Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 121, No. 202 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
FED HINTS AT NEW ACTION
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials signaled Wednesday that they may be ready to launch a new bond buying program when they next meet in September. The goal would be to try to lower long-term interest rates to encourage more borrowing and spending. Minutes of their July 31-Aug. 1 policy meeting released Wednesday don’t ... - PAGE A5
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
August 23, 2012
Akin cares little about pressure from GOP
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Until this week, Rep. Todd Akin was virtually unknown beyond his suburban district, associated more with his deep religious convictions than any legislative achievements. Long before his comments about women’s bodies and “legitimate rape” made him a potential flashpoint in the fall campaign, Akin was a favorite among home-schooling organizations and conservative church groups in the area where his relatives have lived for generations. He seldom authored bills or sought wider recognition.
THURSDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Now Akin could help shape the national political debate in a Senate race that leaders of his own party figure he can’t win, and they’re worried he’ll drag down other Republicans with him. But if Akin’s 12 years in Congress have proven anything, it’s that pressure from the party establishment carries little weight with him.
“He’s never been popular among Republicans, and Todd Akin doesn’t care,” Saint Louis University political science professor Ken Warren said. “The best you can say for Todd is that he’s a very principled
guy. He believes what he believes, and he’s not going to compromise those principles just to be in the mainstream.”
The 65-year-old, six-term congressman ascended in Missouri politics largely on his own. He grew up on a far m outside St. Louis, ear ned an engineering degree and went to work at now-bankrupt Laclede Steel Co., which his greatgrandfather started. He and his wife, Lulli, settled on land in St. Louis County owned by Akin’s father. Each Independence Day he
‘Whatcha lookin’ at, kiddo?’
See AKIN, Page A3
AP Photo
Rep. Todd Akin speaks to reporters after addressing the Mis-
souri Farm Bureau in Jefferson City, Mo., on August 10.
Court: Kanmore incompetent for trial JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• ‘Here we go!’ • With half a million dollar goal, UW campaign ... • It’s harvest time at the vineyard • Gov visits Berrendo Elementary • ‘Buzz off! This is my flower!’
INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
A baby peacock and its mother perch atop a fence at the Spring River Zoo, Wednesday.
Patricia Kanmore, 41, completed her first competency hearing in District Court, Monday, where a psychologist revealed the results of his forensic evaluation. It was ruled that Kanmore was incompetent to stand trial. Kanmore reportedly held the 53-year-old victim Beverly Moore captive in her bathtub for four days. During that time, Moore was given neither food nor water. According to RPD spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Preston, a concerned citizen contacted the police because she had not seen the victim for two days, and then a neighbor forced entry into the home because of sounds she heard coming from inside the apartment. Officers responded to a call on April 30 about unknown trouble at the 200 block of West Mathews Street. When officials arrived, they located Moore who had been severely beaten. “She was bound and beaten for four or five days. She must have been through hell. ... In 12 years, I’ve never seen anyone beaten to this point,” Preston told the Daily Record. See KANMORE, Page A3
NM forecasts 4% revenue GOP upheaval just before convention growth in next budget year TAMPA, Fla. (AP) —
50-GAME SUSPENSION FOR COLON
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Make it two 50-game suspensions in exactly one week — both starters for contending teams from the Bay Area, both for testosterone. Former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon of the Oakland Athletics was suspended for 50 game ... - PAGE B1
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CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
SANTA FE (AP) — Lawmakers and Gov. Susana Martinez will have $272 million available in the upcoming budget year for spending increases on government programs and to offset any new tax cuts that may be enacted, according to a new financial forecast released Wednesday. If all of the money is added to the state’s budget next year, it will allow for spending increases of 4.8 percent. Top officials in the Martinez administration outlined the revenue projections to the Legislative Finance Committee during a meeting in Angel Fire. Lawmakers were cautioned that global economic weakness, volatility in oil and natural gas prices and the possibility of federal spending cutbacks pose “downside risks” to New Mexico’s revenue outlook in the fiscal year starting next July. The state relies heavily on taxes and royalties from
energy production. The state expects economic growth to boost total revenue collections by 4 percent in the 2014 fiscal year to about $5.9 billion. That’s $272 million more than the state will spend this year and that’s considered the pool of so-called new money available for spending increases on public education and other government programs as well as to cover possible tax cuts. Lawmakers estimate that several obligations in current law will require $74 million of the money, potentially leaving about $198 million for other budget increases. For example, the state is supposed to increase its payroll contributions into public employee pensions starting next year and lower how much employees pay. In recent years, the See REVENUE, Page A3
This is the convention prelude of the Republicans’ dreams — their nightmares, that is. Mitt Romney wanted to preside over a made-forTV gathering showcasing his economic credentials and GOP unity. Instead, he’s heading to Tampa with the national debate focused on rape and abortion and with the divisions within his party — and with running mate Paul Ryan — on full display. “It’s a huge distracAP Photo tion,” Saul Anuzis, a RNC member from Michigan Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan, Rand a top Romney backer, said of the emotional Wis., leaves a campaign rally in West Chester, Pa. quarreling touched off by ney’s party. As Wednes- chaotic situation from a embattled Missouri Rep. day’s rain pounded the transportation and secuTodd Akin earlier this arena and hotel complex rity standpoint.” week. “We should be talk- where the convention is All this as a new Assoing about the economy scheduled for next week, ciated Press-GfK poll and here we are con- Anuzis lamented the trop- showed a neck-and-neck sumed by these side ical stor m chur ning race between Romney and issues.” toward Florida, saying Even the weather is that “it could cause threatening to spoil Rom- havoc; it could be a See GOP, Page A3
Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest continues longstanding legacy
INDEX
CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER This article is one in a series of stories focusing on local agencies, which receive support from the United Way of Chaves County, which is currently conducting its annual fundraising campaign. The Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest have a longstanding legacy in the community that includes more than just selling delicious cookies every year.
Girl Scouts has been in Chaves Country since the mid-1920s, and celebrates 100 years of existence in the United States this year. Membership Manager and team leader Rebecca Sherwood said the building itself, which is located on East College Boulevard, has been around since the 1980s and is used by many people in the community. When rooms aren’t being used for troop meetings, they rent the building out to the community for different events, including weddings. There is plenty of room at the location and she said they’ve had plenty of visits from out-of-town
troops that stopped in Roswell to visit the popular alien museums. Sherwood said the girls have plenty to keep them busy at their spacious facility and thoughout the city. Every activity the Girl Scouts put together comes at low or even no cost to the participants, thanks in large part to the United Way Foundation. A more recent example she talked about was the fashion camp that was hosted for fifth- through 12th-graders. The girls were taught how to design an outfit from start to finish. They drew the designs out and even modeled for one another
and were able to take a trip to the thrift store and received tips to put together a stylish outfit for less. Sherwood said the girls had a blast, and with 15 troops in the Chaves County area, the United Way helps them put on creative programs such as that one without placing a financial burden on the participants. “Any time we offer a program like that, it helps to be able to not pass the cost of the program on to the girl, because that’s prohibitive to a lot of families,” she said. “So in order to offer it to them at low cost, we’re able to utilize the support we receive from the United
Way, to help buy program supplies, to help put flyers up and put the program on for the girls.”
Sherwood said she hopes they’ll be able to host various programs around the area during the school year like they have in the past. From the daring archery program that was held for fourth- and fifth-graders, which she noted was quite a success, to the jump rope classes held at elementary schools during the students’ recess time, Sherwood said she just wants everyone to have fun and See SCOUTS, Page A3