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Tuesday, March 11, 1997

Donations bring new world of sounds

to hearing-impaired first grade student


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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 11, 1997 - A little Austin Elementary student received a
special treat recently when she was actually able to hear a whisper and
the cries of little baby goats - something she had never been able to do
before.

Thanks to the community pulling together for 6-year-old Stephanie
Laurence, her hearing has improved dramatically.

"She knew what a whisper was because we described it to her, but she had
never heard one," said Karen Pogue, speech interpreter for Stephanie,
who is a first grade student at Austin Elementary School and the
daughter of Vicki and Paul Laurence.

Efforts began late last year to raise funds to purchase new hearing aids
for Stephanie, who has a profound hearing loss and could only pick up a
limited range of sounds with her old hearing aids.

The family, along with her school teachers, had been seeking to get her
a new hearing aid system that would help her learning abilities.

Pogue, the only certified speech interpreter in the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
school district, has been working with Stephanie for the past couple of
years.

Stephanie's Audiologist, Lourdez D. Zamora-Fierro of Odessa, had
recommended the ReSound Hearing Aid System. The system, which cost about
$4,000, can be adapted to be used with an auditory trainer for even
greater benefit.

She received the new hearing aids recently and has been wearing them to
class and at home.

Jane Green, Stephanie's first-grade teacher said, "we are extremely
pleased with her progress this year, but more so now."

"We have already noticed a huge difference," said Pogue. "Her mother
just couldn't believe the difference."

"She's doing really well, especially in spelling," said Pogue.

"Green is also an excellent teacher, a real hands-on teacher who has
really helped us this year," said Pogue.

Stephanie who loves to listen to music had only been able to hear it
with the volume set at an ear-splitting level, according to Pogue.

"When she was listening to it with the new hearing aids, her mother
noticed that she turned it down to regular hearing level instead of the
ear-piercing one she had been accustomed to," said Pogue.

The true test was to actually watch Stephanie and her reaction to the
many sounds around her, according to Pogue.

"She's now hearing sounds at speech level and whispers just fascinate
her," said Pogue.

This will enable Stephanie to produce better speech and to enable her to
write better.

"She can write a letter and things and her hearing is at level of speech
instead of having to talk louder," said Pogue.

She gave special thanks to Security State Bank and the community in
general for pulling together for one of their own.

"They really came through with the Lion's Club providing the last of the
funding," said Pogue.

Most of the funds came from the community itself and special customers
of Nelda Laurence at the bank.

"Of course, she took a special interest, since (Stephanie) is her
granddaughter," said Pogue.

But the little first grader is very much loved and appreciated by
everyone, especially her classmates.

The hearing aids are attached to the auditory trainer. The are adapted
to wear everyday, and also muffle side sounds such as shuffling and
chairs scraping, which enables her to hear other things better.

"It balances background noise," said Pogue.

"In addition it's more receptive, able to monitor loud sounds and are
definitely more efficient," said Pogue.

She will someday also be able to talk on the phone, pick up smaller
noises and different animal sounds.

"Now she'll be able to hear the little baby goats, which are some of her
favorites," said Pogue.

Pogue and Green thanked everyone for their efforts in making their dream
a reality and helping one little girl accomplish her dream.

"We're just very excited," said Pogue.

Agents update Commissioners on ag projects


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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, March 11, 1997 - Reeves County Commissioners received an update
from the county's extension agents on their activities during the
morning portion of Monday's regular commissioners court meeting.

C.W. Roberts and Carol Mowery briefed the court on the many projects
both have been diligently working on.

"We've been trying to locate some more farmers, individuals who would be
willing to come in and occupy some of the vacant land," said Roberts. He
told the court that some farmers in the Panhandle have been showing some
interest in occupying some of the dormant farmland currently available
in Reeves County.

Roberts also said that he has been working with several youth projects
and agriculture programs, which are his main focus at this time.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Herman Tarin thanked Roberts and stated that he
knew that there was one particular New Mexico farm worker that would be
coming to Pecos.

"It sounds like a real positive thing, for the community," said Tarin.

County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo asked Roberts to help the county establish
a public nursery and use the trees and plants at private rights of way,
ballparks and along roadways.

"This effort would not compete in any way with the private sector,
because the plants would be used at the golf course, museum and other
public places," said Galindo.

"I think there's a lot we can do, I think we can go a long way in
beautifying our community," he said.

Galindo stated that this would help the work which already has been
completed by the Texas Department of Transportation along U.S. 285 on
the south side of Pecos.

Mowery told commissioners she was planning to retire as of May 31 and
urged them to hire someone to replace her and keep the programs see
oversees going.

"You'll certainly be greatly missed," said Galindo.

Mowery updated the court on the two important projects undertaken this
year.

"The food safety program was a big success, we had about 14 enrollees,
with seven from Reeves County and they all passed the test and received
their certificates," said Mowery.

The Diabetic Workshop held in September was also termed a "success" with
about 27 attending and several guest speakers.

