Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Four possible updates to Tucumcari Public Schools' five-year facilities master plan would lead to the tearing down of its middle school due to stagnant enrollment and underused buildings. TPS held a community meeting last Monday in the Mesa Cafeteria to discuss possible options for the district. About 30 people - many of them district employees or administrators - attended. Susan Miller, a senior director of strategic consulting for Ohio-based Woolpert, led the meeting. She said her company was...
The Tucumcari Public Schools board interviewed three candidates for superintendent on Friday, though a decision on who to hire probably won’t happen for another 10 days or so. The board interviewed current Tucumcari Middle School principal Lendall Borden, Santa Fe Public Schools assistant superintendent for instruction and school support Carl Marano and Explore Academy of Albuquerque assistant principal Anthony Branch for the position. A fourth candidate scheduled to be interviewed, Lovington Municipal Schools principal Steve Barron, dropped o...
The Tucumcari City Commission approved a first reading to an update to its personnel policy, but not without hearing about its possible repercussions to the police force. During a work session last Tuesday, Police Chief Patti Lopez said the policy contains a measure that requires employees to reside within 10 miles of the city to take home city vehicles. Lopez said her department already has lost an officer who resides in Logan 25 miles away, and another Logan officer said he would quit if the policy took effect. “The minute it goes into effect...
On this date ... 1974: The second annual Logan Bicentennial Banquet drew a record crowd of 425 people at Logan High School. S.L. Abbott, regional director of the Bicentennial Administration, presented certificates to Logan Mayor Robert McFarland and Tucumcari city commissioner King Aitken, recognizing the municipalities as the first Bicentennial Village and Bicentennial City in New Mexico. The banquet dinner was provided by the Fireside Inn Cafe. — Organizers of the Tucumcari Performance Tested Bull Sale proclaimed it the most successful in i...
April 26-27 — Tucumcari Film Festival. The annual event, themed “Visions of Frontier,” will feature films of adventure, drama and high stakes at the Odeon Theatre and the Tucumcari Railroad Museum. For more information, go to filmfreeway.com/tucumcarifilmfest. May 4 — Quay County rabies clinics. These four locations will over $15 rabies shots for dogs and cats: Nara Visa fire station from 10:30 to 11:30 Central; Logan city warehouse behind the Annex from 1 to 3 p.m.; San Jon old fire station from 4 to 5 p.m.; and in Tucumcari from 9 a.m. to noo...
A federal grand jury on Thursday added criminal charges against a South Carolina man accused of fatally shooting a New Mexico State Police officer west of Tucumcari last month. The grand jury returned an indictment on Jaremy Alexander Smith, 33, on charges of carjacking resulting in death, causing death by the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and interstate transport of a stolen vehicle. If...
Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Blueberry and yogurt parfait, assorted cereal, graham crackers, banana, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Teriyaki chicken, brown rice, ham and egg chef salad, steamed broccoli, baby carrots, ranch dressing, mandarin oranges, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Apple frudel, assorted cereal, graham crackers, fruit cocktail, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Cheeseburger, ham and cheese sandwich, french fries, baby carrots, fru...
Nearly 2,000 Xcel Energy customers in Tucumcari lost power for almost 90 minutes on Friday night. Wes Reeves of Xcel stated in an email Saturday the outage was caused by a damaged line connection near the Campbell Avenue substation in Tucumcari. “They were able to restore power after a repair was made,” he wrote. Reeves stated the outage lasted for 83 minutes for 1,989 customers in Tucumcari. Most of the outage was reported on the city’s east side....
The Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors unanimously voted last Tuesday to allocate 2 inches of water per acre for area farmers for the coming growing season. On a day it rained during the board’s meeting, members were reluctant to allocate more water to its irrigation canals due to meager inflow to Conchas Lake so far this year. District manager Franklin McCasland reported the lake’s elevation that morning at 4,172.19 feet, which was about one-third of a foot higher than the previous month. He reported the lake received 2,3...
Jack Huffman of Michigan is walking across the country to raise awareness and money for disabled veterans, but his second takeaway from the journey is the generosity from fellow Americans. Huffman on Thursday had trodded 60 miles east from Santa Rosa and made it into Tucumcari that evening. During a phone interview from a room donated by the Motel Safari, Huffman had just eaten a meal given to him from Watson's BBQ. He said such kindness has been "incredible" since he began his "Sundog Run" to W...
The Logan Municipal Schools board approved a resolution opposing the state Public Education Department’s 180-day instruction rule change that would effectively end the four-day week at many rural schools. The resolution, passed last Monday, also authorizes superintendent Dennis Roch to support litigation that would challenge the PED’s rule change. “There is a profound concern that these changes will lead to a loss of local control over educational decisions and undermine the unique needs and successful practices of our rural school distr...
SAN JON — The business manager for San Jon Municipal Schools said during a board work session Thursday she anticipated “a very, very tight budget” for the 2024-2025 school year. Superintendent Alan Umholtz agreed with the assessment from Stormi Sena. He said the state government is slated to provide additional money only for mandated 3% raises for teachers. But Umholtz also said the district is fiscally hampered by a 31% increase in risk insurance and a 15% increase in medical insurance. He attributed the risk insurance hikes to more injur...
