Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 263 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
November 2, 2013
www.rdrnews.com
SATURDAY
Stop order denial means Valley Meat can open JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
A federal judge denied a lawsuit Friday by animal rights groups against the USDA, lifting the final barrier for Roswell to become home to possibly the nation’s first horse slaughterhouse to open since 2007. “This is great for Valley Meat,” said attorney Blair Dunn. “This means they go to work. They’re going to try to get open as soon as
they can.” Dunn represents Valley Meat and a second operation, Rains Natural Meats of Gallatin, Mo. Valley Meat’s owner Rick De Los Santos is lining up horses, employees and working with the USDA to prepare to open. Valley Meat could begin processing horses within the next week, Dunn said. “It’s been an uphill battle,” Dunn said. “It looks like the law is finally headed in the right direction.” Albuquerque Federal Dis-
trict Court Judge Christina Armijo ordered to deny a lawsuit filed by the Humane Society of the United States and other groups against the USDA. The suit sought to stop the federal government from inspecting horse meat plants until the USDA completed exhaustive and lengthy environmental reviews. The ruling removed a temporary restraining order placed on Valley Meat and two other plants in Iowa and Missouri that had been
issued grants of inspection. The plants were forced to put of f plans for horse slaughter operations Aug. 2. Dunn said he thought Armijo’s opinion was well reasoned and thorough. “Valley and Rains are very grateful for the hard work and thought that Judge Armijo put into this decision,” Dunn said. The animal rights groups could file an appeal with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to seek another restriction, Dunn said. But,
the success of an appeal is not likely. “I think the judge has done a good job,” Dunn said. “I think the companies will go ahead and open.” Friday’s ruling was a milestone for Valley Meat in De Los Santos’ nearly twoyear struggle to convert his cattle slaughter operation. The company has dealt with numerous permit logjams with the USDA, federal lawsuits, a state wastewater denial and hearing, death threats and arson at
the plant on Cedarvale Road. The company received more threats last week. “This is not the end of the struggle,” Dunn said. Valley Meat finished its wastewater hearing with New Mexico Environment Department last week. It expects to receive a final decision on whether the state will approve a permit by February. Until then, De Los Santos will remove See DENIAL, Page A3
Police want Acosta for questioning in shooting near Kmart
A woman was shot near Kmart on the 200 block of East Frazier Street early yesterday.
Roswell Police Department of ficers responded to the shooting at approximately 4 a.m., where they discovered Helen Joy Padilla, 45, who had sustained gunshot wounds.
Mark Wilson Photo
Kintigh: Derelict buildings contribute to crime
Unoccupied houses line a block of E. Bland St.
law enforcement, derelict structures within the city limits and their influence Dennis Kintigh recently on crime. Speaking from his years spoke to the Roswell Association of Realtors about of experience with the FBI, Roswell Police Department JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
and Chaves County Sheriff’s Office, Kintigh noted that derelict and abandoned structures become a magnet to criminals, drug users and squatters. “This is not a new phe-
Obama: al-Qaida active in Iraq
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama pledged Friday to help combat an increasingly active al-Qaida in Iraq but stopped short of announcing new commitments of assistance sought by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri alMaliki. Al-Maliki came to the Oval Office requesting additional aid, including weapons and help with intelligence, to fight insurgent violence that has spiked in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. “Unfortunately al-Qaida has still been active and has grown more active recently,” Obama said at the end of a nearly two-
nomenon. … In 2000, I condemned.” went into a derelict strucThe empty buildings are ture as the part of a quickly vandalized and search. I’ve never seen become a place for chilmore used needles in my life. That was the first time I asked to have a building See DERELICT, Page A3
Police stand guard in Terminal 2 at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday.
Police spokeswoman Sabrina Morales said she did not have information pertaining to the relationship between Padilla and Acosta.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, Morales said Padilla was alive and being treated at an out-of-state hospital. She said she did not know the status of Padilla’s condition.
It’s that time of year again
hour meeting. “So we had a lot of discussion about how we can work together to push back against that terrorist organization that operates not only in Iraq, but also poses a threat to the entire region and to the United States.” Al-Maliki declined to discuss the details of his request for U.S. assistance but said the meeting was “very positive.” “We talked about the way of countering terrorism, and we had similar position and similar ideas,” he said. Obama said the best way to honor those killed in the Iraq war would be to bring about a functioning democracy. Al-Maliki’s critics
have accused him for years of a heavy-handed leadership that refuses to compromise and, to some, oversteps his authority against political enemies. But Obama only praised the prime minister for working to include Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man carrying a note that said he wanted to “kill TSA” pulled a semi-automatic rifle from a bag and shot his way past a security checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, killing one Transportation Security Administration officer and wounding two others, authorities said.
His condition was not disclosed. The attack at the nation’s third-busiest airport sent terrified travelers running for cover and disrupted more than 700 flights across the U.S., many of which were held on the ground at LAX or not allowed to take off for Los Angeles from other airports. The TSA late Friday identified the slain officer as Gerardo I. Hernandez, 39. He is the first TSA officer
killed in the line of duty in the 12-year history of the agency, which was founded in the aftermath of 9/11. The FBI and Los Angeles Airport Police identified the gunman as Paul Ciancia, 23, of Pennsville, N.J. He had apparently been living in Los Angeles. A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly, said Ciancia was wearing fatigues and carry-
ing a bag containing a onepage handwritten note that said he wanted to kill TSA employees and “pigs.” The official said the rant refers to how Ciancia believed his constitutional rights were being violated by TSA searches and that he’s a “pissed-off patriot” upset at for mer Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The note and the gunman’s rifle each had an orange
• Victoria Sedillo Jaffe • Mike Hernandez • Romelio Sanchez
• Winona Lois Bowden • Maxine Carrillo
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6
“The main theme was that the United States wants to be a strong and effective partner with Iraq, and we are deeply invested in seeing an Iraq that is inclusive, that is democratic and that is prosperous,” Obama said. “And I communicated to the prime minister that anything that
Mark Wilson Photo
Jasmine Sisneros, 11, displays her handmade canning jar snow globes during the Christmas Gift Fair at the Roswell Adult Center Friday.
Gunman kills TSA officer at LAX, wounds 2 others
AP Photo
According to a press release, “Police are interested in speaking with Leroy Acosta, 31, regarding the incident.”
The gunman was wounded in a shootout with airport police and taken into custody, authorities said.
HIGH 67 LOW 40
TODAY’S FORECAST
See AL-QAIDA, Page A3
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A2
See LAX, Page A3
COMICS .................B5
ENTERTAINMENT .....A8
‘SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT’ HAS MOVED TO SUNDAY
Starting Sunday, Nov. 3, “spotlight” features will begin running in the Sunday paper.
If you know of someone who deserves recognition and would like to nominate them to be featured, you can pick up a form from the Daily Record’s main of fice, 2301 N. Main St., or call 6227710.
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2 OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1 STOCKS .................B4
WEATHER ..............A8