Roswell Daily Record
Sign reg. passed on 2nd go-round
Vol. 120, No. 12 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
GIFFORDS MOVES ARMS AND LEGS TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is opening both eyes, moving both legs and arms and is responding to friends and family ... - PAGE A7
City councilors voted to pass new sign regulations Thursday night, that sparked contr oversy months before the rules were voted down during an August council meeting. The regulations passed in an 8-1 vote. The revamped package slated to go into effect is without much of the language and restrictions on businesses and homes that originally caused an
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 14, 2011
FRIDAY
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outpouring of resistance. “I want to first thank you all,” said Bill Glenn, a local store owner who has often spoken against the rules that he said would harm businesses. “You made all the changes we wanted,” he said. “I know you spent a lot of time (on this issue). ... I appreciate everything you’ve done.” Glenn’s comments came before the council spent about an hour discussing the newest pr oposal, which was drafted following a three and a half hour
December council workshop. Scant changes were made before the council appr oved the measur e, though two r esidents asked the council prior to the vote to not support the package. Councilor Art Sandoval was the only of ficial to vote against the regulations. “I’m pleased with the outcome,” said City Planner Michael Vickers, who was one of the handful of officials who helped shape the rules that will be added to the city’s zoning
ordinance. “It’s an all inclusive document that makes us more business friendly for development and protects existing businesses,” he said. Councilors also voted to appr ove financing th is year’s UFO Festival up to the same amount it has in recent years. The co-chairs of the UFO Festival Committee, Julie Shuster, of the UFO Museum and Resear ch Center, and Roswell resident Greg Neal, will share responsibility of managing
the festival with the city’s $150,000. “Our goal is not to use that (full amount),” Shuster said. “Our goal is to make this a self-sustaining event.” The council appr oved spending up to that amount with the restriction that city funds won’t be spent to turn a profit on money that would then be given to the UFO Museum and Research Center for future festivals, citing state statute anti-donation clauses. MATTARCO@ROSWELL-RECORD.COM
JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Guerrero and Hall trained for several months to prepare for their mission, which will take them away from their families for quite some time. Hall and his wife, Janette, are expecting two new additions to their family in the spring. “We have twins coming in March,” he said. “I think about them every day. I think about my wife and my family. That’s part of the sacrifice that we make as soldiers. Unfortunately — my wife — she’s the one who has the hard part. She’s got a family and a household to run.” For soldiers, spending time away from their families, is a great sacrifice. Yet, they are willing to do so, if it keeps their communities and loved ones safe from harm. The yellow ribbon ceremony symbolizes the sacrifice and dedication deployed Americans have
More than 500 attend yellow ribbon ceremony
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INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez greets troops of the 717th Brigade Support Battalion who are scheduled for deployment to Kosovo during a yellow ribbon ceremony Thursday at the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Emotions ran high at Thursday’s yellow ribbon ceremony at the Roswell Civic Center. “It’s a send-off ... a tribute to the men and women of this community,” Mayor Del Jurney said. “We want them to know that our prayers and our encouragement go with them when they travel across the globe. Our thoughts and our prayers go with them as they travel across the world, for a mission of peace-keeping to help other nations ... continue to bring support and freedom to this nation. It’s a special day ... a very special day.” Approximately 450 Army National Guard soldiers will be deployed to Kosovo for a “peace keeping” mission later this month. Among them are soldiers like specialist Amanda Guerrero and 1st Lt. Shad Hall.
Solis sworn in as Roswell Police Department Chief JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
NEWTON HEADED TO NFL MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft after leading Auburn to a national championship ...
- PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • John Ward Watson • Don M. West • Epifano Montez • Victor De La Cruz • Allen F. Mauldin - PAGE B3
Alfonso Solis took his oath of of fice as the Roswell Police Department’s new chief, at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, in a special cer emony at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center. Solis’ longtime friend, Gov. Susana Martinez, attended. During the opening remarks, State Representative and Interim Chief Dennis Kintigh said, “To the men and women of the Roswell Police Department, it has been my incr edible privilege to serve with you.” He told them that they had been an inspiration to him.
To the incoming chief, he quipped, “I’m so happy to see you.” Mayor Del Jur ney referred to the occasion as bittersweet, “But when you lose a good man and replace him with another good man, that’s a pretty good deal.” He thanked Kintigh for “stepping up to the plate” during the time of transition. “We’re excited about Al Solis,” he said. Martinez spoke of her youth as the daughter of a law enforcement of ficer and the wife of a 30-year veteran. “I’ve known Al Solis for many years,” she said. “He was a great communicator
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
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TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....B6 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B6 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8 WORLD .................A7
Mark Wilson Photo
Roswell Police Department's newest chief, Al Solis, is sworn in during a Change of Command ceremony as Dennis Kintigh, interim chief, looks on.
NM Rehabilitation Center opens its doors See SOLIS Page A3
See RIBBON, Page A2
INDEX
Mark Wilson Photo
New Mexico Gov. Susanna Martinez greets and signs autographs for students from Sidney Gutierrez Middle School during the New Mexico Rehabilitation Center ribbon-cutting ceremony, grand opening & tour, Thursday.
The newly-constructed New Mexico Rehabilitation Center, 72 Gail Harris Avenue, opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. The event was attended by state Sen. T im Jennings and New Mexico’s new governor, Susana Martinez. James D’Agostino, the r ehabilitation center administrator, opened the ceremony with a welcome addr ess. “I want to … thank the state of New Mexico for the hospital it has given us.” He also showed his appr eciation to center staff, whom he called the “stars of the project.” Mayor Del Jur ney remarked it was “a good day for Roswell.” The mayor spoke of the See REHAB, Page A2
Elementary schools awarded funds for remodeling EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
A state entity that allocates grant money based on need voted yesterday to approve construction funding for three elementary schools in the Roswell school district. East Grand Plains, Monterrey and Pecos elementary schools will receive money for remodeling and improvements to bring the schools up to state adequacy standards. The Public School
See SCHOOLS, Page A2