Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 124, No. 145 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
June 18, 2015
Thursday
www.rdrnews.com
Mayor says Phoenix flights still feasible By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer
Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh told area Republicans Wednesday that local leaders are still optimistic about establishing daily commercial airline service between Roswell and Phoenix. Kintigh was the guest speaker at Wednesday’s monthly meeting of the Chaves County Republican Women. Kintigh, elected in March 2014, said the city has seen some “interesting” and “inspiring changes” in the last 15 months. “This is not about Den-
nis Kintigh,” the mayor said during his State of the City address. “It’s not even about a small group. This is about the team in a new community.” Kintigh said he ran on a platform of keeping the city safe and clean, both of which he said are taking place. “Those are the two qualities we must have. When that happens, good things happen,” Kintigh said. “It’s not the work or product of an individual or a small group. This is a change in the mindset of this community. This community has said ‘enough.’ We want this to be a better place we’re
proud of. We see it in so many ways. “It’s what you guys do in your own homes. It’s what you do in your own neighborhoods.” After a short speech, the mayor fielded questions from the audience of about 100 local Republicans. The mayor was first asked about languishing efforts to establish direct air service between the Roswell International Air Center and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Roswell, Artesia, Carlsbad, Ruidoso and the Chaves and Eddy county commissions in August submitted a proposal to
American Airlines to establish regional air service between Roswell and Phoenix. The proposal included a $750,000 minimum revenue guarantee from the cities and counties over two years to entice the airlines, including $125,000 from Roswell. In addition to the financial commitments of the local communities, the Phoenix-Roswell project was bolstered by a $450,000 small community air service development program grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, bringing
See Mayor, Page A3
We’re in the money
Bill Moffitt Photo
Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh hands off a check for $45,500 in grant money from Xcel Energy as Regional Manager Mike McLeod, second from right, looks on during a reception at First American Bank in Roswell, 111 E. Fifth St., Wednesday afternoon. Representatives from the nine different agencies receiving grant money are from: Chaves County CASA, Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest, Roswell Community Little Theatre, Pecos Valley Jazz and Arts Festival, Roswell Symphony Orchestra, Roswell Artist-in-Residence Foundation, Midway Youth and Family Development, Reflections & Recovery, and the Roswell Fine Arts League. Also attending was Emma, a 7-year-old CASA service retriever.
Jeff Tucker Photo
Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh, left, talks with Arthur Hartwell during Wednesday’s monthly meeting of the Chaves County Republican Women. Kintigh, elected 15 months ago, delivered a State of the City address and fielded questions from the GOP crowd.
Expert: Medicaid costs to skyrocket for New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico survived a collapse of oil and natural gas revenues, but more budget problems are on the horizon because of the state’s expansion of Medicaid coverage for low-income residents as part of the federal health care overhaul, a top legislative official warned Wednesday. More than 216,000 people have been added to the Medicaid rolls in New Mexico, bringing the total to nearly 800,000. David Abbey, director of the Legislative Finance Committee, told lawmakers during a meeting in Santa Fe that once the rate of federal cost-sharing for the expansion drops to 90 percent, New Mexico’s share will balloon to about $120
million. The federal government is currently covering 100 percent of the expansion. That percentage will gradually decrease starting in 2017. There’s no doubt, Abbey said, that Medicaid spending will be the driver of future budget negotiations in New Mexico. “Other parts of the budget are going to have to shrink,” he said. “If the Medicaid share is growing faster, something else has to grow more slowly. Public schools are a priority, public safety is a priority, and higher ed’s share has gone down 2 or 3 percent over a decade so it’s a lot to be concerned about.” New Mexico is one of 28 See MEDICAID, Page A3
Xcel Energy honors Roswell Police: Counterfeit cash feels real area grant recipients Wednesday Submitted
The Xcel Energy Foundation honored Roswell-area grant recipients at a reception Wednesday at the First American Bank conference room, 111 E. Fifth St. in Roswell. The Foundation is providing $400,000 in grants to 74 nonprofits across Xcel Energy’s Texas-New Mexico service area in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment and economic sustainability. Nine Roswell-ar-
ea nonprofits are receiving $45,500 in grant funding. Those groups are: • Chaves County CASA • Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest • Roswell Community Little Theatre • Pecos Valley Jazz and Arts Festival • Roswell Symphony Orchestra • Roswell Artist-in-Residence Foundation • Midway Youth and Family Development
• Reflections & Recovery • Roswell Fine Arts League “Xcel Energy succeeds when our communities succeed, and we believe the work of our nonprofits contributes greatly to our quality of life,” said Mike McLeod, regional manager for Community and Economic Development in Roswell. “We value the partnership we’ve formed with our grant winners, and we look forward to seeing them put See XCEL, Page A2
Ideas for the future
Jeff Tucker Photo
Elizabeth Stark-Rankins of Roswell’s Planning and Zoning Department leads one of three simultaneous break-out sessions at the city’s second master plan meeting, held Tuesday night at the Roswell Museum & Art Center. Residents living in different areas of the city discussed their ideas for land use, economic development, transportation, infrastructure, housing, community services and facilities within their neighborhoods during the breakout sessions. A public presentation of the new comprehensive master plan addressing the city’s growth and development needs for the next 20 years is scheduled at 11 a.m. July 25, after one more public workshop held on July 24.
By Jared Tucker Multimedia Journalist
The Roswell Police Department is investigating several counterfeit bill cases around Roswell, and police want the public’s help in finding the person or persons making them. According to RPD Public Information Officer Todd Wildermuth, five incidents of counterfeit cash were reported between June 8 and June 16. Three cases happened at these restaurants, Pasta Cafe, Wendy’s and Farley’s. The other two occurred at the Roswell Independent School District summer lunch program at Cahoon Park and at a local garage sale. Wildermuth said among the fake bills were a $10, two $20s, and two $100 bills. “Some of the counterfeits seem to be getting more refined and detailed, thus harder to immediately spot the fake,” Wildermuth said. Its also difficult catching someone who passes a counterfeit bill, Wildermuth said, because not all of the bills are discovered until a shift change or the end of a business day. “It’s not noticed in the business of the transaction,” Wildermuth said. Wildermuth said some of the recent fakes have
Submitted Photo
This counterfeit bill was turned over to police. more detail to them, but what makes them harder to detect is not the look, its their feel. “These couple (of bills) that came across over this past week were a little softer, it doesn’t feel as much like actual paper,” Wildermuth said. “Actual money is (made of) a blend of cotton and linen fibers.” At Farley’s, Wildermuth said restaurant staff were given questionable bills by a customer picking up a to-go order. The customer had just sold a washer and dryer and was unaware she had been paid with counterfeit bills so the restaurant declined to prosecute, Wildermuth said. No suspects have
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been arrested, Wildermuth said. The U.S. Secret Service offers tips for spotting a counterfeit on the agency’s website: Look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities.
Portrait
The genuine portrait appears lifelike and stands out distinctly from the background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and See CASH, Page A3
Index No Obituaries Today
Classifieds...........B6 Comics..................B5 Financial..............B4
General...............A2 Horoscopes.........A8 Lotteries. ............A3 Nation..................B6
Opinion.................A4 Sports. ................B1 Weather...............A8