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Obituaries ...........................2Mark the date ....................3Fun & Games ......................5Weather ..............................6Sports ..................................7Classifieds..........................10TV ......................................12Lottery...............................12

Community News

The N.M. Department ofTransportation is sched-uled to begin CRACKSEALING work on U.S.380, between Tatumand the Texas state line,from mile post 229 tomile post 242, onSaturday. Work on this$68,000 portion of the$1.6 million project isexpected to last oneweek. The work willconsist of preparingand cleaning cracks andjoints in the existingpavement and sealingthe cracks with hot-poured sealant. Otherroads scheduled forcrack sealing workinclude portions of U.S.60, U.S. 70, U.S. 54 andN.M. 285. During theprojects travelers canexpect a one-lane clo-sure with a pilot caroperation and a reduc-tion of the speed limitsbetween the hours of 7a.m. to 5:30 p.m., sevendays a week. Drivers areasked to watch for con-struction personnelworking in the area,observe the temporaryconstruction signs andreduce speed to theposted speed limits.

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Candidates who attended theDemocratic convention includ-ed Hobbs City Commission can-didate Pat Taylor, Lea CountyCommission candidate JimBurke, Court of Appeals candi-date Judge Monica Zamora,Lea County Commission candi-date Phillip Roybal, Court ofAppeals candidate Judge VictorLopez, District 2 House candi-date Evelyn Madrid Erhard,U.S. Senate candidate MartinHeinrich, U.S. Senate candidateHector Balderas and LeaCounty Commission candidateBJ Choice Sr.

Democratic conventionThe Lea County Democratic Party recently held its local convention to nominate those to attend the stateconvention. Locally, some of those in attendance were Lea County party chairman Chuck Whitley, countyparty treasurer Jill Yarbrough, county party secretary Megan Taylor, State Chair Javier Gonzales, countyparty vice chairwoman Cathe Duncan and Lea County’s state Central Committee member Shannon Bush.

ALMA OLIVAS-POSADASNEWS-SUN

Lovebirds who want to tie the knotthis Valentine’s Day now have theopportunity to go to the MagistrateCourt in Lovington to do so.

Judge David Finger said this is thefirst time Feb. 14 has been set aside asa special day dedicated to weddings.

Although there was a jury trial orig-inally scheduled on Valentine’s Day,he said when it did not go through theidea came up to do something special.

“We always get people walking in forweddings and we already had a lot of

special appoint-ments for that day,”Finger said. “Whenthe jury trial wentoff I realized wealready had a lot ofreservations forweddings and thiswould be a greatopportunity to dosomething differ-ent.”

Local businesseshave made it possible to have decora-tions, refreshments and door prizes.

Finger said he enjoys performingweddings.

“When you have a criminal casethings tend to be at their worst andyou are dealing with some criminalact; there is often a victim in the caseand some strong emotions,” Fingersaid. “When you are doing a weddingthen it is a much more positive expe-rience. To be part of that experiencefor a couple is always very enjoyable.”

Eight out of the 12 slots for reservedwedding have been filled. Finger saidhe advises couples to call ahead oftime to make reservations, but accom-

modationscan be madefor coupleswho do notmake reserva-tions.

To get a marriage license at the LeaCounty Clerk’s office, both partiesneed to present identification and paya $25 fee. For minor, a parent orguardian must also be present andprovide identification.

To make a reservation to have a wed-ding at Magistrate Court thisValentine’s Day, call 396-6677.

Lovington court ready for Valentine’s Day weddings

Finger

LEVI HILLNEWS-SUN

Joule has broken ground and is inthe process of hiring and training 20employees for the first phase of theproject, which should be operationalby mid-2012.

John Ward, senior vice president ofproduction at Joule, said in an e-mailstatement the company is in theprocess of awarding the major con-tracts for construction.

Joule, which is building a facility

some 15 miles west of Hobbs, will beexploring the production of bio-fuelsthrough the use of engineered micro-organisms.

