Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 120, No. 282 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
JUDGE SETS TRIAL DATE
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — A judge ordered prosecutors and an attorney for a former Albuquerque police officer to be ready to go to trial by next summer in a murder case dating back four years. Defendant Levi Chavez is accused of shooting his wife in the mouth with his department-issued handgun, then trying to make it look ... - PAGE A3
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• RPD seizes drugs in bust • Every 15 Minutes program under way... • Area Masons dedicate new lodge • Vietnam Vets hold annual giveaway • Prep football: It’s that time again
INSIDE SPORTS
GOP contenders: Extend Patriot Act
The men’s basketball game between NMMI and Trinidad State was originally scheduled to be on Nov. 8, but inclement weather negated the Trojans’ travel plans. For Bronco fans, the wait was worth it, however, as NMMI used an 18-4 run late in the first half to take control of the game and never looked back in a ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • • • • • • • •
OBITUARIES
Roberto Puentes Ruben Zapata Betty Joyce Andrus Malcolm Holstun Ethel James Bobby M. Mayfield Dr. Randall W. Briggs Elizabeth Gutierrez - PAGE B4
HIGH ...69˚ LOW ....35˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B8 COMICS.................B6 ENTERTAINMENT.....B8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10
INDEX
WEDNESDAY
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AP Photo
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Herman Cain during a Republican presidential debate in Washington, Tuesday.
NM fines polluters $7 million
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — It’s been nearly a year and environmentalists are still uneasy about where Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration stands on protecting air, water and other natural resources. Their perception of the administration being cozy with industry persists, but officials with the New Mexico Environment Department have grown tired of critics assuming they’re taking it easy on polluters. They are pointing to nearly $7 million in penalties assessed since the beginning of the year against businesses that have failed to live up to their permits with the state. The department’s bureaus have already collected more than $3.2 million in the form of settlements and fines, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press. Most of the settlements involve air quality violations, from natural gas companies not having
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential hopefuls spoke up strongly for the anti-terror Patriot Act in campaign debate Tuesday night, saying it should be extended or perhaps strengthened to help identify and capture those who would attack the United States. Only Rep. Ron Paul of Texas among eight presidential hopefuls dissented, arguing that the law is “unpatriotic because it undermines our liberties.” In a debate on national security, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said
President Barack Obama has “essentially handed over our investigation of terrorists to the” American Civil Liberties Union. “Our CIA has no ability to investigate,” she said. Bachmann did not cite any examples to buttress either of her claims. The debate unfolded six weeks to the day before the Iowa caucuses inaugurate the competition for delegates to the Republican National Convention. The venerable DAR Constitution Hall was the site — a few blocks from the White House and as close as most
if not all of the GOP hopefuls are likely to get. The Patriot Act is one of the nation’s principal tools in ferreting out terrorist threats but has often provoked dissents from both liberals and conservatives who argue that in the name of national security it erodes constitutional protections. Paul made that point, and said other investigative techniques captured Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. Gingrich jumped at that. See DEBATE, Page A8
‘Kiss a human? Gross! Mouthwash! Quickly!’
Mark Wilson Photo
Steve Nunez, of Washington Avenue Elementary School, kisses Meshach, a 6-month-old camel, during the finale of a school effort to raise money for the Accelerated Reading Program, Tuesday morning. Students collected spare change with each class competing against the others. The winning class was determined by the weight of the coins collected, with the winners topping out at 45 pounds of loose change. The winning class decided who would kiss Meshach and several teachers were selected. Finally, the full student body held an impromptu vote during an assembly to determine who else would kiss the camel and they unanimously chose the Nunez.
Jones addresses clubs luncheon Egypt protesters reject military concessions See STATE, Page A8
BRONCOS TOP TROJANS
November 23, 2011
VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Members of local civic organizations were lauded for “accepting the challenge” to actively support their community during the 62nd annual All Civic Club luncheon at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center, Tuesday. The event involved the Roswell Noon Optimist Club, the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Wings for L.I.F.E. and the Kiwanis Club. What unites these clubs, as suggested by the Mark Wilson Photo event’s theme, “accepting the challenge,” is the willVernon Dyer, right, Kiwanis Club president, goes over the agenda for the 62nd annual All Civic Club Luncheon with See JONES, Page A8 keynote speaker Alvin Jones, Tuesday.
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s military ruler promised Tuesday to speed up a presidential election to the first half of 2012 and said the armed forces were prepared to hold a referendum on immediately shifting power to civilians — concessions swiftly rejected by tens of thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square, who chanted, “Leave! Leave!” The latest standof f plunged the country deeper into crisis less than a week before parliamentary elections, the first since the ouster nine months ago of longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.
In a televised address to the nation, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi rejected all criticism of the military’s handling of the transitional period and sought to cast himself and the generals on the military council he heads as the nation’s foremost patriots. Significantly, he made no mention of the throngs of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square to demand that he step down immediately in favor of an interim civilian council. Tantawi spoke as protesters fought army soldiers and police for a fourth day in streets leading to the
Drought to Character Counts! calls for teacher nominations continue
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Drought continues to plague nearly two thirds of New Mexico, and forecasters are warning residents to brace for more dry conditions through the winter. Members of New Mexico’s Drought Monitoring Work Group met Tuesday to talk about the latest weather models and what they mean for New Mexico. Rains in early October helped the drought recede from northwester n New Mexico, and the Middle Rio Grande Valley is no longer experiencing the worst level of drought. Still, Carlsbad is more than 8 inches behind with its precipitation.
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Those wishing to honor an outstanding teacher now have the opportunity to do so. Character Counts! in Chaves County is accepting nominations for its 2012 Teacher of Character Awards. The organization and Read and Stevens Inc., an oil producing company that is an enduring sponsor of the organization, are the sponsors for the 2012 awards. The awards recognize outstanding educators who make a positive difference in the lives of our children and our community. Character Counts! was
founded on the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship. The organization was established in Chaves County in 1994 by then-Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and for mer Roswell Mayor Tom Jennings. Terri Douglass, president of the organization, and Tim Fuller, executive director, held a press conference Tuesday morning to issue the call for nominations. “As a previous bronze winner, it’s kind of awesome as a teacher to have either students or parents actually step up and say, See CHARACTER, Page A8
See EGYPT, Page A8
Mark Wilson Photo
The Honorable Alvin Jones holds a press conference Tuesday morning at the Roswell Chamber of Commerce to announce the call for nominations for the Character Counts! 2012 Teacher of Character Awards.