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July 28, 1997

Grand jury convenes Wednesday in border shooting


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MARFA, Texas (AP) July 28, 1997 - A grand jury will convene Wednesday to
begin deciding whether Clemente Banuelos, a 22-year-old Marine corporal,
should be charged with murder or other crimes in the fatal shooting of
Esequiel Hernandez Jr.

Hernandez, an 18-year-old goat herder, died May 20 a few hundred yards
from his family's home in the tiny border village of Redford.

"The investigation has been completed, as far as we can go at this
time," James Jepson, the first assistant district attorney told the San
Antonio Express-News.

"I'm sure there will be more as this thing continues."

Texas Rangers have led the investigation and Ranger Capt. Barry Caver
has said he has doubts about the military's portrayal of the shooting as
an act of self-defense.

Caver has said that he is leaning toward murder charges, but since then
has refused to comment on the matter.

Military officials say Hernandez, who was tending his goat herd, was
shot after firing twice at a four-man Marine surveillance team that was
watching a suspected drug route at the request of the Border Patrol.

The military maintains that the 18-year-old had raised his .22-caliber
rifle for a third shot when Banuelos fired his M-16.

Grand jurors will have the power to let Banuelos return to Marine
obscurity with his unit at Camp Pendleton, Calif., by not indicting him.
But an indictment would plunge him into a high-stakes trial. The outcome
could influence the future of military operations along the U.S.-Mexico
border.

Jepson said he plans to present at least six witnesses, and expects
jurors will make a decision by the end of the day. He added that he will
make no recommendation about the case to the jury.

It would take nine votes to return an indictment, thereby ordering that
Banuelos be arrested and face trial.

Some locals believe the Presidio High School sophomore, who was tending
the family goats when he was shot, was murdered in cold blood. His
family has hired lawyers to sue the government.

"This wasn't an accident. I think they're pure murderers," Hernandez's
grandfather, Valerio Pando, told the San Antonio Express-News the day
after his grandson's funeral.

But according to Jack Zimmermann, who is Banuelos lawyer and a former
Marine colonel, the Marine fired to save the life of a comrade.

For the last few weeks, Caver has refused to discuss the case and is refusing to say what conclusions he has reached.

New faces play strong roles in federal court
She speaks for those who know little English


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN

Staff Writer

PECOS, July 28, 1997 - Cuban-born Celia Nazaroff is a long way from
home, but she likes Pecos, where she is the new federal court
interpreter.

"People are extremely friendly and very eager to help, which is very
different from where I come from," Nazaroff said.

Raised in Indiana, she moved to Pecos from Fresno, Calif., where she has
interpreted for the courts since 1975 after earning a bachelor of arts
degree from Cal State University, majoring in Spanish.

Her first job interpreting was with the Immigration and Naturalization
Service in Los Angles, where she also worked for superior and municipal
courts as a free-lance interpreter for 5 1/2 years.

"In 1981, I took the U.S. Administrative Office certification exam for
federal interpreters and became a federal interpreter," she said.

For the past 2 1/2 years, Nazaroff has worked as a free-lance
interpreter, but decided to apply for the opening in Pecos for job
security.

Her 14-year-old daughter, Natalie, will be a freshman at Pecos High
School this fall.

"I have been a soccer mom," Nazaroff said. "She is into basketball now,
so she will concentrate on that."

Nazaroff also likes to read, solve crossword puzzles, garden and drive
her sports car.

While she enjoys her role in the courts and her life in Pecos, Nazaroff
admits the town could use some improvement "to become a pretty town."

"That takes organizing committees and getting people motivated to plant
trees, etc.," she said, adding that she will in time become involved in those endeavors.

She helps decide if arrested suspects get out on bail


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN

Staff Writer

PECOS, July 28, 1997 - Pursuing a master's degree in criminal justice
is the next item on Gloria Herrera's agenda, and she will likely drive
to Alpine to study at Sul Ross State University.

Herrera already does a lot of commuting, since she lives in Monahans and
works in the Pecos division of federal court as a pre-trial service
officer. On weekends, she travels to Big Spring, her home town.

"I was working in Big Spring with state adult probation for 8 1/2
years," she said. "I came here because I wanted a better job with the
federal courts."

Her experience while wearing "many hats" in the probation office helped
her win the Pecos position, Herrera said.

"I love the job," she said of the position she has held for six months.

She is one of the first to be notified when a person is arrested within
the Pecos division on federal charges. After an interview and
investigation, she recommends to the court whether the suspect should be
detained for trial or released on bail.


"We try to determine if the individual is a risk of non-appearance in
court, or is a danger to the community," she said.

If they are released on bail, they must report regularly to the
pre-trial officer, who determines if they are violating terms of their
release.


