Serving the High Plains

Articles from the July 24, 2012 edition


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  • Couple helps drill water wells in Haiti

    Thomas Garcia QCS senior writer|Jul 24, 2012

    A local couple is in Haiti drilling water wells as part of a global initiative to provide clean water around the world. Courtesy photo: Tella Morris Children in Haiti place their hands under the well spout trying to save the water from spilling to the ground. Water is such a precious commodity the children have been taught not to allow any water to be wasted. Harvey and Tella Morris of Tucumcari are in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, drilling water wells and installing hand pumps as a part of Healing Hands International, a...

  • Man pleads guilty to evidence tampering

    Thomas Garcia QCS senior writer|Jul 24, 2012

    A Tucumcari man pleaded guilty Tuesday in the Tenth Judicial District court to charges connected with a July 2011 beating death. Hendren Dennis Joseph Hendren, 36, pleaded guilty to three of six charges filed in connection to the July 9, 2011, homicide of 33-year-old Shirley Pacheco, and was sentenced to nine years — two suspended. Prior to the plea deal, a jury was brought in with the trial scheduled to begin Tuesday afternoon, according to District Judge Albert J. Mitchell Jr. Mitchell said special prosecutor Matt Chandler and Hendron's a...

  • Science center celebrating centennial

    Special to the QCS|Jul 24, 2012

    To celebrate its centennial, New Mexico State University's Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari is hosting a field day Aug. 2. The theme for the official New Mexico centennial event (http://nmcentennial.org) event is, "Basking in the Past, Looking to the Future." Registration for the field day starts at 4:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. There will be a dinner program at 6 p.m. where Horace Wood will give a history of Tucumcari. Rex Kirksey, retired superintendent, will talk about the history of the science center. A hay wagon tour...

  • Lauriault: Life tough without God's wisdom

    Leonard Lauriault QCS columnist|Jul 24, 2012

    Some things appear as no-brainers, but they cause considerable confusion. For example, recently at a conference including scientists conducting research on wheat, I learned that the flour of new wheat varieties are evaluated for cookie diameter. Being a connoisseur of fine cookies (but not at all a baker), I asked if the flour's cookie diameter characteristic might determine whether the cookie would stand tall and cakey, like those with macadamia nuts and chunks of white chocolate, or spread thin like gooey chocolate chip cookies. The response...

  • More than 100 pets registered for fair

    Thomas Garcia QCS senior writer|Jul 24, 2012

    Quay County residents registered more than 100 animals to take part in the 2012 Dog and Cat Health Fair, scheduled for Aug. 9-11 at the Tucumcari Convention Center. Although 180 animals were registered for the spay and neutering bus, only 105 of those animals will be treated, said Christina Fleming, event coordinator. Fleming said if an owner registered at any of the city offices on the first day of registration July 16, they received a spot. She added that she contacted the operators of the bus, the Santa Fe Humane Society, and haved asked for...

  • Home economics bowl team tops contest

    Special to the QCS|Jul 24, 2012

    Nine Senior Quay County 4-Hers attended the state 4-H conference July 9-13 in Las Cruces. During the week they participated in leadership workshops, elected new state officers, and competed in a variety of contests. Senior members are ages 14-19. Courtesy photo Nine Senior Quay County 4-Hers attended state 4-H conference July 9-13 in Las Cruces. The Home Economics Bowl team of Taylor Hayes, Wyatt Bishop, Aleahna Branch, and Dillon Massey placed first. The Entomology Team of Randall Rush, Bethany Bishop, Taylor Hayes, and Ashlee Bradley placed...

  • Editorial: Former resident to blog Olympic experience

    Clovis Media Inc|Jul 24, 2012

    The Olympic Games open Friday with 26 sports, 10,500 athletes representing nearly every country and millions of people watching from all over the world. We're looking forward to inspirational performances every day, but one athlete in particular has already made us swell with pride: our own Amber Campbell. America's top hammer thrower lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., but she grew up in Tucumcari. Campbell, 31, says Tucumcari sparked her love for athletics when she lived here from 1983 to 1995. "There was always something to do, even if it was only...

  • Officials raise concerns about proposal on grant changes

    Kevin Wilson CMI staff writer|Jul 24, 2012

    Count the Eastern Plains Council of Governments as one of numerous entities against a proposed change on Community Development Block Grant rules. Executive Director Sandy Chancey advised members of EPCOG's executive committee during a Monday morning meeting that she and Economic and Community Develop-ment Planner Raymond Mondragon plan to be at a Tuesday morning meeting in Santa Fe to speak in opposition to a suggested change that would introduce the Housing and Urban Development's Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program and tie the funding to...

