Year in Review: 2017 snapshot

Here is a timeline of significant events reported in the Quay County Sun in 2017:

Jan. 11: McCasland repeats as commission chair

The Quay County Commission on Jan. 9 re-elected District III Commissioner Franklin McCasland to chair the commission through 2017.

The commission also heard a report from Dan. C. Trigg Memorial Hospital Administrator Don Weidemann and Craig Cosner.

The hospital plans to add services from a gastroenterologist, who specializes in digestive system issues, to replace Dr. Victor Davis, a surgeon who was retiring in March.

The hospital also planned to schedule regular visits from the Trigg medical staff to its Logan clinic and increase rehabilitation services to shorten hospital stays.

He also said that among Presbyterian facilities, he said, Trigg's ranking has improved from the 24th percentile to the 71st.

Jan. 18: Mesalands to offer housing

Mesalands Community College will soon offer housing for students at a 34-bed apartment complex called Stampede Village, Dr. Thomas Newsom, college president announced.

Newsom said Stampede Village, located at 701 W. Route 66, will consist of one and two-bedroom, fully furnished apartments with full kitchens.

Newsom said rental costs per semester will range from $1,550 for a double room to $2,150 for a single room, including internet and utility service.

Jan. 18 Music showcase

The Tucumcari City Commission cleared the way Jan. 12 for the first "New Mexico Music Showcase" at the Tucumcari Convention Center.

The commission authorized event sponsor Columbus Club to use $10,000 in Lodger's Tax funds - $4,000 for promotion and $6,000 to help engage musical acts for the event, which is to be held April 29. .

Performers to be featured will be well-known New Mexico Latino music acts Carlos Medina con los Gallos, Darren Cordova and Calor Dynette.

These musicians are well known in northern New Mexico and are likely to attract overnight guests from that part of the state, Benjie Torres, chancellor of the Columbus Club, told commissioners.

Torres said the musical event could attract as many as 400 people.

Jan. 25: Tucumcari names police chief

The Tucumcari Police Department will be under the direction of new Police Chief David Lathrom beginning Feb. 14, according to City Manager Jared Langenegger.

"I'm excited to make the transition and take over the department in Tucumcari," Lathrom said, adding that there is a great deal of potential for the city and the department, and he is looking forward to working with the officers and the residents.

"The police department should be part of the community and have their interest at heart," Lathrom said. "If we are not working with the people, then we are not doing our job. Working for the best interest of the community is the purpose of the police department."

Langenegger said three applicants, Lathrom of Kansas, TPD Deputy Chief Pete Rivera and Rodrick Saint of Florida were considered by the selection committee.

"Myself and the rest of the department will do all that we can to accommodate the new police chief and make his transition as smooth as possible," Rivera said.

The committee was made up of Langenegger, Human Resource Director Shannon Shay, Quay County Under Sheriff Dennis Garcia and New Mexico State Police Lt. Bert Hinders.

Feb. 1: Logan manager resigns

Retired Village of Logan Manager Larry Wallin was re-hired on a contractual basis to fill the vacancy of his successor Jim Neece, who had served only five months on the job.

"Unforeseen circumstances led me down a different path," Neece said.

Neece had been operating as interim village manager since July 1, 2016 and took over full-time following Wallin's retirement in September.

"Well, I had a nice vacation," Wallin said. "I am only acting as the village manager until the council hires someone to fill the position."

Feb 8: Hospital chief dismissed

Don Weidemann, administrator for the Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital, left the position on Feb. 10.

Troy Clark, vice president of regional operations for Presbyterian Health Services, which operates Trigg Hospital, said Weidemann was bdismissed, and his duties would be taken over by Vince DiFranco, who would also continue to administer Plains Regional Medical Center (PRMC) in Clovis.

DiFranco left the position in September and Presbyterian Health Services continues to seek a replacement.

"Don has done a great job for us," Clark said of Weidemann. "He will be seeking other opportunities, and we will help him find a next step in his career."

Weidemann declined to comment except to confirm what Clark

Clark said Weidemann's dismissal is part of a strategy to better unify services between PRMC and Trigg.

The result of that unification, he said, was expected to be improved availability of medical services at Trigg due to more sharing of resources between the two hospitals.

