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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, March 26, 1999
Council tries to limit truck parking
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 26, 1999 - Trucks over 25 feet long are not allowed to
park on city streets, and the Pecos City Council on Thursday agreed to
press for stringent enforcement of the ordinance.
Terry Burkholder said that trucks parking on private property are also
a problem, and he proposed that Pecos adopt an ordinance similar to one
that Midland has to prohibit such parking.
"I have had a lot of complaints on this," said Councilman Randy Graham.
"This goes in line with tearing down all the old buildings and cleaning
up the streets to make it more attractive."
Armando Gil said that 18-wheel trucks are not allowed to park inside
the city limits, either on private property or on city rights of way.
Utilities Director Octavio Garcia said that trucks are not allowed on
city streets, which are not designed for heavy traffic. Designated truck
routes are the four state-maintained highways that run through town (U.S.
285, Business I-20, State Highway 17 and FM 761), because they have thicker
paving.
Steve McCormick said that when the council earlier considered an ordinance
prohibiting trucks shorter than 25 feet to park, Weldon Brookshire objected
because he would not be allowed to park his B&B wrecker at his residence.
City Attorney Scott Johnson said that cowboys also objected because
it would affect their livestock trailers, so the ordinance did not pass.
He said the city ordinance prohibiting longer trucks to park affects
only streets, alleys or other public ways.
"I think the problem is that most of these people are parking on vacant
lots that don't belong to them," Burkholder said. "There's a lot of vacant
lots around town."
One of the offenders is operating a furniture store out of a residence
at 1701 Adams St., he said, and they park two gooseneck trailers in the
neighborhood.
"They are breaking an ordinance having a business there, and they are
parking goosenecks on a vacant lot of absentee owners, who don't know there
is a problem," he said.
The vehicles are an eyesore and dangerous, and they degrade property
values, Burkholder said. "It has been kind of getting under my skin."
Burkholder said the Midland ordinance prohibits big trailers from being
parked in residential areas, "on private property or otherwise."
Some drivers for Winkles Trucks Inc. are also violating the rules, and
Winkles is getting 20-30 more trucks, Burkholder said.
"I talked to (Ken) Winkles," said Randy Graham. "He is in agreement
and was going to send memos out to his drivers not to park in town."
Johnson said he would prepare an ordinance to be considered by the council
on April 8.
Gil said that his department will coordinate with the police department
to provide enforcement of the present ordinance day and night.
Sewer lines near target completion
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 26, 1999 - Hollomon Construction Co. has completed 65 percent
of the Third Street sewer replacement project, Abidur Khan reported to
the Pecos City Council Thursday.
Khan is an engineer for Frank X. Spencer & Associates, who designed
and is overseeing the 11-block project.
Several factors delayed the work, which is scheduled to be completed
April 3, Khan said.
"They started two to three weeks late, and during construction several
problems came up," Khan said.
The first manhole installed failed tests because the new line was not
adhering to the manhole, allowing water to leak out, Khan said.
"They finally were able to make that repair and we passed it," Khan
said.
Other problems included cavities beneath the highway, a shallow water
table and abandoned utility lines that crossed underneath the street at
alleyways.
"This is not a very easy job," Khan said. "It is on a state highway
(Business I-20) where they have to deal with ongoing traffic and keep the
existing line active so there is no sewer backup."
Mayor Dot Stafford laughed when Khan said that Holloman would be entitled
to two or three days extra "because of the rain," and he expects them to
complete the project on time.
"When?" asked Stafford of the rain dates.
Kahn said the line is complete from Ash to Cherry Street, and it stops
at the alley between Oleander and Palm.
Once the line is complete, the crew will move to the north side of the
street to hook up lateral lines entering from the north side of town.
