Pecos teen seeking funds for 'Up with People' stay

PECOS, June 23, 1995 - A Pecos teen received a pleasant surprise last
week when she was notified that she had been accepted to join "Up with
People."

Cynthia Banuelos, 19, who was interviewed by the group after their
performance here in late April, was notified of her acceptance last
Friday.

"I got really excited as soon as I read the letter of acceptance," said
Banuelos, who is planning to join the team as soon as she finds ways to
finance the venture.

"It costs about $12,000," said Banuelos. "It includes housing, food and
traveling expenses."

Some 16,000 young men and women from 70 countries have traveled in this
global educational program.

The acceptance letter said "Up with People offers the opportunity to be
part of a unique experience of cross-cultural education, on-stage
performance, community service, and extensive world travel with young
people from all parts of the globe."

"That was one of the things they asked at the interview, whether I was
aware that I would be traveling with people of different nationalities,"
said Banuelos, who added that she very much wanted to join in that
experience.

"It's a learning and traveling experience I would like to do," she said.

Three casts of 140 students begin in July and two of 140 in January. The
group has more than 8,000 applicants a year for the 700 positions.

"As soon as I read the acceptance letter, I started to try to think of
ways to raise the money needed to join the group," said Banuelos. "I'm
planning on having fundraisers and to ask local businesses or
individuals to sponsor me in my endeavor."

The group will be gathering in Denver, Colo., for the orientation part
of the program for about six weeks. Later, they will travel to other
parts of the country.

Individuals who join Up With People do so on a one-year basis in which
they travel around the country performing.

"They told us we didn't have to have any special talents, such as
singing or dancing," said Banuelos. "A lot of individuals I talked to
who were in the group, told me that they discovered talents they didn't
know they had."

Banuelos is a 1994 Pecos High School graduate and the daughter of
Ascenion and Emma Banuelos.

She played the clarinet in the Pecos High School Band and is currently
employed by Holidy Inn.

"Even though they said you didn't have to have any talent, they said it
would be helpful if you did," said Banuelos.

One requirement is that the individual can't have any emotional or
physical limitations.

Maturity, sincerity, motivation, enthusiasm, curiosity about the world,
and an ability to communicate are characteristics that cast members
share, the group's letter stated. Up With People strives to enhance
those qualities while helping to develop leadership and career skills,
multi-cultural respect, and social responsibility.

About 20 other local students signed up to participate in the program,
following the show here in Pecos.

"I don't know of anybody else, yet, in Pecos who has been asked to
join," said Banuelos.

If any business or individual who like to help sponsor Miss Banuelos,
they can call 445-4730 or fax, 445-4743.

"If I can't be reached, they can just leave a message on the answering
machine," said Banuelos. "I'm just very excited about the whole thing and hope I can join them soon."

Elkinses honored as Pioneer Family

PECOS, June 22, 1995 - The P.S. Elkins family will be honored in a
reception marking their selection as the 1995 Reeves County Pioneer
Family.

The reception has been set for Saturday at 4 p.m. at the West of the
Pecos Museum. It is being co-hosted by the Pecos Business and
Professinal Women and the museum.

The Elkins' family history in Reeves County begins with Peyton Parker,
uncle of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was kidnapped by the Comanche Indians
and who was the mother of Chief Quanah Parker. Peyton, his wife, Nancy,
and their three children, Lewis, Sam Houston, and Betty came to Pecos in
1884. The Parker clan operated the Pecos House for a number of years.

Betty Parker married Phillip Scott Elkins on Dec. 4, 1868 in Groesbeck.
They came to Pecos with the Parker clan, settling on the original site
of the city.

When the town was flooded by the Pecos River, they moved with other
residents to the present location. Philip Elkins is mentioned in the
first meeting of the Commissioners Court of Reeves County as the
inspector of hides and animals. At this meeting, Philip was paid three
dollars for making a bookcase to hold state report forms.

He also homesteaded the U Ranch on Barilla Draw and then sold it to a
group of English investors. Uncle Phil, as he was known, died in 1923
and is buried in the Tom Harrison family plot in Fairview Cemetery. Ma
Bett died in 1918 and is buried near her father, Peyton, in the old
pioneer portion of Greenwood Cemetery.

Philip and Betty had two children, Willie and Claud. Willie married Tom
Harrison, a former Reeves County Sheriff. The couple had seven children,
Ray, Hallie, Tom, James, Betty, Billie, and Philip.

