Serving the High Plains

Articles from the November 29, 2023 edition


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  • City to get $2M state rec grant

    Staff report|Nov 29, 2023

    The City of Tucumcari will receive $2 million from a state recreation fund that the city manager said will be used to improve its Little League fields and the Tucumcari Recreation Center. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office last week announced a total of $40 million in grants from the Regional Recreation Centers and Quality of Life Grants fund. The grant awards were announced in a news release Wednesday afternoon, just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Reached by phone Wednesday evening, Tucumca...

  • Board to mull 3 quotes for superintendent search firms

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 29, 2023

    Tucumcari Public Schools board members will consider quotes from three executive-search firms to find a new superintendent. Board President Heather Gonzales said during the board’s meeting on Nov. 20 it will make a decision on those bids at its regular meeting in December, with the superintendent search slated to begin in January. Current superintendent Aaron McKinney has said he would retire on Jan. 1 after 18 years of leading the district. McKinney was not present during last week’s meeting. School officials did not identify the bidders, tho...

  • 'Servants to our community'

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 29, 2023

    First Baptist Church in Tucumcari began offering free Thanksgiving dinners 32 years ago, and volunteer AJ Williams has been of part of that effort each year. Williams, 71, has become the supervisor of the annual endeavor in the church's fellowship hall that typically feeds 200 people during the holiday. Though she endures her share of ailments, Williams said she's never missed helping with the Thanksgiving dinner at the church. First Baptist continued with the tradition even during the COVID-19...

  • Mountain View School may be torn down next year

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 29, 2023

    The former Mountain View Elementary School in Tucumcari, used by the Early Head Start Program, might be town down sometime next year. Tucumcari Public Schools assistant superintendent Dave Johnson told the board during its Nov. 20 meeting the district's insurer said the building should be condemned and that the New Mexico Public School Facilities Authority has signaled it would cover all costs of its demolition, including hazardous materials abatement. Johnson told board members that Eastern...

  • Same law governs king and people

    Gordon Runyan, Religion columnist|Nov 29, 2023

    Israel wandered in the wilderness for a full generation (40 years) without a king, at the beginning of its national history. In fact, in the first giving of the law, which occurred at Mount Sinai, there was no provision given for a king in Israel at all. Moses was certainly the leader of the new nation, but his governmental function was to serve as the judge of Israel’s supreme court. The law created an appeals court system, with Moses as the court of last appeal. He was not their king. Under that arrangement, which we call the Old Covenant, G...

  • Pagest past - Nov. 29

    Nov 29, 2023

    On this date ... 1973: Sharon Block of Tucumcari, the state winner of the 4-H food-nutrition award, met with famous newspaper advice columnist Ann Landers during the 52nd annual National 4-H Congress in Chicago. The “Ask Ann Landers” column ran for 56 years, mostly written by Eppie Lederer from 1955 until her death in 2002. Winners from 50 states and Puerto Rico were guests of General Foods Corp., sponsor of the National 4-H Food-Nutrition program that is conducted by the cooperative extension service and arranged by the National 4-H Com...

  • Calendar - Nov. 29

    Nov 29, 2023

    • Saturday — Annual Parade of Lights. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. and go west on Route 66 from Lake Street to the Tucumcari Convention Center, with setup on Lake Street starting at 5:15 p.m. Email [email protected] for a parade registration form. Afterward, the Odeon Theatre will hold a free screening of the 1971 movie “Two-Lane Blacktop,” which contains scenes in Tucumcari, at 7:15 p.m. • Saturday — 11th annual Christmas Expo. The Tucumcari Convention Center will host this arts and crafts event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5:30 t...

  • Menus - Nov. 29

    Nov 29, 2023

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Blueberry and yogurt parfait, assorted cereal, graham crackers, fresh banana, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Teriyaki chicken, brown rice, ham and egg chef salad, steamed broccoli, fresh baby carrots, buttermilk ranch dressing, mandarin oranges, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Cherry frugal, assorted cereal, graham crackers, fruit cocktail, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Chicken patty sandwich, ham and cheese san...

  • Health council offers Narcan training again

    Staff report|Nov 29, 2023

    The Quay County Health Council again is offering training with Narcan, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The council will offer the free training at 11 a.m. Dec. 9 in the Tucumcari MainStreet office of the Tucumcari Railroad Museum. Training will last about an hour and show how to identify an opioid overdose, the laws that protect citizens trying to save a life, how to use Narcan and follow-up care of an overdose victim. Free Narcan kits will be provided to each participant, a $140 value. “The more people in o...

  • Man imprisoned for shooting at police

    Staff report|Nov 29, 2023

    A Tucumcari man went to state prison for five years after he pleaded guilty to three felony charges and two misdemeanors after being accused of shooting at city police officers during an attempted traffic stop two years ago. District Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. also gave Lawrence Rivas, 28, a nearly 8 1/2-year suspended sentence and five years of supervised probation. Rivas was given credit for 192 days in the county jail, according to online court documents. Rivas received additional prison time due to his history as a repeat offender,...

