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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, October 2, 2002
Air Field vets return to Pecos for 2002 reunion
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 2, 2002 -- They were stationed in Pecos from 1942 until
1945 and the memories of their stay will be relived this week as they
come together for another reunion.
The Pecos Army Airfield Reunion 2002 began on Tuesday and will continue
through Thursday, and some couples arrived early for the happy occasion.
"Some were actually in town since Monday and the group signed in yesterday,"
said West of the Pecos Museum Curator Dorinda Millan, who helps the group
organize their reunion every two years.
"We love having them come in and spend time here, a place where they have
warm memories," said Millan.
The first Pecos Army Air Field reunion was held eight years ago, and has
usually taken place in the fall. A space dedication and opening ceremony
for this year's event was held this morning at the Pecos Municipal Airport,
with a big welcome from Town of Pecos City Mayor Dot Stafford.
"We once again welcome you and hope you're stay in Pecos is a safe and
happy one," she told the group.
"We all need to get together to give them a big welcome," said Debbie
Thomas, museum director. "We would love to have at least one of you at each
of the events."
A flagstone was constructed at the Pecos Municipal Airport and bricks
were placed around the flagstone that the reunion attendees can purchase.
This morning the bricks were officially dedicated and Thomas told the group
that there were a few left for purchase.
Town of Pecos City Main Street Program Coordinator Tom Rivera, a Vietnam
veteran, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pecos High School
Band played a song and Stafford passed out copies of the proclamation to
the group. The Catholic War Veterans were on hand for a 21-gun salute.
The reunion attendees will meet again from 1-3 p.m., at the museum courtyard
for the reception. They are planning a trip and tour to the Realistic Bomber
Training Initiative just outside of Pecos, where B-1 and B-52 bombers conduct
their electronic scoring tests. The site, about 17 miles southwest of Pecos,
was dedicated earlier this year.
A banquet for the Army Air Field veterans will be held Thursday, before
the group moves on to see World War II era planes in flight this weekend,
at the annual Commemorative Air Force Airsho, this Saturday and Sunday at
Midland International Airport.
"They also plan to go to the airsho later this week," said Millan.
A Pecos Army Air Field Display is set up at the West of the Pecos Museum.
Teens facing fines, punishment over use of alcohol
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 2, 2002 -- A "gathering" held this past weekend at a local
residence turned out badly for several teenagers, who are now facing
hearings in Pecos Municipal Court after the police were called out
to investigate.
The incident began when officers were dispatched to 1704 Missouri St.,
at about 11:47 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28.
"This was a call from a neighbor who said that the owners of the residence
were not home at that time," said Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney. "The
neighbor noticed a lot of people at the residence and they knew that the
owners were not there and they called it in."
McKinney said that this was a case of a neighbor looking out for a neighbor.
Once inside the residence, officers found open and empty cans of beer,
and approximately 18 teenagers were cited for Minors in Possession (MIP)
as a result of the incident. "There were some that the police didn't cite,"
said McKinney. "Some of them had left the scene."
Most of those involved were Pecos High School students, and will also
face school disciplinary action, including a one-week suspension from extracurricular
activities, as a result of their citations.
The citation is a Class C Misdemeanor, according to McKinney. The fine
is from 0-$500, according to the individual and his past record.
"The fine and/or punishment they receive will be up to the judge," said
McKinney.
The individuals who received a citation Saturday have not seen the judge
yet. The students are also subject to school discipline.
Experiment Station's Field Day fails to attract farmers
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 2, 2002 -- The amount of crops being grown in the Trans-Pecos
region has been below normal levels this year, and on Tuesday, the
annual Field Day at the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station west of
Pecos harvested few farmers to view the results of tests which have
been conducted over the past year.
Tests discussed this year were on Bermuda grass, cotton, guayule, lesquerella
and forage crops. The tests were conducted at the Pecos Station, seven miles
west of town, at the Extension Service's Lubbock facility and at sites in
other western states.
"There was another field day in Lubbock that the farmers from Coyanosa
all went to," said Mike Murphy, Senior Research Associate for the Experiment
Station. Most of those in attendance were associated with the crop tests
whose results were presented in the handbook given out as part of the Field
Day events.
