Tucumcari, NM

Michelle Chavez, owner and director of the Turquoise Child Development Center in Tucumcari, just a few weeks ago opened her second daycare facility in the city in a former church building on South Sixth Street. Despite the expansion of her facilities, the shortage of early childcare in Tucumcari and across New Mexico remains acute - especially after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico...

TOHATCHI — Tucumcari scored touchdowns on its first three possessions en route to a 43-0 non-district road victory over Tohatchi on Aug. 28. The Rattlers (2-0) led 22-0 after the period and tacked on three touchdowns in the second half. Tucumcari wide receiver Michael Crouch scored three touchdowns, all from passes by quarterback Jadon Navarro. Despite the lopsided outcome, THS coach Adrian Jones...

A Tucumcari woman on Aug. 17 was sentenced to 15 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2024 shooting of a local man in the head at the city’s Five Mile Park. San Miguel County District Judge Abigail Aragon suspended nine years of Ashley Danielle Hall’s sentence. With time already served, she could be released from prison in about three years. If she violates the t...

A personal finance company ranked Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari as the third-best community college in the nation. WalletHub stated that Mesalands ranked No. 1 in the nation in cost and financing and 16th in education outcomes. It also noted Mesalands has the 12th-highest graduation rate in the country. MCC graduates were unlikely to default on their debt, and students benefit from an...

The offensive line will be the key in achieving success for Tucumcari and first-year head football coach Adrian Jones. "We've got about 10 seniors, and almost all of them are linemen," Jones said. "I guarantee that's what I'm preaching: 'You guys on the line, we're only going to be as good as you are.' "We have the talent. Our line, the experience...

August 12 On this date ... 1941: Tucumcari was preparing to host a “Yoo! Hoo! Queen Contest.” “Maybe the soldier boys are not allowed to yoo-hoo at the good-looking gals,” said Quay County Sheriff Claude Moncus, “but I see no reason why the cowhands can’t yoo-hoo if they feel like it.” The sheriff said no girl would be barred from entering the contest and no “waddy” would be restrained from voicin...

TUCUMCARI -- This was Kaitlyn Hall's last year in the 4-H program, and she ensured it would be a memorable one at the Quay County Fair. Hall, 17, of Tucumcari, swept grand champion and reserve champion honors during the market goat show at last week's fair, and she earned the Senior Showmanship award in that category, as well. "I worked really hard this summer," Hall said...

Tucumcari High School's volleyball team had just five days between the first day of official practice Monday and its first match against visiting Fort Sumner at 3 p.m. Saturday. However, coach Dana Benavidez, in her 11th season at THS, said she thinks her Lady Rattlers are up for that challenge and the upcoming year. She said Tucumcari has nine returning varsity players from a rebuilding...

TUCUMCARI -- Thanks to the opening this week of a second location, the waiting list here for daycare got smaller. About 40 area and state leaders held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Saturday for Turquoise Child Development Center West at 1300 S. Sixth St., housed in a former church. The facility opened on Monday. The new space is in addition to the original Turquoise Child Development Center at 302...

TUCUMCARI -- A former Tucumcari city commissioner agreed last week to plead guilty to a felony charge of disposing of encumbered property. The plea deal will keep him out of prison. Christopher Wallace Arias, 33, of Tucumcari accepted an agreement on Aug. 5 to plead guilty to one count of disposing of encumbered property over $20,000, according to online court documents. The count is a...