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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, January 7, 2002
Seguin man dies in I-10 crash near Van Horn
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Jan. 7, 2002 -- A Seguin man was killed after being involved
in a one-vehicle rollover with his family this weekend on Interstate
10 near Van Horn.
Michael A. Perrin, Sr., 42, of Seguin, died at Culberson County Hospital
in Van Horn on Saturday afternoon. His son Michael, Jr., 10, was also transferred
to Culberson County Hospital with minor injuries where he was in stable condition.
According to the Department of Public Safety report, the accident occurred
at 2:24 p.m., on Saturday six miles East of Van Horn in the eastbound lane
of Interstate 10.
The report states that the driver, who was Sarah Perrin, age unknown,
was either fatigued or fell asleep at the wheel causing the 1998 Ford van
she was driving to roll.
"The driver was fatigued or fell asleep and went off the roadway into
the center median," a DPS representative said. "The vehicle overturned ejecting
one occupant."
The report does not state who was ejected from the vehicle.
The passengers of the vehicle are believed to have been wearing their
seatbelts.
Justice of the Peace Ismael Villalobos of Van Horn pronounced Perrin,
Sr., dead at 3:53 p.m., at Culberson County Hospital. The body was taken
to Van Horn Funeral Home.
Trooper Delyande Delco is still investigating the accident.
Coyanosa teen misses detour, crashes pickup
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Jan. 7, 2002 -- The Department of Public Safety is planning
to charge a Coyanosa teen with driving while intoxicated after damaging
construction barriers on Business Interstate 20 in between Pecos and
Barstow this weekend
Joseluis Carrasco, 18, of Coyanosa, was traveling East on Business 20
toward Barstow around 1:30 a.m., on Sunday when he struck the barriers beside
the Long Bridge, 1.6 miles East of Pecos. The narrow 59-year-old bridge is
in the process of being torn out and rebuilt to modern standards by construction
crews, with traffic being detoured on a temporary road on the south side
of the bridge.
Carrasco rolled the white 1999 Dodge Pickup he was driving after running
into the barriers causing a couple thousand dollars worth of damage to the
construction site, according to DPS Trooper Eric White out of Monahans.
"He was eastbound on Business 20 and failed to negotiate the construction
area properly," White said.
White said that Carrasco ran off the road and hit barriers on both sides
of the road eventually causing the truck to roll and landing "on its top."
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident, according to White.
Carrasco was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
The Pecos Ambulance Service transported Carrasco to Reeves County Hospital
with minor injuries.
White said that the barriers damaged in the accident would have to be
replaced but that the roadway remained open.
The accident is still under investigation.
Jailed brothers facing Midland drug charges
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Jan. 7, 2002 -- Four brothers who were arrested last week in
Juarez, Mexico on drug charges will have a trip to U.S. District Court
in Midland awaiting them when they are extradited by the U.S. government
from Mexico City.
The brothers are Mexican citizens Hernaldo, aka, "Naldo" Beltran Perea
and Raul Beltran Perea and U.S. citizens Jesus "Chuy" M. Beltran and Rodolfo,
"Rudy" Beltran. All are former residents of Balmorhea and Pecos, according
to local officials.
The four were arrested New Year's Eve in Juarez, Mexico following an extensive
drug investigation by Mexican police. The brothers allegedly masterminded
a cocaine smuggling ring in El Paso and Juarez for the past 10 years, officials
said Thursday.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's El Paso office helped Mexico's
new Federal Investigative Agency work on the case, DEA spokeswoman Angie
Gurrola said.
The New Year's Eve arrests follow charges on April 19, 2000, in U.S. District
Court, in Midland that were brought against the Beltrans and several others
in a case that remains before federal judge W. Royal Furgeson, Jr.
Charges pending in federal court in Midland include for Hernaldo Perea
Beltran, one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Court papers indicate
that the defendant did conspire with others to possess with intent to distribute
cocaine and import and distribute marijuana.
