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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, July 3, 2000
PEDC approves plan for opening of OC's campus
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 3, 2000 - The Pecos Economic Development Board discussed
plans for the grand opening of Odessa College's Pecos Technical Training
Center during a meeting this morning on the second floor of the Security
State Bank building.
Odessa College's new Pecos campus began serving it's first students
for summer classes in late May, but board members were told by PEDC president
Gari Ward the official grand opening will be from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,
on Saturday, July 29.
Oscar Saenz said the board met with representatives from Odessa College
to discuss the grand opening.
He said there is an out-of-town guest list made up that includes Senator
Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator Phil Gramm and U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla.
Saenz said the community is also more than welcome to come and visit
the new facility.
"We would like to make this a nice affair and invite everybody," Saenz
said.
There will be teams in each of the six classrooms giving tours and explaining
everything.
A program will be drafted by the Vance Gibson, OC president and given
to the board for approval.
Ward wanted the board to consider roping off the parking lot in front
of the training center.
"I don't know if we can legally block it, but I think it's worth looking
into," Frank Spencer said. "I think need to look into that for safety."
Board members then approved the plans and the date for the center's
opening.
In other business, the board also welcomed Elva Arreguy to the board
of directors.
Saenz said to Arreguy that he believes that she will bring a lot to
the board because of her knowledge of job training.
"We're very fortunate to be able to bring you aboard," Saenz said.
Arreguy said she would try her best while she is on the board and help
out whenever needed.
Before going into executive session the board approved the minutes from
their last meeting, held in January.
In executive session they discussed land purchase for job creation.
Rubio gets delayed Golden Girl title
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 3, 2000 - Diana Rubio, who wowed the audience with her dance
routine, was crowned Golden Girl of the Old West over the weekend and Jenny
Alvarez was named first runner-up in the annual pageant. Nicole Payne was
named second runner-up.
However, it took Rubio a little longer than normal to claim her crown,
because at the end of the actual pageant Friday night, Nicole Payne was
mistakenly announced as the winner.
"It was just an unfortunate mistake. The numbers were added up correctly
but a name was written down in the wrong place _ from one paper to another
paper," Jenny Abbott said. Abbott is a member of the Golden Girl Revue
executive committee.
Soon after the competition was over the mistake was revealed and corrected.
"This is the first time in the 38 year history of the Golden Girl Revue
that something this unfortunate has occurred," Abbott said. "We remedied
the mistake as quickly as possible. The girls handled it very well and
Nicole was very gracious and understanding."
Rubio is now Golden Girl. Alvarez, who sang "Honey I'm Home" by Shania
Twain, is the first runner-up and Payne is the second runner-up.
Rubio said she did not find out about the mistake until later Friday
night when she and Alvarez were called to meet with the Golden Girl committee.
When the committee explained to the girls what happened Rubio said she
was in shock.
"They said the first person I asked for was Nicole," Rubio said.
Rubio said she was happy when Nicole was crowned the winner at the competition.
"I was so excited for her because I knew she wanted it a lot," Rubio
said.
After finding out the news she said she was sad for Payne but also happy
for being named Golden Girl.
Payne, who played the flute and sang a patriotic medley of songs, was
devastated about the news but says she has coped with it well.
"This unfortunate mistake has been a girl's worst nightmare come true,"
Payne said. "The peace and understanding God has given me has enabled me
to forgive the error that was made and to overcome and rise above."
"I think Nicole is strong and I think she can get through it," Rubio
said. "And I don't want this to change our friendship."
Rubio said she and the other girls had fun and now she has a lot of
warm memories.
Rubio wanted to thank all the people involved in the competition and
understand that mistakes happen.
"It's just a human mistake _ things do happen," Rubio said.
Rubio also wanted to share something about Payne.
"I want to tell her I love her and to keep her head up," Rubio said.
The committee is taking steps to ensure that this unfortunate incident
is not repeated in the future, Abbott said.
"We sincerely apologize to Ms. Payne, Ms. Rubio, and their families
for the error," Abbott said.
