Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 120, No. 233 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
www.rdrnews.com
WASHINGTON (AP) — One crisis averted, on to the next. The day after Congress managed to avoid a government shutdown — again — Republicans and Democrats stared ahead Tuesday at major fights over spending that underscore a deep divide that’s... - PAGE A3
TOP 5 WEB For The Past 24 Hours
• Police invade wrong house • Sting operation successful; 67 arrested • Vega guilty on all counts • Stevenson graduates • Prep football: Time to talk playoffs
INSIDE SPORTS
“Competition is so good,” just moments after cutting a red ribbon at the new hospital’s main doors. These days, Roswell Regional CEO and Administrator Rod Schumacher is discussing the “chance to join forces with the hospital up the street.” He announced the integration plan to RRH employees Tuesday. According to a news release from RRH, the facil-
Herrera trial begins
ity’s Board of Managers unanimously agreed to “execute a non-binding letter of intent and enter into (exclusive) negotiations with a subsidiary of Community Health Systems, Inc. for the sale of Roswell Regional Hospital.” The young hospital will integrate with ENMMC — an affiliate hospital of CHS — and form “an integrated health care delivery system.”
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • • • •
Robert Bundy Viola May Chester Gladys Blacklock Jerry Kamas
- PAGE A9
HIGH ...90˚ LOW ....58˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B7 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....B4 FINANCIAL .............B6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B7 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 WORLD .................B3
INDEX
community and help both hospitals confront changes in the health care industry. Schumacher said the downward economy and possible changes in the way health care is delivered did RRH in. “It’s hard for a freestanding hospital to survive,” he said. “With Obamacare looming on the horizon, it’s hard for an
VCA participates in Community Day
Day one in the State of New Mexico versus Israel Herrera began State’s evidence, Tuesday. After jury selection, Judge Charles Currier outlined the charges, felony murder and tampering with evidence, following the shooting death of Stephen Foster, 25. In opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Stone gave a bare recital of the facts surrounding the incident. “On the night of Nov. 22, 2010, the victim drove to 1104 W. Walnut St. with a companion Christina (Tina) Rodriguez, also known as Herrera.” According to Stone, Foster left the vehicle and went to the door of the residence. “He engaged in conversation with the defendant and returned to the van. He (Foster) began to back up and proceeded to lean down away from the driver’s side of the car,” said Stone. He then described the sound of gunfire and the van veering out of control and up over the curb. Stone relayed the situation when police arrived at the scene. “They found Ms. Rodriguez wandering around the alley. She was frantic. They saw the defendant
See REGIONAL, Page A6
Julia Bergman photo
Sixth-graders from Valley Christian Academy play with children at the Working Mother's Day Nursery as part of the school's Community Day, Tuesday.
Merkel: Germany wants ‘strong Greece’ in eurozone Stop me if you have heard this one before — the Roswell boys soccer team fell behind, but rallied for a win. On Tuesday night, it was much of the same for the Coyotes, who fell behind early to Carlsbad, but battled back for a 2-1 win that improved... - PAGE B1
Frederick French, chairman of the RRH Board of Managers, said, “integrated delivery is the future of health care. “This type of alignment makes per fect sense — and it will be successful — because we share similar values and common goals,” French said. The press release states integration will increase the quality of health services, attract physicians to the
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
See TRIAL, Page A6
FAMILIAR START, END IN RHS WIN
WEDNESDAY
Roswell Regional to become part of ENMMC
VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER It was meant to bring Roswell freedom of choice. But now, just four years after opening its doors, Roswell Regional Hospital will soon be part and parcel with Eastern New Mexico Medical Center. During a private gala to celebrate the opening of the new hospital at Roswell Regional in 2007, then Mayor Sam LaGrone said,
CONGRESS DODGES CRISIS; FINDS ANOTHER
September 28, 2011
Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to offer the struggling country “all necessary assistance.” It’s unclear whether that will be enough to satisfy investors for long. Stocks improved following last week’s tur moil as speculation grew that Greece’s bailout creditors will look to impose bigger losses on Greece’s private bondholders as well as recapitalize Europe’s banks and expand the eurozone’s rescue fund. So far, there’s been no confir mation from Europe’s capitals that such a comprehensive AP Photo solution is being planned. Financial markets Tax office employees chant slogans against austerity measures outside the Ministry of Finance during a protest closely watched a meeting between Merkel and in central Athens, on Tuesday. Greek Prime Minister BERLIN (AP) — Stock finally finding a way out George Papandreou, but markets soared around of its debt crisis. Greece neither announced any the world Tuesday amid passed an unpopular new measures ahead of hopes that Europe is property tax and German
Supreme Court may have to referee redistricting
SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico’s fight over redistricting has shifted to the courts, but the Supreme Court might have to step in to determine which judge will handle the assignment of drawing new boundaries of districts for elected offices. Republican and Democratic legislators and other voters have filed redistricting lawsuits at state district courts in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Lovington. The cases ask the courts to establish new districts for Congress, the state House of Representatives, the state Senate and the Public Regulation Commission. The lawsuits also seek orders stopping state officials from using current districts for next year’s elections. “Since we’ve had the census, we know for a fact that the districts as currently configured are unconstitutional if applied in the next election,” Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said Tuesday. Redistricting ended up in
court because the Democratic-controlled Legislature and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez appear unlikely to agree on plans for new districts. The Legislature adjourned a special session during the weekend without approving a congressional redistricting plan, and the gover nor has promised to veto Democratic-backed plans passed by the Legislature for the Senate and House. The governor is reviewing a PRC redistricting plan approved by lawmakers and hasn’t announced whether she will veto it. Egolf was among several Democrats who brought lawsuits Monday in Santa Fe. House Minority Whip Donald Bratton, R-Hobbs, joined with GOP Sens. Carroll Leavell, of Jal, and Gay Ker nan, of Roswell, in a case in Lovington on the same day. Rep. Conrad James, R-Albuquerque,
Oil up more than 5 percent on hopes for Europe debt deal See EUROZONE, Page A6
Oil rose more than 5 percent Tuesday on hopes that European leaders are closer to drafting a plan to contain the region’s debt crisis. Investors are encouraged that another recession can be avoided and demand for energy products — from oil to diesel and gasoline — will improve if Greece does not default on its debt. Greece’s finance minister expects his country to receive the next round of bailout loans in time to avoid a default. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that her country will do whatever it can to help
Greece regain investor confidence. Benchmark oil rose $4.21, or 5.3 percent, to finish at $84.45 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price international varieties of oil, increased $3.20, or 3.1 percent, to $107.14 per barrel in London. Stocks and commodities rose on the improving international picture. Gold broke a three-day slump and rose more than 4 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index and the Nasdaq com-
posite all rose more than 2 percent. Crude oil has fallen about 15 percent since July and is down 26 percent since hitting a high for the year of $113.93 per barrel on April 29. “Worries about the economy are what drove prices down, and if things are going to stabilize and look more positive, then the belief is that demand is going to recover,” said Tom Bentz, an analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures. “We just follow See OIL, Page A6
See REFEREE, Page A6
AP Photo
In this Sept. 22 photo, traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. Hopes that European leaders will consider new ways to fight the debt crisis are high.