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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, May 31, 2000
First classes held at OC's Pecos campus
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - Students of all ages filed in for their first
day of classes Tuesday at the new Odessa College Campus in Pecos, located
at 1000 S. Eddy St.
"We're real excited," said Odessa College-Pecos Director Michelle Workman.
She said everyone has been working really hard to make this college campus
a reality.
"Everything is coming along just great," Workman added.
Work began back in January on converting the old White's Auto Building
into OC's Pecos Technical Training Center. The office space is complete,
the lounge is finished and the vocational side of the facility should be
completed by the time fall classes begin, Workman said
"We have some equipment that still needs to come in and the computer
lab needs to be supplied and equipped," she said. "It's not quite ready
yet."
Office staff has moved in and classes begin at the facility Tuesday,
with several classes scheduled throughout the day.
"They want everything ready for the grand opening," said Workman.
A Grand Opening ceremony is scheduled for July 29.
"We're here to help all those who want to take classes, for credit or
for fun," said Workman.
Herrera's sentencing date pushed back to late June
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - The sentencing date for Pecos bail bondsman Jose
T. "Joey" Herrera has been pushed back to late June in Davidson County
District Court in Nashville, Tenn.
Herrera agreed to plead guilty in March to seven counts of fabricating
evidence and money laundering, in connection with a scheme to falsify death
records on drug suspects out on bail in Nashville, Tenn. Senior Assistant
District Attorney John Zimmermann said at the time Herrera would have to
pay a $90,000 fine and faces a minimum sentence of eight years in prison
after agreeing to the guilty plea.
Sentencing before Davidson County District Judge Cheryl Blackburn had
been scheduled for Tuesday, but Zimmermann said this morning that day had
been changed due to another court case and medical problems facing one
of Herrera's co-defendants.
"The court was in the middle of a death penalty case that wrapped up
on Saturday night, but was expected to go into next (this) week," Zimmermann
said. "Plus some of the people were from out of town and it would have
made it tough for them to come, and a second defendant, Peggy Coleman,
is undergoing chemo treatment for cancer, which should be over by then."
The new sentencing hearing has been set for 1 p.m. on June 28 before
Judge Blackburn, according to the Davidson County District Clerk's office.
Herrera has been in jail in Davidson County since late March of 1999.
In early March of this year, he pled guilty to four counts of fabricating
evidence, one count of conspiracy to fabricate evidence, and two counts
of money laundering. The District Clerk's office said Herrera pled no contest
to the last two counts.
Under the terms of the agreement, all the terms would run concurrently
and Herrera will pay the maximum fine, while Judge Blackburn will determine
the length of his sentence at the July sentencing hearing. Zimmermann said
under the sentencing guidelines, Herrera would receive a term of between
eight and 12 years in the Tennessee State Penitentiary.
Herrera, who owned the Herrera Insurance Company in Pecos along with
his bonding business at the time of his arrest, was one of four charged
in the scam. Two, including Coleman, were former employees of Paul's Bonding
Co. of Nashville, who allegedly worked with Herrera to produce the death
certificates, in order to persuade local court officials to drop drug charges
against three men whose releases they had obtained.
Ojinaga man guilty in pot smuggling case
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - An Ojinaga, Mex., man was found guilty by a U.S.
District Court jury last Thursday of attempting to import over three-quarters
of a ton of marijuana into the United States last year, while an Arlington
Tex., man was sentenced to 97 months in prison by federal Judge Royal Furgeson
on a separate marijuana smuggling charge.
Luciano Chapa, 40, was found guilty by jurors following deliberations
by jurors. According to court testimony, Chapa was driving a Chevrolet
pickup on Nov. 3, 1999 headed east on FM 170 about seven miles east of
Redford when he was stopped by Border Patrol agents Angel A. Lopez and
Michael Kim. The agents said a check of the vehicle revealed 1,504.46 pounds
of marijuana hidden inside a hollowed out plywood container in the rear
of the pickup.
In sentencings last week by Judge Furgeson, George Contreras, 24, of
Arlington, Tx., received 97 months after pleading guilty to one count of
possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Contreras had been charged
with two counts of possession, in connection with shipments of marijuana
totaling 1,299 pounds and 2,011 pounds in October of 1999.
Other marijuana case sentincings last week included one Reeves County
man, Ramiro Ramirez-Contreras, 25, of Balmorhea, who received an 18-month
term at a federal boot camp for possession with intent to distribute 45.44
pounds of marijuana.
