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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
March 27, 2001
County agrees to $500,000 equipment loan
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 27, 2001 - Reeves County Commissioners approved an agreement
for financing just over $500,000 in new equipment for the county's Road
and Bridge Department, and approved acceptance of a land donation to the
county during the commissioner's regular meeting on Monday
Security State Bank loan officer Gilbert Abila was on hand to answer
any questions the commissioners might have and to explain the terms of
the financing on the equipment, which commissioners had approved the purchases
of during a previous meeting. They cited the fact that the equipment currently
in use by the Road and Bridge Department was outdated and required a lot
of maintenance.
"It's getting more expensive to get them fixed than it would to just
get something new," said Road and Bridges Administrator Russ Salcido during
that meeting.
Commissioners approved the purchase of a trencher, tractor and mower,
dump truck, haul truck, water truck and crawer/dozer for the use of the
county.
"I think we should approve these purchases, but with the stipulation
of a 10-year financing," said Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo.
Salcido had told the group that the equipment used by the crew was old
and was in need of more and more repairs.
"I've discussed this issue at length with Mr. Salcido and we both agreed
that we needed new equipment to better serve the county," said Galindo.
"We have gone over the purchases and now we have to go over the financing
options," said Galindo.
Abila said the total amount of the purchases were for $496,849, with
a $5,000 legal fee that was added in, according to Abila.
"What are those legal fees for?" asked Precinct 1 Commissioner Felipe
Arredondo.
"We have to file with the attorney generals office and they charge for
documentation and filing fees," said Abila. "This is really pretty low,
it's just 1 percent. You're usually looking at $10-$15,000 in fees."
The first payment on the equipment will be made a year from now, at
6.25 percent, according to Abila.
The agreement is for an annual payment of $68,319, on a 10-year term.
In response to a question from Precinct 3 Commissioner Herman Tarin,
Salcido said the new equipment would be delivered to Reeves County within
30-60 days, once everything is finalized. "There's some equipment that
has to be assembled," he said.
Precinct 2 Commissioner David Castillo abstained from voting, since
he is a member of a newly formed board at Security State Bank, separate
from the bank's board of directors, that has been formed to help bring
in businesses and to help the economy.
"We're trying to get more businesses in here and I'm a member of that
board, so I would like to abstain from voting, in case it's a conflict
of interest," said Castillo.
The land donation approved by commissioners was from the Brown Family,
and totals 80 acres at a site off U.S. 285.
"I've asked and there's never been any development in that area, the
attorney has prepared the paperwork," said Galindo.
In other business, an amendment to the Intertel contract to add another
phone for Manuel Gomez at the Reeves County Detention Center was approved,
along with a payment to DRG Architects in the amount of $2,454 for work
on the 1,000-bed expansion of the facility.
Several items stored at the Reeves County Sheriff's Office were declared
salvage, at the request of the department. "When that had that power outage
there were three televisions that wiped out and it's cheaper to just replace
them than get them fixed," said county auditor Lynn Owens.
Owens told the court that the tax assessor-collector's office had the
same request on several items that were being stored in the basement of
the Reeves County Courthouse.
"They want to throw those items away and make room in the basement,"
said Owens.
The group decided to declare the items salvage, but to store them in
a building that belongs to the county that is located on Balmorhea Highway.
Regular items on the agenda were approved as presented including, reports
from various departments, minutes from previous meetings, budget amendments
and line-item transfers and semi-monthly bills.
Personnel and salary changes included at the Reeves County Detention
Center, Olga Florez, was promoted to administrative assistance at $24,000
per year; Ernest Bustillos, Eric Carrasco, William Cook, Efren Cordova,
Frank Garcia, Omar Hinojos, Michael Juarez, Hector Jurado, Lupe Lyles,
Andres Machuca, Tito Martinez, Annabel Marquez, Hector B. Matta, Brian
McClure, Frank Mendoza, Michael Mondragon, Javier Orona, Jose Rodriguez,
Katrina Robertson, Ruben Salcido, Angel Tarin and Lupe Wilkins were all
promoted to Correctional Officer III positions at an annual salary of $26,000
per year. Jason Aguilar was hired at as a CO-I at $19,000 per year and
Linvel Mosby was promoted to custody shift lieutenant after he satisfies
the requirements for a year at a CO-II pay scale.
Passengers get costly lesson from drug intradiction class
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 27, 2001 - The Trans-Pecos Drug Task Force in conjunction
with the Reeves County Sheriff's Department and the Pecos Police Department
seized over $152,000 and over two pounds of drugs from passengers on Greyhound
buses last week, during a bus interdiction school held for area officers.
