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PECOS, October 21, 1996 - House plant lovers may want to move delicate
plants inside tonight, as forecasters predict temperatures could drop
near freezing.
C.W. Roberts, Reeves-Loving County extension agent, said fall gardens
may be covered with plastic to insulate them against the cold.
"I don't think it will get cold enough to freeze pipes," he said. But
peppers that are being harvested now could be in danger.
"If there's still some peppers out, it is not going to be good for them
if it freezes," he said. "It is always a close race to get them
harvested before the first freeze."
The first freeze normally comes to Reeves County in mid November.
Whether it damages plants depends on the length of time temperatures
drop below the freezing mark of 32 degrees, Roberts said.
Cotton farmers would welcome a freeze on crops that are ready for
harvest, because it would defoliate the plants and force open the
remaining green bolls.
Lows tonight will be in the 20s in the Panhandle and in the 30s and 40s
across the rest of West Texas, the upper 30s in northwestern sections
and in the 40s and 50s over the rest of North Texas, the 40s in the Hill
Country and in the 50s across the rest of South Texas.
In the Pecos area, forecasters predict lows of 35-40 tonight, but some
lower elevations could see freezing temperatures.
A snow advisory was in effect today for northwest sections of the Texas
Panhandle with forecasters predicting that as much as 1-2 inches of snow
may fall during the afternoon and early evening.
The snow advisory was in effect for Dallam, Sherman and Hartley counties
in Texas, and Cimarron and Texas counties in Oklahoma.
Forecasters say a strong upper level disturbance approaching the
Panhandle will cause widespread precipitation over the Panhandle. As
cold air moves southward into the region, temperatures will become cold
enough to produce snow.
The cold front accompanying the upper level disturbance was moving
southward across the Panhandle before dawn today.
The snow will be limited to 1-2 inches and will mainly stick on grassy
areas. It probably won't stick on roads and highways, but may stick on
some bridges and overpasses, making them slick and dangerous.
In addition to the snow in the northwest Panhandle, there is a chance of
rain mixed with snow in the South Plains and low rolling plains tonight.
It will be mostly cloudy and much colder across all of West Texas
tonight and Tuesday.
Copyright 1996 Pecos Enterprise. All rights reserved. AP contributed to
this report.
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, October 21, 1996 - It was a federal holiday when John Malcolm
Bales met Stuart Platt at his U.S. attorney's office in Beaumont for a
job interview.
After conducting the interview, Platt took Bales to the airport, where
he saw a man he thought was a federal fugitive on one of his cases and
sought to arrest him, Bales said Friday at Platt's investiture ceremony.
"He is a great attorney, but he is a frustrated FBI or DEA agent,"
Bales said of his former boss. "He was appointed a special deputy
marshal and is allowed to carry a firearm. Now that he has an excuse to
wear a long, flowing robe - with the Texas concealed carry law - I am
concerned about what may be under the robe."
Platt has the blend of courage, integrity, character and propriety that
Texans call "guts," Bales said. "I saw that in the first big case we
worked on."
A big drug problem in San Augustine prompted an investigation that
resulted in more than 70 indictments, some important officials.
"On the day of the raid, when 200 agents served a dozen search warrants
and arrested more than 70 dangerous folks, Stuart and I prayed for the
safety of the agents," he said. "I found in everything he did he sought
wisdom from above."
Another associate, Wayne Rich, said that Stuart is a hometown hero in
Chattanooga, Tenn, where he was assistant U.S. attorney before being
appointed magistrate judge.
Platt had been in Chattanooga only two weeks when he spotted two
shoplifters in Wal-Mart and chased them in the parking lot to help with
their arrest. He found out later they were convicted felons.
After working with Platt 10 years, Rich said he could summarize his
philosophy as, "There is no reason not to do the right thing the right
way."
Platt doesn't wait for agents to bring him cases; he gets involved,
Rich said.
Describing two difficult cases he prosecuted successfully, Rich said
that Platt's work ethic and commitment were rewarded many times.
"During the six years I was `sentenced' to Washington, D.C., one of my
responsibilities was training assistant U.S. attorneys on ethics," he
said. "Stuart was the AUSA we always looked to for our ethics training."
As magistrate judge, Platt will treat everyone the same, whether in
court or out, he said. "He will be fair and will out-work anyone that
comes in there."
The Marine Corps' motto, semper fidelis, means "always faithful -
faithful to God, country and family," Rich said. "That's what Stuart
will do."
Platt said that when he received his credentials as magistrate judge he
was impressed with the responsibility and privilege of the position.
"As significant as this privilege of serving as magistrate judge, I
realized there have been many more significant privileges in my life,"
he said. "In reality, I am one of those blessed people who have
experienced far greater privileges than most people on earth."
With tears in his eyes and an emotion-choked voice, Platt told how his
parents set the stage for his success with their relationship to God,
respect for authority for the law and a sense of duty to this nation and
its republic.
"The atmosphere was not fostered in words alone, but by example," he
said. "My father served 30 months in the South Pacific and my mother in
the Coast Guard during World War II.
"I have been complimented many times for my service to the Army
reserves. My sense of duty came from those two people. If every child in
this nation was raised with the privilege of that family, there would be
very little need for magistrates," he said.
Learning those values at home was a greater privilege and honor than
wearing the judge's robe, he said.
He also gave his wife's parents, his best friend from high school,
dedicated Border Patrol officers ("who often do a thankless job"), and
other law enforcement officers credit for helping shape his life.
"There have been so many privileges...but all have blended together to
give me a sense of good judgment and respect for the law that I need to
serve as a fair and honorable judge," Platt said.
He cited quality people like Bales - living integrity - and Rich, "who
values integrity more than I have ever known."
"He taught me `there is no right way to do the wrong thing,'" Platt
said of Rich.
A wife "who understands my humanity but accepts me," two sons and a
daughter, are more important than this robe will ever be," he said.
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, October 21, 1996 - District Attorney John Stickels told
prospective jurors in 143rd District Court this morning that they would
want to go home and take a bath after hearing testimony in a trial
involving indecency with a child.
"You are not going to like what you hear, and you are not going to like
what you have to do," he said. "Sometimes we have to do things we don't
like."
Samuel "Sammy" Lozano is charged by indictment with making sexual
contact with a boy under 17 years of age, Stickels said.
Two persons who said they know Lozano were excused from the jury pool in
early questioning by Stickels.
One man said he could be objective in the guilt-or-innocence phase of
the trial, but would lean toward a harsh sentence because he is raising
five grandchildren.
Stickels asked jurors if they could believe people commit sexual
offenses against children, with no negative response.
He then questioned several prospective jurors about their own children
and whether they believed they could be molested.
All said they believed it could happen even when the parents do
everything they can to prevent it.
"No matter how well you protect a child, there is always a chance they
will be molested by somebody," Stickels said.
Scott Johnson represents Lozano and District Judge Bob Parks is
presiding.
Services for A.G. Adair, 74, were at 3 p.m. Saturday in Southside
Baptist Church in Monahans, with burial in Monahans Memorial Cemetery.
He died Thursday, Oct. 19, 1996.
He was born Nov. 5, 1921 in Uvalde, was an Army veteran and sports
editor for the Monahans News.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Adair of Monahans; two sons, Larry Don
Adair of Levelland and Ray Ivin Nickolson of Beaumont; two daughters,
Dorothea Viola Adair Olgin of Monahans and Katherine E. Nickolson Brice
of Dallas; one brother, Robert M. Adair of Summerville; one sister,
Louise Sutton of Roswell, N.M.; 14 grandchildren and 14
great-grandchildren.
Reyes O. Prieto, 87, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 1996 in Reeves County
Hospital following a lengthy illness. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today
in Martinez Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in
Santa Rosa Catholic Church, with burial in Santa Rosa Cemetery.
She was born Jan. 6, 1909 in Pecos; was a lifetime resident, a housewife
and a Catholic.
Survivors include seven sons, Libario Prieto, Alberto Prieto, Victorio
Prieto and Apolinar Prieto, all of Pecos; Hilario Prieto of Phoenix,
Ariz., Dario Prieto of Washingotn, D.C. and Marcos Prieto of Kermit; two
daughters, Aurora Herrera of Odessa and Agapita Matta of Pecos; one
sister, Vicenta Prieto of Pecos; 21 grandchildren, 11
great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.
PECOS, TX, Oct. 21, 1996 - High Sunday 87, low last night 48. Tonight, mostly cloudy with a 20
percent chance of light rain. Low 35-40. North wind 15-25 mph and gusty.
Caution advised on lakes. Tuesday, mostly sunny and cooler. High 55-60.
Northwest wind 10-20 mph.
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Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
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