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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Thursday, September 9, 1999
New city budget, old tax rate approved
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Sept. 9, 1999 -- Pecos City Council this morning adopted a budget
for 1999-2000 and set the tax rate at 69.67 cents per $100 valuation, the
same rate as in the 1998-99 fiscal year.
The tax levy of $799,009 is $24,000 less than last year because of a
drop in property values _ primarily due to tax abatement allowed for Anchor
West Inc. that was not allowed last year.
Total expenditures from the general fund are $3.8 million.
Included are: police forfeiture, $5,000; street department, $276,300;
health department, $109,850; fire department, $181,060; police department,
$937,400; city shop, $40,800; administration, $40,800; office, $163,200;
general government, $380,250; inspections, $10,450; emergency management,
$42,150; pools, $29,740; parks, $215,600; buildings, $315,740; sanitation,
$640,650; municipal court, $45,090; fire marshal, $34,500; ambulance, $63,665;
airport operating, $33,000; airport improvement, $45,000; grant matching,
$140,000; emergency and contingency, $10,000.
Other budgets include capital outlay, $455,200, bond debt, $286,035;
water and sewer $2.3 million; ambulance service, $214,675; airport improvements,
$1.7 million; and warehouse, $39,900.
Tax exemptions were approved for over 65, $15,000; medical disability
$10,000 and veterans serving overseas, $5,000.
In other business this morning, the council voted to retain attorney
Greg Hudson to administer action on water rates for Reeves County Detention
Center; agreed to pay $1,000 per month toward the salary of district attorney
investigator; and agreed to advertise for bids on the sale of an abandoned
and condemned service station at 5202 S. Cedar Street.
After a discussion in executive session, the council took no action
on possible acquisition of water rights surrounding the former Freeport
McMoRan sulphur plant. Freeport, which owns land in Reeves and Culberson
counties, closed the mine at the end of June.
Regarding city vehicle use, the council instructed department heads
to monitor use of vehicles by employees, restricting them to city business
use.
City Attorney Scott Johnson advised the council to investigate housing
rehabilitation work done in Wickett through a Texas Home Investment Program
grant before authorizing grant writers to apply for a grant for Pecos.
Rifle range agreement targeted by city
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Sept. 9, 1999 -- For 46 years the Pecos Rifle and Pistol Club
has used and controlled the rifle range on land owned by the city of Pecos,
charging law enforcement officers and others non-club members for its use.
With increasing use by law enforcement officers, Pecos Police Chief
Clay McKinney proposed improving the range and making it available without
charge to officers.
Pecos City Council this morning agreed that the city should control
use of the range and instructed City Attorney Scott Johnson to work out
a new agreement with the rifle and pistol club.
Dannie Shelton, club president, agreed to meet with Johnson to work
out a written agreement, but he was not happy with the council's decision.
"Are you rescinding the original agreement?" he asked.
"Yes, I guess we are," said Mayor Dot Stafford.
Minutes of the Jan 27, 1953 council meeting show the council giving
the club the right to use the land "as they so desire for a rifle range"
so long as it does not interfere with the present greens of the Pecos Municipal
Golf Course.
Shelton said that a part of the range is NRA approved, and club members
are covered by NRA insurance, which is expensive.
Other users are asked to verify their insurance coverage, he said.
"I would say usage is at the discretion of the Pecos Rifle and Pistol
Club," Shelton said, noting that law enforcement officers shoot at a discount
rate.
Johnson said that the previous agreement is so general, "there is no
guidance at all."
He said that the agreement does not give the rifle club exclusive right
to use the range.
Accident south of Pyote leaves Pecos man dead
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Sept. 9, 1999 -- A Pecos man was killed Tuesday evening in a
one-vehicle rollover south of Pyote in Ward County.
Jose Carmen Munoz, Jr., 29, of Pecos was driving a 1997 Ford pickup,
six miles south of Pyote on Farm Road 1927 in Ward County at 6:57 p.m.
on Tuesday.
Munoz, a truck driver, was northbound on Farm Road 1927, when he approached
a bend on roadway, veered off the road on east side of northbound lane.
He overcorrected and overturned one and a half times.
Munoz was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene
by Justice of the Peace Pascual Olivas. Next of kin was notified and the
body taken to Harkey Funeral Home in Monahans.
The driver was not wearing a seat belt.
Trooper Darren Storer of Monahans investigated the accident.
Rains brush area, drench spots to east
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Sept. 9, 1999 -- Clouds roved West Texas on Wednesday, dumping
rain here and there. Monahans and Pyote got heavy showers in the afternoon,
and clouds to the north appeared to be inundating Winkler County.
Pecos received .07 inch of rain overnight, while the Texas A&M Research
Station recorded .04 inch. Toyah got a small shower.
The rains cooled temperatures somewhat, with Wednesday's high of 98
dropping to an overnight low of 67.
Most parts of Texas can expect below normal temperatures today, as cool
fronts put the chill on the summer heat wave, the Associated Press reports.
In West Texas, a northwesterly flow aloft was making way for partly
cloudy skies and slightly cooler temperatures across the region.
The forecast calls for a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
across far West Texas. Highs through Friday should be in the 80s and 90s,
with lows sinking to the 50s across the northern panhandles and the southwest
mountains.
In South Texas, a weak cold front was pushing southward, bringing mild
temperatures.
