Serving the High Plains

Articles from the December 9, 2020 edition


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  • City approves TV agreement

    Steve Hansen, QCS correspondent|Dec 9, 2020

    The Tucumcari City commission on Thursday approved an agreement with organizers of the proposed "Bands of Enchantment" television series through which the city will support production of the series' first four episodes in three payments totaling $60,000 in Lodgers Tax funds. Tyson Chavez, one of the organizers with Elkhorn Entertainment, told the commission that timing of the funding was critical and that the $60,000 covers only part of production costs. Organizers plan to make Tucumcari the...

  • Five coronavirus cases reported Sunday in county

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health on Sunday reported five confirmed cases of coronavirus in Quay County. Four of the cases were reported in the Tucumcari ZIP code, with one in the Logan ZIP code. Three females and two males were infected in the county. The breakdown by age is two age 10 to 19, one age 40 to 49, one age 60 to 69 and one age 70 to 79. Quay County continues to see an elevated rate of COVID-19 cases in December, with 62 so far. A total of 140 cases were reported in the county in November. The total number of cases in the county r...

  • Four COVID-19 cases reported Saturday

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health on Saturday reported four confirmed cases of coronavirus in Quay County. Three of the cases were reported in the Tucumcari ZIP code, with one in the Nara Visa ZIP code. Two females and two males were infected in the county. The breakdown by age is two age 20 to 29, one age 30 to 39 and one age 40 to 49. Quay County continues to see an elevated rate of COVID-19 cases in December, with 57 so far. A total of 140 cases were reported in the county in November. The total number of cases in the county rose to 304,...

  • Eight COVID-19 cases reported Friday in county

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health on Friday reported eight confirmed cases of coronavirus in Quay County, pushing the total to the 300 mark since the pandemic began in March. One case was not accounted for in the DOH’s data concerning age breakdowns, genders or ZIP codes. Five females and two males were infected in the county, all in the Tucumcari ZIP code. The breakdown by age is two age 9 and younger, one age 10 to 19, one age 40 to 49, one age 50 to 59 and two age 60 to 69. Quay County continues to see an elevated rate of COVID-19 cases in...

  • Five coronavirus cases reported Thursday in county

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health on Thursday reported five confirmed cases of coronavirus in Quay County, all in the Tucumcari ZIP code. Four females and one male were infected in the county. The breakdown by age is two age 10 to 19, one age 30 to 39, one age 40 to 49 and one age 50 to 59. Quay County continued to see an elevated rate of COVID-19 cases in December, with 45 so far. A total of 140 cases were reported in the county in November. The total number of cases in the county since the pandemic began rose to 292, with five deaths. A...

  • Three new coronavirus cases reported in county

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health on Tuesday and Wednesday reported a total of three confirmed cases of coronavirus in Quay County, all in the Tucumcari ZIP code. The agency did not report its daily numbers Tuesday because of a computer network outage in state government. Two females and one male were infected in the county. The breakdown by age is one age 10 to 19, one age 30 to 39 and one age 70 to 79. Quay County continued to see an elevated rate of COVID-19 cases in December, with 40 so far. A total of 140 cases were reported in the...

  • Logan going remote

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    Logan Municipal Schools on Saturday became the fourth school district in Quay County to have in-person classes disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The district stated in a text message Saturday afternoon to parents and students that Logan schools will go entirely to online classes starting Monday through Dec. 18 “due to a COVID case on campus.” The district’s Facebook page later stated the case was confirmed Saturday. The Tucumcari, San Jon and House school districts in the county last last month converted from a hybrid model of teaching to...

  • 15 confirmed cases reported

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health on Sunday reported 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Quay County, all in the Tucumcari ZIP code. The age breakdown of the confirmed cases in the county was one age 9 and younger, three age 10 to 19, one age 20 to 29, one age 30 to 39, two age 40 to 49, one age 50 to 59, two age 60 to 69 and two age 70 to 79. Seven females and six males were infected. Two more cases were reported Monday in the county, both in the Tucumcari area. Two men were infected – one 40 to 49 years old; the other 50 to 59. Quay C...

