Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 124, No. 69 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
March 21, 2015
SATURDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Senate Democrats block GOP agenda By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer
SANTA FE — Senate Democrats have seemingly effectively blocked Republican Gov. Susana Martinez’s major legislative proposals, with little chance of the bills seeing the light of day today in the final hours of the 2015 legislative session. The governor’s top proposals in her State of the State address to enact right-to-work legislation, to end the practice of “social promotion” in public schools and to repeal a law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses in New Mexico have
all stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate Public Affairs Committee on party-line votes after passing the Republican-controlled New Mexico House of Representatives. Five key Senate Democrats, Public Affairs Committee Chairman Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Vice Chair Bill O’Neill and fellow committee Democrats Jacob Candelaria, Daniel Ivey-Soto and Mimi Stewart, all of Albuquerque, voted as a bloc to kill the top Republican-supported bills in the first legislative session in decades in which Republicans controlled either the
House or Senate. Local lawmakers agreed Friday night there was little chance of the GOP-backed initiatives clearing the Democrat-controlled Senate before the end of the 2015 legislative session at noon today. “I think they stopped the will of the people of the state,” said state Rep. Bob Wooley, R-Roswell. Whether the first Republican-controlled House in 60 years would be able to reach compromises with the Democrat-controlled Senate had been the looming question of this year’s legislative session. State Rep. Nora Espino-
za said Senate Democrats chose party loyalty over progress. “On the House side, we have been working very hard to be extremely fair, to listen to all our bills, to stay on time and to respect the process,” said Espinoza, R-Roswell. “In the Senate, it’s not been that way. And it’s sad because I think this is what’s wrong with Washington (D.C.). They’re just committed to their political party rather than doing what’s right for the citizens.” Lawmakers were able to agree this week on a $6.2 See SENATE, Page A3
Jeff Tucker Photo
Roswell’s state lawmakers in the New Mexico House of Representatives, Nora Espinoza (left), Bob Wooley and Candy Spence Ezzell, look over the House calendar on the House floor Friday night. House members were expected to stay in session past midnight and return this morning for the final hours of the 2015 legislative session.
JOY Center group puts joy in writing NM Senate approves driver’s license bill
By Mary Morgan Record Intern Do you enjoy writing and want to better your skills? The J.O.Y. Center in Roswell holds a writers group every Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The writers group has been running for 16 years after it was started back in 1999. The group was originally started as a 50-and-over writing group, but younger members are always welcome. The group presently consists of 14 members, some of whom are published authors, such as one of the founding members, Joyce McCollaum. There is no cost to join the group; however, you must share your work and participate in the discussions during the meetings. Each member writes in a different genre, from
Mary Morgan Photo
Joyce McCollaum holds a copy of her book, “The Lea Mansion Mysteries.” poetry to science fiction and memoirs to historical fantasy. Whatever your writing style, there are people there to help better and encourage you and your writing. The group also helps mem-
bers publish their work. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to attend the regular meetings, they hold writing workshops in the summer and readings in the winter.
