Roswell Daily Record
Israel – Hamas cease-fire begins
Vol. 121, No. 280 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers took effect Wednesday night, bringing an end to eight days of the fiercest fighting in years and possibly signaling a new era of relations between the bitter enemies.
TOUGH BUDGET SUMMIT
BRUSSELS (AP) — Everyone’s drawing lines in the sand, but the leaders are so far apart they might as well be on different beaches. The European Union heads into a critical summit today to hammer out a $1.28 trillion budget through 2020 — and it promises to be one of its most bitter fights in years. - PAGE A9
The Egyptian-sponsored deal delivered key achievements for all involved. It promised to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel and ease border closings that have
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Novenber 22, 2012
THURSDAY
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stifled Gaza’s economy, and it affirmed the emergence of Egypt’s new Islamist government as a key player in a changing region. But vague language in the agreement and deep hostility between the combatants made it far from certain that the bloodshed would end. News of the truce, announced in Cairo and reached after furious diplomacy that drew in U.S., U.N., European and regional diplomats, set off ecstatic celebrations in Gaza,
where thousands poured into the streets, firing guns into the air, honking horns and waving Palestinian, Hamas and Egyptian flags.
In Israel, small demonstrations were held in communities that were struck by rockets. Protesters said the military should have hit Hamas harder and some held signs demanding security and denouncing “agreements with terrorists.” Leaders on both sides See ISRAEL, Page A3
AP Photo
Property taxes thorny problem
Palestinians celebrate the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza City, Wednesday.
TOP 5 WEB For The Past 24 Hours
• Pueblo, Colo., teenager decides ... • Guerreros 4th Toy Run set for Sunday • Operation Christmas Child exceeds goal • 4 locals named all-stars • Coyotes win debut
INSIDE SPORTS
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Robert Griffin III, the Texasbred quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy at Baylor, comes to his home state for the first time as a pro for the most traditional of Thanksgiving rivalries — Cowboys vs. Redskins. Hold on a minute with all that drama and emotion building for today’s game. The Washington rookie grew up in Central Texas rooting for the Denver Broncos. - PAGE B1
3 IN A ROW?
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Dora Compean • Thomas Padilla • Juan G. Flores • Bill Wiggins • Bonnie Fay Daly - PAGE A8
HIGH ...77˚ LOW ....39˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....B9 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B9 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 WORLD .................A9
Noah Vernau Photo
Job Corps helps Johnny get ready Roswell Job Corps Center students and instructors sort canned foods Wednesday morning at Veterans Memorial Hall in preparation for Johnny Gonzales’ free Thanksgiving Dinner that takes place today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
canned goods and arrange the facility for the dinner.
Roswell Job Corps Center students and instructors spent Wednesday morning helping the Community Volunteer Program prepare for its 33rd annual Thanksgiving Dinner, which takes place today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 28 Veterans Memorial Hall, 1620 N. Montana. The students, who will also help serve food, volunteered to sort
“We have some awesome kids. These kids are very respectful,” Gibson said. “They come from
Painting instructor Robert Gibson said 28 students were set to learn trades Wednesday but immediately offered their time to CVP when asked if they would help. He said many students are from large metropolitan areas like Denver, Dallas and El Paso and are unable to travel home for the holidays.
communities and backgrounds that aren’t so well, but they were willing to give to this community.
“And this happens all the time. These kids will jump on the opportunity to volunteer — not just to get away from the center but because they get a sense of belonging to the community even though they’re not from here.”
Job Corps students lear ning painting, electrical and plumbing
See DINNER, Page A3
SANTA FE (AP) — County and real estate officials urged the Legislature on Wednesday to deal with a thorny problem of property tax inequities among New Mexico homeowners, also known as “tax lightning,” when taxes skyrocket on some residential property. At issue are widely varying valuations of residential property for tax purposes and continuing fallout from a more than decade-old law intended to protect longtime homeowners in communities such as Santa Fe when market prices — and potentially property tax bills — were rising dramatically. Several county officials told a legislative committee it’s a good time for lawmakers to resolve the property tax problem because recent market declines will ease some of the needed valuation changes. The goal is to equalize valuations of residential property — ensuring that New Mexicans pay their fair share of property taxes — but minimize the tax increases for those whose homes are assessed for tax purposes at well below market prices. Under a law that took effect
Citizens find 2 bodies Ready when you are, Mr. DeMille
The Chaves County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two bodies were found in the county in this week. The first was called in to the SO on Monday, around 2 p.m. The unidentified male was located east of Hager man. Deputies believe he was between 20 and 30 years old. His body was sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for autopsy. The second body was found next to Buffalo Valley Road east of Lake Arthur on Wednesday mor ning. Of ficials were unable to identify the male victim “due to the condition of the body.” The body of the sec-
ond victim will also be sent to Of fice of the Medical Investigator in an attempt to identify him and determine a cause of death. Both incidents are being treated as homicides. A press release from the Sheriff’s Office notes, “it is too early in the investigation to determine if the two incidents are related.” Officials are asking anyone who may have information concerning either of these incidents to contact the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office at 575-624-6500 or the Chaves County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-594TIPS (8477).
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
Get ready for your close-up, Roswell — an independent film production company seeks local shooting locations, as well as cast and crew members in preparation of its latest project. Vivid Light Pictures, based in Artesia, is in the pre-production stage of its latest feature, “Unfinished Business,” a paranor mal action movie about the ghost of a law enforcement agent helping another agent to cap-
Victims prepare for subdued Thanksgiving
INDEX
AP Photo
Marge Gatti stands in front of her home, which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, in the Midland Beach section of Staten Island borough of New York, Tuesday.
NEW YORK (AP) — The things that Marge Gatti once cherished are lying on what’s left of her deck, spattered in mud, like a yard sale gone awry. The white fur coat she bought for $80 at an auction. Family videos. A peach-colored glass creamer from England. Books she never got a chance to read. The stuff is ruined, just like her sodden Staten Island home, which was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy’s floodwaters and will be demolished in the coming weeks. Of all things material, Gatti has nothing. And yet, on Thanksgiving Day, she will be counting her blessings. “My sons are alive. They were trapped here,” said Gatti, 67, who lived in the beige home down the block from the Atlantic See SANDY, Page A2
ture an arms dealer. The film plans to start shooting by the end of January and already has several actors attached to the project, including Geof frey Notkin of The Science Channel’s “Meteorite Men.” Suzee Corbell is the writer and director of the film. A Roswell native, Corbell created the production company after working more than 20 years in various behindthe-scenes positions for Hollywood films, such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Memoirs of a
See TAXES, Page A3
Geisha.” “My goal was to work as many jobs behind the camera as I could to become a better director,” she said. As director, she has a lot of work ahead of her. This weekend, Corbell will be busy on several tasks, such as script revisions, storyboarding and consulting with paranormal experts on props and equipment. “We’re ready to shoot, we’re just trying to nail down everything we can See FILM, Page A3
2-vehicle wreck
Noah Vernau Photo
A two-vehicle accident occurred at Garden Avenue and Third Street, early Wednesday evening. Further details were not available at press time.