Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 119, No. 306 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
OBAMA SEES SEASON OF PROGRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama celebrated a bipartisan “season of progress” on Wednesday at a year-end news conference a few hours after ... - PAGE A6
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INSIDE SPORTS
ADENHART KILLER GETS 51 TO LIFE
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A construction worker who killed a promising rookie pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels and two other people in a horrific drunken driving crash said Wednesday ...
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TODAY’S • Robert “Martin” Yriart
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THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
December 23, 2010
THURSDAY
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Obama signs ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama signed a new law Wednesday that will allow gays for the first time in history to serve openly in America’s military. And he urged those kicked out under the old law to re-enlist. Framing the issue as a matter of civil rights long denied, Obama said that “we are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot ... a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal.” Repealing the 17-year old policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell” in a ceremony that was alternately emotional and r ousing, the president said “this law I’m about to sign will strengthen our national security and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risk their lives to defend.” The new law ends a policy that forced gays to hide their sexual orientation or face dismissal. More than 13,500 people were dis-
charged under the rule since 1993. “I hope those ... who’ve been discharged under this discriminatory policy will seek to re-enlist once the repeal is implemented,” Obama said. “I hope so too,” agreed Zoe Dunning, a for mer naval officer now with the advocacy group Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund. “We are in two wars and we need qualified candidates,” Dunning said after the ceremony. She said it was unclear how many discharged under the old law might seek to rejoin and whether all “have completely healed ... trust the military is going to treat them fairly.” The question of reinstating those previously discharged was addressed in a months-long study done by the Pentagon earlier this year on how the
AP Photo
President Barack Obama signs the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, Wednesday at the Interior Department in Washington. From left are, Commander Zoe Dunning, Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, of Calif.
State police seeking info Annual toy on whereabouts of Horton giveaway Friday See SIGNS Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
New Mexico State Police are seeking information on the whereabouts of Josefina Horton, 30. She is wanted in connection with the Sept. 2 stabbing that took place on Railroad Road northeast of Roswell, said Sgt. A.J. Fouratt of New Mexico State Police. Horton also goes under the name of “Weda.” A warrant was issued for her arrest on Sept.17, on the charges of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. According to the Affidavit for Arrest Warrant filed on Sept. 16, the stabbing victim was driven out to the country along Berrendo Street. He was told to get out of the car as two male subjects began to punch him. The female, known to the
Josefina Horton
victim as Weda, stabbed him and grabbed his ear and started cutting. The victim was stabbed a total of 11 times. He was taken to Eastern New Mexico Medical Center and then airlifted to Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock for treatment. Two other suspects, Rene Carillo and William Veraga, have already been apprehended in connection
with the crime, but Horton remains at large. Her last known address was 914 S. Mulberry Ave. Horton also uses the alias, Josefina Franco. Horton is also wanted by the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, for traf ficking a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The search of a room rented by Horton at the Wester n Motel on the 2300 block of North Main Street yielded drug scales and a substance which, after analysis, was revealed to be a measurable amount of methamphetamine and amphetamines. People with information should contact Crime Stoppers, 1-888-594-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000. j.palmer@roswell-record.com
JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER
In 1979, the Community Volunteer Program started a Christmas toy giveaway for the children of prisoners at local correctional facilities, according to program director Johnny Gonzales. “We started giving toys to ... inmates’ children that were incarcerated,” he said. “[Over the years] inmates [have] called me and said ‘Mr. Gonzales can you give a Christmas gift to my child?’ ... it started with 100 kids and...grew to 1,000.” On Friday, Dec. 24, the Community Volunteer Program will continue its 30-plus years of giving with its annual Children’s Christmas Party at the Yucca Center, 500 S. Richardson, at 7 p.m.
Gifts and refreshments will be given out to those who attend. Gonzales said this event is for parents struggling to purchase Christmas gifts for their children during tough economic times. He called the party’s purpose his ultimate payday. “The joy that you can bring to the heart of the parents and children that are in need ... that’s my pay.” On Wednesday, volunteers with the Chaves County Detention Court Services & Offender Supervision Program helped the Community Volunteer Program gather gifts for Friday’s Christmas party from their storage facility. To donate toys or volunteer at the Christmas party call 624-7579.
Helping Hands Student organization donates food, toys to The Roswell Refuge spreads holiday JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Easter n New Mexico University-Roswell’s Respiratory Therapy Student Association made a donation of canned goods and Christmas gifts to families at The Roswell Refuge, 1306 W. College, Wednesday. “We thought that The
Roswell Refuge would be a great place to focus our attention,” Sonya Brooks, president of ENMU-R RTSA, said. “We’ve done some volunteer work [with them] ... we thought that a toy drive and canned food drive would be good for them. Sometimes when kids come to the [refuge] they have to leave all their toys and belongings behind, hope-
fully this will help [them] throughout the year.” The group began their food and toy drive on campus after the Thanksgiving holiday. “We put boxes throughout the campus,” Brooks said. “Students as well as faculty helped and we also gathered personal See REFUGE Page A3
j.entzmingerj@roswell-record.com
cheer to local family
EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Santa Claus came a few days early for one local family. Three firefighters and a few volunteers aboard two firetrucks hand-delivered presents right to the doorstep of a residence next to Nancy Lopez Elementary
School on East Bland Street, Wednesday evening. Edward Montantez and his five young children stood smiling on the front porch as the volunteers unloaded gift after gift from the red velvet Santa Sack. “It’s a blessing,” MontanSee HANDS Page A3
HIGH ...66˚ LOW ....31˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................C4 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............B2 HOROSCOPES ........B6 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8 WORLD .................B4
INDEX
Jonathan Entzminger photo
From left, Doug Southern, director of clinical services at The Roswell Refuge, Tony Mosley, treasurer of ENMU-R Respiratory Therapy Student Association and Sonya Brooks, president of ENMU-R RTSA. RTSA donated food and toys to The Roswell Refuge Wednesday.
Emily Russo Miller Photo
Antonia Montantez, 23 months, receives presents from a local nonprofit called Helping Hands on the front porch of her house, Wednesday evening.