Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Gov visits Berrendo Elementary
Vol. 121, No. 198 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
August 18, 2012
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JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
IT’S ALL ABOUT MEDICARE
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — The jobs-and-economy election suddenly seems all about Medicare — for now, at least. Republican Mitt Romney is embracing a topic his party usually approaches gingerly. He is taking a calculated risk that voters’ worries about federal deficits and the ... - PAGE A6
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For The Past 24 Hours
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INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Gov. Susana Martinez is greeted upon her arrival to Berrendo Elementary by the entire student body during a visit, Friday morning.
State HSD tweaks US Forest Service changes Medicaid plan ‘let it burn’ policy, for now SANTA FE (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration asked the federal government on Friday to approve a revised plan to overhaul a program providing health care for a fourth of New Mexico’s population.
The Human Services Department’s latest Medicaid proposal comes nearly six months after the administration initially unveiled a blueprint to improve health care for needy New Mexicans while slowing the growth rate of a program costing nearly $4 billion a year. About a
fourth of the money comes from the state budget, with the federal gover nment paying the remainder. The administration hopes to implement the Medicaid overhaul in January 2014. Human Services Secretary Sidonie Squier said the broad outlines of the administration’s original Medicaid overhaul remain unchanged. There are no enrollment cuts proposed and there’s no planned reduction in rates paid to health care providers. See MEDICAID, Page A3
Refreshing discovery
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Aurel Irene Larson • Eutha Watson - PAGE A6
HIGH ...94˚ LOW ....70˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............A6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B6 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
Mark Wilson Photo
Sheila McKnight of the Roswell Adult Center shows off a pineapple plant that recently began to bear fruit, Friday morning. The plant was given to her about a year and a half ago, and has resided at the center as an afterthought until she noticed the bloom.
This season is different. Now firefighters are trekking deep into the Gila National Forest with
AP Photo
A firefighter walks along a burnout line along the wildfire in the Gila National Forest, May 29.
Court finds against Dan Foley See USFS, Page A3
The 10th Circuit Court ruled in favor Thursday of the city of Roswell, the Roswell Police Department, Cruz Zavala, Greg Carrasco and Pete Hernandez in the 2007 arrest of former State Rep. Dan Foley. According to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, the “Court has determined that the arrest of Mr. Foley was lawful and the individual defendants (the of ficers involved in the case) used reasonable force to effectuate the arrest. The charges were supported by probable cause. No facts of record indicate that the defendants conspired to draft false police reports, drafted false police reports, or used false police reports to institute criminal proceedings
against Mr. Foley. “The District Court considered the facts in the light most favorable to Mr. Foley and still concluded that, the facts of record do not support a claim for injury or damage to Mr. Foley’s liberty interest in his reputation.” The United States District Court denied Foley’s requests for compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and interest, and dismissed the lawsuit. Foley was arrested on June 24, 2007, after an altercation with the Roswell police during the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament. Police charged Foley with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing an officer; all petty misdemeanors. Foley contended he was going to the aid of his teenage son.
Mary Guinn: Sports relief from classroom; kids need to yell NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
INDEX
Noah Vernau Photo
Mary Guinn at her home, Wednesday.
No matter the person, no matter the challenge, Mary Guinn knows a positive attitude and active lifestyle will result in obstacles overcome. As a former athlete, physical education teacher and coach, Guinn has long seen the benefits of perseverance in sports and fitness, and today strives to maintain her competitive edge at the age of 79. After Guinn earned her bachelor’s degree in English and physical education at Texas Women’s University, she launched a teaching
See MARTINEZ, Page A3
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — If lightning strikes in the New Mexico wilderness and starts a fire, the blaze would normally be little more than a blip on the radar of land managers who have earned a reputation for letting flames bur n to keep forested lands from growing into a tangled mess.
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
COWBOYS BREAK CAMP
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up a nearly threeweek stay at their West Coast training camp with a walkthrough Friday. They still have a few days left in California. After their second preseason game, Saturday night at San Diego, the Cowboys (No. 15 in the AP Pro32) will get a day off before starting next week with two days of joint workouts with the Chargers (No. 16). Coach Jason Garrett said the work with the Chargers helps keep his team in training camp mode for at least another week. - PAGE B1
Some stood on their tippy-toes, leaning over, to peer out the front entrance to see if she had arrived. Several smiled shyly and responded faintly when she greeted them and asked how they were. Others spoke in unison, thanking her for visiting the school. And one boy told her, “I’d appreciate it if you shook my hand.” On Friday, Berrendo Elementary students lined the hallways to welcome Gov. Susana Martinez, who was greeted by a round of applause when she entered the school. The governor has been traveling the state since Monday, visiting several schools to read and present books to each first-grader. In June, the gover nor announced that she had ordered 30,000 books,
career that spanned 48 years. She held full-time and part-time positions at schools in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Texas and New Mexico, and has taught students at the elementary, junior high, high school and college levels. Never shy to seek new opportunities in curricula and culture, Guinn taught classes in private, government and parochial schools, as well as in several Native American schools
until she retired in 2009. She said if there is one thing she learned in all her teaching, it is the common thread shared by students of all ages and backgrounds.
“What really stands out to me, looking back at it, is the way that, no matter where you are, and what group you’re teaching, all kids are so much alike,” See SPOTLIGHT, Page A3
He stated he was afraid his son was in danger after the opposing team’s coach had supposedly shoved his son to the ground. Foley also disputed the fact that he argued with Roswell police or resisted arrest. The former New Mexico House minority whip alleged his arrest was improper and seriously damaged his reputation. According to lawsuit documents, Foley stated he “has suffered and is continuing to suffer damages, including but not limited to distress, anguish, suffering, humiliation, deprivation of constitutional rights.” The former lawmaker says he was physically assaulted “without cause and without any provocation.” Police documents stated Foley was combative, used See FOLEY, Page A3
Feds fine Valley Meat ALBUQUERQUE, (AP) — The Roswellarea meat processing plant that has made national headlines for its proposal to begin slaughtering horses is being fined for its handling of cattle waste.
The Albuquerque Journal Friday reports that Valley Meat Co. is being fined $86,400 for failing to register a composting facility next to the slaughterhouse and for failing
See FEDS, Page A3