Serving the High Plains

Articles from the November 20, 2024 edition


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  • Logan schools again earn Spotlight ratings

    Staff report|Nov 20, 2024

    For the second straight year, Logan Municipal Schools earned the coveted Spotlight designation — the highest attainable — at its elementary, middle and high schools from the New Mexico Public Education Department. San Jon and House schools earned the Spotlight designation at two of its three schools. Tucumcari earned the second-highest Traditional designation at all three of its schools, which means they are in good standing. The PED issued its annual ratings for all schools based on the 2023-2024 year last Tuesday via its New Mexico Vis...

  • City may hire engineer to check theater

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 20, 2024

    Tucumcari city commissioners seemed to come to a consensus it needs to hire a structural engineer to determine whether the long-closed Princess Theatre can handle planned facade improvements and other long-term renovations. Commissioners discussed the Princess Theatre with two members of the venue's task force during a work session Thursday. Art City owner Matt Monahan, one of the leaders of the Princess Theatre Task Force, said the city has spent about $200,000 to remove lead and asbestos from...

  • County OKs canvass of 2024 election

    Staff report|Nov 20, 2024

    The Quay County Commission last Tuesday approved a canvass of the 2024 general election results without much discussion. That’s a far cry from recent elections after Donald Trump claimed — without evidence — that his 2020 presidential re-election over challenger Joe Biden was stolen from him. Those claims sparked turmoil in many county election operations, including in New Mexico. The commission approved the canvass of the 2020 results, but skepticism about election integrity persisted into 2022, when two commissioners said they were asked...

  • Conchas Lake levels at highest point since 2019

    Staff report|Nov 20, 2024

    Because of recent storms, water levels at Conchas Lake have reached their highest point in almost six years. Franklin McCasland, manager of the Arch Hurley Conservancy District, said in his Nov. 12 report to the district’s board of directors that the lake had risen to an elevation of 4,181.12 feet that morning. McCasland said the day after the meeting that was the highest water level in the lake since early 2019, when its elevation reached 4,182 feet. He reported Conchas Lake had received 47,631 acre-feet of inflow this month with just 2,307 a...

  • Allow God to provide for you on his terms

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Nov 20, 2024

    We’ve all probably heard the saying that something – clothes, figure/physique, chocolate – is to die for, meaning it was highly desirable. The Christmas season has been upon us in a commercial sense since before Halloween, with some Black Friday sales already started, though Thanksgiving isn’t until next week. While I haven’t heard “to die for” used in any sales pitches yet, the products being hawked on TV are billed with the concept that they’re the latest and greatest, and you simply cannot live without them. We like giving to die for gift...

  • Pages past - Nov. 20

    Nov 20, 2024

    On this date ... 1974: The City of Tucumcari was working to catch up to and correct September utility billings by late November. It would initiate October billings in December. The city stated it would not receive a utility bill with several months consolidated, “but it is imperative the city catch up with the billing at some point in time. This will not be done until after Christmas.” No late charges would be assessed until the billing cycle is corrected. Any overcharges would be corrected in the February billing. — An officer from the Fort...

  • Calendar - Nov. 20

    Nov 20, 2024

    Nov. 28 — First Baptist Church’s Thanksgiving Day Lunch. The annual free meal will be served in the fellowship hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 321 E. Center St. Delivered meals can be ordered by calling (575) 461-2724 before Nov. 26. Nov. 30 — Christmas Light Parade. The Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce is organizing this annual event that begins at 6 p.m., with a Christmas depot at 7 p.m. with a visit by Santa Clause. The parade route will be along Route 66, then north on Second Street to the Tucumcari Historic Railroad Plaza. For i...

  • Menus - Nov. 20

    Nov 20, 2024

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Breakfast banana split, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, cinnamon graham cracker, apple, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Cheesy chicken and rice casserole, buffalo chicken wrap, seasoned Italian veggies, garden side salad, ranch dressing, ham and cheese sandwich, baby carrots, barbecued baked Lays chips, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Cherry frudel, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, cinnamon graham cracker, apple, orange juice, 1%, skim or str...

  • Boycott can hit bad actors in the pocketbook

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Nov 20, 2024

    When Amazon billionaire and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos decided not to allow his newspaper to endorse Kamala Harris for president, a quarter million readers canceled their subscriptions. Now this esteemed newspaper is suffering from a credibility crisis that may never recover under Bezos’ compromised ownership. Something similar happened to Fox News back in 2020, when the network essentially called the election for Joe Biden while their most loyal viewers were drinking in Donald Trump’s Kool-Aid and denying the reality of his loss. A sud...

  • Harris second woman rejected by Americans

    Elwood Watson, Syndicated content|Nov 20, 2024

    It’s been two weeks since Election Day, and we’ve heard what pundits think cost Vice President Kamala Harris the election. Their hit list of topics included the uneven economy, high inflation, the Israeli-Hamas conflict, rising crime, extreme and excessive wokeness, and out-of-control borders. Yet, there is another reason that hasn’t been discussed nearly as much in most quarters – the intersection of race and gender. Harris would have been the first woman of any race and the first South Asian person to have been elected president of the mos...

