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

TOP STORIES

January 5, 1998


Council to name new police chief



By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 5, 1998 - Pecos City Council members Thursday will choose a new chief of police for the city from five finalists for the job. The five were narrowed from a field of nine during a special council meeting Saturday, Jan. 3.

Under consideration are:

Jim Lyons, a United Nations employee who has operated in Bosnia-Herzegovina, has held the offices of chief of police at in Springtown, Texas, and sergeant in Lake Worth, Texas.

Clay McKinney, currently a sergeant in the narcotics division of Reeves County Sheriff's Department, has worked as an investigator for the district attorney and as both a patrol officer and sergeant investigator for the Pecos Police Department.

Others interviewed were Charles Boyd of Alpine, currently self-employed, a former task force agent with the Department of Justice; Raymond Ornelas, patrol sergeant for Pecos Police Department; and Felipe Villalobos, patrolman for Pecos Police Department.

A motion was made at Saturday's city council meeting to run background checks on all applicants interviewed and to arrive at a final decision at the Thursday morning council meeting, to be held at 7 a.m. on Jan. 8.

Applicants not represented at the Saturday meeting include John Lanahan of El Paso, Tx., William Rogers of Joliet, Ill., Billy Jack Abbott of Burnet, Tx. and Placido Nunez of El Paso, Tx.

One person dead in accident, four injured



PECOS, January 5, 1998 - One person died in a two-vehicle accident a few miles north of Pecos Sunday morning, according to Department of Public Safety reports.

At 10:05 a.m. Jan. 4 ,a 1994 Toyota, driven by Lisa Dawn Morales of Houston, was travelling southbound on U.S. Highway 285 about four miles north of town.

At the same time, a 1994 Mack semi-truck towing a water tanker, driven by Dan T. Arrieta of Monahans, was travelling westbound on County Road 402.

Both drivers were travelling in extremely heavy fog, according to the reports, and visibility was about one eighth of a mile.

When Arrieta, driving the Mack truck, came to the intersection and saw the stop sign he applied his brakes but began skidding into the path of the Toyota. The Toyota hit the left side of the trailer, according to the report. The truck and tanker overturned and landed on its side.

Killed was Lisa Dawn Morales, 38, a computer programmer residing at 13431 Tara Oak in Houston. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at 10:55 a.m. by Toyah Justice of the Peace J. T. Marsh. Her body was taken to Pecos Funeral Home.

Injured were Jerry Valdez Morales, 29, Mathew Ryan Morales, 10, Jerry Bryan Morales, 14, and Shawn Daniel Morales, 8, all of the same address as the deceased. Jerry Valdez Morales was wearing a seat belt; none of the minors were wearing a seat belt. All are listed in good condition at Reeves County Hospital, according to the reports. There was no condition report on Arrieta, however, a DPS spokesperson said he was uninjured.

Corporal Emmit Moore and Trooper Richard Jacobs, both from the Pecos DPS, investigated the accident.

Police chief develops heart problems



By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 5, 1998 - Retiring Pecos Police Chief Troy Moore has developed heart problems recently but remains on the job in a reduced capacity. Moore announced his plans to retire before the heart problems arose in mid-December.

"I had chest pains at about 7 or 7:30 p.m. (Thursday, Dec. 18) and went to the emergency room. They determined I had a mild heart attack," Moore said.

Moore added that he had an angiogram that Saturday and that doctors placed a metal mesh stint in one of his arteries the following Tuesday.

"I had an artery that was 90 percent closed and I have another one that is 70 percent closed that they will work on in three weeks," said Moore. He explained that his doctors are waiting for him to recover from the first surgery before treating the second, less blocked artery. Also, Moore said, the second artery may be treatable with medication instead of surgery.

Moore is currently on the job but is taking it easy on doctor's orders.

"I'm trying to do the best I can for the department because the department has been very good to me," Moore said.

He said that he is feels well in the mornings but tires easily and gets worn out in the afternoons.

As the city council searches for his replacement, Moore said that he has "full faith that the council will hire the best man for the job as my replacement."

Council members met Saturday to determine final candidates for the chief of police position.

Moore hasn't made a lot of firm plans on how he will spend his retirement yet. For the time being, he said, he plans to stay in the Pecos area and take it easy. He said that his immediate plans are to get his health straightened out then to travel and visit relatives.

Deadline passes for primary election



By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 5, 1998 - Three last minute filings Friday completed the list of candidates for the March 10 Primary Election. All candidates who had filed campaign treasurers designations for the election also filed with Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Dean before the 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, deadline.

Catalina "Kathy" Ybarra filed her treasurer's designation naming Gilbert Ybarra as her treasurer as her first step in vying for the position of district clerk.

Rosemary Chabarria followed the same procedure and named herself as treasurer in vying for that same position.

The two will be up against incumbent Juana Jaquez.

In the county clerk's race, Kristina K. Talamantez has designated herself as campaign treasurer.

County clerk incumbent Dianne O. Florez has filed to seek re-election.

Other offices will be up for election in the March 10 Primary Election including the county judge's position.

Jimmy B. Galindo has filed to retain his position, with one opponent, Linda Gholson.

Linda Clark has filed to retain her position as county treasurer, with opponent Terry Terrazas.

Commissioners positions up for election include commissioner's two and four. David Castillo is unopposed for County Commissioner Precinct 2, while Precinct 3 has three candidates including incumbent Bernardo Martinez, Mari Maldonado and Gilbert "Hivi" Rayos.

County Court-at-law Judge Lee Green has filed to retain his position as has county surveyor, Frank Spencer. Both are unopposed.

All four justice of the peace position are up for election.

