PECOS ENTERPRISE

HOME PAGE

ARCHIVES
Archives 87
Archives 95
Archives 96
Archives 97


Links to News Photos


|

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

Use "FIND" option on toolbar to search for a specific word or string.

TOP STORIES

November 13, 1997



Eagle named MVP to All-District



By JON FULBRIGHT
Sports Editor

PECOS, November 13, 1997 - Pecos Eagles' senior Lori Marquez
was selected as the Most Valuable Player for the
All-District 4-4A volleyball team, while two other Eagles
were named to the squad and two more received honorable
mention in voting by district coaches.

The team was chosen during Wednesday's coaches meeting, and
Marquez was named as the league's MVP even though the Eagles
placed third, behind Andrews and Big Spring, in the 4-4A
standings.

"I was surprised. I was expecting the kid from Andrews (Ali
Bane) to get it," said Eagles' coach Becky Granado. "The
coaches went by statistics, and Lori averaged eight kills
per game, which was high in the district."

Marquez, who was an all-state selection last season, led the
Eagles in kills and blocks for the third straight year.
"She's a good all-around player on offense and defense.
Principally, that was the advantage she had over the other
kids," Gran ado said.

Marquez was joined on the first team by senior Marisol
Arenivas as a defensive specialist, while senior setter
Annette Marquez was a second team pick. Two other seniors,
outside hitter Ivy Thorp and middle hitter Gail Taylor, were
the honorable mention choices by the 4-4A coaches.

"I felt Marisol would have a chance with her defense,"
Granado said, while Marquez was the Eagles' main setter this
season. "She had a lot of assists setting up Lori, so that
was good for her."

Taylor and Thorp were the Eagles' second and third-leading
hitters this season, as Pecos finished with a 17-12 record
before falling to El Paso High in the bi-district round of
the playoffs. Andrews and Lake View were ousted last week in
Class 4A area round play.

Andrews' Bane, a junior, and senior Holly Fields were the
Mustangs' two first-team picks, while junior Erin Graham was
Newcomer of the Year and the Mustangs' Penny Bane was named
Coach of the Year. Second place Lake View had only one first
team pick, sophomore hitter Hillary Lee, while Big Spring
senior hitter Krissy McWhorter, Fort Stockton junior hitter
Elisa Espino and Sweetwater junior blocker Vanessa Lehrmann
were the other first-team picks.

Joining Annette Marquez on the second team were Andrews'
Lindsey Hudgens and Leesa Lopez, a senior hitter and junior
setter; Lake View's Stacy Bartz and Brittany Dendle, a
senior blocker and junior setter; Fort Stockton senior
blocker/setter Ashlea Creech; and Big Spring senior blocker
Keesha Lott and senior setter Jessica Cobos.

The other honorable mention picks were Lake View junior
hitter Amy Rodriguez and senior setter Alma Ortiz; Fort
Stockton senior hitter Mandy Lujan; Big Spring senior
blocker Honey Belew and Sweetwater senior hitter/setter Kori
Clemmens.

District football coaches also selected their 1997 4-4A team
on Wednesday in Big Spring, but that team will not be
released until after the three 4-4A teams in the playoffs,
Sweetwater, Big Spring and Andrews, are eliminated. Those
teams play their first round games against El Paso High, El
Paso Ysleta and El Paso Riverside this Saturday.

Police chief announces retirement



PECOS, November 13, 1997 - Pecos Police Chief Troy Moore
announced his retirement as head of the Pecos Police
Department at this morning's city council meeting. In
executive session Moore agreed, at the council's urging, to
remain in office beyond the January 31, 1998, deadline of
his retirement notice should no other candidate arise to
fill his position.

"I had tentatively planned to retire in mid-year 1998, but
due to recent circumstances that have occurred in my life I
feel it is now time to retire," read the statement issued by
Moore.

"'You got to know when to hold'em and know when to
fold'em,'" Moore said later, quoting a Kenny Rogers song.
The recent death of his wife prompted the move, Moore said,
as well as a desire to spend time with family who live out
of town.

City Manager Kenneth Neal said, "We tried to convince him to
stay...but I understand (his reasons)."

Moore's letter of retirement presented to the council
continued, "I appreciate the support and respect I have from
the Council and have tried, to the best of my ability, to
serve the community in the most positive manner I know.