The company was recently awarded$263,500 from the state’s Economic

Development Department in reim-bursement funds for the training ofthe first 20 employees at the site.

Ward said the 20 jobs will mostly befilled from the local employee baseand those employees will be trainedby the company to fill those jobs. Thepositions include mechanics, officemanagers, technicians and engineer-ing positions.

“Joule searched the southwestUnited States for sites and identified

Hobbs as one of the top candidates,”Ward said. “The important factors inthe final selection were the funding,the availability of resources requiredfor the HelioCulture process (sun,CO2 and water), land availability andthe support of the Lea CountyEconomic Development.”

Lisa Hardison, president of theEconomic Development Corporationof Lea County, said the training fund-

Joule hiring for first 20 positions

SEE JOULE, Page 3

BETH HAHNNEWS-SUN

County clerk Pat Chappelle isseeking another term.

Chappelle, 71, has 30 years’ expe-rience in the county clerk’s office,18 as clerk and 12 in a combinationof the bureau of elections anddeputy clerk.

If she is elected this year,Chappelle will be unable to run foranother term because of term lim-its. Chappelle is running as aRepublican.

This year marks the beginning ofsome changes forLea County,which Chappellesaid she is excit-ed about.

“There areexciting thingsgoing on that Idon’t want tomiss out on,” shesaid Thursday.

Some of thechanges includea possible new courthouse orremodeling the existing buildingand the county’s first experimentwith voting convenience centers.

This year, Lea County voters willhave the opportunity to cast a bal-lot at any of a handful of locations.

Voters will not be restricted to alocation within their precinct.Chappelle said she thinks the newarrangement will be popular witharea residents.

Lea clerkseekingnew term

Chappelle

SEE CLERK, Page 3

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LOCAL & STATE 3HOBBS NEWS-SUN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 2012

T O D AY

Eunice Chamber Valentine’s Day Dessert and Dance

is from 6:30-9 p.m. at the EuniceCommunity Center. A ticket pack-age includes a long-stemmedrose, a picture taken of you andyour date by Shannon Cummings,a dessert and finger foods table,dance music by the NMJC Band, asilent auction and the opportuni-ty to be driven around the blockin a horse drawn carriage. Ticketsare sold at city hall and the cham-ber office. Cost is $30 a couple or$20 senior citizen.

Father/daughter danceThe City of Hobbs is hosting the

sixth annual Father DaughterDance. The event will be held atthe Lea County Event Center ban-quet hall from 7-10 p.m. Ticketsare on sale for $15 per personuntil Feb. 9, $20 per person at thedoor (if available). Tickets areavailable at Parks & Recreation,200 E. Broadway. Call 397-9291for more information.

Brown Bag SeriesThe Western Heritage Museum

hosts a Brown Bag Lunch series at11:30 a.m. at the museum. Topicdiscussion will be “First WellDiggers.”

S AT U R D AY

Special Needs Citizens Dance

A St. Valentine’s Day CommunityDance for Special Needs Citizensis slated for 7-10 p.m. at New LifeFellowship Hall on 707 W. ChurchStreet. Music by DJ Jim. Semi-for-mal. Light refreshments to beserved. For information, contactBarbara at (575) 492-9867 oremail lucygirl54@yahoo.com.

Boots and Bling GalaThe Second Annual Boots & Bling

Gala to benefit CASA Of LeaCounty will be from 7 to 11 p.m.at the Zia Park Horsemen’sAnnex. Live music and dancing,silent and live auction, food sta-tions, buffet and cash bar. Cost is$100 per couple. Call 393-0015.Limited tickets available.

AARP drivers safetyThe Hobbs Senior Center will host

an AARP Drivers Safety Programfrom 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The class willbe at Agnes Kastner HeadCommunity Center. For AARPmembers, the cost is $12 and fornonmembers the cost is $14. Yourneed to bring your AARP card tothe class. Call the center at 397-9301 to make a reservation.There is limited enrollment.

