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Brownlee, who swept to District 4-4A and Region I-4A titles in April,
is a perfect 9-for-9 this season in taking those two events. On Friday,
he'll try to do it for the 10th and final time this season, at the
University Interscholastic League Class 4A Track and Field Championships
in Austin.
"I'm really excited about it. I've been working towards it since my
sophomore year," Brownlee said Wednesday. "All the time I've spent
running and throwing really came into play."
Brownlee had to get off a 58-foot-2 throw on his final attempt on April
26 at the Region I-4A meet at San Angelo to be El Paso Burges' Tony
White. It was his best throw of the season and seeded him first in that
event at the state meet.
"I'm still in awe. He was beat, he was done," said coach Mike Ferrell,
after White got off a 56-11 effort on his final attempt to take the
lead. "But he went out there and just got it done.
"That's the first time I've heard him grunt (while throwing) all
season. It was awesome," Ferrell said.
After playing on the Eagles' varsity football team as a junior, knee
problems contributed to Brownlee opting out of football this season
after the opening day of practice. But with his success this Spring in
track and field, Ferrell said the 6-foot-6 senior has attracted several
college offers.
"Angelo State has been in contact, but they can't do anything until
after the state meet," Ferrell said. "New Mexico State University has
contacted me, and Golden West (Track Meet) sent out an invitation. It's
the premiere track meet for high school kids, so it's quite an honor for
Bryan to be invited."
Brownlee will be trying to become the first double-gold medal winner
for Pecos at the UIL state track meet with victories in both events.
Willie Mata won a gold medal in the 800 meters and a sliver in the 400
meters at the 1994 Class 4A state meet, and also placed second in the
400 at state in 1995 after a third place finish as a sophomore in 1993.
In contrast, Brownlee virtually came from nowhere as a sophomore and
junior to dominate the shot put and discus in West Texas this year,
beating out Class 5A competitors at the Comanche and West Texas Relays,
along with his 4A rivals at other meets during the regular season.
"I threw 49 my sophomore year, and your supposed to improve six to
eight feet every year. Eight would be really good, but most of the time
six is about average," Brownlee said. He qualified for regionals as a
junior, but his 52-foot throw placed his second behind San Angelo Lake
View's Brandon Tinney.
"I lacked coaching my junior year. I had the basics down as a sophomore
from Mr. Wein (former coach Charlie Wein), but last year I had to pretty
much work on it myself.
"This year coach (Darrell) Erickson came out and really helped me," he
said. "I did a 180 degree with coach Erickson's help and increased my
discus by about 50 feet ... before I was going with pure strength. This
year I have a little bit better form.
Brownlee's throw of 182-foot-5 on April 5 at the Sandhills Relays in
Monahans is the second-best throw by any Class 4A competitor this year,
though his winning effort of just over 153 feet in the discus at
regionals left him left him seeded fifth on Friday at state.
After his personal-best effort in windy conditions at Monahans,
Brownlee won with the temperatures and the wind gusts both in the
mid-30s at the District 4-4A meet in Andrews with a 170-foot toss. That
throw came after he almost missed qualifying for the finals, scratching
on his first two tries.
"I had been sick the whole week and lost the feel for the discus. You
have to constantly practice or you lose your form. When I got back I
wasn't paying attention to my form or where I was stepping, just where
the discus was landing," Brownlee said. He qualified for the finals on
his third and final attempt in the prelims, then got off his winning
toss, while his brother Jeff placed second, 10 feet behind. Jeff also
qualified for regionals in the shot put, getting just over the 50-foot
mark to beat out Lake View's Cody Crill.
The weather was just as bad at regionals, with rain and temperatures in
the low-40s, which hampered all the competitors, especially during the
Friday evening discus competition.
"At San Angelo they were rushing things and didn't give us a chance to
dry off the ring. Coach Erickson gave me some pointers on how to throw
with wet ring, but I was slipping all over the place, and you have to
get balance to throw."
In-between those two meets - and on the only decent weekend of weather
in April - Brownlee competed with the Eagles' accounting team at the UIL
academic regionals in San Angelo. It was his only weekend away from the
shot and discus since the season opened in Fort Stockton on Feb. 22.
Barring a surprise cold front, temperatures in Austin should be the
best Brownlee has competed in since the Crane Relays back on March 1,
though the he would have preferred not having to compete back-to-back in
both events. The discus will start at 4 p.m. Friday at Clark Field,
adjacent to Memorial Stadium, just two hours after the shot put
competition begins.
