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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, July 5, 2002
Leaders hold onto spots after Thursday's rodeo
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- The second go-round leaders changed in only
one event Thursday night, at the West of the Pecos Rodeo, while the
leaders in the three riding events stayed the same following the second
of the rodeo's four nighttime performances.
Matt Davis and Houston Powers are now in first place in the second go
of Team Roping after they posted an 8.4 time on Thursday. Davis, from Vega,
and Powers, of Sonora are .3 seconds up on Arnold Felts of San Angelo and
Steve Northcutt of Odessa. Meanwhile, the team of Brock Bean of Fort Hancock
and Shot Branham of Midland continue to hold the lead in the average, at
18.6 seconds, two-tenths of a second better than Matt Gully of Novice and
Blake Elms of Stephenville.
In Steer Wrestling, Jason Miller continues to hold the lead in the second
go-round with his 4.2 seconds, while Biggz Harper, who also performed Thursday,
took over the No. 2 spot with a 4.5 time, and moved into second place in
the average, at 11.5 seconds. Harper moved past Clay Gaines into second place
the second go-round, but Gaines' 4.6-second time on Thursday still was enough
to give him the lead in the average. The Atlanta, Ga., cowboy is at 10.6
seconds for two attempts.
Jesse Bail, currently second in overall earnings for 2002 among all PRCA
cowboys, took the lead on Wednesday night at the start of the Saddle Bronc
ridings, while James Boudreaux, currently among the money leaders in Bareback
Riding, also held onto his lead from Wednesday, though he had to share it
with another cowboy, Scott Frazier, who also competed on Wednesday night.
Boudreaux, of Cuero, and Frazier, of Wilmington, Tx., both scored 79 points
on their rides Wednesday. Austin Griffin, who rode Thursday night, moved
into third place with a 75-point ride on Gray Ghost, one point better than
Australian cowboy Lance Kelly.
Bail, who is among the leaders in both Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding, scored
85 points, while Tom Reeves and Steve Dollarhide, who are just behind Bail
in the standings overall for 2002, is also right behind him in the West of
the Pecos standings. Reeves, who was ranked No. 4 to Bail's No. 2 in the
standing for the first half of the year, scored 82 points and Dollarhide,
currently the No. 3 rider, scored an 80 on his ride, which also took place
on Wednesday.
Roswell cowboy John Jones tied Dollarhide for third place in the Pecos
Rodeo standings on Thursday, while Jason Millam took advantage of a re-ride
to move into fifth place, with a 76-point effort.
Frazier, meanwhile, has a good shot at the All-Around title in the Pecos
Rodeo, after he scored an 82-point effort on "Blame It On Rio" in Bull Riding
on Wednesday, before tying for the lead in the Bareback competition later
that night. Royd Doyal's ride on Tuesday, which was upped from an initial
89-point score to a 90-point total, kept him in first place in the overall
standings, while Howdy Cloud, who also rode in Tuesday's special bull riding
section, is now tied for third with Joaquin Garza, both of whom had 78 point
scores. Garza was another rider from Wednesday's show.
In Steer Roping, the leaders in the second go-round and the average remained
unchanged after the first two nights of the rodeo. Lawson Plemons of Chilton
remains No. 1 in the second go-round and Rod Hartness held onto the top spot
in the average, with 12.5 and 25.6 second time respectively. Hartness, who
is looking to get back into the Top 20 among ropers for 2002, is 3.6 seconds
ahead of the current No. 4 roper, Rocky Patterson, who won the first go-round
and is at 29.2 seconds overall, while Shorty Garten and 17-time world champion
Guy Allen are just behind Patterson in the average, both with 29.3 times.
Hartness did fall to third place in the second-go round, tied with Allen
and Marty Jones at 13.4 seconds, as Mike Chase took over the No. 2 spot,
with a 12.8 second time.
In calf roping, Bradley Byrum of Snyder and Tye Pride of Carthage held
onto their leads in the second go-round and for the average. Byrum is at
9.8 seconds and Pride at 10.2 seconds, while their positions are reversed
in the average, with Pride at 20.7 and Byrum at 20.8 seconds.
