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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, March 22, 1999
Graham gets West Point nomination
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 22, 1999 -- A lifelong dream will soon be fulfilled for
a Pecos High School student who plans to attend the, United States Military
Academy at West Point.
Randall Tye Graham said that he had thought about attending West Point
since he was a child. "That's always been my main goal," said Graham, who
had the opportunity to tour the facility in November of last year and spent
the night at the academy, located 50 miles north of New York City. He attended
classes with one of the cadets and had the opportunity to eat lunch with
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, who nominated Graham for the academy.
"The biggest class had 12 cadets in it, so that gives you an idea of
the type of education they receive," said his father, Randy Graham.
Tye was among 500 outstanding young Texans who applied to Sen. Hutchinson's
office for a nomination. Each Senator is able to make only 10 nominations.
"The decision is extraordinarily difficult," said Hutchison.
"You can be proud that your qualifications and leadership ability came
through in the review by my academy board and my final selection process,"
Hutchison wrote in her nomination letter.
Before being accepted into the academy the students have to pass rigorous
academic and medical requirements. The whole person evaluation is based
on factors of scholarship, leadership, and physical aptitude, as well as
character, motivation and medical fitness.
Although the military academy does not require a specific number of
courses or units of study as a prerequisite for admission, recommended
areas of preparation are: four years of English, four years of mathematics
including trigonometry, two years of a foreign language, two years of laboratory
science and one year of history.
Overall, a strong college preparatory program taken in high school is
highly recommended. Approximately 80 percent of the entering class come
from the top 20 percent of their high school class.
"You're also required to have high SAT scores," said Graham.
Potentially qualified applicants are scheduled for a complete qualifying
medical examination by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review
Board at the request of the military academy.
Another criteria that was certainly met by Graham, is involvement in
extra-curricular activities.
Graham is an avid tennis player who has played on the Pecos team for
four years. He has won All-District Singles and Doubles in 1995-1998 and
also ran cross-country during the Fall semester his senior year.
Graham has participated in several UIL Academic competitions. In the
Current Issues and Events he placed first District Team and first in regional
team and third team at state in 1997. "I also compete on the science, math,
and debate teams and accounting team and qualified for state debate team
in 1999," said Graham.
This year he will also join the One-Act Play group.
School clubs Graham is involved in consists of Student Council as class
officer for two years; Mu Alpha Theta member for three years; Latin Club
member for three years; National Honor Society member; FFA Club member
for four years and the Gifted and Talented Program for four years.
Graham is also a member of the 4-H Club, for the past 11 years; First
Baptist Church Youth Group; First Baptist Church Youth Drama Group member;
Youth Advisory Club member for one year; U.S.T.A. member for four years
and attended the Rotary Club Camp Ryla Leadership Training.
When he's not busy with school activities Graham enjoys reading, especially
about military history.
"I'm very excited about going to West Point, it's something I've been
looking forward to for a long time," said Grahamm who is the son of Randy
and Leslie Graham of Pecos and the grandson of Margie and Jerry Millsapps
of El Paso.
After reporting to the school on June 28, shortly after graduating from
Pecos High School, Graham will begin the strenuous physical and academic
training regiment of a four year scholarship which carries an estimated
value of $275,000.
"I've committed myself to five years, after that I plan to major in
history and then law school, business law," said Graham, "That's if I don't
make the military a career," he added.
PHA seeks more reports from guards
By ROBERT F. RAMIREZ
Contributing Writer
PECOS, March 22, 1999 -- The Pecos Housing Authority chose to keep
their project security patrol service operating at 40 hours a week during
their regular monthly meeting Thursday evening.
The PHA considered cutting the patrol time in half, to 20 hours weekly.
"It's very quiet out there (around the projects)," said PHA Executive Director
Nellie Gomez. "Two hours (per night) would be enough — ten to twelve,"
she added.
Board members began the meeting by telling their apartment security
patrol team, made up of local law enforcement officers, that the PHA was
not satisfied with the patrol service.
