Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Unresolved school bullying angers parents Vol. 124, No. 13 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
Editor’s Note: Names of juveniles have been changed to protect the students’ identities. BY DYLANNE PETROS RECORD STAFF WRITER
While there may be an anti-bullying program set up in the Roswell Independent School District, Superintendent Tom Burris was unaware of bullying during the first semester at Berrendo Elementary School, until informed Wednesday by the Daily Record. One second-grade student, Michael, was bullied by a peer, Daniel, said Michael’s mother Natasha
January 15, 2015
THURSDAY
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Moorhead. But, another second-grade student was also bullying Daniel, said Ashley Rogers, Daniel’s mother. The bullying started with nasty name-calling, Moorhead said. “(We) told our son ‘stay away from him. We don’t want you playing on the playground with him. Leave him be,’” Moorhead said. Although Michael left Daniel alone, the bullying escalated into pencil stabbings, biting, threatening and pinching so hard blood was drawn, according to a school incident report Moorhead gave to the Daily Record.
Worried for their son, Moorhead and her husband went to Berrendo Elementary School and spoke with the principal, Bea Harris, who said school officials were aware of the situation. Harris assured Moorhead and her husband the school was taking care of the situation, Moorhead said. When contacted by the Daily Record, Harris did not comment and said the newspaper would need to contact Burris. Although Moorhead said she spoke with Harris, she told the Daily Record nothing has been done to fix the bullying.
Slippin’ and slidin’
“It has escalated,” she said. When bullying occurs in the school, Burris said nothing can be done until faculty is aware of it. “No. 1 is, do we know that this is going on?” Burris asked. “Have we been informed by the kids? If I knew it was going on, I would address it.” The first time the school hears about bullying, there should be a conversation with a counselor that was placed in the schools after the Berrendo Middle School shooting, Burris said. See BULLYING, Page A3
Parents complain about racial slurs in school
um but they don’t work,” Doynes said.
BY MARY MORGAN RECORD INTERN
For the third month in a row, student discrimination was the hot topic at the Roswell school board meeting Tuesday night. Donald Doynes, a concerned parent, spoke on the rules of the school. “There are enough rules to fill this auditori-
The slide on the playground across from Missouri Avenue Elementary School was extra special slippery Wednesday morning after a dusting of snow Tuesday night. Flurries continued throughout the day as temperatures stayed in the 30s. Warmer weather is predicted for the weekend, with an expected high of 61 degrees on Saturday.
“If they get disciplined in the home they will behave in school and in public,” Doynes said.
Man pleads guilty to federal meth trafficking charge SUBMITTED BY U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Timothy P. Howsare Photo
Doynes said discipline starts in the home and it’s parents’ jobs to teach their children to respect others.
ALBUQUERQUE — Albert Johnny Mondragon, 38, of Roswell, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Las Cruces to trafficking methamphetamine in Lea County. Mondragon was arrested on federal charges in Roswell on May 27, 2014, based on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to the complaint, Mondragon committed the offense on March 7, 2014, in Hobbs. Mondragon subsequently was charged in a two-count indictment with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Count 1 of the indictment alleged that on March 7. Mondragon possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Lea County. Count 2
See SLURS, Page A3
charged Mondragon with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Wednesday, Mondragon pled guilty to Count 1 of the indictment charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In entering the guilty plea, Mondragon admitted that he was stopped by officers in Hobbs on March 7. He further admitted telling the officers that he had approximately half a pound of methamphetamine in the back of his vehicle. When the officers searched the vehicle, they found 223 grams of methamphetamine. At sentencing, Mondragon faces a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than 40 years. He remains detained pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
BLM to waive fees NMMI cadet waives prelim hearing for MLK Jr. Day
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction with other agencies within the Department of the Interior, will waive recreation-related fees for visitors to the National System of Public Lands on Monday, Jan. 19. This is the first in a series of four “fee free” days in 2015. The others will be Presidents’ Day weekend (Feb. 14-16), National Public Lands Day (Sept. 26), and Veterans Day (Nov. 11). In New Mexico, the BLM manages more than 13.4
million acres of public lands, which provide numerous opportunities for a wide range of recreational opportunities from hiking, fishing and camping to riding off-highway vehicles and rock-climbing. Among the popular fee areas the BLM manages are KashaKatuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Three Rivers Petroglyph Site and Valley of Fires Recreation Area. “We want everyone to enjoy the incredible recreation opportunities availSee BLM, Page A3
BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
A former cadet at New Mexico Military Institute charged with conspiring to attack another cadet waived his right last week to a preliminary hearing in Chaves County magistrate court. A fourth-degree felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge against Ejiroghene Sipho Michael Adjekuko was bound over on Jan. 7 to district court. The felony charge has a maximum possible penalty of 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
The Teacher of Character awards recognize outstanding educators who make a positive difference in the lives of our children and our community. These are the teachers who truly demonstrate the six pillars of character each and every day, both inside and outside their classrooms. The Six Pillars of Charac-
HIGH 50 LOW 21
Adjekuko, 19, of Dunwoody, Ga., is charged with conspiring with fellow for mer NMMI Cadet Chance Butler to assault a
Contacted Tuesday, Adjekuko declined to comment.
Adjekuko, who signed a scholarship in late-February to attend NMMI, is charged in connection to a ninja-style attack on another cadet on the Roswell campus the night of Nov. 19.
According to court records, Adjekuko and Butler, 16, of Pampa, Texas, conspired to assault the 16-year -old cadet because the victim had told on them for smoking marijuana.
Character Counts! seeks nominations for 2015 Teacher of Character awards SUBMITTED
TODAY’S FORECAST
Adjekuko
16-year -old cadet on the NMMI campus in November. Adjekuko appeared before Magistrate Judge K.C. Rogers on Jan. 7. Rogers modified Adjekuko’s bond conditions to allow the former freshman quarterback of NMMI’s junior college football team to reside in Georgia on a $1,500 bond pending his trial. No trial date has yet been set. Adjekuko’s next scheduled court hearing is at 9 a.m., Monday, Jan. 26, when he is scheduled to be arraigned in 5th Judicial District Court before District Judge Kea Riggs.
See METH, Page A3
ter are: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.
Character Counts! in Chaves County is issuing a call for nominations from peers, parents, students, school volunteers and other community residents. Current public and private school teachers in Chaves County, from preschool through college level, are eligible to be nominated.
• IGNACIO JOHN LEATON JR. • JACKOLIN RUNYAN JORDAN • NAOMI RAMIREZ
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6
Nominations must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 30. All nominees will be considered for awards that include trophies to the top 14 finalists.
The prize structure this year is contingent upon sponsor support. Nominated teachers will be recognized at a special reception being held in their honor on March 3. Those who submit nominations are requested to attend the CLASSIFIEDS ..........B5 COMICS .................B4 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
See CADET, Page A3
reception with the teacher he or she nominated. Nomination forms will be available in English and Spanish at the Roswell Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and at all the schools throughout the community. It can also be accessed, filled out and submitted online or downloaded at the Character See CHARACTER, Page A3
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8