Serving the High Plains

Articles from the February 15, 2017 edition


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  • Project backing withdrawn

    Thomas Garcia, Senior Writer|Feb 15, 2017

    County officials and a local school superintendent withdrew their support of a deep borehole project near Nara Visa during Monday's county commission meeting. "Certainly the commission had the authority to issue Resolution 27 as I did writing a letter of support for the project," said Logan schools Superintendent Dennis Roch, formally withdrawing his letter of support. "However, I have been wrestling with the responsibility of that decision ever since." Roch said he takes his responsibility to...

  • Trigg admin let go

    Steve Hansen, Correspondent|Feb 15, 2017

    Don Weidemann, administrator for the Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital, will be leaving the position as of Friday. Troy Clark, vice president of regional operations for Presbyterian Health Services, which operates Trigg Hospital, said Weidemann has been dismissed, and his duties will be taken over by Vince DiFranco, who currently administers Plains Regional Medical Center (PRMC) in Clovis. DiFranco will also continue as PRMC administrator. “Don has done a great job for us,” Clark said. “He will be seeking other opportunities, and we will help...

  • Review reveals missing evidence

    Thomas Garcia|Feb 15, 2017
    1

    A recent inventory of the evidence and property at the Tucumcari Police Department revealed that 17 firearms from nine criminal cases are unaccounted for, according to City Manager Jared Langenegger. Langenegger said the cases are from between 2007 and 2014, and the type of firearms missing include BB guns, handguns and rifles. He said there is an internal investigation into this matter. Moriarty Police Chief Bobby Garcia was hired by the city to conduct an inventory review of the TPD in...

  • Flu hits area schools

    Thomas Garcia, Senior writer|Feb 15, 2017

    A recent outbreak of influenza (flu) virus in Quay County caused several area students to miss school last week and prompted the closure of San Jon Schools Thursday for disinfecting. “The flu virus has hit our little school hard,” said Cynthia Lee, a San Jon school board member. There were 30 students and members of the staff who missed school in San Jon last week due to the flu, according to Superintendent Colin Taylor, who said he was among that number. Taylor said the number of students reported over the past two weeks with the flu pro...

  • Turnout low for school board elections

    Staff report|Feb 15, 2017

    Quay County Magistrate Judge Timothy "TJ" O’Quinn and area school officials canvassed the Feb. 7 school board election results Friday at the Quay County Courthouse. The Tucumcari, Logan and San Jon school board elections all included incumbent candidates running unopposed. “The turnout for this election was low in every district in the county,” said Ellen White, county clerk. The Public School Capital Improvements 2-Mill Tax Question for Logan schools failed due to having a tied vote of 38 for the question and 38 against. House: 22 voter...

  • Trump needs to stop tantrums, start leading

    Albuquerque Journal|Feb 15, 2017

    Last week, President Donald J. Trump channeled former President Harry S. Truman — and not in a good way. Trump tweeted “My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person — always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!” The high-end department store chain said it dropped Ivanka Trump’s line of clothing and accessories because, well, it didn’t sell. More than half a century ago, in December 1950, longtime Washington Post music critic Paul Hume wrote a less-than-stellar review of a singing performance...

  • Logan mayor resigns

    Thomas Garcia|Feb 15, 2017

    LOGAN — Following reports of his association with an alleged scam artist, Logan Mayor David Babb resigned on Monday. John Harley is accused of swindling more than $20,000 from Quay County residents. Criminal charges against him stem from the alleged illegal installation of heaters at residences and businesses in Quay County. As a licensed electrician, Babb allegedly purchased the heaters that he gave to Harley for installation. “Questions have arisen concerning my involvement with John Harley, an individual I thought was my friend, who tur...

  • Pelosi should rethink Trump probe

    Rube Render|Feb 15, 2017

    Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was on “Meet the Press” recently and demanded once again that the FBI investigate any links that President Trump may have with Russia and Vladimir Putin. Pelosi demanded, “I want to know what the Russians have on Donald Trump. I think we have to have an investigation by the FBI into his financial, personal and political connections to Russia and we want to see his tax returns so we can have truth in the relationship (with) Putin, whom he admires,” I have no...

  • Rattlers, Ladies face Santa Rose

    Thomas Garcia, Senior writer|Feb 15, 2017

    The Tucumcari Rattlers will need to be aggressive on offense and win the battle underneath the goal against Santa Rosa's bigger players, said Head Coach John Span. Span said the Rattlers (8-13, 1-3) have to go in strong for the score and if possible, draw the foul Saturday against the Lions (16-6, 4-1) at the Snake Pit. He said the Rattlers will need to do a better job of limiting turnovers. Last week, the Rattlers dropped a pair of District 5-3A games to the Clayton Yellowjackets on Feb. 9 and...

  • Wrestlers advance to state tourney

    Staff report|Feb 15, 2017

    The Tucumcari Rattlers wrestling team finished the regular season as the District 2-4A runner-ups, three district champions and qualified all team members for the state tournament. The Rattlers will have 14 wrestlers representing Tucumcari at the state tournament Friday and Saturday at the Santa Anna Star Center in Rio Rancho, said Eddie Encinias, head coach. Rattlers Michael Shelton, 160 pounds, Xavier Garcia, 170 pounds, and Isaiah Valverde, 285 pounds, won district championships during the...

