Serving the High Plains

Articles from the December 14, 2022 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 23 of 23

  • Departing county chairman applauded

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 14, 2022

    Quay County Commission Chairman Franklin McCasland heard a steady stream of praise from fellow commissioners and other officials during his last meeting Monday morning after a total of 16 years on the board. Near the end of the meeting, county manager Daniel Zamora thanked McCasland for his service. "I hope you'll still answer the phone if I have a question," Zamora said. McCasland responded he still held "a passion" to Quay County and pledged to help the community if needed. That prompted a...

  • Cantata will be last for director

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 14, 2022

    The Quay County Community Choir’s annual Christmas-season performance this Friday will be the finale for the choir’s first and only director, Harold Sloan. Sloan announced to members at their penultimate rehearsal last week the performance would be his last after guiding the group since 2007. “It’s just time,” he said during an interview. “My hearing is one thing. I’m on my second set of hearing aids to try to improve the sound. “I’m going to be 76 pretty soon. I’ve got grandkids. I’ve got (relatives) who I don’t get to see because I’m here (f...

  • Flu and RSV strain hospitals

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    Quay County and New Mexico continued to deal with spikes of flu and RSV cases, in addition to coronavirus. Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari still was seeing a high number of cases of influenza. “We continue to see higher than usual flu cases in our emergency department and clinic and are not yet seeing a downturn. We are also seeing some cases of RSV in our emergency department,” Trigg administrator Vickie Gutierrez stated in an email Thursday. “We continue to have a few COVID-19 patients.” Because of the surge of flu and respira...

  • Pages past - Dec. 14

    Dec 14, 2022

    On this date ... 1972: The Tucumcari City Commission approved city manager Alan Morris’ alternative plan for a youth recreation center. Area youth would get a skating rink along with facilities for dancing, pool, pingpong, fuzzball and shuffleboard. Blueprints of the rec center also showed pinball machines, candy and Coke machines and two tennis courts. • A woman from Freeport, Illinois, was injured in a one-car accident 1.9 miles east of the county line on Interstate 40 when her vehicle skidded on ice and crashed into a burrow ditch, rol...

  • Menus - Dec. 14

    Dec 14, 2022

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Bacon and cheese frittata cup, toast, assorted cereal, graham crackers, fresh strawberries, orange juice, skim, 1% or strawberry milk; Lunch: Ham and egg chef salad, teriyaki chicken, brown rice, California blend vegetables, fresh broccoli, mandarin oranges, skim, chocolate skim, 1% or strawberry milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Sausage bagel sandwich, assorted cereal, graham crackers, apple juice, orange juice, skim, 1% or strawberry milk; Lunch: Ham and cheese wrap, grilled cheese sandwich, multigrain chips...

  • Calendar - Dec. 14

    Dec 14, 2022

    Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Friday — Quay Community Choir cantata. The free annual performance at Center Street United Methodist Church is back after a hiatus due to the pandemic. 7 p.m., 406 E. Center St., Tucumcari. To submit items for the calendar, call 575-461-1952 or email [email protected]....

  • Christmas hymns a great blessing

    Gordon Runyan, Religion columnist|Dec 14, 2022

    I grew up singing the old Christmas carols. I was stuck in the children’s choir at church when I was that age, and we learned these hymns by heart. I’d stand there, in front of the congregation with the other kids, feeling half-choked by the necktie that was foisted upon me, and we’d sing the songs that had been drummed into us. I was 23 years old when I became serious about my faith. That was at the end of a November eons ago. The next thing that happened was that it turned into December, and the church I attended sang the old Christmas hymns...

  • Wrongful death suit filed against county

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    A woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Quay County commissioners, alleging the sheriff and deputies failed to detain a Florida man who was visibly intoxicated by drugs and later caused a fatal traffic crash near Tijeras. Sue Mullane of Albuquerque, representative of husband Patrick Mullane’s estate, filed the tort claim in Quay County District Court on Dec. 1. Patrick Mullane died after the traffic accident. According to the lawsuit and other court documents, Brett Nelson of Lutz, Florida, was driving through Tucumcari on Oct. 6, 2...

