Pages past - Aug. 14

On this date ...

1969: Jack Daum, liaison in the Washington office of U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan Jr. (R-N.M.) announced Lujan scheduled a meeting today with the deputy director of the Bureau of Public Roads to discuss a problem of alignment on a two-lane stretch of Highway 66 east of Tucumcari.

Lujan said he wants to work with the bureau, the state highway commission, city of Tucumcari and San Jon to resolve the problem. The 1964 agreement between San Jon, Tucumcari and the highway commission will be discussed, as will a state law making it mandatory for state funds to be spent only on the alignment spelled out in the agreement.

“The problem of course is that the 1964 agreement is binding on the state and local government but not on the federal government. Each stood fast on it position with the result that nothing has been done and people are dying at a rate of almost one a month on this dangerous stretch of highway,” Lujan said.

“I want to do everything I can to break the deadlock and help get the state and federal highway authorities together to work out just what can be done that will be acceptable to all. The important thing is to get that highway completed as a four-lane road and eliminate the shameful death trap from our New Mexico highway system.”

• The Odeon Theatre advertised “adventure on the top of the world” with an MGM film, “Ice Station Zebra.” The Canal Drive-In advertised a Sidney Poitier double feature of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “To Sir With Love.”