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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, December 26, 2001
Orla, Van Horn highway crashes leave four dead
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Dec. 26, 2001 -- Four persons were killed on area highways on
Christmas day and early this morning, while others were transported
to hospitals in Pecos, Van Horn and Lubbock following accidents which
involved three separate vehicles.
A one-vehicle accident occurred at 10:15 a.m., on Christmas Day, near
mile marker 138 on Interstate 10 on the west side of Van Horn killing two
Cedar Lake women, while two other people died this morning following a two
vehicle collision on U.S. 285 near Orla.
According to the Department of Public Safety report on the Christmas Day
accident, a 1999 Ford Explorer, driven by Stephen Curtis Cox II, 17, of Cedar
Lake, ran off the roadway causing the vehicle to overturn.
"The utility vehicle was traveling west on I-10 near the 138 mile marker
when the driver became fatigued and drowsy," a DPS representative said.
"The vehicle went off the roadway and into the center median causing the
vehicle to overturn several times."
According to the report, two of the four occupants were ejected.
Maria Teresa Cox, 45, and Lorie Jeanette Cox, 20, both of Cedar Lake,
were pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Oscar Espinosa
out of Van Horn.
Both bodies were taken to Van Horn Funeral Home.
The driver and another passenger, Stephen Curtis Cox, Sr., 42, were transported
to Culberson County Hospital and treated for minor cuts and bruises and were
later released.
DPS Trooper Delyande Delco out of Van Horn is investigating the accident.
The DPS is continuing to investigate this morning's accident, which sent
law enforcement personnel, Pecos Ambulance Service, the Pecos Volunteer Fire
Department and EMS workers and firemen from New Mexico to the location in
northern Reeves County.
The accident was reported at 6:11 a.m., this morning, 40 miles north of
Pecos, near Orla, on U.S. 285. One man and one woman reportedly riding in
a Ford Explorer were killed as a result of that accident.
An unofficial report states that the Explorer and a Toyota Corolla sideswiped
each other causing the Explorer to flip over and before coming to rest in
the middle of the highway.
Five people including a baby were in the Explorer with one woman trapped
inside. Ambulances transported the injured first to Reeves County Hospital,
while an Aerocare flight was called to transport the most severely hurt to
Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.
Names and ages for the two deceased and injured passengers were not released
at press time.
City selected new jail's site to start 2001
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in a series of stories reviewing
events in Pecos during 2001. Today's story covers the month of January.
***
PECOS, January 2 - The Town of Pecos City Council approved the recommendation
from City Manager Carlos Yerena for the future site of the new Municipal
Law Enforcement Center during a special meeting this morning at City Hall.
President of Corplan Corrections James Parkey presented the preferred
site for the new center at today's meeting, which is located east of the
Reeves County Hospital.
The city began discussing construction of the new facility early last
year. It will serve as Pecos Police Headquarters and house about 100 inmates
for the U.S. Marshal's Service who are awaiting trial at the U.S. District
Court in Pecos.
***
PECOS, January 3 - Reeves County Commissioner discussed installation of
new lighting at local baseball fields and plans to increase their efforts
to oppose a planned radioactive waste disposal site 14 miles northwest of
Pecos, during the afternoon session of Tuesday's Commissioners Court meeting.
Lighting Solutions, with Tim McMurray, proposed to provide Reeves County
with a lighting system design for the Little League Baseball Field, also
known as Chano Prieto Field, the Maxey Park Senior League Field and Martinez
Field. "Cost for the design for all three fields is $8,280," said County
Judge Jimmy Galindo..
***
PECOS, January 4 - Reeves County has hired lobbyists to help in their
fight against nuclear waste in West Texas and they are to begin working immediately.
But the president of the company the county is primarily targeting said their
project is on hold right now while adding he thought the county is overpaying
for its lobbying effort.
Commissioners approved the hiring of Leo Aguirre Mgt. of America and Aldrete
Communications for $3,000 per month for a five-month period. It also includes
payment to Leo Aguirre of $2,000 a month for management for a five-month
period and $2,000 a month for Aldrete Communications for a five-month period.
The proposal stated this would be a firm fixed price for this effort.
