Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 276 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
November 16, 2014
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Reagan, Bush also acted alone to shield immigrants WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s anticipated order that would shield millions of immigrants now living illegally in the U.S. from deportation is not without precedent.
Two of the last three Republican presidents — Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush — did the same thing in extending amnesty to family members who were not covered by the last major overhaul of immigration law in 1986.
Dino day
There was no political explosion then comparable to the one Republicans are threatening now.
A tea party-influenced GOP is poised to erupt if and when Obama follows through on his promise. He wants to extend protection from deportation to millions of immigrant parents and spouses of U.S. citizens and per manent residents, and expand his 2-year -old program that immigrants shields brought illegally to this country as children.
“The audacity of this president to think he can completely destroy the rule of law with the stroke of a pen is unfathomable to me,” said GOP Rep. Steve King of Iowa, an outspoken opponent of relaxing U.S. immigration law. “It is unconstitutional, it is cynical, and it violates the will of the American people.” Such strong feelings are common among congressional Republicans. GOP leaders warn that an executive order from Obama would “poison the well”
and severely damage Republicans’ willingness to work with the president during his final two years in office. Some Republicans have even raised the possibility of impeachment. Nearly three decades ago, there was barely a peep when Reagan and Bush used their authority to extend amnesty to the spouses and minor children of immigrants covered by the 1986 law. In 1986, Congress and Reagan enacted a sweep-
ing overhaul that gave legal status to up to 3 million immigrants without authorization to be in the country, if they had come to the U.S. before 1982. Spouses and children who could not meet that test did not qualify, which incited protests that the new law was breaking up families. Early efforts in Congress to amend the law to cover family members failed. In 1987, Reagan’s Immigration and Naturalization Service commissioner
announced that minor children of parents granted amnesty by the law would get protection from deportation. Spouses and children of couples in which one parent qualified for amnesty but the other did not remained subject to deportation, leading to efforts to amend the 1986 law. In a parallel to today, the Senate acted in 1989 to broaden legal status to families but the House
Friday night crash under investigation STAFF REPORT
A collision Friday night involving a passenger car and tractor-trailer truck at South Main Street and the Roswell Relief Route resulted in one injury. Todd Wildermuth, public information officer for the Roswell Police Department, said the collision involved a 2009 Honda Accord and a 1997 tractor-trailer at 6:58 p.m. “The two vehicles entered the intersection and the collision occurred on the truck’s front right corner and the car’s left side,” Wildermuth said. Wildermuth said the col-
See IMMIGRATION, Page A3
lision occurred in the southbound lanes of South Main Street. After impact, the Honda collided with a street sign and caught fire. The truck then rested at the edge of the road. Wilder muth said the fire department arrived “soon after” the crash. The driver of the Honda, a female, was taken to a nearby hospital where she was treated and released, Wildermuth said. There were three passengers in the Honda but none was injured. The truck driver also had indicated no injuries, Wilder muth said. The collision is under investigation.
Art show attracts more than pottery BY DYLANNE PETROS RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Pecos Valley Potters Guild Art Show opened its doors Friday night and by Saturday after noon, the Roswell Convention and Civic Center was filled with vendors and customers. “Friday night, as usual, was a humongous success,” said Geneva Bailey, president of the Pecos Valley Potters Guild.
Dylanne Petros Photos
Dinosaurs took over the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds Saturday. Families and children could enjoy stepping into the past and interacting with different dinosaurs, such as the T-Rex. There were many activities for children including a dinosaur band and a dino riding experience.
