Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of three stories summing up 2018 for Quay County. A review of January through April ran in the Dec. 26 edition, and a review of September through December is planned for the Jan. 9 edition.
The middle of 2018 proved to be a consequential one for Quay County, starting with the official submission of an application to the New Mexico Racing Commission to build a proposed $80 million horse-racing track and casino in Tucumcari that would create 400 jobs.
Longtime Quay County Sun senior writer Thomas Garcia died after a short illness, and Tucumcari city commissioner and former mayor Robert Lumpkin died of cancer.
Tucumcari hired a new city manager, Britt Lusk, and Mesalands Community College appointed a new president, John Groesbeck.
Logan’s fired village manager filed suit against the municipality, alleging a violation of whistle-blower laws.
It also was a time for festivals, including Rawhide Days and the New Mexico Music Showcase.
Here are the top stories in the Quay County Sun from May through August, in chronological order:
May 9 — Rawhide Days draws thousands
More than 3,000 people took part in the western heritage activities during the third annual Tucumcari Rawhide Days Festival in Tucumcari.
People enjoyed the parade, vendors, live music, Native American dances, gunfight performances by the Liberators and the Most Versatile Blacksmith competition.
This year saw the addition of the Rawhide Ranch Rodeo that featured 20 three-man teams competing in events that included knot tying, trailer loading and doctoring.
Returning to the event for a third year were Shirley and Mark Brinegar, the widow and son of the late Paul Brinegar, who portrayed Wishbone on the TV series “Rawhide.”
May 9 — Race is on for racino
As the state begins accepting applications for its sixth horse-racing license, eastern New Mexico will have at least two horses in the race.
Projects proposed for Tucumcari and Clovis will be among those competing for the state’s last available “racino” license, with an award selection expected by the end of 2018.
The New Mexico Racing Commission began accepting applications for the state’s sixth and final horse racing and casino license, a process expected to last at least through the summer.
May 16 — Tucumcari hires new city manager
Britt Lusk, 38, director of administrative services for Hobbs, was named Tucumcari’s new city manager on a unanimous city commission vote.
His salary will be $82,500 per year.
Lusk was hired on a “strictly at-will basis,” according to his one-year contract with the city. His contract is good through May 14, 2019.
In comments at a commission meeting, Lusk said in Tucumcari he sees not a city but “a community.”
June 6 — Music showcase celebrates state’s culture
More than 450 people capped the second annual New Mexico Music Showcase by dancing and enjoying the music of Cuarenta Y Cinco and Darren Cordova and family at the Tucumcari Convention Center.
“There was a lot of trial and error, but overall I feel this year’s showcase was a success,” said Jerry Lopez, event coordinator.
Lopez said in its second year, the Tucumcari Knights of Columbus Club’s showcase brought a mix of traditional and new-era New Mexico music to Tucumcari.
June 6 — Fired Logan village manager files lawsuit
Logan’s former village manager sued the village in the 10th Judicial District Court, alleging a violation of the New Mexico Whistle Blower Protection Act.
The suit was filed by Trevor Thompson, who was fired Jan. 30 as the village manager by the Village Council after a special executive session.
Thompson is seeking damages for lost wages, benefits and suffering as a result of his termination.
Thompson alleges he was terminated by the council after he raised concerns about the lack of proper personal-protection equipment for village employees and the lack of handicap access to the Logan Senior Citizens Center.
June 20 — Tucumcari man killed in deputy-involved shooting
A Tucumcari man was fatally shot by a Quay County sheriff’s deputy during a hostage situation in Tucumcari.
Robert Roybal, 55, was killed by a single shot in the early morning hours. A release from the New Mexico State Police stated Roybal had spent more than an hour holding a knife to the throat of another man in the residence on the 1300 block of South Seventh Street.
A Quay County sheriff’s deputy who came to aid in negotiation efforts fired at Roybal as he pushed the knife harder against the hostage’s neck. The deputy rescued the victim, who was taken to on-scene paramedics.
June 20 — Tucumcari officers honored for valor
Two Tucumcari police officers who entered a burning house to ensure occupants got to safety received wreath of valor awards from Police Chief David Lathrom during a Tucumcari City Commission meeting.
Patrol officer Reyes Gonzales and Cpl. Stephanie Coon were the first to arrive at a house fire near Rankin Avenue and Mountain Road just after midnight Feb. 22, Lathrom said.
Gonzalez thought there were people inside the house, so he walked past flames on the porch to enter the front door to find occupants.
Meanwhile, Coon arrived and heard occupants inside the home and entered through the back door.
Both officers found the occupants and guided them to safety before firefighters arrived.
