Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 5526
The Tucumcari City Commission last Tuesday chose Clayton Thorne as its newest District 4 representative from three who applied, including a former commissioner. Before the vote, Mayor Mike Cherry said the three were "really good candidates." The others were former District 4 commissioner Christopher Arias and Krishana Sandoval, a manager at Rocky Mountain Cannabis. After a lengthy silence when Cherry called for a motion for a District 4 representative, Commissioner CJ Oglesby nominated Thorne....
The Democratic incumbent chairman of the Quay County Commission is seeking re-election as the representative of District 1, but he faces opposition from a Republican counterpart whose wife previously served on the commission. Robert Lopez, 60, a farmer, is running for his second consecutive term on the commission. Lopez also served on the commission from 2004 to 2012 before he was term-limited. Dallas Dowell, 69, a rancher and a retiree from NuStar Energy, is running on the GOP ticket after being unopposed in the primary election. His wife, Sue...
A District 2 candidate for Quay County Commission is advocating turning part of Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari into a drug rehabilitation center — to the skepticism of officials and his incumbent opponent. David Holman, a Libertarian candidate who lives in Tucumcari, is running against incumbent Republican Jerri Rush of Forrest for the position. In a Facebook post on his candidate page, Holman wrote last month: “Turning 1/3 of the beds at Trigg into a contract rehab center would bring in enough revenue to upgrade the rest of the hos...
The Tucumcari City Commission last Tuesday approved hiring Gray Digital Media of Amarillo to be the city’s tourism marketing arm through June 2025. The company, affiliated with News Channel 10 in Amarillo, will present its contract to the commission at a later date. It would be paid $58,582.50 for the nine-month duration of the contract. Officials from Gray Digital Media earlier proposed the marketing plan to the city’s Lodgers Tax Advisory Board, which recommended approval to the commission. John Echols, media executive of the company, sho...
An Albuquerque man remained at large more than a week after he was accused of shooting a man and carjacking another in Tucumcari. Alex Joe Patrick Gutierrez, 24, was wanted on charges of first-degree kidnapping, attempted first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Quay County Crime Stoppers has offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to Gutierrez's arrest. Those with information should call (575) 461-3507. Callers can remain anonymous. Tucumcari P...
A Tucumcari man who shot another man at the Quay Apartments in December and found with dozens of fentanyl pills will go to prison for about four years after he was sentenced last week as part of a plea agreement. George J. Olguin Sr., 62, pleaded guilty in August to trafficking of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony. According to court documents, Olguin possessed about 100 fentanyl pills at the time of his arrest. Other charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and...
The Quay County Public Health Office is offering seasonal influenza shots at its facility and in parts of the county this month. The health office at 310 S. Second St. in Tucumcari will begin walk-in clinic days for flu shots beginning on Oct. 8. The office will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Fridays. Patients also can call for flu-shot appointments at (575) 461-2610. The health office also is offering these community flu-shot events: — Oct. 2 at Mesalands Community College from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p....
On this date ... 1974: The members of the Community Alliance for Progress and Growth during a meeting at the Tucumcari Recreation Center said they would work to defeat an Oct. 15 recall election against five city commissioners after they earlier asked all of them to resign. Three commissioners had agreed to resign if all five did it together. However, King Aitken and Johnny Crespin refused. With that, the alliance said it wanted to vote down the recall. Stephen Bowen, who chaired the meeting, said a successful recall would damage Tucumcari’s r...
Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Blueberry and yogurt parfait, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, banana, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Homestyle macaroni and cheese, turkey and cheese stacker, seasoned corn, fresh broccoli, garden side salad, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, chocolate skim or strawberry skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Whole-grain donut ring, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, fresh pear, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Pepperoni piz...
Oct. 11-12 — Mesalands Community College Rodeo. Sessions both days begin at 6 p.m. at the Quay County Fairgrounds arena. Admission for adults is $10, teens $5 and children age 12 and younger are admitted free. Oct. 19 — Altrusa International of Tucumcari 47th annual Boo Bash fundraiser. This year’s event, which will be held virtually on the organization’s Facebook page at 6 p.m., will feature a reverse-drawing grand prize of $15,000. Tickets are $100 and are available from Altrusa members. Oct. 26 — TucumScary Halloween Block Party. Second St...
An Arizona man was sentenced to almost two years in jail after he caused a nearly five-hour standoff with police in the middle of a busy Tucumcari corridor in February. District Judge Benjamin Cross last week sentenced Edwin R. Corrales, 40, of Glendale, Arizona, to a total of one year, 11 months and 28 days in the New Mexico Department of Corrections after a plea deal, according to court documents. Corrales had pleaded guilty to resisting, evading or obstructing an officer (refusal to stop), resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and...
A Tucumcari woman has been summoned to magistrate court after being accused of running an illegal gambling site on Facebook. Annamarie J. Crespin, 49, was charged last month with gambling, commercial gambling, permitting premises to be used for gambling and racketeering (evidence of unlawful use of premises). The racketeering count is a second-degree felony that could lead up to nine years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The commercial gambling count is a fourth-degree felony that could lead up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000...
These calls were made to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center from Sept. 16 to Sept. 29: Sept. 16 — 4:43 a.m.: Breaking and entering in 1700 block of East Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari. — 7:13 a.m.: Theft in 700 block of West Campbell Avenue, Tucumcari. — 8:12 a.m.: Accident in 2600 block of South First Street, Tucumcari. — 8:14 a.m.: Trespassing in 1300 block of South Fifth Street, Tucumcari. — 8:39 a.m.: Fireworks in 400 block of East Main Street, Tucumcari. — 8:56 a.m.: Weapons offense in 600 block of North First...
