Serving the High Plains

Articles from the April 13, 2022 edition


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  • $35,000 in pot sales recorded in city in one week

    Staff report|Apr 13, 2022

    Tucumcari saw more than $35,000 in cannabis sales during the first week of legal recreational marijuana in New Mexico. According to data supplied by the state’s Cannabis Control Division, the city experienced a total $28,563.04 in adult-use sales of cannabis and $6,689.48 in medical-use sales through Thursday, for a total of $35,252.52. Recreational marijuana sales were allowed in New Mexico on April 1. First-day sales in Tucumcari totaled nearly $14,000, including more than $11,500 in adult-use cannabis. Only one dispensary, Buds n’ More at...

  • Lodgers tax board makes funding suggestions

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 13, 2022

    The Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Board last week recommended using nearly $70,000 in promotional motel tax funds for festivals or tourism entities in the 2023 fiscal year, plus another $23,200 in executive motel tax funds for non-promotional projects. Tucumcari’s city manager also warned the promoter for the Rockin’ Route 66 festival — the city’s largest event before the COVID-19 pandemic — may cancel this year’s festival in June or the 2023 edition because of his financial difficulties and the board recommending less than a third of the funding he re...

  • Sacred survivor

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 13, 2022

    NARA VISA - Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a survivor. The small but picturesque white chapel that sits on a hill overlooking the northeastern Quay County village has been there for more than a century. It's remained despite the ebbing of the village's population and the closing of its school decades ago and virtually all of its businesses. And thanks to a small but stalwart group of parishioners, Sacred Heart Catholic Church emerged from a COVID-19 pandemic that closed it for almost a year....

  • County OKs bid for Old Route 66 bridge

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 13, 2022

    The Quay County Commission on Monday chose the lowest of three scaled-back bids to build a low-water bridge on Old Route 66 over San Jon Creek that still exceeded the engineer's estimate by more than $650,000. Commissioners, on the recommendation of county manager Daniel Zamora and Stantec Engineering's Wayland Oliver, approved the $2.62 million bid from Vital Consulting Group of Albuquerque to build the bridge near the existing Bridge 1625 between San Jon and Endee. The 1931 bridge will be...

  • Pages past - April 13

    Apr 13, 2022

    On this date ... 1972: A Texas couple and two of their small children sustained serious burns when a lantern caught their tent on fire at the KOA campground near Tucumcari. The 22-month-old child, who suffered burns on over 60% of her body, died one day later at Trigg Memorial Hospital. The family was sleeping in a tent after their car broke down, could not afford a motel and were given $10 to rent the camping space as their car was being repaired. • A fire destroyed the Tucumcari Junior High School cafeteria on Fifth Street, causing about $...

  • Menus - April 13

    Apr 13, 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, strawberries, apple juice, skim or 1% milk; Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich, mini corn dogs, baked beans, sweet potato fries, orange, skim, 1% or chocolate skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Blueberry muffin, string cheese, banana, orange juice, ski...

  • Calendar - April 13

    Apr 13, 2022

    Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Wednesday — Culpepper & Merriweather Circus. Performances at 5 and 7:30 p.m.; tickets will be available at Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, 404 W. Route 66 Blvd., Tucumcari Historical Museum, 416 S. Adams St., and Tucumcari Welcome Center/Old Town House Motel, 901 E. Route 66 Blvd. Cash only; tickets for adults are $12, children 2-12 and senior citizens (65 and older) are $7. Show-day tickets will be $15 and $8. Circus will be off 11th street on the Mesalands Com...

  • Light at the end of the tunnel

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Apr 13, 2022

    Two weeks ago, I wrote about waking up in the dark due to the time change. The Bible says a lot about light, especially pertaining to God being the light at the beginning and end of this dark world’s tunnel, so to speak (Genesis 1:1-5; Revelation 22:1-5; John 16:33; Matthew 6:34). Next Sunday is Easter, the annual celebration of Jesus’ triumphal resurrection over our sin (Acts 2:22-24; 1 Peter 2:21-25). We often see pictures of light coming out of the open tomb at Easter, and I’ve wondered about a Scriptural basis for that because I figured as...

