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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, March 28, 2000
Commissioners put off decision on RCDC name
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 28, 2000 - A proposal to name the new 1000-bed addition
at the Reeves County Detention Center in honor of former Reeves County
Sheriff Raul Florez was tabled at the regular Reeves County Commissioners
Court meeting held Monday morning.
"I just wanted to put this on the agenda, to see if there was a way
we could honor Raul by doing this," said Reeves County Commissioner Precinct
1 Felipe Arredondo.
Florez, who died in 1995, served four terms as Reeves County Sheriff,
from 1977 to 1992, and was instrumental in getting the first section of
the detention center built in 1986.
Arredondo told the court that the newspaper had invited people to the
open meeting and was disappointed that more people didn't show up.
Manuel Corrales, a member of the community, told the court that he thought
this was a great idea and that it was only fair to name that institution
for him.
"We need to talk to Mr. Franco about this, we don't want to upset the
cart that's doing so well," said Reeves County Commissioner Precinct 2
David Castillo. "We could maybe do a bronze plaque and put it there, or
something else to honor him," he said.
Castillo stated that people in the community he had spoken with over
the weekend had approved of the idea.
"I don't think there would be any contractual problems, but maybe some
problems with the printed material," said county auditor Lynn Owens. "There's
a lot of printed material with the name of the facility."
"You all changed the name three years ago and it didn't seem to pose
any problems," said Corrales, referring to the name change from Reeves
County Law Enforcement Center to the Reeves County Detention Center, which
took place in April of 1996.
"It's definitely something commendable, but we need to discuss it with
the people who will be affected by this," said Castillo.
Commissioners opted to table the item and bring it up at the next regular
meeting. "I hope we get more response from the public," said Arredondo.
In other action Monday, commissioners discussed celebrating county government
week again this year, as was done last year.
"Last year, we had hamburgers, students from government classes come
in here and pretend to be in commissioners court and music," said Commissioner
Precinct 3 Herman Tarin.
He said he thought this was a good way to educate the public on government
issues and promote a better relationship with the community.
"I think it's very important to educate the students on county government,"
said Tarin.
County Government Week is celebrated the week of April 9-15.
"I think this is something that we can do to promote county business
and get everybody's interest in what we do in county government," said
Tarin.
Tarin stated that a lot of people showed up last year and enjoyed it
and he hoped the same could be done this year.
The item will be discussed again at the next meeting and a definite
date set for the celebration.
Commissioners approved a golf tournament, which will be sponsored by
the Pecos Little League Organization, in an effort to raise funds for all
the leagues.
"This year is the first time that I got involved with little league,"
said Pecos High School Assistant Principal Benny Hernandez.
Hernandez told the court that in the past there had been a lot of discrepancies
in the funds raised by the little league, including some $2,800 that was
gone. "We've got a new group working together that wants to see this set
straight."
He said in the past equipment has been lost, money raised with nothing
to show for it and as a result, sponsors don't want to donate anymore,
because they didn't know where the funds were going to.
"We want to change all that, have some accountability," he said.
Now four signatures will be required on the checks made by the organization
and sponsors will receive a financial statement, showing exactly where
the funds are going and how much was raised.
Hernandez stated that they would also like to host the District 4 Little
League tournament.
"But the fields have got to meet all the specs and we want to work on
that too," he said.
The golf tournament will be a four-man scramble, with 10 teams. "We've
already heard from 10 teams that want to participate," said Hernandez.
Hernandez asked the court to waive the greens fees and set the golf
cart rentals at $5 instead of $9.
The court approved waiving the fees, but kept the cart rentals at the
regular fee of $9.
"We hope to make this an annual event," said Hernandez. "We're trying
to get back on our feet and we will send financial statements to all the
merchants," he said.
Hernandez told the group that coach Jason Hewitt, from the high school
would be helping out, along with other coaches and individuals.
"We'll be having a contest for the longest drive, we want to make it
a fun day, and we would like to see it grow," he said.
A golf course ad to be printed in the TraPark RV Park brochure was once
again approved.
