01 28 15 Roswell Daily Record

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Roswell Daily Record

Vol. 124, No. 24 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

January 28, 2015

Wednesday

www.rdrnews.com

School board president under challenge

By Dylanne Petros Record Staff Writer

Two candidates are running for Position 4 on the Roswell Independent School District board. The winner of the race will earn a four-year term, starting March 1, on the five-member RISD board. Current Board President Pauline Ponce, who has been in office since 2011, is up for re-election and Ruben Sanchez is challenging her. James W. Waldrip, secretary, is also up for election this year and he is being challenged by Carey D. Smith. The school board’s other three members, Dr. Peggy Brewer, Mackenzie Hunt and Eloy Ortega Jr., are not up for reelection in 2015.

Elections for the RISD school board are Feb. 3. Voters may cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at any of eight voting convenience centers. The voting convenience centers are located at Del Norte Elementary School, 2704 N. Garden Ave., Washington Avenue Elementary School, 408 N. Washington Ave., West Country Club Church, 700 W. Country Club Road, El Capitan Elementary School, 2087 W. Bland St., University High School, 25 W. Martin St., East Grand Plains Elementary School, 377 E. Grand Plains Road, Chaves County Clerk’s Office Area D, 1 St. Mary’s Place, and Nancy Lopez Elementary School, 1208 E. Bland St. In addition, early voting continues until Friday at

the Chaves County Clerk’s Office in Area D. The following are answers from Ponce and Sanchez to a candidate questionnaire compiled by the Daily Record. Waldrip and Smith’s responses will be published at a later date.

Why are you the best candidate for the school board? Ms. Ponce: “I have nearly 35 years of experience in education. I held numerous positions in the Roswell Schools such as an acting superintendent, an assistant superintendent for human resources, a director, a coordinator, an assistant principal at Berrendo Middle School, a principal at Berrendo Elementary School and a teacher in grades first, second, fourth, seventh and

eighth grades. I served as a New Mexico State Representative in the New Mexico Legislature. As a state representative, I was a member of the House Appropriations Committee; the committee developed the budget for the State of New Mexico. I also was a member of the House Education Committee. This committee developed the budget for the public schools of New Mexico. Additionally, I was a member of the Legislative Education Study Committee; this committee developed legislation that affected the operations of public schools in New Mexico. In our community, I served on numerous non-profit boards such as United Way, Roswell Public Library, Working Mothers’ Day Nursery and many others. During my varied

Ponce

Sanchez

experiences, I have dealt with many educational, financial, difficult student situations, personnel/ human resources issues, and acquired expertise in school law and am recognized throughout the state of New Mexico as an expert. I have been a trainer for numerous school districts throughout the state in all

of the issues listed above.” Mr. Sanchez: “I am a life-long resident of the East Grand Plains community. I am a United States Air Force Veteran, Iraq War Veteran and still proudly serving this great country today. I will bring the values, education and See ELECTION, Page A3

Mental health care town hall planned By Randal Seyler Record City Editor

Timothy P. Howsare Photos

Thirteen NMMI cadets from across the country received Matchin Awards on Saturday at Pearson Auditorium.

NMMI cadets receive Matchin Award

Staff Report Thomas Snyder, a first-semester cadet at New Mexico Military Institute, was one of 13 cadets to receive the Matchin Award Saturday during a ceremony at Pearson Auditorium. Snyder, a Roswell resident who attended Goddard High School, said after the ceremony that he was honored to receive the award. He is a member of the Alpha Troop and plays on the Bronco Golf Team. A first-semester cadet from each troop was chosen for the award, which is named after LTC Tom O. Matchin Sr., who served as deputy commandant at

Thomas Snyder, a first-semester cadet at New Mexico Military Institute, received a Matchin Award on Saturday. NMMI from 1965 to 1973 after retiring from the U.S. Army. He graduated from NMMI in 1943. To be eligible for the Matchin Award, each

cadet must have displayed outstanding discipline, academic proficiency and excellent leadership potential during their new cadet semester. The 12 other cadets and their troops are: • Bravo Troop: Alexander Howard, Bronco Baseball, Albuquerque. • Charlie Troop: Robert Hazen, Merchant Marine Academy Prep, Naperville, Illinois. • Headquarters Troop: Anthony Fricker, NMMI Regimental Band, Peoria, Arizona. • Echo Troop: William Jennings, Helotes, Texas. • Foxtrot Troop: Evanne Gellert, Naval Academy

Prep, Phoenix. • Golf Troop: Gavin O’Donnell, Naval Academy Prep, Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania. • Hotel Troop: Shannon Murray, Air Force Academy Prep, Rancho Santa Margarita, California. • Kilo Troop: Taylor Dial, Merchant Marine Academy Prep, Poway, California. • Lima Troop: Roberto Apodaca, Albuquerque. • Mike Troop: Oriana Naki SROTC Honolulu, Hawaii. • November Troop: Robert Black, Midland, Texas. • Oscar Troop: Juan Carlos Ruvalcaba Romo, Dallas.

