NEW!
Enter a word or phrase
below to search Artesia360
Enter a word or phrase
below to search Artesia360
NEWS:
Volume 3, Number 23
March 5, 2008
March 5, 2008
Your contributions, comments
& suggestions are welcome.
Please click News to email us.
& suggestions are welcome.
Please click News to email us.
Artesia360.com
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
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.eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com Low relative humidity and increased southwest wind speeds will keep fire danger high across portions of southeastern New Mexico and West Texas today. Affected areas will be mainly along and west of the Pecos River, including the Guadalupe and Davis mountains, the Van Horn area, Marfa Plateau and Big Bend region. Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east. Tonight: A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 11am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 52. North wind around 10 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. South wind around 10 mph becoming west. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. |
| 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. |
Election results mixed
ARTESIA - The Artesia municipal election held Tuesday brought back a
mixed bag of results, with an upset, a landslide and a close call!
Municipal Judge Kaye Kiper retained her seat with a total of 775 votes over
challenger Rickey Kelley's even 200. Kiper garnered 217 votes in District
1, 98 in District 2, 320 in District 3, 199 in District 4 and 158 absentee/early
votes. Kelley's numbers were 61, 41, 42, 34 and 22.
In District 1, former city councilor Manuel Barragan won in an upset over
incumbent Judy Stewart by a margin of 30 votes. Barragan received 159
election day votes and 9 absentee/early votes, while Stewart had 148
supporters showing up Tuesday and 12 absentee/early ballots cast.
In District 2, Luis Florez ran unopposed, accumulating 123 in person and
25 absentee/early votes for a total of 148.
District 3 had two new hopefuls and no incumbent running. In a very close
election day vote, J. B. Smith edged out Jeffrey Youtsey 182 to 179. The
absentee/early votes in District 3 became very important in determining
Smith the winner, with 64 votes to Youtsey's 28. Totals for District 3 were
246 for Smith and 207 for Youtsey.
Incumbent George Holmes ran unopposed, racking up 201 Tuesday votes
and 38 absentee/early for a total of 239.
The numbers are unofficial until certified on Thursday at 2 p.m., according
to City Clerk Aubrey Hobson.
Barragan and Smith will be sworn in to office at the next city council
meeting, scheduled for March 11th.
Domenici raises questions about "virtual" border fence
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Tuesday inquired whether
the Department of Homeland Security will alter its plans for a “virtual” fence
to help secure U.S. borders in light it announcement of a three-year delay
before the first phase of the project is deployed.
Domenici serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations
Subcommittee that today held a hearing on the DHS budget request for
FY2009, which initially recommended $775 million for overall border
fencing, infrastructure and border security technology.
An initial 100 miles of a “virtual fence” was to have been put in place in
Arizona and near El Paso by the end of 2008. DHS has moved that goal
back to 2011 due to software and other problems. Using technologically
advanced sensors, cameras and radar, the virtual fence has been planned
to complement 700 miles of actual fencing and vehicle barriers on the
Southwest border.
“I was concerned and dismayed to read last week that plans to build a
virtual border fence are being scaled back and delayed for years. We must
get control of our borders, and these problems, on top of the failure of the
America’s Shield Initiative, are unacceptable,” Domenici said.
“We have been counting on the use of high-tech devices to help control
illegal crossings in the United States, and the Homeland Security
Department should be ready to answer how it is going to move forward after
this significant setback,” he said.
Domenici has asked DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff what actions his
department is taking to quickly address the problems discovered with the
virtual fence, and whether its FY2009 budget is sufficient to rectify the
problems. In addition, Domenici asked whether DHS might revise its budget
request to provide more funding for actual border fencing because of the
expected delay in deploying an effective “virtual fence.”
Domenici has supported the authorization and funding for 700 miles of
double-layered fencing at specified locations along the almost 2,000-mile
Southwest border—including fencing and vehicle barrier installation in
southern New Mexico.