***
PECOS, January 4 - Construction of a new motel, designed mainly for Union
Pacific Railroad employees, has begun west of Flying J Truck Stop on Interstate
20.
Western Construction of Pecos has been hired by Lodging Enterprises, Inc.
to begin the "earth work" for the new Oak Tree Inn. Roy Riggs, Corporate
Director of Development for Lodging Enterprises, said the motel would mainly
house railroad workers, as part of Union Pacific's plan to space out its
crew changing areas every 200 miles in West Texas. The other locations where
crews will change are Fort Worth, Sweetwater and El Paso.
PECOS, January 8 - A Reeves County Detention Center inmate remains hospitalized
after suffering a stab wound, and several other guards and inmates were hurt
Saturday after a fight broke out in the recreation yard.
The incident happened at 12:45 p.m., on Saturday when a fight erupted
between two rival inmate groups in the recreation yard of the RCDC.
Of the approximate 1,000 inmates at the prison, 36 inmates were involved
in the fight, according to a press release from the RCDC.
***
PECOS, January 8 - Two local families are trying to clean up and move
on with their lives after fire swept through their homes in separate incidents
this weekend.
Pecos Volunteer Firemen responded to the first incident at 8:30 p.m. Friday,
when a trailer house caught at the corner of Sixth and Mesquite Streets.
Pecos Fire Marshal Jack Brookshire said the fire started with a kerosene
heater the family was trying to light.
***
PECOS, January 8 - Finishing touches on the 1,000-bed addition at the
Reeves County Detention Center will be completed over the next few weeks,
and Reeves County Commissioners approved payments to both the architect and
the construction company at this morning's regular Reeves County Commissioners
Court meeting.
Architect Lorraine Dailey told commissioners that completion to the point
that the entire new section was usable had been accomplished on Dec. 18,
but some final touches still needed to be done. Daily said she would continue
to come to Reeves County once a week until all the finishing touches had
been made.
Storage and support buildings are the only things that need to be completed,
according to Dailey.
***
PECOS, January 9 _ Chance Cook took Grand Champion in the hog division
at the Balmorhea Livestock Show with his 181-pound Hamp this weekend. Amber
Cook took home Reserve Grand Champion with her 176-pound Duroc which also
took Breed Champion in that division. Senior Showmanship went to Julia Garlick
and Junior Showmanship went to Russell Garlick.
***
PECOS, January 11 - The Balmorhea City Council met on Tuesday to receive
the Texas Rural Development Council's Rural Resource Team Report on how to
better the city of Balmorhea.
A resource team consisting of five members met this past October with
any citizen of Balmorhea that wanted to voice their opinion on what needed
to be improved most in the community. These members considered the problems
and then wrote up their recommendations for the problems that they saw needed
the most attention.
Darren J. Clark, Resource Conservation & Development Coordinator,
presented the report and answered residents' questions.
***
PECOS, January 12 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board members voted to
maintain the current hours at the public use of the Pecos High School Natatorium,
while voting to create a new position for the kindergarten and an elementary
school during their Thursday night meeting.
P-B-T athletic director Bubba Williams and PHS swimming coach Terri Morse
told the board that after a study, it was deemed unfeasible to open the pool
to the public during the week from 8 to 9 p.m.
The board voted to create an assistant principal's position for the Pecos
Kindergarten/Pecos Elementary for the remainder of the year. The position
will then be reassigned to Austin Elementary for the 2001-2002 school year,
when the elementary schools merge.
***
PECOS, January 15 - The Reeves County Civic Center was overrun with animals
this weekend, during the annual Reeves-Loving County Junior Livestock Show
and Sale.
Heath Armstrong won Grand Champion honors with his 107-pound heavy weight
goat. Armstrong also won the Junior Showmanship award while Amanda Armstrong
won Senior Showmanship.
Grand Champion Steer honors went to the 1,555-pound black steer belonging
to John Clark of Pecos. Courtney Clark won Reserve Grand Champion with her
slightly lighter 1,450-pound black steer. She also won Senior Showmanship
honors.
Lyndall Elkins won the Grand Champion Lamb award with her medium wool
lamb. She also won the Senior Showmanship award. Adrienne Bagley's cross
lamb won Reserve Grand Champion Lamb.
