ARCHIVES
|
|
|
TOP STORIESFebruary 3, 1998200-mile trips may cause problemsBy JON FULBRIGHT Staff Writer PECOS, February 3, 1998 - Two-hundred-mile trips are nothing new for the Pecos Eagles. But too many 200-mile trips on weeknights next season could cause eligibility problems for Pecos' players, by the time the Spring semester rolls around. The Eagles' varsity coaches were generally in favor of yesterday's realignment by the University Interscholastic League, which placed Pecos in a district with five El Paso-area teams. But questions about non-district scheduling, and about mid-week travel and the effect it may have on player eligibility remain to be decided after a meeting of the new district's officials later this week. Pecos-Barstow-Toyah superintendent Don Love said he hoped to get the other five District 2-4A schools - Clint, Fabens, El Paso Mountain View, Canutillo and San Elizario - to agree to let Pecos play their home games in basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball on Tuesday nights, and their road district contests on Saturdays. "That's one of those things you have to look at, when you're the only one travelling 200 miles its something you need to work out," he said, explaining that students can only miss 10 days of school for extracurricular activities under state law. "The big thing you've got to look at is you can only miss 10 days. With our kids showing (livestock), and academics, band and athletics, you've got to look at that," he said. "With one of our three-sport girls, if you have five trips for each one (sport), that's 15 hours and you're already over the limit." Love said juggling the district's early-release days can help solve the problem some, but he said the Tuesday home game solution would be the best. "Since we're the only one out here, those other teams would only have to make one long trip, while we're making five." Fabens, at 175 miles, is the closest of the Eagles' new district rivals. Clint is 185 miles away, Mountain View and San Elizario are 190 and Canutillo is a 225-mile drive from Pecos. The one-hour time difference between El Paso and Pecos will allow the Eagles to leave a little later for their road games than they currently do for their 210-mile trips to Sweetwater and San Angelo. "That will help us going out, but coming back you're going to lose an hour's sleep." The other option, for basketball and baseball, would be to skip playing on Tuesday and stay overnight in El Paso, for back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. It's been done by other Permian Basin schools, but Love said he hopes the other 2-4A schools will agree to the Tuesday home option. "We'll be doing our homework to find out what's best for us, but we need some cooperation from the other schools," he said. Aside from the distance, the cost of making so many 200-mile trips figures to eat into the Eagles' athletic department budget, and volleyball coach Becky Granado was concerned about how the change will affect her pre-district matches. "One thing that may affect us is if we're not allowed to take long trips in pre-district that's going to hurt us in trying to schedule games," she said. "We'd like to keep playing some of the teams in our district." Pecos has been in the current district alignment for nearly two decades, and Granado said, "You're so use to playing the same teams year after year. We'll miss the district and not have the competition against Andrews, Big Spring, Fort Stockton, Lake View and Sweetwater, but I think the change will be good for us. "I think the kids are excited about the realignment, but I don't think it's going to get them until they have to do all that traveling," she said. Girls basketball coach Brian Williams said "I know the kids are excited, and I hope they get to the point where they want to get out here and get into the program. That's already a plus right there." The change will probably affect the girls' basketball strength of schedule less than any other sport. Their new district rival, Clint, already owns a early-season victory over District 4-4A co-leader Andrews, and Williams said "It's not like we're going to go out there and pick a bunch of daisies. I know people think we're going to go out there and win district, but you've got to go out and practice and work hard no matter who you play." Williams said he already has Andrews and Fort Stockton tentatively set as pre-district games next season, and boys basketball coach Mike Sadler said "I'd like to play those people in our district if they want to play us. "Not to take anything away from the (El Paso), but the track record of Sweetwater, Andrews and Big Spring is they've gone far in each of their sports when they make the playoffs. "Against San Elizario, Mountain View and the others we're still going to have to play hard and prepare to beat those teams whether its football, basketball, baseball or anything else." The Eagles' softball program, which held its first workout on Monday, will be in the same situation as most of it's new district rivals. Only Canutillo has had a program prior to this season, but Clint, Fabens and Mountain View are also starting up varsity teams this season, while San Elizario will play a JV schedule this spring and a varsity one next year. While the junior varsity teams will face long trips west with the varsities in basketball and volleyball, Love said the other JV teams, along with the freshman and junior high squads, will be playing most of their games as close to home as possible. "Just looking at the junior high schedule, we're going to play east (Monahans, Kermit, Fort Stockton, etc.) and we're going to play some intramurals. The only problem comes when district starts, because a lot of those teams will already have games," he said. Snyder is taking Pecos' place in the new District 5-4A, and Love said, "I know that Andrews plays them all the time, and so does Big Spring and Lake View." That could leave the Eagles hunting for area sub-varsity games in October and November. Love said one sport that won't be affected is swimming. None of the Eagles' new district rivals has a swimming program, and Pecos will likely remain a part of District 4, which already includes Class 3A schools Monahans, Seminole and Abilene Wylie. "We've got a district meeting Tuesday (today in Midland) to discuss the UIL realignment, and since it's our turn to host the district meet (in 1999) we're planning to stay here," Love said.
