Serving the High Plains

Articles from the December 13, 2023 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 21 of 21

  • Recounts affirm earlier results

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Dec 13, 2023

    An official recount last week affirmed Deanna Osborn's one-vote election victory over Wesley Brian Cox for the second and final seat on Logan Village Board. A recount also confirmed Dale Bone's five-vote victory in the Nov. 7 election over Brian Watson for the second and final seat on the San Jon school board. In the end, Osborn's 122 votes prevailed over Cox's 121 votes for the Logan village seat - the same total recorded on Election Day. Cox had been appointed to the board in the late spring a...

  • City-owned tracts contain expired leases

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Dec 13, 2023

    An overview of more than 80 properties owned by the City of Tucumcari revealed several with expired leases or a lack of documentation, including the New Mexico Route 66 Museum. Commissioners and city manager Paula Chacon discussed the tracts during a work session before their regular Dec. 4 meeting. (The meeting was rescheduled from Nov. 30 because Chacon was out of town at a conference.) Commissioners months ago had requested an inventory of such properties and had discussed putting a few up...

  • Choir members keep cantata going

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    With the retirement of longtime Quay Community Choir director Harold Sloan, many people thought last year's Christmas cantata would be the last. But the choir members themselves wouldn't let the tradition die. About 10 choir members formed a committee to take on varying tasks of organizing the performance. As a result, "The First Noel: Celebrating the Birthday of the King" will commence at 7 p.m. Friday at the Center Street Methodist Church at 406 E. Center St., Tucumcari. The event is free,...

  • County finalizes deal for new 911 center site

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Dec 13, 2023

    The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a $190,000 purchase contract for the former Bob’s Budget Pharmacy building to be used as a new site for the county’s 911 dispatch center. The commissioners’ unanimous vote came after a one-hour closed executive session attended by county fire marshal Lucas Bugg, Tucumcari/Quay Regional Emergency Communications Board Chairman Rodney Paris and 911 dispatch director Jamie Luaders. The 911 board recommended the purchase last month. Local appraiser Justin Knight had estimated the value of the forme...

  • Restoration is focus of Advent

    Gordon Runyan, Religion columnist|Dec 13, 2023

    Many churches that follow a traditional calendar in their activities will regard this upcoming Sunday as the third Sunday in the season of Advent. In the first, they focused on themes of hope and expectation. Last Sunday was about promise and fulfillment. Looking over the suggested Scripture readings for the third Sunday, the theme of restoration is prominent. The people of God who had managed to hold on to their faith at the time of Jesus of Nazareth were in need of restoration, severely so. Beginning with the captivity in Babylon, at the...

  • Boxes receives Family Farm of Year honor

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and much of his family surprised rural Tucumcari resident Philip Box when he and his wife Kathleen won the Family Farm of the Year honor during the union's convention in Greeley, Colorado, last month. "I was sitting there, getting a piece of cheesecake" when he and his wife's name were announced for the award, Box said in a phone interview last week. "I was totally in shock," he said. Box's four children and three grandchildren knew about the honor beforehand...

  • Pages past - Dec. 13

    Dec 13, 2023

    On this date ... 1973: Expressing “total embarrassment” over a “typographical error,” the federal government revised its announced 25% cut in gasoline supplies to 5% from last year’s level. The Federal Energy Office had announced the previous day that refiners were being ordered to cut gasoline production 25% from 1972 levels. The announcement was carried by all news media. Later that evening, the FEO said it meant to announce a 5% cut from 1972 levels and blamed the error on a typo. FEO information officer Jonathan Brown expressed “total em...

  • Calendar - Dec. 13

    Dec 13, 2023

    • Friday — Tucumcari Community Choir Christmas Cantata. The choir has a new director, Brian Wilson, and a 10-member committee to carry on after longtime director Harold Sloan retired. The free performance will be at 7 p.m. at Center Street Methodist Church, 406 E. Center St. in Tucumcari, with a reception afterward. • Saturday — Wreaths Across America Day at Tucumcari Memorial Park. The Tucumcari chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is taking orders for wreaths at veterans’ graves at $17 each. To order, call Susan at (575) 403...

  • Menus - Dec. 13

    Dec 13, 2023

    Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Egg and cheese burrito, Cocoa Puffs, cinnamon graham cracker, fruit cocktail, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Green Frito pie, chef salad, pinto beans, shredded romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: French toast sticks, syrup cup, Lucky Charms, cinnamon graham cracker, fruit cocktail, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Meatball sub, turkey with cheese wrap, french fri...

  • Cowering from truth only means eventual defeat

    Chicago Tribune, Syndicated content|Dec 13, 2023

    The fourth Republican presidential debate thankfully featured just four candidates rather than the cattle call we saw in previous sessions. But, whether there are four or 14 running, the same problem persists. There's only one - former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie - willing to tell primary voters what too many of them apparently don't want to hear. Donald Trump is unfit to be president and presents an unacceptable threat to our democracy. To our ears, the key moment in the debate was when...

  • Moms for Liberty too loud a voice

    Elwood Watson, Syndicated content|Dec 13, 2023

    Do as I say, not as I do. This sort of Victorian philosophy seems to be par for the course among many of the so-called family values conservatives. Recent reports that Christian Ziegler, the husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under police investigation in Sarasota, Fla., following a rape allegation sent shockwaves through the right-wing echo chamber while eliciting eye rolls from many progressives and others on the cultural left. Local reporters for the Florida Trident interviewed a woman who said she was involved in a...