Chairman Frank Perea said that the board "had a situation in which Nellie
wanted to suspend the security for the house patrol."
"The police department has been real cooperative," said Gomez, but added
"a lot of tenants did call (and said) that security was not around."
Gomez explained that she had to make some temporary arrangements due
to the combination of lack of patrol accountability and mischief problems,
such as graffiti, on the projects. "We had been talking about this for
a long time, I knew we had to make a change," said Gomez. "I had to put
some of my people (PHA employees) on patrol. I need someone out there."
The board has received only eight incident reports in the last two years
from the patrol, and Perea told the unit that it simply needs to inform
Gomez of all incidents monthly. "Nellie needs to know what's going on in
those apartments," he said.
Perea added that he was concerned about the dependability of the unit.
"Some of the (patrol) officers are not showing up and getting paid for
it (a shift)," he said.
The PHA plans to set up an office at their east side apartments, with
a time clock that the officers can use. The PHA also plans to assign one
of the law enforcement officers in the unit to be in charge and turn in
the time sheet.
Board members are working on a schedule for the full time patrol. "Nellie
seems to think that on weekends, that's when the time should be spent,"
at the apartments, said Perea.
Gomez, who had been in favor of reducing the security patrol to part-time,
said, "I don't have a problem with it (remaining at full patrol) as long
as the board is happy with it," she said.
In other action, the board went over their CIAP 98 and CIAP 96 updates.
The PHA is considering placing pavement around its projects. "It just
seems to me we have a lot of space around the apartments," said Gomez.
The CIAP 98 review involved discussing a walk through by Vaughn Architects
Plus. Gomez stated that Vaughn, "started the process of the drawings" around
the PHA on March 10 over landscaping and interior renovation.
Gomez added that future CIAP 98 plans will be presented in April and
the PHA is still waiting to close up CIAP 96.
Board members also adopted the PHA investment policy and went over their
monthly income and expense report during Thursday's meeting, and appointed
Gomez investment officer during the investment policy review.
According to the PHA income and expense report for last month, total
expenses reached $74,296. The board's excess of revenues over expenses
was $152,192.
Board extends teacher, band director pacts
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 22, 1999 -- Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board members voted
to offer an 11-month contract to Pecos High School Band Director Bill Goff
and approved one-year term contracts for 102 teachers and three nurses
during their regular monthly meeting last Thursday.
One-year probationary teaching contracts for 27 other teachers were
also approved, along with one year dual-assignment term contracts and continuing
contracts on 47 other teachers.
Board members also approved the request of the Pecos Chamber of Commerce
Women's Division for the use of the Pecos High School Gym for the Golden
Girl Pageant and to be used for practicing beginning in June.
"This is something the whole town is behind and is something we look
forward to each year, so we are glad to help out," said P-B-T ISD Superintendent
Don Love.
Air conditioner bids for two buses was awarded to Statewide Bus of Irving.
"They're the ones who offered us the best deal, they will come and pick
up the buses, install the air conditioners and then return them to us,"
said P-B-T Transportation Director Jimmy Dutchover.
Dutchover said that other features will be corrected on both buses for
a total of $17,184.
A bid to purchase a lot owned by the school will have to be bid according
to the law. "We have to bid it out for two weeks and then open the bids
after that," said Love.
The bid offer came from Eric Arreguy who said in his correspondence
that he wanted to place a pre-fabricated home on the lot.
Resignations approved were for Audelio Cobos, English teacher at Zavala
Middle School; Rebecca Heard, home economics teacher at Pecos High School
and Lynda Mears, fifth grade teacher at Bessie Haynes Elementary School.
Library adds books, changes story hour
PECOS, March 22, 1999 -- The Reeves County Library has added a collection
of new books for both children and adults, according to Reeves County Librarian
Sally Perry.
New children's books include: Trouble For Thomas, Diesel's Devious Deed,
Thomas' ABC Book, A Cow On the Line, all by Rev. W. Awdry.
