Serving the High Plains

Articles from the November 23, 2022 edition


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  • Officer lauded for saving a choking child

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 23, 2022

    Tucumcari's police chief on Thursday awarded an officer a Medal of Valor for his actions in possibly saving the life of a choking infant. Chief Pete Rivera presented the medal to patrol officer Kevin Johnson during the Tucumcari City Commission's regular meeting. Rivera stated that police received a report on Oct. 26 about a small child choking at a restaurant. "Ptl. Officer Kevin Johnson arrived on scene within seconds and without hesitation began performing life-saving actions on the small...

  • Mesalands nursing clears a key hurdle

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 23, 2022

    Mesalands Community College recently received a perfect score after a site visit by a Higher Education Commission team that recommends approval of the college’s forthcoming nursing program, paving the way for it to begin offering courses next fall. Mesalands President Gregg Busch and Shannon Fries, director of nursing education, made the announcement during the board of trustees meeting Nov. 15. The HLC accredits all colleges and universities across the United States. Busch said it was rare for the HLC to give 100% approval to a new program a...

  • San Jon opens second fire station

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 23, 2022

    SAN JON - It took more time and money than anticipated, but the Village of San Jon on Thursday celebrated the opening of a second fire station north of town. The San Jon Fire Department held an open house Thursday that featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce. About 40 people attended to participate, then partake of complementary submarine sandwiches and cupcakes topped with yellow or red icing. Village officials had been thinking of expanding its...

  • Logan bank reduces hours before its closure

    Staff report|Nov 23, 2022

    About a month before Logan’s only bank is scheduled to close, it reduced its hours of service to only two days a week. Starting this week, New Mexico Bank & Trust will open its Logan branch along U.S. 54 only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Those hours will apply both to lobby and drive-through services. Shauna Shannon, vice president of marketing for New Mexico Bank & Trust, cited the lack of staff to open the Logan branch on more days before it closes for good on Dec. 16. “Currently, we only have one employee off...

  • Being thankful for spiritual blessings

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Nov 23, 2022

    Thanksgiving reminds of our bounteous natural resources, our society’s diversity and the faith-based principles upon which our nation was founded. These have led to our great success as a nation because our forebears trusted in God (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 91:1-2; 18:2; 32:12-32). We should never forget our true history because that would cause us to miss out on an equally bright future (Jeremiah 29:10-14). Remember that Israel had a long history of sin and repentance because they didn’t learn the first, second, or you count the times how goo...

  • Being thankful for spiritual blessings

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Nov 23, 2022

    Thanksgiving reminds of our bounteous natural resources, our society’s diversity and the faith-based principles upon which our nation was founded. These have led to our great success as a nation because our forebears trusted in God (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 91:1-2; 18:2; 32:12-32). We should never forget our true history because that would cause us to miss out on an equally bright future (Jeremiah 29:10-14). Remember that Israel had a long history of sin and repentance because they didn’t learn the first, second, or you count the times how goo...

  • Pages past - Nov. 23

    Nov 23, 2022

    On this date ... 1972: Bettie Ditto, a Tucumcari businesswoman who has owned and operated one of the most successful motels in New Mexico, announced plans to build a new motel, restaurant, apartment and shopping complex in Lovington. Ditto will own it in a partnership with her daughter, Sue Beasley of Carlsbad, and name it the Pow Wow Inn, the same name as her business in Tucumcari for the last 17 years. Ditto has purchased more than four city blocks in north Lovington, and she estimated her project there will cost almost $1 million. • Mark G...

  • Menus - Nov. 23

    Nov 23, 2022

    Tucumcari Senior Center Wednesday — Red beef enchilada with lettuce and tomatoes, Spanish rice, pinto beans, corn with bell pepper, diced mango. Thursday — Closed for Thanksgiving. Friday — Closed for Thanksgiving. Monday — Sloppy joe, coleslaw, diced apple, sweet potato fries, baked beans, sugar-free gelatin. Tuesday — Pork chop suey, brown rice, stir fry vegetables, cantaloupe, non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt. Logan schools Wednesday — No school. Thursday — No school. Monday — Breakfast: Hot cereal, breakfast bar, fruit, milk, juice; Lunch: G...

  • Calendar - Nov. 23

    Nov 23, 2022

    Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Saturday — Kickoff to Christmas. Tucumcari MainStreet will host the annual start of the holiday season at the Tucumcari Railroad Depot from 3 to 5 p.m. with a visit by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Santa will give out tokens and a special gift for the first 200 children to see “The Polar Express” at the Odeon Theatre at 6 p.m. Tucumcari MainStreet also will give out shopping totes and “Shop Tucumcari” stickers. • Dec. 3 — Glow on 66 Christmas Light Parade. The annual parade on Second...

  • Jim Morgan to retire from Mesalands

    Staff report|Nov 23, 2022

    Mesalands Community College President Gregg Busch announced last week that Jim Morgan, chief operations manager and a key figure in developing its wind-energy program, will retire on Dec. 31 after 23 years. On Busch’s nomination after the announcement, the board of trustees unanimously voted during its Nov. 15 meeting to grant Morgan chair emeritus status, which retains him staff privileges at the college. Busch said Morgan also would return as a contractor to help Mesalands on several projects. “He will be sorely missed,” Busch said. Board...

