PECOS ENTERPRISE

Daily Newspaper and Tourism Guide

for Trans Pecos, Big Bend, Far West Texas

Tourism|__|Opinion|__|Sports|__|Scores|__|Lifestyles|
Golden Years|__|Living off the Land|__|Subscribe Enterprise|
Advertising|__|Alpine Avalanche|__|Monahans News|__|E-Forum|__|Lotto
Links|__|Photos|__|Archives|__|Classified|__|ENTERPRISE HOME PAGE
Van Horn Advocate |

TOP STORIES

September 15, 1997


Community council office
lease tabled by housing board


Skip to next story
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, September 15, 1997 - A lease agreement between the Pecos Housing
Authority and the Reeves County Community Council was tabled until
further information can be obtained.

"This agreement was first written up a long time ago and I'm not sure
the justifications still apply," said PHA board president Frank Perea.

Community council chairman Bill Wendt and director Caprice Cox were on
hand to discuss the lease agreement for community council offices at 902
E. 10th.

"There's a lot of programs listed on the justifications that we are not
capable of supporting, except through referral," said Wendt.

Wendt suggested changing some of the wording to read that they will
provide the services through referral only.

Perea suggested looking over the lease agreement carefully and
contacting HUD to spell out the terms accurately.

"We operate under HUD rules, so we'll have to check on them," said Perea.

PHA director Nellie Gomez gave the board an update on the CIAP '96 grant
and renovations.

"We have received bids from contractors and they will be opened on Sept.
30," said Gomez.

Gomez stated that within the next two weeks a walk-through will be
conducted at the apartments to note specific items that need renovations.

"I also want to do inventory, clean-up and pick out what is still
useful," she said.

PHA apartments located on the south side and the elderly apartments
located on Second Street are targeted for major renovations through CIAP.

During the meeting all board members agreed to terminate a lease
agreement with PHA tenant Linda Villalon.

Gomez explained that the termination distresses her and that she really
didn't want to do it, but it was something that needed to be done.

"I feel bad about this, but I just can't see myself placing her in one
of the newly renovated apartments and letting her trash it the way she
has done two others," said Gomez.

The apartment Villalon lived in was infested with roaches and had been
sprayed twice for the vermin. Trash was scattered everywhere and other
items broken.

The apartment was filthy both inside and out and Villalon failed to keep
up with her yard, blaming the trash and debris on others, according to
Gomez.

In other business, board members agreed to hire Enrique Lujan to clean
out/inventory the air base building in preparation for renovations.
Lujan is already employed in another capacity and will be working at
this project also.

Abigail Baeza was approved as an office manager and will receive an
increase in her pay.

Two employees were approved to attend a special seminar in Little Rock,
Ark. provided by the Lindsey Company. Baeza and Nellie Gomez will be
attending the week-long event.

Total cost for the trip will be $2,393.30.

Other items approved included accounts payable, the occupancy report and
monthly income and expense report.

During the Farm Labor Housing portion of the meeting, Gomez told board
members he had not received any new information on the investigation
into some missing funds.

"I need to get in touch with the DA and see if he has found out anything," said Gomez.

Two accidents near Kent claim 3 lives, injure 5


Skip to next story
From Staff Reports

KENT, September 15, 1997 - Two accidents 12 hours and nine miles apart
left three people dead and sent five others to an El Paso hospital over
the weekend.

Both accidents occurred on Interstate 10 near Kent, in western Culberson
County. In the first, reported at 10:22 p.m. Saturday, two Midland
residents died when the pickup they were passengers in rolled over while
westbound on the highway, 10 miles west of Kent.

According to Department of Public Safety trooper Derome West of Van
Horn, the 1981 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Hector Velez, 18, of Midland,
drifted into the center median. He then over-corrected, causing the
vehicle to skid and then overturn. It rolled 2½ times, ejecting both
passengers riding with Velez, who was wearing a seat belt.

Pronounced dead on the scene by Culberson County Justice of the Peace
Oscar Espinoza at 12:35 a.m. Sunday were Arturo Lujan, 50, of Midland
and Rosa Lujan, also of Midland. Neither were wearing a seat belt when
the accident occurred, West said.