Because of the small turnout, the presentations were all given inside
the barn area of the main building at the Sid Kyle Experiment Station. The
only plants those in attendance got a close-up look at were the summer forage
plants brought in from Yoakum County by Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomist
with the Lubbock research center.
Trostle said tests on Brown midrib sorghum/sudan showed the crop had better
digestibility for livestock, which increase daily weight gain in a three-year
study from 2.6 to 2.9 pounds per day, though seed costs are somewhat higher.
He also said the forage crops are at their most useful if they are harvested
before they "head" (bloom), and displayed a photoperiod-sensitive sorghum/sudan
that remains in its vegetative state until daylight length is less than 12:20
no matter when the crop is planted, and then heads out four weeks later.
He said in West Texas, it allows growers to control the harvest date to the
period around Sept. 20, when the plant enters its reproductive cycle.
On grasses, Mason said main tests have been concluded on the varieties
of Bermuda grass for forage.
"We did find that World Feeder Bermuda grass … is actually producing
better in this region than it does in any other region of the state," Mason
said, adding that the grass would probably be the best for small operators.
While the seven-year test is completed, Mason said they would continue
observations on the Bermuda grass plot. "We're going to see which one is
going to be more aggressive than the others," and eventually push out the
other varieties of grass.
Mason also spoke for Dr. John Gannaway, who is supervising the cotton
tests at the Pecos Experiment Station and in the Lubbock area. Greenhouses
are being built there for Texas A&M's "World Seed Bank" which will be
home to cotton varieties from around the world, where tests will be done
to see which varieties are the most insect and disease resistant.
Some cotton varieties have been growing in the Pecos research center's
greenhouse, and will be sent to Lubbock once its facilities are built. "It's
going to be an exciting era for the next five years," Mason said.
The guayule test report was presented by Mike Foster, who said the plant,
which can be used in the making of rubber, is beginning to attract commercial
interest thanks to tests done here, and in Arizona and New Mexico, though
the increased use of the plant for latex products means it will be subject
to stricter Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
He said a commercial program for the non-allergenic latex product has
been launched in the Yuma, Ariz., area, and the company hopes to eventually
have enough acres under contract to supply 10 percent of the natural rubber
latex imported annually by the U.S. "They're starting to get a handle on
the production costs," Foster said. "We've done our part in getting the data.
The company is going to have to take the risk."
Foster also talked about testing on lesquerella, a plant that produces
a vegetable oil seed that is being studied for high volume non-food commercial
uses. He said that includes testing by a Cleveland company on it for use
as a biodegradable 2-cycle oil and for hydraulic fuel.
He said a new salt-tolerant lesquerella developed in Riverside, Calif.,
will be tested during the 2002-2003 year at the Pecos Station, with plantings
in the Coyanosa and Fort Stockton areas.
"I've been visiting with the farmers on pricing, and things need to come
together," Foster said. "This could be the greatest thing in the world, but
they need to make a buck from it."
Rec department holding sign-ups for youth soccer
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 2, 2002 -- The Reeves County Community Sports and Recreation
Department is signing up boys and girls for youth soccer between now and
Oct. 19.
The leagues are open to boys and girls ages 4 ½ to 14. Parents
can pick up enrollments forms at the Recreation Department office in the
old Pecos High School gym during office hours. Entry fee is $10 per child,
and forms must have the signature of both parents and a birth certificate
also must be provided.
For further information, call the recreation department at 447-9776.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 2, 2002 -- High Tuesday 92. Low this morning 70. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows around 65. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Thursday: Partly cloudy.
Highs 85 to 90. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Thursday night: Clear.
Lows around 55. Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 80. Saturday: Partly
cloudy. Lows around 55. 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.
***
Ike Hernandez, 19, was arrested at 1:59 a.m., on October 1, at Seventh
and Sycamore streets for warrant out of Ector County Sheriff's Department
for theft by check a class B misdemeanor.
***
Katrina Bell, 17, was arrested at 7:51 p.m., on Sept. 30, in the 200 block
of W. 14th street, for Indecent Exposure.
***
Jose Cano, 31, and Brandy Varela, 24, were arrested at 4:18 a.m., on
Oct. 2, in the 600 block of Eddy street both for assault under the family
violence act. And Jose Carno also for an outstanding DPS warrant for use
of equipment with out approval.
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 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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