SANTA ROSA — The hiring of a city administrator and police chief, among other new hires, and limits on the mayor’s power to authorize personnel actions and spending were among the items Santa Rosa councilor Erasmo Bravo asked the council on to act on. The city administrator’s position has been vacant since Martín Martinez’s resignation in June. The city has had eight people in the position since Mayor Nelson Kotiar first was elected in 2018. The city is also operating without a police chief since October 2022, when then-chief Angelo Romo was...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from April 8 to April 14: — Nicholas Anthony Baucon, 38, Los Angeles, contempt of court. — Joseph James Aragon, 38, Tucumcari, battery against a household member. — David Sandoval Jr., 45, Tucumcari, contempt of court and criminal damage to property (over $1,000). — Donovan J. Oldham, 22, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Roberto Nelson Rivas Jr., 47, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Christopher M. Sandoval, 39, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — William Sandoval, 19, Clovis, warra...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from April 8 to April 14: April 8 — 12:58 a.m.: Disturbance in 200 block of North Second Street, Tucumcari. — 2:12 a.m.: Domestic disturbance in 700 block of West Sunset Avenue, Tucumcari. — 1:37 p.m.: Found property at South First Street and East Hines Avenue, Tucumcari. — 1:59 p.m.: Trespassing in 600 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 3 p.m.: Sex assault in 300 block of East Miel de Luna Avenue, Tucumcari. — 3:10 p.m.: Suicidal subject in...
ALBUQUERQUE — The body camera worn on the chest of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare the early morning of March 15 captured the image of a stranded motorist on Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari who wanted a lift into town. The NMSP-issued device recorded the sound of the first gunshot, causing the 35-year-old Hare to slump over in his patrol vehicle, an FBI agent testified Tuesday in federal court. The video footage showed the assailant come around to the driver’s side, “briefly pausing as a semi-truck passed by,” and then shootin...
A sheriff’s agency in South Carolina announced 17 arrest warrants for a man suspected last month of killing a paramedic, then fatally shooting a New Mexico State Police officer near Tucumcari. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release Friday that Jaremy Smith, 33, of Marion, South Carolina, has been charged in the kidnapping and killing of South Carolina paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore. The office stated the warrants are for these charges: — Murder — Kidnapping — Carjacking — First-degree burglary (two counts) — Possession of...
The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board last week recommended almost $160,000 in assistance to varying events and projects for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The recommendations are scheduled to go this week to the city commission, which can approve, modify or reject them. A total of $117,087.29 in promotional funds from lodgers tax revenue would be used for varying projects, and another $42,300 in executive funds of lodgers taxes also would be spent. The board approved these aid recommendations: — Fired Up festival, $10,200; — Rattler Reu...
The New Mexico Environment Department announced it has submitted applications for federal grants to establish three heavy-duty charging stations and mobile hydrogen refueling stations for long-haul freight along the Interstate 40 corridor, including in Tucumcari. The approximately $250 million requested in the grant applications to the U.S. Environmental Projection Agency would be part of the Zero40 corridor, with additional charging stations in the Gallup area and one in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties. The Tucumcari site will offer clean...
On this date ... 1974: U.S. Energy chief William Simon said there would be enough gasoline for Americans to take their normal summer trips this year. Simon said rapidly improving gasoline supplies from the Middle East were reaching the U.S. and that the situation was “nearly normal.” Simon made his comments during an interview on NBC’s “Today Show.” Fuel shortages had roiled the U.S. during the past winter, also leading to sharply higher prices at the pump. — U.S. Sen. Joseph Montoya said he expected the price of pinto beans to level off o...
Sunday — Candidates forum and dessert auction. The Wranglers 4-H club is hosting a forum for local primary election candidates, where each will have three minutes to speak, at the Quay County Fairground exposition hall. The event, which includes a dessert auction, begins at 2 p.m. April 16 — Culpepper & Merriweather Circus. The circus is coming to town for shows at 5 and 7:30 p.m. at Mesalands Community College. The event is sponsored by the Tucumcari Historical Research Institute and Tucumcari Historical Museum. Tickets, which are $13 for adu...
Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Blueberry overnight oats, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, banana, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Chicken patty sandwich, ham and egg chef salad, ranch potato wedges, seasoned peas, fresh broccoli, ranch dressing, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Cinni mini, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, mandarin oranges, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Pepperoni pizza, ham...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from April 3 to April 7: — Teresa Childers, 60, Albuquerque, contempt of court. — Jonathan R. Pacheco, 39, no address listed, warrant from other counties or states. — Dominick Michael Ortiz, 30, Tucumcari, criminal trespass (unposted), shoplifting ($250 or less) and battery. — Jerry McMurray, 64, no address listed, aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug (bodily injury; fifth offense). — Maria Margarita Romero, 36, Tucumcari, aggravate...
Quay County commissioners on Monday approved a contract with Wireless Tower Solutions to regulate wireless communications facilities. Chief training and technology officer Dean Williamson, appearing by videoconference during the meeting, said he anticipates the company would develop a county ordinance for cellular facilities within two months. Wireless Tower Solutions is based in South Carolina and has an office in Albuquerque. The contract comes at no cost to the county. Wireless Tower Solutions earns its revenue through application and...
SANTA ROSA — Former Santa Rosa city administrator Lisa Brassell has settled her case against Santa Rosa city government officials for a sum of $102,500 to be divided between Brassell and her attorney Michael Schwarz of Santa Fe, according to a copy of the settlement. In return, according to a copy of the agreement obtained through the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, Brassell has dropped all charges against the city officials, including former city councilor Jose Campos III, who was named as a defendant in an amended complaint f...
