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Price ChangeSpot $98.44 + .67Posted $95.00 + .50Sour $93.05 + .50N. Gas $3.905 + .030
West Texas intermediate
Inside Today
OIL PRICES
Obituaries ...........................2Lottery.................................2Mark the date ....................3Fun & Games ......................5Weather ..............................6Sports ..................................7Classifieds..........................10TV ......................................12
Community News
The Lea RegionalAirport is hosting anAVIATION DAY ANDFLY-IN from 9 a.m. to2 p.m. Saturday.Several types of air-craft will be on displayincluding those inWorld War II, experi-mentals and helicop-ters. SkyDive Hobbswill perform and sev-eral remote controlairplanes will be onhand. Food and drinkswill be available andadmission is free.
Throughout the monthof June, Eunice resi-dents may dumpdebris at the city’srodeo grounds atAvenue Q and 11thStreet as part of thecity’s BIANNUALCLEANUP. Residentsare encouraged tobring grass clippings,tree branches, weeds,old furniture or anyunwanted items to theDumpsters. To dumpitems at theDumpsters, bring autility bill or proof ofresidency in Eunice.
ADOPTIONS OF CATSare free this month atthe Hobbs AnimalAdoption Center.
NNeewwss--SSuunnSince 1927 � No. 150 50 cents
JAL � EUNICE � HOBBS � LOVINGTON � TATUM � SEMINOLE � DENVER CITY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013
KIMBERLY RYAN/NEWS-SUN
Summer recess programChildren play under a parachute at Summer Recess located at Highland Middle School. More than 200 chil-dren attend the free recess program that offers free breakfast and lunch. Recess hours are Monday throughFriday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
REBECCALONG
226 W. VegaHobbs, NM
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GABRIELA MUÑOZNEWS-SUN
Tuesday the Hobbs school district’s facility assess-ment community team recommended the districtbond $25 million for the construction of a new ele-mentary school and the reconstruction ofBroadmoor Elementary School.
The FACT committee made the recommendation atthe Hobbs School Board meeting Tuesday evening.
Cost for a new elementary with a 450-studentcapacity — built where the Hobbs City Park is locat-ed — would be $8 million. The building of a newBroadmoor at a 400-student capacity would be $7million.
Those are out-of-pocket, bonded expenses, as theNew Mexico Public School Facilities Authority willpay 51 percent of the cost of both projects, superin-tendent TJ Parks said.
Without the PSFA assistance, the cost would be $16million for the new elementary and approximately$14 million for the reconstruction of Broadmoor.
The additional $10 million of the bond proposalwould be used for security corridors in 14 schoolsas well as heating, ventilation and air-conditioningupgrades and includes a 10 percent contingency.
The school board is expected to vote at the July 23board meeting on whether or not to put the bondissue to a vote by taxpayers in the district.
$25 million school bond eyed
DENISE MARQUEZNEWS-SUN
Improvements for water linesat the intersection of Dal Pasoand Bender were approved at theJune 11 Hobbs City Commissionmeeting.
A number of water valves,installed in 1957 and 1962, are notoperable. The eight- to ten-feetdeep, inoperable valves areplanned to be removed andreplaced with working valves inmore accessible locations.
The Northwest portion of theintersection is planned to beclosed during construction.
“We can’t open and shut themand, with this coming roadwayproject we don’t want to have togo back in there later, so we’drather go investigate and findout exactly what’s down thereand remove them,” ToddRandall, city engineer, said.
Commissioners were con-cerned with how accessible busi-nesses would be during the proj-ect and keeping business ownersinformed of the project’sprogress. Work is expected tobegin in 30-40 days.
“We certainly want to keepeveryone advised as to the clo-sure and time frames and I thinkthat was the biggest problemwhen we did the BenderProject,” commissioner JohnBoyd said. “I think everyone iswilling to work with us forimprovements, to make our citya better place, but we certainlyneed to be aware of their situa-
Waterline workapproved
WingsworkA backhoedigs a utilitiesline ditch forBuffalo WildWings, 1124Joe HarveyBoulevard. Thenew $600,000eatery isslated to beconstructedwithin thenext 120 days.
KIMBERLY RYANNEWS-SUN
GABRIELA MUÑOZNEWS-SUN
A group of Lovington communitymembers and parents gathered lastweek to discuss the needs outlined bya five-year facility master plan of theLovington Municipal School district.
Members of the group will form acommittee, which will tour schoolcampuses next month to review thetop needs outlined by the five-year
facility master plan created byArchitectural Research ConsultantsInc. The facility master plan address-es several issues including studentpopulation growth, student safetyand building sustainability.
“We will tour the district so thatthese committee members can get avisual and a feel for the need,” saidLMS superintendent Darin Manes.
