Serving the High Plains

Articles from the January 22, 2020 edition


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  • Banquet makes return

    Ron Warnick|Jan 22, 2020

    The Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce banquet Saturday showed significant changes its director hopes leads to bigger and better event next year and beyond. With the banquet back after a one-year hiatus, the Viva Las Tucumcari event at the Tucumcari Convention Center featured a casino theme for attendees' own amusement instead of watching live entertainment, plus a serve-yourself Taste of Tucumcari food from four vendors instead of a catered meal. Chamber Director Carmen Runyan,...

  • Organic farming conference scheduled

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    Anyone interested in learning about organic farming should attend next month’s New Mexico Organic Farming Conference in Albuquerque, where one can connect with organic farmers, ranchers and researchers and gain insight from their experiences. More than 300 participants are expected to attend the Southwest’s largest organic gathering Feb. 21-22 at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, 800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW. The conference will focus on organic production and networking opportunities. It will include more than 30 sessions on topics including watershed...

  • School bond ballot going out this week

    Ron Warnick|Jan 22, 2020

    This week, registered voters in the Tucumcari School District will receive in the mail a ballot for a proposed $3 million bond issue by the district to redevelop its baseball and softball diamonds. County Clerk Ellen White said the ballots should arrive in voters’ mailboxes by Thursday or Friday. The ballots must be mailed back a few days before the Feb. 18 election, or voters can bring them in person to the clerk’s office at 300 S. Third St. in Tucumcari before 7 p.m. that day. Under the plan, three ball diamonds owned by the city would be...

  • Truths stranger than fiction

    Leonard Lauriault|Jan 22, 2020

    Surely you’ve heard statements about truth being stranger than fiction. Here’s one: During a recent out-of-town trip, we bought some groceries and other things hard to find locally. Before we left for home, a backseat passenger (I was driving) asked whether he could work the puzzle on the back of a cereal box. So I handed him the box and a pencil. After finishing the puzzle, he asked if/when we’d stop for supper, saying he was starving because staring at the box of Bran flakes (no raisins) made his mouth water. Mm mmm! Bran flakes! Now, how man...

  • Calendar - Jan. 22

    Jan 22, 2020

    • March 8-14 —22nd Iron Pour. Mesalands Community College will host its 22nd annual Iron Pour workshop. Meet sculpture artists and make your own artistic creation from molten metal. The actual iron pour will take place Friday, March 13. For more information, call (575) 461-4413, Ext. 138. Building D, 911 S. 10th St., Tucumcari. • April 24-26 — 20th annual Chuck Wagon Cook Off. Chuck wagons will cook a meal in Dutch Ovens over hot wood coals. Meal consists of chicken fried steak, potatoes, beans, bread and fresh apple cobbler. Meal tickets...

  • Menus - Jan. 22

    Jan 22, 2020

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Fruit and yogurt parfait, cocoa puffs, cinnamon graham cracker, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Chicken nuggets, ham and cheese chef salad, honey wheat roll, mashed potatoes, country gravy, baby carrots, fruit, juice, milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Newtown breakfast muffin and egg meal, ultimate breakfast round, cinnamon toast crunch, cinnamon graham cracker, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Cheeseburger, French fries, green leaf lettuce, fresh tomatoes, dill pickle chip, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, fruit, jui...

  • San Jon superintendent contract extended

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    The board of trustees for San Jon Municipal Schools unanimously gave a one-year contract extension to its superintendent during its Jan. 13 meeting. Superintendent Janet Gladu’s contract now expires June 30, 2022. Gladu said during a telephone interview last week her future salary will be set by the board once the New Mexico Legislature enacts its education budget in the upcoming session. She is paid $111,300 a year. Gladu said the board approved her extension after about a 30-minute executive session. She said she appreciated the board’s sup...

  • Local students make ENMU honors list

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    Four students from Quay County were named to Eastern New Mexico University's academic honors list for the fall 2019 semester. The students are: • Abigayle Smith of Tucumcari • Cassidy Cordova of Logan • Chase Earle of Nara Visa • Kristi Earle of Nara Visa To be eligible for the academic honors list, a student must complete at least 15 credit hours with a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher. These Quay County students made the Dean’s List at ENMU: • Rebecca Darrup of Tucumcari • Evelyn Carreon Reyes of Tucumcari • Reagan Runyan of Tucum...

  • Pages past - Jan. 22

    Jan 22, 2020

    On this date ... 1970: A fire was reported in a room of the Flying M Ranch Motel at 1119 E. Gaynell (aka Route 66). According to owner O.R. Mobley, he had been painting one of the motel’s rooms. One of the covers used to protect furniture apparently was too close to a heater, igniting it. The blaze was confined to the one room, and damage was estimated at $250. • Tucumcari’s junior-high faculty were preparing for a charity basketball game at Rattler Gym against a team of the Evening Lions and Leos clubs. Money raised from the game would go to...

