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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Thursday, January 31, 2002

Baby on board after trip to hospital comes up short

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2002 -- A Pecos baby made an early entrance into the world early  Wednesday morning, when she decided to arrive before her parents could make it to  the hospital.

Pecos police ended up helping with the birth of Faith Breann Guerra, who weighed seven pounds and 10 ounces when she was delivered in her parents' car on South Eddy Street before sunrise on Wednesday. The baby's due date had been set for Feb. 9.

Guerra's parents Marina Mendoza and Jason Guerra were en route to Odessa Regional Hospital in Odessa, when they decided to turn back and try to get to Reeves County Hospital.

"I was having contractions at about 3 a.m., but they weren't that painful," said Mendoza. "They told me the day before that I was dilated at two, but I thought I still have plenty of time."

Mendoza said that the couple was traveling to Odessa to the hospital, when she told her husband, Jason that she didn't think the baby was going to wait. "I was already having the baby and when we got to Barstow, I told him we better turn back, the baby is already coming," she said.

The couple turned back and were traveling at a high rate of speed, when Officer Ismael "Smiley" Gamboa met up with them on West Seventh Street at about 5:53 a.m.

"I saw this car coming real fast, I was going east and he was going west," said Gamboa. "I radioed the dispatcher and asked if any emergencies had been called in and she said no."

Gamboa said he turned around and followed the vehicle, which was weaving. "I turned on my flashers and stopped the vehicle to see if they needed assistance or were in trouble," he said.

The car stopped on Eddy Street and the young man driving came running out of the car. "He said my wife is having a baby and I told him I would escort him to the hospital," said Gamboa.

Gamboa said that the two had just taken off again, when Guerra stopped the car again.

"I went to the car and he said, we don't have any time, the baby is already coming," he said. "We were stopped right there on Eddy Street, in front of La Tienda."

Gamboa said he immediately called for assistance and for an ambulance. "I thought maybe (officer) Felipe Villalobos would know how to deliver a baby, because I sure didn't," he said.

Pecos Police Officers Oscar Machuca, Juan Vasquez and Villalobos all responded to the "emergency."

"We had to cancel the ambulance, because she went ahead and had the baby in the car," said Gamboa.

The officers then decided it would be simpler to transport them in their car and just escort them to the hospital.

"I happened so fast, from one minute to the next," said Gamboa, who said that like the father, he was so nervous.

"It was wild, it's something you see in the movies, but when you experience it, it's something totally different," he said. "You can't even think straight, because you're talking about a baby."

Gamboa said that he was also worried because he knew some women can die at childbirth. "You just never think something like this is going to happen to you," he said.

"We see videos on situations like this, but in real life it's totally different," said Officer Villalobos. "And every baby is different," he said, and added that he didn't know how to deliver babies either.

"I was really scared," said Marina Mendoza, who has a 1½-year-old son at home. "This baby was totally different from the first one."

Mendoza said that the officers were very helpful and kind. "They brought me blankets and the baby had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and body and I just didn't want to move her," she said.

The officers then escorted the couple to the hospital, which had been alerted of the situation by this time. "The nurse met us outside and cut the umbilical cord and brought the baby inside," said Mendoza. "It's a good thing the officer stopped us, or else my husband might have wrecked or something."

"I was nervous, I still am a little bit," said Guerra. "That's probably why I was weaving and I know I was going too fast, but I just didn't know what to do," he said.

"We couldn't do our job without the dispatchers' help," said Gamboa. "They really help out by guiding us and assisting us from the office."

Gamboa said that he was so nervous, he didn't know if the dispatcher, Wilma Brookshire, understood everything he was telling her, but apparently she did.

"I'm glad everything worked out and mother are doing well," he said.

Little Faith will be welcomed home by her brother, Jason Rene and her grandparents, Rene and Maribel Guerra and Saul and Maria Martinez.

Candidates report few expenditures for March election

By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer

PECOS, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2002 -- Most candidates for political offices in Reeves County  have received few donations and made few expenditures for the March  12 Democratic primary election, according to the most recent  reports filed with the Reeves County Clerk's office. 

Candidates running for several local positions, including Justice of the Peace, Reeves County Commissioners, County Judge and County Clerk, have filed and are required by law to list both their campaign donations and the names of the donors, along with expenditures made by the campaign.

Current County Clerk Dianne Florez, who is running for re-election, said that the candidates are required to file campaign fund-raising reports on January 15 as well as 30-days prior to the March 12 election.

"They have to file every so often," she said.

Florez said her office workers could not find any filing records for several candidates, including incumbent Precinct 2 commissioner David Castillo, 143 rd District Clerk candidate Pat Tarin and Reeves County treasurer candidate Linda Clark.

