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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
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Top Stories

Friday, July 5, 2002

Leaders hold onto spots after Thursday's rodeo

By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer

PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- The second go-round leaders changed in only one event  Thursday night, at the West of the Pecos Rodeo, while the leaders in the  three riding events stayed the same following the second of the  rodeo's four nighttime performances.

Matt Davis and Houston Powers are now in first place in the second go of Team Roping after they posted an 8.4 time on Thursday. Davis, from Vega, and Powers, of Sonora are .3 seconds up on Arnold Felts of San Angelo and Steve Northcutt of Odessa. Meanwhile, the team of Brock Bean of Fort Hancock and Shot Branham of Midland continue to hold the lead in the average, at 18.6 seconds, two-tenths of a second better than Matt Gully of Novice and Blake Elms of Stephenville.

In Steer Wrestling, Jason Miller continues to hold the lead in the second go-round with his 4.2 seconds, while Biggz Harper, who also performed Thursday, took over the No. 2 spot with a 4.5 time, and moved into second place in the average, at 11.5 seconds. Harper moved past Clay Gaines into second place the second go-round, but Gaines' 4.6-second time on Thursday still was enough to give him the lead in the average. The Atlanta, Ga., cowboy is at 10.6 seconds for two attempts.

Jesse Bail, currently second in overall earnings for 2002 among all PRCA cowboys, took the lead on Wednesday night at the start of the Saddle Bronc ridings, while James Boudreaux, currently among the money leaders in Bareback Riding, also held onto his lead from Wednesday, though he had to share it with another cowboy, Scott Frazier, who also competed on Wednesday night.

Boudreaux, of Cuero, and Frazier, of Wilmington, Tx., both scored 79 points on their rides Wednesday. Austin Griffin, who rode Thursday night, moved into third place with a 75-point ride on Gray Ghost, one point better than Australian cowboy Lance Kelly.

Bail, who is among the leaders in both Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding, scored 85 points, while Tom Reeves and Steve Dollarhide, who are just behind Bail in the standings overall for 2002, is also right behind him in the West of the Pecos standings. Reeves, who was ranked No. 4 to Bail's No. 2 in the standing for the first half of the year, scored 82 points and Dollarhide, currently the No. 3 rider, scored an 80 on his ride, which also took place on Wednesday.

Roswell cowboy John Jones tied Dollarhide for third place in the Pecos Rodeo standings on Thursday, while Jason Millam took advantage of a re-ride to move into fifth place, with a 76-point effort.

Frazier, meanwhile, has a good shot at the All-Around title in the Pecos Rodeo, after he scored an 82-point effort on "Blame It On Rio" in Bull Riding on Wednesday, before tying for the lead in the Bareback competition later that night. Royd Doyal's ride on Tuesday, which was upped from an initial 89-point score to a 90-point total, kept him in first place in the overall standings, while Howdy Cloud, who also rode in Tuesday's special bull riding section, is now tied for third with Joaquin Garza, both of whom had 78 point scores. Garza was another rider from Wednesday's show.

In Steer Roping, the leaders in the second go-round and the average remained unchanged after the first two nights of the rodeo. Lawson Plemons of Chilton remains No. 1 in the second go-round and Rod Hartness held onto the top spot in the average, with 12.5 and 25.6 second time respectively. Hartness, who is looking to get back into the Top 20 among ropers for 2002, is 3.6 seconds ahead of the current No. 4 roper, Rocky Patterson, who won the first go-round and is at 29.2 seconds overall, while Shorty Garten and 17-time world champion Guy Allen are just behind Patterson in the average, both with 29.3 times.

Hartness did fall to third place in the second-go round, tied with Allen and Marty Jones at 13.4 seconds, as Mike Chase took over the No. 2 spot, with a 12.8 second time.

In calf roping, Bradley Byrum of Snyder and Tye Pride of Carthage held onto their leads in the second go-round and for the average. Byrum is at 9.8 seconds and Pride at 10.2 seconds, while their positions are reversed in the average, with Pride at 20.7 and Byrum at 20.8 seconds.

