Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 305 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
December 21, 2013
Body identified; Romero a person of interest JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Roswell Police Department reported that it received confirmation from the Office of the Medical Investigator regarding the identity of the male body that was found in a shallow grave in the 200 block of East 12th Street on
Wednesday. OMI was able to identify the victim using dental records. Family members, who came to the site of the grave, Thursday, stated the police had asked for the young man’s dental records. The sister said the family had reported the 19year -old missing early in October after he disappeared on Oct. 8 following
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a job interview. The police will not release the name of the victim until the family has been officially notified of the results. Investigating detectives have identified a person of interest in the case, Antonio Orlando Romero Jr., 22, also known as “Landito.” Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Romero.
SATURDAY
The police consider Romero armed and dangerous. The public is advised not to approach Romero, but to contact the police department immediately, 624-6770 with any information, or call Crime Stoppers 888-594-8477. Romero, aka Landito, is described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 115 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.
Romero
Meet the Foltses First same-sex couple to receive a marriage license from county gives interview with the Record TESS TOWNSEND RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mark Wilson Photo
Curtis and Phillip Folts, who were married Friday morning in Roswell, show off their marriage certificate following the ceremony.
Addition to RISD graduation policy would expand leniency for students TESS TOWNSEND RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Roswell Independent School District Board of Education conducted a first reading of an addition to the district’s high school graduation policy during a special meeting Friday. The proposed addition outlines the means through which a student who fails any required state-created end of course exam may demonstrate competency in the subject of the failed test. It follows recent policy changes meant to allow students more opportunities to meet graduation requirements. “This applies to the kids out there who generally do
struggle” with standardized testing, Superintendent Tom Burris said in an interview Wednesday. He said multiple factors might cause a student to fail a standardized test, including test-taking anxiety, personal issues or being hungry at the time of the test. The proposal would allow those who fail EOC tests to present a portfolio of work pertaining to the subject area to a board of teachers and administrators. Provided the student passes the class related to the subject in question, school staff may decide he or she has met the demand of showing proficiency in the subject. Students are required to show proficiency in reading,
math, writing, science and social studies in order to graduate. The board is instating changes to graduation requirements in response to the New Mexico Public Education Department delaying implementation of statewide graduation standards. District policy amendments passed by the board earlier this month allow students to substitute failing scores on standardized tests with alternative demonstrations of competency. The recent changes mean that students who fail a subject test in the state’s Standards Based Assessment test are now allowed to substitute a passing See RISD, Page A3
Vet cemetery dedication Dec. 30
From left, Gene Balderston, Gene Peterson, Ron McKay and Harry McGraw observe the ongoing progress of the development of the Roswell Veterans Cemetery, Thursday afternoon. A dedication for the cemetery will be held Dec. 30. at 10:30 a.m. Donations can be made to Embrace Inc., P.O. Box 4425, Roswell, NM 88202.
HIGH 57 LOW 32
TODAY’S FORECAST
• LOUIS CHARLES LANDAUER • CHRISTOPHER ERIC MIRELES • MARION K. “CISSY” CAVIN
See FOLTSES, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Gerina Mendoza-Piller films a series of public service announcements at Goddard High School, Friday.
County DWI program makes PSA with hometown stars TESS TOWNSEND RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mark Wilson Photo
Chaves County Clerk’s Office gave out marriage licenses to gay couples for the first time in the county’s history Friday, following the New Mexico Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday that affirmed the legality of gay marriage in the state. Two gay couples had received licenses from the county clerk as of 4:50 p.m., according to the office. Chief Deputy Clerk Jeff Ortega said the staff differs on their views on the decision, but that “we’re going to do what the law says.” “We are public servants and we are going to serve
the public,” he said. The first couple to receive a license was Curtis Folts and Phillip Dorst, who is in the process of changing his last name to Folts. The Record interviewed the pair Friday. The husbands have been together for five years. Folts said the main motivation for pursuing a license was receiving the benefits that come with it. He noted that after Ballot Proposition 8 struck down gay marriage in California, couples who had already married were grandfathered in and kept their marriage benefits. Folts and Dorst are not
She’s a professional golfer. They’re a professional film crew. All are Goddard High School graduates and they came together with the Chaves County DWI Program to film a public service commercial urging youth to make the right choices. Goddard High 2003 graduate Gerina Mendoza-Piller, who now tours with the Ladies Professional Golf Association, donated her time Friday to the filming of a commercial meant to show young people the benefits of avoiding drugs and
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A7
alcohol and staying in school. “If you make the right choices, your future can be brighter,” said DWI Prevention Specialist Diane Taylor. “I want to show that these people chose to do the right thing.” The commercial will air statewide beginning in mid-January on KOB and will be uploaded to YouTube. On set recording Mendoza-Piller were Rodney Austin, a ’96 Goddard grad, and Keith Jones, who graduated in 2009. Austin and Jones both work in professional film production. Austin has worked on
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B7 COMICS .................B6 ENTERTAINMENT ...B10 FINANCIAL ..............B5
numerous feature-length films in New Mexico, including “Due Date” and various independent films. Jones runs film production business 4K Media LLC, where he works on commercials, music videos and films. Like the golf star, the two donated their time to making the commercial. The commercial begins with Mendoza-Piller standing with her golf bag in front of a table containing trophies from her time playing golf, both for the high school and professionally. “I am playing on the LPGA because I had peo-
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .......A10 LOTTERIES .............A2 OPINION .................A4
See PSA, Page A3
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ............A10
WORLD ..................A7