Serving the High Plains

Articles from the June 19, 2019 edition


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  • Commissioner: Arrest result of 'misunderstanding'

    Steve Hansen|Jun 19, 2019

    Tucumcari City Commissioner Ralph Moya, speaking as a citizen at Thursday’s city commission meeting, said his arrest June 8 on a warrant from Tucumcari Municipal Court for failing to appear in court came about because of a lack of communication. Moya, police records show, was not jailed as a result of the arrest, which he said was the result of a misunderstanding because he had called animal control officers earlier to report his sister-in-law’s dog had gotten loose. He was out of town at the time, and his sister-in-law had called to tell him...

  • Police release footage of chase

    Ron Warnick|Jun 19, 2019

    A high-speed police chase that went through the heart of Tucumcari last month would have been ordered terminated by the county sheriff if the suspects' car had turned onto a residential street. However, the chase continued on a north-south artery through town and ended when the suspects' stolen vehicle crashed upside-down onto the lawn of a north-side residence. A two-hour standoff ensued when one of the suspects in the flipped car reportedly shot at officers approaching to give aid. The two wer...

  • Tuition increase approved

    Ron Warnick|Jun 19, 2019

    The Mesalands Community College board of trustees on June 11 approved increases in tuition rates and several fees and gave a two-year contract extension to President John Groesbeck. Without dissension, trustees voted for hikes in credit-hour tuition for the 2019-2020 school year. The rate per credit hour for an in-state student rose from $58 to $60, a 3.4% increase. For out-of-state students, the rate rose from $104 to $110 per credit hour, an increase of 5.8%. Several officials at the meeting, which was moved from its regularly scheduled June...

  • Calendar - June 19

    Jun 19, 2019

    • Now through July 12 —Summer Reading Program. Blast off into a universe of stories. Read books. Fill out your reading log. Win prizes. Bring your children by the Tucumcari Public Library to register. For more information, call (575) 461-0295. 602 S. Second St., Tucumcari. • Saturday — VFW Flea Market. Sell your craft items and clean out your closet. The VFW Post 2528 Flea Market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The concession stand will be available for breakfast and lunch. Call Tara at (575) 708-9177 to reserve a table; please leave a message...

  • Civil government isn't our highest authority

    Gordan Runyan|Jun 19, 2019

    One sticking point I encounter when seeking to apply Christian principles outside the walls of the church building is a prominent confusion over terms and definitions. The one I’ll tackle today is the term, “legal.” Christians have been wrongly trained to believe that the civil government has the ultimate right to define what is legal. Then, their own pulpits have taught them to equate legal with “moral.” Government declares something illegal, and whatever it is, apparently, God ratifies...

  • New MainStreet director familiar face

    Ron Warnick|Jun 19, 2019

    The new executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet is someone who holds considerable familiarity with the downtown improvement program and with Tucumcari itself. Connie Loveland began her duties June 3 in the MainStreet office in the historic Tucumcari railroad depot after spending 12 years as a loan officer and community bank compliance officer at Tucumcari Federal Savings and Loan. She said she was prompted to apply for the position after spending two years as co-chairwoman of the organization's Fired Up festivals, including the first in...

  • Hatch Act remains spiritual path for our public officials

    David Stevens|Jun 19, 2019

    The U.S. Office of Special Counsel last week recommended President Trump fire an aide for “persistent, notorious and deliberate Hatch Act violations.” Trump said no, he would not fire Kellyanne Conway, his former campaign manager, for that. Most casual political observers probably assumed this was partisan politics as usual. That would be incorrect, just as it would be incorrect to assume the 1939 Hatch Act — authored by Democratic Sen. Carl Hatch of Clovis — had little opposition from Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his sup...

  • Code of conduct delicate balance

    Steve Hansen|Jun 19, 2019

    The Tucumcari City Commission faces a delicate balance as it considers whether to adopt a code of conduct for the commission and city government employees. While the rest of the commissioners and Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield, not to mention City Manager Britt Lusk, are in favor of the code, District 1 Commissioner Ralph Moya is dead set against it. He thinks it’s aimed at him. There is reason to believe that. Moya seems to think he was elected to fight City Hall, not to cooperate with an otherwise agreeable governing body. Other commissioners o...

  • We could all use more heroes

    Jun 19, 2019

    “My heroes have always been cowboys, still are, it seems. Sadly, in search of, and one step in back of, themselves and their slow movin’ dreams.” — Sharon Vaughn, songwriter SANTA ROSA — Heroes are easy to find but hard to keep. Especially when we’re young, we need our heroes, or positive role models if you prefer, as examples of what courage, sacrifice and success are all about. We typically start with our parents, superheroes in our young eyes, while our imaginations gravitate toward mythical beings like the Man of Steel, the Dark Knight or,...

  • Girls wrestling approved

    Staff report|Jun 19, 2019

    As expected, the New Mexico Activities Association board of directors on Thursday approved girls wrestling as an officially sanctioned sport for the 2019-2020 season. The number of girls competing in wrestling in New Mexico had more than doubled – to 165 last season – in the last two years. New Mexico became the 18th state to officially recognize girls wrestling. Exhibition events for girl wrestlers had been held the last two seasons at the boys' state tournament. The NMAA laid out its pla...

