Pages 10 17 2013

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Roswell Daily Record

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10/16/13

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THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

Vol. 122, No. 249 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday

October 17, 2013

www.rdrnews.com

THURSDAY

Senate votes to avoid default, open government

WASHINGTON (AP) — Racing to make a deadline, the Senate passed legislation Wednesday night to avoid a threatened national default and end the 16-day partial government shutdown along the strict terms set by President Barack Obama. The 81-18 vote sent the measure to a waiting House. Expected passage there late in the evening would clear it for Obama’s signature — the final act in an epic political drama that put the economy’s health at

risk. The legislation would permit the Treasury to borrow normally through Feb. 7 or perhaps a month longer, and fund the government through Jan. 15. More than two million federal workers would be paid — those who had remained on the job and those who had been furloughed. The stock market surged higher at the prospect of an end to the crisis that also had threatened to shake confidence in the U.S. economy overseas.

The White House embraced the bill, worked out by the Senate’s two party leaders, saying in a statement it would “protect the full faith and credit of the United States and end the government shutdown.” Republicans had other concerns. “We fought the good fight. We just didn’t win,” conceded House Speaker John Boehner as lawmakers lined up to vote on a bill that includes nothing for Republicans demanding to eradicate or scale back Obama’s signa-

ture health care overhaul. “The compromise we reached will provide our economy with the stability it desperately needs,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, declaring that the nation “came to the brink of disaster” before sealing an agreement. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who negotiated the deal with Reid, emphasized that it preserved a round of spending cuts negotiated two years ago with Obama and Democrats. As a

Leaves of change

Mark Wilson Photo

Autumn colors are beginning to appear around the Roswell area as cooler temperatures become the norm on an overcast Wednesday morning.

result, he said, “government spending has declined for two years in a row” for the first time since the Korean War. “And we’re not going back on this agreement,” he added. Only a temporary truce, the measure set a time frame of early next winter for the next likely clash between Obama and the Republicans over spending and borrowing. But for now, government was lurching back to life. In one example, officials met to discuss plans for gearing

back up at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where 307 employees remained at work during the partial shutdown and more than 8,000 were furloughed.

After weeks of gridlock, the measure had support from the White House, most if not all Democrats in Congress and many Republicans fearful of the economic impact of a default. Boehner and the rest of

Iran nuclear talks end on upbeat note

GENEVA (AP) — Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers ended on an upbeat note Wednesday, with top Western and Iranian negotiators announcing a follow-up round early next month while speaking of significant progress in efforts to reduce fears that Tehran may be seeking atomic arms. Despite abandoning the pessimistic tone of previous meetings, however, negotiators refused to reveal details on what — if any — concessions Iran offered. That gives potential traction to skeptics who can claim the conference was aimed more at building trust and silencing critics at home than in resolving the thorny issues that have blocked progress over a decade of talks. Iran denies suspicions that it wants nuclear arms and has resisted incentives and tough penalties aimed at curbing its atomic activities. But since reformist Iranian President Hassan

See SENATE, Page A3

Rouhani took office in August, senior officials from Rouhani on down have pledged to meet international concerns in exchange for an easing of crippling economic sanctions. The post-meeting optimism expressed by senior Western and Iranian officials suggested that Tehran had put forward serious proposals at the two-day talks. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s top diplomat, spoke of “a very intensive and, I think, a very important meeting,” while Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said he hoped for “the beginning of a new phase” between his country and some of its most vehement critics. “I believe that both sides are serious about finding a resolution, that both sides want to find common ground,” Zarif said. “And I hope that my counterparts ... will also take back home the fact that Iran is interested in resolving this issue.”

