Serving the High Plains

Articles from the November 24, 2021 edition


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  • Two die, schools go remote as virus spreads

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    The rapid spread of COVID-19 caused two more deaths in Quay County last week and prompted two area school districts to go to remote-only classes through Nov. 29. These two deaths were reported in the county, according to the state Department of Health: • A man in his 90s who was hospitalized; • A man in his 70s. Those deaths increased the toll to 25 in the county since the pandemic began in the spring of 2020. About two-thirds of the county’s coronavirus deaths have occurred in the last six months. A total of 91 confirmed cases of...

  • Officials approve new fee structure

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 24, 2021

    The Tucumcari City Commission spent a chunk of its meeting Thursday on Tucumcari Convention Center matters, including the facility’s first fee increases since 2015. Commissioners approved a new fee structure, as recommended by the city’s lodgers tax advisory board, for the convention center effective Jan. 1. Most rental fees for the facility rose at a rate of 4% compounded annually since 2015. As an example, a commercial entity renting the entire convention center will pay $1,025, versus the previous fee of $800. A nonprofit organization re...

  • Ballpark plan gets final approval

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 24, 2021

    The Tucumcari Public Schools board last week gave unanimous final approval to a scaled-down ballpark redevelopment plan, set to begin construction next summer. In short, two ball diamonds will be redeveloped instead of the previously planned three or four. TPS superintendent Aaron McKinney said he anticipates asking voters for another bond issue next year to redevelop the other two diamonds. "I'm excited to get it moving," board member Jerry Lopez said during the vote. The district initially...

  • Artists helping with La Plaza project

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 24, 2021

    Tucumcari residents in the next few weeks and months might bump into out-of-town artists who are helping the owner of the long-closed La Plaza Court motel renovate and convert it into artist housing. Two artists from Florida and Montana began their work last week on La Plaza's office and manager's living quarters, which likely will be converted into a kitchen area for tenants of the artist housing complex because individual rooms lack sufficient power for typical cooking appliances. The two...

  • Menus - Nov. 24

    Nov 24, 2021

    The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center also offer grab-and-go meals to those who qualify. Those interested should call the Tucumcari facility at 461-2307 or the Logan facility at 487-2287 for more information. Also, Logan Municipal Schools and San Jon Municipal Schools will be remote-only through Nov. 29, but grab-and-go meals will be available through Logan’s west cafeteria door. Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Closed for Thanksgiving break. Thursday — Closed for Thanksgiving break. Monday — Breakfast: Cocoa Puffs cereal...

  • Calendar - Nov. 24

    Nov 24, 2021

    Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Thursday — Mama T’s Road to Ruin restaurant will offer a free Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shut-ins in the Logan and Ute Lake area can text Tonya at (575) 403-7161 for delivery of plates. 103 S. U.S. 54, Logan. • Saturday — Lighting of the Depot. Santa Claus will make an appearance at the Tucumcari Railroad Plaza from 2 to 6 p.m. The ceremony will include vendors and Shop Small Saturday fun. • Dec. 3 — Very Merry Tucumcari Virtual C.R.A.F.T. Fair. This...

  • Burning sends worse message than any book

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Syndicated content|Nov 24, 2021

    Two school board members in Virginia this month called for the burning — yes, burning — of books in the school’s library that they deem sexually offensive. This is, of course, the logical direction of the conservative movement to crack down on any school curriculum that doesn’t reflect a right-wing view of the world. And it’s another reason why liberals and progressives should reclaim the mantle of free speech that was once an integral part of liberal thinking but that has now, alarmingly, fallen out of fashion on college campuses...

  • Good jury makes the right choice

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Nov 24, 2021

    The Kyle Rittenhouse trial may have served as a canary in the coal mine. That’s how I saw it. Government doesn’t respect your right of self-defense and would prefer you die at the hands of attackers. Fortunately, the jury saw through the malicious prosecution. Unfortunately, much of the public believed the lies spun by the national media corporations to advance their anti-gun, anti-defense agenda. Rittenhouse was even called a “white supremacist” and his attackers were called “his victims.” Rittenhouse was persecuted for doing...