Another Snyder resident, Kassi Mowry, holds the lead in the Barrel Racing competition. She posted a 17.22 second time on Wednesday to take over first place. Benette Holt of nearby Rotan is second, with a 17.70 time, while Laticia Duke of Merkel is in third with a 17.77 time.

Several of the barrel racers were unable to make Thursday's rodeo performance due to the heavy rains and flooding in the South Central Texas area. Rains also hit Pecos each of the first two nights of the rodeo, but waited until after the performances were over, and only disrupted the post-rodeo dances at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn.

The final night of second go-round competition is this evening, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena.

The Top 12 finishers in all of the roping events plus steer wrestling, will return on Saturday, along with the final night of Bull Riding, Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding and the final night of Barrel Racing.

Roswell cowboy John Jones tied Dollarhide for third place in the Pecos Rodeo standings on Thursday, while Jason Millam took advantage of a re-ride to move into fifth place, with a 76-point effort.

Frazier, meanwhile, has a good shot at the All-Around title in the Pecos Rodeo, after he scored an 82-point effort on "Blame It On Rio" in Bull Riding on Wednesday, before tying for the lead in the Bareback competition later that night. Royd Doyal's ride on Tuesday, which was upped from an initial 89-point score to a 90-point total, kept him in first place in the overall standings, while Howdy Cloud, who also rode in Tuesday's special bull riding section, is now tied for third with Joaquin Garza, both of whom had 78 point scores. Garza was another rider from Wednesday's show.

In Steer Roping, the leaders in the second go-round and the average remained unchanged after the first two nights of the rodeo. Lawson Plemons of Chilton remains No. 1 in the second go-round and Rod Hartness held onto the top spot in the average, with 12.5 and 25.6 second time respectively. Hartness, who is looking to get back into the Top 20 among ropers for 2002, is 3.6 seconds ahead of the current No. 4 roper, Rocky Patterson, who won the first go-round and is at 29.2 seconds overall, while Shorty Garten and 17-time world champion Guy Allen are just behind Patterson in the average, both with 29.3 times.

Hartness did fall to third place in the second-go round, tied with Allen and Marty Jones at 13.4 seconds, as Mike Chase took over the No. 2 spot, with a 12.8 second time.

In calf roping, Bradley Byrum of Snyder and Tye Pride of Carthage held onto their leads in the second go-round and for the average. Byrum is at 9.8 seconds and Pride at 10.2 seconds, while their positions are reversed in the average, with Pride at 20.7 and Byrum at 20.8 seconds.

Another Snyder resident, Kassi Mowry, holds the lead in the Barrel Racing competition. She posted a 17.22 second time on Wednesday to take over first place. Benette Holt of nearby Rotan is second, with a 17.70 time, while Laticia Duke of Merkel is in third with a 17.77 time.

Several of the barrel racers were unable to make Thursday's rodeo performance due to the heavy rains and flooding in the South Central Texas area. Rains also hit Pecos each of the first two nights of the rodeo, but waited until after the performances were over, and only disrupted the post-rodeo dances at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn.

The final night of second go-round competition is this evening, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena. The Top 12 finishers in all of the roping events plus steer wrestling, will return on Saturday, along with the final night of Bull Riding, Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding and the final night of Barrel Racing.

Final Results

Storms help area, force evacuations in Central Texas

From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Rains from a slow moving front, which has caused major flooding  in South Central Texas for the past week, arrived in West Texas on Wednesday. 

But the front was far weaker by the time it reached the Trans-Pecos area, and the rains it brought were a welcome sight to local farmers and ranchers, after it came pouring down on two consecutive days.

Pecos received 0.89 inches of rain Thursday evening after receiving .11 inch on Wednesday evening.

"That's pretty good, we got almost an inch of rain," said Mike Murphy, director of the Texas A&M Experiment Station.

Other parts of northern Reeves County received even higher totals, and Coyanosa reported that they had received about 1.8 inches, a little more than those closer to Pecos.

