Serving the High Plains

Articles from the May 27, 2020 edition


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  • Governor says state 'on track'

    Ron Warnick|May 27, 2020

    New Mexico's governor signaled during a briefing last week the state is meeting or close to meeting several criteria and was “on track” to reopen dine-in restaurants, salons, gyms and malls June 1 after they were ordered closed for weeks by the coronavirus pandemic. Human Services Secretary Richard Scrase said during the briefing the spread rate of COVID-19 in New Mexico had dropped below the 1.15 target rate, to 1.12, for the first time. The southeast part of the state, which includes Quay County, saw an uptick in the rate he attributed to cas...

  • New order allows limited outdoor dining Wednesday

    Staff report|May 27, 2020

    New Mexico's governor announced Tuesday afternoon that dine-in restaurants can offer limited outdoor seating starting Wednesday and that the state remains on-track to partially reopen indoor dining June 1 after weeks of restrictions due to coronavirus. Under the amended public health order effective May 27, restaurants may offer dine-in service in outdoor seating areas at up to 50% of their outdoor area fire-code occupancy. These stipulations apply: – No dine-in service may be provided in indoor seating areas. – Outdoor dine-in service may be...

  • THS to host virtual graduation

    Ron Warnick|May 27, 2020

    Though this year’s Tucumcari High School graduation will forgo many of its traditions because of coronavirus restrictions, it will add a few new wrinkles that should make it memorable — including its seniors going out with a bang. The high school will host a virtual, drive-in graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday in front of the building at 1100 S. Seventh St. “I think it will be good, and we’re going to make sure it happens,” school superintendent Aaron McKinney said in a telephone interview last week. “It’s going to be a memory they can take...

  • Mesalands approves COVID-19 reopening plan

    Ron Warnick|May 27, 2020

    The Mesalands Community College board of trustees approved a COVID-19 reopening plan adopted from a proposal by the New Mexico Higher Education Department that includes multiple phases and a mix of in-person and online classes in August. The college’s acting president, Natalie Gillard, said during the board’s May 19 videoconference meeting the agency’s plan was “complete, thorough and flexible” and can be adopted for Mesalands. She said it had been drafted with the input of presidents of colleges and universities across the state. Mesalands...

  • Connected in the body and to the head

    Leonard Lauriault|May 27, 2020

    During homeschooling due to COVID-19, I recalled “The Skeleton Song” used for teaching children the parts of the body. Here’s how it goes: “The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone. The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone. The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone. Doin’ the skeleton dance. The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone. The hip bone’s connected to the backbone. The backbone’s connected to the neck bone. Doin’ the skeleton dance.” This song is based on one written in the early 1900s named “Dem Bones,” or “Dry Bones,” bas...

  • Groups planning certification program

    Staff report|May 27, 2020

    Two prominent tourism groups are planning a New Mexico Safe certification program in an effort to bring visitors back to the Land of Enchantment during the COVID-19 era. The New Mexico Tourism Department and the New Mexico Hospitality Association are collaborating on the program for businesses that likely will launch June 15. The program was revealed during a “Reopening the Tourism Economy” webinar Thursday hosted by New Mexico Tourism Secretary Jen Schroer. New Mexico contains a lot of outdoor activities and open space, which would make it...

  • Pages past - May 27

    May 27, 2020

    On this date ... 1970: The newspaper saluted 121 seniors who were about to graduate from Tucumcari High School. Nearly 75 businesses in the region provided brief messages to salute the graduates, including the still-operating Smitty's Barber Shop, Citizens Bank, Pow Wow Inn, Golden Dragon Restaurant and Dickinson Implement Co. The newspaper wrote: "Congratulations and best wishes ... Through the years may we print your success stories." • Three Tucumcari High School baseball players, coached b...

  • Calendar - May 27

    May 27, 2020

    • June 18-20 — Asavet Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. Cost for each surgery is $40. Applications are available at Best Care Pharmacy, Tucumcari Subway, Logan Subway and the Paws and Clubs Animal Rescue of Quay County website at pawsandclawsanimalrescueofquaycounty.com. Applications must be mailed before June 1 to Paws and Claws, P.O. Box 143, Tucumcari, NM 88401. Payment also may be mailed there. Applicants will be notified one week before the event. • Sept. 26 — Wheels on Fire 100. Cyclists can enjoy a 25-, 50- or 100-mile ride on Route 666 and...

  • Menus - May 27

    May 27, 2020

    The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center also will be closed to the public indefinitely but will deliver meals to those who qualify. Those interested in meal deliveries should call the Tucumcari facility at 461-2307 and the Logan facility at 487-2287 for more information. Tucumcari Senior Center Wednesday — Beef fajita, pinto beans with green chile salsa, flour tortilla, Jell-O with fruit. Thursday — Chicken and rice, peas and carrots, roll, oatmeal cookie. Friday — Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, California veget...

