Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
AUTHORITY OKS RUNWAY EXTENSION
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The nearly two-mile-long runway at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico will have to be extended to accommodate Virgin Galactic’s sleek rocket-powered spacecraft, spaceport officials confirmed Thursday. New Mexico Spaceport Authority board ... - PAGE B3
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Oil supply ample to squeeze Iran
Vol. 121, No. 78 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Friday he was plowing ahead with potential sanctions against countries that keep buying oil from Iran, including allies of the United States, in a deepening campaign to starve Iran of money for its disputed nuclear program. The world oil market is tight but deep enough to keep the squeeze on Iran, Obama ruled. The sanctions aim to further isolate Iran’s central bank, which processes nearly all of the Iran’s oil purchases, from the global economy. Obama’s move clears the way for the U.S. to penalize foreign financial
March 31, 2012
SATURDAY
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institutions that do oil business with Iran by barring them from having a U.S.-based affiliate or doing business here. Obama’s goal is to tighten the pressure on Iran, not allies, and already the administration exempted 10 European Union countries and Japan from the threat of sanctions because they cut their oil purchases from Iran. Other nations have about three months to significantly reduce such imports before sanctions would kick in. Still, administration officials said that Obama is ready to slap sanctions on U.S. partners and that his action on Friday was
another signal.
At issue for Obama was ruling, by Friday, whether oil supplies were sufficient to keep demanding that nations cut off Iran — not an insignificant matter in a time of high election-year gas prices at home. Obama gave his OK after considering available reserves, increased oil production by some countries and global economic conditions. The White House emphasized that he would continue to keep an eye on the oil market to make sure that it — and its consumers — could withstand See OIL, Page A3
Learning the ropes
AP Photo
President Barack Obama rolls up his sleeves as he speaks at a campaign fundraiser at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Friday.
‘The law is the law’ JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Secret Pals clean up Memory Lawn • Sprint promises tower upgrades • Mizzou students spend spring break at ... • 5 men and a goat hoof to Wrigley ... • Roswell takes pair from Lovington
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
NMMI cadets navigate the ropes course during a LEAD Ropes Course Facilitation and Leadership class, Thursday afternoon.
DAVIS, HAITH WIN AP HOOPS AWARDS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Anthony Davis was busier than any of the other players in the Final Four. The Kentucky freshman had to make the circuit of Player of the Year presentations Friday, not that he was complaining. “There were a lot of awards yesterday and today,” Davis said with a big smile. “It’s a great feeling, especially as a freshman. I’ve been working hard and now it’s rewarding.” - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Geneva Bruin Gardner • Leslie Paslay - PAGE B3
HIGH ...89˚ LOW ....53˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
4-H’ers fess up; ’twas they NOAH VERNAU
Although Secretary of State Dianna Duran deemed him an eligible candidate, Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, could be removed from the June 5 primary ballot due to a lawsuit filed by one of his opponents for the District 32 seat, Cliff Pirtle, a Roswell farmer. Jennings is one of at least a dozen hopefuls who failed to write the number of the district or division they’re seeking on their nominating petitions. This information was required for the first time this year per a bill which was passed during the 2011 regular legislative session. “The law was pretty clear in what it said and what it was trying to require,” Pirtle said. “I just feel the law should apply to everybody equally. Nobody’s above the law. Ignorance of the law is never an excuse not to follow (it).”
Johnny G’s helpers
See PIRTLE, Page A3
RECORD STAFF WRITER Memory Lawn Memorial Park’s secret pals have been revealed.
On Saturday, March 3, the Chaves County 4-H program sent about 100 4-H’ers to the cemetery, where they picked up trash, straightened flowers and decorations, and raked the dirt away from gravesites.
Extension 4-H agent Janelle Duffey spoke yesterday with Memory Lawn’s receiver Robert Corn, who later called the Daily Record to report the cemetery’s mystery helpers.
“First off, I’m elated that they came out there,” Corn said. “The other thing is, it’s just a wonderful thing to know that you live in a community such as Roswell, where people roll up their sleeves and help out. It’s just great.”
Corn said that more than anything else, it shows the kind of leadership the 4-H program tries to instill in its young students.
“So she said they had about 100 people out there, and the only thing they were short on was rakes!” Corn laughed. “So they didn’t bring enough rakes with them! It’s just fantastic, and I’m tickled to death that a community club like that would take an interest.
“My vocabulary is really not big enough to express my gratitude. It’s just great, and I’m very appreciative.”
Mark Wilson Photo
Roswell Job Corps students arrange Easter goodies as they assist the Johnny Gonzales Community Volunteer Program for the upcoming Easter Food Basket Giveaway, Friday. The big event will be held at the Roswell Boys & Girls Club on Easter Sunday starting at 10 a.m., with free baskets for children and the elderly. A free breakfast will be served. Volunteers are needed to help with food baskets. For more information call Johnny at 624-7579.
DeFranco captures personalities through her camera lens nvernau@rdrnews.com
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B6 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 STATE ...................B3 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
Noah Vernau Photo
Stephanie DeFranco at her new photography studio, SD Photo.
Before Stephanie DeFranco discovered her love of photography, she was just a high school junior trying to fill her class schedule. She loved art, music, and wanted to take yearbook, but she had trouble getting classes in all three subjects. When her counselor said she could participate in yearbook by enrolling in the school’s mentorship program, DeFranco made what would prove to be a lifealtering choice. DeFranco said it didn’t take long working with
photographer Jerry Holm before she lear ned that much of what she had already loved existed in photography. Her mentor helped DeFranco to locate, in a sense, the art and music of photography, offering his varied insights on lighting and composition. “Sure, I can draw, I can do stuff on the computer,” DeFranco says, “but I really liked being able to create
my own art through photography. Being able to capture personalities through the camera, that’s my sense of art.” DeFranco earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design at Eastern New Mexico University, where she built on what she had lear ned under Holm. She entered juried photography exhibitions See SPOTLIGHT, Page A3