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Archive 2003

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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Monday, April 21, 2003

Woman killed, 3 children hurt in crash

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, Mon., April 21, 2003 -- A one-vehicle accident Easter Sunday claimed the life of a Midland woman and injured three children, while two other people survived a plunge off Balmorhea Dam in their vehicle with only minor injuries early Saturday morning.

The fatality accident occurred at 6:45 p.m. Sunday just south of Pecos and left three children inside the vehicle injured.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety report, the victim was the driver, Graciela V. Rayos, 61, of Midland. Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Jim Riley pronounced her dead at the scene at 7:25 p.m.

The other occupants of the Jeep Grand Cherokee were identified as Debra Bernal, Christy Rayos, and Belicia Rayos, all students. Bernal suffered from a left broken leg and was transported to Reeves County Hospital; Christy Rayos suffered from minor cuts and bruises while Belicia Rayos sustained lacerations to the head and body injuries.

The report stated that the vehicle was traveling north on Highway 17 when it drove onto the south side barrow.

The driver then overcorrected the vehicle to the right and applied the brakes, causing the Cherokee to roll over on the south side of the highway before coming to rest in an upright position facing west on the highway's southbound shoulder.

The Jeep was part of a caravan of vehicles containing family members who were returning to Midland, according to officials at the scene. Rayos' husband was in another vehicle in the caravan when the rollover took place.

Troopers Terry Gilchrest and Gordon Schneider investigated the incident.

The Balmorhea Lake Dam accident was investigated by DPS troopers Jason Anzaldua and Alonzo Urquidi out of Monahans, and occurred about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The report stated that the driver, Jason Muniz Bordayo, 25, was extremely intoxicated and ran his pickup off the right side of the dam while heading north and landed in the brush at the foot of the dam. The side of the dam the pickup rolled off of is away from the lake and has no raised barrier.

A male juvenile, who the troopers said was also intoxicated, said that the driver fell asleep, at which point the vehicle began to go off the dam. The juvenile said he was able to jump out of the vehicle as the vehicle rolled off the dam with the driver still inside.

The report stated that neither occupant was wearing their seat belts.

Bordayo was arrested for driving while intoxicated while the male juvenile was issued several citations.

Both Bordayo and the male juvenile are from Balmorhea.

State Theatre again closed following three year run

By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer

PECOS, Mon., April 21, 2003 -- After nearly three years of continuous operation the State Theatre is closed again due to its owners' problems running the facility after relocation to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Owners Richard and Lillian Creasy announced the closing of the historical theater this morning.

"Last night was our last show," Richard Creasy said. "And the business is for sale."

Creasy said that a combination of circumstances had influenced their decision.

"We moved to the D-FW area more than a year ago to be closer to our grandchildren and closer to medical services," he said. "Running the theater from a distance just has not worked."

Creasy said that he hoped to find someone interested in buying the business.

"I think Pecos has a future. I think the State can be a profitable business. It has been for us and still is. It's just too much to run it from 300 miles away," he said.

"I'm open to any and all possibilities including an outright purchase or even some type of lease to own situation," he said.

The Creasys opened the State on June 30, 2000, the anniversary of the State's first opening in 1954, and have been showing first-run movies each week during the run.

Last week's picture was, "Cradle 2 the Grave." The first picture shown at the State was "Red Garter," starring Jane Mansfield. The theater closed originally on Dec. 31, 1989 when then-owner United Artists Theaters shut down all of their single screen movie houses in Texas.

Creasy said that anyone interested in the theater could contact him by going to the theater's web site at www.statetheatreofpecos.com.

"This will work for someone who is committed and I would be happy to work with them - to train them in the business and help them through the beginning," Creasy said.

Election ballot mail requests due by Friday

PECOS, Mon., April 21, 2003 -- Friday is the final day to obtain a mail ballot for voting in the May 3 area elections.

Early voting for the May election began last Wednesday and will continue through April 29, but local election officials must receive requests for mail ballots by this Friday, April 25.

Contested elections locally this year are for the Town of Pecos City Council, the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and the Balmorhea ISD board. In addition, Barstow residents and others in Ward County will be voting in the special election to fill the vacant seat for the 19th Congressional District.

Early voting by personal appearance for Pecos voters is being held at the Pecos Community Center, 508 S. Oak St.

Weather

PECOS, Mon., April 21, 2003 -- High Sun. 84. Low this morning 56. Forecast for tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. SE winds 10 to 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Tues.: Partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Some storms may be severe with large hail and damaging winds in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Tues. night: Partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Some storms may be severe with large hail and damaging winds. Lows in the mid 50s. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Obituary

Guadalupe 'Lupe' Juarez



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
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