Roswell Daily Record
NM may owe workers $20M
Vol. 121, No. 192 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
SANTA FE (AP) — About 11,000 state workers are entitled to retroactive pay increases because former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration didn’t follow union contracts in distributing money provided by the Legislature four years ago, the state Court of Appeals has ruled.
BORDER HOT SPOT
SANTA TERESA (AP) — The original developer ’s grandiose dream for turning this wide-open swath of desert into a modern, binational industrial hub complete with country clubs and residential neighborhoods filled with workers was written off years ago as just another border boom gone bust. - PAGE A7
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration plans to appeal this week’s ruling and says it could
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
August 11, 2012
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cost the state $20 million for back pay to workers covered by union contracts. A lawyer for unions estimates a cost of up to $10 million.
The court’s ruling means a pay raise for about half of the state’s classified workers, which are those hired through a merit-based civil service system rather than a political appointment. The amount of the pay will vary from worker to worker, depending on an individ-
2 dead in US 70 collision
The court ordered the state to provide back pay so that union-represented workers receive what was required under their collective bargaining agreements ...
ual’s job and their experience with gover nment. Administration officials say it’s uncertain the average amount an employee will receive. At issue are pay raises for workers in agencies cov-
ered by collective bargaining agreements — both non-union members and those paying union dues. Not all of state government is covered by union contracts and it varies from agency to agency. Among
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SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
State Police work the scene of a double fatality involving a flat-bed truck hauling dirt (pictured) and a semi, Thursday afternoon, northeast of Roswell on US 70 at mile marker 379, about 20 miles west of Elida. According to authorities at the scene, the smaller truck was rear-ended while traveling northbound, sending it careening into the trees where it caught on fire. The larger truck traveled a short distance farther, and crossed the southbound lanes before coming to rest. The two Elida men in the flat-bed were ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. They were Fred Anthony, 72, the driver, and his brother Ronald Anthony, 76. David Wright, 50, of Portales, the driver of the semi, was transported to Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales, where he was treated and released. Both lanes of the highway were partially closed for nine hours while the scene was investigated and cleared. Police said driver inattention and fatigue were contributing factors in the crash, seat belt restraints were not used and alcohol was not involved.
LONDON (AP) — Pointing the baton at the clock showing the world-record time of 40.82 seconds, Carmelita Jeter anchored the United States on Friday night to its first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 4x100-meter relay since 1996. Tianna Madison, 200meter champion Allyson Felix and Bianca Knight gave the U.S. a big lead heading into the anchor leg by Jeter ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • • • • • •
OBITUARIES
Nona Stroshine Mary Jo Guy Walters Mary “Floris” Cotton Kent Terry Peggy Clark Eunice Ramirez - PAGE A8
HIGH .100˚ LOW ....71˚
The court’s 2-1 ruling, which was issued Wednesday, upheld two arbitration decisions that concluded the state was wrong in not following the ter ms of union contracts when it provided across-the-board 2.9 percent pay raises to all
Syrian rebels low on guns
See WORKERS, Page A3
AZAZ, Syria (AP) — Syrian rebels were running low on ammunition and guns Friday as gover nment forces tried to consolidate their control over Aleppo, the country’s largest city and a deadly battleground for more than two weeks.
INSIDE
RELAY TEAM TAKES GOLD
the agencies with union representation are the Corrections, Human Services, Transportation, and Public Education departments.
seemingly The intractable, 17-month-old conflict in Syria has defied all international attempts to calm the bloodshed. Rebels and activists said Friday they have had enough of diplomacy and appealed to the international community to send weapons.
“The warplanes and helicopters are killing us. They’re up there in the sky 15 hours a day,” said Mohammad al-Hassan, an
After Hope lock-out, Grace Community Church Roswell Pride moves hosts leadership summit to Cielo Grande JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Roswell Pride, 2012, planned by Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual,T ransgender, Questioning and Allied will continue despite lastminute attempts to derail it. On Wednesday, between 4 and 5 p.m., the gates to the Hope Amphitheatre, the original venue, were locked. Event coordinators and volunteers, who were supposed to start decorating for the extravaganza at 6 p.m., were denied access. Investigation by commit-
tee members into the cause of the lock-out have been met with a number of different excuses for the action, including: •The fire permit had been pulled; •The person who had approved the fire permit was not qualified; •There were code violations; •The lease for the facility had expired and/or the insurance had expired. Volunteer Desiree Vaitkunas stated simply that she wanted to move on. She
See SYRIA, Page A3
CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
Over 1,200 miles across the country, the message of Lead Where You Are was being preached at The Global Leadership Summit Aug. 9-10. Thanks to the power of technology, that message reached those in Roswell, as well, by way of simulcast. Rick Hale, senior pastor at Grace Community Church, has attended simulcast events with his See SUMMIT, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Viewers at Grace Community Church watch The Global Leadership Summit, simulcast from Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., Thursday.
Bobby and Matt Garcia: ‘The people who keep the dream alive’ See PRIDE, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B8 COMICS.................B5 ENTERTAINMENT...A10 FINANCIAL .............A9 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10
INDEX
Unity Center’s Matt (left) and Bobby Garcia
Brothers Bobby, 20, and Matt, 25, Garcia come from a family that reflects the old-fashioned values of charity, generosity and involvement in their community, especially to the youth of Roswell. Both work as volunteers for the Unity Center. Many people think since the building that houses the former center was closed that the organization ceased to exist. However, Unity Center is an active, if somewhat mobile, presence. The brothers’ spirit of community was instilled in them from an early age through their mother. Their Uncle Bobby Ramirez was
on the board of Roswell’s Boys & Girls Club, where the entire family volunteered to serve Thanksgiving dinner each year. “My mother always said that idle time is devil’s time,” Bobby said.
This philosophy is reflected in their work with Unity Center. “Every time we have a show, whether we have 35 to 40 kids or only five to 12, we know they are in a safe environment and not on the streets doing what they shouldn’t. If we can stop that for just
one day, that’s an accomplishment,” Bobby said. Bobby and Matt became involved with the Unity Center through their sister, who worked as a volunteer in 2002. The two brothers followed in her footsteps, joining the Unity volunteers in 2007. Matt went to school to get a degree in social work, but he has ended up as a self-trained sound engineer for Unity’s concerts, who also happens to work for See SPOTLIGHT, Page A3