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TOP STORIES
June 13, 1997
Relatives taking action in shooting
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By EDUARDO MONTES
Associated Press Writer
REDFORD (AP) June 13, 1997 - Where once there was only grief and
unfocused anger, there is now action over a teen-ager's death at the
hands of a U.S. Marine on a border drug patrol.
The family of Ezequiel Hernandez Jr., an 18-year-old Presidio High
School student shot within hailing distance of his home, is laying the
groundwork for a potential legal battle with the government.
"I'm going to try to do everything that's possible so that there is
justice done and so that it won't happen again," said Margarito
Hernandez, the teen-ager's elder brother.
Hernandez's survivors have gone to a Presidio County court to establish
the teen's estate formally and plan to file an administrative claim in
federal court seeking some kind of reparations for his death.
The Federal Tort Claims Act allows such claims to seek compensation for
injuries caused by federal employees, including military personnel,
acting in their official capacity.
A claim could request a variety of remedies, including monetary
compensation. Family attorney Dan Estrada has declined to discuss
specifics of the Hernandez case.
Residents are exploring the possibility of filing a class-action lawsuit
against government agencies, he added.
La Follette said any legal filings would be coordinated to coincide with
the family's own legal efforts.
Estrada said Hernandez's claim won't be filed for another few weeks.
"We will take a step at a time, and if necessary, if the claim is denied, then a wrongful death suit will follow," said Estrada.
PBT board addresses dress code, discipling
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By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 1997 - A controversial Pecos High School dress code
issue will be merged for discussion with discipline issues during the
July Pecos-Barstow-Toyah I.S.D. board meeting, board members decided
during last night's meeting.
Trustee Earl Bates asked to have the dress code item merged with the
discipline item on last night's agenda because the two items are closely
related. In fact, the dress code became an issue as a result of
discussions on a perceived discipline problem several months ago.
Bates said that the dress code was originally an item way down on the
list of problems regarding the larger discipline issue, and he doesn't
want the "dress code to be a smoke screen," for what he says is the real
issue, discipline.
"If that's what you want," said board president Frank Perea, when school
board members expressed the desire to reunite the two issues.
"We as board members must take some of the blame," Perea said about all
of the controversy surrounding the school board's decision to make
several revisions to the high school's dress code at their February
meeting.
"We approved the dress code the night it came before us without
question. We assumed it was for the next school year," Perea said.
"Don't we have a dress code in the high school handbook?" asked
Secretary Daisy Roquemore. "Then we actually have two dress codes in
effect, because we never voted to abolish the old dress code before
adopting the new one."
Trustee Linda Gholson asked that there be a final report made on the
issue at the July meeting.
Perea suggested that there be a meeting set up between a group formed by
parents who became involved when the dress code was revised in February,
P-B-T ISD Superintendent Mario Sotelo and campus principals to discuss
the dress code/discipline issue. Perea asked that all concerned parties
work together on a report to present at the July meeting.
Louis Matta, spokesman for the group of concerned parents agreed to meet
with Sotelo, teachers and administrators to work on the issue as Perea
suggested, but asked that students also be involved.
Perea asked Trustee Freddy Lujan and the school board's vice president,
Alberto Alvarez, to also participate in the meeting to discuss the dress code/discipline issue.
Sale benefits hospice patients
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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 1997 - Lamps, flower arrangements, some furniture and a
little bit of everything will be for sale. But remember it's for a good
cause!
The Hospice Garage Sale will be held beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, June
21, at the Professional Building parking lot at the corner of Daggett
and Eddy streets and is being sponsored by American Home Health and
Hospice.
"We're having fund-raiser to help hospice patients who are indigent,"
said Ava Gerke.
Gerke stated that anyone wishing to donate items can take them to the
American Home Health building, 315 S. Oak by Wednesday, June 18.
"Or they can call us and we'll be happy to pick up the items," she said.
The funds raised will be for those hospice patients who are non-funded,
according to Gerke.
Gerke explained that the agency has a lot of patients who have no means
of income and the money raised will be to buy pain control medication.
"Hospice admits all patients regardless of their ability to pay," said
Gerke.
