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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, January 13, 2003
Year In Review -- October 2002
Arrest made in east side slaying during October
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 10th in a series of stories
on events that occurred in the Pecos area during 2002. Today's story covers
the month of October.
***
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 1, 2002 — The Pecos Police Department said they have
recovered the weapon used in the beating of an elderly man that occurred
early Saturday morning at the Del Rio Bar, and are still investigating the
incident in hopes of making arrests in the case, which has left the victim
near death in a Lubbock hospital.
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 2, 2002 — They were stationed in Pecos from 1942 until
1945 and the memories of their stay will be relived this week as they
come together for another reunion.
The Pecos Army Airfield Reunion 2002 began on Tuesday and will continue
through Thursday, and some couples arrived early for the happy occasion.
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 4, 2002 — Opening ceremonies for the Reeves County
Fall Fair were held at 1 p.m. today at the Reeves County Civic Center, and
Pecos residents and people from the surrounding areas have just several
hours after that before the deadlines for entering the Fair's stock
show and cook-off.
This year's stock show has a total of 54 entries, according to Sue Evans
with the Texas Agriculture Extension Service office in Pecos. Out of that,
40 lambs, 11 steers, and three heifers were entered as of late this morning,
Evans said.
PECOS, Wed., October 9, 2002 — More employees are needed at the Reeves
County Detention Center and finding housing in Pecos seems to be one
of the problems.
The issue was a topic of discussion at the regular Pecos Area Chamber
of Commerce board luncheon, held Tuesday at the Pecos Senior Center.
The Detention Center will soon be opening its newest wing, which will
increase capacity from 2,000 to 2,960 inmates, and Reeves County Judge Jimmy
B. Galindo told the group that there would be an additional 100-250 new
jobs at the facility.
PECOS, Wed., October 9, 2002 — An 81-year-old man who was severely beaten
in his own home two weeks ago has died in a Lubbock hospital, and police
in a Panhandle town have arrested a suspect in the attack.
Anastacio Acosta, 81, died Tuesday morning as a result of the head injuries
he sustained in the Sept. 28 attack. Acosta was flown to Covenant Medical
Center in Lubbock the morning of the attack, and survived for a week after
family members had him taken off the life support system because of the
severe head injuries he suffered in the beating.
This morning, Pecos Police said Juan Gonzales, 20, had been arrested
in Muleshoe, located 40 miles northwest of Lubbock and 240 miles from Pecos.
Gonzales was arrested originally on unrelated charges, but was connected
by investigators here to the Acosta beating.
PECOS, Thurs., Oct. 10, 2002 — A large crowd gathered this morning for
the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for TransPecos Foods' Pecos.
The group held a formal opening ceremony this morning in front of the
company's production facility on Interstate 20, which for 11½ years
had been the home of Anchor Foods' U.S. onion processing plant, growing
to be the city's largest employer prior to its shutdown at the end of May.
PECOS, Fri., October 11, 2002 — In an appearance among some old college
friends, State Representative Pete Gallego talked about anything from
politics with the Pecos High School Student Council officers to just
catching up on old times Thursday afternoon, during a campaign stop
at the Reeves County Civic Center.
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 15, 2002 — After spending close to six months in Kandahar,
a city in northern Afghanistan, a 28-year old Marine from Pecos said
that though he was scared at first, it did not seem to be that bad
after a while.
Eddie Lujan, a 1992 Pecos High School graduate returned to Pecos to visit
his family after serving six months overseas.
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 15, 2002 — A lawsuit filed by a the family of Ismael
Lara, against Reeves County, Sheriff Arnulfo Gomez and two employees
of the Reeves County Sheriff's Department in connection with Lara's
death while in custody of the department has been settled, according
to the family's attorney.
G. David Smith of Rockwall said in a letter dated Oct. 10 that the family
and Reeves County had reached a settlement in the case, with payment of
a confidential sum to the Lara family.