Feb. 19: Bobby Unruh, tow truck driver, dies in accident

Bobby Unruh, 37, was killed Feb. 19 while doing his job as a tow-truck driver.

He was struck by a vehicle while attempting to tow a vehicle on Interstate 40 near Montoya.

Tow truck drivers from all over New Mexico gathered for Unruh's funeral service, which included a parade of tow trucks, including one that carried Unruh's casket.

Later, the New Mexico Legislature passed "Bobby's Law," named for Unruh, which requires vehicles traveling on state or interstate highways to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles, including tow trucks, flashing emergency or hazard lights.

"Every operator of a motor vehicle in the state of New Mexico is charged with the civil duty to exercise due care," said Unruh's mother, Linda Unruh, in a written statement. "Bobby's Law would, in addition to civil sanctions, impose criminal sanctions for failure to pull over to the inside lane when encountering a vehicle parked or disabled on the outside of the road. The law would be for the protection of motorists and tow truck employees they employ."

March 6-11: Mesalands Iron pour

More than 40 artists from near and far made their way to Tucumcari to participate in Mesalands Community College's 19th annual Iron Pour March 6-11 on the Mesalands campus.

"Even in its 19th year, the Iron Pour has continued to draw in art enthusiasts," said D'Jean Jawrunner, event coordinator/founder.

A week-long event of mold building, art shows and events will take place for Mesalands' Iron Pour, culminating with the pouring of 4,000 pounds of molten iron on March 10.

March 22, Oct. 4: Fire chief fired, later charged with eight felonies

Tucumcari Fire Chief Shane Warner was fired March 19 by City Manager Jared Langenegger.

Langenegger would not comment about the reason for Warner's dismissal, except saying it was a limited personnel matter.

Langenegger said Mark Martinez had been appointed as interim fire chief. Martinez is a project manager for the city's Community Development Center.

Martinez has been a member of the Tucumcari Volunteer Fire Department since 2012 and had previously served as battalion chief.

Warner was hired as Tucumcari's fire chief on Jan. 27, 2015, after 14 years in Clovis as a professional firefighter.

On Oct. 4, Warner, 41, was arrested and charged with eight felony counts, including allegations of sexual penetration in commission of a felony, Quay County magistrate court records show.

Warner was also charged with two counts of intent to distribute controlled substances, three counts of tampering with evidence, one count of extortion and one count of embezzling more than $2,500 but less than $20,000.

A case of eight felony counts, including allegations of sexual penetration in commission of a felony against the former Tucumcari Fire Chief, was bound over Monday to district court.

Magistrate Court Judge O'Quinn bound the case over to the 10th Judicial District Court, where status hearings are scheduled for Feb. 18 and March 18, court documents show.

March 27: Tucumcari District 5 commissioner appointed

Tucucmari City Commissioners on March 27 appointed a new commissioner for District 5 on the same night three out of four of the current commissioners were notified they will be part of a recall election.

The commission selected Todd Duplantis as the District 5 commissioner. He is filling the one remaining year held by John Mihm, who died in December, 2016.

Duplantis is a veteran of the United States Air Force and Marines.

"I wanted to serve my community the same way I had served my country," Duplantis said.

April 5: Missing firearms found

All but one of 17 missing firearms have been located or cleared from the evidence and property logs of the Tucumcari Police Department, according to City Manager Jared Langenegger.

In February, Langenegger reported an outside consultant had t revealed there were 17 firearms from nine criminal cases that were unaccounted for on the police department's evidence and property log.

Langenegger said an internal review discovered many of the weapons were never missing, but there were several errors in the paperwork.

The cases with the unaccounted firearms occurred between 2007 and 2014, with the firearms ranging from BB guns to handguns and rifles.

May 4-6: Rawhide Days

The second annual Rawhide Days festival was held May 4-6, drawing more than 2,500 people throughout the weekend, according to Karen Alarcon, event coordinator.

Most of the events took place at the Tucumcari Convention Center and the Quay County Fair Barn.

