Serving the High Plains

Articles from the March 15, 2023 edition


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  • Senior center multipurpose site proposed

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Mar 15, 2023

    Tucumcari city commissioners during a work session Thursday seemed receptive to a long-range proposal by the city’s senior center director to plan for a multipurpose building that would include a senior center, a public pool and a recreation center for all city residents. Tucumcari Senior Center director Clara Rey said the design and engineering for such a facility would be part of the center’s infrastructure capital improvement plan for fiscal-year 2027. She said she didn’t know where such a facility would be constructed or how much it would...

  • Busch submits resignation to MCC

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Embattled and absent Mesalands Community College President Gregory Busch submitted a formal resignation letter, effective March 10, according to a news release this afternoon from the college. Busch’s three-page resignation letter, which stated it was sent from Tucson, Arizona, was received through his attorney, stated Mesalands director of communications Josh McVey. Busch and his wife, Workforce Development director Mary Beth Busch, left Tucumcari shortly after the college’s executive team, staff and faculty submitted no-confidence votes in...

  • MCC chief clarifies possible future of college

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Mar 15, 2023

    The acting president of Mesalands Community College clarified to Tucumcari city commissioners on Thursday what he hoped to see in the near future for the financially distressed college. Allen Moss, appointed as acting president by the board of trustees last month after previous president Gregory Busch left town and took medical leave amid no-confidence votes by staff and faculty, told city commissioners during their regular meeting “we feel very good” about Mesalands continuing to operate, though he admitted “the hard decisions aren’t done ye...

  • County opposes listing of LPC as endangered

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Mar 15, 2023

    Quay County commissioners on Monday approved a resolution opposing a federal listing of the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species, fearing the economic impact. County manager Daniel Zamora said the Natural Resources Committee recommended the passage of the resolution, saying the county needs more information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the implications and regulations to landowners if the bird is listed. The resolution states the chicken’s habitat includes New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma. It states the...

  • Tucumcari ranks No. 1 in state for home affordability

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Tucumcari ranked No. 1 in New Mexico for being the most affordable place to buy a home, according to a recent analysis by SmartAsset.com. Tucumcari scored an affordability index of 76.31, substantially higher than the second-highest New Mexico town, Lovington, at 62.89. Rounding out the rest of the top 10 in order were Carlsbad, Los Chaves, Grants, Hobbs, Roswell, North Hobbs, White Rock and Los Alamos. Tucumcari scored well with average closing costs ($2,105), property taxes ($376), homeowner’s insurance costs ($319) and average annual m...

  • Have you chosen the Rock or the hard place?

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Mar 15, 2023

    We sprang our clocks forward of this past weekend to start Mountain Daylight Savings Time, and spring begins at 3:24 pm MDST this coming Monday. So we’re between the springing forward and the spring equinox. The recent changing of the clocks and the upcoming first official day of spring brought a few things to mind. That is, moving the clock forward means getting up an hour earlier in the morning and makes the day seem longer, at least for a brief period, because it gets dark later. Then, the onset of spring leads to an increase in activities,...

  • Mesalands hosts KidWind competition

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Three schools, including one from Tucumcari, participated recently in the KidWind Challenge at the North American Wind Research and Training Center at Mesalands Community College. A total of 88 students, consisting of teams of two to six people each, participated from Tucumcari Middle School plus Marshall Middle School and Yucca Middle School, both of Clovis. Students built wind turbines from materials such as cardboard and hot glue guns, then had three chances to test their speed with a high-po...

  • COVID-19 cases drop by half in county

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Three COVID-19 cases were reported by state officials in Quay county last week, dropping the number by half from the previous week. Quay County has reported weekly single-digit numbers of COVID-19 for much of the winter. Six cases were reported the previous week by the New Mexico Department of Health. Last week’s number brought the total number of coronavirus cases in Quay County since the pandemic began to 2,564. According to the COVID Act Now website that tracks the disease, the county’s rate of new cases rose but still were at a low level of...

  • Pages past - March 15

    Mar 15, 2023

    On this date ... 1973: Winds gusting to 60 mph caused the cinderblock walls of Cooper’s Cleaners on Second Street near downtown Tucumcari to collapse. City police also said Jerry Gardner reported a neighbor’s carport had blown over onto his car, causing damage. The gusts also sent picket fences and roof shingles flying before winds subsided. — A state survey team was scheduled to meet with affected landowners who were concerned about the state of Tucumcari Lake. Landowners claimed polluted water and increased flow into the lake was hazar...

  • Menus - March 15

    Mar 15, 2023

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Pork sausage biscuit sandwich, assorted cereal, graham crackers, red grapes, orange juice, skim or 1% milk; Lunch: Ham and egg chef salad, bean and cheese burrito, corn, fresh broccoli, salsa, ranch dressing, orange, skim, chocolate skim, 1% or strawberry milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Sausage and egg muffinwich, assorted cereal, graham crackers, apple juice, orange juice, skim, 1% or strawberry milk; Lunch: Turkey and cheese sandwich, cheeseburger, French fries, baked beans, romaine lettuce, dill pic...

  • Calendar - March 15

    Mar 15, 2023

    • Saturday — 12th annual Un-Conchas Polar Plunge. American Legion Post 19 is hosting this event at Conchas Lake’s south-side boat ramp with a gathering at 1 p.m. and the plunge at 2 p.m. Prizes will be given to the best costume, most pledges and most enthusiastic plunger. The post also will host a dinner of corned beef and cabbage or beer bratwurst prepared by the Post 19 Auxiliary at 6 p.m., with a dance at 8 p.m. with music by Limited Edition. • April 1 — Easter egg hunt at Dunn Park, Tucumcari. This free event from 10 to noon will be for ch...

  • Governments should compete for residents, not for businesses

    Bloomberg News, Syndicated content|Mar 15, 2023

    Amazon.com Inc.’s pause of its plans to expand its second headquarters in Northern Virginia reflects some deep underlying trends — not just for metropolitan Washington, where I live, but for regional development more generally. First, with the end of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s zero interest rate policy, many developments are being canceled or postponed. Long-term projects are less profitable than they used to be, and capital is harder to come by. As the major technology companies lose market value, their urban and suburban refurbishment plans...

  • With free speech comes responsibility

    Elwood Watson, Syndicated content|Mar 15, 2023

    It’s been a few weeks since Dilbert creator Scott Adams was canceled by hundreds of newspapers across the nation, as well as Canada, for racist tirades he unleashed on his own YouTube show. Adams, who is white, suggested that white people “get the hell away from Black people,” referring to Black Americans as a “hate group.” “It makes no sense whatsoever as a white citizen of America to try to help Black citizens anymore,” Adams said. “White people trying to help black America for decades and decades has completely failed. And we should just...

  • Interest rate cap study warning to NM

    Paul Gessing, Guest columnist|Mar 15, 2023

    Elected officials who use the power of government to “help” people often fail to account for the possible unintended consequences of their actions. Even the noblest of intentions can unintentionally hurt those it’s meant to aid. Such is the case with New Mexico’s new law imposing a price control on the interest rate that lenders are allowed to charge on a short-term loan. Proponents claim it will make a “real difference” for people, but the only difference it’ll make is in the ability for people to access credit. On Jan. 1, H.B. 132 “Interest...

  • Cannon AFB to host first airshow since 2018

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Cannon AFB will host its first airshow since 2018 next month. The airshow, "Wings Over Cannon," is scheduled for April 22. Gates will open at 9 a.m. The event is free. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs in bags, sunscreen, earplugs, brimmed hats, sunglasses, cameras, small purses, umbrellas, strollers and cellphones. All vehicles entering the base are subject to search. Prohibited at the show will be drones, coolers, backpacks, weapons, pets, canopies or tents, outside food or...

  • More federal money coming for Ute Water Project

    the Staff of The News|Mar 15, 2023

    CLOVIS — More federal dollars are on their way for the Ute Water Project. The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority has received notice from the United States Bureau of Reclamation regarding the second round of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. According to a news release from water authority, the federal FY2023 appropriation is in the amount of $89.5 million for use in the construction of the Ute pipeline. ENMWUA will receive an additional $4.63 million from FY2023 administration and congressional funding. The t...

  • Rural house fire injures one person

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    A fire Thursday morning heavily damaged a home northwest of Tucumcari and slightly injured a resident there. District 1 firefighters received the call about the blaze about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, said fire chief and Quay County fire marshal Lucas Bugg. Bugg said the house, located on Quay Road AR near Quay Road 64, “probably is a total loss,” though insurance adjusters were due to inspect the site to determine the extent of damage and the fire’s cause. Bugg said the blaze began in the kitchen area. Buggy said one resident suffered from smoke...