"Personally, I would like to have it broken up into two days, because
it gives my arm a chance to rest," Brownlee said. "I'm not pleased with
having it on the same day, but I just have to take what they give me."
Along with Burges' White, who also qualified in both the shot put and
discus, LaMarque's Corey Middleton is expected to be Brownlee's main
competition, while Flour Bluff's Brandon Rodriguez also pulled off a
double-victory at regionals.
Middleton threw a 182-10 at regionals, and has thrown 183-3 this
season, and has gone just under 60 feet in the shot put. Rodriguez won
the Region IV-4A shot put with a 57-2 throw and took the discus by
throwing 174-4.
"If I was the young man from LaMarque, I wouldn't be going in gloating,
Ferrell said. "I really anticipate a lot of good things for Bryan. It's
kind of hard for me to hide my excitement for the young man."
PECOS, May 8, 1997 - A mayor pro-tem was appointed and a new council
member welcomed at this morning's regular Town of Pecos City Council
meeting.
A sad farewell was bid to current mayor pro-tem and long-time council
member Dr. Elvia Reynolds. Reynolds lost his bid for re-election in the
May 3 elections.
He was presented with a plaque for his dedication to the council and the
community by newly elected mayor pro-tem Danny Rodriguez, who stated
that Dr. Reynolds would be greatly missed and thanked him for his years
of dedicated service.
"I just hope I can a well a job as he has," said Rodriguez.
New council member Johnny Terrazas along with incumbents Randy Graham
and Gerald Tellez, Jr. were sworn in by city secretary Geneva Martinez.
Town of Pecos City Mayor Dot Stafford was unable to attend the meeting
due to an illness.
Two items on the agenda dealing with the Type IV landfill were tabled
until further information can be gathered. A committee composed of city
manager Kenneth Neal, councilman Gerald Tellez, Jr., a representative
from WesTex Waste, Armando Gil and Steve McCormick, had met previously
to get a cost analysis for the city to operate a Type IV landfill.
"I think we still need more time, to gather more information, there are
still some things we need to look at," said Tellez.
Committee members will meet again and will provide the council with a
report and discuss the possibility of taking action on a Type IV
landfill application permit.
In his report to the council, city manager Kenneth Neal, stated that the
landfill committee had met and reviewed all options. "My recommendation
to the mayor and city council is that we accept the proposal from WesTex
Waste to build and operate a transfer station for Pecos.
In the agreement, WesTex Waste agrees to allow any citizens having proof
of residency (i.e. water bill) may use the transfer facility free of
charge, once a month up to 250 pounds, 251 pounds-2,000 pounds there
will be a fee of $10 and from 2,001 pounds or more there will be a $35
per ton fee.
A cost estimate for the city was enclosed for the proposed arid exempt
trench.
Council members agreed to postpone further discussion on the matter and
to have a representative from architect Frank Spencer's office present
at the next committee meeting.
Council members approved a request from Texas-New Mexico Power Company
to move service to plane maintenance hanger and relocate primary feed to
jet hanger via overhead distribution at Pecos Municipal Airport.
"We're just going to relocate underground service to overhead service,"
said a TNMP representative.
The first reading of an ordinance to initiate sewer inflow/infiltration
abatement program regarding private sector was approved. "This ordinance
is part of a plan to correct sewer problems, in a more effective,
cost-saving manner," said city attorney Scott Johnson.
Council members approved an annexation application by Alex B. Salcido.
Salcido was not present for the meeting.
"Basically what he's trying to do is bring his house into the city
limits," said attorney Scott Johnson.
Salcido has met all the legal requirements to do this, according to
Johnson.
The only problem the home poses is that it is situated on top of a sewer
line which belongs to the city and if any problems occur the city will
have some problems getting to it, according to water superintendent
Octavio Garcia.
"He knew this when he moved his house there and I told him we wouldn't
be responsible if something happened to that sewer line because he knew
it was there," said Garcia.
Other items approved included the minutes from the previous meeting, and
monthly reports from municipal court and fire department.
When the self-styled ambassador of the Republic of Texas surrendered
Saturday, ``A lot of us cried,'' said Natasha Arzola, who moved with her
husband and seven children from the Texas coast last year to escape gang
problems and other pressures.
``We've wanted for so long to get him out,'' said Marjie Erkkila, who
operates the Wild Horse Hideout Art Colony in the resort.
