09-06-12 rdr news

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Roswell Daily Record

INSIDE NEWS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — President Barack Obama inherited a wreck of an economy, “put a floor under the crash” and laid the foundation for millions of good new jobs, former President Bill Clinton declared Wednesday night in a rousing Democratic National Convention appeal aimed at millions of hardpressed Americans yet to decide how to vote.

PRODUCTIVITY UP 2.2% IN Q2

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies got more output from their workers this spring than initially thought. Productivity rose at a modest 2.2 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, largely because employers cut back sharply on hiring. Most economists expect productivity will slow later this year, a trend that could boost hiring. - PAGE B3

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

Bill boosts Barack in barnburner

Vol. 121, No. 214 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday

Conceding that many struggling in a slow-recovery economy don’t yet feel

September 6, 2012

THURSDAY

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the change, Clinton said in a prime-time speech that circumstances are improving “and if you’ll renew the president’s contract you will feel it.” To the cheers of thousands of Democrats packed into their convention hall, he said of Obama, “I want to nominate a man who is cool on the outside but who burns for America on the inside.” The speech was vintage Clinton, overlong for sure, insults delivered with a

New hotel going up

folksy grin, references to his own time in office and his wife Hillary, all designed to improve Obama’s chances for reelection in an era of painfully slow economic growth and 8.3 percent unemployment. Clinton spoke as Obama’s high command worked to control the political fallout from an embarrassing retreat on the party platform, just two months See DEMS, Page A7

AP Photo

President Barack Obama joins former President Bill Clinton on stage during the Democratic National Convention, on Wednesday.

Animal cruelty calls peak in summer

TOP 5 WEB

For The Past 24 Hours

JESSICA PALMER ROSWELL STAFF WRITER

• GEAR UP apps down • Area real estate market healthy • Area law enforcement hosts David Grossman • Game and Fish plans compliance roadbocks • Panthers ruin trip for Roswell

INSIDE SPORTS

Construction workers on the site of the new Marriott Towne Place Suites, Wednesday morning.

Mark Wilson Photo

Animal cruelty cases have made the news. Two of the worst incidents occurred in the county during August. Luis Baltazar, 47, was arrested and charged with extreme animal cruelty after neighbors reported their suspicions to the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Baltazar excused his actions, saying he was tired of the dogs barking. The dogs were confiscated and

Ponzi schemer Doug Mathis tells Desk & Derrick Vaughan gets 12 years there’s ‘no replacement for oil’

GHS TO HOST AZTEC, FRIDAY

Two hundred seventyeight. That’s how many days it’s been since the Aztec Tigers broke the heart of 49 Goddard Rockets and thousands of their fans. With one Michael Perry run and a hurdling leap by Adam Lucero, Aztec won its first state championship since 1953 and brought the Goddard nation to its knees. - PAGE B1

TODAY’S • • • • • • •

OBITUARIES

Glen Campbell Sr. Hoyt Wells Hardwick Wanda Marie Wallace Herbert Wayne Ford Zaidee Brittain Roxie Seward Wallace Wade Okelley - PAGE B3

HIGH ...99˚ LOW ....69˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8

INDEX

SANTA FE (AP) — A federal judge Wednesday sentenced Ponzi schemer Doug Vaughan to 12 years in prison, saying the disgraced real estate executive’s scheme that bilked more than 600 investors out of $75 million has made him more notorious than famed New Mexico outlaws like Billy the Kid. “I don’t think despicable covers it quite frankly,” U.S. District Judge Bruce Black said of Vaughan’s actions after reading letters from victims, many retired, who lost their life savings. “Unfortunately, you have become the most infamous criminal in New Mexico history. You have exceeded Billy the Kid, (train robber) Black Jack Ketchum, others who have been notorious in this territory.” The 64-year-old Vaughan has been under house arrest for nearly two years. He appeared gaunt, pale and on the verge of tears throughout the sentencing

hearing. He looked down, often closing his eyes, as several victims talked of the betrayal of trust from the one-time family friend who has admitted running the scam that snared victims from Washington state to New Jersey. Vaughan pleaded guilty to two felony charges as part of a plea agreement reached in December. While some of his victims called for that agreement to be thrown out and the maximum possible sentence imposed, Fred Mossman of Albuquerque, told the judge Vaughan was a compassionate man who gave a lot to the community over the years. Vaughan made eye contact with him, nodding as he walked away from the podium. Three other Albuquerque investors, however, told how they were ruined by their association with Vaughan.

This article is one in a series of stories focusing on local agencies that receive support from the United Way of Chaves County, which is currently conducting its annual fundraising campaign.

the local Salvation Army served 6,703 individuals, equating to more than 10 percent of the area’s population. He said corps social services involve much more than the multiple food programs that the organization is best known for, like lodging and back-to-school programs, disaster service training, referrals to drug treatment programs and the distribution of cold weather items and thrift store vouchers.

more about the energy industry, he was taken by how far popular sentiment was from everything he had been learning.

“I was blown away by the fact that the general public is not just a little wrong when it comes to oil, but in most cases 180 degrees wrong,” he said. “And I just thought, ‘How can this be? That people would be so completely disconnected from the Noah Vernau Photo most important commodiFilmmaker Mark Mathis hands Judy Stubbs a business ty in their lives?’” card prior to his speech at the Civic Center, Wednesday. Mathis said misconceptions about the oil indushis 90-minute documenNOAH VERNAU try run the gamut, with tary film Spoiled, which RECORD STAFF WRITER analyzes the conventional critics from both sides of the political spectrum. The Desk & Derrick wisdom regarding oil. “There are people who are Mathis spent 10 years Club of Roswell held its absolutely committed to working as a journalist 60th annual industry what they think is a green before he became a filmappreciation banquet at the Civic Center, Wednes- maker, something he said energy future, and you day, welcoming filmmaker inspired him to be dili- put green in quotes. Mark Mathis as guest gent in his pursuit of the Because there’s really no speaker. Mathis, a New facts. He said that as he replacement for oil. Mexico native, discussed began to study more and

The Salvation Army ‘picks up the pieces’

NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER

With a mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs without discrimination, The Salvation Army in Roswell has been reaching out to people throughout Chaves County for 112 years. Capt. Beau Perez, corps officer, said that in 2011,

See PONZI, Page A7

“When people come in our doors, they may initially ask for something. An item, perhaps,” Perez said. “And we can probably help them with that. But as we

See ANIMAL, Page A7

listen to them, they may need more in different services and assistance than what they came for initially. “But no matter what they came for, even if we’re out of funds or something, we do try to leave them some assistance of some sort.” As a member agency of the United Way of Chaves County, The Salvation Ar my receives funding through donations made to See UNITED, Page A7

See DESK, Page A7

Bitter Lake bloomers

Mark Wilson Photo

Visitors to this year’s Dragonfly Festival will be treated to a colorful display of blooming sunflowers at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge.


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