According to the candidates' reports that were on file, Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo has reported both the largest amount of campaign donations and the greatest expenditures among local candidates, while his opponent reports both zero donations and expenditures so far.

Galindo, who is seeking a third four-year term in office, filed for the dates of July 16 through January 15 with an amount of $7,000. He also showed an expenditure of $5,895.97.

Galindo's opponent, Louis Matta, filed a report saying he had raised no money for his campaign and had no expenditures between the dates of Jan. 2 through Jan. 15.

Both Matta and Galindo have placed campaign signs at locations around Pecos in recent weeks. The cost of those signs is not on Matta's Jan. 15 report, but he said this morning that those expenditures would be filed in the next report due 30 days before the election, on Feb. 10.

Matta explained that he was sick with pneumonia, which started out as a cold back in November therefore he was unable to do any campaigning.

"Since I have been sick I haven't been out to do any campaigning," he said.

Now that he is feeling better, Matta has been able to get numerous small donations and has used those for his campaign signs.

Matta bought the materials for his campaign signs locally and is having a Pecos resident paint them for him.

"I'm a firm believer in spending you money locally," he said.

Florez filed no campaign money raised between July 1 and Dec. 1 with an expenditure of $102. However, she did file $200 in donations from Dec. 6 to Dec. 31 with an expenditure of $64.90.

Her opponent, Sofia Abila, filed for the dates between Dec. 14 and Dec. 31, indicating she had raised no money and had no expenditures.

Norman Hill, candidate for Reeves County Commissioner Precinct 2, filed no reportable activity from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31.

Gilberto "Hivi" Rayos, current Commissioner for Precinct 4, filed an expenditure of $192.50 with no money raised from July 27 to Dec. 31. Rayos was expected to have an opponent in the March 12 primary election, but the ballot petition of his only challenger, Alex Ramirez, was disqualified for improper addresses by county Democratic Party chairman Bob Dean.

Jim Riley, who is running for Justice of the Peace in Precinct 2, filed no money raised from Dec. 4 to Dec. 31, while Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 candidate Jaime Salgado filed no money raised from Dec. 12 through Jan. 15. Both are running against incumbent J.T. Marsh, for whom no information was available.

Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 Amonario Ramon filed a report saying no money was raised for the dates between July 15 and Dec. 31. No date was recorded on the filing period for Rosendo Carrasco, who is running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3. Carrasco filed no campaign money raised.

Both Ramon and Carrasco are unopposed in their bids for re-election.

Florez said that the dates in the candidates' filings could be different depending on when they file for election.

She also said that elected officials already in office could file any donations or expenditures even if they are not up for re-election.

Individual donations and expenditures are listed below:

Jimmy Galindo

Running for re-election to Reeves County Judge.

Donations

$50 or more: Leo Hung, $2,500 on July 11, 2001; Leo Hung, $2,500 on Nov. 6, 2001; R.C. Slack, $2,000 on Jan. 8, 2002.

$50 or less: none

Total donations: $7,000

Expenditures

$50 or more: Reeves County Democratic Party, $600; Office Depot, $229.33; Allied Advertising, $2,303.89; La Tienda, $60.63; Labor Day Fest Committee, $100; La Tienda, $53.14; La Tienda, $103.81; La Tienda, $93.22; Red Roof Inn-South in Austin, $51.74; Red Roof Inn in Laredo, $112.84; Best Buy, $360.67; Red Roof Inn in Washington, DC, $183.04; Town & Country, $58.37; KIUN, $65; Net West Online, $191.40; Computer Solutions, $83.89; Saragosa Pathfinders, $66.50; Home Depot, $51.35.

$50 or less: Sam's Club, $42.55; Old Mill, $9.74; P-B-T ISD, $8.20; Old Mill, $10.34; La Fiesta, $33.88; Dairy Queen, $12.07; Terrazas, $21.65; La Fiesta, $17.05; Town & Country, $17.29; Bear Den, $37.15; Terrazas, $24.88; Old Mill, $22.03; La Fiesta, $28.95; Dairy Mart, $19.86; China Bowl, $13.75; Reeves County Sheriff's Posse, $25; La Fiesta, $19.27; Valley Distributors, $45; Dairy Mart, $15.86; Speedy's $43.19; Quality Inn, $15.88; Dairy Queen, $16.84; Carrasco's Grocery, $18.58, La Fiesta, $37.26; Pizza Hut, $19.47; Carrasco's Grocery, $18.81; Speedy's, $29.99; Quality Inn, $20.35; La Fiesta, $34.53; Old Mill, $13.53; Town & Country, $26.50; Flying J, $36.19; Jersey Lilly Steakhouse, $32.44; Dairy Queen, $15.54; Dairy Mart, $26.35; Town & Country, $40.46; Carrasco's Grocery, $14.33; Speedy's, $44.86; Town & Country, $40.03; Terrazas, $49.08; Dairy Mart, $16.10; Allsup's, $19.31; Texaco, $26.07; Shot's No. 6, $22.01.

