Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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Mesalands Community College conducted a nationwide search for a new president, but it turned out the board of trustees preferred the candidate who'd been running the college for the past 18 months. The board last Tuesday officially removed the "interim" tag from president Allen Moss' job title, offering him the position and approving a three-year contract at about $170,000 a year. The votes on both measures were unanimous. The actions followed a closed executive session that lasted about 30...
The board for Tucumcari Public Schools approved a new cellphone policy that bars “unauthorized” use of the devices on campus during the day. Superintendent Carl Marano said he recently met with other superintendents in the region whose districts have implemented similar policies. He said TPS is drafting a frequently-asked-questions page to inform parents and students about the policy. The policy states that student use of electronic devices in TPS schools have increased the frequency of classroom disruptions, reduced student focus and “re...
A Tucumcari man remained jailed this week on six felony charges after being accused of shooting at a moving vehicle – injuring one of its occupants Frankie Joe Martinez, 27, was charged Thursday with five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, plus one count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle, causing injury. All six counts are felonies, with the most serious that could lead up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Much of the information came from a New Mexico State Police news release and an affidavit filed b...
The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department in Tucumcari last week named one of its conference rooms after a local woman who fostered over 100 children before her death this year. The local CYFD honored Merlinda Sisneros on her birthday, July 16. That also was the date Sisneros fostered her first child in 2008. A foster parent provides a temporary home to children in abuse or neglect cases. The Tucumcari CYFD office serves not only Quay County, but Harding and De Baca counties....
On this date ... 1974: Dr. Thomas Prescott, who purchased the former First National Bank Building and the closed Princess Theatre in downtown Tucumcari, announced he would use the properties for House of the Testaments, a permanent museum of art. Forty of the paintings would depict the Old Testament of the Bible, and another 40 would depict the New Testament — all in the style of Dutch-born artist Jan Maters. Each painting would have its own communication system where you push a button and hear the description and history of the artwork. — Mis...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from July 11 to July 18: — Tehron Lampkin, 21, Tucumcari, felony possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug), criminal damage to property (under $1,000) and criminal trespass (posted). — Josiah J. Martinez, 19, no address listed, contempt of court. — Pete John Apodaca, 46, Tucumcari, assault against a household member and disorderly conduct. — Frankie Martinez, 27, Tucumcari, shooting at or from a motor vehicle (great bodily harm) and five counts of aggravated assault...
Friday-Saturday — Quay County 4-H Rodeo. This competition at the Quay County Fairgrounds for senior, junior and novice rodeo athletes draws from a wide region. Events, which begin at 5 p.m. each day, include bareback bronc riding, bull riding, tiedown roping, ribbon roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, barrel racing, pole bending, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and team roping. Saturday — St. Anne’s Fiesta. The annual event by the St. Anne’s Catholic Church will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the St. Anne’s school and Hammond Hall with...
Tucumcari Senior Center Wednesday — Pasta with meat sauce, Italian blend vegetables, whole-wheat bread with margarine, fruit cocktail. Thursday — Baked chicken, gravy, tossed salad with dressing, rice pilaf, country vegetables, wheat bread with margarine, chocolate pudding. Friday — Cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato, potato salad, roasted Brussels sprouts, oatmeal raisin cookie. Monday — Taco salad with lettuce, tomato and salsa, calabacitas, green beans, peaches. Tuesday — Green chile cheese chicken sandwich, scalloped potatoes, Brussels...
An attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump left New Mexico lawmakers shocked and calling for unity and a return to “civility” in American politics. Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot to death by the Secret Service moments after he fired rounds at Trump using a high-powered rifle from an elevated area near the rally. Trump was rushed off the stage by the Secret Service, blood dripping down the right side of his face fro...
Quay County 4-H's agronomy team took home a state title during the 101st annual New Mexico State 4-H Conference at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. The local team of Keira Black, Ashton Smith and Patric Szaloy won the crown, with Black winning a buckle for high-point individual and Smith as third-high individual. The second Quay County team of Carter Smith, Paxton Smith and Maddie Kenyon finished third at state. Also, Ashton Smith won first place in the Fashion Revue with her Senior...
David Brenner is marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of his Roadrunner Lodge Motel along Route 66 in Tucumcari with several events to mark the occasion. Looking to the future, Brenner said he plans to open a neon-lighting shop near his motel in 2025 after he acquired the contents of a shop in Midland, Texas. The 10th anniversary falls on July 24. Brenner said family members and far-flung friends have booked all the rooms at the facility that night. On Thursday, Brenner plans to hold an...
The Tucumcari/Quay Regional Emergency Communications board recommended an even split with the county over the cost of a proposed information technology services contract. The measure was scheduled to go to the Quay County Commission for final approval. Park Place Technologies of Cleveland, Ohio, proposed providing IT services for $55,000 a year, plus a onetime $4,000 setup fee, for both entities. County manager Daniel Zamora, who attended the July 15 meeting by videoconference, recommended a 50/50 cost split between the county and dispatch....
Paws & Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County canceled a fundraiser scheduled for Thursday due to internet issues at the shelter. The fundraiser was supposed to be facilitated by Kris Rotonda of Jordan’s Way, which does live, three-hour Facebook fundraisers from animal shelters that are seen nationwide. Rotonda founded Jordan’s Way after his favorite dog, Jordan, died. He had adopted Jordan from an animal shelter. Kathi McCelland, chair of the board for Paws & Claws, said the event would have done fun challenges to encourage people to donate. “It...
