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TOP STORIESJanuary 8, 1998
Council appoints McKinney police chiefBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, January 8, 1998 -A new police chief was named at this morning's heavily-attended City Council meeting. Clay McKinney was voted in by the council for a period of six months at a salary of $33,000, after which time his performance will be reviewed with a possibility of a salary increase. After a lengthy executive session, Pecos Mayor Dot Stafford called the vote on selecting a new police chief to replace the retiring Chief Troy Moore. Stafford prefaced the vote by saying, "I know the community will accept whatever decision the council makes and cooperate with whoever is chosen." The vote itself was split, Council members Ricky Herrera and Johny Terrazas made-up the dissenting votes. Moore, who announced his resignation to the council on Nov. 13, said that he felt McKinney to be a "good man" who was "well trained and has the qualifications (to be police chief)." Councilmember Danny Rodriguez, who voted in favor of McKinney, said that McKinney was "familiar with the operations" at the Pecos Police Department. "It was a tough decision. I'm glad it's over." Herrera said that the council had been concerned primarily with the applicants' qualifications and had not been swayed by the allegations circulated about McKinney. "The experience on Lyon's part was the determining factor in my vote," he said. "But I respect the decision of the council and will do what I can to support his administration." McKinney, who is 37 and has 12 years of law enforcement experience, said he was excited about his appointement to the chief of police position and was ready to get started. "The department will continue to serve the community like we have in the past," McKinney said. "I have some plans for community policing projects that I would like to impliment in the future. "Right now I'm just letting it all soak in." McKinney said he felt it was important for the police department to continue the good relations that have been developed between the department and the Reeves County Sheriff's Department. As of Jan. 1 the Pecos Police Department has been handling radio dispatching for the sheriff's department. In return city police prisoners are housed in the Reeves County Jail at no charge to the city. "We are going to continue our local drug task force and not back off our fight against drugs at all," McKinney said. "I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me through this," he added. Other items on the council's agenda were dealt with before entering executive session. Accounts payable was approved this morning, a General Services Administration request for the expansion of the rear driveway at the Federal Courthouse was approved, with Terrazas abstaining, and an item concerning the expenditures of the hotel/motel occupancy tax by the Chamber of Commerce was tabled until the next council meeting. Tom Rivera, Chamber of Commerce director, was present at the meeting but was unaware that the item concerning the hotel/motel occupancy tax was on the council's agenda. The contract concerning the tax provides for 100 percent of the collected tax to be turned over to the chamber, which then will apportion in the following manner. According to the contract, the West of the Pecos Museum will recieve 14.29 percent, an advertising committee will recieve 42.85 percent for general promotional and tourist advertising purposes, the Chamber and Tourism Center will receive 22.79 percent for general operational and promotional costs, and the remaining 20.07 percent will be apportioned to a committee yet to be appointed and spent on purposes "set out in the guidelines (of the contract)."
Belew reassigned as Zavala principalBy JON FULBRIGHT & ROSIE FLORES Staff Writers PECOS, January 8, 1998 - In one of his first acts since being appointed Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD superintendent on Tuesday, Don Love has reassigned head football coach and athletic director Mike Belew as Zavala Middle School principal, while naming longtime varsity baseball coach Bubba Williams as interim athletic director. Love, who served 1½ years as Zavala principal before being officially named as superintendent, made the changes after meeting with Belew and Williams. P-B-T school board president Frank Perea said Love is able to make reassignments and add additional duties to school personnel at his discretion. "We met and decided we had philosophical differences in the way things should be run," Belew said this morning. "That's his call being superintendent, and so I need to go. This is not the place for me." "I just want to do what's right for the district," Love said today. "I feel the district should take a different direction." "I think he'll do a great job," Love said about Belew's new assignment. "We mutually agreed to make this change." Belew was hired by the P-B-T school board to replace Felix Urias as football coach and Daylon Whitehurst as athletic director in April, 1996, and posted 4-6 records in his two seasons as head coach. He said he accepted reassignment as Zavala principal, "Until I find another job." "I don't have any hard feelings. I met some good people, have some good memories and situations and met some good kids. It was just a difference in