Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 121, No. 62 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
INTEREST SPIKES IN PINTEREST NEW YORK (AP) — Oh, you pretty things. Just look at the mama giraffe nuzzling a baby giraffe, that lovely idea for an indoor planter made of mason jars and those perfectly cooked bacon strips cooling on a plate. This is what people are circulating on Pinterest, the latest website-of-themoment for sharing things you love. - PAGE A6
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• Girl Scouts celebrate organization’s 100th • It’s that time again... • Council OKs Lodger’s Tax fund requests • El Cap hosts RFD at CC! assembly • Believe and you shall succeed
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March 13, 2012
TUESDAY
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US officials: Suspect in killings had head injury KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — The soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians, most of them children, and bur ning their bodies was trained as a sniper and recently suffered a head injury in Iraq, U.S. officials said Monday. The name of the suspect, a married, 38-year -old father of two, has not been released. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said he may face capital charges, and that the U.S.
must resist pressure from Washington and Kabul to change course in Afghanistan because of anti-American outrage over the shooting. A U.S. official said that during a recent tour of duty in Iraq, the suspect was involved in a vehicle accident and suffered a head injury. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is under investigation. The vehicle accident was
Ex-investment officer suing agency for damages
SANTA FE, (AP) — Former State Investment Officer Gary Bland is fighting back against allegations of corruption and is suing his accusers for more than $1 million in damages. Bland is seeking damages against his for mer employer, the State Investment Council, as well as council chairwoman Gov. Susana Martinez, Attorney General Gary King and a former educational pension fund manager because he says the allegations against him have ruined his reputation in the investment community and drained him financially. The Investment Council, with the support of the attorney general, filed a lawsuit last year contending Bland and others improperly steered New Mexico investments to political supporters of former Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson. Whistleblower lawsuits by former pension fund investment officer Frank Foy have made
not a combat-related event, the official said. There was no available indication about the extent of the injury, or whether his injury could be linked to any abnor mal behavior afterward. Two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the suspect had been trained as a sniper. Sunday’s attack in souther n Kandahar province unfolded in two
villages near a U.S. base. Villager Mohammad Zahir recounted how an American soldier burst into his home in the middle of the night, searched the rooms, then dropped to a knee and shot his father in the thigh as he emerged from a bedroom. The shootings come as anti-Americanism already is boiling over in Afghanistan after U.S. troops burned Qurans last month and a video of
Marines urinating on alleged Taliban corpses was posted on the Internet in January.
If the attack unleashes another wave of anti-foreigner hatred, it could threaten the future of the U.S.-led coalition’s mission in Afghanistan. The events have also raised doubts among U.S. political figures that the long and costly See SUSPECT, Page A3
City welcomes Fire Chief Hamill JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The City of Roswell welcomed its newest Fire Chief Chad Hamill to the post, Monday, at City Hall. In a statement prepared when the city announced Hamill’s appointment Friday, City Administrator Larry Fry said, “This appointment comes after extensive review of many qualified applicants. … Chad has assumed increasingly greater responsibility while serving as deputy fire chief and acting fire chief when James Salas retired as the end of December.” Hamill has had extensive experience, having worked for the Roswell Fire Department for 18 years. He was company officer at Station 1, managing Ladder 1, Rescue 1 and Engine 1. He also served as acting battalion chief, then EMS division chief until he was promoted to the position of deputy chief. After the retirement of former Chief James Salas, he worked as acting chief. In addition, he served as chief to the Hagerman Fire Department. At the press conference, Fry referred to the hiring of Hamill as a joyous occasion. “We look forward to Chief Hamill leading us into the same proud tradition we have had in the past.” Hamill told the people gathered that he was humbled by his promotion. “There are a lot of big shoes to fill.” When asked what he had learned from the
See DAMAGES, Page A3
See HAMILL, Page A3
Jessica Palmer Photo
Newly-appointed Roswell Fire Chief Chad Hamill, left, discusses his plans for the future with a well-wisher at Monday’s press conference at City Hall.