Velez, who lives at the same Midland address as Lujan, was transported
to Thomason General Hospital in El Paso, where he was listed in stable
condition.

The second accident took place two miles west of Kent Sunday morning,
claiming one life and leaving four people in critical condition.

According to DPS reports, Mike Rummell, 19, of Patton, Pa., was driving
a 1995 Ford van westbound on I-10 at about 10:22 a.m. when he apparently
became fatigued or fell asleep and the van drifted into the right bar
ditch. Rummell over-corrected to the left and the van went into a
broadside skid, crossed both lanes of traffic, went into the median, and
rolled onto its roof. The van then hit an embankment and came to a rest
on its wheels.

Killed was Lisa Carter, 18, of Vickersville, Pa. She was pronounced dead
at the scene of the accident at 1 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Espinoza.
She had not been wearing a seat belt. Her body was taken to the El Paso
Mortuary Service in El Paso.

The other four occupants of the van are in critical condition at
Thomason Hospital in El Paso with head and back injuries. None were
wearing a seat belt.

Those injured are Rummell, Jamie Condella, 20, of Jamestown, N.Y., Jeff
Welch, 19, of Saratoga Springs, Calif., and John Keith, 19, of
Cincinnati, Ohio. All five occupants of the van worked in magazine sales, according to the DPS.

Drug task force nets $36,770


Skip to next story
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, September 15, 1997 - District Judge Bob Parks on Friday forfeited
$36,770 and a 1987 Buick to the Permian Basin Drug Task Force for use in
law enforcement.

Billy Sides, PBDTF officer, seized the vehicle and cash from an Indiana
woman and two passengers in her Buick at Mile Marker 47 on I-20 in
Reeves County on March 26 after receiving information they may be
carrying contraband.

Asked if the vehicle contained any drugs, weapons, stolen property or
large amounts of cash, Bacon replied "No." However, she gave consent for
search, and Sides reported he found eight bundles of cash wrapped in
saran wrap with fabric softener sheets to conceal the currency.

Passengers in the vehicle were Connie Marie Ellingsworth of Indiana and
Jesus Leonardo Herrera of El Paso. Herrera was represented by local
attorney Jeff Parras in the forfeiture suit.

Routine cases on Friday's docket included child support cases,
arraignments on recent felony indictments and motions to revoke probation.

Seven indictments returned
included two drug charges


Skip to next story
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, September 15, 1997 - Reeves County grand jurors on Thursday
returned seven indictments on a variety of charges, including possession
of heroin and cocaine.

Russell Doice Johnson, 67, is charged with possession of heroin on July
16. His bail is $5,000.

Benino Sanchez, 45, was indicted for alleged possession of cocaine on
July 15. His bail is $5,000.

Sammy Gene Pitts, 45, is charged with felony driving while intoxicated
on May 15. He has two prior convictions for DWI, the indictment alleges.
His bail is $7,500.

Margarita Munoz, 20, and Jesus Armendariz, 18, are charged with criminal
mischief on Dec. 1, 1996, by scratching a pickup owned by Sammy
Valeriano. Their bail is $7,500 each.

Dana Marie Ramos, 28, is charged with injury to a child under 15 by
striking him with a belt. Her bail is $10,000.

Alonzo Espinoza Mendoza, 39, is charged with aggravated assault. He
allegedly threatened Pecos Police Patrolman Cosme Ortega with a rifle on August 22. His bail is $15,000.

Cops, aliens, yuppies, brothers
take home 1997 Emmys


Skip to next story

By JOHN HORN
AP Entertainment Writer

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) September 15, 1997 - "ER" was dead on arrival.

The nation's most popular television series was shut out Sunday at the
49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, losing top awards to "Law & Order"
and "NYPD Blue."

"Law & Order," the police-and-prosecutor show with scripts that parallel
cases in the national headlines, was named best drama series after six
straight winless nominations in the category.

"Frasier" was honored as best comedy series, the only show ever to win
the award in its first four years. It also ties "Cheers," "All in the
Family" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show" for most comedy series Emmys.