  • Revisionists challenging Thanksgiving history

    Leonard Lauriault, Religion columnist|Dec 9, 2020

    Those trying to revise our history and destroy America’s greatness were at it again at Thanksgiving. Some even promoted their anti-Christian agenda by calling the early European Americans “Christians” rather than using the traditional term “Pilgrims.” I don’t mean to imply the Pilgrims weren’t Christians; I’m just recognizing it seemed the history revisionists were broadening their negative claims against the Pilgrims to apply to all Christians by using the different terminology. All Christians make errors in judgment and even still sin, need...

  • Former Logan man pleads in teen-sex case

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    A 34-year-old former Logan resident faces three years in prison after accepting a plea deal last week in connection with allegations he had sex with a 14-year-old girl. Joshua Lee Roubieu, 34, listed in online court records as now living in Aztec, pleaded guilty in Tucumcari district court to two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual penetration of a child and one count of criminal sexual communication with a child. All were fourth-degree felonies that could lead to 18 months in prison and a fine of $5,000. In exchange for the plea, one...

  • Emergency COVID-19 amendment in place

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Environment Department adopted a second emergency amendment to state workplace safety laws that requires employers to report positive COVID-19 cases among employees to the agency within four hours of being notified of the case. This second emergency amendment is necessary as the original emergency amendment expired before a permanent amendment was put in place. The second emergency amendment went into effect Thursday and will remain in effect for no more than 120 days unless NMED proposes and the Environmental Improvement Board...

  • Pages past - Dec. 9

    Dec 9, 2020

    On this date ... 1970: Bud Doss of Tucumcari Industries told the Noon Lions Club his garment factory had produced more than $1.5 million in merchandise during its third year of operation. Doss said the company had diversified and add more types of jackets that sell at a higher price. The company employs 85 people and has JC Penney has one of its largest clients. • The Safeway grocery in Tucumcari was advertising fryers for 29 cents a pound, cooked ham for 39 cents a pound and Gold Coin sliced bacon for 63 cents a pound. • The Odeon Theatre in...

  • Calendar - Dec. 9

    Dec 9, 2020

    Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Wednesday — Virtual Christmas Cash Mob at Motel Safari. Tucumcari MainStreet is partnering with the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce and local businesses as part of Very Merry Tucumcari festivities to bring fun and boost local shopping. Participants bid on items, arrange payment and socialize during the Facebook Live session. Hosts entertain and educate as they sell items and encourage viewers to shop locally. Other Cash Mob events will be at Vaquero Asador on Thu...

  • Menus - Dec. 9

    Dec 9, 2020

    The Tucumcari Senior Center and Logan Senior Center remain closed to the public indefinitely but will deliver meals to those who qualify. Those interested in meal deliveries should call the Tucumcari facility at 461-2307 and the Logan facility at 487-2287 for more information. Area schools are going to online teaching temporarily during the pandemic; one should call to make arrangements for deliveries or pick-up. Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Chocolate chocolate-chip muffins, string cheese, apple juice; Lunch: Shredded pork taco m...

  • Tax board gives green light on marketing firm

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 9, 2020

    Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board members informally gave the city manager a green light to issue a request for proposals to hire a new marketing firm to oversee the city’s tourism efforts. Members during their regular meeting Wednesday also discussed an official launch of the city’s tourism rebranding efforts, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 18. City Manager Mark Martinez told the board he was inclined to give a one-year marketing contract to the Leighton Moon firm of Alamogordo, which oversaw the city’s recent tourism rebranding effor...

  • Courts expand dispute resolution service

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    New Mexico courts are expanding a free Online Dispute Resolution service to money-due disputes in landlord-tenant cases, adding features such as text capabilities to make it more convenient for parties and mediators to use, and requiring plaintiff participation. Starting Monday, a new version of ODR will be available for resolving debt and money-due lawsuits and landlord-tenant disputes, such as when a residential or commercial property owner seeks to recover unpaid rent. Cases seeking evictions will continue to be handled in court, not...