  • Rattlers cheerleaders to compete

    Thomas Garcia, Senior writer|Feb 15, 2017

    The Tucumcari Rattlers varsity cheerleaders will compete on Saturday at the Rocket Spirit Fest in Roswell. The team has to compete in three events in order to compete at the state cheer competition March 24-25 in Albuquerque, said Shannon Arellano, head cheer coach, who said the team has already competed in two state qualifying events, winning the overall champion at the Clovis Spirit Invite on Jan. 28 in Clovis. The Roswell event is going to be held at Goddard High School and will feature...

  • Boreholes may have other uses

    Steve Hansen|Feb 15, 2017

    Two companies want to combine forces to drill one or two boreholes three miles deep near Nara Visa to test whether boreholes might be part of the solution to the nation’s high-level nuclear waste problem. The ultra-deep Nara Visa test holes would be an experiment to find out if they are even doable, according to Marc Eckles, the DOSECC drilling company’s project manager for the proposed deep pokes. DOSECC would work with Enercon, the company that is seeking to win the borehole contract from the U.S. Department of Energy, which eventually mus...

  • Practice love every day

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Feb 15, 2017

    While growing up in eastern Kentucky, I recall hearing about a prison sentence called, “life and a day,” to impose the most severe sentence short of the death penalty. Elsewhere, the sentence was called, “life without parole.” Merle Haggard sang about that, remembering daily his mother’s love in trying to keep him out of trouble. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. Therefore, today, we can celebrate love and a day. As Christians, we can and should celebrate perfect love every day as we’re reminded of the great things God has done for us in addition...

  • Meetings watch - Feb. 15

    Staff report|Feb 15, 2017

    Quay County Commission The following were actions taken by commissioners at the Quay County Commission on Monday: • Appointed three members to the Quay County Board of Registration to help the city clerk with voter registration. The three are Republicans Christina Wilson and Evelyn Hayes and Democrat Nelda Burson. • Approved applications for volunteer firefighters to join the Public Employees Retirement Association, which provides retirement benefits for volunteer firefighters, along with other New Mexico public employees. • Discussed low t...

  • School menus - Feb. 15

    Feb 15, 2017

    The following are the menus for the schools in Quay County for today through Feb. 22: House Thursday Breakfast: Quesadilla, cereal, yogurt, variety of juice and milk Lunch: Lasagna, corn, French bread, fruit, milk Monday Breakfast: Biscuits with gravy, sausage, cereal, yogurt, variety of juice and milk Lunch: Tacos, pinto beans, fruit, milk Tuesday Breakfast: French toast sticks, cereal, yogurt, variety of juice and milk Lunch: Corn dogs fruit, milk Wednesday Breakfast: Breakfast burrito, cereal, yogurt, variety of juice and milk Lunch:...

  • Senior menus - Feb. 15

    Feb 15, 2017

    The following are the menus for the Tucumcari and Logan senior centers for today through Feb. 22: Coffee, tea and milk served daily Tucumcari Thursday: Trailblazer, California vegetables, ranch style beans, whole wheat roll, margarine, pineapple upside down cake Friday: Pork stir fry, salad with dressing, whole wheat roll, margarine, apple cobbler Monday: Closed in observance of Presidents’ Day Tuesday: Sausage, wild rice, steamed broccoli, margarine, whole wheat roll, spiced apple Wednesday: Beef enchiladas, salad with dressing, pinto beans, S...

  • What's happening - Feb. 15

    Feb 15, 2017

    Today • Tucumcari/Quay Regional Emergency Communication Board: 10 a.m., Tucumcari City Hall Tuesday • City Finance Board: 10 a.m., Tucumcari City Hall Feb. 23 • Housing Authority Board: 5 p.m., Tucumcari City Hall • Tucumcari City Commission: 6 p.m., Tucumcari City Hall Feb. 27 • Quay County Commission: 9 a.m., Quay County Courthouse • Library Advisory Board: 5:15 p.m., Tucumcari Public Library Feb. 28 • Economic Development Corporation meeting: Noon, EDC • Planning and Zoning Advisory Board: 5:15 p.m., Tucumcari City Hall Service clubs • Altru...

  • Community at odds over project

    Thomas Garcia, Senior writer|Feb 15, 2017

    The general consensus for Quay County residents appeared to be opposition to a proposed borehole project as more than 180 people showed up to a public meeting in Nara Visa on Feb. 7. "This is a tight community and look at what this project has done to us," said James Valentine, Nara Visa resident. "We are here bickering with each other whether we agree with it or don't agree. That's wrong, all of it is wrong." Valentine was one of the several residents from the county that spoke out in...

  • Obamacare not 'deeply flawed'

    Feb 15, 2017

    Steve Hansen’s Jan. 18 column — “Caution vital for Obamacare fix” — was off in several areas. There was no Republican participation in designing the plan. Their agenda was to deny Obama any success, despite what the country needed. There was wide input by health, insurance and the pharmaceutical industry. To start with, Obama stayed in the background. He became involved by request because of the death of Ted Kennedy and the likely chances a Republican, Scott Brown, replacing him and imperiling the chances of the Affordable Care Act passing....

  • Commission to apply for improvement grant

    Steve Hansen, Correspondent|Feb 15, 2017

    The Tucumcari City Commission agreed to apply for $41,210 in grant funds from the New Mexico Department of Transportation for improvements on Second Street from Historic Route 66 Boulevard to Main Street during their Thursday commission meeting. The grant would be matched with about $13,740 in local funds to finance about $54,950 in improvements to the Second Street’s downtown portion, according to Ralph Lopez, a project manager for the city’s community development corporation. While the Second Street project is the most likely use for the fun...