1-27-2011

Page 1

Roswell Daily Record

INSIDE NEWS

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

BACHMANN ON THE RISE WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann took another leap in her remarkable climb to national attention and tea party prominence with her freelance response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech. - PAGE B3

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

Lawmakers push for drug testing

Vol. 120, No. 23 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

January 27, 2011

THURSDAY

www.rdrnews.com

Two local lawmakers are seeking to make some recipients of certain forms of government assistance submit to drug testing in order to get a check from the state. Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, a top Democrat legislative leader, and Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, are sponsors of legislation that would deny certain public assistance if an individual tests positive for illegal drugs. Jennings’ bill, which was introduced on the Senate floor on Tuesday, takes aim at people seeking jobless benefits and would require all recipients to submit to testing. “We might have to reduce benefits on unemployment because of the huge number of people who are unemployed ... (and) they’re robbing from the people who can’t (work),” he said. “We’re having a hard time

paying unemployment benefits for everybody and why are we paying if for people who choose to do drugs?” His proposal would require applicants to pay for the drug testing. If an individual failed or refused a drug test, they would be disqualified from receiving the benefits for 26 weeks. After that time they could apply again. Ezzell says she is preparing to introduce legislation that would give caseworkers authority to drug test recipients of any state assistance. “If there is a caseworker that suspects that the person their working with might be using drugs, ... they do have to pee in the cup,” Ezzell said. “If you want to continue using drugs and want to receive all the free handouts, go to a different state to do it.” The lawmaker carried the bill to no avail two years ago, but says

Grass that glitters

Espinoza seeks statewide vote to define marriage as man/woman MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

A Roswell state House lawmaker is continuing her fight to define marriage in the state constitution as the union of one man and one woman. Rep. Nora Espinoza, R-Roswell, again introduced a joint House resolution that seeks to put the issue on a ballot for voters to decide. It’s at least the second time the local lawmaker introduced the resolution. “I think this is the time that we need to put this to rest,” Espinoza said. “The people of this great state need to vote. They need to vote and their voices need to be heard.” The resolution requires both houses to approve it by a two-thirds vote. If successful, the proposal would amend a section of the New Mexico constitution to read, “Marriage in this state shall consist

Court orders publication of rules on pollution See MARRIAGE, Page A3

See TESTING, Page A3

TOP 5 WEB

For The Last 24 Hours

• 2-year-old dies • Ashley McCasland • Dexter fire • Grajeda and Pruett • Roswell’s most wanted

INSIDE SPORTS

New police chief City works to cope with cats hard at work Pampas grass is back-lit by the mid afternoon sun on a crystal clear afternoon recently.

TEXAS POUNDS OKLAHOMA ST. STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Tristan Thompson scored all 14 of his points in the second half, Jordan Hamilton added 12 points and 11 rebounds and No. 7 Texas beat Oklahoma State 61-46, Wednesday night. - PAGE B1

TODAY’S OBITUARIES • • • • •

Lois Thompson Helen Langenegger Debra Louise Hebert Mary Jo Parham Errol J. Chavez - PAGE B3

HIGH ...60˚ LOW ....18˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....B6 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8 PUBLIC RECORDS ..B3

INDEX

Mark Wilson Photo

SANTA FE (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with environmental groups in a pair of cases that challenged an attempt by Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration to delay publication in the state register of recently approved pollution control measures. The court issued its decision before a packed courtroom after a short deliberation, bringing an end to a three-week dispute over whether the Martinez administration had the authority to ask the state records administrator to delay publication of the pollution regulations. Without publication, the rules do not become effective. The rules are aimed at tackling greenhouse gases emitted by large polluters and discharges from dairies across the state. Chief Justice Charles Daniels said the law is clear that the records administra-

JESSICA PALMER ROSWELL STAFF WRITER

JESSICA PALMER ROSWELL STAFF WRITER

Recruiting and reaching out to the community are high priorities for Roswell Police Chief Alfonso Solis. His top goal is filling the 13 vacancies that exist in RPD, and Solis is hoping to bring in qualified local people. He referred to Stacye Hunter, of Roswell human resources, as “a blessing.” Solis’ first two weeks on the job, though, have been dominated by meetings with City Manager Larry Fry, Mayor Del Jurney, City Attorney Barbara Patterson and Fire Chief James Salas. “The fire chief has offered to let police officers use their fire stations for writing up reports,” Solis said. “I’m in the absorb mode right now. I’ve been busy, but I’m enjoying it,” said Solis.

Roswell Animal Control traps six feral, or stray, cats a day, more than 2,000 a year, according to Tammie McKee, veterinary assistant and kennel manager. Of those, 50 percent will have to be euthanized, she said. “We don’t have a good reclaim figure. We have more adoptions than reclaims,” said Joseph Paceho, animal services supervisor. Roswell Animal Control works hard to keep up with the task of controlling the local cat population. “We’ve got 20 traps which we take out on Fridays. We pick (the traps) up once a week,” said Pacheco. Animal Control will take traps to any location where people report a problem, both businesses and residences. “When people call back to say they’ve trapped a cat, we go back and pick the cats up.” said Pacheco. Animal Control officers are hard

See COURT, Page A3

pressed to keep up with the demand, and Pacheco believes people are contributing to the problem. “Those that buy cat food and dump it in places, they make the problem worse. They say they don’t want the cats to starve, but they are part of the problem.” He does not object to feeding strays, but he feels that the solution to curtailing the numbers lie in trapping, spaying and neutering the ferals and strays. “The Animal Welfare Alliance is great,” said Pacheco. The scope of the problem is reflected in the nationwide figures. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that the number of feral cats nationwide is in the “tens of millions.” Cats’ ability to reproduce is staggering. A cat can have up to four litters a year. The number of kittens per litter range between one and eight, says McKee.

City, museum partner to put on UFO Festival See CHIEF, Page A3

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

Organizers of this year’s UFO Festival say the planning to make the event a great time for all is already under way. Officials hosted a news conference on Wednesday to discuss the new partnership between the city of Roswell and the International UFO Museum and Research Center, in planning the upcoming event. Julie Shuster, the museum’s executive director, and resident Greg Neal told reporters they plan to move the festival in a new direction, all the while making it an event to pro-

mote the city. “(It’s) an official public announcement that the museum and the city are working together,” Shuster said. “We want people to have a good, educational (and) fun event.” The pair were tapped by Mayor Del Jurney to take over the event planning. Both said that scheduling for the festival has already taken shape and that there will be more announcements to come in the following months on specific details of the event. “There will be some new things that have not been done before,” Neal said. The announcement was made after the of ficials lobbied the City Council to

match this year’s funding of the festival with previous years. Shuster said all spending and account activity will be accounted for and, despite it not being subject to state open record law, will be shared with the public. “There will be accountability,” she said. Jur ney told reporters that he looks forward to the new direction and is confident it will be a successful festival. “The City Council supports ... the direction,” he said. “What we do in 2011 is hopefully going to set a standard.” mattarco@roswellrecord.com

See CATS, Page A3

Mark Wilson Photo

Julie Shuster, executive director of the International UFO Museum and Research Center, and Mayor Del Jurney announce the new partnership between the city and the museum for the UFO Festival during a press conference held Wednesday.


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