Serving the High Plains

Articles from the January 16, 2019 edition


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  • Two judge candidates to undergo interviews

    Steve Hansen|Jan 16, 2019

    Two candidates for Tucumcari municipal judge will undergo interviews with the Tucumcari City Commission on Jan. 24, the commission decided in a public work session before Thursday's regular meeting. The candidates are Larry Brown, who has been filling in as municipal judge since former judge Joe Dominguez resigned Oct. 29 after a drunken-driving arrest, and Noreen Hendrickson, a resident known for her involvement with Tucumcari's Veterans of Foreign Wars 2528 and the Quay County Health Council, among other community groups. The new municipal...

  • Gravel pit could get new life

    Ron Warnick|Jan 16, 2019

    An old gravel pit north of Tucumcari doesn't look like much, but Robert Kryder envisions it becoming a venue for a big off-road racing event later this summer that will bring lots of business to the city s motels and restaurants. Kryder, officials from Outlaw Desert Racing and other volunteers in all-wheel-drive vehicles this past weekend used their vehicles to carve racing trails into the hilly dirt. Kryder said the site would become a 4- to 5-mile track, called Flintstones ORV, that will host...

  • Racetrack license on racing commission agenda

    Ron Warnick|Jan 16, 2019

    The possibility of awarding a sixth racetrack license is on the agenda for the regular meeting Thursday of the New Mexico Racing Commission, but it remains unclear whether commissioners will make a decision because of a pending lawsuit filed by one of the applicants. An item called “Sixth Racetrack License” is on the agenda, along with 30 other items, for the commission’s 9:30 a.m. meeting at its boardroom at 4900 Alameda Blvd. in Albuquerque, according to an email from the commission Monday. The commission previously has stated it is commi...

  • Agencies approve Mesalands armory purchase

    Ron Warnick|Jan 16, 2019

    Mesalands Community College's president announced two state agencies recently cleared the college's proposed acquisition of the closed armory building in Tucumcari for $1. John Groesbeck said during the college's board of directors meeting Jan. 8 the state's Department of Higher Education and Board of Finance had approved the purchase of the 21,540-square-foot building at 1200 S. 11th St. and its 7.86 acres, just south of the Mesalands campus. Officials from the New Mexico Army National Guard...

  • Calendar - Jan. 16

    Jan 16, 2019

    • Wednesday-Thursday — Southwest Beef Symposium. Hosted by the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, the program will help livestock producers stay up-to-date with the latest information and practices. To register, call 575-644-3379. Tucumcari Convention Center. • Wednesday-Saturday — Winter Bluegrass Jam. This family-friendly weekend will have lots of music, fun and fellowship. For more information, call Rob Simpson at 870-615-2252 or Bill McKnight at 806-358-7666. Quality Inn, 3716 E. Tucumcari Blvd.,...

  • Pages past - Jan. 16

    Jan 16, 2019

    On this date ... 1969: Two men from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were in custody in the Quay County Jail after being accused of robbing Jerry’s Package Store in Tucumcari. The armed holdup occurred at 10:17 p.m. the previous day when one of the men held an automatic pistol on a store employee and threw a green bank bag on the counter, demanding money. A total of $204 was taken from the store. The suspects were apprehended in Santa Rosa. The men also were suspects in the robbery of a Dairy Queen in Dalhart, Texas. • A Tucumcari man, chief pet...

  • Lodgers' Tax Board delays electing officers

    Ron Warnick|Jan 16, 2019

    The election of officers was on the agenda Wednesday for the Tucumcari Lodgers’ Tax Board, but it was delayed on the urging of city manager Britt Lusk because of a vacancy. Lusk, noting the board vacancy after the recent departure of former chairman David Brenner, recommended the board defer its election of officers until a new member from a Tucumcari lodging establishment is seated. Al Patel of the Desert Inn, sitting in the audience during Wednesday’s meeting, said he would consider serving as board secretary. He must submit an app...

  • Quay deputies recognized

    Staff report|Jan 16, 2019

    The Quay County Sheriff's Office last week recognized two deputies who showed exemplary service in the line of duty in 2018. According to a news release on social media, Lt. Larry Cooksey was awarded the Life Saving Award for his response to a shots-fired call that required the use of a tourniquet to stop the bleeding of a person who had been shot. "His prompt response and quick thinking saved a life," the release stated. Undersheriff Dennis Garcia was awarded his second Medal of Valor, given to...

