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TOP STORIESMarch 24, 1998Commissioners oppose Air Force proposalBy RICK L. SMITH Staff Writer PECOS, March 24, 1998 - Reeves County Commissioners yesterday joined with leaders of other West Texas communities who oppose the U.S. Air Force Realistic Bomber Initiative Training proposed for the area. Commissioners signed a resolution opposing the U.S. Air Force plan that would have as many as 40 military jets flying as low as 300 feet at speeds approaching 500 mph every day through Reeves and other West Texas counties. The resolution sited concerns about the effects of the Air Force proposal that include: increased air pollution, high noise levels, physiological and psychological effects on population, damages to social/economic structures, deterioration of land use, damage to water resources, transportation hazards (including radioactive waste shipments) and hazards from crashes, flares, fuel dumping and chaff. Representatives from the Trans-Pecos Protection Group that is actively fighting the proposal petitioned Reeves County Commissioners to force their opposition to the proposed training plan during the commissioners' regular meeting Monday morning. "We have examined 21 environmental impact statements on the proposal and found that not one of them passed all of the Environmental Protection Agency requirements," said Bryan Kelley of Alpine. "The Air Force has no technological baseline for doing what they are doing." Kelley and Clark Lindley, of Pecos, told the commissioners that while they supported the U.S. Air Force training its crews, they felt the training should not take place above populated areas where accidents could occur. Instead, the Trans-Pecos Protection Group has taken the stand that such training should be done above unpopulated federally owned land. Kelley and Lindley stressed that even if the proposed training could not be stopped it was necessary that formal opposition to the plan be documented in case damages do occur and compensation is needed. "By getting the counties and communities together, hopefully this proposal will not take place," Commissioner Herman Tarin said. Later in the meeting, discussion of hiring an Internet technician for the Reeves County Public Library turned heated after Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo suggested that library department head Nancy Bently hire Pecos High School Senior Lucretia Molinar for the position. "I don't think we should get involved in suggesting who to hire," Commissioner W.J. Bang said. "I don't think that is right, we have no authority to do that." Bang said the part-time job opening at the library should be advertised to allow anyone interested to apply for the job. An obviously angry Galindo replied that he had been talking with Bently for four months about the position and that Bang was not up-to-date on commissioners' court business. "I'm not sure that I want someone else telling me who to hire for a part-time position," Bently said. "Who will hire her replacement, me or you?" she asked Galindo. After several minutes of heated discussion between Galindo and Bang, Galindo withdrew his recommendation. In other business, commissioners approved a resolution supporting the John Ben Sheppard Public Leadership Forum set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 28 at the new gym at Pecos High School. During the forum as many as 50 students from Pecos and the surrounding area will prepare for their future by learning about such topics as: goal setting, communications, leadership and youth suicide and drug-abuse prevention. Students in grades seven through 12 will participate in the forum. "There is a lot of talent in our community and all we need to do is make it blossom," said Jonathan Fuentes, Pecos Youth Advisory Commission president. Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez requested the annual pay of county jailers be raised from the current amount of $14,000 to $16,000. "It's hard to hire jailers at this rate and when we do hire them they do not stay for long," Gomez said. "Right now we are understaffed." Gomez told commissioners that no budget increase would be needed to make the change. The commissioners approved his request. Reeves County Detention Center Warden Rudy Franco requested that $160,000 from telephone profits at the prison be used to fund three vocational trades programs for inmates. All three programs would benefit the RCDC and its inmates. Inmates participating in a horticulture program would learn how to grow native plants that could be used to beautify the area. Those in a building trades program could perform light facility repairs at the RCDC. Inmates in an auto mechanics program could help maintain the prison's vehicles. Franco's proposal was approved. The purchase of 80 pine trees at $35 each for landscaping at the Reeves County Convention Center and along highways in the county was approved. Ornelas sentenced to 10 years for rapeBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, March 24, 1998 - Jurors deliberated more than two hours Monday night before handing down a 10-year prison sentence to Felix Ornelas Jr., 23, for aggravated sexual assault. Ornelas, also known as "Nunie," pleaded guilty to having sexual relations with a 13-year-old female on June 20, 1997, then asked the jury to assess punishment. District Attorney Randy Reynolds called several witnesses during the punishment phase of the trial, including the victim's mother and the doctor who examined the girl shortly after the assault. They said the girl appeared to be traumatized by the assault and resisted examination. Ornelas claimed the girl