ENMU-R hosts pilot safety meeting
ROSWELL - The Aviation Maintenance Technology staff at ENMU-Roswell
will facilitate the March Safety Seminar for the New Mexico Pilots
Association (NMPA) on Saturday, March 8. The meeting will be held from 10:
00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the ENMU-Roswell Aviation Maintenance
Technology Center, Room 106, 12 W. Challenger St. on the Roswell
International Air Center.
Ralph Barger, Aviation Maintenance Technology instructor, will present the
topic “So You Want to Get Your Hands Dirty?” Barger will discuss FAR Part
43 owner/operator authorized preventive maintenance procedures. Ron
Keller, FAASTeam Rep., will discuss NAS equipment and how it operates. A
pizza lunch will follow the seminar, courtesy of NMPA. For more information,
contact Keller at (505)222-3062 or radarpapa182@yahoo.com.
With a membership of more than 200, the NMPA offers a monthly fly-in FAA
WINGS safety seminar every month (except December) at various New
Mexico airports.
Border Patrol fact sheet released
Each day at America’s ports of entry CBP officers inspect more than 1.1
million travelers, including 340,000 vehicles and over 85,000 shipments of
goods approved for entry; process more than 70,000 truck, rail and sea
containers; collect more than $88 million in fees, duties, and tariffs; seize
more than 5,500 pounds in illegal narcotics; and intercept more than 4,400
agricultural items and pests at ports of entry.
Securing the Border
* DHS has completed more than 167 miles of pedestrian fence and 134
miles of vehicle fence on the southwest border, for a total of approximately
302 miles.
* We are on track to have 670 miles of total pedestrian fence and vehicle
fence by the end of 2008.
* The Border Patrol now has more than 15,000 agents and by the end of
this year we will have more than 18,300 agents. This doubles the size of the
Border Patrol over the FY 2001 level.
* We are committed to using technology along the border in connection with
tactical infrastructure, where Border Patrol deems necessary. Some
technology currently used includes: unattended ground sensors, truck-
mounted mobile surveillance systems, remote video surveillance systems,
unmanned aerial systems, and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft to detect,
classify, track and respond to illegal border crossings.
* The National Guard continues to support the Border Patrol under
Operation Jump Start. This partnership has been extremely productive as
we work to the build the fence and train Border Patrol agents.
* DHS saw a more than 20 percent reduction in apprehensions of illegal
aliens at the southern border in Fiscal Year 2007. This is an indication that
there are fewer attempts to cross the border illegally.
Interior Enforcement
* In Fiscal Year 2007, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
arrested 3,563 gang members and their associates. This includes 1,489
criminal arrests.
* Under Operation Community Shield ICE has arrested more than 8,000
members and associates of approximately 700 different gangs. Of those
apprehended, 2,444 have been charged criminally and 5,211 have been
charged with immigration violations and processed for removal.
* Over a three month period last summer ICE arrested more than 1,300
violent street gang members and associates in 23 cities across 19 states.
* ICE has expanded its Criminal Alien Program to identify incarcerated
criminal aliens. In Fiscal Year 2007, ICE identified for removal more than
164,000 criminals who were incarcerated in federal, state and local facilities.
* ICE has increased its fugitive operations teams from 15 in 2005 to 75
today with an additional 29 allocated for Fiscal Year 2008. As a result, the
fugitive alien population has plummeted by more than 35,000. Fugitive
Operations Teams made more than 30,000 arrests in 2007, nearly doubling
Fiscal Year 2006 arrests.
* ICE continues to increase worksite enforcement operations. In Fiscal Year
2007, ICE made 863 criminal arrests and 4,077 administrative arrests for a
total of 4,940 arrests.
* In Fiscal Year 2007, DHS obtained more than $30 million in criminal fines,
restitutions and civil judgments as a result of worksite enforcement.