Also sentenced after entering guilty pleas were:
Fidencio Eduardo Aremendariz-Gomez, 18, of Manuel Benavides, Chih.,
Mex., and Antonio Zarate Hernandez, 21, of Chihuahua, Chih., Mex., 12 months
plus one day for possession with intent to distribute 61.6 pounds of marijuana;
Billy Wayne Sowell, 38, 24 months at the FCI in Fort Worth for possession
with intent to distribute 210.42 pounds of marijuana;
Irene Garza White, 35, of Hobbs, N.M., three years probation for possession
of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to distribute;
Elicela Marquez-Sotelo, 50, of Midland, three years probation for possession
of a controlled substance (44.6 pounds of marijuana) with intent to distribute;
Melissa Maria Enriquez, 21, of Monahans, 12 months plus one day at FCI-Bryan
for possession of a controlled substance (45.76 pounds of marijuana) with
intent to distribute;
Irene Anita Rodriguez, 40, of Odessa, five years probation for possession
of a controlled substance (69.4 pounds of marijuana) with intent to distribute;
Torivio Hernandez- Garcia, 50, 41 months at the FCI in Big Spring for
possession of a controlled substance (44.52 pounds of marijuana) with intent
to distribute;
Fernando Duran, Jr., 20, of Odessa, 24 months in federal boot camp for
possession of a controlled substance (143.68 pounds of marijuana) with
intent to distribute;
Heinrich Theisen-Penner, 19, of Cuauhtemoc, Chih., Mex., 24 months for
importation/possession of marijuana (under 50 kilograms) with intent to
distribute;
Judge Furgeson also revoked the probation of Bobby Joe Leos, 22, of
Alpine. He had been sentenced on a possession of a controlled substance
charge (cocaine) in August of 1998, and was sent back to prison for 18
months for violating terms of his supervised release in February of this
year. He also declined to revoke the probation of Jose Alfredo Corrales,
26, of Odessa, who was sentenced in February of 1997 of a possession of
a controlled substance (marijuana) charge. Judge Furgeson did modify the
terms of Corrales' release following his DWI arrest of February of this
year.
Other sentencings on charges of illegal immigrant smuggling or illegal
entry were:
Donald Joseph Schoolcraft, 18 months for transportation of illegal aliens;
Trinidad Rios Carrillo, 43, of Brownfield, time serves for transportation
of illegal aliens;
Humberto Montoya Rios, 25, of El Portento, Durango, Mex., time served
for illegal entry after deportation;
Sergio Berzoza-Miranda, 25, of Delicias Chih. Mex., time served for
three counts of illegal entry after deportation.
Javier Cesar Gonzalez-Flores, 22, of Delicias, Chih., Mex., time served
for illegal entry;
Rene Montoya-Tarin, 22, of Kermit, four months concurrent sentences
on four counts of importation/transport of illegal aliens;
Ycela Diaz, 25, of Dallas, four months probation of three counts of
transporting illegal aliens;
Hector Montoya-Tarin, 34, of Kermit, three months probation for importing/transporting
illegal aliens;
Earl Lancelot Vernon, 42, of Belize, 57 months in a medical facility
in California or New York for illegal entry after deportation;
Benito Guerrero-Carreron, 25, of Ojinaga, Mex., time served for illegal
entry after deportation;
Estaban Sanchez-Molina, 21, of Coyana, Chih., Mex., 36 months for importation
of illegal aliens.
School board makes personnel changes
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board members met in a
special meeting held at noon Tuesday to discuss personnel in closed session,
and to make changes in staff assignments during the open session of the
meeting.
Board members met behind closed doors for a private consultation with
the board's attorney regarding Cause Number 99-06-16339-CVR and Section
551.074: discussing personnel or hear complaints against personnel.
In open session board members agreed to let the superintendent proceed
with in Cause Number 99-06-16339 CVR under the terms discussed and closed
session.
In open session, the board approved appointments, reassignments and
resignations.
Appointments included:
· Jerri Akers, Bachelor of Science/Kinesiology/Sul Ross State
University, one year experience, assignment: Crockett Middle School math
teacher/coach;
· Alicia Brown, Bachelor of Arts/Interdisciplinary Studies/Sul
Ross State University, one year experience, assignment: Austin Elementary
School second grade bilingual teacher;
· Carla Sneed, Bachelor of Science/Speech Pathology/West Georgia
College, 11 years experience, assignment: District's speech therapist;
· Becky Wein, Bachelor Arts/History/University of Texas of the
Permian Basin, three years experience, assignment: Alternative Education
Program/Discipline teacher/coach.
