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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, March 11, 2002
Escaped RCJ inmate may be in Dallas area
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., March 11, 2002 -- Reeves County Sheriff's Deputies are continuing
their search for an inmate who escaped early Friday morning from Reeves
County Jail, with the search focusing on the Dallas area.
Steven Carrasco Perez, 31, of Pecos, apparently escaped from the jail
before 9 a.m. on Friday when he was believed to have been working in the
front portion of the building. However, his escape was not noticed by jail
personnel until 9½ hours later.
Reeves County Sheriff Arnulfo "Andy" Gomez said that Perez was a trustee
cleaning floors in the office portion of the jail when he decided to make
his escape.
"He was up here, up front and he could have just walked out the front
door," he said.
An eyewitness gave a statement that Perez was seen leaving the front door
of the Sheriff's Department and walking by the Reeves County Courthouse.
Perez was awaiting transfer to a Texas Department of Corrections facility
where he would serve two years for parole violation.
He had been an inmate at the Reeves County Jail since January 3, Gomez
said.
Jail staff did not realize Perez had run away until later in the day when
the Jailer Bea Wilson noticed he had not shown up for any of his meals, according
to a report made by Sgt. Danny Leos.
"(Wilson) stated that she had seen inmate (Perez) cleaning around the
booking area around 8:30 a.m., (Wilson) further stated that she passed out
meals to the inmates at 12:15 p.m., and as she passed out meals in tank 2
(Perez) was not in the tank," the report said. "(Wilson) stated that she
thought that inmate (Perez) was still cleaning down stairs."
As the day went by the staff was still unaware of Perez' escape.
The report continued, "(Wilson) states that she went back up stairs at
6:40 p.m., to pass out supper to the inmates. (Wilson) states that as she
was passing out the meals in tank two she called out (Perez)' name and he
did not answer, (Wilson) states that she asked the inmates in tank two where
Steven was and no one answered her."
After informing her co-workers, Wilson conducted a head count of all the
inmates and was unable to locate Perez.
Gomez said that he does not believe that Perez is dangerous stating that
he has been arrested mainly on charges of burglary and drugs in the past.
"He's only had one assault charge when he was 17," he said. "In that
case he fought with his cousin."
Sheriff Gomez and his deputies believe that Perez might by attempting
to travel to Dallas, because he had talked about wanting to visit his son,
who is in a Dallas hospital.
"He's got a baby in intensive care in Dallas," Gomez said.
Gomez has informed Dallas County law enforcement officers and the hospital
treating the baby to be on the lookout for Perez.
He has also informed numerous law enforcement agencies in the Permian
Basin and Dallas areas as well as Midland-Odessa television stations KOSA
(Ch. 7), KWES (Ch. 9) and KMID (Ch. 2).
Gomez said that none of the inmates knew about Perez' escape and does
not believe that Perez planned the escape.
"I think it was just that he had the opportunity and he took it," he said.
Perez is five foot six inches tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds
with brown eyes and black hair.
He has several tattoos with a few prominent ones including one on his
chest of an Indian chief and the other his name Perez tattooed on the back
of his neck.
The Reeves County Sheriff's office has issued an escape warrant for Perez,
which is a felony offense in the third degree.
Pecos Valley Crimestoppers is offering an award to any persons giving
information leading to the arrest of Perez, however the amount of that award
is undetermined at this time.
Anyone with any information may call Crimestoppers at 445-9898.
"Any information will be appreciated," Gomez said.
Gomez also said that any persons found to have helped Perez would also
be prosecuted.
"If anybody is caught assisting him they'll be prosecuted with aiding
and abetting," he said.
As far as the jail is concerned, Gomez said that Investigator Michael
Dominguez is still continuing to investigate the escape.
"We're investigating and trying to see where the mistake was made," he
said. "Then we'll work on correcting that mistake to make sure it never
happens again."
Gomez said that no action has been taken against any staff member at this
time.
"You can't blame any one person," he said.
Final early vote total surpasses 2,150 for primary election
PECOS, Mon., March 11, 2002 -- Early voting election clerks had a busy
afternoon on Friday, the final day of early voting for Tuesday's election
at the Reeves County Courthouse, which ended with over 2,150 people having
already cast ballots in the local and state primary races.
As of Friday 1,823 people voted by personal appearance and the election
clerks received a total of 342 ballots by mail.
For those who have not voted there is one more chance to vote Tuesday
between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at 11 sites in Reeves County, while Barstow voters
can cast ballots in the Ward County election during those same hours at the
Barstow Community Center.
In Reeves County, two voting boxes have been relocated and a third has
been consolidated for Tuesday's Democratic Party primary election, while
anyone wanting to vote in the Republican Party primary race in Reeves County
will have one site to go to in order to cast their ballot.
In the Democratic primary, voting Box 2 has been moved from Pecos Elementary
to the Pecos Technicial Training Center on South Eddy Street, while Box 11
has been changed from Bessie Haynes Elemtenary to the Haynes-Sadler Community
Center, near 12th and Locust streets. Box 9, which formerly had
been at the Red Bluff Lake office in Orla, has been consolidated with Box
8, at the Lamar AEP campus in the 100 block of West `F' Street.
The other voting sites are Box 1 at the Pecos Community Center, Box 3
at Pecos High School Gym, Box 4 at Toyah City Hall, Box 5 at Balmorhea Fire
Hall, Box 6 at Saragosa Multi-purpose Center, Box 7 at Reeves County Library,
Box 10 at the Reeves County Annex building, and Box 12 at Texas New Mexico
Power Company.
This year's local primary election has been focused on the race for county
judge between incumbent Jimmy Galindo and challenger Louis Matta. All county
voters will also cast ballots in the race for Reeves County Clerk, where
Sofia Abila is challenging incumbent Florez, and votes in all Boxes will
also cast ballots in the contested primary races for governor and U.S. Senate.
The three other local contested races are all in Precinct 2. In the county
commissioner's election, incumbent David Castillo faces challenger Norman
Hill; Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace, where incumbent J.T. Marsh has two
opponents, Jim Riley and Jaime Salgado, and Precinct 2 Constable, where Jerry
Matta and Clint Glenn are seeking the constable position vacated in December
by Salgado, when he decided to run for Justice of the Peace.
Other races that are uncontested include the Precinct 4 commissioner's
race, where Gilberto "Hivi" Rayos is unopposed for a second term and the
County Court-At-Law election, where Walter M. Holcombe is unopposed after
being appointed in December. Also running unopposed are incumbent District
Clerk, Pat Tarin; County Treasurer Linda Clark; Justice of the Peace, Precinct
#1 Amonario P. Ramon; Justice of the Peace, Precinct #3 Rosendo Carrasco;
and Justice of the Peace, Precinct #4 Lamberto T. Herrera.
County Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Dean is also unopposed in his bid
for a new term.
Barstow voters in the Ward County primary election will have four contested
races, including County Judge, where incumbent Sam Massey is facing Joann
Widdess.
Ward County Clerk Natrell Cain will face Phelitha Kay Schmidt in another
race, and in the District Clerk election, there are four candidates challenging
incumbent Pamela Bingham. She'll face Patricia Oyerbides, Jane Martin, Irma
Tejada and Leona "Ann" Parker in Tuesday's election.
The other contested race is for County Treasurer, where Nell Berry is
retiring. Three candidates, Teresa Perry, Melissa Taylor and Mary "Miki"
Mitchell, are seeking the job.
Those are the only contested elections for Barstow voters, who are part
of Precinct 1, where Justice of the Peace candidate Pascual Olibas is unopposed.
Only incumbents filed for the numerous races in Loving County, according
to Loving County District Clerk Beverly Hanson.
School board updated on Spring Break repair work
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., March 11, 2002 -- A report on renovations at several area schools,
a method of procurement and a TIF Special Projects Grant for Pecos
Kindergarten were all approved during the regular Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school
board meeting.
The group met Thursday evening in the new Technology Center to discuss
and approve several items.
P-B-T ISD Superintendent Don Love updated the group on new renovations
scheduled for this week at Pecos High School and three other campuses while
students are away for Spring Break.
"Asbestos abatement will be done over spring break in the north end of
the freshman wing at the high school," said Love. "They will utilize the
same air sampling protocol as on the auditorium to ensure fiber levels are
acceptable before students return from spring break."
Lamar roofing demo began the final week of February and actual roofing
is being done this week, while the contractor was scheduled to lay out duct
work and units on roof at Crockett, for the HVAC this week as well. "Work
will be done this spring and coordinated around student activities," said
Love.
At Pecos Kindergarten, all but six rooms have been carpeted. "Over the
spring break these six rooms will be completed and the entry tile installed.
The project is scheduled to be completed spring break.
Work on the Pecos High School tennis courts was completed last month.
At Bessie Haynes Elementary School, the majority of work will be done
this summer. Some roofing work will be done during spring break.
At Zavala work will begin on the roof (AC units and piping) this spring.
Interior work will be done this summer.
"They are currently preparing construction documents and proposals will
be due in April to allow us to bring proposals to the board at the April
meeting," said Love.
Love suggested competitive sealed proposals as a means of construction
procurement method for Bessie Haynes Elementary, Crockett Middle School,
Austin Elementary School and Lamar AEP grant projects.
"This method has worked well for us in the past," said Love.
Board members approved the method or procurement suggested by Love.
Pecos Kindergarten Principal Cindy Duke requested permission from the
board to apply for a TIF grant in the amount of $44,000. The money will be
used to purchase different equipment for the kindergarten.
"This is free money and it sure will help," said Love.
"The application is due on April 30 and we should know something by May
30," said Duke.
