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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, January 11, 2000
Bomber flights to skip Saragosa, Balmorhea areas
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Jan. 11, 2000 - A Reeves County Commissioner said he has gotten
reassurances from U.S. Air Force officials about future limits on low-level
bomber training flights in the area.
County Commissioner for Precinct 3, Herman Tarin, has confirmed a previous
understanding with the Air Force that the proposed route for low-level
bomber runs would be changed to avoid flights over Saragosa and Balmorhea
in the event the proposed route is accepted. Tarin's precinct includes
both towns in the southern portion or Reeves County, which were directly
under the flight path for the bombers released by the Air Force last year.
The issue of low-level bomber flights looping around Pecos and flying
through other parts of Reeves County sprang back into the news last week,
after a New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman said that Air Force officials told
him an environmental study will recommend the planes fly over West Texas.
In April of 1999, commissioner Tarin was told by a Colonel Wheeles of
the United States Air Force that they would alter the proposed route around
Saragosa and Balmorhea, which are in Tarin's precinct.
Area farmers and ranchers voiced their opposition to the Air Force's
plan during a public hearing in Pecos last April. Ranchers said low-flying
bombers already flying through the area scare animals and the proposed
increase in flights would make the situation even worse.
After reading the article in the Enterprise on Friday about Bingaman's
statement, Tarin called Wheeles to re-affirm his previous commitment.
His staff confirmed in a telephone interview with Tarin that the route
would be altered to avoid Saragosa and Balmorhea in the event it was chosen.
Tarin has been a strong opponent of the low-level bomber flights and
has joined other area residents to have the flights re-routed away from
homes and livestock.
"It is important to register your complaint about a flight over your
house with the Air Force," said Tarin.
The flights would run at their lowest levels within Reeves County, where
two of the three electronic scoring sites would be located. The flights
themselves would originate from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene and Barksdale
AFB in Louisiana and would also fly over the Big Bend area and just west
of Crane, along with the Jal area of southeastern New Mexico and a large
area of the South Plains north of Sweetwater and Big Spring.
The Air Force bomber flights would be as little as 200 feet off the
ground in the area, though Air Force officials did say the electronic scoring
sites, to be located in the Alamo and Toyah Lake areas of the county, would
bring 42 new jobs to the area.
Anyone having a complaint about the flights can call 1-800-699-5169.
Gallego goal is program improvement
PECOS, Jan. 11, 2000 - Jimmy Gallego hopes he is given the chance to work
with others in the community to bring in new programs and recreational
activities for the children.
Gallego is running for Reeves County Commissioner Precinct 3, one of
four entered in the March 14 Democratic primary. Incumbent Herman Tarin,
James H. Thomas and David Patillo are the other candidates in the race.
Gallego is the son of Joe Gallego and the late Amparo "Pat" Gallego,
whom he recently lost and misses deeply.
He and his wife, Regina, have two daughters, Jo Gina Lee and Jamie Lee
Gallego.
"I am seeking the office of county commissioner Precinct 3 because I
want to improve the quality of life for my community, city and county,"
said Gallego. "In doing so I would work with the economic development board,
the chamber of commerce, the city council and most importantly with the
people of precinct 3."
"Working in unity we could bring new businesses to our county," he added.
As county commissioner, Gallego, said he will aid in any improvement
that is needed to upgrade our local prison, but as the father of two young
girls, he feels it is equally just as important to ring in or develop programs
to keep our children off the streets, out of trouble and occupied in something
meaningful or recreational.
"I feel that presently our community does not have a lot to offer our
youth," said Gallego. "The more we do for our youth today the less we have
to worry about building prisons for them tomorrow."
Gallego said living all his life Reeves County, "has given me the insight
of how things have been done by our local government and how things should
be done."
"Using this as my first hand background, I can exercise my improvements
for Reeves County to it's full potential," said Gallego.
"As a self-employed person, I will have the time to dedicate myself
to the community of Reeves County and it's needs," said Gallego. "I'm asking
for your vote and support on Election Day. Together we can make a difference."