Educational retireesThe Lea County Association of

Educational Retirees will meet atRanchers Steakhouse & Buffet,2022 N. Turner in Hobbs. TheDutch lunch is at 11:30 a.m. Theprogram will be presented by amember of the Hobbs PoliceDepartment detailing how todeal with identity theft, creditcard fraud, and Internet scams.All retired educators and theirspouses are encouraged toattend this informative presenta-tion.

Book saleThe Friends of the Hobbs Public

Library will conduct a used bookfundraising sale from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in the library base-ment. Access to the sale isthrough the north door only. Thepublic is encouraged to supportthis effort. Money generated bythe sale will be given to thelibrary to increase resources andboth children's and adults' pro-gramming.

Lovington VFW danceThe Lovingon VFW dance, one mile

on Tatum Highway, will be from7-9:30 p.m. Cost is $5 per personwith potluck refreshments. TexasStars with Guitars will play.

Genealogicial SocietySoutheastern New Mexico

Genealogical Society will have itsFebruary meeting 1:30 p.m. atthe Senior Center, 200 E. Park.The speaker this month is longtime member Joyce Walker, whowill present a program entitled“Treasures of the Past”. Thelibrary, located in the SeniorCenter, is open on Monday andTuesday from 1-4 p.m. andThursdays from 6-9 p.m.

Open houseThe Hobbs Masonic Lodge, 2400 N.

Jefferson by the Scottish Rite willhost an open house from 9-11a.m.

Roadrunner Car ClubRoadrunner Antique Car Club will

meet at the home of Jay andAmie Collins, 1100 W. CollegeLane, at 6 p.m. This will be themonthly meeting and Valentinedinner.

Eagles dance, dinner Eagles Lodge’s Valentine dinner

and dance begins with dinnerfrom 6-8 p.m. Cost is $15.00 aperson, Dance is from 8 p.m.-1a.m. and cost is $5 a person.LaOnda DJ is playing. Any ques-tions call 393-6218.

Center for the ArtsRed Hot Saturday at the Center for

the Arts, 122 W. Broadway, from6:30-8:30 p.m. will feature anevening of listening and dancingto Jazz music played by JayPatton on saxophone, HaroldBrown on trumpet, and Buck vander Meer on piano. Adults only.Refreshments will be served.There is no charge.

S U N D AY

Dickens Film SeriesThe Western Heritage Museum

Complex will be showing filmsbased on Charles Dickens’ novelto celebrate the British novelist’s200th birthday. The film seriesbegins at 2 p.m. with “NicholasNickleby,” the 2002 adaptation ofDickens’ third published novel,The Life and Times of NicholasNickleby. It is the story of a youngman who, after his father dies,struggles to save his family andfriends from a ruthless uncle anda cruel schoolmaster. The filmstars Charlie Hunnam, AnneHathaway, Christopher Plummer,Jim Broadbent, Alan Cummingand Nathan Lane.

Mark the date

GUIDELINESREADERS ARE WELCOME to

submit items to Mark the Datecalendar. The event should havea local connection and be opento the public. E-mail items toeditor@hobbsnews.com.

FOR THE NEWS-SUNThe Western Heritage

Museum Complex will beshowing films based onCharles Dickens’ novels to cel-ebrate the British novelist’s200th birthday.

The film series begins onSunday, February 12 withNicholas Nickleby, the 2002adaptation of Dickens’ thirdpublished novel, The Life andTimes of Nicholas Nickleby. Itis the story of a young manwho, after his father dies,struggles to save his familyand friends from a ruthlessuncle and a cruel schoolmas-ter.

The film stars CharlieHunnam, Anne Hathaway,Christopher Plummer, JimBroadbent, Alan Cummingand Nathan Lane, and wasdirected by Douglas McGrath.According to Mary Lyle, theMuseum’s Education andEvents Coordinator, “this filmis one of the best screen adap-tations of a Dickens’ novel Ihave ever seen.”

Two other Dickens’ films willbe shown this month. GreatExpectations on SundayFebruary 19 and Oliver Twiston Sunday, February 26.

