Serving the High Plains

Articles from the July 8, 2020 edition


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  • Local agencies say they won't enforce mask edict

    Ron Warnick|Jul 8, 2020

    New Mexico’s governor said last week the state's mask mandate would be more aggressively enforced with fines of $100 and possibly jail time to blunt the spread of coronavirus. However, law enforcement agencies in Tucumcari, Logan and Quay County said they wouldn’t enforce it because they lack jurisdiction. They said state police would have to enforce the edict. People in New Mexico now must wear facial coverings in public places or face a possible fine. Businesses also are required to have all customers wear masks when they enter. Gov. Mic...

  • Two more COVID-19 cases reported Sunday in county

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    Two additional cases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday in Quay County, bringing the total to 16 since the pandemic began. After weeks of no activity with the virus, Quay County has recorded nine such cases in 17 days. Twelve of the coronavirus cases in the county remain active. The New Mexico Department of Health reported both of the latest cases in the county were within the Tucumcari ZIP code. The latest cases were individuals age 40 to 49 and 50 to 59. One was female, the other male. The state does not indicate the age of either. More than 73...

  • Three more COVID-19 cases reported in Quay County

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    Three more cases of COVID-19 were reported Thursday in Quay County, including the first in the San Jon ZIP code. It was the fourth consecutive day in which coronavirus was reported in the county. After weeks of no reported activity with the virus, Quay County has recorded five such cases in 14 days. The total number of cases in the county rose to 12, with one death. Eight of those cases are active. It was the first time since the pandemic started that coronavirus was reported in the San Jon ZIP code. Two other cases from Logan were reported...

  • Two more coronavirus cases reported in Quay County

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    Two more cases of COVID-19 were reported Saturday in Quay County, bringing the total to 14 since the pandemic began. After weeks of no reported activity with the virus, Quay County has recorded seven such cases in 16 days. Ten of coronavirus cases in the county remain active. The New Mexico Department of Health reported the latest Quay County cases are a male and female each age 10 to 19. Both were within the Tucumcari ZIP code. More than 705 people in Quay County have been tested for the virus. A total of 230 people in New Mexico were...

  • Third COVID-19 case in three days reported in county

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    The third confirmed case of coronavirus in as many days was reported Wednesday in Quay County. The New Mexico Department of Health reported the latest case is a woman age 50 to 59 from the Logan ZIP code. It was the second straight day a person from Logan had tested positive for COVID-19. Department of Health spokesman David Morgan stated in an email Wednesday evening a Logan couple had been tested and confirmed with COVID-19 out of state. Their results were added to their home county and ZIP code of residence in the state's coronavirus...

  • Eighth case of COVID-19 reported in Quay County

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    The eighth confirmed case of coronavirus was reported Tuesday in Quay County, the second in two days. The New Mexico Department of Health reported the latest case is a male age 50 to 59 in the Logan ZIP code. No other information was available. Of the eight cases of COVID-19 reported in the county, three have recovered, with one death. Monday's case was a male age 20 to 29. More than 620 people in Quay County have been tested for the virus. A total of 221 people in New Mexico were reported with COVID-19 on Tuesday, the sixth consecutive day...

  • Parade goes on despite cancellation

    Ron Warnick|Jul 8, 2020

    LOGAN - The Logan-Ute Lake Chamber of Commerce on June 25 announced the cancellation of the village's annual Fourth of July parade, citing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's health order that bars public gatherings. On Saturday, dozens of Logan residents defied the order and held the parade anyway. About 30 entries - including horses, lawn mowers, golf carts, trucks, towed boats and tractors - were part of an nonsanctioned parade that wound down First and Second streets in the village that morning....

  • State PED officials answer school reopening questions

    Ron Warnick|Jul 8, 2020

    Teachers peppered state officials with questions during a virtual town hall last week about the Public Education Department’s reopening plan for schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. The PED the previous week issued guidelines to public schools that included recommendations for full in-person classes, a hybrid model of in-person and online classes or all virtual learning, depending how bad COVID-19 is in that region. A PED official said about 3,000 people logged in to the webinar June 30 via the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Among those p...