While Rubio, Alvarez and Payne were recognized for their abilities,
all the nominees showed poise, confidence, courage and talent, Abbott said.
The other nominees were Michelle Romo, Lyndall Elkins, Precilla Levario,
Tiffany Jarrett, Tabitha Montanez and JoAnn Wein.
Romo sang "Twenty-nine Cents," a song originally by The Wilkensons.
Elkins performed a medley of Texas songs on the piano, Levario performed
a medley of songs from "The Lion King" on the clarinet, Jarrett sang "Conga"
by Gloria Estefan, Montanez sang "Texas When I Die" by Tanya Tucker.
Also during the evening a new Little Miss Cantaloupe was crowned before
the audience at the Pecos High School auditorium.
Jasmine Tarin, seven-year-old daughter of Angel and Deida Tarin, was
crowned Little Miss Cantaloupe 2000 while Haley Kington was named runner-up.
Kington is the six-year-old daughter of David and Daphne Kington.
The younger beauties performed a group dance routine to Mambo No. 5,
the Disney Version and were introduced to the audience by Master of Ceremonies
Johnny Terrazas.
The Little Miss Cantaloupe nominees included seven-year-old Conner Armstrong,
six-year-old Lauren Elliott, six-year-old Christina Flores, seven-year-old
Jacqueline Harcrow, seven-year-old Tiffany Hunter, five-year-old Kelly
Lease, seven-year-old Krystle Ramirez, five-year-old Kendra Rayos and six-year-old
Marissa Tarango.
Six-year-old Lenora Blanchard was unable to participate in Friday's
competition because of illness.
The problems with the Golden Girl announcement on Friday kept the girls
from performing their production number Saturday evening, during the Night
in Old Pecos celebration downtown.
Crowds at the annual event were treated to cooler-than-normal weather
compared with recent years, and the food and gift booths on Oak Street
were crowded after sunset, though the area itself was quieter this year,
since organizers opted against having a live band on the Oak Street stage.
Country and Tejano dance music was provided during the night on the Windmill
Square stage.
The two events kicked off Rodeo Week in Pecos, while the first competitors
in this year's West of the Pecos Rodeo began slack competition at 7:30
a.m. today at the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena. Slack competition will continue
through the Fourth of July, with a special bull riding session added to
Tuesday night's slack competition, which will get underway at 7:30 p.m.
The first official rodeo performance will be at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday,
following the West of the Pecos Rodeo Parade, which will be held along
West Third Street and then through the downtown area starting at 10 a.m.
Wednesday. Former State Rep. Richard C. Slack will be grand marshal for
this year's parade, which will have Y2K as its theme.
Along with the parade, the old-timers reunion will also be held Wednesday
morning at the West of the Pecos Museum, prior to the start of the parade.
A barbeque lunch will be held at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn
following the parade, with plates on sale to the general public at $6 per
person.
Deputies jail truck driver in 278-pound pot seizure
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 3, 2000 - Reeves County Sheriff's Department took a huge
load of illegal drugs off the streets Sunday night, and arrested a Mexican
native for the offense.
Deputies stopped a truck, which was found to have hidden compartments
containing 278 pounds of marijuana, which they said had an approximate
street value of $170,000.
The incident occurred at about 8:56 p.m. Sunday, when Reeves County
Sheriff's Deputy Tommy Acosta was traveling north on Highway 17, two miles
south of Balmorhea, when he observed a white truck also traveling north
that had a defective taillight.
"At that time I activated my emergency lights and conducted a traffic
stop," said Acosta.
Upon making contact with the driver of the truck, identified later as
Jesus Alberto Gonzales, 20, Acosta requested to see the driver's license
and proof of insurance. "He stated that the he did not have a driver's
license," the deputy said.
At that time, the driver was asked to step out of the truck. He complied
without hesitation, and again he was asked for identification. "He stated
that he did not have any identification, but that his name was Jesus and
that he worked on a ranch in Fort Davis and that a friend that also worked
on the ranch with him let him use his truck to go riding around," said
Acosta.