Fire marshal warns against post-Y2K home fuel storage
PECOS, Jan. 11, 2000 - The State Fire Marshal's office is warning anyone
who stocked up on fuel in preparation for a possible Y2K emergency that
storing gasoline or other fuels in large quantities around their homes
is dangerous.
"I know of at least one man who filled two 55-gallon drums with gasoline
and stored the containers in their garage," said Claude Fire Chief Jim
Hubbard." If we had to fight a fire at this man's house, that 110 gallons
of gasoline would certainly catch our firefighters off guard, and there's
no way to protect yourself against that."
State Fire Marshal G. Mike Davis said residents should be careful where
fuels are kept and in what containers they are stored. A barrel of gasoline
is the equivalent of 25 sticks of dynamite, and all Texans who purchased
fuel for possible emergencies are better off using the products as quickly
as possible or disposing of them.
Davis said residents who have questions about the proper disposal of
those fuels should contact their local fire department.
Roman scores double win at Balmorhea show
By JENNIFER WARD
Special Correspondent
BALMORHEA, Jan. 11, 2000 - Adriel Roman was a double winner on Saturday
at the annual Balmorhea Livestock Show, taking Grand Champion honors in
both the Goat and Lamb shows.
Midland High School agriculture teacher Joe Henson was the judge for
the annual show, which also included a hog and steer show, along with a
Bar-B-Q lunch in-between.
Roman's wins came Saturday afternoon, when there were 18 participants
in the Goat Show and Lamb Show. Along with the Grand Champion honors, he
also won Senior Showmanship in both divisions. Justin Machuca won Reserve
Grand Champion Goat, and Junior Goat Showmanship. Reserve Grand Champion
Lamb went to Adrienne Bagley. Junior Lamb Showmanship went to Jamie Gallego.
Other top winners included Jogina Gallego with Reserve Breed Champion in
the Medium Wool Division.
Seventeen Balmorhea students participated in Saturday morning's Hog
Show. Robert Vasquez took the Grand Champion Buckle home with the Crossbred
Breed Champion. Chance Cook took the Reserve Grand Champion Trophy home
with the York Breed Champion. Among the top winners was Chris Cook with
Duroc Breed Champion and Duroc Reserve Breed Champion, Savanna Matta with
York Reserve Breed Champion, Oran Jones with Hamp Breed Champion, Jay Sanchez
with Reserve Breed Champion, and Julia Garlick with the Reserve Breed champion
in the Crossbred Division.
The Showman of the 2000 Hog Show was Liberty Wofford in the Senior Division,
and Russell Garlick for the Junior Division.
The day ended with the Steer Show. Jaime Gallego won Grand Champion
and Jogina Gallego received Reserve Champion.
There was a Bar-B-Q Lunch served between the Hog Show and the rest of
the shows.
The beef for the lunch was donated by Balmorhea Feeders and prepared
with help from Jack Duke, James Garlick, Courtney Mellard, Trace McElroy,
and Terry Holder, who also acted as an auctioneer when a large cake left
from lunch was sold to Pecos Battery & Electric. Officials thanked
all of the participants and everyone else that helped with the show.
The winners in Balmorhea will join others this coming weekend for the
annual Reeves-Loving Livestock Show in Pecos, at the Reeves County Civic
Center.
Swimmers' success nets TV segment
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
PECOS, Jan. 11, 2000 - Fox Sports Net's High School Xtra rolled into
town yesterday to interview the Pecos High School boys' swim team and head
coach Terri Morse.
The boys are currently ranked 5th in the state along Class
4A schools and will co-star with the Monahans' girls' swim team on a coming
edition of Xtra.
The boys' ranking is up two spots from at the start of the season, thanks
to a so-far undefeated season that has included wins in meets at home,
as well as in Monahans, El Paso, Seminole and Fort Stockton.
