Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 120, No. 231 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
September 25, 2011
SUNDAY
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Legislature adjourns after House OKs capital bill
SANTA FE (AP) — Deeply divided Democrats and Republicans headed home Saturday from a special legislative session dominated by partisan conflict over plans to draw new boundaries of districts for elected offices.
The session ended after the House approved an $86 million package of capital improvements that supporters say will help create jobs and boost the econo-
my. The Senate had left hours earlier — finishing up at about 1 a.m. — after passing the measure. The capital outlay bill goes to Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, who had asked lawmakers to finance nearly $213 million worth of projects, including $42 million for highway maintenance. The Legislature adjourned without approving a plan to realign the
boundaries of New Mexico’s three congressional districts. But that issue, like other redistricting plans approved by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, will end up in court and a judge likely will make the final decisions over district boundaries.
Martinez has vowed to veto House and Senate redistricting plans that she and other Republicans contend will hurt GOP chances
of gaining more seats in the Legislature in future elections. The gover nor has not decided whether to sign or reject the Legislature’s plans for drawing new district boundaries for the state’s utility regulator, the Public Regulation Commission, and the Public Education Commission, which has a voice in approving charter schools. The Legislature refused
The City of Roswell has many treasures people may be unaware of. Within these treasures, are hardworking men and women, who work very hard to give the community better opportunities for the future. In this case there is a select group of women who work towards accomplishing that goal... -PAGE C1
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INSIDE SPORTS
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Chile Cheese Festival arrives
Emmanuel Arana has his face painted as Marko Estrada looks on during the 19th annual Chile Cheese Festival at the Roswell Convention Center Friday.
VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER The best New Mexico has to of fer as far as food, keepsakes, jewelry and hospitality came together at the 19th annual Chile Cheese Festival at the Roswell Convention and
Civic Center this Friday and Saturday.
The festival had daring — yet quintessentially New Mexican — treats, such as jalapeño peanut brittle and green chile brittle by the Leslie Candy Company based in Clo-
The governor had wanted the Legislature to end the state’s practice of issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The governor See ADJOURNS, Page A3
Report: Further cuts devastating to military
ALTRUSA CLUB LENDS ITS HELP
• Sting operation successful; 67 arrested • Roe announces candidacy for Municipal Court judge • Coming soon • VistaCare lends a hand • King Anaya leads Rockets to win
to consider most of the governor’s agenda during the 19-day special session and instead focused on redistricting, which will help determine the political balance of power in New Mexico for the next decade.
vis, N.M. The confections were sold by Clarabelle and Salomon Romero of Tijeras, N.M.; owners of Harvest Gifts. Clarabelle Romero said Harvest Gifts does not have its See FESTIVAL, Page A3
WASHINGTON (AP) — Automatic cuts to defense spending that will take place if Congress doesn’t come up with a budget-reduction plan would have devastating consequences, including undermining the military’s ability to simultaneously fight more than one war, according to a report by House Republicans. Republicans from the House Armed Services Committee estimated that defense cuts could reach $1 trillion over a 10-year period. That includes the $465 billion that Republicans say is already slated to be cut under the deficit reduction package enacted in early August. The White House Office of Management and Budget, using a differing baseline, puts the already determined cuts at $350 billion. “Deeper cuts to our military, which has already endured the largest share of cuts in government spending, would be irresponsible,” the report concluded. The deficit reduction act set up a special bipartisan committee to come up with $1.5 trillion in government savings. If it fails, or Congress rejects its proposals, automatic cuts of $1.2 trillion would occur from the 2013 budget year, with half coming from defense. Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif., has been vociferous in warning against the conseSee MILITARY, Page A3
Economy picking up Democratic Party of NM gathers GODDARD WINS, 2-0
Efrain Morales scored two goals as the Goddard boys soccer team shut out Carlsbad on Saturday. Morales’ first goal came in the 33rd minute and his second one came late in the second half off of assists by Carlos Baca and Andres Thompson. -PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• William Robert Case • Nella Graham-King • Julian Garcia • Freda Evelyn Hefner • Lucario Gonzales • Alfred Clinton Jones • Viola L. Palomarez • Maye Herron Cox • Elizabeth Brown • Jeanette Ann Shamas - PAGE B5, B6
