PECOS ENTERPRISE

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Monday, November 25, 1996

Added inmates increases staff, revenue at RCJ

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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, November 25, 1996 - The creation of two additional jailer
positions for the Reeves County Sheriff's Department was approved by
Reeves County Commissioners during this morning's regular commissioners
court meeting.

"The sheriff's department has really turned things around, they have
brought in more revenue than was projected," said Reeves County Judge
Jimmy B. Galindo.

The department has brought in over $300,000 during the last 10 months,
according to Galindo.

The jail is currently up to capacity and more jailers are needed,
resulting in the classification of the two new positions today.

"We currently don't have enough jailers for the number of inmates, and
we hope the number (of inmates) stays the same," said Galindo.

The man-day rate at the Reeves County Jail was approved at $38 per day
by the commissioners, after Reeves County Attorney Bill Weinacht advised
them that they could set the rate $3 higher than the previous level.

"We've been charging $35 for so many years and I suggest that you as
commissioners set it a higher rate," said Weinacht.

Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez had contacted the U.S. Marshals office
to notify them of this change.

Weinacht said the new rate would not deter them from keeping the jail at
it's fullest, after several years when it operated below capacity,
because even with the new rate, the fee charged by Reeves County Jail
was still lower than all of the others in the area.

"This will still keep us below the other facilities in the area, we can
just write them a letter stating the new rate and telling them it will
be effective on Jan. 1," said Weinacht.

Bond and oath for reserve deputies, Lionel Garza, Raymond Ortiz and
Robert Luna were approved for the sheriff's department.

In other action, commissioners approved the use of Reeves County
Baseball facilities for UIL Girls Softball Program through
Pecos-Barstow-Torah I.S.D.

"I was approached by some individuals that want to have girls softball
and I'm very excited about this project," said Galindo.

He asked the court to approve this endeavor and stated that there was a
deadline which needed to be met.

"They have a deadline in which they need to contact UIL officials and I
want to get this approved so they can continue with their plans," said
Galindo.

Parents have asked the school district to add fast-pitch softball in
time for the Spring 1997 season. In Pecos' district, Fort Stockton and
Big Spring already have UIL-approved softball, while former district
opponent Monahans plans to add a fast-pitch team this year, and Andrews
and San Angelo Lake View have club softball teams.

Under the agreement Reeves County would maintain all the ball parks and
amend the budget to include funds for lighting the facilities.
Facilities in question include the Maxey Park and Martinez fields.

Galindo outlined the Texas Tomorrow Fund Program briefly for the court
and stated that his office would provide more information for
individuals who would like to know more about the program.

"This is just for the purpose of information," said Galindo.

The prepaid tuition fund is for the purpose of providing help with
tuition fees.

In the discussion in reports from various departments, County Auditor
Lynn Owens told the court that the county, "is in very good shape."

"During these last two years, the county has done a big turnaround,"
said Owens.

Weinacht called it, "The most dramatic financial recovery in the history
of Reeves County."

Personnel and salary changes included Becky Perea at the Reeves County
Detention Center as a Secretary III at an annual salary of $15,000
annually.

Ramon Vega will be working in the Road and Bridges Department at $6 per
hour.

Budget amendments, line-item transfers, minutes from previous meetings
and semi-monthly bills were approved at this morning's meeting.

Overnight overpass crash

sends five people to RCH

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By MARI MALDONADO
Staff Writer
PECOS, November 25, 1996 - Five persons were treated and released from
Reeves County Hospital following a two vehicle collision early Saturday
on U.S. 285 at the Interstate 20 overpass.

Police Patrolman Michael Dominguez investigated the incident, in which
Delma Medina Acosta, 42, while driving a 1983 Ford pickup struck a 1989
Chevrolet pickup, driven by Robert S. Cisneros, Jr., 23, of San Antonio.

The impact sent both trucks and a gooseneck trailer, pulled by Cisneros,
across all four lanes of South U.S. Highway 285.

Acosta was leaving I-20 on the westbound exit ramp on the northeast side
of the U.S. 285 overpass, when she ran the stop sign and struck
Cisneros' vehicle as it descended northbound off the overpass.

The Chevrolet pickup came to rest facing south in front of the Amigo's
Texaco curb, with the trailer beside it, still facing north. Acosta's
Ford came to a stop in the gas station's south parking lot.

Transported to Reeves County Hospital by Pecos ambulance were both
drivers and passengers: Antonio Rodriguez, 29, of Monahans, who was with
Acosta; Greg Bandel, 34, and Roger Rivera, 27, both passengers in
Cisneros' pickup and also from San Antonio.

A spokesperson for the hospital said earlier today they were all treated
and released.

Acosta was cited for failing to yield right of way at a stop
intersection.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by B&B Wrecker Service.

Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city of Pecos will
elect officers in a 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday, then consult with City
Attorney Scott Johnson about legal requirements for the commission.

At 6 p.m., the commission will consider two requests for zoning change
in the Parker Heights Addition.

La Tienda is seeking a change from C-1 to C-2 on Lots i-8 and part of 9.
Harris Properties/Pecos Autoplex seeks the same zone change on lots
15-21 and part of 14.

Commission meetings, held in council chambers at City Hall, are open to
the public, and public comment is welcome.

Pecos area again misses snow, ice from cold front

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From Staff and Wire Reports
No snow. No ice. No difference.

It's been 37 months since the last accumulation of any kind of snow or
ice in Pecos, and the cold front that blew down into Texas over the
weekend didn't change that situation any, though temperatures here fell
into the mid-20s overnight, and areas both to the north and east have
had to deal with the wintery road conditions for the past two days.

A two-fisted blast of arctic air smacked Texas with freezing
temperatures and a blanket of snow from San Angelo to the Red River.
Snow and ice fell overnight Friday and on Saturday in the South Plains,
eastern Permian Basin and Concho Valley, but Pecos saw only a handful of
snowflakes early Sunday morning.

The storm system covered North Texas this morning, spreading a mixture
of rain, freezing rain, sleet and some snow. A winter weather and wind
advisory was in effect. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches was common, with 5
inches recorded in Garland.

Wind chills were near zero or sub-zero.

Schools in Azle, Boyd, Millsap, Weatherford, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw,
Sherman and McKinney were among those closed today. Fort Worth and
several other districts delayed the start of classes because of slippery
driving conditions.

Today's forecast called for sunshine in the western portions of North
Texas, with freezing rain, sleet and snow giving way to mostly cloudy
skies in the eastern and central portions. Highs were to reach the 40s
followed by a crisp, cold night with lows in the 20s. Tuesday was
expected to be partly cloudy with highs in the 50s.

To the west, temperatures dipped into the teens and low 20s across the
Panhandle although skies were generally clear this morning. In Dalhart,
the mercury hit 16 degrees.

``It's been snowing all day long - big flakes,'' San Angelo police
dispatcher Elma Ward said of the three to four inches that accumulated
there Sunday. ``Three or four flakes will cover a Kleenex.''

Freezing rain and up to 6 inches of snow made driving deadly Sunday in
the Texas Hill Country. The Department of Public Safety reported at
least four people died and 11 were hurt in highway wrecks.

Two people were killed and three hospitalized following an accident
south of Menard, troopers said. The dead were identified as Carlos
Ramos, 26, of Batesville and Helen Riepma, 62, Amarillo. The injured
were taken to Kimble County Hospital.

An accident west of Ingram killed Joyce Capps 58, of Saginaw, and sent
two people to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital, the DPS said.

Two vehicles collided east of Fredericksburg, killing Debra Hawkins 38,
of Kerrville, troopers said. Six people were hurt.

Five were taken to Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg, the
DPS said. One went to University Hospital in San Antonio.

North Texas law enforcers reported dozens of accidents on area freeways,
particularly because of icy bridges and overpasses.

Freezing precipitation caused several thousand power outages in Fort
Worth and Dallas, utility companies said. As of this morning, 2,100
customers in Fort Worth and 500 in Dallas were still without power, TU
Electric officials said.

American Airlines canceled about 70 of its 600-plus Sunday departures
from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Other flights were delayed
because planes had to be deiced.

The Fort Worth-based carrier thinned its schedule this morning,
canceling another 70 flights and consolidating passengers when possible,
spokesman Tim Smith said. The routes that were operating were generally
on schedule and the airline expected to return to normal procedure by
midday.

Weather also forced Denton officials to call off the search for Michael
Sangster late Sunday. The car Sangster was in washed into Pecan Creek
during flash flooding in the area. Sangster's girlfriend, Michelle
Jimeno, died in the accident. His nephew, Carl, survived.

Carl Sangster's brother, Bill, said the car stalled and began floating.

``The water was pushing up against the door so she couldn't get out,''
he said, explaining Michael Sangster was also trapped in the car as he
tried to save Ms. Jimeno.

The wintery conditions promised good news for holiday-oriented vendors.

Dan Kinkade, manager of a plant nursery in Denton, said that while the
storm kept gardeners indoors Sunday, he didn't mind. His first shipment
of Christmas trees arrived Friday.

``All of a sudden we're in winter,'' Kinkade said. ``When you start
seeing snowflakes coming down, all of a sudden it kind of changes the
mood.''

Copyright 1996 Pecos Enterprise. All rights reserved. AP contributed to
this report.

AREA NEWS ROUNDUP

The Fort Stockton Pioneer

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FORT STOCKTON, Nov. 21, 1996 - A late-night disturbance resulted in the
death of a Fort Stockton man, the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot
wound. "It was about 12:15 a.m., Thursday morning, the 14th," said Chief
Dee Jones of the Fort Stockton Police Department. "The call came from an
apartment at 2001 West Ninth Street (the Chaparral Apartment). The
deceased is Manuel Ontiveros, Jr., 25, of Fort Stockton. According to
authorities, Ontiveros died of a single gunshow would to the chest from
a .357 magnum revolver. Pecos County Justice of the Peace Robert
Gonzales was also called in. He declared Ontiveros dead at the scene.

Jeff Davis County Mountain Dispatch

FORT DAVIS, Nov. 21, 1996 - Two Arkansas residents were arrested in Jeff
Davis County last Thursday with about $37,500 of methamphetamines. The
two were stopped at about 4:30 p.m. and during a routine traffic stop
and subsequent search by officers about three pounds of speed was found
in the couple's possession. Officers from the Jeff Davis County
Sheriff's Department and from the Permian Basin Drug Task Force made the
arrest. Brian Keith Nelson, 32 of Hardy, Ark., and Jennifer Lynn
Lawrence, 19 of Joneboro, Ark., were arrested and transported to
Presidio County Jail. Bond of $5,000 each was set by Peace Justice
George Vickers of Fort Davis.

Big Bend Sentinel

MARFA, Nov. 21, 1996 - Marfa National Bank President Rey Veselka was
opening his mail Tuesday morning when one envelope caught his attention.
It was addressed to him personally and had no return address. After
Veselka opened the envelope, he found the following letter and another
smaller, sealed envelope. The letter stated, "Many, many years ago a
mistake of a too little interest was made on a note. Can't remember
doing anything to correct it - been worrying me. Not much at time but
with interest on interest amounts to a good deal. Enclosing $500."
Veselka said that after reading the letter he went to bank Vice
President Glen Garcia's office and handed him the letter to read. They
then opened the smaller envelope and found $500 cash. Veselka said he
has no idea who the note customer is, and that after discussing the
matter with other bank officers, it was decided the money be donated to
the Marfa Chamber of Commerce to help pay for the new Christmas
decorations.

Alpine Avalanche

ALPINE, Nov. 21, 1996 - Sul Ross State University quarterback Jeff
Lafevre was named the Offensive Player of the Week in the American
Southwest Conference after leading the Lobos to a 35-7 blowout of the
McMurry University Saturday in Abilene. The 6-4, 235-lb Eagle Pass
senior connected on 16 to 26 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns.
This is the second time during the season that Lafevre has been honored
by the ASC. On the year, Lafevre completed 166 of 293 passes for 56.7
percent completion rate, the second-best completion rate by any Sul Ross
quarterback for the season.

The International, Presidio Paper

PRESIDIO, Nov. 21, 1996 - Presidio school board members Tuesday night
accepted Superintendent David Simmons' resignation and appointed
Presidio resident John Lee as a school board of trustee. Simmons has
accepted an offer to be superintendent at Wimberly schools. He said
Wednesday he will finish out the fall term at Presidio. School board
members were scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 21, in
executive session to begin the search for a new superintendent.

OBITUARIES

Domingo Carrasco

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Domingo Carrasco, 91, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 1996, in Reeves County
Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Santa Rosa Catholic
Church, with burial in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery.

He was born Aug. 5, 1905 in Cuchio, Mex. and moved to Pecos in 1914. He
was employed by the railroad and was a Catholic.

Survivors include four sons, Lupe Carrasco of San Jose, Calif., Martin
Carrasco, Christopher Carrasco and Moises Arenivas, all of Pecos; four
daughters, Manuela Rodriguez of San Jose, Calif., Elydia Mondragon of
Balmorhea, Tomasa Carrasco of San Jose, Calif. and Jessica Montgomery of
Pecos; four sisters, Juanita Carrasco and Gredrio Contreras of Loving,
N.M.; and Vedalo Contreras and Filomena Ramirez of Pecos; 25
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Tommie Jean Stephens

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Tommie Jean Stephens, 69, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 1996, in Odessa
Medical Center. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Barstow
Cemetery.

She was born April 14, 1927 in Kunauh and was a longtime Pecos resident.
She was a homemaker and a Baptist.

Survivors include three sons, Robert Stephens, Roger Stephens and Randy
Stephens, all of Pecos; seven grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.

Miguel Navarrette

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Miguel Navarrette, 90, died Friday, Nov. 22, 1996, in Reeves County
Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Santa Rosa Catholic
Church. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today in Martinez Funeral Home
chapel. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

He was born March 8, 1906 in Potrero del Angulo, Puerto Rico, Mex. and
was a Catholic.

Survivors include his wife, Marriana Estrada Navarrette of Pecos; two
sons, Pedro E. Navarrette and Epitacio E. Navarrette, both of Carlsbad,
N.M.; five daughters, Genoveva N. Trevizo of Presidio; Maria N. Garcia
of Pecos; Simona N. Rodriguez of Dallas, Elvira N. Gonzales of Carlsbad,
N.M. and Eva N. Reyes of Odessa; 33 grandchildren and 22
great-grandchildren.

Elisa N. Rodriguez]

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Elisa "Alice" N. Rodriguez, 58, died Friday, Nov. 22, 1996, in Reeves
County Hospital. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. today in Balmorhea
Cemetery.

She was born Oct. 13, 1938 in Austin and was a housewife and member of
the Apostolic church.

Survivors include her husband, Abel Rodriguez of Balmorhea; two sons,
Joe Abel Rodriguez of Balmorhea and Julian Rodriguez of Saragosa; one
daughter, Diana Marie Ramos of Saragosa; one sister, Concha Serrano of
Austin; and five grandchildren.

WEATHER

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High Sunday 53, low last night 23. Tonight, clear. Low in the mid 20s.
Light wind. Tuesday, partly cloudy. High 55-60. East to southeast wind
5-10 mph. Forecast for Thanksgiving Day, partly cloudy. Lows 30-35.
Highs 60-65.
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Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@bitstreet.com
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