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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Tuesday, April 4, 2000

Ranger's probe fails to find voter fraud

PECOS, April 4, 2000 - Texas Ranger Jerry Villalobos has closed his investigation into charges of voter fraud in the March 14 Democratic primary election without finding any violations, the trooper said last week.

Villalobos had been asked by 143rd District Attorney Randy Reynolds to look into allegations of tampering with a vote rendered by mail-in ballot by a campaigner involved in the Reeves County Precinct 3 election.

"Technically, there was no violation," said Villalobos, because the vote in question "was never counted."

Villalobos came up from Fort Stockton to investigate the charge after a sworn affidavit, filed by a 78-year-old female who lives at the Pecos Nursing Home, was turned in to him.

In the affidavit the woman said she contacted her granddaughter regarding her mail-in ballot. Her granddaughter then contacted the Reeves County Clerk's office about the matter when she was told her grandmother had already voted and was assisted by Jan Pattillo, wife of Commissioner Precinct 3 challenger, David Pattillo, according to the witness signature on the ballot.

Pattillo is facing incumbent Herman Tarin in the runoff election on April 11 for the Precinct 3 commissioner's job. Pattillo received the most votes and Tarin came in second in the four-man race on March 14.

According to the affidavit, officials with the Reeves County Clerk's office reported the elderly female signed the ballot with an X.

Villalobos said his investigation revolved around the vote cast by the mail-in ballot. But he explained that the vote was not tallied because, "She (the elderly female) had already voted curb side."

He said he made his conclusions after meeting with the elderly female last week, and with Louise Cassell, the woman who in actuality assisted the nursing home resident to vote.

"I was in fact the person that helped," said Cassell, who also verified her meeting with Villalobos. "I was not alone," she added.

Becky Perkins said she was also in the room when Cassell helped the woman fill out her mail ballot.

"I read the ballot to her," Cassell said, "she voted and she started to sign it when she began to shake."

She said the woman managed to sign, "her first name and initial, and I told her that was okay and I witnessed it."

"She (the elderly female) worked for me the whole time my kids were in school," said Cassell, who added she met up with the woman again after years of non-contact when she ran into her at the nursing home.

"When I put my aunt in the nursing home I ran into (the woman) out there," she said.

Cassell said she helped her aunt vote and tried to help her former employee in the process while at the nursing home.

"I didn't know what was going on until after the affidavit came out," said Cassell, regarding the investigation by the Texas Rangers. "I don't know how this (the investigation) got as far as it did."

"She is a sweet woman," she said of the affidavit originator. "I think she was prompted by somebody," to attest to the misleading affidavit, Cassell added.

Reeves County Clerk Diane Flores said Wednesday that it is the voter's responsibility to cancel a request for a mail in ballot if they went ahead and voted at a designated polling location.

The county officer stated that she did not know how Jan Pattillo's name got involved or why the elderly female was issued a mail-in ballot after voting at the polls. Flores refused to comment further until she had a chance to speak with Villalobos.

Pattillo said she probably did help the woman listed her in her legal statement obtain a mail-in ballot.

"I went to the administrator (of the nursing home) and asked if they thought it was a good idea," to help the facility residents register for a mail-in ballot, Pattillo said. She was given the go ahead, and said she was accompanied by Pecos Nursing Home employee Janet Martinez as she handed out the registration forms.

However, Pattillo added, "I did not help her vote."

"This happened in early February," she added, "I went two days."

The affidavit was notarized and signed on March 7, 2000. The signature shows a middle initial and different last name from that of the name under which the nursing home resident claims she is registered to vote, which has no middle initial but a maiden name and different last name.

Villalobos' final report was due to be given to Reynolds late last week. However, he was not available to comment on the report either Monday or today.

"I wish the laws would change," Villalobos said about mail-in ballots. "Anytime you take voting away from a secure location there's always room for abuse."

He called the events leading up to the investigation, "not right," and, "not fair."

Intern taking next step after working with Libby

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 4, 2000 - There's more to podiatry than just learning about feet, and one student has done her share of learning right here in Pecos.

"I feel like I've learned a lot and grown up a lot," said Calandra Theisen, who has been working side by side with Dr. John Libbie, podiatrist, in his Pecos office at 880 Daggett St. "Next I'll be going to Kansas to work for another podiatrist there," said Theisen.

This is normal procedure for a fourth year podiatric student, according to Theisen, who is a senior podiatric student from Des Moines University/Osteopathic Medical Center College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery.

"This is the same school I attended," said Dr. Libbie.

The small town atmosphere appeals to Theisen, who said that was one of the main reasons she chose to come to Pecos and intern here. "That and doctor Libbie's long resume posted at the school," she said.

Theisen will work with about 12 physicians during the year. "Some hospitals have more than one physician on staff in which case we'll be around them more," she said.

She will be doing her residency in Maine and is looking forward to opening a practice of her own in West Texas or a small town. "I'm looking at Texas, among other states, but I would like for it to be in a small town," said Theisen.

Among the many things she has learned this past month with Dr. Libbie was how to open up a practice, patient management and the timeliness of patient care. "The hands-on experience beats the books any day," said Theisen.

Podiatric students have to attend school for at least eight years. They have to do their undergraduate work first, and then go through four years of medical school. "This is the same as any other physician," said Dr. Libbie.