E-Verify
* E-Verify is a free and simple to use Web-based system that electronically
verifies the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. For more
information on E-Verify visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
* E-Verify works by allowing participating employers to electronically
compare employee information taken from the Form I-9 (the paper based
employee eligibility verification form used for all new hires) against more
than 425 million records in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA)
database and more than 60 million records in DHS immigration databases.
Results are returned within seconds.
* Currently, more than 54,000 employers in every state are enrolled in E-
Verify and, on average, the program increases by about 1,000 new
employers each week. The system is currently capable of handling up to 25
million inquiries a year.
No-Match Letters
* DHS issued a regulation earlier last year which outlines specific steps an
employer should take if they receive a “no-match” letter from the SSA
informing them they have an employee whose name and Social Security
Number do not match the government records.
* The regulation sets forth clear guidance for businesses to comply with “no-
match” notices and provides a safe harbor for employers who follow the
guidance and perform due diligence so they are not found in violation of
their legal obligations.
* The implementation of this regulation has been delayed to lawsuits filed
by the ACLU and U.S. Chamber of Commerce preventing DHS from issuing
“no-match” letters.
ENMU Seeks Entries for New Film Festival
PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University is accepting short film entries
through March 21 for the first High Plains Film Festival.
A judging panel of award-winning actors, directors and screenwriters will
award six $500 prizes. Winning entries will be screened May 4 in Portales,
at a location to be announced.
Filmmakers may enter animated, dramatic and documentary/experimental
works that are no longer than 10 minutes. The contest includes a pre-
college division for students through 12th grade and a college-plus division
for all others. Entries must not have won awards previously in a juried
competition.
Judges include actress Joan Leslie, who appeared with Humphrey Bogart in
"High Sierra," with James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and with Gary
Cooper in "Sergeant York."
Another panelist is screenwriter Diana Ossana, who collaborated with Larry
McMurtry on "Brokeback Mountain," which won both an Oscar and a
Golden Globe for Best Screenplay in 2005.
Jack Sholder, an Emmy and Grand Prix award-winning editor and director,
leads the Motion Picture and Television Program at Western Carolina
University.
The film festival celebrates ENMU's Digital Cinema Arts program,
established in 2006, and New Mexico's growing film industry, said Michael
Sitton, dean of ENMU's College of Fine Arts.
For entry forms and additional information, check the festival Web site at
www.enmu.edu/filmfest or call 575.562.2373.
Entries must be received by March 21. Entry fees are $20 in the pre-
college division and $30 for the college-plus division. Submit four DVD
copies of each entry, playable on a standard DVD player, to High Plains
Film Festival, College of Fine Arts, ENMU Station 16, Music Building, Room
113, 1500 S. Avenue K, Portales, NM, 88130.
ARTESIA - The Artesia municipal election held Tuesday brought back a
mixed bag of results, with an upset, a landslide and a close call!
Municipal Judge Kaye Kiper retained her seat with a total of 775 votes over
challenger Rickey Kelley's even 200. Kiper garnered 217 votes in District
1, 98 in District 2, 320 in District 3, 199 in District 4 and 158 absentee/early
votes. Kelley's numbers were 61, 41, 42, 34 and 22.
In District 1, former city councilor Manuel Barragan won in an upset over
incumbent Judy Stewart by a margin of 30 votes. Barragan received 159
election day votes and 9 absentee/early votes, while Stewart had 148
supporters showing up Tuesday and 12 absentee/early ballots cast.
In District 2, Luis Florez ran unopposed, accumulating 123 in person and
25 absentee/early votes for a total of 148.
District 3 had two new hopefuls and no incumbent running. In a very close
election day vote, J. B. Smith edged out Jeffrey Youtsey 182 to 179. The
absentee/early votes in District 3 became very important in determining
Smith the winner, with 64 votes to Youtsey's 28. Totals for District 3 were
246 for Smith and 207 for Youtsey.
Incumbent George Holmes ran unopposed, racking up 201 Tuesday votes
and 38 absentee/early for a total of 239.