  • Senator deserved more time behind bars

    Jan 22, 2020

    At least New Mexico state Sen. Richard Martinez was sentenced to jail time. But he got off too easy. This month, Martinez was sentenced to five days behind bars for his conviction, after a trial, for driving drunk and slamming into a car stopped at a red light in Española last June. Two people in the other car were hurt, including the driver, Johnny Sisneros, who says his neck, back and hip injuries have prevented him from resuming work as a security officer. The senator, Sisneros said, “never displayed any remorse and has never apologized fo...

  • Robocalls unavoidable, dangerous

    Steve Hansen|Jan 22, 2020

    Robocalls are to cell phone ownership what mosquitoes are to fishing. They’re an unavoidable nuisance and can be dangerous. Mosquitoes carry disease; robocalls are dangerous to the vulnerable. I applaud the prospect of laws that will make robocalls illegal. I hang up on all of them. It’s the closest I can come to a Deet for robocalls. Unfortunately, I answer calls from Area Code 575 and 505. If you’re in journalism, your name appears on a story and the call could be something you should pay attention to. If I miss a call from an unknown numbe...

  • Impeachment bombshell just a dud

    Michael Reagan|Jan 22, 2020

    You’re excused if you didn’t hear about the latest impeachment “bombshell” that exploded in the media on Wednesday. Wednesday, after all, was a really crowded big-news day. It was the super-duper historic day when Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s House Democrats finally got their act together and solemnly paraded over to the Senate to present their articles of impeachment against the president. It was also the day President Trump signed Phase 1 of the long-awaited and hard-fought U.S.-China trade deal — a historical event the fair-and-ba...

  • Minnesota couple 1 millionth customer

    Ron Warnick|Jan 22, 2020

    ENDEE - A couple from Minnesota has a tale to tell their granddaughter when they visit her in Arizona - they were named the 1 millionth customer at Russell's Travel Center since its opening a decade ago. Arlo and Pat Sell of Windom, Minnesota, were feted at the truck stop's classic-car museum Friday afternoon with a balloon drop, a free Russell's T-shirt and ballcap, a certificate to mark the occasion and a free steak-and-shrimp dinner from its diner. The Sells, who said they had ventured into...

  • Wayne Ferguson finalist for coaching honor

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    The National High School Athletic Coaches Association recently announced Tucumcari High School’s Wayne Ferguson is a finalist for its 2020 National Coach of the Year in boys track. The eight finalists will be honored during the National Coach of the Year banquet July 23 during the association’s annual convention in Lincoln, Nebraska, and a winner will be announced at that evening. A total of 19 coaches of the year will be honored that evening in 19 sports categories. The New Mexico High School Coaches Association nominated Ferguson. “It...

  • Lady Rattlers corral Clayton

    Ron Warnick|Jan 22, 2020

    Anticipating a tough game against Clayton, the Tucumcari girls basketball team instead took firm control by the second quarter during a commanding 61-21 win Friday at its Homecoming. The victory at the Snake Pit was made more impressive because the Lady Rattlers lacked a starter. Senior forward Aaliyah Brown suffered a severely sprained ankle early in the Raton game three days before and probably will be sidelined at least a week. "That's the first game where we've played a full ballgame," a...

  • Rattlers win third straight

    Ron Warnick|Jan 22, 2020

    The Tucumcari boys basketball team won its third straight game and helped give its fans a happy Homecoming with a commanding 83-61 win Friday over Clayton. Jesus Ramos led a balanced Rattler scoring attack with 26 points, including a 15-of-20 performance from the free-throw line. Andrew Henderson-Clark added 20, mostly after offensive rebounds. Robbie Hartmann and Alexander Lujan each scored 13 as Tucumcari improved to 6-8. The game at a crowded Snake Pit was rescheduled from Thursday because...

  • Logan opens district with victory over Clovis Christian

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    The Logan boys basketball squad opened its district schedule with an 84-63 victory Saturday at Clovis Christian. The Longhorns raced to a 30-9 lead in the first quarter to take control. Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said his team played well offensively. “(We) still need to be better throughout the entire game defensively, and we missed too many free throws,” he said. Dante Sanchez scored 38 points to lead the Longhorns (11-6). Wyatt Wright added 12 points. Clovis Christian fell to 6-10. Logan hosts a key district matchup Thursday against No. 1-r...