The events included a parade, complete with a herd of longhorn cattle from Oklahoma's Chain Ranch, as well as staged gunfights, and appearances by sons and daughters of the original Rawhide television series' cast, including Mark Brinegar, son of Paul Brinegar,"Wishbone" in the series, who was born in Tucumcari; and Chrystie Wooley, daughter of Sheb Wooley, who played Pete Nolan in "Rawhide."

Several episodes of "Rawhide," which aired from 1959 to 1965, were filmed in and around Tucumcari.

June 1-4: Rockabilly makes last stand

More than 5,000 took part in the fifth and final Rockabilly on the Route in a successful yet bitter-sweet farewell to Tucumcari.

Officials of Rockabilly on the Route, a Route 66 music festival, announced on Feb. 6 that this year's fifth annual event will be the last in Tucumcari.

More than 5,000 took part in the fifth and final Rockabilly on the Route in a successful yet bitter-sweet farewell to Tucumcari.

For five years, the Tucumcari Convention Center and other various locations across town come to life for one weekend in June during the four-day music festival celebrating Route 66 and classic Americana.

This year's event featured the music of 27 rockabilly bands from across the country and world, including the Stratoliners of Fort Worth, Texas.

Rockabilly on the Route first came to Tucumcari as the creation of co-founders Simon Cantlon and Ungie Davila. For the past five years, the duo has coordinated, planned and organized the event into a successful annual event.

May 16: Logan voters approve 2-mill tax

A Capital Improvements 2-Mill Tax Question was approved by voters on May 16 during a special election of the Logan Municipal Schools District.

A total of 209 voters, 20 percent of the 1,018 registered voters in the Logan School District, voted in the special election, said Ellen White, Quay County clerk.

White said the tax question passed 146 to 62. She said voters rejected the tax in the Feb. 7 election on a tie vote of 38 for and against.

Tax proceeds are funding capital improvements to buildings, classrooms and technology at Logan Municipal Schools.

The special election cost $4,804, White said..

June 5: Bear found in neighborhood tree

Carmen Gonzales wasn't sure what to think at first.

"I was inside and my daughters came in, slammed the door and screamed, 'There is a bear outside,'" she said.

She thought the girls might be playing with her, but they weren't.

There was a bear in a neighborhood tree.

About 50 people gathered on June 5 near South Seventh Street and West McGee Avenue as the bear settled in for what became a two-hour standoff with city, county and state law enforcement officers.

In the end the brown bear was tranquilized by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish wardens and hauled away for observation.

Officials said they had no idea where the bear may have come from, but sightings are almost annual events in the region.

Later, the bear was euthanized, because it shows "unacceptable behavior," Game and Fish officials said.

June 28: Firefighter dies in blaze

A Nara Visa volunteer firefighter died on June 28 after suffering burns while trying fighting a brush fire in the Nara Visa area.

John Cammack, 74, of Nara Visa, was severely burned when he fell from a fire engine while fighting the fire on the previous night, said Nara Visa Fire Chief Gary Girard.

Girard said a second firefighter, Kyle Perez, was also injured during the incident.

He said the firefighters were attempting to refill a fire engine with a water tanker when the winds shifted abruptly.

"We were no longer fighting the fire; we were running from the fire," Girard said.

Girard said the flames were as high as the fire engine as they fled the area. He said Cammack was transported to Lubbock for treatment and Perez was admitted to a hospital in Amarillo.

July 5: Sen. Udall tours

planned facility

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., on July 5

toured a proposed waste-to-energy facility planned for Tucumcari's old ethanol plant with Tucumcari's Bob Hockaday, the scientist who plans to develop the waste-to-energy plant, and local officials.

In an interview after the tour, Udall said the planned waste-to-energy facility is a prime example of the kind of action that could pull New Mexico and the rural U.S. out of their current economic stagnation.

It combines a new agriculture-based business opportunity with a continuing need for renewable energy and could be a major step in making New Mexico "a big renewable energy exporter," when added to existing solar and wind energy installations, Udall said.

In addition, he said, he learned the facility may create as many as 20 skilled labor jobs.

July 28: D.A. Breen remembered as 'good man'

The July 28 dedication of the Victor C. Breen 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office honored the memory of a dedicated prosecutor and civil servant while bringing a measure of peace and healing to the family.

"After 40 years it is healing to see the people of Tucumcari, friends and family here to honor our father," said Vicki Breen, Victor Breen's daughter.