  • Democrats give display of bad sportsmanship

    Michael Reagan, Syndicated content|Nov 20, 2024

    The Democrats did not do a good job of dealing with their terrible loss. In fact, they and the liberal media collectively melted down in front of the whole world when Donald Trump and America’s voters dealt Kamala Harris a decisive, humiliating and historic election defeat. For a bunch of supposedly sophisticated liberal politicians, journalists and celebrities who profess to love democracy, it was an embarrassing but completely predictable display of bad sportsmanship, denial, reverse racism and partisan bias. Joy Reid of MSNBC blamed white w...

  • Lady Rattlers win two at state tourney

    Staff report|Nov 20, 2024

    Not bad for what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Tucumcari’s volleyball team finished its season with two victories at the Class 2A tournament in Rio Rancho, plus a school record for wins. The Lady Rattlers also finished its district schedule undefeated, the first time that’s happened. They won their third district title in four years. Fourth-seeded Tucumcari (21-6) ultimately finished sixth at the 2A tourney, falling to eventual state runner-up Mesilla Valley Christian 20-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 15-12 on Friday. The Lady Rattlers wer...

  • Longhorns win state

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 20, 2024

    LOGAN - Logan now boasts a new sport where it's won a state championship. The top-seeded and undefeated Longhorns dominated No. 2-seeded Grady 54-14 Friday in the finals of the New Mexico six-man football tournament. Logan had captured state championships in volleyball, boys track, girls track and both boys and girls basketball. But its first title on the gridiron proved elusive until Friday. Longhorns senior running back Haden Judd ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns in 10 carries....

  • Lady Longhorns fall to Quemado in title match

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 20, 2024

    RIO RANCHO - Logan had conquered Gateway Christian, Roy-Mosquero and Pine Hill, and it didn't have to worry about facing longtime rival Melrose again at the Class 1A volleyball tournament. But Logan couldn't get past an upstart Quemado squad. The third-seeded Eagles stopped the top-seeded Lady Longhorns 25-20, 25-20, 25-18 in the 1A title game Saturday at the Rio Rancho Events Center. Quemado (24-4) rarely trailed in any of its sets, winning its first volleyball state championship since 1977....

  • Logan FFA team earns Gold designation

    Staff report|Nov 20, 2024

    The Logan FFA parliamentary procedure team recently received a Gold designation at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The National FFA Parliamentary Procedure career and leadership development event tests students' ability to effectively communicate ideas during a meeting. The team included Braeden Lightfoot, president, and members Charmaynn Hall, Kyleigh Phillips, Trinity Grant, April Lansdell and Jaida Roberts. They were coached by Bonnie Lightfoot. The Logan FFA chapter adviser is...

  • Bank of Logan donates new gym scoreboards

    Staff report|Nov 20, 2024

    Logan’s basketball teams will be playing under new scoreboards this season. The Logan Municipal Schools board last Monday accepted a donation of new scoreboards from The Bank of Logan. Superintendent Dennis Roch said the new scoreboards would be installed both in the main gymnasium and the Performing Arts Center, which often is used during tournaments. Roch said a crew would install the new scoreboards before the start of basketball season. He said the devices can operate wirelessly. In addition, new branding reflecting the donation from The B...

  • Jail log - Nov. 20

    Nov 20, 2024

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Nov. 12 to Nov. 15: — Jeanne Marie Benavidez, 42, Tucumcari, criminal trespass (unposted). — Richard Torrez, 56, Laguna, careless driving, open alcohol container and aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol or any drug (0.16 or above). — Alejandro Romay-Argudin, 40, Miami, Florida, possession of a stolen vehicle. — Norman Fernandez, 36, Chamisal, driving while license suspended or revoked, failure to display registration plate and use of plate or registr...

  • Police blotter - Nov. 20

    Nov 20, 2024

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Nov. 4 to Nov. 17: Nov. 4 — 8:40 a.m.: Accident in 100 block of South Sixth Street, Logan. — 11:29 a.m.: Larceny of embezzlement in 4400 block of Quay Road 63, Tucumcari. — 11:30 a.m.: Utility problem in 10100 block of Highway 104, Tucumcari. — 12:29 p.m.: Domestic disturbance in 1300 block of East Reed Avenue, Tucumcari. — 1:22 p.m.: Breaking and entering in 1700 block of South First Street, Tucumcari. — 2:21 p.m.: Disturbance in 600 block of East Barnes...

  • Logan superintendent resigning next month

    Staff report|Nov 20, 2024

    The superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools is resigning next month to take a position with New Mexico Senate Republicans. Dennis Roch confirmed in an email today he told the school board and staff he was resigning effective Dec. 31 to become the caucus chief of staff for New Mexico Senate Republicans. New Mexico Senate Republicans also sent out a news release today announcing Roch’s hiring. Roch has been Logan’s superintendent since 2013. Before that, he was an assistant superintendent at Texico and Tucumcari. Roch was a New Mexico sta...