02-02-13 PAPER

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Roswell Daily Record

Vol. 122, No. 29 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — In the second deadly assault on a U.S. diplomatic post in five months, a suicide bomber struck the American Embassy in Ankara on Friday, killing a Turkish security guard in what the White House described as a terrorist attack ... - PAGE A2

February 2, 2013

SATURDAY

Ed chief OKs all-online charter school

SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico education chief Hanna Skandera overruled the state Public Education Commission this week, and will allow a new all-online charter school to open in the fall.

TURKISH GUARD KILLED AT US EMBASSY

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

The Albuquerque Journal reports that the school will be called New Mexico Connections Academy and will contract with the online, for-profit curriculum company Connections Academy. The school aims to serve students in grades K-

www.rdrnews.com

“For those students who are best served by this option, virtual learning can offer instruction they might otherwise go without while serving to better prepare them for the 21st century,” Public Education Department spokesman Larry Behrens said.

12 from around the state.

Skandera’s decision Wednesday came as a national nonprofit, In the Public Interest, released thousands of emails between for mer Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s education foundation and policymak-

ers in several states, including New Mexico.

Connections Academy is one of several online education companies that donates money to Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education, an organization Skandera turns to for

advice on reform initiatives. The school proposal was submitted by Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation. But Gessing emphasized that the school is not a project of the foundation, which advocates for free markets and limited government. Public Education Department spokesman Larry Behrens said Skandera approved the charter on its merits. “The promise of virtual learning has the potential

IHOP, Shriners hope to catch you on the ‘flip’ side

WEB

For The Past 24 Hours

• Lovelace celebrates 1-year anniversary • ENMMC welcomes Cruz as its new CEO • Pearce to attend rally opposing chicken ... • Emergency drill at NMMI • Hobbs run past ...

INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photos

There is an old saying that “timing is everything” and anyone who has lived a few years knows the truth of that phrase. For the Loving boys basketball team on Friday, its timing couldn’t have been much worse. Looking to let loose after a tough loss to ... - PAGE B1

TODAY’S OBITUARIES

• Freddie Sanchez • Charles N. Lusk • James Tucker - PAGE B6

HIGH ...63˚ LOW ....32˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B7 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 WORLD .................A8

INDEX

See ONLINE, Page A3

ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER

TOP 5

’CATS SCRATCH LOVING

to offer fantastic options for thousands of New Mexican students. For those students who are best served by this option, virtual learning can offer instruction they might otherwise go without while serving to better prepare them for the 21st century,” Behrens said in a written statement. The Public Education Commission was conservative with its approval of new charters last year,

Above: Shriners man the doors of the IHOP on Friday, following an announcement that the International House of Pancakes will be hosting its annual IHOP National Pancakes Day on Tuesday, raising money for Shriners Hospital. Left: International House of Pancakes is hosting its annual IHOP National Pancakes Day on Tuesday, February 5th, raising money for Shriners Hospital. Attending Friday’s announcement were, from left, front row: Jason Perry, IHOP manager Mike Aziz, George Rader, Johnny Barajas and Floyd Bell. Back row: Mike Barajas, Roy Capps, Dick Smith and Bill Kopp.

Roswell Shriners greeted IHOP patrons Friday to raise awareness of their annual Hospital Fund Drive, which will be held Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on National Pancake Day. On that day, IHOP, 2304 N. Main St., will give free short stacks of pancakes to customers, asking in return for a donation to support Shriners Hospitals for Children, a system of 22 hospitals that have provided free pediatric medical care for more than 90 years. For every dollar donated, 90 cents goes directly to patient care and research. Shriners Vice President Dick Smith said the hospitals are supported entirely through contributions and cost $2.2 million to operate daily. Last year, the drive helped the hospitals treat more than 121,000 children. “We’re very proud of what we’ve done as far as helping kids,” he said. “We’re always looking for kids to help.” Mayor Del Jur ney has proclaimed Tuesday, Feb. 5, “IHOP’s National Pancake Day and Shriners Hospitals for Children Day.” IHOP manager Mike Aziz, said National Pancake Day is quite busy for the Roswell location. In 2012, donations given at the restaurant ranked it first in the state and seventh in the nation. See FLIP, Page A3

Bill would reduce good Report: Job market looks strong time for some inmates SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico inmates behind bars for certain drunken driving and child abuse convictions would have to spend more time in prison under a new legislative proposal. Rep. Zachary Cook, R-Ruidoso, has introduced a bill to slash good-time credits for inmates convicted of vehicular homicide involving driving while intoxicated and charges of child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported (http://bit.ly/11scC0R ) Friday. On average, New Mexico inmates earning good time credits earn a month of good time for every month served, effectively cutting their sentences in half. One recent case is that of former attorney Carlos See INMATES, Page A3

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. job market is proving surprisingly strong and raising hopes that the economy will be resilient enough this year to withstand a budget standoff in Washington and potentially deep cuts in federal spending. Employers added 157,000 jobs last month, and hiring turned out to be healthier than previously thought at the end of 2012 just as the economy faced the threat of the “fiscal cliff.” Still, unemployment remains persistently high. The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.9 percent last See JOB, Page A3

AP Photo

Job seekers fill a room at the job fair in Sunrise, Fla, Jan. 22.

‘Geeks’ Miramontes, Gourley turn hobby into small business ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER

Courtesy Photo

Arely Miramontes and Kirk Gourley in costume.

Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark better beware — you no longer have to be a millionaire to get your hands on superhero gadgets. If you want to be a superhero, or at least look like one, local couple Kirk Gourley and Arely Miramontes can recreate items from your favorite comic book or video game character’s arsenal. It was fanboy meets fangirl when Gourley, 21, and Miramontes, 20, met and

discovered their mutual interests in video games and all things superheroes and comic books. Eventually, the pair began attending comic book conventions and expos and got into cosplay, or “costume play,” dressing as characters from comic book and video game culture. This summer, the

couple plans to attend the annual San Diego ComicCon. “It’s so much more fun to go in costume,” Gourley said. “It’s like Halloween, just more frequent.” By day, Miramontes studies computer engineerSee SPOTLIGHT, Page A3


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