Grand Champion Hog honors went to Mateo Tarango's cross hog while Justin
Lara's Duroc hog received Reserve Grand Champion. Josh Elliott won the Junior
Showmanship award while Stickels won the Senior Showmanship award.
***
PECOS, January 16 - A decision on whether or not to expand a probe into
alleged voter registration irregularities in Loving County could be made
within the next month, 143rd District Attorney Randy Reynolds
said today.
The investigation into registration for the Nov. 7 general election began
in October, after it was reported there were more people registered to vote
in Loving County that actual residents in the weeks leading up to the election.
Loving County Clerk Beverly Hansen said in late October that while 146
people had been registered to vote in the county 1999, that number had risen
to 212 by early October. The county ended up with 161 people voting in the
Nov. 7 election, Hanson said, even though the U.S. Census Bureau showed only
113 people living in Loving County as of July 1, 1999.
***
PECOS, January 16 - Sales from Saturday night's auction at the annual
Reeves County Junior Livestock Show came to just over $45,000, with the largest
single price going for the Grand Champion Steer from Friday night's Livestock
Show.
Sale total was $44,055 with $1,225 added, to make the grand total, $45,280,
while the winning steer was shown by John Clark and bought by Kwik-Stop Convenience
Store for $2,500.
***
PECOS, January 17 - U.S. District Judge Lucius D. Bunton III, who served
on the federal bench for over 20 years and was instrumental in the construction
of a new federal courthouse in Pecos, died of a heart attack this morning
in Austin. He was 76 years old.
Bunton had retired in May 2000 because of health reasons. He diagnosed
with bladder cancer in 1999 and underwent surgery, taking an eight-month
leave from the bench. He returned in December 1999, but handled only a few
cases before announcing his retirement.
Bunton was appointed to the federal bench in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter
and served as chief judge for the Western District of Texas from 1987 to
1992. He became classified as a "senior judge" in December 1992.
***
PECOS, January 18 - The sudden arrival of cold weather caused problems
on area roadways to the west of Pecos Wednesday night, causing several accidents
and one fatality.
Justice of the Peace Ismael Villalobos pronounced Charles Fanara, 76,
of San Jose, Calif., dead at Culberson County Hospital in Van Horn following
the accident, which occurred about eight miles west of Kent on Interstate
10.
***
PECOS, January 22 - An intergovernmental agreement between Reeves County
and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and purchasing equipment for the Road and
Bridges Department were discussed and approved at this morning's regular
Reeves County Commissioners Court meeting.
The new man-day rate in the agreement was set at $41.48. The rate is the
amount of money the BOP pays Reeves County per inmate for each day they are
housed at the prison, which is being expanded to hold 2,000 inmates. Estimated
annual value of the agreement, according to County Judge Jimmy Galindo, is
$31 million.
***
PECOS, January 23 - Officials from Reeves County are in Austin today following
a decision made by county commissioners on Monday to support the inclusion
of U.S. 285 in the Texas Trunk System plan.
Commissioners adopted the resolution in support of the plan during their
regular meeting on Monday. Reeves County is seeking to add the 105-mile stretch
of U.S. 285 from Fort Stockton to the New Mexico state line to the list of
state roadways designated for expansion and improvement.
***
PECOS, January 23 - The Pecos Economic Development Corp. Board members
discussed the marketing strategy the PEDC is starting this year at their
first meeting of the new year on Monday.
Chairman Oscar Saenz informed the board members that the PEDC plans to
advertise in a magazine called "Twin Plants" in order to try and bring new
businesses into Pecos.
The ad will state the benefits of Pecos and the close proximity to Mexico
making it an ideal place for a maquila twin plant location.
***
PECOS, January 24 - Trash talk _ mainly about new projects and another
landfill for Pecos _ were topics of discussion at the third meeting with
the Rural Resource Team held Wednesday evening at the Reeves County Civic
Center.
Darren Clark, with the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission,
was once again on hand to help those attending make decisions and plan ahead
for Pecos.
Committees were formed following the meeting. The committees will head
different projects and hopefully began planning on some new ones to improve
Pecos.