"The majority are glad to be out of jail and are trying to get their
families and finances situated, so they do real well," she said.

Herrera's family consists of her husband, who works as an oilfield
roughneck, a 14-year-old daughter who sings in the
Monahans-Pyote-Wickett ISD a capella choir, and a three-year-old son.


"If I have a hobby, it is being involved in my daughter's school
activities," Herrera said. "We may have a little Selena in the future.
She loves to sing, and is one of only 10 freshmen in the a capella
choir. It is mostly juniors and seniors."

Herrera was born in Big Spring and had never lived anywhere else before
moving to Monahans. She attended the University of Texas-Permian Basin, where she majored in criminal justice and minored in sociology.

One dies in auto roll-over


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PECOS, July 28, 1997 - One person died in a one-car accident that
occurred eight miles east of Pecos yesterday around noon.

Kimberly Keene, 20, of Glendale, Arizona, was travelling westbound on
Interstate 20, just east of Reeves County, when she lost control of her
1995 Ford pickup. She over corrected and the truck overturned 2 3/4
times, pinning her in the vehicle, according to a Department of Public
Safety report. She was wearing her seat belt at the time of the accident.

Keene died at 1:15 p.m. at Reeves County Hospital from wounds suffered
in the accident. She was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace J. T. Marsh and her body was taken to Pecos Funeral Home, the report said.

Two of three arrested from out of town


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PECOS, July 28, 1997 - Two of the three men arrested Tuesday morning
(July 22) at the Pecos Cantaloupe Company for possession of marijuana
are from other area towns. Eric Keith Payne, no age available, is a
resident of Alpine, and Benito Ramirez, 42, is from Fort Stockton. David
Hernandez, 39, was the only Pecosite arrested in this case.

The men were arrested after police received a complaint about the three
attempting to sell marijuana to employees of the company.

Pecos Police Officer Freddy Contreras and Reeves County Sheriff's Deputy
Bobby Jenkins detained the three men until Narcotics Investigator Paul
Deishler arrived. The three law enforcement officers then questioned the
three men about the complaint that had been made against them.

Eric Keith Payne refused to let the officers search his vehicle and was
detained for investigative purposes while a search warrant for his
vehicle was obtained.

Upon searching the vehicle that the three men were in, a large amount of
a substance believed to be marijuana was found in the trunk.

Payne was charged with possession of marijuana, felony amount, along
with David Hernandez and Benito Ramirez. The three men were then taken
to the Reeves County Jail.

All three suspects were arraigned last week, with a $5,000 bond set on
each. The municipal court clerk's office was closed this morning due to
a funeral, so no word was available as of press time on if any of the
men has posted bond yet.

A Pecos Enterprise article about the incident last week reported that an
employee of Pecos Cantaloupe Company who was approached by the three
arrested men about buying drugs reported the incident to police, resulting in the arrest. That account was incorrect.

School board holds a second special meeting


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PECOS, July 28, 1997 -The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School
District Board of Education has announced its second special meeting of
the month.

The meeting will begin with a closed session, where personnel or
complaints against them may be discussed.

Items on the agenda to be discussed/approved later on in the open
portion of the meeting include: *professional personnel appointments,
resignations, retirements, transfers, coaching assignments, Crockett
Middle School Eighth Grade Principal;

*daily rate of pay for Interim Superintendent;

*pre-kindergarten through 12th grade dress code;

*Secondary Code of Conduct; and

*change order on roof repairs for Pecos High School Building B.

The school board also will approve a letter of engagement with Walsh,
Anderson, Underwood, Schulze & Aldridge, P.C. to represent
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District in Cause 97-06-15751-CVR. Adjournment will follow.|

Sulphur production continues at reduced rate


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By JON FULBRIGHT

Staff Writer

PECOS, July 28, 1997 - Sulphur production at Freeport McMoRan's
Culberson County mine continued at a reduced rate during their second
quarter of 1997, the company said in its quarterly report Tuesday.

Freeport, which purchased the Culberson County mine northwest of Pecos
from Pennzoil three years ago, said reduced production rates there and
at its Main Pass mine off the Louisiana Gulf coast were designed to
match market requirements. It said prices during the April-July period
of this year were up 3 percent from the first quarter of 1997, but down
6 percent from the same period a year ago.

Sulphur sales for the second quarter of 1997 were 738,900 long tons, up
from 665,700 long tons in the three month period during 1996. For the
first six months of the year, sales rose from 1,403,800 to 1,476,900.

Freeport said of those quarterly sale totals, 200,600 were for use by
the company in other operations, up from 169,000 tons last year. The
six-month total climbed from 355,000 to 398,300 tons.

Freeport McMoRan also announced a quarterly cash distribution of 33
cents per share in their Tuesday press release.


