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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Monday, August 11, 2003
Tournament raises funds to help Matas
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Aug. 11, 2003 -- A former major leaguer from West Texas and
the mascot for the area's minor league team were part of the opening ceremonies
Saturday morning at Martinez Field, for the Johnny V. Mata Memorial Baseball
Tournament, put on by the West Texas Old-timers League.
Carlsbad, N.M. ended up taking first place in the eight-team tournament,
which started off Saturday morning with opening ceremonies honoring the
family of Mata, a member of the 507th Maintenance Company who was killed
on March 23 when his unit was ambushed by Iraqi forces near the town of Nasiriyah,
three days after the start of the war.
Former major leaguer and Midland native Randy Velarde was on hand for
the opening ceremonies, as was Rocky Rockhound, the mascot for Midland's
Class AA team, who presented Mata's family with items donated by the club.
Mata's father, Mingo, threw out the first pitch to catcher Danny Florez
of Greenwood, which faced Pecos in the first game of the two-day tournament.
Greenwood, which included several former Pecosites, including Florez, placed
third in the tournament, with money made over the weekend going towards a
scholarship fund for the family.
Velarde, who had a career .276 batting average, attended the opening ceremonies
on Saturday after being honored the previous night by the Rockhounds, the
farm club of one of the four major league teams he played for, the Oakland
A's. He was asked to make the trip to Pecos by Florez, who was one of the
organizers of this weekend's Old Timers tournament.
"As soon as I heard about this I knew I was going to do it," he said.
"It's going for a good cause, being able to help out the Mata family any
way I can."
Velarde was accompanied to Pecos by the Rockhounds' mascot, Rocky, and
they presented autographed bats to Mata's widow, Nacili, and their children,
Stephani and Eric.
"It really has been a busy weekend, but it's be a really enjoyable one,
to be the first recipient of the Ring of Honor (at First American Bank Ballpark
in Midland), and it's exciting to be able to participate in this special
event."
Velarde played against some of the Pecos players who were in this weekend's
tournament back in high school, when he was a member of the Midland Lee
Rebels in 1980-81. He then attended Lubbock Christian University before
being drafted by the Chicago White Sox. He played there, and also spent time
with the A's, Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees before announcing his
retirement this past winter.
"I always come back to Midland. I always called this home and have come
back to Midland to see all my friends and family," he said.
Velarde said that it had gotten tougher in his last two seasons in the
majors to maintain the playing level needed to compete for a championship,
and added that at age 40, he hasn't had any problems adjusting to retirement.
"The biggest part was saying goodbye to the guys. That's what any ballplayer
will tell you - it's not so much the game itself, but the teams you're a
part of. When you have to say goodbye to them, that's the part of the game
I really miss."
Barbeque was provided by El Pasoan Ken Krueger for the tournament, though
players and fans didn't need anything extra to get heated up on Saturday,
when Pecos' high temperature hit 116-degrees Things were a little bit cooler
for Sunday's final games, which ended about 10:30 p.m. with Carlsbad defeating
the Odessa Yankees in the title game.
Florez received the Johnny V. Mata Sportsmanship Award, while for the
Pecos 507th team that was one of the eight entries, pitcher Joey Gabaldon
and catcher Robert Abila earned all-tournament honors.
Tournament raises funds to help Matas
By JONFULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Aug. 11, 2003 -- A former major leaguer from West Texas and
the mascot for the area's minor league team were part of the opening ceremonies
Saturday morning at Martinez Field, for the Johnny V. Mata Memorial Baseball
Tournament, put on by the West Texas Old-timers League.
Carlsbad, N.M. ended up taking first place in the eight-team tournament,
which started off Saturday morning with opening ceremonies honoring the
family of Mata, a member of the 507th Maintenance Company who was killed
on March 23 when his unit was ambushed by Iraqi forces near the town of
Nasiriyah, three days after the start of the war.
Former major leaguer and Midland native Randy Velarde was on hand for
the opening ceremonies, as
Water supply to be limited in city Tuesday
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Aug. 11, 2003 -- The Town of Pecos City is asking everyone to
limit the use of water on Tuesday, due to the installing of a new water
tie-in leading into Pecos.
The City Water Department said that installation of the new line would
force crews to shut down the water being pumped into Pecos from the Ward
County and Worsham Fields. Because of that, the only water that will be
available would be what is accumulated throughout the night at the storage
tanks within the city limits.
Residents are asked only to use water for the highest-priority needs,
and avoid watering lawns or washing cars until the new lines are hooked
up and the water supply from the fields is restored.
Construction for the tie-in will begin at 4 a.m. and because they do
not know how long it will take asks that residents use only the water that
is necessary.
If anyone has any questions they can contact City hall at 445-2421 and
ask for Estella Munoz.
Galindo provides update on filling RCDC beds
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Aug. 11, 2003 -- Reeves County Commissioners went over a number
of items relating to the county's efforts to find prisoners to fill the
Reeves County Detention Center III facility this morning, during their regularly
scheduled meeting, but took no new action on those items.