  • FIrst human West Nile case of year reported

    Staff report|May 27, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health last week reported the first human case of West Nile virus infection in the state this year. The patient was a San Juan County man in his 50s. He was diagnosed with the neuroinvasive form of the disease, which has required hospitalization, and he is recovering, according to a news release Thursday from the agency. West Nile virus is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that sometimes can be fatal. New Mexico has seen cases of West Nile virus infection every year since the virus was introduced to the state in...

  • Ratcliffe should be given fair chance to serve

    May 27, 2020

    During the long national struggle that is coronavirus, the grinding wheels of Washington have moved that much more slowly — something that in normal times we might mark as a good thing under the old adage that the government that acts least acts best. But a few important things have happened beyond the approval of the first stimulus package. Among these is the Senate’s confirmation of Texas congressman John Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence. In a 49-44 vote, Ratcliffe was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday along partisan lin...

  • Wear the darn mask, Mr. President

    Steve Hansen|May 27, 2020

    Wear the darn mask, Mr. President. You are not above the law, and no, you are not the law, as much as you want to be. It’s not manly to go maskless in public. It’s dumb. You are an obviously overweight guy in your 70s. You are at risk. You don’t drink or smoke, I understand, but reports say your diet is a nutritionist’s nightmare, French fries, diet soda, fast food, bacon and eggs. You’re richer than Croesus and surprised even yourself by getting elected president. That makes you lucky, not more than human. As a human, you are vulnerabl...

  • Hoping for return of simple pleasures

    Michael Reagan|May 27, 2020

    Don’t tell the people in charge, but my friend’s wife is a member of the L.A. resistance. She’s been regularly going out into the underground economy to get her hair done. She’s been meeting with her hairdresser at an undisclosed location — his daughter’s driveway — and striking a small but symbolic blow for old-fashioned American freedom. My friend’s wife is in no danger of getting in trouble with the authorities, but her hairdresser is. According to power-mad politicians now in charge of the economic and social lives of 10 million people...

  • Police blotter - May 27

    May 27, 2020

    Monday • 1:22 a.m.: Noise complaint in 300 block of East High Street, Tucumcari. • 2:14 a.m.: Noise complaint in 200 block of Aztec Drive, Logan. • 3:27 a.m.: Noise complaint in 700 block of West Sunset Avenue, Tucumcari. • 5:38 a.m.: Missing person reported in 400 block of North College Street, Tucumcari. • 7:19 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 200 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. • 9:11 a.m.: Property damage in 400 block of South Adams Street, Tucumcari. • 10:24 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 400 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. • 12:20 p.m.:...

  • Jail log - May 27

    May 27, 2020

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from May 18 to May 21: • Emilio Casteneda, 32, Tucumcari, municipal charge (not listed). • Daniel V. Evans, 38, address not listed, intentional child abuse (no death or great bodily harm). • Rogelio Ezqueda, 35, Clovis, two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug) and probation violation. • Marc Hazelton, 40, Tucumcari, aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug (0.16 or above), driving while under the influen...

  • School board discusses Tucumcari grad plans

    Ron Warnick|May 27, 2020

    When and how Tucumcari High School would hold a graduation ceremony amid COVID-19 restrictions became a hot topic of discussion among school board members during its regular meeting May 18. Later in the week, the district announced it would hold a virtual drive-through graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. May 29 in front of Tucumcari High School. Superintendent Aaron McKinney said he was calling other schools that held ceremonies to see how they did it, and he would “come up with something sooner than later.” He said he was eyeing graduation dat...

  • Loretta's Burrito Hut moving east

    Ron Warnick|May 27, 2020

    The owner of Loretta's Burrito Hut anticipates she'll reopen her restaurant about a half-mile east of her current location in the Joe's Back in the Day Diner building by late June or early July. Loretta Muller, owner of the restaurant at 605 W. Tucumcari Blvd., said she's been shoring up the long-closed Joe's building at 321 E. Tucumcari Blvd. since March, including repairing a leaky roof. She'd planned to reopen there sooner but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented that. Muller said in a phone inter...

  • State to begin next reopening phase Monday

    QCS Staff|May 27, 2020

    Starting Monday, New Mexico will begin its next phase of reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. A public health order effective at the beginning of June allows for the reopening of dine-in restaurants, salons and gyms with occupancy limitations. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham anticipates the public health order covering 30 days, but noted there may be modifications if infection data changes. The state is currently at a transmission rate of 1.09, below the benchmark of 1.15 that has been a target for weeks. Lujan Grisham said social distancing,... Full story