The numbers are unofficial until certified on Thursday at 2 p.m., according
to City Clerk Aubrey Hobson.
Barragan and Smith will be sworn in to office at the next city council
meeting, scheduled for March 11th.
Domenici raises questions about "virtual" border fence
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Tuesday inquired whether
the Department of Homeland Security will alter its plans for a “virtual” fence
to help secure U.S. borders in light it announcement of a three-year delay
before the first phase of the project is deployed.
Domenici serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations
Subcommittee that today held a hearing on the DHS budget request for
FY2009, which initially recommended $775 million for overall border
fencing, infrastructure and border security technology.
An initial 100 miles of a “virtual fence” was to have been put in place in
Arizona and near El Paso by the end of 2008. DHS has moved that goal
back to 2011 due to software and other problems. Using technologically
advanced sensors, cameras and radar, the virtual fence has been planned
to complement 700 miles of actual fencing and vehicle barriers on the
Southwest border.
“I was concerned and dismayed to read last week that plans to build a
virtual border fence are being scaled back and delayed for years. We must
get control of our borders, and these problems, on top of the failure of the
America’s Shield Initiative, are unacceptable,” Domenici said.
“We have been counting on the use of high-tech devices to help control
illegal crossings in the United States, and the Homeland Security
Department should be ready to answer how it is going to move forward after
this significant setback,” he said.
Domenici has asked DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff what actions his
department is taking to quickly address the problems discovered with the
virtual fence, and whether its FY2009 budget is sufficient to rectify the
problems. In addition, Domenici asked whether DHS might revise its budget
request to provide more funding for actual border fencing because of the
expected delay in deploying an effective “virtual fence.”
Domenici has supported the authorization and funding for 700 miles of
double-layered fencing at specified locations along the almost 2,000-mile
Southwest border—including fencing and vehicle barrier installation in
southern New Mexico.
ENMU-R hosts pilot safety meeting
ROSWELL - The Aviation Maintenance Technology staff at ENMU-Roswell
will facilitate the March Safety Seminar for the New Mexico Pilots
Association (NMPA) on Saturday, March 8. The meeting will be held from 10:
00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the ENMU-Roswell Aviation Maintenance
Technology Center, Room 106, 12 W. Challenger St. on the Roswell
International Air Center.
Ralph Barger, Aviation Maintenance Technology instructor, will present the
topic “So You Want to Get Your Hands Dirty?” Barger will discuss FAR Part
43 owner/operator authorized preventive maintenance procedures. Ron
Keller, FAASTeam Rep., will discuss NAS equipment and how it operates. A
pizza lunch will follow the seminar, courtesy of NMPA. For more information,
contact Keller at (505)222-3062 or radarpapa182@yahoo.com.
With a membership of more than 200, the NMPA offers a monthly fly-in FAA
WINGS safety seminar every month (except December) at various New
Mexico airports.
Border Patrol fact sheet released
Each day at America’s ports of entry CBP officers inspect more than 1.1
million travelers, including 340,000 vehicles and over 85,000 shipments of
goods approved for entry; process more than 70,000 truck, rail and sea
containers; collect more than $88 million in fees, duties, and tariffs; seize
more than 5,500 pounds in illegal narcotics; and intercept more than 4,400
agricultural items and pests at ports of entry.
Securing the Border
* DHS has completed more than 167 miles of pedestrian fence and 134
miles of vehicle fence on the southwest border, for a total of approximately
302 miles.
* We are on track to have 670 miles of total pedestrian fence and vehicle
fence by the end of 2008.
* The Border Patrol now has more than 15,000 agents and by the end of
this year we will have more than 18,300 agents. This doubles the size of the
Border Patrol over the FY 2001 level.
* We are committed to using technology along the border in connection with
tactical infrastructure, where Border Patrol deems necessary. Some
technology currently used includes: unattended ground sensors, truck-
mounted mobile surveillance systems, remote video surveillance systems,
unmanned aerial systems, and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft to detect,
classify, track and respond to illegal border crossings.
