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

TOP STORIES


December 18, 1997


Dispatching for police, sheriff combined



By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, December 18, 1997 - A new dispatch system will ring
in the new year for two local law enforcement agencies.
Beginning Jan. 1, 1998, the Pecos Police Department will
handle all of the dispatching duties for both the police
department and the Reeves County Sheriff's Department.

Because sheriff's dispatchers are so busy with their
responsibilities of running the jail (Reeves County Jail)
and taking care of the prisoners, they often don't have time
for dispatching, said Pecos P.D. Lieutenant Kelly Davis.

"Dispatching is a full-time job," Davis said. "In order to
provide better service to the public, and the officers, we
decided to have all dispatching for both the sheriff's
department and the police department done here at the police
department."

In return for dispatching services, the sheriff's department
will cease charging the city for housing prisoners in the
county jail.

"We'll have the dispatching of the fire department and the
ambulances - 911 is already here," said Davis.

"If anyone needs a police officer or a sheriff's deputy
starting Jan. 1, they should call the police department at
445-4911," Davis said.

The department's computer system will be online for the
dispatchers by then, so they will have instant access to the
information they need, according to Davis. Also, calls to
both the police department and 911 will be recorded so the
department can keep more accurate records.

Davis said that anyone wanting copies of either accident or
incident reports should get them from the police department
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and that anyone
needing information on Reeves County Jail prisoners should
contact the sheriff's office. Their phone number is 445-4901.

Inmates' children ensured merry Yule


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, December 18, 1997 - Children who have one or both
parents in prison will be receiving a good Christmas, thanks
to the Pecos Ministerial Fellowship.

"We've been doing this for a few years, but this year it
came a little bit late," said First Baptist Church preacher
Greer Willis.

Willis stated that he sought the help of the Lions and
Rotary Clubs to help out this year, since the group started
working on their "Angel Tree" later than usual.

Each group donated about $100, which took care of about 6
children, according to Willis.

"We spread the list out among all the congregations in the
Ministerial Fellowship and we will be handing out the gifts
today," said Willis.

About 45 children are on the list this year, and all are
from local families, according to Willis.

The contact organization is LOOP, Loved Ones of Prisoners,
out of Odessa.

"Some of these children have one or both parents in prison,
every year we have some that have both," said Willis.

Willis stated that the targeted families are usually very
receptive to this program and each child receives a couple
of gifts.

"This year we decided to buy a gift and give each one a gift
certificate, so they can personalize their own gift," said
Willis.

Sometimes church members know the families in the program
and they help those families out even more.

"Some of these churches also minister to the family, provide
other necessities, and some of the families have been know
to become a part of the churches that have helped them,"
said Willis.

This year about six churches took families under their
wings, to help them out not only during this holiday season
but throughout the year.

The project itself is run by Chuck Colsen Prison Fellowship,
an international organization aimed at trying to keep
prisoners in touch with their families.

"Each prisoner fills out an application, which is where the
list comes from, and on there is a place for them to write
their own message," said Willis.

"This year, more than ever, we're trying to convey the
messages these people have written down," said Willis.

On each gift a note is filled out, with the message the
prisoner has written for his family, such as "I love you,"
or whatever he/she wants to convey, according Willis.

"That's the main thing, we want to help prisoners stay in
touch with their families and we hopefully want to pass
their message along to the child," said Willis.

Postmaster changes holiday hours



By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, December 18, 1997 - While Pecos Postmaster Ramona
Sterling is away on a special assignment to Washington D.C.,
the San Antonio District West Texas Postal Operations has
replaced her with Tony C. Ramirez, Officer in
Charge/Postmaster.

"After reviewing the needs of our customers over the past
few years, records indicate that very little activity is
conducted after noon on Christmas and New Year's eves," said
Ramirez.

With this in mind, Ramirez stated, "We would like to allow
our employees an opportunity to be with their families
earlier on these two very special occasions."

As a result, the local post office retail/window operations
will close at noon Dec. 24 and 31. However, mail delivery
will remain on normal schedule, according to Ramirez.

Office operations will return to normal hours Dec. 26 and
Jan. 2.

Ramirez graduated from Pecos High School in 1967 and in 1971
graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. He
worked for the Edgewood ISD, Saladmaster Corp. and Boy's
Clubs in San Antonio prior to his employment with the US
Postal Service.

His career appointment with the USPS as a distribution and
window clerk began in 1977. He was in management training as
a delivery supervisor from 1985 until he was promoted to
Hispanic Coordinator in 1989. Later he was promoted to a
customer services supervisor in 1992.

In 1995 he was selected as Postmaster of Bandera, Tx., until
he was assigned as Officer-in-Charge/Postmaster of Pecos in
December of this year.

Ramirez and his wife, Blanca have five children and four
grandchildren. He is also the son of Filomena Ramirez of
Pecos.

