Serving the High Plains

Articles from the June 26, 2019 edition


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  • Route ready to rock

    Ron Warnick|Jun 26, 2019

    After a one-year hiatus, the sounds of old-school rock 'n' roll again will fill the air in Tucumcari this week with a new organizer and a rebranded event, Rockin' Route 66. As with its Rockabilly on the Route predecessor, Rockin' Route 66 from Thursday through Sunday mostly will be based at the Tucumcari Convention Center, including ticketed events for six headlining acts - Phil Rocker of Colombia, "Outlaw Legend" Willie Heath Neal of Atlanta and Danny B Harvey and Annie Marie Lewis (niece of...

  • School board approves resolutions

    Ron Warnick|Jun 26, 2019

    The Tucumcari Public Schools board during a mostly routine meeting June 17 approved several resolutions for the upcoming school year, including applications requesting more than a half-million dollars to cover costs to teach at-risk students. The board approved a Title I application for $503,671.10 in federal funds for some teachers’ salaries and a Title II application for $54,762.99 in federal money for professional development. Assistant superintendent Dave Johnson said both funds are used to improve at-risk or poverty-stricken students. B...

  • Revitalizing the 'T'

    Ron Warnick|Jun 26, 2019

    If the faded big "T" on the side of Tucumcari Mountain eventually is refurbished, the key individual behind the project is a non-native who's lived in Tucumcari for slightly over a decade. The white "T" hasn't been painted in at least two years after the mesa's new owner tightened access to the property. Al Patel, owner of the Desert Inn hotel and 66 Outlaw apparel shop in Tucumcari, aims to change that by finding a low-maintenance solution that will make the letter stand out better and longer....

  • Freedoms being abused

    Leonard Lauriault|Jun 26, 2019

    The movie “Braveheart” ends with William Wallace, a leader in the First War of Scottish Independence (against English rule), portrayed as proclaiming, “Freedom!” while being executed in 1305. I think his statement carried two messages. One was to the English they really hadn’t conquered the Scots by putting him to death; they merely were giving him his freedom. The second message was to the Scots: If they continued their fight for independence, they’d gain their national freedom by defeating the English or their personal freedom similarly a...

  • Media leader named head of NMPA

    Staff report|Jun 26, 2019

    Sammy Lopez, a longtime New Mexico media leader, has been named executive director of the New Mexico Press Association. “We are pleased to have retained the forward-looking services of this native New Mexican with a lifetime of experience in journalism and newspapers,” said NMPA President Leota Brigida Harriman. Lopez has been publisher for newspapers in Las Cruces, Farmington, Carlsbad, Ruidoso, Deming and Fort Sumner. According to a NMPA news release: Lopez also served in executive capacities with World West, where he was group manager for...

  • San Jon to vote on bond package

    Ron Warnick|Jun 26, 2019

    Voters in the San Jon school district during the Nov. 5 general election will vote on a proposed $800,000 general-obligation bond package for repairs to the district’s school buildings and other facilities. The San Jon school board unanimously passed a resolution during its meeting June 17 that would put the bond question on the November ballot. District Superintendent Janet Gladu said in a phone interview last week that members of the state’s Public School Capital Outlay Council recently toured the school grounds and graded facilities on wha...

  • Cancer walk scheduled

    Staff report|Jun 26, 2019

    Quay County on the Move’s final first-Saturday walk of the season will be a Cancer Survivor’s Walk. The organization has joined with Esperanza Gutierrez, a four-time cancer survivor, to host the walk in honor of those who have battled or are battling cancer. This event is a dream of Gutierrez’s, who wants to give back to those who supported her during her cancer fights. She is making a special gift for cancer survivors who attend. This event at Tucumcari’s Dunn Park is free and will run from 8 to 9 a.m., where participants can enjoy a leisure...

  • Menus - June 26

    Jun 26, 2019

    Tucumcari Senior Center Wednesday — Chicken and rice, broccoli, peas and carrots, potluck roll with margarine, oatmeal cookie. Thursday — Baked spicy fish, wild rice, Brussels sprouts with margarine, whole-wheat roll with margarine, pears, brownie. Friday — Spaghetti and sauce, steamed broccoli, garlic bread, applesauce cake. Monday — Chili dog, baked potato wedges, mixed vegetables, tropical fruit. Tuesday — Sweet and sour pork, Oriental vegetables, carrots, peanut butter cookie, gelatin with fruit and whipped topping. Logan Senior Center We...

  • Calendar - June 26

    Jun 26, 2019

    • Thursday-Sunday — Rockin’ Route 66. The festival will be packed with live entertainment, a car and motorcycle show, a pinup contest, tiki pool party, Black Collar Vendor Markette, a special screening of “American Graffiti” at the Odeon Theatre and more. Tucumcari Convention Center and various locations in Tucumcari. • July 4 — Fireworks display. The Eagles Lodge again will host Tucumcari’s annual Independence Day fireworks show. The show begins at dark, about 9:30 p.m. or earlier if it’s cloudy. 2118 S. Adams St., Tucumcari. • July...