PECOS, Mon., Oct. 21, 2002 — Five people, including two local gang members,
were involved in a stabbing incident at a party on the south side of Pecos
early Sunday morning, which sent one person to an Odessa hospital
and others to Reeves County Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
The two BPG members were identified as a 16-year old male juvenile and
Sammy Mata, 19-years old.
The three other stabbing victims were all adults, and were identified
as Raul Arredondo, Jr., 28, Robert Jimenez, 23 and Joe Arthur Salas, 24,
who was the most seriously injured of the five as a result of the stabbings.
PECOS, Mon., Oct. 21, 2002 — A local law enforcement officer is "just
happy to be home again" following months in Dallas after a successful
heart transplant.
"I feel great, right now I'm just trying to find my way around again,
after being gone for so long," said Texas Department of Public Safety's
Corporal Emmit Moore, who received a heart transplant on July 7, at Baylor
University Medical Hospital in Dallas and returned home this past Thursday.
PECOS, Wed., Oct. 23, 2002 — A mural painted 45 years ago, has found
its way home to a local bank, 35 years after the bank changed locations
and left the painting behind.
"We came upon the mural at the site of the old First National Bank, Second
and Oak Streets," said West Texas National Bank President John Grant. The
building has not been used by the bank since 1967, when it moved to its
current location at Sixth and Cedar streets.
PECOS, Thurs., Oct. 24, 2002 — There was probably little room for fuel
in the gas tank of an SUV driven by an El Paso man on Wednesday, as
local drug task force officers found over 90 pounds worth of marijuana
hidden inside the tank.
The discovery was made after the man was stopped while traveling through
Pecos shortly before noon on Wednesday for a traffic violation.
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 25, 2002 — The Town of Pecos City's City Council awarded
a Midland company a bid for nearly $350,000 to construct affordable
housing in the 800 and 900 blocks of West Washington Street, during
their regular meeting on Thursday at City Hall.
The council awarded the Town of Pecos City Subdivision Housing Infrastructure
construction contract after hearing from Frank Spencer & Associates
employee Edgardo Madrid, that a bid was received as of Sept. 17 from Reece
Albert of Midland for
PECOS, Mon., Oct. 28, 2002 — TransPecos Foods, which held its official
opening earlier this month after buying the Anchor Foods onion ring
plant in Pecos, announced its first major customer today, as the company
announced that it would be the exclusive provider of onion rings
to the 650 Dairy Queens in Texas.
In a press release sent out by TransPecos Foods and Dairy Queen today,
Texas Dairy Queen's President Larry Newell said, "the decision to provide
its customers with TransPecos onion rings was based upon the quality of
the onion rings and their `real' Texas flavor."
PECOS, Mon., Oct. 28, 2002 — Inmate population at the Reeves County Detention
Center has been at capacity in recent weeks, and things are coming
along well at the construction of the newest 960-bed addition to the
prison facility, Reeves County Commissioners were told this morning.
Reeves County Detention Center Warden Rudy Franco updated commissioners
during reports from various departments at the regular Commissioners Court
meeting held this morning on the third floor of the Reeves County Courthouse.
.
PECOS, Tues., Oct. 29, 2002 — Motorists headed to Fort Stockton or Carlsbad
from Pecos have been able to save a few minutes on their driving time
legally since late last week, after the Texas Department of Transportation
raised the speed limit on U.S. 285 from 70 to 75 miles per hour.
PECOS, Thurs., Oct. 31, 2002 — At least three horses have died from West
Nile Virus in the TransPecos region in recent weekend the disease has affected
about 15 others, according to local veterinarians.
"We have had 15 cases involving horses that have West Nile Virus," said
Pecos Veterinarian Dr. Ronald Box. "This is in my area which includes, Van
Horn, Imperial, Ft. Stockton, Balmorhea and Pecos."
Opening of prison addition at RCDC set
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 -- Completion of the newest addition at the
Reeves County Detention Center is still scheduled for the end of this month,
but has been moved back one day due to inclement weather.
