Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 287 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
November 30, 2013
www.rdrnews.com
SATURDAY
Washington Federal responds to ‘bumpy’ start JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Washington Federal Bank officials continue to work on smoothing out a transition for former Bank of America customers after acquiring the branch on Fifth and Main streets, said a senior marking representative in Seattle this week. But bigger changes may be in store. Bank officials may be considering closing the branch or merging it with a nearby location.
Kathy Cooper, senior vice president of marketing communications for Washington Federal Bank, declined to say whether Washington Federal plans to maintain its branch at the complex. Washington Federal has another branch at 300 N. Pennsylvania Ave., just a few blocks away. “It’s pretty obvious these two branches are pretty close together,” Cooper said. If the bank chooses to consolidate, it would do so
“carefully,” she said. “We haven’t announced anything,” Cooper said. “We wouldn’t want to, until things settle down.” The new Washington Federal Bank location, formerly a Bank of America branch, opened Nov. 1 as part of Washington Federal’s acquisition of 51 Bank of America branches in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and New Mexico. The bank recently assumed a five-year lease at Sunwest Centre Office Complex from Bank of
America, the center’s manager said this week. Washington Federal removed Bank of America signs at the top of the tower but hasn’t replaced any per manent signs on the building. Former longtime Bank of America customers had their accounts automatically transferred over during the recent transaction. Some Roswell customers complained of difficulties getting temporary checks, using debit cards and accessing their accounts
Roswell welcomes Santa
Above: Santa Claus arrives at the Roswell Mall with the assistance of the American Legion Riders, Friday morning, officially kicking off the Christmas season.
LOS ALAMOS (AP) — Tucked away in one of norther n New Mexico’s pristine mountain canyons is an old log cabin that was the birthplace not of a famous person, but a topsecret mission that forever changed the world. Pond Cabin, along with a nearby small and stark building where the second person died while developing the nuclear bomb, are among a number of structures scattered in and around the moder n-day Los Alamos National Laboratory that are being proposed as sites for a new national park commemorating the Manhattan Project. It’s an odd place for a national park, many admit. Besides the fact that some of the sites are behind the gates to what is supposed to be one of the most secure research facilities in the world, nuclear critics have called the plan an expensive glorification of an ugly chapter in history.
“It is a debasement of the national parks idea,” antinuclear watchdog Los Alamos Study Group cofounder Greg Mello said when the Interior Department two years ago recommended creating national parks at Los Alamos; Hanford, Wash.; and Oak Ridge, Tenn. He remains opposed to the plan, saying it will not provide a comprehensive picture of the Manhattan Project, and he notes that extensive interpretative concer ning museums development of the nuclear bomb already exist. Supporters, however, note that good or bad, the Manhattan Project transformed history. And they argue that key sites that have not already been bulldozed should be preserved and the public should be allowed to visit them. “It isn’t glorifying anything,” says Ellen McGe-
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Contreras run across the street holding his side and then fall to the ground. Contreras had been shot three times, twice in the thigh and once in the torso. He was transported to Eastern New Mexico Medical Center and then flown to Lubbock for further treatment. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Joseph Greg Lucero, 37, on charges of second-degree murder. Lucero was last seen in a gray-colored vehicle, in the company of a brown-haired woman.
Los Alamos to create nat’l park
The victim of a shooting that occurred around noon on Wednesday in the 2900 block of Emerald Drive died of wounds that same night at a Lubbock hospital. According to the criminal complaint, the shooting resulted following an argument. The victim, Victor Contreras, approached another vehicle which was parked on Emerald. A fight started and shots rang out. The records state people in the area reported seeing
Right: The Sweet Leilani's perform prior to the arrival of Santa Claus at the Roswell Mall, Friday morning.
Locally-owned businesses benefit from Black Friday Black Friday conjures images of streams of shoppers queuing up for that big screen TV or new tablet on clearance at national chain stores. A less common association with America’s annual shopping spree is mom and pop stores enticing customers with special sales and refreshments. Multiple locally-owned retailers in Roswell offered promotions this holiday weekend for Black Friday
“We don’t want people to be upset. We did as much as we could think of to try to prepare people for it.” Washington Federal sent out packets to the new customers prior to opening day, Cooper said. Unfortunately, some customers were difficult to reach, she said. “Not everybody’s addresses were up to date,” Cooper said. “We had dif ficulty reaching people. We’ll do See RESPONSE, Page A3
1 dies in shooting
Mark Wilson Photos
TESS TOWNSEND RECORD STAFF WRITER
during the transition. Bank of America closed at noon and handed over the keys to the branch at midnight, Cooper said. Washington Mutual opened the next day. “It was not an easy situation for us. It was a pretty abrupt switch,” Cooper said. “It can be pretty difficult to deal with.” She said the bank realizes the transition can be a bit bumpy and it didn’t go smoothly. “I’m disappointed people are upset,” Cooper said.
and Small Business Saturday, when cities across the nation promote shopping at local businesses. Business owners said it was tough to contend with big name stores Friday but that the holiday shuffle still brought them valuable traffic. “There’s no way I can compete against a 2 a.m. opening or a midnight opening, but what I can provide and what has made this business survive is our customer service,” said Molly Boyles, who owns Once Again
HIGH 68 LOW 38
TODAY’S FORECAST
Consignment on North Main Street. The consignment shop offered discounts between 25 and 80 percent starting Friday and continuing today, in addition to refreshments and other promotions. Terry Lindberg, owner of Hippie Chicks Boutique on South Main Street, said Black Friday is her biggest annual sale. At 1:30 p.m., she said she had already seen See BUSINESSES, Page A3
• ORBAN WAGGONER
See PARK, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Hippie Chicks salesperson Britt Lindberg, left, assists Zena Studdard and her daughter, Keely, on Black Friday.
TODAY’S OBITUARY PAGE B4
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2 OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8 WORLD ..................B4