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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, July 12, 2002
New principals picked for three P-B-T schools
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 12, 2002 -- Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board members
assigned two current principals to new campuses and appointed a new
principal to a third campus Thursday evening, during their regular
monthly meeting in the Technology Center.
Cindy Duke, who was principal at Pecos Kindergarten during the past school
year 2001-2002, was appointed as principal at Austin Elementary School, which
houses the district's 1st through 3rd grade classes.
She replaces Victor Tarin, who was named last month as the new principal
at Crockett Middle School, replacing Juanita Davila.
Also changing campuses will be Zavala Middle School principal Benny Hernandez,
who will move across the street to handle the same job at Bessie Haynes Elementary,
following the resignation of longtime principal Mary Lou. Hernandez was principal
at the Zavala sixth grade campus last year and before that had served as
assistant principal at Pecos High School.
Newcomer Robert Garrett will take over as principal at Zavala Middle School.
He comes from Utopia ISD, west of San Antonio, where he had been teaching
4th-6th grades.
Garrett received his Master of Education from Sul Ross Rio Grande University
in Uvalde and his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma Christian University
in Oklahoma City.
His accomplishments include 90 to 100 percent TAAS Scores at his school;
Recognized campus (1998-2000); Exemplary campus (2000-2001), TAAS Scores;
(2001-2002) 4th, reading-92 percent; writing 91 percent and math
100 percent.
Garrett had also taught at Natalia ISD as an elementary teacher in grades
3-4
Davila is now working at the Technology Center, where she moved following
the retirement of longtime P-B-T technology coordinator Larry Sloan, who
retired at the end of the past school year.
In other action Thursday, board members discussed 2002-2003 budget and
possible tax rate and tabled the elimination of two administrative positions.
P-B-T ISD Superintendent Don Love proposed several budget cuts to the
board including the elimination of the two assistant principal positions,
at Austin Elementary and Crockett Middle School, which are currently vacant.
The elimination of those two positions would be a savings of $99,394.
"Every cut that we've made has been through attrition," said Love. "We're
losing lots of money in state aid next year and there's nothing that can
be done."
Increases in valuations within P-B-T ISD last year that brought the school
district an additional $2 million in tax revenues will be offset this year
with a cut in state aid, based on that increase.
"I'd hate for two new principals to come in and then be overwhelmed, to
take to much on," said board member Crissy Martinez.
"Well, have you spoken to these principals and asked how they feel," said
board member David Flores. "We need to ask them if they feel they can handle
the position without an assistant."
Love said he had spoken to Tarin and Duke, and that they said that they
felt they could handle the job.
"I think it's a lot for one person," said Martinez.
"He feels like he can do it," said Love, referring to Tarin.
Davila said that the first year she was principal at Crockett she didn't
have an assistant. "I did it by myself, but it was only one grade at that
time," she said. "I think it's possible, but that individual will be stretched."
Davila said that the most time-consuming and hardest part would be supervising
the many games that take place and the extracurricular activities.
"The counselor and other teachers helped me supervise at the games, because
a lot of the times there would be both boys and girls games at different
areas," she said. "But we always worked it out."
"It's hard, but I think it can be done," said Davila.
"We can always come back in December and get them an assistant, if it
proves to be too much," said Personnel Director Gome Olibas.
"From now until Aug. 29, we hope to approve the budget and set a tax rate,"
said Love, who added that there will be a budget meeting next Thursday and
the item can be discussed and approved at that time.
Turnout good at blood drive to help Moore
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 12, 2002 -- Turnout was higher than officials expected
Thursday at Reeves County Hospital, where local residents spent six
hours donating blood to help Texas Department of Public Safety's Corporal
Emmit Moore, who underwent heart transplant surgery earlier this week
in Dallas.
"United Blood Services was surprised because there were a lot of first
time donors that were just doing it because it was for Emmit," said Nancy
Ontiveros, Director of Program Development and Community Services at Reeves
County Hospital. "There were also some people who had not donated blood in
25 years and again they were just doing it because it was for Emmit."
Ontiveros said she talked to Moore's wife Louise on the phone, and told
her about the support the blood drive received. United Blood Services had
only expected about thirty donors but then had to ask for more supplies from
Midland due to the huge turnout.