  • Few of us left with brains or backbone

    Michael Reagan, Syndicated content|Dec 13, 2023

    Monica Crowley summed up the sad state of the Republican Party perfectly last week in a single tweet. Following the House’s 311-114 vote to expel the lying GOP weirdo and future criminal defendant George Santos, she wrote: “Republicans bounced George Santos. “Kevin McCarthy is leaving this month. “Bill Johnson is retiring. “This will leave the GOP with a ONE-SEAT majority. “Democrats would never do their voters like this. “These people don’t give a bleep about us or the country. In fact, they revel in sticking it to us and the country. “Disgu...

  • THS girls fall to Jemez Valley

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    The Tucumcari girls basketball team's inability to make 3-pointers and free throws proved decisive during a 45-34 loss Saturday to unbeaten Jemez Valley in the championship game of the Lady Lion Classic tournament at Santa Rosa. Caylee Benavidez and July Lafferty each were named to the all-tournament team for the Lady Rattlers. Benavidez scored a team-high 16 points with 10 rebounds and seven steals Saturday. Lafferty totaled eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists. "Caylee and July really...

  • Several THS wrestlers win tourney titles

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    The Tucumcari boys wrestling crowned champions in Josh Pacheco and Antonio Gonzales on Saturday during the eight-team Al Salazar Memorial Tournament at St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe. The Tucumcari girls team also boasted two champions during the five-team part of the meet. Pacheco won the title in the 152-pound weight class, going 3-0 during the tournament — all by pin. Gonzales captured the 172-pound class with two pins and an 8-0 decision in the final. “Josh looked really, really good,” coach Tim Clark said. “Antonio went out and k...

  • Longhorns improve to 5-0

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    The Logan boys basketball team improved to 5-0 after road victories last week over Legacy Academy and Evangel-Oak Grove, both in Albuquerque. After a slow start, the Longhorns outscored Legacy’s Silverbacks 39-25 in the second and third quarters during their 59-45 victory Friday. Logan led just 6-5 after the first quarter but surged to a 22-15 lead at halftime and 45-30 after the third quarter. Logan at one point had a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter before Legacy mounted a small rally. “It was a tough game in a good environment,” Logan...

  • Lady Longhorns nab two road victories

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    The Logan girls basketball team notched two road victories in Albuquerque last week, including a 54-14 win Friday at Legacy Academy. Desta Rose led the Lady Longhorns with 18 points, and Hailee Robertson added eight. The Lady Longhorns (4-1) raced to 10-2 lead in the first quarter and added an 11-0 run in the second quarter. They led 28-6 at halftime and 45-13 after three periods. The Silverbacks fell to 1-3. Logan 59, Evangel-Oak Grove 11 The Lady Longhorns overwhelmed Evangel Christian-Oak Grove 59-11 on Thursday in Albuquerque. Logan raced...

  • Tucumcari native retires after 24 years in Marines

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    A Tucumcari native retired from 24 years in the Marines during a relief and appointment ceremony Friday at Marines Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Sgt. Maj. Collin D. Barry was relieved by Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Brown during a relief and appointment ceremony at The Clubs at Quantico. "My fondest memory of serving in the Marine Corps was having the distinct, humble and honorable privilege to lead Marines in every clime and place," Barry said. The ceremony concluded with a presentation of flowers t...

  • Rotary Club has idea for a brighter 'T'

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    When the lighted "T" on the north face of Tucumcari Mountain is refurbished again, the Tucumcari Rotary Club may have a way to brighten the letter to viewers in more parts of the city. Robert Hockaday, an officer for the club, detailed to the Tucumcari Lodgers Advisory Board on Wednesday its efforts earlier this summer to install new lighting that outlines the "T." The Rotary Club initially wanted to install many more solar-powered lights on the mesa for a more elaborate "T" outline, at an...

  • Quay County 4-H clubs celebrate achievements

    Staff report|Dec 13, 2023

    Quay County 4-H hosted its annual 4-H Achievement Night on Dec. 3 at the Quay County Fairgrounds, with Amanda Hammer of the Wranglers Club receiving the Leader of the Year award and Matt Klinger receiving the County Leader of the Year honor. The event awards other community members, volunteers, leaders and 4-H members who assist 4-H throughout the year. 4-Hers who have completed a record books also were eligible for awards. About 100 4-H members and their families attended. The following is a...

  • Police blotter - Dec. 13

    Dec 13, 2023

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Dec. 4 to Dec. 10: Monday — 4:37 a.m.: Accident with injuries at milepost 328, U.S. 54, Logan. — 8:21 a.m.: Civil dispute in 1200 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 8:25 a.m.: Accident in 2000 block of South Mountain Road, Tucumcari. — 10:12 a.m.: Arrest warrant at South Third and West High streets, Tucumcari. — 10:58 a.m.: Accident with injuries at milepost 332, Interstate 40, Tucumcari. — 11:11 a.m.: Threat in 600 block of East Tucumcari B...

  • Jail log - Dec. 13

    Dec 13, 2023

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Dec. 5 to Dec. 10: — Jaime Juanito Soria, 19, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Britney Latvala, 34, San Jon, felony possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug) and encouraging violation of probation, parole or bail. — Aleidra Blea, 28, Tucumcari, driving while license suspended or revoked. — Rachel M. Gotschall, 29, Tucumcari, no proof of insurance. — Katelyn Moralez, 19, Tucumcari, perjury. — Jeffrey Knox, 20, Tucumcari, three counts of contempt of court. — Sy...