  • Eventual champ Tohatchi ends Lady Rattlers' run

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    In the end, Tohatchi was just too tall. The fifth-seeded Tucumcari girls basketball team struggled mightily against fourth-seeded and eventual state champion Tohatchi’s height and length during a 48-23 loss last Tuesday in the Class 3A quarterfinals at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Tucumcari freshman center Kyla Lopez led Tucumcari with eight points. Meanwhile, a total of 11 Cougars scored for Tohatchi (22-9), with junior guard Brooke Badonie leading the way with 10 points. The Cougars’ roster listed two players at 5-foot-10 and another at 5-f...

  • Magdalena overwhelms Longhorns in quarterfinals

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Magdalena was the only undefeated boys basketball team left in New Mexico, and it often played like it during a 68-39 victory over Logan in the Class 1A quarterfinals. The top-seeded and two-time defending state champion Steers (30-0) took an 11-0 lead to start the game Wednesday at Bernalillo High School and steadily expanded on that advantage against the eighth-seeded Longhorns. Logan had a hard time matching up against a Steers lineup that featured three players listed at 6-foot-5. One of them, Kael Stephens, scored a game-high 26 points....

  • Tucumcari triumphs at Estancia

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Mar 15, 2023

    Tucumcari's baseball team notched a victory on its first weekend of the season, matching the wins it totaled last season. One day after an 11-5 loss Friday against visiting Raton, the Rattlers earned a 14-3 victory in five innings at Estancia during the Bears' season-opener. "Today was a perfect rebound game for us after mentally breaking down yesterday against Raton," Tucumcari coach George Montano said after Saturday's win. "We stayed in front of the ball, we had quality at-bats, and we...

  • Three Rattlers make all-district

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Three players from the Tucumcari boys basketball team earned first-team all-district honors. For Logan, three players made the first team in their rugged district. Tucumcari senior point guard Curtis Gonzales, freshman center Kamren Apodaca and freshman guard Daymion Urioste each landed on the first team in District 3A-4. Gonzales and Apodaca consistently were the top scorers for the Rattlers all season. Urioste took on more ball-handling chores late in the season and proved to be a potent scorer. Tucumcari finished with a 9-17 record but...

  • Four Lady Rattlers named all-district

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    The district-champion Tucumcari girls basketball team boasted four players on the all-district team and three honorable mentions. Three players from Logan earned all district honors in District A-6. Making the first team in District 3A-4 for the Lady Rattlers were senior guard Alexus Lafferty, sophomore guard July Lafferty, sophomore guard Caylee Benavidez and freshman power forward Kyla Lopez. Alexus Lafferty led the Lady Rattlers in points (15.1 per game), assists (3.4) and steals (3.9). Benavidez was second in points (11.0) and assists (3.0)...

  • Tucumcari guard makes all-star team

    Staff report|Mar 15, 2023

    Tucumcari senior point guard Curtis Gonzales was chosen as a selection for the New Mexico High School Coaches Association’s 3A/4A Red All-Star Team and also was an honorable mention all-state selection. Gonzales, the Rattlers’ leading scorer, will play at 5 p.m. Saturday against the Green All-Stars at Gallup High School. Athletes will report Friday afternoon before the game. The game is a traditional matchup of the state’s top seniors. On the Red team also will be players from Robertson, Santa Fe Indian School, Newcomb, Sandia Prep, Kirtl...

  • Police blotter - March 15

    Mar 15, 2023

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from March 6 to March 12: Monday — 2:06 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 700 block of South Eighth Street, Tucumcari. — 2:26 a.m.: Juvenile problem in 300 block of East Miel de Luna Avenue, Tucumcari. — 9:12 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 300 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. — 9:14 a.m.: Domestic disturbance in 400 block of Sparrow Street, Logan. — 9:16 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 300 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. — 12:25 p.m.: Threat in 35100 block of U.S. 54,...

  • Jail log - March 15

    Mar 15, 2023

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from March 6 to March 9: — John Caruso, 18, Tucumcari, failure to appear on misdemeanor charge. — Daniel Salas, 38, Tucumcari, battery against a household member. — Andrew Morris Angel, 46, Tucumcari, deprivation of the property of a household member. — Jeffrey Knox, 19, Tucumcari, warrant from other counties or states. — Seth A. Chavez, 34, Tucumcari, two counts of contempt of court. — Fatima Rivas, 45, Tucumcari, larceny (over $250 but not more than $500). — Ernest Cordero, 5...

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