Year in review: Change in the air

The ouster of two Tucumcari city commissioners - including its mayor - during the November election signaled that voters wanted change.

Commissioners Paul Villanueva and Mayor Ralph Moya - the latter a veteran of over 20 years in city government - fell to defeat to Jonathan Brito and Jerry Lopez, respectively.

With the appointment or election of two additional commissioners, Tucumcari's governing body will have four new members in 2024.

A severe storm that brought torrential rain and baseball-size hail in May continued to have ripple effects into the second half of the year.

Tucumcari residents and municipalities continued to deal with battered roofs and other property from the hail. County workers labored to make flood-damaged roads passable.

Quay County also discovered that a flood-destroyed $4 million bridge just days from completion lacked insurance coverage.

As the bridge's architect and builder pointed fingers, the county failed suit against them and the state insurance authority in an effort to find a resolution.

In the meantime, residents had to drive 30 miles around the detour.

The local irrigation district also allocated water from Conchas Lake for the first time in more than three years.

The top stores of the second half of 2023 are listed by the edition date of the Quay County Sun.

TPS board picks new member

July 5 - The Tucumcari Public Schools board chose Jehu "J.D." Knapp to fill the last six months of Bo Wallace's term after he resigned.

District allocates water

July 5 - A somewhat divided Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors allocated three inches of water per acre - the first time it had authorized the release of water from Conchas Lake in over three years.

Prelim storm damage: $8.7M

July 12 - Quay County's total damage assessment from the May 25-26 storms stands at $8.7 million.

City impounds 150 dogs since February

July 19 - Tucumcari's animal control department has impounded more than 150 dogs since a fatal dog attack in February, and its crowded kennel remains "a revolving door" for those animals, the animal control division supervisor said.

State sweetens offer for San Jon

July 19 - San Jon Municipal Schools might receive a $30 million state grant to build a new school in exchange for less than $250,000 in new debt by the district. Superintendent Alan Umholtz said that New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority officials sweetened the offer for the grant.

City funds chamber after director leaves

July 19 - The Tucumcari City Commission finally funded the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce after months of wrangling, but not before losing the chamber's director, Scott Crotzer, who resigned.

Deputy kills Tucumcari man

July 26 - A Tucumcari man was shot to death by a Quay County sheriff's deputy while police were responding to a domestic dispute at a Logan home. Matthew Dimas, 38, died at a hospital after the deputy fired at least one shot that struck him.

Former House chief honored

Aug. 2 - The former superintendent of House Municipal Schools was honored as New Mexico Schools Superintendent of the Year the same week the board filed a petition to pay her a $180,000 settlement.

Body found in Dumpster

Aug. 2 - A Tucumcari man was found dead in a Dumpster near a car wash, but New Mexico State Police investigating the case saw no signs of foul play.

County OKs new lobbyist

Aug. 9 - Quay County officially hired Hull Consulting Government Relations of Albuquerque as its lobbyist and declined to renew its pact with a Clovis-based Clinton D. Harden & Associates.

Bigger Rattler Reunion crowds seen

Aug. 9 - Crowds for the 51st annual Rattler Reunion appeared to be significantly higher during the three-day event in Tucumcari.

Ruined bridge lacked insurance

Aug. 9 - When a $4 million low water bridge east of San Jon destroyed by flash flooding will be rebuilt remains in limbo because the contractor didn't carry builder's risk insurance for the project, alleging the architect didn't require it.

Judge rejects racino suit

Aug. 2 - An Albuquerque judge rejected a lawsuit by Coronado Partners against the New Mexico Racing Commission to force it to issue a sixth and final license for a horse-racing track and casino in Tucumcari. Coronado's lawyer appealed the ruling.

Senator urges MCC partnership

Aug. 9 - A state senator urged Eastern New Mexico University and financially troubled Mesalands Community College to consider a partnership or make the Tucumcari school a branch campus of ENMU.

Game canceled after student's death

Aug. 23 - Tucumcari Public Schools canceled a football game against McCurdy after a TPS student, freshman Javion Martinez, died at his home.

