Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 122, No. 233 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
September 28, 2013
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SATURDAY
US, Iran leaders talk for first time since 1979
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Iran took a dramatic step toward ending more than three decades of estrangement on Friday when President Barack Obama phoned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and they agreed to work toward resolving the deep dispute over global suspicions that Tehran is trying to build a nuclear weapon. The last direct conversation between the leaders of
the two countries was in 1979 before the Iranian Revolution toppled the proU.S. shah and brought Islamic militants to power. Obama said the long break “underscores the deep mistrust between our countries, but it also indicates the prospect of moving beyond that difficult history.” The phone call capped a week of seismic alterations in the relationship, revolving around Rouhani’s par-
ticipation in the annual U.N. meeting of world leaders. The night before the two leaders spoke, U.S. and European diplomats had hailed a “very significant shift” in Iran’s attitude and tone in Thursday’s first talks on the nuclear standoff since April. Rouhani, at a news conference earlier Friday in New York, linked the U.S. and Iran as “great nations,” a remarkable reversal from the anti-American rhetoric
of his predecessors, and he expressed hope that at the very least the two governments could stop the escalation of tensions. In fact, Rouhani reached out to arrange the 15minute call with Obama. The White House said an encouraging meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was a crucial factor. Describing the call at the
Mark Wilson Photo
First day of festival cheesy and breezy
Clarabelle Romero of Harvest Gifts hangs chile pequin on the first day of the Chile Cheese Festival, Friday.
AMY VOGELSANG RECORD STAFF WRITER
Once again, the Chile Cheese Festival brought people out from their houses and offices to enjoy
some fresh air, music and food Friday. With the heat of summer finally starting to wane, even the breeze was nice as it kept the afternoon pleasantly cool. Of course, being
Roswell, the “breeze” frequently turned to gusts of wind, adding a unique dynamic to the festivities. “We’re out enjoying the day, just not the wind,” laughed L ynda Woodruff,
who attended the festival with her friend Anne Walker. Being in Roswell since the ‘70s, Walker is a See FESTIVAL, Page A3
White House, Obama said, “While there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward, and success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution.” Iran’s nuclear program has been a major concer n not only to the United States but to other Middle Eastern nations — especially Israel — and to the world at large. The new Iranian president has repeatedly
stressed that he has “full authority” in his outreach to the U.S., a reference to the apparent backing by Iran’s ultimate decisionmaker, Supreme Leader A yatollah Ali Khamenei. Such support would give Rouhani a political mandate that could extend beyond the nuclear issue to possible broader efforts at ending the long estrangement between Tehran and Washington — and the West in general.
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Infor mation that Gov. Susana Martinez has released in response to growing pressure for copies of her calendars is incomplete, inconsistent and contrary to what she has told media in the past, according to a review by The Associated Press. Martinez, who bills herself as the transparency governor, recently released a list of trips she made for political rather than state business during the three months leading up to last year’s elections. The list was compiled in response to a request by the AP for copies of her calendars showing all state business and political appointments and travel for those months. The list failed to mention at least one trip, an early August trip to Washington state that her political adviser, Jay McCleskey, at the time said she was taking to attend a fundraiser in Yakima for GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna. The list also is in conflict with other recently released information on Martinez’s
comings and goings.
Gov.’s calendar info incomplete
Daniel Yohalem, an attorney representing the Santa Fe Reporter in a lawsuit accusing Martinez of violating the state Inspection of Public Records Act, said the infor mation doesn’t meet disclosure requirements.
“The AP, the Santa Fe Reporter and possibly others have repeatedly asked the gover nor to produce copies of her calendars as required under IPRA,” he said. “She has refused to do this. She points to her recently updated calendar entries on her web site, but these entries are incomplete and not responsive to the request for actual documents. She is not updating these calendars from memory, she has a document or documents that are her calendars of activities and she has not produced them. She is violating the IPRA.” The governor’s records custodian sent a follow-up email after the omission was pointed out, saying it was a “simple oversight” because the trip had begun at the end of July.
Police arrest 2 in kidnapping Nelson celebrates 94th birthday JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Roswell Police Department arrested the final two suspects wanted in connection with a kidnapping that occurred on July 5. The criminal complaints filed in Magistrate Court on Aug. 29 listed Luis Calderon, 18, and Isaac Garcia, 19, both of Carlsbad, as suspects. The men were charged with kidnapping and armed robbery. Police later learned that Garcia had been hiding in Artesia. Calderon and Garcia turned themselves in to the Carlsbad Police Department
on Sept. 5. The charges stem from an incident where a 21-yearold victim was abducted from Payless. The victim told officials that when he attempted to leave the vehicle, one man pulled a gun. The court records state that the victim was taken to someplace near Artesia, severely beaten, robbed of his wallet and credit cards, and then abandoned. The victim was found walking along the road near Hagerman. His injuries were so severe that he had to be flown out of state for treatment. The criminal complaint reveals the extent of the injuries, which
included multiple facial fractures and internal bleeding that required surgery. According to the court documents, Garcia boasted about stomping on the young man’s head. Two other men were arrested in connection with the crime. Michael “Boonie” Gonzales, 18, turned himself in to the police on July 17 after he appeared in Roswell’s Most Wanted. With the assistance of the Chaves County Detention Center, Bryan Ramos, 21, was arrested two weeks later. During his initial interview with the police, See ARREST, Page A3
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TODAY’S FORECAST
He once worked with the late, great Leonard Bernstein, before a series of fortunate circumstances and lucky twists and tur ns helped bring this
PAGE A2
John Fuss stands inside First United Methodist Church.
Morgan Nelson arrived at the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico’s Archive Building Friday to a room filled with well-wishers to help him celebrate his 94th birthday. “We haven’t had a party for him for a long time,” said his grandson, Ricardo Eichwald, of Burbank, Calif. The lifelong far mer, water -conservationist, See NELSON, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Morgan Nelson is greeted by well-wishers during his 94th birthday party at the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico, Friday.
Faith and music: What John Fuss is about VANESSA KAHIN VISTAS EDITOR
Vanessa Kahin Photo
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
• ROBERT BLAZE NUNEZ
musician to Roswell’s First United Methodist Church. John Fuss has been director of Music Ministries at FUMC since August 1993. During his 20-year tenure at the church, he has brought a vision all his own to FUMC. This vision was
TODAY’S OBITUARY
created, at least in part, by his education at one of the nation’s leading institutions of music, the opportunities afforded him to collaborate with musical greats, and his desire to help members of the Roswell community have their own musical adventures.
Originally from Tulsa, Okla., the man with the soaring tenor voice showed a unique musical ability from an early age. His family attended First
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B4 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B5
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where, at the age of 3, he got his start singing in a church choir. Fuss attended Will Rogers High School, where he sang in the school’s top choir — an auditioned group limited to only 40 members. At the time, Will Rogers High had more than 2,000 students. Long before his high See SPOTLIGHT, Page A3
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8