Balmorhea State Park employee Tony Fleenor said that they were disappointed because they received no rainfall at all on Wednesday and just a 10th of an inch last evening.

"It's pretty depressing," said Fleenor. "We kept hearing about all the places that received rain and we didn't get any," he said.

Fleenor said they were still hopeful about receiving rain this weekend.

"They predicted rain for throughout the weekend and we're hoping we'll get some then," he said.

Marfa received four inches, according to Fleenor.

The late night and early morning rains helped cut short any fireworks activities around Pecos the past two nights.

According to City/County Fire Marshall, Jack Brookshire, there were no calls regarding fires starting over fire works, though police were called to Martinez Field and the North Side Park on U.S. 285 late Thursday after people there were shooting off fireworks, in violation of a Reeves County ordinance passed last week.

"We did not have any calls regarding fires started by fireworks," Brookshire said. "The only call we got was that of a utility pole on the corner of Sixth Street and Ash getting hit by lighting.

The lightning strike was part of a thunnderstorm that came in at about 11:30 p.m., forcing suspension of any fireworks activities.

Fireworks were banned this year on all county-owned property due to drought conditions.

The heaviest storms Thursday night were reported north of Reeves County in Eddy County, N.M., where heavy rains caused some minor street flooding around Carlsbad.

However, area farmers could benefit from the storms, which may end up adding some much-needed water to Red Bluff Lake on the Texas-New Mexico state line.

Lake levels have been too low this year to allow a water release to farmers in Reeves and three other counties along the Pecos River.

While the Trans-Pecos is grateful for the rains, and are hoping that the decade-long drought will break soon, South Central Texas is bracing for additional flooding today, after a new round of showers hit the area today.

The storms have killed at least seven people and caused extensive property damage.

More damage is expected this weekend, after floodwaters spilled over the dam at Canyon Lake and headed down the Guadalupe River towards New Braunfels.

A few miles northwest of San Antonio, a small dam broke in Grey Forest.

Numerous roads that had recently been reopened had to be closed again as rising water submerged the pavement.

President Bush has declared ten counties in Texas disaster areas due to the flooding.

Meanwhile, the new round of rain was adding more water to the already overflowing Medina Lake and threatening several communities downstream along the Medina River.

To the west of San Antonio, homes in Castroville, population 2,600, were evacuated for a mile on either side of the Medina River.

From Castroville to LaCoste, more than 4,000 people remained evacuated because of river flooding, the Medina County Sheriff's Department said.

Most of the evacuees were staying with friends and family, but two shelters in Hondo were taking in a small number of displaced residents.

"Medina Lake is the primary concern, and whether the flooding will overflow the dam," said Frank Perkins, who is helping coordinate relief efforts. "If that happens, we'll have a lot of problems. So that's our main threat right now."

Authorities said the mandatory evacuation was for anyone within a mile of the river, which reached 23 feet above flood stage at Bandera on Thursday before water began to recede.

The downriver communities of LaCoste and Somerset were expected to be 20 feet above flood stage by late Friday.

"We've had high water, but nothing near this," said Jonelle Crow, who lives five miles north of Castroville along the river. "The water is rushing tremendously fast."

The flood ripped five tall pecan trees out of the ground where they've grown for more than 100 years, she said.

Leon Suehs, 78, said he was ordered to evacuate immediately about 9 p.m. Thursday. "I didn't bring anything," he said. "I didn't even bring my medicine."

Near New Braunfels, what started as a trickle over the spillway at Canyon Lake by Friday morning had grown into a raging waterfall pouring into the already swollen Guadalupe River.

Residents were ordered to leave their homes by early Friday as roiling water threatened homes and businesses.

About 50 people wearing raincoats or holding umbrellas gathered behind a barricade on the high end of a residential street to watch the torrent of brown, murky water from the Guadalupe tear through their neighborhood.

Some snapped pictures to record the moment.

About 100 yards beyond the barricade, there was nothing left of a house that once stood on stilts.

