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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

February 15, 1999

RCDC inmate family lodging project started

By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Five families may sleep in their cars this weekend when they visit relatives in the Reeves County Detention Center because they can't afford a motel room.

Or they may travel all night to get here from the Rio Grande Valley, visit two hours, then drive all night to get back home, said Rey Carreon, a volunteer who ministers weekly to inmates.

Christian compassion for those families spurred a group of local women to put in motion a plan to open a "Hospitality House" that would operate as a bed and bath, with a live-in couple as directors.

Pat McDaniel, president of Women on Mission at West Park Baptist Church, led in a survey of the need and the possibilities for such a ministry after the group studied about five hospitality houses in their state missions emphasis last September.

The Big Spring Hospitality House began in June 1995 and is located within about three miles of a federal penitentiary, a state-operated prisoners' work camp and three privately run correctional facilities.

Several ladies visited the Big Spring facility, which has several bedrooms in varying sizes, a bath for women and a shower for men; a communal kitchen and an office where linens and towels are stored.

The building, a former church school, was donated, and the sponsoring church is responsible for utilities and insurance.

Families may spend the night free of charge, but are expected to bring their own food. They check out linens on arrival, make their own beds and return the linens to the office when they check out.

The reeves County Detention Center current houses about 1,000 inmates, but will soon begin a project to double that capacity with the addition of a second unit just to the north of the current prison.

McDaniel, Gaye Rarick and Joyce Morton, associational missions director, presented the need Tuesday for a Hospitality House to the Pecos Valley Baptist Association executive board.

"They voted to organize a task force to work with us," said James Sain, West Park pastor.

The task force would help establish policies, find a building and enlist directors. Churches making up the association have been invited to join the effort by providing monetary and other support.

McDaniel said that several vacant buildings that would serve the purpose have been located. And she believes that bilingual directors can be enlisted so they can communicate with the families.

Inmates in the prison at this time are from nine different countries, she said.

"If God gets us through the building and everything else, he will take care of that, too," she said. "I am going on the basis now that it is a maybe. We have to keep on going."

"It would be a wonderful place to spread the Gospel," said Frances Heath.

Sain said that volunteers may offer Bible study, and tracts could be made available.

Visitation at the prison is from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, with a similar schedule on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Each visit is limited to two hours.

Anyone who would like more information about the hospitality house may contact Rev. James Sain at 445-2126.

City, school, hospital election filings begin

By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 15, 1999 -- With hearts and flowers each year comes the start of campaigns for the city, school and hospital district elections.

In Pecos this year, voters will select three city councilmen for two-year terms.

Councilmen whose terms expire are Gerald Tellez Jr., Johnny Terrazas and Randy Graham.

In the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, trustees Daisy Roquemore and Alberto Alvarez have three-year terms expiring.

Reeves County Hospital District's board president, Jeannette Alligood's Precinct 4 term expires, as does that of Marcella Lovett in Precinct 2.

Prospective candidates may pick up forms for the city election from Geneva Martinez, city secretary, at City Hall; from secretary Jo Allgood at the school administration office; and from administrative assistant Nadine Smith at Reeves County Hospital.

Martinez said that March 17 is the last day to file for the election, which will be May 1.

Debbie Thomas, elections administrator, will handle early voting for all three entities.

School keeps 12-year-old out of class

MIDLAND (AP) — School officials and the parents of a seventh-grader can't agree whether the 12-year-old boy has a budding mustache or peach fuzz over his lip.

James Brooks Middle School principal Scott Skidmore says it doesn't matter.

Skidmore has ordered Stanley Diaz Jr. to shave or face indefinite suspension for violating a Greenwood Independent School District policy forbidding facial hair.

"I'm required in my position to follow district policy," Skidmore said. "I'm just following district policy that all students be clean-shaven."

Stanley has been spending his school days at in-school suspension, isolated from other students, while his father mulls legal action.

"That's my decision, that's not the school's decision," the elder Diaz said. "Why they're picking this age and this grade to do this is beyond my understanding. I'm not going to back down because they're in the wrong."

The dispute started Feb. 1, when Skidmore pulled Stanley and five other students out of class and told them about the facial-hair policy. The other students decided to shave.

Stanley's father said the underlying problem might be cultural indifference.

"The tradition of Hispanics is that 15 is the age of maturity," Diaz said. "Shaving is a very big responsibility. You're going to have to do it the rest of your life."

After a telephone conversation with Skidmore, the boy's parents kept him out of school for a few days. But last Monday, Stanley volunteered to return. He has since been sequestered to a cubicle away from other students.

"I do my work, and then I sit around and do nothing," said the boy, who added that he is angry about the isolation.

As part of the suspension, Stanley is being kept from playing French horn in the school band, and he can't play sports.

The elder Diaz said he'll take the matter to the school board on Feb. 23. If that doesn't end the boy's suspension, he might resort to home-schooling Stanley, and he's hinting at a lawsuit.

"What else can I do?" the father said. "I'm going to hold someone responsible for his suffering."

