Serving the High Plains

Articles from the February 13, 2019 edition


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  • Property tax renewal passes easily

    Ron Warnick|Feb 13, 2019

    Voters on Feb. 5 easily approved the Tucumcari school district's request to renew its two-mill capital-improvement property tax during Quay County's first mail-in election. A total of 858 voters approved of the measure, almost 69 percent of the total. A total of 393 voted against it. What surprised - and somewhat worried - some supporters of the local two-mill was the mail-in election's relatively high turnout of 29 percent. "We were pleased, very pleased, when we got the news," Tucumcari...

  • Commission adopts 'sanctuary' resolution

    Ron Warnick|Feb 13, 2019

    The Quay County Commission on Monday unanimously approved Sheriff Russell Shafer’s request to adopt a resolution declaring the county a “Second Amendment sanctuary county” because of his objections to several gun-control bills pending in the New Mexico Legislature. The 15-paragraph resolution, citing three U.S. Supreme Court decisions and the U.S. Constitution affirming the individual rights to bear arms, states the county commission “affirms its support” for the sheriff “in the exercise of his/her sound discretion and affirms its resolve to...

  • Armory deal sealed

    Ron Warnick|Feb 13, 2019

    The New Mexico National Guard's loss became Mesalands Community College's gain - not that the Guard was complaining. The college took possession of the Guard's closed armory at 1200 S. 11th St. in Tucumcari during a divestment ceremony Friday afternoon. Officials signed the property-transfer papers earlier that morning after the facility was sold for $1. The ceremony in front of 40 guests later that day in the armory's gymnasium served more as a celebration. Mesalands President John Groesbeck...

  • Calendar - Feb. 13

    Feb 13, 2019

    • Saturday — Vintage Valentine Tea Party. Treat yourself and your sweetheart to this party. Don’t forget to dress up for the hat and costume contest; only the fanciest outfits will win. Cost is $20 per person or $35 for couples. Call 575-708-0860 for more information. First Presbyterian Church, 306 E. Aber St., Tucumcari. • Feb. 26-27 — Beef Artificial Insemination School. The NMSU Quay County Extension will host an artificial-insemination school for beef producers. Dr. Craig Gifford, NMSU beef cattle specialist, and Dr. Marcy Ward, NMSU live...

  • Menus - Feb. 13

    Feb 13, 2019

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Cheesy scrambled eggs and whole-wheat toast, cereal choice with cinnamon goldfish graham cracker, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Barbecued chicken sandwich, egg and cheese chef salad with whole-grain crackers, roasted potatoes, romaine lettuce, fresh tomatoes, fruit, milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Pork sausage biscuit sandwich, Trix cereal bar, fruit, juice, milk; Lunch: Pepperoni pizza, garden salad, fresh broccoli, fruit, milk. Monday — Breakfast: Ham and cheese breakfast bagel, apple cinnamon muffin with...

  • Racino back on agenda

    Staff report|Feb 13, 2019

    The New Mexico Racing Commission has placed awarding a sixth license on its tentative agenda for its Feb. 21 meeting in Albuquerque. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. at the commission's board room at 4900 Alameda Blvd. in Albuquerque. The sixth-license item lies near the end of the agenda after about a dozen other action items. A final agenda for the meeting is expected early next week. Whether the commission will award a coveted horse-racing license to applicants in Tucumcari, Clovis or Lordsburg remains unknown because of a pending request...

  • Man back in jail on burglary charges

    Ron Warnick|Feb 13, 2019

    A Tucumcari man briefly jailed on drug- and stolen-property complaints landed back in the county lockup days after his release after witnesses and surveillance video reportedly caught him breaking into several homes. A criminal complaint filed Thursday in Tucumcari magistrate court accused Donie Lucero, 54, of felony residential burglary, felony possession of burglary tools, misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. According to the complaint, Lucero broke into a house in the 500 block of West Aber Street in Tucumcari wit...

  • Pages past - Feb. 13

    Feb 13, 2019

    On this date ... 1969: Charles Marlow Preston, 52, a prominent businessman in Tucumcari, died when his single-engine Cessna 182 plane crashed after the engine failed about 30 miles southwest of Fort Sumner. The crash occurred during a flight from Roswell to Tucumcari. Preston owned the Surplus City store in Tucumcari. His wife, one son, one daughter, his mother, one sister and six grandchildren survived him. • Ben Munoz talked to the Federal Republic Women’s Club at the Pow Wow Inn in Tucumcari about 90 proposed low-cost housing units in the...

