Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 115 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
MUMMIFIED BODY OF AUTHOR FOUND SANTA FE (AP) — A 70year-old woman whose mummified body was recently found in her Santa Fe apartment was identified as a Chicana activist, teacher and author. Santa Fe police ...
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
May 14, 2013
Police ID suspect in New Orleans shooting
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Police identified a 19-yearold man as a suspect in the shooting of nearly 20 people during a Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans, saying several people had identified him as the gunman. Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas said they were looking for Akein Scott. He said it was too early to say whether he was the only shooter. “The important thing for Akein Scott now is to turn himself in,” Serpas said, standing outside of police headquarters. A photo of Scott hung from a podium in front of the police chief. The mass shooting showed again how far the city has to go to shake a persistent culture of vio-
TUESDAY
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lence that belies the city’s festive image. Earlier, police announced a $10,000 reward and released blurry surveillance camera images. Investigators said they got several tips from the community. “The people chose to be on the side of the young innocent children shot instead of on the side of a coward who shot into the crowd,” he said. Angry residents said gun violence — which has flared at two other city celebrations this year — goes hand-in-hand with the city’s other deeply rooted problems such as poverty and urban blight. The investigators tasked with solving Sunday’s shooting work within an agency
It must be spring!
that’s had its own troubles rebounding from years of corruption while trying to halt violent crime. “The old people are scared to walk the streets. The children can’t even play outside,” Ronald Lewis, 61, said Monday as he sat on the front stoop of his house, about a half a block from the shooting site. His window sill has a hole from a bullet that hit it last year. Across the street sits a house marked by bullets he said were fired two weeks ago. “The youngsters are doing all this,” said Jones, who was away from home when the latest shooting broke out. Video released early MonSee SHOOTING, Page A3
AP Photo
New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas listens to ATF’s Phil Durham as he discusses the Mother's Day shootings during a news conference in front of police headquarters in New Orleans, Monday.
Suspect had prior complaints
- PAGE A2
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• RPD finds Patrick Smith • Woman set on fire dies, RPD conducts search • From steeple to lawn • Three in a row! • Local briefs: Rockets advance
INSIDE SPORTS
Courtesy Photo
A northern Bullock’s oriole was spotted on Estrellita Drive Thursday morning drinking from a local’s hummingbird feeder.
ORB ARRIVES AT PIMLICO BALTIMORE (AP) — Orb has settled into the place reserved for royalty at Pimlico Race Course — Stall 40. The Triple Crown hopeful arrived at Pimlico on Monday afternoon, five days before the Preakness. He was immediately taken to Stall 40 ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Robert Chewning • Wanda Martin • Wallace Reinecke
- PAGE B3
HIGH ...88˚ LOW ....60˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................B3 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
Obama tries to explain swirling controversies
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama tried to swat down a pair of brewing controversies Monday, denouncing as “outrageous” the targeting of conservative political groups by the federal IRS but angrily denying any administration cover-up after last year’s deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Simultaneous investigations — and demands by Republicans for more — have put the White House on the defensive, emboldened GOP lawmakers and threatened to overtake a second-term Obama agenda already off to a rocky start. During a joint news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, the normally even-keeled Obama appeared agitated over the resurgent investigation into the September attack at a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi. He dismissed the Republican-driven effort as a “sideshow” that dishonors the four Americans who were killed, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. “There’s no ‘there there,’” Obama declared in his first public comments since GOP lawmakers launched new hearings on the matter. “The fact that this keeps on getting churned up, frankly, has a whole lot to do with political motivations.” Seeking to keep another controversy from spinning out of control, the president rebuked the IRS for scrutinizing the taxexempt status of groups with conservative titles such as “Tea Party” or “Patriot” in their names. Those responsible, Obama said, must be held “fully accountable.” “I’ve got no patience with it,” he added. “I will not tolerate it and we will find out exactly what happened.” The president said he first learned of the matter Friday when it was reported by news organizations. Spokesman Jay
CLEVELAND (AP) — A man charged with holding three women captive for about a decade had been accused of threatening his neighbors, attacking his common-law wife and committing violations during his career as a school bus driver, according to records released Monday. The Cleveland police reports correspond with accounts by relatives of suspect Ariel Castro last week that portrayed a man prone to violent outbursts. Castro, 52, is charged with kidnapping and rape, but prosecutors expect to file more charges. The three women whom he is accused of holding captive disappeared between August 2002 and April 2004. They were rescued last week when one of them escaped the home. See COMPLAINTS, Page A3
Locals participate in national effort
Charles Fischer Photo
Pastor “Rubie” Rubinstein accepts food from United States Postal Service letter carrier Amelia Orozco.
The 21st annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive” took place Saturday in towns and cities across America. Many charities and organizations run out of the winter reserves collected over
Christmas at this time of year. The NALC drive brings an infusion of food when local agencies most need it. See DONATIONS, Page A3
Chaves County CASA presented with substantial donation Monday See OBAMA, Page A3
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
The J. F. Maddox Foundation presented Chaves County CASA with a donation of $10,000 in a ceremony Monday at the 5th District Judicial Courthouse. The foundation made the donation in honor of Ellen Shanor, a retiring member of the foundation’s Jack Maddox Distinguished Scholarship Selection Committee.
Based in Hobbs, the foundation usually presents grants to organizations involved in improving the quality of life in Lea County. However, Foundation President and former 5th Judicial District Court Judge Don Maddox, along with a few members of the board traveled to Roswell to personally deliver the donation. Maddox said the foundation wanted to recognize Shanor with a gift of her choosing and it is “thrilled she chose CASA.”
“It’s a big treat for us,” he said, adding that CASA’s Executive Director CarrieLeigh Cloutier is well known for her work. “It’s an outstanding circumstance. ... We couldn’t have been happier about that.”
Shanor said Cloutier is a remarkable leader and that CASA is “a program that I’m proud of.
“It helps more children on a wider plane and those that really, really need it,” See CASA, Page A3
Ilissa Gilmore Photo
Ellen Shanor (right), with J. F. Maddox Foundation President Don Maddox (center), presents Chaves County CASA Executive Director Carrie-Leigh Cloutier with $10,000 donation.