  • Mesalands rodeo endures disappointing week

    Staff report|Jun 19, 2019

    The four athletes from Mesalands Community College who competed in last week’s College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, endured a disappointing week. Bull riders Levi Gray, Roy Jackson and Vinell Mariano walked away with no scores during their three early-round sessions. Bareback bronc rider AJ Kee managed to stay on his mount but received a poor score and was injured on his next ride. “It was disappointing, for sure,” Mesalands coach Matt Hughes said during a telephone interview Monday. “On paper, it didn’t look good. But in person...

  • Logan softball players earn all-state honors

    Staff report|Jun 19, 2019

    Two players from the Logan softball team earned second team all-state honors last week. First baseman Harlie Roach and pitcher Kyndall Ragland each were selected to the second team in the Class 1A/2A all-state selections. The New Mexico High School Coaches Association announces its picks Wednesday. According to statistics compiled at MaxPreps.com, Roach hit a team-leading .614 and also led the team with triples (seven), RBI (23) and tied for the team lead in home runs (two). Ragland, a freshman, hit .500 and logged a 6.60 ERA as a pitcher with...

  • Tax board's renewal recommendation reluctant

    Ron Warnick|Jun 19, 2019

    The Tucumcari City Commission approved a one-year contract extension with an Albuquerque marketing firm Thursday after members of the Tucumcari Lodgers' Tax Board on Wednesday reluctantly but unanimously voted to recommend the renewal despite some dissatisfaction with the company. All four of the lodgers' tax board members — Chairman Larry Smith, Matt Bednorz, Brenda Lopez and Al Patel — indicated early in the meeting they would have voted against the contract extension for the Sunny505 firm. But city manager Britt Lusk's pleas to reconsider, t...

  • Pages past - June 19

    Jun 19, 2019

    On this date ... 1969: Bob Richards, 43, a former Olympic pole vaulter who became a minister, stayed overnight in Tucumcari during his cross-country trek. Richards departed from Hollywood, California, on June 1 and planned to be in New York City by July 17. Averaging 140 miles a day primarily on a bicycle with some jogging, he said he was about five days ahead of schedule. Richards said he was on a physical-fitness crusade: “If I can bicycle clear across the country, anyone can bicycle around the block or go to the gymnasium for exercise.” A ph...

  • Man accused in shooting with BB gun

    Ron Warnick|Jun 19, 2019

    A Tucumcari man was arrested Wednesday on a warrant where he was accused of shooting another man four times with a BB gun and threatened to shoot a woman with it. Nicholas Matthew Aragon, 26, was booked into the county jail on a complaint of burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and larceny. The burglary count is a third-degree felony that can lead to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The aggravated-assault count is a fourth-degree felony that can lead up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. The...

  • Man accused of trying to attack police officer

    Ron Warnick|Jun 19, 2019

    A Tucumcari man was booked into the Quay County jail after he was accused of trying to attack a police officer with a rock. Simon Romero, 61, was charged Thursday in Tucumcari magistrate court with aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer. The aggravated-assault count is a third-degree felony punishable by up to three years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. According to a complaint filed by Tucumcari police officer Daniel Lopez, officers on Wednesday were requested by medical personnel to help with...

  • Area students graduate from ENMU

    Staff report|Jun 19, 2019

    The following area students graduated from Eastern New Mexico University on May 11: Kamelia Lamm, Brittany Pulcini and Dolores Vazquez of Tucumcari; Vickie Gutierrez, Chelsea Muncy, Kristofer Cordova, Wesley Gudgell, Larramy Roberts and Wyatt Strand of Logan; and Alexis Quintana of San Jon....

  • Menus - June 19

    Jun 19, 2019

    Tucumcari Senior Center Wednesday — Stuffed bell pepper, baked beans, carrots, biscuit, fruit cocktail. Thursday — Baked ham, spinach, yams, cornbread and margarine, cottage cheese, pineapple. Friday — Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and gravy, turnip greens, whole-wheat roll, Jell-O with fruit. Monday — Green chile hamburger with lettuce, tomato, cheese, onions and pickles, pork and beans, watermelon. Tuesday — Chicken fajita, flour tortilla, chile beans with cheese, gelatin with mandarin orange. Logan Senior Center Wednesday — Frito pie,...

  • Police blotter - June 19

    Jun 19, 2019

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from June 10 to June 16: Monday • 6:43 a.m.: Attempted theft in 4000 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. • 12:09 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 400 block of East Turner Avenue, Tucumcari. • 2:03 p.m.: Breaking and entering in 600 block of East Main Street, Tucumcari. • 3:58 p.m.: Breaking and entering in 1000 block of South Monroe Street, Tucumcari. • 4:56 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 500 block of East McGee Avenue, Tucumcari. • 9:48 p.m.: Disturbance...

  • Jail log - June 19

    Jun 19, 2019

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from June 10 to June 16: • Pete Eric Baca, 55, Tucumcari, larceny ($250 or less). • Seth A. Chavez, 31, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Frankie Martinez, 22, Tucumcari, distribution of marijuana. • Nicholas Matthew Aragon, 26, Tucumcari, residential burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery (no great bodily harm) and larceny ($100 or less). • Angel Christopher Griego Jr., 26, parole violation. • Simon Romero, 61, aggravated assault upon a peace off...