"We done this for the past two years," said Owens. "The judge (county
judge Jimmy Galindo, who was absent on Monday) thought we did get quite
a bit of activity from this."
Commissioners approve applications for grants from the Texas Community
Development Program Septic Tank and the Tobacco Initiative Community.
"As a result from the visit from those two ladies from Austin last week,
we need to reapply, and use the same paper work as we did last year," said
Tarin. "I think we can receive some funds for the septic tanks and I think
it's something that we need."
Jimmy Dutchover, who is working on both these grants, stated that he
would be in Austin soon, to personally deliver the paper work for the grants.
Bunton hands down terms in drug, illegal alien cases
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 28, 2000 - U.S. District Court Judge Lucius D. Bunton handed
down a series of sentences as part of plea agreements in Pecos federal
court on Monday, including five people involved in a marijuana smuggling
attempt last November.
Bunton sentenced four of the five, Abel Valenzuela-Villa, Robert Zubia-Carrasco,
Apolinar Galindo-Bernal and Dolores Suchil-Rodriguez, to 24 months in prison
after they pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana over 50 kilograms
and under 100 kg. with intent to distribute, for an incident which occurred
on Nov. 22, 1999. All four were from Manuel Benavides, Chih., Mex., and
terms for all but Villa were recommended for the Federal Correctional Institution
in Big Spring.
The fifth person, Michael Paul Medina of San Angelo, was given a 27-month
term at a boot camp facility by Judge Bunton. All also were fined $100
as part of their sentence.
Bunton handed down a 60-month sentence and $100 fine to Vale Contreras-Salazar
on a separate charge of possession of marijuana over 100 kg. and under
1000 kg. with intent to distribute, for an incident that occurred on Dec.
13, 1999. Salazar also was recommended to spend his prison time at the
FCI in Big Spring.
Jorge Jacquez-Munoz was given a term of one year plus one day at the
FCI in Fort Worth or Seagoville after he pled guilty to a charge of importation
of marijuana. He was also fined $100 for the incident, which occurred on
Dec. 10, 1999.
Joshua Simonvitz McCourt received a concurrent 96-month terms after
pleading guilty to two counts of transporting illegal aliens, following
his arrest on Dec. 1, 1999. He was fined $200 and ordered to serve time
at the FCI in Las Vegas, Nev.
Three-year probated terms were given to four others _ Marco Saucedo-Torres,
Felipe Angeles Saucedo-Torres, Octavio Saucedo-Torres and Pedro Tercero
Dominguez _ who pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony in connection
with illegal entry, which occurred on Nov. 2, 1999.
Bail of $40,000 and $10,000 was forfeited on two other defendants, Jose
Hernandez-Vega and Mitchell Thomas Grimm, after they failed to appear in
federal court, while a warrant for probation violation was issued for Johnny
Lee Espinoza. He was accused on violating his June 11, 1999 probation by
testing positive for cocaine on March 11 and 12 of this year, and from
being terminated from a halfway house last Thursday for continued drug
and alcohol abuse.
Pot in fuel doesn't fool drug dog in I-20 seizure
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 28, 2000 - A crafty drug carrier wasn't crafty enough for
the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force Thursday morning, after he was arrested
following a routine traffic stop with about 34 pounds of marijuana.
Trans Pecos Drug Task Force Sergeant Investigator Billy Hull pulled
the 1984 Jeep Cherokee over at mile marker 36, just west of Pecos on a
routine traffic stop about 9:40 a.m., Thursday.
"Leo alerted to the gas tank and to the floorboard of the vehicle,"
said Hull.
Leo is the canine drug dog, used by the task force and who accompanies
Hull on assignments.
"Based on that, we took the vehicle to the shop, where I took the gas
tank apart," said Hull.
Inside the gas tank there were about 25 PVC Pipes filled with marijuana.
"We sawed off the pipes and found the marijuana inside the pipes," said
Hull. "He only had about four gallons of gas and the rest was PVC pipes,"
he said.
