2-19-12 PAPER

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Roswell Daily Record

Gateway celebrates 30 years

Vol. 121, No. 43 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

February 19, 2012

SUNDAY

www.rdrnews.com

WHITNEY SOARS AT HOMETOWN FUNERAL

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — After all the testimonials from relatives and friends, the songs from legends and pop stars, the preaching and even laughter, the raw emotion of Whitney Houston’s funeral came down to just one moment: The sound of her own voice. - PAGE B7

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INSIDE SPORTS

Mark Wilson Photo

Gateway Christian students Hannah Barone, Kaylee Stephens and Savanna Fox check out auction items during the 30th Gateway Christian School Anniversary Gala Dinner & Auction, Friday evening, at the Roswell Civic Center.

NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER

Gateway Christian School celebrated its 30th anniversary Friday, welcoming students, staff and alumni to the Civic Center

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico was hoping for a big game from Drew Gordon in the post against No. 11 UNLV on Saturday. What he delivered far exceeded the Lobos’ expectations. Gordon scored a careerhigh 27 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in New Mexico’s dominating 65-45 victory, its second in 48 hours over a ranked team. - PAGE B1

TODAY’S • • • • • •

OBITUARIES

Robert W. Morgan Betty Jean Chesser Capt. John J.Foster Dorothy E. Scott James Van Eaton Wanda DeShurley - PAGE B6

HIGH ...66˚ LOW ....37˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........D1 COMICS.................C4 ENTERTAINMENT.....B7 FEATURE ...............C5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B7 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8

INDEX

administrator, said the event was about honoring the people who have helped the school over the years more than anything else. “Just to still be here after 30 years, because we receive no money from the

state — it’s all tuition that we charge, and then different fundraisers that we do. So the community of Roswell has just been great. It’s a big accomplishment.”

Dems, GOP look to play offense RFD jr. officers may join union WASHINGTON (AP) — Bruised from the payroll tax cut brawl, congressional Republicans want to change the subject and push legislation they say would create jobs by promoting transportation and energy projects, cutting business taxes and helping companies raise capital.

UNM ROUTS UNLV, 65–45

for its Gala Dinner & Auction. The school raised funds for a new science lab, improvements to their athletic facilities and new computers for their elementary school classrooms.

auctions, one silent and one live, featuring items such as an iPad, a grill, Ted Robertson and Thomas Kincaid prints, purses, hotel stays and jewelry. Ann Daniels, event coordinator, said there were a combined 48 items for auction at the event, and that the school hoped to raise enough money to open the science lab before the next school year. “It’s a chance for us to show the community what Gateway has done, how we started, how we’re growing, our plans for the future, additions. In our wildest dreams, we hope to raise $100,000 — but what we expect, I don’t know.” Gateway honored Peggy Mason with its first Leaving a Legacy award, in tribute to her 25 years at the school. Mason, who taught the elementary grades, has been retired for about nine years, but left quite an impression on former students, Daniels said. Julie Vaz, development director, said Gateway surveyed alumni and found Mason’s name brought up again and again. “Almost every single one had a Mrs. Peggy Mason fourth-grade class story. And we thought, ‘Wow, she has really left a legacy over the years.’ So we wanted to honor her tonight.”

Democrats hope to use the momentum they say they gained from the payroll fight by forcing Republicans to vote repeatedly this election year on jobs programs financed by tax boosts on the rich.

The parties’ legislative strategies underscore the political conclusions each drew from the payroll battle. That fight finally

Ricky

Rapp,

school

The Gala presented two

ended Friday when Congress used bipartisan votes to send President Barack Obama a $143 billion package extending the 2 percentage point payroll tax cut, preserving extra jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and preventing slashes in Medicare reimbursements to doctors.

Until abruptly dropping their demand that the payroll tax cut be financed with spending cuts, outmaneuvered Republicans had let Democrats cast them as opposing a middle-class tax break for 160 million workers. That was a vulnerable position just months ahead of presidential and congressional elections, so the GOP is

See GATEWAY, Page A3

JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER

trying to refocus voters on what they say are Obama’s failed efforts to fully revive the economy. “We need to change course and focus on pro-

AP Photo

growth economic policies that help small businesses create jobs,” House Speaker John Boehner,

The three-member Labor Management Relations Board for the city of Roswell reached an unanimous decision allowing Roswell Fire Department lieutenants to be included in a collective bargaining unit. They released their decision Friday afternoon, after holding two hearings and much delib-

52 years on, Joe Kittinger recalls 102,800-foot freefall NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER

When a balloon lifts Felix Baumgartner 123,000 feet above Roswell this summer, he will hear one voice before stepping out of his capsule and plunging 23 miles back to earth. That will be the voice of Col. Joe Kittinger, 83, the only person who has ever jumped from the edge of space and lived to talk about it.

Fifty-two years ago, Kittinger fell 102,800 feet through the Earth’s atmosphere. In a freefall lasting nearly five minutes, he reached speeds as high as 614 mph. The historic space-dive was Kittinger’s third parachute jump as a part of the legendary Air Force mission, Project Excelsior.

Kittinger now serves as the Red Bull Stratos team’s flight director, Baumgart-

See DEMS, Page A3

See UNION, Page A3

ner’s primary point of radio contact as he reaches altitude.

“I'm going to be there to help him in any way I can,” Kittinger told the Daily Record, Tuesday. “I know what he’s going through. I know exactly what he’s going to be looking at and how he’s going to be responding because I’ve been there.”

Courtesy Photo

USAF Col. (ret.) Joe Kittinger in the national museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dec. 2, 2008.

Shooting immigration agency’s latest woe Candidate forum Monday See KITTINGER, Page A3

WASHINGTON (AP) — The deadly office shooting in California involving a federal immigrations supervisor and a special agent is the latest mark against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the law enforcement agency created after the 2001 terror attacks.

AP Photo

A police officer talks on the radio in front of the Federal Building in Long Beach, Calif., after reports of shots fired on Thursday.

Its officers and agents have themselves been arrested for crimes, accused of improper relaSee SHOOTING, Page A7

On Monday, voters will get to watch while candidates running in the municipal election answer a range of questions, allowing them to make an informed decision before heading to the polls March 6. The Leadership Roswell Alumni Association is holding a candidate forum at First Baptist Church, 500 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Monday, at 6:30 p.m. The Roswell Daily Record will serve as the co-sponsor for the forum.

Rick Kraft, executive director of the Leadership Roswell program and exofficio board member of the LRAA, will serve as the moderator for the forum, as he has for many years.

The night will serve as a forum rather than a debate, and will help to educate voters on their choice or choices for the upcoming election. Candidates running for the same ward, or in the case of See FORUM, Page A3


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