Roswell Daily Record
New military photo scandal
Vol. 121, No. 94 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta apologized Wednesday for gruesome, newly revealed photographs that show U.S. soldiers posing with the bloodied remains of dead insurgents in Afghanistan. He said war can lead young troops to “foolish decisions” and expressed concern the photos could incite fresh violence against Americans.
DICK CLARK DEAD AT 82
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dick Clark, the ever-youthful television host and producer who helped bring rock ‘n’ roll into the mainstream on “American Bandstand” and rang in the New Year for the masses at Times Square, has died. He was 82. Spokesman Paul Shefrin said Clark had a heart attack Wednesday morning ... - PAGE B3
The White House called the two-year -old photos “reprehensible,” joining Panetta and other top military officials in expressing regret for the latest in a string of embarrassing missteps by the U.S. military
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
April 19, 2012
THURSDAY
www.rdrnews.com
in a war that’s built on earning the trust and confidence of ordinary Afghans. In recent months, American troops have been caught up in controversies over burning Muslim holy books, urinating on Afghan corpses, an alleged massacre of 17 Afghan villagers and other misdeeds.
“This is war. I know that war is ugly and it’s violent, and I know that young people sometimes caught up in the moment make some very foolish decisions,” Panetta said. “I am not excusing that behavior, but neither do I want these images to bring further injury to our people or to
our relationship with the Afghan people.” “My apology is on behalf of the Department of Defense and the U.S. government,” Panetta told a press conference in Brussels following a meeting of NATO allies at which the way ahead in Afghanistan was the central topic. The photos were published in Wednesday’s Los Angeles Times. Panetta said he had urged the newspaper not to publish the photos, which it said it were given by a member of the 82nd Airborne. See PHOTOS, Page A6
AP Photo
From left, United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Spanish Defense Minister Pedro Morenes during a round table of NATO Defense Ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday.
Prez, Mitt battle over economy
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Local students step back to the past • What’s more Roswell than trees? • Vanguard elm graces Center grounds • Will horses rescue failing abattoir? • GHS leads area finishers at Classic
INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
Emergency personnel extract victims of a staged drunk driving accident scene in front of Hagerman High School Wednesday morning during the Every 15 Minutes program that helps illustrate the dangers of drinking and driving.
A student will attend his own funeral today NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
END OF AN ERA
The iconic Pat Summitt is stepping aside, a moment fans of the Tennessee Lady Vols and women’s basketball have been dreading since August. Since the 59-year-old Summitt — the sports alltime winningest coach — revealed on Aug. 23 she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type, the move has been anticipated. The Lady Vols played through an emotional season with Summitt’s every move studied closely for glimpses of the disease that caused her problems with memory loss. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARY
• Wanda Parker Lynn - PAGE B3
HIGH ...91˚ LOW ....55˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B6 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
State Police officers and the Grim Reaper called 16 teenagers from their Hagerman High School classrooms Wednesday morning,
an unexpected start to the day for students who are learning the dangers of underage drinking, drinking or texting while driving and prescription drugs. The Chaves County Every 15 Minutes program concludes today, an
awareness and prevention program that simulates the often tragic consequences of poor decisions, and the fragility of life. Students observed the afterSee HAGERMAN, Page A6
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Their battle joined, challenger Mitt Romney savaged President Barack Obama’s handling of the economy on Wednesday while the commander in chief commiserated up close with victims of the recession and war ned that Republicans would only make matters worse. “Obama is over his head and swimming in the wrong direction” when it comes to the economy, Romney said in a scorching speech delivered across the street from the football stadium where the president will deliver his Democratic National Convention acceptance speech this summer. “Even if you like Barack Obama, we can’t afford Barack Obama,” the former Massachusetts governor declared, an evident reference to the president’s ability to transcend at least some of the public’s dissatisfaction with the pace of the recovery. Romney quoted liberally — and mockingly — from Obama’s 2008 campaign pledges to repair the economy. At the same time, Obama
Law Academy board NMMI alum tells of Luke’s Wings may cut AG’s role
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The state Law Enforcement Academy board has delayed a decision to ter minate Attor ney General Gary King’s role as its legal adviser. The board was set to consider the matter Tuesday. King serves as legal counsel, prosecutes officers in disciplinary hearings, advises the hearing officers and defends its decisions at appeals court hearings. Board member Nate Korn proposed the move. The Albuquerque Jour nal reports he asked, without explanation, that the pro-
posal be set aside. The proposed elimination of King’s role has been contentious because he heads the board as chairman. The board certifies law enforcement of ficers and can revoke the certification for wrongdoing. Korn has been a leading board critic of King’s office, and in December pushed other members to oust the assistant attorney general who prosecuted administrative cases involving police officer certifications. Board members have
See BATTLE, Page A6
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
To tell the story of Luke’s Wings one must begin with Fletcher Gill and an account relayed to him by his good friend Sarah Wingfield. In 2007, Wingfield visited troops at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a Washington Redskins ambassador. While there she met Luke Shirley, a wounded soldier in the early stages of recovery. “Part of her story revolved around how his
Mark Wilson Photo
NMMI alumnus and Luke’s Wings co-founder Fletcher Gill speaks with cadets Samuel Epstein, left, and Manny Frias Herrera at Bates Dining Hall, Wednesday.
Duran’s hat in the ring for D4 commission nomination See BOARD, Page A6
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Magil Duran
Magil Duran, a Vietnamera veteran and a retired state employee, says he is seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 4 County Commission seat. Commissioner Dick Taylor, who will complete his second consecutive term and is not eligible for reelection, currently represents the district. Duran said, if elected, he would not use his seat as “a stepping stone” to anoth-
See WINGS, Page A6
er political office. He is running to provide an alternative tack to the five-member, all-Republican commission. “You can read a paragraph and see one thing, and I can read the same paragraph and see something else. I think we need a little diversity in that manner to the commission,” Duran said. He added the commission’s work has been exemplary. Born in Roswell, Duran left two weeks after his 17th birthday to join the U.S. Army. He was honor-
ably discharged after serving three years of active duty. He earned an Associate of Arts in human services. Duran worked for many years in the aerospace industry in Los Angeles, primarily as a numerical control mill machine operator and as experimental machinist. Additionally, he helped prototype the B2 bomber. When he returned to Roswell from Los Angeles in 1988, Duran became a Chaves County CASA volunteer, igniting an extensive line of volunteer work,
which includes his time as president of the Roswell Hispano Chamber of Commerce.
If elected, ensuring the budget is spent wisely and maintaining county roads would be priorities for Duran. “Keeping the county in good order is a primary... making sure that everything is done in an openface manner,” he said Duran’s main concern is the renovations needed by the Chaves County Adult See DURAN, Page A6