12-10-2010

Page 1

Roswell Daily Record

Vol. 119, No. 295 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

MORRISON PARDONED

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — This is the end for 40year-old convictions that left Jim Morrison marked with what today would be considered sex-offender status. Floridaʼs Clemency Board, egged on by departing Gov. Charlie Crist, pardoned

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

December 10, 2010

FRIDAY

www.roswell-record.com

Senate blocks repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans blocked a major yearend push by Democrats to lift the military’s ban on openly gay troops on Thursday, dealing a huge blow to gay rights groups’ hopes for repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” any time soon. President Barack Obama instantly appealed to lawmakers to make another, last-ditch try before going home for the year. The day’s dramatic events left the fate of the issue in limbo, with lawmakers eager to adjourn and still facing numerous other contentious issues. The Senate’s 57-40 vote fell three short of the 60 needed to overcome

procedural hurdles to lift the 17year-old ban. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was the lone Republican voting to advance the bill, and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote against it. The rejection was a defeat for Obama, who campaigned promising to overturn the law and later called it one of his top legislative priorities for the year. But in recent weeks the White House has done little to push the legislation, focusing its influence instead on tax cuts and a nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Obama wasn’t giving up. He said

the ban “weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity and equality.” And he said repeal is supported by the military and the American people. “I urge the Senate to revisit these important issues during the lame duck session,” he said. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was biting in his comments about Republican foes. “The other side may feel passionately that our military should sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation, but they are clearly in the minority,” he said. “And they have run

Sign rules move forward

TOP 5 WEB For The Last 24 Hours

• Jeffrey Walter Wilson • Kindermusik • Gala entertains • Victoria Sepulveda • Portales sneaks by Roswell

SPORTS

Mark Wilson Photo

Jordan Salas and her little brother Ricky, children of Army Pvt. 1st Class Ricky Salas Jr. who died serving in Iraq in 2006, pose with the American Eagle mascot prior to their departure to Dallas Thursday with their mother for a fun-filled weekend courtesy of The Snowball Express.

Fallen soldier’s family treated to trip MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

ROSWELL THUMPS CARLSBAD

ARTESIA — The new-look Roswell boys basketball team did just about everything right on Thursday and that led to a dominating win in the first round of the City of Champions Classic. - PAGE B1

TODAY’S • • • • •

Jeffrey W. Wilson Kevin W. Masters S. Dean Brewer Louis Gandenberger Morris Butts - PAGE A7

HIGH ...72˚ LOW ....35˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT...B10 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............C4 HOROSCOPES ........A3 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 PUBLIC RECORDS ..A7

INDEX

See SENATE, Page A8

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

- PAGE B10

INSIDE

out of excuses.” But Republicans faulted him for the way the issue was brought to a vote, saying the procedure sealed the outcome. The 1993 law bans gay troops from publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation. A repeal provision was included in a broader defense policy bill and passed last spring in the House. More than 60 senators were expected to support repeal of the ban, including at least four Republicans. But GOP senators were united in demanding that the

Roswell’s airport terminal was crowded with city officials and well-wishers Thursday, as a local family took to the skies for an all expense paid trip to Dallas as part of the Snowball Express program. The American Airlines charity organizes events for surviving children and spouses of soldiers

who have died while on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. “Our soldiers give us our freedom,” said state Senate President Pro Tem T im Jennings, who was among the officials present to send off April BacaSalas and her two children. “We are freer than any other nation in the world and we wouldn’t have that without your sacrifices,” he said. Ricky Salas Jr. was killed in

Teachers sought for character award

Know a teacher who makes a difference in the lives of children or the community? Now is your chance to nominate them for the Chaves County Character Counts! 2011 Teacher of Character Award. The awards recognize outstanding educators who demonstrate the six pillars of character the nonprofit character education program teaches: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. “We’ve established a lot of programs in the past decade,” said Cla Avery, executive director of CC! in Chaves County, referring to other CC! awards that honor law enforcement officials, coaches and athletes. “It’s the highlight of the year for us to be able to do this.” Current pre-school through college classroom teachers for both public and private schools in Chaves County are eligible to be nominated. The nomination forms will be made available on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at the Roswell Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, all schools in the county and online at

Iraq by an IED explosion in March 2006. His former wife and their two kids, Ricky, 5, and Jordan, 7, have been taking part in the annual trip for years. “It just means a lot to know that we are able to communicate and the kids are able to know there’s other kids that have gone through what they’ve gone through,” said April Baca-

A sign regulation which sparked controversy before it was temporarily put to rest by the City Council in August will return to the chamber floor for a vote in January. City councilors voted 4-2 Thursday to approve authorization to advertise for a public hearing on the revamped sign regulation. Changes were made to the proposal earlier in the week during a workshop, when of ficials went through the package line by line and tossed a majority of the language which resulted in criticism by some city residents. “We had an extremely productive council workshop,” said Councilor Judy Stubbs, chairwoman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, who has been a leading proponent of adopting the rules. “Now, the proposed regulation has no limit on signs’ sizes,” she said. “I just feel really confident we have a good ordinance to propose for adoption.” Councilors Jimmy Craig, Bob Maples and Jason Perry voted with Stubbs in favor of the public hearing. “I think since we’re just advertising for a public hearing, it gives people an opportunity to read it ... (and) express their opinions,” said Councilor Jimmy Craig, who expressed his objection to the rules during the workshop. The updated package lacks much of the restrictions on homes and is without limitations on the amount of signs businesses would be allowed to display.

RCC cadets graduate See TRIP, Page A8

See COUNCIL, Page A8

JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER

Marching in stride, basic class No. 277 graduated from Roswell Correctional Center’s correctional of ficer training academy Thursday. The ceremony was held at the Roswell Elks Lodge, 1720 N. Montana Ave. “We made it through with minimal casualties, and we’re all stronger for having done so,” said Ellen Bailey, basic class No. 277 cadet, during a speech on Thursday. See CADETS, Page A8

Jonathan Entzminger Photo

Roswell Correctional Center class No. 277 cadets march during their graduation Thursday.

ENMU-R holds 54th graduation ceremony for students See TEACHERS, Page A8

Jessica Palmer Photo

Students participate in Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell’s 54th commencement convocation, Thursday, at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center.

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell held its 54th commencement convocation on Thursday at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center. Of the 230 students who graduated this December, 110 were able to attend the ceremonies. Dr. John Madden, president of ENMU-R, welcomed the graduates. “We are here to honor you. All of us here at Eastern New Mexico University are proud of you.” Dr. Steven G. Gamble, president of ENMU, said to the group, “You have done something of true significance.” He asked family members and members of the military to stand and be recognized. Lacey Jo Lott gave the addr ess to the packed audience. Born in Seminole, Texas, Lott was raised in Houston, but has many ties to Roswell and

attended New Mexico Military Institute. Lott enrolled in ENMU-R’s Air Traffic Control program in 2009. She has been named to the dean’s list each semester. Lott was also honored as the first woman to receive the ENMU-R associate of science degree in air traf fic control. She plans to enroll at University of North Texas to get a bachelor’s degree in aviation logistics and then pursue a career as an air traffic controller in Houston. Lott praised ENMU-R’s school of aviation control, one of 36 in the country, and said she was happy to be able to follow her dream in a smaller city like Roswell. She referred to her 18-month-old son as her motivation to success. “There is only one rule. See ENMU-R, Page A8


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