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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Thursday, May 23, 2002
Alpine man guilty of abuse against Mexican children
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Thursday, May 23, 2002 -- A U.S. District Court jury in Pecos has
convicted a 75-year-old Alpine man on three counts of importation of
aliens for immoral purposes.
Jack Wayne Whisenhunt, AKA "El Maestro," faces a maximum sentence of 10
years in prison per count, following his conviction on May 16, in Pecos.
Whisenhunt is an Alpine resident who was arrested on July 18, 2001, in
Fort Hancock. At the time of his arrest he was on probation for indecent
exposure in Hudspeth County _ a violation involving children. As part of
his probated sentence, the court ordered that Whisenhunt not leave Brewster
County without permission, and refrain from having juveniles in his residence.
On July 18, 2001, Texas Department of Public Safety officers and a Texas
Ranger arrested Whisenhunt after returning from Porvenir, Mexico, and picking
up a 14-year old boy. The teenager re-entered the U.S. illegally and waited
for Whisenhunt in Fort Hancock.
Further investigation revealed Whisenhunt had enticed the 14-year-old
and his 11-year-old brother with a trip to Sea World in San Antonio. Whisenhunt
is in custody pending sentencing.
According to testimony during the trial, Whisenhunt would take poor kids
from Mexico and tell them he had a religious mission and he was going to
take them on vacation to Sea World.
According to court records, Whisenhunt would take the minors to hotel
rooms and would perform sexual acts on them once they had gone to sleep.
Whisenhunt drank alcohol before approaching the boys.
Two boys testified against Whisenhunt, but they said that he would take
anywhere from two to four boys with him on such trips.
Whisenhunt, who taught at various small colleges in Texas and Oklahoma
before retiring, is married and has a grown child.
He was acquitted on charges he took sexually explicit photographs of the
boys and transported such pictures through interstate commerce.
The man was charged in 1995 with three counts of indecency with a child
after allegedly exposing himself, but pleaded guilty to a lesser offense
in a plea arrangements.
Students receive scholarships during ceremony
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Thursday, May 23, 2002 -- Even with slightly fewer scholarships given
to Pecos High School seniors this year, many were recognized for their
achievements during the PHS Senior Scholarships and Awards ceremony
Tuesday night in the PHS Auditorium.
High School Counselors Eva Arriola and Pat Cobos said that the awards
ceremony went well despite the lower number of scholarships.
"We're very grateful to the community for giving scholarships whether
they were small or large amounts," Cobos said.
Arriola said that while there were fewer community and college scholarships
handed out this year, there were some new scholarships.
One of those scholarships was one given by Flying J Truck Stop, which
was awarded to Kelsey Riley.
Cobos and Arriola both explained that Riley is the first person from Pecos
to receive a Flying J scholarship.
They said that Riley is only one of many students from many cities that
have Flying J Truck Stops.
"They're competing against a lot of students," Cobos said.
Another important award, according to Arriola, was the Sul Ross State
University Leadership Scholarship, which was awarded to Jessica Rodriguez.
Cobos said that the scholarship is considered a freshman leadership award
and by receiving that award Rodriguez would be eligible for other awards
in the future.
"It's a great accomplishment to get a freshman scholarship," she said.
"That makes it easier for them to get a scholarship the next year."
Brenda Fuentes also received a freshman scholarship from the University
of Texas at Permian Basin.
There were many other college and university scholarships given during
the ceremony.
Those include scholarships from Career Colleges & Schools of Texas
to Miriam Dominguez, Hardin Simons to Riley, McMurray to Fuentes, Midland
College to Job Navarrette and Oliver Zermeno and Odessa College to Laura
Hinojos.
The five traditional awards were handed out to several students who have
excelled in band and athletics.
Last year's Bill Dean Memorial Award winner Peter Juarez handed over the
trophy to this year's winner, Junior Freddy Torres.
Senior Jessica Orona won the Bill Carrico Band Award.
Sophomore Stephanie Herrera received the Dorothy Curfman Award while Delia
Soto received the Erica Dominguez Memorial Award.
Rodriguez and fellow teammate Christina Arenivas shared the honor of receiving
the Letha Prewit Basketball Memorial Award.
Rodriguez, Rebecca Wein, Candace Hilliard and Shanna Treadaway all received
$400 scholarships from the Association of Texas Professional Educators.