"I feel that together we have had the opportunity to build a
stable, better trained and equipped department, than we have
had in the past. I feel that it has been a privilege to have
served the citizens of Pecos for the last ten years."

Strain died from head, chest, back injuries

By RICK SMITH
and
Other Staff Writers

PECOS, November 13, 1997 - Recently released autopsy results
on a 19-year-old-Pecos man who died Oct. 2 indicated he died
from blunt force injuries to his head, chest and back due to
a fall from a tree.

Joseph Lynn Strain, a recent Pecos High School graduate,
died early that morning after falling about 21 feet from a
tree at a residence in the 500 block of South Cypress St.
the previous evening, according to police reports. Justice
of the Peace Lamberto T. Herrera pronounced Strain dead at
about 2 a.m. Oct. 2 at Reeves County Hospital, where he was
brought by Pecos Ambulance Service following the accident.
Herrera then ordered the autopsy performed on Strain.

According to Robert Byers, Administrator and Chief
Investigator for the Lubbock County Medical Examiner's
Office (where the autopsy was performed on Strain), "He
(Strain) was under the influence of an illicit drug."

The toxicology section of the autopsy report states, "Blood
THC metabolites are positive. Blood alcohol is 0.05% and
vitreous alcohol is 0.06%."

"THC metabolites are normally found in marijuana but there
is no way to determine how recently he consumed marijuana,"
Byers said.

"The legal limit for blood alcohol is 0.1 percent and it
generally takes a six-pack of beer to get there," Byers
said. "So he probably had about a half a six-pack and was
halfway to the legal limit."

The autopsy report indicated Strain suffered multiple skull
fractures, a spine fracture and fractured ribs.

On the night of Strain's accident, Pecos Police received a
call at about 11:15 p.m. that someone had fallen from a tree
behind the residence, according to Police Chief Troy Moore.
When officers arrived on the scene they found Strain lying
on the ground. Strain reportedly fell from the large tree
near the alleyway of the 500 block of South Cypress St.

Pecos Police investigated the accident because Strain was
killed in the incident.

"We feel it was as cut and dried of an accident as you can
get," Moore said today. "Emergency crews responded as
quickly as possible and were on the scene within minutes."

Strain graduated from Pecos High School in May. He was a
three-year varsity starter on the Eagles' football team,
earning All-District honors at defensive end and linebacker
during his junior and senior years and All-Regional honors
in 1996. He also was a member of the Eagles' varsity
baseball team for three seasons and was the starting first
baseman for Pecos his senior year. "It's a real tragedy,"
said Pecos Eagles' football coach Mike Belew at the time.
Belew coached Strain as a senior. "I feel terrible for his
family. It really is a tragedy."

All defendants plead guilty in district court



By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, November 13, 1997 - Criminal defendants scheduled for
jury trials before U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson this
week opted to plead guilty, and he completed the monthly
docket in one day.

Allen Whyde and Benjamin Romero each pleaded guilty to
marijuana possession and will be sentenced Jan. 20, 1998.

Gabriel Nava-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to illegal entry after
being deported.

Judge Furgeson handed down a seven-year and one month
sentence to Regina Casey for cocaine possession. Her
supervised release term is five years.

Juan Mendoza-Mejia was sentenced to 33 months plus three
years supervised release for marijuana possession.

Other marijuana possession sentences were: Jose Corralles
(selling) 29 months plus four years supervised release; Raul
Hernandez (smuggling) five years probation; and Kevin
Fletcher, possession, five years probation.

Cesar Ramirez failed to appear for court on a marijuana
possession charge, and Judge Furgeson issued a warrant for
his arrest.

Paperwork crowds county officials out of room



By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, November 13, 1997 - Talk about being buried in
paperwork! Boxes of paper records are taking up so much
space in the Reeves County Courthouse that county officials
are considering acquiring a separate building just to house
it all.

"I'm running out of space," says County Clerk Dianne Florez.

Every document ever filed with Reeves County is stored in
the courthouse. The county clerk is the chief recorder for
all land transactions that take place in the county. Florez
keeps records for four different courts: civil, criminal,
probate and juvenile. She keeps the minutes from
commissioners court. Then there are the birth certificates,
marriage licenses, bills of sale, assumed name documents for
businesses, incorporations, liens, election records, Letters
Testamentary, guardianship appointments, wills and death
certificates, all on file.