  • Gratitudes too political this year

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Nov 24, 2021

    Every year I write about Thanksgiving with a hope that I can avoid, or at least minimize, my political commentary, opting instead to make an annual kumbaya column, writing about what’s close to my heart in advance of my favorite holiday. At least I try. This year, however, I freely admit I can’t do it. The things for which I’m grateful are just too politically tainted this time around. Maybe it’s a sign of the times that my worldview is undeniably political, because the fight for “truth, justice and the American way” (as the a-polit...

  • Mesalands to add more sports by fall 2022

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 24, 2021

    Mesalands Community College’s president said the college would add women’s golf, men’s and women’s cross country and e-sports to its offerings by fall 2022. Mesalands already has rodeo and men’s golf among its Stampede athletic programs. Gregg Busch, Mesalands president, said during the board of trustees meeting Nov. 16 the college has submitted an application to the National Junior College Athletic Association, which governs community college, state college and junior college athletics throughout the United States, so Mesalands...

  • San Jon games canceled or postponed

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    Several San Jon High School boys and girls basketball games have been canceled or postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the community. San Jon superintendent Janet Gladu announced in a Nov. 16 letter posted online the district would go to remote-only learning through Nov. 29 because coronavirus-positive cases had climbed, and “our cases are spread out across grade levels and staff.” As a result, San Jon’s season-opening home boys and girls basketball games that included Elida on Nov. 20 and Des Moines on Nov. 22 and a boys game on Nov....

  • Tucumcari senior makes all-district

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    Khobie Salvador, a senior offensive and defense tackle, was the lone Tucumcari Rattler named to the first team of the Class 3A-4 football selections this week. Salvador also played some fullback during Tucumcari's season. The Rattlers finished 1-9 overall and 0-3 in the district, which included Hope Christian, Dexter and district champ New Mexico Military Institute. NMMI fell to St. Michael's 34-14 in the state quarterfinals. Rattlers who made the second team in the district were senior...

  • Seven from Logan make all-district football

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    Logan football team saw seven players earn all-district honors in the District 2 eight-man football division, including one who earned recognition at five positions. Park Strong, a junior, was named all-district as an inside linebacker, offensive lineman, tight end, kicker and punter for a Longhorns team that finished 8-4 and advanced to the state semifinals, according to details provided by Logan coach Dwayne Roberts. Other Logan players who earned all-district applause: • Skyler Deluca, a...

  • Five make all-district volleyball

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    Logan saw three players and San Jon had two earn all-district volleyball honors in Class 1A's rugged District 6. The Lady Longhorns (19-8), who advanced to the state semifinals before being downed by eventual champion Melrose, had these players earn all-district honors: • Senior outside hitter/setter Reece Goldston; • Senior outside hitter/setter Rilee Nials; • Senior libero Kyra Conway. Goldston also was selected to the New Mexico High School Coaches Association's small-school all-star...

  • Stay thankful no matter what's going on

    Leonard Lauriault|Nov 24, 2021

    We’ll celebrate Thanksgiving in America this week, but the times seem pretty bleak right now with all that’s happening in our nation and around the world. I’m not just talking about political strife, COVID, empty shelves, natural disasters, or just plain evil. While evil will increase over time and take a lot out of us, there’s still hope it will all end and life will be better (2 Timothy 3:12-13; Matthew 24:4-13, 21-22). But this article isn’t necessarily about the present evils. It’s about how we should still be thankful despite...

  • Recount for House tied races to commence next week

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 24, 2021

    (Editor's note: The time for the recount was changed by the Secretary of State after the Quay County Sun's deadline.) County Clerk Ellen White announced during a county commission meeting Monday that a recount for two tied election races in the Village of House would commence next week. The recount is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 30 in the commission chambers at 300 S. Third St. in Tucumcari. The public is welcome to watch the recount. Masks will be required. Two Democrats and two Republicans from county precinct boards will preside over the...