Several graduate from firearms courseBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, February 3, 1998 - Dave Alba, Federal Bureau of Investigation's special agent in charge (SAC), handed out firearms instructor graduation certificates Friday in the visiting room of Reeves County Detention Center to eight RCDC and three Ector County Sheriff's Department employees in honor of their successful completion of the 40-hour course in firearms instruction where they gained proficiency with handguns, rifles, and shotguns. The participants also drew up their own lesson plans, practiced night shooting with flashlights, and gained first-hand knowledge of the wrath of pepper spray. Trainers were Special Agent Walter Smith of El Paso, and Special Agent Steve French from Midland. Smith said the course was a success, with all 11 participants passing the course. RCDC Warden Rudy Franco kicked things off by thanking several of those present including SAC Alba for bringing the course to Pecos, Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo for participating in the ceremony, Associate Warden Tony Perez ("so he didn't feel left out," Franco joked), the FBI instructors for their knowledge and training, and even kitchen worker Laura Budlong for baking the cream cake that was served along with coffee and sodas. Galindo said that this was the first time officials from the FBI had conducted training in Reeves County and it was "definitely a step in the right direction." Alba, a 1960 graduate of Pecos High School, prefaced the ceremony by relating the intense moral responsibility that comes hand in hand with being a law enforcement officer dealing in matters of human life and death. He told the crowd of officers and officials that he was in his early twenties when he got his first weapon and still remembered the first professional training he received. Since those days Alba said he has seen many things. He said that reports cross his desk often which chronicle police shootings. "I realize now that this is a real and awesome power," Alba said. "There is nothing higher than the duty to human life." The use of deadly force, he said, is something that law enforcement officers must face on occasion and an area that cannot tolerate many mistakes. "We all learn by experience," he concluded. And referring to their new training, Alba urged the officers to "Use this power to try to minimize these mistakes." Alba concluded his visit to RCDC with a personal tour of the facility, guided by Warden Franco. RCDC employees awarded the firearms training certificate include: Jose A. Baeza, LaVaughn C. Garnto, Rochelle Ybarra, Ruben Dominguez, Lupe Jeter, Francisco Navarrete, Jose Arturo Quintana and Tim Windham. Officers from the Ector County Sheriff's Office receiving certificates include: Keith Paquette, Debbie Watters and Brad Williams.
Police seize vehicle in drug bustBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, February 3, 1998 - District Attorney Randy Reynolds has filed notice of seizure and intent to forfeit a 1979 Ford 2-door taken in connection with an alleged drug violation. Notified of the seizure are Santiago Natividad Fuentes, 817 S. Alamo; Anna Barreno, 610 S. Eddy; and Geronimo Hignojos, 2207 Lindsay Rd. Pecos Police Patrolman Cosme Ortega seized the vehicle Jan. 5 when he noticed it parked in the alley beetween Park and Eddy streets. As he walked toward the vehicle, Fuentez threw out small pieces of plastic commonly used to package heroin and cocaine, Ortega said in the affidavit accompanying the petition filed Friday in 143rd District Court. Ortega said he saw Fuentez attempting to hide a white plastic bag and asked him to get out of the vehicle. When Fuentez refused to get out, Ortega took him out. Fuentez threw the plastic bag into the back seat, Ortega said. Also in the vehicle were two balloons rolled up in plain view. Ortega said he seized the balloons before passenger Barreno could get to them. In the front floorboard of the vehicle Ortega found a plastic bag which contained a white powdery substance. He charged Fuentez with possession of a controlled substance. Barreno, 36, and Fuentez, 40, were indicted in December for alleged possession with intent to deliver cocaine on Sept. 19, 1997. Reynolds dismissed the charge against Barreno Friday with the notation that he is not ready to proceed to trial at this time.
