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TOP STORIESMarch 3, 1998Large crowd turns out for dinnerBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, March 3, 1998 - About 400 people enjoyed dishes made with corn, along with beans, desserts and more at the Pecos Senior Center last evening. Zavala Middle School students decorated the facility with little flags on all the tables and colorful decorations on the walls in honor of Texas Independence Day. The students, along with their teacher, Cindy Duke, were present during the regular Town of Pecos City Council meeting last week when a proclamation in honor of Texas Independence Day, March 2, was signed by the mayor and the week of March 2-6, was proclaimed as Texas Independence Week in Pecos. A "Box Dessert Auction," will also took place during the dinner. "The auction went really well, we were very pleased," said Duke. "I still have some that I need to deliver," she said. Bids went up to $30 on some of the boxed desserts, but the total raised had not yet been calculated, according to Duke. Students had also been working diligently on a special cookbook titled, "Lone Star Eaters Digest." The cookbook was compiled, illustrated, and colored by Zavala Middle School Taz students. Old family recipes are included in the book, which was on sale for $4 during the dinner. Along with old family recipes the cookbook also includes recipes for tortillas, beans and cornbread and many more. "We've sold about 270 cookbooks and still have some left," said Duke. Cookbooks can be purchased from the students or by calling Zavala Middle School. "This is a fun way to get the students to learn more about Texas history," said Duke. "We had a great turnout and we are very excited about everything," said Duke. Duke stated that she wanted to thank all the volunteers who helped her organize and serve during the dinner. "Everything went really well," she said. Early voting remains high during last weekBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, March 3, 1998 - Voting numbers remain high in the last week of early voting that ends Friday. More than 100 people have cast their votes daily in early voting for the Democratic Primary election, according to early voting clerk Debbie Thomas. A booth was set up at La Tienda Saturday offering voters one more chance to cast their vote early at their own convenience. "We do this to try to get more people to vote, that don't have the chance to do so during the week," said Thomas. A total of 111 voters cast their vote on Saturday, according to Thomas. By personal appearance 1,165 people have voted, with 315 mail-in ballots. Thomas stated that she hopes the high number of voters continues. Early voting will continue until until March 6, for the Democratic Primary Elections. Voting day will be Tuesday, March 10, with different locations set up in Reeves County. Polling places will be: box 1, located at the Pecos Community Center, 505 South Willow; box 2 will be at the Pecos Elementary School, 901 S. Willow; box 3, Pecos High School Gym, 1300 Iowa Street; box 4, Toyah City Hall in Toyah; box 5, Senior Citizen Hall in Balmorhea; box 6, Saragosa Multi-Purpose Center in Saragosa; box 7, Reeves County Library, 505 S. Park; box 8, Lamar Elementary School, Room #1, corner of Oak and "F" streets; box 9, Orla Red Bluff Office in Orla; box 10, Reeves County Annex/N. Side, 700 Daggett Street; box 11, Bessie Haynes Elementary School, 800 E. 11th Street and box 12, Texas-New Mexico Power Co., 1126 Stafford Blvd. Those voting in Precinct 1 will vote at boxes 2 & 11; Precinct 2, will vote at boxes 3, 4, and 12; Precinct 3, will cast their ballots at boxes, 5, 6 and 10; and Precinct 4, at boxes 1, 7, 8 and 9. Tumbleweed Smith performs at the LineberyBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, March 3, 1998 - To a large degree cowboy humorist and entertainer Tumbleweed Smith is preaching to the converted during his original, multi-media performances about the richness and flavor of various Texas traits and bizarre personalities. As Smith observed an obviously knowledgeable couple admiring an antique saddle decorating the stage prior to last night's 8 p.m. show, he commented in his easy, jocular manner, "That's why I enjoy this, because people really live it. They know what they're doing here." And this bright-eyed, newly-greying, Big Spring resident knows his part too, playing the quintessential Texan for the primarilly adult crowd, while wearing a bright yellow camise and worn leather vest. Smith made himself available to everyone before and after the performance, shaking hands around the room. When referring to the large number of those attending the performance who are on a first-name basis with the performer, Smith said, "I seldom pass by Pecos without stopping. I have a large number of friends here." Perhaps it was one of Smith's friends who persuaded him to speak at Zavala Middle School earlier yesterday. This represented a first for the cowboy performer -he had never before performed to a school audience. "I was scared because I knew the kids had been studying Texas history," said Smith. But it turned out to be a breakthrough performance. "I'd like to do a lot more of it," he said. "Everybody had a great time." The floor at the Linebery Building, owned by the West of the Pecos Museum, was covered in several inches of gravel, and large, brittle tumbleweeds encircled the performance area. Even an authentic chuck wagon had been set as a backdrop (with a recreated firepit, to