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Area Newspaper and Travel Guide for Reeves County, Ward County, Trans-Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

TOP STORIES

December 17, 1997


Third local teen arrested for selling drugs



By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, December 17, 1997 - Yesterday, local law enforcement
officers arrested a Pecos High School student suspected of
selling drugs to fellow classmates. His was the third such
arrest or indictment of a teenager in the past two weeks,
according to police.

At 11:15 p.m. yesterday, Pecos police officers and Reeves
County sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant at 515
S. Almond Street. According to police records, a 16-year-old
male juvenile was arrested at the residence for possession
of marijuana at 11:35 p.m. and was transported to the Reeves
County Juvenile Detention Center. He will remain in the JDC
pending a hearing.

Police obtained the narcotics search warrant from Judge
Phyllis Salyer after receiving information that a juvenile
was selling marijuana at the residence.

Upon searching the residence, officers found a substance
believed to be marijuana and paraphernalia which appeared to
be used for packaging the marijuana in the youth's bedroom.
Also, four bags of a substance believed to be marijuana and
other drug paraphernalia were found inside the juvenile's
vehicle.

This juvenile is the third high school student that has been
arrested or indicted within the past two weeks who is
believed to have been selling narcotics to fellow students,
according to police reports.

The name of this 16-year-old has not been released because
of his juvenile status.

In other teen drug cases, 18-year-old Skyler Bechtel was
indicted by the Reeves County Grand Jury Dec. 11 for alleged
organized criminal activity and delivery of cocaine and
marijuana. His parents, Frank William Bechtel, 43, and Alta
Ruth Bechtel, 47, are also charged with three counts each of
organized criminal activity in connection with their son's
marijuana deliveries from their home. Their home at 902 S.
Hickory was seized by Pecos police under the Texas Health
and Safety Code because it is believed to have been derived
from or used or intended to be used in connection with the
family's felony criminal undertakings, according to Pecos
Narcotics Investigator Paul Deishler.

Also, Johnny Lowell Strain, 17, was charged with delivery of
a controlled substance, cocaine, within 1,000 feet of real
property owned by a school district - 1201 W. Fourth Street
- on Nov. 12. He was indicted by the Reeves County Grand
Jury on Dec. 12.

FNB of Pecos to acquire Kermit bank



PECOS, December 17, 1997 - The First National Bank of Pecos
has entered an agreement to acquire the Kermit branch bank
of Western National Bank.

Subject to necessary regulatory approval, it is anticipated
the acquisition will be completed during the first quarter
of 1998. The Kermit bank will become a branch bank of First
National, Pecos.

"We are very excited to be able to acquire a bank such as
Western National, Kermit," said Bruce Duston, First
National, Pecos President.

"The bank has a long history of serving Kermit and Winkler
County, has an excellent staff, and a strong and loyal
customer base. We look forward to getting acquainted in the
community, and serving the community's loan and financial
service needs," said Duston. "We view the Kermit bank as an
important asset and extension of our banking interest in
West Texas," he said.

Jack Wood, Western National C.E.O. stated, "This sale will
allow Western National Bank to focus more strategically on
its core business in Odessa and Midland."

First National, Pecos was chartered in 1907. It has total
assets of $55 million, deposits of $48 million and loans of
$26 million. First National, Pecos is affiliated with
Seminole National Bank, Denver City Bank, and The First
National Bank of Fort Stockton.

Approximate combined financial assets of the affiliated
group will be assets of $178 million, deposits of $160
milion and loans of $70 million.

Hospital board appoints home service director



By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, December 17, 1997 - Reeves County Hospital District
board members approved new appointments and renewed
appointments of hospital administrators and staff during
their meeting last night.

Terry Andris, Interim Administrator for Reeves County
Hospital, was officially appointed as administrator of RCH's
Home Health Services. Iris Rives was appointed as the
service's administrator alternate, Tojia Criss, RN, was
appointed as director, and L.G. Crawford, RN, was appointed
as alternate director.

Board member Greg Luna was designated as the hospital's
representative to the Pecos Economic Development Corporation.

The hospital's two-year running management contract with
Methodist, which expires on Dec. 19, will be allowed to
continue for another three years. Andris told the board that
the contract had a "30 day out," that is, the contract is
month to month and may still be terminated at any time over
the next three years.

"Our affiliation (with Methodist)," said Luna, "has helped
the board educationally, has brought the board together . .
. trained us at looking at the future of hospitals and
planning, and doing self-evaluations that have been so
helpful."

Andris was given permission from the board to pursue
negotiations with Spectrum for lower emergency room service
quotes. The hospital has been with Gould for the past year
and, as Andris said, "It has not been terribly successful."
The medical staff asked Andris to seek an agreement with
Spectrum.

"I feel I may be able to get them down (on their quoted
price) to a reasonable level," Andris said, "where the
difference between the two may be mere pennies."

Gould's cost to the hospital has been $62.85/hour for
emergency room service. Spectrum's asking price is
$66.40/hour.

The board approved agreements with the ambulance services of
Balmorhea and Pecos. The agreements have not changed since
last year, only Toyah is not included because their
ambulance is not running. However, Andris said that the
board has left money in the budget for Toyah's service in
case they start running sometime later in the year.

Requirements of Medicare and Medicaid that records be kept
for longer periods of time inspired the board to authorize
Andris to begin to scout available properties in Pecos and
to compare leasing prices with those of constructing storage
facilities at the hospital. Financial statements and budget
amendments were also approved by the board.

Discussion over surgical instruments for podiatry was
deferred for 30-60 days.