County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo went over options for filling the facility,
lawyer and lobbyist contracts and the man-day rate paid to the county by
the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Galindo outlined what future steps are scheduled to be taken by the county
and federal officials for housing prisoners at the detention center, and
explained the county's reason for entering into contracts with Washington
D.C. attorney Joe Summerall and lobbyist Randy DeLay during a public comments
section of the meeting.
The 960-bed RCDC III was completed in March at a cost of $40 million,
and was expected to be filled by BOP inmates. But the agency has balked
at sending any new inmates to Pecos, to go along with the 2,000 housed in
the RCDC I and II units. The county faces a $950,000 bond payment on RCDC
III due on Sept. 1, which was to be paid by money paid to the county for
housing the inmates.
The county failed to get any new inmates following talks with BOP officials
in Washington on July 24, but did agree to a new man-day rate for prisoners
in RCDC I and II. Galindo said that while the new $47.33 rate is below the
$47.47 interim rate paid by the BOP and well below the $54.72 rate asked
for by Reeves County, it is higher than the 41.48 rate the county received
between February 2001, when RCDC II opened, and February of this year, when
the interim rate went into effect.
During the discussion on Summerall's contract, at a rate of $250 an hour,
Galindo said he would help the county work out a new contract with U.S.
Attorney General John Ashcroft's office. Under a change passed by Congress
two years ago, "Congress gave the U.S. Attorney General authority to negotiate
these services permanently," Galindo said.
Under the old rules, prison contracts with an intergovernmental provider
like Reeves County had to be renegotiated every three years, according to
Galindo, who added that talks with federal officials would be conducted
in Washington on Aug. 21.
"Within the next 30 to 60 days, we should be in the position of negotiating
with the U.S. Attorney General's office a new intergovernmental agreement,"
Galindo said. He added that Summerall has past experience working for the
BOP, and before that worked under Vice President Dick Cheney when he was
Secretary of Defense under the first President Bush in the early 1990s.
Summerall's deal is through the Barnes and Thornberg Law Firm. "He's
on an hourly basis when he's working for us. If not, he doesn't get paid,"
Galindo said.
He also defended the hiring of Randy DeLay of Public-Private Strategies,
Inc., on a 12-month contract at a total cost of $120,000.
"I understand we were not able to negotiate a contract with him on a
two or three month basis. We could only negotiate for a full year to get
his services," Galindo said, while adding, "Randy DeLay can represent our
political interests better than anybody else up there."
DeLay is the brother of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Galindo
said the county needs political influence in Washington to help get funds
appropriated for the RCDC. Galindo said earlier that budget shortages in
the BOP were in part to blame for the county's inability to get more prisoners.
"We never had to do this before, but this operation means so much to
the community, we can't leave this up to chances," he said while taking
questions from the public. "In these days of tight budgets, it's very important
that our interests be represented."
As far as the inmate options, Galindo went over the four items discussed
during the special meetings held by commissioners on July 30 and Aug. 4.
He did add that during talks with the U.S. Marshal's Service, the detention
trustee said 140 inmates would be sent to the RCDC III and that Marshal's
Service prisoners both from Arizona and out of the Western District of Texas
could eventually use between 600 and 700 beds at the facility.
"I met with their head in Arizona where they're paying $90 per day, so
if they use the RCDC they would cut their cost essentially in half," Galindo
said.
With the BOP, Galindo said they were seeking to get the agency's OK to
move inmates from RCDC I into RCDC III. That would allow man-day rates to
go towards the bond payment on the new building and permit the county to
begin renovations on the 17-year-old RCDC I structure.
County Auditor Lynn Owens said there was currently $1.6 million available
through bond revenues for repair work on RCDC I, which only has outstanding
bond payments of $600,000 annually. Bond payments looming for RCDC III come
to $450,000 per month.
Galindo said the plan would be to move inmates out of sections of RCDC
I while the work is done, but not to empty the entire 1,000-bed facility.
Those inmates moved would go to RCDC III. "We would move 864 inmates in
to III, and we would phase in inmates from I," he said. "The total population
would be between 2,500 and 2,700 at any given time."
The other two options would be for potential use by the Department of
Homeland Security to house illegal immigrants prior to deportation, and
by the State of Arizona to house its overflow inmates.
"DHS estimated about 80,000 would be deported in the very near future,"
Galindo said. "I have strong beliefs that the Department of Homeland Security
will have need of our beds in Reeves County." Talks on that are also scheduled
in Washington on Aug. 21.
Galindo said Arizona has looked at several other sites in Texas, Oklahoma
and Louisiana, but rated the RCDC III facility as it's best option. However,
any action had to await an investigation into the escape of two inmates
from a jail in Newtown County, along the Texas-Louisiana state line.
"One of the very positive terms of the draft contract with the state of
Arizona is they're willing to pay for 90 percent occupancy," Galindo said.
"Ninety percent occupancy is very favorable towards us on a short-term basis,"
Commissioners put the items on the agenda, but tabled any action, as
Galindo said the votes had already been taken in two special meetings, held
on July 30 and Aug. 4.