***
PECOS, January 25 - There's a new attraction at the Maxey Park Zoo —
Boomer and Brigit, a pair of African lions arrived in Pecos on Tuesday, and
have made a home in their new cages in the central section of the zoo.
While the lions' native habitat is Africa, Town of Pecos City Parks Superintendent
Armando Gil said the two already are West Texas veterans. "They're on loan
from Jim and Linda Perry of Ackerly, Tex.," Gil said. Ackerly is located
near Big Spring, and the Perrys dropped off Boomer and Brigit at the zoo
last week.
***
PECOS, January 25 - The Reeves County Hospital Board of Directors approved
an extended contract with Hospital Administrator Richard Murphy during the
regular meeting on Tuesday in the hospital classroom.
***
PECOS, January 29 - The the edge of a winter storm that moved into the
Permian Basin on Saturday hung around for an extra day, leaving between one
and three inches of snow in the Pecos area.
A combination of snow mixed with sleet that was blamed for knocking out
the signal from Super Bowl XXV in Tampa to KOSA's satellite dish in Odessa
for about 15 to 20 minutes Sunday night, prompting a number of calls to the
station.
***
PECOS, January 29 - For the first time since 1995, both the Pecos High
School boys and girls swimming teams won the District 3-4A Championship titles
this weekend in Big Spring.
The Pecos boys won their 10th title in 12 years, finishing
with a total 142 points ahead of second place Andrews, which finished with
57 points. The Pecos girls ended up with 123 points to beat out Abilene Wylie
with 54 points and win their seventh title in 11 years.
***
PECOS, January 30 - Envirocare of Texas has abandoned its plans to build
a low-level radioactive waste storage site northeast of Barstow, and will
be leaving the state and taking their "business" elsewhere, the company announced
on Monday.
"We will be closing the Andrews and Monahans offices, but will leave the
Austin office open for now," said Envirocare president Charles Judd from
the company's Utah offices.
Envirocare had filed applications with the Texas Department of Health
and the Texas Natural Resource Commission to open a long-term nuclear waste
storage facility in Ward County and a mixed waste processing facility in
Andrews.
Task force jails Pecos men on drug, probation charges
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Dec. 26, 2001 -- Two Pecos men were arrested Thursday with the
assistance of several area law enforcement agencies, including a Department
of Public Safety helicopter out of Lubbock.
The arrests were made at about 1 p.m., Thursday, north of Toyah at the
Rustler Hills Ranch.
"We went to serve felony warrants and when we got there were given consent
to search the property," said Trans Pecos Drug Task Force commander Gary
Richards.
Richards said that after searching the premises, officers found a couple
of firearms and what was a suspected drug. "We're sending it to the lab,
which is standard procedure," said Richards.
Richards said the suspected drug was a crystallized substance in a plastic
bottle and was about 19.22 grams.
The two men arrested were identified as Steve Taylor and Brad Gholson,
both of Pecos. Taylor was arrested for motion to revoke probation and Gholson
for possession of a controlled substance.
Trans Pecos Drug Task Force officers were assisted by the DPS helicopter
out of Lubbock, DPS out of Midland, TLE Sergeant Odie Hitt and the Reeves
County Sheriff's Department.
Task force officials also reported that two Fort Bliss soldiers were arrested
on Dec. 16 while allegedly attempting to transport marijuana from the El
Paso area to Pecos.
"They were transporting a marijuana load and traveling on I-20," said
Richards.
The arrests were made after two vehicles were stopped, one on I-20 and
the other at a Town and Country store in Pecos.
"Both vehicles were speeding and the black pickup truck was stopped on
I-20, while the other car was stopped at Town and Country, by a Pecos police
officer," said Richards.
The vehicles were stopped for speeding violations and the pick up truck
was also parked illegally in a handicap space, according to Richards.
Two subjects that were on active military duty out of Fort Bliss in El
Paso, were arrested and turned over to Army CID for military prosecution
in El Paso.
Arrested were the driver of the pickup, Jesus Hector Pena and Joseph Albert
Gregory, both serving at Fort Bliss in El Paso.
"The two were transporting about 58 pounds of marijuana," said Richards.
The marijuana was found in the gas tank of the pickup truck, according
to sergeant investigator Kevin Roberts.
