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Volume 3, Number 25
March 7, 2008
March 7, 2008
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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.eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com Despite below-normal temperatures today, relative humidity will drop to 10 to 15 percent by the afternoon. Since vegetation remains dry and northwest winds are expected to rise to around 15 mph this afternoon, any fires will tend to grow and spread rapidly. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the Guadalupe Mountais for Saturday afternoon. Today: Sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. West wind between 10 and 15 mph becoming calm. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind between 5 and 15 mph. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. |
| 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. |
Bingaman bill bans toy toxins
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman Thursday voted to approve
legislation to protect families from products made from hazardous materials
and help restore confidence in the marketplace. The bill includes a
provision Bingaman cosponsored that would ban a dangerous chemical
found in children's toys.
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission Reform Act would provide the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – the federal agency
responsible regulating the sale and manufacture of consumer products –
with the resources and authority necessary to protect Americans from
unsafe merchandise.
“The most recent string of high-profile recalls of toys has brought to light
the need to strengthen the federal government’s ability to protect its
citizens form dangerous manufactured products. This bill is an important
investment in the safety of the American consumer,” Bingaman said.
Bingaman said he was particularly pleased that the bill contains a provision
he cosponsored to ban children's products or child care articles that
contain phthalates, a synthetic chemical that recent studies have found
may contribute to developmental problems in infants.
The bill does the following:
Strengthen CPSC resources and effectiveness by increasing funding by 50
percent over the next seven years, restoring the Board of Commissioners
to a five member panel (from the current three member panel), increasing
CPSC staff to at least 500 employees by 2013, and streamlining product
safety rulemaking procedures;
Protect children from unsafe products by banning lead in children’s
products, requiring third-party testing and certification of children’s
products, and mandating label tracking for children’s products;
Prevent deadly imports by improving information sharing among relevant
federal, state, local, and foreign agencies, increasing the numbers of CPSC
employees at our nation’s ports, requiring safety certification of products,
and banning the importation of recalled products;
Provide greater penalties for violators and resources for law enforcement
by increasing civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation, creating criminal
penalties of up to five years in jail, authorizing State Attorneys General to
pursue injunctive relief, and extending whistleblower protections to
manufacturers’ employees; and
Enhance recall effectiveness by banning the sale of recalled products,
requiring manufactures and importers to ensure the funding of recalls,
creating an online product safety database, increase public access to recall
information, and enhance CPSC authority to order recalls and other
corrective actions.
Governor green-lights Capital Outlay
SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson signed SFL/SB 471, the Capital
Outlay Bill on Wednesday. Although there were a few vetoes, Eddy County
received approval for a number of projects in Artesia, Carlsbad, Hope &
Loving, including $525,000.00 for the Eddy County Legacy Regional
Treatment Center Construct.
Other approved projects include:
Roswell votes yea for animal shelter, nay for aquatic center
by Dan Parsons for KSVP Radio
ROSWELL - These are the final Numbers for the Roswell Municipal
Election held Tuesday, March 4, 2008.
The city council results:
Ward 1 Bob Maples who ran unopposed received 385 votes
Ward 2 Incumbent Steve Henderson- 914; Challenger Bill Wood 642
Ward 3 Judy Stubbs- 546; Timothy Dominguez- 230
Ward 4 Art Sandoval ran unopposed on the ballot received 533;
Jonathan Rothschild received 16 write in votes
Ward 5 Elena Velasquez who ran unopposed received 337 votes
In the municipal judge’s race:
Incumbent Larry Loy received 2904 votes
Donald J. Ford received 902
In the municipal bonds category:
#1 $2,900,000 of general obligation bonds, to be repaid from property
taxes, for the purpose of replacing, expanding, constructing, equipping and
improving fire stations? 2983 voted for and 1001 voted against
#2 $1,200,000 of general obligation bonds, to be repaid from property
taxes, for the purpose of replacing, constructing, equipping and improving
an animal control center? 3033 voted for and 966 voted against
#3 $7,000,000 of general obligation bonds, to be repaid from property
taxes, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, equipping and improving a
family aquatic recreation center? 1624 voted for and 2344 voted against
There were 4, 035 voters Tuesday. That is only 16.5% of registered voters
in the municipality.
Redford retains seat in Carlsbad
Courtesy of KSVP Radio
CARLSBAD - Incumbent municipal judge David Redford defeated
challengers Mario Salinas and Jessica Moya in Tuesday’s Carlsbad
municipal election. Redford had 57% of the vote. While Salinas had 40%
and Moya had 3%.
Nick Salcido and Wes Carter were unopposed in their city council races
In Ward 2, Lila king had 56% of the vote to Kenny Power's 44%.
In Ward 4, Nate McDonald defeated Regina Ballard, 55% to 45%.
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.
Thursday at 2 p.m., Magistrate Judge Daniel Reyes certified the votes.