  • Wind energy can co-exist with wildlife

    Bloomberg News, Syndicated content|Nov 29, 2023

    Wind power may be having a difficult year, but it’s still many times cheaper than oil or gas and remains a core piece of the energy-transition puzzle. A single rotation of a 260-meter-tall offshore turbine — General Electric Co.’s Haliade-X 13 MW, to be precise — can produce enough energy to power a household for more than two days, emitting no carbon or other pollutants. Not everyone is a fan. NIMBYism is one of the biggest barriers to green energy installations, as local residents protest “view-ruining” turbines and new grid infrastruct...

  • Support your theater – or lose it

    Johnnie Meier, Guest columnist|Nov 29, 2023

    My name is Johnnie Meier, historic preservation officer for the New Mexico Route 66 Association. I have been leading an all-volunteer preservation team that has been working to restore Tucumcari’s hail damaged historic neon signs and we have been making significant progress. On Nov. 18, I was in Tucumcari with the association preservation team working on several neon signs. Sitting in my motel room after a hard day’s work, I decided to go to the Odeon Theater to watch a movie. I have long been familiar with the Odeon having watched movies there...

  • Confederate flag always symbol of hate

    Elwood Watson, Syndicated content|Nov 29, 2023

    Recently, I was heading home from a local coffeehouse. Along the way, at one specific intersection, there were a few men in a pickup truck with a Confederate flag. Two men were sitting in the back of the truck, and one of them proceeded to yell at me, “Do you see this flag?!” I rolled down my window and delivered a blunt commentary to the guy, letting my emotions get the best of me. He responded with “White power” at the same moment the truck took off and headed down the highway. I was angry and irritated, and let out a loud yell to release...

  • Hittson wants run-and-gun THS squad

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 29, 2023

    Though longtime Tucumcari boys basketball coach John Span is sitting out this season, don't expect many changes as his assistant coach from last season, Gary Hittson, takes over the helm. Span decided this fall to temporarily step down from his post because he's recovering from major cancer surgery in August. It would have been Span's 21st season. Hittson, a veteran coach himself, said he'd been in touch occasionally with Span over the summer, but their philosophies remain mostly similar...

  • Lady Rattlers face a tough early test

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Nov 29, 2023

    Tucumcari will have an early measuring stick on how good its girls basketball team is when its hosts (Las Vegas) Robertson in its season opener on Thursday. The perennially tough Cardinals have defeated the Lady Rattlers by an average of more than 30 points the last three seasons. But THS coach Patrick Benavidez thinks his team has a good opportunity for payback. "They've had our number the last few years," he said. "Their being physical really wore us down in the second half. This year, I...

  • 4 Rattlers make first-team all-district

    Staff report|Nov 29, 2023

    Four Tucumcari football players earned first-team all-district honors, with eight others earning second-team or honorable mention awards. Sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Kamren Apodaca, senior running back and linebacker Antonio Gonzales, junior running back and linebacker Jordan Rincones and sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Daymion Urioste each made the first team in District 4 of Class 3A. Urioste totaled a team-high 768 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns during the...

  • Four Lady Rattlers voted all-district

    Staff report|Nov 29, 2023

    Four players from Tucumcari High School’s volleyball team earned first-team honors last week in District 4 of Class 3A. First-team members for the Lady Rattlers were: — Senior defensive specialist and outside hitter Haisley Huffman (146 kills, a team-high 258 digs, 255 receptions); — Junior setter Caylee Benavidez (166 kills, a team-high 602 assists and 63 aces, 242 digs and 37 blocks); — Freshman outside hitter Cambree Benavidez (a team-high 232 kills, 56 aces and 154 digs); — Senior libero Alexis Ramirez (53 aces, 205 digs, a team-high...

  • Five Lady Longhorns make all-district

    Staff report|Nov 29, 2023

    Five Logan High School volleyball players earned first-team honors in recent voting by District 6 coaches in Class 1A. The Lady Longhorns' first-team all-district players were: - Senior libero Hailee Robertson; - Senior outside hitter Kaylee Williams; - Sophomore outside hitter Desta Rose; - Junior middle blocker Haylie Bidegain; - Senior defensive specialist Bella Coronado. Robertson also was named to the Red Team as a defensive specialist in the New Mexico High School Coaches Association's...

  • Logan FFA member gets prestigious honor

    Staff report|Nov 29, 2023

    A member of the Logan FFA chapter recently received the prestigious American FFA Degree during the organization's convention in Indianapolis. Micah Lightfoot was awarded the American FFA Degree earlier this month. The award recognizes demonstrated ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs. To be eligible, FFA members must have earned at least $10,000 or earned at least $2,000 and worked at least 2,250 hours outside of class time...

  • Jail log - Nov. 29

    Nov 29, 2023

    These individuals were released from the Quay County Detention Center from Nov. 22 to Nov. 26: — Joshua Paul Hyslop, 39, Tucumcari, court ordered. — Charles Camerino, 33, Tucumcari, time served. — Robert Isavel Gomez, 34, Tucumcari, to probation. — Christopher Williams, 34, Tucumcari, to probation. — Cosmoe Kareem Hurd, 40, Tucumcari, court ordered....