McLaren and his wife, Evelyn, are being held in Presidio County Jail in
Marfa. McLaren faces state charges and has been indicted along with his
wife on federal charges accusing them of issuing $1.8 billion in phony
financial documents.
Two of the group's members fled into the mountainside from their
makeshift headquarters in remote West Texas, shortly before the standoff
ended.
One, Mike Matson, 48, was killed in a shootout with authorities Monday.
The search for the second man, Richard Frank Keyes III, ended Tuesday
night because authorities said he hasn't been spotted and the area is
too treacherous for search teams.
State officials and experts on the area's terrain say the elements will
be much harder on Keyes than the law would be.
``It wouldn't be surprising if deer hunters go into the mountains next
year and find Keyes' skeleton,'' Mike Cox, a spokesman for the Texas
Department of Public Safety, told the Houston Chronicle.
Said Dennis Miller, executive director of the Chihuahuan Desert Research
Institute in nearby Alpine: ``If you're active, walking around, the sun
will suck the moisture right out of you,''
Residents aren't thinking much about Keyes.
Sheriff Steve Bailey would like to bulldoze the filthy remains of
McLaren's travel-trailer embassy. Neighbors would like a return to
on-site mail service, which stopped in January when postal workers
refused to venture near the anti-American compound.
McLaren and his followers form one faction of the group, which believes
that Texas, formerly an independent republic, was illegally absorbed by
the United States in the 1840s. They maintain that Texas technically has
been independent since.
Ms. Erkkila, a sculptor, has been hosting Canadian painter Casey Bowman
during the siege. Bowman, an activist for aboriginal land rights in
Ontario, says he can understand someone who grows disenchanted with the
government's treatment of property.
His work in progress depicts the standoff. Images include a volcano,
swooping DPS helicopters, tank wheels crushing the Constitution and
McLaren himself.
Residents plan to discuss an urban-style neighborhood watch program
later this month, in part to prevent Republics of Texas from choosing
the remote resort for a base.
``We never thought we'd have to do something like that when we moved
here,'' Mrs. Arzola said. ``But none of us wants to go through this
again.''
PECOS, May 8, 1997 - The Texas Education Agency has placed Pecos
Elementary on its 1996-97 Honored Schools list. According to a letter
from Mike Moses, Commissioner of Education, the school met the criteria
of 70 percent or more of its participating Title I students passing the
reading and mathematics sections of the Texas Assessment of Academic
Skills (TAAS) tests in both the 1994-95 and 1995-96 school years.
"To achieve and maintain such high standards is an accomplishment that
serves as a model for other schools in the state to emulate," said Moses.
Pecos Elementary Principal Juanita Davila explained, "Title I is a
federal program that we have in our district, and our whole campus is
considered a Title I campus."
Title I helps Pecos Elementary to provide its students with extra
instruction in reading and mathematics. The additional instruction is
provided through the use of a CAI (Computer Aided Instruction) lab. "We
also have two Title I aides who work with the students in the
classrooms; one focuses on math, the other on reading," says Davila.
"Title I is based on the percentage of free and reduced price lunch
students that we have, and since so many of our students qualify, our
whole school qualifies as a Title I School," Davila said.
While that may at first sound like a disadvantage to the students'
educational prospects, Davila says this just isn't so. She says, "The
students are learning even though they don't have all the economic
advantages, and they're doing very well."
Davila also said that "regardless of their background, a child can
learn, and we're proving it with our test scores and awards."
PECOS, May 8, 1997 - Three Tejano bands, two with Pecos roots, will
perform at Saragosa Hall this weekend in a benefit sponsored by the
Pecos Optimist Club to raise funds for scholarships for Pecos High
School graduates.
Viento Loco, Imprezion and Imagen Latina will perform at the concert
which begins at 8 p.m. Saturday. Saragosa Hall is located at the corner
of 6th and Peach streets.
Viento Loco just performed at the San Jose, Calif. Cinco de Mayo
celebration with more than 500,000 people in attendance. The group also
participated in the city's Cinco de Mayo parade.
Esmi Talamantez, from Pecos, is the lead singer for Viento Loco. Esmi is
the sister of Ray Talamantez who used to play the trumpet with La
Sombra.
Esmi's first ambition was to be a song writer. She records on the Fono
Visa label, the recording company credited with discovering her voice.
Her first hit single, "Con el Tiempo," won her wide recognition. Her
second recording "Si supieras," was played throughout Texas. Esmi is
expected to perform "Todo mi amor" at the concert Saturday.