Breen is the only New Mexico prosecutor killed in the line of duty. Breen, 55, was shot and killed in his driveway on Dec. 1, 1971.

The shooter was identified later as Jose Rosendo Garcia, 45, who had been waiting in his car 300 feet across the street.

Aug. 15-18: Quay County Fair

The 2017 Quay County Fair showed again what happens when the efforts of a few hundred kids combine with the time and patience of parents and other adult volunteers and a carnival for summer's last event before school starts.

Judges turned their trained eyes on 75 hogs, 77 goats, 35 lambs, 14 steers and 25 heifers, according to Quay County Extension Agent Jason Lamb.

Overall, there were more exhibits this year than last, according to Justin Knight, president of the Quay County Fair Board of Directors.

The number of steers was double last year's he said, due to more older kids entering animals.

He also noted a large number of poultry and rabbit entries. There were more than 350 animals entered in this area, he said.

The number of goats keeps increasing, too, he said, because they are easier to raise than sheep and lambs.

Aug. 28: Fire chief, parks head introduced

In August, Tucumcari's new fire chief Doug Hogan and parks department superintendent, Tomas Gallegos, began their current jobs.

Hogan brings 22 years of firefighting experience to the fire chief's position. He comes from San Antonio, Texas, where he was logistics manager and an instructor at the San Antonio Regional Fire Academy. Previously he was an assistant fire chief for the Williamson County fire department north of Austin, Texas.

Gallegos was most recently a mechanic for the Tucumcari Street Department. He held that job for three years. Previously, he had been a heavy equipment operator for the New Mexico Department of Transportation for six years, and a mechanic for the city of Tucumcari for five years.

Gallegos supervised crews while working with NMDOT, he said.

He said the parks department will benefit from his experience as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic. Until now, he said, the park department was dependent on availability of street department operators to get some park jobs completed.

Harlan and Gallegos were introduced to the Tucumcari City Commission on Aug. 28.

Sept. 21: Schools celebrate

success

San Jon and Logan elementary schools received a personal congratulations Sept. 21 for earning A's in the state's grading system from New Mexico Public Education Secretary Christopher Ruszkowski.

Ruszkowski visited San Jon and Logan elementary as part of the Straight 'A' Express, a tour honoring the schools in the state that earned an 'A' on the annual school grading system, he said.

"This is part of the NM PED's efforts to recognize these schools and communities for the amazing work they are doing," Ruszkowski said.

Sept. 27: House, Quay County split bond proceeds

House School officials and Quay County commissioners agreed to split money generated from the Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) from two NextEra wind energy projects in the House area.

The split was 72.5 percent for the county to 27.5 percent for House Schools.

In the IRB, two wind energy projects scheduled for Quay County with maximum value of $157.6 million will receive tax benefits as a result of ordinances the Quay County Commission approved on Sept. 25.

The county will receive $261,090 per year and House Schools $99,034 per year in tax-replacement payments for the 30 years of the IRB for a project in which NextEra is replacing blades and generating equipment at one of its wind energy sites to increase the site's capacity to 204 megawatts.

The 204 megawatts is enough to energize about 136,000 homes at any given time.

Another NextEra project, the installation of 21 new wind turbines on a site that crosses the De Baca County line near House, will bring $59,867 per year in tax-replacements to Quay County and $22,708 for House Schools.

Of the 21 wind turbines, 11 will be placed in Quay County and 9 in De Baca County, according to Chris Cothran, project manager for NextEra.

Bonnie Lightfoot, superintendent of House School, said the school with a total enrollment of 70 students has been operating on emergency funding from the New Mexico Public Education Department.

In an "Industrial Revenue Bond Basics" publication on his law firm's website, Alan Hall, the county's attorney for the IRB arrangement, explained that in an IRB, the "property comprising the IRB 'project' is deeded from the benefiting company to the IRB issuer," thus making the project tax-exempt for the period of the IRB.

The issuer is the county.

The county then leases the property back to the company, he said.

Sept. 27: Mesalands ranks 9th among community colleges

Mesalands Community College was ranked ninth in the nation in September, three levels above last year's rating, out of 728 community colleges evaluated, by Wallet Hub, an Internet credit rating and reporting firm based in the Washington, D.C., area.