More than 5400 voters were eligible to vote in the city election, according to
Assistant City Clerk Lisa C. Johnston. The final tally represents about 23
percent of eligible voters.
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.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman Thursday voted to approve
legislation to protect families from products made from hazardous materials
and help restore confidence in the marketplace. The bill includes a
provision Bingaman cosponsored that would ban a dangerous chemical
found in children's toys.
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission Reform Act would provide the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – the federal agency
responsible regulating the sale and manufacture of consumer products –
with the resources and authority necessary to protect Americans from
unsafe merchandise.
“The most recent string of high-profile recalls of toys has brought to light
the need to strengthen the federal government’s ability to protect its
citizens form dangerous manufactured products. This bill is an important
investment in the safety of the American consumer,” Bingaman said.
Bingaman said he was particularly pleased that the bill contains a provision
he cosponsored to ban children's products or child care articles that
contain phthalates, a synthetic chemical that recent studies have found
may contribute to developmental problems in infants.
The bill does the following:
Strengthen CPSC resources and effectiveness by increasing funding by 50
percent over the next seven years, restoring the Board of Commissioners
to a five member panel (from the current three member panel), increasing
CPSC staff to at least 500 employees by 2013, and streamlining product
safety rulemaking procedures;
Protect children from unsafe products by banning lead in children’s
products, requiring third-party testing and certification of children’s
products, and mandating label tracking for children’s products;
Prevent deadly imports by improving information sharing among relevant
federal, state, local, and foreign agencies, increasing the numbers of CPSC
employees at our nation’s ports, requiring safety certification of products,
and banning the importation of recalled products;
Provide greater penalties for violators and resources for law enforcement
by increasing civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation, creating criminal
penalties of up to five years in jail, authorizing State Attorneys General to
pursue injunctive relief, and extending whistleblower protections to
manufacturers’ employees; and
Enhance recall effectiveness by banning the sale of recalled products,
requiring manufactures and importers to ensure the funding of recalls,
creating an online product safety database, increase public access to recall
information, and enhance CPSC authority to order recalls and other
corrective actions.
Governor green-lights Capital Outlay
SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson signed SFL/SB 471, the Capital
Outlay Bill on Wednesday. Although there were a few vetoes, Eddy County
received approval for a number of projects in Artesia, Carlsbad, Hope &
Loving, including $525,000.00 for the Eddy County Legacy Regional
Treatment Center Construct.
Other approved projects include:
- Artesia Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
- Artesia Water/Wastewater Improvements
- Artesia Ambulance Improvements
- Artesia 2nd & Texas Streetscapes Construct
- Artesia Police Athletic League Equipment Purchase
- Artesia Public Safety Facility Construct
- Artesia Vocational Training Center Building Improvements
- Artesia Hospital Health Clinic Construct
- Artesia Hospital Mammography System
- Artesia Hospital Radiological C-Arm Purchase
- Carlsbad Double Eagle Water Plan
- Carlsbad Solid Waste Transfer Stations
- Carlsbad Battered Family Shelter Improvements
- Carlsbad Beach Bathhouse Improvements
- Carlsbad Halagueno Art Park Improvements
- Carlsbad Industrial Park Improvements
- Carlsbad Shooting Range Improvements
- Carlsbad Street Improvements
- Sunset Gardens Cemetery Improvements
- Carlsbad Reserviors Construct
Roswell votes yea for animal shelter, nay for aquatic center
by Dan Parsons for KSVP Radio
ROSWELL - These are the final Numbers for the Roswell Municipal
Election held Tuesday, March 4, 2008.
The city council results:
Ward 1 Bob Maples who ran unopposed received 385 votes
Ward 2 Incumbent Steve Henderson- 914; Challenger Bill Wood 642
Ward 3 Judy Stubbs- 546; Timothy Dominguez- 230
Ward 4 Art Sandoval ran unopposed on the ballot received 533;
Jonathan Rothschild received 16 write in votes
Ward 5 Elena Velasquez who ran unopposed received 337 votes
In the municipal judge’s race:
Incumbent Larry Loy received 2904 votes
Donald J. Ford received 902
In the municipal bonds category:
#1 $2,900,000 of general obligation bonds, to be repaid from property
taxes, for the purpose of replacing, expanding, constructing, equipping and
improving fire stations? 2983 voted for and 1001 voted against
#2 $1,200,000 of general obligation bonds, to be repaid from property
taxes, for the purpose of replacing, constructing, equipping and improving
an animal control center? 3033 voted for and 966 voted against
#3 $7,000,000 of general obligation bonds, to be repaid from property
taxes, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, equipping and improving a
family aquatic recreation center? 1624 voted for and 2344 voted against
There were 4, 035 voters Tuesday. That is only 16.5% of registered voters
in the municipality.