population of mental health patients who will have no Community leaders are source of medication or going to meet on Feb. 3 to care, Dickson said. Recognizing the urgency discuss how to respond to the closing of Turquoise of the problem, Judge HudHealth and Wellness at the son put together a committee of local experts to begin end of April. There will be a town hall searching for a way to promeeting at 5:30 p.m. at the vide care for the patients Roswell Convention Center, who will be left without and everyone concerned treatment once Turquoise about behavioral and men- closes its doors in 63 days. “During his tenure on tal health issues should the bench, Judge Hudson attend, said Henry Dickhas become something of son, a local attorney who an expert on mental health has been working on an ad hoc committee formed by i s s u e s , ” D i c k s o n s a i d . District Court Judge James When people arrested for lesser crimes, such as misHudson. “Originally, we heard demeanors, are suspected that Turquoise was going to of being mentally incompeclose its doors on Jan. 2,” tent, then they are moved Dickson said on Tuesday. into district court, and “But now we know they will come into Hudson’s courtroom. be gone on April 1.” “During the last year, the The Associated Press Roswell Police Department reported on Jan. 14 that responded to 1,094 calls Turquoise Health and Wellness offers mental that were related to menhealth services to Medicaid tal health issues, and the patients in Carlsbad, Ros- Chaves County Sheriff’s well, Clovis and Tucumcari. Office responded to 136 Turquoise was added to calls,” said Kevin Berry, the state’s network in 2013 administrator of The Peak as part of a network shake- Treatment Foster Care of up by Gov. Susana Marti- Roswell. “That comes out to about three a day.” nez’s administration. Sheriff Britt Snyder Providing mental health said the loss of Turquoise care to the residents under Health and Wellness will the auspices of the state Department of Health, once have a huge impact on law Turquoise ceases to treat patients, there will be a See TURQUOISE, Page A3

Committee discusses Gov. Martinez appoints local attorney naming streets after Ryan to New Mexico Game Commission Cesar Chavez, MLK By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer

By Randal Seyler Record City Editor There may be a Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and a Cesar Chavez Avenue in Roswell’s future. City Councilor Elena Velasquez presented the suggestion to the Streets and Alleys Committee on Tuesday. “I have had this idea to name streets after Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King for some time,” Velasquez said. “I visited with several people, as well as with Councilor Juan Oropesa, who chairs this committee, and I have had a lot of support for my idea.” City Engineer Louis Najar presented his out-

line of a proposed method for changing the name of a street within the city limits to the committee members, and noted that the city needs to have a process in place for the naming of streets. “There is a lot of ‘domino effect’ in changing street names, you have to think about the post office, maps, and even the Internet, things like Google,” Najar said. “One reason I wanted to do this is that when you visit so many other cities, you see a Martin Luther King street,” Velasquez said. “These are two See STREETS, Page A3 Today’s Forecast

HIGH 70 LOW 38

A Roswell attorney very active in the oil and natural gas industry has been appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez to the State Game Commission, the governing body of the New Mexico Game and Fish Department. Elizabeth “Beth” Atkinson Ryan, 33, was among several appointments to boards and commissions announced by Martinez on Monday. “I’m very, very excited,” Ryan said Tuesday. “I’m thrilled and honored that the governor found me fit to serve on such a dynamic, active board.” Ryan’s term on the State Game Commission

Ryan is scheduled to expire Dec. 31, with the possibility of re-appointment. The governor’s appointees have yet to be confirmed by the state Senate. Once confirmed, Ryan would become a member of the State Game Commission, which has the responsibility to provide

Today’s Obituaries Page A7

• Andrew Adam Gutierrez • Marie Helen Waggoner

• Tonya Fuller • Ruby Leon Wheeler

an adequate and flexible system for the protection of game and fish in the state, and to provide for the use and development of natural resources for public recreation and food supply. Ryan said the commission’s purpose is to conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish within the state using a flexible management system that ensures sustainable use for public food supply, recreation and safety. “I hope to continue the goals of the commission for conservative wildlife management for the state,” Ryan said. “We are going to have a commission meeting here in Roswell since I’m new to the

commission. Of course, we’ll let the public know when that’s going to happen.” The commission meets about six times a year in various communities round the state. The New Mexico Legislature created a three-member State Game Commission in 1921. The commission eventually became a seven-member citizens’ body that sets hunting and fishing regulations, hires the Department of Game and Fish director, oversees spending of a more than $35 million annual budget and sets the department’s overall direction. Ryan said her exciteSee RYAN, Page A2

Classifieds...........B8

Index General...............A 2

Opinion.................A4

Comics..................B7

Horoscopes.........A3

Sports. ................B1

Financial..............B6

Lotteries. ............A2

Weather.............A10


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