Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 121, No. 210 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
ISAAC’S WATERS RECEDE
BELLE CHASE, La. (AP) — Floodwaters from Isaac receded, power came on and businesses opened Friday ahead of the holiday weekend, the beginning of what is certain to be a slow recovery for Louisiana. ... Meanwhile, the leftovers from the storm pushed into the drought-stricken ... - PAGE A2
September 1, 2012
SATURDAY
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Pluses, minuses for Romney’s convention
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Republican convention propelled Mitt Romney into the fall campaign on a high note, thanks to his wellacceptance received speech, an appealing cast of future party leaders and a relentless drumbeat of criticism of President Barack Obama’s record and leadership. Yet the proceedings also were clouded by troubling images of Hurricane Isaac and a bizarre performance by actor Clint Eastwood that left many viewers scratching their heads. While the convention presented a show of party unity that once seemed distant, there still were ques-
tions about how the party would tackle issues like Medicare and spending cuts. The convention also did not offer the game-changing shift in momentum many activists had hoped for to reverse pre-convention polls showing Romney trailing Obama narrowly in several battleground states. Republicans had a lot riding on the outcome of the Tampa conclave. The nationally televised proceedings gave Romney and other Republicans their last opportunity to make an unfiltered pitch to millions of voters just now tuning in to the presidential contest. In many ways the con-
vention succeeded. Romney, whose image has been battered by a barrage of Obama campaign ads depicting him as a corporate raider and plutocrat, delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech that mixed biography with moments of emotion. The former Massachusetts governor teared up when speaking of his late parents and reminiscing about his five sons growing up. But the speech lacked many memorable phrases or laugh lines, and opened only the narrowest new window into how Romney would gover n if elected See GOP, Page A3
Fatal shooting
AP Photo
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., Thursday.
Obama visits Ft. Bliss
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Lopez trial under way • Attorney position stirs debate • Celebrate Labor Day with a free jazz concert • Boy Scouts serving Roswell faithfully • Coyote girls fall to Valencia, 5-0
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Richard Herrera, 33, was shot and killed, Friday, around 11 a.m. The Roswell police responded to a shots-fired call and when officers arrived on the scene, they found Herrera dead in the alley behind 1511 N. Union Ave. RPD spokeswoman Sabrina Morales said that as of 5 p.m. Friday, officials did not know of any possible motive for the shooting.The investigation is ongoing. Morales urges anyone who may have information about the crime to call the Criminal Investigation Division at the RPD, 627-6770, or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-594-TIPS (8477).
CAVEMEN BASH COYOTES
Heading into Roswell’s season opener against Carlsbad on Friday at the Wool Bowl, the big question was how would the young Coyotes react once the proverbial bullets started flying. The answer was admirably. Despite losing 20-6, Roswell offered a glimpse to a bright future with their effort and play against the Cavemen. Coyote coach Robert Arreola said that he was proud of how his team battled for 48 minutes. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Mary Lee Talley • Juanita LaTurner • Stella M. Heinhold - PAGE A3
NMMI Class of 2012 bests state, nat’l averages on ACT JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
New Mexico Military Institute’s Class of 2012 completed a number of firsts during its time at the school. As a class, they received the highest composite grade point average over 3.0. Many were accepted to schools previously unattended by NMMI students such as Cornell, Georgetown, and Stanford. One female cadet was awarded a seven-year Reserve Officers’ Training Corps scholarship through law school. And now the school is boasting the class’s record high 2012 ACT Test Composite average score, which surpassed both the New Mexico and national averages.
See OBAMA, Page A3
NMMI cadets are required to take the ACT, a national college admissions examination that tests on the areas of English, mathematics, reading, and science, prior to graduating from the high school. Cadets usually take the test during their junior year. The Class of 2012 graduated 89 students and received an ACT Test Composite average score of 23.3. The state average was 19.9 and the national average was 21.1. The highest possible score is 36. “We’ve been higher than the state and nation for 10 years,”said NMMI Superintendent Maj. Gen. Jerry Grizzle. “But in the past two See NMMI, Page A3
Lupe Perez: Always a fighter, now a teacher CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
HIGH ...94˚ LOW ....66˚
For Lupe Perez, fighting has always been a part of his life. Born to migrant workers, Perez said his family moved around a great deal
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
FORT BLISS, Texas (AP) — In an election-year reminder that he ended the war in Iraq, President Barack Obama vowed Friday to help soldiers, veterans and their families overcome economic and health care struggles as they return to the nation they have served. Surrounded by a sea of men and women in fatigues, Obama saluted their service, but cautioned that a “tough fight” remains in Afghanistan even as the U.S. works to transfer security control to Afghan forces. He said the troops’ return home now presents different challenges. “After fighting for America you shouldn’t have to fight for a job in America,” Obama said. “To you and all you serve, we need to be there for you just like you were there for us.” Obama’s visit Friday to
INDEX
Chaunte’l Powell Photo
Lupe Perez inside his gym, nicknamed “The Dungeon.”
and every now and again, he was challenged, since he was the new kid in town. With 10 brothers and seven sisters around to defend him, Perez said he was never alone in these fights and they usually didn’t happen after the initial tussle. He hails from Three River, Texas, a small town between San Antonio and See SPOTLIGHT, Page A2
Roswell Literacy Council promotes lifelong learning 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.
Director Andrae England said the Roswell Literacy Council encourages everyone to never stop learning. The center, 609 W. 10th St., provides tutoring for those age 16 and older and who are not in school to work on whatever goal they have in mind, which can be as fundamental as improving their reading, to obtain-
ing a GED. Over the years, England said she’s seen many return to the center with new goals of expanding their knowledge. She said that a number of years ago a woman came to the center to learn English. The woman accomplished her goal and went on to start her own cleaning business. And she continues to come to the center. “She’s still a lear ner,” England said. “She understands, like we all do, that See LITERACY, Page A3