"On my way up here I heard somebody say, 'Oh God! Not them again!'
Believe me, we know how lucky we are," said David Angel, a "Frasier"
producer.

"ER" likely suffered from vote-splitting. In the dramatic actress race,
Sherry Stringfield (Dr. Susan Lewis) and Julianna Margulies (Nurse Carol
Hathaway) competed against each other, but Gillian Anderson from "The
X-Files" won. And three "ER" directors were up for best dramatic
directing, but the award went to "NYPD Blue."

For the third time, Dennis Franz was named best dramatic actor for his
role as snarly Detective Andy Sipowicz on "NYPD Blue." The drama's four
Emmys (the others were dramatic writing and supporting actress) were the
most for any show Sunday night.

"This is way too much. It's impossible to be up here without my pal, my
buddy, my backbone Jimmy Smits," Franz said of his co-star.

John Lithgow, the space alien posing as a college professor on "3rd Rock
from the Sun," won for best comedy actor. Helen Hunt, half of the
neurotic yuppie couple on "Mad About You," won for best comedy actress.

Television academy voters chose Hunt, whose character ended the season
by having a baby, over Ellen DeGeneres, whose character came out as a
lesbian last season after months of hinting.

"I was so blown away by Ellen DeGeneres' work in that episode," Hunt
said. "I just want to say I'm proud to be on the same list."

"Ellen" won for outstanding writing for a comedy series for the
coming-out episode. The actress dedicated the award to gay and lesbian
teen-agers, telling them: "There's nothing wrong with you. Don't ever
let anybody make you feel ashamed of who you are."

Altogether, when craft prizes awarded in a ceremony last week are
included, "3rd Rock From the Sun" and "Miss Evers' Boys" tied for the
most Emmy wins with five each.

This season, "Law & Order" poked fun at Hollywood producers and show
business ethics. In the three-part installment, the show's New York
investigators traveled to Southern California to probe a murder by a
frustrated film director. The episodes ridiculed everything from Academy
Award electioneering to guards protecting studio gates.

"This is an amazing surprise in the seventh year of a show," said one of
the show's producers, Dick Wolf. "We are unbelievably grateful. ... This
is it folks. This is as good as it gets."

"Miss Evers' Boys," an HBO film based on the true story of notorious
syphilis experiments on unsuspecting black men, won three prestigious
awards. The show was named best made-for-television movie, received the
President's Award for socially worthwhile programming and captured an
acting award for Alfre Woodard.

Actor Laurence Fishburne, the movie's executive producer, saluted the
survivors and President Clinton, "who had the decency to make a moral
apology" for the experiments.

Michael Richards, the manic neighbor Kramer on 'Seinfeld," won best
supporting actor in a comedy series for the third time. Kristen Johnston
of "3rd Rock From the Sun" won supporting actress in a comedy series,
her first nomination.

Awards for supporting actor and actress in a drama series went to Kim
Delaney of "NYPD Blue" and Hector Elizondo of "Chicago Hope."

The trophy for best variety, music or comedy series went to "Tracey
Takes On...," which stars Tracey Ullman in offbeat skits. She defeated
Jay Leno, David Letterman, Bill Maher and Dennis Miller in the category.

"As the Spice Girls would say: Girl Power! I beat the boys," Ullman
declared.

News personality Bryant Gumbel made his debut with a smooth, no-nonsense
approach as host of the internationally broadcast ceremony.

"I am very pleased to be here and, frankly, I am surprised as anyone to
be your host this evening," Gumbel said when he came on stage. He
brought the show in just 19 seconds past its planned three-hour running
time.

NBC and HBO tied with nine awards each Sunday but NBC emerged as the
overall winner, including awards from the previous ceremony for a total
of 24 to HBO's 19. CBS had 12 awards, followed by ABC with 10, PBS with six and Fox with five. |

Schools can receive grants for
environmental education projects


Skip to next story
AUSTIN,September 15, 1997 - Innovative environmental education projects
can apply for cash grants from $100 to $750 each this fall for through
the Environmental Challenge program.

Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro and the H-E-B Grocery Company
recently reminded teachers and schools across the state that the Oct. 8
deadline for grant applications to the highly successful Environmental
Challenge program is near.

The deadline to submit grant applications is Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1997.
Grants will be awarded in November.

Environmental Challenge has a total of $25,000 available during the
97-98 school year, in amounts ranging from $100 to $750. The program is
funded by San Antonio-based H-E-B Grocery Company and administered by
the Texas General Land Office, in conjunction with the non-profit Texas
Conservation Fund.

Last year 37 Texas schools received grants. The winning schools
represented every grade level from K-12 and every region of the state.
The 37 recipients were selected from more than 450 applications from
schools throughout Texas.

"The Environmental Challenge is now recognized as a place where
teachers with unusual and highly creative ideas for hands-on
environmental education can receive recognition and cash awards for
their projects," Mauro said. "Many of the past projects, including
community gardens, innovative recycling concepts, and new teaching
materials have had a positive impact on their communities and gone on to
win national recognition."

"H-E-B is very committed to environmental education, and we are
extremely pleased that the Environmental Challenge is one of the most
successful such programs in the state," said Linda B. Smith, H-E-B's
manager of environmental affairs.

For application forms or more information, contact Roxanne Rouse,
512-475-1584, or Jane Velasquez. 210-616-0674 with the General Land
Office. Applications are also available on the GLO's Web Site - www.glo.state.tx.us - and can be sent in through the Web Site as well.

TxDOT maintenance employees
honored for their safe driving


Skip to next story
PECOS, September 15, 1997 - Several employees in the Pecos Maintenance
Section were among the nearly 300 employees cited at the annual Odessa
District Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) safety awards
banquet for their on-the job safe driving and work habits.

The 12-county Odessa District compiled the top safety record in(TxDOT)
for 1996.

Despite a dangerous workplace - out on the highways - district employees
exceeded all goals set for preventing accidents during the year. As a
result, the district received the lion's share of $1 million that
TxDOT's top management set aside for distribution to the safest of the
state's 25 districts. In 1996, TxDOT achieved the lowest all-injury and
lost-time rate since it began keeping the statistics. The Odessa
District will use its $400,000 award to further enhance safety in the
district.

Pecos employees singled out for safe driving records with TxDOT included
Oscar Martinez, 2 years; Gilbert Herrera, 3 years; Jose Mendoza, 3
years; Arturo Vasquez, 4 years; Gilberto Gonzales, 7 years; Daniel
Reyes, 9 years; Guadalupe Rede, 11 years; Ruben Fuentez, 14 years; Larry
Levario, 15 years; Joel Baeza, 15 years; Israel Rubio, 16 years; and
Manuel Gonzales, 17 years, Juan Muniz, 1 year; Eloy Varela, 2 years;
Alain Gallego, 7 years; Benjamin Hinojos 9 years; Gary Rumbaugh, 10
years; John Salcido, 12 years; Manuel Muniz, Jr., 14 years; William
Brown, 16 years; and Lily Talamantez, 30 years.

Balmorhea employees singled out for safe driving records with TxDOT
included Javier Lozano, 3 years; Manuel Mendoza, 3 years; David
Portillo, 3 years; Jesus Matta, 6 years; Victor Mondragon, 7 years;
Samuel Natividad, 9 years; Rosendo Galindo, 18 years; Tommy Dominguez,
20 years; Jose Rodriguez, 23 years; Jose Lopez, 25 years; and Fermin
Rodriguez, 28 years.

The Odessa District completed 1996 with just six minor vehicle
accidents, the second best record in the state, but spent the least
amount of money for accident claims, according to safety coordinator
Clemcnte Villa.

"That made us number one in that category," said Villa, who conducts
safety meetings in each of the district offices during the year.

The district ranked high in injury prevention, had few lost-time
injuries, and was second in fewest vehicle accidents, achieving safety
goals based on the number of hours worked and miles driven.

Villa credited the district's 331 employees' safety consciousness on the
job as the key to winning the award, which was announced recently by
Executive Director Bill Burnett, a former Midland and Odessa area
engineer.

"Their efforts in controlling and reducing accidents mean cost savings.
increased production, and, more importantly, a safe and healthy workplace," said Villa.