In their regular meeting Thursday, the council agreed to send a letter
of intent to close the alley in Block 15 of original Pecos, as requested
by a developer who proposes to build the new Post Office in that location;
Instructed City Attorney Scott Johnson to draw up an interlocal agreement
with the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and Reeves County to resurface the school
track, providing in-kind services to remove the old surface;
Dedicated an alley behind on the east side of Texas Street between Stafford
and the I-20 Service Road, as requested by Dr. David Lovett. The council
had earlier approved installation of a gas line, but Dr. Lovett wanted
a 20-foot easement for dumpster service;
Approved a request from the Reeves County Sheriff's Office Explorer
Post for an Easter egg hunt at Maxey Park from 10 a.m. to noon April 3.
Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney said the block where the gazebo is located
can be blocked off to protect children from traffic.
Heard from Carlos Colina-Vargas that grant money for 1999-2000 is available
to fund public facilities, housing rehab, capital improvements, neighborhood
revitalization projects and project planning through the Community Development
Project Fund;
For water and/or sewer from the Colonia Fund;
For emergency or disaster conditions;
To Expand economic opportunities through the Texas Capital Fund;
and Comprehensive planning through the Planning/Capacity Building Fund.
Coke sales charged by grand jury
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 26, 1999 - Reeves County grand jurors on Thursday indicted
four suspects; three of them on drug charges stemming from an undercover
operation last year.
Edmundo Lujan Saenz is charged with delivery of cocaine on Oct. 22,
1998. His bail is $15,000.
Israel Gochicoa Natividad, 36, is charged with delivery of cocaine on
Aug. 14, 1998. His bail is $15,000.
Aracely Armendariz, 19, is charged with possession of cocaine on Jan.
17. Her bail is $10,000.
Melvin Garcia Orona, 37, is charged with hindering secured creditors
on Jan. 5. His bail is $25,000.
Orona allegedly sold a 1991 Chevrolet Baretta that was mortgaged. The
value is between $1,500 and $20,000, according to the indictment.
Phony death certificates nail bondsman
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 26, 1999 - Two nearly identical Mexican death certificates
with only the name and date of death changed tipped Tennessee officials
to a possible bail bond fraud that led to the arrest of Joey Herrera Jr.
on March 15, Nashville police said.
Herrera is charged with providing false and fictitious death certificates
for three men charged with drug trafficking in Davidson County (Nashville)
Tennessee and with conspiracy to launder money.
He waived extradition and is to appear in Davidson County Criminal Court
Monday for arraignment.
In an affidavit filed with Reeves County Court-at-law Judge Lee Green
to support a search warrant for Herrera's office and home in Pecos, Nashville
Police officer Jesse Burchwell detailed the alleged transactions between
Herrera and Paul's Bonding Co. of Nashville.
Burchwell said that Herrera obtained death certificates from Mexico
for Luis Saul O. Rodriguez, and it was presented to the court on July 1,
1998, two weeks before Rodriguez's $53,000 bond was to be forfeited for
failure to appear on drug charges.
In June 1998, George T. Wiebe was arrested in Nashville for possession
of 300 pounds of marijuana, and his bond set at $500,000. On June 30, a
confidential informant reported to police that a man known as "Gilbert"
from Canada was in Nashville attempting to bond Wiebe out of jail, Burchwell
said.
The affidavit states that Gilbert, who claimed to be Wiebe's son, "made
it well understood" that Wiebe would not appear for court, and he was willing
to pay a large sum of money and provide a death certificate.
Paul's Bonding Co. posted bail for Wiebe on July 1.
In September 1998, Wiebe failed to appear for arraignment, and Paul's
Bonding Co. again presented a death certificate from Mexico, Burchwell
said.
Suspicious because the control number on both certificates were only
three digits off - indicating that in one year's time only two other people
would have died in Durango, a state in Mexico - officials with the Davidson
County District Attorney's office contacted officials with the American
Consulate in Monterey, Mex.
They were advised the certificates were forgeries. The consulate also
was unable to find Rodriguez's death certificate on file and noted irregularities
in the seal and signature of the official purportedly signing the death
certificate. Neither could the consul locate a traffic accident report
where Rodriguez had died, Burchwell said.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Herrera had arranged with James
Ferrell, an agent for Paul's Bonding, to post Wiebe's bail but to retain
custody of him until Herrera obtained cash to pay for his release from
inside Mexico.
