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From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, June 26, 1996 - Large, gentle raindrops stirred the dust on Pecos
streets Tuesday afternoon but moved on west with little fanfare.
Pecos and Red Bluff Lake appeared to be in the edge of a storm that
raised Salt Draw "pretty high" for the first time in months and gave
rangeland a welcome drink.
James Calloway, National Weather Service observer at Red Bluff Lake,
said the rain appeared to be west of the lake, where .36 inch fell
Monday night and 1.30 inches has been recorded in June.
Gary Ingram said he drove in the rain from Shaw Road to near the
roadside park as he traveled from Pecos to Toyah on I-20 about 5 p.m.
Tuesday.
"That's the first time I've seen Salt Draw up in a long time," he said.
"It must have rained quite a bit north of there."
Pecos has received 1.55 inches of rain this year. Clouds on Tueday held
the temperature below 100 for the first time since June 18, when it was
98, the same as Tuesday's high reported by the National Weather Service.
The chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain across
most of Texas tonight and Thursday.
In West Texas, there is a chance of locally heavy rainfall through
tonight. It will be mostly cloudy across West Texas through Thursday.
PECOS, June 26, 1996 - Pecos City Council will consider an offer from
the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD to collect property taxes in their regular
meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
P-B-T proposes to collect taxes for all three taxing entities - city,
county and hospital district - for $16,500 each. If only two agree, the
cost would be $17,300. For only the city, the cost would be $19,700.
The school district is collecting city taxes this year, and the council
has been pleased with their work.
Other agenda items include closing an alley between Plum and Cactus
streets, waiver of the payment in lieu of Texas for 1995 and 1996 from
the Pecos Housing Authority, sale of three properties taken in a
foreclosure, retaining a law firm for the Texas-New Mexico Power Co.
rate matter before the Public Utility Commission, approve a stop sign at
Fourth and Bois d'Arc Streets, set a budget workshop and evaluate three
department heads.
In executive session, the council will review the performance of the
shop foreman, water and sewer superintendent and police chief.
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 26, 1996 - Guards at the Reeves County Detention Center were
assaulted with pepper spray Tuesday afternoon - but it was all according
to plan.
The pepper spray attack on 30 workers at the county-run facility
occurred at the Reeves County Civic Center, and was part of a four-day
training program for the center's Operations Disturbance Control team.
The program is being conducted by Thomas J. Archambault of TJA Training
Resource Group, Inc., of Bennington, Vt., and involves two separate
squads of 15 guards each who will deal with potential disturbances at
the 650-bed prison, which has had several mid-level disturbances during
its 10-year history.
Archambault said he has been in the business of tactical training for
correctional facilities, police and sheriff's departments for 15 years.
"I usually average about 100,000 miles a year," he said. "I've done all
the Dallas Sheriff's Department training and 15 facilities overall in
Texas."
He said the training involves ways to recognize tension at a prison,
communication techniques and understanding mobs and mob behavior. "We go
over equipment specifications and safety, marching formations (to
approach inmates), and the use of less lethal devices, such as pepper
spray."
He said the number of persons in a disturbance control team depends on
the size of the facility. "A group of 30 is about right for a
disturbance and riot control team," Archambault said. "A lot of
discipline is needed on this type of team. You can't have any showboats
or cowboys."
Coming from Vermont, Archambault said he's "having a hard time getting
adjusted to this Texas weather," but added that other than that, things
have gone smoothly.
"I've had phenomenal support from Judge (Jimmy) Galindo, Joe Trujillo,
(RCDC Warden) and Dale Brewer (assistant warden). They're pretty much
taking care of the things that need to be taken care of, and the people
in this class certainly are dedicated," he said.
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 26, 1996 - First United Methodist Church of Pecos will
honors its own "pioneers," including longtime member Emma Shepherd,
during its third annual Founders Day celebration on Sunday.
Founders Day is held each year in conjunction with the West of the Pecos
Rodeo to remember and celebrate the heritage of the church.
Members and guests are encouraged to dress in pioneer or western
clothing for the 10:55 a.m. morning worship service, which will include
the singing of favorite hymns. Worship will be followed by a covered
dish luncheon.
Special recognition will be given members who joined the Pecos Church 50
or more years ago. These include Catherine H. Jones (joined in 1915),
Asa Moore (1922), Elizabeth R. McCree (1926), W.S. McCree (1928), James
L. Moore (1934), Edna G. Stanton (1936), Dagmah Biggs Wynne and Bonnie
Green (both 1937), David Alan Smith (1940), Norine Hoover (1941), Mary
Farnum (1942), Pearl Barker (1942), Janice Burkholder (1944), Emma
Shepherd (1945), and Joseph Earl Wynne (1946).
Shepherd will be honored as this year's Church Pioneer because of her
continued contributions to the church and community.
A longtime Pecos resident and retired Pecos High School English teacher,
she has also devoted much of her life to the church. She said she simply
"does what the Lord tells me to do."
Shepherd moved to Pecos with her husband in 1942. Lawrence "Shorty"
Shepherd died in 1973, and her son, Carl Shepherd, died in 1985.
Before her retirement in 1979, Shepherd had been a teacher for 40 years.
She received a number of teaching honors during her career, from the
local Teacher of the Year award in 1964 to the Future Teachers
Association's state honor in 1979.
"I was known at Pecos High School as the disciplinarian," Shepherd said.
"That didn't bother me at all. It was a compliment, as far as I was
concerned. Unless you have discipline, you don't have learning."
Shepherd applied her special teaching style in many years of church
education as well. From the age of 14, she recalled, "I've always taught
a Sunday School class."