Henri Cruse, assistant commander for STOP Narcotics Task Force out of
Cleburne, instructed the class from March 19 to 23, which consisted of
classroom work and field exercises.
"This task force coordinated with our task force in efforts to come
down here an train in bus interdiction," Cruse said.
One the first day of class, Cruse said the participants discussed bus
interdiction and performed some exercises and started the field exercises
the next day at the local bus stations.
Cruse said the teams would enter the Greyhound buses as they stopped
at the bus stations and look for possible drug smugglers.
"When we work the buses here at Pecos we target the known drug smugglers,"
he said. "This is a premiere spot for state of Texas for know drug smugglers
and money couriers to travel through."
In one day the task forces were able to confiscate the money and one
pound of marijuana and one pound of cocaine from three different individuals.
Cruse said last week that two of the individuals caught with money or
drugs were en route to El Paso while the other one was on the way to California.
"I expect after the training period ends on the 23rd (last
Friday), this task force will have the chance to seize a million in U.S.
currency within a year's period, if applied right," he said.
Trans-Pecos Drug Task Force Commander Gary Richards reported that over
the weekend the task force was able to confiscate another 1.2 pounds of
marijuana.
Richards said that he believes the class went very well and was very
successful.
"All the officers worked hard and put in a lot of hours," he said.
Richards said that he appreciated the cooperation from the STOP Task
Force and hopes to have more classes and work with that task force more
in the future.
"We look forward to doing more of those with STOP in the future," he
said.
Performing periodic checks of the Greyhound buses that come through
Pecos is going to be part of the many duties the task force will be doing.
"That's an ongoing thing with the task force," Richards said.
Pair jailed marijuana found after traffic stop near Pyote
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 27, 2001 - The Trans-Pecos Drug Task Force, as a result
of a traffic stop near Pyote confiscated over 45 pounds of marijuana from
two Lubbock men late Monday afternoon.
Efrain Medrano Delhierro and Jose Angel Mendez, both of Lubbock, were
pulled over on a traffic violation at 5:14 p.m. on Monday, which led to
the discovery of the drugs and the arrest of both men, according to Task
Force Commander Gary Richards.
Task Force Agent Jamie Rodriguez stopped the 2000 GMC pick-up and after
approaching the vehicle noticed that both driver and passenger were consuming
alcohol.
Rodriguez said that he asked Delhierro, the driver, for consent to search
the vehicle, who did give his consent.
Rodriguez said that he noticed a spare tire in the back of the pick-up
as well as a new spare tire under the vehicle.
After questioning Delhierro about both spare tires, the driver became
nervous.
"He got extremely nervous then," he said.
Rodriguez checked the spare tire in the bed of the pick-up and noticed
that it weighed too much.
"I could tell it was way too heavy," he said.
After he and fellow agent Jeffrey Baeza cut open the tire they found
45 bundles of marijuana.
All together the bundles totaled 45.4 pounds of marijuana.
Session on gang problems set for Thursday
PECOS, March 27, 2001 - A special session on how to deal with gangs and
the problem associated with gangs will be held in Pecos this Thursday.
The West Region of the Texas Gang Investigators Association (TGIA),
in conjunction with the Texas Violent Gang Task Force and the Reeves County
Probation Department will be hosting the gang intelligence meeting at 8
a.m. on Thursday at the Reeves County Civic Center and will be free to
all registered attendees.
Marylou Carrillo, Juan H. Lozano, Carlos Carrillo, with the El Paso
Police Department Criminal Intelligence Unit will provide seven hours of
certified training during Thursday's session. Four hours of training will
cover the topics of basic gang identifiers, Texas gang overview, and the
major outside gang influences in the West Texas region, while the other
three hours will include a discussion on techniques used for effective
drive-by shooting investigations and a session for gang intelligence sharing
between agencies.
The gang intelligence session allows for the various law enforcement
agencies to inform and update one another of current gang activity occurring
in their respective jurisdictions. It is requested that a representative
of each law enforcement agency bring pertinent gang information to share
with other attending officers. Of particular interest, is any information
on present gang problems being addressed by area agencies.
Texas Gang Investigators Association business will also be discussed.
The topics will include the recruitment of new members, possible candidates
for a second regional director (dependant on increased membership), and
the upcoming TGIA state conference in Austin.
Applications for membership into the Texas Violent Gang Task Force will
also be available to interested officers. The Texas Violent Gang Task Force
will be working closely with TGIA in their effort to combat gang violence
through the promotion of communication, networking and the sharing of information
among various law enforcement agencies.