  • Seventh Quay County case confirmed

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    The seventh confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported Monday in Quay County as New Mexico saw its fifth consecutive day of reporting more than 200 cases. Also Monday, Mesalands Community College closed its fitness center after a member tested positive for the virus. The center has been closed. All of Building A, which houses the fitness center, will be closed Tuesday for disinfecting. According to the state Department of Health, the latest Quay County case was a man age 20 to 29. No other information was available. The previous case, a teenage...

  • Be careful what kind of friends you make

    Leonard Lauriault|Jul 8, 2020

    That “politics makes strange bedfellows” is certainly true right now in our country with all the turmoil. The problem with strange bedfellows is when they see each other in the morning, they’ll remember being bitter enemies previously. Literally, by the dawn’s early light after our upcoming election, our flag may not still be there. But this article isn’t about politics. Kentuckians of say, “I’m for the Wildcats and whoever’s playing against Tennessee.” That is, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Kentucky’s next game might be against whoever...

  • Calendar - July 8

    Jul 8, 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. Applicants will be notified one week before the event. • June 20 — Rotary Club Drive-Up Lobster Cook-Up. Preorders are being taken for lobster starting at $20 for one up to $300 for a case of 16. Cash only. Call Ronny at (575) 461-2710 or Garrett at (575)461-1100 to place orders. Cu...

  • Menus - July 8

    Jul 8, 2020

    The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center remain 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 — Pepper steak, baked potato with margarine, California vegetables, roll, Jell-O with fruit. Thursday — Pork ribs, macaroni and cheese, spinach, bread, ice cream. Friday — Chalupa with onions, chili and salsa, Spanish rice, green beans...

  • Pages past - July 8

    Jul 8, 2020

    On this date ... 1970: A South Carolina soldier miraculously escaped serious injury in a car accident near Tucumcari. Edward John Saunderson, 21, was traveling in a 1963 Volkswagen sedan east on Interstate 40 when his vehicle left the roadway, traveled 248 feet, hit an embankment, went airborne 91 feet, overturned at least 2 1/2 times and came to rest after another 129 feet. Saunderson told a police officer he had fallen asleep at the wheel. Saunderson was listed in fair condition at Trigg Memorial Hospital. He was ticketed for careless...

  • Governor restores education funding

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    New Mexico’s governor last week used her veto pen to delete about $30 million in spending cuts — mainly for education — from a revised budget passed by the Legislature during a June special session. Before signing House Bill 1, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham restored funding slated for culturally and linguistically relevant instructional materials, the Opportunity Scholarship initiative that provides free tuition to two-year colleges and the new Early Childhood Education and Care Department. Lujan Grisham also halted cuts to econo...

  • County to receive money from state PILT program

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    New Mexico’s senators announced last week Quay County will receive more than $5,000 from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes program. U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both Democrats, announced 32 New Mexico counties would receive a total of $41.3 million from the PILT program to provide crucial services to residents, such as public safety, fire protection, emergency response, road maintenance and more. Quay County’s share is $5,077. Quay County manager Richard Primrose said the county receives a PILT payme...

  • Ruling a step back on church, state separation

    Jul 8, 2020

    The Supreme Court last week needlessly poked a hole in Thomas Jefferson’s “wall of separation between church and state.” By a 5-4 vote, the court ruled in a case from Montana that if a state provides a tax break that benefits students at a secular private school, it must include private religious schools as well. The decision is doubly disappointing. First, states should be free to decline to subsidize religious instruction so long as they treat all religious schools the same. Second, the way the court broke down on ideological lines is worri...

  • Need more thoughtful conservatives

    Steve Hansen|Jul 8, 2020

    New Mexico’s Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gave a scolding to residents Thursday as she announced the state would extend current COVID-19 restrictions instead of relaxing them more. New Mexico’s COVID-19 caseload rose at a higher rate during Phase 1 of reopening than before, as it did in most other U.S. states that eased restrictions. More mask-wearing and social distancing could have made the difference and allowed the state to push ahead in its quest to return to the normal. The governor let us know that in no uncertain terms. I don...

