Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 121, No. 273 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
BUDGET YEAR BEGINS WITH $120 BILLION DEFICIT
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
November 14, 2012
Scandal widens; US General investigated
WASHINGTON (AP) — The sex scandal that felled CIA Director David Petraeus widened Tuesday to ensnare the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, in a suddenly public drama involving a Tampa socialite, a jealous rival, a twin sister in a messy custody dispute and flirty emails. The improbable story — by turns tragic and silly — could have major consequences, unfolding at a critical time in the Afghan war effort and just as President Barack Obama was hoping for a smooth transition in his
WEDNESDAY
www.rdrnews.com
national security team. Obama put a hold on the nomination of Afghan war chief Allen to become the next commander of U.S. European Command as well as the NATO supreme allied commander in Europe after investigators uncovered 20,000-plus pages of documents and emails that involved Allen and Tampa socialite Jill Kelley. Some of the material was characterized as “flirtatious.” Allen, 58, insisted he’d done nothing wrong and worked to save his imperiled career. Kelley, 37, who had
worked herself into the center of the military social scene in Florida without having any official role, emerged as a central figure in the still-unfolding story that has embroiled two of the nation’s most influential and respected military leaders. Known as a close friend of retired Gen. Petraeus, Kelley triggered the FBI investigation that led to his downfall as CIA director when she complained about getting anonymous, harassing emails. They turned out to have been written by Petraeus’ mistress, Paula Broadwell, who apparently
was jealous of the attention the general paid to Kelley. Petraeus acknowledged the affair and resigned Friday. Federal investigators came across what a Pentagon official called “inappropriate communications” between Allen and Kelley, both of them married. According to a senior U.S. official, the emails between Allen and Kelley were not sexually explicit or seductive but included pet names such as “sweetheart” or “dear.” The official said that while much of the communication — including some from Allen to Kelley — is rel-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government started the 2013 budget year with a $120 billion deficit in October, an indication that the nation is on a path to its fifth straight $1 trillion-plus annual deficit. A soaring deficit puts added pressure on President Barack Obama and Congress to ... -PAGE B3
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Annual Operation Christmas Child ... • CYFD marks National Adoption Awareness ... • Learning the true ... • County Commission to meet Thursday ... * Artists showcase unique talents ...
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
3rd-graders take on fitness challenge
Delighted third-graders at Valley View receive apples and oranges during a visit by the mayor, Goddard FFA students and dignitaries from the 5-2-1-O Physical Fitness and Nutrition Challenge, Tuesday morning.
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mayor Del Jurney visited Valley View Elementary School Tuesday to encourage third-graders to par-
BIG BEN’S SHOULDER SPRAINED
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger left Heinz Field on Monday night with his sprained right shoulder in a sling. When he walks back in ready to play is anybody’s guess. Tomlin called Pittsburgh’s franchise quarterback “questionable” but otherwise offered little ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Ronny J. Stewart • Sam “Tony” Spina • Voy Turpen • Michael Detterman Jr. • Anne Pope * Ramon Martinez • Jan Elizabeth Clark • Elizabeth Knowles • Gerald Lightfoot • Etha Mae Caswell • Sonia Franco - PAGE A2
HIGH ...66˚ LOW ....34˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A3 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10
INDEX
ticipate in a statewide ef fort that promotes healthier lifestyle choices for young children. The 5-2-1-O Challenge invites kids to adopt better habits, such as eating
Some Dems: drive over ‘fiscal cliff,’ then bargain WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Democrats are pushing an unorthodox idea for coping with the “fiscal cliff”: Let the government go over, temporarily at least, to give their party more bargaining leverage for changes later on. The idea has plenty of skeptics, and the White House regards it frostily. But it illustrates the wide range of early negotiating positions being staked out by Republicans and Democrats as lawmakers gathered Tuesday for their first postelection talks on how to avoid the looming package of steep tax hikes and program cuts. Just as brazen, in the eyes of many Democrats,
is the GOP leaders’ continued insistence on protecting tax cuts for the rich. President Barack Obama just won re-election, campaigning on a vow to end those breaks. Democrats and Republicans appear heading toward another round of brinkmanship that will test who blinks first on questions of major importance. It’s a dance that has infuriated many Americans, shaken financial markets and drawn ridicule from foreign commentators. The “fiscal cliff” deadline comes in seven weeks. One provision: Unless Congress acts, all Bush-era tax cuts would expire, raising 2013 tax bills for most Americans.
