Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 121, No. 205 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
August 26, 2012
Remembering Sage, ‘everybody’s dog’
SUNDAY
www.rdrnews.com
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
TOSS NO MAS
A statewide mission that asks New Mexicans— through its programs and its catchy name—to “toss no more,” will soon make its way to Roswell, where it will inspire locals to plant, clean and recycle. ... Roswell’s version of the statewide environmental program will feature community events and culminate on Oct. 13 .... - PAGE C1
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Bobby Goode: Welder, award-winning artist ... • J.O.Y. Centers help seniors stay healthy ... • It’s gonna be a dugout when it’s done • RISD numbers drop • Sartans dominate, blank Coyotes 4-0
INSIDE SPORTS
RHS GALS DOMINATE
Anyone can claim to be able to do something, but stepping up and being able to deliver is an entirely different thing. During Roswell’s first game on Saturday at the Lady Rockets Tournament, the Coyotes found themselves down 1-0 when coach Samantha Ward turned to her players and asked who can score. Freshman Lrissa Cobos piped up that she could and delivered with three goals in a 4-3 Coyote win over Santa Teresa. ... The score remained 1-0 until the 37th minute when Cobos scored Roswell’s ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • • • •
OBITUARIES
Daniel Jenks Nita La Turner Joe Lucero Richardo Campos - PAGE B6
Mark Wilson Photo
Sage receives a final salute from the Patriot Guard Riders as handler and companion Diane Whetsel holds tight to her remains during a memorial service and celebration of the beloved K-9 service dog.
Ohanas have Fun in the Sun at Spring River Zoo CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
Just about everyone in Roswell knows that Ohana means “family,” thanks in large part to the Sweet Leilani’s Kipuka Hula, and Saturday people had the opportunity see the fun activities Roswell has to offer their Ohanas. Ohana Fun in the Sun took place at the Spring River Park & Zoo and Marla Higginbotham, the new director of the Sweet Leilani’s Kipuka Hula said this year was all about fun activities for families. “We decided this year to showcase what makes fun in Roswell for families,” she said. “So we asked all different kinds of community members to perform so that the audience could find out what’s happening in Roswell and what
they might like to do.” The fun day featured martial art demonstrations, Roswell Folklorico, Flamenco dancers, singers, a Jazzercise routine and more. Performers ranged in age from children to 96-year-old square dancer Joseph Hammond. He said he has been square dancing since 1970, and enjoyed the event and the opportunity to perform. “It’s a wonderful thing I think, and I’m glad to see such a good attendance,” he said. “I was happy to perform. We have a good group and a lot of experienced square dancers.” This was his first time performing at the event, and when asked if he’ll be back next year, he chuckled and responded, “Maybe so, we’ll
See SAGE, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
The Enchanted Squares dance during the Ohana Fun in the Sun event held at Spring River Zoo, Saturday.
City gathers for veterans cemetery groundbreaking See OHANAS, Page A3
CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mark Wilson Photo
Attendees gather for the groundbreaking of the new veterans cemetery, Saturday.
Many have been called to serve the United States over the years and quite soon those brave individuals who sacrificed their lives answering the call will have a place to be buried and honored in Roswell. Veterans from all over the Southwest gathered with their families Saturday morning across the street from the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, for the groundbreaking ceremony of the veterans cemetery.
Vietnam veteran Bert Eldridge has spent the better part of two years attending meetings, drawing up plans and doing everything in his power to make sure the veterans of Roswell will have a place to be buried when their time comes. With the help of the City Council, Home Depot and other community members, he was finally able to see the fruits of his labor begin to blossom. The ceremony itself featured heartfelt speeches from many of the individuals who have worked alongside Eldridge from the very beginning of the process.
Mayor Del Jurney told the crowd the immense amount of pride he felt in being a leader of a city undertaking such a task and what it means for Roswell.
“They give their lives, and they give their limbs, and they give their all so that we can do this today. So that we can have flags flying and we can be proud. And for us to be able to say thank you to those men and women by saying, ‘We want you home. When your life goes on, we want you here.’ That’s a very good See VETERANS, Page A3
Naturalist speaks of living landscapes at library event Armstrong, 1st man on moon, dies CINCINNATI (AP) — Neil Armstrong was a soft-spoken engineer who became a global hero when as a steely-nerved pilot he made “one giant leap for mankind” with a small step onto the moon. The modest man, who had people on Earth entranced and awed from almost a quarter -million miles away, but credited others for the feat, died Saturday. He was 82.
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
HIGH ...92˚ LOW ....67˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........D1 COMICS.................C3 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B5 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
The Roswell community gathered Saturday to remember the life of K-9 Sage, a border collie who for more than a decade served her country during many of its greatest times of need and had affected lives throughout the world. Sage, who provided search and rescue in Iraq, at the Pentagon after 9/11, and on the Gulf Coast for hurricanes Katrina and Rita, received a veterans escort from the Patriot Guard Riders, New Mexico State Police, and the Roswell police and fire departments. The cavalcade went from Country Club Animal Hospital to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, where more than 200 residents paid their respects at the memorial service. Sage’s handler and lifelong companion Diane Whetsel said Saturday’s turnout was a reminder of
INDEX
Noah Vernau Photo
Naturalist William Dunmire discusses the six ecoregions of New Mexico during a slide presentation at the Roswell Public Library, Saturday.
Naturalist, writer and photographer William W. Dunmire provided a slide show discussion of New Mexico’s natural diversity at the Roswell Public Library, Saturday, sharing work from his latest book New Mexico’s Living Landscapes: A Roadside View. His presentation, an official New Mexico Centennial event, took audiences through all four corners of New Mexico and everywhere in between, from grasslands and woodlands to mountains and deserts. Dunmire discussed the characteristic traits of the six ecoregions that exist See DUNMIRE, Page A3
Armstrong died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures, his family said in a statement. Armstrong had had a bypass operation this month, according to NASA. His family didn’t say where he died; he had lived in suburban Cincinnati.
AP Photo
Neil Armstrong, from the moon, July 20, 1969.
Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969, capping the most daring of the 20th century’s scientific expeditions. His first words after becoming the first person to set foot on the surface are etched in history books and the memoSee ARMSTRONG, Page A3