-- .~ .- - -- -- ...-- ~ .-- ..--- ---,..--,~·----r - OUR 52ND YEAR IJJI)OSO 50 CENTS RUIDOSO, NEW MEXJCO • W E D N E S I) A Y, J U L Y 8 ' 1998 ISSUE NO. 14 • 30 PAGES Proposed adult video store Parading through the streets meets concerted opposition • Ruidoso Planning and Zoning No one under 18 would be chamber would "do whatever commissioners on Tuesday allowed in the store, she told is necessary to keep this type unanimously denied building the commission, and the of business" from opening. pennits for the shop planned at hours of operation would not 15 09 Sudderth Drive. be later than 10 p.m. The Scilla Uhl, who lives in store's windows would be cov­ one of the 19 apartments BY ToNI K. LAxsoN ered, she said. behind the proposed shop, RUIDOSO NEWS !>TAFF WRITER "No children would be said fainilies there were con­ able to see in the shop," Clark cerned about the store's A proposed adult video told the commissi9n. impact on safety in the neigh­ store on Sudderth Drive ran Hugh Hanagan was the borhood. into a wall of opposition first of many to speak out Thesday. against the shop, saying that Maria Amaro, a single About 35 people carne to he lived in Roswell but owned mother in the neighborhood, the Ruidoso Planning and two lots in the neighborhood suggested the building be Zoning Commission meeting of the proposed business. An used instead for a business 1\Jesday to oppose Wendy adult video store would hurt that caters to children, saying Clark's proposal for an adult the area, and shouldn't be on a there were a lack of such shop at 1509 Sudderth Drive. main street in Ruidoso, a enterprises in Ruidoso. Commission members tourism town, he said. agreed with the m<ljority and "If this application is Though no commissioners unanimously denied Clark's approved, you are going to see spoke on the issue, application for a conditional these types of stores crop up Commissioner Bill Hirschfeld use permit. Clark has 15 days all over the place," Hanagan said it was a topic that should to file an appeal of the com­ said. go before the Ruidoso Village mission's action with the Betsy Seiler, who has a Council. The council could Ruidoso Village Council. home near the proposed shop, than consider enacting an Under village law, any told the commission she did ordinance to deal with similar business selling sexually ori­ some research on the Internet applications, Hirschfeld said. ented material must acquire a and found several studies that conditional use permit. Those showed crime increased and Joan Zagone, chamber permits are approved on a property values dropped when director, asked the commis­ case-by-case basis by the com­ sexually oriented businesses sion and planning staff if the mission. When deciding condi­ opened in a neighborhood. village couldn't create an ordi­ tional use permits, the com­ "I believe the proposed nance that prohibited sexual­ mission considers the effect on establishment will have a dis­ ly oriented businesses from the safety, health and general astrous effect on the quality of opening in an area. well-being of the community. the neighborhood, Seiler said. About 15 of the people Denise Dean, speaking as Chay Rennick, an attor­ attending the meeting were president of the Ruidoso ney for·· the village, said a sworn in to speak on the issue. Valley Chamber of Commerce, municipality may enact spe­ Only one, Clark, spoke in cific zoning requirements for told the commission that Tono K. l..axsoNRul<bso '*--' favor of the video store, whose chamber members had con­ sexually oriented businesses, 1Wo youths participate in the Fourth of July Parade in Capitan. Thousands of people showed up for the event stock may also include lotions tacted her to voice their oppo­ but cannot prohibit a lawful which is in its ftfth decade · and lingerie, she said. sition the shop. She said the business from opening. Roswell man arrested, County to pass law banning fireworks charged with church arson next year to eliminate previous 'fiasco' BY DIANNE STALLINGS as well as officers from the Chaves RL'IfXHO NIW\ .HAFI WR/TE.R County Sheriff's Office and the BY DIANNE STALLINGS that will eliminate fireworks in does not have the same enforceable Roswell Police Department and fire Lincoln County period. We won't effect as a law. RUIDOSO NFWS STAFF WR/TU A Roswell man was charged over department. have this fiasco again."' "Our resolution Channing open the weekend with the burning of a I!l a 12-page criminal complaint, He asked Commission flames, including fireworks) is not Mormon church in RoswelL He also is Spec1al Agent Paul J. Jessen of the Next year, Lincoln County will ATF, based in part on information by have a law in place to ensure it can Chairman L. Ray Nunley to call a a law," Nu~ley said Tuesday. being investigated for possible special meeting Friday to consider "Fortunately, people have respond­ involvement with damage at several special agent Steven L. Beggs, states enforce a ban against fireworks, if that he began investigating the case conditions are dry and fire risks a request from the Spencer ed responsibly in the past and other Mormon churches, including Theater for the Performing Arts to abided by the ban." one on State Road 48 between Alto after a fire was reported at 3:37 a.m. are high, says Lincoln County June 28 at the Church of Jesus Christ Commissioner Wilton Howell. shoot fireworks at a private party The resolution was passed and Capitan in Lincoln County. for supporters of the theater on Walter Gene Grassie, 49, was of Latter Day Saints on West Country 'We probably bluffed our way after more than two months of Sierra Blanca Airport Road about high winds without significant arrested without incident at his home Club Drive in Roswell. The fire two years ago (during a drought) caused $2.5 million in damage. nine miles northeast of Ruidoso. rain. Summer rains started two for violations of a federal hate crime that the resolution had an effect, statute and federal arson law. Agents During the month of May, four and then we got the rain," Howell During the meeting - which days before the Fourth of July hol­ iday, but fire danger still was listed investigating the case say Grassie's Mannon churches in Alto, Artesia, said Monday. "But a resolution is had to be conducted outside the Alamogordo and the one in Roswell as extreme in the Lincoln National actions apparently were in retaliation just that. It has no effect of law. I county sub office in Ruidoso, for being jilted by a long time lover. also were vandalized and some musi­ told them at the meeting, 'I can Forest and on the Mescalero because no one had a key to get He faces a possible sentence if cal instruments were damaged with assure you in the short near inside- it became clear to commis­ convicted of up to 20 years in prison an ax. Estimated damage m future, 1 will propose an ordinance See COMMISSION, page 2A sioners that passing a resolution and a$250,000 fine for the hate Alamogordo May 25 was $17,000 crimes and not less than five years when brown paint was thrown inside nor more than 20 years and a the church. Three incidents occurn'd $250,000 fine on the arson charge. May 26, when an estimated $100,000 worth of damage was done to thf' Grassie appeared m U.S. Magistrate Court in front of Judge church in Roswell with an ax used on Holidays can bring more crime walls, pews, doors and musical instru­ Don J. Svet Monday to be advised on his rights and to ensure he had an ment, $20,000 in Artesia when the BY DIANNE STALLINGS ies. One thief was so 'bold, just relaxing around the person took a wallet out of same type .of damage occurred, and televiRion at night. attorney. He has hired Roswell attor­ Rl/1[)050 NEW.~ .ITAFF WRJTF.R he broke into a lower bed­ the pocket of Park's pants ney Mike Stout. A preliminary hear­ $20,000 t.u the church in Alto, when a room while the house's The bold burglar broke that were draped over a pipe or other ramming tool was used occupants were upstairs. chair, but returned receipts ing is set for 9:30 a.m. today when Visitors to Ruidoso look into a house being used for Svet will determine if enough evi­ to strike musical instruments and the weekend by Tim R. and hack to the pocket. He then doors. forward to holiday week­ · Lt. Wolf Born advised took Parks watch and his dence exists to SPt the case for trial ends, but for R~doso police visitors and year-around Brenda J. Park of and if hail should be allowed. Grassie In the criminal complaint Jessen Oklahoma City, Okla. wife's wallet from another states that Grassie was involved in an officers, more people in residents not to leave purs­ table. was being held in an Albuquerque jail town translates to more es and other valuables in a Sometime between 9 pending the results of the hearing. extra marital relationship for eight The couple didn't real­ years with a woman who played en me. car or trunk, even if it's p.m. and 11 p.m., the Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney ize the theft occurred until musical instruments at the Roswell At least five home bur­ locked.