A lot of hospice patients develop specific nutritional needs, which are
also sometimes not met, without the appropriate funds and this funding
will help to buy the necessary items needed by the patient, according to
Gerke.
"All these funds will be used for direct patient care, for dying
patients," said Gerke.
Any items that individuals would like to donate will be accepted, such
as clothing, furniture, kitchen items, towels, linens and especially
crafts.
"We also need volunteers, not just for this fund-raiser, but throughout
the year," said Gerke.
Volunteers are needed to sit with the patients, run errands for them and
basically just help out with the dying individual.
"All these funds will go toward direct care of terminal patients," said
Gerke.
Individuals who make a donation will receive a receipt so that their
item can be tax-deductible.
"It doesn't matter if the item is sold during the sale or not, it will
still be tax-deductible," she said.
Gerke also thanked those individuals and businesses in the community who
have already come forward with their donations.
"We have received a lot of nice items from some merchants and
individuals in the community, it's very heart-warming that they are
making an effort and helping us in this worthy cause," she said.
Gerke stated that all the funds raised will stay here in the community
and be used directly for the patients.
Other fund raising activities planned include a silent auction which
will consist of merchant donated items. The auction will be held during
the garage sale.
A pair of Dallas Cowboys tickets will be in a drawing. The drawing will
be held on donated items and the tickets during Night In Old Pecos,
Saturday, June 28.
The Pecos Evening Optimist Club will be having a barbecue plate sale
from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. during the garage sale. All proceeds from this
sale will benefit the hospice.
A snack bar will be set up during the sale and Gerke and the staff would
like to encourage everyone to come out and support the terminal patients
in the community.
In case of bad weather all activities will be moved to the American Home Health Building, 315 S. Oak.
Wink festival honors rock-a-billy Orbison
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PECOS, June 13, 1997 - Final preparations are being made for the 9th
Anniversary of Wink's Roy Orbison Festival scheduled for this weekend,
June 13-15.
The festival is in honor of Roy Orbison, a rock-a-billy entertainer, who
put his hometown on the map when he skyrocketed to fame in late 1950s
and early 1960s. A crowd of several thousand is expected to be on hand
for 1997 show, scheduled to be held in downtown Wink.
First with his country and western band, "The Wink Westerners," then
with his rock-and-roll group, "The Teen Kings" and later as the
rock-a-billy singer, whose hauntingly beautiful voice made him the idol
of millions in both the United States and Europe, Roy Orbison literally
created one of the major segments of rock-and-roll history.
On the second weekend of June each year, Orbison's hometown of Wink pays
tribute to this great performer with the annual Roy Orbison Festival.
The 1997 event will get underway with a "Pretty Woman Pageant" beginning
at 6:30, Friday, June 13, at the Lena Laughlin Auditorium on the Wink
School campus.
Highlight of the festival activities on Saturday, June 14, will be The
Jerry Presley Show, featuring Elvis Presley's cousin, Jerry Presley and
a group of rock-and-roll and country music imitators. The two-hour show
will begin at 7 p.m. on the outdoor stage in downtown Wink.
Jerry Presley's imitation of his cousin has won him wide acclaim in
entertainment circles from Branson, Miss., where he performs on his own
theater, "The King's Mansion," to theaters and night clubs across
America, in which he has performed since 1970. Accompanying Presley to
Wink will be imitators portraying Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline and Sonny and
Cher.
An added highlight of the evening will be a performance by Hard Tymes, a
five-piece country band, which has performed throughout West Texas and
Southeastern New Mexico.
Other features of the 9th Annual Roy Orbison Festival will be a two-day
Flea Market on Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Beta Sigma Phi
Sorority. The flea market, held each June and November at the Winkler
County Exhibition Building in Wink, features vendors from a wide area of
Texas and New Mexico. The flea market will be open all day Saturday and
Sunday.
In addition, other vendors will sell their wares along Hendricks Boulevard, in downtown Wink.|
Father's Day finds more dads
living with children, no wife
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By RICK SMITH
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 1997 - When most people think of Father's Day they
probably picture a loving wife and her children doing something special
for dad. But for a growing number of fathers and their children that
picture is not reality.
More and more children celebrate Father's Day with a single father and
no mother in the home. Many of those children living with their fathers
will celebrate Father's Day Sunday in tougher conditions than their
counterparts living with both parents.
