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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, October 17, 2000
Fed court boost staff at probation office
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, October 17, 2000 - The increasing federal court caseload in the
Pecos Division of the Western District of Texas not only means more people
in jail; it also means more people on probation and awaiting sentencing.
To help handle that workload, two new probation officers have been sworn
in over the past five months for the Pecos Division, with the latest, Steve
Oppermann, taking the oath of office from U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson
last Wednesday.
He follows Armando Flores, who joined the local probation office back
in May. Both are Texas natives, but while Flores is from Monahans and continues
to commute to Pecos to work, Oppermann is from the Austin area, where his
parents run an office supply store, and comes here from Waco, where he
worked for a decade in the state probation office.
"I was hired for the Western District (which runs from Austin and Waco
to El Paso) and assigned out here," said Oppermann, who does have some
West Texas experience, having graduated from Texas Tech University.
"I was in Lubbock for six years, but this is the furthest out I've ever
lived," he said.
"I've been excited about the job, and I'm looking forward to it," said
Oppermann, whose duties will include doing pre-sentencing investigations
before sentences are handed down by Furgeson or other judges in Pecos federal
court.
Both new probation officers are single, though Flores is engaged to
be married. He was hired on May 8, and has been assigned to the Pecos Division
since then. "It's everything I expected and more," he said.
"It's a good group of people to work with, and with me being from Monahans
the Pecos people welcomed me with open arms," he joked.
Flores grew up in Monahans and graduated from high school there, before
getting an associates degree from Midland College and a bachelor's degree
in criminal justice from Angelo State University. His first probation job
was working for the 143rd District Probation Office in Ward
County, where he spent 3½ years.
Drug suspect pleads guilty after mistrial
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, October 17, 2000 - A federal court defendant entered a guilty
plea on a drug charge last Thursday, after his case before U.S. District
Court Judge Royal Furgeson ended in mistrial.
Juan Alvarez-Meraz, 25, of Crete, Neb., had been arrested and charged
on two drug-related counts, one for importation of marijuana and the second
count for possession with intent to distribute.
Alvarez-Meraz' trial began last Wednesday at the Lucius D. Bunton Federal
Courthouse, but ended in a mistrial the following afternoon. According
to court documents, a mistrial was declared after a juror spoke to other
jurors about how the outcome of the case should go during a break in the
trial, and word got back to Furgeson and the assistant U.S. Attorneys prosecuting
the case.
Jurors are not supposed to discuss the case with other jury members
until hearing all trial evidence, along with statements by the prosecution
and defense lawyers. After hearing about the violation, the government
filed a motion for a mistrial, which was then granted by Furgeson.
After the mistrial was declared, Alvarez-Meraz entered a plea of guilty
to count one of the two-count indictment, instead of going through the
process of a second trial. His sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 21
in U.S. District Court in Pecos.
City's sales tax rebates show 10 ½ percent rise
PECOS, October 17, 2000 - October sales tax rebate checks in the Permian
Basin and Big Bend areas were up almost for almost everyone over last year,
with most cities reporting double digit increases according to figures
released last week by State Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander's office.
Pecos was among those cities with big gains in their checks, as October's
rebate, based on August's sales, was $60,526, up 10 ½ percent from
the $54,768 the city got back last October, based on its 1 ½ cent
share of the state's 8 ¼ cent sales tax.
For the first 10 months of 2000, tax rebates for Pecos are up slightly,
at $644,140, which is 1.6 percent up from a year ago.
Toyah was one of the few cities to report a decline in their rebate
check, which continued a year-long trend. The city got back $189 this month,
down 48.87 percent from $368 last October and for the past 10 months the
city has seen its checks drop from $12,998 to $3,701, or 71.52 percent.
Balmorhea was virtually unchanged from a year ago _ its October rebate
check for $309 was $1 more than last year. For the year, Balmorhea's rebate
check is up 47.15 percent, to $6,896, but that's due to a ½-cent
increase in the city's sales tax a year ago.
An increase in the city sales tax also helped boost Midland's rebate
check by over 50 percent this month. The city got back just under $1.2
million in October, the largest rebate check of any city in the area. Odessa's
rebate check of $961,731 was up 18.86 percent over last year.
Other cities showing double-digit increases in their rebate checks were
Alpine, Crane, Van Horn, Big Spring, Kermit, Monahans and Wink, while Andrews
and Fort Stockton reported smaller increases this month.
Statewide, rebate checks were up on average 21.05 percent, Rylander's
office reported, to $195.8 million this month. Houston's check for just
under $24 million was up 17.37 percent from last October, while Dallas'
check for $16.5 million was the second largest and was up 30.91 percent
from a year ago.
Police Report
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report
is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County
Sheriff's Office, or other officers of those agencies.
The serving of warrants by an officer for outstanding fines of either
traffic citations, animal control violations or other court costs are considered
arrests and will be printed as such unless indicated that the fines were
paid. In such instanced we will indication payment and release.
Tammy Deishler, 22, and Rene Rayos, 30, were arrested at 11:46 p.m., on
September 24 at Seventh and Maple streets, both for evading detention.