According to Ontiveros, the theme for this blood drive was `You can be
a hero, too'.
"We had 70 people come in yesterday to donate blood," Ontiveros said.
"But only 52 were able to donate blood. Twelve people were deferred because
of medical reasons and six others came in at closing time."
"We appreciate everything," Mrs. Moore said. "People have asked us if
we are now going to move to Dallas. We tell them that we are not going to
leave Pecos and our friends."
Moore underwent the transplant surgery on Sunday, and Louise Moore said
her husband was put into a regular room as of Wednesday afternoon and should
be out of the hospital and into his apartment a week from now.
The apartment in which Cpl Moore will be staying in is only located a
block from the hospital.
"Before the girls came up here I told them that I would walk at least
three mile everyday. Walking to the hospital and then around the hospital,"
Mrs. Moore said. "I think they believe me know."
She said Cpl. Moore has walked six laps already as part of his recovery
rehab.
Currently, he is still connected to one intervenious (IV) tube, and that
at 11 p.m. tonight they will be taking out more of his chest tubes.
"We are very happy and moved by the reaction of the people of Pecos,"
Mrs. Moore said.
District Attorney Randy Reynolds was one of the donors, and said that
he encourages everyone become a donor.
"Twenty-five years ago I was a regular donor," Reynolds said. "My wife
and I decided to donate blood when we hear about Emmit."
Reynolds said that donating blood was not as painful as he thought it
would be.
"I encourage everyone to do it," Reynolds said. "The process was a lot
less painful then I thought it would be. The United Blood Service people
and the hospital staff were very tender with the whole process."
Reynolds added that he enjoyed the whole process, especially the part
in which is wife became dizzy.
Wanting to make a donation, Judge Lee Green was not able to make a donation.
"I arrived late from a doctors appointment in Odessa," Green said. "I
wish I could have been a part of it."
He added that if a second blood drive were to be held today he would be
sure to donate blood.
According to Ontiveros, though Pecos may not have reached its goal of
80 units of blood, she did say that the surrounding areas of Monahans, Alpine,
Ft. Stockton and Kermit had also held blood drives in honor of Moore.
People wanting to send letter to the DPS officer may do so at:
Twice Blessed Apartments
2732 Gaston Ave
#111
Dallas, TX 75226.
Overnight blaze destroys carport, vehicles
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 12, 2002 -- Pecos Volunteer Fire Department members were
called out early this morning to battle a carport fire.
The fire call came in at 3:32 a.m., on a house on 1800 Washington Street
was reported on fire.
According to the Fire Department report, the blaze began in the carport,
where a 1994 Ford Thunderbird, a 1993 Chevy Suburban and a 1991 GMC Sonoma
pickup were parked.
Fire Marshall, Jack Brookshire said that the fire is believed to have
started in the Thunderbird but is unsure of what could have caused it.
The house, which is owned by Victor and Cindy Alonzo, suffered fire damage
in the attic. Brookshire also said that there was smoke damage and major
water damage with in the house.
The carport, which is located on the east side of the house, was totally
destroyed, along with both the Thunderbird and the Suburban. The pickup
only suffered minor damages on the paint.
The fire is still under investigation.
Former RCDC guard indicted on sex charge
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 12, 2002 -- A Reeves County Detention Center correctional
officer has been charged with having sex with an inmate and was arraigned
in the United States District Court, Western District on Tuesday.
Anthony Baeza, a former Reeves County Detention Center employee, appeared
before United States Magistrate Judge Durwood Edwards and was assessed a
$30,000 unsecured bond.
The indictment stated that Baeza did knowingly engage in a sexual act,
as defined in Title 18 United States Code, Section 2246 (2)(B), with Roberto
Nava-Bejarano, a federal inmate at the detention center.
"There were some allegations that were brought forth against him, about
inappropriate conduct with an inmate," said RCDC Assistant Warden Tony Perez.
"An investigation showed that there was inappropriate conduct and based on
policy, rules and regulations, we terminated his employment."
Perez said that the Office of Inspection Agency that oversees the facility
and individuals that work with federal inmates investigated the incident.