  • EPCOG audits repeat findings from 2005 report

    Kevin Wilson CMI staff writer|Jul 24, 2012

    Audit reports from 2006 through 2008 at the Eastern Plains Council of Government repeat findings from a 2005 report — poor accounting practices that either contributed to misuse of government-provided monies, or at least provided such opportunities. Just like an auditor's report and financial statement of 2005 done by Woodard, Cowen and Co., the three auditors reports and financial statements prepared by Hinkle and Landers listed widespread problems of borrowing between funds, misclassification of funds, posting of expenditures to improper f...

  • College hosts week-long Summer Adventure Camp

    Special to QCS|Jul 24, 2012

    Summer Adventure Camp was held last week at Mesalands Community College. This was a week-long camp of southwest themed classes that were both educational, as well as a fun experience for all ages. The campers learned hands-on techniques including, but not limited to, computer generated art, video and graphics editing, mural painting and dino digging. "The week went great. The campers were busy from eight in the morning until five in the evening," said Donna M. Garcia, director of academic affairs. "This week was the highlight of my year; it...

  • Olympian: Support group important

    Thomas Garcia QCS senior writer|Jul 24, 2012

    As a former Tucumcari resident urges local youth to pursue their dreams, as she prepares for the 2012 Olympics in London. Amber Campbell 31, will be training in Myrtle Beach, S.C., until Aug. 3 when she plans to depart for London to compete in the women's hammer throw event. The qualifier is Aug. 8, with finals Aug. 10. "I feel better-prepared," Campbell said. "My expectations are different, this time I'm not just happy to have made the team and go to the Olympics." Campbell said she wants to strive more than beating her personal best (a throw...

  • Class of 1978 donates billboard for reunion

    Thomas Garcia QCS senior writer|Jul 24, 2012

    The Tucumcari alumni will soon return home for the 50th annual Rattler Reunion. Local residents and those tourist traveling on South First Street in Tucumcari may notice a purple and gold reminder of the reunion. The class of 1978 has donated a billboard cover which highlights the events which will take place on Aug. 2-4 "My husband's class donated the cover to the Rattler alumni association," said Beverly Whittington of Clovis. She and husband Stephen plan to attend the reunion. The billboard which the covers was placed on was donated by C.J....

  • Comments from the Canyons: Dog will only write for own amusement

    Lynn Moncus QCS columnist|Jul 24, 2012

    Several of you have asked about the black lab, Priscilla Alden, who came to live on this corner last August. You have even asked if she is going to write some of these columns as did her predecessor, Aggie. Although Prissy has been here a little less than a year, she is in complete charge of life around here and has me doing whatever she demands. Her size alone would cause me to move when she gives orders. When she comes racing toward me, I just hope I'll be standing when she finishes that run. Thus far, she hasn't caused me to lose balance, bu...

  • Police blotter - July 25

    Jul 24, 2012

    The following is a sampling of calls received by the central dispatch office for Quay County, based at the Tucumcari Police Department. Friday - At 12:13 a.m., a man went in to the Police Department on the 200 block of E. Center Street to report a theft. - At 4:24 a.m., a woman reported a prowler on the 1400 block of S. Third Street. - At 9:06 a.m., a man reported a theft at a residence on the 800 block of E. Rankin Avenue. - At 10:02 a.m., a man was arrested for a warrant on the 400 block of E. Main Street. The man was taken to the Quay...

  • Slice of life: Route 66 and College Street

    Jerrene Bradley QCS reporter|Jul 24, 2012

    I spent 30 minutes Tuesday morning at the corner of Route 66 and College Street, watching life pass in front of me. Here's what I saw: QCS photo: Jerrene Bradley QCS reporter Jerrene Bradley spent 30 minutes Tuesday morning at the corner of Route 66 and College Street. • A few people stopped at the Fina station to fill up their vehicles, including Justin Powell. He was on his motorcycle, headed to work. - At the Circle K, a Budweiser truck was making its delivery for the day. - A line of people at the Cornerstone donut shop were getting their t...

  • Man pleads not guilty to child porn charges

    Thomas Garcia QCS senior writer|Jul 24, 2012

    A Tucumcari man is in federal custody awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to five counts of child pornography. Lawrence Lucero, 65, of Tucumcari was arraigned July 19 by a United States Magistrate Judge charged with three counts of receipt of a visual depiction of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and two counts of possession of matter containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said Lucero was charged based on an investigation by the Office of the Inspector...

  • Olympian: Support group important

    Thomas Garcia QCS senior writer|Jul 24, 2012

    As a former Tucumcari resident urges local youth to pursue their dreams, as she prepares for the 2012 Olympics in London. Amber Campbell 31, will be training in Myrtle Beach, S.C., until Aug. 3 when she plans to depart for London to compete in the women's hammer throw event. The qualifier is Aug. 8, with finals Aug. 10. "I feel better-prepared," Campbell said. "My expectations are different, this time I'm not just happy to have made the team and go to the Olympics." Campbell said she wants to strive more than beating her personal best (a throw...