Maribel Ornelas, 22, was arrested at 1:52 a.m., on September 25 in the
1200 block of Cherry Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
George Ortega, Jr., 26, was arrested at 11:33 p.m., on September 23
in the 900 block of Orange Street for public intoxication.
Valerie Rodriguez, 18, and Chris Mendoza, 17, were arrested at 1:28
a.m., on September 24 in the 1700 block of Hackberry Street both for disorderly
conduct/fighting.
Pedro Morales, 62, and Jose Salcido, 58, were arrested at 12:36 a.m.,
on September 23 in the 200 block of Peach Street both for public intoxication.
Anthony Gomez, 18, was arrested at 2:49 a.m., on September 23 at Rocket
Park for possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces, a Class B misdemeanor.
Gloria S. Menchaca, 23, was arrested at 7:06 p.m., on September 22 at
Third and Locust streets on two warrants for expired license plate and
no inspection and no proof of insurance.
Daniel Marquez, 39, was arrested at 2:12 a.m., on October 1 in the 600
block of East Second Street for public intoxication.
Freddie Lujan, 39, was arrested at 10:01 p.m., on September 28 in the
600 block of South Alamo Street for public intoxication.
Jeremy Renteria, 20, was arrested at 1:55 p.m., on September 27 at Wal-Mart
for criminal trespassing/theft-Class B.
Jesus A. Chavez, 27, was arrested at 1:01 p.m., on September 26 three-fourths
of a mile south on Highway 17 for failure to maintain financial responsibility.
Alan Merle Morgan, 39, was arrested at 6:20 p.m., on October 11 in the
2400 block of Country Club Drive for driving while intoxicated.
Albino Tarango, 43, was arrested at 8:58 p.m., on October 11 in the
900 block of Ninth Street for criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and
public intoxication.
Lorenzo Ybarra, Jr., 24, was arrested at 1:50 a.m., on October 10 at
Uncle's at Third and Cedar streets for public intoxication.
Joshua Fuentez, 17, was arrested at 3:17 p.m., on October 9 at the police
department on a warrant for deadly conduct.
Patricia Patino, 17, was arrested at 2:12 a.m., on October 8 at Allsup's,
708 S. Cedar St., for possession on marijuana under two ounces.
Veronica Fuentez, 37, and Ruben Fuentez, 43, were arrested at 11:33
p.m., on October 4 in the 500 block of South Pecan. Both were arrested
for causing bodily injury under the Family Violence Act.
Jesus de La Cerde, 40, was arrested at 2:08 a.m., on October 5 at Third
and Park streets for driving while intoxicated.
Javier Arredondo, 19, Robert H. Ramirez, 20, George Natividad, 20, David
G. Pando, 19, and Albert Contreras, 17, were arrested at 9:01 p.m., on
October 15 in the 300 block of South Cypress Street. All were arrested
for disorderly conduct, public intoxication and minor in possession.
Jacob Acosta, 18 and Agapito Acosta, 51 were arrested at 11:36 p.m.,
on October 14 in the 200 block of North Locust Street. Jacob Acosta was
arrested for interfering with a peace officer and Agapito Acosta was arrest
for furnishing alcohol to minors.
Jesus Armendariz, 22, and Martina Armendariz, 24, were arrested at 3:07
a.m., on October 15 in the 1700 block of Alamo Street. Jesus Armendariz
was arrested for assault under the Family Violence Act and Martina Armendariz
was arrested on a warrant for failure to yield the right of way.
Gloria Menchaca, 23, was arrested at 11:05 p.m., on October 13 at Fourth
and Eddy Streets for making alcohol available to minors.
Two male juveniles were arrested at 3:37 a.m., on October 14 in the
1200 block of Hickory Street, both for burglary of a motor vehicle.
Roberto Maynez Rodriguez, 18, was arrested at 1:50 p.m., on October
11 at Wal-Mart for criminal mischief.
Obituaries
Daniel Sandoval
Services are incomplete for Daniel Palma Sandoval, 64, of Pecos, who died,
Monday, Oct. 16, 2000, at Reeves County Hospital.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lela Schneider
Services are incomplete for Lela I. Schneider, who died today at the Pecos
Nursing Home.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ignacio Tarango
Ignacio Tarango, 77, of Pecos, died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000, at his residence.
A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., today, at the Pecos Funeral Home
Chapel.
Mass is scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Santa Rosa Catholic
Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
He was born Feb. 1, 1923, in Coyame, Chih., Mex., had lived in Pecos
since 1985, was retired and a Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Otilia Tarango of Pecos; one son, Guillermo
Tarango of Midland; five daughters, Rosario T. Ramirez, Martha Mendoza,
Manuela Tarango and Maria Salgado of Pecos and Cecilia T. Aguirre of Presidio;
15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, October 17, 2000 - High Monday 75. Low this morning 58. Forecast
for tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms.
Low in the lower 50s. Southeast wind 5-15 mph. Wednesday: Partly cloudy.
High 80-85. South wind 5-15 mph. Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy. Low in
the mid 50s. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Lows from the upper 40s to mid 50s.
Highs in the 70s to lower 80s.
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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