Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
The New Mexico Military Institute Board of Regents has issued a 30-day notice to its Alumni Association to provide audited financial statements or face banishment from campus — possibly ending a nearly 50year partnership. Regent president Stephen Paternoster of Albuquerque
TAILORS TO THE POPES
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The favorite guessing game in Rome these days is who will be the next pope. Few take it more seriously than the Gammarelli family, tailors to the Vatican for over 200 years. For the past seven conclaves, Gammarelli has prepared three identical white outfits in small, medium and large for the new pontiff’s first appearance ... - PAGE C4
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
NMMI regents put Alumni on notice
Vol. 122, No. 60 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
March 10, 2013
SUNDAY
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cited “failure of the association to maintain an acceptable financial accounting system” and “failure to provide audited financial statements” to NMMI as reasons for the termination of an agreement between the Institute and the association. “While the regents indicated their disappointment at having to take such action, they said that they
The school is prepared to establish its own alumni relations office should the regents terminate the agreement.
had to act in the best interest of NMMI and the state,” said NMMI spokesman Carl Hansen. The Alumni Association has a month to demonstrate to the Institute an acceptable remedy. If one can’t be found, the associa-
tion will be required to close its on-campus alumni office. Alumni Association executive director Jim Lowe, a 1967 NMMI graduate, declined to comment on the decision. “We are aware of the let-
ter,” Lowe said. “I can’t make a statement on it.” The Alumni Association was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1964. The association, which has an office on campus, promotes NMMI and raises funds from alumni. Some of those funds go to cadet scholarships. The association provided
Canines, companions cavort in Cahoon Park
See NMMI, Page A3
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• RPD seeks persons of interest ... • Fatal fire • CC Farm, Ranch Day, 3/21 • Julie Morrow, Walk for Hope founder • Roswell books ticket to Albuquerque
INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
Bella was able to keep her hat on long enough to sweep in and take first prize in the 7th-annual Shamrock Wag-n-Walk at Cahoon Park Saturday, despite the chilly, blustery weather. “She never threw her hat off!,” said Elaine Mayfield, a Rio Pecos Kennel Club member. The event drew 24 fourlegged participants, adorned with St. Patrick’s Day green-colored bandanas, hats, tutus and other festive accessories. Their owners donated $15 to the RPKC for each dog to take part in a 1mile or 2-mile walk. Most participants elected to take the shorter route as the sustained 25- to 35mile-an-hour winds gusted into the 40-miles-anhour range at times. Though the sun shone on the popular community gathering place, high tem-
NM health insurance proposal heads to Senate Macy, an Australian shepherd, and Tori the great dane, mingle during the Rio Pecos Kennel Club’s 7th annual Shamrock Wag-n-Walk at Cahoon Park, Saturday morning.
COYOTES DEFEAT PANTHERS
It only makes sense to fix something when it’s broken, right? Well, something was broken with the Roswell boys basketball team on Saturday and Britt Cooper made sure to fix it at halftime. His long halftime speech mended whatever was broken and Roswell looked good as new in the second half. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • • • • • • •
OBITUARIES
Mary Frances Busby Jewel McCary Harp David Meyer Stein June S. Blair Jackie S. Smith Edmund Henry Ellis Kenneth Ray Conklin - PAGE A3, A6, A7
HIGH ...55˚ LOW ....28˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........D1 COMICS.................C3 FEATURE ...............C4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 SUNDAY BIZ ..........B6 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
SANTA FE (AP) — A proposal to create a stateoperated health insurance exchange is heading to the Senate with bipartisan support, including from Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. Supporters said Saturday the latest proposal was a compromise that will allow New Mexico to meet a deadline for having an exchange
ready to enroll uninsured New Mexicans in October and be fully operating by January.
The exchange is to serve as an online shopping center for uninsured people and small businesses to buy health coverage from private insurance companies. The goal is to make it easier for consumers to shop for insurance by com-
Among the board members are insurance industry representatives, a consumer advocate and health care provider.
paring prices and benefits. Under a federal health care overhaul, states had the option of establishing their own exchange or leaving it to the federal government. Nearly 200,000 New
Mexicans may be able to buy health insurance through the exchange by 2020. “I am pleased that we are now moving forward with a piece of legislation that
See WAG, Page A3
strikes a reasonable compromise, one that has invited advocates, industry professionals, and sponsors from both sides of the aisle to help shape the future of quality health care in New Mexico,” Martinez said in a statement. “Our state’s health insurance exchange will provide the maximum
Senate Rules Committee postpones Skandera vote
SANTA FE (AP) — The Senate’s top Republican leader complained Saturday that politics had become a driving force behind a lengthy confirmation hearing for Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera, who is awaiting a vote by lawmakers with no guarantee it will happen before the Legislature ends. The Senate Rules Committee spent three hours questioning Skandera on Saturday and listened to seven hours of public testimony a week ago. But there was no vote by the committee and chairwoman Linda
Lopez said it was uncertain when the panel would again consider Republican Gov. Susana Martinez’s choice to run the Public Education Department. The Legislature adjourns in a week. Senate GOP Leader Stuart Ingle of Portales said after the hearing that the confirmation proceedings had become a “dog and pony show trying to make somebody look bad.” He confidently predicted that Skandera would win confirmation if her nomination reached the 42-member Senate, where Democ-
rats hold a 25-17 advantage. However, it’s possible that Skandera could continue to languish without a vote by the committee on whether to recommend her confirmation to the Senate. If no vote happens, Skandera will remain in the job she’s held for two years. Lopez, an Albuquerque Democrat, dismissed suggestions that the hearing had become a political spectacle. “I think it’s fair that we can ask her the questions
violations. Citizens have expressed concern over the terminology, particularly the use of “dispose of,” fearing that they may be required to pay a fee or a fine if they have an animal put to sleep. Special Services Administrator Mike Mathews says that this ordinance does not cover legal euthanasia of a pet. Similarly, it would not influence any owner who chooses to sell or give away an adult animal. The only requirement would be that the owner be able to
provide documentation that the dog or cat has received all age-related shots and tags. Some of the public’s concerns related to feral cats: Would the individual who traps a mother cat and attempts to find homes for any kittens be expected to pay a fee or a fine? According to Mathews, no. “This is not the people who the ordinance is aimed at.” People who advertise an puppy or a kitten for sale in the paper will have to produce the litter/breeder permit, and the permit num-
See INSURANCE, Page A3
AP Photo
New Mexico Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera listens to public comment during her confirmation hearing, March 1. Sitting beside her is Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales.
City Council to vote on proposed pet ordinance, Thursday JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Roswell City Council will be voting on a proposed city ordinance, Thursday, which will require permits for breeders, for owners of more than five animals and a litter permit for any pet owner who wishes to “sell, give away or dispose of” any animals in a litter. The proposed ordinance pertains to both cats and dogs and will include a series of fees for each permit, along with graduated fines for
See SKANDERA, Page A3
ber will have to appear in the ad. People could no longer go to Walmart to sell puppies or kittens, even if they can produce a permit. “The only place people can sell an animal is from their home,” he said. Litter, Breeder and Multiple Animals permits would be obtained from Animal Services. He said the city has attempted to make it user-friendly. “If someone gets surprised and a dog (or cat) has an unplanned litter, they would have a week after the birth of the puppies (or kittens) to get a
permit.
Anyone who attempts to turn in an unplanned litter to Animal Services may have to pay a fine. He said if the litter is rescued from feral or stray, then no fines or fees would be incurred as long as the person can produce documentation that he or she belongs to a legitimate rescue organization.
The litter permit would be good for 6 months, but only one permit would be See PET, Page A3