Serving the High Plains

Articles from the October 19, 2022 edition


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  • Commissioner wants crackdown on drag racing

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Oct 19, 2022

    Tucumcari City Commissioner Christopher Arias asked for an amendment to city ordinances to address drag racing on streets. Arias said Thursday during the commission’s regular meeting that drivers are racing on First, Main, Seventh and other streets. He said he observed a motorist go around a corner at high speed “at no regard to life.” He expressed concern that children, pedestrians or law-abiding motorists might be hit. “I think it’s time to focus on quality of life of our residents,” he said while asking for a future work session to discuss...

  • Racing commission rejects Coronado application

    Staff report|Oct 19, 2022

    The New Mexico Racing Commission, citing the declining health of the state’s horse-racing industry, on Thursday unanimously denied a license application from Coronado Partners to build a racetrack and casino on Tucumcari’s east side. The commissioners’ 4-0 action followed a closed executive session of about an hour to discuss the application for the sixth and final license in New Mexico. The commission faced a court-mandated Nov. 2 deadline to decide on Coronado’s application. Commission Chairman Sam Bregman said after reviewing Coronad...

  • 'Next Exit' film to hold premiere in Tucumcari

    Staff report|Oct 19, 2022

    "Next Exit," an acclaimed life-after-death drama and comedy film partially shot in Tucumcari, will hold its official premiere at Tucumcari's historic Odeon Theatre on Monday evening. Doors at the theater will open at 5 p.m., with the screening at 6 p.m. The film's writer and director Mali Elfman, co-star Katie Parker, producer Derek Bishe and Magnolia Pictures marketing and distribution Neal Block will hold a question-and-answer session after the showing at 7:40 p.m., Odeon Theatre general...

  • Bullying discussed in work session

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Oct 19, 2022

    During a Tucumcari Public Schools board work session last week about student bullying, the superintendent said he would consider adding agenda items about serial offenders and hiking ticket prices for middle-schoolers at the board’s next meeting. Superintendent Aaron McKinney said he would meet with principals and consult with attorneys on possible action items for the board’s regular meeting on Oct. 17. (That meeting was after after the Quay County Sun’s deadline; a report will be in the next edition.) About 15 people, including a few stude...

  • Logan board urges Harding County to repair Trigg Road

    Staff report|Oct 19, 2022

    The Logan Municipal Schools board last week unanimously approved a letter to the Harding County Commission, imploring it to improve the condition of Trigg Road. “As you know, Logan Municipal Schools serves a number of students (as well as school staff) who live along this road,” the letter states. “The condition of the road has prompted safety concerns, both by residents and by our school bus contractor who is responsible for picking up students along this road.” The letter stated because of a likely increase of capital outlay funds in the 202...

  • 'It's like a home'

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Oct 19, 2022

    FORREST - Forrest Community Church held its 100th birthday celebration on Sunday, but the event also served as a homecoming for many former members and residents. The little white church in the sparsely populated village on southern Quay County's caprock typically draws 12 to 18 people for services. But this Sunday, more than 80 people showed up, with more arriving when services began. That forced members to place folding chairs in the back of the Baptist-affiliated church, and more took seats i...

  • Fear a deadly challenge to faith

    Gordon Runyan, Religion columnist|Oct 19, 2022

    The No. 1 challenge facing Christianity in America is fear. This also happens to be the No. 1 challenge facing America in general. Fearful people do things that are especially deadly to New Testament faith. Fearful people search for someone to come to their rescue. This plays right into the hands of wanna-be Messiahs who aspire to power. These villains need your fear to empower them. You’re scared? Trust me. I can help. But, in order to help you, I’ll first be requiring some things from you. (There’s nothing new under the sun. Check out 1 Samue...