On the recommendation of the medical staff, the following
were reappointed to active staff with clinical privileges
for 1998-1999: W.J. Bang, MD; James Cam, MD; Orville Cerna,
MD; Joseph Darpolar, MD; David Lovett, DDS; and Kai-Wood Ma,
MD.

Also by recommendation, the following were reappointed to
courtesy staff with clinical privileges for 1998-1999: C.S.
Lee, MD; Steven Wiehle, MD; Gary Elam, MD; Thomas Turner,
MD; Sudhir Amaram, MD; Phillip Zeeck, MD; Pankaj Khandelwal,
MD; Timothy George, MD; Pankaj Patel, MD.

Alexander Kovac, MD, and John Young, MD, were reappointed to
consulting staff with clinical privileges, and Jerry
Giardina, CRNA, and Michele Cser, PAC, were reappointed to
allied health staff on recommendation of the medical staff
for 1998-1999.

Stores named in selling alcohol to minors sting



PECOS, December 17, 1997 - Twelve Reeves County stores were
caught selling alcohol to minors in a reverse sting
operation conducted at 19 area stores by the Odessa office
of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission recently.

Names of the individual store clerks were not available,
said TABC Sergeant Scott Armstrong, but the list of the 12
stores has been released. They are:

Ramone's Grocery on Highway 17;

Candela's Grocery in Saragosa;

Gomez Quick Stop in Balmorhea;

Victor's Citgo in Balmorhea;

La Vina Liquors in Pecos;

Amigo's at 1313 S. Cedar, Pecos;

Allsup's at 708 S. Cedar, Pecos;

Uncle's (West Texas Gas) at 201 E. Third, Pecos;

Dan's Music and Video in Pecos;

Raul's Easy Stop in Pecos;

Town & Country at 800 Palmer, Pecos;

North Side Cafe in Pecos.

The stores have the option of choosing their punishment,
which can be either a seven-day suspension of their license
to sell alcohol or a $1,050 civil penalty.

MARRIAGES



PECOS, December 17, 1997 - Marriages for October, as
reported by the Reeves County Clerk's Office.


Feliciano Chavez and Susan Rosas Chavez.

Isaac Porras Jasso and Ester Reza.

Rafael Medina, Jr. and Jasmine Villalobos.

Juan Jose Pena, Jr. and Juana Reyes Chavez.

Thomas M. Natividad, Jr. and Veronica Samaguey.

Ernesto Contreras Meza and Angelica Talamantez Herrera.

William Moe Bautista and Carmen Rodriguez Molina.

Gilberto Rico and Melissa Galindo.

Rafael Montano and Sonia Valeriano Montano.

DIVORCES



PECOS, December 17, 1997 - Divorces for October, as reported
by the Reeves County Clerk's Office.

Andrea Rae Cherry and Richard Lee Cherry.

Silvia Pando Aguilar and Daniel Aguilar.

Rebecca Holguin Dominguez and George Vejil Dominguez.

OBITUARIES


Bill Calloway



Bill Calloway, died Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, at Midland
Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services are set for 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, in
the Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Cremation to follow funeral
services.

Calloway was born Oct. 25, 1924, in Frisco, Tx. He was
raised in Waco and attended Houston Mortuary College. At the
outbreak of World War II, he joined the U.S. Navy serving on
a destroyer in the south Pacific.

Calloway was a past president of the West Texas Funeral
Directors Association and was honored in 1995 as their
Funeral Director of the year. He was a longtime Pecos
resident and managed the Pecos Funeral Home. He moved to
Midland in 1992 and became a part of the staff at Ellis
Funeral Home.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Calloway, in
1973.

Survivors include: his wife, Betty Calloway of Midland; two
sons, Ricky Calloway of Dimmit and Bobby Calloway of
Midland; one daughter, Caren Finnerty of Odessa; and nine
grandchildren.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers memorials be
made to Allison Cancer Center, 103 North "N", Midland, Tx.,
79701.

Ellis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Concepcion Cazares



Concepcion A. Cazares, 65, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997, at
Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.

A rosary is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, at
Martinez Funeral Home Chapel.

Mass will be held Friday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m., at Santa Rosa
Catholic Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.

Cazares was born Dec. 8, 1932, in Galiana, Chih., Mexico.
She was a lifetime Pecos resident and a Catholic.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Reynaldo Acosta
and one sister, Inez Acosta.

Survivors include: her husband Roberto Cazares of Pecos;
three sons, Ruben, Zenon and Jorge Cazares of Pecos; 10
grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Cruz Villa



Cruz (Red) Villa, 61, of Pecos, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997
at his residence.

Mass is scheduled for 3 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Santa
Rosa Catholic Church with Father Antonio Mena officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Evergreen Cemetery.

Villa was born May 3, 1936, in Ruidoso, Tx. He was a
lifelong Pecos resident and a Catholic.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Manuel Villa.

Survivors include: his mother, Senona Nanez of Pecos; one
brother, Augustin Villa of Pecos; one sister, Antonia
Herrera of Pecos; two nephews; and two nieces.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER



PECOS, December 17, 1997 - High Tuesday, 65, low this
morning, 24. Cold nights and warm days are forecast across
all of Texas tonight and Thursday. It will be spring-like in
the afternoon across the entire state with temperatures
climbing into the 60s and 70s. It will be clear at night and
mostly sunny during the day across West Texas. Lows tonight
will be in the 20s and 30s in West Texas. Highs Thursday
will be in the 60s and 70s statewide.



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