These individuals were booked into the Quay County Detention Center from Sept. 23 to Sept. 27: — Charles E. Franks, 77, Albuquerque, driving while license suspended or revoked and impeding traffic. — Raymond Jerry Pacheco, 61, Tucumcari, charge not listed. — Jesus Andrew Sena, 39, Logan, aggravated battery (deadly weapon), aggravated battery (great bodily harm), two counts of aggravated assault (deadly weapon) and criminal damage to property (under $1,000). — Johnny Wilson, 27, Albuquerque, probation violation pick-up order. — Geovanni...
An Albuquerque man is accused of shooting another man and committing a carjacking in Tucumcari, and he remained at large two days after the attack. According to a news release Sunday from New Mexico State Police, the shooter was identified as Alex Gutierrez, 24. An arrest warrant was issued for Gutierrez on charges of first-degree attempted murder, kidnapping and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As of midday Monday, he still had not been apprehended. About 12:20 p.m. Satu...
NARA VISA - A severe storm last Tuesday struck this northern Quay County village, knocking down trees and causing widespread property damage, including to its historic community center. No injuries were reported. The storm the afternoon of Sept. 17 ripped away about one-third of the roof from the Nara Visa Community Center - formerly the Nara Visa School built in 1921 and designated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Though the school closed in 1968, the building continues to...
The former Republican candidate for Quay County treasurer and former deputy treasurer was charged Friday with two felonies and jailed after being accused of altering county records so a property she owned wouldn't be placed in a state delinquent-tax list. A no-bond arrest warrant was issued shortly after noon Friday for Albenita Rene Rael, 50, of Tucumcari after she was charged with tampering with public records and fraud, both felonies. She was booked into the Quay County Detention Center...
The Tucumcari Public Schools board deadlocked again last Monday in selecting a representative for its vacant District 1 seat, sending the decision to the state’s Public Education Department chief. Board President Heather Gonzales and fellow board member JD Knapp voted for Carlos Romero, a former board president until declined to run for re-election in 2019. Board members Jerry Lopez and Robert Lucero favored Andrea Madrid. That was the same result as during the board’s special meeting on Sept. 9 after members interviewed applicants Romero, Mad...
The Quay County Commission on Monday approved an ordinance and two resolutions regarding the regulation of wireless telecommunications facilities. The measures were facilitated in recent months by Wireless Tower Solutions, which has an office in Albuquerque. One resolution set fees for wireless facilities, which will be split between Wireless Tower Solutions and the county. Fees would range from $1,500 for updates to cellular towers to $17,500 for a new tower. Fees for small wireless facilities would range from $100 to $750 for each site. Anoth...
CLOVIS - Quay County attorney Warren Frost asked to speak to Clovis city commissioners on Thursday, reporting he had "new and alarming information" about the Ute Water Pipeline. Permission denied. "You don't have new and alarming information to this commission; this commission is informed. I don't see you as qualified to lecture us," Clovis Mayor Mike Morris told Frost. Frost and others opposed to building the 100-mile pipeline have stated in recent weeks that costs for a necessary water...
On this date ... 1974: A federal judge, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling dealing with former President Nixon and the Watergate tapes, overturned the My Lai murder conviction of former Army Lt. William Calley. Calley had been sentenced to life in prison in 1971 by a court-martial board, but his sentence had been reduced to 20 years by a military appeals board and then to 10 years by Army Secretary Howard Callaway. Judge J. Robert Elliott overturned the conviction on grounds of massive pretrial publicity, denial of Calley’s rights to c...
Tucumcari schools Wednesday — Breakfast: Breakfast banana split, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, apple, apple juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Cheesy chicken and rice casserole, buffalo chicken wrap, seasoned Italian vegetables, garden side salad, fruit cocktail, 1%, skim, strawberry skim or chocolate skim milk. Thursday — Breakfast: Cherry frudel, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, cinnamon graham cracker, apple, orange juice, 1%, skim or strawberry skim milk; Lunch: Hamburger, ham and cheese sandwich, Fre...
Saturday — Quay County On the Move annual fun run / walk. The free event departs from Kvols Park at 8 a.m., with registration from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m. All finishers receive a T-shirt. Saturday — Law Enforcement Appreciation Spaghetti Dinner. The Republican Party of Quay County event will be at 6 p.m. at the Quay County Fairgrounds in Tucumcari and include a dessert auction. Half of the proceeds will go to the family of fallen New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare. For ticket information, call TJ Riddle at (575) 403-7274 or Marcy Willis at...
One person was hospitalized and at least six vehicles were overturned during a severe storm last Tuesday afternoon that hit Interstate 40 west of San Jon and closed the freeway for nearly 3 1/2 hours. According to a New Mexico State Police public information officer, high winds rolled over five semi-tractor trailers and a camper near mile marker 348 of the interstate about 3 p.m. Sept. 17. I-40 was shut down from 3:20 to 6:45 p.m., NMSP stated. Traffic was re-routed to Old Route 66. One person...
One of the vice presidents for Mesalands Community College reported a substantial increase in student enrollment compared to a year ago. Josh McVey, vice president of student affairs, reported to the board of trustees last Tuesday that total enrollment was 553 as of Sept. 11. He said that was a 14% increase compared to the same time in the fall semester of 2023. “There are more enrollments coming in,” McVey added in his written report to the board. “That’s great,” board of trustees Chairman Richard Primrose said, noting the state’s Higher Educa...