  • Health council to host seasonal sadness workshops

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    The Quay County Health Council’s Intimate Partner Violence Task Force and the United Way of Eastern New Mexico are hosting holiday communication workshops to explain how to deal with different situations. December’s workshop is “Seasonal Sadness is Real,” presented by Casey Peacock, volunteer coordinator with the United Way of Eastern New Mexico, and Dr. Marcus Smith, director of Counseling and Advising/Student Life/Government Relations at Clovis Community College. “Our hope is to share information; give participants valuable resources...

  • One-game suspension doesn't match gravity of shooting incident

    Albuquerque Journal, Syndicated content|Dec 14, 2022

    A one-game suspension. Really? That’s what New Mexico State University officials determined was the proper discipline for three basketball players who broke curfew early Nov. 19 to take possession of and hide evidence in a fatal shooting on the campus of the University of New Mexico. Police records say NMSU player Mike Peake was lured to UNM the morning of the highly touted NMSU-UNM rivalry game by a group of UNM students seeking revenge for an earlier brawl at the Lobo-Aggie football game. UNM student Brandon Travis was one of three p...

  • Outside views worth listening to

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Dec 14, 2022

    Ever wonder how other nations view us? For New Mexicans, the first thing a foreigner might think is that we’re a part of our neighbor to the south. If they knew Billy the Kid became famous as a Wild West outlaw here, then maybe they’d know we’re a bonafide state in the good ol’ USA, but as most traveling New Mexicans already know, U.S. citizens don’t even know that. Personally, I once had a man in Memphis, Tenn., when he saw me wearing a New Mexico T-shirt, engage me in a conversation about illegal immigration until I explained that I’m alrea...

  • Political goggles make things worse

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Dec 14, 2022

    Have you ever heard the term “beer goggles,” where the more you drink, the more attractive someone looks? Politics works the opposite. The more you see things politically, the worse everything looks. Once someone starts looking at things through the distorting lens of politics, there’s no telling what they’ll think they see. Even without politics, people see what they want to see, what they expect to see, or what they’ve been told to see. Politics make this effect worse. With politics, people see the worst possible interpretation of what’s in...

  • Lady Rattlers' defense leads to win over Texico

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 14, 2022

    The Tucumcari girls basketball team didn't turn in its best performance against regional rival Texico, but it was good enough for a 37-24 victory during the Lady Rattlers' home opener last week. The Lady Rattlers used their press defense early to frustrate the Wolverines, giving Tucumcari an 11-0 lead late in the first period. Texico (2-3) rallied to close Tucumcari's lead to five early in the fourth quarter, but Caylee Benavidez scored six of her eight points in the period to keep the...

  • Shooting slumps doom Rattlers

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 14, 2022

    Two shooting slumps proved decisive for the Rattlers during a 57-50 loss to Texico in Tucumcari's home opener Dec. 6 at the Snake Pit. The Rattlers failed to score a field goal during the entire second quarter, allowing the Wolverines (4-1) to take a 12-point lead at halftime. Tucumcari scored only four points during the period, all on free throws. In the fourth period, Tucumcari failed to score a basket for nearly five minutes after Rattlers freshman center Kamren Apodaca rallied his team to...

  • Tucumcari setter earns all-state honors

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    Tucumcari sophomore setter Caylee Benavidez earned first-team all-state honors in Class 3A when teams were announced Saturday by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association. Two Logan players also earned second-team honors in Class 1A's all-state picks. Benavidez, a varsity starter since her freshman year, led the Lady Rattlers with 523 assists and 255 kills and was second on the squad with 348 serve receptions. Tucumcari sported a 16-9 record - its best in at least 15 years - and earned its...