Esmi comes from a very musically talented family. Her sisters, Maria and
Ramona Talamantez, play the saxophone and trumpet as well as provide
backup vocals for Viento Loco. Their other brother, Abel Talamantez
sings with the popular group Menudo.
Also with Viento Loco is Aldo Ramon who plays the keyboard and saxophone.
All the members of Viento Loco are graduates from Pecos High School.
Imprezion, lead by Mark Alvarez, is the other group with Pecos ties.
The third group playing Saturday night is Imagen Latina from Houston.
All school board members were present except for Hugh Box. Freddy Lujan
was in the audience, but cannot participate in the meetings until he is
sworn into office. Armstrong and Lujan will be sworn into office during
the next school board meeting, which will take place at 6 p.m. on
Monday, May 19 in the P-B-T school board room at 1304 S. Park St.
The May school board meeting was originally scheduled for tonight but
was postponed.
According to Linda Gholson, P-B-T school board president, the meeting
was postponed because of a scheduling conflict. Someone made a mistake
and scheduled the sports banquet for tonight also, and the school
administration feels that it is important that they attend all school
functions.
By the time it was realized that both events were set for the same
night, the banquet tickets had already been printed and the speaker had
been booked. Therefore, the meeting was rescheduled, and the date of May
19 was chosen because there are no apparent conflicts on that date.
The Student Art Festival is in its Tenth year, and this year there was a
very good turn out to support these young artists.
The winners of the festival are listed below by grades.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Best of Show
1-4 Grades - Joe Rudy Rodriquez-3rd Grade
5-8 Grades - Michael Orona - 5th Grade
9-12 Grades - Raymond Rayos - 11th Grade
1st Place
1-2 - Ruben Cervantes
3-4 - Joe Rudy Rodriguez
5-6 - Michael Orona
7-8 - Jose Sauceda
High School - Raymon Rayos
2nd Place
1-2 - Graviel Renteria
3-4 - James Tarin
5-6 - Emily Baeza
7-8 - Susana Garcia
High School - Santos Valles
3rd Place
1-2 - Eric Hernandez
3-4 - Amanda Jasso
5-6 - Mindie Harrison
7-8 - Chris Fuentez
High School - Tommy Foster
Honorable Mention
1st Place
1-2 - Rodney Fuentez
3-4 - Marcela Garcia
5-6 - Vanessa Natividad
7-8 - Chris Natividad
High School - Veronica Romero
Honorable Mention
2nd Place
1-2 - Felicia Licon
3-4 - Joann Gurule
5-6 - Joe Jr. Hernandez
7-8 - Jennifer Jaramillo
High School - Margie Rayos
Honorable Mention
3rd Place
1-2 - Matthew Florez
3-4 - Jo Gina Gallego
5-6 - Adolfo Garcia, Jr.
7-8 - Jaxon Weidner
High School - Edward Hernandez
The pictures taken at the Art Festival will be available at the Musuem
for $1.00 on a first come first serve basis.
ODESSA, May 8, 1997 - Federico Lozano, Sr., 66, died Thursday, May 7 at
Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.
A rosary will be held on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at Christ the King
Catholic Church in Balmorhea. Mass is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m.
at Christ the King Catholic Church with burial in Balmorhea Cemetery.
He was born March 2, 1931 in Balmorhea and a Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Lucia M. Lozano of Balmorhea; two sons,
Freddy Lozano of Alpine, Eddy Lozano of Balmorhea; two stepsons, Joe
Fuentez of Balmorhea, Robert Fuentez of Austin; three daughters, Marcy
Lozano of Austin, Betty Jean Lozano and Betty Sanchez of Balmorhea;
three stepdaughters Adela Snellenberger of Pecos, Clara Fuentez and
Olivia Reyes of Houston; one brother, George Lozano of Balmorhea; four
sisters, Adela Martinez of Odessa, Leonor Rivera of Oklahoma, Cecilia
Millan of Pecos, Petra Chacon of Odessa and 27 grandchildren.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PECOS, May 8, 1997 - High Wednesday 102, low this morning 65. Tonight,
mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. some storms could
be severe. Low in the lower 50s. East wind 5-15 mph, shifting to
northeast and increasing to 15 25 mph and gusty during the evening.
Friday, mostly cloudy and cooler. A 30 percent chance of showers. high
65 70. Northeast wind 10-20 mph.
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