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Daily Newspaper and Tourism Guide for Reeves County Trans Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

TOP STORIES

September 19, 1996

Odessa-Midland lead state in gross sales

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By RICK SMITH
Staff Writer

PECOS, September 19, 1997 - Economic conditions in the Odessa-Midland area show the largest percentage of increase in the state for the first quarter of the year, judging by gross sales reported by the State Comptroller's office.

According to the first quarter report state sales analysis report issued by the comptroller's office, gross sales in the Odessa-Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) increased by 35 percent, almost twice as much as the second largest percentage of increase in the state, San Antonio, that increased gross sales for the first period of the year by 17.4%.

Although the number of Odessa-Midland outlets reporting gross sales for the first quarter of 1997 decreased by about 1,000 (from 8,179 to 6,961) the total first quarter gross sales for the area increased from almost $1.5 billion last year to almost $2 billion this year.

A dramatic 432 percent increase in gross sales in the mining industry lead the Odessa-Midland first quarter increase. Gross mining sales in the first quarter last year totaled almost $61 million compared to almost $325 million for the same period this year.

In contrast, gross sales in Reeves County decreased by five percent in the first quarter of the year. For the period last year gross sales totaled almost $29 million compared to a little more than $27 million for the period this year.

Pecos sales tax rebates this month decreased a little more than one percent from September of last year, however, tax rebates for the year-to-date for the city have increased almost a percent.

Pecos received $70,590 in sales tax rebates this month compared to 71,336 in September of 1996. Year-to-date Pecos has received $555,618 compared to $550,482 for the same period last year.

This month, the State Comptroller's Office delivered a total of $1 72.7 million in monthly sales tax payments to 1,085 Texas cities and 11 7 counties.

"The Texas economy continues to sail along on a smooth course," John Sharp said. "Sales tax rebates are running 6.1 percent over those for the first nine months of last year, showing steady consumer confidence with the growing job market."

Sharp delivered monthly sales tax rebates to Texas cities totaling $157.6 million, 4.4 percent higher than last September's payments of $150.8 million.

Rebates of $15.1 million to Texas counties were 1.2 percent higher than allocations of $14.9 million in September 1996. Another $4.7 million went to 26 special purpose districts around the state.

This month's payments include local sales taxes collected on July sales and reported to the Comptroller in August by businesses filing monthly tax returns.

The city of Houston received a sales tax rebate of $20.9 million in September, 10 percent higher than last year's $19 million payment for the same month. Year-to-date payments to the city of Houston are up by 5 percent.

The $12.9 million local sales tax allocation to the city of Dallas for September reflects a 1.3 percent increase from the $12.7 million sales tax rebate for the same month last year. Year-to-date payments to Dallas are running 2.7 percent ahead of those for the first nine months of 1996.


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Learning center adds courses

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By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, September 19, 1997 - Further diversifying its offerings, the Pecos Learning Center became the place to go to learn to play the piano as of yesterday afternoon.

Group piano lessons, open to both children from second grade up and adults began at 4:30 yesterday, taught by Etta Bradley, who learned to play as a child on a friend's piano.

Other afternoon classes are taught at the Learning Center in addition to the Thursday piano lessons.

Creative Dramatics is taught on Mondays by Reita Prewit and Terri Spence. Creative Dramatics is a set of drama lessons that teach children to have fun learning to perform and speak in front of others. The lessons take place from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Registration fee is $10, and lessons are $25 per month.

On Tuesday, Sharon Click and Shannon Click Huber teach jazz, tap, ballet and modern dance. Together, they have 35 years of experience, and teach dance in Artesia, N.M. and Carlsbad, N.M as well as Pecos. Dance lessons are $37.50 per month.

Pecos Learning Center Director Kim Ewing teaches Kidnastics, developmental gymnastics exercises, on Wednesdays. The classes are for children ages four and up. Interested parents should call Ewing at the Learning Center, 447-4076, to set up an instruction time for their child. The registration fee is $10, and lessons are $25 per month.

The Monday through Wednesday classes are exclusively for children, and continue throughout the school year.

"It's really nice to have more things to do in Pecos now," said Amy Winkles, whose niece, Melody Juarez, took her first piano lesson Thursday afternoon.

The lessons began with five girls. Bradley said there were a few adults who were supposed to take the class also, but they didn't make an appearance at the first lesson. Bradley began the first lesson with the basics, showing the young ladies the proper posture and hand placement to use when playing the instrument.

Bradley is a reading teacher at Zavala Middle School who also teaches private piano lessons. She also taught music at the elementary level in the 1980s.

She said that she enjoys teaching "very much," because people who take music lessons are really eager to learn the subject.