Households with fathers raising children by themselves increased from
one percent of all families to five percent from 1970 to 1995, according
to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Single fathers living with children
17-years-old or younger totaled 400,000 in 1970 and grew to 1.7
million by 1995.
A total of 2.5 million children lived with their father alone in 1995,
about four percent of all children. Forty eight percent of those fathers
were divorced, 28 percent had never been married, 18 percent were
married but not living with their wife and five percent were widowed.
In 1994, the median family income for single father families totaled
$23,155 compared to the median family income of $46,195 for families
with both parents at home.
Children living with a single father are more likely to be poor than
those with two parents. Twenty six percent of children living with their
father only live below the poverty line while only 11 percent living
with both parents are poor.
Sixty percent of children living with a single father live with
siblings. Eighty percent of children living with both parents live with
brothers and/or sisters.
Seventy six percent of single fathers have a high school diploma, 12
percent have a bachelor's degree or higher. Eighty six percent of
children living with both parents have at least one parent with a high
school diploma, 29 percent had at least one parent with a bachelor's
degree.
Seventy nine percent of the single fathers of children have a job, 85
percent of children living with both parents had at least one parent
with a job.
Five out of 10 children living with a single father live in rental
housing while less than 30 percent of children with both parents at home
live in rental property.
More information on single fathers and their children can be found on the Internet at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb96-200.html.
Track program offers activities for all youth
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By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 1997 - Athletically inclined children in Pecos have no
excuse for being bored this summer. Instead of just hanging out they can
participate in the summer track program of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD's
summer recreation program.
The track team practices each Monday through Thursday then competes in
University Interscholastic League (UIL) track meets on Fridays.
The summer track team has a wide age range among its 42 members, from
seven-year-old Neyva Rodriguez to high school junior Julie Lujan. The
youngest members, in the pee-wee division, compete in the 50- and
100-yard dashes and the long jump, while the older participants compete
in all UIL events.
The youngsters show their dedication by getting up early in the morning
to go to practice even though they are on summer vacation (practice
begins at 8 a.m.), and by working hard to hone their skills.
Today, the summer track team had a 9 a.m. meet in Stanton, and left
Pecos at 6 a.m., according to their coach, Darrell Ericson.
Last week, the team competed in a track meet in Crane, Ericson said, and
"they did real good."
Ericson said the team took eight first places, six seconds, nine third
places, four fourth place slots, and six fifths. "They had a real good
time," he said.
Ericson also said last week's meet was educational for all. "It was a
real learning experience for all of us, I think."
Next Friday, June 20, the team travels to a regional meet in Lubbock.
The team will hold a car wash fund raiser next week for an overnight
stay in Lubbock. The date, time and location of the fund raiser have not
been set yet, but Ericson said that he will announce those plans as soon as they are confirmed.
Bail denied woman held on drug charges
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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 1997 - U.S. Magistrate Judge Stuart Platt on Wednesday
denied bail for a 27-year-old woman charged with importing 10 pounds of
cocaine.
Ernestin Morales-Mendoza was arrested at the U.S. Customs Port of Entry
in Presidio Sunday night after she crossed the Rio Grande in a 1985
Dodge.
In the inspection area, a drug-sniffing dog alerted to the car, and
officers found 12 packages of a white powdery substance concealed inside
the dash board.
Morales admitted driving the car from Chihuahua, Mex. to Presidio and
was paid for delivering the cocaine to Presidio.
Judge Platt set a detention hearing for 2:30 p.m. Monday.
In the absence of Alpine magistrate judge Katherine Baker, Judge Platt
held numerous hearings, along with accepting indictments handed up by the grand jury.
Tax reform is top issue, says Bonilla
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By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
Editor's note: Pecos Enterprise Managing Editor Jon Fulbright took time
out from his vacation to interview Congressman Henry Bonilla and submit
the following report this week.
WASHINGTON D.C., June 13, 1997 - Tax reform is the most important issue
facing Congress in the upcoming weeks, Congressman Henry Bonilla said
Wednesday.
