Serving the High Plains

Articles from the January 5, 2022 edition


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  • Mesalands board approves vaccination mandate

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Jan 5, 2022

    The Mesalands Community College board of trustees by a 4-1 vote last week approved a new mandate that requires all employees and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The action during a special meeting Thursday followed a nearly one-hour closed executive session to discuss limited personnel matters, litigation and real-estate matters. In open session, board members commented little about the mandate except for its one dissenter. Board member Tom Sidwell, who voiced opposition to a possible COVID-19 vaccination mandate in previous...

  • Year in review: COVID-19 roars back in second half of year

    Staff report|Jan 5, 2022

    Mere weeks after state officials eased COVID-19 restrictions, the disease came roaring back during the second half of 2021 in the form of the fast-spreading Delta variant. The numbers tell the grim tale in Quay County: More than 1,000 confirmed cases of the disease were reported after July 1, more than tripling the total number since the pandemic began in early 2020. The number of total COVID-19 deaths rose in the county from 11 on July 1 to 28 through Dec. 30. That included more than a dozen...

  • Three more COVID-19 deaths reported

    Staff report|Jan 5, 2022

    Three more COVID-19 deaths were reported last week in Quay County by state officials, raising the toll to 31 since the pandemic began in the spring of 2020. The latest victims, according to the New Mexico Department of Health: • A woman in her 70s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions; • A man in his 70s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions; • A man in his 70s who had underlying conditions. Two of the deaths were reported Thursday, and another was reported Wednesday. The Department of Health on Friday did not issue...

  • Make a resolution in faith today

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Jan 5, 2022

    New Year’s Day was just four or five days ago, and I suspect many resolutions already have been broken, especially those that had to take effect on Jan. 1 (for example, resolving to never have evil thoughts again). “Always” and “never” always should be avoided and never used because statements or claims including them are seldom true unless you’re talking about God and his promises and attributes (James 1:17; Joshua 24:14; Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 13:5-8; 1 John 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Even taking evil thoughts captive to conquer the...

  • Quay deputy accidentally exposed to fentanyl

    Staff report|Jan 5, 2022

    A Quay County sheriff’s deputy collapsed and briefly was hospitalized last week after an accidental exposure to fentanyl during a home visit of probation subjects. According to a Facebook post by the sheriff’s department, deputies on Dec. 27 assisted the Adult Probation and Parole Office in conducting a random home visit in the 600 block of East McGee Avenue in Tucumcari. The visit found items “consistent with the use or consumption of fentanyl” at the residence, and officers secured a search warrant to conduct a more thorough search. Deputie...

  • Pages past - Jan. 5

    Jan 5, 2022

    On this date ... 1972: U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan visited Tucumcari yesterday afternoon as part of his twice-a-year “Take the Government to the People” tour. Lujan planned to visit each of the 14 counties in his district and one or two cities in each county, with office hours in each stop. Despite bad weather, Lujan left Albuquerque on Jan. 2 and began his trip at Clayton that night and the next morning. He also held office hours in Des Moines and Raton. He spent yesterday morning in Roy before heading to Tucumcari. • The Tucumcari-Quay Count...

  • Menus - Jan. 5

    Jan 5, 2022

    The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center also offer grab-and-go meals to those who qualify. Those interested should call the Tucumcari facility at 575-461-2307 or the Logan facility at 575-487-2287 for more information. Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Pancake sausage on a stick, fresh pear, orange juice, skim or 1% milk; Lunch: Three-cheese grilled cheese, sweet potato fries, carrots and celery cup, ranch dressing, red grapes, skim, 1% or chocolate skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Blueberry muffin, string cheese, apple jui...

  • Jail log - Jan. 5

    Jan 5, 2022

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2: • Tranette Flook, 34, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Samitra Danae Hurd, 29, Tucumcari, felony possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug). • Aaron Keith Martinez, 21, Tucumcari, possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor). • Daniella Jean Pacheco, 31, Tucumcari, two counts of contempt of court. • Alissa Trujillo, 23, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Cory Bryce Horrell, 29, Odessa, Texas, harassment. • Jessica Dawn Allen, 41, no addres...

  • More must be done to protect world's children

    Miami Herald, Syndicated content|Jan 5, 2022

    Here’s the second most important message that the jury in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial delivered in finding her guilty of trafficking minor girls to be sexually exploited. It comes courtesy of a statement by Florida state Sen. Lauren Book, of Broward County: “The brave women who testified in the trials against Maxwell and [Jeffrey] Epstein not only held their own abusers accountable, but also paved the way for other survivors to come forward with the knowledge that they, too, can be heard and believed. “Times have changed: No matter how rich...