  • Rockin' Route 66 schedule

    Jun 26, 2019

    This is the schedule for Rockin’ Route 66 in Tucumcari. All events are at the Tucumcari Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Events are subject to change. Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Welcome to Tucumcari with ticket sales and wristband pickup at the Rockin’ Route 66 Garage across from Motel Safari 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Free kickoff party and concerts 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Black Collar Vendor Markette 5 p.m. — Rockabilly music by Garage71 radio and live broadcast by KQAY 92.7 6:30 p.m. — Jem Crossland (Charlotte, North Carolina) 8 p.m. — The...

  • Proud of Texas volunteers who fight trafficking

    Jun 26, 2019

    For some pastors, caring for the flock can mean taping and floating drywall in Juarez. Churches across Texas regularly help people rescued from human trafficking, often lending their own time and sweat to keep one of Mexico’s few shelters for trafficking victims running. We see love gleam through their quiet, unpaid efforts, love that these victims desperately need. A few times a year, Pastor Doug Roberts leads a team of volunteers from Calvary Temple Church in San Antonio across the border to renovate and improve the victims’ homes at the she...

  • Non-delegation very slippery slope

    Steve Hansen|Jun 26, 2019

    The Supreme Court last week made a decision whose minority opinions matter more to the future of federal, state and local government than the majority opinion that prevailed. That’s because one of the justices who upheld the majority signaled he would be willing to hear challenges to a principle that could render most of the government regulations written since 1935 unconstitutional. Under that principle, called “non-delegation,” Congress is supposed to be prohibited from passing laws, then transferring the power to the executive branch to es...

  • Republicans seek race they can win

    Tom McDonald|Jun 26, 2019

    Just when you think the Trumpettes have been banished from the Land of Enchantment come candidates who are already tugging on the president’s coattails, hoping to find redemption down south for the state’s beleaguered Republican Party. After the shellacking the GOP took in New Mexico last year — Democrats won every statewide and congressional race on the ballot, and took or held on to 72 of 112 seats in the state Legislature — Republicans are in search of a race they can win. Their greatest hope lies in the 2nd Congressional District, which w...

  • First Christian has new pastor in Wheeler Hughes

    Ron Warnick|Jun 26, 2019

    He was looking to lead a church in Tucumcari. A church in Tucumcari was looking for a new pastor. Those two goals recently were met with one fell swoop when Wheeler Hughes became pastor of First Christian Church in Tucumcari. Hughes, a 1996 graduate of Tucumcari High School, returned to Quay County less than two years ago with his wife of 15 years, Lauren, and their four children to live in the small settlement of Hudson, halfway between Tucumcari and Logan off U.S. 54. Previously, when he wasn't ranching in Texas Hill Country, Hughes and his...

  • Racing commission meetings canceled

    Staff report|Jun 26, 2019

    The New Mexico Racing Commission abruptly canceled working session, committee and regular meetings scheduled for last week until further notice, possibly further delaying a decision on a sixth horse-racing license. The commission by email announced the cancellations the afternoon of June 17, which was two days before its working-session and race-dates committee meetings and three days before its regular meeting. “At this time I cannot give the specifics as to the reasons why the meetings were canceled, and at this time I do not know if t...

  • County, state officials converge on Clovis

    Kevin Wilson|Jun 26, 2019

    CLOVIS —Election reimbursements and workman’s compensation claim investigations probably aren’t that riveting to the people tasked to handle them. They’re even less interesting to John and Jane Q. Public. They are, however, discussions that need to happen and Clovis welcomed the people who should be having them — New Mexico’s county representatives, whether elected, appointed or hired. For much of the week, the Clovis Civic Center, Curry County Events Center and Clovis Community College played host to conversations and meetings across the...

  • Jail log - June 26

    Jun 26, 2019

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from June 17 to June 23: • Jamie Lynn Griggs, 25, no address listed, driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug (0.08 or above). • Joseph Michael Martinez, 40, Tucumcari, felony contempt of court. • Shirley Aragon, 58, Tucumcari, charge not listed. • Chauncey Lee Puls Jr., 27, Logan, false imprisonment and battery on a household member (fourth or subsequent offense). • Patrick Michael Rivera Sr., 46, Tucumcari, probation violation. • Michelle Maxine Garc...

  • Police blotter - June 26

    Jun 26, 2019

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from June 17 to June 23: Monday • 7:13 a.m.: Breaking and entering in 1100 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. • 9:31 a.m.: Vandalism in 1100 block of South Seventh Street, Tucumcari. • 10:31 a.m.: Drug or narcotic possession in 200 block of West High Street, Tucumcari. • 2:04 p.m.: Breaking and entering In 200 block of West Center Street, Tucumcari. Tuesday • 2:20 p.m.: Trespassing in 200 block of West Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. • 3:23 p.m.: Assau...

  • Pages past - June 26

    Jun 26, 2019

    On this date ... 1969: Franklin Jackson, 14, of Porter found a nest containing three owl chicks in an area of his family’s barn where he was about to stack wheat. The mother owl apparently abandoned the nest and the 3-day-old hatchlings. The teenager feeds the chicks with hamburger meat and keeps them in a box above a water heater in a closet to keep them warm. The Jackson family asked for further advice on how to raise the owl chicks. • Kim Evetts, wearing a Native American costume, gave an impression of the Legend of Tucumcari during a mod...