Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 265 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
November 4, 2014
TUESDAY
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Early voting down 17 percent from last mid-term BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
More than 2,200 Chaves County residents flocked to early voting sites last week in the final four days of early voting, although early voting in the county is down nearly 17 percent from the last presidential mid-term election. As of the close of business Saturday, a total of 5,770 early voting and absentee in-person ballots had been cast in Chaves County, said Chaves County Clerk Dave Kunko.
In the 2010 general election, the last presidential mid-term election, a total of 6,937 Chaves County residents voted early or absentee in-person ahead of Election Day. Kunko said the 16.8 percent reduction in early voting from the general election of 2010 is not a big disappointment.
“I wish that we had had a bigger turnout, but I think early voting is something that is always going to be big in Chaves County,” Kunko said. “Chaves County likes to vote early, and I
think that’s a good thing.” Kunko said this year’s 5,770 early voting and absentee in-person ballots is a respectable number, particularly with 400 to 500 people a day voting early at sites in the final week of early voting. In addition to the 5,770 early voters, a total of 815 absentee ballots had been received by the clerk’s office by Monday morning, Kunko said, amounting to a grand total of 6,585 Chaves County ballots cast prior to Election Day today. In the 2010 general elec-
tion, a total of 1,503 absentee ballots were returned, according the Secretary of State’s office, amounting to 8,440 total ballots cast in Chaves County prior to general Election Day in 2010. A total of 7,698 Chaves County residents voted at precincts on general Election Day in 2010. If precinct voting today is similar to the 7,698 people that voted at their precincts four years ago, turnout will be significantly lower than See VOTING, Page A3
Halloween fun at the game
Max Scally Photo
Early voting in Chaves County ended Saturday and was down 17 percent from the last presidential mid-term election in 2010. Polls close at precincts today at 7 p.m.
Guns seized, one man cited for negligent use of firearm over weekend STAFF REPORT
Roswell Police responded to two cases of negligent use of a deadly weapon over the weekend. The first instance was an accident that left a man with an injured foot while the second instance involved several shots being fired into the air, according to a news release from the Roswell Police Department. No injuries were reported in that case. A security guard working at a party in the 400 block of East Second Street accidentally discharged a handgun while showing it to another man in the parking lot outside the party location. The two men had been discussing firearms when the security guard retrieved the gun from his vehicle to show the other man. As he unholstered the gun, it discharged, and the other man was struck in the left foot. The guard readily admitted to accidentally firing the shot, and the victim and his girlfriend, who witnessed the incident, each supported the guard’s explanation that it was accidental. The injured man, age 22 of Las Vegas, N.M., was treated on scene by emergency medical personnel and then transported to Eastern New Mexico Medical Center for further treatment. The security guard, Adryan R. Gallegos, 19, of Roswell, was arrested on a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. Police also seized a Smith & Wesson handgun and ammo, according to the report. On Sunday, police
Submitted Photos
The New Mexico Military Institute’s Bronco baseball team held its annual Halloween costume batting practice on Friday. The Broncos travel to Hobbs on Saturday to play the University of the Southwest. On Sunday, the Hobbs squad comes to Roswell as the Broncos host the Mustangs at NMMI. Both games begin at noon.
Families comforted after double shooting BY LEOTA HARRIMAN THE INDEPENDENT
EDGEWOOD — It was chilly as dusk slipped into dark, and a blustery wind stole the flames from the candles as quickly as people lit them at a candlelight vigil in Moriarty after a double shooting left one man dead and another in the hospital. William West died after being shot, and Cody Harrah needed surgery, after an arm wrestling match at Club 203 turned into a fight in the
parking lot, according to a witness. Morgan Dunkle is now facing charges that include murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and evading law enforcement, said Torrance County Sherif f Heath White. Dunkle lost at ar m wrestling before the bar closed, according to a witness. White said there were multiple witnesses to the shootings, which he said took place after
See SHOOTING, Page A3
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TODAY’S FORECAST
responded to shots fired in the area of Apple and Orchard Streets at about 9:45 p.m., according to a police report.
Six shots were reportedly fired in the air by a 22year-old Dexter man in an attempt to break up an argument between two other men.
A resident in the 700 block of Orchard Avenue reported the incident had occurred on her front lawn. One of the arguing men was trying to pick a fight with the other, but nothing became physical, the witness said, according to the news release.
When the shots were fired in the air, the shooter and the arguing men ran into a nearby residence in the 600 block of Apple Street.
Of ficers were able to interview those involved and received consent from the owner of the Apple Street house to search the residence, where they found the gun believed to have been used to fire the shots. Police plan to charge the shooter with negligent use of a deadly weapon. Police seized a handgun from Isaac J. Salas, 22, of Dexter, according to the report.
According to a news release from the police department, negligent use of a deadly weapon is classified as a petty misdemeanor. Those charged were not taken into custody.
They must appear in court later to answer the charges, according to the release.
World Trade Center reopens, 13 years after 9/11
NEW YORK (AP) — The silvery, 1,776-foot skyscraper that rose from the ashes of 9/11 to become a symbol of American resilience opened for business Monday, as 175 employees of the magazine publishing giant Conde Nast settled into their first day of work in their new offices. One World Trade Center's official opening marked a symbolic return to some sense of normalcy for the site where the towers toppled more than 13 years ago.
“The New York City skyline is whole again,” says Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns both
• ANGELITA CHAVEZ • ROBERT BURTON UTTERBACK • TOMMY E. DOW
the building and the 16acre World Trade Center site. Steps away from the new tower are two memorial fountains built on the footprints of the decimated twin towers, a reminder of the more than 2,700 people who died in the terrorist attack. Conde Nast, publisher of Vogue, The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, is expected to move in about 3,000 more employees by early next year, eventually occupying 25 floors of the $3.9 billion, 104-story tower, the nation's tallest building. Amid Monday's celebratory tour of parts of 1 World Trade Center, Conde Nast officials declined to comment on employees' possi-
ble fears about working in the new building. Foye counters that it's “the most secure of fice building in America.” And
• EARL (RED) LOUIS WORLEY
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B5
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
FINANCIAL ..............B3
LOTTERIES .............A2
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6
• ROBERT GAIL WHITEHEAD
AP Photo
One World Trade Center, center, stands between the transportation hub, left, still under construction, and 7 World Trade Center, second from right, Monday, in New York.
COMICS .................B4
its chief architect, T.J.
Gottesdiener, said the high-
HOROSCOPES .........A8
See WTC, Page A3
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8