Raul Beltran, has two counts for conspiracy to distribute narcotics. The
defendant did conspire with others to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
and import and distribute marijuana.
Jesus Beltran has three counts of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
The defendant did conspire with others to possess with intent to distribute
cocaine and import and distribute marijuana.
Rodolfo Beltran is being charged with four counts of conspiracy to distribute
narcotics. The defendant did conspire with others to possess with intent
to distribute cocaine and import and distribute marijuana.
The four were charged in unsealed indictments that were unsealed on Jan.
11, 2001.
A fugitive search began on May 19, 2000 for Hernaldo Perea Beltran, Raul
Beltran, Jesus Beltran and Rodolfo Beltran, among others who were named in
the indictments at that time, including Consepcion Martinez, Noel Quiroz
Ramos, Horland Garcia, Ruben Garcia and Randy Lopez.
Several of those named were arrested in December of 2000, while according
to the El Paso Times, the brothers were arrested during a family holiday
party at Ajua, a popular restaurant frequented by many El Pasoans and other
tourists.
Officials said that the organization smuggled drugs through El Paso and
that they were then distributed to cities in Texas, Kansas, California and
other states.
"The organization was headed by Hernaldo and Raul Beltran, who organized
the smuggling and distribution and sale of 50 to 100 kilograms of cocaine
per week, while Jesus and Rodolfo (Beltran) recruited drivers and collected
the payments," according to a statement from the Mexican federal attorney
general's office.
The Times said both Pereas and both Beltrans were taken to Mexico City,
where they will be processed for extradition to the United States on drug
charges, said Lorenzo Aquino Miranda, Chihuahua state director for the Mexican
federal attorney general's office.
TNRCC officials investigate illegal dump sites
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Jan. 7, 2002 -- Officials with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) were in Pecos last week beginning an investigation on
illegal dumping sites in the area.
Municipal Solid Waste Investigator Herb Rehders from TNRCC out of Midland
said that his attention was brought to the illegal dumping sites after receiving
complaints on the different locations around Pecos.
Rehders said that complaints were called in to TNRCC several weeks ago.
"December 27 was our latest call that came in," he said. "It was turned
in via an emergency response call."
Rehders explained that the call was originally called in as an accident
but they quickly realized that it was more of a complaint.
TNRCC came into town last Thursday and began their investigation and discovered
"several potential unauthorized dumping sites," according to Rehders.
Rehders said that the sites had material that was supposed to be placed
in a Type IV landfill including tree branches, tires, major appliances and
mattresses among other things.
The Town of Pecos City does not have a Type IV landfill at this time although
they are in the process of applying for that permit.
Rehders said that he could not release the location of the sites as well
as the names of possible suspects at this time.
However, he said that they do have some significant leads as to who was
dumping at the sites.
"In some cases, we have actual people on the scene that saw them do it,"
Rehders said.
Anyone that TNRCC determines as the illegal dumpers would have to clean
up the site at their own expense as well as pay a fine, according to Rehders.
If TNRCC can not determine who dumped the material illegally, Rehders
said that the landowner would be held responsible.
TNRCC is busy with numerous investigations in this region, according to
Rehders.
Once enough information has been gathered concerning the sites in this
area that information would be presented to the local regional enforcement
coordinator, Rehders said.
"He'll determine what kind of case we have and the moneys involved," he
said.
Right now, however, TNRCC is still investigating the sites and it is uncertain
how long the investigation would last.
"We're still gathering facts," Rehders said. "The gist of what we're
doing is following up on these three major leads here and see where it takes
us."
Year in Review
Republic trial, Anchor sale among August events
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the eighth in a series of stories on
events that occurred in the Pecos area during 2001. Today's story covers
the month of August.
***
Wednesday, August 1, 2001—The Reeves County Hospital Board of Directors
gave approval for a financial feasibility study for a dialysis center in
Pecos during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, in the classroom
at Reeves County Hospital.
