Improvements made to DWI program

Rehabilitation services for people convicted of a DWI in Quay County have improved with two new additions to the planning council and the installation of ignition interlock devices.

Quay County DWI Coordinator Bryan Rinestine requested that Quay County commissioners approve the additions to the DWI Planning Council Monday during their regular meeting.

Rinestine said Counselor Cassie Huffman brings a much needed treatment aspect to the council and 10th Judicial Assistant District Attorney Hedi Adams will fill the vacancy of TJ O’Quinn.

“There is a state-wide need for rehabilitation and counseling for DWI,” said Sue Dowell, District 1 commissioner.

She said without the proper services to aide in the rehabilitation of these offenders, the number of repeat offenders will continue to rise, adding that Huffman and Adams will be great additions to the planning council.

Rinestine said another addition to the DWI compliance services in the county is the recent certification for installing ignition interlock devices at Terry’s Service Center in San Jon. He said those convicted of DWI in Quay County were having to travel out of county for the installation of the device, which is a requirement of their court compliance.

“I want to thank you, Bryan, for updating the commission on the interlock status; it is an issue, need that I have discussed with you for some time,” Dowell said.

According to Rinestine’s quarterly report, from Jan. 17-March 17, there were nine DWI arrests made in Quay County. The youngest offender was 35, oldest 78, and seven of those arrests were made in February.

The number of DWI cases completed were 13 with 11 convictions/pleas and two dismissals.

Of the 11 offenders placed on DWI compliance, nine were first-time offenders and two were second time offenders.

The number of offenders that completed DWI compliance were eight with a total of 336 hours of community service hours completed.

The current number of DWI offenders being supervised is 52.

Other actions taken by commissioners:

• Approved CBDG Coordinator Darla Munsell’s submission of a CBDG grant agreement for $50,000/$2,500 match for a comprehensive plan and assets management plan.

• Approved Quay County Fire Marshall Donald Adams’ request to extend the ban burn for two weeks. Adams said there is still a lot of dry grass on top of the Caprock and winds have dried up the moisture that fell recently in parts of the county.

• Approved Quay County Road Superintendent Larry Moore’s contract modification with Desert Fox Paving out of Albuquerque to include bid lot one on Quay Road 63.

• Quay County Sheriff Russell Shafer presented his quarterly report, saying the county has had 281 calls for service, 397 civil processes, 52 prisoner transports, 47 arrests, 67 citations issued and 147 traffic stops since ...

• Held an executive session to discuss threatened or pending litigation.

No action was taken.