At-risk counselors, school principals and faculty, social workers and
any person whose profession requires contact with gangs or individual gang
members, are encouraged to attend the first four hours of this training.
However, due to the highly sensitive subject matter and the protection
of confidentiality afforded to the individual gang member by the state,
only law enforcement, probation and parole officers will be allowed to
attend the last three hours of training.
Law enforcement badges and/or credentials will be checked at the door
after the lunch break.
Reception scheduled for Yerena, Bejarano at Museum April 6
PECOS, March 27, 2001 - The Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting
a welcome reception for Carlos Yerena, Town of Pecos City Manager and George
Bejarano, city comptroller, on Friday, April 6 from 5-7 p.m., at the West
of the Pecos Museum courtyard.
The public is invited to attend and meet these two gentlemen and their
families.
The Pecos Downtown Lions Club will be cooking hamburgers for the reception.
Call the chamber office if you plan to attend so that they can have
an idea of how many hamburgers to cook.
For more information call 445-2406.
Chamber seeking non-profit groups for `Night' event
PECOS, March 27, 2001 - The Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce is extending
an invitation to all area non-profit organizations to participate in the
upcoming "Night In Old Pecos/Cantaloupe Festival."
There is no charge for any non-profit organization to reserve a space.
The spaces are on a first-come, first serve basis.
If interested, call the chamber office at 445-2406, or come by the office
at 111 S. Cedar.
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 instanced we will indicate payment and release.
Adan Padilla, 52, was arrested at 1:13 a.m., on March 22 in the 1100 block
of South Ash Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
Sabastian Diaz, 40, was arrested at 8:47 a.m., on March 21 in the 700
block of South Cedar Street for disorderly conduct and failure to identify.
Crissy S. Lopez, 31, and Frank G. Hernandez, 33, were arrested at 11:10
p.m., on March 22 in the 1300 block of Cypress Street. Lopez was arrested
for public intoxication while Hernandez was arrested for public intoxication
and a warrant for motion to revoke probation with original charge of possession
of marijuana over four ounces.
Francisco N. Rodriguez, 54, was arrested at 2:07 p.m., on March 22 in
the 1300 block of Cedar Street for resisting arrest and assault under the
Family Violence Act.
William Bautista, 27, Benito Chabarria, Jr., 26 and Abel Zuniga, 22,
were arrested at 9:59 p.m., on March 24 on the Interstate 20 south service
road (Palmer Street). Bautista was arrested for driving while intoxicated
while Chabarria and Zuniga were arrested for public intoxication.
Fernando Rios, Jr., 20, Isabel Lara, 20, Carlos Ramirez, 23, Randy Ramirez,
21, and Roy Gonzalez, 28, were arrested at 11:39 p.m., on March 24 in the
100 block of Sycamore. Rios was arrested for minor in possession and evading.
Lara was arrested for minor in possession and making alcohol available
to minors. Both Ramirez' and Gonzalez were arrested for making alcohol
available to minors.
Matthew Montanez, 17, was arrested at 9:47 a.m., on March 19 at the
police department on a warrant for burglary of a building, a State Jail
Felony.
Roberto Rodriguez, 45, and Roberto Maynez Rodriguez, 19, were arrested
at 12:31 a.m., on March 24 at Ninth and Cedar streets on charges of public
intoxication.
Roberto Valdez, 46, was arrested at 10:15 p.m., on March 11 at Fourth
and Elliot streets in Toyah for disorderly conduct, a Class C Misdemeanor.
Margarita Armendariz Munoz, 22, was arrested at 2:08 a.m., on March
16 at Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 285 for disorderly conduct, a Class
C Misdemeanor.
Sylvia Rubio, 36, was arrested at 4:24 p.m., on March 19 in the 2400
block of South Cactus Street on a warrant for deadly conduct, a Class A
Misdemeanor.
Miguel Angel Valdez, 39, was arrested at 7:30 p.m., on March 21 at mile
marker 199 on the eastbound lane of Interstate 10 in southwestern Reeves
County for deadly conduct and evading arrest or detention.
Weather
PECOS, March 27, 2001 - High Monday 48. Low this morning 39. Rainfall last
24 hours at Texas A&M Agriculture Extension Center .07 inch. Forecast
for tonight: Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms
and areas of fog. Low 40 to 45. East wind 10 to 20 mph. Wednesday: Cloudy
with a 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. High in the mid 50s.
East wind 10 to 20 mph. Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent
chance of rain. Low around 40.Thursday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid
40s. Highs in the mid 70s to near 80.
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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