Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 170 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
July 16, 2014
First flight of immigrants left from Roswell BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Whether it was a grudging goodbye, or simply a see-you-again-soon farewell, Roswell can now go into the history books as being the first American city from which the summer surge of Central American illegal immigrants have been deported. A flight carrying about 40 immigrant adults with children, who had been detained at the Federal Law
WEDNESDAY
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Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, departed the Roswell International Air Center Monday morning for Honduras.
The illegal immigrants are being turned over to gover nment of ficials in their home countries for processing, federal officials said. Airport manager Jennifer Brady Griego said the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 charter flight departed Roswell at about 9 a.m. Monday, under tight secu-
rity at the airport. The MD-80 series can seat from 130 to 172 passengers, depending on the seating configuration. The immigrants had been temporarily detained at FLETC in Artesia since illegally crossing the U.S.Mexico border this year, along with tens of thousands of other Central Americans, including thousands of unaccompanied children. The administration of President Barack Obama
last month converted the FLETC facility in Artesia into one of several temporary sites to deal with the surge of women and children illegally entering the United States from Central America this summer.
Federal of ficials said Monday’s deportation flight was only “the initial wave” of deportations of adults and children back to Central America. The trip south was no doubt in far better comfort than the immigrants’ harrowing trip to
the United States, which sometimes involved children riding atop freight trains through Mexico.
“As President Obama, the vice president, and (U.S. Department of Homeland Security) Secretary (Jeh) Johnson have said, our border is not open to illegal migration and we will send recent illegal migrants back,” DHS spokesperson Marsha Catron said Tuesday.
to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador in the coming days and weeks, based on the results of removal proceedings or expedited removal. These returns are a result of the president’s direction to surge resources, such as immigration judges and asylum officers to process these cases more quickly.”
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, who in June was appointed by U.S. House Speaker
Firefighters take icy plunge to raise funds “We expect additional migrants will be returned
See FLIGHT, Page A3
Money raised to help girl, 7, with leukemia
BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Roswell Firefighters, along with Sierra Volunteer Fire Department firefighters, gathered in Cahoon Park on Tuesday to take an icy plunge for a good cause. The firefighters held an Ice Water Challenge to raise funds for Kinzie Aldrich, the daughter of Warren and Sarah Aldrich. Warren is a firefighter with the Roswell Fire Department. Kinzie, 7, was diagnosed with leukemia, and although the prognosis for her recovery is good, the family has been struggling with the medical bills. “The Ice Water Challenge is a nationwide thing, and we are doing this one for our Kinzie,” said Deputy Chief Devin Graham. “We have been passing the bucket around the stations, and we are taking a collection here today.” About 40 firefighters
Randal Seyler Photos
Above: Members of the Roswell Fire Department, along with members of the Sierra Volunteer Fire Department, held an Ice Water Challenge on Tuesday in Cahoon Park. The firefighters took a plunge in an icy tub of water to raise funds to help pay the medical bills for the daughter of one of the firefighters.
Right: Seven-year-old Kinzie Aldrich, center, stands with her father, Warren Aldrich, left, little sister, McKenna, and Deputy Chief Devin Graham during Tuesday’s Ice Water Challenge. Kinzie was diagnosed with leukemia, and the Ice Water Challenge was a fundraiser to help her family with the medical bills.