* The National Guard continues to support the Border Patrol under
Operation Jump Start. This partnership has been extremely productive as
we work to the build the fence and train Border Patrol agents.
* DHS saw a more than 20 percent reduction in apprehensions of illegal
aliens at the southern border in Fiscal Year 2007. This is an indication that
there are fewer attempts to cross the border illegally.
Interior Enforcement
* In Fiscal Year 2007, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
arrested 3,563 gang members and their associates. This includes 1,489
criminal arrests.
* Under Operation Community Shield ICE has arrested more than 8,000
members and associates of approximately 700 different gangs. Of those
apprehended, 2,444 have been charged criminally and 5,211 have been
charged with immigration violations and processed for removal.
* Over a three month period last summer ICE arrested more than 1,300
violent street gang members and associates in 23 cities across 19 states.
* ICE has expanded its Criminal Alien Program to identify incarcerated
criminal aliens. In Fiscal Year 2007, ICE identified for removal more than
164,000 criminals who were incarcerated in federal, state and local facilities.
* ICE has increased its fugitive operations teams from 15 in 2005 to 75
today with an additional 29 allocated for Fiscal Year 2008. As a result, the
fugitive alien population has plummeted by more than 35,000. Fugitive
Operations Teams made more than 30,000 arrests in 2007, nearly doubling
Fiscal Year 2006 arrests.
* ICE continues to increase worksite enforcement operations. In Fiscal Year
2007, ICE made 863 criminal arrests and 4,077 administrative arrests for a
total of 4,940 arrests.
* In Fiscal Year 2007, DHS obtained more than $30 million in criminal fines,
restitutions and civil judgments as a result of worksite enforcement.
E-Verify
* E-Verify is a free and simple to use Web-based system that electronically
verifies the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. For more
information on E-Verify visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
* E-Verify works by allowing participating employers to electronically
compare employee information taken from the Form I-9 (the paper based
employee eligibility verification form used for all new hires) against more
than 425 million records in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA)
database and more than 60 million records in DHS immigration databases.
Results are returned within seconds.
* Currently, more than 54,000 employers in every state are enrolled in E-
Verify and, on average, the program increases by about 1,000 new
employers each week. The system is currently capable of handling up to 25
million inquiries a year.
No-Match Letters
* DHS issued a regulation earlier last year which outlines specific steps an
employer should take if they receive a “no-match” letter from the SSA
informing them they have an employee whose name and Social Security
Number do not match the government records.
* The regulation sets forth clear guidance for businesses to comply with “no-
match” notices and provides a safe harbor for employers who follow the
guidance and perform due diligence so they are not found in violation of
their legal obligations.
* The implementation of this regulation has been delayed to lawsuits filed
by the ACLU and U.S. Chamber of Commerce preventing DHS from issuing
“no-match” letters.
ENMU Seeks Entries for New Film Festival
PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University is accepting short film entries
through March 21 for the first High Plains Film Festival.
A judging panel of award-winning actors, directors and screenwriters will
award six $500 prizes. Winning entries will be screened May 4 in Portales,
at a location to be announced.
Filmmakers may enter animated, dramatic and documentary/experimental
works that are no longer than 10 minutes. The contest includes a pre-
college division for students through 12th grade and a college-plus division
for all others. Entries must not have won awards previously in a juried
competition.
Judges include actress Joan Leslie, who appeared with Humphrey Bogart in
"High Sierra," with James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and with Gary
Cooper in "Sergeant York."
Another panelist is screenwriter Diana Ossana, who collaborated with Larry
McMurtry on "Brokeback Mountain," which won both an Oscar and a
Golden Globe for Best Screenplay in 2005.
Jack Sholder, an Emmy and Grand Prix award-winning editor and director,
leads the Motion Picture and Television Program at Western Carolina
University.
