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TOP STORIESDecember 12, 1997Local family indicted on multiple drug chargesBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, December 12, 1997 - A Pecos High School senior who will be 18 tomorrow was indicted by the Reeves County Grand Jury yesterday for alleged organized criminal activity and delivery of cocaine and marijuana. Skyler Avery Bechtel, 17, allegedly delivered cocaine to an undercover officer with the Permian Basin Drug Task Force Nov. 20 and Nov. 22. Indictments also allege the delivery of marijuana on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 and possession of more than four ounces of marijuana on Dec. 10. One of the cocaine deliveries was made at a video arcade, Dan's Music and Video, 312 S. Cedar St., the indictment alleges. Both marijuana deliveries and the possession charge were at the Bechtel home, 902 S. Hickory St. - that is within 1,000 feet of Pecos Kindergarten. That enhances punishment from a third-degree felony to second-degree, said District Attorney Randy Reynolds. Frank William Bechtel, 43, and his wife, Alta Ruth Bechtel, 47, are charged with three counts each of organized criminal activity in connection with their son's marijuana deliveries from their home. They allegedly conspired with Skyler to deliver more than one-fourth ounce of marijuana on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 and possessed more than four ounces of marijuana on Dec. 10. Reynolds said that organized criminal activity is alleged when three or more people combine to commit a crime. The investigation into the parents' involvement is on going, he said. He stressed the serious nature of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, which is designated a "drug free zone," and from the drive-up window of a video arcade. "We don't believe the owners of Dan's were involved in any way," Reynolds said. The undercover officer who made the cocaine buy at the drive-up window said he met Skyler Bechtel at another location and arranged to pick up the cocaine at the window because Bechtel had to go to work. Dan's owner Ronny Daniel said that he hired Bechtel in August, but he had no idea he was dealing drugs. "I hire employees to do their job, and their job is not to sell anything illegal or to sell alcohol to a minor," Daniel said. "I can only be responsible to a certain extent, and that's to see that they do their job. I certainly would have no knowledge of any employees of mine doing anything illegal." Daniel said he learned of the arrest at midnight Wednesday, when police notified him they found some of his rental videos in the Bechtel home when they arrested the three on marijuana possession charges. But he said he did not know about the indictment for cocaine delivery from his drive-up window until contacted by the Pecos Enterprise last night. Reynolds said a search of the Bechtel home turned up 5.5 ounces of marijuana, roach clips and scales of the type used to weigh drugs for distribution in the master bedroom. Additional paraphernalia was located in Skyler's room, he said. Both parents are employed by the state. The Department of Public Safety suspended Frank William "Bill" Bechtel with pay at 1 p.m. yesterday, pending the outcome of an internal investigation, said regional communications supervisor Toby Martin. Bechtel's position as communications operator will remain open until the matter is resolved, and the staff is doubling up in the meantime, Martin said. Alta Ruth Bechtel is employed as a casework secretary at the West Texas State School in Pyote. Pamela Ward, Texas Youth Commission public information officer, said that Bechtel notified her supervisor Thursday that she had been arrested, and she is not working at this time. "We look at any employee's violation of law very seriously, but we also remember they have rights of due process, and they have to be treated fairly and properly," she said. TYC has three choices: to reassign the employee, to suspend or to terminate. "If she were ultimately convicted, we would take appropriate action, but we want to be careful," Ward said. "At this point it is just a charge, and we want to be sure her rights are protected until this takes its course. Reynolds said it disturbs him that employees who are entrusted with enforcing the law are charged with violating it, and that a high school student who has access to fellow students is caught selling drugs. "It really burns me up to think about a guy that has access to high school kids selling drugs," he said. "That makes it accessible to those that might not ever try it otherwise. They know where to go to get it." Citizen complaints triggered the investigation by the local drug task force and district attorney, said Reynolds. They brought in an undercover officer with the Permian Basin Drug Task Force to make the purchases. "This was local people doing local things for the community," Reynolds said. Bail was set at $25,000 on each of the organized criminal activity counts and at $15,000 on the two delivery of cocaine counts. A spokesman at the Reeves County Sheriff's Department said this morning the warrants on the indictments have not been served. On the original charge of marijuana possession lodged Wednesday night, the family posted bail yesterday and released.
