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Wednesday, March 26, 1997

Pecos' labor force up, jobless rate drops


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From Staff and Wire Reports

PECOS, Mar. 26, 1997 - Unemployment in Pecos fell by nearly one percent
from January to February, and the city has also gained ground in
employment over the past year, the Texas Workforce Commission reports.

In January, the city's jobless rate stood at 12.7 percent, with 645
people unemployed, according to TWC figures, while February's rate fell
to 11.8 percent, with 615 people out of work.

The decline came despite an increase of 150 people in the local
workforce. Employment in Pecos rose from 4,432 people in January to
4,608 last month while the labor force jumped from 5,077 to 5,223, the
TWC said.

The unemployment rate's drop was even sharper compared with a year ago.
In February, 1996, Pecos had 757 persons unemployed, compared to this
year's 615 total. The percentage of unemployed has fallen 2.3 percent in
the past year, from a 14.1 percent level last February.

Most cities in the area also showed a decline, but none that dramatic.

Kermit's jobless rate fell from 10.2 to 9.4 percent in February,
Andrews, Big Spring and Lamesa also showed declines, while the jobless
totals for Midland, Odessa and Monahans were unchanged during the
January-February period.

The state's unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.8 percent in February,
one-tenth of a percent lower than the rate in January, according to the
Texas Workforce Commission.

The Commission on Tuesday said nonagricultural employment grew by 43,100
jobs, boosted by increases in the service sector.

The 5.8 percent rate in February was below the 6.1 percent rate in
February 1996.

Bryan-College Station had the lowest unemployment rate of 2.4 percent.
That was down from the 2.5 percent rate in January.
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission recorded the highest rate of 20.8 percent,
nearly 1 percent lower than the 2.7 percent rate in January.

Rates of unemployment in the urban areas of Texas as announced by the
TWC for February, compared with revised January figures (in parentheses)
were:

Abilene 4.4 (4.3); Amarillo 4.3 (4.4); Austin-San Marcos 3.3 (3.4);
Beaumont-Port Arthur 8.1 (8.7); Brazoria 7.4 (7.9);
Brownsville-Harlingen 12.9 (12.9); Bryan-College Station 2.4 (2.5);
Corpus Christi 8.5 (8.8);

Dallas 4.0 (3.9); El Paso 11.9 (11.8); Fort Worth-Arlington 4.1 (4.0);
Galveston-Texas City 8.4 (8.8); Houston 5.4 (5.5); Killeen-Temple 5.1
(5.3); Laredo 12.5 (12.3); Longview-Marshall 8.0 (7.9); Lubbock 3.8
(3.8); McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 20.8 (21.7);

Odessa-Midland 5.8 (5.7); San Angelo 3.6 (3.6); San Antonio 4.2 (4.2);
Sherman-Denison 5.2 (4.7); Texarkana 8.0 (7.9); Tyler 6.3 (6.4);
Victoria 5.9 (5.8); Waco 4.5 (4.4); Wichita Falls 4.5 (4.5).

FEBRUARY AREA UNEMPLOYMENT


(Source: Texas Employment Commission)
CITY...........POP.........JOB FORCE......EMPLYMNT......UNEMPLYD.....RATE
Andrews........10,861.......3,984..........3,787.........197..........4.
9%
Big
Spring.....23,258.......9,510...........9,048........462..........4.9%
Fort
Stockton...8,712........4,187..........3,886.........301.........7.2%
Kermit..........6,925........2,325..........2,106.........219.........9.
4%
Lamesa.........11,051........4,662..........4,261.........401.........8.
6%
Midland........92,005.......50,416.........48,263.......2,153.........4.
3%
Monahans........8,245........2,798..........2,597.........201.........7.
2%
Odessa.........91,004.......46,404.........43,101.......3,303.........7.
1%
PECOS..........12,023........5,223..........4,608.........615........11.
8%

Officials say schools' top dealer jailed


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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 26, 1997 - An individual officials called "a major drug
supplier" for other local teenagers was arrested Tuesday evening, thanks
to the efforts of the Reeves County Sheriff's Department and the Pecos
Police Department.

Police said at about 6:43 p.m. the sheriff's department and the police
department entry team executed a narcotics search warrant at 1707 S.
Alamo St., where 18-year-old Jesus Armendarez resides.

Officials had received information that Armendarez had possibly been
selling narcotics to school students.

During the raid about 10 ounces of suspected marijuana was found in
various stages of packaging.

"Along with the drugs, also found were several stereo items, a strobe
light, and a pair of binoculars that had the serial number removed or
believed to be stolen," said Pecos PD Investigator Kelly Davis.

Also removed was a Remington .20, automatic gauge shotgun which had the
stock and barrel cut off and the serial number removed.