After Tom's death, Willie was left with young children to support. She
rented rooms to married couples who elected to live off the air base.
Later she rented sleeping quarters to bus drivers who had changeovers in
Pecos.

She often opened her home to young people for dances. Two of her
children survive:

Bettie Anderson lives in Golden, Colo., and has three children; E.J.,
who lives in Marietta, Ohio, Ted, who lives in Denver, and Bettie, who
lives in Littleton, Colo.

The other surviving daughter is Billie Andrews, who lives in Dallas. She
has two children, Reagan, Jr. and Bettie.

Claud Elkins, born in 1875, married Edna Buchanan on April 16, 1914.
Edna was the daughter of Moses Campbell Buchanan and Martha Annie
Springfield Buchanan. Claud and Edna Elkins continued to live in Pecos
until their deaths. Claud was a bartender for a time in the saloon that
was in the old Pecos hotel. He also drove the horse- and mule-drawn
drays for the Pecos Mercantile. Claud later became a Magnolia Oil agent
and worked in that profession for a number of years. He could pick up a
55 gallon drum of oil and load it on the wagon by himself. When that job
ended, he and Edna operated a home dairy for a number of years prior to
their retirement.

Claud and Edna Elkins had three children: Parker, Mary Ruth, and Claude,
Jr. Parker worked on area ranches from 1929 to 1934 and then cooked for
the Texas Highway Department. He later worked for the Community Public
Ice Co. and then for the Automotive Proving Grounds.

He and his wife, Mable had one daughter, Mary Lou Smith, who lives in
Hillsboro. She and her husband Walter have three children, Rusty,
Margaret, and Walter, Jr.

Walter raches in Hillsboro, and Mary Lou teaches math at Hillsboro
Junior High.

Mary Ruth Elkins worked at Sanders Drug and at the air base. Mary Ruth
and Raymond Eudaily were married in 1939 and moved to Midland shortly
after World War II, where Raymond worked for an oil company and later as
a draftsman. He continued in that profession until his death in 1977.

They had two children, Sylvia and Danny. Sylvia and her husband Jerry
Pearce had two children, Glen and Sharon. Danny and his wife had two
girls, Jennifer and Amy. Mary Ruth continues to reside in Midland.

Claude, Jr., always known as Baby Claude, served in the Navy during
World War II. After the war, he worked for Red Bluff Water, Light and
Power as a lineman. He married Lyndull Baygent and moved to Lubbock to
continue work as a lineman.

Claude returned to Pecos and opened Elkins Electric, which he ran from
1953 to 1960. From then until 1972, he ranched and worked independently
for several different companies. In 1972 he opened Elkins Electric at
its present location and continued to operate it until his retirement in
1985.

Elkins died in 1988. Lyndull preceded him in death in 1978. Claude, Jr.
and Lyndull had one son, C.L. III who resides in Pecos and owns Elkins
Electric, Inc. C.L. married to Pat Borcherding in 1973. She operates a
private school, Pecos Academy of Learning, Inc. They have three children, Jana Gay, Lyndall Jeannene, and David Bryant.

Injury turns Ty into loss for Pecos

PECOS, June 21, 1995 - Prize money and contestants are up this year at
the 113th anniversary West of the Pecos Rodeo, but the number of
defending National Finals Rodeo champions who'll be appearing at the
rodeo is down to just two, thanks to a season-ending injury suffered by
the sport's top-ranked cowboy.

Rodeo superstar Ty Murray, who has won the last six world all-around
championships, will be out the rest of the season with a knee injury,
the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association said Tuesday.

Murray, 25, tore a ligament in his right knee last Saturday in a bull
ride at Rancho Murieta, Calif.

The PRCA said Murray will undergo surgery on the right knee June 30, and
will have surgery on his left knee two months later.

Murray, of Stephenville, Texas, said he injured the left knee three
years ago.

Murray was only one of three 1994 NFR champions scheduled to appear at
this year's rodeo, set for July 1-4 at the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena.
Bareback riding champ Marvin Garrett and steer roping winner Guy Allen
are the other two defending titles slated to perform in Pecos, though a
number of past national champions will also participate in the four-day
event.

Prize money for the 1995 edition of the rodeo is expected to top
$170,000, up about $25,000 from last year's total. The West of the Pecos
Rodeo was the 18th largest rodeo in terms of prize money a year ago, and
the second largest held on the July 4 holiday weekend, just behind the
Greeley (Colo.) Independence Stampede, which was in the 17th place a
year ago.

