Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 213 75Ā¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE VISION
ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ ā¢
Dragonfly Festival Seniors of the Sahara Nathan Craven Mexicants
INSIDE NEWS
MANY VET CAREGIVERS LEFT OUT OF BENEFITS WASHINGTON (AP) ā John Thomas Doody was in a coma and on a ventilator... - PAGE A6
INSIDE SPORTS
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
DENVER (AP) ā John Elway has been down this lonely road before, trudging through the tunnel in deafening silence after a stunning loss at home... - PAGE B1
TODAYāS OBITUARIES
ā¢ Tomasa āMasisā V. Quiroz ā¢ Juanita Mae Haines ā¢ Carmen Hernandez ā¢ Doris Marie Dunlap
- PAGE A6
HIGH ...94Ė LOW ....64Ė
TODAYāS FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................A6 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
THURSDAY
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Gov. āproudā of Roswellās developments
Martinez: āI brag about this part of the state all the time.ā JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Gov. Susana Martinez stopped at the Roswell Rail Spur development and Reischman Park Wednesday to join the community in celebrating two economic development projects. āI brag about this part of the state all the time,ā Martinez told those who gathered at the site of the Roswell Rail Spur project. āWe have a lot to be proud of and a lot to brag about.ā The project included the replacement of 1,000 feet of rail spur at Eighth Street and Railroad Avenue. The city received $100,000 from the stateās Local Economic Development Act to help fund the railās construction. The rail was upgraded
to a thicker gauge of steel, placed by the Carlsbadbased company Southwestern Rail. This allows for 6-axle cars that were too heavy for the older track. It allows freight to be carried in via rail. Itās the only public spur withJill McLaughlin Photos in an 800-mile radius. Martinez pointed out Above: Gov. Susana Martinez addresses a crowd at Reischman Park on Main Street, that the Rail Spur will be Wednesday. Below: Mayor Del Jurney, left, greets Martinez at the Roswell Rail Yard, a āmajor selling point for Wednesday, as Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Jon Barela looks on. businesses looking to then headed downtown to expand here,ā she said. commemorate the begināThis is an absolutely ning of another economic exciting time for the State development project. of New Mexico,ā said Bob Main Street Roswellās Donnell, former executive director of the Economic planned redevelopment of Development Corporation Reischman Park, which of Roswell. āHow proud we recently received $100,000 should be of ourselves for in state grant funding, is expected to soon become a stepping up.ā The project helped save place for visitors and 17 jobs and create addi- locals to enjoy future events. tional employment. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Martinez See MARTINEZ, Page A3
Annual banquet honors State officials oil industry, employees discuss prospect of vet cemetery AMY VOGELSANG RECORD STAFF WRITER
BRONCOS, RAVENS MEET AGAIN
September 5, 2013
Autumn leaves accompanied twinkling lit gold orbs at the center of white-clothed tables. The Blake Trio sang as people found their seats at the 61st annual Desk and Derrick Club of Roswell Industry Appreciation Banquet Wednesday night. āTonight is an opportunity to honor employees Amy Vogelsang Photo and sponsors for their continued help in educat- Congressman Steve Pearce and Desk and Derrick Club of ing our members,ā Roswell Vice President Esther Hoskins spoke at the clubās saidthe clubās vice presi- 61st annual Industry Appreciation Banquet. dent, Esther Hoskins, in an introductory speech. Greater Service.ā Others have not been Although open to any- members quite as long Since 1952, the Association of Desk and Derrick one, most of Roswellās but have still been very Clubs (ADDC) has been club are women; they run active, such as 16-year member Cherri Rogers, a focused on educating it and lead it. The longest-term mem- former club president as members about the oil industry and related ber is President Robbie Jo energy fields. Their motto: Powell, who has been See BANQUET, Page A3 āGreater Knowledge ā involved for 35 years.
Senate panel backs Syria military strike
WASHINGTON (AP) ā President Barack Obamaās request for speedy congressional backing of a military strike in Syria advanced Wednesday toward a showdown Senate vote, while the commander in chief left open the possibility he would order retaliation for a deadly chemical weapons attack even if Congress withheld its approval.
Legislation backing the use of force against President Bashar Assadās government cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on a 10-7 vote after it was stiffened at the last minute to include a pledge of support for ādecisive changes to the present military balance of powerā in Syriaās civil war. It also would rule out U.S. combat operations on the ground. The measure is expected to reach the Senate floor next week, although the
timing for a vote is uncertain. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky conservative with strong tea party ties, has threatened a filibuster. The House also is reviewing Obamaās request, but its timetable is even less certain and the measure could face a rockier time there. The administration blames Assad for a chemical weapons attack that took place on Aug. 21 and says more than 1,400 civilians died, including at least 400 children. Other casualty estimates are lower, and the Syrian gover nment denies responsibility, contending rebels fighting to topple the government were to blame. The Senate panelās vote marked the first for mal response in Congress, four days after Obama unexSee STRIKE, Page A3
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Regional leaders and veterans heard from Gov. Susana Martinez and Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale Wednesday about the possibility of creating a local veterans cemetery. Martinez announced, in July, the State Veteransā Cemetery Initiative to establish cemeteries for the stateās rural-area veterans. New Mexico currently only has three federal veterans cemeteries, located in Santa Fe, Ft. Bayard and Ft. Bliss. In July, the state Department of Veteransā Services launched a plan to begin hosting meetings with mayors through September,as well as meetings with community and county commissions through Novem-
ber. āToo many of our veterans do not have access to cemeteries in our state,ā Martinez said. āWe canāt wait any longer.ā Wednesdayās meeting, held at the American Legion Post 28, allowed several veterans and local leaders to hear details of the plan and voice their ideas. āWeāve all got to work together within the state,ā Hale said. Hale said the department would look at several locations throughout the state in the next year. āThis is going to take a little bit of time,ā Hale said. āWe need to put cemeteries in the right places.ā The department plans to develop applications for See CEMETERY, Page A3
Emergency drill
Jill McLaughlin Photo
The Roswell International Air Center carried out a full-scale emergency exercise Wednesday night, simulating a crash of a commuter airplane carrying 42 passengers and crew. Regional emergency responders from Roswell Fire Department, law enforcement, the New Mexico Military Institute, Superior Ambulance, local medical centers and other partners assisted in the drill. The exercise was required by the FAA. "It gives all responding agencies a chance to exercise our rescue and recovery capabilities," said Air Center Manager Jennifer Brady.