Lyle says that “the Museumwill be showing the 1974 ver-sion of Great Expectations,which features Michael Yorkas Pip and Sarah Miles asEstella.” Also in the cast areJames Mason, MargaretLeighton and Anthony Quayle.

The 2005 version of OliverTwist was directed by RomanPolanski and stars Sir BenKingsley as Fagin. “Kingsley’sinterpretation of Fagin isastonishing,” Lyle said.

The films start at 2 p.m. andregular admission fees apply.For more information, call theMuseum at (575) 492-2678.

Western Museum beginsDickens film series

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Tatum Elementary fourth grade students eat their lunch.

Tatum ElementaryMirella Mendenhal and Imanol Guevara readmagnets adhered to a cabinet in their class-room at Tatum Elementary.

Javier Franco and Aldo Franco read theirlesson books at Tatum Elementary.

“It gives the voter morechoices,” she said.

Lea County commissionersare currently debating build-ing a new courthouse orremodeling the current build-ing. Chappelle said she wantsto be in office when the transi-tion to a new environment

takes place.“Whether we move into a

new building or a remodeledoffice, we will have new sur-roundings,” Chappelle said.

Ideally, the new surround-ings will include bringing allof the county records underone roof.

Chappelle said she wouldalso like to see county recordsdigitized — stored on comput-

ers and eventually made avail-able on the Internet.

Chappelle said she enjoysworking with the public andsaid the county clerk’s office ischallenging.

“You have enough challengesto keep the job interesting andkeep on your toes,” she said.“And you have the ability tohelp people.”

No other candidates for coun-ty clerk have announced intentto seek election as ofThursday.

The filing date for countyoffice is March 20.

ing is one factor the EDCincludes in packages to compa-nies interested in the area.

The Joule plant will be builton land owned by the state ofNew Mexico and leased to

Joule for 25 years. Joule willown and operate the plant,which will initially encompassfive acres of active productionwith the potential to scale upto encompass the 1,200 acresalready secured. The facilitywill produce ethanol initiallyand plans to later producediesel.

Joulefrom PAGE 1

Clerkfrom PAGE 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — It could be the begin-ning of the end for No Child Left Behind.

The goal was lofty: Get all children up to parin math and reading by 2014. But the nationisn't getting there, and now some states are get-ting out.

In a sign of what's to come, President BarackObama on Thursday freed 10 states from someof the landmark law's toughest requirements.Those states, which had to commit to their own,federally approved plans, will now be free, forexample, to judge students with methods otherthan test scores. They also will be able to factorin subjects beyond reading and math.

"We can combine greater freedom withgreater accountability," Obama said from theWhite House. Plenty more states are bound totake him up on the offer.

While many educators and many governorscelebrated, congressional Republicans accusedObama of executive overreach, and educationand civil rights groups questioned if schoolswould be getting a pass on aggressively helpingpoor and minority children — the kids the 2002law was primarily designed to help.

The first 10 states to be declared free from theeducation law are Colorado, Florida, Georgia,Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota,New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The onlystate that applied for the flexibility and did notget it, New Mexico, is working with the admin-istration to get approval.

Twenty-eight other states, the District ofColumbia and Puerto Rico have signaled thatthey, too, plan to flee the law in favor of theirown plans.

The government's action on Thursday was atacit acknowledgement that the law's main goal,getting all students up to speed in reading andmath by 2014, is not within reach.

The states excused from following the law nolonger have to meet that deadline. Instead, theyhad to put forward plans showing they will pre-pare children for college and careers, set newtargets for improving achievement among allstudents, reward the best performing schoolsand focus help on the ones doing the worst.

Obama said he was acting because Congresshad failed to update the law despite widespreadagreement it needed to be fixed.

"We've offered every state the same deal,"Obama said. "If you're willing to set higher,more honest standards than the ones that wereset by No Child Left Behind, then we're going togive you the flexibility to meet those stan-dards."

Obama lets 10 states flee education act� New Mexico working withadministration to get approvalto get out of ‘No Child’ law

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