"It's just gone," said Dan Ackerman, who lives in the higher end of the neighborhood. "It got washed away in '98 and they rebuilt it. But it's gone again."

The house, neighbors said, crashed into a telephone pole, snapping the pole in half.

A transformer and electrical wires fell into the current, apparently knocking power out of the neighborhood.

A six-foot propane tank swirled in the current among the debris.

Some houses are underwater up to the roof, as the water creeps farther from the riverbank.

"I just pray `God, you come and visit our community in the midst of our devastation,"' said Valerie Dalton, who, along with other members of her church, helped residents evacuate their homes.

Shari Kasberg watched floodwaters swamp her home for the second time in four years.

The water was up to the roof.

"My children are safe, my animals are safe; we'll be OK. It's just material possessions," Kasberg said, choking back tears. "But, you know, it is your home. It's where you have birthdays, it's where you have Christmas."

Postal worker Lesley Lewis said she could not reach the Canyon Lake post office located near the dam and feared it may be under water.

"I'd love it if the rain would stop. We're supposed to work no matter what, but I guess today we won't," she said.

About 15 miles southeast of New Braunfels in Seguin, as many as 400 people were urged to leave their homes.

Some went to an emergency shelter set up in the city of 22,000.

On Thursday, President Bush declared 10 counties disaster areas, making federal aid available to people in Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Comal, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Medina and Uvalde counties.

The announcement came a day after Gov. Rick Perry declared a state disaster for 29 South and Central Texas counties.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said damage surveys continue in other areas and additional assistance and counties could be added after assessments are completed.

Flood warnings were expected to continue through the weekend for South Central Texas and the Hill Country, the National Weather Service said.

Morning raid nets drugs, stolen property

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Drugs and suspected stolen items were recovered during a  narcotics search warrant executed this morning by Pecos police.

The search warrant was executed at about 9:06 a.m., today at 611 Pine St., and one person was arrested as a result of the raid.

"During the search we found a substance believed to be heroin in one of the bedrooms," said Pecos Police Investigator Paul Deishler.

Officers also found materials commonly used in injecting and packaging heroin, according to Deishler.

Arrested during the search was Jose Luis Garcia, 39, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deishler added that along with the drugs found during their search, officers also found items they believed to have been stolen.

Recovered items include three bicycles, a skill saw and two weed-eaters.

"If any citizen thinks one of these items might belong to them, can come by the Criminal Justice Center and identify it in some way," he said.

Deishler said that the police department wanted to return these items to the rightful owners.

"They don't necessarily have to have the receipt or serial number, but if they can somehow identify it we'll let them have the item back," he said.

Anyone wanting to claim any of the items can go to the Criminal Justice Center and ask for one of the detectives.

"We'll gladly show them the item or if it really belongs to them, let them have it," said Deishler. "Our main goal is to get these people their things back," he said.

Commissioners to vote on agreements, payments

PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Reeves County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on a series of items during their regular monthly meeting on Monday, including an interlocal agreement between the county and the City of Balmorhea.

Commissioners will meet at 9:30 a.m., in the third floor courtroom and the public is invited to attend.

Commissioners will discuss and take action on a lease agreement between Reeves County and Diversey Lever for dishwashing machines; a request for release of judgment by Tom Barker, DBA ASA Bonding Company; rental agreement between Reeves County and Pitney Bowers for postage meter and road and bridge license plate renewal fees.

The group will also discuss and take action on judges, alternate judges and clerks for November 2002 General Elections; consolidation of voting boxes 8 and 9; salary grievance committee and inmate transportation crew mileage payments.

Commissioners will discuss and take action on payments to several contractors currently working on the Reeves County Detention Center III.

Regular agenda items include: reports from various departments; budget amendments and line-item transfers; personnel and salary changes; minutes from previous meetings and semi-monthly bills.

Two children die in rollover near Stockton

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- Two accidents that occurred late Wednesday night and one  early this morning claimed the lives of four people, including two children  from Pecos, during the 4th of July holiday.