Jury hears testimony in border shootingBY PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, December 12, 1997 - Federal grand jurors adjourned yesterday without taking action after hearing testimony on a civil rights investigation of a shooting near Redford last spring. U.S. Marine Cpl. Clemente Banuelos shot and killed Ezequiel Hernandez Jr., 18, a high school student from Redford as he tended goats near the family home May 20. Three other Marines patrolling the Rio Grande area with Banuelos have testified during two grand jury sessions, which began last month. The next session is set for Jan. 8. Jerald Crow of Conroe, who represents Lance Cpl. James Blood, said his client testified yesterday for about two hours. He had already testified before a state grand jury in Presidio County, where Banuelos was no-billed, as did the other two Marines, Ronald Weiler and Roy Torrez. "There have been a lot of other things in between (that grand jury and today's)," Crow said. Barry Kowalski, an assistant U.S. Attorney with the civil rights division in Washington, D.C., is heading up the investigation, assisted by Jackie Spratt. Crow said that Blood, Weiler and Torrez have also been interviewed in Washington, D.C. "The Marine Corps is conducting a simultaneous investigation concerning training and preparation for military people who are put on the border to help protect the border - stop drugs or illegal immigrants," he said. The Marine Corps is focusing on the way the operation was carried out and whether it should be changed, Crow said. "I don't know the status of that investigation. It is still ongoing," he said. Crow said he has been representing Blood since about two weeks after the shooting. "I was hired by the Department of Justice to represent him in the state grand jury proceedings," he said. Representing the other Marines are Jack Zimmermann of Houston (Banuelos): Dan Hagood of Dallas (Weiler) and Mike Gross of San Antonio (Torrez). Blood is not a target of the federal investigation, Crow said, but was asked to testify. Since the state grand jury hearing, Crow has represented Blood in a private capacity. He was not allowed into the grand jury room, but waited nearby in case his client wanted to confer with him. "I hope we get a decision and don't have to keep coming down here," Crow said. "They are investigating it because there is a specter of a civil rights violation. This lawyer (Kowalski) handled the Rodney King case. He is a bulldog. They are doing a thorough job." An FBI agent and Texas Ranger who were present declined to discuss the case. Also present outside the grand jury room were Jesus and Diana Valenzuela of Redford. Valenzuela said he is a cousin to Ezequiel Hernandez, Sr. At the close of yesterday's session, the grand jury foreman handed up two marijuana possession indictments to U.S. Magistrate Judge Stuart Platt. Charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana are Jose Delapaz Moreno, 29, of Longmont, Colo. (59.9 pounds on Dec. 11) and Juan Manuel Villanueva Guarjardo, 32, of Neuva Laredo, Mex., (161.26 pounds on Dec. 10). Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Brigman of Alpine presented
Housing authority meets todayPECOS, December 12, 1997 - An update on CIAP 1996 is planned for this afternoon's meeting of the Pecos Housing Authority board, scheduled for 5 p.m., at the administration office, 600 Meadowbrook Drive. A resolution for approval will be on the agenda to award PHA/FLH employees with an annual bonus of $25 each from the airbase account. The group will also decide on whether or not to write off collection losses on Efren Natividad, $115; Hector Chavez, $155; Herlinda Villalon, $245 and Delma Rodriguez, $172. Other items on the agenda include communication on CIAP 96 pre-construction conference minutes; CIAP 96 start work notice dated Dec. 8; CIAP 96 Renovation plan by phases and approved actual modernization cost certificate (AMCC) close out of 1993 CIAP. Monthly income and expense reports; monthly accounts payable and monthly occupancy reports will also be discussed.