"We tapped the tank and noticed something and sure enough there were 72
bricks of marijuana in there," said Roberts, who added that they were given
consent to search the vehicle by the driver.
"The drug was being transported from Fort Hancock to Pecos," said Roberts.
"This was their destination, so we took out a considerable amount of drugs
off the streets of Pecos, by making these arrests and confiscating these
illegal drugs."
The estimated street value has been set at $30,000, according to Roberts.
Roberts said he wanted to thank Pecos Police officers and Reeves County
Sheriff's deputies who assisted in the investigation. Pecos Police officers
Arnulfo Rivas, Cesar Urias and Rick Martinez helped along with Reeves County
Sheriff's Deputies Danny Leo and Richard Natividad.
"It's through the cooperation of the agencies that we can take all these
drugs off the streets," said Richards. "We have a great relationship with
these agencies and are proud of our officers," he said.
Pecos family left homeless following fire
By LEIA HOLLAND
And
JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writers
PECOS, Wed., Dec. 26, 2001 -- A Pecos family was left homeless the day after
Christmas and one family member is in Reeves County Hospital being
treated for burns after their home on the north side of Pecos caught
fire just after sunrise this morning.
Pecos Volunteer firemen and Emergency Medical Service personnel were called
to the fire at approximately 7:50 a.m., this morning, in the 200 block of
North Pecan Street.
The front of the house was completely engulfed in flames by the time firemen
arrived on the scene.
First Assistant Chief for PVFD, Arturo Granado, said that they believe
the fire started in the living room area of the house by a heater.
"Probably the heater caused it," he said.
Granado explained that the heater was too close to some furniture and
caught a jacket on fire.
"The house is destroyed," he said.
The family was reportedly sleeping inside their home when they awoke to
the smell of smoke. One of the family members, identified as Abel Alvarez,
age unknown, was transported to Reeves County Hospital after being burned
in the fire.
A neighbor said Alvarez told him he was burned while attempting to pour
water onto the fire to put it out. Three other family members were able to
get out of the burning building safely before firemen arrived.
Alvarez was transported by ambulance to Reeves County Hospital. His condition
could not be released at press time but was still being treated for burns
this morning.
Granado said that it is believed that Alvarez was trying to put out the
fire when he was burned.
All fire personnel were called to the scene, though some arrived late
after being called out a little over an hour earlier to help with an accident
on U.S. 285 near Orla in which two people were killed.
Pecos Fire Marshal Jack Brookshire is still investigating the fire.
Two more begin process to enter primary election
PECOS, Wed., Dec. 26, 2001 -- Reeves County Clerk Diana Florez has received
two more filings for the County Commissioners race today at Reeves County
Courthouse.
Norman Hill has filed to run for County Commissioner Precinct 2. Hill
named Ben Price as his treasurer.
Ramon H. "Wolfe" Munoz has also filed with the Clerk's office for County
Commissioner Precinct 4, naming himself as treasurer.
David Castillo, incumbent Precinct 2 commissioner, and Frank "Kokie" Apolinar
have filed treasurer's designations to run in the March 5 Democratic primary
election, while Precinct 4 incumbent Gilbert "Hivi" Rayos also has filed
his treasurer's designation with Florez' office.
Candidates must still file papers with Reeves County Democratic Party
Chairman Bob Dean in order to officially enter the race. The deadline to
file is next Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002.
Only one race, for Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace, has more than one
candidate as of today who has filed both with Florez' office and with Dean.
Incumbent J.T. Marsh and challenger Jim Riley have officially filed to run,
along with incumbents Jimmy B. Galindo for Reeves County Judge and Lambert
T. Herrera for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., Dec. 26, 2001 -- High Christmas Day 52. Low this morning
25. Forecast for tonight: Mostly clear. Lows 25 to 30. SW winds 5 to
15 mph. Thurs.: Partly sunny. Highs around 60. NW wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thurs. night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. Fri.: Partly sunny.
Highs 60 to 65. Sat.: Partly cloudy. Lows 25 to 30. Highs 55 to 60.
Obituaries
Peggy F. Goodman and Ida B. McAnally
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 newsdesk@nwol.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 2001 by Pecos Enterprise
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