Murray, who was a rodeo performer for Odessa College and has appeared at
the West of the Pecos Rodeo for the past decade, said he plans to return
to competition in March 1996.

Dr. J. Pat Evans of the Justin Sportsmedicine Program in Fort Worth,
said there is a reasonable chance Murray will be able to compete by next
March.

Murray has earned $1.5 million in rodeo competition and only trials
all-time money winner Roy Cooper by $15, 953.

At the time of his season-ending injury, Murray was leading the all around and bull riding standings.

Talamantez joining siblings
in music world with CD debut

PECOS, June 21, 1995 - A former Pecos resident has signed a singing
contract with a major recording company and will be releasing her new CD
soon.

Esmeralda Talamante, a 1988 Pecos High School graduate has signed a
contract with the recording company "Fonovisa."

Talamantez comes from a line of singers and talented musicians. Her
brother, Ray Talamantez, Jr. is a member of the group, "La Sombra."

"La Sombra" is a popular Tejano music group who performs internationally.

Ray is also the producer of music for his sister and a former Pecos
graduate.

Talamantez younger brothr, Abel, has been a member of the group Menudo
for the past four years. He flew to the United States to help his sister
with the music and vocals.

Other members of the family involved in helping Esmi in her prosperous
career include her sisters Maria Elena Talamantez, who plays the
saxophone, and Ramona Talamantez, who performs as a back-up vocalist.

"Everyone is very excited for her and hoping for the best," said Rosario
Talamantez, Esmi's mother.

Talamantez' new CD will be out in the middle of July and will be
available for sale. KIUN has a premier of her new song, titled, "Con El
Tiempo."

The song is a promotional to introduce her and to promote her new CD. It
can be requested at the radio station asking for Esmi Talamantez.

Leo Marquez another former Pecos resident will be participating as a
band member as the drummer for them.The Talamantez's parents are Ray Sr. and Rosario Talamantez of Pecos.

Steps taken at ballroom to expand tortilla factory

PECOS, June 21,1995 - Expansion of La Nortena Tortilla Factory is
currently in the design stage, but work on the down-town project is well
on its way.

Factory Manager David Castillo said this morning that outlines designed
by Frank X. Spencer and Associates have been submitted to an equipment
supplier out of California, Casa Herrera, for detail arrangements.

"When we get the plans back from them we will give them back to Frank
Spencer to put on the master floor plan," Castillo said.

He added that a comany out of Dallas will design a larger kitchen area
for the retail sales and tortilla manufacturing, more room for
customer seating and the display of a larger variety of ethnic foods
from Mexico.

This area will involve the main area of the current La Nortena Ballroom,
across from the company's current location in the 200 block of East
Third Street. Castillo said that a 45-by-30 foot portion of this will be
for the retail design and another 30-by-25 feet will be reserved for the
kitchen, in which tortillas will be manufactured.

"We hope to expand a little on our menu," said Castillo on their retail
sales business.

The idea for expansion originated after Castillo and La Nortena
employees began to feel the crampedness of their current establishment
at 212 E. Third St., and the realization of the many more new items they
could produce after visiting with San Antonio factories.

"There is a market for what we do," said Castillo.

The back portion of the ballroom is solely dedicated to tamale
production, which is currently in operation. Already installed in the
back area is a larger freezer and dry storage, kitchen and a modified
tamale machine.

Castillo said the machine was bought out of Brownwood some five years
ago, but was not placed into operation until this past December.

"Most machines are designed to make small tamales," Castillo stated,
"but after some modifications, we've worked with this particular machine
to make them the way we like them."

The back area of the ballroom is equipped to handle the intensive work
involved in the tamale process, said Castillo.

Preparation for tamale production takes at least three stages, he
explained. It involves mixing and cooking the corn dough, cooking the
meat, and cooking and preparing the chili.

Castillo said that in the future they hope to be able to make and fix
their own equipment. But for now, he added, "what we're gonna try to do,
as much as I can," is try to work with local repairmen and welders.

With their future plans, Castillo said they hope to offer a wider
variety of items to restaurants serviced by La Nortena.

"We're working on a lot of ideas to make them more profitable with fixed
costs," he said.

"We hope to be at least at a 50 to 60 percent capacity by this
Christmas," said Castillo, "but we'll probably still be making tortillas
across the street."

Castillo added the floor plans will have to be approved by the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and soon thereafter he'll be
taking bids from "reputable, responsible, and qualified," construction
companies who can do the work necassary for this type of establishment.

Return to Top