Council opts for letter of complaintBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, December 12, 1997 - Classic Cable Operations Manager Ben Hernandez yesterday asked the Pecos City Council to have patience and be reasonable in regard to cable television reception and outage problems. Hernandez said that during the last six-month period of operation he was able to track 10 outages, averaging about 2.79 hours per outage. He defined an outage as an interruption of service that resulted in four or more calls of complaint. Some outages were related to return lines, others to lost electronics and a couple to power problems, Hernandez said. The most noticed, and strongly lamented, outage occurred during the Dallas Cowboys football game of Nov. 16 when Fox network went off the air for several hours. "You realize that was the last game that Dallas won," City Finance Director Steve McCormick interjected. Hernandez stated that Fox network had lost power at its repeater station that day. "We have absolutely no power over that," he said. "We average about 1.6 outages per month," Hernandez said, "That's not a bad track record." Responding to the council's request that $3 be credited to the more than 3,000 Pecos customers as a result of poor reception and service, Hernandez said that if subscribers are left with a blank screen for more than 24 hours the company would be glad to give refunds. Often, he said, problems are caused by people doing their own work. "Store bought jumpers (cause problems). A lot of people are doing their own outlets and either don't crimp or buy cheap splitters." Councilman Randy Graham asked that Classic Cable supply the council with logs of all complaints for the next couple months so that the council may monitor the situation for themselves. After questioning by Councilman Danny Rodriguez regarding the feasibility of accumulating outage hours for a refund, Hernandez asked for patience. "Be reasonable with us . . . Be patient with us. Especially dealing with electronics, things are going to happen." Aiming to eliminate all outages is unrealistic, Hernandez said, considering that many types of repair and upgrade work require brief outages of service. "There must be a certain number of outages for service," he said. But council members and cable reps agreed that the worst outages were those that happened on the Fox network and the council agreed to draft a letter that would be sent to Fox corporate headquarters and the office in Odessa complaining of the poor service. According to FCC guidelines, Fox network is only responsible for providing the Pecos area with a "nominal signal," Hernandez said. "Now, you define nominal for me," Hernandez jokingly asked of the council. Many complaints the council received regarding Classic Cable service have to do with unwanted channels coming in too clearly. Hernandez asked that those customers call the company, saying that it is a simple enough thing to "trap out" the unwanted signal. Big news concerning economic development for the community came before the council when Bob Curry reported on recent negotiations with Illinois steel company Meta Tec Inc. that is hoping to bring a portion of its business to Pecos. A Meta Tec representative recently stumbled across Pecos while scouting the area from his recreational vehicle. Meta Tec hopes to open a training facility in Pecos for a larger operation they will be moving to Ojinaga, Mexico. This training facility will employ about 12 persons, with salaries in the $30-$40 thousand range, Curry said. After the training, six employees would likely remain in Pecos. Curry said that the company is ready to set up and start training. He expects the President of Meta Tec to be in Pecos the later part of January. "It's coming here one way or another," Curry said, "I want it coming here with the cooperation of the taxing entities." Curry asked for - and got - a letter of support from the council to encourage the company to move to Pecos. He said that with the market in Juarez so saturated many companies are looking to Ojinaga to open their factories. "This puts us right in line," he said. The council approved the second reading of an amendment to city code, section 22-3, that sets the probationary period for city employees at three months (six months for police department employees) to be used for the evaluation of the employee's performance. During the probationary period, the employee is not entitled to sick leave or city insurance and at the end of the period the employees supervisor will report to the city manager as to the employees work performance and general characteristics. Councilman Randy Graham was elected, on a recommendation by Mayor Dot Stafford, to represent the city on the board of the Economic Development Corporation. Board member Curry promised that Graham would be "kept busy" working for the corporation. Council members were in favor of soliciting proposals for the final closing of Trench 1, Area B, at the Pecos landfill. The landfill officially closed on Dec. 2 on the first day of the transfer station's operations. The stations will serve to transport waste from Pecos and other area cities to the Penwell landfill. The purchase of a fire truck for the Fire Department, priced at $139,224 with options, was approved after Fire Chief Jack Brookshire warned that a delay until January would increase the total cost of the truck six percent. A grant is expected to cover $25,000 of the total and the department plans to sell off its 1975 model truck. The Council also voted for the purchase of a 1982 model Vector Vacuum Truck, with only 16,000 miles on the odometer, at the cost of $47,900. Pecos Water Superintendent Octavio Garcia, who was part of a task force sent to Albuquerque to examine the truck, said it was "in real good shape." He also said that parts for the truck were readily available should repairs need to be made. Realizing that the donation of property located at Third and Mesquite streets (formerly known as the Mesquite Lounge and slated for demolition) would both save the city money and improve the area, the council voted to donate it to the Catholic War Veterans. It would cost the city an estimated $1,000 to demolish the building. Representing the Catholic War Veterans, Ralph Hernandez said "We would like to fix up the place to meet in and help generate funds for the post." Hernandez made a token bid for the property of $10. Brookshire said the property only had to be brought up to city code to get off the condemned list. The council accepted a leasing contract with Mr. and Mrs. James P. Marquez who wish to open a boxing gym in a building located at 1104 S. Cedar pending the approval of the other taxing entities. Mrs. Marquez said they had not heard back from the hospital or the county, but were told that the school board could not take action until January. Johnson said he was in support of anything that filled up a building and did something for the kids. "Empty buildings are in surplus around here," he said. But Johnson also stressed the importance of getting adequate insurance for the gym. In executive session, the council voted in favor of raising the city manager's salary from $42,500 to $50,000. The next meeting date for the council was changed from Christmas day to Dec. 23. City offices will be closed Dec. 24 and 25.
