Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Kids to Parks Day all kinds of fun
Vol. 121, No. 121 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
May 20, 2012
SUNDAY
www.rdrnews.com
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
PRIMARY ELECTION SECTION TODAY
Today’s special election section briefly profiles candidates for national, state and local offices ahead of the June 5 primary. - PAGE E1
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Survivors take first Walk for Hope lap • NMMI Keeps Roswell Beautiful • Mayor honors RPD officers • 400 kids have Super Day at ENMU-R • Broncos struggle
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Advocates Humane Society sale big draw want fines on Valley Meat Co. Sisters Emily and Shyanne Honest work on artistic creations during Kids to Parks at the Spring River Zoo, Saturday.
LAS CRUCES (AP) — A Colorado-based horse advocacy group says a New Mexico company seeking to become the nation’s first slaughterhouse for horses since 2007 should face fines for violating laws on waste disposal.
See HORSE Page A2
BALTIMORE (AP) — I’ll Have Another waited a little longer to catch Bodemeister in the stretch this time, and now that he’s done it twice in a row it’s time for a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes. With a breathtaking closing rush, the smooth-striding colt won the Preakness Stakes by a neck at Pimlico Race Course .... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• George William Zellers • Joseph Mayo • Bernett James Parker • Florence Melendez • Audre Latimer King • Danny Ray Eaker • Sherry James • Dwight Cockrum • Howell Whiting • Edward Paul Garcia - PAGES A3, B6
HIGH ...85˚ LOW ....61˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........D1 COMICS.................C3 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B5 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
See KIDS, Page A3
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Albuquerque Jour nal reports that the state Environment Department received a letter
‘THAT’S 2 I’VE WON’
Roswell took aim at childhood obesity Saturday on Kids to Parks Day at Spring River Park and Zoo, where an assortment of outdoor activities were provided to children in a community-wide effort to promote healthy lifestyles. Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Healthy Kids Chaves County, New Mexico Department of Health and the city partnered to host the free event with a simple motto: “Active kids are healthy kids.” With activities that included an obstacle course, disk golf, lacrosse and jolly jumps, organizers encouraged families to use the day as the first of many spent outdoors. “I think one of the important things we have to look at is how to increase activity for our children,” said Jane Batson, dean of health at ENMU-R. “And so when we look at neighborhoods, we look at the ability for kids to get outside, their access to playgrounds, their ability
Shoppers from all over the southwest flocked to Russ DeKay Soccer Complex on Saturday for Roswell’s inaugural Community Yard Sale, perusing items from more than 60 vendors. Vendors from El Paso, Hobbs, Carlsbad and Ruidoso joined local sellers and businesses to raise funds for the Roswell Humane Society, selling food, clothing, furniture, jewelry — everything from microwave ovens and China dinnerware to baseball cards and Star Wars collectables. Event organizer Enrique Moreno said he came up with the See SALE, Page A2
Mark Wilson Photo
Bargain hunters rummage through merchandise during the Roswell Community Yard Sale at the Russ DeKay Soccer Complex, Saturday.
Gateway Christian graduates 14
Mark Wilson Photo
Mercedes Fox tries to remove a small dab of lipstick from her graduation stole as she and fellow Gateway Christian School graduates prepare for commencement ceremonies, Saturday afternoon.
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
Gateway Christian School graduates stepped on the path toward higher education on Saturday, celebrating past accomplishments and welcoming new opportunities as the Class of 2012. Each of the 14 graduates shared personal memo-
ries, thoughts and wishes in a recording as they approached the stage at Gateway Christian Church, thanking family, friends and school staff for helping to prepare them for new ventures. GCS Principal Justin Stephens announced that the graduates combined to receive about $270,000 in scholarships to further
their educations, a figure that averages to about $19,000 per person. “Know that you can grab hold of those things that you have been taught not only at this school, but also by your parents, and that God has a path for you, and that path always leads to good places and leads to rest,” said Rick Rapp, superintendent. “Thank you for doing a great job in building an example for the rest of the students.” Gateway Church International associate pastor Gary Pack was the featured speaker at the ceremony, telling the graduates that commencement means much more than their successful completion of high school. “I was looking up some synonyms for commencement, and it says it’s the alpha, birth, celebration, countdown, curtain-raiser, dawn, genesis, initiaSee GATEWAY, Page A3
Noah Vernau Photo
From left, student Cade Stephens, Del Norte Elementary Principal Curt Tarter, student Lacie Schooley, RISD Superintendent Michael Gottlieb and student Gavin Sim stand in front of an elm tree dedicated to Gottlieb at Del Norte Elementary school, Friday. The students hold paper representations of a plaque that will be placed next to the tree.
Del Norte dedicates elm tree to Gottlieb
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
Del Norte Elementary students and staff dedicated a lace bark elm tree to Roswell Independent School District Superintendent Michael Gottlieb
during a ceremony outside the school on Friday, recognizing his 30 years as an employee in the district. Gottlieb, who will retire at the end of June, has held the superintendent position
Cooler weather aids in fight against Colorado wildfire DENVER (AP) — Lower temperatures and higher humidity Saturday were helping crews assigned to a wildfire that has scorched 12 square miles in northern Colorado, one of several burning across the West. The fire, which started Monday about 20 miles northwest of Fort Collins, had prompted officials to evacuate about 80 homes, but all residents were
allowed to return by Friday night. No buildings have been damaged, and the blaze was about 45 percent contained Saturday afternoon. Reghan Cloudman with the U.S. Forest Service said the area received about 0.15 inches of rain Saturday morning, which “is better than nothing.” Scattered rain storms moved through the area in the
afternoon, and temperatures were expected to remain in the 50s throughout the day — more than a 20-degree drop from highs during the previous three days.
“The rain is definitely helping firefighters out there,” Cloudman said. “It’s good news, but we don’t See FIRE, Page A2
AP Photo
See TREE, Page A2