Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Municipalities and school districts in Quay County saw plenty of change during the second half of 2024.
Not only did new superintendent Carl Marano officially take over Tucumcari Public Schools in July, but longtime Logan superintendent Dennis Roch announced in November he would retire and take a position with New Mexico Senate Republicans.
Tucumcari city manager Paula Chacon announced in July she would retire at the end of the year. Her assistant, former District 4 Commissioner Renee Hayoz, officially took over her position after New Year’s Day.
The city commission appointed Clayton Thorne to take Hayoz’s District 4 seat.
Logan school board member Cole Wallin, citing work responsibilities, stepped down in August. The board appointed Taylor Smith to replace him.
TPS board member Matthew Pacheco resigned in August after he moved out of his district. The chief of the state Public Education Department appointed Carlos Romero, a former school board member at Tucumcari, to replace him after the board deadlocked twice between two candidates.
Democratic officeholders for Quay County Commission District 1 and the county assessor were ousted by their Republican challengers during the November general election.
Uncontested candidates also were set to take over the county clerk, county treasurer and district attorney’s offices with the new year.
A previous unopposed GOP candidate for county treasurer, Albenita Rael, abruptly withdrew her candidacy in July. Weeks later, she was charged two felonies after being accused of changing county records so her property wouldn’t be placed in a delinquent-tax list.
A local GOP committee chose Theresa Lafferty to fill the vacancy on the county treasurer ballot.
Former Logan manager dies
July 10 — Larry Wallin, 67, a manager for the Village of Logan for more than two decades, died from complications of cancer.
City manager to retire
July 17 — Tucumcari city manager Paula Chacon announced she would retire at the end of 2024 after a little more than two years.
MCC keeps Moss as president
July 24 — The Mesalands Community College board of trustees officially removed the “interim” tag from President Allen Moss’ title, approving a three-year contract at about $170,000 a year.
Treasurer candidate withdraws
July 31 — Quay County deputy treasurer Rael withdrew her uncontested candidacy as the Republican candidate for treasurer.
More than 400 Rattlers gather
Aug. 7 — More than 400 Tucumcari High School alumni attended the 52nd edition of the Rattler Reunion, its largest crowd in years.
Hayoz resigns as commissioner
Aug. 14 — Hayoz, District 4 commissioner in Tucumcari, resigned after she applied for and won the assistant city manager position.
Logan school board member resigns
Aug. 21 — The Logan school board member Wallin submitted his resignation, citing work responsibilities.
GOP picks treasurer candidate
Aug. 21 — The Quay County Republican Party Central Committee chose Lafferty, office manager at the Arch Hurley Conservancy District in Tucumcari, from four applicants to be its county treasurer candidate.
TPS board member resigns
Aug. 21 — Tucumcari Public Schools board member Pacheco resigned because he moved out of District 1.
Ceremony marks new bank
Sept. 11 — A ceremonial groundbreaking was held for a new, full-service bank, The Bank of Tucumcari.
Logan school board picks member
Sept. 18 — The board for Logan Municipal Schools appointed Smith to replace Wallin, who stepped down the previous month.
Hot time at Fired Up
Sept. 18 — Hot weather likely depressed crowd sizes at the 13th Fired Up festival in downtown Tucumcari, especially in the afternoon when temperatures reached 97 degrees.
Ex-treasurer candidate charged
Sept. 25 — Rael was charged with two felonies after being accused of altering county records so a property she owned wouldn’t be placed in a delinquent-tax list.
Storm ravages Nara Visa
Sept. 25 — A severe storm struck the village of Nara Visa, knocking down trees and causing property damage, including to its historic community center. No injuries were reported.
Amarillo firm gets tourism pact
Oct. 2 — The Tucumcari City Commission approved hiring Gray Digital Media of Amarillo to be its tourism marketing arm through June 2025 for $58,582.50.