Along with Armendarez, police also arrested John Natividad, no age
available, for possession of marijuana. He had been released the day
before on probation for burglary of the Amigo's Texaco, police said.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been contacted on the
weapons charge.

"All our sources tell us that he (Jesus) is the major supplier to
schools, regarding marijuana," said Sheriff's Department Investigator
Clay McKinney.

Information received from informants and citizens in town have led
officials to believe that Armendarez' customers are our younger people,
according to McKinney.

Armendarez has been charged with possession of marijuana over four
ounces and under five pounds, which is a state felony, while Natividad
has been charged with possession of marijuana under two ounces, a class
B misdemeanor.

"Jesus may be facing a substantial amount of (jail) time because of the
automatic gauge shotgun, which had been sawed off, hidden with the
drugs, if the ATF picks up the case," said McKinney.

He added that the ATF has been very cooperative with area officials and
are really interested in these cases where drugs and weapons are found
together.

"They've been very helpful to us and we hope they pick up this
particular case," he said.

Area churches holding special Easter events


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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 26, 1997 - Area churches are set to mark this year's Easter
observance, with several activities beginning tomorrow.

First United Methodist Church has planned a special service for Maundy
Thursday, held before every Easter Sunday.

The communion service is to recall Jesus' "Last Supper" with His
disciples.

The public is invited to attend this Maundy Thursday service, set for 7
p.m. at the Methodist Church, Third and Elm Streets.

Easter Sunday Services at the Methodist Church will include
presentations from the children's choirs.

The Sunday worship service begins at 10:55 a.m., after Sunday school at
9:45 a.m.

The adult chancels choir presented its Easter cantata, "Praise the Lamb"
on Palm Sunday earlier this week. The choir will sing "Remember Me" from
the cantata during Maundy Thursday services.

A Tenebrae service and Holy Communion will be held at First Presbyterian
Church, Fourth and Plum, for Maundy Thursday, at 7:30 p.m.

Tenebrae is a Latin word meaning darkness. The sanctuary is
progressively darkened as candles are extinguished. At the end, only one
candle remains burning. Its light is extinguished for a short time
symbolizing Christ's death and burial.

The service centers upon the Last Supper, candlelight, scripture
reading, and music through which are related the denial, suffering,
death and burial of Christ and the promise of His resurrection.

The congregation invites the public to attend this special service.

A Community Easter Service will be held Easter Sunday at 7 p.m. at First
Baptist Church, Fifth and Hickory. The Rev. Derrell Evins, pastor of
First United Methodist Church, will this Easter's preacher.

Singing will be under the direction of Matt Williamson, minister of
Abundant Life Church. Special music will be provided by local churches.
Host pastor is the Rev. Greer Willis. Other local pastors will
participate in the service.

The Community Easter Service is sponsored by the Pecos Ministerial
Fellowship. A free-will offering is taken to provide for its ministries
to transients through the Christian Home and to local persons in
emergencies. Pastors of the local churches invite all to the service.

Santa Rosa Catholic Church, 620 E. Fourth St., will be observing Holy
Thursday with a special mass scheduled for 8 p.m. The Last Supper and
Washing of the Feet will be followed by various other activities during
this special service. Holy Hour will be held from 10-11 p.m. and
"Adoration" will be held at midnight.

On Good Friday, at 3 p.m., the Youth Confirmation Class from Santa Rosa
will re-enact the "Stations of the Cross," with a procession beginning
at St. Catherine's Catholic Church and ending in front of Santa Rosa.

The re-enactment is of the walk Jesus took and the events that took
place during this time on his way to Jerusalem after Palm Sunday to
Calvary.

A special mass will be held that evening at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday,
the Celebration of the Lord's Resurrection, Blessing of the Fire and
Paschal Candle, the Blessing of the Water and the Renewal of Baptismal
Promises will be observed at 10 a.m.

On Easter Sunday special masses are scheduled for 7:30 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.
and noon.

"Mass of the Lord's Supper," will be a special mass scheduled at St.
Catherine's Catholic Church, Plum and Walthall Streets, on Holy Thursday
beginning at 7 p.m.

On Good Friday, the church will observe "The Celebration of the Lord's
Passion," at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, an "Easter Vigil of the Lord's
Resurrection" will be held at 8 p.m.

St. Catherine's will observe Easter Sunday with a special mass, "The
Commemoration of the Lord's Resurrection" at 10: 30 a.m. The public is
invited to attend.

Immediately following the special mass, an Easter egg hunt will be held
for the children on the church grounds. Everyone is invited to attend.

The Traditional Sunrise Service is scheduled in Barstow on Cemetery Hill
located on state route 516, overlooking the Barstow Cemetery.