Construction at the Reeves County Detention Center III, the 960-bed addition
at the facility, is scheduled to be completed on Jan. 30, Kurt Nissen,
on-site construction manager for Carothers Construction, told the Reeves
County Commissioners Court during their meeting held today on the third
floor of the courthouse.
Nissen, who is in charge of the construction at the facility, told commissioners
that he was asking for a one-day extension due to inclement weather.
"This is strictly for one more day," he said.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo asked Nissen how close they were
to completion at the site.
"The mechanical and electrical part are almost complete and we have scheduled
a BOP (U.S. Bureau of Prisons) and Texas Commission on Jail Standards inspection
for Jan. 27," said Nissen. "I already told them they better be ready in
that area."
He added that like cosmetic-wise, (construction) would probably run over
a little bit more than one day. "I call it cosmetics, because it's mostly
painting and things like that, but it will run over from the Jan. 30 date,"
said Nissen, who told commissioners that call would be made by the architect,
owners and Carothers.
"Life-safety issues will be a touch-and-go," said Nissen. "But the items
for safety will be on time."
The painting and "cosmetic stuff" will be the ones that will run over.
"But as for the inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and
BOP, it will be ready," said Nissen.
Judge Galindo requested that Nissen give commissioners a walk-through
during their next regular meeting, scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27.
"I'll have more definite answers on electronics and all that," said Nissen.
The new complex will consist of a 189,000 square campus-style facility
designed to house 960 inmates with three bed general housing units, a 96
bed special housing unit, independent central control, visitation and administration,
separate kitchen and dining, support services unit, health administration,
education and vocational facilities, recreational building and recreational
yard, AW complex, central warehouse and motor pool.
The addition will bring capacity of the minimum-security facility to just
under 3,000 inmates.
In other action this morning, commissioners approved the grant application
for the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force. Drug Task Force Commander Gary Richards
was on hand to talk to the commissioners about the work they have been doing.
"We have been working in Andrews and have arrested about 13 people,"
said Richards. "We have also been busy with interdictions and have taken
10 loads off the streets, of both marijuana and cocaine and have recently
been awarded a vehicle.
Richards said that they also have other cases, none of which he could
discuss openly. "We're still working on those," he said.
Counties and cities cooperating with the task force include: Reeves County,
Andrews County, Midland County, Culberson County, City of Andrews and City
of Pecos.
"This will be the sixth year for this application," said county auditor
Lynn Owens
"Have we had to use any local funds?" asked Galindo.
"No, we haven't had to use any of our own money," said Owens.
The application is for a matching grant that the task force applies for
each year.
"Keep up the good work," said commissioner precinct 3 Herman Tarin.
Beginning of trial for Harris awaits report
PECOS, Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 -- The federal trial of Travis James Harris
for the June 3, 2002 firebombing of the Monahans Police Department, will
not begin this week, according to officials at the Lucius D. Bunton Federal
Courthouse in Pecos.
Harris, 22, is scheduled to go on trial on the federal firebombing charges,
but U.S. District Clerk Johnny Terrazas said court officials are still waiting
to receive a full psychiatric report on Harris before any trial begins.
Harris has been held at the Winkler County prison facility since November
7, after being returned from Fort Worth, where he underwent a psychiatric
evaluation ordered by Judge Royal Furgeson in August in connection with
the firebombing incident.
He also was evaluated in connection with the alleged carjacking and murder
of Paul John Ceniceros, 30, in May. Harris could face life in prison or the
death penalty in the federal charge of carjacking resulting in death of
Ceniceros, but that case will be heard in U.S. District Court in Midland.
Weather
PECOS, Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 -- High Sunday 52. Low this morning 32. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Light and variable winds.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. Light and variable winds.
Tuesday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Wednesday: Partly cloudy.
Highs in the upper 60s. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.
Highs in the mid 40s.
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 instances we will indicate payment and release.