  • Longhorns win title of Elida Tourney

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    For the second straight Saturday, Logan faced Dora in the championship of a tournament. This time, the Longhorns took the title of the Elida Tournament by downing the Coyotes 54-49. During a critical sequence midway through the fourth quarter, Logan’s Brock Burns made a 3-pointer and Kaeden Stoner scored on fastbreak to give their team a 49-40 lead, one of their largest of the game. The Longhorns also got Dora’s 6-foot-5 center, Steven Masini, in foul trouble during parts of the game. “We did a better job on the big man from Dora this time...

  • Lady Longhorns trounce Estancia

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    The Logan girls basketball team improved to 3-1 overall with a 71-28 pasting of non-district host Estancia on Thursday night. Lizzy Horner scored 18 points to lead the Lady Longhorns. “The girls looked good,” Logan coach Dustin Robertson said. “We played hard, and I was impressed with our defensive effort and the way we were sharing the ball and looking for each other.” The Bears fell to 2-4 on the season....

  • Two Rattlers finish runner-up at Al Salazar Invite

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    Two Tucumcari wrestlers finished runner-up and two placed third Saturday at the Al Salazar Invitational at St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe. Josh Pacheco, wrestling at 145 pounds, and Xzander Garcia, at 172 pounds, finished second in their respective weight classes at the tourney. Antonio Gonzales (189 pounds) and Dezmon Pacheco (133 pounds) each finished third for the Rattlers. Tucumcari coach Tim Clark said he hopes his team will compete even better after several athletes recover from illness — presumably the flu — that swept throu...

  • Lodgers tax board OKs reimbursements for 3 events

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 14, 2022

    The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Board on Wednesday approved reimbursements of expenses for the Down at the Depot, Fired Up and Tucumcari Rawhide Days events after hearing required final reports from each of the organizers. Connie Loveland, director of Tucumcari MainStreet that organized Down at the Depot and Fired Up, asked for reimbursements that were considerably less than what the board and city commission originally authorized, which pleased board Chairman Matt Bednorz. Loveland requested $510.33 to cover expenses for Down at the Depot events in...

  • License renewal notices mailed out

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    Notices to renew occupational licenses in Quay County have bene mailed to businesses that purchased them last year. According to a news release last week from the Quay County Clerk’s Office, any business located outside the City of Tucumcari, Village of Logan, Village of San Jon and Village of House are required to purchase a license under the county occupation tax ordinance. The deadline to renew or buy a license for the 2023 year is Jan. 31. For more information, call the clerk’s office at (575) 461-0510....

  • Man accused of setting 25 Swift truck fires

    Staff report|Dec 14, 2022

    Federal authorities recently arrested a suspect in Michigan on suspicion of a two-year string of 25 semi-truck trailer arson cases along Interstate 40, including in Tucumcari. Arrested was Viorel Pricop, 64, of Allen Park, Michigan, and made his initial appearance in a U.S. District Court in Detroit. Pricop was charged with one count of arson of property in interstate commerce, a crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison. The New Mexico Fire Marshals...

  • Police blotter - Dec. 14

    Dec 14, 2022

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Dec. 5 to Dec. 11: Monday — 8:57 a.m.: Theft in 600 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 9:40 a.m.: Shots fired in 500 block of West High Street, Tucumcari. — 10:35 a.m.: Theft in 1900 block of West Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 3:54 p.m.: Vehicle fire at milepost 309, Interstate 40, Tucumcari. — 7:39 p.m.: Breaking and entering in 800 block of West Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 11:06 p.m.: Domestic disturbance in 700 block of East Lau...

  • Jail log - Dec. 14

    Dec 14, 2022

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Dec. 5 to Dec. 10: — Alexis Diorio, 27, Williamsburg, contempt of court. — Santiago Romero, 28, Tucumcari, disorderly conduct. — Guadalupe Delilah Silva, 31, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court. — Elias Delgado, 21, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court. — Troy D. Cooper, 42, Tucumcari, contempt of court. These individuals were released from the Quay County Detention Center from Dec. 5 to Dec. 10: — Shelton Stewart, 22, Tucumcari, court ordered. — Steven Mark Ponce, 62, Tu...