Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 121, No. 29 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Roseanne Barr said Thursday she’s running for the Green Party’s presidential nomination — and it’s no joke. The actress-comedian said in a statement that she’s a longtime supporter of the party and looks forward to working with people who share her values. ... - PAGE A3
February 3, 2012
Is webcasting politically motivated? JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
MADAME PRESIDENT?
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Expressing his concern over what he believes to be an unequal openness of the session, Senate President Pro-Tem Tim Jennings, DRoswell, said he believes that the governor has a political motive behind the webcasting of the Legislature. “I think they’re doing it for political reasons. She’s been webcasting some things and
FRIDAY
www.rdrnews.com
“We don’t know if she’s webcasting with private funds, or state funds, or whatever.” — Senate President ProTem Tim Jennings
then she turned it off when she got some bad publicity over the state fair lease. If you’re going to webcast it you should webcast all sides,” Jennings said, “We
don’t know if she’s webcasting with private funds, or state funds, or whatever.”
Jennings’ concern lies in his belief that webcasting should be fair and uniform. “When they put their cameras up just to photograph the Democrats, then that’s not really fair, when they don’t photograph the Republicans.” Yet Jennings said he believes the public does See LEGISLATURE, Page A7
HOUSE OKS PRC REVAMP SANTA FE (AP) — Proposals to streamline New Mexico’s utility regulatory agency and establish minimum qualifications for its elected members sped through the House on Thursday. Supporters contend the proposals to revamp the Public Regulation Commission will make it more ef ficient and should
J. Madsen back with RPD; on paid leave
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Alex Escobar found in Tucumcari • Title IX sparks House fireworks • BBBS taps Bill Wolf for CEO • Boomer Expo set for Saturday • Artesia girls down Goddard
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Ron Stern, right, president and CEO of Lovelace Health System, and Rod Schumacher, CEO at Roswell Regional Hospital, meet and greet employees during an ice cream social Thursday, celebrating the purchase of the hospital by Lovelace.
RRH celebrates sale to Lovelace hospital’s sale to Lovelace Health System Inc.
VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Employees at Roswell Regional Hospital were treated all day Thursday in celebration of the
LAKE ARTHUR BOYS FALL
The Lake Arthur boys basketball team brought its “A” game on the defensive side of the ball and in the hustle department. Unfortunately for the Panthers, their offense couldn’t muster enough points in a 35-27 loss to the NMMI C team on Thursday. Lake Arthur trailed 6-5 after the first quarter and 1210 at the half. The Colts pushed its lead to four by the end of the third quarter and outscored the Panthers 1511 in the final eight minutes to seal the win. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Jacky Weir • Vanita Jean Propes - PAGE A6
HIGH ...66˚ LOW ....31˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B3 COMICS.................B7 ENTERTAINMENT.....B3 FINANCIAL .............B6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B3 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
The contract making the sale of Roswell Regional Hospital by Lovelace of ficial was signed Thursday, said Frederick French,
ensure that elected regulators are better prepared for the increasingly complex utility and telecommunications issues they must decide. “This is a baby step, but it is a step in the right direction in trying to improve the actions that this particular agency is
a gastroenterologist who is one of the original owners of the hospital.
RRH employees were treated to
See PRC, Page A7
City Administrator Larry Fry confirmed Thursday that Jeannie Madsen has been reinstated with the Roswell Police Department following a ruling by the Labor Relations Board. He noted she remains on paid administrative leave. The arbitration was initiated after Madsen, an RPD detective and 11-year veteran of the department, was arrested on Jan. 9, 2011, in connection with a domestic violence incident. The criminal complaint alleges that Madsen kicked her spouse, RPD Sgt. Eric Madsen. He was discharged from the force in February 2011 due to a separate, but related, incident. Jeannie Madsen’s trial was vacated in August and Madsen was placed on probation for six months as part of the Pre-Prosecution Diversion Act. The act removes people from the criminal justice system who are amenable to rehabilitation and unlikely to commit future offenses. The pro-
The Donald endorses Romney APD solves murder
LAS VEGAS (AP) — With his trademark flair for spectacle, Donald T rump endorsed Mitt Romney for president Thursday on the famed Las Vegas strip — just hours after Newt Gingrich’s advisers were spreading the word that The Donald would be anointing him instead. T rump’s endorsement seemed likely to affect this Saturday’s Nevada caucuses — and the GOP nomination fight in general — about as much as a Sin City breeze disturbs the real estate mogul’s legendary hair. But he managed to create a stir of a different sort, at least for a day. Romney said he was glad to get the support, but he seemed almost bemused to be caught up in the Trumpian drama. “There are some things
See RRH, Page A7
See MADSEN, Page A7
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
AP Photo
Mitt Romney and Donald Trump during a press conference in Las Vegas, Thursday
you just can’t imagine happening. This is one of them,” Romney said with a smile, looking out at the
Shadow Day
reporters and cameras jammed into the lobby of
Artesia Police solved the murder of security guard Michael Evans, Thursday, as the result of investigation of an aggravated assault that had occurred Wednesday at a Circle K Convenience Store and a driveby shooting. Evans was killed on Sunday. He was on the phone with Artesia Dispatch after making a 911 call about a suspicious subject. The employee of Sierra Security and Investigations was patrolling the area behind Yates Petroleum, near the 400 block of West Main Street. Dispatch heard the line go dead and
Roswell Job Corps student Jaime Barrayasco, left, spends the day shadowing security guard Joe Day at Dean Baldwin Painting on Groundhog Job Shadow Day, Thursday.
sent the police to the scene where Evans was found shot in the head. Artesia police officers executed a search warrant on the Artesia residence for the suspect of the assault, Bobby Smith. According to APD spokesman Sgt. Lindell Smith, officials located items which were used
Tijerina makes rare appearance See ROMNEY, Page A7
INDEX
Mark Wilson Photo
Bobby Smith
AP Photo
Chicano Movement leader Reies Lopez Tijerina speaks at an event honoring the 164th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the Statehouse in Santa Fe, Thursday.
See APD, Page A7
SANTA FE (AP) — Reies Lopez Tijerina, a controversial figure who helped launch the Chicano Movement after leading an armed raid of a New Mexico courthouse over Hispanic land rights, made a rare appearance Thursday. Resting in a wheelchair and using an oxygen machine, the 85-year-old Tijerina went to an event marking the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican War in 1848. Tijerina has often contended that the U.S. government stole millions of acres from Latinos following the war. The United States pledged in the treaty to respect private land holdings, including land grants made under the Spanish and Mexican governments. See TIJERINA, Page A7