Serving the High Plains

Articles from the December 15, 2021 edition


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  • More than 200 boosters distributed

    Staff report|Dec 15, 2021

    A mass-vaccination event Wednesday at the Quay County Fairgrounds distributed more than 200 COVID-19 booster shots to residents while local infection caseloads continued to surge at a high rate. C. Renee Hayoz, administrator of the Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari, said she saw the need for the event because the clinic's waiting list for booster shots had swelled to more than 400 people. In the fairgrounds' exposition center, health workers gave Moderna boosters to 191 people who...

  • Death toll from I-40 crash rises to three

    Staff report|Dec 15, 2021

    Three people died and six others, all from Mexico, suffered injuries in a one-vehicle rollover accident Friday of a sport-utility vehicle on Interstate 40 in Tucumcari. The crash occurred about 4:55 p.m. Friday near milepost 333 on I-40 on Tucumcari’s east side, according to a news release Monday night from New Mexico State Police, who are investigating. A 2002 Mercury Mountaineer driven east by a 31-year-old man sustained a tire blowout. The SUV left the roadway, hit a guardrail and rolled. Ten people were in the vehicle. Three passengers, A...

  • Cannabis ordinance may need to be amended

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 15, 2021

    Due to a city attorney’s oversight, Tucumcari’s city manager said the town’s cannabis ordinance will need to be amended or replaced, possibly delaying legal sales of recreational marijuana by local businesses in early 2022. Mark Martinez revealed the alleged oversight by the city attorney, Randall Van Vleck of Santa Fe, during his city manager’s report at a regular city commission meeting Thursday. Van Vleck, who was not present at the meeting, less than six months ago replaced Randy Knudson, who had been the city’s legal counsel for 15 years....

  • A look back at water tank rupture

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 15, 2021

    A water tank rupture this week 70 years ago that killed four people, injured three and caused an estimated $500,000 in property damage near downtown Tucumcari wasn't due to sabotage, nor was it caused by a meteor from outer space, as once speculated. Instead, poor workmanship while building the 1.25-million-gallon tank was cited as the cause. The calamity dampened preparations by residents for the Christmas holiday and continued to have ripple effects months later. Information for this story...

  • Faithful servant sets fine example

    Gordan Runyan, Religion columnist|Dec 15, 2021

    My mother-in-law passed away on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was unexpected. On the other hand, she was a frail, little woman in her 80s, and stuff started breaking down. Ruth Martinez will be greatly missed. Ruth was a woman of faith. Her standard greeting was not, “Hey! How’s it going?” but rather, “Praise the Lord!” To the end, she clung to a promise she knew she had received from her God, that all of her children would enter into his kingdom. She prayed for each of them constantl...

  • Food company considering Tucumcari

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 15, 2021

    A representative from the state’s economic development department told Quay County commissioners on Monday that Paulita’s New Mexico was considering a second location in Logan or moving its operations to Tucumcari. Tim Hagaman, a representative for seven counties with the agency, attended the commission’s regular meeting to recommend it draft and approve a Local Economic Development Act ordinance, or LEDA. He said Quay County was the only county in the region without one. Hagaman said Paulita’s, based in Rio Rancho, was looking for a 2,000-...

  • Pages past - Dec. 15

    Dec 15, 2021

    On this date ... 1971: Frances Olson was voted the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce president, the first woman to hold the office. She beat Harold Ferguson and John Betts for the one-year term. The outgoing president, King Aitken Jr., said he enjoyed his tenure: “The first six months, I lost 30 pounds and gained many new friends. The last six months, I gained 30 pounds.” Bob Balch was voted first vice president and Delton Wilson second vice president. • Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Cantrell rescued a small puppy from their trash can after heari...

  • Menus - Dec. 15

    Dec 15, 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 575-461-2307 or the Logan facility at 575-487-2287 for more information. Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Chocolate filled crescent roll, orange juice, skim or 1% milk; Lunch: Chicken pasta bake, cheesy garlic breadsticks, green beans, garden salad, ranch dressing, fresh mixed fruit, skim, 1% or chocolate skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Ultimate breakfast round, apple juice, skim...

  • Calendar - Dec. 15

    Dec 15, 2021

    Note: Events subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Saturday — Very Merry Christmas Christmas Dash. The Quay County Health Council is hosting this event from 2 to 3 p.m., funded by Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Registrants can enter the course and walk or run as many laps as they like along an approximate quarter-mile course on Railroad Avenue. All children will receive a Christmas item they can wear as they participate, and each family will receive a commemorative ornament. After the walk or run, Tucumcari MainStreet will off...

  • Jail log - Dec. 15

    Dec 15, 2021

    These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Dec. 8 to Dec. 12: • Jose Adame, 41, Albuquerque, intentional child abuse (no death or great bodily harm). • Cynthia Carel, 52, Wittman, Arizona, felony possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug). • Mariah Castillo, 20, Tucumcari, disorderly conduct. • Marie Jaclyn Jacobsen, 25, Albuquerque, residential burglary, larceny (over $500 but not more than $2,500), conspiracy to commit residential burglary, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence (third- or four...

  • Fact-checking becoming more necessary skill

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Syndicated content|Dec 15, 2021

    Normally, the website The Gateway Pundit can and should be laughed off as right-wing, fake-news nonsense. But as Reuters recently reported, the site’s false allegations of election fraud in jurisdictions around the country have stoked harassment and death threats against two dozen election officials. The reason toxic platforms like this exist is because there is a market for them. Only when the news-consuming public learns to be more discerning in where it looks for information will those platforms loosen their damaging grip on political d...