Salvation Army helps veteran, pianist get new roof JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER

He knew when he first sat down, feet dangling off the edge of the piano bench, and he started pressing those keys. “I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Leonard Meekins said Wednesday, sitting on a swing in his backyard as workers pounded away on his roof. “I wanted to play for the heavenly father. I wanted to show him how much I loved my piano.” In a serendipitous twist

of fate this summer, Meekins’ passion for the ivories has lifted him up with the help of some new friends at the Roswell Salvation Army. One Sunday in August, the 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran decided he had waited long enough to play music all day long. He had seen the baby grand at the Salvation Army in town. He left his dog, Snoop Dog, at home and left for the day. The store let him play tunes that day. He promised to return with enough money to purchase it, but

only if he could leave it there. “Not only did he let me play the piano all day, I ended up buying the piano and leaving it in the store,” Meekins said. “I have 11 pianos already.” He wanted to do something for the community, he said. “I’m an entertainer. I’m a performer,” he said. “I just wanted to do something for Roswell. The Lord taught me to use your skills for your children. That’s the only way it works.” Meekins, a tall and

proud man, is quick to tell about his time in the service. He served two tours at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California as a missile facility specialist in maintenance. “It’s the most prestigious base,” he said. He is also a graduate of Roswell High School. After retiring, he had medical issues and a surgery. “No medication they could give me did any good for me,” he said. Playing the piano “definitely” helps him. In 1997, Meekins put a new roof on

See ROOF, Page A3

Jill McLaughlin Photo

Leonard Meekins explains the problems he's had with his roof on East Deming Street in Roswell. Volunteers from Saint Vincent De Paul Society in Roswell spent Wednesday rebuilding his roof.

Woman arrested for Local insurance brokers split on impact of ACA helping kids TP trees TESS TOWNSEND RECORD STAFF WRITER

JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER

A Roswell woman was arrested, Friday, as she assisted youth toilet papering trees. Officers were dispatched to the area of Mission Arch and Elm Streets where they saw a vehicle with several young people hanging onto its sides. When the officers located the vehicle, they discovered some 10 to 15 juveniles, either in or riding on the outside of it. Of ficials See TP, Page A3

Morales

HIGH 75 LOW 44

TODAY’S FORECAST

Local insurance brokers held a panel to pool information and hash out frustrations with upcoming health care refor ms Wednesday, as part of a meeting held at Peppers Bar and Grill by the New Mexico branch of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers (NAIFA). The panel was composed of Roswell-based health insurance agents Sonny Espinoza, Renee Swickard and Nicole McWilliams. Swickard and McWilliams work together at Swickard

• RUTH ANN ROARK SHERRELL • JEANIE BAXTER • SALVADOR V. CHAVEZ

Agency Inc. Not all agents present were members of NAIFA. Attendees were split in how they viewed the initial impact of the Affordable Care Act, a set of health care reforms that go into effect nationally in January. The law includes a mandate that almost all individuals in the United States enroll in health insurance by March 31. “I think there’s going to be very few people that this is going to be beneficial for,” said Swickard. Bobby Villegas, an agent for Far mers Insurance, countered the frustrations of other brokers by saying

• CORNELIUS FREDERICK (FRED) HECHT

TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6

that it was too soon to know how the law would ultimately affect the insurance market. “Everyone is on the bandwagon of ‘let’s bash it, let’s destroy it,’” he said. “We’re in the construction phase.” He used as a metaphor the construction of a highway: While the highway is being constructed, traffic is slow. When it is complete, driving is more convenient. Villegas does not sell health insurance, but has been organizing town hall meetings to infor m the public about changes in the health care market.

CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B4 ENTERTAINMENT .....B6 FINANCIAL ..............B5

McWilliams said she was particularly concer ned about rising insurance premiums. She said some plans offered on and off the exchange for 2014 were significantly more expensive than current plans similar to those new plans.

She said she would have to pay double the monthly premium to enroll in an exchange plan that offers similar benefits as her current Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. The exchange plan differs in that it also offers coverage for maternity and mental health,

INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2 NATION ..................A6

See IMPACT, Page A3 OPINION .................A4

SPORTS .................B1 WEATHER ..............A8


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