Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 124, No. 26 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 30, 2015
FRIDAY
www.rdrnews.com
RISD secretary being challenged for Position 2 By Dylanne Petros Record Staff Writer
Two candidates are up for Position 2 on the Roswell Independent School District school board. James W. Waldrip, current board secretary, has been on the board since 2003. He is being challenged by Carey D. Smith. The winner of the race will earn a four-year term, starting March 1, on the five-member RISD board. Pauline Ponce, current board president, is being challenged by Ruben Sanchez for Position 4. The school board’s other three members, Dr. Peggy Brewer, Mackenzie Hunt and Eloy Ortega Jr., are not up for reelection in 2015. Elections for the RISD
Waldrip school board are Feb. 3. Voters may cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at any of eight voting convenience centers. The following are answers from Waldrip and Smith to a candidate questionnaire compiled by the Daily Record.
Smith Why are you the best candidate for the school board? Mr. Waldrip: “My 60 years of experience in the field of education and 12 years of service on the RISD Board of Education (including four years as president, two as vice-president and two as
secretary) make me the best candidate for Position 2 on the RISD school board.” Mr. Smith: “I believe that what we need is a fresh set of eyes, someone who can directly relate to the current issues and someone who is willing to correct those issues such as Common Core and also increasing the morale of the teachers by getting rid of the “teaching to a test” mentality and a better evaluation process for all of our educators.” What do you believe are the most important issues facing educators nationally? See RISD, Page A3
Bountiful bowls
Teel challenges Jackson for District 5 in Lake Arthur school board race Staff Report
Noreen Teel is challenging Carrie A. Jackson for her District 5 seat on the Lake Arthur Municipal Schools school board. The election will be held Feb. 3, and voters may cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Daily Record asked the candidates to comment on issues affecting not only their school district, but education in general. Following are their responses:
Above: Aria Finch and Konsuela Carpenter place finished bowls into a kiln. Finch, ceramics manager at the Roswell Museum and Arts Center, is leading students in her ceramics class to make 1,000 handmade soup bowls for the Soup N’ Bowl event to be held on March 6. Scheduled from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, the event will raise money for Remem-
ber Roswell, a community public art project. A silent auction follows at 3 p.m. and the band Hot Club on the Pecos will perform from 5-8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Anderson Museum, Tillie Mercantile, Finishing Touches, Main Street Arts and online at soupnbowl. com. For more information call 623-5600. Left: Tasia Ramage “throws” a bowl on a potter’s wheel.
See RACE, Page A2
Council OKs film festival funding By Randal Seyler Record City Editor
Bill Moffitt Photos
Why are you the best candidate for the school board? Ms. Jackson: I was asked to be on the school board when there was a member who resigned. I enjoy working with the others and teachers. I was asked to run for board member. Ms. Teel: I have been involved with schools in my community since my children were in
Funding for the Roswell Filmfest and Cosmicon was approved unanimously Thursday night by the City Council during a special meeting. The councilors approved a Lodger’s Tax request for $51,000 in funding for the fifth annual film festival and Sci-Fi convention, which will be held July 1-6 in conjunction with the annual UFO Festival. “Just to reiterate the discussion we had at the Finance Committee, we typically fund events at 50 percent of the eligible expenses,” Councilor Caleb Grant said. “This is one event where the city has chosen not to hold to that.” Grant said the Finance Committee encouraged the Filmfest and Cosmicon officials to work toward building financing for the event so that in the future the bulk of the event’s budget is not coming from the city coffers. “We would like to encourage them to secure funding so the city is not footing 80 percent of the bill,” Grant said.