School board member Greg Maxie
said the tours will allow members tosee first-hand what the district hasbeen forced to do to deal with theoverpopulation such as using storagerooms for occupational therapy andspeech therapy classes.
“When we had the parents and sev-eral community members meet, whatbecame evident was none of them
Panel to assess Lovington school needs
BETH HAHNNEWS-SUN
For the second time in recentmemory, the Hobbs Chamber ofCommerce will give a lifetimeachievement award during itsannual banquet.
Chamber executive Grant Taylorsaid the lifetime achievementaward, though, will not be a regularpart of the annual banquet.
“We will only give one out whenthere is someone who trulydeserves it,” said Taylor, who wouldnot divulge the recipient’s identity.
The Chamber of Commerce’sannual awards banquet is expectedto be held Thursday beginning withcocktails at 5:30 p.m. in theHorseman’s Annex at Zia ParkRacetrack and Black Gold Casino.
Secretary-designate David Martinof the state Energy, Mineral andNatural Resources Department isscheduled to be the keynote speak-er. Also scheduled to deliverremarks is New Mexico Lt. Gov.John Sanchez.
Martin’s career includes extensiveexperience in the field of energy asan engineer and as a policy coordi-nator between the state of NewMexico and the U.S. Department ofEnergy.
Prior to his appointment as cabi-net secretary at the New MexicoEnvironment Department, Martinserved as an adjunct associate pro-fessor at the New Mexico Instituteof Mining and Technology.
Lifetime achievementaward to be presented
SEE LOVINGTON, Page 4
� CITY OF HOBBS
CHAMBER BANQUET
SEE CHAMBER, Page 4
SEE CITY, Page 4
� A panel that has studied schoolneeds recommends Hobbs seeka $25 million bond measure
Hobbs bond elements� New elementary school ($8 million)
� Reconstruction of Broadmoor ($7 million)
� Security corridors in 14 schools
� Air conditioning upgrades
SEE BOND, Page 3
If the $25 million bond propos-al passes, homeowners withproperty valued at $150,000 willsee a $50 a year property taxincrease which would be $4.17 amonth. Parks said 82 percent ofthe $25 million will come fromoil and gas operations in andaround Hobbs.
Earlier this year, the FACTcommittee was created toreview past, present and futureenrollment numbers, tourschool campuses, examine capi-tal improvement projects andidentify the security concernsat each campus. The committeewas made up of more than 20community members.
After four months and morethan 60 hours of assessmentand discussion, the committeereached a consensus.
At Tuesday’s meeting, FACTmembers Barry Peters andKristy Mosley were on hand topresent the team’s recommen-dations to the board.
“The first priority was toaddress the overcrowding,”Peters said to the board. “Welooked at the numbers and welooked a lot of scenarios. Wespent a lot of time talking aboutwhere the optimum location
would be. ... We decided to pur-sue the city park as a locationfor the building of that school.”
Peters said the committee feltthe city park was a prime loca-tion to build a new elementaryschool as it would address morethan one issue.
“This scenario accomplishes alot of things,” Peters said. “Itdoes address growth. It doesaddress overcrowding issue but,it also means we can come clos-er to having neighborhoodschools rather than having stu-dents bused or be exposed todangerous situations like cross-ing Dal Paso to get to school.”
During the 2012-13, nine ele-mentary schools and one mid-dle school were over capacity.Overcrowding at eight of theelementary schools over capaci-ty would be alleviated due to thelocation of the new elementaryschool.
The district was 240 studentsover capacity at the end of theyear, said director of operationsGene Strickland.
The new elementary schoolwould also house the Nunan-Jenkins Learning Center.
“It’s just wonderful that we areable to move forward and have apermanent place for Nunan-Jenkins,” said board memberPatricia Jones. “It’s a win-win
situation.”Parks said the goal is to have
the new elementary schoolready for the 2014-15 school year.
Since the new Broadmoorbuilding would be constructedon the current playground, stu-dents would be able to continueattending while the new build-ing is constructed.
“Broadmoor would be rebuiltwhere it would trade out in asemester,” Parks said. “At thebeginning of the (spring)semester, they would move tothe new facility. The timelineisn’t that specific.”
Church at Hobbs and Hobbs Gospel Opry Presents...
Friday, June 21st...7:00 pm1600 E. Bender...Info 631-0321
FREE ADMISSION!
LOCAL & REGION 3HOBBS NEWS-SUN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013
T O D AY
Community CoffeeThe Hobbs Police Department
invites the public to a communitycoffee at 7 a.m. at HPD headquar-ters. Enter through the northdoors.
Emergency Services LawCamp
New Mexico Junior College is host-ing an Emergency Services LawCamp from 7:30-noon, June 19-21for youth ages 6-12. The camp willhave presentations from HobbsPolice Department’s SWAT and K-9 divisions. There will be a DWIdriving course, rockwall and a carbash.
