Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
On this date ...
1974: The City of Tucumcari was preparing for the Piñata Festival in early September at the Quay County Fairgrounds, along with other events at the library, downtown and recreation center.
Among the events scheduled were motorcycle races five miles west of town, a puppet show, a performance by the Senior Citizens Band of Clovis, turtle races and the Piñata Festival Parade.
One of the Piñata Queen Pageant contestants was Mary Lorraine J. Aragon, a senior at Tucumcari High School sponsored by Cooper’s Cleaning Village.
Among the entries in the festival’s Diaper Derby were infants Cathy Evant, Jennifer Lynn Quintana and Ronald James Sursa.
— Former magistrate judge J.D. Goldston appeared in district court for arraignment. He entered a plea of not guilty on four counts of embezzlement. He posted $10,000 bond. District Attorney Norman Runyan said a probable trial date would be in October.
A shortage of $11,000 was found in Goldston’s office, and he was suspended form his duties. Goldston later pleaded guilty to one count and was sentenced to. One to five years in prison, with all but six months suspended.
— E.F. Shipman, a Tucumcari native who was senior vice president of marketing for NCR Corporation, and his wife Dorothy flew to Tucumcari to attend the grand opening of the new First National Bank building on First Street. The bank was scheduled to open to the public on Sept. 3.
— Police officers manned a roadblock on the south end of First Street after heavy rain washed out part of Highway 18 south of Tucumcari. Only one lane was usable, with caution, and no trucks would be allowed on the road while repairs were ongoing. The northeast weather substation reported 1.1 inches of rain during the storm.