The rise in ratings adds to a string of favorable developments at the college in recent years, President Thomas Newsom said.

Last year, Wallet Hub listed Mesalands at 12th in the nation.

Wallet Hub based its ranking on cost and outcomes.

Mesalands' most favorable scores in Wallet Hub's ratings were in "share of full-time faculty," where it ranked first, and in graduation rate, where it ranked 15th among the colleges rated, figures from Wallet Hub's website show. The website is at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-community-colleges/15076.

Along with the good news in the overall rating, Mesalands' enrollment has risen, campus expansion is under way, and wind energy, allied health and creative arts programs are bringing in students from a wide area, Dr. Thomas Newsom, the college's president, said.

Sept. 27: City government

reorganizes

A reorganization of city government that will create one more layer of management and cost the city about $118,000 in salary increases per year received approval Sept. 21 from the Tucumcari City Commission.

The plan involves promoting several current department heads to manage several departments. These department heads would report directly to City Manager Jared Langenegger, adding a layer of management to the organization and reducing the number of managers who report directly to Langenegger.

Under the new plan, reporting to Langenegger are Police Chief David Lathrom; Fire Chief Douglas Hogan; a new administrative services director, new water and wastewater director, and public works director who have not been named; and Housing Authority Director Viki Riddle.

Langenegger said he anticipates the new positions will be paid in the neighborhood of $70,000 per year in a pay band in which pay ranges from $66,890 per year to $91,250 per year.

In addition, Chris Gries, who has been the city facilities manager, will add oversight of the convention center and the airport to his duties.

Sept. 28: City resolves to rid town of dangerous properties

Three dilapidated houses and a collapsed building in the downtown area of Tucumcari are destined for leveling, the Tucumcari City Commission decided on Sept. 28.

Owners must begin demolishing the buildings themselves within 15 days of receiving notice from the city, according the four resolutions the city the commission approved Thursday .

In addition, the owners of the offending properties must complete demolition or demonstrate progress toward demolition within 30 days after beginning the process, the resolutions say. Otherwise, the city will do it for them and where possible, require owners to pay for the work.

The house locations are 423 W High St., 623 S. Second St. and 502 S. Fifth St. The former business building is located at 101 W. Main St.

There are dozens of such properties scattered throughout the city, and what to do about them has been discussed and debated in commission meetings and election campaigns within the past 10 years.

Sept. 30: Fired Up!

More than 1,700 people filled the streets of downtown Tucumcari on Sept. 30 to enjoy live music, molten artwork, the crowning of local legend royalty and the entrancing movements of fire dancers.

"Tucumcari MainStreet's seventh annual Fired Up!, was a success featuring crowd favorites as well as new attractions," said Gail Houser, Tucumcari MainStreet's executive director.

Houser said with the cooperation of the weather, events of this year's Fired Up! offered locals, visitors a variety of entertainment, recreation and even exercise.

The festivities kicked off Saturday morning with the second annual Wheels on Fire bicycle race. A total of 86 riders from across the country and around the corner participated in 25, 50, 62-mile (100 kilometers) and the main 100-mile event. Local residents set up rehydration stations along to the course to cheer on the riders while offering water, electrolyte supplements and fruit.

Oct. 11: Meteorologist: Quay rainfall tops 19 inches

Rainfall in September and October gave portions of Quay County their second wettest season in history, and water flowed down the spillways at Ute Lake Reservoir Dam for the first time since 2006.

The normal rainfall for Quay County during the first nine months is 14.22 inches of rain, but this year's total was of 19.86 inches, as of Oct. 11, said Brian Guyer, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, Albuquerque.

"Significant rainfall most over the past 15 days has brought the yearly total more than five inches over the normal," Guyer said.

Guyer said from Sept. 21 to Oct. 5, Logan had recorded 8.56 inches of rain, a station north west of Tucumcari recorded 7.84 inches during that time. He said a station four miles north east of Tucumcari reported rainfall 6.33 inches between Sept. 21-Oct. 5, the second-highest rainfall recorded at that station in early October since 1941 (6.51 inches).