She served as education superintendent in the children's department of
the local church for seven years, and more recently taught adult classes.
As secretary of the church's administrative council for seven years,
Shepherd served both the local and district levels of the Methodist
Church. She has also been an active member of the church choir.
In 50 years of membership at Pecos Methodist, Shepherd missed only three
Sundays.
Although illness has prevented Shepherd from attending church the past
eight months, she has continued to contribute "as best I can." She
remains the leader of the church prayer circle, a group of volunteers
who call each other when any prayer is needed. She also heads the church
information line, contacting all church members about upcoming events
and important news.
"Since I have been in this situation, I have not wanted to be excluded
from church. And I'm not," she said.
"A church is not a building, and it's not the people, either," Shepherd
said. "We should give God the credit, and not claim any compliments for
ourselves. It's through His help and guidance that there are churches,
period."
As for Shepherd: "I'll be in the church no matter where I am."
Bonilla, Morales, Jones to be in town next Tuesday, Wednesday
Republicans and Democrats alike will have the chance to visit with a
Congressional representative, his opponent, and a candidate for the U.S.
Senate next week.
Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas) will discuss important issues and current
events with concerned citizens at a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday
in the Pecos Chamber of Commerce office.
Victor Morales, Democratic nominee for the senate seat held by Phil
Gramm - who was here Saturday - will be at a barbecue in the West of the
Pecos Museum courtyard at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Also attending will be Charlie Jones, Bonilla's Democratic opponent for
Congress, and Hector Uribe, Democratic nominee for railroad commissioner.
Bill White, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, will be a special
guest.
The public is invited to attend the free barbecue and visit with the
candidates.
Morales is known for his solo "windshield" tour of Texas in his pickup.
Bonilla, who represents the 23rd District of Texas, invites citizens and
members of the media to bring their ideas and friends to the chamber
office for an informative discussion.
Both he and Morales will also be in Pecos Wednesday for the West of the
Pecos Rodeo parade.
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 26, 1996 - Jurors called for service in state and federal
courts this week got a break when four scheduled trials fell through.
The latest was a civil trial that was to have started at 9 a.m. today in
federal court, with Reeves County and its law enforcement center staff
as defendants.
Two of the three African men who filed the suit claiming damages for a
beating they suffered while incarcerated at the LEC on July 19, 1993
failed to appear for court.
Senior Judge Lucius Bunton on Monday dismissed Adebayo Yaya from the
suit, but left the way open for him to re-file.
Plaintiff Olu Akhigbe failed to arrive as expected, leaving only Joshua
Edigen to testify about the alleged beatings.
In light of that and other rulings this morning, attorneys for the
defendants withdrew their previous settlement offer of $30,000.
Judge Bunton reviewed the written settlement offers and counter-offers
and ruled that they are binding contracts. He gave the plaintiffs 29
days to sign a release from all three and ordered the defendants to pay
if and when they receive it.
Calling the jurors in, Judge Bunton told them the trial would be
postponed because two of the plaintiffs were not present, and they would
be notified if and when a new date is scheduled.
The three black men claim they were beaten by about 20 Hispanic inmates
on July 19, 1993, following the "menudo" riot in May and other alleged
beatings of blacks by Hispanic inmates.
Two criminal trials that were scheduled for this week fell through as
well - one before a jury was selected.
In the second, jurors were seated to try Larry Robinson, 35, of
Columbus, Ga. on a charge of possession with intent to distribute
cocaine.
After seeing the jury, Robinson decided to plead guilty. He will be
sentenced August 20, along with several others who entered guilty pleas.
One of the jurors in the Edigen case reported to Judge Bunton that she
was summoned for duty in 143rd District Court this morning. Judge Bunton
arranged for her to be excused from that case, which also fell through.
Attorney Roddy Harrison was ill and unable to be present for the divorce
case, said opposing attorney Randy Reynolds.
Judge Bunton had two arraignments and related hearings set for noon
today and preliminary examinations on Thursday for eight defendants
charged with violating immigration laws.
PECOS, June 26, 1996 - High Tuesday 98, low last night 72. Tonight,
mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Low near 70.
Southeast wind 5-15 mph. Thursday, partly cloudy with a 30 percent
chance of thunderstorms. High around 90. Southeast wind 10-20 mph.
PECOS, June 26, 1996 - The July 1996 edition of the monthly magazine
Travel Southwest, is out already and just in time for the rodeo.
The early edition features a three-page article on the local Fourth of
July festivities as experienced by staff journalist Steve Milburg last
year.
The piece opens with a brief mention of the Golden Girl of the Old West
pageant as it describes the West of the Pecos Rodeo.
Milburg interviewed Archie Scott, who told him while sitting outside the
West of the Pecos Museum with the other "Oldtimer's" he'd been watching
West of the Pecos Parades since 1927. He told the curious journalist
that it - the rodeo - all began back in 1881, during a cookout and
street dance, when cowboys, "got to arguing over a beer that they could
beat the other ranch cowboys, and they had a ropin right in the street."
The Orient Hotel is mentioned in article in a description of the local
museum. Milburg also outlines the 1896 shootout where Barney Riggs
killed John Denson and William Earhart at the "Number 11" Saloon.
It's hard to decipher who Milburg is describing, when he mentions a,
"small, wiry posse member with an impressive mustache," noticed him when
he walked a little late to the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse barbecue
lunch after the parade.
After describing the rodeo in detail, the visitor nears the end of his
story with a quote from rodeo clown Mark Callihan, where he said, "This
was the first one man!"
Milburg had the last say. He said, "And it's one of the very best."
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