Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 124, No. 129 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
May 30, 2015
Saturday
www.rdrnews.com
Pro-marijuana farm ETZ chairman dropped By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer
Jeff Tucker Photo
Royce “Pancho” Maples, center, recent chairman of the Roswell-Chaves County Extraterritorial Zoning Commission, has not been reappointed to the ETZ commission. Maples was one of four ETZ commissioners who voted on May 12 in favor of a zoning change that would allow a proposed medical marijuana indoor farm near Roswell. ETZ commissioners Harold Hobson, far left, and Leroy Lang, far right, voted against the change of zoning use for the pot farm and were reappointed Thursday by the Chaves County commissioners to the ETZ commission for one-year terms.
The chairman of the Roswell-Chaves County Extraterritorial Zoning Commission who earlier this month voted for a zoning change in favor of a proposed medical marijuana farm near Roswell has not been reappointed to the commission, while two of his colleagues who voted against the pot farm zoning change have been reappointed to the commission. The Chaves County commissioners appoint three members to the seven-member ETZ commission, while the city of Roswell also appoints three
members. The appointed ETZ members select the seventh member. On Thursday, after a vote failed that would have reappointed ETZ commission chairman Royce “Pancho” Maples, the Chaves County commissioners voted to replace Maples with former Chaves County Commissioner Greg Nibert. The county commissioners voted to retain ETZ commissioners Harold Hobson and Leroy Lang, who on May 12 voted against a change of industrial zoning use that would allow Pecos Valley Pharmaceuticals Inc. to establish a medical marijuana production facility at
the former Nature’s Dairy milk processing plant at 5106 S. Main St. Hobson and Lang were the only two ETZ commissioners who voted against the proposed medical marijuana growing facility just south of Roswell. ETZ commissioner Neil Roe, the seventh ETZ commissioner appointed by the ETZ commission, recused himself from the controversial vote. The ETZ commission’s approval does not ensure the cannabis production facility will be built at the site of the former Nature’s Dairy, but it does boost See EZT, Page A3
Crews complete first phase of runway update Submitted The main runway at the Roswell International Air Center is in the process of being reconstructed. The initial part of the project took place in the fall of 2013 when a surfacing technique was used that allows the runway to maintain federal standards for its daily commercial airline service while also continuing to accommodate airplane testing that brings business to the airport. The project continued last November with the start of the first of three construction phases. That first phase was completed in mid-May, covering about 5,000 feet of the runway. Two more phases will complete the work on the approximately 13,000-foot-long Runway 3-21. While the bulk of the funding for the project comes from Federal Aviation Administration grants, additional funding is coming from the New Mexico Department of
Transportation’s Aviation Division and the City of Roswell. The $23 million project – which, along with resurfacing, is also widening the concrete center of the runway – is the first major runway project undertaken at RIAC since the city took over the airport in 1967 following the closure of Walker Air Force Base that had occupied the site. The existing 100-footwide concrete center-portion of the runway – which has smoothed out through years of use – has undergone a process called shot-blasting, in which metal shot was blasted against the concrete to achieve a texture on the runway that meets the FAA’s requirements for friction coefficient achieved between a plane’s wheels and the runway during a landing. The FAA sets that standard to ensure safe braking conditions. At many airports, the required friction coefficient is more commonly
achieved by using grooved runways. However, the FAA requires airplane companies to test many of the manufacturers’ new plane models and changes to existing models by landing on a non-grooved runway because many of the planes being tested will be flown overseas where grooved runways are not required. So the FAA requires planes be certified to land on nongrooved runways. The Roswell air center is relatively unique when it comes to the testing needs of makers of large aircraft. See RUNWAY, Page A2
The top photo shows the sign in front of Roswell’s airport. Below, a shot of the local airport’s runway.
Job Corps honors law enforcement Max Scally Photos
The Roswell Job Corps held a luncheon Thursday to recognize those who work in law enforcement during Embrace the Badge Month. Staff members from the International Law Enforcement Academy were among those honored at the event. Top photo: from left, Deputy Site Director Sandra Winslow, Activities Coordinator Suzi Wood and Logistics Supervisor Jaime Fierro. Bottom photo: From left, Lt. Nick Jimenez, N.M. State Police; Joe Martinez, Job Corps administrative director; Eddie Williams, Job Corps Center director; Capt. Lance Bateman, NMSP; and Sgt. Jason Knapp, NMSP.
Today’s Forecast
HIGH 77 LOW 59
Submitted Photos
Police seek help locating missing Roswell man Submitted
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a 26-year-old Roswell man who was last seen Tuesday afternoon, May 26. Family members of Daniel Raul Herrera told police he usually stays in regular contact with them each day, but they have not heard from him since Tuesday afternoon. Based on current information discovered in the investigation, it is believed Herrera may be in danger. Police on Friday located Herrera’s parked car on a Roswell street. Investigators are seeking several subjects to question in connection with this case. Also on Friday, police executed a search warrant at a Roswell residence as part of the continuing investigation. Herrera is 5’8” and weighs about 180 lbs. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on his arms, shoulders, back and
abdomen. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Daniel Raul Herrera, or having any other information in regard to this case, is asked to call the Roswell Police at 575-6246770.
Index
Today’s Obituaries Page B3
• Teofila Rubio Rodriguez
Courtesy Photo
Daniel Raul Herrera was last seen on Tuesday, May 26, police said.
Classifieds...........B6 Comics..................B5 Entertainment. ....A8 Financial..............B3
General...............A2
Opinion.................A4
Horoscopes.........A8
Sports. ................B1
Lotteries. ............A2
Weather...............A8