Air travel, banking, media and hospital systems are just some of the industries affected by a bug in a software update that has scrambled business operations for many globally Friday morning. Many of those who use Microsoft Windows are likely experiencing a “blue screen of death” or an error page. The issue is due to a single bug in a software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, which provides antivirus software for Microsoft users. The company pushed out an update to the software overnight, and at 1:30 a.m. EST, CrowdStrike sai...
Tucumcari’s city manager will retire at the end of this year after almost 2 1/2 years at the helm. Paula Chacon said she informed her department heads on Friday about her retirement. She called the Quay County Sun on Monday to inform it about her choice. “This was my decision,” Chacon said. “I’m tired of working all the time.” Chacon noted an assistant city manager position was added to the city’s budget, which would allow that person to be trained and then elevated to city manager after she leaves on Dec. 31. “I’d like to get somebody in s...
SAN JON — The San Jon Municipal Schools board on Wednesday enacted a policy that bans cellphone use by students on campus. Principal Sharla Rusk and superintendent Alan Umholtz recommended its passage, noting similar edicts are being passed at other school districts in Regional Education Cooperative District 6. Rusk urged the policy “due to issues” in the last school year, labeling cellphone usage during the school day as “a detriment to student academic success.” Umholtz concurred, saying “we had many problems” with cellphones in the previo...
The Tucumcari City Commission approved its five-year Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan, but not without some projects being moved up in priority, including street equipment and improvements to the dog pound. Commissioners discussed the plan with city manager Paula Chacon and community development director Vicki Strand during a work session Thursday before the main meeting. The city faced a Friday deadline to submit the plan to the state. The ICIP serves as a guide to state lawmakers when they allocate capital outlay funds during their le...
The board for Logan Municipal Schools last Monday approved revisions to the student dress code involving hair length, facial piercings and tattoos. Superintendent Dennis Roch said in an email to the Quay County Sun it had been five years since the last formal review of the dress code, so he and principal Crystal Burns convened a committee of students, parents and staff to examine it and identify areas for possible updates. "I commend both the committee and the school board for designing a...
On this date ... 1974: The Tucumcari Senior League All-Star Baseball Team completed a two-game sweep of the Friona All-Stars with a 12-3 road victory. Tucumcari earned a berth in the state Senior League tournament to be played in Las Vegas. Eli Dominquez paced Tucumcari with three hits in the final game against Friona. He also had three hits in the previous game. As a pitcher, Dominquez allowed just six hits and striking out nine in the clinching game. Tucumcari’s manager was Gene Kreykenbohm. — Dizzy Dean, the colorful pitcher of the Wor...
July 26-27 - Quay County 4-H Rodeo. This competition at the Quay County Fairgrounds for senior, junior and novice rodeo athletes draws from a wide region. Events, which begin at 5 p.m. each day, include bareback bronc riding, bull riding, tiedown roping, ribbon roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, barrel racing, pole bending, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and team roping. July 27 - St. Anne's Fiesta. The annual event by the St. Anne's Catholic Church will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at...
Tucumcari Senior Center Wednesday — Chopped steak, baked potato, gravy with mushrooms, beet and onion salad, roll with margarine, strawberry cake. Thursday — Sweet and sour pork, fried rice, Oriental vegetables, fruit salad, fortune cookie. Friday — Arroz con pollo, tossed salad with dressing, whole-wheat crackers, apple crisp. Monday — Beef stew, tossed salad with dressing, whole-wheat crackers, fruit salad. Tuesday — Braised pork chops, red cabbage with red onions, roasted potatoes, biscuit with margarine, honey, banana. Logan Senior Ce...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from July 8 to July 11: — Charles Chandler Hazen, 31, Logan, battery against a household member. — Rudy C. Lopez, 29, Tucumcari, driving while license suspended or revoked. — Teresa Childers, 61, Albuquerque, felony contempt of court. — Adrianna M. Apodaca, 33, Tucumcari, contempt of court. — Oscar Ferrel, 21, Tucumcari, wrongful use of public property. — Tehron Lampkin, 21, Tucumcari, felony possession of a controlled substance (narcotic drug), criminal damage to property (u...
Tucumcari Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Lopez has attended only one of six Tucumcari MainStreet board meetings this year despite being appointed as the liaison for the nonprofit organization. Connie Loveland, executive director of Tucumcari MainStreet, revealed Lopez’s repeated absences during a Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board meeting on Wednesday. The board was discussing the use of $10,000 in lodgers funds to pay part of Tucumcari MainStreet’s annual $60,000 contract. Tucumcari MainStreet can use no more than $50,000 in Local Economic Development...
The newly renovated east room of the Tucumcari railroad depot was scheduled Saturday to host a book-signing and presentation by the author of a book on the extinct coal-mining town of Dawson. But the event also served as a surprise honor for Tucumcari's Frank Turner, who helped save the historic depot from demolition, founded the Tucumcari Railroad Museum and played a role in acquiring a grant from Union Pacific for the east room's renovation. Turner traveled with his wife from his North...
After two other motions failed, the Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors approved an allocation of 1 inch of water per acre and will re-evaluate the possibility of future allocations during its August meeting. With about a dozen farmers observing the proceedings at the July 9 meeting, board member Debra Mitchell first moved to not allocate any water at this time. The motion died from the lack of a second. Board member Larry Perkins then moved to allocate 2 inches of water per acre, matching the district’s allocation in April. T...