Two Pecos men have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing on drug related
charges in connection with federal indictments returned in February by a
grand jury in Midland. Gregorio Navarrete, 46, of Pecos and Thomas Herrera
were among a group of people arrested by local law enforcement agencies earlier
this year as part of an investigation that began two years ago into a major
drug smuggling operation in West Texas.
***
Thursday, August 2, 2001—Jury selection and jury trial has been
set for Monday for members of the Republic of Texas, including their leader
Richard McLaren on federal weapons charges. A trial on charges of violating
the National Firearms Act against McLaren, his assistant, Robert "White Eagle"
Otto, and three other Republic members, Richard Frank Keyes, Greg Paulson
and Karen Simon Paulson is scheduled to begin before U.S. District Judge
Royal Furgeson in Midland on Monday. The federal weapons charges are separate
from the state charges for which McLaren and the others were later convicted
of following the standoff.
***
Friday, August 3, 2001—An effort by the U.S. Air Force to cut down
its B-1 bomber fleet won't affect plans for low level flights by the bombers
over Reeves County and other parts of West Texas, an Air Force spokesman
said today. The House Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday to block
the Air Force plan to cut the B-1 bomber force by one-third and remove them
from three of the five bases that now house them. ***
Monday, August 6, 2001—Southern Union Gas Company is contributing
$2,500 to the Community Council of Reeves County this week to assist low-income
customers with their natural gas bills.
***
Tuesday, August 7, 2001—The Town of Pecos City has recently started
enforcing a city vehicle usage policy for city employees after a recent arrest
brought up questions about access to city vehicles. On July 29, three men
were arrested for public intoxication at Allsup's on Eddy Street after police
were called to the scene in reference to a fight. Two of the three men arrested
were driving a 1989 White Chevrolet pickup registered to the city and issued
to Fire Chief Roy Pena. The pickup had reportedly been borrowed by his son,
Michael Roy Pena, 18, who was one of the three taken into custody by police,
and while the vehicle itself was not involved in any violation, Police Chief
Clay McKinney said that if any charges would be filed involving the city
vehicle, McKinney said that the city would be responsible for it.
***
Wednesday, August 8, 2001—A drug bust that started Tuesday afternoon
continued today, as area law enforcement official look for four suspects
wanted on warrants who remain at large. The round-up started at 5 p.m. Tuesday
and most of the arrests were made last night.
Fingernail and toenail polish, colored lipstick, along with sleeveless
shirts will be allowed at the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD high school campus,
school board members decided Tuesday night. Board members approved the 2001-2002
handbook, Student Code of Conduct and Cafeteria Guidelines during their regular
meeting held Tuesday.
***
Thursday, August 9, 2001—Security cameras will be installed at Crockett
Middle School, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD members decided on Tuesday, while
also approving new district health insurance and the sale of several foreclosed
properties during their regular monthly meeting.
***
Friday, August 10, 2001—Reeves County's booming dairy business has
been chosen for a feature article in an upcoming issue of a statewide dairy
publication. Pecos Economic Development Board Director Gari Ward said that
Sherry Webb of Texas Dairy Review magazine is writing a feature article about
the dairy business in Pecos and Reeves County that will run in September.
***
Monday, August 13, 2001—Vehicle rollover accidents took the lives
of two Pecos residents and injured a Pecos teen over the weekend. A Pecos
man and woman were killed in separate vehicle accidents, the first one occurring
about 105 miles west of Pecos and the second about 275 miles east of Pecos.
Red Bluff Water Power Control Board President Randall Hartman was elected
managing director for the district on Monday by board members, during their
regular monthly meeting in Pecos. Hartman's appointment was made following
the resignation of Red Bluff General Manager Jim Ed Miller for health reasons
two months ago.
***
Wednesday, August 15, 2001—The annual Night in Old Pecos event,
held in conjunction with the West of the Pecos Rodeo, turned a profit this
year. And the Barbeque Beef Cook-off, which had been held annually until
last year as part of the Reeves County Fall Fair, will be revived in 2001,
Pecos Chamber of Commerce members were told on Tuesday.
