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NEWS:
Volume 2, Number 228
January 14, 2008
January 14, 2008
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& suggestions are welcome.
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& suggestions are welcome.
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Special weather information
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
| THE WEATHER BOX www.ke5wlm-eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com Isolated thunderstorms are possible late tonight across the Davis Mountains, Marfa Plateau, Big Bend region and the lower Trans Pecos. These storms are not expected to become severe but will be capable of producing deadly lightning and gusty winds of up to 45 mph. Isolated snow showers will be possible for the higher elevations across the same region after midnight. Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. North wind between 10 and 15 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest. Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58. |
| The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines. |
Artesia poetry group to celebrate 1st anniversary tonight
ARTESIA - Poetry in Motion meets every other Monday at the Arts Council
Building at 511 W. Main Street in Artesia, at 7 p.m. Tonight's meeting will
mark the first anniversary for the group, whose mission is "to see that all
who want to be published authors receive that opportunity; bring laughter,
joy and peace to those who need it with a soft word, a gentle phrase or a
story of life and learning; and reach out to the community at large and invite
one and all to join us in our endeavors."
Richard Scarbrough founded the group, which is open to writers & readers
of all ages. No experience is needed and everyone is welcome!
Beverly Fleming, member and webmistress, explained, "Any group member
can have their own page to put on their own poems or stories. It's free,
there's no age limit, and we also have members who don't write poems or
stories so much as they like to read them who bring interesting and funny
and touching poems and stories that they have found somewhere."
Plan to visit Poetry in Motion Monday night for some fun, goodies and
punch, as well as an interesting and exceptional evening! You may be
surprised at who you meet and what you learn.
For more information about the group, the meeting or the members, visit
the website at www.poetryinmotionartesia.com or write us at the poetry
club's main email, poetryinmotionartesia@yahoo.com, or call the founder,
Richard, at 1-575-317-4216.
Make this the Year You Become a Blood Donor
Since 1970, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month
(NBDM). To help ensure an adequate blood supply, the United Blood
Services has joined with AABB (formerly known as the American
Association of Blood Banks) to stress the importance of donating blood.
The need for blood is constant, and volunteer blood donors contribute to
nearly all the blood used for patient care in the United States. If all who are
eligible to donate would do so on a regular basis (three to four times per
year), blood needs could be met and shortages could become a thing of
the past.
Everyone, whether it is realized or not, depends on blood. Every two
seconds, someone needs blood. Each day, patients across the country
receive approximately 39,000 units of this lifesaving resource. This year
alone, as many as five million patients will require blood transfusions, as
accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and patients receiving
treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.
People who are interested in becoming blood donors should contact United
Blood Services to schedule an appointment to donate, or in Roswell visit
United Blood Services at #3 Grand Avenue Plaza, Roswell, NM 88201 or
call 1-888-676-LIFE (5433) or 575-625-9743.
DHS RELEASES REAL ID REGULATION
Core 9/11 Commission Finding to Secure Drivers’ Licenses Nationwide
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
announced today a final rule establishing minimum security standards for
state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards. The rule sets
uniform standards that enhance the integrity and reliability of drivers’
licenses and identification cards, strengthen issuance capabilities, and
increase security at drivers’ license and identification card production
facilities. The final rule also dramatically reduces state implementation costs
by roughly 73 percent.
“The American public’s desire for greater identity protection is undeniable,”
said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Americans understand
today that the 9/11 hijackers obtained 30 drivers licenses and ID’s, and
used 364 aliases. For an extra $8 per license, REAL ID will give law
enforcement and security officials a powerful advantage against falsified
documents, and it will bring some peace of mind to citizens wanting to
protect their identity from theft by a criminal or illegal alien.”