Another Snyder resident, Kassi Mowry, holds the lead in the Barrel Racing
competition. She posted a 17.22 second time on Wednesday to take over first
place. Benette Holt of nearby Rotan is second, with a 17.70 time, while Laticia
Duke of Merkel is in third with a 17.77 time.
Several of the barrel racers were unable to make Thursday's rodeo performance
due to the heavy rains and flooding in the South Central Texas area. Rains
also hit Pecos each of the first two nights of the rodeo, but waited until
after the performances were over, and only disrupted the post-rodeo dances
at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn.
The final night of second go-round competition is this evening, beginning
at 8 p.m. at the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena.
The Top 12 finishers in all of the roping events plus steer wrestling,
will return on Saturday, along with the final night of Bull Riding, Bareback
and Saddle Bronc Riding and the final night of Barrel Racing.
Roswell cowboy John Jones tied Dollarhide for third place in the Pecos
Rodeo standings on Thursday, while Jason Millam took advantage of a re-ride
to move into fifth place, with a 76-point effort.
Frazier, meanwhile, has a good shot at the All-Around title in the Pecos
Rodeo, after he scored an 82-point effort on "Blame It On Rio" in Bull Riding
on Wednesday, before tying for the lead in the Bareback competition later
that night. Royd Doyal's ride on Tuesday, which was upped from an initial
89-point score to a 90-point total, kept him in first place in the overall
standings, while Howdy Cloud, who also rode in Tuesday's special bull riding
section, is now tied for third with Joaquin Garza, both of whom had 78 point
scores. Garza was another rider from Wednesday's show.
In Steer Roping, the leaders in the second go-round and the average remained
unchanged after the first two nights of the rodeo. Lawson Plemons of Chilton
remains No. 1 in the second go-round and Rod Hartness held onto the top spot
in the average, with 12.5 and 25.6 second time respectively. Hartness, who
is looking to get back into the Top 20 among ropers for 2002, is 3.6 seconds
ahead of the current No. 4 roper, Rocky Patterson, who won the first go-round
and is at 29.2 seconds overall, while Shorty Garten and 17-time world champion
Guy Allen are just behind Patterson in the average, both with 29.3 times.
Hartness did fall to third place in the second-go round, tied with Allen
and Marty Jones at 13.4 seconds, as Mike Chase took over the No. 2 spot,
with a 12.8 second time.
In calf roping, Bradley Byrum of Snyder and Tye Pride of Carthage held
onto their leads in the second go-round and for the average. Byrum is at
9.8 seconds and Pride at 10.2 seconds, while their positions are reversed
in the average, with Pride at 20.7 and Byrum at 20.8 seconds.
Another Snyder resident, Kassi Mowry, holds the lead in the Barrel Racing
competition. She posted a 17.22 second time on Wednesday to take over first
place. Benette Holt of nearby Rotan is second, with a 17.70 time, while Laticia
Duke of Merkel is in third with a 17.77 time.
Several of the barrel racers were unable to make Thursday's rodeo performance
due to the heavy rains and flooding in the South Central Texas area. Rains
also hit Pecos each of the first two nights of the rodeo, but waited until
after the performances were over, and only disrupted the post-rodeo dances
at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn.
The final night of second go-round competition is this evening, beginning
at 8 p.m. at the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena. The Top 12 finishers in all of
the roping events plus steer wrestling, will return on Saturday, along with
the final night of Bull Riding, Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding and the
final night of Barrel Racing.
Final Results
Storms help area, force evacuations in Central Texas
From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Rains from a slow moving front, which has
caused major flooding in South Central Texas for the past week, arrived
in West Texas on Wednesday.
But the front was far weaker by the time it reached the Trans-Pecos area,
and the rains it brought were a welcome sight to local farmers and ranchers,
after it came pouring down on two consecutive days.
Pecos received 0.89 inches of rain Thursday evening after receiving .11
inch on Wednesday evening.
"That's pretty good, we got almost an inch of rain," said Mike Murphy,
director of the Texas A&M Experiment Station.