"Plans are already underway for another one later in the year and we are
already working on the Health Fair set for April," said Mowery. "Already
there are about 47 enrolled in the health fair."

Sue Toone, a volunteer, has organized a group of women who are making
quilts and baby clothes for premature babies and delivering them to
hospitals and to needy families, according to Mowery.

District Extension Agent Mary Strickland also urged commissioners to
keep the programs going by replacing Mowery with another agent and
funding the position.

Galindo assured them that the court would do everything to help and they
would support the program, which targets Reeves County youth.

Commissioners broke for lunch and resumed the meeting at 1:30 p.m. In
the afternoon portion of the meeting the group agreed to hiring a
Housing Rehabilitation Inspector out of Midland; to advertise
authorizing requests for proposals for additional grant administration
services for the 1995 Housing Rehabilitation Texas Community Development
Program and to authorize requests for proposals for Housing
Rehabilitation Management Services for the 1995 Housing Rehabilitation
Texas Community Development Project.

The court agreed to hire housing inspector Gilbert Rendon at $8.17 an
hour, at 80 hours with the funds being taken out of the legal line item.

Rendon has already been in Pecos inspecting the 13 homes which were
targeted under this specific HOME grant.

"He will give us an estimate as to how much is lacking in each of these
homes and how much more it will cost us," said Galindo.

He said the contractors should also be held accountable for not
finishing the work that they began and should reimburse the county for
whatever funds are expended due to this oversight.

"He (Rendon) said he saw something in the range of $15,000 to complete
the homes which are already begun," said Galindo.

The county judge is planning a trip to Austin to clarify this matter and
to apply for further funding.

In order to become eligible, the community must provide at least 50
percent of the total TCDP funds awarded under the current contract
within 12 months of the contract's starting date or prior to the April
25 application deadline. This means that at least 50 percent of the TCDP
funds must be provided locally through contracts for administrative or
engineering services, acquisition, construction, materials purchase, or
other contract activity.

"The activities themselves do not have to be 50 percent completed, nor
the funds 50 percent expended; they must, however, be obligated through
contracts," said Galindo.

Galindo and grant administrator Mari Maldonado have been working to meet
the HOME guidelines and are also working on completing the homes which
were left incomplete under the old housing rehabilitation grant.

"Less than 100 percent of the work has been completed and we need to do
for the homes what we said we would," said Galindo.

Personnel and salary changes included hiring a new deputy at the Reeves
County Sheriff's Department. James Blackwell will work as a full-time
deputy with the department at $19,720 a year. Tony Aguilar was promoted
to Deputy III at an annual salary of $20,281.

Christy Rodriguez will be working part-time in the county clerk's office
at a rate of $5 an hour.

In other business, the court approved minutes from previous meetings,
semi-monthly bills and reports from the various departments.

The item of position descriptions at the Reeves County Detention Center
was tabled due to the fact that not enough information was available at
this time.

Jurors quick to convict pot smuggling suspect


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, March 11, 1997 - It took a federal jury only about 10 minutes
Monday to find Enrique Hernandez-Silva of Arlington guilty of possession
with intent to distribute marijuana.

Testimony in the case began at 1:30 p.m., and the verdict was rendered
about 5:30 p.m. He will be sentenced May 12.

U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson continued hearings and sentencings
until 9 p.m., then started again early today.

Among those sentenced was Peggy Dohn Good of Odessa, who had earlier
pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Crying as she begged for mercy, Good said she didn't realize until she
was on her way to Alpine with a DEA agent after her arrest that she
could lose her son.

"I made a very stupid mistake I won't ever do again," Good told Judge
Furgeson. "I had a good life, and I ruined it, but I have a chance to
fix it, and I am asking you to give me that chance."

Judge Furgeson said he believes Good has seriously thought about her
crime and "have had a wake-up call."

"Two years ago, you would be looking at 60 months, and nothing anybody
could do about it," he said. "I take you at your word. I think you mean
it, and I think you will make it. But if you make one mis-step, if you
do anything wrong, I am going to throw the book at you."

Probation is rare in federal court, but Judge Furgeson departed 11
levels downward from sentencing guidelines to place Good on four years
probation with stringent special terms, including home confinement for
three months, and a $1,200 fine.

"The way you can thank me is to dot every `i' and cross every `t', do
everything I ask you to do; I will be very pleased," Judge Furgeson said.

Judge Furgeson departed downward for the next defendant this morning, as
well. Oscar Baeza-Carrasco of Mexico pleaded guilty to violating his
supervised release on a previous conviction by returning to the U.S.
illegally.

While the maximum sentence is 12 months, Judge Furgeson gave Baeza six
months to serve, on top of the 24-month sentence he received on the
first conviction. Since it is required the sentences be served
consecutively, that gave Baeza 30 months to serve.

Adolfo Renteria-Hernandez failed to appear for sentencing, and Judge
Furgeson issued a warrant for his arrest.

