Pages past - Nov. 23

On this date ...

1972: Bettie Ditto, a Tucumcari businesswoman who has owned and operated one of the most successful motels in New Mexico, announced plans to build a new motel, restaurant, apartment and shopping complex in Lovington.

Ditto will own it in a partnership with her daughter, Sue Beasley of Carlsbad, and name it the Pow Wow Inn, the same name as her business in Tucumcari for the last 17 years.

Ditto has purchased more than four city blocks in north Lovington, and she estimated her project there will cost almost $1 million.

• Mark Grissom, 47, owner of the Skelly Truck Stop in Nara Visa, was found not guilty in the August shooting death of his son, Preston, after a jury deliberated for just two hours. Upon hearing the verdict, Grissom broke down into tears.

• Tucumcari will receive more than $6,600 to install new radio equipment for full-time communication with New Mexico State Police and the Quay County Sheriff’s Department, according to a news release from Lt. Gov. Robert Mondragon. The total cost of the project is about $18,600.