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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Ex-Pecosite back home after time in Afghanistan
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 15, 2002 -- After spending close to six months in Kandahar,
a city in northern Afghanistan, a 28-year old Marine from Pecos said
that though he was scared at first, it did not seem to be that bad
after a while.
Eddie Lujan, a 1992 Pecos High School graduate returned to Pecos to visit
his family after serving six months overseas.
"It was not that bad," Lujan said.
Living conditions consisted of spending time in a tent city with his Fighter
Squadron VMFA _ 121 Green Knights Males 11 Unit in Kandahar. The base was
set up by U.S. troops following the start of operations against al-Qaida
and Taliban forces in Afghanistan last October, which came after al-Qaida's
attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington,
Va., on Sept., 11, 2001 that killed 3,000 people.
According to Lujan, in knowing the people he worked with he was able to
get through it and get his job done.
While in Kandahar, Lujan said that his squadron would fly combat missions
in support of the ground troops in Afghanistan.
"We build the ammunition that they drop," Lujan said.
Lujan is the son of Emma and Refugio Lujan and has two sisters, Debra
and Christina Lujan. He said that when he first joined the Marines he was
not very particular about being an ammunitions tech but, the job grew on
him after some time.
Before being sent to Kandahar, Lujan said that he was stationed at the
Miramar in San Diego and will be returning there on October 21.
However, Lujan recalled the days before September 11, 2001.
"I had just gotten there (Miramar) 11 days before September 11," Lujan
said. "Before then I was at the Pentagon."
Lujan expresses his thoughts about the September 11 attacks by saying
that something needs to be done.
Though he has just come back from overseas, Lujan said that there is talk
about sending them back to Iraq.
"There are many places they could send us," Lujan said.
According to Lujan, in December of this year he will have been in the
Marines for seven years. He added that he will be in the Marines for at least
another year and is also in the process of deciding whether he will continue
in the military after his current enlistment is over.
"I am deciding on whether to enlist for another four years," Lujan said.
If he does enlist for another four-year term, Lujan said that he might
decide to serve the Marines on a 20-year term and then retire young.
Lujan recalls that he had not always known that he would pursue a career
in the military. "I wanted to pursue a career in music," Lujan said, and
when he graduated from Pecos High School he first attended Midland College
while continuing to attempt a music career.
But after not doing well on the road with his music, at the age of 21
he joined the Marines.
"My parents did not know that I was joining the Marines," Lujan said.
"They found out after it was done."
The reason for not telling his parents about his plan was because he knew
that they would try to stop him, Lujan said.
During his time in the Marines, Lujan said that he has been to Japan,
Uraguay, Brazil, Argentina and many other countries.
"In Argentina I was a security guard at the Embassy," Lujan said.
Lujan said that two of his great uncles have served in the military as
well.
"Two of my great uncles were in World War II," Lujan said.
County settles family's suit over 2000 jail death
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 15, 2002 -- A lawsuit filed by a the family of Ismael
Lara, against Reeves County, Sheriff Arnulfo Gomez and two employees
of the Reeves County Sheriff's Department in connection with Lara's
death while in custody of the department has been settled, according
to the family's attorney.
G. David Smith of Rockwall said in a letter dated Oct. 10 that the family
and Reeves County had reached a settlement in the case, with payment of a
confidential sum to the Lara family.
"It is a very unfortunate situation that occurred and our deepest regards
go to the family of Ismael Lara," said Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo.
Sheriff Andy Gomez declined to comment.
Lara died on Aug. 5, 2000 at Reeves County Hospital, where deputies took
him after suffering a heart attack. He had been arrested and taken to Reeves
County Jail on the afternoon of Aug. 4, 2000, following a one-car accident
on U.S. 285 (South Cedar Street), according to Smith's statement.
The lawyer said Lara was arrested for public intoxication, but that no
breath test was administered at the time of the arrest.
Lara remained in the Reeves County Jail until 1 a.m., on Aug. 5, 2000.
In the suit filed by the family, they charged that Lara was denied medical
treatment until his medical condition became critical. He was transported
to the hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
The timeline for the incident given out by the sheriff's department shortly
after Lara's death differs slightly from the account given by Smith.
