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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

PHS names outstanding students for 2002-03

PECOS, Tues., April 29, 2003 -- Outstanding students at Pecos High School were recognized last Thursday evening during a special awards ceremony held in the auditorium.

The program started with the Pledge of Allegiance led by the student council president Phillip Salcido and introduction by PHS Principal Danny Rodriguez.

Outstanding Student Awards went to students for the outstanding performance and achievements in different courses.

In Language Arts, English I, Outstanding Student was Francisca Gonzalez; English I Pre AP, Luis Nunez; English II, DesaRay Goff; English II Pre AP, Jack Bradley; English III, Priscilla Barrera; English III AP, Olaide Olusanya; English III Concu, Alma Porras; English IV, Will Armstrong; English IV AP, Amanda Fleming; English/SOL I, Daniel Avila; English/SOL II, Anaiz Salgado; Comm. Appl., Jessica Florez; Journalism, Marcelo Salgado; Newspaper, Jena Cranfill; Photo Journalism, Fernando Lerma; Read Imp I, Guadalupe Bustamantes; Read Imp II Oscar Hernandez and Yearbook, Stephanie Arreguy.

Math Outstanding Students: Algebra I, Eufemia Gomez; Algebra II, John Clark; Algebra Plus, Jeremiah Lozano; Enh Algebra I, Lilliana Muro; Enh Algebra II, Candice Moore; Pre Calculus, Kaci Harrison; Calculus, Kristian Aguilar; Comp Sci I, GeNelle Willis; Comp Sci II, Amanda Tremble; Geom, Imelda Chavez; Geom Ehh, Jummy Akinyode and Math Models w/Appl., Vanessa Valencia.

In Science: Anat/Phys, Amanda Armstrong; Astronomy, Alex Orosco; Biol I, Marcela Fierro; Biol I Pre AP, Roger Quintana; Chem, Sal Nichols; Concurr Biol, Phillip Salcido; Int Phy & Chem, Cathy Guebara; Physics, Ysidro Renteria; Pre AP Chem, Lauren Wein and Prin of Tech, Danielle Avila.

Social Studies: Eco, Betsy Lujan; Government, Lara Weinacht; U.S. History, Noel Tarin; U.S. History Enr, Lindsey Shaw; World History, Oscar Parada and W. Geo, Timothy Hardwick.

Outstanding Band Students included: Band I, Amanda Natividad; Band II, Sarah Clark; Band III, K.W. Winkles and Band IV, Savanna Orona.

Fine Arts: Art I, Bianca Guerrero; 2 Dimen Art Stu, Ignacio Aguilar; 3 Dimen Art Stu, Isis Baeza; Th Arts, Erica Caballero and Th Prod., Ana Carrasco.

Foreign Language: Latin I, Alexandrea Martinez; Latin II, Amie Reynolds; Latin III, Daniel Quintana; Span IE, Jessica Gonzales; Span IS, Arisay Reyes; Span II, Myra Payen and Span III, Joe Marruffo.

PE/Health: Boys Ath, Hugo M. Rodriguez; Boys PE, Hugo Rodriguez; Girls PE, Veronica Rivero; Found of Per. Fit., Laura Canales and Health, Matt Elliott.

Career and Technology Outstanding Students were: Accounting, Cynthia Pando; Administrative Procedures, Ramon Lujan; Business Computer Info. Systems I, Wil Kington; Business Computer Info. Systems II, Rigo Ramirez; Business Image Mgmt. And Multimedia, Jake Morton; Business Law, Annette Levario; Keyboarding, Evelyn Flores; Intro. to Criminal Justice, April Fuentes; Crime in America, Jessica Minjarez; Career Connections 1st semester, Christopher Orona; Career Connections 2nd semester, Cassie Reyes; Marketing Dynamics, Javier Ramirez; Principals of Marketing, Brenda Sotelo; Travel and Tourism Marketing, Erica Franco; Child Development, Edna Dominguez; Food Science and Technology, Mindi Harrison; Nutrition and Food Science, Abigail Romo; Preparation for Parenting, Nicole Bell; Personal and Family Development, Lilly Valdez; Applied Ag Science Technology, Shelly Martinez; Ag Structure, David Bradley; Animal Science, Jennie Canon; Intro Ag Mechanics, Sarah McKinney; Intro to World Ag, Andrew Grant; Leadership Development, Chase Laurence; Metal Fabrication Technology, David Elkins; Plant and Animal Production, Lauren Martinez; Wildlife and Recreation Mgmt, Ashley Horsburgh and Auto Technology II, Jesus Navarette.

Brothers among five going to state academic meet

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, Tues., April 29, 2003 -- Twin brothers, along with three other high school students, will be in Austin later this week to participate in University Interscholastic League State Academics Competition.