Board members approved a request by the Women's Division of the Chamber
of Commerce and the Golden Girl Committee to use the Pecos High School Auditorium
for the Golden Girl Revue and waive fees.
"They just gave us $1,000 to use towards the auditorium repairs," said
Love. "That money will be put to good use and we surely thank them."
Tentative dates of need are as follows: April 15, first look at girls
talent; June 1, stage set-up; June 3-26 daily rehearsals for the revue; June
27 preliminary revue and June 28 Golden Girl Revue and Little Miss Cantaloupe.
Students will be helping to defray electric bill costs by "monitoring"
the use in classrooms and other areas.
Student council members gave the board a summary of a program they would
like to implement at the high school to control and help reduce electric
bills.
"All lights will be turned off except in corridors," said student council
member Daniel Quintana.
Student council sponsor Karen Hill told the group that the students would
check the classrooms and make sure the lights were turned off. "If they are
not turned off the students will leave the teacher a note and if they are,
they'll leave them a positive note telling them how they appreciate them
saving energy," said Hill.
"All money used by the student council comes from fundraisers," she said.
The students will be from the energy committee of the student council,
which consists of six students, according to Hill.
Board members approved an Anti-Crime, Anti-Drug Poster contest which will
be sponsored by the Reeves County Juvenile Probation Department.
"This is for all the schools," said Love. "Louise Moore, juvenile probation
chief, really knows how to stretch her money and does great things for the
students."
Prizes will be awarded for first through third places for each category.
There will be five categories, which will include special needs youth. All
entries will receive a certificate of appreciation and a special prize.
Posters may be dropped off with the school secretary at the student's
school during the school day or dropped off at the Reeves County Juvenile
Probation Department weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The contest will begin March 11 and end April 22, at 4 p.m. Winning entries
will be displayed at the Reeves County Courthouse during the week of April
15-19. All students enrolled in the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD or the Balmorhea
ISD or who are home schooled and reside in Reeves County are eligible to
enter the contest.
Entries should be on regular size poster board in any color and the subject
should be "anti-crime or anti-drug." Students whose parents are employees
of the Reeves County Juvenile Probation Department or Holdover center are
not eligible to enter.
For more information contact Louise Moore, Mike Mason or Alma Garcia at
447-6901.
TxDOT begins work today on I-20 section
PECOS, Mon., March 11, 2002 -- Drivers on Interstate 20 in Reeves and
Ward counties will be encountering construction work over the next three
months, as crews begin resurfacing two sections of the highway between Pyote
and Toyah.
The Texas Department of Transportation said that crews would begin stripping
asphalt off the surface of a two-mile stretch I-20 between the Salt Draw
bridge and Toyah today in preparation for resurfacing, which will be followed
by the removal of surface asphalt on a 12-mile stretch of I-20 between Pyote
and the Business I-20 exit at Barstow.
"Work will begin on Monday, March 11, in the westbound lanes, with traffic
constricted to one lane, but we expect that traffic will continue to flow
smoothly," said Kelli Revennaugh, the TxDOT engineer in charge of the project."
TxDOT said Jones Bros. Paving Contractors of Odessa would be in charge
of the project, the lane closures near Toyah will only be during daylight
hours, and both lanes will be open at night, barring unforeseen circumstances.
After the pavement is removed, the resurfacing work is scheduled to begin
about May 1, and will include the two-mile section near Toyah and a 15-mile
section in Ward County, from the Pecos River to Pyote.
The section between the Business I-20 exit and the Pecos River was resurfaced
in November of 2000 after part of the asphalt was cut down in late 1997 due
to rutting problems. The right lane of I-20 between Pyote and the Barstow
exit was cut down last year to alleviate the running problems caused by large
trucks on the highway.
Total cost of both I-20 projects is just under $1.44 million, and is scheduled
to be completed by June 1.
County Clerk's office to close during election
PECOS, Mon., March 11, 2002 -- The Reeves County Clerk's office will be
closed on Tuesday, due to the primary election being held all day.
County Clerk Diane Florez said the office will reopen for regular hours
at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
GOP primary voting location on Toliver St.
PECOS, Mon., March 11, 2002 -- Voters wanting to cast ballots in the Republican
Party primary on Tuesday can do so between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at 2323 Toliver
Street, located to the west of the Texas-New Mexico Power Co. office on Stafford
Boulevard.
There are no contested local races in the Republican Primary, but voters
can cast ballots in the contested primary election for U.S. Senate and other
regional and state races.
Weather
PECOS, Mon., March 11, 2002 -- High Sunday 65. Low this morning 36. Forecast
for tonight: Mostly clear. Lows 35 to 40. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph:
Becoming light and variable by midnight. Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs
80 to 85. Light northeast winds, becoming south 5 to 15 mph. Tuesday
night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Wednesday: Mostly sunny and
unseasonably warm. Highs in the upper 80s. Thursday: Partly cloudy.
Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the mid 80s.
Obituary
Thomas Chavez, Sr.
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 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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