Bonilla also said he and other Texas congressmen are continuing to seek
an increase in the number of Border Patrol agents along the Rio Grande
in the state, and had hoped Republicans would hold firm in their dispute
with President Clinton over a disaster relief bill - a position dropped
by Republicans several hours later.
"The biggest thing is the tax bill," said Bonilla, who is in his third
term as District 23 representative, "In talking to people in my
district, that's what they say is most important to them.
"I'm optimistic we'll be able to vote on a tax bill before the 4th of
July," he added.
A tax bill proposed by House Ways and Means Committee chairman Bill
Archer received a cool reception from President Clinton, as well as some
criticism from some conservatives when it was released earlier this
week. However, Bonilla said given the situation, he supports the Archer
plan.
"If it were up to me, we would eliminate the death (inheritance) tax,
cut the capital gains tax in half, and give every family a $500 tax
credit, but based on the situation we've got, with only a small
majority, Archer is doing the best he can," said the congressman, who
added he felt the plan provided enough money for Clinton's proposed
increases in higher education funds.
The flood relief bill passed last week by congressional Republicans was
vetoed by Clinton, who said he wanted a bill without any other items
attached. A proposal prohibiting estimates of population from being used
in the 2000 census, and another which would have prevented a government
shutdown similar to one which occurred in 1995, were the most
contentious items in
the bill.
Republican leaders gave in to the president Wednesday night, after polls
showed a majority of Amercians supported Clinton's stance on the bill.
However, before the change occurred, Bonilla said, "I think it's right
to hold firm. It's unwise to change the course you've set just because
you've
hit a bump in the road."
Bonilla said flood and other disaster relief aid was already getting to
areas even without the bill's passage. He also said the census dispute
would mainly affect population counting in urban areas.
After offending riders were removed from the relief bill Clinton
approved it.
On the border issue, Bonilla said he is waiting to see the results of an
investigation into the shooting death last month of the 16-year-old
Redford boy by U.S. Marines before making any decision on whether or not
changes are needed in the use of military personnel to help Border
Patrol agents in their efforts to combat drug smuggling into the U.S.
He called the incident "a horrible tragedy of a young man losing his
life," but added "I think the Border Patrol would have a hard time
functioning without the help of the military. But troops are not police
officers. They're instructed not to fire on anyone unless they're fired
on first."
The Border Patrol could also be helped by the addition of new agents
approved by the last Congress. But Bonilla said of the 1000 new agents
scheduled to be hired, the Marfa sector has received "None. Politics
affected this incredibly."
Bonilla blamed Clinton, saying most of the new agents were assigned to
California in 1996, in an effort to help the president win that state's
electoral votes. "Now that the election is over, we need to get the
agents back. They have 125 new agents assigned to clerical jobs in
California.
"The Border Patrol agents ought to be assigned to where they are needed,
We don't even have a chief for this area."
Bonilla said he's backed in this effort by El Paso Congressman Silvestre
Reyes, who won running as a Democrat last year and replaced the retiring
Ron Coleman, after serving as chief of the Border Patrol for the El Paso
sector. "This is a bipartisan effort. ... Everybody is in unanimous
support of getting Texas their Border Patrol agents."
The congressman said he is continuing his efforts to block the compact
between Texas, Maine and Vermont to store radioactive waste at a site
near Sierra Blanca. The compact was rejected by the 104th Congress, but
with the change in members this year, Bonilla did not know if that would
affect the outcome. He also said the decision on the site itself,
located in south-central Hudspeth
County, was a decision made by the state, and one Congress had no
control over.
He also doubted the president and Interior Department officials were
sincere two weeks ago, when they agreed to a "no surprise" policy for the Endangered Species Act.
AREA NEWS ROUNDUP
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The Fort Stockton Pioneer
FORT STOCKTON, June 12 - The Fort Stockton City Council voted in a split
decision to approve the reinstatement of Dee Johns as Chief of the Fort
Stockton Police Department. The council's decision affects not only
Lieutenant Juan Castro and Sergeant Louis Hernandez, who had also been
placed on administrative leave with pay, pending separate investigations
of those
officers. All three officers will now return to work.
The Big Bend Sentinel
MARFA, June 12, 1997 - Three weeks after the fatal shooting by a U.S.
