high bill of $148,000 for her property taxes, but the county treasurer and assessor’s office said it was an isolated clerical error and not a computer glitch that potentially could have affected scores of residents. Kristine Paulson Husman on Oct. 22 posted on Facebook an image of her bill from the Quay County treasurer’s office that requested a full payment of $148,116.60. Paulson Husman stated she “about had a heart attack today,” and “I must have a mansion, but where is it?” She stated her bill us...
A Tucumcari homeowner who is the subject of a wrongful-death lawsuit stated in a recent court filing he wasn’t home at the time of the accident and that the deceased man may have been intoxicated when he fell from his home’s roof. Daniel V. Evans, whose home is in the 1000 block of South Rock Island Street in Tucumcari, on Oct. 22 represented himself in the court filing in answering the initial complaint about the death of Quay County resident David Dwayne Miller, 47, after he fell from the home’s roof last year. Describing Smith’s death a...