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NEWS:
Volume 3,  Number 49
April 10, 2008
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Special weather information
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
       THE WEATHER BOX
www.eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com

      CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER conditions
expected today and this evening for
southeastern New Mexico and much of West
Texas as very dry air, very windy conditions
and
EXTREME FIRE DANGER combine.
      A
RED FLAG WARNING is in today for
southeastern New Mexico and all of West
Texas, except the eastern Permian Basin
where heavy rain fell last night.    
      Sustained
HIGH WINDS are possible
across the area.  The Guadalupe Mountains
could experience gusts to 90 mph or more.  
      
WIND ADVISORY CONDITIONS are
expected across the central Permian Basin,
most of the Trans Pecos, the Marfa Plateau
and the Big Bend with sustained wind speeds
of 25 to 35 mph and gusts of 50 mph or more.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph
increasing to between 35 and 40 mph. Winds
could gust as high as 55 mph.
      
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around
43. Northwest wind between 15 and 25 mph,
with gusts as high as 35 mph.
      
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Northwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with
gusts as high as 30 mph.
      
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low
around 41. North wind between 5 and 15 mph,
with gusts as high as 20 mph.
      
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
      
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low
around 40.
      
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 79.
      
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low
around 44.
      
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
      
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low
around 46.
      
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near
85.
      
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low
around 48.
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.
Road closure for construction scheduled
ARTESIA - Starting Monday April 14, 2008 the east bound lanes of US 82
(Main Street) will be closed west of 1st Street to Freeman.  Traffic will be
allowed to travel in each direction with one lane of traffic open in the
east bound direction on US 82 and two lanes of traffic open in the west
bound direction on US 82.  

The road closure will last approximately 6 weeks.  The closure is necessary
for the continuation of the City of Artesia Sewer Main Replacement Project.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rachel Bustos, P.E.,
Executive Vice President, BURN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. at
505.526.4421.

Motorists are urged to use caution in this and other construction areas, to
seek alternate routes when possible and to remember that traffic fines are
doubled in construction zones.

Pearce protests to preserve ranchers' rights
WASHINGTON – Wednesday, Congressman Steve Pearce heavily
defended the New Mexico economy and protected the rights of ranchers in
western states against an enormous land grab.  During debate over the
creation of the National Conservation Landscape System, Pearce offered
an amendment that preserves grazing rights on land that would come under
this new designation.  The amendment passed 214 - 207.  If it had failed,
much of the land included in the NLCS could have been closed to ranching.

"Our ranching communities dodged a bullet today," said Pearce
immediately after the vote. "The economies of western states depend on
the use of public lands and we can't simply shut it off.  It would be
devastating."

Though Pearce ultimately voted against the overall bill, the addition of the
Pearce amendment remains a solid victory for New Mexico and western
state economies.  The Pearce Amendment was endorsed by the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the New Mexico Cattle Growers
Association.

"In New Mexico and across the West, our ranchers are our real
conservationists and know how to protect the land they depend on
everyday," Pearce said during debate over the amendment.  "Their lands
are often the backstop against growth and they are the voice of preserving
the rural nature of our lands."

"However, in counties in the West that are 30, 18, or 6 percent private land,
our ranchers depend on public land for their operations," he continued.  
"These ranchers bring millions of dollars in economic activity to New Mexico
and the entire West.  In many places, ranching is the single largest
economic driver in our communities."

Council agenda light but productive
ARTESIA - The regularly scheduled meeting of the Artesia City Council was
conducted Tuesday night with a fairly light agenda.

Mayor Phil Burch had two proclamations:  April 13-19, 2008 has been set
aside to recognize two groups of vital but often under-appreciated law
enforcement professionals.  

Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week is designed to highlight Animal
Control and its officers, who risk life and limb by going out into the public
and spending thousands of hours per man and woman doing jobs such as
"saving the lives of the community by rabies prevention, protecting the
welfare of helpless animals and pets that are rescued from injury, disease,
and starvation, and the giving of sanctuary to the millions of homeless
animals that an uneducated society allows to multiply and then literally
throws away on the street with like some much trash," according to the
National Animal Control Association.  

The second week of April also is dedicated to the professionals who serve
both the public and the public safety officers in the field:  National Public
Safety Telecommunicator's Week.  In any emergency, 911 dispatchers are
on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The information they
obtain, the decisions they make to send appropriate personnel to the scene
of any emergency and the service they provide to those people are
oftentimes literally the difference between life and death.  The Eddy County
Dispatch Authority will present plaques to their employees to remind them
of the excellent work they do and the lives they touch.

In other business, council approved hiring Janlee Fanning as a firefighter
trainee and Naomi Flores as part-time museum registrar.  Council also
ratified Mayor Burch’s approval to hire Amanda Genzling and Stephanie
Fierro as temporary lifeguards.  