In Precinct 1 incumbent Amonario Ramon is unopposed; Precinct 2 incumbent J.T. Marsh will face Wesley Harpham; Precinct 3 incumbent Joel Madrid will have opponents Rosendo Carrasco, David Vejil and Janelle Ward; and in Precinct 4 Lamberto Herrera is unopposed.

Fisher out of intensive care, Daniels "fair"



By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 5, 1998 - Two Pecos teens injured in a traffic accident Sunday, Dec. 28, James W. Fisher and Josh Daniels, are listed in "fair" condition at Odessa's Medical Center Hospital today. Fisher, the driver of the vehicle, has been moved out of intensive care.

The pair have been hospitalized since a failure to maneuver a right turn on FM 1232 resulted in the two traveling about 232 feet off-road. The GMC pickup they were in rolled several times, coming to rest on its top. Both Fisher and Daniels were thrown from the vehicle.

According to the accident report neither had been wearing safety belts.

The families of both boys have opened accounts at First National Bank and Security State Bank under J.W. Fisher and family and Josh Daniels and family. All are encouraged to contribute to the expense funds that will be used to help cover the medical bills.

AREA NEWS ROUNDUP


The Fort Stockton Pioneer



FORT STOCKTON, Jan. 1, 1998 - A bill designed to help large metropolitan areas build major sports complexes may also provide means for a smaller community to provide a new sports and education facility for its school district. It is with this in mind that officials of the Fort Stockton ISD are examining House Bill 92, an economic development measure passed by the 75th Texas Legislature last year.

The Big Bend Sentinel



MARFA, Dec. 31, 1997 - Early voting begins today in towns of Marfa and Alpine on the proposition that allows Southwest Texas Municipal Gas Co. (SWTMGC) to sell a portion of its natural gas system to West Texas Gas Co. of Midland. Registered voters of each city can cast their ballot either for or against a proposal which allows SWTMGC to sell more than 80 miles of pipeline and access to the area's largest natural gas customer.

The Alpine Avalanche



ALPINE, Jan. 1, 1998 - "Cordial, but productive," is how Alpine City Manager Doug Lively described a recent meeting with representatives from Union Pacific Railroad and the Federal Railroad Administration. The meeting, arranged and attended by David E. Visney, Regional Manager-Rail Safety for the Federal Railroad Administration, included Alex Tice, Director-Community Relations, Union Pacific Railroad; City Manager Lively; and David Busey, Alpine Main Street Program Director.

The International, Presidio Paper



PRESIDIO, Dec. 31, 1997 - They're still smuggling marijuana the way drug lord Pablo Acosta did it in the 1970s and 1980s, a lawman discovered in a dope bust Sunday in Marfa. Presidio County Chief Deputy Sheriff Rusty Taylor found 223 pounds of marijuana in a propane tank in the bed of a truck driven by a Midland man. Robert Fierro, 34, was jailed in Marfa on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

The Sanderson Times



SANDERSON, Dec. 31, 1997 - The Terrell County Commissioners' Court accepted the gift of the clinic building from the Trans-Terrell Medical Center, Inc., at their meeting Tuesday of last week.

The Monahans News



MONAHANS, Jan. 1, 1998 - Sales tax rebates to Ward County increased more than 23 percent in 1997, according to year-end statistics released by the staff of State Comptroller John Sharp. Ward County Judge Sam G. Massey and Monahans Mayor David Cutbirth were ecstatic.

OBITUARIES



Pauline Drew



Pauline Drew, 68, died Friday, Jan. 2, 1998, in Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 5, in Johnson's Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jim Wilkerson, Jr., pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Grape Creek Cemetery.

Drew was born in San Angelo, on Jan. 18, 1929. She was a graduate of Sonora High School, San Angelo College and Shannon School of Nursing. Drew practiced nursing for 42 years, until her retirement in 1993. She was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church.

She was preceeded in death by one brother, John Watson,

Survivors include: one son, Duane Drew of San Angelo; one daughter, Diana Bugg of Corsicana; six brothers, Jimmy Allen of California, Louis Watson of Sterling City, N.M. and Wilburn Watson, Weldon, Bobby and Stacy Allen all of San Angelo; four sisters, Joyce Dupree of California, Winnie Easmyer of Missouri, Shirley Foley of San Angelo and Barbara Euler of New Mexico; six grand children; three great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Leticia Rodriguez



Leticia Rodriguez, 41, of El Paso, died Jan. 1, 1998, at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Pecos Funeral Home Chapel with pastor Lorenzo Ramirez officiating. Burial will be in Mount Evergreen Cemetery.

Rodriguez was born Oct. 16, 1956, in Pecos, had lived in El Paso for 15 years and was a member of Abundant Life Faith Center.

Survivors include: her parents, Ramon and Sofia Ortiz of Pecos; two brothers, Gilbert Rodriguez and Ramon Ortiz, Jr. of Pecos; and two sisters, Ruby Apodaca and Maria C. Ortiz of Pecos.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Garcia



Services are incomplete for Michael Garcia, 26, of Pecos, who died Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998, at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland.

Garcia is the son of Lupe and Sylvia Garcia of Pecos.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER



PECOS, January 5, 1998 - High Sunday, 64, low this morning, 38. There is a threat of additional heavy rainfall tonight over the eastern two-thirds of North Texas, forecasters say. West Texas will also get some showers and thunderstorms tonight and Tuesday morning. Lows tonight will be in the 20s in the Panhandle and in the 30s and 40s elsewhere in West Texas, highs Tuesday will be in the 40s and 50s. Dense fog cut visibility across much of North Texas before dawn today and fog was also reported from the Panhandle southward into the South Plains, low rolling plains, the big country and Permian Basin.



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