boot) in an attempt to generate a western camp-out experience, and everyone seemed to be having a fine time chatting and waiting for the show to begin. Then Smith rose to address the room saying, "I can't think of a better place to be on Texas Independence Day than Pecos." Smith opened his "Mountain Voices" act -a blend of slides, recorded voices and live narration, premiered for the first time last summer -with some Texas statistics (Texas has more than 100 mountains over a mile high) and quickly moved into humorous character sketches of some far-out West Texas personalities, many of which suspiciously owned the same surname as Smith. "Snake" Smith of Terlingua once served mountain lion to his guests. Out of 20 people, he said, about three knew what they were eating. One woman, described as "particularly picky" said it didn't make any difference what it was, "it tasted good." Where else but Terlingua, Smith continued, could one find groups like the Terlingua Tassle Tossers (an elderly belly dancers group) and the Study Butte Hookers (a crocheting society). Then there is "H. Alan" Smith, an adamant bag-pipe hater, who complained that the sound of a bag pipe was "worse than 10,000 hogs grunting at the same time." Moving west, Smith found time to comment on the mysterious Marfa lights. People have claimed that these still-unexplained lights were everything from fireflies to automobile headlights. "But the latest theory," said Smith, "is that they are giant ancient termites passing gas." Smith even gave a nose flute demonstration, blowing out the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas" through his nasal passage, to the appreciative crowd. He closed his hour-long performance with a colorful slide-show of the Big Bend with the sentimental narration of Big Bend area residents. Before wrapping up the evening, Smith recommended that legislators pursue getting the cantaloupe, famous particularly in Pecos, named as the state melon. If Texas can have things like a state insect (Monarch Butterfly) and pepper (Jalapeno), then it can afford to add a state melon, he said. Tumbleweed's own children have settled into careers not so foreign from their father's. One son, Beasey, runs a recording studio in San Francisco, the other, Kevin, is involved in on-line editing in Dallas. Smith's wife of 35 years, Susan, (referred to by him as his `managing director') is also involved in the show -running things from the technical angle backstage. Smith is in the middle of what he calls his "speaking season," which generally runs, he said, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and is on his way to perform in Anahuac on Thursday, then to a chamber banquet in Glenn Rose. Smith will return to West Texas to perform in Ft. Davis towards the end of May. Motion to surpress evidence granted ChavezBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, March 3, 1998 - Senior Judge Lucius Bunton's velvet-gloved iron hand was evident Monday when he granted one defendant's motion to suppress evidence on a marijuana possession charge, but sentenced another to eight years in prison and fined him $2,000. Odessa attorney Tony Chavez won his motion to suppress evidence against Roberto Rodriguez-Jaquez, who was accused of possessing nine pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute. In an unrelated case, Judge Bunton sentenced Refugio del Real to 96 months in prison, with five years supervised release, a $2,000 fine and $200 to the crime victim's fund. Del Real, 39, of Colorado City, was arrested Sept. 4 at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint south of Marfa. Agents became suspicious because the defendant was wearing what appeared to be a Texas Ranger badge and wore a Western hat like law enforcement officers wear. Upon searching the trunk of his vehicle, they found several bundles of marijuana. Others sentenced during the court session that lasted into the night were: * Aaron Vega, 21 months, importing cocaine; * Sergio Olivas-Alire, six months, illegal entry; * Hector Rodriguez-Pineda, 21 months, marijuana possession; * Raul Andrade, 33 months, marijuana possession; * Filiberto Lopez-Lira, six months, illegal entry; * Erin Martinez, 15 months, import marijuana; * Maria Medlock, 24 months, import marijuana; * Mariza Enriquez-Ramirez, three years probation, import cocaine; * Daniel Marquez, 24 months,$500 fine, marijuana possession; * Miguel Corona-Gonzalez, 24 months, illegal entry; * Gabriel Gomez, 24 months, $1,100 fine, marijuana possession; * Cody Wayne Richards, 30 months, $1,300 fine, marijuana possession; Found guilty after motion to suppress denied were: * Pedro Garcia-Quintana, marijuana possession; * Jose Arriaga-Cabrera, marijuana possession; * Alberto Samaguey, marijuana possession; * Angel Anchando-Nunez, marijuana possession; Entering guilty pleas were: * Eduardo Quezada Ocon, marijuana possession; * Humberto Hinojosa-Rodriguez, marijuana possession; * Sergio Perez-Estrada, import and possess marijuana; * Raul Bueno-Ortega, marijuana possession; * Robert Holley, marijuana possession; * Guadalupe Belmares, marijuana possession; * Juan Parada, marijuana possession; * Juan Granado, marijuana possession; Jurors heard testimony this morning against Marcelina Gonzales de Orona on a marijuana possession charge. A second trial was to begin at 1 p.m. Aida Dominguez of Mexico is also charged with marijuana possession with intent to distribute. Judge Bunton presided for selection of four juries on Monday, and all the trials are expected