Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
On this date ...
1971: To celebrate New Mexico’s 60th year of statehood, publisher L.D. Caldwell of the Tucumcari Daily News and a manager of KTNM radio told the city commission about a local organization’s idea to erect a 40-by-80-foot lighted sign on Tucumcari Mountain that simply stated “60.”
Caldwell said the sign would entice more tourists to stop in Tucumcari. The city commission agreed to give $300 to for the estimated $3,000 cost for the project. Caldwell said he would raise the rest though civic organizations.
• One Las Vegas man died and another suffered burns over 40% of his body after their car crashed east of Tucumcari on U.S. 54. The vehicle was traveling southwest on the highway at a high rate of speed and failed to make the curve at the railroad overpass. The car hit a curb, went up a 45-degree embankment for 33 feet, hit a concrete abutment, vaulted over the overpass and fell 65 feet below, where the car caught fire.
• The New Mexico Park and Recreation Commission approved the construction of 18 new camping shelters for the Conchas Recreation Area. New water lines will be installed, along with an irrigation system. Ute Lake also will receive new camping and picnic areas, including 12 new tables on the south side of the lake and showers on the north side.
• Touting Santa as the “first astronaut on the moon,” the Odeon Theatre was screening Friday, Saturday and Sunday matinees of the film “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” in “space blazing” color.