  • Donut shop closes abruptly

    Staff report|Jan 16, 2019

    The Tucumcari Donuts shop abruptly closed after New Year’s Day. The shop at 600 E. Tucumcari Blvd. closed Jan. 2, according to a clerk at Best Hardware across the road. A phone number listed for Tucumcari Donuts was disconnected. According to a short story last week in The Communicator newspaper in Santa Rosa, owner/operator Alex Yun and his brother, John Naang, moved from Tucumcari to Santa Rosa to open the Blue Hole Donut Shoppe in downtown Santa Rosa. No phone was listed for Blue Hole Donut Shoppe. Yun told a Communicator reporter his p...

  • Menus - Jan. 16

    Jan 16, 2019

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Sausage and cheese breakfast bagel sandwich, bagel with strawberry cream cheese, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Diced chicken and gravy with honey wheat roll, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, mashed potatoes, baby carrots, fruit, milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Trix cereal bar, cereal choice with cinnamon goldfish graham cracker, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Pepperoni pizza, garden salad, cauliflower, fruit, milk. Monday — Breakfast: Blueberry muffin and string cheese, cereal choice with cinnamon goldfish graha...

  • Foundation offering college scholarships

    Staff report|Jan 16, 2019

    The Education Foundation at Plateau again is offering college scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Applications are available at area high-school guidance offices, Plateau stores or on the cooperative’s website at plateautel.com/company/scholarships. Scholarships available include $8,000 Evelyn Patterson Memorial Scholarships, $8,000 Robert M. Harris Memorial Scholarships, $3,000 Banner Scholarships, a $1,500 Tonie Martinez Memorial Scholarship and $1,500 Committed to Excellence Scholarships. Applications must be postmarked no l...

  • Prescription drug promise needs keeping

    Albuquerque Journal|Jan 16, 2019

    The partial federal government shutdown has been the main focus in Washington over the past few weeks. President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats have struggled to reach an agreement over the president’s campaign promise to build a wall on the border with Mexico. Too bad more of the focus isn’t on a campaign promise made by Trump and members of both parties in Congress — to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Trump and Democrats agree people in the U.S. shouldn’t have to pay more for their medications than those in other economi...

  • Wall should end before it begins

    Steve Hansen|Jan 16, 2019

    I have been thinking about walls lately, because I’ve been reading the news. President Trump is demanding a $5.7-billion wall between the U.S. and Mexico. That’s a $5.7-billion slap in the face to Mexico, our southern neighbor and key trading partner, and its people. Most Mexicans don’t look like most of us or speak the same language, and they are poor. I think that makes them seem threatening to Trump and his followers. Some Mexicans would rather live here. They may break our laws to get here if they don’t get permission first, but that’s...

  • Still believe we can change course

    Tom McDonald|Jan 16, 2019

    I’m always hoping things will turn out better than they appear to be headed. Take our future as a species as an example. Climate change and the polluting of our air, soil and water suggests that catastrophe is bearing down on us, and it doesn’t look like we’re willing to do anything about it. But wait, there are still reasons to believe we can survive this mess. I’ve written about one of them already — a company called Carbon Engineering, which is developing a chemical process to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby creating...

  • Logan restaurant moving

    Ron Warnick|Jan 16, 2019

    The Mama T’s restaurant in Logan is moving to the nearby Whiskey — The Road to Ruin building, where it will reopen by late spring with a larger menu and more employees. Mama T’s, at 120 U.S. 54 since September 2016, is moving its equipment and furnishings into the building, previously an Eagles lodge, at 103 U.S. 54. The restaurant’s manager, Brian Cox, said he seeks to reopen the family-owned business in early May. “We have outgrown our seating area and have been looking to upsize for a while now,” Cox stated in an email. Cox said the new ver...

  • Business licenses - Jan. 16

    Jan 16, 2019

    These are business licenses issued by the city of Tucumcari since December: • B’s Que, barbecue food truck, 624 S. Third St., owned by Brenda Lopez. • Bestcare Pharmacy Tucumcari (name change), pharmacy, 511 S. Second St., owned by Ashok Pothula. • Bright Morning Motel (name change), motel, 1214 E. Route 66 Blvd., owned by Yinong Li. • O’Reilly Auto Parts #5437, auto parts store, 1316 E. Route 66 Blvd., owned by Tom McFall....

  • Lady Rattlers tournament champs fourth time running

    Staff report|Jan 16, 2019

    The Tucumcari girls basketball team captured its fourth consecutive Girls BVC Tournament championship Saturday with a 44-29 win over host Estancia in the title game Saturday. Lady Rattlers point guard Ashley Shipley was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and teammates Jasmine Jones, Kalani French, Aliyah Herrera and Aaliyah Brown each were named to the all-tournament team. Tucumcari coach Gary Hittson said Brown didn't score a lot, but "she rebounded well and played great defense, whi...

