Roswell Daily Record
Martinez takes office today
Vol. 120, No. 1 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
CHRISTIE TALKS ABOUT WEATHER FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was criticized for vacationing in Florida as a blizzard pummeled the East Coast, defended his trip and praised his state for its response to the storm, which dumped nearly three feet of snow in some parts. - PAGE A8
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 1, 2011
SATURDAY
www.rdrnews.com
SANTA FE (AP) — Republican Susana Martinez makes history as New Mexico’s first female governor when she assumes office with the start of the new year. Martinez, 51, formally becomes governor during a private swearing-in ceremony shortly after midnight in the Capitol Rotunda. Only family and friends were invited to attend. Public activities follow throughout today, including an inauguration on the Santa Fe Plaza where Martinez recites the oath of office for a second time. It’s the first time in 36 years that a governor will hold an outdoor inaugural ceremony, and those
who attend will need to bundle up. Over night temperatures are expected to drop below zero in Santa Fe. The National Weather Service forecast a high for today in the low 20s, but the wind chill will remain well below zero. After delivering an inaugural speech, Martinez will greet the public at a reception and dance with kids at a free children’s ball. The festivities end with an invitation-only, $100-a-ticket inaugural ball tonight at the city’s downtown convention center. Because an outgoing governor’s term expires at the end of December, tradition calls for the new governor to take office at midnight to
ensure there’s no question about the transfer of power and who’s in charge of the government. Martinez returns Republicans to power in the state’s top executive post after eight years of Democratic control under Bill Richardson. “I intend to move New Mexico in a new direction and bring bold change that improves the lives of New Mexico families and children,” Martinez said in a statement. She enters office with New Mexico confronting a host of problems — a sluggish economy, a budget shortfall of more than $400 million, the third highest poverty rate in the nation and a public school system in which a third of students
TOP 5 WEB
For The Last 24 Hours
• Task force arrests man • Sexual contact of a minor • McWilliams resigns • Roswell boys pass Los Alamos • Lady Coyotes win Holiday Classic
INSIDE SPORTS
Emily Russo Miller Photo
Aircraft tear down made easy John Hamilton, a mechanic for Stewart Industries, adjusts an access panel under the wing of an American Airline MD-80, during a recent afternoon.
EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
FOX ERA ENDS SUNDAY CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — As John Fox left the practice field Friday, he insisted he’s known about his impending departure for about two years. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARY
Jose Santillan - PAGE A3
HIGH ...50˚ LOW ....16˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
The chief inspector for Stewart Industries, Richard Duran, stood on the east side of the Roswell International Air Center one recent morning and watched exhaust fumes pour from the tail cone of an Airbus A-3005. A team of mechanics coughed and waved away the billowing gray smoke surrounding them.
Duran inhaled deeply. “"Nothing better than jet fuel in the morning,” he said smiling. A smoking airplane is generally cause for alarm, but in this case, it was part of an “idle leak check” whereby mechanics rev the aircraft’s engine for about five minutes to test for fuel leaks. It’s just one of the many small daily operations performed by the airplane storage facility. The Roswell airport may
Millions gather to celebrate new year
MADRID (AP) — Dazzling fireworks lit up Australia’s Sydney Harbor, communist Vietnam held a rare, Westernstyle countdown to the new year, and Japanese revelers released balloons carrying notes with people’s hopes and dreams as the world ushered in 2011. In Europe, Greeks, Irish and Spaniards planned to party through the night to help put a year of economic woe behind them. And in New York, nearly a million New Year’s Eve revelers were expected to cram into Times Square to watch the midnight ball drop, just days after the city got clobbered by a blizzard. As rainclouds cleared, thousands of people, many sporting large, brightly colored wigs, gathered in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square to take part in “Las Uvas,” or “The Grapes,” a tradition in which people eat a grape for each of the 12 chimes of midnight. Chewing and swallowing the grapes to each tolling of the bell is supposed to bring good luck, while cheating is frowned on and revelers believe it brings misfortune. “I’m here to make my wishes for the new year. If you eat the grapes your wishes will come true,” said beautician
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............C4 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
See AIRCRAFT, Page A2
No pardon for The Kid
See MARTINEZ, Page A2
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The rehabilitation of Billy the Kid lies dead in the dust. In one of his last official acts — or non-acts — before leaving office, New Mexico’s governor refused to pardon the Old West outlaw Friday for one of the many murders he committed before he was gunned down in 1881. Gov. Bill Richardson cited ambiguity surrounding the pledge of a pardon 130 years ago as the reason. “I felt I could not rewrite history,” Richardson told The Associated Press, hours after announcing his decision on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on his last day in office. The prospect of a pardon for the notorious frontier figure drew international attention to New Mexico, centering on whether New Mexico territorial governor Lew Wallace promised Billy the Kid a pardon in return for testifying about killings he witnessed. Richardson concluded Wallace did make a deal, “but it’s uncertain why he did not keep his promise,” said the former U.N. ambassador and Democratic presidential candidate. He said he could not pardon Billy the Kid given that ambiguity and the fact he killed two deputies when he escaped in April 1881 from the Lincoln County jail, where he was awaiting hanging for the 1878 killing of Sheriff William Brady. A pardon document was even drafted, “but in the end, I didn’t use it,” said Richardson, adding that he didn’t decide until Thursday night. The proposed pardon covered only the killing of Brady, and not the deaths of the deputies or any other killings. According to legend, Billy the Kid killed
Structure Fire
See PARDON, Page A2
Jessica Palmer Photo
Sierra Volunteer, Midway and Roswell fire departments were called to the 5800 block of Kincaid Road to fight a three-alarm fire around 2 p.m. Tuesday. The house, the adjacent tree and power pole were destroyed. It is believed the fire was caused because the resident was burning trash in the yard the previous day and had not ensured it was properly extinguished.
Deason uses alternative treatment to help animals See YEAR, Page A2
INDEX
appear small to the unscrutinizing eye. After all, it operates just three flights a day to just one city on just one airline. But on the other side of the tarmac, far from the eyes of passengers, the airport serves as the biggest hub of industrial manufacturing activity in Chaves County. It operates one of only a handful of aircraft stor-
fail to graduate from high school. “New Mexico faces real challenges and my top priorities will be to balance the state budget, reform our education system, change the way business is done in state government and get New Mexicans back to work,” Martinez said. “This will involve cutting waste from government, reducing the regulatory burden on businesses and ending public corruption to ensure a level playing field for job creators and inspire confidence in state government.” Martinez has served as district attorney in Dona Ana County since
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Courtesy Photo
Melanie Greer Deason is pictured with a llama.
Melanie Greer Deason is a relative newcomer to Roswell, but she has already become deeply invested in the community. A native to El Paso, she says, “El Paso isn’t really Texas. Historically it belongs to Nuevo Mexico.“ She has previous ties to Roswell. Deason received her degree as a wildlife biologist from the University of New Mexico. “I was offered a job here at the refuge.” Although she confesses that she took one
with the Forest Service instead. She’s made friends here. “After 30 years, I’m back,” said Deason. The weather drew her to Roswell. She is tired of Santa Fe winters. Deason purchased a friend’s home 18 months ago and received several cats and a dog as part of the bargain. See DEASON, Page A2