Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
CAPTIVES HELD BY MINISTRY
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Cougar found, killed near school
Vol. 122, No. 178 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Southeast Main and Chisum Streets, around 8 p.m. Wednesday, where a member of the public had spotted a cougar, or mountain lion. The officer located the animal walking near Pecos Elementary, 600 E. Hobbs St. Additional officers and deputies from the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office joined in the search.
July 26, 2013
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The cougar wandered through a yard and jumped the fence. He became cornered and New Mexico Game and Fish recorded photographs where he pawed at the entrance to the school.
According to the police report, the big cat then turned, faced the officers, taking an aggressive stance, and charged at the officers. Law enforcement shot and killed the cougar. New Mexico Game and Fish Lt. Mike Berry said he had
no reason to doubt the official reports. “If he had turned toward the officers rather than run away, then he had little fear of people.” Spring River Zoo issued a release saying the cougar was not one of theirs. Cougars can range from 70 to 600 miles. Berry explained that young males often move around in search of territory. Berry said Roswell was close to a number of possible migration routes along the
Hondo and Pecos Rivers and arroyos. During the post mortem examination, Berry pointed to the cracked pads on the paws which suggested the cougar had travelled a distance to get to Roswell. The cougar weighed in at 113 pounds and was estimated at 6 to 7-feet long, including tail. “The nor mal weight is between 115 and 150. He was obviously a subadult male, in fair shape,” said Berry.
Judge upholds mental health payments freeze
HOUSTON (AP) — The former nonprofit operating out of the purpletrimmed, one-story brick home in north Houston apparently started with the best of intentions: to feed and shelter homeless individuals. But Regina’s Faith... - PAGE A5
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
ENMU-R graduates from the Special Services Occupational Training Program wait to enter the Roswell Civic Center for commencement ceremonies, Thursday.
ENMU-R graduates 68 from SSOT Program AMY VOGELSANG RECORD STAFF WRITER
MANNING LOOKS AHEAD ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — His arm feels stronger and, yes, Peyton Manning has a much better feel for what to expect in Year 2 as the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. The calendar, however, doesn’t stop for anyone... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Tillman C. Jennings • Minnie Frieda Lind • Alice Burton Venrick Roberts • Pauline Cox • Betty J. Beagles • Pablo S. Salsberry - PAGE A7
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A flock of emerald green and pearly white gowns filled the front rows of seats in Roswell Convention and Civic Center, Thursday after noon, as 68 students proudly gathered in
celebration, meeting as graduates from Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell’s Special Services Occupational Training Program. From double fist pumps to parade waves, the students each added their own flair as they walked across stage and
Pearce objects to King’s comments about immigrants
Size, though, varies by location. Cougars in the south tend to be smaller than those in the north. Females run between 100 and 120 pounds while full adult males average between 150 to 160 pounds. The largest cougar ever recorded was found in Arizona. It weighed 275 pounds. Darrell Weybright of New Mexico Game and Fish Department Cougar Man-
received their diplomas. The students stood and cheered, pointed at their peers in a show of support and camaraderie. They were just as excited for each other as they See GRADS, Page A3
See COUGAR, Page A3
SANTA FE (AP) — New Mexico can continue to freeze payments to behavioral health services providers that are under investigation for possible overbillings, mismanagement and fraud, a federal judge ruled Thursday. U.S. District Judge M. Christina Armijo denied a request from eight nonprofit providers for a restraining order to stop the state Human Services Department from withholding Medicaid payments for mental health and substance abuse services to needy New Mexicans. The providers wanted payments to resume while the state gives them a hearing to address the allegations of billing problems. The department suspended payments last month to more than a dozen nonprofit organizations after an audit flagged potential problems. The agency said federal regulations required it to halt the payments and turn over the allegations to the attorney general’s office to investigate. The department has restored full or partial funding to three of the behavioral health providers after they asked for “good cause” exceptions to the Medicaid payment freeze. Similar requests from other providers were denied. In a written order, Ar mijo said the providers “failed to show that an injunction requiring a prompt name-clearing hearing is not adverse to the public interest.” The department contends that premature
Meek recognized
See JUDGE, Page A3
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Congressman Steve Pearce says a fellow Republican congressman’s comments comparing young college-age immigrants to drug mules are “unproductive” and “divisive.”
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the New Mexico Republican criticized recent remarks made by Rep. Steve King and said he disagreed with Iowa congressman.
King drew fire from Latino activists this week after he told a conservative news website that many immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as kids are actually running drugs.
Pearce represents New Mexico’s border with Mexico and is viewed by the GOP as a key figure is helping attract Latino voters to the Republican Party.
Mark Wilson Photo
Blake Meek, center, Lawrence Brothers IGA store director, receives plaques of appreciation for service to the community from Wings for LIFE and the United Way, Thursday. Shelly Collier, left, and Clarissa Gonzalez-Adams presented the plaques along with United Way agencies and board members on hand to bid Blake farewell as he leaves Roswell for Odessa, Texas.
Rebel pope urges Catholics to shake up dioceses
INDEX
AP Photo
A gust of wind lifts the cape of Pope Francis as he speaks to the youth gathered at the World Youth Day Welcome Feast on the Copacabana beachfront in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday,
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis showed his rebel side Thursday, urging young Catholics to shake up the church and make a “mess” in their dioceses by going out into the streets to spread the faith. It’s a message he put into practice by visiting one of Rio’s most violent slums and opening the church’s World Youth Day on a rain-soaked Copacabana Beach. Francis was elected pope on a mandate to reform the church, and in four short months he has started doing just that: He has broken long-held Vatican rules on everything
from where he lays his head at night to how saints are made. He has cast off his security detail to get close to his flock, and his first international foray as pope has shown the faithful appreciate the gesture. Dubbed the “slum pope” for his work with the poor, Francis received a rapturous welcome in the Varginha shantytown, part of a slum area of northern Rio so violent it’s known as the Gaza Strip. The 76year-old Argentine seemed entirely at home, wading into cheering crowds, kissing people young and old and telling them the
Catholic Church is on their side. “No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world!” Francis told a crowd of thousands who braved a cold rain and stood in a muddy soccer field to welcome him. “No amount of peace-building will be able to last, nor will harmony and happiness be attained in a society that ignores, pushes to the margins or excludes a part of itself.” It was a message aimed at reversing the decline in the numbers of Catholics See POPE, Page A3