Other parts of northern Reeves County received even higher totals, and
Coyanosa reported that they had received about 1.8 inches, a little more
than those closer to Pecos.
Balmorhea State Park employee Tony Fleenor said that they were disappointed
because they received no rainfall at all on Wednesday and just a 10th
of an inch last evening.
"It's pretty depressing," said Fleenor. "We kept hearing about all the
places that received rain and we didn't get any," he said.
Fleenor said they were still hopeful about receiving rain this weekend.
"They predicted rain for throughout the weekend and we're hoping we'll
get some then," he said.
Marfa received four inches, according to Fleenor.
The late night and early morning rains helped cut short any fireworks
activities around Pecos the past two nights.
According to City/County Fire Marshall, Jack Brookshire, there were no
calls regarding fires starting over fire works, though police were called
to Martinez Field and the North Side Park on U.S. 285 late Thursday after
people there were shooting off fireworks, in violation of a Reeves County
ordinance passed last week.
"We did not have any calls regarding fires started by fireworks," Brookshire
said. "The only call we got was that of a utility pole on the corner of Sixth
Street and Ash getting hit by lighting.
The lightning strike was part of a thunnderstorm that came in at about
11:30 p.m., forcing suspension of any fireworks activities.
Fireworks were banned this year on all county-owned property due to drought
conditions.
The heaviest storms Thursday night were reported north of Reeves County
in Eddy County, N.M., where heavy rains caused some minor street flooding
around Carlsbad.
However, area farmers could benefit from the storms, which may end up
adding some much-needed water to Red Bluff Lake on the Texas-New Mexico state
line.
Lake levels have been too low this year to allow a water release to farmers
in Reeves and three other counties along the Pecos River.
While the Trans-Pecos is grateful for the rains, and are hoping that the
decade-long drought will break soon, South Central Texas is bracing for additional
flooding today, after a new round of showers hit the area today.
The storms have killed at least seven people and caused extensive property
damage.
More damage is expected this weekend, after floodwaters spilled over the
dam at Canyon Lake and headed down the Guadalupe River towards New Braunfels.
A few miles northwest of San Antonio, a small dam broke in Grey Forest.
Numerous roads that had recently been reopened had to be closed again
as rising water submerged the pavement.
President Bush has declared ten counties in Texas disaster areas due to
the flooding.
Meanwhile, the new round of rain was adding more water to the already
overflowing Medina Lake and threatening several communities downstream along
the Medina River.
To the west of San Antonio, homes in Castroville, population 2,600, were
evacuated for a mile on either side of the Medina River.
From Castroville to LaCoste, more than 4,000 people remained evacuated
because of river flooding, the Medina County Sheriff's Department said.
Most of the evacuees were staying with friends and family, but two shelters
in Hondo were taking in a small number of displaced residents.
"Medina Lake is the primary concern, and whether the flooding will overflow
the dam," said Frank Perkins, who is helping coordinate relief efforts. "If
that happens, we'll have a lot of problems. So that's our main threat right
now."
Authorities said the mandatory evacuation was for anyone within a mile
of the river, which reached 23 feet above flood stage at Bandera on Thursday
before water began to recede.
The downriver communities of LaCoste and Somerset were expected to be
20 feet above flood stage by late Friday.
"We've had high water, but nothing near this," said Jonelle Crow, who
lives five miles north of Castroville along the river. "The water is rushing
tremendously fast."
The flood ripped five tall pecan trees out of the ground where they've
grown for more than 100 years, she said.
Leon Suehs, 78, said he was ordered to evacuate immediately about 9 p.m.
Thursday. "I didn't bring anything," he said. "I didn't even bring my medicine."
Near New Braunfels, what started as a trickle over the spillway at Canyon
Lake by Friday morning had grown into a raging waterfall pouring into the
already swollen Guadalupe River.
Residents were ordered to leave their homes by early Friday as roiling
water threatened homes and businesses.
About 50 people wearing raincoats or holding umbrellas gathered behind
a barricade on the high end of a residential street to watch the torrent
of brown, murky water from the Guadalupe tear through their neighborhood.
Some snapped pictures to record the moment.
