Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 123, No. 106 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
May 2, 2014
FRIDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Police investigating second homicide in a week RANDAL SEYLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Roswell Police responded to another homicide Thursday morning — the second homicide within one week. Officers responded to the 1500 block of North Montana around 8:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a dead woman at a residence there. The woman, who was in her 30s, was discovered by a family member, said Sabrina Morales, public information liaison officer with the Roswell Police Department. Morales said the investi-
gation is ongoing, and that the death is being investigated as a homicide. The Roswell detective investigating the murder is busy interviewing people, Morales said. The same detective is also investigating last week’s shooting of 22-year -old Joseph Sanchez. Sanchez was shot on the 5800 block of South Main on April 24. There have been no arrests in that case. The name of the dead woman is being withheld pending notification of the family, Morales said. “You want to make sure all the family is notified, as many
as is possible.”
No further information is available at this time.
If you have information pertaining to this case, you are urged to contact the Roswell Police Department (575-624-6770) or Crime Stoppers (888-5948477) immediately.
Randal Seyler Photo
Roswell Police investigate a possible homicide at a home on the 1500 block of North Montana Avenue on Thursday afternoon. A woman was found dead at the scene by a family member around 8:30 a.m.
City settles free speech lawsuit
Spring singers
Street preachers to receive $97,000 TIMOTHY P. HOWSARE ROSWELL EDITOR
Mark Wilson Photo
The NMMI Vocal Ensemble performs 'Daemon Irrepit Callidus' during the New Mexico Military Institute’s Music Department Annual Spring Concert held Thursday evening at Pearson Auditorium.
The City of Roswell settled its lawsuit Thursday with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico. The suit alleges that Roswell police officers repeatedly violated the First Amendment free speech rights of two local street preachers, Joshua and Jeremy De Los Santos. Joshua and Jeremy are brothers and members of the Old Paths Baptist Church in Roswell, where Joshua is the pastor. Jeremy provides religious instruction at the church. Both believe they have a duty to preach the Gospel in public, and both regularly do so, the ACLU said in a released statement. According to the ACLU,
the Roswell Police Department arrested both brothers multiple times for expressing their sincerely held religious beliefs in public, as is their right under the First Amendment. Under the terms of the settlement, the City of Roswell will pay $97,000 in compensatory and punitive damages to the De Los Santos brothers. In the two years preceding the ACLU’s lawsuit, Roswell police of ficers arrested Jeremy De Los Santos five times for preaching in public and arrested Joshua twice for the same activity. In every case, the charges against the plaintiffs were either dropped, dismissed by a
Finance committee OKs City to waive dumping fees until Nov. 1 Lodger’s Tax requests RANDAL SEYLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Roswell city finance committee approved a pair of Lodger’s Tax requests on Thursday morning at City Hall for events scheduled this September. The finance committee approved $2,187.50 for the Rio Pecos Kennel Club to cover advertising costs for the club’s upcoming 2014 AKC Dog Show, scheduled for Sept. 9. Sarah Brinegar, treasurer for the Kennel Club, told the committee members that the annual dog show brings people from all over the region to Roswell. “This is our 50th year, I
believe,” Brinegar said, “and people who come to the show also spend the night in hotels, buy gas, dine out here and buy gifts and souvenirs. This event is good for the community.” Brinegar said more people from outside the community participate in the dog show itself, but local residents attend the show and often learn about dog breeds and visit with breeders about various types of dogs. “While the people in Roswell don’t necessarily show their dogs, I am always amazed by the support the local community See COMMITTEE, Page A2
Courtesy Photo
The commencement speaker for the ENMU-R graduation ceremonies on May 9 will be student Emely Stubbs Ponce, a candidate for graduation who will be receiving two associate’s degrees, one in Human Services and one in University Studies. She enrolled as a Presidential Scholar at ENMU-Roswell in the summer of 2012 after graduating from Roswell High School. In addition to her studies, she was active in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society chapter on campus, Alpha Mu Pi. She served as the vice president and also the New Mexico regional Phi Theta Kappa president.
TIMOTHY P. HOWSARE RECORD EDITOR
From now until Nov. 1, owners of dilapidated homes and buildings in Roswell will have 100 percent of their landfill dumping fees waived by the city. The fees usually start at $31 per ton. To be eligible for the waiver, a building owner must first apply to the city for a permit to demolish a structure, which costs $5. Mayor Dennis Kintigh said at a press conference Thursday that when he ran for office he had made a commitment to clean up Roswell. “The time for talk is done. The time for action is today,” he said.
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Mayor Dennis J. Kintigh said he wants to help clean up the city by offering waivers of dumping fees for demolished buildings from now until Nov. 1.
Kintigh said the fee waivers are for any building, “whether it’s a shed or whether it’s a warehouse.” Kintigh emphasized that
free once a demolition permit is obtained. Butts can be contacted at 637-6286. Kintigh said there are a lot of dilapidated structures around town, but rather than punishing owners by condemning their properties, he wants the city to offer them an incentive to remove the unsightly structures on their own. He said the initiative should not only help the overall aesthetics of the community, but also provide relief for those who may not be able to afford the cost of the dumping fees, which can be significant. Kintigh said he hopes See FEES, Page A3
ENMU-Roswell plans graduation ceremonies
Easter n New Mexico University-Roswell will hold two commencement ceremonies on May 9 at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center. The first ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. for those graduation candidates who will receive Certificates of Employability, Certificates of Occupational Training, and Certificates of Completion. New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe graduation candidates will also participate in this ceremony.
TODAY’S FORECAST
Timothy P. Howsare Photo
the program, called Clean and Safe, is “not forever” and will end in six months. He also was clear that it is only for structures within city limits. The are a few stipulations to the program. The disposal waiver only includes structures, and not furniture and fixtures. If those items need to be disposed, fees will be assessed. Old buildings with asbestos insulation must first have the asbestos removed, or abated, before the building can be torn down. Miller Butts, a certified city building official, said his department will do an asbestos inspection for
See LAWSUIT, Page A3
• GLENN BOYD PRAGER
The second ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. for those graduation candidates receiving associate’s degrees. Students receiving both a certificate and an associate degree will participate in the 7 p.m. ceremony. Bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates from ENMU and Master of Social Work degree candidates from NMHU will also participate in the 7 p.m. ceremony. ENMU-Roswell officials say it is necessary to
• ROGER LEE BARNHILL MYRTLE M. BARNHILL
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6
AND
schedule two ceremonies due to the large number of graduation candidates participating in this spring’s 61st Commencement Convocation. Nearly 160 students are expected to participate in the first ceremony and about 200 students are expected to participate in the second ceremony. The commencement speaker will be Emely Stubbs Ponce, a candidate for graduation who will be receiving two Associate of Arts degrees, one in
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B5
COMICS .................B4
FINANCIAL ..............B3
Human Services and one in University Studies. On May 8, the Adult Basic Education Department at ENMU-R will hold its 25th annual GED High School Completion Graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. in the Per for ming Arts Center on campus. A reception will follow the ceremony in the Campus Union Building. The featured speaker will be the Honorable Charles C. Currier, District Court judge, 5th Judicial District.
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .........B5 LOTTERIES .............A2 OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8 WORLD ..................A7