  • Arch Hurley manager reports meager rise in Conchas Lake

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Oct 19, 2022

    Despite recent rains, Conchas Lake saw only a meager rise in its water levels, according to the manager of the Arch Hurley Conservancy District during the board of directors meeting last week. Arch Hurley manager Franklin McCasland said during his Oct. 11 report the lake’s elevation stood at 4,163.2 feet that morning. That was a rise of one-tenth of one foot from the previous month. McCasland reported the lake received 2,986 acre-feet of inflow in September, with 2,387 acre-feet of evaporation and other losses. Board President Robert Lopez e...

  • County's cases stay low; state numbers creep up

    Staff report|Oct 19, 2022

    Quay County’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases stayed at a low level, with just three reported by state health officials in each of the last two weeks. However, average daily case numbers in New Mexico increased for a second straight week, according to New Mexico Department of Health data. The COVID Act Now website kept Quay County’s risk rating for community spread of the disease at “low.” Quay County’s rate of new cases fell to 18.2 cases per 100,000 people last week, compared to 36.4 the previous week. The total number of coronavir...

  • Calendar - Oct. 19

    Oct 19, 2022

    Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Friday, Saturday, Oct. 28 — Halloween History Alive Tour. This is a walking tour of downtown Tucumcari featuring new, hair-raising stories and bone-chilling accounts of the city’s past. Tickets can be purchased from Tucumcari MainStreet. • Saturday — The Great Pumpkin Giveaway. The Rex E. Kirksey Ag Science Center in Tucumcari will distribute 2,000 pumpkins from 3 to 6:30 p.m., with children as the first priority in the giveaway. All guests taking a pumpkins are encourage...

  • Menus - Oct. 19

    Oct 19, 2022

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Bacon and cheese frittata cup, toast, assorted cereal, graham crackers, strawberries, orange juice, skim, 1% or strawberry milk; Lunch: Ham and cheese chef salad, teriyaki chicken, brown rice, California blend vegetables, mandarin oranges, broccoli, skim, chocolate skim, 1% or strawberry milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Sausage bagel sandwich, assorted cereal, graham crackers, orange juice, apple juice, skim, 1% or strawberry milk; Lunch: Ham and cheese wrap, multigrain chips, carrots, celery and bro...

  • Jones verdict sends message to hucksters

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Syndicated content|Oct 19, 2022

    It’s unfortunate that the families of Sandy Hook probably won’t actually get anything close to the nearly $1 billion that a Connecticut jury assessed last week against right-wing conspiracy monger Alex Jones for his monstrous lies about the massacre that killed their children. But the historic verdict nonetheless sends a strong message to those who inhabit the sewers of profitable misinformation out there: Society has had enough. Within hours of the shooting deaths of 20 small children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in New...

  • Prohibition has opposite effect

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Oct 19, 2022

    Isn’t it better to not create a problem in the first place than to try to fix it after it happens? I appreciate those organizing a trash pick-up day, and those who took time out of their week to participate. I appreciate the people who don’t toss their trash around in the first place. and those who regularly pick up litter whenever they see it, even more. If there is a pre-existing problem, make sure any solution you try isn’t going to have the unintended consequence of making things worse. In some cases, much worse. Such as what has happe...

  • Need to work toward restoring balance

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Oct 19, 2022

    As an observer of human nature and the body politick, I’ve reached the conclusion that the meanspirited attacks on both sides are largely due to the extremes. But there’s a more moderate middle that sees a third way, one that’s closer to our collective nature and articulated well by the pundit David Brooks. Longtime journalist Brooks is what I’d describe as a moderate conservative. He writes a column for the New York Times and gives analysis on PBS News Hour, but he’s more of a free thinker than a partisan political commentator. Search fo...

  • Hope's balanced attack frustrates Rattlers

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Oct 19, 2022

    Hope Christian's balanced offense totaled almost 400 yards during a 44-0 district victory Friday over host Tucumcari, but the last few minutes may have provided a sliver of hope to the Rattlers' coaching staff and its struggling young players. After the Rattlers recovered a fumble inside their 20-yard line with about three minutes left, Tucumcari freshman quarterback Nicholas Romero completed consecutive passes of 30 and 34 yards to Daymion Urioste and Luis Archuleta. Those catches gave...

