Officials excited about Fired Up!

link For more information visit

http://www.tucumcarimainstreet.or

g.

q Events for people

of all ages planned

for Fired Up!

q Ute Lake intake

structure complete:

phase II set to begin.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Staff Photo: Thomas Garcia

Authority

seeks more

federal funds

Business growth promising for Tucumcari

Work crews clear the concrete from the parking lot and debris of the Greyhound Bus station north of

the McDonald’s restaurant on the 2300 block of South First Street in Tucumcari. The site being

cleared will be where the new McDonald’s building is to be constructed.

Vol. 44 l No. 47

Staff Report

Downtown streets will fill with people enjoying the many events planned for Tucumcari MainStreet’s fifth annual Fired Up! Saturday.

Last year’s event drew 2,000 people to downtown Tucumcari, a number that organizers expect to be surpassed this year said Gail Houser, Tucumcari MainStreet’s executive director.

Houser said a lot of work has gone into the promotion of the Fired Up! event in print, online and by word of mouth. He said he has traveled to communities near and far to promote the event that will feature the return of many of the popular events as well as the addition of several new attractions.

The events that have made Fired Up a success in the past include a blacksmith competition, pottery maker and the return of the Prince Tocom and a Princess Cari contest.

Last year 4- and 5-year olds dressed up in Native American costumes for the contest that honors the legend of Tucumcari, a tale of star-crossed love involving Apache tribal royalty. The cries of “Tocom” and “Cari” at the end of the story, the legend goes, is how the town got its name.

Jacquez Cordova, son of Tucumcari residents Joseph Cordova and Della Jaynes was named Prince Tocom and Rhiannon Rey-Montoya, daughter of Jessica Rey and Michael Montoya of Tucumcari was crowned Princess Cari.

Also returning for the fifth year are the Odd Lab fire dancers who have highlighted the main event of the Fired Up! event.

The events take place at downtown’s focal point, Tucumcari Train Depot, that now features the Tucumcari Railroad Museum.

This year there will be performances by wild west and Civil War re-enactments groups as well as a street chalk artist that will hold classes for children.

Houser said in conjunction with the Eastern New Mexico Art & Cultural Center, an artist from Las Cruces will be working with the children Friday after noon and Saturday morning. He said the artist will then create a piece of art at 3 p.m., at the Tucumcari Train Depot plaza.

Houser said people should also take the time to attend the first ever Fired Up! Quilt Show on Friday and Saturday at the Tucumcari Train Depot. He said there will be quilts on display that have been made just for this event and there will be a raffle for a unique quilt by the Easter New Mexico Art & Cultural Center.

Houser said there will be a designated Kid’s Corner playground for the young children, country music, strolling mariachi’s, more than 30 vendors and food trucks and an event-ending fireworks display.

For more information visit http://www.tucumcarimainstreet.org.