Civilians killed in Syria reprisals 2 arrested in NM town
49ERS, MOSS AGREE TO DEAL SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Randy Moss is back in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN first reported the move. Moss agreed to a one-year deal Monday with the reigning NFC West champions... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • • • • • • •
Kevin M. Smith Richard L. Fritz Clovis A. Earick Janice Youngs James L. Burch John S. Archer Jimmy D. Bullock - PAGE A6
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INDEX
as it frequently calls those behind the yearlong uprising against President Bashar Assad’s regime. At the United Nations, the U.S. and Russia clashed after SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon appealed to the divided Security Council to speak with one voice and help Syria “pull back from the brink of a deeper catastrophe.” Washington and Moscow both called for an end to the bloody conflict - but on different terms, leaving prospects for U.N. action in doubt. The reports of killings in AP photo the battered city of Homs In this Sunday photo, a man carries a boy who was severe- added to concerns that the ly wounded during heavy fighting between Syrian rebels hundreds of civilian and government forces in Idlib, north Syria. deaths caused by the fighting would be comBEIRUT (AP) — Syrian government is carrying out pounded by reprisals activists said Monday that reprisals in territory it has against opposition suppro-government gunmen taken back. porters in recaptured State media in Damas- towns and neighborhoods. killed at least 16 people, including some children, cus, which often ignores Fresh from stamping out in a rebel stronghold activists’ claims, confirmed rebel centers of resistance recaptured by the govern- killings in Homs but ment, fueling concerns the blamed “armed terrorists,”
See SYRIA, Page A3
plagued by blackmail plot
SUNLAND PARK, (AP) — Two officials of a New Mexico border town wracked by allegations of extortion and voting fraud were arrested Monday. For mer Sunland Park city councilor Angelica Marquez and the city’s public information officer, Arturo Alba, were charged with extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News. Including the latest arrests, seven people have been taken into custody on a variety of charges since allegations surfaced weeks ago that then mayor -pro tem and now Mayor -elect Daniel Salinas and other city officials tried to force Gerardo Hernandez out of the mayoral race with the recorded video of him getting a topless lap dance. Since then, officials have also alleged widespread voter fraud. Marquez was arrested at her home. Alba was arrest-
ed at his city hall office. Both were taken to Dona Ana County Detention Center, where they being held on $50,000 secure bond each. It was unclear if they had retained attorneys. Salinas City Manager Jaime Aguilera was indicted last week on extortion and other charges related to the alleged blackmail plot. Salinas and Aguilera both have denied the charges. A temporary city worker was also charged in the plot, and Marquez and two other current or former city officials have been arrested on voting fraud charges. Salinas won the election last week but was not expected to be swor n in with other winners on Monday night, as he has been barred by ter ms of his release from entering city hall or having any contact with city workers. According to court See BLACKMAIL, Page A3
Senate Minority Leader Ingle seeking re-election for seat JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER A member of the state Senate since 1985, Portales Republican and Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle says he is seeking re-election to his District 27 seat. The district encompasses Roosevelt and De Baca counties, and portions of Curry, Chaves and Lea counties. A farmer and rancher, Ingle is seeking re-election to continue his work on behalf of the residents of southeastern New Mexico. “More than ever, the
needs and concer ns of southeastern New Mexico must be heard in Santa Fe and solutions must be found,” he said. “Experience is critical to ensure that those solutions are not only found but implemented.” Elected to the position of minority leader in 2000, Ingle has consistently represented the interests of small business, public education, veterans, Eastern New Mexico University, Cannon Air Force Base and the oil and gas industry. If re-elected, Ingle hopes, “to make sure that
we don’t pass regulations in Santa Fe that are harmful to the dairy and the oil industry, and any of the other industries that we have in this part of the state. Regulation is often a reason that we can’t get businesses to locate in the state of New Mexico … They look at the regulations they’re going to have to go through with about six different departments. They’ve got one department to deal with in some of our bordering states. It doesn’t take too long to figure out which decision they’re going to make.”
In the past, Ingle has sponsored landmark legislation to help businesses in the southeast region of the state compete with neighboring Texas through the creation of a sales tax holiday each August during the backto-school shopping period. During the 2012 Legislative session, Ingle’s bill to reduce the restrictions on the trucking of hay across the state was the first bill signed into law. He was instrumental in the passage of a major tax-relief bill to eliminate
See INGLE, Page A3
Sen. Stuart Ingle