Marine of an 18-year-old Redford student, discrepancies are beginning to
appear in the military's explanation of the shooting, Texas officials
said. Emilio to headline Marfa Lights Festival concert scheduled for
Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-31.
The Alpine Avalanche
ALPINE, June 12, 1997 - About 40 area citizens crowded the Brewster
County courthouse to discuss the cultural and environmental preservation
of the Rio Grande River. Local citizens oppose the river plan. The
proposal, called "American Heritage Rivers Initiative," stems from part
of President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address.
The International, Presidio Paper
PRESIDIO, June 12, 1997 - Enhancing law enforcement for the city of
Presidio was the main topic at the regular meeting of the Presidio City
Council. Presidio County Sheriff Danny Dominguez was on hand to talk
with council members about whether the city should organize its own
police force or work with the sheriff's office to upgrade its south
county-based force.
The Sanderson Times
SANDERSON, June 12, 1997 - Angela Kennedy of the Terrell County
Independent School district, attended the 10th annual Texas "ALL WELL
School Health Promotion Conference, June 2-6 in San Marcos. The
conference, which had a 1997 theme of "Planet Wellness: A decade of ALL
WELL," was designed to promote positive life-styles among educators who
can serve as positive role models for students and healthy, productive
employees for schools.
The Monahans News
MONAHANS, June 12, 1997 - Attorneys for the commander of the Permian
Basin Drug Task force seek dismissal of a libel suit against the area's
top anti-drug cop by former District Attorney John Stickels. Larry
Hanna, who won a 2-A state football championship in Iraan last Fall, was
hired by the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District Board in an unanimous 7-0 vote on June 10.
POLICE REPORT
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PECOS, June 13, 1997 - EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the
Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police
Department, Reeves County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public
Safety, 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.
***
June 8, there was a report of a burglary at the Western Package Store on
West Highway 80. Suspects gained entry into the building. No further
information was available at press time as the investigation was still
in progress.
***
Sergio Fierro, 18, 1601 S. Cowan, was arrested June 9 in the 400 block
of South Cedar Street for public intoxication. He was also charged with
failure to identify to a peace officer after he refused to identify
himself at the Reeves County Jail. He has paid fines totalling $300 and
been released.
***
At approximately 10:28 p.m. June 10, a warrant was served on Mindy
Allgood for cruelty to animals, a class "A" misdemeanor. A $500 bond was
set.
***
At 11:15 a.m. June 10, two capias pro fine warrants were served on
Armando Dominguez and he was transported to the Reeves County Jail. He
served one day in jail, paid $149 in fines and was released.
***
June 11 at 12:22 a.m., a burglary in progress was reported at the North
Side Cafe, 217 North Cedar Street. Several beer and cigarette products were reported missing.
OBITUARY
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Ysidra Franco
PECOS, June 13, 1997 - Ysidra H. Franco, 74, died Thursday, June 12 in
Monahans.
A rosary will be held today at 7:30 p.m. at 4000 S. Gail St. in
Monahans.
Mass is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at Our Lady of Refuge
Catholic Church in Barstow with Father Antonio Mena officiating. Burial
will be in Barstow Cemetery.
She was born May 15, 1923 in Saragosa, was a housewife, a lifetime area
resident and a Catholic.
Survivors include one son, Elias Franco of Monahans; two daughters, Lupe
Gonzales and Elia Florez of Barstow; two brothers, Adan and Alfredo
Hignojos of Odessa; four sisters, Francisca Villalobos of Barstow,
Eloisa Orona of Odessa, Elvira Villescas of San Antonio and Eva Segovia
of Kermit; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WEATHER
>>Return to top
>PECOS, June 13, 1997 - High Thursday, 101, low this morning, 68. Skies
>were clear to partly cloudy across the region this morning. All showers
>and thunderstorms had dissipated or moved east of the region.
>Temperatures were mostly in the 60s and lower 70s with the exception of
>a few upper 50s in the mountains.
>to 15 mph. West Texans can expect a slight chance of showers and
>thunderstorms over the low rolling plains. Highs Friday will be in the
>80s toward the mountains, except along the Rio Grande, where
>temperatures could reach 105. |
Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, 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@bitstreet.com
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. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
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