City picks District 4 commissioner
Oct. 2 — The city commission chose Thorne as its newest District 4 representative from three who applied, including a former commissioner.
Ex-commissioner charged
Oct. 9 — Christopher Arias, a former Tucumcari commissioner who recently sought to regain his old seat, was arrested on a felony charge of writing a worthless check of nearly $3,000 for a water and sewer bill for a restaurant he had operated.
Local man gets life in prison
Oct. 9 — A judge sentenced Tyje Garrett, 44, to life in prison after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the May 2022 shooting of another local man after an argument at a high-school graduation party.
Romero picked for TPS board
Oct. 16 — New Mexico Public Education Secretary Mariana Padilla chose Romero to be representative for District 1 on the Tucumcari Public Schools board. Four TPS board members had deadlocked twice in their votes for Romero or the other finalist, Andrea Madrid, forcing Padilla to make the choice.
Warrant issued for ex-commissioner
Oct. 16 — An arrest warrant was issued for a former Tucumcari restaurateur and city commissioner Todd Duplantis after he was accused of taking more than $50,000 in kitchen equipment encumbered by a loan from the closed Pow Wow restaurant.
Dog-attack suspect goes to jail
Oct. 23 — A Tucumcari woman will serve as little as three months in jail for her role in a 2023 fatal dog mauling. In a plea deal, Mary Olimpia Montoya, 52, pleaded guilty to one count in that case and a child-abuse case with a cap of no more than 18 months in prison.
State receptive to 2 San Jon gyms
Nov. 6 — State officials signaled they were receptive to a proposal from San Jon school officials and their architectural firm to build two full-size gymnasiums instead of preserving two existing gyms.
Dowell, Byrd win races
Nov. 6 — In the general election, Republican challenger Dallas Dowell defeated Democratic incumbent District 1 Commissioner Robert Lopez. In the county assessor’s race, GOP challenger Jefferson Byrd prevailed over current assessor Dana Leonard, a Democrat.
Logan begins rec complex
Nov. 6 — Nearly two years after receiving a multimillion-dollar state grant for the project, Logan village officials and contractors broke ground for a recreational complex near the shores of Ute Lake.
Hayoz hired as city manager
Nov. 13 — The city commission voted to hire Hayoz, a former District 4 commissioner and an assistant city manager since September, as city manager in January. She will replace Chacon, who is retiring,
Logan superintendent retiring
Nov. 20 — Roch, superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools since 2013, said he would retire next month to become caucus chief of staff for New Mexico Senate Republicans.
Longhorns win state title
Nov. 20 — The top-seeded and undefeated Logan Longhorns dominated No. 2-seeded Grady 54-14 in the finals of the New Mexico six-man football tournament, giving the school its first state title in football.
Ex-commissioner gets probation
Nov. 27 — Arias, a former city commissioner, was sentenced to probation and community service after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of bouncing a check of nearly $3,000 for outstanding water bills.
Logan, county sue over pipeline
Dec. 4 — Quay County, the Village of Logan and 19 other parties filed a lawsuit against a Clovis-based water authority to halt construction of a long-controversial pipeline from Ute Lake.
Man gets prison for dog attack
Dec. 11 — A Tucumcari man will spend nearly five years in prison for his role in a local man’s fatal mauling by a pack of dogs. Kristopher Jaquarias Morris, 29, was sentenced after pleading guilty to a felony charge of prohibited acts (dangerous dog; death of a person). Morris’ dogs attacked and killed Stanley Hartt, 64, of Tucumcari as he walked near Mesalands Community College in 2023.
County to finish hospital design
Dec. 11 — County Commissioners approved a fee proposal to finish the final 10% of the design for a new Dr. Daniel C. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari.
Conchas Lodge to be razed
Dec. 18 — The historic but long-closed Conchas Lodge at Conchas Lake State Park northwest of Tucumcari eventually will be torn down due to its dilapidated state and hazardous materials in the structure.