philosophy." Williams, who was waiting to meet with Love this morning, said as of now the athletic director post is an interim job. "I'll stay on as baseball coach. I don't know what all the other options are now, because I haven't had a full discussion with Mr. Love." Love served as offensive coordinator under Whitehurst and Urias, as well as working as assistant varsity baseball coach under Williams for six seasons. He spent two years as assistant principal at Pecos High School before taking over as Zavala assistant principal in 1996, after Mike Sadler left that job to serve as Belew's offensive coordinator and head basketball coach. Sadler and Belew had worked together on the Odessa Permian coaching staff in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "I think right now there are a lot of things that need to be done," Williams said. "First, I need to get familiar with the situation of being AD and the job description that goes with it. But I feel it's a job I can handle or I wouldn't have accepted it." Williams added that one of the things he and Love would talk about is the hiring of a new football coach for the 1998 season. It will be the fourth head coach for the Eagles in the past seven seasons, after Pecos had just two head coaches the previous 25 years. Participation in the football program at the sub-varsity level, which became a problem in Urias' final two seasons as PHS head coach, was reduced in Belew's first season as head coach and AD, but returned in 1997. Both the freshman and junior varsity teams saw key players quit football and wound up winless after posting winning records in 1996. Belew also had troubles similar to Urias in getting varsity players to show up for workouts, a concern he voiced to the Pecos Downtown Lions Club just prior to the start of district play in early October. Williams, who has also endured problems with players failing or dropping out of his program over the past few years said, "We need to do something about the kids, but right now I don't know what that is." Belew said he's updated his resume to send out, in hopes of getting another head coaching job. "I'm in the process of making some calls and getting a list of coaches openings. I feel confident that I can take something from this situation and get a good job, and hopefully, I can take some of the guys (assistant coaches) with me, because I feel like we have a good staff." "I certainly wish the best for the Pecos Eagles' athletic program. I'm sure Bubba will do a good job," Belew added. Increase seen in illegal immigrant juvenilesBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, January 8, 1998 - The high number of out-of-county detainees listed in December's monthly juvenile report may have more to do with an increase of illegal immigration rather than area juvenile offenses. The report, issued by the Reeves County Juvenile Court probation department, lists 20 out-of-county youths as detained during December. Alberto Alvarez, chief juvenile officer, said that the department was receiving an increasing number of illegal juvenile immigrants from U.S Immigration. What is surprising, said Alvarez, is the shift in nationalities represented. "We used to get primarily Mexicans, now we're getting more and more juveniles from Guatemala, El Salvador and Columbia. There were two youths in this morning from Chiapas," said Alvarez. An official with the U.S. Border Patrol validated Alvarez's findings. "Traditionally there is an increase in OTM (Other Than Mexican) nationals, or a 'spike,' in the month of December," said Intelligence Officer James Gilly. Typically, said Gilly, the immigrants load up on consumer goods to take back to Mexico to sell during the holiday season. Also, many who have overstayed their visas, or entered the country illegally, attempt to travel back across the border to visit families during this time. Gilly said there had not been a "tremendous increase" in Chiapan refugees attempting to enter the country to escape the fighting in Southern Mexico. "We did see an increase (of Chiapans) just prior to Operation Rio Grande," said Gilly, "but no conclusions could be drawn from that." Apart from the increase of out-of-county detainees, the report is a mild one -only ten juveniles were referred from Reeves County during the month of December. "It's been a very, very quiet holiday," said Alvarez. "It helps you to believe that this is a nice, peaceful place to live." Of the ten detained in Reeves County, four were referred for assault; two for violation of a court order; one for forgery; one for running away from home; one for the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; and one for the possession of more than two ounces of marijuana. Three of the ten were female. Two were listed as white, and one was listed as black.
Balmorhea Stockshow to be held SaturdayBALMORHEA, January 8, 1998 - The Balmorhea Livestock Show will be held on Saturday, January 10, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Students, third grade and up, will gather at the Balmorhea High School Agriculture Building, located at the corner of First and El Paso Streets, to compete in five categories: goat, lamb, swine, steer and heifer. A barbecue will begin after the lamb show around 12 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to top contestants and ribbons will be issued to all who compete.