  • Three COVID-19 cases reported in county last week

    Staff report|Apr 13, 2022

    Only three cases of COVID-19 were reported last week in Quay County by the New Mexico Department of Health, continuing a weeks-long trend of single-digit numbers in the region. The total number of the county’s confirmed cases the previous week was two. The total number of cases in the county rose to 1,997 since the pandemic began in spring 2020. According to state epidemiology reports, Quay County’s COVID-19 case rate remained stable to at 6.8 new cases per 100,000 people from March 22 to April 4. It was in the yellow zone for risk, as wer...

  • Jail log - April 13

    Apr 13, 2022

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from April 4 to April 8: • Clayton John Martinez, 46, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Adam Apodaca, 24, Tucumcari, aggravated battery against a household member (great bodily harm). • Jesse Calbert, 59, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Nick Craig Womack, 33, Tucumcari, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and contempt of court. • Thomas Tietjen, 57, Tucumcari, contempt of court, felony contempt of court and aggravated assault upon a peace officer (deadly weapon)....

  • Countless families face struggles with loss from cognitive impairment

    Tribune News Service, Syndicated content|Apr 13, 2022

    Many families struggle with a loved one facing encroaching cognitive impairments – and the decision points serve as heartbreaking reminders of life’s fragility. More than simply taking the keys away, some families preside over a sad exit to iconic life. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Ronald Reagan shared his final thoughts about this subject when writing, “I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life.” Recently, we learned of another world-renown figure leaving the stage due to cognitive challenges. Closing r...

  • Liberty remains essential principle

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Apr 13, 2022

    Liberty, as a principle, will always prove true. Respecting liberty always works, violating it always hurts. The truth doesn’t care whether you like this or not. Government’s very existence violates liberty by interfering in your natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Some people claim government protects your liberty or “gives you freedom,” but this is as nonsensical as claiming arsonists are protecting your property by burning down your house. Anyone who limits your individual liberty, using any excuse, is your enemy. It works the sam...

  • Jackson part of line of great Black women

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Apr 13, 2022

    Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court got me to thinking about other African-American women who have made their mark on American history. There are many, including lesser-known women such as the late Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to be appointed to a federal judgeship. In her day, she played a pivotal role in desegregating Southern institutions of higher learning, critical to ending the era of Jim Crow. Then there are famous Black women like Rosa Parks. In 1955, she refused to give up her seat to a...

  • Lady Rattlers win two from Logan

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 13, 2022

    The Tucumcari softball team in a workmanlike fashion swept a doubleheader Thursday by 15-0 and 17-7 scores against a visiting Logan squad that's rebuilding its program. In the first game, Mireya Estrada pitched a no-hitter against the Lady Longhorns in a game that was shortened to four innings by the mercy rule. Estrada struck out seven with no walks and one hit batter. Harley McKinney, Kylee Carmichael and Alexis Ramirez each hit two-run singles. In the nightcap, Sage Knapp earned the win by...

  • Ranked baseball teams down Tucumcari

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 13, 2022

    The East Mountain baseball team showed last week why it is ranked fourth in Class 3A. Tucumcari baseball showed it still has a lot of work to do. The Timberwolves (9-2) swept their district-opening doubleheader April 5 by scores of 22-3 and 17-4 at Tucumcari (1-9). East Mountain's only defeats this season are close losses last month to state-ranked Robertson and Santa Fe Indian. In the first game, East Mountain jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, led 6-0 after two and tallied 12 runs in...

  • Logan girls finish second at meet

    Staff report|Apr 13, 2022

    The Logan girls track team finished runner-up Friday at the 16-team Mario Martinez Qualifier event at Fort Sumner. Melrose won an area invitational event for the second straight week, totaling 103 points to Logan’s 72. The Tucumcari girls finished third with 58 points. San Jon scored two points. The Lady Longhorns won the 400-meter relay in 53.64 seconds, the 1,600-meter medley relay (4:47.84) and the 3,200-meter relay (12:29.34). Sierra Horne also captured the triple jump with a distance of 31 feet, 3 inches. For the Lady Rattlers, Haisley Huf...