The special yearly event will be sponsored by the First Baptist Church
of Barstow with Rod Peacock officiating.

Breakfast will be served at the Community Center in Barstow following
the special service and hosted by the First Baptist Church parishioners
from Barstow.

"Everyone is welcome to attend and we would like a large group to
participate and come celebrate with us," said Rod Peacock.

The yearly event was established by Wendell and Marjorie Nichols of
Barstow and has continued throughout several decades.

Foes testify for bill to block Hudspeth dump


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By SARAH HORNADAY
Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN - West Texans who fear the effects of a planned low-level nuclear
waste dump in Hudspeth County testified before a House committee in
favor of a bill that would effectively scuttle the project.

The House Environmental Regulation Committee heard testimony Tuesday on
the bill sponsored by Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso.

The bill changes the requirements for a waste dump planned for a site 16
miles from the Rio Grande in Hudspeth County, saying the dump must be at
least 60 miles from the river.

The Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority is petitioning
for a license to operate the dump seven miles southeast of Sierra
Blanca, in central Hudspeth County, 120 miles southwest of Pecos.

The committee sent the legislation to a subcommittee while Rep. Chavez
awaits an opinion from federal authorities on whether the site violates
the La Paz Agreement in which the U.S. and Mexico agreed not to enter
into projects that might have significant effects on the border
environment.

Proponents argued Tuesday that the dump poses health, ecological and
economical hazards.

``They don't know what they're doing. That's why we drove 400 miles
here,'' said Alpine resident Susan Curry.

Marfa resident Gary Oliver offered a letter from a Culberson County
rancher who couldn't sell his land after a prospective buyer found out a
dump would be built in the area.

Presidio County Attorney Teresa Todd, meanwhile, said the dump would
hurt the area's effort to encourage tourism and attract
environmentally-sound companies.

``We don't want to pollute our own house,'' Ms. Todd said. ``Hudspeth
County will benefit, but other counties will take on hardships.''

The Texas Low-Level Waste Authority contends that the waste would be
disposed of in containers designed to last 500 years.

Authority attorney Lee Mathews said there is no danger of the containers
leaking because the waste would be solid, and the area is generally dry.

The Authority has designed the dump to withstand even earthquakes, he
said. Two sizable quakes have occurred there in the last 70 years.

``I'm always having to answer the worst-case scenario,'' Mathews said.

Site changed for Bonilla visit


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A public meeting U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla has scheduled for next
Wednesday in Pecos has been moved to a different location.

Bonilla will discuss important issues and current events with concerned
citizens at a breakfast meeting at the Best Western Alpine Lodge
Restaurant in Pecos on April 2. All interested citizens and members of
the media are invited to meet with Bonilla from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Bonilla, a third-term Republican congressman from San Antonio,
represents Reeves County in Congress. His Pecos stop had initially been
scheduled at the Reeves County Courthouse.

Inmate faxed out of prison by girlfriend


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FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - A prisoner's girlfriend got him released by
faxing a bogus letter saying he had been pardoned, police said, but the
man landed back in jail when he tried a similar ruse to free his former
cellmate.

Jails across the state have been alerted to the deception, Florida
Department of Law Enforcement agent Steve Emerson said Tuesday.

Gregory Williamson, 35, walked out of jail last week on the authority of
a fax that appeared to come from the Pennsylvania governor's office,
Emerson said. Officials realized their mistake when Pennsylvania
authorities arrived to transport the inmate back to that state to face
probation violation charges.

Jail officials received another fax Friday - purportedly from Gov.
Lawton Chiles' office, telling them to free James Couts, 23,
Williamson's former cellmate. This time they checked with Chiles' office
and were told that pardons were handled more formally.

State agents allowed Couts to prepare to leave before he was stopped for
questioning on Williamson's whereabouts.

``We let him look out and see freedom and then we nabbed him,'' Emerson
said. ``He told us Williamson and his girlfriend were part of a plan to
get Couts out for $2,000.''

Williamson and his girlfriend, Kim Starke, 32, were arrested later
Friday on fraud and escape charges at her Fort Myers apartment.

Emerson said Ms. Starke was a former printing company production
manager, and investigators found computers and disks containing official
seals for state offices across the country in the apartment.

Williamson and Couts, who faces similar charges, were being held Tuesday
on $50,000 bond. Ms. Starke was out on supervised release, the Lee
County jail said.

Clinton says FBI right to hold back China info


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By RON FOURNIER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Clinton said today he accepts the FBI acted
properly to limit what the White House knows about China's alleged
efforts to influence American politics. But he expressed concern that he
doesn't know more about the FBI inquiry.

Saying he needs to know enough to conduct foreign policy with China, the
president said, ``You don't know what you don't get'' from the FBI.