June 27 — Mesalands hires Groesbeck as president
Mesalands Community College’s board of trustees unanimously approved the submission of a contract to John D. Groesbeck to become the next president of the institution.
The board of trustees approved the submission of the contract after an executive session during a special meeting at Mesalands.
Groesbeck, of North Ogden, Utah, was one of two finalists who visited Mesalands to tour the facility, meet with campus faculty, staff and take part in public forums. Robert M. Munoz from Fort Worth, Texas, was the other finalist.
July 18 — Vandals rob, contaminate city pool
City pool manager Bryan Dunlap said unknown parties threw two bottles containing oil and other sediments over the fence into the Tucumcari Public Pool when it was closed overnight.
He said the contaminants seeped out into the water and created a type of “oil slick.”
Dunlap said the pool had to be flooded to force the contaminated water out. He said the lifeguards scrubbed the tiles along the edge to remove any remaining traces of the oil and scooped the oil into the drains by hand.
On Thursday, the pool’s main office was broken into with several items and cash being taken, Dunlap said.
July 25 — Longtime Tucumcari official Robert Lumpkin dies
Longtime resident, former educator, Marine veteran and Tucumcari mayor pro tem Robert Lumpkin died after an extended illness at his home.
Lumpkin, 71, died July 17 at his residence, said Bobbi Sandoval, Lumpkin’s daughter.
Lumpkin was serving as the District 4 city commissioner and mayor pro tem.
He also had served as mayor from 2014 to 2016. Lumpkin had served as a city commissioner since October 2007, said City Clerk Angelica Gray.
Aug. 1 — Man arrested in shooting in Tucumcari
One person was hospitalized and another arrested after a shooting in Tucumcari.
Bobby Vandiver, 31, was arrested after a more than eight-hour search, said Russell Shafer, Quay County sheriff.
Vandiver was charged with assault with intent to commit a violent felony and booked into the Quay County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
Shafer said officers initially went to a report of a gunshot victim at a motel on the 800 block of West Route 66.
Aug. 1 — Lumpkin honored at city commission meeting
A single rose in a vase marked the place where the mayor pro tem, Tucumcari District 4 Commissioner Robert Lumpkin, would have sat at the city commission meeting.
Lumpkin died July 17, and the commission spent some time to honor Lumpkin’s memory at the meeting.
Lumpkin’s daughter, Shannon, addressed the meeting. Her father was “passionate about what he could do in the city. He was all about the people.”
Aug. 8 — More than 300 attend Rattler Reunion
A little thunder and lightning from a storm did nothing to diminish the gathering of Tucumcari High School graduates at the Tucumcari Convention Center to kick off the Rattler Reunion.
The Class of 1988 was in charge of the Rattler Reunion, and Todd Duplantis, who chaired the organizing committee, wasn’t just happy with the turnout, he said, “I’m excited.”
More than 330 graduates made the trip, either across town or across the country to visit old friends and see how Tucumcari has changed over the years.
Aug. 15 — Quay County Sun senior writer Thomas Garcia dies
He was always joking. He had the kindest heart. He was a legend around Quay County. The tributes to Thomas Garcia could fill a newspaper.
The longtime senior writer for the Quay County Sun died after a brief illness. His legacy, according to dozens of friends, will be his sense of humor, dedication to community and friendly disposition.
“He took his job seriously. But he was the office joker, no doubt,” said Veronica Montano, a co-worker who’s known Garcia her entire life.
Garcia started working for the Quay County Sun in July 2006. Chelle Delaney, managing editor at the time, said Garcia arrived with no experience but he was eager to learn and always was fun to be around.
Aug. 22 — Five officially apply for racino license
Warren Frost long has been convinced the race for New Mexico’s sixth racetrack/casino is between Clovis and Tucumcari.
He is even more convinced now the New Mexico Racing Commission announced only five groups met a deadline to apply for the racino license — three from Clovis, one from Tucumcari and one from Lordsburg.
“This is all about Tucumcari and Clovis,” said the Logan attorney who for more than a decade has been advocating for a racino in Tucumcari.
Aug. 22 — State report cards in for area schools
Logan Municipal Schools again led Quay County school systems in the New Mexico Public Education Department’s annual grading of schools based on student performance and improvement in the 2017-2018 school year.
None of Quay County’s schools earned overall grades below a C this year. At least one school scored D grades in each of 2017, 2016 and 2015, according to the education department’s figures.
House Elementary School scored the biggest gain, advancing from a D grade in 2017 to an A grade this year.
Tucumcari schools broke even in 2018, and San Jon schools scored B grades at all three schools.
