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Roswell Daily Record ENTER THE DEXTER DRAGON
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KBIM news director Tom Ruiz
Jill Hernandez of Dexter is one of the world’s top experts in Jeet Kune Do, the martial art created by Bruce Lee. See full story on Page B1.
recalls the Berrendo Middle School
shooting, one year later, from a
media professional’s perspective. See Page C1 for full story.
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 124, No. 16 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
January 18, 2015
Increase of female jail inmates stresses judicial system, disrupts families BY DYLANNE PETROS RECORD STAFF WRITER
In the past 18 months, the number of women in the Chaves County Detention Center has spiked 30 percent. The spike in the female population is just one of the reasons a new pod at the CCDC is being built. “The (original) pods that were built back there were built for 50 women,” said
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Clay Corn, Chaves County Adult and Juvenile Detention administrator. “That was back when the jail was built (in 1996).” Corn said from 2010 to 2013 the female population in jails in New Mexico increased 40 percent. “We have a 32 percent increase in the prison population,” he said. “Another interesting statistic (is) we have 1,400 inmates that are females in county (jails).” Out of the 1,400 females
who were in county jails, Corn said 652 are in the New Mexico Corrections Department. “Most of the ladies we’re seeing tend to be involved in drugs,” said Anna Marie Bell, assistant public defender for New Mexico Public Defenders. Along with drug use, Bell said, the amount of shoplifting has increased as well. “You can get on welfare and you can feed your kids but (the parents) want a
SUNDAY
better life for their kids,” she said. “I think the shoplifting has probably increased because of the economy.”
housing 55 women, but only one was charged with aggravated assault.
Jeff Tucker Photos
Right: Bill Jones, a volunteer driver for the Southeast New
Mexico Veterans Transportation Network, tries out one of
the new Toyota Sienna LE vans the group received Friday,
transporting 1,413 veterans to medical appointments.
BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Below: State Rep. Bob Wooley, R-Roswell, holds a framed
logo of the Southeast New Mexico Veterans Transportation
The Southeast New Mexico Veterans Transportation Network, a volunteer group dedicated to transporting veterans to medical appointments, took possession Friday of several new passenger vans. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Magil Duran, president of SNMVTN. “It’s very much needed.” Representatives of the SNMVTN took possession Friday of four Toyota Sienna LE passenger vans from Roswell Toyota. A fifth van, a Toyota Sienna LE access van with a swiveling seat, is being outfitted for service by Roswell Toyota. Two of the vans are 2014 models, while the other three are 2015 models. “We are using the vans to replace the older vans that are being worn out,” Duran said, adding three of the group’s existing vans each have more than 150,000 miles. Duran said the SNMVTN’s volunteer drivers in 2014 logged more
Network, which will be placed on the group’s new vans. Wooley said he would place the framed copy in his office
in Santa Fe.
Legislature meeting as political landscape shifts
SANTA FE (AP) — Their priorities aren’t much different — lift New Mexico from the bottom of the nation’s education rankings, keep the state’s children safe and find a way to boost economic development and job creation. The best route for accomplishing those goals is what Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and the state Legislature will be hashing out when the 60-day session begins Tuesday. Efforts to stop the state from issuing driver’s licenses to immigrants in the country illegally and right-to-work legislation are also expected to pepper the debate since the session isn’t limited to just the budget and taxes. Martinez and lawmakers also will be wading into an
than 187,000 miles transporting 1,413 veterans to medical appointments in Amarillo, Texas, Albuquerque, El Paso, Texas, and elsewhere. “We’re on the road Monday through Thursday,” Duran said. “We transport from as far south as Carlsbad to Hobbs to Artesia to Roswell, everything in southeast New Mexico.” Bill Jones, a volunteer driver, had a seat in one of the new vans Friday. “I’m so glad to be able to get these new vans,” Jones said. “We’ve been so blessed not having any problems with what we’ve got now. But it’s sort of like it’s time to replace.” Jones said the new vehicles will go in service in about a week, once SNMVTN markings are placed on the vans’ doors and rear windows. Greg Neal, vice president and treasurer of SNMVTN, said the 7-8 passenger Sienna LE vans, and especially the 12-passenger Sienna LE access van See VANS, Page A3
Jeff Tucker Photo
Lane Eldridge, 21, and Katie Angelos, 20, both of Roswell, look over a Colt .22 Long Rifle Saturday at the third annual Western Frontier Gun Show at the Roswell Convention, Civic & Visitors Center. Gun show owner Eli C. Calles of Tularosa said early afternoon Saturday that more than 800 people from Arizona, Texas and from across New Mexico had attended the show, which continues from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.
The gun show includes private collectors and sellers, as well as federal firearms licensed dealers, with firearms available from the 1800s to the modern era. The show also has vendors selling ammunition, knives, military and survival supplies, coins, jewelry, Western-style collectibles and more.
See LEGISLATURE, Page A3
HIGH 64 LOW 30
See INMATES, Page A3
Gun show continues today
unfamiliar political landscape this year. Despite reassurances of bipartisanship from both sides of the aisle, the dynamics in the Roundhouse will be different this year since Republicans now hold the majority in the House of Representatives, something the state hasn’t seen in 60 years. Incoming New Mexico House Speaker Don Tripp, R-Socorro, said he looked forward to working with Democrats, who still control the Senate, on ideas to push economic development and creating an environment to attract more businesses. Some are speculating the GOP-led House will be a rubber stamp for the governor’s initiatives, but Rep.
TODAY’S FORECAST
ically,” Corn said. The Chaves County Commission, which approved
Veterans group gets new vans
“The drugs and alcohol is what has increased dramat-
Thursday, the jail was
SNMVTN drivers in 2014 logged more than 187,000 miles
Steve Stone Graphic
• DON MILLER • LAURA M. RIDDLE • HUGH WILEY PUCKETT
• BARBARA WEDIG • SONNY WIGINTON • DAVID INGALLS
• THOMAS GLENVER RHODES
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE B6
INDEX CLASSIFIEDS ..........D1 LOTTERIES .............A2 COMICS .................C5 OPINION .................A4 HOROSCOPES .........B7 SPORTS .................B1 ENTERTAINMENT .....B7 WEATHER ..............A8