Earthquake shakes up Mexico today


Skip to next story
MEXICO CITY (AP) September 15, 1997 - A moderate earthquake rattled
Mexico's southwestern Pacific coast today and set skyscrapers swaying in
the capital. No injuries or damages were reported.

The quake occurred at 10:38 a.m. and was located off the Mexican state
of Guerrero, in seabed approximately 150 miles south-southeast of
Acapulco, seismologists said.

Mexico's seismology institute said the quake measured magnitude 5.2.

Although a quake of magnitude 5 is capable of considerable damage,
seismologists that quakes in Mexican are often felt less than those of
similar magnitude in California, because faults are often deeper here.

More than 10,000 people were killed on Sept. 19, 1985, when when a 8.1
magnitude earthquake hit Mexico City. Some 400 buildings were destroyed
and 5,700 more were damaged by that quake a second, slightly weaker one that struck the following day.

Four babies die from
bacteria in children's hospital


Skip to next story
BOSTON (AP)September 15, 1997 - A virulent and apparently new strain of
bacteria killed four newborn babies this summer in the intensive care
unit of a children's hospital.

Officials at Children's Hospital here closed its neonatal intensive care
unit to new patients on Aug. 29. In as statement Sunday, the hospital
said it was are trying to isolate the bacteria, which caused
overwhelming infections of the bloodstreams of each child.

The infants died during a span of a little more than one month starting
in July, and officials say the bacteria also may have killed a child
last year. The children were critically ill with various problems before
they were infected.

Two babies infected with a less harmful strain of the bacteria remain in
the unit. Both are expected to recover. No employees have become ill,
though the bacteria was found on the hands of several workers.

"This organism in this particular setting is very hardy, and it causes
death quickly, within a few days," said Dr. Bela Matyas, medical
director of the Epidemiology Program for the state Department of Public
Health. "We are assuming we are dealing with a new strain."

The bacteria is a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is found in
moist soil. Humans often pick it up on fruits and vegetables, but rarely
become sick. It can be harmful for premature babies or people with
weakened immune systems, though.

State health officials said the bacteria frequently is found in
hospitals and nursing homes, but those strains usually are less deadly.

"There is no question this strain is behaving quite unusually," said Dr.
Edward O'Rourke, medical director of infection control at Children's
Hospital.

A different strain of the bacteria reportedly killed three babies and
infected five others in Detroit last spring.

Matyas said Children's Hospital took down ceiling tiles in the unit,
removed faucets and cleaned air ducts to try to eliminate the bacteria.

O'Rourke said the first child died 15 months ago. Hospital workers
identified the strain as different when another child was infected in
February. That child recovered. The bacteria reappeared in July, when
two babies in the ward died within one week.

The hospital initiated stringent controls, testing babies more often for
bacteria and monitoring workers. Three weeks later, another child died.
Two children tested positively for the bacteria in August, and one of them died.

WEATHER


Return to top
PECOS, September 15, 1997 - High Sunday, 97, low this morning, 68. It
will be hot with the possibility of some showers and thunderstorms
across Texas tonight and Tuesday. That means the heat is a sure thing
and there's no guarantee of cooling showers and thunderstorms. There is
a chance of isolated evening thunderstorms in the Panhandle, South
Plains and Permian Basin of West Texas this evening and some widely
scattered to scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in the
mountains and in the Big Bend area on Tuesday. Lows tonight will be in
the 50s in the mountains and in the 60s and 70s elsewhere across West
Texas. Highs Tuesday will be in the 80s and 90s in West Texas and in the
90s over the rest of the state.

24-hour weather info available - See the Pecos Enterprise Website on the
Internet at http://www.pecos.net/news for continual radar coverage of
area weather. Click on the "News" page and look for the "Weather" link. |

State News
San Angelo Standard Times
Abilene Reporter News
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Dallas Morning News
Texas Press Association
Weather

National News
USA Today
York (Pa.) Daily Record, Sister Paper to Pecos Enterprise

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@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. 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
We support Newspapers in Education

Return to Top

Return to Home Page |