Javier Ortega, 37, of Juarez, Mexico was arrested and transported to
the Reeves County Jail. He is charged with possession of marijuana over
five pounds and under 50 pounds, a third degree felony.
"The border patrol will be putting a hold on him, since he is a Mexican
National," said Hull.
Task force officials found about 34 pounds of marijuana in the PVC pipes,
according to Hull.
"He had passed the checkpoints and had come through Sierra Blanca,"
said Hull, who credited his good fortune in finding the drugs, on his trusty
friend Leo.
"They don't have a drug dog like we do and they're always very busy,
which is why they probably didn't realize he was carrying a load," he said.
Early voting starts Saturday for runoff election
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 28, 2000 - Voters who would like to cast their ballots
early for the April 11 Democratic primary runoff elections will have a
chance to do so beginning on Saturday.
Early voting will be held from 12-6 p.m., Saturday, at the Reeves County
Courthouse, and will continue from Monday, April 3 until Friday, April
7, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., at the courthouse, according to Reeves County
Clerk Dianne Florez.
"This will be the only Saturday, that they will have a chance to vote
early though," said Florez.
Voters in Precinct 1 will decided between incumbent Felipe Villalobos
and challenger Jesse Baeza in the race Reeves County Commissioner, while
voters in Precinct 3 will decide between incumbent Herman Tarin and challenger
David Pattillo in the commissioner's election.
"We will have statewide runoff elections as well," said Florez. All
county voters can cast ballots in the runoff election for Senate, where
Charles Gandy and Gene Kelly are seeking the Democratic nomination to face
Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison in November.
Florez stated that they are also taking applications by mail. "If they
didn't mark it on their application for ballot by mail, that if there was
a runoff they wanted one, they can contact us," she said.
Election day will be held from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., April 11.
Toyah hooks up to new water plant
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
TOYAH, Mar. 28, 2000 - Fresh, clean water is flowing into Toyah and
will be for decades to come thanks to a new water filtration plant that
went on line today.
"There wasn't anything wrong with the water Toyah was getting in the
past, but the old plant was not going to be able to keep up with changes
in state regulations in the future," said Lindsey Buckner, an environmental
investigator with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the
state agency that oversees the states water supplies.
"This new facility is fantastic. This is a needed asset for the area
and will supply good water for decades," he said.
Diana Tollett, mayor pro tem of Toyah and the city's licensed water
operator, was on hand for the dedication and to give a tour of the new
facility.
According to Tollett, the new facility consists of a new filtration
station and a new water tank.
"The old station and tanks were built in 1930 so we really needed some
new equipment," she said.
"All of our (Toyah's) water comes from the springs in Aguja Canyon about
40 miles southwest of Toyah," she said. "The water is naturally clean so
we don't have the problems many towns have."
Tollett explained that the new station primarily reduces the turbidity
of the water to well below state required levels.
"Turbidity," she said, "is a measure of particles, either organic or
inorganic, that are suspended in the water. The new station makes the water
clear. Then it is treated chemically to kill any possibility of remaining
bacteria."
In September, the state will require turbidity to be below .3 milligrams
per liter, Toyah City Engineer David Bradshaw said.
"This plant will normally produce water well below that level. On average
water leaving here will measure .065 turbidity, well below the new state
requirements."
Bradshaw said that the new facility cost about $400,000.
"The money came from a Texas Community Development Program block grant,"
he said.
The new station should supply Toyah with fresh water well into the feature.
"The station has a capacity to process 175 gallons of water per minute,"
Tollett said. "That is more than Toyah uses. We also sell water to Madera
Valley."
Tollett said the new tank would also improve water pressure in Toyah.
"Water pressure has been a problem in Toyah for a long time. The new
tank is taller and will produce better pressure. I think folks are going
to be pleased," she said.
"The best thing though is that the water is good. It is clean and it
tastes good - better than before and we had good water then," she said.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) - Results of the Cash 5 drawing Monday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 3-14-21-24-37. Number matching five of five: 0. Matching four of
five: 193. Prize: $990.