Wein also received the Ollie Springfield Nunn scholarship while Hilliard
received a scholarship from Delta Kappa Gamma.
Treadaway received a scholarship from the Golden Girls committee who also
gave awards to current Golden Girl Desarae Tercero, Nikki Walker and Kristina
Dominguez.
Kristina Dominguez shared the honor of receiving a scholarship from the
Downtown Lions Frank Kelly Memorial award with Kattie Davis.
Davis also received the Pecos Police Department scholarship and a Panhandle-Plains
Higher Education Authority scholarship along with Myra Dominguez.
Myra Dominguez received another scholarship from the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
Educational Secretaries along with Daisy Chavez and Miriam Dominguez, who
also received an Earl Bell Alumni scholarship.
Riley received several scholarships including an Earl Bell Alumni scholarship,
the Modern Study Club scholarship, the Pecos Valley Association WMU scholarship,
a PHS Band Boosters scholarship, a PHS Student Council scholarship, a Rotary
Club Citizen Award and the Twentieth Century scholarship.
Victoria Gomez received an Earl Bell Alumni scholarship, the Evelyn Turpin
Dowling Endowment award and the First Choice Power scholarship.
April Grace Hernandez received a Floyd Estrada scholarship, a Knights
of Columbus scholarship, the Reeves County Detention Center Executive Staff
scholarship and a Rotary Club Citizen Award.
Brenda Fuentes also received a Floyd Estrada scholarship and a PHS Student
Council scholarship.
Cassie Foster received the Jim Tre Espy Memorial scholarship, a Knights
of Columbus scholarship, the Pecos Women's Golf Association award and a Reeves
County Sheriff's Posse scholarship.
Nikki Walker also received a Sheriff's Posse scholarship.
Jessica Orona received the Alma Van Sickle scholarship and a PHS Band
Boosters scholarship.
John Canon received the Pecos FFA scholarship and the Permian Basin Fair
& Exposition scholarship.
Adan Salgado received the third PHS Band Boosters scholarship while Jacqueline
Fuentes received the third PHS Student Council scholarship.
Jennifer Gooding received the Sam Walton Community Scholarship.
Rocky Dominguez and Omar Ramirez received the Texas State Teachers Association
Local scholarships.
Several students were also recognized for their leadership and excellence
with several awards.
Phillip Salcido was recognized with the Kodak Award from the University
of Rochester, which also recognized Kristian Aguilar with the Social Sciences
Award.
Fuentes was named an Outstanding Student of America while Patrick McChesney
received the Principal's Leadership Award.
Fuentes, Hernandez, Orona, McChesney and Gooding were all recognized with
UIL Scholar Awards.
President George W. Bush recognized 18 students with the Presidential
Award for Educational Excellence.
Those students include Canon, Ashley Contreras, Davis, Foster, Fuentes,
Robert Garcia, Gooding, Hernandez, Hilliard, Hinojos, McChesney, Orona, Riley,
Rodriguez, Treadaway, Brenda Villescas, Diana Villescas and Wein.
Events planned for Balmorhea shrimp festival
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Thursday, May 23, 2002 -- Special events, plenty of music and food
are planned for this weekend in Downtown Balmorhea, as part of the
Second Annual Memorial Day Shrimp Cook-Off and Festival.
Events will began at 10 a.m., Friday with the Calera Restoration Foundation
hosting a gathering at the old Calera Church. Refreshments will be provided.
On Saturday, May 25, the Shrimp Cook-off will kick off events for the
day.
All day music will begin at 9 a.m., with D.J. Bully Matta and Mixed Company
Band performing.
A free street dance will be held from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., featuring Andy
Roman and the Roman Brothers.
Judging for the shrimp cookoff will be held during the day Saturday and
other events will be taking place in the meantime as well, according to Pat
Brijalba, one of the organizers of the event.
"There will be plenty of food booths, selling different food items and
a horseshoe pitching contest," said Brijalba.
Entry fee for the horseshoe contest which, for both men and women, is
$10 per team. Trophies will be awarded.
Other entertainment is being planned for the youngsters, according to
Brijalba. "We'll have something for the children also."
For cook-off information contact Kelly Rowden at 915-375-1119 or 915-557-3295.
For festival information contact Pat Brijalba at 915-375-2323 or Norman
Roman at 915-375-0219.
Shrimp Cook sponsors include: Permian Sea Shrimp Store, Imperial; CED
Electric Supplies, Odessa and Sarabia Wrecker Service of Fort Stockton.