  • New documentary promotes mysteries of Roswell's UFOs

    John Dilmore|Feb 13, 2019

    Not everyone who finds themselves drawn to UFO-related subjects believes, unequivocally, that extraterrestrial life exists. For one’s interest to be piqued, all that’s really required is an interest in the unknown. A belief in at least the possibility that extraterrestrial life exists, an open mind — well, that doesn’t hurt either. Of course there are many true believers out there. Either because of a personal encounter or experience or an inability to ignore the math, for them no leap of faith is required. But unless or until a “Day the Earth...

  • Confrontation was human nature at play

    Steve Hansen|Feb 13, 2019

    I’ve never cared much for puritanism. While the Pilgrims came to America to avoid religious persecution, they mostly wanted to exchange the rigidly enforced rules against their brand of Christianity for the right to impose their own equally rigid code on each other. In a puritan society, there are usually authorities all must answer to. That usually means the authorities give their own biases and notions, whatever their origin, the weight of Gospel truth. They also have the power to define and punish transgressors according to their personal pr...

  • Governor stands in defiance of president

    Tom McDonald|Feb 13, 2019

    Let’s start with this reality-based premise: The “national security crisis” we face is mostly internal. The violence and crime in our schools and on our streets doesn’t have anything to do with foreign-born “illegals” and terrorists. They’re almost entirely the result of angry and/or disturbed Americans. The real crisis in our country isn’t so much “us” verses “them” as it is us verses us. Black and white, rich and poor, city dweller and county folks, the mentally ill and the less mentally ill — as Americans, we’re all in this together and yet...

  • Letter to the editor - Feb. 13

    Feb 13, 2019

    Conservatives don’t balk at helping rich Conservatives get a tad uptight when a proposal is made that benefits someone other than the rich and corporations. Remember the conservative uproar over Trump’s tax plan that benefited the rich and corporations and vastly increased the deficit? There wasn’t one, but there was wailing and gnashing of teeth over Obama’s plan to address the recession because “It will increase the deficit!” The economic inequality is greater in the U.S. than any other advanced country and the reason is governmenta...

  • Rattlers triumph over NMMI

    Ron Warnick|Feb 13, 2019

    The Tucumcari boys basketball team scored the last 12 points of the game to secure a 51-34 victory over New Mexico Military Institute in the district opener Feb. 5 for both teams at the Snake Pit. The Rattlers (3-15) snapped a nine-game losing streak by notching their first victory since Dec. 21. Jesus Ramos scored 20 points, including 11 in the critical fourth quarter, to lead Tucumcari. Jaxon Arguello added 10 points for the Rattlers. Daniel Xibille led the Colts (4-6) with nine points. The...

  • Tucumcari girls cruise to victory

    Ron Warnick|Feb 13, 2019

    The Tucumcari girls basketball team scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to coast to an unexpectedly easy 86-50 victory Saturday over state-ranked Tularosa in the Lady Rattlers' district opener. Tucumcari's Aliyah Herrera scored a season-high 30 points on a combination of five 3-point shots and layups to finish fastbreaks and steals. Jasmine Jones and Kalani French each scored 18 points and Ashley Shipley added 15 for the Lady Rattlers (17-4), ranked third in Class 3A by MaxPreps.co...

  • Logan football coach turns in resignation

    Staff report|Feb 13, 2019

    Chase Disney, coach of Logan High School’s eight-man football team for one season, recently gave his resignation to the school district so he can take a job as a sports director for a city in his native Oklahoma. Last season, Disney led the Longhorns to a 5-7 record and 2-3 in district competition in his first year there. Logan defeated Ramah 52-0 in the first round of the eight-man football playoffs and lost to Mountainair 60-12 in the quarterfinals. Disney said in a phone interview Friday he gave his resignation as coach and history and s...