  • Lady Longhorns salvage loss

    Staff report|Jan 16, 2019

    Logan salvaged a stinging loss to Melrose on Friday by defeating state-ranked Tatum 65-47 in the third-place game Saturday of the Plateau EPAC Tournament at Eastern New Mexico University at Portales. The Lady Longhorns (13-2) seized a 27-8 lead in the first quarter and commanded a 41-17 advantage at halftime. Logan coach Glynna Stand said Saturday her team "played much better tonight." She added her squad "wasn't ready last night for whatever reason, but it's always a good thing when they...

  • Rattlers fall to Santa Fe Prep

    Ron Warnick|Jan 16, 2019

    The Tucumcari boys basketball team came out on the short end of a 57-56 game Saturday against Santa Fe Prep that featured six lead changes, including two in the final minute. Casey Carter, Matthew Lopez and Gerardo Villa-Vargas led a 3-point shooting rally to give Tucumcari a brief lead in the fourth quarter. Carter's potential game-winning shot as he drove the baseline in the final seconds bounced out of the rim, and the Blue Griffins (5-4) rebounded to preserve their slim victory at the Snake...

  • Logan boys take fourth at EPAC

    Staff report|Jan 16, 2019

    The Logan boys basketball team finished fourth at the Plateau EPAC Tournament at Eastern New Mexico University with a 56-45 loss Saturday to district foe Melrose in the third-place game. The Buffaloes (10-2), ranked No. 2 in Class 1A by MaxPreps.com, in the first half grabbed a lead they wouldn’t relinquish with a 23-3 run. Logan, ranked fourth in Class 1A, fell to 11-4 overall. “We didn’t have the success that we had hoped for during the tournament,” Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said, “but we came out of it with some valuable lessons and a lot...

  • Rattler wrestlers take three of five

    Staff report|Jan 16, 2019

    The Tucumcari wrestling team won three of five dual matches during a meet Saturday at Bernalillo. The Rattlers defeated Roswell 51-17, toppled Bernalillo 48-18 and nipped Socorro 34-33, despite four forfeits against Socorro. Tucumcari lost to district foe West Las Vegas 33-30 and Class 5A power Los Lunas 52-0. Tucumcari improved to 10-4 in dual matches this season. “The whole purpose to going to Bernalillo was to see Socorro; they’re in our division,” Tucumcari coach Eddie Encinias said. Encinias said he wanted to see how Julian Vargas, Caleb W...

  • Logan White honored for scouting prowess

    Peter Stein|Jan 16, 2019

    Logan White was torn. The 1980 Portales High graduate was watching last October’s World Series like a father watching his children compete against each other in a Little League game. White is currently the San Diego Padres’ Senior Advisor and Director of Player Personnel who has scouted for the Baltimore Orioles and more recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers. White scouted and signed Nathan Eovaldi, Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig, and on a late-October Friday sat riveted to an extra-inning World Series Game 3 that wore on deep into the night and ha...

  • Christ offers rest through service

    Gordan Runyan|Jan 16, 2019

    In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus gives the most comforting invitation. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This isn’t rocket surgery. It’s pretty simple. It’s a straightforward announcement of good news that sits warmly in the center of our chests. But, there’s this thing about yokes. What...

  • Jail log - Jan. 16

    Jan 16, 2019

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center Jan. 7-13: • Jimmy Armstrong, 49, Tucumcari, receiving stolen property (over $2,500). • Clayton James Martinez, 22, Tucumcari, parole violation. • Ernest Lee Arguello Jr., 27, Tucumcari, probation violation and battery against a household member. • Ernest L. Arguello, 68, Amarillo, Texas, encouraging violation of probation, parole or bail. • William Martin, 38, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court. • Daniella Pacheco, 28, Tucumcari, battery against a household member. • A...

  • Police blotter - Jan. 16

    Jan 16, 2019

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center Jan. 7-13: Monday • 10:16 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 1500 block of South Eighth Street, Tucumcari. • 11:36 a.m.: Threat in 2100 block of South Fifth Street, Tucumcari. • 12:40 p.m.: Missing person reported in 200 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. • 4:52 p.m.: Child abuse or neglect in 300 block of East Miel de Luna Drive, Tucumcari. • 5:20 p.m.: Threat in 1600 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. • 8:24 p.m.: Runaway juvenile in 1100 block of South Ad...