Total expenditures: $5,895.97.

Dianne Florez

Running for re-election to County Clerk

Donations

$50 or more: Leo Hung, $200 on Dec. 14, 2001.

$50 or less: none

Total donations: $200

Expenditures

$50 or more: Kwik Kopy Printing, $64.90.

$50 or less: KIUN, $30; KIUN, $30; KIUN, $42.

Total expenditures: $166.90.

Jaime Salgado

Running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: KIUN, $165.

$50 or less: none

Total expenditures: $165.

Rosendo Carrasco

Running for re-election as Justice of the Peace Precinct 3

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

J.T. Marsh

Running for re-election as Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Walter Holcombe

Recently appointed Reeves County Court at Law Judge up for election.

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Jim Riley

Running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Gilberto "Hivi" Rayos

Running for re-election as Reeves County Commissioner Precinct 4

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: KIUN, $165.

$50 or less: Reeves County, $14.20; Reeves County, $13.30

Total expenditures: $192.50.

Sofia Abila

Running for Reeves County Clerk

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Amonario Ramon

Running for re-election as Justice of the Peace Precinct 1

Donations

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Expenditures

$50 or more: none

$50 or less: none

Three voting boxes moved, Orla site closed

PECOS, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2002 -- Three of Reeves County's 12 polling locations have been changed for the March 12 Democratic primary election, while another voting box has been consolidated with a larger voting box on the north side of Pecos.

County Democratic Party Chairman Bob Dean said voters in Precinct Box 2 who had previously cast ballots at Pecos Elementary School will now vote at the Odessa College-Pecos Center, at 1000 S. Eddy St. The change was made after Pecos Elementary was closed last year.

Voters in Precinct Box 10, at the Reeves County Annex, will still vote in that building, but the location has been changed from the Meals on Wheels kitchen to the Community Council room.

Precinct Box 11, which has been at Bessie Haynes School, will be moved to the Sadler-Haynes Center, 900 S. Locust St. The new building meets ADA Standards and is about 500 feet west of the elementary school.

At the same time, Dean said Precinct Box 9 in Orla will be consolidated into Box 8 at Lamar School in the 100 block of West `F' Street. Voters in the Orla area and at Red Bluff Lake wanting to cast ballots on March 12 will have to drive 40 miles south to Pecos to vote, but in recent years the Orla box has drawn fewer than 10 voters for local elections.

Soil Conservation District offers trees for sale

By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer

PECOS, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2002 -- The Upper Pecos Soil & Water Conservation District is  preparing area residents for the summer months by selling different species of  trees at various prices this month.

Customers who purchase the trees would soon be able to enjoy their shade in the hot summer months.

District Technician Cindy Breiten said that the Conservation District has sold various species of trees for many years now.

"We sell trees every year," she said. "We've been selling them for about 10 years."

Interested tree buyers can choose from 12 species of trees, all of which are either evergreens or hardwoods.

Breiten said that the prices vary and customers could drop by the Conservation District's office on Third Street to pick up a price list.

"You can order over the phone or come by and pick up a price list," she said.

The Conservation District does not have a goal of the number of trees they'd like to sell, according to Breiten; they just sell as many as are demanded.

"We just sell as many as we can," she said. "Sometimes we sell a lot and sometimes we don't sell as many."

Some of the trees are ordered from the Texas Forest Service and should arrive by next Thursday, Feb. 7.

Customers may begin ordering at any time and orders would continue to be taken until there is no trees left.

Breiten said that if the Conservation District sells out of trees they would be happy to order more to fill the demand.

"As long as the demand is there we'll continue to order," she said.

People who live in areas such as Balmorhea and Mentone may order trees from Civil Engineer of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Isaac Martinez.

Martinez would also be able to deliver trees if needed to those areas.

Anyone interested in ordering some trees can call 445-3196 and speak to Breiten or Martinez or drop by the office at 1415 West Third Street, across the street from Pecos Air Conditioning Service.

Council to discuss zoning board picks at meeting

PECOS, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2002 -- The Town of Pecos City Council is scheduled to discuss appointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Pecos Housing Authority during the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m., tonight at City Hall.

The Council will also discuss an offer to purchase foreclosed property located at 305 South Sycamore as well as the municipal court and juvenile monthly reports.