Drug raid nets 44 arrestsBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer PECOS, February 3, 1998 - Ten local law enforcement officers worked with officers of 11 other law enforcement agencies in the drug raid in Van Horn last Thursday that resulted in 44 arrests and bonds being set that total in the millions of dollars. According to Tom Finley, commander of the Permian Basin Drug Task Force, there were 116 felony drug cases made on 53 defendants for delivery of marijuana, cocaine and heroin. As of Friday afternoon, 44 of those wanted had been arrested, and assistant commander Jack Brewer said this morning that he believed an additional five defendants have been arrested in the meantime, although he did not know who they were. Of the first 44 arrested, bonds have already been set for 39. Those defendants and their respective bonds are: Daniel Reed, $379,000; Alberto Ortega, $95,000; Jose Franco, $300,000; Pedro Torres, $40,000; Jesse Carrasco, $55,000; Rogelio Franco, $300,000; Roy Dale Clark, $310,000; Ray Melendez, $250,000; Jesus Baca, $400,000; Jaime Valdez, $25,000; Saul Urias, $200,000; Pedro Tarango, $200,000; Elmer Melendez, $100,000; Justo Zamarripa, $100,000; Eleno Mendez III, $100,000; Mark Cabezuela, $40,000; Daniel Mendez, $200,000; Orlando Talavera, Jr., $100,000; Timothy Peterson, $200,000; Maria Licon, $175,000; Juan Licon, $50,000; Robert Brown, $75,000; Jose Garcia, $50,000; Margo Schwender, $100,000; Melany Reed, $75,000; Barbara Dollar, $200,000; Cindy Melendez, $200,000; Bernice Rojo, $100,000; Angelia Guerrero, $95,000; Valerie Valdez, $500,000; Rosa Valdez, $65,000; Sylvia Duarte, $200,000; Ismael Lopez, $100,000; Gabriel Perez, $100,000; Abel Flores, $100,000; Gilberto Rodriguez, $750,000; Michael Collins, $100,000 and Heradio Torres, $20,000. There was also a juvenile arrested, for whom there was no bond amount available. Culberson County Sheriff Glenn Humphries said that juveniles aren't bonded, and that procedures for taking them into custody differ from those used for adults. Also arrested were Enrique Rodriguez, Jr., bond $150,000, Victor Franco, Adalberto Franco, Elizabeth Ybarra and Delma Hinton, for whom bond amounts are unavailable. The operation that netted all of these arrests was the culmination of seven months of undercover work by members of the task force, according to Finley. The drug deliveries were made to undercover officers of Culberson, Reeves, Ector and Midland counties, he said. Along with the arrests, nine vehicles were seized. Finley said that a number of other charges were filed on the defendants for possession of cocaine at the time of the arrests. All of those arrested are being held in the Culberson County Jail, the Reeves County Jail or the Presidio County Jail, according to Finley. The local officers who participated in the undercover operation were from both the Pecos Police Department and the Reeves County Sheriff's Office. They worked with members of the Ward, Andrews, Jeff Davis, Midland, Crane, Upton, Presidio and Culberson counties sheriff's offices, the Kermit and Andrews police departments and the Permian Basin Drug Task Force. Also on Thursday in another segment of the operation, the task force arrested four people in Odessa for delivery of 30 pounds of marijuana to undercover officers of the task force. The marijuana had a street value of $36,000. They were Ismael Torres Franco, 29, of Roswell NM, Armando Ordones Gouzales, 40, Roswell NM, Josefa Saenz, 28, also of Roswell, NM and Erica Lee Briones, 23, of Kermit.
Borrowed vehicles crashPECOS, February 3, 1998 - Two vehicles, both borrowed by the drivers from their owners, crashed at the intersection of Fourth and Maple streets Friday evening. At the time of the accident, Michael David Lukins, 20, 108 South Park Street, was driving east on West Fourth St. in a 1985 red Chevrolet pickup owned by Francis Glenn, according to a Pecos police report. When Lukins approached the 400 block of Maple St., he failed to yield at a yield sign and caused an accident with Oscar Navarette, 15, 506 North Cherry Street, who was driving a 1994, blue Chevrolet pickup owned by E. B. Guerrero. Lukins and his passenger, Dennis Wilkins, were taken to Reeves County Hospital with non-incapacitating injuries by Pecos EMS. Both vehicles were damaged and towed to the B&B wrecker yard. In addition to the vehicles, damage was done to a chain link fence and a GTE power pole. Specimens for alcohol/drug analysis were not taken from either driver. Both vehicles were insured. According to the report, Lukins was cited for failure to yield at a yield sign and Navarette was cited for no drivers license.
