07-02-2011

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Roswell Daily Record

Welcome, strangers

Vol. 120, No. 158 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

July 2, 2011

SATURDAY

www.rdrnews.com

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

TODAY’S UFO FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

7 a.m. Alien Chase race begins 9 a.m. Vendors open in Museum parking lot 9:30 a.m. Lecture Library: Larry Holcombe, “Developing a Novel from Legitimate UFO Research” 10–11:30 a.m. Lectures Video Room: Tom Carey & Don Schmitt, “Witness to Roswell” North Library: Mark Ester, “UFO Investigations Past and Present” - PAGE A7

TOP 5 WEB

The liftof f of 8,000 green, yellow, blue and orange brightly-colored balloons in the sky over Roswell Friday morning, marked the official start of the 2011 UFO Festival. City of ficials, event organizers and tourists crowded the UFO Museum and Research Center parking lot to release the balloons and kick off the four-day-long event. Festival-goers ready to participate, were each given a bag full of balloons that were then released at the end of the countdown to the festivities. “We’re putting our best foot forward,” said Mayor Del Jur ney. “It’s just a beautiful day.” Julie Shuster, director of the museum and one of the event’s coordinators, gave the countdown to liftoff and thanked everyone for coming out to the museum to get things

Mark Wilson Photos

Above: Earthlings (?) visiting the 2011 UFO Festival check out aliens on display at the International UFO Museum and Research Center, Friday. Left: Festival-goers release 8,000 balloons from the parking lot of the International UFO Museum, Friday morning.

For The Past 24 Hours

• Valley fire takes home, 73K acres • UFO Fest Schedule • Are you excited? ... • Winds shift; Valley ... • Planes load slurry ...

started. “We’re continuing the tradition (of the festival),” she said. “Thank you, visitors.” Tourists packed the museum to get a look at the exhibits and speak

INSIDE SPORTS

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Having ensured his first trip to a Wimbledon final and first turn at No. 1 in the rankings with a thrill-a-minute victory, Novak Djokovic dropped to his back at the baseline, limbs spread wide, chest heaving. Moments later, he knelt and kissed the Centre Court grass, while his entourage bounced giddily in unison, huddling in a tight circle up in Djokovic’s guest box. Clearly, it meant so much to all of them that ... - PAGE B1

Despite not being able to conclude her presentation due to technical difficulties, Diana Perla Chapa not only helped bridge the gap between the spirit world and outer space, but she squeezed in a new twist on the alleged Mayan 2012 doomsday at the International UFO Museum and Research Center’s north library Friday morning. In a lecture titled “The

Mayan Predictions — Extra Terrestrial Input,” Chapa discussed her travels around Mexico, which included being involved in activities such as the Mayan New Fire ceremony in the Mexican state of Zacatecas. She described instances of paranormal phenomena — stories that blend spiritual phenomena and belief in alien life forms. One such story was that of Tito, a 9-year -old

HIGH ...94˚ LOW ....70˚

CLASSIFIEDS..........B8 COMICS.................B7 FINANCIAL .............B6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................A8 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10

INDEX

EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER

Out-of-town visitors may not catch a glimpse of an extraterrestrial this weekend, but tourists did witness another rare sighting: celebrities at the UFO Museum and Research Center Friday morning helping kick off the 20th annual UFO Festival. A crowd of adoring fans surrounded Mira Furlan, See STARS, Page A7

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

OBITUARIES

TODAY’S FORECAST

See WELCOME, Page A7

Mark Wilson Photo

Roy Thinnes talks to a fan about “The Invaders,” Friday at the UFO Museum and Research Center. Also pictured is Mira Furlan, far left.

Valley fire grows; FEMA OKs request for money See MAYAN, Page A7

TODAY’S • Orville Brackeen Jr. • Bill “Billy” Stephens • Melba Warren - PAGE A8

Others said they traveled all night to be at the opening ceremonies in the morning. “My husband and my two boys drove all night to

Mayan predictions Stars come out for Festival point to transition VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER

NADAL, DJOKOVIC ADVANCE

with guest lecturers. “It’s awesome. It’s very exciting,” said Yesenia Sopon, a 24-year-old from San Antonio, Texas. “I’m a UFO fan,” she said. “This is our first time (here).”

Mark Wilson Photo

A bird soars above a wildfire burning on a ridge in the Hondo Valley near Tinnie as firefighters work to control the Donaldson Fire.

The Donaldson Fire burning in Lincoln County continued to grow Friday, as reports came in indicating the blaze scotched more than 75,600 acres of land. A Type II management team took control of the firefighting operation early Friday and announced major progress was made Thursday as crews conducted a successful

LITTLE LEWIS 50% CONTAINED WEED (AP) — It’s raining in the Sacramento Mountains of souther n New Mexico, and officials have decided to lift evacuation orders for several communities near the Little Lewis fire.

Fire information officer Katherine Sanchez Meador says residents can return to Sacramento and Weed as well as the areas of Seep, Agua Chiquita, Ehart Canyon and Camp

of the Tall Pines.

She says the area around the fire is receiving heavy rain fall.

The fire is burning in steep, rocky terrain southwest of Weed. It is 50 percent contained and crews continue to build lines by hand and with the help of bulldozers.

Some crews are also working on structure protection.

Singer, guitarist Tom Blake: Music beneficial, therapeutic See HONDO, Page A7

EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER

Among the thousands of new faces in town this weekend for the UFO Festival, one face is familiar — that of local musician Tom Blake. Born and raised in Roswell, Blake has become a fixture for the community over the years, as famous as the festival itself. This year Blake will be providing live entertainment, along with other bands, for the Alien Wine

Festival. But most know him from various events throughout the city year round, whether it’s the annual Jazz Festival in October, the Memorial Day Prayer Breakfast at the Elks Lodge or the annual Women’s History Month Celebration Brunch in

March. No matter the occasion, Blake is there, guitar in hand. “In so many ways, music is so beneficial and therapeutic to anyone who participates,” Blake said. Blake began his 40-year See SPOTLIGHT, Page A7

Tom Blake

Mark Wilson Photo


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