The problems that Americans face from document fraud are diverse and
growing. A Public Opinion Strategies poll taken last year shows that more
than 80 percent of the American public favors secure identification to
prevent terrorism and identity theft. Identity theft has increased by nearly
800 percent from 2000 to 2006, according to the Federal Trade
Commission. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made 863 criminal
arrests during various worksite enforcement operations in fiscal year 2007 -
more than 500 were charged with crimes relating to federal and state
document fraud - and their Identity and Benefit Fraud Units made 1,211
criminal arrests for document fraud related charges. The U.S. Secret
Service made 4,348 arrests last year for identity theft or financial fraud
crimes, accounting for approximately $690 million in actual fraud loss to
individuals and financial institutions. In a sampling of Secret Service
identify theft cases from 2000 to 2006, fraudulent drivers’ licenses were
used 35 percent of the time.
REAL ID will address document fraud by setting specific requirements that
states must adopt for compliance, to include: (1) information and security
features that must be incorporated into each card; (2) proof of the identity
and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant; (3) verification of the
source documents provided by an applicant; and (4) security standards for
the offices that issue licenses and identification cards.
The first deadline for compliance with REAL ID is Dec. 31, 2009. By then,
states must upgrade the security of their license systems, to include a
check for lawful status of all applicants, to ensure that illegal aliens cannot
obtain REAL ID licenses. Some states are expected to be compliant well
before that time. Compliance will be needed for access into a federal
facility, boarding commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.
Federal agencies will continue to accept licenses for official purposes from
residents of states that comply with the law.
DHS is making approximately $360 million available to assist states with
REAL ID implementation - $80 million in dedicated REAL ID grants and
another $280 million in general funding as part of the Homeland Security
Grant Program.
The 73 percent cost reduction – from an original estimate of $14.6 billion to
approximately $3.9 billion – was achieved mainly by giving states greater
flexibility in issuing licenses to older Americans. Enrollment will be
completed for all individuals under 50 years of age by Dec. 1, 2014. For all
others, enrollment may be extended three additional years to Dec. 1, 2017.
At that time, all state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards
intended for official federal purposes must be REAL ID compliant.
REAL ID was a core 9/11 Commission finding and mandated by Congress
in the REAL ID Act of 2005. This final rule follows a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2007. Based
on comments received from various stakeholders, DHS drafted the final rule
to substantially reduce costs and account for investments that many states
have already made to improve the security of their drivers’ licenses.
ARTESIA - Poetry in Motion meets every other Monday at the Arts Council
Building at 511 W. Main Street in Artesia, at 7 p.m. Tonight's meeting will
mark the first anniversary for the group, whose mission is "to see that all
who want to be published authors receive that opportunity; bring laughter,
joy and peace to those who need it with a soft word, a gentle phrase or a
story of life and learning; and reach out to the community at large and invite
one and all to join us in our endeavors."
Richard Scarbrough founded the group, which is open to writers & readers
of all ages. No experience is needed and everyone is welcome!
Beverly Fleming, member and webmistress, explained, "Any group member
can have their own page to put on their own poems or stories. It's free,
there's no age limit, and we also have members who don't write poems or
stories so much as they like to read them who bring interesting and funny
and touching poems and stories that they have found somewhere."
Plan to visit Poetry in Motion Monday night for some fun, goodies and
punch, as well as an interesting and exceptional evening! You may be
surprised at who you meet and what you learn.
For more information about the group, the meeting or the members, visit
the website at www.poetryinmotionartesia.com or write us at the poetry
club's main email, poetryinmotionartesia@yahoo.com, or call the founder,
Richard, at 1-575-317-4216.
Make this the Year You Become a Blood Donor
Since 1970, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month
(NBDM). To help ensure an adequate blood supply, the United Blood
Services has joined with AABB (formerly known as the American
Association of Blood Banks) to stress the importance of donating blood.
The need for blood is constant, and volunteer blood donors contribute to
nearly all the blood used for patient care in the United States. If all who are
eligible to donate would do so on a regular basis (three to four times per
year), blood needs could be met and shortages could become a thing of
the past.
Everyone, whether it is realized or not, depends on blood. Every two
seconds, someone needs blood. Each day, patients across the country
receive approximately 39,000 units of this lifesaving resource. This year
alone, as many as five million patients will require blood transfusions, as
accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and patients receiving
treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.
