Archives for June 2016

A city council committee in Roswell has recommended some perks for the police department.

A resolution would make SWAT members eligible for a monthly stipend of $100.

It would also increase on-call duty pay per month from $25 to $75.

Additionally, officers would have allowances per year for uniforms increase from $800 to $850.

The Roswell Daily Record reports the new benefits would cost the city $30,000 annually.

The resolution appears on the consent agenda for the city council meeting for July 14.

Roswell Police continue investigating Tuesday night’s armed robbery at Subway on North Main Street.

They say a man entered the restaurant and threatened two employees with a gun.

A woman then followed him and took cash from the register.

Both of them left without injuring anyone. Subway did not have any customers at the time this happened.

The search continues for the suspects.

The man accused of setting a Carlsbad hotel on fire has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 36-year-old Travis Hayslip has admitted to destroying the Quality Inn Hotel.

Authorities say he receives two-and-a-half years in prison under the agreement.

Hayslip must also pay $2.4 million in restitution to Choice Hotels.

Authorities believe he started the fire by using a lighter to set a piece of debris on fire in a part of the hotel under construction.

Court has not yet scheduled Hayslip’s sentencing hearing.

NMSU’s regents have approved some benefit changes.

Current employees continue receiving retiree health coverage, but new employees cannot.

For the most part, the sick leave payout upon terminiation or retirement comes to an end.

The annual leave accrual benefit drops from 22 days to 20 for current employees. New ones would have a different schedule.

An animal rescue group has withdrawn a request for a special use permit from Chaves County.

From Forgotten to Forever wanted to run an animal rescue operation north of Roswell so that it could quarantine dogs infected with distemper.

However, a neighbor complained to the sheriff’s office that the operation caused traffic problems and excessive barking.

The property on West Gallina Road at one time had 14 rescued dogs on it.

The owners had 11 dogs of their own on it, too.

Carolyn Drakulich from the group tells the Roswell Daily Record that it no longer needed the operation because most of the dogs had recovered.

Eddy County commissioners have started the process of vacating parts of Kingsnake, Gypsum, Ogden, and Cooksey Ranch roads.

The Current-Argus reports the county would no longer own and maintain these stretches.

Nearby landowners would bear this responsibility instead.

Assistant county manager Kenney Rayroux has described most of the roads receiving recommendations for vacancies as underused and difficult to maintain.

Public works director Ray Romero has identified the cost of maintaining the roads as another concern.

Rayroux has promised more public hearings by the county about potential vacancies of roads.

People from Mexico can now study at NMSU at a discounted tuition rate.

This has resulted from a new program called Descubre, or “discover.”

The board of regents has passed a resolution that reduces tuition for students from Mexico.

The new rate equals about half that out-of-state students pay.

The estimated per semester rate comes out to nearly $4,700 for undergraduate students, and nearly $4,000 for graduate students.

The governor has released television ads to fight DWI and distracted driving.

The new ads focus on the perspective of a surgeon trying to save the life of a mother who a drunk driver has hit.

The governor has also unveiled a new ad to discourage distracted driving.

Additionally, she has announced an increased law enforcement presence on the state’s roads and highways to target drunk driving this summer.

The 100 Days and Nights of Summer safety campaign runs until the end of September.

The Salvation Army of Chaves County has started its annual fan drive.

This initiative provides fans to those who really need them.

The Salvation Army eventually distributes fans locally throughout the summer.

It donated a hundred fans last year.

The drive continues through July 10.

You can make donations at Westlake Ace Hardware on North Main Street in Roswell.

Bootyque emerged as the grand champion in Smokin’ on the Pecos.

4 Legs Up BBQ finished as reserve champion.

Organizer Vickie Grousnick tells the Current-Argus that the event Friday and Saturday brought people to Artesia from as far away as Alabama and Kansas.

David Grousnick says 45 pro teams came to the state barbecue championship on Saturday to compete in chicken, pork ribs, pork, and beef brisket.

The event included smaller competitions, including one for guacamole. 10-8 A won the so-called “Guac’ Off.”