  • Logan girls defeat Clovis Christian

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    The Logan girls basketball team opened its district schedule Saturday with a solid 63-21 victory at Clovis Christian. Kyndall Ragland led the Lady Longhorns (14-3) with 12 points. Teammates Karlee Cantrell added 11 points and Karli Webb 10. “We looked good,” Logan coach Glynna Strand said. “Intensity was high, and everyone flowed well together.” Clovis Christian fell to 10-7. Logan, ranked No. 1 in Class 1A by MaxPreps.com, hosts a crucial district clash Thursday against No. 2 Melrose (12-2). Logan defeated Melrose in double overtime in the...

  • Wrestlers finish second at meet

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    The Tucumcari wrestling team finished a strong second with a 4-1 dual-meet record at the Shush Duals tournament Wednesday at Fort Wingate. The Rattlers lost only to perennial powerhouse Los Lunas at the tourney. Tucumcari improved to 13-5 in dual meets. For Tucumcari, Joe Martinez at 170 pounds, Julian Vargas (138), Caleb White (152) and Colt Garcia (182) each went 5-0 at the meet. Charles Prieto, wresting at 120 pounds for Tucumcari, went 4-1 on Wednesday. Vargas was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Wrestler in the middle-weights division....

  • Mesalands releases VP's honors list

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    Mesalands Community College on Thursday announced its fall 2019 Vice President’s List for academic excellence. To qualify, students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher for courses taken at Mesalands, complete 15 or more credit hours, have no grade below a "C" for the semester, and have no outstanding incomplete grades for the academic year. The Vice President’s List for fall semester 2019 are Richard Anaya, Wyatt Bishop, Tamara Claudio, Cambry Dudley-Lujan, Roger Fahnert, Hunter Human, Raegan Jones, Brandon Kidd, Vinell Mar...

  • Police blotter - Jan. 22

    Jan 22, 2020

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Jan. 13 to Jan. 19: Monday • 1:04 p.m.: Property damage (not vandalism) in 2000 block of South Ninth Street, Tucumcari. • 1:21 p.m.: Arrest in 200 block of West High Street, Tucumcari. • 7:28 p.m.: Noise complaint in 1300 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. • 8:24 p.m.: Fire at mile markers 314 and 310, U.S. 54, Tucumcari. Tuesday • 11:58 a.m.: Fire at milepost 343, Interstate 40, Tucumcari. • 2:15 p.m.: Trespassing in 200 block of West Tucumcari B...

  • Jail log - Jan. 22

    Jan 22, 2020

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Jan. 13 to Jan. 19: • Carmen Louise Calbert, 54, Tucumcari, charge not listed. • Bryan Charles Cassidy, 37, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Jonathan Castillo, 32, no address listed, failure to register motor carrier. • Roman Alonso, 78, Tucumcari, aggravated battery against a household member (no great bodily harm). • Norma Jean Corral, 21, Portales, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and contempt of court. • Deja Ellis, 18, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Ja...

  • Former QCS publisher dies at 66

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    Michael Rindahl, a former publisher of the Quay County Sun during the 1980s and early ‘90s, died earlier this month in North Carolina after a lengthy bout with cancer. He was 66. According to an obituary published in the Crookston Daily Times in Minnesota, Rindahl had battled cancer for 12 years. He died Jan. 10. Rindahl, a Minnesota native, also worked as an editor/publisher or photographer at newspapers in Crookston; Galveston, Texas; Reidsville, North Carolina; Hazard, Kentucky; and Atlanta. Penn Rabb III of Lawton, Oklahoma, who said he w...

  • Xcel Energy offers tips for reducing energy use

    Staff report|Jan 22, 2020

    Xcel Energy is offering tips to help customers reduce energy use, save money and stay comfortable when outside temperatures drop. Some of the easiest tips for the winter months are: • Installing a smart thermostat, which adjusts the temperature when customers are asleep or away from home. Proper use of a smart thermostat can cut energy bills by almost $180 per year. • Keeping the thermostat at a moderate setting and wearing warm clothing inside can shave 1% off the total heating bill for every degree the thermostat is set back. • Repla...

  • When Tucumcari hosted a celebrity bowler

    David Stevens - Staff|Jan 22, 2020

    Temperatures hovered near zero. Visibility was about the same. Actor Jimmy Stewart was flying the first plane he’d ever owned from Kansas City to Los Angeles when he had to set it down at Tucumcari. “Clouds and snow and fog and ice,” Stewart told reporters when asked why his flight was delayed. Tucumcari is a good place to sit and wait for celebrities, thanks mostly to its location along historic Route 66. Paul McCartney, William Shatner, Red Skelton, Danny Thomas and Morgan Freeman are just a few spotted on the Mother Road through the years...