Also, The Kissing Hand by A. Penn; Arthur Lost and Found by M. Brown;
Hello, Biscuit by A. Capucilli; Baby Bop's ABC Book by M. Bernthal; Goodnight
Moon by Margaret W. Brown; Jack and the Giant by J. Harris; If You Give
a Pig a Pancake by L. Numeroff and more title for children and young adult
patrons, Perry said.
New books targeted for adults include: A Man In Full by T. Wolfe; A
Special Agent by E. Steinberg; Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by
R. Wells; Like Water for Chocolate by L. Esquivel, which is also available
in Spanish; The Resume Catalog by V. Parker; One Hundred Years of Solitude
by G. Garcia-Marquez also in Spanish; Jeff Davis County by the Fort Davis
Historical Society; Black's Law Dictionary, latest edition; The Poisonwood
Bible by B. Kingsolver; The New Handbook of Texas by the Texas Historical
Society, six volumes; The New Rabbit Handbook by Vriends-Parent; Best 600
Selling Home Plans by Garlinghouse; Citizen Soldiers by S. Ambrose (also
two other titles by Ambrose); Arithmetic The Easy Way by E. Williams; The
Last of the Old Time Cowboys by P. Dearen; Hamm of Eden by K. Follett and
many more titles.
Collections and services new to the library are 300 paperback mysteries,
a gift from a Dallas donor; telephone books from major Texas towns and
cities which were free and books in print, current set donated by Texas
Trans-Pecos Library System ) regional library office at El Paso Public
Library.
Perry stated that the Friends of Library new Book Store in the library
includes abundant amount of books and magazines given to the library —
adult and children's fictions and non-fiction.
"We're very excited about all the new things the library has to offer,"
said Perry.
A fax machine donated by the Friends of the Library is also a new acquisition.
"Library visitors will be able to send and receive for a fee," said Perry.
Also new to the library is a Xerox copier, given by the county. The
library is charging 10 cents a page for copying, according to Perry.
"IRS forms are also available," said Perry.
Internet use will soon allow half hour service per person. Users are
requested to know Internet procedures. "Printing will be 10 cents per page
in black print," said Perry.
She added that she wanted to thank the many hard working young adults
who are helping better organize, straighten, and shift many shelves of
library materials, move library shelves and other furnishings and equipment,
clean areas of the library and make signage for better browsing.
The new story hour for pre-schoolers and their parents or guardians
is at 10:30 a.m. the first Monday of the month. Volunteers are reading
to the young children. For more information call the library at 445-5340.
"I want to give a special thanks to the many library patrons who have
given the library special books and magazine gifts," said Perry.
Border Patrol makes major pot busts
PRESIDIO COUNTY — Border Patrol agents last week seized more than one ton
of marijuana worth almost $2 million in four separate incidents. Five individuals
were arrested on narcotics trafficking charges.
"These are four loads that won't be hitting our streets and neighborhoods,"
Marfa Border Patrol Sector Chief Simon Garza told the Big Bend Sentinel
"We will continue to be ever vigilant in our struggle with narcotics smuggling,
and this confirms that working together with other law enforcement agencies,
we can make a difference in West Texas."
The largest bust, 844 pounds valued at $675,296, occurred at about 4
a.m. last Wednesday in Marfa, according to a Border Patrol news release.
Agents were conducting routine traffic observation duties when they
encountered a Chevy pickup near the Marfa Post Office.
The agents initiated a vehicle stop, and the driver gave consent to
search with a narcotics-detecting dog.
The canine alerted to the vehicle, and the marijuana was found concealed
in hollowed portions of sheetrock stacked in the bed of the pickup.
The driver and only occupant was arrested and turned over to the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration officers.
The suspect, Andrew Ruiz, 31, of Albuquerque, N.M, was charged with
possession with intent to distribute marijuana and was released on a $50,000
bond.
Churches plan Easter musical in Balmorhea
PECOS, March 22, 1999 -- Three Balmorhea churches have joined forces to
present an Easter musical at 7 p.m. Sunday in the First Baptist Church
sanctuary, said Claude Porter, FBC pastor.
