Roswell Daily Record
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OBAMA’S PICK FOR BENCH BLOCKED WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama lost his first vote on a judicial nominee Thursday, as Senate Republicans derailed the nomination of a liberal professor who ... - PAGE A6
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Obama embraces Palestine borders
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Exasperated by stalled Middle East peace talks in a season of tumultuous change, President Barack Obama jolted close ally Israel Thursday by embracing the Palestinians’ terms for drawing the borders of their new nation next door. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel rejected the idea as “indefensible” on the eve of his vital White House meeting with Obama. The U.S. president said that an independent Palestine should be based on 1967 borders — before the Six Day War in which Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza — as adjusted by possible land swaps agreed upon by both sides. He said Israel can never live in true peace as a Jewish state if it insists on “permanent occupation.” Obama’s effort to salvage
May 20, 2011
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a peace effort that is in shambles was a major change in tactics for a president running out of patience and reasons to be subtle. The Israeli-Palestinian stalemate has remained immune to the popular uprisings and historic drives for freedom that have swept much of the region. He pushed both sides to accept his starting point — borders for Palestine, security for Israel — and get back to solving a deadlock “that has grinded on and on and on.” In a sweeping review of recent uprisings and authoritarian crackdowns across the Arab world, Obama was also unsparing in his words for the Palestinian leadership, repudiating its pursuit of unilateral statehood
University High School graduates 74 See OBAMA, Page A3
AP Photo
President Barack Obama greets members of the audience after delivering a policy address on events in the Middle East at the State Department in Washington, Thursday.
MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
• Black Bear wanders onto Pine Lodge Road • Off to the races • Hatfield builds foster home • Nightclub group appeals rejection • Roswell’s Most Wanted
Years of hard work and sometimes having to overcome obstacles that would dispirit even the most determined person, culminated with bursts of joy and the feeling of accomplishment for the 74 graduates of University High School, Thursday. Smiling faces of supportive family and friends packed the stands of the Wool Bowl as the graduates stood tall
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LEFT: Seniors from University High School celebrate and cheer their impending graduation prior to commencement ceremonies Thursday evening at the Wool Bowl.
and recognized their success. “No matter what happens to you, there’s always a chance to win,” said Chasey VanWinkle, the valedictorian of her class. “It was really hard but with the help of my teachers and family, I was able to graduate,” she said, adding that she looks forward to her next challenge in college. “I’m proud of myself.” VanWinkle was not the only student Thursday who would have been remiss to take the time to realize their accomplishments. About 25 percent of the students who attend University High School have at least one
County OKs nearly $1 mil Union wants emergency purchase for fire trucks EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
THUNDER EVEN SERIES DALLAS (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 24 points and James Harden added 23, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 106-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, knotting the Western Conference finals at one game each ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Betty Baker Bonham • Christopher W. Hamilton
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HIGH ...86˚ LOW ....56˚
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CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
In an emergency purchase, the Chaves County commissioners voted to spend nearly $1 million on three new fire tanker trucks at its regular business meeting, Thursday. Officials say the Penasco, Rio Felix and Sierra Volunteer Fire departments will soon receive $325,000 each from the county’s Apparatus Replacement Schedule Fund, which is driven by the gross receipts tax revenue, and set aside solely for the purpose of purchasing fire apparatus and equipment. “We need to get this done right away, " Commissioner Kyle “Smiley” Wooton said. Fire Services Administrator Georgianna Hunt says one of the trucks will
replace the Sierra Volunteer Fire Department’s 3,000 gallon tanker truck, also called a mobile water apparatus, that overturned near Brown Street and Highway 380 late last month while responding to an illegal barrel burn. Penasco and Rio Felix will also each receive one tanker truck after the State Fire Marshal’s Office mandated the two stations improve their low Insurance Service Organization rating, which grades a department’s ability to provide fire protection on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being the highest and 10 the lowest. Both stations currently have a Class 9 rating, according to Chairman of the Chaves County Fireboard Monte Baker. Baker said if the stations don’t raise their rating to a
Class 8, they will be forced by the state fire marshal to close down within the year. “This should be enough to get by, to get them up to an 8B,” Baker said, noting that both stations have made other significant improvements to raise their ratings. Baker also added that the eight volunteer fire departments in Chaves County are having a hard time making ends meet as of late. The cost of fuel, insurance and equipment, including tires, which cost $500 apiece to replace on a fire engine, have all gone up, he says. “We’re having a lot of problems right now, and it’s costing us a lot of money,” he said, noting, See TRUCKS, Page A3
See UHS, Page A3
reimbursement for steel-toe boots MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
A statewide union representing about 200 Roswell employees is petitioning District Court to compel city officials to meet with an arbitrator. Members of the Utility Workers Union of America AFL-CIO, Local 51, are seeking reimbursements from the city for steel-toe work boots and say that Roswell officials are refusing to go to arbitration to settle the dispute. The union says local officials assert that the grievances were not processed correctly and that by not tak-
ing the proper steps, the matter cannot be taken to arbitration. “Your typical collective bargaining agreement with the union has an arbitration provision, which is the contractually agreed upon method of resolving disputes over interpretations of the collective bargaining agreement,” said Shane Youtz, attorney representing the union. “The union filed a grievance and asked the city of Roswell to arbitrate the dispute,” he said. “The city of Roswell contends See BOOTS, Page A3
Kintigh asks residents to not ‘sit on the sidelines’ at open forum RECORD STAFF REPORT
State Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell, met with about a dozen residents at the Senior Circle Thursday during an open forum meeting regarding the state Legislature. Kintigh hosted the question and answer session that focused mainly on general questions about the Legislature and on some of the recent pieces of legislation that hit its floor during January’s 60day session. The local lawmaker disMark Wilson Photo
LEFT: Representative Dennis Kintigh meets with constituents at the Senior Circle Thursday afternoon.
cussed driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants and the potential effects of the listing of the sand dune lizard to the federal endangered species list. More importantly, Kintigh asked that residents make their voices heard during future legislative sessions, saying that visits to the Roundhouse and speaking during committee meetings can have a big impact in the direction legislation moves. “I encourage you guys to get up there during session,” he said. “Don’t sit on the sidelines, these issues are too huge.” Kintigh recently spoke in Carrizozo and Capitan, as well as at the First Baptist Church in Roswell on Tuesday.