Redford retains seat in Carlsbad
Courtesy of KSVP Radio
CARLSBAD - Incumbent municipal judge David Redford defeated
challengers Mario Salinas and Jessica Moya in Tuesday’s Carlsbad
municipal election. Redford had 57% of the vote. While Salinas had 40%
and Moya had 3%.
Nick Salcido and Wes Carter were unopposed in their city council races
In Ward 2, Lila king had 56% of the vote to Kenny Power's 44%.
In Ward 4, Nate McDonald defeated Regina Ballard, 55% to 45%.
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.
Thursday at 2 p.m., Magistrate Judge Daniel Reyes certified the votes.
More than 5400 voters were eligible to vote in the city election, according to
Assistant City Clerk Lisa C. Johnston. The final tally represents about 23
percent of eligible voters.
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.
Take Two and Call Me in the Morning
by Sharon Caldwell, Director-Artesia Literacy
Council
Recently my husband underwent surgery. This
has meant many visits to the doctor's office,
medical labs, hospitals, and forms, forms, forms.
There are so many forms; medical history,
medical release, insurance assignment and the
form that states you understand all of the other
forms. All these forms require a lot of reading.
The ability to read doesn't just start or end with
the forms. There is the need to be able to read
the road maps and signs for traveling to the
doctor and hospital. Once you get there you
have to be able to read the direction signs to
find your way around the hospital. This way to
the lab for tests, this way to admissions, this way
to records and billing and around and around
you go.
After surgery you have post-op care form and
you can't forget the prescriptions you will have
to take. Do you know to be able to read and
comprehend the instructions on an aspirin bottle
it requires a functional reading level of 10.0? A
10.0 is the reading level of 10th grade 0 month.
After all this, you have to work with the hospital
to file your insurance. The average insurance
policy tops the list at 12.0!
Do you also know?
* 20% of New Mexicans age 16 years and older
have literacy skills at Level 1, the lowest on a
scale of 1 to 5. These adults are illiterate – they
cannot sign a form, add the amounts on a bank
deposit slip, or locate simple information in a
news article.
* 46% of New Mexicans have literacy skills at
Level II. This means that almost half of New
Mexicans are functionally illiterate, in need of
assistance from Literacy Programs.
New Mexico Coalition for Literacy in part
sponsors 25 volunteer-based Adult Literacy
Programs in New Mexico – Artesia Literacy
Council is one of these 25 programs.
The goals of Artesia Literacy Council is to teach
reading, writing and speaking English to a
functional level; help students with US
citizenship and GED test information,
applications, workplace and everyday survival.
We offer no cost classes that are custom
designed to the needs of each adult student.
Our tutors are caring people, committed to
reducing illiteracy in Artesia and surrounding
towns and are dedicated to achieving this for
each of our students.
If you or you know someone who would benefit
from tutor assistance, please contact us at 748-
9740 or come by 2002 West Grand, Monday–
Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
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.
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.
by Sharon Caldwell, Director-Artesia Literacy
Council
Recently my husband underwent surgery. This
has meant many visits to the doctor's office,
medical labs, hospitals, and forms, forms, forms.
There are so many forms; medical history,
medical release, insurance assignment and the
form that states you understand all of the other
forms. All these forms require a lot of reading.
The ability to read doesn't just start or end with
the forms. There is the need to be able to read
the road maps and signs for traveling to the
doctor and hospital. Once you get there you
have to be able to read the direction signs to
find your way around the hospital. This way to
the lab for tests, this way to admissions, this way
to records and billing and around and around
you go.
After surgery you have post-op care form and
you can't forget the prescriptions you will have
to take. Do you know to be able to read and
comprehend the instructions on an aspirin bottle
it requires a functional reading level of 10.0? A
10.0 is the reading level of 10th grade 0 month.
After all this, you have to work with the hospital
to file your insurance. The average insurance
policy tops the list at 12.0!
Do you also know?
* 20% of New Mexicans age 16 years and older
have literacy skills at Level 1, the lowest on a
scale of 1 to 5. These adults are illiterate – they
cannot sign a form, add the amounts on a bank
deposit slip, or locate simple information in a
news article.
* 46% of New Mexicans have literacy skills at
Level II. This means that almost half of New
Mexicans are functionally illiterate, in need of
assistance from Literacy Programs.
New Mexico Coalition for Literacy in part
sponsors 25 volunteer-based Adult Literacy
Programs in New Mexico – Artesia Literacy
Council is one of these 25 programs.
The goals of Artesia Literacy Council is to teach
reading, writing and speaking English to a
functional level; help students with US
citizenship and GED test information,
applications, workplace and everyday survival.
We offer no cost classes that are custom
designed to the needs of each adult student.
Our tutors are caring people, committed to
reducing illiteracy in Artesia and surrounding
towns and are dedicated to achieving this for
each of our students.
If you or you know someone who would benefit
from tutor assistance, please contact us at 748-
9740 or come by 2002 West Grand, Monday–
Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
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.
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.