Sales tax rebates increase from 1996



AUSTIN, December 18, 1997 - Sales tax rebates to Texas
cities and counties in 1997 increased 6.8 percent from last
year, according to a recent report from State Comptroller
John Sharp. Pecos rebates for the year were almost two
percent more than 1996.

The final Texas sales tax rebates for 1997 totaled $164.7
million bringing the total city and county sales tax rebates
for calendar year to more than $2.1 billion as the growth
outlook for the Texas economy continues to outshine that for
the nation as a whole, Sharp said. The state delivered
another $793 million in local sales tax revenue this year to
mass transit systems in eight of the states largest cities.

December sales tax rebates to Texas cities totaled $150.6
million, 3.9 percent higher than the monthly payments of
$144.9 million one year ago. Rebates of $14 million to Texas
counties were 1 percent higher than allocations of $13.9
million in December 1996.

The December payments to Taxas cities and counties include
local sales taxes collected by monthly filers on October
sales and reported to the comptroller in November.

Rebates to Pecos this month totaled $60,081, almost 11
percent higher than December 1996. Total sales tax rebates
to Pecos for the year was 736,591 compared to 723,396 last
year. The total rebate to the Reeves County Hospital
District for the year was $285,855 compared to $271,733 last
year a little more than a five percent increase.

The city of Houston received a December sales tax rebate of
$19.5 million, 2.8 percent more than the $19 million
delivered to the city last December. Total payments to the
city of Houston for 1997 were 6.2 percent more than total
payments for last year.

Dallas received a sales tax rebate of $13.2 million in
December, 4.3 percent higher than last year's $12.7 million
payment for the same month. Dallas received 3.8 percent more
in total sales tax payments in 1997 than in 1996.

The San Antonio allocation for December totaled $8.3
million, virtually unchanged from the payment for December
1996. This year, San Antonio received 5.3 percent more in
local sales tax payments than the total for last year.

The Austin sales tax allocation for December was $6.7
million, 11.7 percent higher than the December 1996 payment
of $6 million. In 1997, Austin's total sales tax rebates
were 5.4 percent more than those for 1996.

Fort Worth's $4.12 million sales tax allocation was 1.6
percent less than the rebate of $4.18 million for December
of last year; however, total rebates to Fort Worth in 1997
were 5.5 percent above those for 1996. The city of
Arlington's $3.1 million allocation decreased 14.6 percent
from the $3.6 million in sales tax rebates for the same
month last year; again, however, the city's total rebates
for 1997 were 4.3 percent more than those for 1 996.

El Paso's sales tax rebate of $3 million was 2.9 percent
more than the $2.9 million payment delivered in December
1996. El Paso's total sales tax payments for 1997 reflect an
increase of just under 1 percent from those for 1996.

December sales tax rebates to several other Texas cities
were: Plano, with a rebate of $2.4 million, for a 2.3
percent year-over-year increase; Irving, with an allocation
of $2.3 million, up 8.1 percent over 1996; Corpus Christi,
with a $2 million payment, reflecting a 1.1 percent
year-over-year increase; Lubbock, with a rebate of $1.8
million, for an increase of 4 percent for this calendar year
over 1996; and Beaumont, with a $1.6 million rebate, for a
year-over-year-increase of 3.5 percent.

Quarterly payments to mass transit authorities were as
follows:

Houston MTA, $73.5 million, up 6.4 percent for the
calendar year;

Dallas MTA, $73.8 million, up 2.7 percent year-over-year;

San Antonio MTA, $13.9 million, up 3.7 percent over last
year's total;

Austin MTA, $23.3 million, up 5.6 percent 1997 over 1996;

Fort Worth-MTA, $6.7 million, up 5.5 percent year
over-year; and

Corpus Christi MTA, $3.5 million, Jown 1.2 percent for the
calendar year.

The monthly rebate to the El Paso City Transit Department
was $1.4 million, for a total calendar year increase of 1.2
percent. The Laredo City Transit Department sales tax rebate
for December was $206,946, for a year-over-year increase of
8.7 percent.

Twenty-nine special purpose Districts around the state
received payments totaling $4.4 million.

Golden Angel tree short of gifts



By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, December 18, 1997 - So far, The Golden Angel Tree at
the Pecos Nursing Home is a great success. All 80 angels on
the tree were spoken for with promises of gifts for the
residents. However, only 14 gifts have been received and the
nursing home needs them all in time for its party tomorrow.

The tree is decorated with golden angels, which have the
names of all the residents of the home inscribed on them.
Attached to the angels were little gift cards with the
residents' choice of a gift or two.

"All the angels were picked out, but of the 80 that were on
the tree, only 14 gifts have been placed under the tree and
we need to know if they are going to bring the gifts in or
not," said Gilda Vejil, the creator of "The Golden Angel
Tree," located in the Pecos Nursing Home lobby.

