Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 121, No. 41 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
SANTA FE (AP) — Newly discovered documents show that the state’s historic Palace of the Governors might have been built later than originally believed, New Mexico’s state historian said. The Albuquerque Journal repor ts that New Mexico State Historian Rick Hendricks said documents show that the nation’s oldest ... - PAGE A7
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Politics gets in the way on last day JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
NEWER THAN 1610?
February 17, 2012
AP Photo
State Rep. Dennis Roch, R-Tucumcari, toggles a voting switch during the final day of the legislative session at the state capitol building in Santa Fe, Thursday.
While lawmakers passed a $5.6 million budget proposal and a bill that would enable voters to decide on reforms made within the Public Regulations Commission, two high profile initiatives on Gov. Susana Martinez’s agenda, a proposal to ban social promotion and a measure to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining a New Mexico driver’s license, died with the House and Senate adjourning Thursday afternoon.
Politics seemingly stood in the way of vital bills passing on the last day of the 50th legislative session.
Rep. Nora Espinoza, RRoswell, an advocate of the no social promotion bill and its sponsor during the legislative special session, said she was extremely disappointed that it died this session. “When the no social promotion bill was introduced last session, everybody was on board with that (bill). Then they started to play politics. Then they started to back out of it. Then each one started to do their own little
Shadow people
WEB For The Past 24 Hours
• Read Across Roswell set for March 2 ... • Mural has many answers, many voices • Vow renewals take place at Villa Del Rey • Education bills pass state House • No. 1 Goddard holds off No. 2 Roswell
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
City of Roswell employees cast shadows as they attach a nylon mesh barrier to a fence at Cielo Grande Recreation Area, Wednesday morning.
NEW YORK (AP) — Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, whose single for the New York Mets in the 1986 World Series touched off one of the most improbable rallies in baseball, died Thursday. He was 57. Carter was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last May, two weeks after finishing his second season as coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University. “I am deeply saddened to tell you all that my precious dad went to be with ... - PAGE B1 • Yolanda Gonzales
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • John J. Foster • Robert Morgan - PAGE A7
HIGH ...50˚ LOW ....35˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 STATE ...................A7 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
See POLITICS, Page A3
County wants tax increase for jail
TOP 5
GARY CARTER DEAD AT 57
crafting of the no social promotion bill,” she said. “This (bill) that didn’t pass was a consensus, bringing everyone to the table, that’s going to be best for our kids. By ‘they,’ Espinoza indicated she was referring to House Democrats. Expressing her dissent for the concern generated on the House Floor Thursday, that the bill infringed on parental rights, Espinoza said, “It’s just making accountable the school and the parent. If
Chaves County residents will have the opportunity to share their concerns about the possibility of an increase in the county’s gross receipts tax in a public hearing setting next month. During its regular business meeting Thursday, the Chaves County Commission approved the advertising of a public hearing for the proposal of an increase of the county’s GR T. The hearing will be held March 15 at 9 a.m., in the commission chambers, 1 St Mary’s Place. The proposed tax would allow the county to implement a onesixteenth of one percent, or See TAX, Page A3
Judge reschedules Red Cross holds open house Montoya trial; denies bond change VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER The trial date for Mario Montoya, 23, was rescheduled, Thursday, in 5th District Court. Montoya is charged with murder in the first degree, tampering with evidence and felon in possession of a firearm in the shooting death of Jericole Coleman, 21, on Aug. 22, 2011. During the preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court, witness testimony described the incident that took place outside Mon-
toya’s residence where Montoya shot Coleman. In the pre-trial conference, defense attor ney Anna Marie Bell said she required fingerprints for the state’s witnesses. Chief Deputy District Attor ney Alan Grif fin reported that none of the labwork, DNA evidence and ballistic reports had been returned from Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Bell requested a continuance for personal reasons and Grif fin concurred, See TRIAL, Page A3
It’s a lifesaver. And now that it has reopened its doors after a temporary hiatus, the American Red Cross wants to let the community know it is, once again, here to help. To celebrate the reopening, staff of the local Red Cross office had an open house Thursday after noon on location, 1400 W. Second St. Suite M. The Roswell Red Cross office was forced to close its doors for some muchneeded upkeep — and now it is more localized See RED CROSS, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
Gale Landrum and Aline Carr, of the Red Cross, take time out from greeting visitors to their open house to pose for photos, Thursday.
Jim Pilley seeks 4th 50 years? That’s not possible; 50 years? Are you sure? Really? Town Council term CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The name still resonates and generates goose bumps like few others in the world of spaceflight. John Glenn. Even astronauts — not just the rest of us mere mortals — get mushy talking about Project Mercury’s “clean Marine” who led the country’s charge into orbit. As the world’s most enduring and endearing spaceman gets set to celeAP Photo brate what no other living From left: Annie Glenn, John Kasich, John Glenn, Ohio astronaut has done — State President E. Gordon Gee and Ohio Sen. Tom mark the 50th anniverSawyer after a ceremony, Friday, at the Ohio Statehouse marking Monday as “John Glenn Friendship 7 Day.”
See GLENN, Page A3
JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER Hagerman councilor Jim Pilley, who has served for 12 years on the town’s council, says he’s seeking election for his council seat during the valley elections in March. If re-elected, Pilley will serve his fourth term on the council. In Hagerman, two council seats are slated to be on the March 6 ballot. Pilley said he is seeking re-election to see to it that many of the projects started during his recent tenure reach completion. He listed an industrial park, which will be home to some of
Roswell’s Fatman’s Beef Jerky operations once renovations are complete, and an attempt to implement a storage tank and pipeline starting from a new water well on the south side of town, as illustrations of projects currently in progress. Pilley said he considers these two projects to be the council’s greatest accomplishments over the past few years. If re-elected, Pilley said he would like to ensure that needed maintenance work be performed in the town to improve the quality of life for Hagerman resiSee PILLEY, Page A3