About 100 yards beyond the barricade, there was nothing left of a house
that once stood on stilts.
"It's just gone," said Dan Ackerman, who lives in the higher end of the
neighborhood. "It got washed away in '98 and they rebuilt it. But it's gone
again."
The house, neighbors said, crashed into a telephone pole, snapping the
pole in half.
A transformer and electrical wires fell into the current, apparently knocking
power out of the neighborhood.
A six-foot propane tank swirled in the current among the debris.
Some houses are underwater up to the roof, as the water creeps farther
from the riverbank.
"I just pray `God, you come and visit our community in the midst of our
devastation,"' said Valerie Dalton, who, along with other members of her
church, helped residents evacuate their homes.
Shari Kasberg watched floodwaters swamp her home for the second time in
four years.
The water was up to the roof.
"My children are safe, my animals are safe; we'll be OK. It's just material
possessions," Kasberg said, choking back tears. "But, you know, it is your
home. It's where you have birthdays, it's where you have Christmas."
Postal worker Lesley Lewis said she could not reach the Canyon Lake post
office located near the dam and feared it may be under water.
"I'd love it if the rain would stop. We're supposed to work no matter
what, but I guess today we won't," she said.
About 15 miles southeast of New Braunfels in Seguin, as many as 400 people
were urged to leave their homes.
Some went to an emergency shelter set up in the city of 22,000.
On Thursday, President Bush declared 10 counties disaster areas, making
federal aid available to people in Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie,
Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Medina and Uvalde counties.
The announcement came a day after Gov. Rick Perry declared a state disaster
for 29 South and Central Texas counties.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said damage surveys continue in
other areas and additional assistance and counties could be added after assessments
are completed.
Flood warnings were expected to continue through the weekend for South
Central Texas and the Hill Country, the National Weather Service said.
Morning raid nets drugs, stolen property
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Drugs and suspected stolen items were recovered
during a narcotics search warrant executed this morning by Pecos police.
The search warrant was executed at about 9:06 a.m., today at 611 Pine
St., and one person was arrested as a result of the raid.
"During the search we found a substance believed to be heroin in one of
the bedrooms," said Pecos Police Investigator Paul Deishler.
Officers also found materials commonly used in injecting and packaging
heroin, according to Deishler.
Arrested during the search was Jose Luis Garcia, 39, who was charged with
possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deishler added that along with the drugs found during their search, officers
also found items they believed to have been stolen.
Recovered items include three bicycles, a skill saw and two weed-eaters.
"If any citizen thinks one of these items might belong to them, can come
by the Criminal Justice Center and identify it in some way," he said.
Deishler said that the police department wanted to return these items
to the rightful owners.
"They don't necessarily have to have the receipt or serial number, but
if they can somehow identify it we'll let them have the item back," he said.
Anyone wanting to claim any of the items can go to the Criminal Justice
Center and ask for one of the detectives.
"We'll gladly show them the item or if it really belongs to them, let
them have it," said Deishler. "Our main goal is to get these people their
things back," he said.
Commissioners to vote on agreements, payments
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Reeves County Commissioners are scheduled
to vote on a series of items during their regular monthly meeting on Monday,
including an interlocal agreement between the county and the City of Balmorhea.
Commissioners will meet at 9:30 a.m., in the third floor courtroom and
the public is invited to attend.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on a lease agreement between
Reeves County and Diversey Lever for dishwashing machines; a request for
release of judgment by Tom Barker, DBA ASA Bonding Company; rental agreement
between Reeves County and Pitney Bowers for postage meter and road and bridge
license plate renewal fees.
The group will also discuss and take action on judges, alternate judges
and clerks for November 2002 General Elections; consolidation of voting boxes
8 and 9; salary grievance committee and inmate transportation crew mileage
payments.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on payments to several contractors
currently working on the Reeves County Detention Center III.
Regular agenda items include: reports from various departments; budget
amendments and line-item transfers; personnel and salary changes; minutes
from previous meetings and semi-monthly bills.
Two children die in rollover near Stockton
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Two accidents that occurred late Wednesday
night and one early this morning claimed the lives of four people,
including two children from Pecos, during the 4th of July
holiday.
