Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Sorted by date Results 376 - 400 of 5613
New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson last week announced revisions to pretrial rules to promote public safety and require courts to reconsider the release conditions of defendants arrested for a new crime while awaiting trial. The court issued an order approving the new rules, which become effective immediately for pending cases and those filed starting May 8. Revisions to pretrial rules have been under consideration since last summer, and the high court published proposed amendments in February for public comment. “If a defe...
CLOVIS — The man arrested Monday for killing two Texico women had called the FBI last October and threatened to “murder a bunch of children” if they didn’t help find his missing daughter. The FBI made contact with Alek Isaiah Collins and he was placed in a mental facility at that time. Collins told agents he “does not want to kill people” but felt the threat was the only way “in getting the FBI to assist him.” The information is included in an affidavit for arrest warrant filed in 9th Judicial Court last Tuesday against Alex Isaiah Collins....
A Roswell district court judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order preventing the New Mexico Public Education Department from enforcing its 180-day school rule, court records show. The PED’s new rule was to be implemented during the 2024-2025 school year. Districts on a four-day schedule could apply for a waiver, but it would require substantial increases in students’ reading proficiency this year. Tucumcari interim superintendent Dave Johnson has said only a handful of districts in New Mexico would qualify for the waiver. The ord...
One person was dead after an officer-involved shooting Tuesday south of Tucumcari. The shooting occurred shortly before noon on Quay Road 49, about a dozen miles south of Tucumcari. New Mexico State Police Lt. Jerry Hernandez said at the scene that a law-enforcement officer exchanged gunfire with a person near the residence. Hernandez said one person is deceased. He said officer was not hurt, nor was anyone else. Hernandez did not identify the dead person or the officer. A brief news release...
The Mesalands Community College board of trustees approved a 2024-2025 budget that projects the college still climbing its way out of red ink after financial troubles surfaced in late 2022 and early 2023. The budget, which begins July 1, specifies $7.67 million in unrestricted revenue and $1.86 million in restricted revenue. The 2024-2025 budget states the college’s ending balance starting at a $250,998 deficit at the end of the current fiscal year on July 1, with it being $162,270 in the red in June 2025. That would be an improvement of a...
Free apparently is popular. Facing slow ticket sales for a Cinco de Mayo concert and complaints on social media, a committee of city and Mesalands Community College officials decided to make it a free event less than a week before it was scheduled to take place. By 9 p.m. Saturday night, well over 100 people had gathered in the Tucumcari Convention Center to listen to and dance to the music of Colorado AllStarz, with more streaming through the venue's front doors. Jonathan Brito, a city commissi...
A current deputy chief assessor and a former commissioner of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission are competing for the Republican nomination to be that party’s candidate for Quay County Assessor. Early voting in the primary election began Tuesday and will continue through the primary’s Election Day on June 4. James Kleinsasser, 63, a chief deputy assessor in the county assessor office who lives in Tucumcari, and Jefferson Byrd, 52, a rancher and windmiller from Tucumcari and a former member of the PRC, are running for the Rep...
On this date ... 1974: Tucumcari and the surrounding area were scheduled to host the 38th annual convention of the New Mexico chapter of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States. More than 150 postmasters were expected to attend. The event included a get-together at the Tucumcari Elks Lodge, a tour of Conchas Dam, cruises on the lake, a buffet dinner at the Conchas Fishing and Ski Lodge and a golf tournament at the Mesa Country Club. — Tucumcari Retail Merchants discussed plans for the grand opening of the downtown mall, i...
Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Blueberry overnight oats, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, fresh banana, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Hot dog, ham and egg chef salad, ranch potato wedges, garden side salad, fresh broccoli, ranch dressing, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Cinni mini, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, mandarin oranges, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Cheeseburger, ham and chees...
May 19-25 — Mesalands Community College Iron Pour. This arts event resumes after the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes the pouring of molten metal on Friday and opportunities for locals to make their own molds. More information on this event is coming later. June 8 — Doc Powers Memorial Car and Motorcycle Show. This free, family-friendly event will be hosted by the Tucumcari Elks Lodge 1172 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration of cars will begin at 10 a.m. with a $25 fee per vehicle, which comes with a free lunch. A prize raf...
New Mexico State Police captured a Tucumcari teen wanted on a count of attempted murder after being accused of pointing a gun at another man. Julian Martinez, 18, was charged on May 1 with first-degree attempted murder (willful and deliberate) and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, both felonies. Martinez faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000 if convicted of the attempted murder charge. Magistrate Judge Noreen Hendrickson issued a warrant for Martinez’s arrest the same day he was charged. Tucumcari Police Chief P...
New Mexico has the biggest drug problem of all 50 of the United States and the District of Columbia, according to a study by Wallethub. The personal-finance website compared the states’ 20 key metrics, including arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescription use and employee drug-testing laws. New Mexico’s rank in these aspects: — First, share of teenagers who used illicit drugs in the past month; — Third, share of adults who used illicit drugs in the past month; — Seventh, drug overdose deaths per capita; — Second, share of adults who...