The film festival celebrates ENMU's Digital Cinema Arts program,
established in 2006, and New Mexico's growing film industry, said Michael
Sitton, dean of ENMU's College of Fine Arts.
For entry forms and additional information, check the festival Web site at
www.enmu.edu/filmfest or call 575.562.2373.
Entries must be received by March 21. Entry fees are $20 in the pre-
college division and $30 for the college-plus division. Submit four DVD
copies of each entry, playable on a standard DVD player, to High Plains
Film Festival, College of Fine Arts, ENMU Station 16, Music Building, Room
113, 1500 S. Avenue K, Portales, NM, 88130.
Leaping for Learning fundraiser
PORTALES—ENMU Women is hosting an
evening of dining and a silent auction from 6:30–
8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 to raise money
for scholarships.
The annual Lovers for Learning fundraiser is
titled Leaping for Learning this year in honor of
the leap year, and promises delicious food
catered by Roosevelt General Hospital and
quality auction items such as jewelry, paintings,
quilts, etc. The event will be at the Presbyterian
Campus Ministry House, 1118 West University,
in Portales (on the corner across from the
Administration Building parking lot and Baptist
Student Union Building).
Place your reservations now with Geralyn Million
at 575.562.2187 or 575.359.0745 before
Wednesday, March 5. Tickets are $20 per
person with all proceeds going to ENMU-Women
scholarships. You may have your choice of
either beef, chicken or vegetarian meal.
Expanded GI benefits on the table
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici
Friday cosponsored legislation to expand GI Bill
benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Domenici, a member of the Senate Defense
Appropriations Committee, has agreed to
cosponsor a revised Post-9/11 Veterans
Educational Assistance Act, which was altered
to gain broader bipartisan support. The
changes are expected to help move the bill from
the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“I hope this version of a bill to improve the GI Bill
can now move forward. These changes are
intended to ensure that our most recent
veterans can benefit from the GI Bill while still
addressing concerns about its effect on the
budget and force retention,” Domenici said.
The new legislation, sponsored by Virginia
Senators John Warner and Jim Webb, covers
veterans who have served after Sept. 11, 2001,
and offers them educational benefits equal to
the highest tuition rate of a public college or
university in their state. It also creates a way for
the government to provide a one-to-one match
to contributions from private schools, which tend
to have higher tuition rates. The bill also offers
a housing stipend based on geographic areas.
The benefits offered under this new bill would
be commensurate with the benefits that World
War II veterans received.
The initial version of this bill (S.22) introduced in
January 2007—which offered full tuition, room
and board at any school—incurred opposition
by the Pentagon.
The legislation has been endorsed by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), The
American Legion, the Military Officers’
Association of America (MOAA), Vietnam
Veterans of America (VVA), the Air Force
Sergeants Association (AFSA), the Enlisted
Association of the National Guard of the United
States (EANGUS), the American Association of
Community Colleges (AACC), and the National
Association of State Universities and Land
Grant Colleges (NASULGC).
In January, Domenici cosponsored another GI
Bill reform that would allow U.S. military
personnel to share their federal GI Bill
education benefits with their family. The GI Bill
Assistance Transferability Act of 2008 (S.2575),
authored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-
Texas), would allow men and women in uniform
to transfer unused GI Bill educational funds to
their spouses or children. The measure would
strike restrictions in current law that limit the
ability of service members to transfer unused
portions of this benefit.
ArtesiaParc lot reservations coming
Four new “tabs” are available at the ArtesiaParc
web-site, according to developer Tucker
Overstreet.
* Artesia Parc HOA … which will include
quarterly news letters and a “Homeowner’s Blog”
* Community Restrictions …. The CCR’s for
Artesia Parc
* Live Web-Cams… for Residents (Police and
Emergency Personnel) Only
* Homes for Resale… When you “resell” your
home, all Homes that are “On The Market” can
be listed here.