"It's a fun subject," Bradley said.

Roving dental unit helps needy children

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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, September 19, 1997 - Children can receive free dental care thanks to dentistry on wheels.

A mobile dental unit out of El Paso was doing its rounds in this area recently providing general dentistry for indigent children.

The unit is one of three available and covers Regions 9 and 10. Team two is out of San Angelo and Team 3 is out of Midland.

"We each have 12 counties that we cover and one of them is Reeves County," said dentist Allen McGinness.

Along with McGinness others that travel with him include, hygienist, Lily Martinez; dental assistant, Rosemary Magos and dental technician, Mark Paniagua.

Each individual travels in their own personal vehicle, while Paniagua drives the mobile unit to each location the group is assigned to visit.

"We usually stay in one place for four weeks, which is the longest we're supposed to stay and see as many children as we can," said McGinness.

McGinness stated that the services they offer is general dentistry and no ortho work.

"The reason for this is that ortho is extended treatment and we're not here long enough to provide that," he said.

All are state employees and to be eligible for their services the students must meet special guidelines. Students in grades 1-5 are eligible to apply for the free dental care.

"This doesn't cost parents anything and the nurses from the schools usually take care of the guidelines and paperwork before we even get here," he said.

Services they provide include extractions, general cleaning and sealants.

The unit the group is traveling in is brand new, state of the art with all the latest equipment, according to McGinness.

"We don't usually work in El Paso, but there is a unit out of there that we sometimes assist, usually during the summer," said McGinness.

McGinness stated that they have screened about 200-300 students and have done 200 exams.

"Screening is different from an exam, in a screening we just do a look-over, while an exam covers everything, like the actual cleaning or an extraction," he said.

"We also do x-rays and if the child needs more than we can do for them, we do referrals," said McGinness.

The unit even has a TV and VCR to entertain those who are waiting their turn.

Witness tampering case dismissed

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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, September 19, 1997 - District Judge Bob Parks this morning approved a motion to dismiss a tampering with a witness indictment against Jim Ed Miller, general manager for Red Bluff Water and Power District.

Miller had been charged with threatening Ed Armstrong in an attempt to stop him from testifying against directors for the Ward County Irrigation District #1. Directors were later acquitted of the charges in that case.

District Attorney Randy Reynolds filed the motion to dismiss charges against Miller because the statute under which he was indicted was "incomprehensible, vague and uncertain." It has since been amended by the Texas Legislature.

"Further, the facts in the record do not support a conviction as alleged in the pending indictment," Reynolds said.

A Reeves County jury convicted Miller in August, 1996, but Judge Parks overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. Then-district attorney John Stickels appealed. Reynolds filed a motion earlier this year to dismiss that appeal.

Cattlemen's coop forming

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ALPINE, September 19, 1997 - The Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Registry has called a meeting for this Saturday, Sept. 20, to inform members of the recent formation of the Cattlemen's Texas Longhorn Beef Cooperative. The meeting will be held at the City Council Chambers in Alpine.

A concept paper was released to explain the vision of the cooperative, which is to process and market certified Texas Longhorn beef products.

The plan relies on a shift in American eating habits. According to recent studies, more Americans are health conscious these days. The Registry believes that Longhorn cattle, if properly marketed, could find a positive market success.

A study conducted by the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University concluded in 1987 that "muscle fat from Longhorn Cattle was less saturated (41.8 percent) than British crosses or British cattle."

Since the majority of Texas Longhorn cattle producers (seedstock or commercial) are centered in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado, the cooperative proposes to establish a networked system in the area to stock, background, feed, process, and market the cattle.

The cooperative "will concentrate on developing a trademark, label, and marketing campaign to identify the flavor and tenderness of the product."

A successful cooperative may provide a stable employment for members, and the potential for "real sustainable growth for small communities that are based in agribusiness."

Pecos businessman donates $5,000

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PECOS, September 19, 1997 - Local businessman and longtime Sul Ross State University supporter Bob Burkholder, owner of Rio Pecos Sales, has given the Alpine university another $5,000 for rodeo scholarships.

Burkholder met with his former rodeo teammate, rodeo Coach Harley May and Dr. Rob Kinucan, director of the Turner Range Animal Science Center last week to present the check.

"This is a Budweiser scholarship fund that I've been donating to since 1977," Burkholder said. He also met three recipients of his rodeo scholarship: Taylor Tenney, Megan Wolf and Joe Bob Hayter.

"It's great to be able to do this. I'm very proud to be able to help these kids. Some of them have written to thank me, and said that they wouldn't have been able to go to college without this scholarship," Burkholder said.