Weather

PECOS, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2002 -- High Wednesday 52 Low this morning 39. Rainfall last 24 at  Texas A&M Experiment Station .09 inch. Forecast for tonight: Mostly  clear. Lows in the lower 20s. Light and variable winds. Friday: Partly  cloudy. Highs near 50. Light and variable winds. Friday night: Partly  cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Highs near  50. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. Highs 55 to 60.

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.

***

Ruben J. Hernandez, 21, and Sergio A. Cerna, 17, were arrested at 7:35 p.m., on January 16 in the 400 block of South Cherry Street both for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

***

Marta Vela, 39, was arrested at 2:26 p.m., on January 16 in the 900 block of South Eddy Street for theft under $50.

***

Jose Bustamante, 46, was arrested at 6:26 p.m., on January 15 in the 300 block of South Ash Street on a warrant for public intoxication.

***

Rosalinda Munoz, 53, was arrested at 6:36 p.m., on January 15 in the 700 block of South Ash Street for public intoxication.

***

Jose Martinez, 17, was arrested at 1:29 a.m., on January 16 in the 1100 block of South Oleander Street for assault under the Family Violence Act and terroristic threat.

***

Epifanio Hernandez, 45, was arrested at 11:38 a.m., on January 15 on Second and Sycamore streets on a warrant for criminal mischief.

***

A male juvenile was arrested at 5:22 p.m., on January 15 in the 2200 block of Cactus Street by the request of the Juvenile Detention Center.

***

Alberto Prieto, 42, was arrested at 10:09 p.m., on January 22, in the 600 block of Ash Street on a warrant for parole violation.

***

David L. Ortega, 53, was arrested at 6:12 p.m., on January 21 in the 700 block of South Cedar Street on an Ector County Sheriff's Office warrant for theft by check over $20 and under $500.

***

Jesus Quiroz, 18, and Matthew Contreras, 17, were arrested at 2:18 a.m., on January 20 in the 1300 block of East Third Street. Quiroz was arrested for assault causing bodily injury while Contreras was arrested for terroristic threat.

***

Juan V. Vasquez, 20, was arrested at 10:31 p.m., on January 18 at Reeves County Sheriff's Office on a New Mexico warrant for four counts of unlawful to issue.

***

Albert Prieto, 20, Lee O. Varela, 18, Christopher Fuentez, 19, Adrian Armendarez, 17, and Samuel Mata, 18, were arrested at 10:21 p.m., on January 18 in the 400 block of Magnolia Street. All were arrested for public intoxication and evading detention.

***

Martin Vasquez, 18, was arrested at 7:16 p.m., on January 17 in the 1600 block of South Johnson Street for evading arrest and detention.

***

Martin Vasquez, 18, was arrested at 11:20 a.m., on January 18 at the Town & Country on West Palmer Street on a warrant for violation promise to appear.

***

Jerry T. Orona, 18, and Juan V. Vasquez, were arrested at 8:44 p.m., on January 17 in the 700 block of Alberta Street. Orona was arrested for driving under the influence, open container, disorderly conduct-urinating in public place, no driver's license and DPS warrants for driving under the influence-minor and minor in possession. Vasquez was arrested on DPS warrants for minor in possession.

***

Salvador Ramirez, 18, was arrested at 12:53 p.m., on January 17 at Pecos High School on a Capias Pro Fine warrant.

***

Albert Perez, 20, was arrested at 6:48 p.m., on January 28 in the 500 block of East Third Street for outstanding DPS warrants out of Ozona for no driver's license and allowing a child to ride unrestrained.

***

Pedro Barreno, 17, was arrested at 7:40 p.m., on January 28 in the 800 block of South Locust Street on a warrant for escaping while in police custody, evading detention or arrest, theft and public intoxication.

***

Tito Gavaldon, 20, was arrested at 7:42 p.m., on January 26 at Third and Eddy streets on a warrant for theft by check.

***

Ernesto Perea, 33, was arrested at 12:15 a.m., on January 27 at Sixth and Peach Streets on a warrant for assault with injury.

***

Jose Adame, 21, and Elida Munoz, 32, were arrested at 4:56 a.m., on January 27 in the 1200 block of East Second Street both for Family Violence.

***

Lee Arredondo, 18, and a male juvenile were arrested at 5:25 p.m., on January 26 in the 400 block of Hackberry Street both for possession of a prohibited weapon.

***

Michael M. Ontiveros, 33, was arrested at 1:59 a.m., on January 26 in the 2900 block of Toliver Street on a Ward County Sheriff's Office warrant for motion to revoke probation on original charge of driving while license suspended.

***

Fabian Mendoza, 32, was arrested at 7:49 p.m., on January 24 in the 3000 block of Arlington Street on a warrant for tampering with serial numbers.

Obituary

Jessie Halfmann



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