Stephanie Bretz of Artesia MainStreet asked the council for permission to
use Central Park for the WPA Oilfield Cook-off/Arbor Day Celebration on
April 26th.  The event will raise funds toward restoring Central Park.  Nancy
Jorren, representing West Main Baptist Church, received permission for the
use of Roberts Park on Sunday, August 17, 2008 from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
for Community Day.  Both events promise to be fun-filled and promise good
food and good fellowship.

In a public hearing to approve a home occupation license for Big Heart
Travel World, Councilor Luis Florez spoke on behalf of his wife, Aida, who
will be the business owner.  Besides providing a valuable service to the
community, Mrs. Florez intends to donate a portion of her proceeds toward
cancer research.  Council approved the recommendation to allow the
license.

Fire Chief J. D. Hummingbird requested and received permission to apply
for the Assistance to Firefighters grant in the amount of $826,000.  The
funds, if received, will go toward replacing a 21-year-old pumper truck,
replacing SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) units and acquiring a
mobile air compressor.

Community Development Director Tina Torres presented statistics for the
month of March, which included a continued upward trend in building
permits.  For the first quarter of the year, the value of permitted projects
exceeded $9,750,000.  The value of permitted projects for the entire year
2007 was slightly over $22,000,000.

Torres also invited the council to attend the open house for the
Public
Safety Complex scheduled for April 14th.

ENMU-R provost retiring
ROSWELL - Steven Gamble, president of Eastern New Mexico University,
has announced that Judy Armstrong, provost of ENMU-Roswell, is retiring
according to a news release from ENMU-R.  A national search will be
conducted for her replacement. The search committee will include campus
and community members, as well as members of the Community College
Board. Armstrong has agreed to stay in the position until her successor
begins.

“Dr. Armstrong has done a remarkable job,” said Gamble. “She took over a
campus that was already good and made it even better. She has kept
ENMU-Roswell on the cutting edge of vocational and academic programs
that serve the community, state and nation. Dr. Armstrong has set an
incredibly high standard for her successor. We also greatly appreciate her
willingness to stay on until the next provost is in place.”

“I considered it a privilege to serve the citizens of Chaves County as
Provost of ENMU-Roswell and I appreciate the outstanding team of faculty,
staff, and administrators who worked with me at the Roswell campus to
carry on the fine tradition of superior student learning, extraordinary
customer service, and commitment to economic development,” said
Armstrong. “I appreciate the support that Dr. Gamble has shown to our
campus and to our community. I’m confident that my successor will continue
the progress we’ve made and will lead the campus in exciting new directions
for the benefit of our future students,” she said.

Alva Carter, president of the ENMU Board of Regents, said, “Dr. Armstrong
is going to be very hard to replace. She had her finger on the pulse of the
community, and always knew exactly what they needed from ENMU-Roswell.
She is greatly respected in higher education. She was exactly the right
person at the right time for ENMU-Roswell.”

"We certainly respect Dr. Armstrong\'sdecision and wish her well with her
future life plans and activities,” said Steve Henderson, president of the
ENMU-Roswell Branch Community College Board.“Her leadership and
management skills havedirected ENMU-Roswell for many years and her
dedication and unselfish servicehave benefited Roswell and Chaves
Countyas well. She will be sorely missed as Provost. On behalf of the
Community College Board, we say a big thank you for a job well done! It is
an honor and pleasure to serve as her board."

Since Armstrong became Provost, enrollment reached new highs,
surpassing the 4200 mark in the fall of 2005. More than 150 online courses
are now offered each semester. New partnerships have been forged with a
number of institutions, like New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico
Military Institute, New Mexico State University, and the University of New
Mexico. The campus also partnered with other community and national
entities to bring the International Law Enforcement Academy, New Mexico
Youth Challenge, New Mexico MESA, and the Flight Safety Training Center
to the Roswell campus. Armstrong also worked with Eastern New Mexico
University to bring in additional instructional television courses and new
degree programs to better serve Chaves County residents wanting to
pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees without leaving Roswell.

The campus itself has changed under Armstrong’s guidance, with several
new construction projects completed. These include the Instructional
Technology Center in 2001; the addition to the Aviation Maintenance
Technology Center in 2002; Phase I of the Health Science Center and
Sierra Vista Village in 2007; and the renovation of the Campus Union
Building will be complete next month. Pending projects are construction of a
National Flight Test Center, Phase II of the Health Science Center, and a
planned University Center, which will be included on the statewide general
obligation bond issue this coming November. “I am proud of the growth of
our campus and the wonderful new facilities built to improve instruction and
services to our students, but we could not have accomplished anything
without the continuing support of our community, which has voted to pass
local and statewide bond issues that have helped to fund new
construction,” Armstrong said. “I will forever be grateful for and am humbled
by that support and the faith local residents have had in me during my term
as Provost.”