The group will be traveling to Austin to participate in the State Academics Meet for Class 3A, and will be leaving Thursday morning and returning Sunday to Pecos.

"We might get to compete as a team and one will definitely compete by himself on Saturday," said Pecos High School UIL Coordinator Bill Riggs.

The top teams compete and then a wild card is selected, a team from second place teams at regionals is chosen.

"That includes the teams that placed second at regionals as a team," said computer science teacher Sandra Overcash.

PHS Senior John Chappell placed third as an individual at regionals and will be competing on Saturday, while his twin brother, Allan will be going along as an alternate.

"The rest of the team is going in case first place Clyde drops out," said Riggs.

Riggs said that the group competed against about 12 teams at regionals. "John placed third at regionals out of 45, because teams also competed with a written test," said Riggs.

Riggs said that there were over 50 competitors at regionals. "John will be competing in computer science, which is part of academics for UIL," said Riggs.

"If somebody from the top three drops out, Allan gets to compete," he said.

Overcash said that she is very proud of the students going on to state. "They worked really hard and their efforts have paid off," she said.

John Chappell said that this is the first time he is going to state and is looking forward to it. "I don't think we'll be making the same at state, it's a whole lot harder than regionals," said Chappell. "Regionals was pretty easy to place in and state will be a lot harder."

Chappell said that he has been practicing extra hard to get ready for the state competition. "I've been studying on a test every other night, a practice test," said Chappell. "I'm satisfied that I'm going, because I wanted to get to state."

"I'm just happy to be competing," said Chappell.

"These are the first qualifiers in over five years, in academics, to be going to state," said Riggs. "I've been involved with the program for three years and I'm really proud of these guys."

Riggs said that the academics group had a record year. About 40 members participated in academics, "Which is the most we've had in over four years," said Riggs.

He added that even though the school and academics team would be losing the Chappell brothers, he felt that they're still going to have a strong program in the following years. "We had sophomores and freshman qualify for regionals, so I think we'll still have a strong program," said Riggs. "We had an individual as a freshman who qualified in his first year in academics."

Riggs said that he was proud of them and knew they had worked very hard to get where they were going.

Villalobos sees many changes in law enforcement career

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, Tues., April 29, 2003 -- After being in the field of law enforcement for over 26 years, a Pecos Police Officer says that he has seen a lot of things change from the time he began.

"Law enforcement has changed from when I started," Patrol Officer Felipe Villalobos said. "There is new technology, new laws and equipment."

Villalobos recalled when they had to use teletype machines to obtain drivers license and vehicle registration information. He said that the strand of information would come out in Morse code. It then had to be entered into another machine to print. The machine would not be able to print any information if the strand of paper was torn causing them to have to start all over.

"There is also more training," Villalobos said.

He also recalled that when he first began, if someone had a complaint against somebody they would arrest them immediately and ask questions later.

"Now there is a legal process we must follow," Villalobos said. "There must be probable cause, the complaint must make a statement and then sign it before a warrant can be issued."

Villalobos began his career in law enforcement after having several encounters with the law during his youth.

"If you can't beat them join them," Villalobos said. "One day I just woke up and decided that I wanted to be a police officer. So I went to school."

While in school he received an associate's degree in law enforcement and continued to get his masters license.

His first assignment was as a jailer at the Reeves County Sheriff's Department for five years under the supervision of Sheriff A.B. Neile. Villalobos continued to work there as deputy and then as chief deputy under the supervision of Sheriff Raul Florez.

While working at the Sheriff's Department, Villalobos said that he was must influenced by Gary Ingram who was Chief Deputy at the time.

"While I was at the Sheriff's Department, Gary Ingram was my ideal," Villalobos said. "I wanted to be like Gary Ingram. He influenced me a lot."

However, in 1993 Villalobos found himself without a job after the election of the new sheriff, Andy Gomez.

"In '93 the new sheriff, Andy Gomez got rid of us," Villalobos said. "I then became a reservist for the police department while at the same time substituting with the (Pecos-Barstow-Toyah) Independent School District."

He said that he scheduled his work by substituting during the day and working as a reservist at night.

It was not until 1996 that Villalobos became a full time officer with the Pecos Police Department during the tenure of Chief Troy Moore.

As things change with time, Villalobos said that the biggest difference in working at Sheriff's Department and the Police Department was the amount of traffic stops.

"The biggest difference is working traffic because at the Sheriff's Office there are more criminal cases," Villalobos said. "Here there are criminal cases plus traffic."

With two grandsons, Villalobos said that working school traffic is important to him.

"School traffic is my baby," Villalobos said. "It is my job to slow down those speeding in the school zones."

In regards to his two grandsons, he says that they enjoy the fact that their granddad is a police officer.