***
Thursday, August 16, 2001—The whereabouts of an elderly homeless
man are unknown one week after his disappearance, and Reeves County Sheriff's
deputies are seeking information in the case.
Area law enforcement agencies, including the Trans-Pecos Drug Task Force,
arrested two Wickett men after executing a search warrant Wednesday night
in Wickett in connection with a Methamphetamine manufacturing lab.
***
Friday, August 17, 2001—Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD schools were rated
academically acceptable by the Texas Education Agency, although the district's
alternative education program campus was among the 106 schools to receive
low performing rankings in the annual survey.
A couple of bridges in the area are getting a much-needed "face-lift,"
including the widening of one 60-year-old bridge to meet modern standards.
One of the bridges is Toyah Draw, located between Pecos and Toyah, while
the other one is located technically in Ward County, the Pecos River Relief
bridge, commonly known as the "long bridge" located just east of Pecos.
***
Thursday, August 23, 2001—A Canadian frozen food company that produces
some major brands sold in the United States has announced a tentative agreement
to buy Anchor Food Products Inc., and its Pecos processing facility. McCain
Foods Limited announced yesterday that the company will acquire Anchor Foods
in a three-party transaction, a deal that also involved the H.J Heinz Company.
A federal court case against two women, who were terminated from their
at the Reeves County Detention Center after being accused of having sex with
inmates at the facility, was dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge Royal
Furgeson on Wednesday.
***
Friday, August 24, 2001—The Town of Pecos City Council authorized
City Manager Carlos Yerena to submit a grant application that would help
the city build housing infrastructure for a new housing development during
the regular meeting last night at City Hall. Yerena explained to the council
that the grant would allow the city to connect new homes that they are proposing
to build in the 700 and 800 block of Washington Street to the city water
and sewer system as well as construct sidewalks, streets and curbs for the
homes. The council authorized the application for a State of Texas home
improvement partnership program grant that would be used to help in purchasing
affordable housing in Pecos during a special meeting in June.
Trans Pecos Drug Task Force members, working with the Culberson County
Sheriff's Department, the U.S. Border Patrol and other area law enforcement
agencies, arrested three people and seized over 5½ pounds of cocaine
following a traffic stop just east of Van Horn Thursday morning.
Reeves County commissioners had to juggle their boundaries a little on
Thursday to reapportion county precincts along federal guidelines, but the
result was four districts with less than a full percentage point difference
in population. A few precinct lines were moved around, with the biggest changes
coming along Eddy Street between Precincts 2 and 3 and in West Pecos between
Precincts 3 and 4.
***
Monday, August 27, 2001—Thunderstorms didn't even wait for Sunday's
"Pray For Rain Day" to begin in Pecos, as they paid a surprise overnight
visit to town, dropping over an inch of rain in the city during the early
morning hours. The rain was part of a line of storms that pushed southward
through Texas over the weekend.
A weekend accident left one local teen in serious condition while an Arlington
woman was arrested for deadly conduct at Northside Park following an incident
Friday evening.
***
Tuesday, August 28, 2001— Traffic at Austin Elementary School can
get a little complicated at times, with the addition of third grade classes
to the south side Pecos campus this year. Traffic around the school has become
more crowded, with parents parking their cars during the morning and afternoon
to drop off and pick up their first, second and third graders, while others
wait for school buses to take them home. With the closing of Pecos Elementary
and the shift of third grade classes to Austin, the additional cars caused
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD officials to talk with Pecos Police last week about
helping to regulate traffic around the campus. Two cars were involved in
a minor accident this morning outside the elementary school on Veterans Boulevard
in which no one was reported injured.
***
Wednesday, August 29, 2001—A proposed new traffic plan for the area
around Bessie Haynes Elementary School, which handles fourth and fifth grade
students for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, was outlined during a special
meeting of the P-B-T school board Tuesday afternoon.