"They did the investigation and made the indictment," said Perez. "Once
the internal investigation showed that the allegations were sustained, the
Office of Inspection is the one that took over and did authorize the indictment."
Perez said that this was an isolated incident. "We have excellent employees
and when it comes to actions like this, what can we do? Humans are humans,"
he said.
In the indictment, Ronald Holland, Special Agent with the Department of
Justice Office of the Inspector General, with the authority to investigate
violations of Federal laws, said, "On May 7, 2002, Correctional Officer Anthony
Baeza reported to officials at the Reeves County Detention Center (RCDC)
that inmate Roberto Nava-Bejarano had forcibly grabbed Baeza's hand and placed
it on Nava-Bejarano's crotch. Baeza was an officer assigned to the Booking
Department at the RCDC, while Nava-Bejarano worked as an inmate orderly in
the same area.
"On May 9, 2002, this same information was reported by Baeza to the Reeves
County Sheriff's Department in an effort to have state charges filed against
inmate Nava-Bejarano. Baeza signed an affidavit regarding the alleged incident.
"On May 30, 2002, investigators at the RCDC interviewed Baeza regarding
his allegations concerning inmate Nava-Bejarano. At that time, Baeza changed
his initial allegation and told RCDC investigators that inmate Nava-Bejarano
forced Baeza to perform oral sex on him (Nava-Bejarano). In addition, Baeza
admitted that he had been involved in a sexual relationship with another
RCDC inmate, Carlos Guzman-Ruiz. Baeza admitted that he had performed oral
sex on this inmate on several occasions.
"On May 31, 2002, Holland interviewed inmate Roberto Nava-Bejarano regarding
Baeza's allegations. Nava-Bejarano related that it was Baeza who initiated
the sexual activity. Nava-Bejarano claimed he informed the officer that he
did not want to do anything that could jeopardize his imminent release from
custody. Further, Nava-Bejarano claimed that he told the officer that he
did not want to participate in any type of sexual activity. According to
the inmate, Baeza made oral threats and psychologically coerced Nava-Bejarano.
Based on Baeza's actions and words, Nava-Bejarano stated that he submitted
and allowed Baeza to perform oral sex on him (Nava-Bejarano).
"On May 31, 2002, Holland interviewed Baeza who related that he began
working at the RCDC approximately six years ago and was assigned as a Correctional
Officer in the Booking Department. Baeza admitted that on May 5, 2002, while
on duty in the Booking Department, he performed oral sex on inmate Nava-Bejarano.
"Baeza admitted that he had earlier made false statements to RCDC investigators
and other law enforcement officials (Reeves County Sheriff's Investigators)
regarding the facts of this incident. Baeza admitted that he had falsely
stated that the inmate had coerced him into a sexual act.
"Baeza also admitted that he had engaged in a long-term sexual relationship
with former RCDC inmate Carlos Guzman-Ruiz. Baeza stated that he performed
oral sex on this inmate on approximately four occasions. Baeza said that
he also smuggled contraband, to include tattoo ink, into the RCDC for inmate
Guzman-Ruiz."
Baeza provided a written affidavit in which he acknowledged that he had
sexual contact with two separate wards (inmates).
State Supreme Court hopeful touts W.Texas background
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, July 12, 2002 -- The time has come for the western portion
of Texas to be represented in the top positions in state government,
according to one of the Democratic candidates for the Texas Supreme
Court.
Judge William Moody of El Paso stopped by Pecos yesterday to talk about
his plans if elected to the State Supreme Court in the November 5 election.
Moody hopes he'll be the first person from El Paso, to be elected to a
state government position as well as the only representative of the state
west of Interstate 35.
Moody, who has lived in El Paso since he was six-years-old, explained
that it has been 25 years since a person has been elected to a state office
directly out of West Texas.
"That's a very long time as far as elected representation," he said.
Currently there are 29 statewide offices in the Texas government and out
of all of them, Moody said, there is not one of them that lists their residence
as being west of I-35. Several West Texans, including current Gov. Rick Perry,
have moved up to higher office, but only after first being sent to Austin
in lower-level positions.
