Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
MAYAS REMAIN CALM
UH-MAY, Mexico (AP) — Amid a worldwide frenzy of advertisers and new-agers preparing for a Maya apocalypse, one group is approaching Dec. 21 with calm and equanimity — the people whose ancestors supposedly made the prediction in the first place. - PAGE A7
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Massacre particulars unfold slowly
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NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — Investigators tried to figure out what led a bright but painfully awkward 20year -old to slaughter 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school, while townspeople sadly took down some of their Christmas decorations and struggled Saturday with how to go on. The tragedy brought forth soul-searching and grief around the globe. Families as far away as Puerto Rico began to plan funerals for victims who
December 16, 2012
SUNDAY
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still had their baby teeth, world leaders extended condolences, and vigils were held around the U.S. Amid the sorrow, stories of heroism emerged, including an account of the Sandy Hook Elementary School principal and the school psychologist who lost their lives rushing toward the gunman, Adam Lanza, in an attempt to stop him. Police shed no light on what triggered the seconddeadliest school shooting in U.S. history, though state
police Lt. Paul Vance said investigators had found “very good evidence ... that our investigators will be able to use in painting the complete picture, the how and, more importantly, the why.” He would not elaborate. However, another law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said investigators have found no note or manifesto from Lanza of the sort they have come to
AP Photo
Mourners gather at Ram’s Pasture in Newtown, Conn., Saturday, for a candlelight vigil to remember shooting victims.
Volunteers place wreaths in solemn ceremony See MASSACRE, Page A3
CHAUNTE’L POWELL RECORD STAFF WRITER
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Seven wreaths are placed, one for each of the six branches of the military and a seventh for prisoners of war during Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Chaves County Courthouse, Saturday morning.
Seven wreaths grace the memorial front of the Chaves County Courthouse. They’re not there as decoration, but as a small token of appreciation for those who made, and are still making, the ultimate sacrifice by serving our country. Saturday morning was the of ficial Wreaths Across America ceremony held by cities across the country. Michael Trujillo served as the event’s master of ceremonies and led the group gathered in a moment of silence before his opening remarks. During those remarks, he quoted former President Ronald Reagan. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in bloodstream. It must be therefore, protected, and See WREATHS, Page A3
Pocket flags for soldiers, toys for kids all a part of giving NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
RHS TAKES TITLE
ARTESIA — For the past three games, the Roswell boys basketball team has come out sluggish in the first half before turning it on in the second half to pull away for victories. Such was not the case on Saturday in the championship game of the City of Champions Classic at the Bulldog Pit. Roswell raced ahead early against Lovington and all but put the game out of reach by halftime on its way to ... - PAGE B1
The American Legion teamed up with Johnny Gonzales on Thursday at Sierra Middle School to encourage students to embrace the spirit of giving. Children from Sierra and Del Norte Elementary schools authored personal messages of support to troops overseas and folded these notes into small American flags that soldiers can carry in their pockets. The students also brought new and used toys to the school to help Gonzales with his annual Christmas Toy Giveaway, which takes place on Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. in the Yucca Recreation Center. “The theme today is to give instead of receive for the holidays,” American Legion member
Miller Ray Van Eaton Dorothy Briscoe Jerry D. Letcher Saul Sanchez William Smith Xavier Herrera - PAGE A6
HIGH ...62˚ LOW ....27˚
CLASSIFIEDS..........C3 COMICS.................B7 BORDERLANDS ......A7 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A3 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 WORLD .................A9
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See FLAGS, Page A3
said.
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A member of the Honor Guard teaches a student how to fold a flag Thursday at Sierra Middle School.
Roswell Folklorico dancers entertain Christmas shoppers
TODAY’S • • • • • •
Orlando Padilla said. “We’re recognizing the troops, just telling them we care and that we remember them during the holidays. We know they’re not here with us but, hopefully, they come back to us safely.” Ralph Matta, science chairman at Sierra, said the Pocket Flag Project teaches children about the sacrifices men and women who serve make each day. “What I hope it does is raise awareness of our troops overseas. Because it is a big sacrifice — being away from family and home. “And it’s important that our troops get a little bit of home that they can carry with them.” After the ceremony, the flags were given to the Adopt-A-Soldier program, which will ship the flags to troops overseas.
Mark Wilson Photo
Roswell Folklorico perform for holiday shoppers at the Roswell Mall, Saturday.
Christmas shoppers at the Roswell Mall set down their purchases and took in a show of color and culture, Saturday afternoon, when Roswell Folklorico presented its annual holiday show. About 60 performers from the ages of 4 to 75 demonstrated an array of expressive dances from the regions Nayarit, Chiapas, Chihuahua, New Mexico, Jalisco and Yucatan, sharing a program that Folklorico director Frank Herrera called “our gift to the community.” “The community has supported us for all these years, so we do this program for them,” he
The group has put on its holiday show for about 20 years, Herrera said. He called it the second-biggest show of the year for Roswell Folklorico, as the group included many of the dances from its big recital that takes place at the end of each season.
The program began Saturday with the group’s advanced class performing Nayarit, the first time the group had performed this dance in a holiday show. The dance, which lasted nearly five minutes, involved a lot of choreography and is among the most challenging to teach, Herrera said.
AP source: Boehner offers millionaire tax hike
WASHINGTON (AP) — Signaling new movement in “fiscal cliff” talks, House Speaker John Boehner has proposed raising the top rate for ear ners making more than $1 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said. President Barack Obama, who wants higher top rates for households earning more than $250,000, has not accepted the offer, this person said. The proposal, however, indicated progress in talks
that had appeared stalled. The person would only discuss the plan on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. As part of a broader budget deal, Boehner is still seeking more spending cuts than Obama has proposed, particularly in mandatory health care spending. Boehner has asked for a long-ter m increase in eligibility age for Medicare and for lower
costs-of-living adjustments for Social Security. Boehner’s tax proposal was first reported by Politico. A Boehner aide would not comment on the report. At issue are expiring tax rates that would automatically increase on Jan. 1 for virtually every income tax payer if Congress and the president don’t act. Steep budget cuts are also scheduled to kick in, unless Congress and Obama agree to
forestall them with other deficit reduction measures. Obama has insisted on extending current rates for the 98 percent of taxpayers in households that ear n less than $250,000. He would let the top two marginal rates increase from 33 percent to 35 percent and from 36 percent to 39.6 percent for those taxpayers making over that threshold. See TAX, Page A3
See DANCERS, Page A3
United Way of Chaves County
622-4150 Collected
$409,932 Goal
$500,000
82% Of Goal Collected