That accident occurred at about 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday, two miles north
of I-10 on U.S. 67 in Pecos County. According to the Department of Public
Safety, the accident was a one-vehicle rollover in which the children inside
the vehicle died.
The accident involved a 1999 Ford Explorer in which Ezequeil Martinez
Urias, 32, of Del Valley, Christopher Urias Martinez, 13, of Pecos, and Bianca
Juith Montez Urias, 10, of Del Valley. According to the DPS report, Ezequeil
Urias was traveling north on U.S. 67 when he drifted to onto the eastbound
shoulder. He then overcorrected and lost control. At that point the vehicle
spun once and overturned two times ejecting Christopher Urias.
Christopher Urias was pronounced dead at 1:32 a.m. by Judge Robert Gonzales
and taken to Memorial Funeral Home in Fort Stockton. Bianca Urias was taken
to Pecos County Medical Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:59
a.m. Her body was also taken to Memorial Funeral Home.
According to the report Christopher Urias was not wearing his seat belt,
while Bianca Urias was wearing her lap belt, but did not have on her shoulder
belt.
Ezequeil is listed in stable conditions with head and arm lacerations
at Pecos County Medical Hospital in Fort Stockton.
The other accident occurred on Highway 118, near the McDonald Observatory
in Jeff Davis County, which was originally called in as a brush fire.
However, when police and Jeff Davis County firefighters arrived at the
scene, they found a burning car with two people in it.
Firemen put out the fire, but the bodies were burned beyond recognition.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation in Alpine, no other
details on the accident were available at press time but say that they would
have further information later this afternoon.
Mental health forum planned next Thursday
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- A public forum, sponsored by the Mental
Health Planning Advisory Council and the Mental Retardation Planning Advisory
Council, will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 11.
The meeting will be held at the Pecos Community Center, 508 S. Oak St.
This will be an opportunity for the community to give feedback on needs,
wants and service gaps. Administrative staff will also be available to answer
questions on changes in the mental health and mental retardation service
system.
For more information contact Paige Prater at 915-263-0007.
Weather
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- High July 4th 93. Low this morning
68. Rainfall last 48 hours at Texas A&M Experiment Station .85
inch. Forecast for tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Lows near 70. Southeast winds 10 to 20
mph. Saturday: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Saturday
night: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Lows near 70. Sunday: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Monday: Partly cloudy with a slight
chance of thunderstorms. Lows near 70. Highs in the mid 90s.
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 indicate payment and release.
***
Robert Wayne Pugh, 36, and Thomas Gorham II, 36, were arrested at 7:30
p.m., on June 14 at Flying J both for theft of service over $20 and under
$500.
***
Francisco Menchaca, 29, was arrested at 9:07 a.m., on June 23 at Seventh
and Almond streets for abusing aerosol paint and a warrant for theft.
***
Jaime Ortiz Natividad, 19, was arrested at 8:10 a.m., on June 22 in
the 700 block of Martinez Street for evading arrest, a Capias Pro Fine warrant
for default in payment for assault by contact and unauthorized use of a motor
vehicle.
***
Alexa Dominguez, 18, was arrested at 5:28 p.m., on June 21 in the 500
block of Cherry Street for a Capias Pro Fine warrant for default in payment
for assault by contact.
***
Two male juveniles were arrested at 10:22 p.m., on June 20 in the 1500
block of Missouri Street for a parole violation.
***
A female juvenile was arrested at 1:56 a.m., on June 20 in the 1000
block of East 11th Street as a runaway.
***
Frank Rivera, 51, was arrested at 11:25 p.m., on June 19 in the 100
block of South Mesquite Street for public intoxication.
***
Rudy Freeman, 28, was arrested at 11:55 p.m., on June 22 at Sixth and
Almond Streets for aggravated assault.
***
Roy Garcia Carrillo, 35, was arrested at 2:55 a.m., on June 28 at Adams
and Willow Streets for public intoxication.
Obituaries
Matilde Cano, Refugia Franco, Clairbel Fuller, Cristobal Martinez and Bianca Urias
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 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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