  • Journalism act protects quality news, competition

    National Newspaper Association, Syndicated content|Nov 23, 2022

    The powers that Google and Facebook have over economic and political power in society – especially over the news industry—has caught the attention of lawmakers in Washington, DC. After a close election and many worries over the quality of public debate, many ask if social media have played a role in the misinformation that erodes our free press and plagues our democracy. Nowhere is this power more daunting than in the social media giants’ use of news organizations’ reporting, which the platforms use without compensation to journalists. Google...

  • US caught up in 'cold civil war'

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Nov 23, 2022

    After World War II, the American and Soviet governments entangled themselves in what became known as “the Cold War.” They lied about each other (and told some uncomfortable truths), used dirty tricks, and even killed each other’s people in ways that didn’t quite reach the level to trigger a declaration of war. It wasn’t a good situation and only ended -- if it ended -- when the Soviet Union collapsed. Now I think America is in a cold civil war. The conflict historically called “the Civil War” wasn’t a civil war. Civil war occurs when two factio...

  • Thanksgiving feast for body, soul

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Nov 23, 2022

    If you ask me, Thanksgiving is better than Christmas, for a whole host of practical, spiritual and personal reasons. For one thing, it hasn’t been commercialized the way the Yuletide has. Black Friday and Cyber Monday may fall near Thanksgiving, but those shopping-spree days are in preparation for the giving and getting of Christmas. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is a feast for the body and soul. Sure, it may be based on a misleading narrative in American history, but at its core Thanksgiving is about something much bigger — a spirit of gra...

  • Police blotter - Nov. 23

    Nov 23, 2022

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Nov. 14 to Nov. 20: Monday — 2:49 a.m.: Civil dispute in 1100 block of South Adams Street, Tucumcari. — 7:18 a.m.: Fire in 1500 block of Quay Road 64, San Jon. — 8:54 a.m.: Accident at Highway 469 and Quay Road T, San Jon. — 12:54 p.m.: Fire in 1500 block of Quay Road 64, San Jon. — 2:16 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 1500 block of South Sixth Street, Tucumcari. — 6:16 p.m.: Assault and battery in 6300 block of Quay Road T, San Jon. Tuesday — 2:20 a.m.: Acciden...

  • Jail log - Nov. 23

    Nov 23, 2022

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Nov. 15 to Nov. 20: • Gabriel Coronado, 19, Tucumcari, contempt of court, aggravated battery on a household member (fourth or subsequent offense), criminal damage to property (over $1,000), false imprisonment, aggravated battery against a household member (no great bodily harm). • Rosalia Armijo, 36, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Latoya Tanea French, 40, Tucumcari, contempt of court. • Ediberto Ochoa, 40, Tucumcari, intentional child abuse (no death or great bodily...

  • Three Lady Rattlers named all-district

    Staff report|Nov 23, 2022

    Three Tucumcari High School volleyball players earned first-team honors from District 4’s all-district teams announced last week. The top Lady Rattlers were junior outside hitter Haisley Huffman, sophomore setter Caylee Benavidez and senior libero Alexus Lafferty. Benavidez led the Lady Rattlers in assists (489) and kills (241), plus was second in digs (216) and third in blocks (23). It was the second time she earned all-district honors. Lafferty, a four-year starter, led the team in digs (384), serve receptions (707) and serving aces (92). S...

  • Lady Rattler closes career with all-star win

    Staff report|Nov 23, 2022

    Tucumcari's Alexus Lafferty closed her high-school volleyball career Saturday by helping the Small School Green Team All-Stars defeat the Red Team All-Stars in an annual exhibition of the state's top seniors. Lafferty, a libero, "served a few aces and did really good," said her THS coach, Dana Benavidez. The Green team downed the Red team in five sets. Benavidez and several of Lafferty's Lady Rattler teammates attended the game. The Red vs. Green All-Star Volleyball Event, organized by the New...

  • Logan, San Jon volleyball players earn all-district

    Staff report|Nov 23, 2022

    Three Logan players and one San Jon player made it to the first team in District 6 volleyball honors announced last week. For the Lady Longhorns, junior outside hitter Kaylee Williams, junior middle hitter Natalie Bongers and junior defensive specialist Bella Coronado each earned first-team honors. Logan finished 18-9 overall, second in its rugged district and earned a berth to the Class 1A state tournament, falling one match short of making it to the semifinals. San Jon junior Sarah Archuleta was the only Lady Coyote to earn first-team...

  • Two Longhorns earn first-team all-district honors

    Staff report|Nov 23, 2022

    Two players from Logan's football team earned first-team honors when District 3 announced its all-district selections in eight-man football last week. Senior offensive lineman Park Strong made the first team in two spots - as a lineman on offense and as a linebacker on defense. Brock Burns was the other first-team pick for the Longhorns, at the defensive end position. Strong, a senior, averaged a team-high 11.1 tackles per game and tied a team high with 24 tackles for a loss. Burns, a junior,...

  • Quay County's COVID-19 numbers double

    Staff report|Nov 23, 2022

    Quay County’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases doubled last week, while infections and hospitalizations continued to increase in New Mexico. The number of COVID-19 cases in the county last week totaled 14, compared to seven in each of the previous two weeks. The county’s weekly cases had dropped to as low as two as recently as early October. According to the COVID Act Now website, Quay County’s rate of new cases rose to 145.4 cases per 100,000 people last week, from 92.9 the previous week. Despite the increase, the website listed the c...