As of Friday the elevation of Ute Lake is 3,788.98 feet. Between Sept. 15 and Oct. 5 Ute Reservoir's surface elevation increased by 3.8 feet, said Melissa Dosher-Smith, spokesperson for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.

Dosher-Smith said the lake had surpassed its maximum allowed storage of 200,000 acre feet, and the release of water will continue until the lake level was reduced by about two feet.

Oct. 14-15: Disc golf course hosts first event

Tucumcari's rustic new 18-hole disc golf course shone in its debut event, officially titled "Shootout at Six-Shooter Siding," Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 at Five Mile Park.

Six-Shooter Siding was a name assigned to a 19th Century railroad camp on the site where Tucumcari now stands.

In the weekend's Shootout event, which was a tournament sanctioned by the New Mexico chapter of the national Professional Disc Golf Association, 45 disc golfers hurled and tossed flying discs all over the golf course's tall grass, cacti, trees and bushes.

They played three rounds of this relatively new variation on traditional golf. Disc golf acquired its name in 1976, according to the national Disc Golf Association.

This weekend's Shootout participants came from Colorado and Texas, as well as New Mexico, including the Albuquerque area. Their number included a nine-year-old world champion junior disc golfer, Kolby Sanchez of Roswell, and an 85-year-old former world champion, Ronald Byrd, of Rio Rancho. Every age group in between and both males and females were represented, at ability levels ranging from professional to beginner.

Nov. 1: McCasland appointed to stream commission

Franklin McCasland, manager of the Arch Hurley Conservancy District of Tucumcari, was appointed on Nov. 9 to the advisory council of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission by Gov. Susana Martinez.

McCasland will represent the ISC's northeast New Mexico district, which includes Harding, Union, Curry and Roosevelt counties, as well as Quay County.

McCasland also serves as chair of the Quay County Commission, representing the county's District 3.

He is also a rancher and farmer.

"I am honored to serve the state of New Mexico and the northeast division" on the ISC board, McCasland said. "Water issues are vital to our area."

Nov. 29: Health center hires new admin

The new administrator of the Presbyterian Medical Services Family Health Center, Tucumcari, is looking forward to continuing providing quality medical services to the residents of her hometown.

"It has been a long time since I left Tucumcari," said Renee Hayoz, PMS administrator. "I moved back to help my family, in doing so I also have the opportunity to help the community."

Hayoz, a 1991 graduate of Tucumcari High School, said she has spent the past 10 years working in municipal, county, state and tribal governments. She said before moving back to Tucumcari she was working in Albuquerque.

"It's good to be back, when I was younger I just wanted to move away," Hayoz said. "Now here I am, happy to be home."

Dec. 6: Students send aid to Puerto Rico families

A third-grade class has turned a social studies lesson about Puerto Rico into a humanitarian, relief project.

"We felt bad about what happened to the people of Puerto Rico," said Issac Vargas, one of the students at Tucumcari Elementary.

Issac said the class learned about the damage done by Hurricane Maria and the struggles the residents are still dealing with today.

"It is some scary stuff," he said.

Once the students learned about the impact Hurricane Maria had on the residents the students wanted to do something to help, said teacher Kim Rich.

Rich said she searched for a relief program that would allow the students to help out some families in Puerto Rico.

She found the Adopt a Family U.S. Virgin Island program, and arranged to send care packages to Puerto Rican families in need, Rich said.

Dec. 18: Five Mile Park to be rehabilitated

Tucumcari's Five Mile Park is the focus of an effort led by the U.S. National Parks Service to develop the rugged property for increased visits from both Quay County residents and tourists.

On Dec. 18, Attila Bality, an outdoor recreation planner for the National Parks Service, guided city and county leaders in setting up a framework for determining how Five Mile Park can meet community needs as defined by community members, then plan actions that need to be taken to ready the park for community and tourist use.

Bality's involvement in the process came about through an application for National Parks assistance that Patrick Vanderpool, executive director of the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation, completed earlier this year.

Bality has since made several trips to Tucumcari to look at the park and introduce himself and the program to community members.

At the Dec. 18 meeting, Bality walked community leaders through a five-step framework of planning steps, and led them to set deadlines and assign responsibility for many of the steps.