February 1971

The Tucumcari Police Department hired a new officer. His name was Marcello Valverde Jr. The people in Tucumcari were shocked at the new hire, remembering reading about Valverde being arrested for possession of marijuana earlier in the Jan. 13 issue of the Tucumcari Daily News. That was cleared up by the department when a release to the paper revealed that, at the time of his arrest, he was working undercover as a narcotics agent and no actual crime had been committed.

Police officer Gary Hillis helped in the searching of Tucumcari Junior High and High School after a bomb threat was called in. All of the building's rooms and students' lockers were checked and no bomb was found.

Stella Folks was awarded a pin and certificate from the Quay County Local Board No.19 for 20 years of excellent service.