Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 121, No. 297 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
MAYAN PROPHECY SPARKS DREAD, JOY WORLDWIDE
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The clock is ticking down to Dec. 21, the supposed end of the Mayan calendar, and thousands are getting ready for what they think is going to be a fateful day. The Maya didn’t say much about what would ... - PAGE A7
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
December 12, 2012
WEDNESDAY
www.rdrnews.com
MI lawmakers approve right-to-work bills
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Over the chants of thousands of angry protesters, Republican lawmakers made Michigan a right-towork state Tuesday, dealing a devastating and onceunthinkable defeat to organized labor in a place that has been a bastion of the movement for generations. The GOP-dominated House ignored Democrats’ pleas to delay the final passage and instead approved two bills with the same ruthless efficiency that the Senate showed last week.
One measure dealt with private-sector workers, the other with gover nment employees. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed them both within hours, calling them “pro-worker and pro-Michigan.” “This is about freedom, fair ness and equality,” House Speaker Jase Bolger said during the floor debate. “These are basic American rights — rights that should unite us.” After the vote, he said, Michigan’s future “has never been brighter, because workers are free.”
The state where the United Auto Workers was founded and labor has long been a political titan will join 23 others with right-towork laws, which ban requirements that nonunion employees pay unions for negotiating contracts and other services.
Supporters say the laws give workers more choice and support economic growth, but critics insist the real intent is to weaken organized labor by encourSee BILLS, Page A3
NMMI honors vets
AP Photo
Aguirre gets 97 months
Drew Dobson, of Coleman, Mich., protests at a rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday.
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Redcoats honor Madlyn Wafful • Salvation Army Toy Run • Edward Seitz rebuilds his life after losing ... • Prep football: A GR-eat season • State champions!
INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
NMMI cadets place a wreath honoring veterans during a Wreaths Across America ceremony in Bronco Plaza, Tuesday.
MANZIEL HIGHLIGHTS AP TEAM
NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama is No. 1 when it comes to All-Americans. The second-ranked Crimson Tide placed four players on The Associated Press AllAmerica team released Tuesday. Among them was center Barrett Jones, who became a two-time first-team selection. ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • Alberto F. Gurrola • Robert Myers Jr. • Jo Boyce - PAGE A8
HIGH ...60˚ LOW ....23˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B7 COMICS.................B5 FINANCIAL .............B6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 WORLD .................A7
INDEX
A federal district judge on Tuesday in Las Cruces sentenced Rene Aguirre, 26, of Artesia, to 97 months of imprisonment. Aguirre pled guilty on July 26 to charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In entering his guilty plea, Aguirre admitted that on May 11 he had 11 grams of methamphetamine in his truck, along with two handguns and a rifle. Aguirre further admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine. Aguirre was prohibited from possessing the See AGUIRRE, Page A3
Twelve’s the magic Ding-a-ling! Salvation Army tries for bell-ringing world record number for triplets ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
For various reasons, today’s date is significant to many people. But for a local set of triplets, 12/12/12 is special because it marks their 12th birthday. Estrella, Alma and Cielo Salinas are sixthgraders at Mesa Elementary School who like to play basketball at the Yucca Recreation Center, watch ESPN and listen to music, such as popular boy band One Direction. All three wear glasses and have long hair; however, that’s where the physical similarities end, mostly. Estrella likes to wear necklaces, Cielo sports twisted bangs and when Alma smiles, she shows off a charming set of dimples. “They kind of have their individual person-
alities,” said their aunt Alma Salinas. “When they were born, everyone was just amazed.” But multiple births happen to run in the family. The sisters have two older brothers, one of which has twin daughters and aunt Alma herself is a fraternal twin, with a brother. For the most part, the girls say people don’t treat them differently. “They’re just surprised that they see triplets,” Cielo said. To celebrate their birthday, the trio will host a sleepover with a couple of friends Saturday, since tomorrow is a school day. Despite a birthday so close to Christmas, they said they still receive a lot of gifts. But their most sought after item seems See TRIPLETS, Page A3
CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
For the next three days, Ryan Gass plans on standing outside of Walgreens on North Main. He’s not just there to loiter but to break a world record and raise money for a worthy cause. Gass is one of eight Salvation Army staff members and volunteers around the country competing to break the world record for continuous hand bell-ringing. Among that group is Darrell Tureskis, who set the record in 2011 and is back to defend his time of 60 hours and 10 minutes. The rules of the contest require that contestants must stand the entire time and remain with their kettle while ringing the bell. Participants accrue five minutes of rest for every hour spent ringing. As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Gass had already been standing more than six hours. His strategy is to
Man fatally shot during burglary
Mark Wilson Photo
Police and emergency personnel respond to a shooting at 1506 W. Third St. around 2 p.m., Tuesday.
A man was shot and killed, Tuesday afternoon, in a burglary that went horribly wrong. The Roswell Police Department responded to a shots fired call in the 1500 block of West Third Street around 2 p.m. During their investigation, police discovered that the shooting resulted when a burgary was interrupted. The incident left one man deceased. Officers and investigators spent the afternoon interviewing possible witnesses See BURGLARY, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Ryan Gass, one of eight Salvation Army bell-ringers nationwide attempting to set a new world record for continuous hand bell-ringing, begins his quest in front of Walgreens on North Main, Tuesday morning. Gass is shooting to break the record for 72 hours.
stand for at least 12 hours so that he will have accrued one full hour of break time. As for braving the harsh elements that have suddenly come about, his plan is to just layer. The experience has been
rewarding thus far, and he said those who have gone in the store have been very supportive.
“A lot of people have come out and are giving,” See BELL, Page A3
NM officials may seek sex offender registry change
SANTA FE (AP) — Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and Democratic Attorney General Gary King, who are likely political adversaries in the 2014 gubernatorial election, may find common ground in trying to change New Mexico’s sex offender registration law in response to a recent ruling by the state’s highest court. At issue is whether out-of-state sex offenders must register in New Mexico for the crimes they committed in other states. The state Supreme Court ruled last week that a Las Cruces man can withdraw his guilty plea to a felony for not registering as a sex offender after moving to New Mexico in 2006. Under state law, offenders must register with law enforcement if they’ve been convicted See REGISTRY, Page A3