Enrollment rises at TPS

Aug. 30 - Tucumcari Public Schools was seeing a significant rise in enrollment this fall, reported its superintendent and three principals.

MCC won't consider merger

Sept. 6 - Mesalands Community College stated in a letter to a state senator the financially troubled college was not "at this time" considering being a branch of a four-year university.

Feds reject disaster relief

Sept. 13 - Federal officials turned down Quay County's application for disaster relief in the wake of hail damage and flash flooding that occurred in the wake of late May's severe storms.

Dispensary opens in Glenrio

Sept. 20 - The Glenrio Smoke Shop marijuana dispensary opened in the ghost town of Glenrio, yards from the Texas border where cannabis remains illegal.

City commissioner Arias resigns

Sept. 20 - Christopher Arias, a District 4 representative for the Tucumcari City Commission, turned in his resignation, citing personal reasons.

Order gives storm aid

Sept. 27 - The administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order approving up to $750,000 in emergency funding to Quay County after the May storms.

TPS chief to retire Jan. 1

Sept. 27 - Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Aaron McKinney told the school board he plans to retire on Jan. 1. He had been the district's chief for 18 years.

TA to buy Russell's Travel Center

Oct. 4 - TravelCenters of America soon would buy the family-owned Russell's Truck & Travel Center along Interstate 40 near Endee, but it will keep the Russell's name for a few years.

County to get $9.8M for bridge

Oct. 11 - Quay County commissioners approved agreements to receive $9.8 million in federal funds over two fiscal years to build a second new bridge on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee.

Logan moves graduation date

Oct. 18 - Citing concerns about insurance coverage and accountability during a senior trip to Alaska in June, the Logan school board voted to move the graduation ceremony from Memorial Day weekend to June 15.

Chamber, EDC may share manager

Oct. 25 - The boards of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corporation are considering one manager to oversee the organizations. Both entities lost their leaders during the summer.

County files suit over bridge

Nov. 8 - Quay County government filed a lawsuit against the contractor, architect and state insurance authority over the lack of insurance on a new, multimillion-dollar bridge destroyed by flash flooding in May.

DA declines charges in shooting

Nov. 8 - The district attorney announced his office will not file charges against a sheriff's deputy over the July shooting of an armed Tucumcari man during a domestic dispute. Deputy Joseph Otero fatally shot Mathew J. Dimas, 38, three times during an armed standoff in the backyard of a Logan home.

Coming strip mall includes Subway

Nov. 15 - A local investment group plans a 66 Strip Mall along South First Street that includes a Subway restaurant among its tenants.

Tucumcari voters oust 2 commissioners

Nov. 15 - In a sign that Tucumcari voters desired change, two incumbent city commissioners - including the mayor - lost decisively during local elections. School bond issues and the renewal of a hospital tax all passed by comfortable margins.

Hayoz picked District 5 commissioner

Nov. 15 - The Tucumcari City Commission voted to appoint C. Renee Hayoz as District 4 commissioner to serve the rest of Christopher Arias' term.

MCC fall enrollment drops

Nov. 22 - Overall enrollment at Mesalands Community College fell 26% in the fall semester compared to a year ago, though on-campus enrollment rose sharply.

Mountain View School may be razed

Nov. 29 - The former Mountain View Elementary School in Tucumcari, used by the Early Head Start Program, might be town down sometime next year because the school district's insurer condemned it.

City gets $2M state grant

Nov. 29 - The City of Tucumcari will receive $2 million from a state recreation fund that the city manager said will be used to improve its Little League fields and the Tucumcari Recreation Center.

Recounts ordered for races

Dec. 6 - New Mexico's State Canvass Board ordered recounts of close races for the Logan Village Board and San Jon school board from the November election.

Recounts affirm results

Dec. 13 - An official recount affirmed Deanna Osborn's one-vote election victory over Wesley Brian Cox for the second and final seat on Logan Village Board. A recount also confirmed Dale Bone's five-vote victory in the Nov. 7 election over Brian Watson for the second and final seat on the San Jon school board.