People who are interested in becoming blood donors should contact United
Blood Services to schedule an appointment to donate, or in Roswell visit
United Blood Services at #3 Grand Avenue Plaza, Roswell, NM 88201 or
call 1-888-676-LIFE (5433) or 575-625-9743.
DHS RELEASES REAL ID REGULATION
Core 9/11 Commission Finding to Secure Drivers’ Licenses Nationwide
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
announced today a final rule establishing minimum security standards for
state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards. The rule sets
uniform standards that enhance the integrity and reliability of drivers’
licenses and identification cards, strengthen issuance capabilities, and
increase security at drivers’ license and identification card production
facilities. The final rule also dramatically reduces state implementation costs
by roughly 73 percent.
“The American public’s desire for greater identity protection is undeniable,”
said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Americans understand
today that the 9/11 hijackers obtained 30 drivers licenses and ID’s, and
used 364 aliases. For an extra $8 per license, REAL ID will give law
enforcement and security officials a powerful advantage against falsified
documents, and it will bring some peace of mind to citizens wanting to
protect their identity from theft by a criminal or illegal alien.”
The problems that Americans face from document fraud are diverse and
growing. A Public Opinion Strategies poll taken last year shows that more
than 80 percent of the American public favors secure identification to
prevent terrorism and identity theft. Identity theft has increased by nearly
800 percent from 2000 to 2006, according to the Federal Trade
Commission. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made 863 criminal
arrests during various worksite enforcement operations in fiscal year 2007 -
more than 500 were charged with crimes relating to federal and state
document fraud - and their Identity and Benefit Fraud Units made 1,211
criminal arrests for document fraud related charges. The U.S. Secret
Service made 4,348 arrests last year for identity theft or financial fraud
crimes, accounting for approximately $690 million in actual fraud loss to
individuals and financial institutions. In a sampling of Secret Service
identify theft cases from 2000 to 2006, fraudulent drivers’ licenses were
used 35 percent of the time.
REAL ID will address document fraud by setting specific requirements that
states must adopt for compliance, to include: (1) information and security
features that must be incorporated into each card; (2) proof of the identity
and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant; (3) verification of the
source documents provided by an applicant; and (4) security standards for
the offices that issue licenses and identification cards.
The first deadline for compliance with REAL ID is Dec. 31, 2009. By then,
states must upgrade the security of their license systems, to include a
check for lawful status of all applicants, to ensure that illegal aliens cannot
obtain REAL ID licenses. Some states are expected to be compliant well
before that time. Compliance will be needed for access into a federal
facility, boarding commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.
Federal agencies will continue to accept licenses for official purposes from
residents of states that comply with the law.
DHS is making approximately $360 million available to assist states with
REAL ID implementation - $80 million in dedicated REAL ID grants and
another $280 million in general funding as part of the Homeland Security
Grant Program.
The 73 percent cost reduction – from an original estimate of $14.6 billion to
approximately $3.9 billion – was achieved mainly by giving states greater
flexibility in issuing licenses to older Americans. Enrollment will be
completed for all individuals under 50 years of age by Dec. 1, 2014. For all
others, enrollment may be extended three additional years to Dec. 1, 2017.
At that time, all state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards
intended for official federal purposes must be REAL ID compliant.
REAL ID was a core 9/11 Commission finding and mandated by Congress
in the REAL ID Act of 2005. This final rule follows a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2007. Based
on comments received from various stakeholders, DHS drafted the final rule
to substantially reduce costs and account for investments that many states
have already made to improve the security of their drivers’ licenses.
Precinct workers needed for election
ARTESIA - Precinct workers are needed for the
March 4th Municipal Election. The polls will be
open from 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
To be eligible to work as a precinct worker, you
must be a registered voter, living in the City of
Artesia, and you cannot be related to any of the
candidates running for office.