Cow dog encourages students to readBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer PECOS, February 3, 1998 - Students at Bessie Haynes Elementary received a special treat Friday when they enjoyed a presentation of "Hank the Cow Dog" in concert. "Hank the Cow Dog" is a 29-volume series of fiction books written by John Erickson. On Friday, Jeryl Hoover, authorized by Erickson, gave a performance of music, humor and stories to the school children. Hoover is a West Texas native, born in Odessa, who now runs his own production company based in Fredericksburg. He is married with three sons. Hoover loves the "Hank" characters and he came to Pecos and performed at Bessie Haynes to help children learn more about characters in the series and to encourage them to read, read and read some more. The event was co-sponsored by the West of the Pecos Museum. The museum's executive director, Brandy Owen, obtained a $423 grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts to help pay the expenses of bringing Hoover's show to Pecos. Owen said that "Hank the Cow Dog" books and merchandise are available both at the museum bookstore and at the gift shop, The Mesquite House.
Drug case plea barginedBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, February 3, 1998 - A Pyote man who served a federal prison term for possession with intent to distribute marijuana is back in court, this time charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana in Louisiana. Aubrey Dean Price, 72, waived indictment and signed a plea agreement admitting he conspired with others from December, 1996 to May 25, 1997 to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and "did aid and abet the commission of conspiracy." The charge was transferred to the Pecos Division, where, if the district judge accepts the plea bargain, Dean could be sentenced to a maximum five years in prison and fined $250,000.
Warnock settles with judgesBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, February 3, 1998 - Halfway through a three-day civil trial in federal court, the plaintiff, former Pecos County Auditor Bettye Warnock, called off her lawyers and settled with the defendants this morning. District judges Brock Jones and Alex Gonzales of the 112th and 83rd Judicial Districts, respectively, had failed to re-appoint Warnock at the end of her first term as auditor. She sought re-instatment or front pay with benefits and damages. Warnock's attorney, Melissa Hirsch, called her client to the stand after Senior Judge Bunton announced the settlement and released the jury. Hirsch asked Warncok about a telephone call made to her this morning before she left home about "what you wanted to do regarding this case: make a certain demand or agreement. "That's something I have not advised you to do,"Hirsch said. "I advised you to finish and was ready to fight on to the end, but this is your decision," Hirsch said. "I think it is an agreeable decision between the judges and myself," Warnock said. Steve Spurgin, former Pecos County attorney who joined asssistant attorney general Nancy Juren at the defense table, said he would have to report the agreement to the Pecos County Commissioners Court, and they are not bound by the confidentiality agreement. Juren said that since the judges are state employees, there may be a requirement that the settlement be approved by the state comptroller and governor's office. Spurgin was cross examining Warnock about the 48 reports she claimed triggered the judges' decision not to re-apppoint her as county auditor when she became ill and asked for a recess at at mid-morning. The settlement decision was made during the recess. Former Pecos County Judge Charlie Warnock accompanied his wife to court. Judge Jones, in a deposition, cited Warnock's political problems while in office for the poor relations Mrs. Warnock had with county officials and employees as auditor.
OBITUARYLuciano SalgadoServices are incomplete for Luciano Salgado, 70, of Pecos, who died Monday, Feb. 2, 1998, at Reeves County Hospital. Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WEATHERPECOS, February 3, 1998 - High Monday, 72, low this morning, 37. Spring-like weather may come to an abrupt end by Wednesday afternoon as an approaching upper level storm system may bring some snow to the Texas Panhandle. Forecasters say the vigorous storm will at least bring an end to the warm and dry weather the state has been experiencing. But it's too early to say how much, if any, snowfall the system may produce in the Panhandle. Forecasts call for the storm system to first produce cold rain across West Texas. Clouds will be increasing across West Texas tonight with mostly cloudy skies forecast on Wednesday. There is a chance of rain across all of West Texas on Wednesday. Lows tonight will be in the 30s and 40s in West Texas, highs Wednesday will be in the 40s and 50s.
Pecos Enterprise
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
|