Don’t forget to view the “NEW” Hamilton (single
story) and the “NEW” Walker (2 story) plans.
"We will be taking “Lot Reservations” beginning
the first week in March. A $2,000 lot deposit,
will allow a “Purchaser” to reserve a particular
home … say for 44 Dogwood Court … and give
you a “First Right of Refusal” to, choose a
model home and amenities that meet your
needs and then to enter into a Purchase
Contract with ParcHomes within 3 business
days," explained Overstreet.
"When we receive interest from another “Bona
Fide 2nd Purchaser” of that same lot and you
have not entered into a contract within that
period, ParcHomes will fully refund your
deposit. For more information, please feel free
to call us at 575.736.3600.
Check out ArtesiaParc on our links page or go
directly to www.ArtesiaParc.com.
BLM Shuts Down Helium Enrichment
Plant for Maintenance
AMARILLO - The BLM’s Crude Helium
Enrichment Unit (CHEU) north of Amarillo,
Texas, will shut down for maintenance of critical
process items and replacement of a key
component at the plant from February 29
through March 14, 2008.
During this time the BLM will restrict deliveries of
crude helium gas to private sector refiners to
4.4 million cubic feet of helium per day
(mcf/day). Under normal operating conditions,
the BLM supplies refiners with 6 mcf/day.
Unrefined helium from the adjacent federal
helium reserve – the only underground helium
storage reservoir in the world – supplies about
45 percent of total U.S. helium needs and a
third of worldwide demand.
The temporary shutdown could potentially
exacerbate a helium supply imbalance that
began to affect industry in the fall of 2006 due
to increased worldwide demand for the gas.
However, the BLM has coordinated the plant’s
shutdown with the refiners, who have made
appropriate preparations.
“Doing this maintenance now is optimal in terms
of minimizing impacts of the shutdown,” said
Leslie Theiss, manager of the BLM’s Helium
Operations Office in Amarillo. “Demand for
helium has been somewhat depressed over the
holiday season and is just beginning to ramp
up.”
Throughout the ongoing 18-month period of
tight supply, the BLM has worked with industry
to ensure a consistent supply of helium. The
BLM’s Amarillo plant operated for a total of 350
days in 2007, exceeding industry norms,
supplying the market with 2.1 billion cubic feet
(bcf) of helium.
PORTALES—ENMU Women is hosting an
evening of dining and a silent auction from 6:30–
8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 to raise money
for scholarships.
The annual Lovers for Learning fundraiser is
titled Leaping for Learning this year in honor of
the leap year, and promises delicious food
catered by Roosevelt General Hospital and
quality auction items such as jewelry, paintings,
quilts, etc. The event will be at the Presbyterian
Campus Ministry House, 1118 West University,
in Portales (on the corner across from the
Administration Building parking lot and Baptist
Student Union Building).
Place your reservations now with Geralyn Million
at 575.562.2187 or 575.359.0745 before
Wednesday, March 5. Tickets are $20 per
person with all proceeds going to ENMU-Women
scholarships. You may have your choice of
either beef, chicken or vegetarian meal.
Expanded GI benefits on the table
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici
Friday cosponsored legislation to expand GI Bill
benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Domenici, a member of the Senate Defense
Appropriations Committee, has agreed to
cosponsor a revised Post-9/11 Veterans
Educational Assistance Act, which was altered
to gain broader bipartisan support. The
changes are expected to help move the bill from
the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“I hope this version of a bill to improve the GI Bill
can now move forward. These changes are
intended to ensure that our most recent
veterans can benefit from the GI Bill while still
addressing concerns about its effect on the
budget and force retention,” Domenici said.
The new legislation, sponsored by Virginia
Senators John Warner and Jim Webb, covers
veterans who have served after Sept. 11, 2001,
and offers them educational benefits equal to
the highest tuition rate of a public college or
university in their state. It also creates a way for
the government to provide a one-to-one match
to contributions from private schools, which tend
to have higher tuition rates. The bill also offers
a housing stipend based on geographic areas.