HIGH ...96˚ LOW ....58˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........D1 COMICS.................C3 ENTERTAINMENT.....B7 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........D3 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Certain economic indicators suggest that Roswell’s economy is slowly picking up. One of the indicators is the housing market. Dan Coleman, president of Roswell’s Association of Realtors said, “It’s not as rosy as it was a couple of years ago, but we’re picking up. It’s a good economic indicator.” The years 2009 and 2010 were boom years, but Coleman admitted that the most sales then were investment properties spurred by FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers). “This year, most sales are local people changing residences,” Coleman said. In terms of volume, the sales have shown an increase. “In the first four months of this year,” he said, “we
sold 123 homes, with an average price of $131,000. In the second four months, 145 homes were sold at an average price of $139,000. Across New Mexico, sales have been slow, but New Mexico suffered less than other areas of the country. “…. we’re lucky we didn’t have a big crash like they did in Califor nia. Our prices are down about 10 percent,” he said. “Volume-wise we’re up.” Coleman noted that volume was probably a better economic indicator than price. Overall he said things are moving in the right direction. “The banks have money and are willing to lend it, but the federal gover nment has tightened their restrictions. You are not going to see the fast closes you used to.” He states the average length of time for closing is 60 to 90 See ECONOMY, Page A3
VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER Democratic hopefuls to the U.S. Senate focused on issues such as the recession, education reform, and turning New Mexico into a “blue state” at the fall gathering of the Democratic Party of New Mexico at the Convention and Civic Center, Saturday. The biannual meeting included a gathering of the State Central Committee, which administers the course of the Democratic Party in the state. Rep. Martin Heinrich spoke about how to and how not to end the recession. “The best way to balance the budget is to put America back to work,” Heinrich said. “I believe we should be a nation that makes things again.”
Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Play Days a success VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER The excitement and revelry of the Old West are renewed in newer generations, thanks in part to events like the Chaves County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Play Days. About 60 children and teens — from kindergarteners through older teens — competed in the annual event, but only two savvy contestants walked (or rode) away with coveted, commemorative saddles. Richard Scott, president of the Chaves Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Posse, said the play days take place from April through September. Children and teens compete in events such as barrel racing, goat tying, Figure 8, flag racing, and calf roping. Just like a rodeo, it’s not about being judged — it’s about who completes the tasks at hand in the shortest amount of time. Scott said many of the youngsters who compete are also involved with 4-H and Future Farmers of America, but not all. Many of them do, however, have years of rodeo
experience under their belt buckles. “Some of these kids started at 2 years old and stay until they graduate from high school,” Scott said. With a big smile Makaeli Burkham, 11, said she’s been riding a horse her whole life. “I started when I was about two or three,” she said. “It’s just fun.” She won a groom kit for participating. Burkham lives on a cattle ranch in Malaga,
See PLAY DAYS, Page A2
Mark Wilson Photo
U.S. Senate candidates Hector Balderas, left, and Martin Heinrich converse during the State Central Committee Meeting for the Democratic Party Saturday at the Roswell Convention Center. Heinrich said returning to an economy based on production will not hap-
pen by selling out to comSee PARTY, Page A3
Ex-officials: Iran nuclear effort hit by sabotage
WASHINGTON (AP) — Iran’s star-crossed nuclear and energy programs have suffered a rash of setbacks, mishaps and catastrophes in the past two years. Assassins killed three scientists with links to Iran’s nuclear programs. The Stuxnet computer worm that famously infected computers worldwide zeroed in on a single target in Iran, devices that can make weapons-usable uranium. Dozens of unexplained explosions hit the country’s gas pipelines, and Iran’s first nuclear
power plant suffered major equipment failures as technicians struggle to bring it online. Has Iran just been unlucky? Probably not.
The chief of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Fereidoun Abbasi, heatedly told journalists at a meeting in Vienna last week that the United States was supporting an Israeli assassination campaign against his scientists. His emotional comments came almost a year See IRAN, Page A2