T H U R S D AY
Chamber/Jayceesbanquet
The Hobbs Chamber of Commerceannual banquet and HobbsJaycees community awards is
scheduled to take place at 5:30p.m. at the Zia Park Casino Annex.New Mexico EnvironmentSecretary F. David Martin is thekeynote speaker. Tickets are $50per person or get a 10-seat tablefor $450 and can be purchased atthe Hobbs Chamber, 397-3202.
Master Gardenersworkshop
The Lea County Master Gardenersin cooperation with Tierra Realtyof Taos, will be conducting a veg-etable garden workshop utilizingraised planter boxes at 6:30 p.m.at the La Pradera Office andConference room, 1023 E.Glorietta.
F R I D AY
Concert seriesDowntown Sounds Concert Series
sponsored by the LCCA andCenter for the Arts presents Kingsof Classic Rock at 7 p.m. at ShippStreet Plaza. The concert is free ofcharge.
NMJC BoardThe New Mexico Junior College
Board will meet at 3 p.m. in theZia Room of Pannell Library. Thismeeting is open to the public.
Religious concertChurch at Hobbs and Hobbs Gospel
Opry presents The Keffers inConcert, at 7 p.m. at 1600 E.Bender. Admission is free. Formore information, call 631-0321.
LCWN luncheonThe Lea County Women’s Network
luncheon is scheduled for noon atthe Hobbs Municipal SchoolsTraining Center. For more infor-mation, call 631-3958.
Ballet master workshopA free ballet master workshop is
scheduled for June 21-22 for stu-dents going into the second-12thgrades and who are studying bal-let. Classes will be held at MaciolekSchool of Dance, 1849 N. Jefferson.Enrollment deadline is June 18. Formore information, call 393-5880.
Mark the date
BETH HAHNNEWS-SUN
Eunice city officials scaled back plans to givetwo buildings a new look after being deemedtoo expensive.
City councilors approved new plans during aJune 11 meeting. The projects, which includelandscaping at the city’s new Motor VehiclesDivision office and the Community Center, arenow up for bid.
Initial costs topped $200,000. The new, scaled-back plans could cost about $141,000.
City manager Marty Moore said the landscap-ing will include fewer trees and a combinationof drought-tolerant plants, gravel and pavers.
“A lot of it will be (xeriscaped),” he said, refer-ring to the use of native plants and drought-tol-erant species to decrease water use.
Mayor Matt White said the existing lawn atthe Community Center will be reduced to abouthalf its current size.
“We’ll put in some benches and pavers,” hesaid. “We want to keep some of the lawn justbecause we get some kids out there playingsometimes.”
The Community Center often hosts functionsincluding family reunions and wedding recep-tions. White said keeping some of the existinglawn gives residents and other users a place to
gather outside.Other potential changes include a handful of
parking places added to the west side of theCommunity Center.
Moore said the parking will be “more organ-ized.”
“Right now, you have one car park behindanother, behind another and it’s just a pain toget out,” he said. “This will help traffic flow alittle.”
Moore said reducing the number of trees willhelp the landscaping be more drought tolerant.
“We cut the number of trees in half,” he said.“Most of them were taken out for water use.”
Additional improvements include irrigation,a new flag pole, paving and striping theCommunity Center parking lot and new side-walks at both buildings.
The Community Center improvements are themore expensive of the two at about $95,000 andthe MVD improvements will cost about $46,000.
Moore said the completion of both projectsdepends on bids received and weather duringconstruction.
Beth Hahn can be reached at 391-5436 [email protected].
Eunice landscaping plansfor two buildings scaled back
KIMBERLY RYAN/NEWS-SUN
Around and aroundTen-year-old Jayden Herrington spins inside a tube on the playground Monday at DelNorte Park.
TYLER, Texas (AP) —Samuel L. Jackson would havebeen cursing up a storm.
An East Texas man has plead-ed guilty to smuggling snakeson several planes from SouthAmerica to the United States.
During a court hearingWednesday in Tyler, WilliamLamar pleaded guilty to
importing wildlife taken inviolation of foreign law.
Prosecutors say the 63-year-old eco-tourism guide boughtthe seven live snakes in August2012 in a market in Lima, Peruand then smuggled them in hisjacket on flights from Lima toMiami and then to Dallas.
Game wardens seized the
snakes from Lamar’s home inTyler.
Peruvian law prohibits theexportation of wild live ani-mals coming from the forest orjungle region unless theexporter has the proper paper-work.
Lamar faces up to five yearsin prison.
Man pleads guilty to smuggling snakes on planes
Bondfrom PAGE 1
