Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 122, No. 39 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
RABIES CLINIC WILL BE HELD MARCH 3
College Garden Animal Clinic in conjunction with Roswell Fire Department will hold the annual Rabies Clinic on Sunday, March 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. All of Roswell’s fire stations but the one at the Roswell International Air Center will open their doors to the public for the ... - PAGE A2
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Chicken listing opponents voice ... • Pushy home security company alarming ... • DSF workshop a success • Coyotes fend off Artesia at Den • Rocket girls beat ...
INSIDE SPORTS
House OKs gun-buyer background checks SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers waded into the national debate over gun violence Wednesday as the House approved legislation to require criminal background checks of more people who buy firearms at gun shows. If the measure becomes law, which is far from certain, New Mexico will join at least six other states in having background checks for all firearms purchased at gun shows from private
Boehner: Up to Dems to prevent cuts
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday it’s unlikely the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-led Senate will prevent a wave of automatic spending cuts from beginning to strike the economy in two weeks. Yet he sounded hopeful about avoiding a partial shutdown of the gover nment when a temporary spending bill expires next month.
Cloistered in his Capitol of fice overlooking the National Mall, Boehner said in an interview with The Associated Press that he was skeptical of many of President Barack Obama’s plans, laid out the night before in the annual State of the Union address.
OBITUARIES • Denise Renee Hanes • Elizabeth Lou Owen • Virginia C. Anaya - PAGE A6
HIGH ...60˚ LOW ....29˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
Opponents said more background checks won’t stop shootings and killings or prevent criminals from obtaining guns.
sellers, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
Federal law requires those checks for sales by licensed dealers in their stores or at gun shows, but it doesn’t cover private gun sales regardless of the location of the transaction.
Supporters of the legislation said it was a step in trying to reduce gun violence.
“Something needs to get done. We are at a point now where we are seeing these horrible things. And if this bill helps address the problems and I believe it will in a very significant
way, then I am willing to support it,” said Rep. Nate Gentry, an Albuquerque Republican. The measure cleared the House on a 43-26 vote, with eight Republicans joining 35 Democrats in support. Only three Democrats opposed the bill. The proposal goes to the Senate, which tends to be more conservative than the House. GOP Gov. Susana Martinez, who is licensed to
carry a concealed handgun, has said she would sign the legislation if it remains unchanged. Opponents said more background checks won’t stop shootings and killings or prevent criminals from obtaining guns. They pointed out that legally purchased firearms were used in recent mass killings, including at a Connecticut school in See GUNS, Page A3
Ilissa Gilmore Photo
Couple renews vows at Villa Del Rey John Simons and his wife Rita renew their marriage vows Wednesday during a Valentine’s Day celebration at Villa Del Rey Retirement Inn.
Villa Del Rey Retirement Inn hosted a vow renewal ceremony for a senior couple Wednesday during a Valentine's Day celebration for facility res-
idents and the community. Originally from Artesia, John and Rita Simons have been married 18 years. This is a second
marriage for both. Rev. Caerlion Arthur of Inner Journey Ministries officiated the ceremony, as residents and staff looked on.
After exchanging vows, t h e cou p le cu t sm all p ieces of f o f a h ear t sh ap ed cak e an d fed them to each other.
Valentine’s Day Party is tonight! State Senate passes
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett talked about his new assistants for nearly 30 minutes before taking a question in his first offseason news conference Wednesday. He emphasized his ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S
THURSDAY
www.rdrnews.com
See CUTS, Page A3
GARRETT: I’M ON BOARD WITH ’BOYS OFFSEASON
February 14, 2013
Ilissa Gilmore Photo
Johnny Gonzales (right) and volunteer Dorall Smith, 14, (left) prepare Valentine’s Day gifts Wednesday.
The Community Volunteer Program will host a free food basket giveaway during its annual Valentine’s Party tonight at 7 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, 201 South Garden Ave. For more than 25 years,
the organization has provided gifts to members of the community who are often forgotten on Valentine’s Day, said Program Director Johnny Gonzales. The program also delivers gifts, such as candies and decorative roses, around town to senior citizens, dialysis patients, single parents, employees of local businesses and family
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers who are shaping the fate of the millions of people in the U.S. illegally were told by one Wednesday that it’s time to rewrite immigration laws so that they, too, can live the American dream. “What do you want to do with me?” an emotional Jose Antonio Vargas demanded of senators. “How do you define American?” The first Senate hearing on immigration policy this year pointed toward an emerging bipartisan consensus that the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants
should be offered a path to citizenship. But passionate divisions over the issue also surfaced as one Republican decried amnesty and shouting protesters interrupted the proceedings. “You really mean that we’re not going to have enforcement, but we’ve got to have amnesty first,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions, a top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano rejected the argument that border security must be the focus before a comprehensive immigration package or any
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
members of Chaves County Detention Center inmates. “We just reach out and tell them that somebody loves them,” Gonzales said. “I don’t want anyone to be without. I do this from my heart. “I thank God that we’re able to do this, and I just want to make someone happy.” Job Corps students of the Automotive Department, as well as Community Service volunteers, have been instrumental to the program’s work this year, he said. Everybody is welcome to attend the event and the program is still accepting names for deliveries and monetary donations for the Valentine’s Day party. Donations will be accepted before 7 p.m. and can also be dropped off during the event. For more information on how to contribute, call Gonzales at 624-7579.
Servers legislation
The State Senate voted 35-0 Wednesday to pass a bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Burt, R-Alamogordo, that would require increased training for licensed bartenders and servers in an effort to prevent them from mistakenly serving alcohol to a minor. Senate Bill 259 would amend the Alcohol Server Education Article of the Liquor Control Act to require frequent training of servers and shorten the valid server period from five years to three years. The bill would reduce the charge of serving to a minor from a fourth degree felony to a misdemeanor, for the first offense. A fourth degree felony would still be charged on a subsequent offense of selling to a minor. Burt said he is suggesting the change for a first offense because of the stigma the server would receive, which would most likely end their career. “ We n eed t o un d er st an d th a t m a ny of ou r servers in the hospitality industry are hardworking people who take their jobs seriously,” Burt said in a statement. “I do not think they should be penalized so See SERVERS, Page A3
Calls to rewrite immigration laws highlight Senate hearing igilmore@rdrnews.com
pathway to legalization can be done. “Too often the border security refrain simply serves as an excuse,” she said. An immigration overhaul is a priority for President Barack Obama and lawmakers after a brutal election in which voters again elected a divided government. Democrats control the White House and the Senate, while Republicans hold the House majority. But for all of the division and polarization in WashingSee HEARING, Page A3
AP Photo
Immigration rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday.