Carlsbad Current-Argus from Carlsbad, New Mexico • 3

fMevu Menico Saturday, May 20,1995 Current-Argus A 3 MM ffffo i x5 11 Mir i 6 He would have loved it, the pomp and circumstance, the uniforms 9 Eileen Martin, officer's mother death despite years of investigation by state authorities. Mountainair is in Torrance County about 50 miles southeast of In 1989, Sandlin's name was placed on the national memorial for slain police officers in Washington, D.C., but New Mexico law enforcement officials wouldn't add his name to the state memorial because the Office of the Medical Investigator couldn't determine the manner of death. SANTA FE (AP) Seven years after his death, rookie Mountainair policeman Steve Sandlin was officially recognized as an officer slain in the line of duty. "It's the start of our family recovery," said retired" Albuquerque police Lt. Tom Sandlin, his father.

STEVE SANDLIN'S relatives had campaigned for seven years against the notion the 21 -year-old rookie's death might have been suicide. On Thursday, Sandlin was officially remembered as No. 105 on the list of New Mexico officers slain in the line of duty. His name was added to the state law enforcement memorial in Santa Fe. His mother, Eileen Martin, said her son would have approved of the ceremony.

"HE WOULD have loved it, the pomp and circumstance, the uniforms," said Ms. Martin, who is divorced from Tom Sandlin and married to Springer Police Chief Ed Martin. Sandlin was found shot to death at Mountainair police headquarters May 7, 1988. Investigators had speculated he was shot with his own gun in connection with his seizure weeks before of 50 pounds of marijuana from a local resident. The confiscated marijuana vanished from Torrance County sheriffs custody-after Sandlin's death, and charges filed in connection with Sandlin's original marijuana seizure were dismissed.

NOBODY HAS ever been charged in Sandlin's Current-ArgusvlcW Plelfer Honoring officers BUT LAST year, with help from the Fraternal Order of Police, Tom Sandlin got the state to reconsider. Also remembered Thursday was Bernalillo County sheriffs Lt. William Sibrava, who was killed last May while trying to serve a court order for mental evaluation of the son of former state legislator Joe Mercer. The son, Stephen Mercer, shot his father as well as Sibrava before he was shot to death by other deputies. Sen.

Don Kidd honored police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty at a memorial service Friday at the Carlsbad Police Department, 405 S. Halagueno St. In 1995, 157 officers across the country were slain. The memorial service was one of the activities in Carlsbad held to honor National Police Week. Carlsbad doctor DARE students celebrate graduation retires to BnOi Dr.

Cousins ends 1 1 years of local orthopedic surgery By TONI WALKER CHIRI Currant-Argus staff miter CARLSBAD After 1 1 years of practice in Carlsbad, Dr. James Cousins is retiring to his home in British Columbia. An orthope dic surgeon specializing in total joint replacement and arthroscopy, Cousins plans to give up the surgical aspect pf his practice. Tn latp Innf By TERESA LAMBRIGHT Current-Argus staff writer CARLSBAD The gymnasium was an explosion of red and black; streamers, balloons, signs and banners hung everywhere; a packed house of parents, family and school personnel looking on. Center stage were the fifth grade classes of Hillcrest Elementary School, this year's graduates of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program offered through Carlsbad Police Department.

THE PROGRAM seeks to teach children to say no to drugs and alcohol, showing them the hazards of drug use and explaining how to deal with peer pressure and how to overcome the pressures of pre-adolescent life that might lead to using alcohol or drugs as an escape. Hillcrest celebrated the culmination of that program with an all-out musical students offering drug-free messages in skits sandwiched between tunes like the Beatles "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "The Long and Winding Road." Thrown in was their own a capella message, "If you want to be somebody and you want to go somewhere, you better wake up and pay attention." DISTRICT ATTORNEY Tom Rutledge added to those sentiments, telling the graduation class that they must now be role models for their peers, as well as their parents teaching what they have been taught about drugs and alcohol. "For the first time, you get to be the role models. You're there to protect a whole lot of people," he said. As the group crossed the stage, each receiving a certificate and a hug from Rutledge and DARE officer Dwayne Mounce, parents erupted in shouts and applause.

see at Knoxville. He then moved to northern Vancouver, British Columbia, and practiced there for 12 years before returning to the United States. While in the states, he worked in Iowa and in Tennessee. Cousins moved to Carlsbad from Sevierville, home of country music singer Dolly noted. He practiced there for about four-and-a-half years.

Impressed by the way Hospital Corp. of America facilities were equipped, Cousins began looking at HCA hospitals, including Guadalupe Medical Center. He preferred working with elderly patients and learned that New Mexico and Arizona had sizable senior populations. He chose New Mexico. WHEN COUSINS moved to Carlsbad, the Hospital Corp.

of America was the parent company of Guadalupe Medical Center. In February 1994, the Hospital Corp. of America merged with Columbia Health Care Corp. to create the ColumbiaHCA Healthcare Corp. Cousins commended those who worked with him.

The hospital floor nurses and surgical crews have been "marvelous," he said. "I can't say enough about them over the years." He also praised his office staff for their loyalty over the years. "They're marvelous people. Imagine sticking with a guy for 11 years," he said. COUSINS PLANS to leave Carlsbad in late June, but says he'll travel back and forth to visit his daughters, Danica and Maren Cousins, both Carlsbad High School Lambrlght DARE TO SING: Hillcrest Elementary School DARE graduates, under the direction of music teacher Lyla Smith, offered a musical message against drug and alcohol use during Friday morning's DARE graduation ceremonies at the school.

he will move COUSINS to Vancouver, British Columbia, there, he plans to open an office and perform non-operative orthopedics, such as examining patients for bone tumors and treating broken limbs. "There are always people with' sore backs," he added. HE'S ENJOYED his 11 years here, he said. "I built up a good practice" with many elderly patients, whom he hates to leave, he said. "Because of rule changes, it is no longer possible to perform in my field without also covering the emergency room," the 65-year-old Cousins said.

Guadalupe Medical Center officials were on a retreat Friday and unavailable for comment about whether the hospital has recruited a doctor to replace Cousins. He closed his office at 1031 N. Thomas SL on May 19. HE RECEIVED his orthopedic training at the University of Tennes THE SAME scenario happened across the city in fifth grade classes at a number of elementary schools parents and community coming together to celebrate the city's graduates. The week of graduations will culminate from 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m. today at the Carlsbad Riverwalk Recreation Center with a drug-free day to honor past, present and future DARE students. Events will include a bike rodeo as part of National Bike Safety Week, a basketball tournament, DARE boat rides, a student DARE program, children c9 If, -A 1 i rr-! 6 1 Current-ArQuT eresa Lambngftt DARE GRADUATION: District Attorney Tom Rutledge addresses DARE graduates. NMSU offers program QUESTION: Should people convicted of sex crimes be required to register with the sheriff department in their home county? periments, field trips, career research and computer training. The program is open to eligible high school students, as well as community residents interested in starting their college education.

General registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday. Placement testing will be held at 9 a.m. in the college Learning Assistance Center. Late registration will be held Thursday through Wednesday.

For additional information, contact Student Services Office, 887-7533. CARLSBAD New Mexico State University at Carlsbad will hold its second annual Summer Bridge Program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation. The program provides scholarships to minorities who are interested in pursuing math, science and engineering degrees. The funding covers costs of tuition, textbooks and fees. In addition to enrollment in academic courses, students will have the opportunity to participate in student orientation, science ex I Ji I 6 IK Businessman flees law Josie Sanchez Artesia Larry Tupper Carlsbad Gwenette Dradley Carlsbad Patty Morales Carlsbad Harold Thompson Artesia the case.

A company attorney said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment on it Robert said plaintiffs are nonprofit organizations and individuals, including retired people "who were trying to use these fraudulent investment instruments to build a nest egg." Last year, the state attorney general's office brought a criminal case against Rivera related to the same alleged scam. Rivera was indicted in August on charges of racketeering, fraud, securities fraud, sale of unregistered securities and transacting securities business without a license. ALBUQUERQUE (AP) An attorney has filed a lawsuit on behalf of 93 alleged victims who lost $5 million to a fugitive businessman who has been indicted on criminal charges. Attorney Marc Robert filed the lawsuit Wednesday in state district court against Taos businessman Henry A. Rivera.

The lawsuit alleges Rivera, who operated an insurance business, used his status as an agent or employee of Prudential Insurance Co. to persuade plaintiffs to give him their money. Prudential also is listed as a defendant in "Yes, most definitely, so your neighbor! can be aware because you sure can't tell by looking at them." "Definitely, I do belive in it. I wouldn't want to Yes, I think they subject my granchildren should. It will keep them or my neighbor's children from doing it at to a person like that" "Yes, I do believe they should We should be able to know what threats to our children and ourselves are out there," "Yes.

I wouldn't wart somebody like that near me. I'd like to know wbo'i living next door to me..