Armstrong has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in English from
ENMU. She received a doctoral degree in Educational Administration from
UNM in 1995. A graduate of Roswell High School, Armstrong began her
career as an educator in Kansas and later served as assistant director of
the Roswell Public Library. During her 35 year tenure at ENMU-Roswell, she
has worked as an English/Communication instructor, Director of the
Developmental Studies Department, Associate Dean of Planning and
Instructional Support, and Dean of Instruction. She was named Interim
Provost in 2001 and appointed Provost in February of 2002.

Armstrong has served as a consultant-evaluator for the Higher Learning
Commission, one of four regional accrediting organizations in the United
States. She was chosen as the first recipient of the ENMU Chester
Haughawaut Exemplary Human Relations Award. Other awards include the
1996 Amigo Award from the New Mexico Library Association, the Governor’
s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women in 1993, and the Outstanding
Leader Award from the Leadership Roswell Alumni Association in 2006.
She was a recipient of the 2007 Heritage Award from the Historical Society
for Southeast New Mexico.

Armstrong is a member of a number of professional organizations and is
also involved in numerous community organizations, including Altrusa
International of Roswell. Additionally, Armstrong serves on the Roswell
Public Library Board, the Chaves County Community Foundation Board,
and the Chaves County CASA Board.

Mathematics Awareness Month events to be held at NMSU
LAS CRUCES - April is Mathematics Awareness Month and the department
of Mathematical Sciences at New Mexico State University is recognizing the
occasion with three events.

The theme for this year is Mathematics and Voting and speakers will use
mathematics and statistics to attempt to answer the question, “What makes
your vote matter?”

The department is hosting a panel discussion on the topic at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8, in Science Hall Room 107. Nancy Baker, associate
professor of Government, will be moderator. The panel will include
representatives from the departments of Mathematical Sciences,
Psychology, Communication Studies, and Government.

The panel will discuss how procedures for counting votes can influence the
outcome and how polling and predictions in the media influence voter
psychology and results.

Lane. A. Hamaspaandra, professor of computer science at the University of
Rochester, will be guest speaker at lectures at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 16,
and 1:10 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in Science Hall Room 107.

In the first lecture, Hamaspaandra will discuss how computational
complexity, already used to protect commercial Internet transactions, can
be used as a shield to prevent bribery and control of elections. He will show
that an election system developed by the 13th century Catalan mystic
Ramon Llull and the closely related Copeland election system are both
resistant to all standard types of electoral control.

In the second lecture, Hamaspaandra will discuss a voting system created
in 1876 by mathematician Charles Dodgson, who wrote “Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland” under the name Lewis Carroll. Hamaspaandra said the
system has long fascinated political scientists and the algorithm used in the
system never incorrectly declares a non-winner to be the winner.

Mathematics Awareness Month is held each year in April. Its goal is to
increase public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics.

All events are free and open to the public. They are sponsored by the
departments of Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science, Psychology,
Government, Communication Studies and History and the office of the dean
of the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information call (575) 646-
2030.
Fund-raiser for Sammy
There will be a benefit for Capt. Sammy
Martinez on Friday, 11 April 2008 from 11:00 a.
m. to 7:00 p.m.  $6.00 a plate.  Green
enchiladas only, at the Moose Lodge on West
Main.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?  April 10th we
will all be witnesses to GOD'S work among us. It
can only be counted as a miracle that the show
CRYSTAL DARKNESS will be on all the local
channels at the same time, guaranteeing the
easiest way to fight meth in our community.
Simply let the kids do what they do best; watch
TV.  I recently joined the drug coalition and the
thought of trying to reach all the children and
young adults in our schools is overwhelming. In
answer to an unspoken prayer, this program
showing about meth and what it can do to our
community will be aired at 6:30 at night on
Thursday, April 10th. Please mark it on your
calendar. If you and your family miss this
opportunity to learn about the dangers of meth,
no problem; you might have the rest of your life
to regret it. Now is the time to contact your
friends, church, and favorite restaurant to plan
ahead and have a get together to ensure as
many folks here in ARTESIA can watch this as
possible. So grab a bag of popcorn, sit back,
and watch.

Kathy Kolt
Artesia

Editor's' Note:  See below for more information
on the airing of this program.

Crystal Darkness to air in New Mexico
On April 10th, 2008, at 6:30pm, the communities
of New Mexico will fight back against Meth. In a
historic and unprecedented event, a 30-minute
documentary titled 'Crystal Darkness' will air in a
roadblock, which means it will be broadcast
simultaneously on all stations in the area,
among them KOB TV, KRQE TV, WB19, KASA
Fox TV, and Telemundo. A simultaneous
training program will be introduced into all the
schools in New Mexico to educate our children.
Follow up recovery efforts, fundraising, and
awareness raising could make this the most
important community campaign to hit our state
in decades.