This is also the first year Class 4A teams will have regional and state
finals of their own which will give Pecos a shot at the first-ever 4A state
title. They have competed against Class 5A teams in previous years and
have struggled to get past the regional level, despite winning eight of
the last 10 district titles on the boys' side.
Pecos' girls have won seven of the last nine district titles, but were
beaten last year by the Monahans girls, who have won five team championships
at the seven meets they have competed in this season.
Randy McIlvoy, host and producer of the regional program interviewed
Pecos senior swimmers Kevin Bates and Grant Holland as well as Morse. She
said he asked about the split of 4A and 5A schools, and how it would affect
Pecos and other 4A teams.
Morse said the big-city 5As have the advantage of off-campus United
States Swimming Association programs they can take advantage of. "Now I
think this is going to be a positive thing for all the pro because we can
compete against the same sized schools and kids at an even keel," Morse
said.
"That doesn't mean I think the times are going to be slower at the state
meet because a Class 4A team two years ago, Grapevine, won the boys' state
title, and they're still feeding people in from the USSA programs. But
it will make things better for all of the Class 4A kids"
She said the Fox crew was making the long trek out from its Dallas studio
to far West Texas. "They were doing what they called their `Permian Basin
Show'. The fact that Pecos' boys and Monahans' girls are ranked are the
reason why they stopped here," Morse said. "From here they were going on
to El Paso for something unrelated to this."
Fox's High School Xtra airs weekly on local channel 30, and focuses
on all aspects Texas high school sports.
The edition featuring the Pecos swimmers will air Sunday, Jan. 23, at
9:00 a.m. and again at midnight. The show will repeat again on Jan. 24
at 3:30 p.m.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Cash Five numbers drawn Monday by the Texas Lottery:
1-6-12-26-31 (one, six, twelve, twenty-six, thirty-one)
***
AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Monday by the Texas Lottery,
in order: 9-7-7 (nine-seven-seven)
Obituaries
Jose Machuca
Jose B. Machuca, 50, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000 at Midland Memorial Hospital.
A prayer service is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., today, in the Reyes-Garcia
Chapel in Midland.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Reyes-Garcia
Chapel with Pastor Roy Langley officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m., at
the Toyah Cemetery.
He was born Sept. 22, 1949, in Kent, to Jose R. Machuca and Eloise Baeza.
At an early age he moved his family to Toyah, where he was raised and educated.
While in school he enjoyed being in all sports, he later met and married
Daquina Silvas in 1972 in Pecos. The couple moved to Midland in 1972 and
he worked for Central Texas Iron Works in Midland for 10 years and later
worked for Albertson's until 1988.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Alicia and Adela Machuca.
Survivors include his wife, Daquina S. Machuca of Midland; two sons,
Javier and Jesse Machuca of Midland; one daughter, Macrina Rodriguez of
Midland; five brothers, Guadalupe Machuca of San Antonio, Dulces and Robert
Machuca of San Angelo, Dolores Machuca of Toyah and Jesus Manuel Machuca
of Midland; two sisters, Virginia Gomez of Midland and Elvira Gomez of
Monahans; three grandsons and numerous nephews and nieces.
Reyes-Garcia Funeral Home of Midland is in charge of arrangements.
Rafael S. Valdez
Rafael S. Valdez, 79, of Pecos, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Parks Methodist
Retirement Village in Midland.
A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., today at Pecos Funeral Home Chapel.
Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Santa Rosa Catholic
Church with burial in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery.
He was born Sept. 29, 1921, in Balmorhea, was a U.S. Army Veteran, who
served in World War II, a lifelong Pecos resident, retired, and a Catholic.
Survivors include three sons, Lionel and Adolfo Valdez of Midland and
Tomas Valdez of Pecos; two daughters, Corina Matta of Midland and Viola
Bombara of Midland; four brothers, Enrique Valdez of Tucson, Ariz., Fidel,
Mike and Merijildo Valdez of Loving, N.M.; three sisters, Herminia Dutchover
of Balmorhea, Tina Armendariz and Amelia Franco of Loving, N.M.; 15 grandchildren;
10 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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