***
AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Monday by the Texas Lottery,
in order: 0-0-1 (zero, zero, one)
Obituary
Cecelio C. Mendoza
Cecelio C. Mendoza, 73, died Sunday, March 26, 2000, at SCCI Hospital in
San Angelo.
Services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, at Iglesia Emmanuel
Asamblea De Dios Church, with Carlos Porras officiating. Burial will be
in Greenwood Cemetery.
He was born May 22, 1926, in San Antonio De Bravo, Mexico, was a lifelong
Pecos resident and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include two sons, Jose Alfredo Mendoza and Jose Manuel Mendoza
of Pecos; two daughters, Mary Gonzales and Mary Martinez of Pecos; two
brothers, Domingo Mendoza of Amarillo and Cornelio Mendoza of Denver, Colo.;
two sisters, Belem Baeza of Ojinaga, Mexico and Isabel Muniz of Saragosa;
14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ben Moseley
Ben Moseley, 74, died Thursday, March 23, 2000, at the Reeves County Hospital.
Services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 30, at St. James Baptist
Church with burial in the Eastside Cemetery.
He was born March 20, 1926, in Holly Springs, Miss., was a groundskeeper,
a longtime Pecos resident and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann Moseley of Pecos; two sons,
Benny Earie Moseley of Blytheville, Ark., Anthony Wilson of Abilene; four
daughters, Sandy Marie Moseley Kuria of Savannah, Ga., Norma Dominguez
and Sonia Rayos of Pecos, Debra Scott of St. Louis, Mo., two brothers,
Marshall Moseley Jr., of Detroit, Mich., James Henry Moseley of Memphis,
Tx.; two sisters, Bessie Duncan of Luxory, Ark., Loraine Williams of Ft.
Worth and several nieces and nephews.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Charlcie Teague
Charlcie M. Teague, 88, of Pecos, died Monday, March 27, 2000, at Reeves
County Hospital.
Services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at the Church of Christ,
4th and Bois D'Arc with Monty Huffman and Gary Taylor officiating.
Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
She was born Sept. 26, 1911, in Davidson, Okla., had lived in Pecos
since 1932, was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ. The Teagues
moved to Pecos in May of 1932, where they had numerous business interests
through the years. She was a member of the Church of Christ, where she
taught Bible Class, was a lifelong member of the PTA and a Cub Scout Volunteer.
She was preceded in death by her husband, W.W. "Bill" Teague on May
25, 1981.
Survivors include one daughter, VaLera T. Gatewood of Pecos; one son,
John F. Teague of Pecos; one sister, Peggie G. Scott of San Antonio; seven
grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Louise Van Horn
Services are scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday for Mary Louis Van Horn, 87,
who died Monday at her home in Lubbock. Services will be at the First United
Methodist Church, with Rev. Bill Heggemeier officiating, with burial at
Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa.
She was born on Jan 7, 1913 in Grandview and married Gage Van Horn on
July 14, 1935 in Grandview. She was a graduate of Texas Christian University
and taught at Pecos High School until moving to Odessa in 1957. She then
taught at Burleson Elementary in Odessa for 20 years before moving to Lubbock.
She was a past member of the Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary and was
a Methodist.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gage Van Horn.
Survivors include a daughter, Beth Furgeson of Lubbock; a son, Dr. Gage
Van Horn III of Houston; three sisters, Betty Rentfro of Waco, Sarah Casstevens
of Lillian and Rose Lee Williamson of Grandview; and four grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be sent to the Louise Van Horn Scholarship
Endowment Fund, Office of Development, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box
41081, Lubbock Tx., 79409.
Weather
PECOS, Mar. 28, 2000 - High Monday 86. Low this morning 54. Forecast for
tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 45 to 50. West wind 10 to 20 mph. Wednesday:
Partly cloudy and a little cooler. High in the upper 70s. Northwest wind
10 to 15 mph. Wednesday night: Fair skies. Low in the mid 40s. Thursday:
Partly cloudy days and fair nights.
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
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Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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