In addition to sulphur mining, New Orleans-based Freeport is engaged in
the production and sale of phosphate fertilizers and animal feed
ingredients, along with the exploration, development and production of oil and gas and the mining and sale of phosphate rock.

114 vote early at Reeves County Court House


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PECOS, July 28, 1997 - Only 114 people in Reeves County have taken
advantage of early voting in the Constitutional Ammendment Election.
Early voting began July 21 and lasts until August 5.

Election day is Aug. 9 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The election is for a state "constitutional amendment providing school
property tax relief by increasing the residence homestead exemption by
$10,000 and providing for the transfer of the tax limitation to another
qualified homestead for persons over 65 and a reduction in taxes on
homesteads subject to the limitation," the ballot says.

You may request a ballot by mail if you are 65 years of age or older,
confined in jail, disabled, or if you expect to be out of the county for
the rest of the early voting period and on election day. To vote by
mail, call 445-5467. Of the 114 who have already voted only two voted by
mail so far.

The deadline for registering to vote in this election was July 10.

On election day, in-town boxes may vote at the Reeves County Civic
Center. Voting Box 4 will vote at Toyah City Hall. Box 5 will vote at
the Balmorhea Senior Citizens' Center. Voting Box 6 will vote at the
Saragosa Multi-purpose Center, and Box 9 will vote at the Red Bluff
Office in Orla.

State officials fear a low voter turnout in the election.

Voters will determine whether homestead property tax exemptions should
be increased from a minimum of $5,000 to a minimum of $15,000.

The higher exemption will cost school districts about $1 billion every
two years.

The tax exemption question comes after lawmakers failed to approve an
attempt to lower and cap local school property taxes. The House and
Senate approved separate plans to cut the locally set tax rates, but
could not agree on a final version of the idea.

Instead, they approved a plan to increase the amount of a home's value
not subject to taxation for schools. Also included is dedicating lottery
revenues to education and a provision allowing Texans' 65 and older to
transfer a proportionate amount of their homestead tax freezes from one
home to another if they move.

The lottery-to-education provision goes into effect Sept. 1 regardless
of the election. The tax freeze portability is contingent on the election.

Suspect caught after asking police for help


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BROOKSHIRE, Texas (AP) July 28, 1997 - A man suspected of molesting a
Maryland child was arrested Monday when he asked police to help him buy
gasoline for a trip to Arizona, authorities said.

John William Howard, 46, of Essex, Md., was arrested about 8:15 a.m.
while waiting for a voucher to buy gasoline, Police Chief Joe Garcia
said.

"He was just very shocked when a couple of officers came out into the
lobby," Garcia said. "I don't think he suspected the dispatcher was
going to do anything more than fill out the voucher."

Howard was running out of gas on Interstate 10 and was referred by a
merchant to the police department in Brookshire, 35 miles west of
Houston, Garcia said.

"We have a program where we help travelers," Garcia said.

The money is raised by local churches and administered by police, he
said. However, before any vouchers are issued, police check to make sure applicants are not fugitives.

Reeves County Commissioners meet today


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PECOS, July 28, 1997 - Reeves County Commissioners' Court meets at 5:30
p.m. today on the third floor of the County Court House.

Items on the agenda include:

* A memorial moment of silence honoring Reeves County Sheriff's Deputy
Floyd Estrada

Discussion/Action on the following items:

*Presentation of certified tax rolls

*Exemptions offered by the county

*Appointment of officer to calculate effective tas rate

*Pay election worker's $0.24 per mile

*Election workers from Jul 1997 - July 1998

* Approve election judge and election worker for central counting

* Amend personnel policy (damage to employee personal property)

* Employee claims for damage to personal property

* Amend personnel policy (RCDC compensation)

* Award bids for new RCDC uniforms

* Reports from various departments

* Budget amendments and line-item transfers

* Personnel and salary changes (RCDC, Sheriff's office, county clerk)

* Minutes from previous meetings

* Payment of semi-monthly bills

* Spread on minutes: Continuing education for county clerk Dianne O. Florez

MARRIAGES


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PECOS, July 28, 1997, Marriages for June, as reported by the Reeves
County Clerk's Office.

Daniel Reyna Machuca and Monica Franco Machuca

Raymond J. Bryant and Kay Lynn Chaney

Dennis F. Rayos, Jr. and Suzanne Janet Carrasco

Alberto Gutierrez and Clare Whittemore Cecilio

Amaya Beyna and Maria Luisa Beyna

Christopher Lance Love and Jane Ellen Green

Amador Carrasco Salgado and Maribel Rodriguez Valles

Ricky Gomez Nunez and Belinda Ann Carrasco

Andrew Madrid and Farrah Rey Lozano

Rodolfo Galindo Lozano and Betty Rey Lozano

Jerry Dewitt Barker and Betty Frances Riney

DIVORCES


Divorces for June, as reported by the Reeves County Clerk's Office.Blanca Galindo and Fernando Galindo.

