Roswell Daily Record
2 Arizona towns to empty THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 120, No. 138 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP) — A solar flare erupted from the sun in an impressive display captured by NASA cameras, but scientists say the medium-sized event will have a minimal impact, if any, on Earth. The flare peaked early Tuesday and created a large cloud that appeared to cover almost half the surface of the sun, NASA said. ... - PAGE A6
WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Coon named as a suspect in RPD ... • Robbers hit Valero gas station, attendant ... • RPD nabs Sanchez for 3-10 shooting ... • Taylor gets 6 years in 2009 death • Birthdays prove lucky for Roswell woman
INSIDE SPORTS
AP Photo
The sun sets, Tuesday, over the Mesilla Valley.
SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. (AP) — A raging forest fire in easter n Arizona that already forced thousands from their homes headed Wednesday for a pair of transmission lines that supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of people as far east as Texas. The 607-square-mile blaze is expected to reach the power lines as early as Friday. If the lines are damaged, parts of New Mexico and Texas could face rolling blackouts. Meanwhile, an Arizona sheriff ordered remaining residents of two towns in the path of the wildfire to
Companies overcharge Corrections
SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico’s prison system agency was overcharged by contractors and made nearly $4 million in questionable payments during for mer Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration, according to a state audit that found potential corruption in the handling of contracts. State Auditor Hector Balderas released the audit Wednesday and said its findings had been sent to federal and state law enforcement agencies because of possible criminal violations. Charges already have been filed against one former Corrections Department official who was responsible for selecting companies to do maintenance and construction work on prison system buildings. The audit faulted the department for poor oversight of transactions
Chris Nunez was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 2011 MLB Draft, W e d n e s d a y. N u n e z , who signed a letter of intent to play college ball at the University of New Mexico, was selected in the 48th round and was the 1,453rd player drafted. As a senior, Nunez batted .464 and had a slugging percentage of .929. He also belted 10 homers and drove in 46 runs. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Sandra Whitten • Pauline Lara Najar - PAGE A6
HIGH .104˚ LOW ....64˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 ENTERTAINMENT.....B5 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................A6 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
evacuate by Wednesday evening. About 7,000 people live in Springerville and Eagar and surrounding areas, although many already have left. Firefighters have been concerned that high afternoon winds could carry embers that can cause new, smaller spot fires. The blaze has blackened about 389,000 acres and destroyed 11 buildings, primarily in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. No serious injuries have been reported. The fire prompted TexasSee FIRE, Page A3
Grass fire
MARTINEZ DEPLOYS GUARD
SANTA FE (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez has ordered National Guard troops to southwestern New Mexico to help local emergency personnel prepare for a wildfire approaching from Arizona. Martinez said Wednesday that 145 members of the National Guard will operate out of the community of Reserve to assist local officials with evacuations if those become necessary, provide security and help with emergency communications. A fire across the border in eastern Arizona has burned more than 600 square miles, and residents of the small New Mexico community of Luna, about 20 miles from Reserve, have been told to be prepared to evacuate if winds push the blaze into the state. The Tourism Department announced that some hotels in New Mexico are offering discounted rates to people with respiratory problems because of smoke from wildfires.
Mark Wilson Photo
A small grass fire came within 50 feet of houses near West College Boulevard and Dogwood Road, Wednesday just before noon. Fire officials say the blaze stretched about an acre. County residents reported the fire soon after a Chaves County mower was seen in the area. Officials say the vehicle may have inadvertently caused the fire.
RPD charges woman with attempted murder See CORRECTIONS, Page A3
MARLINS DRAFT GHS’ NUNEZ
THURSDAY
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SOLAR FLARE
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June 9, 2011
Kimberly Smith, 53, was charged with attempt to commit violent felony: murder, aggravated battery and tampering with evidence. She is accused of stabbing the driver of a vehicle after he crashed into her garage. The Roswell Police Department was called to 411 S. Lea, around 3 p.m., Tuesday, in reference to a vehicle that had crashed into a garage located on the property. Officers found the driver still suffering from the seizure that caused him to lose control of the car. He was also bleeding from his left arm. They also found a child strapped into the back seat. Witnesses at the scene said Smith exited the house carrying a large knife. She stabbed at the
Jonathan Entzminger Photo
Andy Mason performs at the Roswell Public Library during Library Story Time, Wednesday. Kimberly Smith
driver several times through the window of the car and then ran back inside the residence. See MURDER, Page A3
Mason entertains at library JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Portales artist Andy Mason and Roswell Public Library hosted two children’s concerts,
Wednesday, during Library Story T ime. Mason has performed at RPL during the summer for more than six years. See MASON, Page A3
Snails, shrimp get more protected Artist-in-Residence alum critical habitat at Bitter Lake NWR Karen Aqua dies at 57
After years of debate and litigation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday designated additional land as “critical habitat” for four rare aquatic animals that biologists say are threatened by excessive groundwater pumping and water pollution from oil and gas drilling. The new designation will protect three federally endangered snails and a freshwater shrimp on about 73 acres on the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Roswell, three acres of city-owned land next to the Refuge and 61 acres in Diamond Y spring complex in Pecos County,
Texas, in addition to the protected habitat already in place. Critical habitat listings restrict the authority of the federal government in permitting developments that could potentially harm a species’ survival. Environmental groups WildEarth Guardians and Center for Biological Diversity, who sued FWS in 2001 and 2004 when it failed to make a final decision on whether to list the four species as endangered or to designate critical habitat for them, celebrated the move as a victory. “The Fish and Wildlife has just stalled for 20
years,” Michael Robinson, a conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, said, adding that his organization had petitioned the FWS to list the four invertebrates as endangered species since 1985. “We’re very pleased that they’re going to get this higher level of protection to protect their aquifers.” WildEarth Guardians say some populations of the four critters — the Roswell springsnail, Koster’s springsnail, a snail called Pecos assiminea, and a crustacean called Noel’s See SNAILS, Page A2
Karen Aqua JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Roswell Artist-in-Residence alumna Karen Aqua passed away May
30, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston. She was battling ovarian cancer. Aqua’s husband, Ken Field, spoke with the Roswell Daily Record from Cambridge, Mass., Wednesday. Field narrated Aqua’s time in Roswell, including her work with the RA-i-R, Roswell Museum and Art Center and Roswell Independent School District’s Creative Learning Center and Arts Connect. “Karen was awarded several residencies See AQUA, Page A3