Serving the High Plains

Articles from the June 21, 2017 edition


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  • Beat the coming heat

    Thomas Garcia, Senior Writer|Jun 21, 2017

    Century mark temperatures will impact Quay County mid-week once again following a record-breaking weekend of high temperatures for the area, according to Albuquerque's National Weather Service officials. High temperatures are typical for this time of year, said Annette Mokry, meteorologist, adding that a high pressure system remains in place, continuing to deflect any potential storm systems from moving into the area. She said there is a 20 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms on Wednesday...

  • City holds commissioner recall election

    Thomas Garcia, Senior Writer|Jun 21, 2017

    Three city commissioners will retain their seats on the Tucumcari City Commission after Thursday’s canvas of the June 13 special recall election was confirmed the results. Tucumcari residents voted in favor of retaining Ralph Moya (District 1), Amy Gutierrez (District 2) and Mayor Ruth Ann-Litchfield (District 3) as city commissioners, according to Angelica Gray, city clerk. "I want to thank all the residents who came out, voted and supported me," Moya said Tuesday, adding that the recall election was uncalled for and divided the community. He...

  • 2017 misses crowned

    Alisa Boswell, Portales Managing Editor|Jun 21, 2017

    PORTALES — Tears were flowing Saturday night as Miss Las Cruces Taylor Rey, 22, was crowned the 2017 Miss New Mexico. Rio Grande's Outstanding Teen Sienna Mascarenas, 16, of Albuquerque, was crowned Miss New Mexico's Outstanding Teen. "I am absolutely ecstatic," Rey said. "I never actually thought this would happen." Rey had competed three times previously, twice for Miss New Mexico and once for Miss New Mexico Outstanding Teen. Previous to the win, however, she took two years off to finish c...

  • Heritage Days a hot event

    Anna George, Staff Writer|Jun 21, 2017

    PORTALES — The final consensus of the 33rd Annual Heritage Days is that it was way too hot. Temperatures hit 100 degrees and were hurtling towards the predicted 107. But the Roosevelt County Chamber says that despite the heat, the event was a success. "It's not holding anyone back," said Chamber President-elect Noelle Bartl. "(Heritage Days) feels as good as it ever has even with the heat." Chamber employee Victoria Garrett said a lot more people showed than she expected and she would call it a...

  • Local places top-10 in rodeo finals

    QCS Staff|Jun 21, 2017

    Mesalands Community College’s bullrider tied for eighth place last week at the 69th Annual College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. Kenneth “Blue” Wilcox from Greenbrier, Arizona, started the college national finals on a high note after being crowned the bull riding champion for the Grand Canyon Region in the year-end standings, according to Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach Matt Hughes. Wilcox earned 75.5 points in the second round of the bull riding event and qualified for the championship round. He then received a no score in the champ...

  • Portales next leg of water project

    Alisa Boswell, Portales Managing Editor|Jun 21, 2017

    PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority board members voted Friday that the water pipeline to Portales will be the next phase of the Ute water pipeline project. ENMWUA Executive Director Justin Howalt told board members the water authority needed direction on which phase to work on next from Cannon Air Force Base, whether it be the pipeline to Clovis, the one to Melrose and Grady or the one to Portales. Board member David Lansford suggested the Portales pipeline be the next phase, because Portales city officials and councilors h...

  • Events calendar - June 21

    Jun 21, 2017

    Today • Tucumcari/Quay Regional Emergency Communication Board: 10 a.m., Tucumcari City Hall Thursday • Housing Authority Board: 5 p.m., Tucumcari City Hall • City Commission: 6 p.m., Tucumcari City Hall Monday • Library Advisory Board: 5:15 p.m., Tucumcari Library Tuesday • Economic Development Corporation: Noon, economic development corporation • Planning and Zoning Advisory Board: 5:15 p.m., Tucumcari City Hall June 30 • Quay County Commission: 9 a.m., Quay County Courthouse Service clubs • Altrusa Club of Tucumcari: Noon, first and third...

  • Senior menus - June 21

    Jun 21, 2017

    The following are the menus for the Tucumcari and Logan senior centers for today through June 21: Coffee, tea and milk served daily Logan Thursday: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans with onions, whole wheat bread, strawberry short cake Friday: Corn flake chicken, sautéed potatoes, raw carrots with dressing, cornbread honeydew Monday: Grilled cheese, vegetable soup, crackers, apricots Tuesday: Meatballs, wild rice, carrots with peppers, breadsticks, margarine, yogurt Wednesday: Green chile hamburger, French fries,...

  • Jail log - June 21

    Jun 21, 2017

    The following individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from June 10 through June 16: • Raymond Parker, 69, driving while under the influence • Brandon Aragon, 37, warrant • Willie Hearvy, 19, warrant • James King, 37, deprivation of the property of a household member • Heidi Rodriguez, 35, shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, assault with intent to commit a violent felony • George Salaz, 38, warrant • Regina Vargas, 35, warrant • Gregorio Garcia, 33, warrant • Rachel Garcia, 32, battery against a household member...

  • Pages past - June 21

    Staff Report|Jun 21, 2017

    June 1969 • Tucumcari hosted the annual state 4-H horse show and rodeo for the eighth straight year. • Several days of heavy rains sent water 18 inches deep over the spillway at Ute Lake Dam. Conchas Lake had risen 3.7 feet, and was raising a tenth of a foot every hour. Pajarito Creek was full from bank-to-bank and running strong. Construction on the Quay apartments was 40 percent complete, with tenants expected to be able to move in by mid-August. • The Pinata Festival committee was given permission to lay out a motorcycle track at the Metro...