The sheriff's department report said Lara was arrested at 8:10 p.m., on
Aug. 4, 2000 in the 1900 block of South Cedar Street for public intoxication.
Lara was taken to Reeves County Jail where jailers and deputies checked on
Lara every 15-20 minutes because of his reportedly intoxicated state, according
to the report.
Chief Deputy Victor Prieto said the jailers began to notice Lara looking
ill and at 1:37 a.m. on Aug. 5, advised them to call an ambulance, and he
was then taken to Reeves County Hospital.
Texas Rangers were called in to investigate the case because Lara was
in custody of local law enforcement officials when he began having problems.
Autopsy results revealed that Lara had no alcohol in his system at the
time of his death, according to Smith.
The suit alleged that Reeves County and the sheriff's department were
negligent in failing to respond to Lara's medical emergency at the time of
his accident and during the time he was in custody at the Reeves County Jail.
It also claimed that Reeves County, Sheriff Gomez and his employees violated
Lara's constitutional rights to be free from unlawful arrest, to receive
adequate medical care, and his right to life. The suit also claimed that
the sheriff's department personnel were not properly trained to recognize
and respond to medical emergencies.
The suit was settled without an admission of liability by the county and
other defendants. The sheriff's department has increased its medical training
of personnel since the filing of the suit, according to Smith.
Ismael Lara was survived by his wife, Albina Lara; daughters, Lucy Gonzales
and Yolanda Rubio and grandchildren, all of Pecos.
Cable channel `taken' off air by burglars
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 15, 2002 -- Classic Cable, which has seen weather and
equipment problems take channels off the air over the past two months,
is temporarily minus a third channel that was "stolen" over the weekend.
After a Sunday afternoon robbery of two computers from a building on the
east side of Pecos, Cable Ch. 6 has been down and will continue to be down
till some time on Wednesday.
According to KIUN/KPTX Radio Station Manager, Bill Randall Cole, one of
the computers that were stolen from the Classic Cable storage area located
on Martinez Street runs the advertising for Channel 6.
KIUN/KPTX operates Ch. 6 for Classic Cable, because the company does not
have a local office. The channel provides community information, and also
local advertisements and current weather conditions.
The technician for Classic Cable, Jeff Lagunas is having problems finding
power supply and will now be going through Lubbock to find what he needs,
Cole said.
According this will delay the process of getting Ch. 6 back up and running.
"We were expecting him this afternoon," Cole said.
The computer that was stolen belonged to Cable Networking Advertisement,
Cole added.
"We just want the public to know that we apologize for the inconvenience,"
Cole said. "It is beyond our control."
Cole said that if anyone has any information or is confronted by someone
selling a computer to either call the Reeves County Sheriff's Department
or Crime Stoppers.
Cole also added that the computer that runs Ch. 6 would not be useful
to anyone because it is a specialized computer that contains the advertisements.
Classic Cable has also experiences problems over the past two months with
the system's ABC and Fox network signals out of Midland-Odessa. Problems
with a microwave relay signal following August storms have degraded the signal
of KMID, which is on Cable Ch. 12 in Pecos, while both weather and equipment
problems knocked KPEJ off of Ch. 8 locally for almost two months.
Eagle Band plans Friday show before marching contest
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 15, 2002 -- The "Mighty" Eagle Band will perform in
competition at the UIL Region VI Marching Contest, at 2 p.m. on Saturday
at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa.
In addition the band will hold an open rehearsal from 7-9 p.m. Friday
at Eagle Stadium.
At about 8:45 p.m., the band will perform in exhibition for the community
at Eagle Stadium. The performance will be in place of the band's originally
scheduled halftime show, because this Friday's home game between Pecos and
Presidio has been canceled.
The Eagle Band will be entered in Class 3A competition for the first time
this year, against other bands from District 4-3A and District 3-3A. The
top two finishers will advance to regional competition later this month.