PBT board considers campus progressBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer PECOS, December 12, 1997 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD held its regular meeting for the month of December yesterday evening. Many of the district's administrators used a report from the Texas Education Agency to discuss the progress that their campuses are making, an interlocal agreement to begin a community wellness program was discussed and an irate homeowner addressed the board. As the meeting began with sounds of the annual Christmas parade leaving its assembly area across the street, members of Kim Burner's enhanced fifth-grade class from Bessie Haynes Elementary gave an entertaining presentation on two books that the class has rewritten. Administrators from various campuses presented lengthy discussions on the progress their respective campuses have been making according to the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) report put out by the Texas Education Agency. Specific details of the report will be covered by the Pecos Enterprise next week. Beau Jack Hendrick, principal of Austin Elementary, spoke about both his campus and Pecos Elementary, because Gail Norris, principal of Pecos Elementary, was out of town. He said that the two schools are paired, and that although Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) isn't given at the first and second grade levels that are housed at Austin, Austin's attendance rates affect Pecos Elementary's ratings on the AEIS report. "Pecos Elementary has a very good reputation. They were a recognized campus the past two years," Hendrick said. Gome Olibas, principal of both Barstow Elementary and Lamar Middle School, said that both of his campuses came close to reaching exemplary status this year. "Zavala was a recognized campus for the first time for the 96-97 school year," said Don Love, principal of the seventh grade campus. Danny Rodriguez, Pecos High School principal, spoke mainly about the tenth-grade results because that is the grade level at which the exit-level TASS is given. The test is not given to ninth graders, and is only taken by eleventh and twelfth graders who didn't pass the test in tenth grade. Rodriguez said that mathematics "is an area that we're really working with." After the administrators finished their presentations, Interim Superintendent Kenn Norris, who said that the school district is "all about academics," spoke to everyone at more length about how the district is doing, and what they can do. "In this district, we seem to not have everything where it is supposed to be. Everything has an orderly position," Norris said. "We are not interested in defeat. We are not interested in how poor we are," Norris continued. "We can do whatever we set out to do." Norris said that "we take where we are, and we plan where we want to be." He stressed that "attendance is one of our big concerns right now." The district loses about $22 a day for each student who is absent. The PBT ISD is considering entering into an interlocal agreement with Reeves County and the Town of Pecos City to form a community wellness program. According to the plan presented by Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo, the city and county will contribute funds to upgrade school facilities in exchange for public access to those facilities. New facilities such as a racquetball court may also be built. According to Galindo, the city and county prefer to work out an agreement with the school district to building new facilities from the ground up. PBT Athletic Director Mike Belew said that he "was definitely interested" in the idea. City Councilmen Johnny Terrazas and Randy Graham both spoke in favor of the interlocal agreement. Terrazas pointed out that such a program might help to draw new businesses to the Pecos area and said "this program would be a great asset to our community." Trustee Freddy Lujan will serve on a committee with Norris and Belew to work with city and county officials interested in devising a plan that will work for all the entities involved. A few tense moments occurred while a local homeowner addressed the board regarding delinquent taxes that caused the district's tax attorney's firm to list his home as being up for sale in an attempt to collect the back taxes. Manuel Rubio, a local plumber and owner of a home on Park Street, admitted that he is behind on taxes but was upset that his home had been listed in a legal notice published in the Pecos Enterprise as being available for sale in an upcoming auction. PBT ISD's tax attorney, Russell N. McInturff, explained that his firm had the notice published and listed homes on which there are delinquent taxes and no written repayment plans. Rubio stated that he never received notices of the firm's intent to sell the property "from under" him. McInturff responded that the notices, which his firm sends as a courtesy to taxpayers, were sent and that the firm is not legally obligated to do so. He said that the firm's only legal obligation to notify homeowners is in the form of the published notices. The two discussed the situation before the board at some length as voices rose. "One of the