The benefits offered under this new bill would
be commensurate with the benefits that World
War II veterans received.
The initial version of this bill (S.22) introduced in
January 2007—which offered full tuition, room
and board at any school—incurred opposition
by the Pentagon.
The legislation has been endorsed by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), The
American Legion, the Military Officers’
Association of America (MOAA), Vietnam
Veterans of America (VVA), the Air Force
Sergeants Association (AFSA), the Enlisted
Association of the National Guard of the United
States (EANGUS), the American Association of
Community Colleges (AACC), and the National
Association of State Universities and Land
Grant Colleges (NASULGC).
In January, Domenici cosponsored another GI
Bill reform that would allow U.S. military
personnel to share their federal GI Bill
education benefits with their family. The GI Bill
Assistance Transferability Act of 2008 (S.2575),
authored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-
Texas), would allow men and women in uniform
to transfer unused GI Bill educational funds to
their spouses or children. The measure would
strike restrictions in current law that limit the
ability of service members to transfer unused
portions of this benefit.
ArtesiaParc lot reservations coming
Four new “tabs” are available at the ArtesiaParc
web-site, according to developer Tucker
Overstreet.
* Artesia Parc HOA … which will include
quarterly news letters and a “Homeowner’s Blog”
* Community Restrictions …. The CCR’s for
Artesia Parc
* Live Web-Cams… for Residents (Police and
Emergency Personnel) Only
* Homes for Resale… When you “resell” your
home, all Homes that are “On The Market” can
be listed here.
Don’t forget to view the “NEW” Hamilton (single
story) and the “NEW” Walker (2 story) plans.
"We will be taking “Lot Reservations” beginning
the first week in March. A $2,000 lot deposit,
will allow a “Purchaser” to reserve a particular
home … say for 44 Dogwood Court … and give
you a “First Right of Refusal” to, choose a
model home and amenities that meet your
needs and then to enter into a Purchase
Contract with ParcHomes within 3 business
days," explained Overstreet.
"When we receive interest from another “Bona
Fide 2nd Purchaser” of that same lot and you
have not entered into a contract within that
period, ParcHomes will fully refund your
deposit. For more information, please feel free
to call us at 575.736.3600.
Check out ArtesiaParc on our links page or go
directly to www.ArtesiaParc.com.
BLM Shuts Down Helium Enrichment
Plant for Maintenance
AMARILLO - The BLM’s Crude Helium
Enrichment Unit (CHEU) north of Amarillo,
Texas, will shut down for maintenance of critical
process items and replacement of a key
component at the plant from February 29
through March 14, 2008.
During this time the BLM will restrict deliveries of
crude helium gas to private sector refiners to
4.4 million cubic feet of helium per day
(mcf/day). Under normal operating conditions,
the BLM supplies refiners with 6 mcf/day.
Unrefined helium from the adjacent federal
helium reserve – the only underground helium
storage reservoir in the world – supplies about
45 percent of total U.S. helium needs and a
third of worldwide demand.
The temporary shutdown could potentially
exacerbate a helium supply imbalance that
began to affect industry in the fall of 2006 due
to increased worldwide demand for the gas.
However, the BLM has coordinated the plant’s
shutdown with the refiners, who have made
appropriate preparations.
“Doing this maintenance now is optimal in terms
of minimizing impacts of the shutdown,” said
Leslie Theiss, manager of the BLM’s Helium
Operations Office in Amarillo. “Demand for
helium has been somewhat depressed over the
holiday season and is just beginning to ramp
up.”
Throughout the ongoing 18-month period of
tight supply, the BLM has worked with industry
to ensure a consistent supply of helium. The
BLM’s Amarillo plant operated for a total of 350
days in 2007, exceeding industry norms,
supplying the market with 2.1 billion cubic feet
(bcf) of helium.