  • Logan wallops Questa in baseball

    Staff report|Apr 13, 2022

    The Logan baseball team took a 10-1 lead after three innings and coasted to a 21-2 non-district victory over Questa on April 4. Aydin Kotara earned the win for Logan, striking out nine and allowing four hits, one walk and one earned run in five innings. Diego Sanchez drove in three runs for the Longhorns and Bryce Merrill two. Logan totaled just five hits but drew 17 walks. Questa also committed four errors. Logan improved to 7-2 overall; Questa fell to 2-6....

  • Santa Rosa overwhelms Logan in softball

    Staff report|Apr 13, 2022

    Logan proved to be no match for a strong Santa Rosa club, with the visiting Lady Lions sweeping a doubleheader by 19-0 and 20-1 scores on April 4. Kassie Padilla pitched a no-hitter in the first game, striking out nine and walking five in four innings. In the second game, Daelyn Pacheco also pitched a no-hitter, striking out seven and walking two in three innings. Logan scored its only run of the day in the first inning. Kyra Conway single, stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on another passed ball. Santa Rosa...

  • Rattler golfers improve during second meet

    Staff report|Apr 13, 2022

    Tucumcari High School’s boys golf coach said he saw improvement with his two athletes who made the trip Thursday to Roswell for the Dexter Invitational at New Mexico Military Institute’s course. Caden Brown shot a 108 score on the par-72 course – an improvement of more than 20 strokes. Teammate Taylor Rich shot a 151. “We did a lot better than last week,” Tucumcari coach Justin Garcia said, referring to the Rattlers’ season-opening meet at the NMMI course. Garcia said one golf didn’t make the trip because of an illness and another had a...

  • Clinic opens in Saltz building

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Apr 13, 2022

    Technically, the newly opened Huffman Counseling and Wellness LLC is at 325 S. First St. in Tucumcari. However, the co-owner simply tells prospective customers it's at Dr. Saltz's old office. Dr. Jim Saltz operated as a physician in that location for several decades until he shuttered the building about 10 years ago. Saltz died in 2017 at age 82. "It's Dr. Saltz's building. I don't mind saying that," said Cassie Huffman, who co-owns the building with her husband Clay. "Obviously, his name came...

  • PRC member's survey annoys board

    The Santa Fe New Mexican, Syndicated content|Apr 13, 2022

    Four public regulation commissioners Wednesday scolded a fellow commissioner from Tucumcari for sending an energy-related survey that inaccurately connected them to it. Jefferson Byrd said he would send a message to the recipients making it clear the online survey was his and not the Public Regulation Commission’s. Byrd is running for commissioner of the State Land Office. He said he thought the cover letter indicated he was behind the survey. “I will find out what we can do as far as making that correction,” Byrd said. Some commi...

  • Health council receives $55K from junior bill

    Staff report|Apr 13, 2022

    The Quay County Health Council will receive $55,000 from a so-called “junior bill” approved by the New Mexico Legislature during a one-day special session last week. The 71-page bill states the money will be used by the local health council for staff. Four other health councils in Socorro, Grant and Chaves counties and in Los Alamos received nearly similar allocations. Brenda Bishop of the Quay County Health Council stated in an email the allocation for her organization was “exciting news.” “Councils were encouraged to do this prior to the st...

  • Police blotter - April 13

    Apr 13, 2022

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from April 4 to April 10: Monday – 2:03 a.m.: Threat in 2300 block of South First Street, Tucumcari. – 2:46 a.m.: Accident at milepost 311, U.S. 54, Tucumcari. – 6:32 a.m.: Noise complaint in 700 block of West Sunset Avenue, Tucumcari. – 6:56 a.m.: Accident with injuries in unlisted block of Quay Road AI, Tucumcari. – 12:15 p.m.: Threat in 2600 block of South First Street, Tucumcari. – 12:39 p.m.: Theft in 1200 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari....