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Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Friday, November 17, 2006
Tuesday recount set in contested judge’s election
A recount of the Nov. 7 election for Reeves County Judge has been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, at the request of Republican candidate Robert Hanks, who lost his bid for the seat by 96 votes to Democrat Sam Contreras.
Outgoing Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo said that the recount would be held on Tuesday, and also ordered the 2,270 ballots be placed in the custody of the Reeves County Sheriff’s Department.
“Yesterday, I, as Recount Coordinator, approved the manual recount of the General Election for the Office of Reeves County Judge,” said Galindo in a statement issued Thursday morning.
“I am in the process of assembling the Recount Committee as directed by the Texas Election Code. However, between now and the time and date of the recount, which is expected to be Tuesday afternoon, Nov, 21, as Recount Coordinator, am ordering that all of the ballots for the Nov. 7, General Election be placed in the custody of Reeves County Sheriff Arnulfo “Andy” Gomez,” he said.
The recount is being held at the request of Hanks, who said the total number of votes cast in the judge’s race fell over 20 percent short of the county’s overall vote total.
Hanks received 856 votes, while Contreras picked up 952 votes. Hanks said he was basing his recount on the fact that 462 people who voted did not cast ballots in the county’s judge’s race.
Hanks received a total of 440 votes on Election Day, while Contreras received 451 votes. During early voting, Hanks had 416 and Contreras had 501. A total of 1,215 people cast ballots early, the clerk’s office said, while another 1,055 people cast ballots on Election Day.
Hanks filed a petition for vote recount citing Texas Election Code, Sec. 212.0241, a petition for a recount for the subject Nov. 7, General Election for County Judge.
Galindo, who declined to see a fourth term as county judge this year, is the Recount Coordinator/Supervisor for Reeves County and is making the appropriate arrangements.
Under the rules of the recount, Hanks and Contreras can both observe election officials as they count the ballots, but cannot touch them, according to Reeves County Clerk Dianne O. Florez. Designated observers in support of both candidates will also be allowed to view Tuesday’s recount.
This is the third election of the year involving the county judge’s race, and the second that has resulted in a recount. Questions about missed ballots in the initial count of the April 11 runoff election led candidate Al Gomez to file a suit, after he was defeated by Contreras by a 15-vote margin.
Gomez had placed first and Contreras second in a five-person field in the March 7 Democratic primary. After a series of hearings, Contreras was ruled winner of the runoff election in late July, while Hanks ran unopposed in March for the Republican nomination for Reeves County Judge.
Chamber seeks more entries for annual Christmas parade
More floats and participation are being sought for this year’s Christmas Parade scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1.
The item was one of the things discussed during the regular Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s meeting, held Tuesday at Pecos Senior Citizen’s Center.
The theme for this year’s event is “Christmas Around the World,” and board member Elsa Palomino said, “We would really like to have more people join us this year and have more floats.
First place winners will receive $100 with line-up at 5 p.m., at the Pecos High School Parking Lot.
All floats are encouraged to be lighted colorfully in the Christmas tradition, but no live Santa Clauses.
“The chamber will have a Santa Claus,” said Palomino, who will ride on the parade’s final vehicle.
To call in entries or for more information contact the Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce at 445-2406.
In a related subject, chamber board member Nancy Martinez told the group that the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting held at Maxey Park annually has been set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28.
“This year it will be a spectacular event with something new added and we’re really excited about it,” said Martinez, referring to the fireworks display that will be held in conjunction with the Christmas Tree lighting. Professionals are being hired to handle the fireworks display, and t he event will also include first through third grade students signing Christmas Carols. Santa Claus will also be there.
West of the Pecos Rodeo Committee President Joe Keese spoke about plans for next year’s rodeo events.
“Six of us are going to the national convention,” said Keese.
That event will take place next month, and Keese said that they do manage to pick up ideas and things to improve the rodeo at the convention.
A team roping event has been scheduled for April and it will be sanctioned.
“The contract for next year’s rodeo event is on my desk, it has a few legal issues, we need to work out before we sign it,” said Keese.
Keese said that they received a grant from Texas Yes! for $10,000 and the group plans to re-apply for next year.
“We have changed the sponsor packages. There is an increase, with costs going up,” said Keese, while adding, “The sponsor packages haven’t changed in years.”
He said that the band has also been chosen to perform during the rodeo at the Reeves County Civic Center. “The band has been hired, it will be Super Odisea,” said Keese.
Debbie Thomas told the group that they are setting up the Christmas Trees at the West of the Pecos Museum. “This year’s theme is ‘Hard Rock Candy Christmas,’” said Thomas.
“The trees are then planted at the schools in January and can be sponsored for $50,” said Thomas.
The school children decorate the trees inside the museum and then tour the museum during December, according to Thomas.
Linda Gholson said that the Women’s Division will be hosting their Annual EMT-Fireman’s Appreciation Dinner this Saturday at the Reeves County Civic Center.
“Louise Moore is in charge of that and is very enthusiastic about it,” said Gholson.
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Superintendent Manny Espino who was a guest at the luncheon talked about the many activities going on at the various campuses.
He said that they are developing several strategies to help students with the TAKS test.
“A lot of us don’t like it, but it’s something we have to do,” said Espino. “We’re developing a benchmark and seeing who needs to come in for extra help.”
He said that last week three of the campuses held special programs for veterans and that they were all a success.
“We appreciate the coverage, we had a lot of good comments about them,” said Espino.
“The volleyball team went to regionals, they lost to Canyon, but that team also beat Monahans, which goes to show how good they really area,” said Espino. “We’re really proud of our volleyball girls.”
Espino said that the football team had done really well this year and expects for it to build up.
“Coach Henson is doing an excellent job and the more he works with these players the better the team will get, they will build on it,” said Espino.
Espino said that the swim team had also done really well. “The cross country team is also doing good,” said Espino. “There’s a lot of good things going on,” he said.
Espino said that this year PBT-ISD will have representation in the region, with one of the local school board members representing Pecos in that area.
“School board member David Flores has been appointed to Region 18, which is good because we’ll have a voice there,” said Espino.
Espino also told the group about Study Island.
“You can log on to the school’s web site and click on Study Island,” said Espino.
Espino said that Study Island is another tool that students can use to study and learn more.
“There are many activities that you can do, it is a very resourceful tool and we encourage everyone to use it,” said Espino.
Armed robber can’t get dough from Pizza Pro
Pecos police are continuing to search for an armed robber who put a scare into customers at an Eddy Street restaurant last Friday night, but who ended up with his own surprise after running from the store.
“We’ve got some witnesses and some we’re currently interviewing,” said Police Chief Clay McKinney about the robbery, which took place Friday night at the Pizza Pro Restaurant in the 1200 block of South Eddy Street. He said officers received a report at 10:30 p.m. that an unidentified Hispanic male had entered the story brandishing a small .22 caliber handgun, approached the two employees at the store, pointed the gun at them and demanded money.
“The suspect walked around the counter and grabbed a briefcase under the cash register,” McKinney said, before running out of the store. However, he added that the briefcase did not contain cash, but instead had a United Parcel Service scale used for weighing packages.
“The suspect was last seen running north on Eddy Street,” the police chief said. He was described by employees as being around 17 years old, 5-foot-7 and with a dark complexion.
McKinney didn’t know why the suspect went for the briefcase instead of trying to open the cash register, but said anyone with information on the robbery could call Pecos Valley CrimeStoppers at 445-9898.
Sales tax totals for area towns continue climb
Town of Pecos City saw another big jump in its sales tax rebate check this month, while Balmorhea’s check was up over 2 1/2 times over a year ago, according to figures released by Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn’s office.
The comptroller sent out checks to cities, counties and other entities across the state that receive rebates from Texas’ 8 1/4-cent sales tax. Pecos’ 1 1/2-cent share of that total, based on sales made during September, netted the city a rebate check of $97,419 for November, up 27.33 percent from last November’s $76,504 check.
The increase in oil and gas drilling in the Permian Basin has resulted in sales tax rebate checks for Pecos increasing for 10 out of the 11 months so far in 2006. For the year, the city has gotten over $100,000 in additional sales tax revenues thanks to a 13.25 percent rise, from $809,647 last year to $916,936, with one month remaining in 2006.
The city gives 1/4-cent of its sales tax to the Pecos Economic Development Corp., which will receive $16,237 out of this month’s rebate check.
Balmorhea’s increase in tax rebate funds has been even sharper this year. The city’s November rebate on its 1 1/2-cent sales tax was $4,107, a 173.23 percent rise from last year’s $1,503 check. For the first 11 months of the year, the city has gotten $20,312 in tax rebates, up 26.68 percent from last year’s $16,033.
Toyah’s rebate for the month was up 8.57 percent, from $488 to $530, but for all of 2006, the city is up 14.08 percent in its rebates, from $4,077 to $4,652.
Reeves County Hospital also saw only a single-digit increase in its check for the month, but remain up sharply for the year. The hospital district’s 1/2-cent sales tax brought in $41,837 this month, up 8.22 percent from last year’s $38,656. For the year, the district is up just under 27 percent and up by just under $100,000, going from $342,866 to $435,383.
Across the area, most cities also reported big increases in their tax rebate checks from a year ago, none greater than Andrews, which bumped its sales tax up by 3/4-cent over the past year. The city saw a jump of far more than that for the month, going from $93,316 to $352,650, an increase of 277.9 percent. Along with oil and gas related business, the city is going through a major housing construction boom, due in part to people living in Andrews and commuting to the Midland-Odessa area.
Midland had the region’s single largest check, for just over $3 million on its 1 1/2-cent sales tax, which was up 23.96 percent from a year ago. Odessa’s 1 1/4-cent sales tax brought the city $2.02 million for October, a 20.66 percent rise from last year.
For other cities collecting the 1 1/2-cent sales tax, Alpine received $109,896 this month, an increase of 34.25 percent from a year ago; Crane received a check for $56,415, up 24.22 percent from last year; Lamesa got $112,667 back from the comptroller’s office, which was up 16.43 percent; while Seminole received a check from Austin for $90,622, which was up 29.68 percent.
Among cities collecting a one-cent sales tax Kermit received $49,947 in their November check, up 13.5 percent; Wickett received a $5,129 check, up 3.73 percent, and Wink received a check for $6,936, which was up 69.11 percent. Pyote, which received no check at all for September and October, got one for $1,563 this month, but that was still down 24.53 percent from a year ago.
For other area cities collecting a 1 3/4-cent sales tax, Marfa got a check for $22,855, which was up by 29.02 percent; while Van Horn got a check for $35,431, which was up by 14.74 percent from 2005.
For cities collecting the maximum two-cent sales tax, Big Spring received $514,020, an increase of 14.76 percent; Fort Stockton received $159,901, up 13.98 percent; Monahans received a check for $121,962, which was up 82.79 percent from last year; Grandfalls got a $2,600 check, up 15.46 percent; and Presidio received $34,969, up 20.67 percent.
Statewide, Strayhorn’s office sent out November rebate checks totaling $348.9 million, up 12.21 percent from $310.9 million last year. Houston’s $41.5 million check was again the largest one sent out, and was 18.32 percent higher than a year ago. Dallas’ check was next, at $21.6 million, which was up by 8.38 percent from last November’s rebate.
TxDOT yields on 4-way stop for intersection
A series of traffic accidents, including three over the past year that left five people dead, has led the Texas Department of Transportation to decide to put up new stop signs on U.S. 285 at an intersection 40 miles south of Pecos.
Glen Larum, TxDOT Public Information Officer for the Odessa District, announced on Monday that the intersection of U.S. 285 with FM 1776 would soon become a four-way stop intersection, and the District’s engineers are hoping to get funding for an overpass in the future that would permanently solve the problem.
FM 1776 is the main route for most people use to travel between Midland-Odessa and Alpine and the Big Bend National Park in Brewster County. It is also used due to its higher speed limits by many Pecos drivers headed towards Alpine, over the shorter route through Fort Davis and Balmorhea.
But since the advent of the 75 mph speed limit on rural highways six years ago, the number of high speed fatal crashes at the site and the number of accidents overall have increased sharply, due to drivers on FM 1776 running the stop signs at the Pecos County intersection.
The decision to make the change reversed an early opinion by local TxDOT engineers that forcing traffic on U.S. 285 to also stop at the intersection would not solve the problem.
"Two 2006 accidents (neither of which were fatalities or included incapacitating injuries) had not been considered in the accident history of that intersection," said Larum.
He said the change was made after Dr. Anthony Sforza, the Trauma Medical Director at Pecos County Memorial Hospital, identified two dates (Feb. 6 and April 26) as occasions when he and/or Pecos County EMS personnel treated people for non-incapacitating injuries due to accidents at the intersection.
"Those reports confirm that there have been five accidents during the calendar year (six since Dec. 12, 2005), and that meets a criterion to warrant a 4-way stop," said Larum.
"Our statewide accident tracking system does not report current year data and although we had tracked the fatality accidents here at the District, these non-fatality accidents never appeared on our radar."
The Fort Stockton Department of Public Safety provided field reports for those accidents this week, information which TxDOT engineers did not have when they conducted their most recent analysis on Oct. 24, when Larum said the Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices indicated that the intersection did not meet the criteria to warrant a 4-way stop.
However, the Oct. 24 report also said analysis of the U.S. 285-FM 1776 intersection indicated that a 4-way stop will not resolve the problem. He said the Odessa District has twice applied for funding in the past three years to build an overpass, but that the intersection remains below three dozen other projects on the list of new overpasses to be funded.
“The last time we applied for monies from a Safety Bond fund, the intersection ranked 41st among the 79 submittals, well below the safety index for the four overpasses that were funded and below 36 others across the state that also were not funded,” Larum said.
A series of fatal crashes in the early 1980s at the intersection led to the installation of flashing warning lights for drivers on FM 1776. Other improvements since then included putting down rumble strips in advance of the stop sign, and placing a stop-ahead sign with flashing yellow lights.
“From 1992 to 2002, there was just one fatality accident. The improvements seemed to be working,” Larum said. “However, the fatalities since 2003 indicate that drivers on FM 1776 continue to fail to yield the right-of-way to US 285 traffic.
“Recently, traffic monitoring data indicated that there were drivers who never stopped at the stop condition, most of those only slowing to speeds of 40-55 miles per hour before running the stop sign. Some drivers sailed through at between 72 and 75 miles per hour” he said. “That is unconscionable.”
A total of five people have died in accidents at the intersection since December of last year. The fatalities have led Dr. Sforza and others in Fort Stockton to campaign for improvements at the intersection, and a public protest was held earlier this month.
N.M. bio-diesel plan could aid Pecos River, farmers
A plan by Carlsbad, N.M. officials and U.S. Department of Energy scientists to provide more jobs for Southeastern New Mexico and a new source of alternative fuel could also end up benefiting farmers along the Pecos River in New Mexico, along with residents along the Rio Grande in South Texas and Mexico.
Pecos River Compact Commissioner J.W. Thrasher outlined a plan to create bio-diesel out of algae that would use land southeast of Carlsbad to grow and harvest the algae, and which at the same time would remove salt from the Pecos River by reviving the currently stalled Malaga Bend salt alleviation project. Thrasher discussed the plan and showed a map of the area involved to Red Bluff Water Power Control Board members, during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday at the district’s office in Pecos.
Managing director Randall Hartman said the Center for Hazardous Materials Management and Kansas-based Hutchison Salt Co. have set up an arrangement in which water from the underground salt spring feeding into the Pecos River at Malaga Bend will be pumped into ponds, where 80 percent of the salt will be removed for harvesting. What’s left of the salt water will then be sent to different ponds, where the algae will be grown.
“It’s a done deal, so they are going to proceed,” Hartman told board members.
He said Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest had worked with N.M. Sen. Pete Domenici to get funding for the Center, which uses scientists involved with the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad and with the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory.
“This is all going to be experimental, but they’re getting $2 million a year for different projects, so they can get some more,” Thrasher said.
The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in studies done in the 1990s, found algae can produce more oil than soybeans or canola. A canola crop could produce about 100 gallons of oil an acre, while algae could produce more than 5,000 gallons an acre.
Bio-diesel has become a growth industry in recent years, due to the increase in oil prices. Doug Lynn, an environmental scientist with Carlsbad's Center for Hazardous Materials Management, which was created earlier this year, said sunny, frost-free days and warm temperatures make the Carlsbad area an optimum one for algae farming. Algae farming also does not require fresh water, and algae can be produced on land not suitable for traditional agriculture.
“They said this will work in any area,” Hartman said. “They said they have been able to harvest 5,000 gallons an acre of bio-diesel, but a more reasonable number is 2,500 to 3,000.”
Algae would be harvested and dried, then oil would be extracted through methods such as pressing. There is no waste because after the oil is removed, the cake-like substance that remains makes a high-quality livestock feed, said Lynn.
Currently, under the deal signed with the State of New Mexico for the previous salt mining agreement with Loving Salt Co., Texas gave New Mexico back 640 acre/feet of water awarded to it under the Pecos River Compact on an annual basis for the right to remove the Malaga Bend spring water from the river. “We will look at the project, and it might go up to 800 feet,” Hartman said, but added Red Bluff could take back the 640 acre/feet if New Mexico does nothing with this new project.
“If it’s a legit deal, I believe you’ll be willing to wait, because it does work,” Thrasher said. He added that New Mexico officials were waiting until next year, to see if the project continues to get funding from the Democratic-controlled Congress, but while Domenici will be part of the Republican minority next year, New Mexico’s other senator, Jeff Bingaman, will be one of the senior Democrats in the majority starting in January.
Thrasher said one problem could be getting the permits for the new salt pits, while the other is that some New Mexico landowners downstream from Malaga Band could lodge protests against the project, as they did with the earlier salt alleviation efforts. However, he added, “I’m impressed with the salt people. I think they know what they’re doing. The new people taking over from Brine Partners (Loving Salt Co.) will buy the land and pay off what Brine Partners owed, and then trade the land for land upriver with Carlsbad.”
He said the pits two miles upriver would be out of the Pecos River flood plain, which was an environmental problem Loving Salt faced with its pits right at the pumping site. Those pits will still be used, as the remaining water with 80 percent of the salt removed would be moved back to Malaga Bend, where the existing pits would be used to grow the algae for the bio-diesel project.
“The three big pits will be redone for algae,” Hartman said, and two unused pits also would be included in the project. “Also the algae people will furnish the monitoring equipment.”
As far as the landowners protest, Hartman said that since this project would also benefit Carlsbad as well as Texas farmers, the landowners would have a tougher time finding local support for their protest.
“This is going to create about 30 jobs,” he said. “This is one of the best things to come along in a while. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
The Malaga Bend salt spring roughly doubles the salt content of the Pecos River as it enters Red Bluff Lake. Thrasher said aside from Red Bluff, its seven sub-districts and the farmers within those districts, State of Texas officials also are voicing increasing concerns about the river’s high salt content as it enters the Rio Grande at Amistad Reservoir.
“The Amistad people are getting concerned about the salt content,” Thrasher said, adding that the river there provides not only water for farmers but drinking water for communities in Texas and Mexico. “I think and others think the only way to solve this is you’ve got to clean up the Pecos, and we need to get federal dollars and state dollars.”
He said Texas A&M is willing to work with Red Bluff on cleaning up the river from the lake, past the southern end of the district at Girvin to Amistad. Federal help could be harder to come by, but he said, “We think the government should get involved, because this is an international reservoir.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Study club members hear about museum
The Modern Study Club of the Western District of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs of the organization in the Fellowship Hall of The First Christian Church of Pecos on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Vice President Margie Williamson served as presiding officer in the absence of President Juracy Ray.
The Collect was led by Nan Cate and Pledges of Allegiance to the United States of America Flags were led by Catherine Travland.
Paula Fuller introduced Rev. Greer Willis, who presented a slide presentation on his visit to London’s British Museum. Rev. Willis commented on each slide and answered questions from members and guests. Rev. Willis’ trip Europe included, in addition to the London stopover, a trip to Poland where he spent several days with missionaries, Bruce and Jane Mussey, witnessing and cleaning and setting up tombstones in one of the local cemeteries. He also toured Krakow Death Camp.
Upon completion of the slide presentation refreshments were served to members and guests by Joyce Morton and Iris Reddick, hostesses for the meeting.
Scholarship Chairman Margie Williamson reported about The Modern Study Club scholarship receipients, Lilly Ann Valdez, in continuing her enrollment at Odessa College and Vanessa Valeriano is enrolled at San Angelo State University.
Ways and Means Chairman Betty Lee reported that a bake sale has been tentatively set for November 17, at Trans Pecos Bank lobby.
Catherine Travland, Western District President-Elect, reported on her trip to the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs (TFWC) Fall Board Meeting, Sept. 22, at Austin.
Paula Fuller, Federation Reporter, gave an overview of Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs brochure, pointing out some of our objectives and history of General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Members were reminded about the TFWC Western District Fall Board Meeting at Midland, with several members who attended.
Roll Call was answered by each member telling of a visit to their favorite museum.
Project for the bi-monthly meeting was to contribute to the West of the Pecos Museum. The Operation Smile contribution for the meeting - was 25 cents per child of each member.
Police Report
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.
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Michael Varela, 33, 708 E. Eighth St., was arrested by Pecos Police on Nov. 3 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance (heroin) within 1000 feet of a school (Bessie Haynes Elementary). Police said the arrest was made after the execution of a narcotics search warrant at Varela’s home, at which time a substance officers believed to be heroin was found inside the residence. Varela was then arrested and transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Angel Coria, 35, 2017 Ivey St., was arrested by police on a warrant charging him with burglary of a business. Police said the arrest took place on Nov. 4 as the result of a burglary at Badger BMB, 1744 Balmorhea Highway, on Aug. 20, when equipment was removed from the business without consent of the owner. Coria was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Angel Coria, 35, 2017 Ivey St., was served with a warrant by police on Nov. 12 charging him with burglary of a habitation. Police said the warrant was served while Coria was at the Reeves County Jail, where he had been taken following an earlier arrest.
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Ricardo Avila, 46, of Pearsall, was arrested by police on Nov. 5 at the Suavacito Club, 900 S. Cedar St., on a charge of public intoxication. Avila was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Randy Leonard Dominguez, 23, 2216 Johnson St., was arrested by police on Nov. 7 or warrants out of the Ector County Sheriff’s Department charging him with theft by check, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made following a traffic stop in the 1000 block of West Fourth Street, when a records check revealed the warrant. He was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Brian Mathew Lara, 24, 2322 Sage St., Apt. B, was arrested by police in the parking lot of Reeves County Hospital on a warrant out of the Reeves County Sheriff’s Department charging him with driving while license suspended. Police said the arrest was made after an ambulance call to Lara’s home resulted in a records check that turned up the warrant. He was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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David A. Noriega, 21, of North Glenn, Colo., was arrested by police of Nov. 8 on a charge of public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made at 9:26 p.m., after officers received a call that a man was trying to enter the locked Dollar General store, 2028 S. Eddy St. Noriega was located outside the building, and he was then arrested and transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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David A. Noriega, 21, of Gallup, N.M., was arrested by police on Nov. 9 on a charge of theft of under $50 and evading arrest or detention. Police said the arrest was made after Noriega attempted to leave the Town and Country Convenience Store, 1219 S. Cedar St., without paying for an 18-pack of Budweiser. He was caught after trying to run from officers, and was then transported by police back to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Ramon Lopez Ybarra, 27, 2509 Crown Ave., was arrested by police on a charge of racing on a highway, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said Ybarra was the driver of a white pickup that was seen racing with two other vehicles in the 800 block of Lincoln St. He was arrested and was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Monica Barrera Veliz, 24, of 1507 Morris St., was arrested by police at the Suvacito Club, 900 S. Cedar St., on a charge of public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor, and warrants out of Ector County, charging her with forgery, a State Jail felony, and stealing checks, a Class A misdemeanor. Police said they were called to the club at 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 after Veliz reportedly got into two different disturbances, and a records check later revealed the Ector County warrants. She was arrested and was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Jose Alfredo Lujan, 45, was arrested by police on Oct. 31 on charges of public intoxication and violation of a protective order. Police said the arrest was made after Lujan went to the home of his wife, at 412 S. Bois D’arc St., in violation of the court order. He was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Brandon Casey Fisher, 20, 1304 Lunday St., was arrested by police on Nov. 2 on warrants from the Town of Pecos City for failure to pay finds on two charges of no driver’s license, two charges of no liability insurance, on charge of passenger not restrained by a seat belt, and a Ward County Sheriff’s Department warrant for motion to revoke probation on an original charge of criminal mischief. Total amount of the city fines came to $1,451. Fisher was arrested at 8:50 p.m. after he was spotted driving his truck in the 500 block of Adams Street. He was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Jadson Earl Ephriam, 31, 2200 Missouri St., was arrested by police at 1:14 a.m. on Nov. 3 at TransPecos Foods, 300 W. Palmer St., on a warrant charging him with parole violation on an original charge of possession of dangerous drugs. Police said the warrant was issued out of the Texas Pardons and Parole Board office in Austin, and Ephraim was then transported by officers to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Ashtan Jon Munoz, 22, 820 N. Hickory St., was arrested by police on Nov. 2 on a charge of theft by appropriation, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said the theft involved a men’s 26-inch bicycle, valued at $100, which was taken from the 1800 block of South Cedar Street. Munoz was arrested and transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Francisco Salcido Menchaca, 33, was arrested by police on Oct. 26 on a charge of public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made in front of 618 S. Sycamore Street, where they had been called on a report of a disturbance. Menchaca was arrested and was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Danny Arredondo Campos, 18, 512 S. Elm St., and Mark Anthony Granado, 18, 1018 E. Eighth St., were arrested by police on Oct. 21 on a charge of possession of marijuana under two ounces, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said the arrests were made following a traffic stop at 11:12 p.m. at Lincoln and Cedar streets, and Campos and Granado were then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Jonathan Salazar Rubio, 19, 409 E. 15th St., was arrested by police on Oct. 21 on a charge of evading arrest or detention and possession of marijuana under two ounces, both Class B misdemeanors. Police said the arrest was made at 12:17 a.m. after police were called to the 1600 block of Cowan St., about a disturbance. Rubio was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Jesse Ornelas, 19, 815 S. Cedar St., was arrested by police on Oct. 20 on a warrant for failure to pay a fine on an original charge of public intoxication. Police said the arrest was made in the 600 block of South Mesquite Street, and Ornelas was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Andreana Jasso Vasquez, 19, 1614 Johnson St., was arrested by police on a Reeves County Sheriff’s Department warrant charging her with theft of property over $500 and under $1,500. Police said the arrest was made on Oct. 20 after officers were called to Room 226 at Motel 6, 3002 S. Cedar St., in response to a complaint about unwanted persons in the room, and a records check revealed the warrant. Vasquez was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Gilbert Alexander Madrid Jr., 19, and Victor Martinez, 19, both of Odessa, were arrested by police at Allsup’s, 708 S. Cedar St., on a charge of theft under $50. Police said the arrest was made on Oct 22 after the two attempted to steal beer from the store. They were then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Rene Leonard Dominguez, 19, 2384 Madera Rd., was arrested by police on Oct. 21 on a charge of possession of a prohibited weapon, a Class A misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made after the department received a 911 hang-up call at 1:12 a.m. from a home at 2139 S. Plum St. Dominguez was found in possession of steel knuckles when they arrived at the home, and he was placed under arrest and transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Tito Gavaldon, 25, 618 S. Cypress St., was arrested by police on Oct. 20 on a charge of evading arrest or detention. Police said the arrest was made at his home, and he was then transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Ashley A. Jimenez, 19, 211 S. Plum St., was arrested by police on Oct. 21 on warrants for failure to pay fines on two police department warrants for Class C misdemeanors. Police said the arrest was made after officers were called to 1602 Cowan St., at 12:17 a.m. on a report of a party with minors possibly consuming alcoholic beverages. A records check turned up the warrants, and Jimenez was arrested and transported by police to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
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