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June 20, 1997

Marines delayed calling aid for wounded boy


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DALLAS (AP) June 20, 1997 - It took 22 minutes for Marines to render
first aid or call in emergency medical help after fatally shooting a
teenager on the Texas-Mexico border last month, a Texas Rangers
investigator says.

Sgt. David Duncan, who is heading the investigation of the incident,
told The Dallas Morning News in today's editions that the Marines, who
were on an anti-drug surveillance mission, only called in U.S. Border
Patrol agents after shooting 18-year-old Ezequiel Hernandez of Redford.

"Apparently the Marines did not treat him until the responding Border
Patrol agents got there and called for an ambulance," he said.

Hernandez was shot at 6:27 p.m. on May 20. A helicopter stationed 20
minutes away in Presidio was not summoned until 6:49 p.m. That was about
two minutes after Border Patrol agents arrived, Duncan said.

Hernandez was herding his family's goats when the Marines' team leader
fired one M-16 round in self-defense after Hernandez shot at them, the
Marines have said. Hernandez reportedly used a .22-caliber rifle.

Duncan said Marines reported there was a "man down," so they apparently
knew Hernandez had been shot.

Authorities have not said how long Hernandez lived after being shot in
the chest and suffering massive internal bleeding or if first aid or a
faster response would have saved his life.

Duncan offered few details about what the Marines did after Hernandez
was shot.

"The soldiers .. they approached the guy," he said. "That's really as
far as I can go."

The Rangers are seeking a full account of the evening's events. The
incident has spurred border rights advocates to call for the removal of
military troops from the border. At El Paso's federal building today,
the Border Rights Coalition will protest the military's border
surveillance.

Law enforcement officials and observers say offering first aid is
standard procedure after a shooting.

"Once you've stopped the threat, you immediately go into assistance
mode," said Joseph Harris, an assistant U.S. Border Patrol chief from
Marfa. "That would be a common-sense rule. There would be no question:
that's a human being."


In Hernandez's hometown, the events surrounding his death have brought
residents sadness and anger.

"It's just so sad to think about him laying there," said Redford
resident Diana Valenzuela. "They didn't wait in shooting him, why did they wait in giving him aid?"

PBT superintendent seeking
position with another district


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PECOS, June 20, 1997 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah I.S.D. Superintendent Mario
Sotelo has applied to seek the superintendent position of the Edinburg
school district, according to an article that appeared in the Edinburg
Daily Review today.

Although PBT Board President Frank Perea was not aware that Sotelo had
applied for the position, he said it did not surprise him.

"He has applied at other districts in the past, but he usually told us
about it," Perea said.

According to Perea the district recently extended Sotelo's contract for
three years.

Sotelo is one of four applicants for the Edinburg position, according to
the Daily Review article by Beng L. Lim. Of the other three applicants,
one is a current superintendent, one is a school administrator and one
is self-employed. The Daily Review obtained the information about
applicants from the school district.

Edinburg trustees have tentatively scheduled final interviews for the
applicants for June 28, according to Edinburg school board president
Robert de la Garza. Then Edinburg board members may visit the home
districts of the two finalists.

An attorney for the Edinburg district told the Daily Review that the
district has scheduled July 11 to select a new superintendent.

The $90,000 a year job became open when Dr. Douglas Moore left the
district more than two weeks ago.
Sotelo was out of town and not available for comment at press time.

West of the Pecos Rodeo program
honors 30-year vet


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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, June 20, 1997 - A man who has been helping put the rodeo together
for more than 30 years will be honored in the 1997 West of the Pecos
Rodeo Souvenir Program.

This year's souvenir program is dedicated to Bailey Wheeless, who for 33
years has been involved in some capacity with the West of the Pecos
Rodeo. In 1957, he won the AJRA bull riding event in the Pecos arena.
His dedication and involvement with the rodeo has increased yearly, and
it has become part of his life's work.

Wheeless has always been around the ranching and rodeo scene. In
addition to riding bulls, which came to a halt shortly after his high
school days, he roped calves and steers. He was an active member of the
Marfa FFA, exhibiting sheep and steers. He graduated in 1957 from Marfa
High School.

He attended Sul Ross University from 1957 to 1960. He went on to finish
his College career at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos,
graduating in 1961 with a degree in agriculture.

Wheeless and his wife, Patsy, have two daughters, Staci and Tobi. Staci
lives in Pecos, while Tobi is following in her dad's footsteps as an
agriculture teacher in Marble Falls. He continues to teach agriculture
science for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD at Pecos High School after 36
years of service.

"We announced the honoree at a dinner held by the committee on Sunday,"
said rodeo committee member Jodi Exum.

It was a very poignant moment, one Wheeless didn't expect, but was
honored to have, according to Exum//.

