Serving the High Plains

Articles from the March 6, 2019 edition


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  • Commission approves funding for street

    Steve Hansen|Mar 6, 2019

    The downtown Second Street resurfacing project in Tucumcari accumulated more funding Thursday as the city commission approved $313,892.08 in New Mexico Department of Transportation and local funding for construction on the project. The commission approved a combination of $235,4109.06 in transportation department funds and $78,473.02 in local matching funds to help pay for the project. The project, which will include replacing the roadbed and resurfacing Second Street from downtown to Historic Route 66, will “help with the traffic generated b...

  • Iron pour incoming

    Ron Warnick|Mar 6, 2019

    Mesalands Community College's 21st annual Iron Pour, which begins Sunday, still is enjoying a boost from an article in New Mexico Magazine more than a year ago. Last year was the 20th anniversary of the molten-iron art festival, so organizers already were expecting more visiting artists to see one of the event's founders, Mesalands art professor D'Jean Jawrunner. But the feature story in the magazine's March 2018 issue also boosted participation from the low 20s to more than 40 in one year....

  • K-Bob's Steakhouse closes suddenly

    Ron Warnick|Mar 6, 2019

    K-Bob's Steakhouse, a fixture restaurant along First Street and Interstate 40 for years in Tucumcari, abruptly closed Feb. 26, leading to the loss of about 20 jobs. Evangeline Baca, a cook at the restaurant at 200 E. Estrella Ave. for the last 13 months, said there was no inkling of the closure until that morning. "I came to work yesterday at 9 o'clock," she said Wednesday. "They had a meeting, saying they would shut us down. It wasn't paying off to keep it open." Baca said the Houston-based com...

  • Kix restaurant sold

    Ron Warnick|Mar 6, 2019

    The Kix on 66 restaurant in Tucumcari has a new owner, and he's a local who's no stranger to the dining business. Todd Duplantis, who also owns Cornerstone First Edition Pizza & Subs down the street, closed on the deal Thursday afternoon for Kix on 66 at 1102 E. Route 66 Blvd. from longtime owners Yvonne Braziel and Yvette Peacock. Don't expect big changes at Kix, which serves only breakfast and lunch, with its new owner. "It's my favorite restaurant to eat breakfast," Duplantis said. "I have...

  • Calendar - March 6

    Mar 6, 2019

    • Wednesday — SKYWARN Weather Spotting. Are you fascinated by the weather? The National Weather Service in Albuquerque is recruiting volunteer SKYWARN weather spotters and volunteers for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. Registration is on-site with free admission. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Mesalands Community College. • Saturday — Rotary Lobster Dinner. Brush off your lobster bibs for the return of this annual dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. More details will be coming. Elks Lodge, 2118 S. Adams St., Tucumcari. • Sunday through March 16...

  • Pages past - March 6

    Mar 6, 2019

    On this date ... 1969: The annual Kiwanis Club Grand Ole Opry will feature Art Davis and his wife, Mary, on Friday. Davis is a former screen star, having made his start in the movies as a stuntman for westerns and graduating to a full-fledged cowboy star. He has appeared with other such stars as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. His band, the Rhythm Riders, have appeared in many clubs and shows throughout the nation. Patti Page began her singing career on a country-and-western music show with Davis and his Rhythm Riders in Tulsa, Oklahoma. • A 1...

  • Menus - March 6

    Mar 6, 2019

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Ham and egg biscuit sandwich, yogurt with granola, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Bean and cheese pupusa with Spanish rice, ham and cheese wrap, pinto beans, shredded lettuce, fresh tomatoes, salsa, fruit, milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Cinni mini, ultimate breakfast round, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Cheeseburger, ranch potato wedges, romaine lettuce, fresh tomato slice, pickle slices, fruit, milk. Monday — Breakfast: Strawberry splash pancakes with maple syrup, cereal choice with cinnamon goldfish graha...

