Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Commission sheds courthouse dress code Vol. 123, No. 304 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
December 19, 2014
FRIDAY
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Courthouse is battleground in power struggle
BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Visitors and tourists of the Chaves County Courthouse should no longer be required to meet a dress code in order to enter the historic building, in light of a resolution adopted by the Chaves County Commission Thursday that could spark a power struggle between the executive and judicial branches. The resolution unanimously approved by the five commissioners also allows courthouse visitors
to take cellphones and cameras into the courthouse for the first time in years, although the commission’s resolution had yet to be implemented Thursday afternoon. The commission asserted its jurisdiction of the courthouse, noting the courthouse built in 1911 is a county building under the control of the county commission. The resolution notes the courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, it includes the historic rotunda and it
houses the Jean Willis museum. The resolution conflicts with an administrative security and decorum order signed by several district court judges in 2009, which outlines the courthouse’s dress code and prohibition of cellphones. The commissioners approved the ordinance at about 10 a.m. Thursday and said it takes ef fect immediately. However, Chaves County sheriff’s deputies who provide courthouse security said shortly before noon
Santa’s sleigh leaves after Saturday
they were unaware of the commission’s action as deputies continued enforcing the courthouse’s dress code and cellphone and camera prohibitions. Commissioner Greg Nibert, who has spearheaded the ef fort to make the courthouse more accessible, said signs at the courthouse alerting visitors that cellphones are prohibited and informing visitors of the courthouse’s dress code should be taken down Thursday. See COURTHOUSE, Page A3
Jeff Tucker Photo
While weapons remain prohibited, the Chaves County commissioners adopted a resolution Thursday lifting a ban on cellphones in the courthouse that was put in place by district court judges several years ago.
Homeowner and intruder engage in backyard battle
Incident features dogs, fire, gasoline and yard equipment SUBMITTED BY RPD
Max Scally Photo
Saturday is your last chance to take your kiddo to Roswell Nissan for a free visit with Santa. After that, he’s got to head back to the North Pole and start loading his sleigh. All children get a free toy with their visit. For those wishing to get a picture taken with Santa, the cost is $5. All proceeds go to CASA. Santa will be at the dealership, located at 2111 W. Second St., from noon to 5 p.m.
When a homeowner in southwest Roswell discovered a man inside his backyard storage shed Wednesday mor ning, he didn’t believe the intruder’s story about being chased by two other men and trying to escape by jumping over the man’s fence into the yard, only to be attacked by dogs that sent him scurrying into the shed. But things got even more interesting when the homeowner said he was going to call police, which he did while holding the shed door shut so the uninvited visitor could not leave. The ensuing scuffle featured a small fire, some gasoline, and the two men allegedly using a rake, a ladder and
a gas can, among other things, as weapons. The incident began shortly before 9 a.m. when the homeowner, Enrique Lopez, heard a commotion in his backyard in the 2600 block of Palomar Place. Lopez told police that as he was going outside he did not see anyone and anything going on, and while out there, he decided to clean the yard. But he was unable to open his shed to retrieve equipment. When he finally did get the door open, he found a man — later identified as Michael De Los Santos, 21, of Roswell, sitting on the lawnmower in the shed and trying to hold the door shut. De Los Santos told him someone was chasing
Postal Service extends State reps pre-file ‘social promotion’ bill hours this weekend STAFF REPORT
STAFF REPORT
Monday was the biggest mailing day of the year for the U.S. Postal Service and Thursday was predicted to be the biggest delivery day of the year for the U.S. Postal Service. But that doesn’t mean customers have run out of time to ship their gifts and greetings to loved ones. Post Office locations in several New Mexico communities will provide postal customers convenient holiday retail hours this weekend. The Roswell Post Office, 415 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Barden
will be open 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. While the Postal Service recommends getting Priority Mail packages and firstclass letters and cards in the mail by Saturday to reach addressees nationwide in time for the Christmas Day holiday, the Sunday retail hours offer convenience for customers who need the weekend to finish their holiday shopping and shipping. Also, special pickups will be made from blue USPS
State Rep. Monica Youngblood, of Albuquerque, and Rep. Nora Espinoza, of Roswell, announced on Thursday that they have pre-filed legislation to end what they call “the failed policy of social promotion, which passes kids onto the next grade even when they cannot read.” Among other things, the bill would help teachers identify struggling readers and provide them with the targeted instruction they need to catch up to their peers, according to a news release.
Espinoza
Previous social promotion bills have passed both chambers by large bi-partisan margins at various times. “Improving our schools and helping struggling students learn continues to be
See BATTLE, Page A3
one of our top priorities. In recent years, we have made some incredible strides in education, with New Mexico now number one in the nation when it comes to improving graduation rates,” Youngblood said. “But we still have a lot of work to do. We can start by ending the failed policy of social promotion that passes our children onto the next grade even when they are unprepared.” The bill also emphasizes parental involvement. For example, once a struggling reader is identified, parents are given strategies to help their child improve his or her reading skills. Studies show that stu-
dents are four times more likely to drop out if they are unable to read proficiently by the third grade. One study found that 88 percent of high school dropouts were not proficient readers in the third grade. New Mexicans overwhelmingly support ending the failed policy of social promotion. A recent Albuquerque Journal poll found that 74 percent of New Mexicans want to see it gone. “Education was biggest issue that came up this campaign cycle,” Espinoza said. “The people have spoken, and they want our students to come first.”
program. However, lottery sales have declined seven out of the last 10 years. Changes to the scholarship program were enacted earlier this year to shore up its finances. Lawmakers also earmarked a portion of liquor tax money to keep the program solvent temporarily. The scholarships previously covered 100 percent of tuition, but now students receive the average tuition for the type of college they’re attending or full tuition at their school if it’s lower than the average.
Lottery to committee: NM needs to go high-tech to boost sales See POSTAL, Page A3
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The New Mexico Lottery needs to catch up with the mobile revolution if it wants to attract the next generation of players and raise more money for the lottery scholarship program, the head of the gaming agency told lawmakers Thursday. Lottery CEO David Barden and state Higher Education Deputy Secretary Glenn Walters testified before the legislative Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee on the status of the popular scholarship program.
HIGH 58 LOW 26
TODAY’S FORECAST
Without boosting sales, they echoed the concerns many have had about the solvency of the program as tuition increases and demand for financial assistance grows. More than $40 million was raised for college students during the last fiscal year, and lottery officials say they’re on track to raise nearly $43 million during the next budget year. Tapping into the spending habits of younger people will be key, Barden said, pointing to efforts in Minnesota and other states where play-
ers can purchase tickets at the gas pump or online. While more than 80 percent of tickets are sold at convenience stores, Barden said statistics show about 73 percent of people who stop for gas never go inside and that amounts to lost opportunity. “Convenience is very important to this group — the millennials — so we have to come to them; they’re not going to come to us,” he said. “That’s one of the things we need to think about in the future.” Part of the problem is
some of the lottery statutes were enacted years ago, before smartphones, tablets and debit cards became fixtures. Updating those statutes would give the lottery more flexibility, officials said. The lottery is also working on boosting marketing this next year with more television and radio spots and online ads. Increasing prize payouts could also result in more sales, Barden said. State law requires at least 30 percent of lottery proceeds go to the scholarship
• JOHNNIE LEE GIBSON SR. • SANTOS T. MADRID
• RALPH M. TORREZ • MARTHA P. CAMPBELL
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B8 COMICS .................B7 ENTERTAINMENT .....B6 FINANCIAL ..............B4
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A8
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........B8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ............A10