POLICE REPORT


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PECOS, July 28, 1997 - EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the
Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police
Department, Reeves County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public
Safety, 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.

***

Gerardo Estrello was arrested July 19 on a capias pro fine warrant and
paid the fine.

***

Albert Rubio Corrales was arrested July 19 at 5:45 p.m. for public
intoxication.

***

On July 20 at 2:47 a.m., Juan Manuel Zamudio was arrested about one half
of one mile north of I-10 on State Highway 17 for public intoxication.

***

Conrado Gonzales was arrested July 20 at 5:58 p.m. for theft at the
Allsups store on Cedar.


***

Edmundo Lujan Saenz was arrested on two capias pro fine warrants July 21 at 12:04 p.m.

OBITUARIES

July 28, 1997

Manuel Rodriguez


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Manuel Rodriguez, 68, of Pecos, died Saturday, July 26, 1997, at Reeves
County Hospital.


Mass will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow, July 29, at Santa Rosa Catholic Church
with burial at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery. Rosary will be at 7:30 tonight at
Pecos Funeral Home Chapel.


Survivors include: his wife, Gloria Rodriguez of Pecos; two sons, Oscar
Rodriguez of Pecos and Juan Manuel Rodriguez of Odessa; two daughters,
Tencha Mena and Lisa Lara of Pecos; one brother, Martin O. Rodriguez of
Pecos; one sister, Delia Hernandez of Juarez, Mexico; nine
grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are being handled by Pecos Funeral Home.

Andy M. Garcia



Andy M. Garcia, 49, of Big Spring, died Saturday, July 26, 1997, at the
V.A. Medical Center in Big Spring.

Mass will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Christ The King Church in Balmorhea.
Rosary will be at 7:30 tonight at Christ The King Church.

Survivors include: one son, Micheal Ornelas of Balmorhea; four
daughters, Nancy Lee Garcia of Pecos, Linda Lee Garcia of Burnett;
Brenda Lee Garcia of Burnett, and Betty Ornelas of Balmorhea; parents,
Timoteo and Cinderella Garcia of Balmorhea; nine brothers, Tomas and Joe
Garcia of Balmorhea, Armando Garcia of Saragosa, Steven Garcia of
Balmorhea, Raymond, Robert and Billy Garcia of Odessa, Frankie Garcia of
Monahans and Timothy Garcia of Weatherford; four sisters, Margie Granado
and Monse "Cindy" Lara of Ft. Davis, Mary Baeza and Beatrice Armendariz
of Odessa; and five grandchildren.

Arrangements are being handled by Martinez Funeral Home.

Floyd Estrada Jr.



Floyd Estrada Jr., 46, of Saragosa, died Thursday, July 24, 1997, at the
University Medical Center Hospital in Lubbock.

Mass was 10 a.m. today, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Saragosa.
Burial will be in Saragosa Cemetery. Viewings were 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 26, at the Pecos Funeral Home and 2 p.m. Sunday at Our
Lady of Guadalupe Church. Rosaries were 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at
the Pecos Funeral Home and 7 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Estrada was born Dec. 26, 1950 in Presidio. He was a Reeves County
Sheriff's Department Deputy.

Survivors include: his wife, Ella Estrada of Saragosa; three daughters,
Georgia Eleziade, Jackie Estrada and Samantha Estrada of Amarillo; his
mother, Evangilina Estrada, of Fresno, Calif.; his father, Flavio
Estrada Sr. of Presidio; one brother, Hector Estrada of Fresno, Calif.,
six sisters, Katy Montes, Betty Estrada and Margaret Estrada of Fresno,
Calif., Rosa Estrada of Presidio and Nora Elia Arroyo and Norma Tarin of
Odessa; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements were handled by Pecos Funeral Home.


WEATHER
>Return to top > >PECOS, July 28, 1997 - High Sunday, 102, low this morning, 73. >Precipitation over the weekend totaled 0.14 of and inch bringing the >monthly total to 0.43 of and inch and the yearly total to 4.16 inches. A >heat advisory is in effect through Tuesday across much of North Texas. >The heat advisory covers Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties through >Tuesday and was ending today in Bowie and Cass counties. Lows tonight >will be in the 60s and 70s in West Texas with highs Wednesday in the >90s. Some showers and thunderstorms dampened portions of the Panhandle >early today in response to a surface trough. > |

State News
San Angelo Standard Times
Abilene Reporter News
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National News
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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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