Individuals in the community were asked to pick out an
angel, purchase a gift for the resident at the home and
return the gift.

"If for some reason they can't purchase the gift, we need to
know now, so that we can purchase one for them," said Vejil.

Vejil is asking those who picked out an angel to contact
her, at 447-2141, and let her know if they will be able to
purchase the item or not.

Gifts need to be returned to the nursing home by at 1 p.m.
tomorrow, in time for the Christmas party scheduled for the
evening.

Vejil also received a cash donation of $150. "With this
money I was able to purchase socks for all the residents,"
said Vejil.

Vejil purchased two pairs of socks for each of the residents
at the home.

POLICE REPORT



PECOS, December 18, 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, 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.
***
Dorothy Smith Wilson, 43, 2019 S. Park, was arrested at 3:27
p.m. Dec. 12 at 200 E. B St. on a warrant for delivery of a
controlled substance, marijuana less than two ounces.
***
Rebecca Lujan Prieto, 18, 1019 S. Martinez, was arrested at
3:37 p.m. Dec. 12 at municipal court on service of warrants
for traffic citations, paid the fines and was released.
***
Angel Ramirez, 19, 805 S. Cherry, was arrested at 11:50 p.m.
Dec. 13 at La Officina Bar, 611 E. 2nd St., on a capias pro
fine warrant for minor in possession/consuming alcoholic
beverages.
***
Louie Elliot Rico, 17, was arrested Dec. 14 in the
700 block of S. Palm for public intoxication and disorderly
conduct.
***
Jeanette Florez, 19, was arrested at 3:36 a.m. Dec. 14 in
the 700 block of S. Palm for public intoxication and
disorderly conduct.
***
Ysa Munoz, 24, 1101 S. Elm, was arrested at 1 a.m. Dec. 14
at her residence for resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor.
***
Luis Carlos Machuca, 30, Lovington, N.M., was arrested at
12:16 a.m. during a traffic stop in the 2200 block of S.
Highway 17 for driving with no valid driver's license.
***
Annette J. Ybarra was arrested at 2:59 p.m. Dec. 11 at
Wal-Mart for theft over $50.
***
Johnny Lowell Strain was arrested at 1:51 p.m. Dec. 12 at
Pecos High School on a warrant for delivery of a controlled
substance.
***
Jeanette Florez was arrested at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 on a warrant
service at municipal court.
***
Joshua W. Daniels was arrested at 12:17 a.m. Dec. 13 during
a traffic stop at 3rd and Peach for outstanding warrants.
***
A white, 1993 Ford pickup, owned by Pepsi Corp., was damaged
in the form of its drivers side window being shattered, when
a Dodge Caravan drove by it headed in the opposite direction
at about 3 p.m. Dec. 9 on Highway 17 east of Balmorhea State
Park.

CRIME OF THE WEEK



PECOS, December 18, 1997 - Crime Stoppers will pay up to
$1,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and
Grand Jury indictment of person(s) responsible for the
incident described below. Anyone having any information on
this crime or any other crime can call "Crime Stoppers" at
445-9898 and you will remain anonymous.

On Nov. 6, 1997, Pecos police responded to a burglary of a
habitation located at 1901 Jackson Blvd. Sometime between
Oct. 30, 1997 and Nov. 6, 1997, a person or persons gained
entry into the residence by prying open a small bathroom
window. Once entry was gained, the person or persons took a
Hitachi 25-inch color TV, an 18-inch RCA satellite dish and
receiver, a VCR and a truck speaker box with 12-inch "Pyle
Driver" woofers. Value of stolen property was placed at
$1,575.

OBITUARIES


Jessie Allen



Jessie Bell Allen, 80, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997, at
Reeves County Hospital.

Memorial services are set for 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, at
First Christian Church.

Allen was born April 20, 1917, in Pecos and was a lifelong
Pecos resident and a Protestant.

Survivors include: two daughters, Helen Allen and Laura
Quisenberry of Odessa; and one sister, Birdie Slack of Pecos.

WEATHER



PECOS, December 18, 1997 - High Wednesday, 71, low this
morning, 26. Texas enjoyed one last sunny and mild day today
as a cloudy, wet and cold weekend loomed on the horizon. The
high pressure that brought the sunny and mild weather exited
the state to the east as a Pacific winter storm approached
from the west. A low pressure trough developed overnight
from the Panhandle to the Big Bend. This morning dawned with
temperatures in the 30s and 40s before heading to expected
highs of the 60s and 70s. West Texas and the Panhandle
expected fair skies tonight before clouds increase and
temperatures cool on Friday as a high-altitude storm system
approaches from the west. There will be a slight chance of
showers over the far west Friday. Lows will be in the 30s
and 40s, with Friday highs from the 40s in the Panhandle to
the 70s in the Big Bend, but generally in the 50s and 60s.




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Peggy McCracken, Webmaster
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

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