  • Mesalands board approves letters

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Nov 24, 2021

    The Mesalands Community College board of trustees unanimously approved letters to the Higher Learning Commission to add micro-credential programs and online learning options for all of its classes. College President Gregg Busch asked the board to approve both letters to the commission, which accredits higher education institutions. Busch said in previous meetings that more online options would expand Mesalands’ reach to potential students. Regarding micro-credentials, also known as competency-based learning, Vice President of Campus Affairs...

  • Tucumcari man honored in magazine

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    A Tucumcari man was one of 10 people honored this year as New Mexico Magazine's True Heroes for his work in helping the poor and homeless via the Ministry of Hope food bank. A video segment about Doyle Frasier was broadcast Nov. 16 on Facebook and KOB-TV in Albuquerque. Frasier also was featured in the magazine's December print edition. "The good Lord is leading me to it," Frasier said of the Ministry of Hope in his recorded interview. "I grew up in a poor family ... wasn't sure we were going to...

  • Suspect faces four felony charges in bear spray incident

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    A man faces four felony criminal charges after he was accused last week of spraying bear spray on two people, then punching a Tucumcari police officer and trying to grab his weapons. Frank Christopher Link, 52, was charged with aggravated battery upon a police officer (no great bodily harm), disarming a police officer (removing firearm or weapon) and two counts of aggravated battery (great bodily harm). No address was listed for Link in court records. Three of the four courts are third-degree felonies, which can result in three years in prison...

  • 11-year-old Clovis girl dies in one-vehicle accident

    Staff report|Nov 24, 2021

    An 11-year-old girl from Clovis died in a one-vehicle accident last week south of San Jon. According to a news release from New Mexico State Police, an 18-year-old woman from Clovis was driving south in a 2017 Hyundai car near milepost 11 on Highway 469 between San Jon and Grady. About 12:40 p.m. Nov. 16, the vehicle for reasons unknown went off the road and slid sideways into a power pole. The younger girl suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of Medical Examiner. The driver was airlifted by a medical...

  • Pages past - Nov. 24

    Nov 24, 2021

    On this date ... 1971: To celebrate New Mexico’s 60th year of statehood, publisher L.D. Caldwell of the Tucumcari Daily News and a manager of KTNM radio told the city commission about a local organization’s idea to erect a 40-by-80-foot lighted sign on Tucumcari Mountain that simply stated “60.” Caldwell said the sign would entice more tourists to stop in Tucumcari. The city commission agreed to give $300 to for the estimated $3,000 cost for the project. Caldwell said he would raise the rest though civic organizations. • One Las...

  • NM chiles grown in space

    New Mexico State University, Syndicated content|Nov 24, 2021

    Did you know a chile cultivar developed at New Mexico State University is being grown aboard the International Space Station? The NuMex Espanola Improved pepper is part of NASA's Plant Habitat-04 experiment, and NMSU graduates are among the researchers and scientists who helped chile find its way to space. NuMex Espanola Improved is a hybridization between Hatch Sandia and the traditional Espanola Valley native type peppers of northern New Mexico and was developed in 1984 by Roy Nakayama, NMSU...

  • Jail log - Nov. 24

    Nov 24, 2021

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21: • Stephanie J. Coy, 62, Tucumcari, criminal damage to property (under $1,000). • Eric John Lopez, 23, Tucumcari, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle (first offense), criminal damage to property (over $1,000) and larceny ($250 or less). • Lauren Rae McNeil, 28, Tucumcari, criminal trespass (public). • Orlando A. Deherrera, 55, Tucumcari, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault upon a peace officer and resisting, evading or obstructing an...

  • Police blotter - Nov. 24

    Nov 24, 2021

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21: Monday • 9:06 a.m.: Unattended death in 200 block of Pike Street, Logan. • 9:09 a.m.: Theft in 200 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. • 9:27 a.m.: Disturbance in 1200 block of South Adams Street, Tucumcari. • 10:10 a.m.: Theft in 800 block of East Center Street, Tucumcari. • 10:26 a.m.: Noise complaint in 2300 block of South Second Street, Tucumcari. • 10:50 a.m.: Noise complaint in 2300 block of South Second Street,...

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