Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 123, No. 83 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
April 5, 2014
City, county briefed on WIPP radiation leak JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Officials were reassured that Chaves County was in no danger from the radiation released by an accident two months earlier at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project near Carlsbad. Deputy Manager Dana Bryson of the Carlsbad Office for the U.S. Dept. of Energy discussed the WIPP incident with city and county officials, and briefed them on the Feb. 5 fire and radiation release. The information seemed to be consistent with data gathered from local emergency management officials
and the City of Roswell Fire Department. “We’ve got our own guys taking readings and they’re saying the same thing that WIPP is saying,” said Mayor Dennis Kintigh. Roswell Fire periodically performs radiological monitoring of the naturally occurring background radiation in and around the community, according to Renee Roach, city spokeswoman. “Performing this survey allows the fire department to have a baseline radiological level to develop response tactics in the event of a radiological incident in our response area,”
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Roach wrote in a release. “Within the last several months this periodic background check has been conducted with no higher radiological readings than in previous months or years.” The fire department also conducts several trainings a year for radiological incidents and potential releases. The training includes monitoring and surveying, personal protective equipment and entry, and rescue and treatment of victims. Local hospitals also participate in training that prepares employees to deal with potentially exposed
victims. County and city officials had requested the visit, Kintigh said. “He gave us details on what they were experiencing and what they were working on,” Kintigh said. “We discussed future notifications and some things (the department) might want to do differently that would include Roswell and Chaves County if there were any future incidents.” City and county officials want to be informed in the future, but don’t want to “get in the way” during the crisis, Kintigh said.
Preschoolers raise $430 for St. Jude Hospital
See LEAK, Page A3
SATURDAY
No contamination found on 2nd trip into WIPP CARLSBAD (AP) — Crews investigating a radiation leak at the federal government’s underground nuclear waste dump in southeastern New Mexico have turned up no contamination during a second trip farther into the half-miledeep repository. The Department of Energy says Friday’s trip at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant allowed crews
Students at the Generations of Learning preschool in Roswell took part in a Trike-a-thon on Friday to raise donations for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Youngsters rode bicycles, tricycles and Big Wheels around a track to raise funds for the famous children’s hospital. To date, the preschoolers have raised $430 dollars. To contribute to their cause, visit: fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?fr_id=15629&pg=entry.
Sheriff’s office IDs 1 suspect in Eddy County car chase
Eddy County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who led a deputy in a vehicle pursuit with shots fired on Wednesday. Fabian Fierro, 35, was officially charged with aggravated fleeing, aggravated assault with the intent of commit a violent felony, and shooting at or from a motor vehicle on Thursday, according to a sheriff’s office news release. Fabian is being held in the Eddy County Detention Center on these charges and outstanding warrants from the Pecos Valley Task Force. A 17-year-old male has also been charged with shooting at or from a motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing, and aggravated assault with the intent to commit a violent felony, and he is being held in the Eddy County Juvenile
Detention Center awaiting arraignment. At approximately 12:20 a.m. on Wednesday, a vehicle was observed pulling out of a residence near the intersection of Olive and Tansill streets in Carlsbad without headlights. The vehicle then continued north on Olive Street without turning on its headlights. When the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop with a silver Honda, the vehicle refused to stop. The vehicle accelerated, starting the pursuit through several city streets with speeds in excess of 65 mph. While pursuing the vehicle, the vehicle came to a stop in the 2300 block of Iowa Street and three or four shots were fired in the direction of the deputy. The vehicle then fled once
again where it stopped near the intersection of Sixth and Iowa streets and fired two more shots in the direction of the approaching deputy, according to the news release. Neither the deputy nor patrol unit was struck by gunfire. The vehicle fled once again stopping in front of a residence on Utah Street where two men were seen exiting the vehicle. Both men were pursued on foot to a vacant residence on Iowa Street. Carlsbad Police Department’s Tactical Team was called out to assist. After several failed attempts to get the men to exit the residence, the residence was gassed and two men were found to be hiding in the attic.
Jill McLaughlin Photo
From left: Former Chairwoman of the Chaves County Republican Party Alice Eppers, state Rep. Candy Ezzell, R-Dist. 58, state Rep. Nora Espinoza, R-Dist. 59, Chaves County Republican Women President Joan Boue, state Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Dist. 32, and CCRW event coordinator Megan DeLarosa discuss the upcoming "Time is Now to Take Back The House" fundraiser set for May 2 at The Liberty.
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New Mexico is one of only five states without a “Kendra’s Law,” and advocates say without it, police will increasingly find themselves in situations like the fatal March standoff with James Boyd, the 38-yearold transient who was shot and killed by police. That shooting launched a violent protest in the city on Sun-
day and convinced Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry to ask the U.S. Justice Department to monitor the troubled police department amid a pending federal investigation. “I think it’s time for a law,” said Marilyn Salzman, president of the Rio Ranch chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “The families of those struggling with mental illness have been asking for this for a long time now.” Advocates also unveiled plans to build a new mental health hospital. At a press conference, Berry pleaded for state lawmakers to take action after 37 Albuquerque police shootings since 2010. City See SHOOTINGS, Page A3
Jill McLaughlin Photo
AT&T store employee James Gonzales takes a spin on the distracted and drunken driving simulator machine at the store Friday as Katey Gumfory and Corey Stevens watch. Roswell High student Gumfory and Goddard High student Stevens are helping educate the public about Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. Anyone can stop by the store in the next six days to take the hands-on test that simulates driving while texting or drunk.
‘Take Back the House’ fundraiser May 2
The Republican Party of Chaves County will host an event May 2 to raise funds for candidates from around the state in an ef fort to “take back the house.” Republicans have an opportunity to regain control of the 70-member New Mexico House of Represen-
• RUFINA (RUTH) SILVA-WILTON • RAMONDO “RAY” GONZALES
A third trip to find the leak’s source is expected next week.
Simulator available to try out
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
TODAY’S FORECAST
The crews also set up more air monitors and tested communication equipment.
Shootings renew call for in-state health changes ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The recent fatal police shooting of a homeless camper who spent years in and out of jail and New Mexico’s only psychiatric hospital has sparked a push for more mental health resources in the state and a law requiring people with severe mental illnesses to take medications or face involuntary hospitalization.
Photo by Randal Seyler
to establish a base where they can safely remove and store their clothing and equipment if it becomes contaminated before returning to the surface.
• DON HUDSON
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6
tatives for the first time in at least 80 years, according to organizer Joan Boue, member of the executive board of the RPCC.
Ten Republican candidates were identified in districts statewide as having the potential to compete for a house seat. With only two contested races locally, the RPCC wanted to assist with the state races.
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................A7 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
Republican candidates County Commissioner James Duffey and state Rep. Nora Espinoza, RDist.-59, face opponents in the fall. “We are going to do whatever we can to get them re-elected,” Boue said. We are very blessed to only have two, but recognize we have the talents
See FUNDRAISER, Page A3
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8