  • Predictions take paying attention

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Dec 15, 2021

    This past spring I noticed a bigger than usual crop of the plant that becomes tumbleweeds when it dies and the wind blows. I told a few people to be ready for an epic tumbleweed season this year. Then, I failed to see many tumbleweeds last month and wondered what had happened to them all. It turns out they had all gone to Oasis State Park to plot their attack. So, I was right about the bumper crop, but I missed where they were going. I can’t win ‘em all. Some things are easy to predict based on what you see happening in the world around you, bu...

  • Alternative energy good for state

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Dec 15, 2021

    If you think New Mexico’s commitment to alternative energy sources is evident only by the wind turbines and solar farms going up, think again. Hydrogen gas is on the way. Earlier this month, officials with BayoTech Inc., alongside Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, unveiled the Albuquerque-based company’s first “hydrogen-generating hub” — the first of many the company plans to help build in the U.S. and Great Britain over the next three years. BayoTech’s CEO said the company’s goal is to be the largest hydrogen distribution company in the world — a...

  • Police blotter - Dec. 15

    Dec 15, 2021

    These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Dec. 6 to Dec. 12: Monday • 6:59 a.m.: Vandalism in 900 block of South 10th Street, Tucumcari. • 8:22 a.m.: Vandalism at North Third Street and Railroad Avenue, Tucumcari. • 9:06 a.m.: Arrest warrant in 100 block of West Center Street, Tucumcari. • 9:09 a.m.: Accident with injuries in 2000 block of South Mountain Road, Tucumcari. • 10:58 a.m.: Reckless driving in 400 block of South Third Street, Tucumcari. • 1:36 p.m.: Arrest warrant in 100 block of Ea...

  • Robertson defeats Tucumcari

    Ron Warnick, QCS Senior Writer|Dec 15, 2021

    Perennial Class 3A contender Robertson blew open a close game Friday against Tucumcari by scoring 27 unanswered points in the third quarter during a 59-32 Lady Cardinals basketball victory at the Snake Pit. Robertson guard Azlyn Padilla led her team's charge by scoring 10 of her game-high 22 points during the period. The Lady Cardinals improved to 6-0 overall. Caylee Benavidez scored 12 points to lead Tucumcari (2-3) during its home opener, and teammate Haisley Huffman added eight points. The...

  • Tucumcari boys take non-district losses

    Staff report|Dec 15, 2021

    The Tucumcari boys basketball team took it on the chin last week with non-district losses to two traditionally tough opponents, Texico and Bosque. On Thursday, the Rattlers traveled to Albuquerque and fell to a hot-shooting Bosque squad, 71-48. Bosque, which defeated Tucumcari the week before during a much closer championship game of the West Las Vegas tournament, improved to 4-1. Andrew Henderson-Clark scored 25 points to lead Tucumcari. Bosque stormed to a 37-20 lead by intermission. The Bobca...

  • No Rattler wrestlers advance to finals

    Staff report|Dec 15, 2021

    The Tucumcari wrestling team delivered a suboptimal performance Saturday at the St. Michael’s tournament at Santa Fe, with no Rattler athletes advancing to the finals. These wrestlers advanced to their respective semifinals, lost and then were eliminated in the losers’ bracket: Isiah Garcia (120 pounds), Charles Prieto (128), Dezmon Pacheco (132), Antonio Gonzales (160), Josh Pacheco (152) and Xzander Garcia (170). “We started out good, but it was just a flat weekend,” Rattlers coach Eddie Encinias. “In the wrestlebacks, we did all right in...

  • Former Tucumcari coach to be in hall of fame

    Staff report|Dec 15, 2021

    The New Mexico Activities Association announced a former Tucumcari educator and coach will be among three individuals inducted next spring into the NMAA Hall of Fame. Another educator with House ties also will be inducted. Larry Chavez taught social studies and physical education and coached junior high football, basketball and boys track and high-school boys track at Tucumcari from 1984 to 1992 during a 38-year career in education that included stints in Santa Rosa and, most recently, Rio Rancho. He will be inducted during the NMAA Hall of...

  • Logan girls stay undefeated

    Staff report|Dec 15, 2021

    The Logan girls basketball team stayed undefeated with a 34-29 victory Saturday despite a subpar performance, an injury and a challenge from host Clayton. Kyra Conway and Rilee Nials each led the Lady Longhorns (5-0) with 10 points. Logan coach Glynna Strand described her team’s play as “a little sluggish” and endured foul trouble. The Lady Longhorns also lost sophomore forward Natalie Bongers to a leg injury in the first quarter. She will be evaluated by a sports medicine doctor this week. Strand said she was “super proud of our younger...

  • Logan boys fall to 1-4

    Staff report|Dec 15, 2021

    The Logan boys basketball team fell to 1-4 on the season after a 64-57 loss Saturday at Clayton. Brock Burns scored 13 points to lead the Longhorns, and Christian Kotara added 12. “Once again, the boys played hard,” Logan coach Kyle Griffiths said of his young and inexperienced squad. “We had some lapses defensively that hurt us in transition. “We are definitely getting better in every game. Just have to keep working.” Clayton was supposed to host a tournament last week but didn’t attract enough teams. Instead, Logan and Clayton played two...

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