  • National leaders need to go on record

    Michael Shannon|Jul 8, 2020

    I’ve been watching anarchy and lawlessness take control of our streets in major cities. I don’t imagine I’m alone, either. Viewers are exposed everywhere to scenes of mindless chaos. Meanwhile, on Opposition Media outlets, the carbon-intensive “peaceful protests” are met with universal approval. Occasionally an anchor or guest visiting from the world of reality will express some qualms regarding wanton destruction, but that mild observation is waved away with the equivalent of boys will be boys — assuming leftists are still allowed to sexually...

  • Police blotter - July 8

    Jul 8, 2020

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center June 1-7: Monday • 2:48 a.m.: Domestic disturbance in 2900 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. • 6:32 a.m.: Disturbance at milepost 370, Interstate 40, Endee. • 11:35 a.m.: Vandalism in 300 block of South First Street, Tucumcari. • 11:38 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 300 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. • 12:13 p.m.: Burglary from vehicle in 200 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. • 12:24 p.m.: Hit-and-run accident in 200 block of West Tucumcari...

  • Chamber sign replaced

    Ron Warnick|Jul 8, 2020

    Last week, the old and oft-repaired promotions sign at the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce office was replaced with an LED sign that gives the chamber more flexibility to plug events and businesses. The new sign cost about $13,000, paid for with the help of a chamber fundraiser at last year's Quay County Fair, said chamber executive director Carmen Runyan. The county also gave $2,000 for the effort. Runyan said installation of the sign had been planned in late February, but the...

  • Farmers market to open Saturday

    Ron Warnick|Jul 8, 2020

    The Tucumcari Farmers Market will open for the season at Wailes Park on Saturday morning despite some restrictions due to the coronavirus. Market manager Sandra Groves said some of its usual activities will be curtailed when the opening bell is rung at 10 a.m. at the Route 66 park on the city's east side. But she said last week she'd already lined up seven vendors, with more likely to be added. Produce that would be in season by the opening includes lettuces, beets, onions, zucchini, yellow...

  • Talking tour to debut July 15

    Ron Warnick|Jul 8, 2020

    The Tucumcari Talking Tour officially debuts July 15 after being delayed for a couple of months by the coronavirus pandemic. The Tucumcari Talking Tour is a self-guided radio tour of the city's historic landmarks, motels, murals and other points of interest. Tucumcari resident Tracy Johnson, creator of the tour, said last week she is finishing the setup of the last AM radio transmitters at 16 sites in town that will broadcast short messages for up to a one-block radius. KTNM/KQAY radio in...

  • San Jon moving graduation

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    San Jon High School will move its graduation ceremony Saturday from its gymnasium to the San Jon Community Center parking lot on Oak Avenue in response to state restrictions regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Superintendent Janet Gladu, who announced the venue change Monday afternoon, said the ceremony will be in the southwest corner of the parking lot at 6 p.m. All participants must wear a facial covering. Those who attend the ceremony must be inside their vehicle or touching it. No parade for the graduating seniors will be held. “It is h...

  • New Mexico Secretary of Health announces retirement

    Staff report|Jul 8, 2020

    New Mexico Secretary of Health Kathyleen Kunkel announced Friday she would retire but will remain at her position during the coronavirus pandemic until a replacement is found. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration will begin a nationwide search for a full-time replacement. “Every single day of this public health crisis has been a physically and mentally exhausting ordeal — not just for the Department of Health, not just for the thousands of health care professionals putting their lives and livelihoods on the line to protect New Mexic...

  • Jail log - July 8

    Jul 8, 2020

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from June 3 to June 8: • Kristena B. Carmichael, 20, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Lora Cowlishan, 28, Tucumcari, battery, battery against a household member and contempt of court. • Sixto Mario Cordova, 66, Tucumcari, charge not listed. • James Gutierrez Jr., 27, Amarillo, contempt of court. • Fatima Rivas, 43, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • George Cosme, 38, Tucumcari, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual penetration. • Rogelio Ezqueda, 35, Clovis, probation violat...

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