Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 124, No. 50 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
February 27, 2015
FRIDAY
www.rdrnews.com
ENMU-R instructors cleared by committee By Dylanne Petros and Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writers
After two days of hearings, the Faculty Disciplinary Committee of Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell voted unanimously Thursday not to fire four instructors accused of fraud. Faculty Disciplinary Committee chairman James Buchanan told the Daily Record after Thursday’s emotional resolution there was not enough evidence to warrant discharging Emergency Medical Services instructors Ken Davis, Stacie Nason, Rodney Ray and Kathy Wells,
although an auditor testified Wednesday the four instructors had violated state law by receiving public funds for services not rendered. “I think there was not enough evidence presented by the university,” Buchanan said. “It’s a fair process.” ENMU-R President John Madden declined to comment following Thursday’s hearing. Buchanan said the Faculty Disciplinary Committee, comprised of himself and fellow ENMU-R instructors Alan Trever, Dawn Wulf, Dallas Pollei and Yolanda Lopez, was formed in mid-January for the unprecedented hear-
ing to determine if Davis, Nason, Ray and Wells should be discharged from the university for alleged fraud. Lopez only attended Wednesday morning’s session. Buchanan explained the committee had only two options; to discharge the instructors or not, with no lesser penalties possible. In a series of votes Thursday afternoon after deliberating for an hour and half, the Faculty Disciplinary Committee voted 4-0, in four separate votes, not to discharge Davis, Nason, Ray and Wells. “I think as a whole, we’re pleased with the situation,”
said Chelsea Seaton, the attorney for Davis, Nason, Ray and Wells. N a n c y Y o u n g , se n io r manager of Moss Adams, began Thursday’s testimony, reiterating her testimony from Wednesday, when she said Davis, Nason, Ray and Wells fraudulently billed ENMU-R between Jan. 1, 2011, through May 30, 2014. Young said the four instructors fraudulently billed the university for more than $16,000, and on at least one occasion, did not instruct a student, who was granted an EMS certificate anyway. See ENMU-R, Page A3
Park dedication
Max Scally Photo
The City of Roswell, in conjunction with MainStreet Roswell and the Roswell Interarts Organization, held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday for the LJ Reichman Memorial Park, located at 218 N. Main St. The Roswell Chamber of Commerce also took part. Currently RIO artists are working in collaboration with the City of Roswell on integrating artwork into the infrastructure upgrades for Reischman Park. To date, the park improvements include an ADA-approved ramp with beautiful steel railing, a new performance stage and renovation of paving around the area. Cutting the ribbon, from left, are Stephanie Gerdts, Dennis Kintigh, Elena Valesquez, Peggy Seskey, Angelica Rodriguez, Yukie Ebarra and Clarissa Adams.
Jeff Tucker Photo
Stacie Nason and Ken Davis react Thursday afternoon to a Faculty Disciplinary Committee’s decision not to fire them and colleagues Rodney Ray and Kathy Wells for alleged fraud.
Heated exchange stalls NM solitary confinement bill SANTA FE (AP) — A New Mexico Democratic lawmaker, who faced criticism last month for referencing the Holocaust, sparked a heated exchange in a committee meeting Thursday and provoked the chair to adjourn before members could vote on a highly anticipated solitary confinement reform proposal. The argument began after Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Albuquerque, said she questioned why anyone would opposed a bill that called for banning the use of solitary confinement on juveniles and inmates suffering from mental illness. “I see it as something we should all embrace,” she said. That prompted an angry reply from House Safety and Civil Affairs Committee
Chairman William Rehm, R-Albuquerque, who said Caballero didn’t have a right to question anyone’s vote and ordered her to stop talking. He had previously warned committee members they were running out of time and still had a full slate of bills to consider. “Let me finish my sentence,” Caballero said as the meeting evolved into chaos with various members trying to speak. Rehm then adjourned the meeting and walked out. Witnesses who had testified in support of the bill sat stunned as the meeting suddenly ended and lawmakers looked at each other confused. The fate of the bill is now unclear.
Pirtle’s Daylight Bridges on North Main getting rehab Savings Time bill passes committee Staff Report
SANTA FE (AP) — A Senate committee has passed a bill to keep New Mexicans from springing forward and falling back every year when it’s time to adjust clocks. The Senate Public Affairs Committee voted 5-1 Thursday to advance Sen. Cliff Pirtle’s bill that would keep the state on Daylight Savings Time year-round. The Republican farmer from Roswell says changing the clock twice a year is an unnecessary inconvenience. He says farmers
and ranchers work from sunrise to sundown no matter what the clock says. Pirtle’s bill now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee. If it becomes law, New Mexico time would remain unchanged after it springs forward on March 8. The federal government allows states to exempt themselves from time changes. Currently, Arizona and Hawaii do not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Construction is underway on the Berrendo Creek bridges that cross North Main Street (U.S. 285) in Roswell. The street will be partially closed as resurfacing and repair work on structures is completed. The New Mexico Department of Transportation is overseeing work on this $1 million project, which is expected to be finished by Nov. 1. The original bridges, built in 1963, currently serve northbound and southbound traffic on Main Street. The northbound bridge will be used
Timothy P. Howsare Photo
to accommodate both directions of traffic, while work takes place on the southbound bridge. Only one lane in each direction will be open across the bridges while work is taking place. Limited
alternate routes. Message boards are being used to notify motorists of delays and keep vehicles moving safely. For up-to-date road construction information throughout the state, visit nmroads.com.
lane availability during this project will prevent wide loads up to 12 feet. Due to longer wait times expected at the bridges, motorists are encouraged to travel at off-peak hours if possible, or seek
Military pilot training finds winter home in Roswell Submitted
Submitted Photo
T-6B aircraft fly over Artesia last year during a training flight that was part of the military’s training time based out of the Roswell International Air Center. The training group is again spending numerous weeks this winter in Roswell.
Military student pilots have been training in the skies over southeast New Mexico in recent years and this year is no different, as the Roswell International Air Center is again hosting its winter guests, with this year’s pilots coming from Naval Air Station Whiting Field in northwest Florida for the second consecutive winter. The “primary” flight training — the first phase of training for these student pilots — conducted here includes instruction in visual, aerobatic and formation flying, as well as instruments and visual naviga-
tion. The instructors and student pilots who come as part of Training Air Wing FIVE represent the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. Their presence at RIAC — which has the necessary runways and other facilities to meet the group’s needs — also represents a significant local economic boost through the influx of dollars the military spends for its temporary operations here. The military flight training units that have made RIAC a temporary home each of the last few winters come for the great winter weather that features clear skies on a much more regular basis than seen in
Today’s Forecast
Today’s Obituaries Page A6
HIGH 34 LOW 22
• Jacob Joe Sigala Jr. • Daniel O.Valdez
northwest Florida this time of year. That weather here allows pilots much more time to train in a shorter overall time period than would be available at their home station. As a result, more pilots can be trained with regularity and quality while the unit is at RIAC, making for a more efficient process and use of resources, according to those in charge of the training wing. The training leaders say Training Air Wing FIVE sees a net savings in its training costs by locating at RIAC for about 10 weeks from mid-January to mid-March. At the same time, RIAC and Roswell in general gets an economic boost from the
money spent by the military to accommodate its training activities and personnel. The training unit here this year estimates it will likely spend about $1 million for its time here, from securing airport facilities and rental vehicles to providing lodging and meals for the student pilots and instructors. Flying in the local skies this year are 25 T-6B training aircraft. Every two to three weeks, one group of about 150 student pilots heads back home and another arrives. They are trained by veteran aviators, many of whom have recently returned from combat operations in a variety of sites around the world.
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