On Saturday, people were so excited for the show that they were there long before the show even started. “They were at the door,” Bailey said. Doors to the show opened at 10 a.m. and the show went on until 5 p.m. Bailey said the show could be an all-day event for the community. See ART, Page A6
Community band brings Nelson to be inducted into Cotton Hall of Fame music back into lives BY SHANNON SEYLER SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
You’re cleaning out your garage, and there it is — that trumpet you haven’t played in decades. Your school band days are long gone. Just the sight of that instrument brings back pleasant memories, but there’s nothing you can do with that old horn now, right? Actually, there is. Roswell area residents are dusting off their trumpets, saxophones and clarinets and heading back to band practice. The Roswell Community Band is open to people of varying ages and musical abilities, providing a fun learning experience in a friendly atmosphere. The band successfully blends young students with older individuals who haven’t played in decades. Patience is extended toward those still in the process of getting reacquainted with their instrument. Pretty soon, with a combination of effort and encouragement, people
who have been long absent from instrumental music are experiencing the pleasure of playing once again. “The Roswell Community Band provides a venue for people to come together and enjoy making music,” said Sandra Weikel, one of the band’s directors. “We have a wide variety of ages represented, from teenagers to senior citizens, as well as people of different professions and skill levels. We encourage any person who’s ever played a band instrument to come join us. Several members have come to play even though they haven’t played in 20 or 30 years. The band gives a concert once every semester, and usually plays at the ENMU-R graduation.” In some cases, band instruments are provided for musicians by local schools. Some musicians don’t own their own equipment due to the sheer expense. Anyone who’s priced a tuba or timpani See BAND, Page A3
HIGH 35 LOW 18
TODAY’S FORECAST
BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD CITY EDITOR
Longtime Chaves County cotton farmer Morgan Nelson will be inducted into the Cotton Hall of Fame on Dec. 10 in St. Petersburg, Florida, for his contributions to the cotton industry. Nelson, 95, began working in the family business, Nelson Farms, located in the community of East Grand Plains, when he returned from World War II in 1946. Nelson is now retired, but the land is still being farmed by family members, he said. In December, Nelson, along with four other farmers from around the country, will be recognized for his achievements at the combined Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Board of Directors meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, this December. Nelson, known as “Mr. Cotton” in New Mexico, was among the first directors of the Cotton Incorporated Board of Directors. “He is honored for his
Randal Seyler Photo
strong leadership and lengthy tenure in this role, in which he was instrumental in generating and maintaining grower support and helping to shape the direction of Cotton Incorporated,” according to a news release from Cotton Incorporated. Nelson said being a farmer, however, was the last thing he wanted as a young man. “I didn’t want to be anywhere near farming,” Nelson says with a laugh. “I wanted to be an engineer, and I graduated from college in 1941.”
THERE ARE NO OBITUARIES FOR TODAY. TODAY’S OBITUARIES
Retired cotton farmer and former State Representative Morgan Nelson, 95, of East Grand Plains, will be inducted into the Cotton Incorporated Cotton Hall of Fame on Dec. 10 in Florida for his achievements on the Cotton Incorporated Board.
Born in 1919 in Cottonwood, Nelson’s family moved to the far ming community of East Grand Plains in 1924, and he has lived in his current home since 1928. Nelson didn’t want to be in the military either, but as events of World War II unfolded, he found himself joining the Air Force in June 1941 as an engineering officer. “On Jan. 1 of 1941, there were 100,000 men in the Ar med Forces, but by Jan. 1, 1942, there were a million men enlisted. “I was in training at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio when I heard about Pearl Harbor,” Nelson said. He served in the Middle East and European theaters during the world war. Nelson spent seven years on active duty and served in both World War II and Korea, being recalled for the Korean War from 1953-54. Nelson spent another 19 years in the Air Force Reserve, ultimately retiring in 1967 with the rank of colonel. During his reserve years, Nelson served at Walker Air Force Base. Once he returned home from the war in 1945, Nelson joined in with his father, Fred Nelson, in the farming business. As Nelson progressed as a farmer, he also became involved in politics, serving 12 years in the New Mexico Legislature as a representative in 1948. A Democrat, Nelson served two years, was defeated, then was re-elected for See NELSON, Page A3
CLASSIFIEDS ..........D1
INDEX HOROSCOPES .........B7
SPORTS .................B1
GENERAL ...............A2
OPINION .................A4
VISTAS...................C1
COMICS .................C4
LOTTERIES .............A2
WEATHER ..............A8