problems we have right now, Mr. Rubio, is that we have two million dollars owed to us in back taxes," said board president Frank Perea, who said that the school needs the money to fund its programs. The most tense moment was when Rubio said that only Mexicans were being targeted to have their homes sold because of delinquent taxes. "That is absolutely untrue, and I refuse to stand for those kinds of charges," said McInturff. Rubio said that he had been making payments, but did not have a payment agreement in writing with anyone. McInturff stated several times that his firm is interested in helping homeowners to work out payment agreements that they can handle, not in taking their property away from them, but that by law, all payment agreements must be in writing. McInturff said that since the sale notice was published, Rubio did work out a payment agreement and his house has been removed from the sale. Girls' softball was approved for this year, despite nay votes from both Linda Gholson and Daisy Roquemore. Gholson stated that her nay vote was not because she is against the program, but she is concerned with the legality of the district investing in property that they don't own. Under a proposed agreement with Reeves County, both entities would split the cost of having lights installed at Martinez Field. The school district would have to pay about $15,000 for that, as well as footing the electric bills during the softball season. The county would take care of the field's maintenance and pay the electric bills during the off-season. Based on research of past documents, it was Norris' recommendation that a long-term substitute must teach in the same classroom for the same teacher for 20 consecutive days to qualify for the higher pay rate of $60 per day, instead of the regular rate of $50 per day. Jury duty would not be counted as an absence. The board voted according to his recommendation to require the 20 days to be consecutive to receive the higher pay. Because of a past promise to teachers of visually handicapped students, their pay will be increased to two steps on the pay scale above where they are according to their years of experience, and the will receive an additional $2,500 upon obtaining certification. The raise will be made retroactive to the beginning of the school year, with the provision that the policy will be reviewed if one of the current teachers, who this promise was made to, leaves and is replaced. The Zavala Middle School Seventh Grade library and lab technology project was approved at $20,000. "There is already $15,000 in the maintenance budget that the business manager (Cookie Canon, who was not present) said could be earmarked for this," said Norris. After a closed session that was called to discuss Administrative Assistant applicants and other personnel, open session resumed and 12:32 a.m. No action was taken on what the Administrative Assistant's salary will be, nor on who the Interim Superintendent will recommend for the position. The appointment of Sam Joseph Campo and the resignation of third grade teacher Walter McKee were approved unanimously. The fuel bid will be revisited at the next regular meeting, which will be held Jan. 15. Current bills were approved for payment.
Nine indicted on drug chargesPECOS, December 12, 1997 - Cocaine and marijuana were the drugs of choice yesterday when the Reeves County grand jury indicted nine persons for possession and/or delivery of controlled substances. Johnny Lowell Strain, 17, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, within 1,000 feet of real property owned by a school district - 1201 W. Fourth St. - on Nov. 12. Delivery in a drug-free zone around school property moves the third-degree felony charge to second degree. Rafael Valles Medina, 36, is charged with possession of cocaine, less than one gram, on Nov. 29. Carole Janet Cone, 42, is charged with possession of more than five pounds of marijuana on Oct. 29. Dagoberto M. Rodriguez, 39, is charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, less than one gram, on Sept. 19. Anna Luisa Barreno, 36, is charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, less than one gram, on Sept. 19. Santiago Natividad Fuentez, 40, is charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, less than one gram, on Sept. 19. The indictments resulted from an undercover investigation initiated by the local drug task force, with cooperation of the Permian Basin Drug Task Force. Bail was set at $15,000 on each charge except for Medina and Cone, which is $10,000. WEATHERPECOS, December 12, 1997 - High Thursday, 38, low this morning, 19. Another cold night is in store across all of Texas tonight before a warming trend gets under way on Saturday. Temperatures will be around or below the freezing mark as far south as the Lower Rio Grande Valley before dawn Saturday. Skies will be clearing so that means an end to the brief periods of snow flurries. It will be mostly sunny during the day and clear at night across West Texas through Saturday. Lows tonight will be in the teens and 20s in West Texas. Highs Saturday will be in the 40s and 50s.
Pecos Enterprise
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