  • Can't join Libertarian party, either

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Jan 5, 2022

    I’m libertarian, uncapitalized, to separate the ethical philosophy I follow from the political party I can’t. A Libertarian, capitalized, is a member of the Libertarian Party. Ethical libertarianism is based on the recognition that no one has the right to use — or threaten — violence, personally or politically, against anyone who isn’t currently violating the life, liberty, or property of another. This is the guiding principle that distinguishes a libertarian from anyone else. Follow it and you’re libertarian; don’t and you’re not. “Classical l...

  • Happy New Year - if they let us

    Michael Reagan, Syndicated content|Jan 5, 2022

    It’s New Year’s again and time to hope for a happier future. Last year at this time we were hoping for a better year in 2021, but that sure as heck didn’t work out, did it? Forget the damage done to the economy by the hapless and relentlessly clueless “Joe Biden” regime. Forget the Biden-made disasters at the Mexican border and in Afghanistan. The worst mistakes the Biden administration made were in its failed “War on COVID.” Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the blue state governors, the Centers for Disease Control and the government’s...

  • Tucumcari girls secure victory over Logan

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Jan 5, 2022

    LOGAN – Alexus Lafferty sank a go-ahead 3-point shot with just over a minute remaining and Haisley Huffman scored on a fastbreak with eight seconds left to secure Tucumcari's 45-42 victory Thursday over area rival Logan in girls basketball. Lafferty scored a game-high 18 points, and teammate July Lafferty added 10 as the Lady Rattlers improved to 5-4 overall. The Lady Longhorns, led by Rilee Nials' 16 points, lost their second straight and fell to 7-3 overall. Tucumcari coach Patrick B...

  • Longhorns take down rival Rattlers

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Jan 5, 2022

    LOGAN – The Longhorns repeatedly used its transition game to score against area rival Tucumcari during their annual clash Thursday. Just as importantly, the Longhorns also saw six 3-point shots and 30 points from sophomore guard Brock Burns. The result was a 64-57 victory for Logan (3-7), despite the Rattlers' 28-6 advantage in free-throw attempts. Of course, attempts from the foul line don't mean much if a team doesn't convert them. Tucumcari (3-7) missed 13. Rattlers coach John Span didn't lik...

  • San Jon girls deal Floyd crushing defeat

    Staff report|Jan 5, 2022

    The San Jon girls basketball team vaulted back to the .500 mark after crushing host Floyd 49-7 during a non-district matchup Thursday. The Coyotes held Floyd scoreless in the first half while taking a 27-0 lead, despite San Jon missing starter Addie Lafferty, attending a livestock show in Phoenix. “But we had Dakota Fisher step in to that starting spot and she filled in as guard (Addie’s spot) but also as a forward, and she did a great job,” coach Jaree Elliott said. “We executed our press well, and our goal was to be more patient and move th...

  • Logan boys fall against Santa Rosa

    Staff report|Jan 5, 2022

    The Logan boys basketball team raced to a double-digit lead in the third quarter but didn’t hold it during a 56-51 loss Dec. 28 at Santa Rosa. Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said his team had a 12-point advantage over the Lions “and then just kind of fell apart.” “We ran out of gas a little bit due to a long Christmas break,” he said. “Our youth showed at the end of the game but we did a lot of good things. Have to learn to close.” Brock Burns led the Longhorns with 20 points. Diego Sanchez added 13 points. Santa Rosa improved to 6-4. Floyd 62...

  • City officials come to loose consensus on cannabis charge

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Jan 5, 2022

    Tucumcari city commissioners came to a loose consensus Wednesday on a fee the city would charge to cannabis business applicants, but one Tucumcari resident who plans such a business signaled she would sue if it was implemented. Commissioners during a second special work session to amend a flawed cannabis ordinance voiced a preference for a $400 fee for a cannabis license after consulting with an attorney who initially flagged the ordinance. No action was taken; the next commission meeting will be Jan. 13. Santa Fe attorney Jared Najjar, who...

  • Customers report late propane deliveries

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Jan 5, 2022

    Numerous customers of Pinnacle Propane in Quay County last week reported late deliveries of propane as colder temperatures began to arrive, including one client who still hadn’t received her order six weeks after she placed it. Four Pinnacle customers called or talked to the Quay County Sun by phone or instant message last week about late deliveries of propane. More made similar comments on a Facebook thread by posted by the Sun. The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office also announced in mid-December an investigation about the lack of ava...

  • Police blotter - Jan. 5

    Jan 5, 2022

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2: Monday • 12:35 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 300 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. • 12:43 p.m.: Threat in 1100 block of South Second Street, Tucumcari. • 1:32 p.m.: Breaking and entering in 1100 block of South Second Street, Tucumcari. • 3:35 p.m.: Narcotics in 600 block of East McGee Avenue, Tucumcari. • 3:53 p.m.: Trespassing in 800 block of West Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. • 6:23 p.m.: Trespassing in 500 block of South First...