Elizabeth Cook is directing the musical, "Spread the News," created
by Greg and Gail Skipper.
Members from First Baptist, First Methodist and 7th Day Adventist will
take part in the presentation.
As hosts, First Baptist invites everyone to attend.
Air Force says low level flights won't hurt area
ABILENE (AP) — The Air Force has changed routes of two bomber training
flights scheduled over West Texas and New Mexico because of concerns raised
at public hearings.
A 400-page environmental impact statement released Friday by the Air
Force noted elimination of a proposed bomber training route north of Big
Spring and modification of a route that would have skirted Big Bend National
Park.
Farmers and ranchers across an eight-county area encompassing the area
between Abilene and Lubbock have complained that flights as low as 300
feet will poison the ground with jet fuel and spook livestock.
But the Air Force report said low-level flights of B-52 Stratofortress
and B-1B bombers from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene and Barksdale Air
Force Base in Shreveport, La., would have low impact for the area.
Some of the routes are scheduled to cross southern Reeves County in
the Balmorhea-Saragosa area, and travel through the Davis Mountains. A
public hearing on the flights has been scheduled for Pecos on April 9,
at the Pecos High School cafeteria from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Other area hearings are set in Abilene, Snyder, Big Lake, Alpine and
Pecos.
Maj. John Boyle of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess said Sunday that the proposed
training route that skirted Big Bend National Park was narrowed to distance
the bombers from the park and a portion of one route north of Big Spring
was deleted.
"When we come back ... for public hearings, people again can take a
look at this document and tell us what they think," Boyle said.
The Air Force announced plans last year to enact a Realistic Bomber
Training Initiative, which could have B-1 and B-52 bombers flying sorties,
some as low as 300 feet, in West Texas or northeastern New Mexico as early
as October 2001.
The training missions would fly over a 50-mile by 100-mile stretch of
West Texas covering eight counties Ï Lynn, Garza, Kent, Stonewall,
Dawson, Borden, Scurry and Fisher Ï covering most of the area between
Abilene and Lubbock.
A separate proposal, challenged in court by ranchers in New Mexico and
West Texas, would allow 30 German Tornado aircraft to be stationed at Hollomon
Air Force Base at Alamogordo, N.M., to train over some of the same routes
proposed in the bomber training initiative.
Hollomon Air Force Base now houses 12 Tornado jets.
Friday's report does not address the cumulative impact that increased
flights by German Air Force pilots would have. Boyle said the subject is
mentioned, but is not treated in any "verbal" way.
The report said property damage and associated economic losses attributed
to low-level flights can only be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Comments and concerns will be taken at several scheduled public hearings
during a 45-day public comment period that ends May 2.
An Air Force spokesman said copies of the Air Force's draft impact statement
are available in most county libraries throughout West Texas.
Bivins cool to nuclear waste burial plan
By CHRIS NEWTON
Associated Press Writer
MIDLAND — A key Texas legislator said Saturday that rather than support
a nuclear waste dump for Andrews County, he favors central locations for
storing waste above ground in huge vaults.
State Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, chairman of the House Environmental
Regulation Committee, said at a public forum on the issue Saturday that
he'll back his own plan rather than a proposal favored by the Andrews Industrial
Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to diversifying and improving
Andrews' economy.
Nearly 100 people attended the forum, sponsored by the League of Women
Voters and The Midland Reporter-Telegram.
Without Chisum's support, any plans for a dump could face an uphill
battle.
"We've spent $53 million in search of a magical site that everyone agrees
upon," Chisum said. "We haven't found it, and I don't think we're going
to. Allowing counties to keep the waste above ground and have it constantly
monitored is a different road, and we believe we'll be able to gain support
for this idea."
Two companies, Envirocare of Texas and Waste Control Specialists, are
vying for the contract if Andrews County gets the state's approval as a
nuclear waste dumping site.
Many hurdles remain before such approval could come.
First, Texas legislators would have to pass a law permitting the state
to consider a site other than Sierra Blanca, a town 90 miles east of El
Paso and less than 20 miles from the Rio Grande.