  • Nara Visa family loses home in fire

    Staff report|Mar 6, 2019

    A Nara Visa family lost its home when fire destroyed it Saturday night. Gary Girard, chief of the Nara Visa Fire Department, said it received a report about the fire at the Bertha Evans home at Second and Gonzales streets in Nara Visa about 9:30 p.m. Central on Saturday. He said the Logan Fire Department sent two units to assist in fighting the blaze and keep it from spreading to nearby grass. "When we got the call, it was totally engulfed," Girard said. Evans was in Tucumcari at the time of the fire. Girard said he thought the fire had been...

  • With March 5, the party's over

    Leonard Lauriault|Mar 6, 2019

    Yesterday ended Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), and now we're into Lent. I don't celebrate those myself, so I got information about them at Wikipedia.com. Tradition says Mardi Gras begins Jan. 6 (when the Magi visited Jesus) and ends right before Ash Wednesday, which just happens to be today. Celebrating from Jan. 6 to March 5 in 2019 would've been some party! But in most places, Mardi Gras is only the three days before Ash Wednesday. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until just before Easter as a period of prayer, repentance, penance,...

  • Left, Right ... wrong; Time to reduce size, impact of government

    David Stevens|Mar 6, 2019

    Many New Mexicans are outraged because the state’s Democrats are about to pass the largest tax increase in the state’s history. A news release from House Republicans reads: “Democrats passed House Bill 6 which siphons over half a billion dollars from the wallets of New Mexico’s families to fund a Santa Fe agenda. House Bill 6 raises income taxes, car registration fees and tobacco taxes all of which are directly aimed at working families across New Mexico.” All this at a time when the state has a surplus of more than $1 billion, thanks to a good...

  • Reactionaries dangerous to everyone

    Steve Hansen|Mar 6, 2019

    I would like to know why so many modern conservatives treat every minor exception to their rigid code of convictions and beliefs as a threat to the nation. Yes, liberals are getting more inflexible, too, but the very liberal Elizabeth Warren is not calling fellow Democrat Sherrod Brown an enemy of the people because he’s a moderate. The New York Times recently ran stories that showed Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar may have abused staff members. The Los Angeles Times reported that the California Department of Justice paid out $...

  • I think Dad would still love all

    Tom McDonald|Mar 6, 2019

    News item: The United Methodist Church voted on Feb. 26 to reinforce its ban on openly gay clergy and same-sex marriages, leaving in place a longstanding policy that states, “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The United Methodist Church is built on a connectional structure that ties all its leaders and congregations together. Local churches share their ministers and their money in such a way that ties people together in meaningful ways. I grew up living under that big tent, as a preacher’s son in Arkan...

  • Letter to the editor - March 6

    Mar 6, 2019

    Becoming ‘sanctuary’ isn’t safe I would like to explain why I will no longer consider Tucumcari as a shopping destination. Our local paper, The Guadalupe County Communicator, ran an article stating that the Quay County sheriff introduced a motion that was passed unanimously by the commission to declare Quay County a “Second Amendment Sanctuary County.” The reasoning was to evade any state laws that may effect gun ownership. The sheriff said he felt the laws would effect law-abiding citizens. Are you aware there is a gun-violence epidemic in thi...

  • Lady Rattlers take district

    Ron Warnick|Mar 6, 2019

    The Tucumcari girls basketball team scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to turn a close game into a 78-34 blowout of Tularosa at the Snake Pit as the Lady Rattlers captured the Class 3A, District 4 tournament title Friday. Tucumcari, winners of 14 straight to improve to 21-4 overall, captured the No. 3 seed for the Class 3A state tournament and faces Cuba (12-11) in the first round at 6 p.m. Friday at the Snake Pit. The winner of that game will play the winner of the...

  • Rattlers' season closes

    Ron Warnick|Mar 6, 2019

    Hampered by 23 turnovers, the Tucumcari boys basketball team's season came to an end Thursday with a 47-43 loss at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell in the semifinal of the Class 3A, District 4 tournament. Tucumcari coach John Span said fatigue was a factor in the loss. "I think the three games in four days hurt us," he said. "It caught us. You could see we were tired from the turnovers." Starter Robbie Hartmann also didn't make the trip to NMMI because of the flu, costing the Rattlers...