Youth basketball sign-ups starting for summer play
PECOS, Thursday, May 23, 2002 -- Reeves County Community Sports and Recreation
Department is now forming boys and girls three-on-three basketball summer
leagues.
Any boy or girl who turned 12 through 14 before Sept. 1, 2001 is eligible.
Each team will have a maximum of five players.
Individuals who would like to sign up needs both parents' signature and
a copy of birth certificate; cost will be $10 per player; and entry deadline
is Saturday, June 8.
For more information call 447-9776.
Kansas slaying suspect caught at border
PECOS, Thursday, May 23, 2002 -- An U.S. Immigration and Naturalization
Service Inspector at the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso this weekend detected
and detained a 22-year-old man wanted in Kansas for Homicide/Murder in the
First Degree.
Jose Juan Arevalo was arrested after applying for admission about 6:45
p.m., Saturday, May 18. After being detected, Arevalo threw notebooks he
was carrying at the inspector, and ran south.
However, the Immigration Inspector chased him and caught him before he
entered Mexico. El Paso police officers arrested Arevalo, and booked him
into the El Paso County Jail, where he remains pending extradition.
Since Sept. 12, 2001, Immigration Inspectors have detained 284 wanted
individuals at the border. That includes three murder suspects, 10 sex offenders,
and 25 parole/probation violators.
Weather
PECOS, Thursday, May 23, 2002 -- High Wednesday 99. Low this morning 62.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy and windy. Lows in the upper 60s.
Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph this evening, becoming south and increasing
to 20 to 30 mph by midnight. Friday: Partly cloudy with isolated
afternoon thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 90s. South winds 15 to
25 mph in the morning, becoming southwest 15 to 25 mph by afternoon.
Friday night: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Lows in the upper 60s. Saturday: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance
of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Saturday evening: Partly
cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms, with temperatures falling
into the 70s by midnight. The chance of rain is 20 percent. Sunday:
Partly cloudy with a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
Lows 60 to 65. Highs 85 to 90.
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 instances we will indicate payment and release.
***
Roy Minjarez, Jr., 20, was arrested at 8:14 p.m., on May 21 in the 400
block of Mesquite Street for criminal trespass.
***
Fabian Orona, 17, was arrested at 12:32 a.m., on May 19 in the 600 block
of Walnut Street on warrants for evading arrest or detention, theft under
$50 and public intoxication.
***
Delfino Lujan, 50, was arrested at 8:05 p.m., on May 18 at Cedar and
Walthall Streets for public intoxication.
***
Ruben Jimenez, 19, and Rafael Carrillo, 17, were arrested at 7:22 p.m.,
on May 18 in the 600 block of Mesquite Street. Jimenez was arrested on a
Capias Pro Fine warrant for default of payment on a minor in possession of
alcohol charge while Carrillo was arrested for unlawfully carrying a weapon.
***
Raymond Valdez, 25, was arrested at 2:31 a.m., on May 19 in the 500
block of South Cypress Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
***
Stephen Littleton, 30, was arrested at 9:16 p.m., on May 17 at Flying
J Truck Stop for public intoxication.
***
Ilidia Juarez, 17, was arrested at 12:06 a.m., on May 18 in the 1400
block of South Eddy Street on a Capias Pro Fine warrant for simple assault.
***
Carlos Ortega, 18, was arrested at 1:09 a.m., on May 18 at Second and
Mulberry streets on a warrant for assault causing bodily injury.
***
Charles Hamilton, 52, was arrested at 6:34 p.m., on May 16 in the 800
block of South Cypress Street for public intoxication.
***
Hugh Potts, 43, was arrested at 12:03 a.m., on May 17 in the 1500 block
of South Alamo Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
***
Gilbert Florez, 32, was arrested at 7:59 p.m., on May 14 in the 300
block of South Cypress Street on a Capias Pro Fine warrant for disorderly
conduct-fighting.
***
Ruben Villegas, 28, was arrested at 11:14 p.m., on May 14 at the intersection
of Adams and Eddy streets on warrants for driving without a license in possession
and no liability insurance proof.
***
Anthony Gomez, 20, was arrested at 8:26 a.m., on May 14 in the 600 block
of Palm Street on a Capias Pro Fine warrant.
Obituaries
DeWitt Black and Thelma Dickson
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
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 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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