Both sites in Andrews County are located near the Texas-New Mexico state
line. WCS's site would be four miles from the Eunice, N.M. city limits.
In December, capping a process that took nearly two decades, the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission vetoed Sierra Blanca as a storage
site because of a geologic fault line there. Any future site would have
to get the nod from the commission.
The Texas Low Level Radioactive
Corrections
An item in a Police Report that appeared in last Thursday’s Enterprise
incorrectly stated that Arnulfo Lujan, 35, had been arrested for delivery
of a controlled substance. Lujan was arrested for a probation violation
and not a drug charge, as stated in the report. We apologize for any inconvenience
this might have caused.
***
Oscar Rodriguez, the young man who found Tommy Joe Tucker dead in his
home Thursday night, said it was only 10 minutes between the time he first
knocked on Tucker’s door and the time he crawled in the window and found
him dead. Friday’s Enterprise said that Rodriguez first knocked on the
door at 7 p.m., then went back at 10:40 p.m. and climbed in the window.
Rodriguez also said that the report that Tucker lived with a woman was
not accurate.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — No ticket correctly matched all six numbers drawn Saturday
night for the twice-weekly Lotto Texas game, state lottery officials said.
The ticket was worth an estimated $14 million. The numbers drawn Saturday
night from a field of 50 were: 2-9-15-31-41-42. Wednesday night's drawing
will be worth an estimated $18 million.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Texas Million drawing Friday night: Winning
numbers drawn: 14-24-81-87. Number matching four of four in Group One:
1. Prize: $1 million. Number matching four of four in Group Two: 0. Number
matching four of four in Group Three: 1. Prize: $10,000. Number matching
three of four in any group: 523. Prize: $300.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Friday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 5-20-23-27-36. Number matching five of five: 2. Prize per winner:
$48,764. Matching four of five: 232. Prize: $681.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Friday by the Texas Lottery,
in order: 8-8-4 (eight, eight, four)
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Saturday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 8-0-9 (eight, zero, nine)
Obituaries
Tommy Tucker
Tommy Tucker, 21, of Pecos, died at his residence Thursday, March 18, 1999.
Graveside services were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 21, at Mt. Evergreen
Cemetery with Rev. J.E. McCormick officiating.
He was born Jan. 19, 1978, in Pecos, was a lifelong Pecos resident,
a seismograph worker and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Dolores Tucker of Pecos; one daughter, Samantha
Tucker of Pecos; his parents, Ronnie and Beverly Sandell of Pecos; his
grandparents, Allen and Dot Williams; his grandfather, Leon Walser of Missouri;
his step-grandmother, Winnie Clark of Pecos; his stepmother, Kim Tucker
of Van Alstyne; two brothers, Donie Tucker of Sherman and Johnny Bishop
of El Paso; three sisters, Rochelle Tucker of Van Alystne, Deana Sandell
of Ardmore, Okla. and Monica Sandell of Dallas.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Josefina Muro
A rosary for Josefina Muro, 75, will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Pecos
VFW Hall. A funeral mass will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, at
Santa Rosa Catholic Church under the direction of Martinez Funeral Home.
Muro was born March 19, 1924 in Rubio Chihuahua, Mex., and died Sunday,
March 21, 1999, at Reeves County Hospital. She was a housewife, had lived
in Pecos since 1950, and was a Catholic.
Survivors include three sons, Abel Munoz of Odessa, Fernando Munoz of
Houston and Rosendo (Chendo) Munoz of El Paso; five daughters, Tona Ramirez
and Isela Matta of Pecos, Lourdes Vetsch of Midland, Lorena Gavilan of
Tyler and Gloria Johannesen of Houston; 25 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Weather
PECOS, March 22, 1999 -- High Sunday 84; low last night 45. Tonight, partly
cloudy. Low in the upper 40s. South wind 5-15 mph. Tuesday, partly cloudy.
High in the mid 70s. North to northeast wind 10-20 mph.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, 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@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 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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