Burkholder and Rio Pecos Sales have given the Sul Ross rodeo teams $78,500 since the rodeo scholarship program began.

A former Sul Ross student, Burkholder has been a continuous supporter of university programs.

Burkholder attended the university from 1948-1950, participating in both football and rodeo. he was a member of the 1948 football team that went to the Tangerine Bowl and played against Murray State College, Kentucky. He played on that team with Dan Blocker, who went on to portray Hoss Cartwright on the popular tv western "Bonanza," he said.

Burkholder won the bull-dogging event in 1948 in his first rodeo competition at Sul Ross and was a member of the 1950 SRSU rodeo team that won the College National Finals Rodeo in the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

Area Round-up

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The Fort Stockton Pioneer

FORT STOCKTON, Sept. 18, 1997 - Fort Stockton High School's 1997 Homecoming Celebration will be illuminated by laser light, thanks to the generosity of the entire community, not to mention a number of friends in communities across West Texas. Organizers for this year's celebration announced that they had reached their fundraising goal, and that this year's celebration would feature the return of last year's popular laser light show in Zero Stone Park, Sept. 18, immediately following the conclusion of the Homecoming Parade.

The Big Bend Sentinel

MARFA, Sept. 18, 1997 - Area residents are cautioned to beware of bees. The Alpine Police Department said that several people have reported being attacked by swarms of bees in recent weeks. Aggressive Africanized bees also have been reported in Presidio and Marfa.

The Alpine Avalanche

ALPINE, Sept. 18, 1997 - Heritage Show in Alpine is scheduled with fun, music, history, food and fellowship. All these ingredients for a good time can be at the Texas Mountain Western Heritage Weekend set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Alpine Civic Center.

The International, Presidio Paper

PRESIDIO, Sept. 18, 1997 - Reflecting a trend being seen up and down the border now, law enforcement officers apprehended two juveniles just outside Presidio late Wednesday night, Sept. 10 and charged them with felony drug possession. The 15- and 16-year-old boys were stopped in a vehicle along U.S. 67 in the Las Pampas area just north of Presidio by a member of the Permian Basin Drug Task Force, Capt. Gilbert Spencer of Presidio. Eighty-six pounds of marijuana was found in the vehicle. Both of the boys are students at Presidio High School.

The Sanderson Times

SANDERSON, Sept. 18, 1997 - The Sanderson Eagles will play the Dell City 6-man football team there Friday night in the first district game for both teams. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Standard time. The Sanderson Eagles have had one 6-man game this season.

The Monahans News

MONAHANS, Sept. 18, 1997 - Night-riding vandals firing air pellets hit the windows of at least seven businesses in the 100 and 200 blocks of Main Street sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning, reports Monahans Police Chief Dave Watts. Marylyn Thurman-Lewis the Grand Dame of Grandfalls and the Lady of Royalty, is dead. Funeral services were held on Saturday morning, Sept. 13, at Union Church in Grandfalls.

Judge dismisses libel suit

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BIG SPRING, Texas (AP) September 19, 1997 - A state judge Thursday dismissed a libel suit filed against the Big Spring Herald by a former Howard County sheriff's deputy.

Woodrow B. Howell filed the lawsuit last year, claiming a March 10, 1996, story prior to his Republican sheriff's primary defamed him. State District Judge Robert Moore III ruled Howell didn't have a case.

"We did not feel the case had any merit and we felt confident summary judgement proceedings would (end the case)," said Ben Bancroft, the newspaper's attorney.

Howell said he will appeal the decision.

The lawsuit first centered on a few paragraphs in a story focusing on Howell's past. The Herald reported that a woman received a harassing call from Howell in response to a letter she had written to the newspaper.

The Herald also reported that Howell confronted a teacher at a local elementary school who was not supportive of him.

The lawsuit later was amended to claim most of the story was libelous.

Police Report

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PECOS, September 19, 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 Surety, 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.

***

Jose G. Rubio was arrested at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 in the 100 block of N. Pecan upon his refusal to submit to DWI testing at a vehicle accident.

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Sonia S. Olivas was arrested at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 11 on a capias pro fine warrant.

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Jamie Lynn Wade was arrested at 11:43 Sept. 11 during a traffic stop on the 200 block of S. Cedar on a warrant service from San Juan County, NM.

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Maria Carrera was arrested at 1:55 a.m. Sept. 12 on the 100 block of E. 3rd St. for public intoxication.

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Tony Ray Olivas was arrested at 1:55 a.m. Sept. 12 on the 1100 block of E. 3rd for public intoxication.

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Rodolfo Inostroza was arrested at 1:55 a.m. Sept. 12 on the 1100 block of E. 3rd for public intoxication.