Weather
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 15, 2002 -- High Monday 63. Low this morning 47. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Southeast winds 5
to 10 mph. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds
5 to 15 mph. Wednesday night: Increasing cloudiness. Lows near 50.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms. Highs
70 to 75. The chance of rain is 20 percent. Friday: Cloudy with a chance
of rain and thunderstorms. Lows near 50. Highs near 70.
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.
***
Juan Gonzales, 20, was arrested at 3:20 p.m., on Oct. 10, at the Pecos
Criminal Justice Center on a warrant for murder in the first degree,
and warrant capias for default payment.
***
Diana Rodriquez, 38, was arrested at 6:35 p.m., on Oct. 9, at Ninth
and Walnut streets on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance
cocaine.
***
Raul Rodriquez, 58, was arrested at 11:07 p.m., on Oct. 9 in the 500
block of Sycamore Street on a Ward County warrant for illegal dumping.
***
Lee Arrendando, 19, was arrested at 8:42 a.m., on Oct. 9 in the 400
block of Cherry Street for organized criminal activity.
***
Pedro Barreno, 18, was arrested at 10:37 a.m., Oct. 9, in the 400 block
of Cherry Street for organized criminal activity.
***
Raul Rubio, 44, was arrested at 3:51 p.m., on Oct. 12 in the 500 block
of West Fourth Sreet for traffic violations.
***
Hilda Miranda, 32, and Anhvar Sanchez, 29, were arrested at 3:26 a.m.,
on Oct. 13 in the 100 block of East Fourth Street . Miranda was
arrested for public intoxication and Sanchez was arrested for DWI.
***
Eliseo Lujan, 23, was arrested at 2:14 a.m., on Oct. 13, in the 2200
block of Johnson Sreet on warrants for parking in the roadway, violation
failure to appear, no drivers license, and possession of an open container.
***
Randell French, 24, was arrested at 8:42 p.m., on Oct. 13 at Uncles
in the 200 block of East Third Street on a warrant for theft by check.
***
Jose O. Jaramillo, 32, was arrested at 3:19 p.m., on Oct. 14 at Lincoln
and Eddy streets on a warrant for default payment and for a DPS warrant
out of Pecos.
***
Jose L. Bustamante, 47, was arrested at 10:16 a.m., on Oct. 14, in
the 900 block of Mesquite Street or warrant for failure to appear for
criminal non support, a warrant issued out of the Potter County (Amarillo)
Sheriff's Office.
Marriages
Marriages for August 2002, as filed with the Reeves County Clerk's
Office.
Gabriel Rosalez Dominguez and Liza Monic Chavez.
Marriages for September 2002, as filed with the Reeves County
Clerk's Office.
Hector Contreras Hernandez and Delma Madrid.
Donald Ray Whitley and Mary Hernandez Whitefield.
David Salgado Dominguez and Lorena Muro Muela.
Jefte Dominguez Cazares and Felicia Ann Guajardo.
Juan Montalbo Pena and Delia Carrasco Chabarria.
Jan Lee Bartlett and Kathy M. West.
James Darwin Petty and Wendy Ione Dunivan.
Antonio Rene Contreras and Barbara Jane Peacock.
Jesus Martinez and Marcie Jean Pratt.
Ramiro Quezada Villescas and Edelmira Espinoza Salcido.
Divorces
Divorces for July 2002, as filed with the Reeves County District
Clerk's Office.
Ethel Ann Shorter and A.C. Shorter.
Divorces for August 2002, as filed with the Reeves County District
Clerk's Office.
Hector J. Roman and Marlene Briceno Roman.
Gabriela Gonzalez and Ariel Guerrero.
Dulces Nombres Payen Rodriguez and David Rodriguez Rodriguez.
Maria Guzman and Jesus Guzman.
Pamela Edith Anchondo and Jose Juan Anchondo.
Christie Suzette Cook Lee and Brenton Covy Lee.
Ike Ward and Susie Millan Ward.
Jana McHorse and Warren Lee McHorse.
Lorena B. Baeza and Michael Baron Baeza.
Divorces for September 2002, as filed with the Reeves County District
Clerk's Office.
Veronica Saenz Madrid and Joe Patino Sotelo, Jr.
Obituary
Francisco Baeza
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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