The program cover was designed by PHS art teacher Walter Holland.

The cover features Pecos Bill, the state of Texas and the moon, with the
Hale Bopp comet outlined in background, the comet that was seen in the
sky earlier this year.

Bana Armstrong and Exum have been working on the rodeo program for the
last three years. "This is the first time the program has been dedicated
to a school teacher," said Exum. Other articles in the program include
feature articles on area ranchers and a feature article on rattlesnakes.

A lot more colored and black and white photos can be seen in the 1997
program.

A section is dedicated to newspaper articles that appeared 50 years ago.
A behind-the-scenes section features a look at everything that goes on
during the rodeo.

The program even features recipes taken from the cookbook being sold at
the Mesquite House and put together by the West of the Pecos Museum.

Another section features children and their artistic abilities. The
section features young poets and artists.

"If anyone wants a picture in next year's addition they can contact me
or Bana," said Exum. "They need to bring it in to ensure a spot in next
year's program," said Exum.

Exum stated that the group takes the program to get printed by April 1
and all articles and pictures need to be in by then.

"We already have ideas for next year's program," said Exum.

A lot of people collect the West of the Pecos Rodeo Programs, because
they are different from any other rodeo programs, according to Exum.

"All the other programs focus on advertisements, while we try to provide
information, history and a lot more in there," she said.

While advertisements are sold to help fund the program, the
advertisements themselves appear on the bottom part of each page.

Other pages in the program are dedicated to the rodeo itself. The pages
will feature articles on the history of the rodeo, explain the different
events and discuss the humane facts about the care of the animals.

"There is just so much information in this program," said Exum.

The souvenir program is sold at both First National and Security State
Banks and the West of the Pecos Museum for $5. The program will also be sold each night of the rodeo.

Top steer ropers sign up for rodeo


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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, June 20, 1997 - All the top steer ropers will be on hand for the
115th West of the Pecos Rodeo set for July 2-5 at the Buck Jackson Rodeo
Arena.

"We're very excited about all the steer ropers being able to attend,"
said rodeo committee president Jim Bob McNeil.

Guy Allen, the World Champion Steer Roper for 1996, will be in Pecos for
the annual event. Allen was the 1977, '80, '82, '84, '91-96 World
Champion Steer Roper. He is from Lovington, N.M.

In 1996 he earned the 13th spot All-Around with a total of $68,944.

He was born Sept. 5, 1958, in Chousatta, La., attended Sul Ross State
University in Alpine and Ranger College. He and his wife, Crill have two
daughters, Cigi and Sadie.

His other occupation is horse training and he enjoys golfing, spending
time with his family and ranching.

He has been a member of PRCA since 1976. His achievements include
Cheyenne, Wo., Frontier Days SR champion 1996; set PRCA record
8.1-second time at the Inter-State Rodeo (Coffeyville, Kan.) 1996; most
consecutive NFSR qualifications (20); only man to win six straight world
SR titles; youngest SR world champion at age 19, 1977; NFSR average
winner, 1989, '91; Prairie Circuit SR champion, 1993-94; Prairie Circuit
Finals Rodeo SR champion, 1993; Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo SR
champion, 1989-91.

Allen is also known as "The Legend." He went into the 1996 NFSR with a
sizable lead and exited with his 11th world title.

With 11, he surpassed Charmayne James for winning the most world
championships in one event by a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
or Women's Professional Rodeo Association Contest.

James garnered 10 consecutive honors. Allen's stack of 11 world titles
includes a string of six straight.

Other top steer ropers who will be on hand include Dan Fisher of Andrews
who is ranked second; Marty Jones of Hobbs, N.M.; Roy Cooper of
Childress; Arnold Felts of Sonora; Todd Casebolt of Henrietta; Jim Davis
of Abilene; J. Paul Williams of Ponca City, Okla.; Tee Wollman of Llano;
Buster Record, Jr. of Buffalo, Okla.; Jimmy Hodge of Lometa; J.D. Yates
of Pueblo, Colo.; Jason Evans of Huntsville; Sid Howard of Canyon and
J.P. Wickett of Muldrow, Okla. The steer ropers are listed in the order
that they are ranked.

Pecos will also the host for some top bull riders. The second and third
ranked top bull riders, David Fournier of Bowie, Tx. and Jerome Davis of
Archdale, N.M. will be in Pecos for the festivities. Other top bull
riders will be joining them for the competition.

In the bareback riders competition the 1996 World Champion Mark Garrett of Spearfish, S.D. will also be in town for the event.

Program interests kids in aviation


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By CARA ALLIGOOD

Staff Writer

PECOS, June 20, 1997 - Youngsters interested in aviation should get out
to the Pecos Municipal Airport tomorrow for a special program designed
to increase aviation awareness in young people.