All these records have to be maintained indefinitely, so
Florez has to find a way to keep and store them all.

"People are constantly filing new instruments (documents),
so our records keep growing," she said.

The problem is that the county clerk's office isn't big
enough to store all the records that need to be kept. The
volume of records keeps growing and Florez is running out of
storage space. Even the basement is almost full of old
records.

"People complain because some of the records are stored so
high that they can't reach them," Florez said. "And I don't
blame them."

The County Clerk's office is lined with wall-to-wall shelves
that stretch from floor to ceiling and are filled with
binders full of records. That doesn't include the records
stored under work tables, in the back section of the office
and in the basement.

Not only is the courthouse crowded with records, there are
even water leaks in the old building that could damage the
records kept there, Florez said.

County commissioners have discussed the possibility of using
a building repossessed by local taxing entities at 213 S.
Oak to store county records.

"That would be beneficial," Florez said. "It would be better
if we could have a building of our own so we would have
enough room for everything we need to keep in our office."

In addition to the records, the county clerk's office
contains numerous storage units, work tables, desks, three
copy machines (two provided by abstract companies in
addition to the one provided by the county) and four
computer terminals. Florez has three deputies who work for
her, so there also has to be enough room for her and her
staff to work, as well as space for the public who need
access to records.

"We do have some records that are on microfilm and we are
getting ready to do some more," she said.

However, hard copies of all those records still need to be
stored. Currently, records on microfilm are kept at First
National Bank, Florez said. The county does not have the
capability to copy their records from microfilm. If copies
are needed from microfilm the film has to be sent
out-of-town, according to Florez.

Florez has spoken to vendors about a cashiering system that
would tell which volume of the record books and what page
number a record is on as well as how much a person would
have to pay for a copy of a record. But the county hasn't
purchased the system yet.

County officials have also considered reducing the volume of
records by transferring them to smaller binders, but that
would be expensive and time-consuming, Florez said. In
addition to purchasing the new binders, she would have to
hire additional personnel to work on the project because the
staff she has is already too busy with their current duties.

Four homes featured in annual Christmas tour

PECOS, November 13, 1997 - Community members will have a
chance to tour four homes decorated for Christmas during a
Tour of Homes sponsored by the Women's Division of the Pecos
Chamber of Commerce.

Tuesday, Women's Division president Brandy Owen updated
chamber members on the group's plans for the fund raiser.

The Tour of Homes will be held Friday, Dec. 5, from 6-8 p.m.
Booklets for the event will be sold for $12 and individuals
can tour the homes in any order they wish, according to Owen.

The booklet will have addresses of the homes and who they
belong to.

"We'll end up by meeting at the country club for the
Merchant's Bazaar, which will also be taking place that
evening," said Owen.

Hourly door prizes will be awarded during the Merchant's
Bazaar and bazaar tickets will have to be presented at the
door to be eligible for the door prizes.

"We're very excited about this and are hoping the community
will participate in this," said Owen.

The group will also sponsor the annual Christmas lighting
contest, according to Owen.

Members of the economic development committee met for the
third time and completed the last draft of the committees
by-laws, according to Bob Curry.

Curry told chamber members that as soon as they can get a
copy to attorney Scott Johnson, they can get the by-laws
approved. "Then we can start advertising for an economic
development coordinator possibly by December or January," he
said.

Curry and economic development committee members have made
presentations to all the local governing entities in an
effort to gain support to fund an economic development
coordinator for the community. All entities have approved
the effort and are supporting the group's project.

Curry also told chamber members the committee had recently
met with a company wanting to bring a new business into
Pecos.

Curry said the economic development committee is continually
looking for avenues to bring new businesses into the
community.

"We met with a company last night, out of Illinois, who
wants to bring their business into town, a metal fabrication
business," said Curry. "It depends on how Pecos reacts, if
they will bring their business here," he said.

Curry stated that they are trying to get information
together for the company and will be concentrating on that
effort for a while.

"This is not a fly-by-night company and we will be meeting
with them again in two weeks," he said.