Once Herrera obtained the cash, Ferrell and a co-worker, Jason Doolittle,
flew to the Midland airport to pick up their half of the $250,000 bonding
fee. The maximum legal amount under Tennessee law that a bondsman may charge
is 10 percent of the total bond, plus an administrative fee of $25, the
affidavit claims.
Ferrell and Paul's Bonding vice president Peggy Coleman were arrested
in December, 1998 and charged with money laundering, following a reverse
sting investigation.
Coleman told officers that when Rodriguez became a fugitive, she called
Herrera to determine where he was. Herrera wanted $6,000 to send someone
to Mexico to locate Rodriguez, she said, and she wired that amount to his
mother's bank account, the affidavit continues.
Herrera later called and said he believed that Rodriguez was dead, but
it would cost an additional $6,000. After Herrera provided a death certificate
for Rodriguez, Coleman sent him a check for the additional $6,000.
Coleman said that Herrera had called Ferrell about making the bond on
George Wiebe and that his family was willing to pay $250,000 in cash to
make his bond. Herrera was to keep half and she and Ferrell would get half,
Burchwell said.
Burchwell said that Ferrell and Doolittle picked up $125,000 in Midland.
Coleman said that $50,000 went to Paul's Bonding Co., $25,000 to Coleman,
and that Ferrell deposited his money in $9,000 increments to avoid having
to do a cash transaction report.
Unaware that Ferrell and Coleman had been arrested, Herrera called Paul's
Bonding Co. on Feb. 3, 1999 about making bond for a defendant from Mexico
who had just been arrested in Nashville, Burchwell said in the affidavit.
Working with investigators, Doolittle returned the call and also asked
about another case where Paul's Bonding had made bond for Reyes Castro
at Herrera's request. Castro failed to appear for court, and Paul's Bonding
was liable for the $50,000 bail as a final forfeit in about four weeks,
Burchwell said.
Herrera said they "could do what they had done in the past," and to
have Ferrell call him to work out the details. On Feb. 11, 1999, Coleman
called Herrera and was told the "paperwork" would cost $15,000, and he
would pay half the cost. On Feb. 12, a check for $7,500 was sent to Herrera
from Paul's Bonding Co., with funds supplied by the Metro Police Department,
according to the affidavit.
On Feb. 16, Herrera called Coleman and told her he had all the "paperwork"
for the Castro bond, but the price "had went up to $25,000." Paul's Bonding
received a fax from Herrera of a Mexican death certificate for Reyes Castro.
The date of death on the certificate preceded the date of Castro's last
court appearance, Burchwell said.
Burchwell asked for and received a warrant to search Herrera's office
and residence for documents reflecting travel to Mexico, to Midland/Odessa,
financial records and proceeds from Paul's Bonding Co., telephone records,
documents pertaining to the described events and acquisition of death certificates.
Officers were authorized to seize computer disks and other electronic
media, computers, telephones and other electronic equipment needed to read
them.
Pecos man is charged in pot bust
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 26, 1999 - Federal grand jurors on Thursday returned indictments
against 36 defendants, including a Pecos man charged with marijuana possession.
Miguel Machuca-Barrera, 19, of 501 S. Alamo St., is charged with possession
of 43.58 pounds of marijuana on March 21.
An Albuquerque, N.M. resident is charged with possession of 844 pounds
of marijuana on his birthday.
Andrew Ruiz, 31, was arrested on March 10 and charged with possession
with intent to distribute marijuana. He was born March 10, 1968, according
to court records.
Nine defendants are charged with importing and possessing marijuana
for distribution, while two of those are also charged with conspiracy.
Three persons are charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana for distribution,
and 17 are charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Other charges are failure to appear, two; illegal entry after deportation,
three; possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, four; and transporting
illegal aliens, one.
District engineer dies after basketball workout
ODESSA, March 26, 1999 - Jose E. Morales, 44, the district engineer
for the Texas Department of Transportation's Odessa District, died suddenly
late Tuesday afternoon in Odessa following a recreational basketball workout
with TxDOT co-workers.