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Epifanio Flores Hernandez was arrested at 2:25 a.m. Sept. 12 on the 500 block of F St. for assault under the Family Violence Act, a Class A misdemeanor.

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Jesus Armendariz was arrested at 3:56 p.m. on Sept 12 on a warrant service.

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Dolores Machuca was arrested Sept. 12 for driving while license suspended.

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Chris Salcido was arrested at 9:33 p.m. Sept. 12 on the 300 block of Oleander on a capias pro fine warrant service, paid the fine, and was released.

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Mariano Rodriguez Munoz was arrested at 10:24 p.m. Sept. 12 during a traffic stop at 7th and Elm for public intoxication.

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Epifanio B. Montoya was arrested at 11:37 p.m. Sept 12 for public intoxication.

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Cruz Jiminez was arrested at 7:37 a.m. Sept. 13 in Maxey Park for public intoxication.

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Tammy Bledsoe was arrested at 9:40 p.m. Sept. 13 at Flying J for theft over $500/under $1500.

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Jose Duran Villa was arrested at 10:20 p.m. Sept. 13 for public intoxication.

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Leonardo R. Marquez was arrested at 1:29 a.m. Sept. 14 during a traffic stop on the 400 block of E. 6th St. on a bond forfeiture warrant out of Dallas County.

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Tracey Allen Crawford was arrested at 2:05 a.m. Sept. 14 on the 1300 block of S. Ash for assault under the Family Violence Act.

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Abel Velasquez was arrested at 2:19 a.m. Sept. 14 on a capias pro fine warrant from Ward County, paid the fine, and was released.

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Cristopher Allan Davis was arrested at 3:12 a.m. Sept. 14 on the 300 block of S. Plum for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, no driver's license, forgery and theft.

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Faviola Trujillo Urias was arrested at 11 p.m. Sept. 14 on a warrant service and for assault under the Family Violence Act.

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Guadalupe Rodriguez was arrested at 11 p.m. Sept. 14 for assault under the Family Violence Act.

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Ida Olguin Flores was arrested at 3:22 a.m. Sept. 15 for assault under the Family Violence Act.

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Elizabeth Olguin Jiminez was arrested at 3:22 a.m. Sept. 15 for assault under the Family Violence Act.

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Darrell Wayne Shaw was arrested at 11:37 p.m. Sept. 15 on the 300 block of mulberry for theft under $50.

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Reyes R. Avila was arrested at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 16 on a warrant service.

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Amanda Ornelas was arrested at 12;13 p.m. Sept. 16 for assault causing bodily injury. A $500 bond was set.

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On Sept. 8, the burglary of two mobile homes 6 miles north of Pecos on U.S. 285 was reported. Items stolen were a bag of cookies and $40 cash from one, four sleeping bags, 12 blankets and five bed spreads from the other.

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Bartolo Falcon Sanchez, 26, of Toyah was arrested at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 on a warrant for theft by check.

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Thomas Lucio Escoverdo, 28, 706 S. Cypress, was arrested at 11:57 p.m. Aug. 3 for public intoxication after kicking the car of a Reeves County reserve sheriff's deputy.

OBITS

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Bedford Bowers

PECOS, September 19, 1997 - Bedford "Frosty" Bowers, 84, of Round Rock, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1997.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Sept. 22, at the Balmorhea Cemetery in Balmorhea.

Bowers was born Jan. 23, 1913, in Mobeetie, Tx., was co-owner of Bowers and Kelly Dirt Construction Company in Pecos for many years, and ranched in West Texas.

He was preceded in death by one son Truman Forrest Bowers and his wife Sarah Annelle Peck Bowers.

Survivors include: one daughter, Marquita Wanslow of Round Rock; two sons, Charles Newton Bowers of Pecos and David Floyd Bowers of San Antonio; four sisters, Marie Green of Riverside, Calif., Laura Haynes and Margie Alsup of Breckenridge and Annie McClung of Cantonment, Fla.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Cook Walden Condra Funeral Home of Round Rock is in charge of arrangements.

Weather

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PECOS, September 19, 1997 -High Thursday, 103, low this morning, 65. A cold front is expected to move across Texas in time to produce some autumn-like weather for the last half of the weekend. Autumn officially begins at 6:56 p.m. Monday, meaning that Tuesday will be the first full day of autumn. The front is expected to move southward across most of the state by late Saturday. Most areas of West Texas may get some precipitation in the form of scattered showers and thunderstorms through Saturday. Temperatures will begin to drop on Saturday. Lows tonight will be in the 50s, 60s and 70s in West Texas. Highs Saturday will be in the 90s.


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