Moody said that 20 percent of Texans live west of I-35, all of whom he
said needs representation as well.
In the November election there are 16 positions open with a Democratic
and Republican candidate for each making 32 people running for office.
"I'm the only one (of the 32) that lives west of I-35," he said. "West
Texas deserves at least one seat."
Moody said that he believes that West Texas should be represented so other
members of the Texas government would understand what the people of this
area need.
"It's important that we have somebody who understands our problems and
our strengths," he said.
Any West Texan would know that one of the biggest problems in this area
is water, or lack there of.
Moody said he believes that the Rule of Capture would soon come up before
the Court and he said is "headed to a big decision."
Currently, the Rule of Capture law states that anyone in control of a
body of water and who captures the water owns it. For West Texas, that can
mean the draining of area aquifers in rural areas by larger cities in need
of additional water supplies, who would buy land in the area only for the
purpose of pumping out the water underneath.
Moody explained that a case went before the Court in 1994 with the Ozarka
Water Company, who bought a piece of land near Brady and wanted to pump all
the water out of that aquifer leaving no water left for surrounding farmers.
T. Boone Pickens, an oilman in the Panhandle, is currently trying to do
the same thing in the Lubbock and Amarillo area, which is causing some controversy.
Moody said that when the Rule of Capture comes before the Court it would
be important and beneficial to have a West Texan seated on the Court to give
some perspective of how much water is needed in this area.
"They don't understand what a precious and scarce resource it is," he
said.
That issue is driving Moody's campaign along with others dealing with
various relationships such as employee to employer and patients to HMOs.
Moody graduated with honors from the University of Texas at El Paso in
1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history. He
then moved on to receiving a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University
in 1975.
As a child, Moody said his fifth grade teacher was the one who got him
interested in government.
Then while in high school he decided he was also interested in the legal
profession.
"In high school I figured I wanted to be an attorney," he said.
When he took the oath of office as a 34th Judicial District
Court Judge, Moody invited that same teacher who inspired him to go into
government to the swearing in ceremony.
Moody said that his he is elected to the Supreme Court he plans to invite
that teacher to witness that swearing in.
As a district judge, Moody has tried over 400 cases including two capital
murder cases.
Moody's opponent in the November election is Republican Wallace Jefferson,
who was appointed to the Supreme Court one year ago.
Moody said that he has been a judge longer than Jefferson has been a lawyer.
He said that the "experience factor" is an important thing to have on
the Supreme Court.
Moody said that although Jefferson is a worthy opponent he has not ever
been a judge, which Moody thinks is important for being on the Supreme Court.
"It's so important to have trial experience," he said.
Moody is taking a few weeks vacation off from his position as the judge
for the 34th Judicial District Court in El Paso, a position he's
held since 1986, to travel across Texas to meet with community members in
numerous counties.
He and his wife of 26 years, Maggie, are traveling through approximately
100 counties in Texas with their two daughters Melissa, 24, and Emily, 16.
His two sons James, 23, and Joseph, 21, are unable to travel with them
because they are currently attending college.
Moody said that his family has backed his decision to run for office since
he announced his candidacy in July of last year.
"They've been very supportive," he said.
With the election coming closer, Moody hopes the citizens of Texas would
also be supportive of his race, whether they vote for him or his opponent.
Youth volleyball registration starts for 3-6 graders
PECOS, Friday, July 12, 2002 -- The Reeves County Community Sports and
Recreation Department is signing up third through sixth grade girls and boys
now through Aug. 23 for its fall volleyball program.
Enrollment is $10 per child and forms can be picked up at the recreation
department office in the old Pecos High School gym.
A birth certificate must be provided and both parents must sign the registration
form for the child to participate. For further information, call the recreation
department at 447-9776.
Weather
PECOS, Friday, July 12, 2002 -- High Thursday 92. Low this morning 70.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Lows in the upper 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: Partly cloudy
with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms Highs in the lower 90s.
Northeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Saturday night: Partly cloudy with a 20
percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Sunday: Partly cloudy
with isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Monday: Partly
cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.
Highs 90 to 95.
Obituaries
W.C. Doggett and Joe Ray Lara
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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