The Pecos Housing Authority (PHA) Board of Commissioners approved an
interlocal cooperation contract between Reeves County, the Town of Pecos
City and PHA concerning land for the construction of two additional holes
at the Reeves County Golf Course, during the regular meeting last night
at the PHA/Farm Labor Housing (FLH) Administration Office on Teague Drive.
***
Thursday, August 30, 2001—Reeves County has reached an agreement
with Banes General Contractors, Inc., the construction company in charge
of the Reeves County Detention Center II project, over a dispute about payments
on the 1,000-bed construction project at the prison that was completed
behind schedule last year
Anchor West has filed a lawsuit in 143rd District Court against the Reeves
County Appraisal District (RCAD) last week, the same day the company announced
it had agreed to be bought by Canadian-based McCain Foods. Anchor West,
in their lawsuit, claims that the Appraisal District placed the value of
Anchor's property in Reeves County over market value and that the district
did not apply their Freeport Exemption correctly.
***
Friday, August 31, 2001—A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted
two former guards at the Reeves County Detention Center for allegedly accepting
bribes from inmates to smuggle drugs into the facility. Four inmates were
also indicted along with the guards on charges of offering bribes and attempting
to smuggle cocaine and marijuana into the Pecos prison facility in early
July.
Area Social Security officials set to visit Pecos
PECOS, Mon., Jan. 7, 2002 -- Officials from the Social Security Administration
will be on hand at 10:30 a.m. until noon, Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the Community
Center, 506 S. Oak.
You can handle most Social Security business by telephone. For more information
call toll free 1-800-772-1213. You can also make an appointment by calling
this number.
Social Security officials will be in Pecos on the first Tuesday of each
month for the remainder of 2002 at the Community Center, with the times for
each session also between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon.
Weather
PECOS, Mon., Jan. 7, 2002 -- High Sunday 63. Low this morning 28. Forecast
for tonight: Clear. Lows near 30. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday:
Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Tuesday night:
Clear. Lows near 35. Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs 70 to 75. Thursday:
Partly cloudy. Lows near 30. Highs in the upper 50s.
Marriages
Marriages for October 2001, as filed with the Reeves County Clerk's
Office.
Sammy Joe Lujan and Diana Victoria Hinojos.
Antonio Francisco Garcia and Vickie Martinez Samaguey.
Eddie Galindo Alvarez, Jr. and Estella Adriana Arredondo.
Jesus F. Vasquez and Nora O. Samora.
Johnny Lowell Strain and Katherin Elizabeth Terry.
Jose Luis Rodriguez and Maribel Alvarado Rodriguez.
Peter E. Mendoza and Amy Lee Barboza.
Saul Baeza Valeriano and Crystal Fay Flores.
Christopher Ortega Rodriguez and Marisol Hernandez Gonzales.
Ronny Jay Shackelford and Christine Marquez Vega.
Marriages for November 2001, as filed with the Reeves County Clerk's
Office.
Corey Trent Davis and Amanda Reid.
Jaime V. Prieto and Kathy Lopez Martinez.
Brian Eugene Hall and Stephanie Anne Armstrong.
Stephen Bustamante and Tonya Raquel Flores.
Calvin Glenn Gerke and Ava Ruth Gerke.
Enrique Evaro Mata, Jr. and Naomi Flores Rayos.
Divorces
Divorces for October 2001, as filed with the Reeves County District
Clerk's Office.
Frances T. Porras and Ted C. Porras.
Anna Marie Rodriguez and Dagoberto Mendoza Rodriguez.
Jennifer Cook Machuca and Chris Machuca.
Divorces for November 2001, as filed with the Reeves County District
Clerk's Office.
Micaela Canales Pena and Juan Jose Pena.
Connie Jo Smith Kilcrease and Roland Dale Kilcrease.
Gloria Gomez and Richard P. Gomez.
Erika L. Alvarez and Jason Chris Alvarez.
Sharon Lynn Jernigan and Frederick Earl Jernigan.
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 newsdesk@nwol.net
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Copyright 2001 by Pecos Enterprise
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