consented to have sex with him. However, Reynolds said sexual relations with a child under age 14 is aggravated sexual assault even if it is consensual. Ornelas disappeared after the assault and was arrested in Midland Oct. 3, 1997 after the FBI entered the case. The jury found that Ornelas had not been convicted of a prior felony offense and is eligible for probation, but they recommended he not be placed on probation. Mike Swanson represented the defendant before District Judge Bob Parks in 143rd District Court. In an unrelated drug case, Reynolds and defense attorney Scott Johnson began questioning prospective jurors this morning. Julian Rodriguez is charged with delivery of a controlled substance to an undercover officer with the Permian Basin Drug Task Force. He was arrested Nov. 4, 1997, along with more than 20 other suspects. Across the street, U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson began a jury trial for Martin Todd Stone, 32, of Lawton, Okla. Stone is charged with importing and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. NASA coming to look at Monahans meteoriteBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer MONAHANS, March 24, 1998 - Monahans officials are waiting for NASA scientists to come pick up what is thought to be meteor fragments. Officials from both NASA and the Smithsonian Institute have contacted the Monahans Police Department expressing their interest in the rocks believed to have come from a meteorite which lit up the sky across West Texas as it fell to earth Sunday evening, according to Monahans Police Captain Dave Watts. The first rock was found Sunday evening, while the second one was found Monday as a deputy was enroute to the site where the first one was found. Residents across the area reported hearing a boom' which lasted for about five seconds, and others saw a streak of light travel from southeast to northwest about 7 p.m. Sunday. A four-inch piece of rock, believed to be a meteorite, landed about 30 yards from a group of youngsters playing basketball on the north side of Monahans, while a second, slightly larger rock, was found by a Ward County Sheriff's Deputy at a nearby site Monday morning. The first rock was brought into the police station shortly after it was discovered. The second rock was found about 800 feet away, embedded in the roadway. "It's a little bit larger than the first one, but other than that, it looks about the same," said Watts. "Right now we're waiting for the individuals from NASA whose plane will be landing in Midland at noon," said Watts. Watts said the department was called out to the scene after a group of youngsters reported something falling from the sky. NASA officials will take both rocks back to have them tested, according to Watts. "We're making arrangements for them to take them, but they will be returned and plans that are in the making include building a glass case so that they can be displayed," said Watts. The two rocks will officially belong to the City of Monahans, according to Watts. "What the officials from NASA are wanting to do is take them back as soon as possible, because of their freshness," said Watts. Watts explained that the officials wanted to do this soon, since they were just discovered recently. "This will make it easier for them to test them," he said. Watts stated that police are not actually looking for any more fragments, but if more are found they will be treated in the same manner. OBITUARIESFlorence McNeilFlorence McNeil, 83, of Pecos, died Sunday, March 22, 1998, at Sierra Medical Center in El Paso. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, at First Baptist Church with Rev. Greer Willis officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. McNeil was born Jan. 15, 1915, in Oklahoma. She had lived in Pecos since 1947, was retired and a member of the First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, L.W. Rounder McNeil in 1983. Survivors include: three sons, Floyd James McNeil of Kingsland, W.C. Dub McNeil of Horizon City, Tx. and Jimmy Don McNeil of Presidio; seven grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Justo TarangoJusto Tarango, 67, died Monday, March 23, 1998, at Reeves County Hospital in Pecos. A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel. Mass is scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday at Santa Rosa Catholic Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Tarango was born on Sept. 14, 1930, in Valentine, Tx. He was a lifetime Pecos resident, a retired truck driver and a Catholic. Survivors include: his wife, Cecilia Natividad Tarango; two sons, Abel Tarango and Arthur Tarango of Pecos; one step-son David Natividad of Kermit; three brothers, Ramon Tarango and Felix Tarango, of Odessa, and Alex Tarango, of Pecos; two sisters, Elfida Lujan, of Arlington, and Elena Ortega of Pecos; and six grandchildren. Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. WEATHERPECOS, March 24, 1998 - High Monday, 92, low this morning, 48. The weather will remain pleasant and rain-free across all of Texas tonight and Wednesday. West Texas will have mostly fair nights and sunny days. A few low level clouds are forecast across North Texas, but skies will be clearing quickly on Wednesday. Windy conditions will continue through Wednesday. Clear skies and windy conditions are forecast across South Texas. Lows tonight will be in the 40s and 50s in West Texas and in the 50s and 60s over the rest of the state. Highs Wednesday will be in the 70s and 80s except in the Big Bend area of Southwest Texas where readings will climb into the low 90s.
Pecos Enterprise
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