Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 157 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
July 1, 2014
Central American immigrants now at FLETC BY TIMOTHY P. HOWSARE RECORD EDITOR
One hundred and sixtyeight women and children from Central America who illegally crossed the U.S.Mexico border are now being housed at a temporary facility at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, a senior official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Monday. The Central Americans have been at the FLETC site since Friday, the ICE official said. The FLETC site is one of
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four facilities across the nation used to train federal law enforcement officers, such as Border Patrol agents. The three barracks at the FLETC site in Artesia can hold up to 672 people as they await deportation or seek asylum. The ICE official said more women and children will be transported to Artesia in phases, but did not provide specifics. Most of the Central American immigrants come from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and are crossing the border into southern
Texas, where they are captured by Border Patrol officers. The Artesia center will only house children caught traveling with their mothers or other female relatives. Unaccompanied minors will continue to be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services and adult men will be housed at different ICE locations. Border Patrol agents have apprehended more than 52,000 immigrant children crossing the border alone since October. The dorm-like rooms at the Artesia facility can be
Burson, Zwaagstra take crowns
described as comfortable yet spartan — like a room at a well-kept budget motel. Each room has four sets of bunk beds, two closets, a flat-screen TV, a desk and toys for the children. ICE officials have said toys are necessary to keep young children occupied and they will not be able to take the toys with them when they return home. The Central Americans are fleeing extreme violence and poverty in their native countries. The immigrants are frequently misinformed See FLETC, Page A3
Mary Morgan Photo
This Saturday, June 21, Daily Record file photo shows workers erecting a fence around portable dorms at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia in anticipation of the arrival of hundreds of immigrants from Central America.
Campbell’s disposition set for Wednesday STAFF REPORT
The case disposition for accused Berrendo Middle School shooter Mason Campbell is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday in district court. Disposition is the juvenile version of sentencing, and Judge Freddie Romero will decide Campbell’s sentencing after a hearing at which the shooting victims and their families are expected to testify. Campbell entered a “no contest” plea on May 16, clearing the way to move on
to the sentencing phase without going through the ordeal of a trial. Campbell of fered an apology to the victims of the shooting during the May 16 plea hearing. “Mason accepts full responsibility for his actions and does apologize to his victims and their families,” said defense attorney Jason Bowles, of the Bowles Law Fir m in Albuquerque. While changing his plea to “no contest,” Campbell
RPD searches for accident witnesses
Submitted Photos
Above: Jessica Burson, of Roswell, was chosen as Miss New Mexico on Saturday at the Miss New Mexico Pageant, held in Ruidoso. Burson is also the 2014 Miss Roswell. Right: Kori Zwaagstra, center, of Hobbs, was crowned Saturday as Mrs. New Mexico 2014 at the African-American Performing Arts Center in Albuquerque. The other finalists were, from left, Sheri Miller, second runnerup; Kate Seidenberger, first runner up; Maria Alarid, third runner-up; and Lorissa Marshall, fourth runner-up.
The Roswell Police Department is seeking anyone who may have witnessed a vehicle accident on Sunday, June 22, in which Lupe Hodge, 45, was injured and later succumbed to her injuries. Hodge was struck by a vehicle while she was walking in the roadway on Garden Street around 10:15 p.m. A family member said she may have been walking to the Allsup’s convenience store at Garden Street and Second Avenue.
See CAMPBELL, Page A3
Hodge was transported to a local hospital, and was later flown out of town for further medical treatment. RPD confirmed that Hodge later died from the injuries. The thoughts and prayers of the RPD are with Hodge’s family. There are no leads so far in this case. If you witnessed this accident or know someone who did, contact the RPD immediately at 575-624-6770 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888594-8477.
Texting ban goes Niece of famous alien abduction into effect today couple to speak at UFO Festival
SANTA FE (AP) — A statewide ban on texting while driving takes effect today in New Mexico. Under the new law, drivers are prohibited from sending or reading text message and emails — even while at a stop light or temporarily stuck in a traffic jam. Motorists also will be banned from searching the Internet on smartphones or other hand-held wireless devices. However, the law does allow a driver to pull over to the side of the road to send or receive a text message. “This law will save lives and make New Mexico roads safer,” said Sen. Peter Wirth, a Santa Fe Democrat who sponsored the measure in the Legislature. A first violation will carry
a $25 fine, and it’s a $50 fine for subsequent violations. “New Mexicans need to understand that texting while driving is six times more dangerous than drinking and driving,” Wirth said Monday. “If you have to look at your phone, pull off the road.” The state previously prohibited texting by teenage drivers with a learner’s or provisional license. The new law extends the ban to all drivers. New Mexico joins 43 other states and the District of Columbia in banning text messaging by all drivers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. There are exceptions in New Mexico’s law, such as sending a text message to See LAWS, Page A3
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TODAY’S FORECAST
BY SHANNON SEYLER SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
When it comes to famous UFO cases, few have received more attention than the Roswell incident and the Betty and Barney Hill abduction. Despite the passage of time, these cases are still subjects of intense discussion, research and interest on the part of believers and skeptics alike. Books, reports and screenplays have been written about them, and nearly every documentary about UFOs makes references to these incidents. The Roswell UFO Festival, running from July 36, is showcasing several well-known UFO researchers and writers. This year’s lineup
includes UFO researcher Kathleen Marden of Clermont, Fla. A noted author and lecturer on the topic of UFOs and abductions, she was named the Ufologist of the Year by the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and is considered to be a leading expert on the Betty and Barney Hill case. She is also Betty Hill’s niece, a family connection which has given her unique insights and per-
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6 • KC JEAN TRUJILLO-BACA • LEO V. PENNINGTON • FLO LUNSFORD • MARTHA BAULCH MORRIS • NITA CHADWICK SAUM • TIMOTHY AMOS SR. • ROBERT GONZALO MEDINA
spectives on the Betty and Barney Hill abduction.
The Hills, a couple from Portsmouth, N. H., claimed to have experienced an extraterrestrial abduction in rural New Hampshire on Sept.19-20, 1961. The Hills stated that while returning from a vacation, they encountered an alien craft, in addition to some mysterious humanoid beings. They reported this incident to both the U.S. Air
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B4
Marden
Force and the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), a civilian UFO research organization. Eventually, their story went public, causing a media sensation. SomeSee MARDEN, Page A3
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8