Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
REBELS RETREAT
RAS LANOUF, Libya (AP) — With fierce barrages of tank and artillery fire, Moammar Gadhafi’s loyalists threw rebels into a frantic retreat from a strategic oil port, Thursday, in a counteroffensive that reversed the opposition’s advance toward the capital of Tripoli and now threatens its positions in the east. The rout came as the U.S. director of national ... - PAGE A2
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Gov vows to keep up license fight
Vol. 120, No. 61 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
SANTA FE (AP) — Republican Gov. Susana Martinez vows to keep applying political pressure to the Democratic-controlled Legislature to end New Mexico’s policy of granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The Senate dealt a political setback to the governor Wednesday night by approving 25-16 a proposal that keeps the state’s immigrant licensing system but establishes tougher penal-
March 11, 2011
FRIDAY
www.rdrnews.com
ties for fraudulently trying to obtain a driver’s license. Immigrants will have to renew their licenses every two years and be fingerprinted when they apply for a license. One Democrat — Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming — broke party ranks and joined the Senate’s 15 Republicans in opposing the Senate measure. “The people of New Mexico sent a loud and clear message that they want
dangerous law this repealed, but some in the Legislature chose to shut out the voices of their constituents in favor of partisan political gamesmanship. I promised the people of New Mexico that I will fight to repeal this law and that fight will continue,” Martinez said in a statement. The governor has used campaign money to pay for
UNBORN’S DEATH BILL PASSES HOUSE
SANTA FE (AP) — It will become a crime to kill or injure the unborn child of a pregnant woman under legislation approved Thursday by the House. The measure was prompted by a 2009 case in Santa Fe in which a man killed his girlfriend, who was about eight months pregnant, and her father. The man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for their deaths. But state law didn’t allow the man to be charged with the death of the unborn child. Supporters call the legislation the “little Isaac” bill in
Council OKs beer sales See UNBORN, Page A3
See LICENSE, Page A3
Bizzzy bee
TOP 5
MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Ingredients right for harsh fire season • Space heater tips, causes 3-alarm fire; residence total loss • Kintigh’s repeal bill dies • Jitner honored with Sage Award, short-film showcase • Downtown art
INSIDE SPORTS A honey bee focuses on new blossoms under spring-like sunny skies, Wednesday afternoon.
Mark Wilson Photo
The City Council voted to approve the possibility of alcohol sales at baseball games slated to be held by an independent minor league, the Roswell Invaders, Thursday, during its regular monthly meeting. The council approved, following a 6-2 vote, to remove the words “nonalcoholic” beverages from a two-year contract signed with the city by the Pecos League. The original con-
Ponce, Waldrip take Feds bust Columbus officials school board oath EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
TITLE GAME NEXT!
ALBUQUERQUE — They were calm, they were collected, they showed no mercy and now they’re headed to the state championship game. They are the Goddard Rockets. The eighth-seeded Rockets pulled off another “upset” on Thursday, this time in the state semifinals of the NMAA Class 4A Boys Basketball State Championships. Goddard, behind Chase Salazar and Lane Vander Hulst, upended .... - PAGE B1
Newly elected and reelected school board members Pauline Ponce and Jim Waldrip were sworn in during the board’s monthly meeting on Tuesday night. Ponce and Waldrip subscribed to an oath, or affirmation of office, as prescribed by the state constitution. They were both voted in by citizens of the Roswell school district during the
Feb. 1 election. Ponce, a for mer state lawmaker, retired from her teaching job at Sunset Elementary in order to take her seat on the school board to avoid a conflict of interest. State statute prohibits members of local school boards from being employed by the school district during their terms in office. Before Ponce was sworn in, the crowd gave former See OATH, Page A3
OBITUARIES
• Nelson B. Alpers • Tonya Barela • Juanita Luevano • Dorothy Miller • Marjorie A. Schulz • Gertrude Van Eaton - PAGE A7
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............A6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
AP Photo
Columbus Police Chief Angelo Vega, April 21, 2009.
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The mayor and police chief of a tiny New Mexico border town best known for a raid by Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa nearly a century ago were among 11 people accused Thursday of participating in a ring that illegally sent firearms to Mexico. A federal indictment alleges the defendants have engaged in a conspiracy — based in Columbus — to buy the firear ms since January 2010. Law enforcement officers executed search warrants Thursday at eight residences, a business and the Columbus Police Department. The indictment, which stems from a
See BUST, Page A3
Emergency vehicles have right-of-way Home invasion, gun safety topics at RPD Town Hall can be seen in their
TODAY’S
HIGH ...86˚ LOW ....41˚
See COUNCIL, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Fire Chief James Salas shows off RFD vehicles with “Keep Right” signs during a press conference, Thursday. MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
Any emergency personnel member can attest to it. The response time in being called to a fire, medical crisis or any call for help is critical. When minutes, and sometimes even seconds, could mean the matter of life and death, or residents being saved from a
burning building, emergency personnel need to arrive on the scene quickly — and safely. That’s why the Roswell Fire Department has recently completed installing “Keep Right” safety decals on its vehicles and is reminding motorists to pull their vehicles to the right side of the road when strobes of an emergency vehicle
rearview mirrors. “There’s lots of times when vehicles stop right in front of us and that impedes our response to a call,” said RFD’s Chief James Salas. The department, along with fire stations in Hobbs, Lovington, Artesia and Carlsbad is taking part in the America Keep Right traffic safety campaign. “This program is designed to educate motorists to pull to the right when an emergency vehicle pulls up behind them, when they’re running with their red lights and sirens on,” Salas said. “It’s a safety issue. .... We’re asking the public to pull to the right so that the fire trucks can have the right-of-way to get to the emergency responses.” Salas explained there’s been a rash of recent instances where motorists are completely stopping See RFD, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Bobby Villegas and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce sponsored its second Town Hall meeting at S.O.Y. Mariachi, Wednesday. Topics under discussion were home invasion and gun safety. Of ficer Erica O’Bryon, RPD spokeswoman, discussed home safety and protection. Levi Moody and Adam Villegas represented New Mexico Firearms Training Associates. O’Bryon went to basics, with prevention being better than cure. “Don’t answer the door to strangers. Don’t tell people you are home alone. We tell our kids that over and over again. What is true for children is also true for adults.” She said the same advice applies to phone calls. “Never tell anyone you’re alone.” Often people gain entry
by asking for help, says O’Bryon. “.... we see a lot of fake emergencies. If someone approaches you saying they have an emergency, don’t let them in. Call 911 yourself while they wait outside. If it’s a real emergency, the police can take care of it, and if it’s not, the person will leave. Nine times out of 10, the person will disappear.” She had common-sense tips for people going on vacation, such as arranging to have someone pick up flyers, papers and mail. “Although it doesn’t happen often, when it snows ask someone to make tracks in the snow. Criminals will target homes where the snow has been left undisturbed.” Villegas elaborated. “It’s all about perception. It’s great to have a dog, but if you don’t have a dog, a big chewed-on dog dish and a heavy chain in the yard will give the impression that you do. What you are trying See TOWN HALL, Page A3