fruits and vegetables daily and getting more physical activity, said Tamara Fresquez of Chaves County’s Healthy Kids program. The organization’s 2011 New Mexico Childhood
Obesity Report found that 15% of kindergarten and 21.9% of third-grade students are obese. “This See FITNESS, Page A6
atively innocuous, some could be construed as unprofessional and would cause a reasonable person to take notice.
That official, as well as others who described the investigation, requested anonymity on grounds that they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.
The FBI decided to turn over the Allen information to the military once the bureau recognized it contained no evidence of a federal crime, according to a federal law enforcement official.
Police officer shortage looms in ABQ
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Proposed changes to state retirement funds may prompt hundreds of Albuquerque police officers to retire and spark an officer shortage in New Mexico’s largest city. Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said the city could lose around 200 officers to retirement in a few months, KOAT -TV reported. Those retirements would reduce the department’s workforce to around 800, Schultz said. In addition, Albuquerque police could face difficulty in immediately hiring replacements. The department recently increased hiring requirements for incoming cadets following a string of officer -involved shootings.
Tips aplenty at Christmas showcase
See SHORTAGE, Page A6
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
Members of New Mexico State University’s Extension Clubs gave tips and ideas for crafting fun and frugal gifts during its annual showcase Tuesday at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center. At the “Christmas from the Heart” showcase, Extension club members taught attendees various simple gift-giving ideas and how to make create inexpensive Christmas decorations and how to repurpose old items for new uses. “The clubs are doing this as a community service,” said Shannon Wooton, Extension home economist. The convention floor was divided into four different stations, with a lesson in each corner. Topics included simple sewing ideas, kitchen crafts, Christmas décor and easy gift ideas.
Mark Wilson Photo
Visitors to the “Christmas from the Heart” showcase explore different ideas for Christmas decor at the Roswell Convention and Civic Center, Tuesday.
Attendees received a program booklet that contained patterns and step-by-step instructions of how to make gifts such as jewelry boxes and a heart pin cushion.
The booklet also has food
safety tips and festive holiday recipes for entertaining. See TIPS, Page A2
Remember, get your memory checked New opposition head gives CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
In honor of National Memory Screening Day, a nationwide event held by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Comfort Keepers held the eighth annual memory screening in Roswell, Tuesday. The event was held at the Roswell Adult and Senior Center, and featured complementary memory screenings with material provided by the foundation, as well as goodies and information from about 18 different vendors. The vendors included home health agencies, assisted living facilities and medical suppliers as well. Paula Wilks, LPN and operMark Wilson Photo ations manager for Comfort Keepers, said there was a good turnout for the free flu Visitors to the National Memory Screening shots that were offered on the day as well. Day event sponsored by Comfort Keepers check out the displays at the Roswell Adult See MEMORY, Page A2 and Senior Center, Tuesday.
renewed hope to Syrians
BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s political opposition has struggled to prove its relevance amid the civil war under a leadership largely made up of academics and exiled politicians. With its relaunch as a new organization, it has taken a different tack: choosing as its head a popular Muslim cleric who preaches sectarian unity and can fire up a crowd. The selection of a moderate religious figure, Mouaz al-Khatib, to head the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces is also an attempt to counter the growing influence of Islamic extremists in the rebellion against President Bashar Assad. While lacking in political experience, the 52-year-old preacher-turned-activist is described by Syrians as a man of the people — a modest, unifying figure who commands wide respect among the country’s various opposition groups and rebels.