That accident occurred at about 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday, two miles north of I-10 on U.S. 67 in Pecos County. According to the Department of Public Safety, the accident was a one-vehicle rollover in which the children inside the vehicle died.

The accident involved a 1999 Ford Explorer in which Ezequeil Martinez Urias, 32, of Del Valley, Christopher Urias Martinez, 13, of Pecos, and Bianca Juith Montez Urias, 10, of Del Valley. According to the DPS report, Ezequeil Urias was traveling north on U.S. 67 when he drifted to onto the eastbound shoulder. He then overcorrected and lost control. At that point the vehicle spun once and overturned two times ejecting Christopher Urias.

Christopher Urias was pronounced dead at 1:32 a.m. by Judge Robert Gonzales and taken to Memorial Funeral Home in Fort Stockton. Bianca Urias was taken to Pecos County Medical Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:59 a.m. Her body was also taken to Memorial Funeral Home.

According to the report Christopher Urias was not wearing his seat belt, while Bianca Urias was wearing her lap belt, but did not have on her shoulder belt.

Ezequeil is listed in stable conditions with head and arm lacerations at Pecos County Medical Hospital in Fort Stockton.

The other accident occurred on Highway 118, near the McDonald Observatory in Jeff Davis County, which was originally called in as a brush fire.

However, when police and Jeff Davis County firefighters arrived at the scene, they found a burning car with two people in it.

Firemen put out the fire, but the bodies were burned beyond recognition.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation in Alpine, no other details on the accident were available at press time but say that they would have further information later this afternoon.

Mental health forum planned next Thursday

PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- A public forum, sponsored by the Mental Health Planning Advisory Council and the Mental Retardation Planning Advisory Council, will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 11.

The meeting will be held at the Pecos Community Center, 508 S. Oak St.

This will be an opportunity for the community to give feedback on needs, wants and service gaps. Administrative staff will also be available to answer questions on changes in the mental health and mental retardation service system.

For more information contact Paige Prater at 915-263-0007.

Weather

PECOS, Friday, July 5, 2002 -- High July 4th 93. Low this morning 68. Rainfall last 48 hours at  Texas A&M Experiment Station .85 inch. Forecast for tonight: Mostly  cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows near  70. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Saturday: Partly cloudy with a  30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid  90s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Saturday night: Partly cloudy with  a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows near  70. Sunday: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of  thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. Monday:  Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows near 70.  Highs in the mid 90s.

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.

***

Robert Wayne Pugh, 36, and Thomas Gorham II, 36, were arrested at 7:30 p.m., on June 14 at Flying J both for theft of service over $20 and under $500.

***

Francisco Menchaca, 29, was arrested at 9:07 a.m., on June 23 at Seventh and Almond streets for abusing aerosol paint and a warrant for theft.

***

Jaime Ortiz Natividad, 19, was arrested at 8:10 a.m., on June 22 in the 700 block of Martinez Street for evading arrest, a Capias Pro Fine warrant for default in payment for assault by contact and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

***

Alexa Dominguez, 18, was arrested at 5:28 p.m., on June 21 in the 500 block of Cherry Street for a Capias Pro Fine warrant for default in payment for assault by contact.

***

Two male juveniles were arrested at 10:22 p.m., on June 20 in the 1500 block of Missouri Street for a parole violation.

***

A female juvenile was arrested at 1:56 a.m., on June 20 in the 1000 block of East 11th Street as a runaway.

***

Frank Rivera, 51, was arrested at 11:25 p.m., on June 19 in the 100 block of South Mesquite Street for public intoxication.

***

Rudy Freeman, 28, was arrested at 11:55 p.m., on June 22 at Sixth and Almond Streets for aggravated assault.

***

Roy Garcia Carrillo, 35, was arrested at 2:55 a.m., on June 28 at Adams and Willow Streets for public intoxication.

Obituaries

Matilde Cano, Refugia Franco, Clairbel Fuller, Cristobal Martinez and Bianca Urias



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