The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board refused to cover half of the lodging cost of mural artist Doug Quarles when he was in town assessing the condition of the city’s murals and repairing others, including two at the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce building. Board member Michael Carlson voted to recommend reimbursing half the $2,620.61 cost for 26 days in April and May 2023 at the Motel Safari that was initially covered by the chamber. “It does benefit the city,” Carlson said of the repairs to the murals, which are popular photo...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from April 29 to May 3: — Arthur Robert Wilson, 43, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Michael Paul Chacon, 45, San Jon, three counts of contempt of court. — John Anthony Collision, 37, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Rita Lorraine Lopez, 43, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Toby Jarmillo, 67, Tucumcari, two counts of contempt of court. — Jerry Ingram, 27, Tucumcari, assault upon a peace officer, resisting, evading or obstructing a police officer (service of process) and warrant...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from April 29 to May 5: April 29 — 1:13 a.m.: Vehicle fire at milepost 333, Interstate 40, Tucumcari. — 3:29 a.m.: Utility problem in 2400 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. — 8:25 a.m.: Illegal dumping in 600 block of North First Street, Tucumcari. — 8:44 a.m.: Trespassing in 400 block of South Sixth Street, Tucumcari. — 11:10 a.m.: Trespassing in 2600 block of South First Street, Tucumcari. — 11:14 a.m.: Code enforcement in 200 block of East Center Stre...
Tucumcari city commissioners during a Thursday work session discussed possible changes to the animal control code, including higher fines for owners of dogs or cats not neutered or spayed and a requirement to hold a license for breeding animals. City manager Paula Chacon, Tucumcari Police Chief Patti Lopez and Paws & Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County President Kathi McClellan have met regularly since last fall to discuss possible changes to the code. The amendments to animal codes weren’t acted upon during Thursday’s regular meeting. City com...
A district court judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order preventing the New Mexico Public Education Department from enforcing its 180-day school rule, court records show. The PED’s new rule was to be implemented with the 2024-2025 school year. The order issued by Judge Dustin K. Hunter of Roswell requires the PED to “show cause” at a hearing on May 13 as to why the order should not continue “as a preliminary injunction pending final determination” of the case. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs – New Mexico School Superintend...
More than 50 school districts, including all four in Quay County, joined a lawsuit filed Wednesday against the New Mexico Public Education Department’s 180-day instruction rule set for this fall. The 90-page suit, filed in Curry County, seeks a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief to keep the rule from taking effect on July 1. The suit had been expected for weeks. The PED’s rule, announced in March, essentially would force nearly all school districts with four-days-a-week schedules to move to five days. Four-day districts can app...
The Tucumcari Film Festival capped its annual awards ceremony Saturday night with a surprise award to the owners of the historic Odeon Theatre. Bobby Hockaday, the festival's chief organizer, announced the Curtain Call Award to the husband-and-wife team of Robert Lopez and Christy Dominguez, who have owned the venue since 2013. The Odeon, which dates to 1936, is under contract to be sold to an unnamed local resident. Hockaday described Lopez and Dominguez as "stewards" of the theater. "Your...
Newly hired Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Carl Marano said he’d talk with teachers, staffers and parents in the district, but he said his first priority is students. “A lot of times we forget about listening to the students,” he said shortly after the school board voted to hire him during a special meeting on April 22. “And I think that’s No. 1.” Marano, 52, said he learned that approach during his quarter-century in education, including at his current employer, Santa Fe Public Schools, where he is an assistant superintendent. He’s al...
Saturday — Quay County rabies clinics. These four locations will offer $15 rabies shots for dogs and cats: Nara Visa fire station from 10:30 to 11:30 Central; Logan city warehouse behind the Annex from 1 to 3 p.m.; San Jon old fire station from 4 to 5 p.m.; and in Tucumcari from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. at the city warehouse at 302 W. Center St. Other vaccinations are available at additional cost. Please bring dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier. Saturday — Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Peter Vigil and the All-Star Band and Colorado A...
Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Peach and yogurt parfait, Cocoa Puffs cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, fruit cocktail, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Green Frito pie, chef salad, pinto beans, shredded romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Blueberry muffin, string cheese, Lucky Charms cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, fruit cocktail, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Cheeseburger with garnish, turkey with...
On this date ... 1974: The National Transportation Safety Board criticized the New Mexico Highway Department for failing to improve hazardous conditions at a narrow U.S. 60 bridge before a church bus and cattle truck collided two years ago, killing 19 people. The report stated that highway officials were aware of hazardous conditions at the bridge near Fort Sumner, but “the officials, instead of making spot improvements, waited for construction of a new highway.” In another report, school buses put in to operation in New Mexico since Jan. 1,...
The City of Tucumcari and Mesalands Community College are joining forces to throw a Cinco de Mayo celebration on Saturday. The Tucumcari Convention Center at 1500 W. Route 66 Blvd. will host two musical acts from 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday. Performing will be Peter Vigil and The All-Star Band, plus the Colorado AllStarz. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the doors, which open at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Mesalands, the City of Tucumcari or the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call (575) 461-3451,...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from April 22 to April 29: — Brian Gene Robinson, 47, Albuquerque, felony contempt of court. — Kelsey Kite, 30, Tucumcari, warrant from other counties or states. — Anique Montano, 20, Tucumcari, battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. — Jimmy Lenard Johnson, 39, Tucumcari, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of resisting, evading or obstructing an officer (arrest), felony tampering with evidence (capital crime of first- or second-...