Anyone interested in applying as a precinct
worker should contact Lisa C. Johnston,
Assistant City Clerk, at City Hall, 748-8290 by
Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
NM ID enhancements on the horizon
DHS has announced a regulation to enhance
security of driver licenses across the country,
with a timeline to December 31, 2009. New
Mexico is ahead of the curve in bringing
enhanced security to the process and is
expected to go into effect this spring.
According to the website, www.nmid.us, "The
key element of IDNM is secure issuance of
driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards
(IDs) at a central location. With central
issuance, MVD customers will no longer leave
the MVD office with their new permanent DL or
ID cards. Instead, each customer will be given
an official temporary DL or ID and will receive
the permanent DL card or ID card by mail,
usually within two weeks. Twenty-seven states
currently utilize a central issuance process for
DLs and IDs."
The changes are designed to help thwart
potential black marketeering and identity theft.
More information will be provided as it becomes
available. Visit the website for additional
information and FAQs.
AMBER Alert Awareness Day
On January 13, communities across the country
observed National AMBER Alert Awareness Day
– a day to recognize the collaborative efforts
and successes of the AMBER Alert program to
assist in the recovery of abducted children. To
honor this program as vital to the safety of
children, NCMEC encourages all wireless
subscribers to sign up for Wireless AMBER
Alerts.
The AMBER Alert Program, created after the
1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old
Amber Hagerman, is a voluntary partnership
between law-enforcement agencies,
broadcasters, and transportation agencies. The
program activates an urgent bulletin in the most
serious child-abduction cases.
A description of the abducted child and the
suspected abductor is broadcast to millions of
media listeners and viewers. The public
becomes the eyes and ears of law enforcement.
The AMBER Alert program is coordinated on a
national level by the U.S. Department of Justice.
For more information about the National AMBER
Alert Initiative, please visit www.amberalert.gov.
Nationwide there are 119 AMBER Alert Plans,
including 28 regional, 38 local, and statewide
plans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ARTESIA - Precinct workers are needed for the
March 4th Municipal Election. The polls will be
open from 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
To be eligible to work as a precinct worker, you
must be a registered voter, living in the City of
Artesia, and you cannot be related to any of the
candidates running for office.
Anyone interested in applying as a precinct
worker should contact Lisa C. Johnston,
Assistant City Clerk, at City Hall, 748-8290 by
Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
NM ID enhancements on the horizon
DHS has announced a regulation to enhance
security of driver licenses across the country,
with a timeline to December 31, 2009. New
Mexico is ahead of the curve in bringing
enhanced security to the process and is
expected to go into effect this spring.
According to the website, www.nmid.us, "The
key element of IDNM is secure issuance of
driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards
(IDs) at a central location. With central
issuance, MVD customers will no longer leave
the MVD office with their new permanent DL or
ID cards. Instead, each customer will be given
an official temporary DL or ID and will receive
the permanent DL card or ID card by mail,
usually within two weeks. Twenty-seven states
currently utilize a central issuance process for
DLs and IDs."
The changes are designed to help thwart
potential black marketeering and identity theft.
More information will be provided as it becomes
available. Visit the website for additional
information and FAQs.
AMBER Alert Awareness Day
On January 13, communities across the country
observed National AMBER Alert Awareness Day
– a day to recognize the collaborative efforts
and successes of the AMBER Alert program to
assist in the recovery of abducted children. To
honor this program as vital to the safety of
children, NCMEC encourages all wireless
subscribers to sign up for Wireless AMBER
Alerts.
The AMBER Alert Program, created after the
1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old
Amber Hagerman, is a voluntary partnership
between law-enforcement agencies,
broadcasters, and transportation agencies. The
program activates an urgent bulletin in the most
serious child-abduction cases.
A description of the abducted child and the
suspected abductor is broadcast to millions of
media listeners and viewers. The public
becomes the eyes and ears of law enforcement.
The AMBER Alert program is coordinated on a
national level by the U.S. Department of Justice.
For more information about the National AMBER
Alert Initiative, please visit www.amberalert.gov.
Nationwide there are 119 AMBER Alert Plans,
including 28 regional, 38 local, and statewide
plans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.