  • Interest up in Tucumcari baseball

    Ron Warnick|Mar 6, 2019

    If the Tucumcari's high-school baseball team struggles this year, it won't be because of a lack of players. In coach Dwayne Roberts' third year, he's seen the number of players on his Rattlers squad jump from the low 20s to nearly 50 this year. A berth to the Class 3A state quarterfinals last season apparently boosts interest. In Roberts' first year, the Rattlers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Last year, with just one senior on a 9-11 club, they made it to the second round b...

  • Logan boys fall to Melrose

    Staff report|Mar 6, 2019

    The Logan boys basketball team fell to Melrose 73-65 in overtime in the semifinal Thursday of the Class 1A, District 6 tournament. The Longhorns, which fell to 20-7 overall, started slowly and were behind 34-22 at halftime. They stormed back with a 34-22 second half to force overtime. “We had a shot to win it in regulation,” Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said. “Melrose is a really good team, and they made the plays down the stretch to come out on top. I was proud of the guys for how they fought all night.” Kyle Knight led the Longhorns with 16...

  • Melrose defeats Lady Longhorns

    Staff report|Mar 6, 2019

    The Logan girls basketball team fell 40-32 in the title game Friday of the Class 1A, District 6 tournament at host Melrose. The Lady Longhorns fell to 22-6 overall, led by Harlie Roach's 11 points. Four of Logan's six losses this year were to the Lady Buffaloes. Logan is seeded third in the Class 1A state tournament and will host No. 14-seed Hondo Valley (17-10) on Friday. The winner of that game plays the winner of the Quernado-Des Moines matchup on March 13 at Bernalillo. Melrose improved to 21-6 overall and captured the No. 1 seed in the...

  • 'Tucumcari' wrestler earns first-place medal

    Staff report|Mar 6, 2019

    Another Tucumcari wrestler earned a first-place medal during the recent state championships at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. He just wasn’t a Tucumcari High School team member. Foothill senior Alex Gutierrez, born and raised in Tucumcari, won the 145-pound state title in Class 3A by defeating Tucumcari’s Rod Dunlap 5-1 in the final. Gutierrez defeated Newcomb’s Shaundale Davis by technical fall and Cobre’s Izzy Jaurequi by fall to advance to the championship. Gutierrez finished the season with a 32-9 record. Gutierrez, who enrolle...

  • Tucumcari man sentenced to probation in shooting

    Ron Warnick|Mar 6, 2019

    A Tucumcari man acknowledged his accessory role in a shooting at a west-side motel but was sentenced to probation and other conditions Wednesday because of his cooperation with police to secure another conviction in the case. Joseph Quintana, 31, pleaded guilty weeks ago to attempted aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Other counts of aggravated burglary with deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon were dismissed in exchange for him being willing to testify against...

  • Police blotter - March 6

    Mar 6, 2019

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Feb. 25 to March 3: Monday • 9:01 a.m.: Vandalism at 500 block of East Main Street, Tucumcari. • 1:41 p.m.: Theft in 600 block of West Railroad Avenue, Tucumcari. • 2:25 p.m.: Brush fire at milepost 315, Interstate 40, Tucumcari. • 5:55 p.m.: Theft in 2000 block of South Eighth Street, Tucumcari. • 6:13 p.m.: Assault in 1100 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. • 8:25 p.m.: Unattended death in 400 block of East Oak Avenue, San Jon. • 9:50 p.m.: Fi...

  • Jail log - March 6

    Mar 6, 2019

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Feb. 25 to March 3: • Rachell M. Gotschall, 24, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court. • Anthony Muniz, 42, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court. • James Joseph Apodaca, 41, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court and battery against a household member. • Eddie Eugene Ulibarri, 39, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Marc Hazelton, 39, Tucumcari, distribution of marijuana. • Arthur Martinez, 55, Tucumcari, shoplifting ($250 or less) and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer (s...