Gonzales was then asked who he worked for, but could not remember the
name of the ranch or who he worked for.
"He then advised me that he was from Mexico and that he crossed the
border to try and find work," said Acosta.
A passenger inside the truck was then asked to also step out of the
vehicle. Both the passenger, who said he also was from Mexico, and the
driver were handcuffed for the protection of the officer and the subjects.
"I then had the sheriff's office contact Border Patrol to have them
meet me at my location to meet with the two subjects I had in custody,"
said Acosta.
"I then asked Jesus if he had any weapons, large amounts of money, or
any dangerous drugs in the truck and he said `no' there wasn't," said Acosta.
"I then requested consent to search the truck, he complied and gave consent."
Acosta then contacted Task Force Officer Danny Reynolds and requested
his assistance and his K-9 partner.
A search of the truck was conducted at this time. Reynolds said he suspected
a false compartment under the bed of the truck, which they were able to
confirm a short time later.
Reynolds drilled a pilot hole into the bottom of the bed, and when it
was removed a green leafy substance was attached to the drill bit.
The tailgate was removed and uncovered the false compartment under the
bed of the truck that contained 123 bundles of a green leafy substance
wrapped in plastic wrap and duct tape.
Gonzales was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana over
50 pounds and under 2000 pounds.
Both subjects were transported to Reeves County Jail and the truck was
taken to the Reeves County Jail sally port for further search. . The passenger
in the vehicle, a juvenile, was not charged and was released, but the Immigration
and Naturalization Service has been informed about the status of both Gonzales
and the juvenile.
DA's wife pleads to criminal trespass charge
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 3, 2000 - The wife of 143rd District Attorney Randy Reynolds
received a three-month probated sentence for criminal trespass in the Reeves
County Court-At-Law last week according to court documents.
Lisa Reynolds went before County Attorney Walter Holcombe, pled and
was sentenced to three months probation and assessed a fine before a warrant
was served and before she could be arrested.
Luz Alvarez, acting on behalf of her daughter, a juvenile, filed the
criminal trespass charges with the Reeves County Sheriff's Department.
On June 11, Criminal Investigator Michael Dominguez said he met with
Alvarez and her daughter, at the sheriff's department in reference to the
report.
Alvarez stated that she wanted to file criminal trespass charges on
Reynolds.
Alvarez told Dominguez that Reynolds had come to her residence while
she was in Balmorhea. She stated that she had received a call there from
her daughter, stating that Reynolds had come to her residence wanting to
speak to her. According to Alvarez, her daughter told Reynolds that her
mother was not home and asked her to leave.
According to the incident report, Reynolds started yelling and threatened
to spit in her face.
Initially, a warrant was issued for Reynolds' arrest out of Precinct
3 Justice of the Peace Rosendo Carrasco's justice court.
Before Reynolds could be arrested however, County Attorney Holcombe
filed an information in the matter that invoked the jurisdiction of the
Reeves County Court-at-Law. Judge Lee Green then issued a summons for the
Defendant for her appearance and Reynolds.
Obituary
Mae Hughes
Mae Hughes, 91, of Pecos, died Saturday, July 1, 2000 at Covenant Medical
Center in Lubbock.
Graveside services were held at 4 p.m., today, at Fairview Cemetery
with Rev. Bruce Abbott officiating.
She was born June 6, 1909, in Benton, Ark., had lived in Pecos for 48
years, was a homemaker and a member of First Christian Church.
Survivors include two sons, Marvin Hughes of Midland and Jimmy Hughes
of Lubbock; two daughters, Bobbie Clark of Pecos and Nelda Shackelford
of Idalou; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, July 3, 2000 - High Sunday 103. Low this morning 70. Weekend rainfall
at the Texas A&M Experiment Station .71 inch. Forecast for tonight:
Partly cloudy. Low in the lower 70s. South wind 5-15 mph. Fourth of July:
Mostly sunny. High around 100. South wind 10-20 mph. Tuesday night: Partly
cloudy. Low in the lower 70s. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Low in the lower
70s. High in the upper 90s to near 100.
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
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Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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