Teammates said that Morales was sitting on the back bumper of a pickup
truck at the close of the workout when he slumped forward and fell to the
ground. He was rushed by EMT ambulance to Odessa Medical Center Hospital
where attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead
shortly after 6:30 p,.m. An autopsy was performed Wednesday morning to
determine the cause of death.
Morales, an 18-year veteran of TxDOT, oversaw all construction and maintenance
activities for the 18,000 square mile, 12-county district which includes
Reeves county.
He was born on March 4, 1955 and attended elementary school in Brownsville.
He graduated from Memorial High School in San Antonio in 1973 and earned
a degree in civil engineering from Texas A&I University at Kingsville
in 1981.
Morales joined the Texas Department of Transportation as an engineering
assistant in Del Rio and went on to serve as area engineer in San Angelo
from 1991 to 1995. On October 1, 1995, he was named Odessa District Engineer.
An acknowledged leader in the industry, he helped pioneer the use of new
materials and techniques in highway construction, such as the utilization
of high performance concrete.
He was active in the greater Midland-Odessa community as a youth basketball
coach; a popular instructor for Junior Achievement, for which he created
"Road to Success" blueprints to help his students focus on career goals;
and as a frequent motivational speaker for junior high school classes.
He is survived by his wife, Marivel Janie Roman Morales of Midland,
one son, Jose Eliseo, age 5; his father and mother, Jose Flores Morales
and Rafaela Martinez Morales of San Antonio; two brothers, Rolando and
Jesus of San Antonio; two sisters, Maria Elena Morales of Laredo and Minerva
Vasquez of San Antonio.
Funeral services will be held in Del Rio, with Don's Funeral Home, 305-307
Plaza Avenue, handling arrangements.
Visitation is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Friday, with a rosary to
be held at 7 p.m., followed by a prayer service with Jose Rivera presiding.
The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 27, at Sacred
Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Del Rio Memorial Park (formerly
Oaklawn Cemetery) in Del Rio.
A memorial service is planned for the Midland-Odessa community next
week.
Easter egg hunt at Maxey Park
Children ages eight and under will be in for a treat this Easter in Pecos.
A Kiddie Easter Egg Hunt has been scheduled beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday,
April 3, at the Maxey Park.
All children ages eight and under are invited to participate and must
be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
In addition, they will have an opportunity to have their picture taken
with the Easter Bunny.
The event is being sponsored by the Reeves County Sheriff's Explorer
Post #600.
Band auction offers goodies
Baked goodies, barbecue plates and items donated by local merchants will
be up for grabs during the 21st Annual Pecos Eagle Band Auction.
The auction will begin at 10 a.m., at the Saragosa Hall, corner of 6th
and Peach streets and will be televised on Channel 6 and broadcast on 98.3
FM.
Local merchants have donated a variety of items that will be auctioned
off. In conjunction barbecue plates with all the trimmings will be for
sale.
A bake sale, with an assortment of goodies will also be for sale, and
some will be auctioned also.
The Pecos Eagle Band Boosters welcome everyone to come and look at the
items and to help support the local band.
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.
***
PECOS, March 26, 1999 -
Pablo Hidalgo, 63, and Martina Hidalgo, 74, were arrested at 1:21 p.m.,
on March 18, at Wal-Mart, for criminal trespass. They were transported
to Reeves County Jail.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 2:41 p.m., on March 18, in the 1300
block of South Cedar Street, for a probation violation. He was taken to
the Juvenile Detention Center.
***
Arturo O. Gallegos, 27, was arrested at 11:27 p.m., on March 18, at
Reeves County Sheriff's Office, on a Capias Pro Fine warrant for having
a defective tail light on his vehicle. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Rojelio Garcia, 32, was arrested at 11:09 p.m., on March 19, in the
400 block of Oleander Street, for assault under the Family Violence Act.
