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CNJ staff photo: Kevin Wilson Stanley Bedford is placed in handcuffs after an Albuquerque jury found him guilty on eight charges inluding first-degree murder and kidnapping Kevin Wilson: CNJ Staff Writer A 43-year-old Portales man will face the death penalty in connection with the 2005 deaths of an elderly Portales couple. An Albuquerque jury found Stanley Bedford guilty Thursday on eight charges, including first-degree murder and kidnapping. Jurors will return June 21 to decide whether Bedford should be executed for the...
Ashtrays were no longer on tables at Webb’s Watering Hole Thursday in preparation for a law that goes into effect today. State legislators voted in February to ban smoking in bars, restaurants, stores and workplaces. “We’ve put sand buckets outside, if people do want to smoke,” said Webb’s Watering Hole waitress Ashley Sink. The law imposes a $100 fine for the first violation, $200 for a second violation and $500 for a third violation within a year. Exceptions include private clubs, cigar bars, retail tobacco stores, h... Full story
Officials will not pursue criminal charges against a teen who admitted to being in an altercation in April that has hospitalized Eric Burrell, 39, of Clovis. The teen came forward after reading newspaper reports and told police he beat Burrell in self-defense, Clovis Police Chief Dan Blair said. Police are basing much of their findings on a polygraph examination the 17-year-old voluntarily took. It showed him to be truthful in his story, Blair said Thursday. “We don’t believe...
ALBUQUERQUE — The same jury that on Thursday convicted Stanley Bedford of kidnapping and killing an elderly Portales couple will decide in a second, separate trial whether he should be executed as punishment. After the verdict was read, Judge Stephen Quinn immediately sentenced Bedford, 43, of Portales to 120 years in prison in the August 2005 deaths of Doris and Odis Newman, whose bodies were found in the trunk of their burned car. The jury will be given instructions by Quinn, but must rule on its own if the prison term i... Full story
Margot Thompson of Espanola is the new pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church. Thompson succeeds Wayne Salguero, who has taken over as pastor of University Park United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. A welcome celebration is being held at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Calendar Today Women’s Bible study — 8:30-9:30 a.m. Matt 25 Hope Center, 1200 N. Thornton St., Information: 763-4400. 3D Group Meeting — 7 p.m. St. James’ Church, 1117 N. Main, Diet, discipline and discipleship weight-loss group. Information: 763-4638. Saturda... Full story
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has delayed action again on the New Mexico American Water rate case, voting Thursday to extend the deadline for its decision another week, according to a PRC spokesman. The PRC “indicated at the meeting, following a fairly lengthy discussion, that it would (consider the case) again Tuesday,” spokesman John Arnold said. New Mexico American Water had asked in May 2006 for a 20-percent hike in rates for Clovis from its 2005 adjusted water service revenues because of increased exp... Full story
Portales Municipal Schools Superintendent Randy Fowler told the school board at its regular meeting Thursday that hiring of staff was on schedule and looking good overall. He announced that Mark McAfee has been named athletic director and coaches for the new high school soccer program had been hired and would come on as full-time teacher/coaches. “I feel good about the positions we’ve filled so far,” Fowler said. “We still have some more to hire.” Daniel Garcia, of Roswell, has been hired to teach Spanish and coach boys socc...
The era of smoking in public places has come to an end as The Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act takes effect today. The law has been designed to eliminate smoking in enclosed indoor workplaces that include restaurants, bars and other workplaces such as retail and office spaces and indoor public places. “This is a law that is really intended to improve the health of everybody,” said Terry Teti, executive director of Community Resources, Inc. and grant coordinator of the Roosevelt County Tobacco Use Prevention and Control. Tet...
A 43-year-old Portales man will face the death penalty in connection with the 2005 deaths of an elderly Portales couple. An Albuquerque jury found Stanley Bedford guilty Thursday on eight charges, including first-degree murder and kidnapping. Jurors will return June 21 to decide whether Bedford should be executed for the slayings of Odis and Doris Newman. If Bedford does not receive the death penalty, he will serve two life sentences, plus 60 years for the remaining crimes. District Attorney Matt Chandler said the sentences...