  • Logan keeps lead in district

    Staff report|Feb 13, 2019

    The Logan boys basketball team remained undefeated in district play with a 52-33 victory Saturday over Clovis Christian. Dyson Day led the Longhorns with 16 points, while Chase Earle added 14. Logan led 20-5 after the first quarter. Logan improved to 19-4 overall and 6-0 in the Class 1A, District 6. The Longhorns hold a one-game lead over district foe Fort Sumner and host the Foxes on Saturday. Clovis Christian fell to 3-13, 0-6 in the district. Grady 67, Hondo Valley 55 The Bronchos outscored the Eagles 23-11 in the second quarter en route to...

  • Logan girls defeat Clovis Christian

    Staff report|Feb 13, 2019

    The Logan girls basketball team remained in the district-title hunt with a 55-35 victory Saturday over Clovis Christian. Makenna Brewer led the Lady Longhorns with 16 points, while teammate Harlie Roach added 15. Logan improved to 19-4 overall and 5-1 in Class 1A, District 6, and stayed in a first-place tie with Melrose. Logan and Melrose both have district games remaining against Fort Sumner and Grady. Clovis Christian fell to 4-12, 0-6. Grady 61, Hondo Valley 52 The Lady Broncos jumped out to a 19-6 first-quarter lead en route to a 61-52 vict...

  • Tucumcari man gets 10 years in shooting

    Ron Warnick|Feb 13, 2019

    Bobby Lee Vandiver, 32, of Tucumcari was sentenced Wednesday in 10th Judicial District Court to 10 years in prison for shooting a man on the west side of Tucumcari last summer, prompting the closure of Route 66 for hours. Vandiver pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer, battery and possession of a firearm by a felon in a plea agreement. Charges of armed robbery, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit armed robbery were dismissed. District Attorney Tim Rose stated in an email...

  • Cameroon a call to faithfulness

    Gordan Runyan|Feb 13, 2019

    “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” — Proverbs 24:11 The Christian has a duty to speak out (at the very least) in defense of the weak and needy, who are being oppressed, ruined and destroyed by evil men. For the record, no, it doesn’t count that you pay a clergyman to do this for you. As individuals we must speak, just as we will stand before God someday. Hoping to discharge some of that noble duty, I would like to introdu...

  • Jury: Daycare workers guilty

    David Grieder|Feb 13, 2019

    PORTALES — Daycare workers who admitted to leaving two toddlers in a hot car in July 2017 were found guilty Tuesday of charges that could send them to prison for up to 36 years. Mary and Sandi Taylor were immediately remanded into custody following the Roosevelt County jury’s guilty verdict, which came about four hours after it began deliberating. The courtroom filled with tears on both sides when the verdict was announced. “(I’m) very glad to see we’re taking child abuse in this community very seriously, even if it’s reckless rather than...

  • Relief and reckoning

    David Grieder|Feb 13, 2019

    PORTALES — Dozens of pink and blue balloons took flight Tuesday from outside the Roosevelt County courthouse, one of the first light moments for anyone involved in the emotional trial that had played out in the five days before. It was a moment of relief for many, a feeling that justice had been served on behalf of two young girls left in a hot car for almost three hours the afternoon of July 25, 2017. Yet for the former daycare pair convicted of felony child abuse charges, and for their families, it was a crushing reckoning that means up to 3...

  • Police blotter - Feb. 13

    Feb 13, 2019

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Feb. 4 to Feb. 10: Monday • 10:12 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 200 block of West High Street, Tucumcari. • 10:31 a.m.: Fraud in 200 block of East Main Street, Tucumcari. • 11:30 a.m.: Theft in 600 block of Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. • 12:26 p.m.: Traffic accident with damage in 2000 block of South Mountain Road, Tucumcari. • 2:24 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 100 block of East Main Street, Tucumcari. • 2:52 p.m.: Burglary in 1600 block of South Seventh Street, T...

  • Jail log - Feb. 13

    Feb 13, 2019

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Feb. 4 to Feb. 10: • Matthew Joseph Arias, 37, Tucumcari, charge not listed. • Emilio E. Sustaita, 28, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Jimmy Armstrong, 49, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Donie D. Lucero, 54, Tucumcari, residential burglary, solicitation of larceny (over $500 but more more than $2,500), criminal damage to property (under $1,000) and two counts of contempt of court. • Danny Kirby, 50, Tucumcari, contempt of court and two counts of violation of a restraini...

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