The Enterprise filed a complaint on Aug. 4 alleging several violations
of the state Open Meetings Act by the Reeves County Commissioners' Court,
in connection with recent meetings dealing primarily with actions on the
Reeves County Detention Center.
Enterprise Publisher Smokey Briggs said that he filed the complaint with
Reeves County District Attorney Randy Reynolds, stating that he believed
that the two meetings held by the Commissioners' Court violated the law
in several ways.
"First, the notice as posted by the Court did not comply with the law.
When an emergency meeting is called the notice has to clearly identify what
the emergency is and neither notice did this," Briggs said.
Registration starts for Bessie Haynes incoming students
PECOS, Mon., Aug. 11, 2003 -- Bessie Haynes Elementary will hold registration
hours for students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades, beginning today
and continuing through Wednesday, August 13.
Students entering the fourth grade will register today, from 5 p.m. to
6:30 p.m., fifth graders will register Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
and sixth graders will register Wednesday, also from 5 p.m., until 6:30
p.m.
Booster Club meeting tonight
PECOS, Mon., Aug. 11, 2003 -- The Pecos Eagle Athletic Booster Club will
hold its first meeting for the 2003-04 school year this evening at the Pecos
High School cafeteria.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and everyone is invited to
attend.
Weather
PECOS, Mon., Aug. 11, 2003 -- High Sat. 116. High Sun. 105. Low this morning
75. Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. East winds
5 to 15 mph. Tues.: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. NE winds 5 to 15
mph. Tues. night: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the
lower 60s. Wed.: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the
mid 80s.
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.
***
Adelina Sauceda, 41, was arrested at 10 p.m., on August 10, at the corner
of Seventh and Palm streets on a Reeves County Sheriff's Office warrant
for motion to revoke - theft by check and a Reeves County Sheriff's Office
warrant for theft by check.
***
Jacobo Jasso, 37 and Gypsy Montanez, 25, were arrested at 2:57 a.m.,
on August 10, in the 2100 block of Wyoming. Jasso was arrested for family
violence act and Montanez was arrested on an Ector County Sheriff's Office
warrant for theft by check - class B.
***
Jose Bustamante, 47, was arrested at 1:23 a.m., on August 18, in the
1100 block of South Elm Street for public intoxication.
***
Israel Matta, 18, was arrested at 1:46 a.m., on August 9, in the 1600
block of W. Third Street on a warrant for evading arrest or detention - class
B.
***
Frankie Menchaca, 30, was arrested at 12:09 a.m., on August 9, at the
Suavecito Club in the 900 block of South Cedar Street for enhanced public
intoxication - class B.
***
Jaime Natividad, 20, was arrested at 7 a.m., on August 8, in the 200
block of North Cedar Street for public intoxication.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 5:50 p.m., on August 8, in the 200
block of North Cedar Street for violation of probation.
***
Dalia Hinojos, 20, Abel Lopez, 19, Kimberly Ortega, 17, Robert Natividad,
Jr., 19, Amy Vela, 17 and two female juveniles were arrested at 12:46 a.m.,
on August 8, at the City Pool for evading arrest - class B.
***
A male juvenile and Jose Martinez, 18, were arrested at 8:17 a.m.,
on August 7, in the 600 block of South Eddy Street for burglary of a building
- state jail felony.
***
Oscar Archuleta, Jr., 20, was arrested at 8:48 p.m., on August 6, in
the 300 block of Cherry on a warrant for minor in possession and a warrant
for violation promise to appear.
***
Pedro Chavez, 84, was arrested at 9:33 p.m., on August 5, in the 200
block of South Cedar Street on a warrant for failure to yield the right
of way, a warrant for liable insurance proof and a warrant for violation
promise to appear.
***
Kimberly Mendoza, 25, was arrested at 12:47 p.m., on August 5, in the
1200 block of South Cherry Street on a warrant for assault causing bodily
injury - class A.
***
Rodolfo Granado, 69, was arrested at 12:21 a.m., on August 5, in the
600 block of South Sycamore Street for public intoxication.
***
Sergio Cerna, 19, was arrested at 12:38 a.m., on August 3, in the 1400
block of East Fourth Street for public intoxication - family violence act.
***
Dante Cerna, 24, was arrested at 2:55 a.m., on August 3, in the 400
block of Sunset for family violation act.
***
Alvaro Adame was arrested at 2:45 a.m., on August 2, on the corner
of Seventh and Locust streets on a sheriff's warrant for making beer available
to minors.
***
Benjamin Orosco, 35, and Moncerrat Orosco, 42 were arrested at 8:21
p.m., on July 31, in the 100 block of South Cedar Street. Benjamin was arrested
on a Ward County Sheriff's Office warrant for failure to appear - driving
while intoxicated - class B. Moncerrat was arrested for two capias warrants
for public intoxication.
Obituaries
Cypriano E. Gomez, Melchor Chavez, Janis Kay Fitzpatrick, Ermila Mongarro and Victor Prieto
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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