Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 120, No. 224 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
OBAMA SIGNS PATENT LAW
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — President Barack Obama signed into law Friday a major overhaul of the nation’s patent system to ease the way for inventors to bring their products to market. “We can’t afford to drag our feet any longer,” - PAGE A7
September 17, 2011
SATURDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Lawmakers OK PEC redistricting plan
SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers are nearing an agreement on a redistricting plan for an elective commission that has a voice in establishing charter schools in the state. The Senate and House approved separate, but identical bills Friday for drawing new district boundaries of the 10-member Public Education Commission. However, the two chambers must pass the same piece of legislation before it goes to the governor.
The Education Commission is the first of several redistricting plans that the Legislature must create during a special session, which has entered its second week. Rep. Dennis Roch, a Texico Republican and former commission member, said the educational plan represented a bipartisan effort. “Together we came up with a product that I think really represents well the needs of New Mexico throughout the state, from urban areas to rural areas, north and south, east and
west,” said Roch. The commission was established in 2003 by a voter -approved constitutional change that replaced the elected state Board of Education with a Department of Education and cabinet-level secretary of education under the control of the governor. Initially, the commission was to advise the education secretary on school policies, but it took on new powers in 2007. It now can approve the See PEC, Page A3
Gov. meets with local Reps JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
In order to gar ner support for her packed agenda and to hear the concerns of legislators about the special session, Governor Susana Martinez held meetings with representatives and senators from both sides of the aisle this past week.
WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Have a HEART, buy a chair • Foundation work next week • Roswell Reads (and sings) poetry • Area dogs compete in Dog Show • Special Session Week
INSIDE SPORTS
Celebrating Constitution Day
Mark Wilson Photo
Fifth-grader Jonathan Trujillo reads his copy of the Constitution during a Constitution Day assembly held Friday at Washington Avenue Elementary.
HAGERMAN — As Friday’s game between Hagerman and NMMI was set to begin, Randy Montoya faced something he’s never faced before. As the first-year Colt coach walked onto the field at Bobcats Stadium out of the locker rooms, he had to turn right instead of left to go to the visiting sideline. - PAGE B1
Kids vote to keep the right to bear arms, and some other amendments too
VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
On Sept. 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was signed. Several local schools celebrated Constitution Day with guest speakers — mostly
attor neys, and at least one extraterrestrial — on Friday. Amidst gasps from surprised fifth-graders at Washington Avenue Elementary School, an extraterrestrial arrived during their Constitution Day
• Amanda Ann Martinez • Betty Lou Miller Kelly - PAGE A7 Mark Wilson Photo
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B7 COMICS.................B6 ENTERTAINMENT...A10 FINANCIAL .............A8 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10
See KIDS, Page A3
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
OBITUARIES
INDEX
assembly. The alien said there were too many freedoms in the Constitution, and that it was up to the fifth-graders to choose five they could keep. Each fifth-grader was
Vets reunite at Walker
TODAY’S
HIGH ...93˚ LOW ....61˚
See REPS, Page A3
New RPD deputy chief swears in JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
TOP 5
MONTOYA WINS HIS RETURN
Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell, met with Martinez, her chief of staff Keith Gardner and three other legislators in her of fice on Monday. He described the meeting, which had no for mal agenda, as wide-ranging in topic and very cordial, and he complimented the governor for reaching
Jim Peterson, of Vernon Hills, Ill., a former B-36 gunner based at Walker AFB from 1954-56, checks out the displays at the Walker AFB Museum, Friday.
Over 100 Walker Air Force Base veterans from across the country will be arriving in Roswell to attend the “Lest we Forget” banquet, in their honor, on Saturday. The Walker Aviation Museum is celebrating its one year anniversary in conjunction with the opening of two exhibits, “Lest We forget: Roswell Army Airfield- The Early Years” and “Peace Through Strength,” as well as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Roswell Army
See WALKER, Page A3
The Roswell Police Department and city officials welcomed its new deputy chief, Philip A. Smith Jr., who arrived from New Hampshire earlier this week. The ceremony was held on Friday morning at the police station. Mayor Del Jurney, City Manager Larry Fry, District Attorney Janetta Hicks and members of her staff and Chaves County Sheriff Rob Coon were among the list of dignitaries who attended the swearing-in ceremony. Smith was selected in August to take the newly created post. Smith has 25 years of experience with law enforcement, starting as a patrol officer in Salem, N.H. He worked his way up from police lieutenant to patrol shift commander. In 2007, Smith became chief of police in Alton, N.H. Smith became the town administrator for the town of Atkinson, N.H., in 2009. Police Chief Al Solis spoke briefly of Smith’s education during his introduction and quipped, “I See RPD, Page A3
Funnel cloud: False alarm
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque received reports of funnel cloud sightings Friday. The NWS issued a tor nado warning around 2:30 p.m., Friday afternoon, for areas south of Roswell, primarily Dexter and Hagerman. The war ning expired at 2:55 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., the storm was still strong, but not strong enough to become a tor nado, and meteorologists said a thunderstor m would be the greatest threat to the area.
Connoisseur Josh Ragsdale brings wine, music to Roswell VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
The force behind many of the Christian musicians who come to Roswell, Josh Ragsdale helps raise funds for local causes when he’s not serving up wine and appetizers at Pecos Flavors Winery. A Roswell native, Ragsdale is the co-owner of the winery alongside his parents, Paul and Cindy Ragsdale. Most days, the 28-year -old
can be found at the winery handing out wine and cheese, and talking passionately about New Mexican wine. Pecos Flavors Winery opened in 2004. Ragsdale said his family manages two small vineyards on a few acres of land to the southeast and northwest of Roswell. Those grapes go into one of the wines offered at Pecos Flavors Winery — the Compadres Cabernet and Syrah blend. Ragsdale said
New Mexico grapes are featured in all the wines at the establishment. “We (opened Pecos Flavors Winery) out of … wanting to bring New Mexico wines to Roswell,” Ragsdale said. “We’ve always had a love for New Mexico, and we’re proud to represent New Mexico products.”
Ragsdale is just as passionate about Christian music as he is about locally produced wine, and sometimes he combines his two loves by hosting small Christian concerts during wine tastings at the winery on Friday nights. See RAGSDALE, Page A3