Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 251 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
October 19, 2013
www.rdrnews.com
SATURDAY
Gov, county mark biofuel plant groundbreaking JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Gov. Susana Martinez joined local leaders Friday in celebrating the groundbreaking of a plant that will convert Chaves County dairy waste into biofuel. The gathering of county, city and state officials were joined by community members along a county lane in front of AG Power Inc.’s future site, which promises to begin turning manure into money. President of AG Power, Dewey Vaughn, said his team was exploring another
project in Texas when they discovered the Chaves County opportunity. Dairy farmers were working on trying to find a way to deal with manure for the past seven years. “You, as a community had already done a lot of the work ahead of time,” Vaughn said. “Every place we’ve tur ned we’ve had support.” Vaughn credited the community for making the project happen. “You as a community have spoken out,” he said. “You have taken care of your community.”
Vaughn called the project “the new gas fuels of tomorrow.” The project will connect dairies through underground pipelines. Manure will be collected daily and mixed with wastewater, fed through the pipes and end up at the plant. Once there, the waste will be processed and methane will be extracted. The methane will later be converted into compressed natural gas to be used for transportation. “This project shows us that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” said Commissioner Greg
Preparing to take flight
Nibert. “We’re pleased to see this project get off the ground.” Nibert welcomed Vaughn to the county and said the county appreciated the investment AG Power was making in the community. Neil Roe, president of Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation called the project a “home run.” “This project really isn’t about jobs, it’s about retention and expansion,” Roe said. “It’s about helping dairies stay. It really is a
Mark Wilson Photo
Gov. Susana Martinez addresses attendees at the groundbreaking for AG Power's Advanced Biofuel Plant which will be located south of Roswell, Friday morning.
State Supreme Court to decide whether to legalize gay marriage
See PLANT, Page A3
SANTA FE (AP) — Linda Siegle and her partner of 22 years were first in line when the Santa Fe County clerk started to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in late August. Now, she’s waiting to see whether the New Mexico Supreme Court will legalize gay marriage in all of the state’s 33 counties. Eight counties currently allow it. The five-member high court is scheduled to hear oral arguments next Wednesday in a case that could resolve an issue that’s historically stalled in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. New Mexico law doesn’t explicitly authorize or prohibit gay marriage, but lawmakers have refused to ban it or allow for domestic partnerships. The court agreed to take the case after New Mexico’s county clerks asked the justices to clarify the law and decide whether a decision by a state district
Mark Wilson Photo
Hot air balloons Anastasia and Air Rageous prepare for an early morning flight during the 2013 Homecoming and Alumni Weekend at New Mexico Military Institute, Friday.
judge in Albuquerque was correct. That judge ruled in a lawsuit against two counties that it was unconstitutional to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Supreme Court’s decision would apply statewide. The justices could rule immediately or take the case under consideration and issue a decision later. “As of today, we all believe that we are officially and legally married and eligible for all of those federal benefits and responsibilities,” said Siegle, a lobbyist in Santa Fe for Equality New Mexico, a gay rights group. Legal marriage entitles gay couples to benefits like joint tax-filing status and Social Security survivor benefits. Gay marriage became a hot-button issue two months ago when the Dona Ana County clerk decided independently to grant
Judge: NMMI can keep lawyers State postpones push for JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
New Mexico Military Institute’s ousted Alumni Association lost its first battle in what is expected to be a lengthy court fight against the school. An Eddy County district court judge decided late Thursday NMMI can keep its legal counsel, denying a motion by the Association to disqualify the Institution’s law firm of Hinkle, Hensley, Shanor and Martin. The Association asked Judge Jane Shuler Gray to disqualify NMMI’s counsel because Maryl McNally, an
associate attorney with the same firm, represented the Association when she practiced law at the Mark W. Taylor law firm.
NMMI argued that McNally did not play a role in the current dispute between the Institute and the Association. Any conflict was waived by the Association and McNally was kept away from any contact with information related to the pending lawsuit, according to NMMI.
Although the Association’s attorneys objected, Shuler Gray interviewed McNally privately on camera during Tuesday’s hearing and determined that
she knew nothing of the current lawsuit. “Her knowledge of the Association’s relationship with the Institute was almost non-existent,” Shuler Gray found. “This Court cannot find that the representation by McNally of Association meets the requirements defining a ‘substantial relationship’ …” The Association’s attorney, Jeffrey Dahl, said the decision was just one step in the process. “We’re just going to go forward,” Dahl said Friday. “We believe the judge conSee NMMI, Page A3
“Despite appearances, I am not old enough to have been in Vietnam.” It’s a phrase he likes to tell people. Maybe this is because his white mustache matches curly white hair tucked neatly behind his ears and scrapes against the back of his shirt collar. Or maybe it’s because it makes people laugh. It’s safe to guess it’s the latter,
Courtesy Photo
HIGH 67 LOW 38
TODAY’S FORECAST
health insurance exchange ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico is postponing a media push for its health insurance exchange while glitches in the federal system are worked out.
TV commercials and other paid advertising are ready to go, but they’re on hold, said Robin Hunn, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange. Other states that had planned to use Twitter and Facebook to advertise health exchanges are scaling back media campaigns, as
well. Federal health officials have been working around the clock to fix technology glitches plaguing the website where U.S. citizens can obtain health insurance under the federal law. New Mexico took a hybrid approach to the online marketplace — implementing a state-run computer system to sign up small businesses but initially relying on a federal website to handle individuals. Hunn said more than
670 businesses have set up accounts, but she’s unsure how many New Mexicans have tried to enroll in individual plans. The state site had recorded more than 45,650 unique visits since Oct. 6. “There is some level of frustration out there among people who have tried to open accounts on the federal exchange,” Hunn told the Albuquerque Jour nal for a story published Friday. “Hopefully, the feds will get it worked out very soon.”
No joke — Mike Walsh lives to entertain
AMY VOGELSANG RECORD STAFF WRITER
Right: A huge fan of Roswell’s walk/runs, Mike Walsh walks in the annual Alien Chase. A former Marine and recently retired air traffic controller, Walsh likes to amuse others, “to keep you entertained,” he’ll say.
See MARRIAGE, Page A3
• CORNELIUS FREDERICK (FRED) HECHT • ANTONIA LOPEZ
even if the former is still true.
It’s probably also for this latter reason that, when his white beard grows out and Christmas draws near, he claims kids will start pointing to him and saying, “Look, mama! Santa!” This is just how Mike Walsh tells it. And whether true or not, it earns him smiles and a couple chuckles and really that’s his whole goal.
• MARIA Z. JARAMILLO
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A2
Walsh’s mantra is to amuse, “to keep you entertained,” he’ll say.
But what does it mean to entertain? Some use it in regards to holding house parties; a sort of Gatsby gathering comes to mind. But entertaining could also mean to draw out smiles, laughter and enjoyment from surrounding people. For Walsh, entertaining is a combination of these two. He is often found host-
ing get-togethers at his house with the help of his wife, Cathy. His magical beans, addicting chile con queso or his own tweaked version of M&M’s pasta are all recipes for which friends have begged. The love of entertaining reaches a fulfillment every Friday morning when one of Walsh’s highlights occurs: he and Cathy host breakfast for “The Herd,” a See SPOTLIGHT, Page A3
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
FINANCIAL ..............B5
LOTTERIES .............A2
COMICS .................B4
HOROSCOPES .........A8
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8