Roswell Daily Record
State Health: Flu kills 5 in NM
Vol. 122, No. 16 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 18, 2013
FRIDAY
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ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico health officials on Thursday confirmed the first five flu deaths of this season. The cases involve a 91-year-old woman and a 94-year-old woman from Rio Arriba County, a 67-yearold woman from Bernalillo County, a 57-year -old woman from Lea County and a 56-year -old man from Chaves County. The state Health Department doesn’t track every case of flu in New Mexico, but it does track
influenza-like illness at dozens of locations statewide to estimate the amount of flu activity. Providers and laboratories reported that nearly 5 percent of patient visits last week were for flu-like illnesses. That percentage has fallen for two consecutive weeks, but state epidemiologist Michael Landen was still urging people to get vaccinated. “The influenza season started early and rates of flu-related hospitalizations are higher than they
have been in recent years,” he said. Officials said vaccinations are particularly important for pregnant women, children who are 6 months to 5 years old, adults 50 and older, Native Americans and people with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma. The first of about 726,000 doses of vaccine began arriving in New Mexico in September. In addition to the supplies still available at hospitals, private providers and local
public health offices, the state has 20,000 doses for children and 1,700 adult doses available to be shipped, said Kenny Vigil, a health department spokesman. The flu season typically runs from October through April. Last year, officials confirmed eight flu deaths and dozens of people were hospitalized in Bernalillo County alone. Flu symptoms can include a fever, body aches, tiredness and cough.
‘DEAR ABBY’ DEAD AT 94
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Pauline Friedman Phillips, who as Dear Abby dispensed snappy, sometimes saucy advice on love, marriage and meddling mothersin-law to millions of newspaper readers around the world, died Wednesday in Minneapolis after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 94. - PAGE B5
JESSICA PALMER ROSWELL STAFF WRITER
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• State Legislature gets under way • Virgin Galactic wants informed consent • Harvey Salinas murder trial Day 2 • Shea: Seven have applied at Roswell • Defense carries Roswell to 13-0
INSIDE SPORTS
Pearce addresses state Legislature U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce speaks to the a joint session of the state Legislature in Santa Fe, Thursday.
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
Week 1 of the 51st legislative session closed Thursday after a day featuring a joint session with
COLTS DEFEAT PANTHERS
DEXTER — In the first quarter of its game against Lake Arthur on Thursday at the John Reid Invitational, NMMI held the Panthers to nine points. No matter the level, allowing less than 10 points in a quarter is impressive. NMMI’s defense was even better the rest of the way. Over the next three quarters, Lake Arthur scored just eight points as the Colts forced 24 turnovers in the final 24 minutes .... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Thomas Wilkerson Sr. • Darlene Rhoads • Astrid Holland • Robert John Ratigan • Robert E. Dutchover Jr. • Ralph Shamas - PAGE B5
HIGH ...57˚ LOW ....25˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
Salinas guilty
an address by Congressman Steve Pearce, R-N.M., more bill introductions in both chambers and committee assignments for senators. In his address, Pearce spoke about jobs, gave
Philip Fischer Photo
ship in both the U.S. and state Capitols. “His overall theme was for us to make sure that we don't follow the same path,” Burt said. Pearce also spoke about
legislators an update on the federal government and discussed the national impact of the financial cliff, said Sen. Bill Burt, R-Alamogordo. Pearce also discussed the need for bipartisan-
After deliberating four and-a-half hours, the jury that heard the case of New Mexico vs Harvey Salinas found the defendant guilty on charges of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Arnulfo Villela Jr., and guilty on the charges of unlawful carrying of a firearm by a person under the age of 19. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on July 6 when an argument turned lethal. The verdict followed the State’s final witness, Chaves County Detention Center Of ficer Bruce Leatherman, who reported to the court that Salinas had told the officer that another prisoner, Christopher Miranda, was “the snitch we were supposed to kill. He bangs Eastside, too.” The State rested, and the defense did also as Salinas chose not to take the stand on his own behalf. Salinas’ attor ney Luke Ragsdale asked the court for a directed verdict on the original charges of second-
Algeria: Army Judge Ralph D. Shamas dies rescues hostages See PEARCE, Page A3
See SALINAS, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algerian helicopters and special forces stormed a gas plant in the stony plains of the Sahara on Thursday to wipe out Islamist militants and free hostages from at least 10 countries. Bloody chaos ensued, leaving the fate of the fighters and many of the captives uncertain. Dueling claims from the military and the militants muddied the world’s understanding of an event that angered Western leaders, raised world oil prices and com-
plicated the international military operation in neighboring Mali. At least six people, and perhaps many more, were killed — Britons, Filipinos and Algerians. Terrorized hostages from Ireland and Norway trickled out of the Ain Amenas plant, families urging them never to return. Dozens more remained unaccounted for: Americans, Britons, French, Norwegians, Romanians, Malaysians, Japanese, Algerians and the fight-
Record File Photo
Ralph Shamas is sworn in as a judge for the 5th Judicial District at the Chaves County Courthouse in this June 17, 2005, file photo. Shamas died Thursday. He was 65.
The Honorable Ralph D. Shamas, 65, died Thursday morning after a month-long battle with cancer. His office stands empty, just the way he left it, with everything neat and tidy, his pending cases stacked awaiting his touch. His loss is profoundly felt by the people who worked with him at Chaves County 5th District Court. Judge Charles C. Currier spoke about his colleague’s start as an advocate in 1974. “He was joint partners with Tandy Hunt. I was partners with him in Tandy Hunt’s fir m for a little while. He was appointed judge by Gov. Richardson in June of 2005.” Currier called Shamas an extremely strong advocate for his clients. Currier said it was something Shamas carried over when he became a judge. “He was a great asset to the judiciary. It’s going to be diffi-
Job Corps students clear phragmites at Bitter Lake See ALGERIA, Page A2
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
INDEX
Mark Wilson Photo
Students and instructors from Roswell Job Corps clear phragmites, a large perennial grass, at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge for an eventual burn by fire crews, Thursday.
Twenty-seven students from Roswell Job Corps volunteered their time Thursday to help with conservation efforts at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The students, ranging in ages of 16 to 23, were from the Home Builder’s Institute construction trades of painting, facility maintenance and electrical. Robert Gibson, lead instructor for the construction trades, said students helped clear phragmites at Bitter Creek, which had
been congested with the large perennial grass. “In order for the creek to flow freely, we need to get all of that out of there,” Gibson said. “So (the students) volunteered to come and do this.” “It’s not easy work,” he said. “They’re out here in maybe shoulder -high grass, dealing with the elements. And it’s a little bit cold out here!” Jesse T rujillo, project leader at Bitter Lake, explained that refuge staff began its Bitter Creek Restoration Project by cutting the grass with weed eaters, and that students raked and piled the inva-
See SHAMAS, Page A3
sive species alongside the road for a prescribed burn.
“It’s a great way for outreach,” Trujillo said. “Not only for them to be a part of this restoration project, but to learn the benefits of doing such projects and learn about the environment and how to help it.”
Gibson said most of the students who volunteered are from metropolitan areas like El Paso and Dallas. He said even though his students aren’t from Roswell, all of them have shown a great willingness to help the community. See BITTER, Page A3