Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Mitt, Newt ‘neck and neck’ in SC
Vol. 121, No. 18 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
SINGER ETTA JAMES DIES
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Etta James’ performance of the enduring classic “At Last” was the embodiment of refined soul: Angelic-sounding strings harkened the arrival of her passionate yet measured vocals as she sang tenderly about a love finally realized after a long and patient wait. In real life, little about James was as genteel as that song. - PAGE A7
January 21, 2012
SATURDAY
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — On the eve of a Southern showdown, Mitt Romney conceded Friday he’s in a tight race with Newt Gingrich for Saturday’s South Carolina primary in a Republican campaign suddenly turned turbulent. It’s “neck and neck,” Romney declared, while a third presidential contender, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, swiped at both men in hopes of springing yet another campaign surprise. Several days after forecasting a Romney victory in
his state, Sen. Jim DeMint said the campaign’s first Southern primary was now a two-man race between the former Massachusetts governor, who has struggled in recent days with questions about his personal wealth and taxes, and Gingrich, the former House speaker who has been surging in polls after a pair of well-received debate performances. A victory by Romney would place him in a commanding position heading into the Florida primary on Jan. 31. He and an organi-
zation supporting him are already airing television ads in that state, which is one of the country’s costliest in which to campaign. If the former Massachusetts governor stumbles in South Carolina, it could portend a long, drawn-out battle for the nomination stretching well into spring and further expose rifts inside the party between those who want a candidate who can defeat Obama more than anything else, and those whose strong See GOP, Page A2
AP Photo
Congress backs off piracy bill
Mitt Romney arrives to campaign at Harmon Tree Farm in Gilbert, S.C., Friday.
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INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Guests attending the grand opening of the Roswell Community Little Theatre take a tour of the spacious facility, Friday evening.
RCLT celebrates new home by singing VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
New year, new show, new building — the Roswell Community Little Theatre had a few reasons to celebrate when the doors of its new locale finally opened and welcomed the public, Friday
RICE SEEKS NEW GAME MEMORY
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Ray Rice has played in eight postseason games, none more memorable than the one in which he ran for 159 yards to help the Baltimore Ravens beat the New England Patriots. About the only thing that could possibly top that would be playing in the Super Bowl, a quest Rice just might realize if he can run wild again in Sunday’s AFC championship game against those same Patriots. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • Raymond Lee • Wayne Milner - PAGE A3
OBITUARIES
HIGH ...72˚ LOW ....43˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
evening. The moment members of the RCLT had been eagerly awaiting for years happened Friday night, when they presented the first RCL T show ever at their new building, 1717 S. Union Ave. There was a reception before curtain time, during which people
could tour the new building and enjoy refreshments. “We didn’t know if this day would ever come,” said RCL T president Patti Stacy. “I can’t even explain how happy it makes us. ... We’re all just overjoyed.” See RCLT, Page A2
WASHINGTON (AP) — Caving to a massive campaign by Internet services and their millions of users, Congress indefinitely postponed legislation Friday to stop online piracy of movies and music costing U.S. companies billions of dollars every year. Critics said the bills would result in censorship and stifle Internet innovation. The demise, at least for the time being, of the anti-piracy bills was a clear victory for Silicon Valley over Hollywood, which has campaigned for a tougher response to online piracy. The legislation also would cover the counterfeiting of drugs and car parts. Congress’ qualms underscored how Internet users can use their collective might to block those who want to change the system. The battle over the future of the Internet also played out on a different front Thursday when a loose affiliation of hackers known as “Anonymous” shut down Justice Department websites for several hours and hacked the site of the Motion Picture Association of America after federal officials issued an indictment against Megaupload.com, one of the See PIRACY, Page A2
France threatens early Stubbs makes run for 5th term exit from Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — France’s threat Friday to withdraw early from Afghanistan after an Afghan soldier killed four French troops and wounded 15 is a setback for the U.S.-led coalition’s efforts to build a national army and allow foreign troops to go home. The deadly shooting — the second against French forces in a month — is the latest in a rising number of disturbing attacks in which Afghan security forces or infiltrators have tur ned their guns on coalition forces.
It came during an especially deadly 24 hours for the international coalition, with six U.S. Marines killed in a helicopter crash Thursday night in southern Afghanistan. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who faces a potentially tough re-election campaign this spring, reacted swiftly and sternly to the killing of the French troops, who were unarmed when they were shot during a physical training exercise. He ordered French forces to stop trainSee FRANCE, Page A3
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Councilor Judy Stubbs has 16 years’ experience on the Roswell City Council and says she is seeking election for her Ward III seat during the municipal election in March. If re-elected, Stubbs will serve her fifth term on the council. First elected in 1994, Stubbs embarked on a run for mayor in 2006, a journey she eventually relinquished. “It made me realize that my talents, my abilities and my passion are much better
served in the legislative branch as opposed to the executive. So I ran for my council seat again,” she said. In 2008, Stubbs won her council seat back. Stubbs said that through her council position she has lear ned more about fostering partnerships among communities and pooling resources to achieve expansion and retention of local businesses. During her 16 years on council, Stubbs has successfully negotiated new See STUBBS, Page A3
Judy Stubbs
Susie Rand-Weimer: Mom, grandma, counselor, marathon runner JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B3 ENTERTAINMENT.....A7 FINANCIAL .............A6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
Julia Bergman Photo
Susie Rand-Weimer
Although Susie RandWeimer completed three marathons in 2011, she considers her greatest and preferred accomplishment to be raising her three children. A lifelong resident of Roswell, Weimer, 40, fondly remembers her days growing up in the city. “My favorite memory is my dad’s truck driving up (to our house). When he drove up I knew it was time for dinner. So we’d all run home. I’d go home, my brother would go home. We’d all have dinner togeth-
er,” she said. Weimer became pregnant while attending Roswell High School, and transferred to University High her senior year to graduate. Despite this obstacle, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice from Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, and a master’s degree in counseling from ENMU-Portales. While traveling to Portales three
nights a week for her master’s courses, Weimer worked full time as an athletic assistant and substitute teacher at RHS and raised her three children Mario, Victor and Amanda. “People don’t realize how important it (education) is. You can do so much with it. If I didn’t have the education that I have, I would be in such a different place. It opens so many doors for you. You can do so many
things with it,” she said. Now a grandmother to Rebekah, 6, and Adrian, 3, Weimer says her own grandmother was her greatest inspiration. “The most positive person in my entire life was my grandma. She always believed in me and she always kept everything positive for me.” Weimer currently operates her own business. Through a contract with the state, she works independently as a behavioral support consultant and provides services to individuals, mainly adults, who have developmental disabilSee SPOTLIGHT, Page A3