‘Coffee with a Cop’ continues
After a successful inaugural “Coffee with a Cop” gathering last month, attended by numerous citizens and police personnel, the Roswell Police Department looks forward to the second of these monthly events coming up Monday. Locals attending the event have the opportunity to talk in person with members of the police department in a relaxed, informal setting at a local restaurant. “Coffee with a Cop” offers the chance for posi-
tive ideas and information to be shared and for citizens to ask questions and express concerns during conversations in order to promote a cooperative effort among the public and police to reduce crime and make Roswell a safer city. This month’s “Coffee with a Cop” will take place Monday at Los Cerritos at 2103 N. Main St. at 7 a.m. The program is a good way for citizens to gain insights into how the RPD functions as its officers
“It’s kind of like a writing boot camp,” said writing group member Eva McCollaum, Joyce’s daughter. See WRITING, Page A3
SANTA FE (AP) — The New Mexico Senate approved a two-tiered bill on Friday that would continue to grant driving privileges to people in the country illegally. The compromise reached on the issue calls for two distinct driver’s licenses — one that complies with federal identification requirements and another that does not. The bill sponsored by Sens. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, and John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, cleared the chamber with a 35-5 vote. However, with the legislative session wrapping up today, it appears unlikely the House would vote on the measure. The House last month rejected an amendment akin to the long-serving senators’ proposal and approved a bill to end the state’s practice of giving driver’s licenses to people
who can’t prove they are in the country legally. The Senate Public Affairs Committee on Thursday amended that bill to mirror the language in the IngleSmith measure but no further action was taken. The thorny matter of issuing driver’s licenses to people suspected of being in the country illegally has been before the Legislature for years. State officials estimate more than 100,000 licenses have been issued since New Mexico became one of the first states in 2003 to offer licenses to immigrants regardless of status. “Obviously it’s controversial, but hopefully we’re doing what’s best for New Mexico,” Smith said. Ingle called it a tough decision. “We’ve got to go forward in some way to get this issue solved,” he said. Gov. Susana Martinez, See BILL, Page A3
Another alien invasion?
patrol and protect neighborhoods throughout the city. It also allows locals to get to know the police who serve them, while RPD personnel likewise become more familiar with those they serve. Developing strong relationships and trust is key to enabling a cooperative effort in crime prevention. The members of the RPD look forward to meeting with the citizens they serve.
Small fire destroys shed on McGaffey By Jeff Jackson Record City Editor
A small fire destroyed a storage shed behind a house on West McGaffey Street on Friday morning when no one was home. The fire at 315 1/2 W. McGaffey St. was reported at 10:43 a.m. and extinguished at 11:59 a.m., said Deputy Fire Marshal Matt Miller. Four trucks from three stations responded, including two from Station 1, and one each from stations 2 and 5, he said. Miller said the fire department has not determined the cause of the fire and that it remains under investigation. The owners of the house, Manuel and Emma Sanchez, were at
Bill Moffitt Photo
The UFO Capital of the World seemed to have some celestial company Thursday as these UFO-shaped clouds appeared to be coming in for a landing near the intersection of Atkinson Avenue and Hobbs Street. Jeff Jackson Photo
Roswell Fire Department personnel look over the damage of a small fire Friday morning in a storage shed behind a house at 315 W. McGaffey St. There were no injuries. a doctor’s office early Friday, said their son Michael Sanchez. Another son, Daniel Longoria, who lives at the residence, also was not home. Michael Sanchez, who lives nearby, said he was at work when the fire started. The shed contained sev-
eral tires and an inactive missile, about 3 to 4 feet long, that Manuel Sanchez has had for about 30 years, Michael Sanchez said. City Editor Jeff Jackson can be contacted at 575622-7710, ext. 311, or reporter02@rdrnews.com.
Third suspect in fake robbery arrested
A third suspect in a March 11 fake robbery at the Russell Cellular Verizon store downtown turned himself in to police Thursday night. Marcus Boyd, 23, joins Joshua Fitisemanu, 25, and Felicia Mejia, 21, who have been arrested and charged with various crimes related to the false
Today’s Forecast
Today’s Obituaries Page B3
HIGH 62 LOW 41
• Dianna Zamora • Connie Lynn Creswell • Lucy Mae Marsh Aragon
robbery at the store where they worked. Fitisemanu allegedly stole more than $14,700 in cash and cellphones and is charged with embezzlement, false reporting and conspiracy to commit embezzlement. Mejia and Boyd are charged with false reporting and conspiracy to commit embezzlement.
Boyd
Index Classifieds...........B5 Comics..................B4 Entertainment. ... B5 Financial..............B3
General...............A2 Horoscopes.........A8 Lotteries. ............A2 Opinion.................A4
Sports. ................B1 Weather...............A8 World..................A7