  • City signals willingness to use taxes for lights

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Oct 19, 2022

    Tucumcari city commissioners and officials signaled a willingness to use lodgers tax executive funds to help pay for lighting at Tucumcari Public Schools’ ballpark redevelopment project. How much money might be awarded remains unknown — at least until the next commission meeting on Oct. 24. The commission during a work session Thursday discussed a possible donation of lodgers tax money for new lights at the soon-to-be-constructed baseball and softball diamonds. The idea first was proposed by city manager Paula Chacon during a Lodgers Tax Adv...

  • Ruidoso tops Lady Rattlers in district opener

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Oct 19, 2022

    The return of a starting setter from an injury appears to have turned a struggling Ruidoso team into a sudden district contender during a 25-17, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23 victory over host Tucumcari on Saturday during both teams' district volleyball openers. The Lady Warriors sported a 2-10 overall record coming into the match. However, they received a big lift with the recent return of senior setter Savannah Mendez from a fractured foot. "If you have a good setter who can feed your hitters, you'll...

  • Missed red-zone chances hurt Logan against Melrose

    Staff report|Oct 19, 2022

    Melrose capitalized on its opportunities in the red zone, and Logan didn’t. The result was a 48-6 loss for the host Longhorns in eight-man district football action on Friday. Logan coach Dwayne Roberts said his team suffered three turnovers inside its opponent’s 20, including two at the goal line. “We just didn’t get it in the end zone,” he said. “We were in the red zone six times. Four of those were inside the 10. “We actually held the ball more than Melrose most of the night. We moved the ball on them all night; we just didn’t punch it in. We...

  • Undefeated Melrose spikers topple Logan

    Staff report|Oct 19, 2022

    An unbeaten Melrose volleyball team took the upper hand in the District 6 standings Saturday with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-17 victory at arch-rival Logan. The Lady Buffaloes, ranked No. 1 in Class 1A, improved to 16-0 overall and has lost only one set all season. They improved to 5-0 in the district. Logan, ranked sixth in 1A, fell to 11-6 overall and 5-1 in district play. “We didn’t look as good as we did when we played Fort Sumner,” Logan coach Glynna Strand said, referring to her team’s victory over the Vixens earlier in the week. “Still...

  • Pages past - Oct. 19

    Oct 19, 2022

    On this date ... 1972: U.S. Sen. Joseph Montoya flew to Tucumcari to be a guest of honor at a luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Tucumcari, sponsored by Democratic Precinct A-1. Mayor King Aitken greeted Montoya at the airport, as did Quay County Democratic Chairman Lawrence Ingram and Chairwoman Helen Gordon. During a speech, Montoya said “the war in Vietnam is unjust and we should get out of there. … I think it is about time we get out of Vietnam and use the billions we are spending there to educate out children.” • Tucumcari High School was pla...

  • Jail log - Oct. 19

    Oct 19, 2022

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Oct. 10 to Oct. 14: — Michael Blea, 18, Tucumcari, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer and reckless driving. — Lawrence D. Theilbar, 65, Tucumcari, criminal damage to property (under $1,000). — Raymond Carl Holliday, 33, Tucumcari, criminal trespass (posted). — Hunter Mote, 27, Portales, contempt of court. — Marcos Antonio Martinez, 35, Tucumcari, intentional child abuse (no death or great bodily harm) and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. These ind...

  • Police blotter - Oct. 19

    Oct 19, 2022

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16: Monday — 8:32 a.m.: Trespassing in 600 block of East Hines Avenue, Tucumcari. — 9:55 a.m.: Trespassing in 600 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 10 a.m.: Accident in 1600 block of South Fifth Street, Tucumcari. — 11:37 a.m.: Property damage in 1700 block of South Mountain Road, Tucumcari. — 12:54 p.m.: Theft in 200 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. — 3:01 p.m.: Assault and battery in 1000 block of South Fifth Street,...