Reassignments approved were:
· John Barrett, from Pecos Elementary School third grade special
education teacher to Zavala Middle School sixth grade special education
teacher;
· Francita Brooks, from Crockett Middle School teacher for the
visually impaired to Pecos High School teacher for the visually impaired;
· Charles Bunch, from Crockett Middle School special education
teacher/coach to Pecos High School special education teacher/coach;
· Joe Flores, from Crockett Middle School history teacher/coach
to Pecos High School history teacher/coach;
· Alfonso Gonzales, from Pecos Elementary School special education
teacher to Bessie Haynes Elementary School special education teacher;
· Francisco Ornelas, from Crockett Middle School science teacher
to Pecos High School chemistry teacher.
Resignations came from:
· Ronald Arnesen, history teacher/coach/Pecos High School effective:
May 26;
· Jason Hewitt, Special Education teacher/coach/Pecos High School,
effective: May 26;
· Tammie Hewitt, First grade teacher/Austin Elementary School,
effective: May 26;
· Jerry Workman, Chemistry teacher/Pecos High School, effective:
May 31.
Councilman faces court hearing following DWI arrest
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - Town of Pecos City Councilman Larry Levario is
awaiting a hearing before Reeves County Court-At-Law Judge Lee Green following
his arrest earlier this month on a driving while intoxicated charge.
According to the police report dated May 22, Levario was arrested at
2:10 a.m., on May 21 in the 1400 block of South Cedar Street for driving
while intoxicated and breath test refusal.
Pecos police officer Jeffrey Green, who made the arrest, stated in his
report Levario was "very unsteady on his feet."
He was given three sobriety tests and was unable to pass any of them.
Levario was then transported to the Pecos Police Department and advised
of his rights.
Green's report said, "He initially consented to a breath test, but refused
to give a second sample and complete the test."
After refusing the test, Levario was taken to the Reeves County Jail
and charged with DWI/BTR.
Levario went before Municipal Court Magistrate Amanario Ramon, who informed
Levario of his rights and set his bond for this Class B misdemeanor at
$500, before turning the case over to the county court-at-law.
Levario, who is serving his second term on the Pecos City Council, was
contacted and refused comment on this matter.
Final work near completion on new Chinese restaurant
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - Odessa College's training center isn't the only
building opening up in the Airlawn Shopping Center. A new restaurant is
coming to town in 10-11 days at the north end of the center on South Eddy
Street.
The China Bowl Chinese Restaurant has moved into the old Serranito's
building at Eighth and Eddy streets.
The owner John Wu has been working on renovating the restaurant for
about a month. It will be the first Chinese restaurant operating in Pecos
in over 15 years.
Wu and his wife have been living in a motel and will be moving here
permanently from Dallas next month.
The couple owned and operated several restaurants in Dallas and will
bring in a few employees to work in Pecos.
Wu said he has known and worked with the chef for many years.
The China Bowl will serve original Chinese food, available for dine
in, call in and to go orders.
It will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for lunch and
from 2:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. for dinner.
For more information call 445-8899.
TxDOT warning of construction along FM 1776
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - The Texas Department of Transportation is cautioning
drivers that road construction will slow down traffic on FM 1776 south
of Monahans for the next three to four months.
Work began last week on rebuilding 5.4 miles of the highway, from FM
1219 to the Ward-Pecos County line at the Pecos River, north of Coyanosa.
Traffic will be restricted to one lane during the day, with flaggers and
a pilot car leading drivers through the construction zone. The road will
be opened at nights, but drivers are warned to slow down due to the rough
surface in the area.
Jones Bros. Dirt and Paving Contractors of Odessa is handing the $1
million project, which should be completed by early September. FM 1776
is the main highway for traffic traveling between Alpine and the Midland-Odessa
area.
Obituaries
Bobby Sherrill
Bobby K. Sherrill, 79, of Pecos, died Monday, May 29, 2000, at Odessa Medical
Center Hospital.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 1, at Mt.
Evergreen Cemetery with Rev. Jim Miles officiating.
He was born Aug. 26, 1920, in Uvalde, was a retired rancher and oil
and gas lease man and a World War II Marine Corp Fighter Pilot. He had
lived in Pecos since 1946 and was a Presbyterian.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the
Cancer Society, West of the Pecos Museum and the Presbyterian Church of
Pecos.
Survivors include one sister, Snooky Sherrill Griffith of Pecos, and
one nephew.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Eusebia Urquidez
Services are incomplete for Eusebia Urquidez, 80, of Pecos, who died today
in El Paso.
A rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, at the Pecos Funeral Home
Chapel.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, May 31, 2000 - High Tuesday 104. Low this morning 77. Forecast for
tonight: Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Low 65-70.
Southeast wind 10-20 mph. Thursday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance
of afternoon thunderstorms. High 90-95. Southeast wind 15-25 mph. Chance
of rain less than 20 percent. Thursday night: Partly cloudy. A slight chance
of thunderstorms. Low 65-70.
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
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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