12-08-2010

Page 1

Roswell Daily Record

Vol. 119, No. 293 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

Ordinance discussed at sign workshop

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — Aging Pearl Harbor survivors on Tuesday heard reassurances their sacrifice would be remembered and passed on to future generations as they gathered to mark the 69th anniversary of the attack. - PAGE A6

WEDNESDAY

www.roswell-record.com

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

PEARL HARBOR REMEMBERED

December 8, 2010

City councilors spent about three and a half hours discussing a controversial sign regulation that will likely return to the council chambers for another vote. Officials went through the proposed regulation line by line. They tossed the majority of language that caused some residents and councilors to speak out against the rules as recently as four months ago, when the package was voted down in City Hall. Councilors will likely vote Thursday to advertise a public hearing on the rules for the January council meeting. If approved, the updated regulation would be without much of the restrictions on

people’s homes and lacking limitations on the amount of signs businesses would be allowed to display. “I just feel like we shouldn’t over-regulate people’s personal property rights,” said Councilor Jimmy Craig, who was outspoken on many of the proposed rules during the workshop. “It’s a lot more acceptable now,” he said. “(But), I want to see the final thing.” Councilor Judy Stubbs, chairwoman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, called the workshop a success. The reason for the meeting was to give officials a chance to fully address their concerns, she said. “The fact that council really got engaged and asked some really good questions ... was the whole point of the workshop,” Stubbs said. “We

got, for the first time, a feel for where the elected officials are on the issues.” Among rules that remained in the updated plan are regulations on the distance between billboards and limits on the brightness of electronic billboards. However, a grandfather clause is part of the package and existing signs would not be affected. Proposed ordinances require six affirmative votes to pass. The council fell short of approving the rules in August, despite a 5-4 vote in favor of it. Councilor Elena Velasquez was absent from the August meeting. Councilors will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. for the council’s regular monthly meeting.

Agencies asked for ways to cut back

mattarco@roswell-record.com

TOP 5 WEB

For The Last 24 Hours

• Restaurateur Wilson dies • Commission signs off on recount • Groups working to repurpose old rehab center • Police are responding to more mental health calls • Job Corps holds 61st graduation

Jef f Smith, the 6-foot-4-inch emcee with a smile and thick, brown hair and also president and CEO of Prime Source Mortgage Inc. on Main Street, sticks to the ground floor of the Roswell Convention and Civic Center alongside former Mayor Bill Owen. Their goal? To get more people bidding.

SANTA FE (AP) — Republican Gov.-elect Susana Martinez has asked state agencies for proposals to cut “low priority” programs and save 10 percent in their budgets as a way to eliminate a budget deficit projected to potentially top $400 million next year. The Martinez transition team made the request last week in a directive to agencies, boards and commissions, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. The proposals for cutbacks will provide policy options for Martinez to use in preparing budget recommendations that will go to the Legislature soon after she takes of fice next month. “Gov.-elect Martinez believes it is important that state government look for ways to become more efficient, and setting priorities is part of that process,” Martinez spokesman Danny Diaz said Tuesday. “This exercise is one aspect of the transition review and does not mean these programs will necessarily be eliminated. This portion of the review ensures agencies are thinking critically about

See GALA, Page A6

See CUTS, Page A6

INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo

Hannah Lilley, right, and Zoey Neeld, center, check out Sarah Lilley’s fingernail polish while greeting visitors attending the Community Foundation of Chaves County’s eighth annual Angel Gala Tuesday evening at the Roswell Convention and Visitors Center.

Gala entertains and raises funds, too

BOBCATS BEAT COLTS If you are going to imitate a team, you could do worse than to mimic the two-time defending state champion Roswell boys basketball team. The Hagerman Bobcat boys basketball team (4-0) took a page out of the Coyote defensive playbook on Tuesday in its 76-45 victory over NMMI.

EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER Three men, two of whom are wearing matching tuxedos with red bow ties, are faced with a cruel task — to emcee a silent auction. The irony is not lost on them, and one laughs when the reporter asks how he is going to pull off such a feat at the eighth annual Angel Gala Tuesday night. As it turns out, the answer to

both entertaining the crowd and cajoling them to open their checkbooks, while simultaneously balancing a plate of quiche with one hand and a microphone in the other, during a muted ceremony is really quite simple. Strategy, popularity and having a professional auctioneer who actually went to an auctioneering school all help. First, strategy. One dating back to Roman rule that is tried and true —

ENMU-R opens health center JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER

- PAGE B1

TODAY’S OBITUARIES

• Victoria Maria Contreras Sepulveda

- PAGE B4

HIGH ...67˚ LOW ....25˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........C2 COMICS.................B6 ENTERTAINMENT.....B8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................C1 WEATHER ..............A8 WORLD.................C1

INDEX

divide and conquer.

Mark Wilson Photo

Kristina Holmes takes a lunch order from diners Tuesday during the United Way Day at Applebee’s.

Eating for a good cause

Diners at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill on Main Street ate for a good cause Tuesday — 10 percent of all food sales benefited an agency that helps local nonprofits raise money. The United Way of Chaves County raised several hundred dollars on Tuesday’s United Way Day by teaming up with the casual dining chain. “We appreciate Applebee’s doing this for us,” Sherry Mumford, executive director of the agency, said. “They are huge community supporters.” Last year, Applebee’s raised more than $25,000 for community organizations. “We try to give back to the people who give to us,” Milby Dolen, an Applebee’s manager, said. The money from United Way Day will benefit 14 local nonprofits: The American Red Cross, Assurance Home, Boy Scouts— Conquistador Council, Boys & Girls Club of Roswell, Inc., Chaves County CASA, Chaves County J.O.Y. centers, Chaves County RSVP, Esperanza House, Family Resource and Referral, Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest, GRADS — c/o University High School, Roswell Literacy Council, Roswell Refuge for Battered Adults and The Salvation Army.

Easter n New Mexico University-Roswell opened its new Health Science Center on Tuesday. “This was a vision in 1999,” Jane Batson, dean of ENMU-R division of health, said. “It was on the horizon (to build this facility) on a statewide dental plan as well as here (in Roswell) years before that. It has been a couple of years in the making — to get it all put together.” The 16,720-square-foot facility, at 75 University Blvd., features an anatomy lab, auditorium, community phar macy, 11 dental operatories and smart-classrooms equipped with state-ofthe-art machinery for health center programs. According to Batson, the facility will allow programs to admit more students because of classroom sizes and its auditorium, which can hold 65 students. Suzan Golden, ENMU-R nursing program director,

Mark Wilson Photo

Attendees at the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell grand opening of the Health Science Center applaud as the Roswell Chamber of Commerce Redcoats perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the facility Tuesday.

said that smart-classrooms are outfitted with technology that will enable students to have cyber classes with professors at other universities. UNM’s Novitski Hall will broadcast dental hygiene classes to ENMU-R students. “We get to have classes taught by individuals at other universities,” Batson said. “The University

of New Mexico dental hygiene program is providing instruction for us. When we can’t recruit faculty, we’re able to partner to get some.” Construction for the health center began in the fall of 2008 and building occupancy started on Nov. 8. “(The facility) gives us

See CENTER, Page A6


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12-08-2010 by Roswell Daily Record - Issuu