Joe Armesto, a member of Permian Basin League of United Latin American Citizens, said the group also plans to challenge the facial-hair policy as vague.

"I've seen Stanley Diaz Jr. myself. It's my opinion he has peach fuzz at best," Armesto said. "It's hard for me to believe that Greenwood has such good schools and cannot work with parents to amend this policy to a certain age, say 16 or older."

There currently is no age limit on the policy.

"The school district position is that we administer all policies equally and fairly to all students," said Greenwood ISD Superintendent Glenn Barber, who says he won't change the rules.

Police Report

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.

***

Amaya Jurado, 53, was arrested at 7:21 p.m., on Feb. 4, in the 200 block of Locust St., for traffic violations and no driver's license, no insurance. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Jesus Orozco, 32, and Moncerrat Franco, 37, were arrested at 7:53 p.m., on Feb. 4, at the Circle M Bar, for public intoxication. They were taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Sylvia Lujan was arrested at 9:25 a.m., on Feb. 5, at Pecos Municipal Court, on a Capias Pro Fine warrant for speeding. She paid the fines and was released.

***

Gilbert Navarette was arrested at 9:25 a.m., on Feb. 5, at Pecos Municipal Court, on CPF warrants for a violation of a promise to appear and no driver's license. He paid the fines and was released.

***

Naomi Ortega was arrested at 9:25 a.m., on Feb. 5, at Pecos Municipal Court, on a CPF warrant. She paid the fines and was released.

***

Saturnina Anchondo was arrested at 11:18 a.m., on Feb. 5, on CPF warrants. She paid the fines and was released.

***

Maria Sauceda was arrested at 11:30 a.m., on Feb. 5, at Pecos Municipal Court, on CPF warrants for theft and a violation of a promise to appear. She paid the fines and was released.

***

Maria Carmona was arrested at 3:20 p.m., on Feb. 5, at Pecos Municipal Court, on CPF warrants. She paid the fines and was released.

***

Eric Baeza, 17, was arrested at 4:21 p.m., on Feb 5, in the 1900 block of Scott St., on a warrant for a second-degree felony (engaging in organized crime). He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Ector Martinez, 36, was arrested at 5:14 p.m., on Feb. 5, in the 500 block of Martinez St., for delivery of a controlled substance (heroin) and on a warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Armando Armendariz, 40, was arrested at 6:28 p.m., on Feb. 5, in the 400 block of Mesquite St., on a warrant for delivery of a controlled substance (heroin). He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Brain Christopher Owens, 24, was arrested at 11:42 p.m., on Feb. 5, on a Greyhound bus westbound on I-20, for disorderly conduct. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Juan Carlos Bernal, 39, was arrested at 1:50 a.m., on Feb. 6, at the Zoo Bar, for public intoxication. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Antonia Madrid Ramirez, 33, and Manuela Pina, 32, were arrested at 2:21 a.m., on Feb. 6, at the South Service Road East of Town and Country, for public intoxication. They were taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Edmundo Saenz, 54, was arrested at 9:36 a.m., on Feb. 6, at the corner of Fifth and Locust streets, on a warrant for delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine). He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

A male juvenile was arrested at 9:48 a.m., on Feb. 6, in the 2200 block of South Park St., for violating a court order. He was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.

***

Mingo Jimenez, 21, and Christopher Ephriam, 27, were arrested at 11:49 p.m., on Feb. 6, in the 2200 block of Missouri St., for possession of marijuana (under 2 ounces). They were taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Charlie E. Campos, 18, and Jacob Natividad, 19, were arrested at 3:27 a.m., on Feb. 7, near Allsup's on Cedar St., for public intoxication. They were taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Robert Hinijos, 18, was arrested at 3:30 a.m., on Feb. 7, at Reeves County Sheriff's Office, on a warrant for evading detention. He was released to the jail staff.

***

Jose Salazar Chavez, 27, was arrested at 12:33 a.m., on Feb. 7, in the 600 block of East Second St., on a CPF warrant. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Sonia Lopez, 29, and Ramiro Lopez, 20, were arrested at 5:49 p.m., on Feb. 8, after a traffic offense. The older Lopez was arrested for failure to identify herself; The younger Lopez for no driver's license. They were taken to Reeves County Jail.

***

Oscar Garay, 24, Abraham Carrasco Garay, 19, Jeanette Florez, 20, and Myra Flores, 18, were arrested at 9:13 p.m., on Feb. 9, in the 1300 block of Rancho Road. Garay was arrested for public intoxication; the others as minors in possession.

Weather

PECOS, Feb. 15, 1999 -- High Sunday 79; low last night 37. Tonight, partly cloudy. Becoming windy late. Lows in the upper 30s. west winds 10-20 mph becoming north and increasing to 20-30 mph and gusty after midnight. Caution is advised on area lakes. Tuesday, mostly sunny and cooler. Highs in the mid 60s. North to northeast winds 10-20 mph.



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
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