One of the aspects of podiatric medicine is surgery. "The foot doesn't come by itself, it comes with a body attached, so podiatrists learn the same things a medical doctor does," he said. "While we're getting the same curriculum, we also get to specialize, which is great"

Podiatrists take the same courses and study from the same medical books and other medical practitioners. "We have to look at the entire body and learn how to diagnose a patient," said Theisen. "I've always been interested in becoming a podiatrist, not many people say that, but I always knew that's what I wanted to do."

The oldest of three children, Theisen, is currently single and originally from Minnesota.

When not busy hitting the medical books and doing hands-on training, she enjoys hiking and "caving" or spelunking.

"She's really serious about spelunking," said Libbie.

"I also like to collect rocks and found one shaped like a boot once," she said.

Visiting the Carlsbad Caverns is also something Theisen enjoys doing and something she will do again before she leaves.

"She didn't get to see any surgery, but she did a lot of post-operative work," said Libbie. "But who knows, we might have a surgery patient before she leaves."

In the meantime, Theisen will be here until Friday, staying with Richard and Lilian Creasey and enjoying the West Texas atmosphere.

"I've really enjoyed it here and I feel I've learned a lot," she said.

Balmorhea pool annual cleaning gets underway

TOYAHVALE, April 4, 2000 - Balmorhea State Park's spring fed swimming pool will be lowered for it's annual cleaning, which began on Monday and will continue until next Sunday, April 9, according to the Balmorhea Chamber of Commerce.

With its constant 78 degrees temperature and flow rate of 20 million gallons of water the 66-year-old pool is open year-round for swimming and scuba diving. To refill the 3.5 million-gallon pool, it takes about four hours. It will be ready for swimming and diving on Monday, April 10.

Elsewhere in the area, the Chamber sais fishing has been hot at Lake Balmorhea. Lots of small bass are being caught along with some big catfish.

Texas Parks and Wildlife continues to stock the lake with bass, catfish, and sunfish. The bald eagle is still being seen at the lake along with lots of interesting birds and waterfowl. With spring migration weeks away expect lots of birds around the lake and in the cottonwood trees in town. Campsites are available at the lake.

To accommodate travelers, bird watchers, and recreational visitors, the chamber said Saddle Back RV Park opened in December.

It offers a convenient place to spend the night or a week offering 20 pull through sites with water, electricity, and cable TV, which is located at mile marker 212 on Interstate 10.

Motels and restaurants are also located in Balmorhea along with motel and campground at Balmorhea State Park.

The next Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held at the Bear's Den restaurant in Balmorhea on April 24, at 2 p.m. and everyone is invited to attend.

Ordinances limit sign, leaflet use on streets, cars

PECOS, April 4, 2000 - Candidates and their supporters both in next week's Democratic primary runoff election and in the area city, school and hospital board elections on May 6 are reminded that placement of signs on city or private property along streets is against the law, as is placing flyers on the windshield of vehicles.

Section 3-16 of the city code of ordinances prohibits the placing of signs on any sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, street right-of-ways or on guard rails, utility poles, bridges or railroad crossing signs. Section 3-18 makes it unlawful to place leaflets on cars or any other vehicle without the permission of the owner.

Violators of the city ordinances are subject to fines.

Lotto

AUSTIN (AP) - Results of the Cash 5 drawing Monday night: Winning numbers drawn: 2-4-9-21-37. Number matching five of five: 1. Prize per winner: $80,403. Winning ticket sold in: Universal City. Matching four of five: 237. Prize: $509.

***

AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Monday by the Texas Lottery, in order: 4-5-0 (four, five, zero)

Obituaries

Carmen Navarette

Carmen Navarette, 73, of Anthony, N.M., died Sunday, April 2, 2000.

Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 5, at St. Anthony Catholic Church with burial in Anthony Cemetery in Anthony, N.M.

Survivors include two sons, Frank Navarette of Anthony, N.M. and Ray Navarette of Yuma, Ariz.; three daughters, Rosa Dwyre of San Antonio, Isabel Uranga of Anthony, N.M. and Juanita Payan of Anthony, N.M.; one brother, Jose Arellano of California; two sisters, Estella Villegas of Hatch, N.M. and Inez Montez of California; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Easter Walker

Easter Mae Walker, 80, of Brownwood and formerly of Pecos, died Friday, March 31, 2000, at Brownwood Regional Medical Center.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m., today at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Pecos.

She was born April 20, 1919, in Antlers, Okla., was a homemaker and a member of the First Methodist Church of Pecos. She had lived in Brownwood for the past four years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Dennis Walker and four sisters.

Survivors include three sons, Eugene Walker of Los Lunas, N.M., Dicky Walker of Las Cruces, N.M. and Jimmy Walker of Silver City, N.M.; two daughters, Mary Veber of Newton, Iowa and Margaret Moseley of Brownwood; one brother, Ancel Campbell of Star Valley, Wy.; one sister, Joyce Sutherlin of New Mexico; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Heartland Funeral Home of Early is in charge of arrangements.

Weather

PECOS, April 4, 2000 - High Monday 62. Low this morning 31. Forecast for tonight: Clear. Low in the mid 40s. South wind 5-10 mph. Wednesday: Sunny and unseasonably warm. High 90-95. Southwest wind 5-15 mph. Wednesday night: Clear. Low near 50. Thursday and Friday: Mostly sunny warm days and fair nights through the period. Lows near 50. Highs 90-95.



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