The program will begin at 8 a.m. and continue as long as there are
participants, according to Isabelle Blanchard, who manages the airport
with her husband, Dennis.

The Young Eagles program, developed by the Experimental Aircraft
Association (EAA), is for eight to 17-year-olds, and is free of charge.
Youths participating in the Saturday morning program will receive a
special issue of "Sport Aviation For Kids" magazine, have their name
listed in the world's largest logbook on display at the EAA Air
Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, receive information on aviation
organizations and scholarships administered by the EAA Aviation
Foundation and more.

They will also be taken on a flight in an FAA registered airplane flown
by a licensed pilot. The flights are conducted according to federal
regulations and will not contain acrobatic or non-standard maneuvers.


Young people who wish to take part in the program must obtain and read
the EAA Young Eagles flight kit and have their parents complete the
permission slip contained in the kit. Photocopies of the kit and
permission slip are acceptable.

Copies of the kit are still available at the Pecos Enterprise office, radio station KIUN, the Chamber of Commerce and at the airport.

U.S. Customs bag half ton of marijuana


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EL PASO, Texas (AP) June 20, 1997 - US Customs officials seized more
than 1,000 pounds of marijuana in eight separate incidents during a
two-day period this week.

The largest seizure as a part of Operation Hardline came Tuesday at the
Ysleta crossing in southern El Paso. Authorities said they found a van
with its walls and roof filled with about 430 pounds of pot.

Customs special agents took a 28-year-old driver from El Paso into
custody for the smuggling attempt.

On Wednesday, at the Bridge of Americas authorities spotted a propane tank in the back of a 1994 pickup truck that had signs of tampering.

OBITUARIES


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Elizabeth Douglass



PECOS, June 20, 1997 - Elizabeth Wayman Robinson (Robbie) Douglass, 89,
of El Paso, died Wednesday, June 18 at her home in El Paso.

Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Kaster-Maxon and
Futrell, 8817 Dyer Street, El Paso, with burial at Rest Lawn Cemetery
following the service officiated by Rev. Lane Cornforth.

She was born Oct. 7, 1907, in Page, LeFleur County Oklahoma, She
graduated from Broken Bow High School, Broken Bow, Oklahoma in 1926.
Following her graduation as a registered nurse, and a short internship
at Crippled Children's Hospital, Oklahoma City, she entered Oklahoma
State University, Stillwater, Okla., from which she graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree in 1934.

She was an active member of the Valley Congregational Church, U.C.C., on
Alameda, Ave.

She is survived by her husband Victor H. Douglass; three sons, Victor H.
(Buddy), James Robert (Bob) and Paul Madison Douglass; one daughter,
Dorothy Carol Osborne; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren,
nieces and nephews.

Juanita Juarez



PECOS, June 20, 1997 - Juanita Juarez, 82, died Thursday, June 19 at
Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.

A rosary is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today at the Pecos Funeral Home
Chapel.

Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic
Church with Father Antonio Mena officiating. Burial will be in Barstow
Cemetery.

She was born Feb. 8, 1915 in Juarez, Mex., was a housewife, a Catholic
and had lived in Odessa for 24 years.

Survivors include five sons, Victoriano Juarez of Barstow, Tereso (Tito)
Juarez, Jr. of Barstow, Guadalupe and Francisco Juarez of Odessa, Tito
Juarez of Houston; one daughter, Margie Vasquez of Odessa; 25
grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren and three
great-great-grandchildren.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pauline Wright



PECOS, June 20, 1997 - Pauline Burkholder Wright, 79, of Kerrville, died
Thursday, June 19 in a Kerrville hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 at First
Presbyterian Church in Harper with Dr. Sam Lanham officiating. Graveside
services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 at Barstow Cemetery
with Rev. Jim Miles officiating.

She was born July 20, 1917 in Barstow and had been a Kerrville resident
for 18 years, formerly residing in Pecos. She was the retired manager of
S.W.I.G., a cotton growers association and a member of the Presbyterian
Church.

Survivors include her husband, Chester Welty Wright of Lubbock; one
daughter, Cherry Wright of Lubbock; two sisters, Gertrude Hester of Fort
Worth, Hazel Stephens of Arlington and one brother, Wilson Burkholder of
Fort Worth.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Harper,
Tx.
Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER

>>Return to top >PECOS, June 20, 1997 - High Thursday, 103, low this morning, 72. Early >this morning skies were partly to mostly cloudy, with temperatures in >the 60s and 70s. Skies will be partly cloudy over most areas in West >Texas through Saturday. There is a chance of thunderstorms from the >Permian Basin south and west through Saturday. Highs Saturday will be >mostly in the 90s, near 100. Lows tonight will be in the 60s and 70s.

Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, 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@bitstreet.com
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. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.

Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
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