turned out to take an icy plunge in a flexible tub they set up in the park and filled with water from a tanker truck and several dozen bags of ice. “Men and women in the fire service across the country are known for bravery and dedication,” Graham said. “Most of all, firefighters are known for their brotherhood, for their dedication to one another.” Graham said firefighters routinely answer the call for help from complete strangers, but sometimes it is one of their own who need help. “It’s times like this where our true strength shows.” Graham said that while the medical bills for Kinzie’s treatment has put a financial strain on her family, the Aldriches will not bear this burden alone. “We issue this Ice Water Challenge to anyone out in
Salvation Army to host Parks Committee OKs Altrusa request benefit golf tourney STAFF REPORT
The Salvation Army is sponsoring a golf tournament at the New Mexico Military Institute Golf Course at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 26. The tournament will be played as a three-person best ball. Green fees, cart, breakfast and lunch are included in the $60 per person entry fee. The proceeds of the tourney will allow the Salvation Army to continue serving
the people of the Pecos Valley community. Maj. Beau Perez, of the Salvation Army’s Roswell Corps, reported that in June, 217 families and 2,469 seniors received emergency food aid. In addition, The Salvation Army assists with clothing, rental and utility allowances, substance abuse rehabilitation and emergency disaster relief.
BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Parks and Recreation Committee voted on Monday to approve the Roswell Altrusa Club’s request to change the name of the Missouri Avenue Park. The request will next go to the City Council for approval. Deborah Goluska, Altrusa member and former club president, asked the commissioners to consider renaming the new park after the club, which donated $6,000 to purchase furnishings and equipment for the city park, which opened to the public earlier this year.
Goluska presented the same request before the Parks and Recreation Commission on June 30, and the commissioners forwarded the request on to the committee.
“The Roswell Altrusa Club has been active in the community since 1947,” Goluska said. The Altrusa Club was responsible for starting Friends of the Roswell Library and the Literacy Council. Altrusa also provides college scholarships for local students and pays the fees for local residents to take their GED tests. “We have a long history of community involvement, and we see this park as another way for us to contribute to the community,” Goluska said.
California approves fines for water-wasters
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California water regulators voted Tuesday to approve fines up to $500 a day for residents who waste water on lawns, landscaping and car washing, as a report showed that consumption throughout the state has actually risen amid the worst drought in nearly four decades. The action by the State Water Resources Control Board came after its own survey showed that conservation measures to date have failed to achieve the 20 percent reduction in
See GOLF, Page A2
water use sought by Gov. Jerry Brown. Survey results released before the 4-0 vote showed water consumption throughout California had actually jumped by 1 percent this past May compared with the same month in previous years. The fines will apply only to wasteful outdoor watering, including watering landscaping to the point that runoff flows onto sidewalks, washing a vehicle without a nozzle on the hose, or hosing down sidewalks and driveways.
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TODAY’S FORECAST
“Our goal here is to light a fire under those who aren’t yet taking the drought seriously,” water board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said in an interview after the vote. She called the vote historic, not only because the steps are unprecedented in California but because the board is trying to spread the burden of the drought beyond farmers and agencies that are trying to protect wildlife. She said city and suburban residents are not fully aware of the seriousness of
the three-year drought — the worst in Califor nia since the mid-1970s. “We’re all in this together,” Marcus said. “This is our attempt to say ... this is the least that urban Californians can do.” The board estimates the restrictions, which take ef fect in early August, could save enough water statewide to supply more than 3.5 million people for a year. Cities and water districts were given wide latitude on how the fines will be implemented.
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A7 • HAZEL RUTH HUBBLE • WILLIAM (BILL) E. CARTER NINNEMANN • GARY RICHARD WRIGHT • BILLY CHARLES FRENCH • MARIO CESAR BENCOMO • BILLIE JEAN CAREY
See PLUNGE, Page A3
Besides the donation already made to the park, the Altrusa Club intends to provide more benches and tables as well as trees and flowers for the park. “If we put our name on something, we’re going to make sure it is nice,” she said. Commissioner Bob Edwards also updated the committee members on the presentation Tim Rogers, an expert in active transportation planning from Santa Fe, made on June 30 regarding the city’s bicycle and walking trails. “We are asking that we connect Cielo Grande Park with Spring River See COMMITTEE, Page A2
AP Photo
A sprinkler system sprays water onto a parked car along the curb in Glendale, Calif., Wednesday, July 9. CLASSIFIEDS ..........B8 COMICS .................B7 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B5
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ............A10