"They both get excited. They love it," Villalobos said. "They tease me about policemen eating donuts. However, they have donuts for me."

During his 26 years in law enforcement, Villalobos said that the hardest part of his job has been when he had a baby die in his arms.

"I and one other officer responded to a call where a baby was not breathing," Villalobos said. "We preformed CPR but we could not save him. He was six months old."

Villalobos said that he also recalls the aftermath of the 1987 Saragosa tornado that left 30 people dead.

"There were dead bodies everywhere," Villalobos said. "There are just no words to explain it."

However, Villalobos said that he would rather remember the good things about his job.

"I enjoy helping other people," he said. "You can tell right a way when the people are from out of town."

Though they may offer him money for helping them in getting their keys out of a locked car or helping them when they brake down, Villalobos said that his satisfaction is seeing the smile on their faces.

He added that he does not worry about what might happen to him while he is out on the job he just takes it one day at a time.

"You never know if you're going to go back home. That is a chance you have to take," Villalobos said. "If you worry about it then that is when you mess up."

If he could give advise to others wanting to pursue a career in law enforcement, Villalobos said that he would tell them to finish school and go to college and if possible have some military experience.

"Also if you pursue a career in law enforcement you must have a good wife that is understanding," Villalobos said. "That is why the Citizens Police Academy is good for police officers' wives. That way they can see what we go through."

Villalobos and his wife have also been foster parents to 25 children and he holds a masters license as a barber.

Early voting at deadline lags behind 2002's totals

ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, Tues., April 29, 2003 -- Individuals had until 5 p.m. today to cast their ballots early for the May 3 election, and will have 12 more hours on Saturday to vote in the year's local city and school elections.

Poll will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Community Center, 508 S. Oak Street, on Saturday, May 3.

So far, only about half as many voters have cast ballots early in the Pecos local elections as did a year ago. A total of 578 individuals had already cast their votes by early this morning and the poll was going to stay open until 5 p.m. Last year, 1,107 people voted early in the local elections.

"We had 233 ballots returned by mail," said early voting clerk Debbie Thomas. "I'm hoping that everyone that didn't get to vote early will come out on Saturday."

Thomas said that Pecos always has a better percent record of voters that vote than Odessa and Midland. "And I'm very proud of that," said Thomas. "Maybe it's because this is such a small town and everyone knows the candidates."

Thomas said that was one of the advantages of coming from a small town. "It's great that everyone cares about the issues and the outcome," she said.

Polls opened on April 16, at the Pecos Community Center, for the Town of Pecos City and Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD elections. Balmorhea voters also have been casting ballots early since that day, and also have a 5 p.m. deadline this afternoon for early voting.

Polls on Election Day will be open in Pecos for the city and school elections and in Toyah, Balmorhea and Saragosa for the school races. Barstow voters will also be casting ballots in the P-B-T ISD race, along with the special election to fill the vacant seat in the 19th Congressional District.

Four candidates are seeking two three-year terms in the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD race, while four candidates are seeking the three available two-year seats on the Town of Pecos City Council.

Incumbents David Flores and Steve Valenzuela are seeking new terms on the school board and are challenged by Randy Baeza and Amy Montgomery Miller.

In the city race incumbents Gerald Tellez and Frank Sanchez are seeking new terms, along with Danny Rodriguez and Mark Bragg.

In Balmorhea, Abel Baeza, Paul Matta, Courtney Mellard, Sharon Oates and Tommy Rey Dominguez are vying for the two seats on the Balmorhea School Board.

Loving County voters will also be casting ballots in the 19th Congressional District race on May 3. A total of 17 candidates are running in the race to succeed Republican Larry Combest.

Fishing tourney planned to fund area Boy Scouts

PECOS, Tues., April 29, 2003 -- The Buffalo Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America will hold a BSA Bass Classic II Fishing Tournament on Saturday at Lake Alan Henry.

The event is an individual open tournament with an advance entry fee of $50 or $60 on Saturday. Payout is over $3,000 for 10 places and there is a Big Bass Pot. There will also be a barbeque meal at the weigh-in, and awards.

The event will run from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the lake. For further information, call Warren Wallace at (915) 263-3407 or (915) 270-3507.

Quilt show set this Saturday in Balmorhea

PECOS, Tues., April 29, 2003 -- A Quilt Show will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday at the Balmorhea Library in Balmorhea.

The show is free to the public and everyone is invited to attend.

Weather

PECOS, Tues., April 29, 2003 -- High Mon. 94Low this morning 57Forecast for tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening: Then clearing. Lows in the mid 50s. SW winds 10 to 20 mph. Wed.: Sunny and windy. Highs in the upper 80s. SW winds 10 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Wed. night: Clear. Lows in the mid 50s.

Obituaries

Delia Guerrero and Benino Sanchez Jr



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
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