Elaine Mayfield, director of Spring River Park and Zoo, and Alan Trever, media arts instructor at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, were on hand to discuss the annual event with the council. The Filmfest and Cosmicon is actually three separate events — the Film Fest, the Film Shootout, and the Cosmicon. The Film Shootout is a competition in which filmmakers shoot a 12-minute film in a short time. The Film Fest is an event at which sci-fi films from around the world are shown. Thirdly, the Cosmicon is a sci-fi, fantasy event that features comic artists, merchandise and collectibles in conjunction with the Roswell UFO Festival. “This is something we look at as a positive event for the community,” Trever said. “We are all volunteers and we work to make this event successful and we want to see it continue to grow.” Trever said the first FilmSee COUNCIL, Page A2
One charge against Assailant in garden shear, machete attacks Caraveo dropped pleads no contest; faces up to 20 years Defendant seeking jury trial
By Timothy P. Howsare Record Editor
One of three charges against Jonathan Caraveo, the 27-year-old Artesia man accused of causing a violent three-vehicle collision at North Main Street on Jan. 6, has been dropped, according to court documents filed Jan. 15 in Chaves County Magistrate Court. The dropped charge is reckless driving, a misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence from five to 90 days and/or a fine from $25 to $100, was dropped. A nolle prosequi plea, which means “unwilling to pursue,” was entered by Assistant District Attorney Jody Mullis. Caraveo’s two remaining charges are causing great bodily injury by vehicle, a third-degree felony that carries a sentence of up to three years in prison; and no proof of insurance, a misdemeanor that carries a fine up to $300.
Caraveo Also in court documents obtained by the Daily Record, Caraveo waived his preliminary hearing and has requested that a six-person jury hear his case. Caraveo’s defense attorney is Kevin Hanratty of Arteisa. Additionally, Caraveo and his attorney have requested a speedy trial and that Caraveo be permitted to physically confront anyone who introduces evidence against him. Officer Joseph Mason, See CARAVEO, Page A2
Today’s Forecast
HIGH 38 LOW 29
By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer A Roswell man who authorities said tried to decapitate a man with garden shears one day and stabbed a different man in the neck with a machete the following day has pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder and other charges. Elias Singleton, 35, withdrew his not guilty pleas on the verge of his jury trial and pleaded no contest Wednesday to felony charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from back-to-back attacks committed by Singleton in August 2013. Singleton is scheduled to be sentenced April 9 before District Judge
Singleton Freddie Romero. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 1 / 2 years in prison on all the charges. Singleton, who appeared in court Wednesday while being held at the Chaves County Detention Center, was ordered by Romero Wednesday to undergo a 60-day psychiatric evaluation in Las Vegas, N.M., prior to sentencing. Singleton had been scheduled to stand trial before a jury Feb. 17. At a Jan. 15 pre-trial conference, attorneys said they
anticipated the trial would last one to one-and-a-half days. Police said Singleton, also known as “Dirty,” used a pair of garden shears with long blades as he tried to behead a man Aug. 4, 2013, after entering the victim’s Roswell home in the 300 block of South Pennsylvania Avenue. The victim told police he was with Singleton and a friend at the victim’s house when Singleton unexpectedly wielded garden shears. “He said that ‘Dirty’ approached him with them open, placed them right at his neck, and then closed them like scissors,” Roswell Police Department Detective Jeffrey Prince wrote in a criminal complaint. “He stated that it all happened fast and that he didn’t know why ‘Dirty’ did this. He said that after he was cut, blood began squirting out of his neck, so he called 911 and waited for help.”
Today’s Obituaries Pages B3, B6 • Magdalena Schaffer
• William C. Fleming
• Toni Michelle Moore-Payton
• Barry Douglas (Doug)
• Calvin “Dwayne” Bunton
Brown
The 47-year-old victim was flown to Lubbock, Texas, for treatment of severe cuts to his neck. According to court records, investigators processed the scene and found a pair of garden shears covered in blood. Officers also located a backpack on the Pennsylvania Avenue property, which police said contained identification belonging to Singleton, a small amount of methamphetamine and several syringes. Police said the victim’s girlfriend stated Singleton used the victim for drugs.
Second stabbing incident
Authorities said Singleton, formerly of 1004 Plaza Del Sol, assaulted another victim with a machete Aug. 5, 2013, at the victim’s home in the 300 block of South Birch Avenue. See SINGLETON, Page A3
Index Classifieds...........B5 Comics..................B4 Entertainment. ....A8 Financial..............B3
General...............A2
Opinion.................A4
Horoscopes.........A8
Sports. ................B1
Lotteries. ............A2
Weather...............A8