ALBUQUERQUE — The same jury that on Thursday convicted Stanley Bedford of kidnapping and killing an elderly Portales couple will decide in a second, separate trial whether he should be executed as punishment. After the verdict was read, Judge Stephen Quinn immediately sentenced Bedford, 43, of Portales to 120 years in prison in the August 2005 deaths of Doris and Odis Newman, whose bodies were found in the trunk of their burned car. The jury will be given instructions by Quinn, but must rule on its own if the prison term i...
One time on a trip to Houston, our family witnessed an episode that warmed out hearts. Entering through the security gates at an apartment complex next to a golf course, we noticed a young woman running quickly, even frantically, through the parking lot. She stopped at a parked car and quickly bent down to the window in the rear. Hurriedly she began making gestures and talking to someone in the car. Then it came to us. Someone, probably a child, was locked in his car. We...
• Portales couple Andrew and Connie Sisneros and their 12 year-old son Andrew Jr, recorded an album of Spiritual Music with the St. Helen’s guitar choir. • Portales High School Future Farmers of America members Max Kennedy and Danny Rowland attended an electric camp sponsored by Southwestern Public Service. The camp was held on the campus of West Texas State University in Canyon. • Jeans by Jay advertised Polyester Double Knit Sports coats in sizes 38 through 46 for $19.88 each....
With Father’s Day this Sunday, I thought I would share a letter my husband sent to our sons several years ago, and one son’s response. Dear Son, It seems only yesterday I cuddled you in my arms. What tiny bundles of love … when I held you for the first time, I knew it was love at first sight. The tiny chubby hands and feet, the angelic radiance in your little round faces, the unconditional love a baby brings … all of this dear boys, could only reflect love from our heavenly father. Throughout your childhood, teens and adu...
I don’t get a real vacation this summer because I don’t have a real job ... yet. But when I did have one, I remember how hard it was to get away from work completely. I always remember what it was like going back to work on Monday morning, in bad need of a vacation from my vacation. My vacation was usually getting away for a few days and then trying to get things checked off of my to-do list, which I couldn’t get done during a normal work week. Being a graduate student, even when I did get a bit of a vacation this year,...
Editorial Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is distinguished and polished, as advertised, and generally in command of the issues he discusses. But his views are still troubling on the most important decisions a president has to make, those concerning war and peace. During the most recent Republican candidates’ forum in New Hampshire, Romney made the following statement: “ The question (about whether going to war in Iraq was the right decision) is, kind of, a non sequitur ... if you will. What I mean by that – o...
I don’t get a real vacation this summer because I don’t have a real job ... yet. But when I did have one, I remember how hard it was to get away from work completely. I always remember what it was like going back to work on Monday morning, in bad need of a vacation from my vacation. My vacation was usually getting away for a few days and then trying to get things checked off of my to-do list, which I couldn’t get done during a normal work week. Being a graduate student, even when I did get a bit of a vacation this year,...
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is distinguished and polished, as advertised, and generally in command of the issues he discusses. But his views are still troubling on the most important decisions a president has to make, those concerning war and peace. During the most recent Republican candidates’ forum in New Hampshire, Romney made the following statement: “ The question (about whether going to war in Iraq was the right decision) is, kind of, a non sequitur ... if you will. What I mean by that — or a null... Full story
There’s a framed black and white snapshot on my shelf at work. It’s of a smiling, jovial guy in a flannel shirt standing in front of a car with the hood up. Every now and then someone asks me, “Who’s the man in the picture?” “That’s Scoutmaster Phil,” I say. The car is Phil’s 1968 Rambler American. The hood is up because we just forded a creek and the distributor cap, which he’s holding in his hand, got wet and he’s drying it off. This photo caught a moment on a weekend ramble, one of many the Boy Scouts of Troop 62 we...