He was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Queston Barton, 22, and Questasha Barton, 20, were arrested at 2:43
a.m., on March 20, in the 400 block of Mulberry Street—Queston on a warrant
(a motion to revoke-robbery) and evading arrest, resisting arrest; Quastasha
for hindering apprehension, a third-degree felony. They were taken to Reeves
County Jail.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 6:18 p.m., on March 20, in the 1000
block of South Pecan Street, for abuse of abusible aerosol paint. His parents
were contacted after he was taken to the police department.
***
Jose Alberto Adame, 18, was arrested at 10:18 p.m., on March 20, in
the 1100 block of South Cypress Street, for assault under the Family Violence
Act. He was advised not to return to the residence and taken to Reeves
County Jail.
***
Paul Hernandez, 17, was arrested at 11:12 p.m., on March 20, at Reeves
County Hospital, for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to
Reeves County Jail.
***
Gregorio Pena, 17, was arrested at 1:43 a.m., on March 21, in the 600
block of West Eighth Street, for unlawfully carrying a weapon/no insurance.
He was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Joey Villanueva, 22, was arrested at 2:27 a.m., on March 21, in the
300 block of North Ash Street, for assault under the Family Violence Act.
He was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Robert Hinojos Ramirez, 18, was arrested at 4:46 p.m., on March 21,
at Maxey Park, on a warrant (motion to surrender a principal-deadly conduct).
He was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Brian Brown, 19, was arrested at 11:20 a.m., on March 22, at Pecos Municipal
Court, on a warrant for providing a false report to a peace officer. He
was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Erek Brown, 18, was arrested at 12:07 p.m., on March 22, on a warrant
out of Lubbock County Sheriff's Office for providing a false report to
a peace officer. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Jesus Ortega, 20, was arrested at 1:47 p.m., on March 23, at Gibson's
Hardware store, for theft over $50. He was taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Damian Orona, 22, and Joe Daniel Wright, 20, were arrested at 12:06
a.m., on March 24, in the 200 block of East 13th Street—Orona for making
alcohol available to a minor, Wright as a minor in possession. They were
taken to Reeves County Jail.
***
Hal Pratt, 57, was arrested at 3:25 p.m., on March 24, in the 500 block
of Cedar Street, on a warrant for theft (under $20,000 but over $1500,
a state jail felony) and a warrant for terroristic threat, a Class A misdemeanor.
***
A female juvenile was arrested at 9:03 p.m., on March 24, in the 900
block of East Fourth Street, on a probation violation. She was taken to
the Juvenile Detention Center.
***
Timothy J. Garcia, 22, was arrested at 5:59 p.m., on March 25, in the
2000 block of Highway 17, on a warrant for deadly conduct. He was taken
to Reeves County Jail.
***
Manuel U. Rivera, 47, was arrested at 6:55 p.m., on March 25, at Montano's
Body Shop, on a warrant for burglary of a building. He was taken to Reeves
County Jail.
***
Jesse M. Abila, 30, was arrested at 11:45 p.m., on March 25, at Suavecito
Club, on a warrant for criminal trespass. He was taken to Reeves County
Jail.
***
Auden G. Soto, 27, was arrested at 1:22 a.m., on March 26, in the 2900
block of Highway 17, for a fourth DWI refusal offense. He was taken to
Reeves County Jail.
***
Carol R. Benavides, 30, was arrested at 12:49 a.m., on March 26, at
the Purple Sage, on Capias Pro Fine warrants. She was taken to Reeves County
Jail.
Texas Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Thursday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 1-10-16-24-36. Number matching five of five: 1. Prize per winner:
$90,418. Winning ticket sold in: Higgins. Matching four of five: 248. Prize:
$547. Matching three of five: 7,874. Prize: $29. Next Cash 5 drawing: Friday
night.
Weather
PECOS, March 26, 1999 - High Thursday 62; low last night 55. Tonight, cloudy
with areas of drizzle and fog. A 20 percent chance of rain. Low mid 40s.
Southeast wind 5-15 mph. Saturday, cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers,
possibly a thunderstorm. High 60 65. Southeast 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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