  • Neither side blameless for political fire

    Albuquerque Journal|Jun 21, 2017

    The partisan rancor and toxic incivility that have gripped the nation since last year’s presidential campaign spilled over into bloodshed last Wednesday. James T. Hodgkinson, 66, opened fire on a group of Republican congressmen practicing for a fundraising baseball game against their Democrat colleagues. Although Tim Slater, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, stopped short of calling the shootings an assassination attempt, that’s exactly what it was. Hodgkinson, an avowed progressive and Donald Trump hater, was out t...

  • Need drives urban, rural motives

    Steve Hansen, Columnist|Jun 21, 2017

    Much has been made in the news lately about the division between urban and rural citizens, and what motivates them to do things like vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in an election of bad or worse choices. I’m hoping some of the observations listed below might help you understand the differences: • Cities are full of glass-and-steel monuments to the religion of management. In this peculiar religion, the credit and pay don’t go to the worker who puts the O-ring in the hose to make it leakproof. It doesn’t even go to the engineer who des...

  • Pearce recounts shooting details

    Anna George, Staff Writer|Jun 21, 2017

    Steve Pearce was just stepping in to take batting practice Wednesday morning when he noticed a man who seemed “a little out of place.” While everyone else at the U.S. House Republican baseball team practice was engaged in their workout or watching the players, Pearce said the man who appeared near the third-base dugout was looking around the field at nothing in particular. And then he raised a rifle and began firing. Authorities said four people were shot in the minutes that followed. The shooter, identified as James Hodgkinson, 66, of Bel...

  • Failure to perform got Comey fired

    Rube Render, Columnist|Jun 21, 2017

    Much has been made in the news lately about the division between urban and rural citizens, and what motivates them to do things like vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in an election of bad or worse choices. I’m hoping some of the observations listed below might help you understand the differences: • Cities are full of glass-and-steel monuments to the religion of management. In this peculiar religion, the credit and pay don’t go to the worker who puts the O-ring in the hose to make it le...

  • Study: Poverty still grips state

    Eamon Scarbrough, Staff Writer|Jun 21, 2017

    A national study of family and child well-being has found that New Mexico ranks second to last behind Mississippi, and Curry and Roosevelt County are not faring much better than the average. Local health-care and poverty experts say this is nothing new, and the high amount of poverty in the state has been on the increase for several years. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2017 Kids Count Data Book, which used data from 2015, showed 28.6 percent of children ages 0-17 (141,053) living in poverty statewide. In Curry County, the statistic was 2...

  • Bible outlaws all 'soft socialism'

    Gordan Runyan, Religion columnist|Jun 21, 2017

    I've seen people on social media claiming the Bible doesn't bother to advocate any particular economic order. Supposedly, if a nation chooses capitalism, socialism, or any other "ism," we shouldn't imagine that God cares one way or the other. This assertion is one fruit of a sort of Christian preaching that fails to apply the Word of God to every area of life, in favor of focusing exclusively on the warm fuzzies you have in your heart because of Jesus. Don't get me wrong: I'm all for warm...

  • ENMU seeks track, cross country coach

    The Staff of The News|Jun 21, 2017

    PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University is searching for a new cross country and track and field coach. Danielle Kcholi, who has served in the position for the last three years, turned in her resignation, effective June 30. Kcholi told the Eastern New Mexico News she and her husband, Guy, plan to relocate to the Dallas area for other opportunities. The school will do a national search for her replacement, according to a release from the school. “We want to thank Coach Kcholi for her dedication to the ENMU cross country and track and field prog...

  • Clovis Music Festival kicks off

    Anna George, Staff Writer|Jun 21, 2017

    The Curry County Chamber is expecting a full house Friday for the final event of this year’s Clovis Music Festival featuring Winger and FireHouse. The Clovis Music Festival is held annually to celebrate the artists that recorded at the Norman Petty Studio such as Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and Ritchie Valens. The festival is generally held in September to align with Holly’s birthday but got moved to June 17-25 due to consistent conflicts with home football games. This year it is being held in conjunction with Draggin’ Main. The Clovis Music...

  • AMVETS convention slated for Clovis

    Stephanie Losoya, Staff Writer|Jun 21, 2017

    CLOVIS — New Mexico’s American Veterans, AMVETS, are gathering in Clovis for their annual state convention this weekend. Posts from Albuquerque, Farmington, Shiprock, and Deming are scheduled to be here to discuss and vote on national matters as well as vote in new leaders for the state posts. Post 14 in Clovis is the AMVET state hub because no other branch in New Mexico has an official AMVET post building to meet in, organizers said. Commander Tommy Knight said he expects there to be 40 representatives from across the state. He looks for...

  • Firefighter dies from injuries

    Thomas Garcia|Jun 21, 2017

    A Nara Visa volunteer firefighter died on Thursday after suffering burns trying to extinguish a fire that was more than seven miles long and three miles wide. John Cammack, 74, of Nara Visa, was severely burned after falling from a fire engine during a "burn over" Wednesday night, said Nara Visa Fire Chief Gary Girard. Girard said a second firefighter, Kyle Perez, was also injured during the incident. He said the firefighters were attempting to refill a fire engine with a water tanker when the...