"It's a win-win situation for Pecos, we all need to come
together on this and work real hard in bringing industry
here," said Curry.

In other business, board members voted to co-sponsor the
annual Golden Glove Tournaments planned for February in
Pecos.

"It takes a lot of work to sponsor the event ourselves and
we really need to focus on other things now," said chamber
executive director Tom Rivera.

"We'll always support all the events in Pecos, but they all
take a lot of time, if we sponsor them, instead of just
being co-sponsors," he said.

Rivera explained that he would like the group to concentrate
more on economic development and seminars that will enhance
the group at this time.

"The boxing clubs have stated that they will sponsor it, if
we just help them out," Rivera said.

Chamber of Commerce President Paul Hinojos updated the group
on the Christmas lights project.

"We have stripped all of the old ones and they will be
refurbished with new tinsel and the lights tested," said
Hinojos.

Hinojos thanked everyone who showed up for the refurbishing
on Saturday and stated that city employees will take care of
refurbishing the lights and testing them.

"I really want to send a special thank you to the city
employees who will be doing this, because they will have to
replace lights and put new garlands on them, which is a lot
of hard work," he said.

Linda Gholson told the group that in past years the Holiday
Open House had not received a lot of response.

"I would like to try something different this year, maybe
have it on another day, like the day after Thanksgiving,"
she said.

Hinojos agreed that since that day is the biggest shopping
day of the year, according to reports, that it might be a
good idea to have it on that day.

"And with other family members and friends in town that day,
maybe they would enjoy a day out browsing, instead of
sitting around the house," said Hinojos.

Gholson told the group she would have to speak to other
merchants about the idea, before setting a definite time for
the Holiday Open House.

This year the community will be given a chance to
participate in the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet.
Members will be asking the public to submit names for the
various awards given out during the banquet.

"We'll ask the community to submit names, such as for the
Hidden Hero Award, Ruiz Profile of Courage and the
Agriculture Service Award," said Owen.

"The committee will go through those names, as well as those
submitted by chamber members and committee members, and the
committee will make the final decision," said Owen.

State to rebuild SH-17 south of Balmorhea



PECOS, November 13, 1997 - For the next few months, there
will equipment working on State Highway 17 between Balmorhea
and the Jeff Davis County line, according to a Texas
Department of Transportation official in Pecos.

"We will be widening the portion of highway from Balmorhea
to the Toyahvale intersection near Balmorhea State Perk"
said Doug Eichorst, the TxDOT engineer in charge of the
project

"One major culvert east of the state park, which carries
water that flows from Giffen Spring, will be replaced by a
larger structure and other culverts will be modified to make
for a safer roadway," sand Eichorst.

TxDOT and the contractor, Jones Bros. Dirt & Paving
Contractors, Inc., of Odessa, will be working with Reeves
County Water District No. 1 to divert the water temporarily;
and with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department in the live
capture of members of two endangered fish species from the
culvert being replaced.

Construction work will begin at the Jeff Davis County line
on Monday, November 17, according to the contractor.

Traffic will be directed through the work zone by flaggers
and a pilot car, which will lead vehicles through the
working area. Motorists are urged to observe all warning
signs and proceed carefully through the work zone.

The project is scheduled for 99 working days and is expected
to be complete by March }998. Cost of the project will be
$1,724,961.29.

CRIME OF THE WEEK



PECOS, November 13, 1997 - Crime Stoppers will pay up to
$1,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and
Grand Jury indictment of person(s) responsible for the
incident described below. Anyone having any information on
this crime or any other crime can call "Crime Stoppers" at
445-9898 and you will remain anonymous.

On Sept. 19 1997 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 9:45
a.m., a person or persons entered a residence located at
2027 Nebraska and removed property without the owner's
consent. Entry was gained through the back door on the west
side of the residence. The person or persons entered a
bedroom located on the southwest corner of the residence and
took $1,700 in cash, one love knot ring with blue stones, a
gold tennis bracelet with diamonds, a diamond ring with the
letter "S," a 30-inch gold chain with heart shaped figures,
an 18-inch gold chain with "Guadalupe," a man's gold wedding
band, gold loop earrings and a pair of diamond stud
earrings. Total value of stolen property was placed at
approximately $3,930.