Ybarra joins race for district clerkPECOS, January 8, 1998 - Catalina "Kathy" Ybarra has many good reasons for seeking the Reeves County District Clerk office. Ybarra filed her treasurer's designation naming Gilbert Ybarra as her campaign treasurer and also filed with Democratic Chairman Bobby Dean for the March 10 Primary Election. In addition to incumbent Juana Jaquez, Ybarra will be up against Rosemary Chabarria, who is seeking the same position. "Most of my peers finish school, move away to follow a higher education, or seek better places to work with higher paying jobs," said Ybarra. "The glamour of higher paying jobs lures them away leaving our own community behind and forgotten," she said. Ybarra states that she chose to stay and to get involved in all she could to make the community a proud place to live in. "I was born and raised in Pecos, I attended school here all my life, I am a proud graduate of Pecos High and it's time I get involved in helping my community grow," said Ybarra. "I would like to be given the chance to run a good clean campaign on my own merits," said Ybarra. "The fact that I am young should not hinder my ability to give the office of the district clerk the best I have to offer," she said. "I believe the people of Reeves County are ready for a change, and believe they deserve a choice," said Ybarra. "If I am elected I will promise that under my guidance and leadership the district clerk's office will run effectively with positive pride, dignity and the professionalism that such office deserves." POLICE REPORTPECOS, January 8, 1998 - 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. *** Justin Salcido Millan, 17, 2300 Country Club Dr., was arrested at 3:56 a.m. Dec. 29 in the 300 block of S. Oak for driving while intoxicated. *** Gilbert Diaz Herrera, 24, 1809 Hackberry, was arrested at 2:23 a.m. Dec. 27 in the 1000 block of E. 3rd St. for DWI refusal. *** The burglary of a habitation in the 700 block of Peach St. was reported to have occurred sometime between 8:45 p.m. on Dec. 25 and 1:19 a.m. Dec. 26. *** The burglary of Amigo's Texaco, 1317 S. Cedar, was reported at 4:36 a.m. on Dec. 26. Cigarettes and a money box containing $245 were taken. *** Jeff Andrew Hankins, 40, of Cleburne, was arrested at 3:21 a.m. Dec. 27 in the parking lot at Flying J Truck Stop for possession of marijuana, less than two ounces. *** Michael Joe Marquez was arrested at 3:34 p.m. Dec. 27 at Wal-Mart for theft under $20. *** Freddy Hinojos was arrested at 12:05 a.m. on Dec. 31 in the 100 block of Pinehurst for public intoxication. *** Laura Ann Gabbert, 29, was reported missing at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 23. *** At 9:02 a.m. Dec. 25, there was a car fire at mile marker 200 on I-10. The car burned to its frame, but both occupants escaped without harm. *** A white 1965 Dodge Dart was reported stolen at 11 a.m. Dec. 19. *** Bobby Valdez was arrested at 5:14 p.m. Jan. 1 at Toyah Texaco for theft under $20. *** Ismael Salcido was arrested at 10:44 p.m. during a traffic stop in the 300 block of Pecan for DWI refusal, second offense. *** Raul Acosta (Rudy) Jurado, 36, 311 S. willow, was arrested at 4:55 p.m. Jan. 2 on a warrant for injury to a child. *** Claudelia Martinez, 26, 128 N. Alamo, was arrested at 10:21 p.m. Jan. 2 on warrants for forgery and theft. *** Matthew Armendariz, 18, was arrested at 2:26 a.m. in the 20 block of E. 12th St. for public intoxication. *** Miguel Baeza, 21, 1630 Cowan, was arrested at 10:15 p.m. Jan. 2 for assault causing bodily injury. *** Adan Salcido was arrested at 9:21 a.m. Jan. 2 on a warrant for terroristic threat Class B. *** Benito Chabarria, Jr. was arrested at 7:07 a.m. Jan. 4 in the 100 block of Lincoln for public intoxication. *** Gabriel Orona was arrested at 5:36 p.m. Jan. 4 at Sonic for public intoxication. *** Santiago N. Fuentez was arrested at 4:34 p.m. in the area of 4th and Park for possession of a controlled substance, heroin/cocaine. *** Hector S. Valeriano was arrested at 11:45 a.m. Jan. 6 at municipal court on a warrant for enticing a child. CRIME STOPPERSPECOS, January 8, 1998 - 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. 30, 1997, while on routine patrol, a Pecos Police officer observed the back window to the Circle M Bar missing. Upon checking the building it was determined that a person or persons had entered the building. The person or persons had taken money from a small black box which was the money box to the juke box located inside of the bar.
OBITUARIESDanica MaynezDanica Sanchez Maynez, a newborn infant, died Jan. 3, 1998 in Las Vegas, Nev. Mass is scheduled for 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9, at Santa Rosa Catholic Church with Father Juan Narez officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery (Babyland). Maynez was born Jan. 3, 1998 in Las Vegas. Survivors include: her parents, Juan Carlos and Neyrel Sanchez Maynez of Pecos; one half-brother, Juan Carlos Maynez, Jr. of Portales, N.M.; one half-sister, Stephanie Maynez of Portales, N.M.; maternal grandparents Manuel and Bruna Sanchez of Pecos; paternal grandparents Manuel and Josefina Maynez of Pecos. Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. L.A. SherrillL.A. "Larry" Sherrill Jr., 58, died Jan. 6, 1998, in Fort Stockton. Service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Church of Christ with burial in East Hill Cemetery in Fort Stockton. Sherrill was born Jan. 15, 1939, in Pecos and had been a resident of Fort Stockton since 1974. He was a performance evaluator for Firestone and was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include: his wife, Dixie Sherrill of Fort Stockton; three daughters, Teresa Ward of Littleton, Colo., Cindy Payne of Junction and Chris Sherrill of Abilene; one brother, Richard Tilton of Carlsbad, N.M.; one sister, Darlene Kendrick of Lockhart; and two grandchildren.
WEATHERPECOS, January 8, 1998 - High Wednesday, 52, low this morning, 28. It will be most fair tonight and partly cloudy on Friday across West Texas. Lows tonight will be in the 20s and 30s. Highs Friday will be in the 50s and 60s.
Pecos Enterprise
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