Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 120, No. 21 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Standing before a nation clamoring for jobs, President Barack Obama will call for targeted spending to boost the economy but also for budget cutting in Tuesday night’s ... - PAGE A2
January 25, 2011
TUESDAY
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Rep. Kintigh introduces amendment MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
STATE OF THE UNION PREVIEW
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
A local lawmaker says he wants to see the state’s death penalty repeal overturned for certain crimes and favors having the issue appear on a ballot for voters to decide, rather than through legislation. Rep. Dennis Kintigh, RRoswell, introduced a constitutional amendment on the floor of the state House of Representatives, Monday. If approved, the measure would result in a ballot initiative. “This is a way to put the
Dexter Fire
matter before the voters, because everyone is going to feel obliged to respect the voters,” he said. The lawmaker says the issue is personal to him and comes after 25 years in law enforcement, including a career with the FBI and more recently as the Interim Chief of the Roswell Police Department. He cites a January 2000 case where two men, a father and son, were murdered in Lovington, as one of the reasons why people who murder in cold blood should be put to death. “I believe, fundamentally,
that this is about justice,” he said. “It’s not about deterrence or this and that, it’s about justice.” However, Kintigh’s proposal must be approved by two-thirds of both houses before it could appear on a ballot. It will also likely meet resistance from opponents to the death penalty, particulary those who advocated its repeal. “We have thousands of members in New Mexico who, the minute a bill is dropped, will be mobilized and contacting their legislators and the governor,” said Viki Elkey, executive direc-
tor of The New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty. Elkey pointed to flaws in the justice system where innocent people were exonerated after sitting on death row and also to the costs involved with and incumbered by the state in court appeals, as some of the reasons why reinstating the death penalty is not beneficial to New Mexico. “I just think that if people really knew the information and really looked at all the problems with the death penalty, (they would oppose it),” she said. “We’re ready to
let people know and ready to continue our education.” Kintigh’s joint house resolution comes after Gov. Susana Martinez announced during her State of the State address, that she is “calling on the Legislature to repeal the repeal and reinstate the death penalty.” The governor’s office indicated Martinez would likely pursue the issue by way of legislation. “The governor supports reinstating the death penalty and believes this can be See PENALTY, Page A3
DA won’t charge
TOP 5 WEB For The Last 24 Hours
• Author links Monroe and UFOs • Realtors hold 63rd annual banquet • RISD seeks bond support • Pearce named to subcommittees • Coyotes win 75-54
INSIDE SPORTS
Matthew Arco Photo
A fire destroyed a home on the 600 block of Maple Street in Dexter on Monday. Hagerman's fire chief told reporters that three departments and about 16 emergency personnel responded to the blaze around noon. No injuries were reported.
The District Attorney’s office will not be filing felony charges for the accident that occurred on Jan. 12, which resulted in two fatalities. The pickup truck pulled from a Farmer’s Country Market parking lot and struck a woman as she was pushing a stroller across the street near the corner of Second Street and Garden Avenue. The vehicle-pedestrian accident claimed the life of Prestina Grajeda, 66, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and of a 2-year-old girl. The child sustained severe injuries and was hospitalized in Lubbock. She died a week later. “We declined to prosecute,” said District Attorney Janetta Hicks. She explained that in order to prosecute, the drivSee CHARGES, Page A2
Bombing at Moscow airport called terrorist attack
D-BACKS TRADE FOR GALARRAGA PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have added depth to their pitching staff with a right-hander who was nearly perfect. Arizona acquired Armando Galarraga ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • Juan Garcia • Floyd Ferguson • Helen Langenegger • Debra Hebert • Guillermina Madrid • Katherine Davis • Martin Jimenez Tirado • John Kuzemka • Imogene Coats • Seth Eugene Smith - PAGE A6, A8
MOSCOW (AP) — Terrorists struck again in the heart of Russia, with a suicide bomber blowing himself up Monday in Moscow’s busiest airport and turning its international arrivals terminal into a smoky, blood-spattered hall of dismembered bodies, screaming survivors and abandoned suitcases. At least 35 people were killed, including two British travelers. No one claimed responsibility for the blast at Domodedovo Airport that also wounded 180 people, although Islamic militants in the southern Russian region of Chechnya have been blamed for previous attacks in Moscow, including a double suicide bomb-
ing on the capital’s subway system in March 2010 that resulted in 40 deaths. The Interfax news agency said the head of the suspected bomber had been found. President Dmitry Medvedev called it a terrorist attack and immediately tightened security at Moscow’s two other commercial airports and other key transportation facilities. It was the second time in seven years that Domodedovo was involved in a terrorist attack: In 2004, two female suicide bombers penetrated the lax security there, illegally bought tickets from airport personnel See BLAST, Page A2
AP Photo Passengers seen at Domodedovo airport in Moscow, Monday. A suicide bomber set off an explosion that ripped through Moscow's busiest airport on Monday, coating its international arrivals terminal in blood. The attack killed dozens of people and wounded more than a hundred.
United Way of Chaves County reaches campaign goal
HIGH ...54˚ LOW ....27˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
INDEX
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 ENTERTAINMENT.....B5 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8 Matthew Arco Photo
From left, United Way of Chaves County Campaign Chairman Travis Hicks and Executive Director Sherry Mumford announced, Monday, that the nonprofit met its annual campaign goals.
United Way of Chaves County officials were proud to announce on Monday that the nonprofit met its $460,000 campaign goal for the year. The news was announced during the group’s annual meeting at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center. Officials made public their hope to meet this year’s goal during a September luncheon. “It’s awesome,” said Travis Hicks, this year’s campaign chairman. “It was a huge relief (to make the goal) and has helped me get the campaign in perspective,” he said. “It takes a lot of people really working hard to put that together.” See UNITED, Page A2
Monroe and UFOs part 2 EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Local author Donald Burleson, a UFO investigator, appeared at the Roswell Public Libr a r y, S a tu rd a y afternoon, to discuss h is c on trover sia l book, “UFOs and the Mu rd er of Ma r ilyn Monroe.” He proposes See AUTHOR, Page A3