***
Ashley Salcido, 20, Ian Dominguez, 20, Manuel Martinez, 20 and David
Chavez, 19 were arrested at 1:12 a.m., on January 1, at Saragosa Hall for
public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
***
Fernando Navarrete, 22 and Franciso Navarrete Jr. were arrested at 7:52
p.m., on January 12, in the 400 block of Oak Street. Fernando was arrested
for no seat belt-passenger, while Franciso was arrested for littering and
failure to change address on driver's license within 30 days.
***
Daniel Olivas, 19, was arrested at 11:40 p.m., on January 12, at the
Criminal Justice Center on a warrant for a Probation Violation.
***
David Salcido, 31, was arrested at 8:38 p.m., on January 11, in the 600
block of South Pine on a warrant for Theft _ Class B.
***
Anna Barreno, 41, was arrested at 11:49 p.m., on January 11, in the 500
block of Martinez on warrants for No Operational License, Liable Proof of
Insurance and for Violation of Promise to Appear.
***
Ruben Reyes, 44, was arrested at 8:30 p.m., on January 11, at the Circle
M Bar for Public Intoxication.
***
Jennifer Navarrette, 19, was arrested at 9:08 p.m., on January 11, in
the 900 block of North Hickory Street on warrants for Running a Stop Sign
and Violation of Promise to Appear.
***
Ruben Hernandez Jr., 21, was arrested at 7:21 p.m., on January 11, at
the 800 block of East Ninth Street on a Reeves County Sheriff's Office warrant
for Possession of a Controlled Substance _ Marijuana.
***
Daniel L. Paredez, 23, was arrested at 11:03 a.m., on January 11, in the
2200 block of South Hackberry Street on a Reeves County Sheriff's warrant
for Probation Violation.
***
Connie Pope, 25, was arrested at 8:44 p.m., on January 10, at the 1900
block of Missouri Street on warrants of No Operated License, Liable Proof
of Insurance and for Violation of Promise to Appear.
***
Beverly McGrew, 44, was arrested at 12:03 a.m., on January 11, at the
Criminal Justice Center on warrants of Failure to Yield the Right of Way
and Violation of Promise to Appear.
***
Chasedy Alvarez, 24, was arrested at 8:51 p.m., on January 10, at the
2200 block of South Hackberry Street on warrants of unrestrained child under
2 years of age and for Violation of Promise to Appear.
***
Gloria Arredondo, 18, was arrested at 9:54 p.m., on January 10, at the
700 block of South Cherry Street on warrants of Failure to Appear _ Non-Jury
Trail Hearing and Minor in Possession of Alcohol.
***
Peter Dominguez, 24, was arrested at 1:02 a.m., on January 11, at the
Sauvecito Club at Ninth and Cedar streets on Ector County Sheriff warrants
of Theft by Check, Class B, Odessa.
***
Jose Luis Garcia, 33, was arrested at 2:35 a.m., on January 11, at Reeves
County Jail on a warrant for Theft over $500 under $1,500 _ Class A.
***
Annette Deihl, 34, was arrested at 10:06 a.m., on January 10, in the 100
block of North Alamo Street on a Ward County warrant for Theft over $20
under $500.
***
Lee Arredondo, 20, was arrested at 10:47 p.m., on January 9, at the Reeves
County Sheriff's Office for No Operating License, Defective Equipment and
Violation of Promise to Appear..
***
Jason Ephriam, 27, was arrested at 10:47 p.m., on January 9, at the Reeves
County Sheriff's Office for Theft by Appropriation _ Class B.
***
Jose Manuel Garcia, 48, was arrested at 8:44 a.m., on January 8, at the
corner of 10th and Cypress streets for Parole Violation.
***
Ismael Salcido Menchaca, 26, was arrested at 1:31 p.m., on January 8,
at the corner of Fifth and Almond on a Ector County Warrant _ Failure to
Appear, Theft by Check.
Obituaries
Mauro Carrasco, Opal Lovelace and Edwin Meacham
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
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 2003 by Pecos Enterprise
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