to be competed this week. Application forms available for college aidPECOS, March 3, 1998 - All colleges, whether public or private, require prospective students to fill out the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for federal aid. FAFSA applications are available at the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Career and Technology office, located at 1304 South Park Street or at the Pecos High School counselor's office. Applications received between January and March receive the highest consideration. The following items are needed to complete the application: *Driver's license and social security number; *W-2 forms or other records of income earned in 1997; *1997 Federal Income Tax Return (IRS Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ); *Parents' (if the student is a dependent) 1997 Federal Income Tax Return; *Records of untaxed income such as welfare, social security, AFDC or ADC, TANF, veterans benefits; *Business and farm records; *Records of stocks, bonds and other investments; *Savings account balances; and *Alien registration card (if the student is not an American citizen). With the FAFSA Express that is now available, the career and technology office can submit the applications electronically. After the application is submitted, the processor will determine the student's level of financial need. Within two to three weeks, students should receive a student aid report (SAR), that will list the student's expected family contribution (EFC), which is the amount of money the government expects the student and their parents to contribute toward the student's education. When the SAR is received, it should be checked for accuracy, then submitted to the financial aid office of the college the student plans to attend. That school's financial aid officer will subtract the EFC from the total cost of education at that school for one year, then send the student an award letter that tells how much aid they are eligible to receive from that school. For assistance, contact Michelle Workman at 1304 South Park Street or call 447-7262. Texas Stock Index sets new highAUSTIN March 3, 1998 - Strong performances by technology and general business stocks offset a weak showing by finance and energy stocks last month as the Texas Stock Index rose to its highest level ever, according to State Comptroller John Sharp. "The TSI rose 39.8 points to 512.7. That is 79.3 percent higher than one year ago," Sharp said. "By comparison, the Standard and Poor's 500, which tracks a nationwide sampling of stock prices, rose 9.9 points in January, posting a new record as well. In percentage terms, the Standard and Poor's index rose 1.0 percent, while the TSI rose 8.4 percent." Rebounding from a lackluster December, Texas technology stock prices rose 238 points, or 15.8 percent, in January. Technology stock values are up 144.5 percent compared to one year ago. Compaq Computer Corporation stock gained value in January as the company announced the purchase of Digital Equipment Corporation for $9.6 billion the largest acquisition in computer history. Other news that helped boost Compaq's stock price includes a 2-for-1 stock split effective Jan. 20 and the announcement that Compaq is the exclusive supplier of personal computers in Tandy Corporation's Radio Shack stores. Tandy Corporation stock gained value as the company announced that December sales rose 3 percent compared to one year earlier. Dell Computer Corporation stock gained value as Dell officials reported that fourth-quarter global shipments of its personal computers were up 65 percent compared to one year ago. Other technology companies whose stock prices rose include Texas Instruments, Inc., Carrington Labs, Inc., and Tech Sym Corporation. Prices for general business stocks are up 34.7 percent, compared to one year ago. Prices rose 11.5 points, or 4.1 percent, in January. ] Pier 1 Imports, Inc. stock gained value as the company announced that December sales increased 13.8 percent compared to one year earlier. La Quinta Motor Inns, Inc. has agreed to be purchased by a Massachusetts real estate investment trust, sending La Quinta's stock price upward. Two Texas-based airlines, Continental and Southwest, both saw their stock prices rise in January. Southwest Airlines recently put the new-generation Boeing 737 into service. Other general business stocks that increased in value include Ennis Business Forms, Inc. and Pancho's Mexican Buffet, Inc. The TSI's finance, insurance, and real estate sector began the new year on a somewhat sour note, dropping 23.9 points, or 5.3 percent. Centex Corporation stock fell, despite news that the Dallas-based home builder saw a 36 percent increase in third quarter net income. Other finance sector stocks that lost value include Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. and American National Insurance Company. The nation's mild winter has reduced the demand for oil and natural gas. As a result, energy sector stock prices fell 11.2 points in January, though prices remain 44.8 percent higher than one year ago. Valero Energy Corporation saw a slight increase in its stock value. Companies whose stock values declined include Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation and Dresser Industries, Inc. The Comptroller's office produces the monthly Texas Stock Index to help gauge investors' confidence in Texas based companies and the Texas business climate. The TSI is one of 10 components of the Index of Leading Texas Economic Indicators. Exemptions, deferrals