Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
CAR RACER SHELBY DIES DALLAS (AP) — Decades after a heart condition forced him to retire from racing, Carroll Shelby still loved to drive muscle cars. Well into his 80s, the legendary car designer spent hours testing his last Mustang Shelby GT500, which ...
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
David Lawrence is found not guilty
Vol. 121, No. 113 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
May 12, 2012
SATURDAY
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The family of David Lawrence and the defendant himself wept Thursday when Judge Charles C. Currier read the not guilty verdict. After having deliberated for one hour, the jury acquitted Lawrence on a charge of criminal sexual contact. The charge stemmed from an incident that allegedly took place Feb. 4, 2011, when Lawrence, a coach and teacher at Goddard High School, reportedly let a 17-year-old student into his home. Lawrence was the primary witness for the defense. He told the court Thursday he had no idea who was at the door when he opened it the day of the incident.
“My wife ... buys the biggest floral arrangement she can find ... We have frosted glass on the front door. I saw a silhouette, that’s all,” he said. Lawrence said his reaction when he opened the door and saw the student so late at night was, “what was wrong?” He said he was concerned. “I’ve played that back every night since it happened. ... There was no car and it was freezing out.” He denied any wrongdoing and described his relationship with the student as strictly platonic. Lawrence quoted the victim as saying that night: “I wanted to see if you are going to take this situation any further.” He then replied to her, “There is no situation.” When Assistant District Attorney
Debra Hutchins asked why he had not reported the incident to the school, he said: “This was a pretty embarrassed young lady. I saw no reason for taking it any further.” He categorically denied ever seeing the note from the victim that principal Andrew Sweet found in his desk.
After the trial, defense attorney S. Doug Jones Witt said, “This (verdict) had everything to do with credibility. She had no credibility.”
Speaking for the prosecution, Assistant District Attorney Flori Nunez said, “Obviously, we are disappointed, but we presented the evidence to the jury and we respect the jury and their decision.” j.palmer@rdrnews.com
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INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell dental hygienist students show off their pearly whites as they and fellow graduates prepare for their march onto the Wool Bowl football field for commencement ceremonies, Friday evening.
ENMU-R graduates largest class ever
THREE TIED FOR LEAD AT PLAYERS PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Players Championship still lacks some definition going into the weekend. At least it still has one of golf’s star attractions.
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TODAY’S OBITUARIES
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
About 200 graduates celebrated the beginning of new ventures during Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell’s 57th Commencement Convocation Friday night at the Wool Bowl. The university had a total of 480 graduates this spring, the largest total graduating
class in ENMU-R’s history.
The ceremony included employability graduates from New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe Academy, bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates from Eastern New Mexico University and master’s degree candidates from New Mexico Highlands University’s School of Social Work.
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HIGH ...78˚ LOW ....57˚ INDEX
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............A6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION..................A7 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
“This graduation ceremony is a major milestone in your lives, and you will soon move on to your next steps in your continuing education or chosen careers,” said John Madden, ENMU-R president. “It took courage and determination to continue in your education and learn new skills despite challenges along the way. Thankfully, you had many
people who supported you and encouraged you and keep you focused on your goal.” The featured speaker at the ceremony was Gina Vela, who graduated Friday with an Associate of Science degree in nursing. Vela, a 2009 graduate of Roswell High School, plans to enroll in an anes-
berg’s and purchase a 45 record. Gill spent many hours of his adolescence at the store, helping his father and two uncles, all the way up until graduating from Roswell High School in 1966. The store, he says, has always been a second home.
store in Hagerman in the mid-1890s. He opened what was then called Roswell Seed and Produce in 1898, a business decision that has harvested far -reaching results. “The family history says that nice Christian people lived in Hagerman, and that Roswell was just a little bit on the rough side,” Gill said. “It went that nice people didn’t live in Roswell. But as it turned out, Roswell was where the business was.”
Absentee and in person early voting is up and running at the County Clerk’s office, 1 St. Mary’s Place, Area D. Those who want to vote in person early or by absentee may come to the office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Early voting will also be available on Saturdays starting May 19 at the clerk’s office and at the Roswell Mall, 4501 N. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays until June 2. The clerk will conduct three election schools for precinct workers in the county. All classes will be held in the clerk’s office. Classes are as follows: clerks, May 29, at 10 a.m.; judges May 30, at 10 a.m.; presiding judges, May 31, at 10 a.m. For more information contact the clerk’s office at 6246614.
Local farmer seeks election
See ENMU-R, Page A3
Jim Gill: From humble beginnings to president of business
• Jeff Lawton Arnold • Bernett “BJ” Parker • Audre Latimer King
TODAY’S FORECAST
Absentee voting, precinct training
David Lawrence.
Jim Gill stands before vintage seed storage shelves at Roswell Seed Co., Wednesday. PHOTO AND STORY BY NOAH VERNAU
Jim Gill was sweeping the floors at his family’s
seed business in 1958 when he was 10 years old, earning $1 every two weeks — just enough for him to run over to Gins-
Half of a century later, Gill serves as president of Roswell Seed Co., the fourth generation of Gills to run the business. Gill’s great-grandfather John started the business more than 100 years ago, after running a furniture
See SPOTLIGHT, Page A3
Obama, Romney trying to refocus on economy, avoid gay rights RENO, Nev. (AP) — The presidential candidates tried to put aside politically risky talk of gay rights Friday and retur n to Americans’ top worry, the economy, in two states critical to the hopes of President Barack Obama and his rival Mitt Romney.
Obama discussed how to help homeowners seeking to avoid foreclosure in hard-hit Nevada, while Romney was focusing on jobs in North Carolina — more evidence that each views the sluggish economic recovery as the key issue in November’s elec-
tion.
For both, it was a day to move past the week’s back-and-forth on gay marriage, punctuated by Obama’s announcement that he now supports it. Romney, who reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage repeatedly, was
distracted by a news report that led him to apologize for decades ago mistreating a high school classmate who was gay. “There are things that we can do right now to help create jobs, to help See REFOCUS, Page A3
Cliff Pirtle.
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER Roswell farmer Cliff Pirtle, who has expressed his beliefs in the Second Amendment and pro-life during his campaign, says he is seeking election to the state Senate District 32 seat. A Republican, Pirtle will face Roswell Fire Chief Chad Hamill in the primary. If successful, he will then face Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, DRoswell, in November. Jennings currently represents the district. “New Mexico is going in a direction that I don’t agree with. It’s time for people to stand up, who are smallbusiness men, who believe in freedom and liberty, and who want to see New MexiSee PIRTLE, Page A3