05-18-2011

Page 1

Roswell Daily Record

INSIDE NEWS

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

Senate blocks oil tax break repeal

Vol. 120, No. 119 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate blocked a bill Tuesday that would repeal about $2 billion a year in tax breaks for the five biggest oil companies, a Democratic response to $4a-gallon gasoline that might fare better when Congress and the White House negotiate a deal later this year to increase the government’s ability to bor-

May 18, 2011

WEDNESDAY

www.rdrnews.com

row. The bill was defeated on a procedural vote. But Democrats hope to build their case to include the measure in a deficit-reduction package being negotiated by key lawmakers and the Obama administration. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding deficit reduction as part of deal to increase the government’s

ability to borrow and avoid an unprecedented default on U.S. Treasury bonds. Republicans and some Democrats opposed the tax increase, saying it would hurt domestic drilling while doing nothing to reduce gas prices. The vote was 52-48 in favor of the measure, short of the 60 votes needed to advance it. Three Democrats — Mary Lan-

drieu of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Begich of Alaska — joined with nearly all Republicans in opposing the measure. Two Republicans, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, voted for it. White House spokesman Jay Carney blamed Senate Republican leaders, saying they were more interested

in protecting tax breaks for profitable oil companies than finding more responsible ways to spend that money. Nonetheless, he said the vote was an important step toward repealing “these unwarranted subsidies” and said the administration would continue to See OIL, Page A2

APOCALYPSE PREDICTIONS NOT NEW

Politicians and political activists frequently declare the end of the world will occur if their candidate isn’t elected, or if the debt ceiling isn’t raised. Some conservative Christians think the end is on the way because of behavior and ... - PAGE A4

TOP 5 WEB

For The Past 24 Hours

• Holley: Altercation led to shooting • Man wanted in double homicide is found dead • RPD: Burglar causes accident during getaway • Fresquez sworn in for Ward IV • Four still alive for Bronco men

INSIDE SPORTS

Local Vets meet with VA hospital staff

Mark Wilson Photo

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce speaks with veterans Tuesday evening at the Elks Lodge.

MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

KILLEBREW DEAD AT 74

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Harmon Killebrew earned every bit of his frightening nickname, hitting tape-measure home runs that awed even his fellow Hall of Famers. Yet there was a softer side to “The Killer,” too. The balding gentleman who enjoyed a milkshake after each game. The fisherman who was afraid of bumping into alligators. The MVP who always had time to help a rookie. - PAGE B1

TODAY’S OBITUARIES

• Betty Baker Bonham • Dennis Bray Ybarra • James Kirby McDaniel • Lonnie Gabert Dudley • Thomas Fortune Ryan VI • Wanda Pearl Stockton • Christopher Hamilton • Charlotte Ann Garvin • Eliseo Ortiz Moreno • William Holmes Lovejoy • Olia Oakley - PAGE A3, A8

HIGH ...90˚ LOW ....58˚

At least 100 local veterans met with staff from Albuquerque’s VA hospital in Roswell Tuesday, during a meeting put together by Rep. Steve Pearce, RN.M. The gathering aimed at giving veterans in southeast New Mexico the opportunity to talk with

the staff of the VA hospital and hopefully bring better medical care for local vets. Of ficials say driving to Albuquerque for much needed health care services is cumbersome and that they hope to build on more localized services. “We’re still pushing for fee-based services,” said Harry McGraw, president of the local SENM Vietnam Veterans of America chap-

ter. “We need more local care down here.” McGraw explained that fee-based would improve health care access for veterans in the area by allowing them to use local health providers in Roswell instead of driving to out-of-town VA medical facilities. Sonka Brown, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Veterans

residential properties will be forced to tear down the carports. Of ficials in favor of upholding the Planning and Zoning Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission’s decisions to deny the variances said that approving the proposals would lead to a domino effect of more variances. They argued that the homeowners were unable to demonstrate any undue hardships that would make the structures exceptions to the code, such as the topographical features of a given lot. “I’m very disappointed. I

don’t see a reason why they can’t make an exception,” said Teryll Cardona, a neighbor of one of the residents ordered to destroy his carport. Cardona spoke on behalf of Harry Fields, who she says was not able to attend the meeting because of his health. Cardona argued that Fields, who is 84, cannot afford to take down the structure. “The reason he is going to work (at his age) is because he has medical bills to pay,” she told the

Brown explained that officials are pushing the use of teleconferences as one such way of cutting back on travel. Veterans are now able to visit with an Albuquerque doctor by using “tele-health services,” she said. Pearce said he was optimistic that the meeting

City Council orders 2 non-code carports razed MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER

Roswell councilors voted in favor of ordering residents of two homes to destroy carports officials say do not conform to city code, Tuesday, during the council’s regular monthly meeting. It was the second time in three months that the council voted to deny variances for carports that were cited for not conforming to code. Officials say the structures were built without the proper permits and owners of the three

See VETS, Page A2

ROSWELL FM FILMING TO BEGIN JULY 25 JONATHAN ENTZMINGER RECORD STAFF WRITER

New Mexico film incentives are at work again as the indie comedy, Roswell FM, is set to be filmed locally beginning July 25. Renee Roach, along with Alan Trevor and Stephen Griffin, the film’s director, made an official announcement about the project at the City Council meeting, Tuesday. The response from the council was positive.

“If there’s anything we can do to help you out, let us know. Can we get some director’s chairs?” Roswell Mayor Del Jurney quipped. The film’s original screenplay was written by David Spence, who wrote the story as an undergraduate at New Mexico State University four years ago. “I wrote it pretty early on in my college career,” Spence said. “I wanted to

RPD advises merchants to beware of counterfeit currency See COUNCIL, Page A2

JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B3 COMICS.................B6 FINANCIAL .............A6 GENERAL ..............A2 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8

Af fairs, said that while some services can be provided for by local doctors, much of the specialty care needed is only supported in the Albuquerque facility. “It would be ideal for Roswell to have a VA hospital,” she said. “That’s one of the things that we’re trying to do, is to eliminate some of the travel.”

INDEX

Jessica Palmer Photo

RPD Officer Travis Holley displays a fake $100 bill where Franklin’s face appears purple. Both strip and watermark are missing.

Roswell Police Department Public Information Officer Travis Holley is asking merchants to beware of a new “rash of high quality counterfeit bills circulating in Roswell.” He said the bills are produced by bleaching smaller denomination bills by some unknown means and then reprinting them as higher denomination notes. Detectives are working with the Secret Service Field Of fice in Albuquerque. “The bills are difficult to

detect because they look and feel real and the counterfeit marking pens do not detect them,” said Holley. Of ficials are asking Roswell merchants to inspect bills carefully, especially large denominations. Legal tender have the matching security strip and watermark, with the exception of older bills and one dollar bills. The image on the watermark will match the image on the bill. In other words, if Benjamin Franklin’s image appears on the bill it will be replicated on watermark. The security strip should list the same

See FILM, Page A2

denomination. In the recent past where $5 bills were modified to look like $50s, Grant’s image replaced Lincoln’s on the center of the bill, but the watermark still showed Lincoln’s image. The security strip read $5 instead of $50. With the legitimate $100 bill, the ink will change colors as the bill is turned in the light. Holley warned merchants they can no longer rely on the marking pens. Businesses need to educate all employees on how to See RPD, Page A2


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