Texico Volunteer Fire Department has new chief

The Texico Volunteer Fire Department's chief Diane Queener has been on the job for just over a month having assumed the top post August 1, but she's been with the department since October 1997, 25 years ago.

Queener, 55, spoke of working for the Clovis Fire Department for about 2 ½ years, going to nursing school and starting with Texico before beginning in nursing school.

Queener said the Texico fire department has 32 active members.

One aspect Queener likes about the job is everyone getting along.

"I like the camaraderie," Queener said. "Being able to serve such a small community. We help with many things in the area."

Queener said one of the projects to help the community that she and the department are planning is a community cleanup, targeting the alleys of Texico.

"We're working on a date right now," Queener said.

Queener said all the good rain means more limbs and weeds to take care of in the cleanup.

Queener and her husband Jeff, who is also a member of the Texico fire department, have four grown children and are raising two granddaughters.

"We enjoy being in the community," Queener said. "That's what we're here for."