On Wednesday evening, a line of strong to severe thunderstorms clipped
portions of southeast Texas. Dime size hail was reported in LaPorte.
Highs today are expected in the upper 80s and 90s, with more rain possible.
House seized in connection with drug ring
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Sept. 9, 1999 -- One more "stash house" was added Wednesday to
the list of property seized by the Pecos Police Department and Reeves County
Sheriff's Office in connection with a drug smuggling ring believed to be
operating out of Pecos.
Narcotics investigator Paul Deishler said that the Jose Navarette property
3.2 miles north of Pecos on U.S. Highway 285 was seized because officers
found more than 700 pounds of marijuana stashed in an outbuilding near
the vacant house.
"Nobody has ever lived here, evidently," Deishler said of the deteriorating
house. "They are called stash houses. They will stash marijuana until they
get ready to move it, then load it up and go."
Police Patrolman Arnulfo Rivas and Reeves County Sheriff's Deputy Richard
Natividad posted notice of seizure and secured a bright yellow tape across
the gate to the property.
In the same investigation, the local narcotics task force has seized
ostrich pens on Rancho Road and another fenced pen just off West "F" Street
owned by Roman and Diane Juarez. Vehicles and contraband have also been
seized, and some has been forfeited to the state.
Navarette is awaiting trial for marijuana possession in connection with
the seizure.
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.
***
Natalia Lujan, 17, was arrested at 10 a.m., on September 3, in Balmorhea,
on a warrant.
***
Bertha M. Chavez, 48, was arrested at 9:15 p.m., on September 4, in
Toyah, on a warrant for theft (over $50, under $500).
***
Felipe Morales, 18, was arrested at 10 p.m., on September 4, in Balmorhea,
on a warrant.
***
Terry Kody Kinikin, 27, was arrested at 12:19 p.m., on September 4,
in the 500 block of Plum Street, on a warrant out of Amarillo for bond
forfeiture/theft by check.
***
Joe Machuca, 23, and Diana Sanchez, 24, were arrested at 2 a.m., on
September 5, in Balmorhea, for disorderly conduct.
***
Jesus Candia Jr., 27, was arrested at 12:45 p.m., on September 7, at
the corner of Sixth and Plum streets, on a warrant for furnishing alcohol
to a minor.
***
James Robinson, 40, was arrested at 4:07 p.m., on September 7, in the
500 block Maple Street, for assault under the Family Violence Act/terroristic
threat.
***
Louie Elliot Rico, 19, was arrested at 9:47 p.m., on September 7, in
the 300 block of South Cypress Street, for public intoxication.
***
Rene A. Martinez, 27, was arrested at 11:05 p.m., on September 7, at
Anchor West, on a warrant for criminal nonsupport.
***
Eric Flores, was arrested at 1:15 p.m., on September 8, at the Pecos
Police Department, on Capias Pro Fine warrants. He paid the fine and was
released.
***
Cindy C. Snider, 35, was arrested at 5:59 p.m., on September 8, at Bell-U-Storage,
on a warrant for theft of service.
Marijuana seizures in Marfa Sector up
Marijuana seizures by the Marfa Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol
have already surpassed the total for fiscal 1998, with three weeks remaining
in the current fiscal year.
The Marfa Sector has seized 55,692 pounds of marijuana so far this fiscal
year (October 98 thru August 31, 1999). With one month left in the fiscal
year, Chief Patrol Agent Simon Garza, Jr. expects to reach 60,000 pounds
before it's over.
"We've already exceeded last year's total by 8,500 pounds," he
said. Last fiscal year, agents seized 47 193 pounds for the entire year.
Undocumented alien apprehensions in the Maria Sector are on the increase
as well, up 5 percent from August 1998. Agents apprehended 1,303 undocumented
aliens this past month.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Lotto Texas drawing Wednesday night: Winning
numbers drawn: 11-12-21-41-44-47. Estimated jackpot: $10 million. Number
matching six of six: 0. Matching five of six: 180. Prize: $724. Matching
four of six: 4,487. Prize: $104.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Wednesday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 0-2-0 (zero, two, zero)
Obituary
Jose Munoz, Jr.
Jose Munoz, Jr. , 29, of Pecos, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, in Monahans.
A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., Friday, at Martinez Funeral Home
Chapel.
Mass is scheduled for 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, at Saint Catherine's
Catholic Church with burial in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery.
He was born May 6, 1970, in Pecos, was a lifetime Pecos resident and
a Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Grace Munoz of Pecos; two sons, Christopher
and Jose Munoz III of Pecos; one daughter, Ashley Munoz of Pecos; his parents,
Jose and Estella Munoz of Pecos; his grandmother, Anselma Guerra of Albuquerque,
N.M.; one brother, Michael Munoz of Pecos; three sisters, Elidia, Ysa and
Patricia Munoz, all of Pecos.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
High Wednesday 98; lowlast night 67. Rainfall .07 inch. Thursday, mostly
sunny. High in the mid 80s. East to southeast wind 10-20 mph. Thursday
night, partly cloudy. Low in the mid 60s. Friday, mostly sunny and warmer.
High in the lower 90s. Extended forecast, Friday night, mostly clear. Low
in the lower to mid 60s. Saturday, partly cloudy. High in the lower to
mid 90s.
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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