Drought loans available through Stockton office


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PECOS, March 11, 1997 - Applications for emergency loans for losses
caused by drought occurring from October 1, 1995 through July 10, 1996,
and continuing dought losses are now being accepted at the Farm Service
Agency office in Fort Stockton, said William H. McAnally, manager.

Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties were recently named by
Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman as eligible for loans to cover
part of actual production losses resulting from the drought.

Also eligible as contiguous disaster counties are Culberson, Hudspeth,
Pecos, Reeves and Terrell.

McAnally said farmers may be eligible for loans of up to 80 percent of
their actual losses or the operating loan needed to continue in
business, whichever is less.

For farmers unable to obtain credit from private commercial lenders, the
interest is 3.75 percent.

"As a general rule, a farmer must have suffered at least a 30 percent
loss of production to be eligible for an FSA emergency loan," McAnally
said.

Farmers participating in the Federal Crop Insurance will have to figure
proceeds from those programs in determining their loss.

Applications will be accepted until April 23 for Culberson, Jeff Davis
and Reeves counties; until June 23 for Brewster, Pecos and Terrell; and
Aug. 18 for Presidio and Hudspeth counties, but farmers should apply as
soon as possible, McAnally said.

"Delays in applying could create backlogs in processing and possibly
over into the new farming season," McAnally said.

Man on the moon on the web


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In 1969, NASA put a man on the Moon. In 1997, NASA takes you there...and
beyond.

NASA's Observatorium Web site -- located at http://observe.ivv.nasa.gov
--
has entered cyberspace with a fascinating Internet window to the best of
NASA's Earth and space knowledge.

NASA's Observatorium combines years of NASA exploration and discovery
with
the latest Web technology, giving visitors a site that's literally out of
this world.

All your NASA favorites are here. Earth and space photos. The space
shuttle. The Hubble Space Telescope. Planets. Comets. Black holes.
Eclipses...a body of knowledge as vast and varied as the universe itself.

With content like the continually updated "Observation of the Week" to
in-depth articles on NASA projects, both acclaimed and inconspicuous,
NASA's Observatorium showcases the agency that personifies American
spirit
and ingenuity.

Included today in NASA's Observatorium's galaxy:

* SPACE SCIENCE. What lies beyond our Big Blue Marble? Here's info on
NASA's planetary and deep space exploration programs, astronomy, and the
origins of life.

* GALLERY. A picture is worth more than a thousand words when the images
are as unique as these. Your favorite NASA photos are here.

* PLANET EARTH. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you the Earth
is
changing and humans are influencing, and being influenced by, these
changes. Here, NASA turns inward as it studies the Earth, the most
remarkable planet of all.

* FUN & GAMES. Who says science can't be fun? Play "Concentrate!,"
"Slider
Puzzle," and many more online games.

* SPACEFLIGHT. "Houston, Tranquility Base here..." "one small step..."
"Shuttle is go for launch..." See how NASA programs for humans in space
will increase our knowledge of nature's processes and enrich our lives
here
on Earth.

* EDUCATION. Our future astronauts are online today. Here, NASA provides
ideas and material for teachers and students through its many programs
and
centers.

* AERONAUTICS. NASA is taking the technological lead in developing
tomorrow's safer, more efficient aircraft.

* SEARCH. Looking for something specific? Try NASA's Observatorium search
engine and discover scientific finds of your own.

NASA's Observatorium is a cooperative agreement among NASA, BDM Federal,
and West Virginia University. It promotes NASA technology via the
Internet.

OBITUARY


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Felix Flores

A rosary for Felix Salcido Flores, 64, who died Sunday, Mar. 9, at the
Anaheim Western Medical Center in Anaheim, Calif. will be said Wednesday
at 7 p.m. at the Miller Jones Mortuary in Sun City, Calif.

Funeral service will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent Catholic
Church in Sun City. A burial will follow at the Riverside National
Veterans Cemetery.

Flores, who lived in Manifee, Calif., was born in Pecos on March 29,
1932. He was a longtime resident of Pecos before moving to California.

A retired supervisor for the Econolite manufacturing firm of traffic
signals, Flores was also a veteran of the Korean War with the U.S. Army
and a Catholic.

He is survived by his wife, Esperanza Flores of Manifee; one son, Fred
Flores of Fullerton, Calif.; two daughters, Nelda Marquez and Elizabeth
Flores both of Anaheim; three brothers, Ramon Flores of Paradise,
Calif., Cruz Florez of Placentia, Calif. and Rey Florez of Crockett,
Texas; four sisters, Genoveva Talamantes of Pecos, Frances Villalobos of
South Gate, Calif., Inez Tercero of Hawthorne, Calif. and Lily Ruiz of
Lawndale, Calif. and six grandchildren.

WEATHER


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High Monday 70, low last night 46. Tonight, mostly cloudy. A 30 percent
chance of showers or thunderstorms. Low 45-50. South wind 5-15 mph.
Wednesday, mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of showers or
thunderstorms. High 65-70. South wind 5-15 mph.
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