  • Nuclear deal must be approached with caution

    Bloomberg News|Dec 9, 2020

    After the killing of Iran’s top nuclear scientist last month, President-elect Joe Biden is coming under renewed pressure to quickly resume negotiations with the regime. He should slow down and proceed with caution. Biden has long since telegraphed his desire to resuscitate the nuclear deal that Iran agreed to with the U.S. and other world powers in 2015. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as it was known, was designed to pause Tehran’s nuclear-development program well short of the weaponization stage. Since President Donald Trump’s decis... Full story

  • Biden's top priority reaching out

    Steve Hansen, QCS correspondent|Dec 9, 2020

    One of President-elect Joe Biden’s top priorities should be determining what ignited the mania for President Donald Trump and keeps it aflame, then finding ways to address the unmet needs of the74 million people who voted in favor of a second Trump term. Biden should immediately begin to address their needs rather than merely stoke their suspicions as Trump has done for the past four years. It won’t be easy, and it will probably require years of replacing the mistrust that elected Trump in 2016 — and that Trump reignited at every oppor...

  • Golf is a COVID-19 safe activity

    Michael Reagan, Syndicated columnist|Dec 9, 2020

    The state of California has felt like a minimum-security prison for eight months. In the name of fighting the pandemic and preventing our hospitals from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, the politicians and public health experts have told us “non-essential” Americans where we could go, where we could eat and where and how we could gather with our friends, strangers or fellow worshipers. They’ve slowly managed to outlaw any social activity and fun that brings ordinary people happiness. And now, thanks to Mayor Eric Garcetti and something c...

  • Quay in red zone on COVID-19 map

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    Quay County and 31 other New Mexico counties last week landed in the red zone on the state’s COVID-19 map that would guide economic reopenings in the coming weeks. Neighboring San Miguel County, however, landed in the yellow zone with a test positivity rate right at the 5% benchmark. Its daily case rate of coronavirus was 32.2 per 100,000 people, above the benchmark of 8 daily cases per 100,000 people. No counties were in the green zone. The next re-evaluation of New Mexico counties will be Dec. 16. Los Alamos County, in the yellow zone a f...

  • Testing partnership extending to include Tucumcari

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The New Mexico Department of Health and the Curative firm are further expanding their COVID-19 testing partnership to include 10 locations in southeast New Mexico, including Tucumcari. Curative testing times at the Tucumcari Public Health Office at 310 S. Second St. will be from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, two sites in southeast New Mexico will now provide the less invasive, oral fluid tests. The sites already are established under the Public Health Offices and have been providing nasopharyngeal tests to the public...

  • CARES Act grant applications close Dec. 18

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    The grant application for Small Business CARES Relief Grants for New Mexico businesses opened Monday and will close at noon Dec. 18. The grant application and information on guidelines are available at nmfinance.com. Eligible businesses of 100 or fewer employees include for-profit businesses that are at least 51% owned by New Mexico residents, and nonprofit organizations. Applications will be reviewed in three funding rounds. If applications exceed available funds in a round, the applications will be prioritized based on the severity of economi...

  • Food stamp holders to receive maximum amount

    Staff report|Dec 9, 2020

    New Mexico households receiving food stamps will receive the maximum amount for their household size for the month of December as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are especially grateful to provide additional food assistance for New Mexicans as we head into the holiday season,” said Karmela Martinez, director of the Income Support Division which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “Many New Mexico families are struggling as the pandemic rages on, and our low-income residents need all the supp...

  • Groesbeck refiles lawsuit

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 9, 2020

    One week after his initial lawsuit was dismissed, the former president of Mesalands Community College filed a new whistleblower and retaliation complaint in Quay County against his former employer. John Groesbeck refiled the lawsuit Dec. 1 in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Tucumcari against Mesalands. Circuit Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. has been assigned to the case. Groesbeck initially filed his lawsuit in July in Santa Fe District Court weeks after the college’s board of directors fired him in the spring. The suit was dismissed without p...

  • Chamber executive director resigning

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 9, 2020

    The executive director for the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce is resigning her post in mid-January after a little less than three years. Carmen Runyan said during a telephone interview Thursday her last day would be Jan. 15. The chamber’s Facebook page posted a job opening for her position Wednesday. Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board members also briefly discussed Runyan’s imminent departure during their regular meeting Wednesday. Runyan said she would continue to help Tucumcari MainStreet Executive Director Connie Loveland wit...

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