In an Oval Office ceremony with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic,
reporters peppered Clinton about the latest snag in relations between
the FBI and the White House.

Clinton's top lawyer asked the FBI for information about the inquiry
that might affect the president's ability to conduct foreign policy. But
the letter from White House counsel Charles Ruff also said the FBI
should not turn over any information that might jeopardize its inquiry.

The situation, part of the broad Democratic fund-raising scandal,
created an awkward situation for the FBI and Clinton: The president
needs to know anything that impacts the U.S.-China relationship but the
FBI doesn't want to be accused of tipping off the White House about an
inquiry that could touch Clinton administration officials.

It also is complicating Vice President Al Gore's trip to China. Gore,
who raised the issue with Chinese leaders, has told aides that the
mission would have been easier had he known how credible the allegations
are.

The president said he is confident that Attorney General Janet Reno and
FBI director Louis Freeh acted properly.

``They have a dual obligation to share with the White House and with the
State Department ... information we need to protect and advance national
security and to preserve the integrity of criminal investigations,''
Clinton said. ``Ultimately, those things almost have to be solved on a
case-by-case basis (and) where there's doubt, by the attorney general.''

``I'm confident that is what has been done and continues to be done in
this case.''

The Justice Department gave the White House a cursory review of its
inquiry, but a more detailed report was rebuffed by Freeh. That raised
questions about whether Clinton had been told everything he needs to
know.

Even Clinton said he can't be sure.

``I have no way of knowing that. You don't know what you don't get,'' he
said. ``Since I don't know what was not given, I can't make a judgment
about it. But I do know the attorney general is sensitive to it and will
continue to make an effort to resolve matters in the appropriate way.''

A reporter suggested that pertinent information was kept from Clinton.
``I'm concerned about that, as I've said. But the only way we have of
resolving that is through the attorney general and, again, I've seen
these suggestions (that China tried to influence the elections) in the
press, but I don't know what the facts are.''

Correction


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Pecos-Barstow-Toyah teacher J.R. Torrez resigned from his position as
head coach of the Pecos Eagles' varsity tennis team, and was not
dismissed, as was indicated in a story in Wednesday's
Enterprise. We apologize for the error.

OBITUARIES


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Joe F. Allgood


Joe Frederick Allgood, 77, of Belton, died Monday, March 24 at a Temple
hospital.

A graveside service will be held today at 2 p.m. in Barstow Cemetery in
Barstow with Reverend James Daniel officiating.

He was born Nov. 11, 1919 in Roscoe and later moved to Barstow. He
served in the South Pacific during World War II and was discharged for
injuries he received during the war.

Allgood was a retired highway construction worker and a member of the
Baptist Church. He had lived in the Belton area since 1973.

Survivors include three brothers, Rayburn, Bill and Bob Allgood of
Barstow; and two sisters, Marita Wade of Big Spring and Arlie Wright of
Henrietta.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Frances Ashlock

Frances E. Ashlock, of Baird, died Wednesday, March 16.

Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 31 at the First
Methodist Church in Baird. Burial will be in Ross Cemetery.

Ashlock was a 1929 graduate of Baird High School and briefly attended
the College of Industrial Arts, today's Texas Women's University at
Denton. She was a member of the First Methodist Church in Baird.

Ashlock and her husband were Pecos residents for a number of years. They
attended First Methodist Church, where Mrs. Ashlock worked for a time as
church secretary. Her son, James R. Ashlock, was news editor of the
Pecos Enterprise in 1954-55.

Survivors include one son, James R. Ashlock of Tallahassee; three
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart
Association or the donor's favorite charity.

Hazel Hendrick

Hazel Alice Hendrick, 88, died Tuesday, March 25 at Good Samaritan
Nursing Home in Odessa.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church
in Odessa with the Rev. Dr. David Mindel officiating. Burial will be in
Ector County Cemetery.

She was born May 11, 1908, in Pecos and moved to Odessa in 1927 from
Pecos. She was formerly District Clerk for Ector County and a member of
the First Christian Church and the Democratic Women's Club.

Survivors include two sons, B.C. "Nard" Hendrick of Houston, Beau Jack
Hendrick of Pecos; one daughter, Judy Elizabeth Hendrick of Fort Worth;
two brothers, Norman Eisenwine and Tatum Eisenwine of Pecos; three
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Carlos Sanchez

Services are incomplete for Carlos Sanchez, 84, of Balmorhea, who died
Tuesday, March 25 at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER


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PECOS, Mar. 26, 1997 - High Tuesday 64, low last night 47. Tonight,
cloudy. A 20 percent chance of light rain. Low 40-45. South wind 5-15
mph. Thursday, becoming partly cloudy and breezy. High 70-75. Southwest
wind 15-25 mph.
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_


Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
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