For more information about the documentary or
about meth, visit Crystal Darkness on the web at
http://www.crystaldarkness.com/default.asp.

Fund established for local hero
ARTESIA - The Artesia Fire Department
estimates that Capt. Sammy Martinez has
responded to over 10,000 emergencies in his
career.  Now, he is battling cancer and the AFD
is requesting your help.  Please go to our
community events section to read the letter from
Fire Chief J. D. Hummingbird and get
information on how you can help a local hero
who has devoted his life to helping others.

ENMU-R hosting grand opening for CUB
ROSWELL - The public is invited to the Grand
Opening of the newly remodeled ENMU-Roswell
Campus Union Building (CUB) on Tuesday, April
15 at 12:30 p.m. Visitors can tour the new
cafeteria and meeting rooms and sample some
of the food served in the cafeteria. For the past
five months, the CUB has undergone an
extensive make over and is now ready to show
off to the community. The project called for the
renovation of close to 15,000 square feet of
existing space, as well as 4,667 square feet of
new construction. The new cafeteria features a
modern, spacious dining area. The kitchen,
service line, bathrooms, meeting rooms, and
service line were renovated, and the kitchen
equipment was upgraded. A new meeting room
was also added to the CUB. The $3.6 million
project was funded through local general
obligation bond funds.

The cafeteria opened to students and the public
the first week of March and can now seat 311
people, compared to 165 in the old space.
According to Food Services Director, Jim Baird,
the new cafeteria provides a variety of food
options and overall improved service to
students and other customers. Food venues
include the new Cougar Grill (hamburgers and
hot dogs), Crustano’s Sandwich Crafters
(specialty sandwiches), Sunset Strips (chicken
items and fries), Ancho Grill (Mexican), and
Bonici Eatery (Italian). Each of the venues have
warming chutes and signature salads with grab
and go items for less waiting. A full buffet will be
available each day, in addition to a soup and
salad bar and specialty coffee station. The
cafeteria is open to the public, as well as ENMU-
Roswell students and staff.

Dance concert scheduled
PORTALES—The Department of Theater and
Dance at Eastern New Mexico University in
Portales is presenting “Portals to the Soul,” a
student-choreographed dance concert at 7 p.m.
on April 9-12, and 2 p.m. on April 13 in the
University Studio Theatre.

Student choreographers including Rojun
Alexander, Josh Bullard, Sharon Bynum, Megan
Fajardo, Melanie Lucero, Desiree Markham,
Stephanie Miller, Domenic Nickles and Mary Ann
Sullivan will perform their new dance work as
well as guest choreographer and ENMU
alumnus Bryan Hahn and ENMU dance
faculty/artistic director Tomas Tamayo.

The concert will include dance performances
that reflect the spirit, mind, body, heart and
soul. Belly dancing, classical Javanese dance
drama, hip-hop, swing, jazz, theatrical and
modern dance.

Admission is $4

For more information, contact Shirlene Peters at
575.562.2711.

Rockfall protection project to begin on
U.S. 82 in Otero County
The New Mexico Department of Transportation
(NMDOT) in conjunction with AUI, Inc. will begin
rockfall protection project on U.S. 82 between
milepost 3 and milepost 8 in Otero County, April
14.  Single lane closures will be in place while
work is being done.  

Work includes slope stabilization, rock scaling,
retaining wall and wire rope rock retaining
systems.  Work also includes clearing and
grubbing, dirt/rock excavation adjacent to
roadway.  This will cause intermittent
interruptions to traffic flow for the duration of
project.

This $1.7 million project will increase safety
along this corridor.  The project is scheduled to
be complete fall 2008.  Work hours are
tentatively scheduled for Monday through
Thursday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Maximum
efforts will be made to ensure minimized
disruption of normal traffic flow before 8:30 a.m.
and after 4:00 p.m.

AUI, Inc. a New Mexico owned corporation was
awarded the project March 27, 2008.

The NMDOT has made numerous improvements
over the last five to seven years, such as
guardrail upgrades, roadway rehabilitation,
lowered posted speed limits in some sections,
replaced signage, and has made this section of
U.S. 82 a safety corridor (which imposes double
fines for speeding).  The department also
initiated an educational campaign geared
specifically for the trucking community
highlighting the steep grades between
Cloudcroft and Alamogordo.

Motorists are urged to watch for construction
personnel working in the area, observe
temporary detours, and obey posted reduced
speed limit signs throughout the work zone.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation
is committed to the safety of the traveling public
and thanks you for your patience and
assistance while work is taking place.

For further information, please feel free to
contact Mary Ann Wootton, AUI, Inc., at 575-627-
2260 or Manon Arnett, Public Information Officer
for the New Mexico Department of
Transportation District Two, at 575-637-7200.
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