POLICE REPORT



PECOS, November 13, 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, 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.

John Edward Curtiss, 57, Littlerock, Calif., was arrested
during a traffic stop at 5 p.m. Nov. 1 for public
intoxication and speeding, both Class "C" misdemeanors.

At 1 p.m. on Nov. 2 the burglary of a habitation on Madera
Road was reported. An unknown person or persons took 60
compact discs, a CD player, a B.B. gun, $15 cash and a
bottle of Crown Royal whiskey.

Rogelio Cerna, 24, 1111 W. 2nd St. was arrested at 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 5 in the 700 block of S. Walnut for public intoxication.

Sometime between 8 a.m. Oct. 23 and 7:49 a.m. Nov. 6, a tire
and rim were stolen from a 1991 GMC Sonoma pickup at an
unknown location.

The driver's side mirror of a 1989 Ford pickup was broken
while the truck was in a parking lot at Pecos High School.

Pedro M. Morales, 59, was arrested in the 300 block of S.
Cedar at 7:27 p.m. Nov. 7 for public intoxication.

Abraham Garcia Conzales was arrested at 10:35 p.m. Nov. 8
for assault by threat for threatening his wife at the
Suavesito Club on the 900 block of S. Cedar.

Miguel O. Baeza, 21, 1620 Cowan, was arrested at 3:15 a.m.
Nov. 9 in the 1600 block of Cowan for public intoxication.

The Circle M Bar, 810 E. 2nd St., was burglarized. An
estimated $600 was taken from the juke box. The juke box and
a window were damaged during the burglary, which was
reported at 12:23 p.m. Nov. 9.

Sometime between 4:15 and 11:30 p.m. Nov. 8, the windshield
of a green 1991 Chevrolet S-10 pickup was broken on W. 4th
St.

Israel Gochicoa Natividad, 29, 2318 Country Club, was
arrested at 2:10 p.m. Nov. 10 on service of a warrant for
driving while intoxicated/accident involved.

Kenneth Salas, 25, Park St., was arrested at 6:31 p.m. Nov.
10 at 708 S. Cedar on warrants for delivery of a controlled
substance.

Jesus Olivas Ortiz, 56, 1013 Martinez St., was arrested on
Nov. 11 at municipal court on a warrant for enticing a child.

Rodrigo Perea Beltran, 26, 1515 S. Alamo, was arrested at
10:54 a.m. Nov. 12 on a warrant service at municipal court
and released after paying fines.

OBITUARY

Angelita Saenz



Angelita Saenz, an infant baby girl, died Tuesday, Nov. 11,
1997, at Reeves County Hospital.

Mass is scheduled at 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 11, at Santa Rosa
Catholic Church with Father Antonio Mena officiating. Burial
will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Babyland.

Survivors include: her parents, Edmundo and Ana Luisa Saenz
of Pecos; one brother, Joe Angel Saenz of Pecos; one sister,
Sabrina Saenz of Pecos; maternal grandparents, Luis and Rosa
Munoz of Pecos; paternal grandparents, Edmundo Sr. and
Manuela Saenz of Pecos.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER



PECOS, November 13, 1997 - High Wednesday, 44, low this
morning, 42. Rainfall in the past 24 hours totaled 0.29 of
an inch bringing the total for the month to 0.29 of an inch
and the year-to-date total to 9.12 inches. The rainfall that
has dampened most areas of Texas will come to a chilly end
by late Friday. The end of the precipitation and clearing
skies will result in much colder temperatures over the
northern half of the state. Temperatures will drop into the
20s across much of the northern half of the state over the
weekend.There is the possibility of some light snow in the
Panhandle and South Plains on Friday. The rain in West Texas
will be ending late today. It will remain mostly cloudy to
cloudy through Friday with the clearing expected Friday
night and Saturday. Lows tonight will be in the 20s and 30s
in northern sections of West Texas and in the 30s and 40s
elsewhere. Highs Friday will be in the 30s and 40s over
northern sections of West Texas and in the 40s and 50s
across the rest of the area. Rain fell across most of the
state during the night and early today.



Search Entire Site:


Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, Publisher
Peggy McCracken, Webmaster
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.

324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net

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.

Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
We support Newspapers in Education