help property ownersBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, March 3, 1998 - Various property tax exemptions and deferrals that may provide Texas homeowners with help they may need in the coming year are available by doing the proper research. One such exemption is the homestead exemption that reduces the appraised value of the home. The applications for a homestead exemption may only be made once but require no filing fee. Property owners who have never received the general homestead exemption on their homes in which they were living on Jan. 1, and those who became disabled during 1997, must apply this year to receive exemptions for 1998. "A property owner can still qualify for the homestead exemption if part of the residence is rented out or used for other purposes, such as a home business," Carol King Markham, chief appraiser of the Reeves County Appraisal District. "The home will not lose its exemption if the owner moves away temporarily, so long as he or she intends to return and doesn't claim another homestead exemption elsewhere." Also, veterans with a service-connected disability may qualify for an exemption by filling out a simple form at the appraisal office. The exemption may range from $5,000 to $12,000, depending on the percentage of service-connected disability. Those who may be eligible include: disabled veterans; the surviving spouse of deceased, disabled veteran (as long as they remain unmarried); the surviving minor child of a deceased disabled veteran (if veteran's spouse does not survive the veteran and the child is under 18 and unmarried); the surviving spouse of a person killed while on active duty (whether re-married or not); and the surviving child of person killed while on active duty (if child is under 18 and unmarried). The appraisal district may require proof of the disability, such as documentation from the Veterans Administration or the branch of the armed service the veteran served in. Applicants may also need proof to verify their age, marital status, or death of spouse or parent. A tax option known as "over-65 deferral" is available to Texans aged 65 and over by signing an affidavit at the appraisal office. The deferral would postpone the payment of delinquent and current property taxes. It may also halt a lawsuit filed to collect delinquent property taxes on an older Texan's home, said Markham. "To stop a delinquent tax suit the over-65 homeowner files the deferral affidavit with the court in which the suit is pending. It the affidavit is on file, an older homeowner cannot lose a homestead because of delinquent taxes." Another strategy for saving money this tax season that applies to farmers and ranchers is the "productivity appraisal," which bases the property value on what the land will produce rather than what it would sell for in the open market. Landowners must apply for productivity appraisal with each appraisal district in which they have land. Failure to do so could result in the landowners paying taxes on the land's full market value. A taxpayer information booklet, "Texas Property Taxes: Taxpayers' Rights, Remedies & Responsibilities," is available from the appraisal office to help property owners save money. Published by the State Comptroller's office, the booklet explains how the property tax system works in Texas and informs property owners about possible tax savings. All applications are due by April 30. For more information, homeowners should contact the Reeves County Appraisal District at 403 S. Cypress or call (915) 445-5122. OBITUARYVirginia ProctorVirginia Lee "Ginger" Proctor, 70, of Robert Lee, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1998, at Memorial Hospital in San Angelo. Services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at Hubbard-Kelly Chapel with J.E. McCormick officiating. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa. Proctor was born Nov. 29, 1927 in Greenwood, Okla. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. Survivors include: her husband, R.D. Proctor of Robert Lee; three sons, Steve Sandefur of Odessa, Larry Sandefur of Amarillo and David Proctor of Ruidoso, N.M.; three daughters, Marcia McCormick of Pecos, Rebecca Hopson of Robert Lee and Ronnie Dennis of Carlsbad, N.M.; three brothers, Vernon Bowen of Tenn., Roy Bowen of Gig Harbor, Wash. and Bob Mixon of Amarillo; five sisters, Joy Pogue of Phoenix City, Ala., Dorothy Bowen of Chamblee, Ga., Wilma Walker of Texarkana, Tx., Peggy Bowen of Gig Harbor, Wash. and Frances Wilkson of Trent, Tx.; 16 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home of Odessa is in charge of arrangements. WEATHERPECOS, March 3, 1998 - High Monday, 61, low this morning, 30. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms may dampen portions of North Texas and South Texas tonight. Showers and thunderstorms are also forecast across central and eastern sections of North Texas on Wednesday. The precipitation, likely to be triggered by an approaching storm system, could spread into South Texas. Some clouds are expected over the Concho Valley and in the Big Country, but the rest of West Texas will have fair skies at night and mostly sunny skies during the day. It will be windy in western and central areas tonight and across the entire area on Wednesday. Lows tonight will be in the 30s and 40s in West Texas, highs will be in the 60s and 70s except in the Big Bend area where some readings will likely climb into the 80s.
Pecos Enterprise
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