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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

TOP STORIES

March 30, 1998


Band auction nets $5,000


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 30, 1998 - Pecos Eagle Band Boosters brought in
more than $5,000 at the Annual Band Auction Saturday.

"We did really, really well and we want to thank all the
local merchants for their generous donations," said booster
president Linda Chabarria.

In conjunction with the auction, a barbecue plate sale, bake
sale and fashion show were held at the Saragosa Hall
Saturday.

"We even had individuals come in and make flat donations,"
said Chabarria.

Chabarria stated that the bake sale, which consisted of
beautifully decorated cakes, did really well also and all
cakes were sold. "We had some really beautiful cakes," she
said.

The baked goodies were brought in by Pecos Eagle Band
members.

Several local boutiques showed off their spring and summer
fashions with different shows scheduled throughout the day.

"We're really glad that this was a huge success," said
Chabarria.

The funds raised will go towards the scholarship fund.

Big items up for bid during the auction included a sink
vanity, a Las Vegas trip and a huge picture of Selena, the
slain Tejano star.

"The flower shop items were also big sellers," said
Chabarria.

"We couldn't have done it without the community and we just
want to say thank you for everything," she said.

Chabarria stated that they were also very proud of all the
band members and volunteers who were on hand to help with
the yearly event.

Border shooting investigation continues


BY PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 30, 1998 - District Attorney Albert Valadez may
use testimony gathered by the federal grand jury in his
investigation of the border shooting that left 18-year-old
Esequiel Hernandez dead last May, a federal judge has
decided.

U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson has signed an order
granting Valadez's motion for the grand jury transcripts and
any other materials acquired in the course of the
government's investigation of the shooting in Redford.

A Presidio County grand jury no-billed U.S. Marine Cpl.
Clemente Banuelos in the shooting death. The federal grand
jury in Pecos heard testimony from the three marines who
accompanied Banuelos on a special drug-deterrent detail
along the Rio Grande and from investigating officers.

After three grand jury sessions without an indictment or a
no-bill, government prosecutors said their investigation was
complete, and that no charges would be filed.

In his order, Judge Furgeson said that the court may
disclose federal grand jury proceedings to state officials
or subdivisions of a state where there is a showing that
such matters may disclose a violation of state law.

"During the hearing on its petition, the government informed
the court of its basis for believing that the federal grand
jury proceedings may reveal a violation of state law," he
said.

"In order for the state to make a fully informed decision as
to whether it should bring charges against any of the
persons involved, the court agrees with the government that
all of the grand jury materials should be disclosed to the
state district attorney for the 83rd Judicial District of
the State of Texas."

To limit intrusion on grand jury secrecy, Judge Furgeson
ordered that all staff members who may handle the
transcripts should sign an oath of confidentiality.

Trucker found dead on I-20


PECOS, March 30, 1998 - A Hudson, Fla. truck driver was
found dead at the Flying J Travel Plaza on I-20 last night.

When Pecos Police responded to a 7:11 p.m. call reporting
that a body had been found at the truck stop they discovered
Eldon Patterson, 51, dead, according to Investigator Kelly
Davis. Patterson was pronounced dead at 7:45 p.m. by Justice
of the Peace J.T. Marsh.

Davis said that no foul play was suspected, and that there
wasn't any evidence of alcohol or drug abuse at the scene.
Patterson's body was taken to Lubbock for an autopsy.

Program allows adults to earn high school diploma


By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 30, 1998 - Adults in Pecos who dropped out
before graduating high school now have a chance to go back
and earn their high school diplomas.

By enrolling in the free "Back to School Again" program
through the Alternative Education Program at the Carver
Center, adults who have earned more than half of their high
school credits may take classes on Tuesday and Thursday
evenings and finish their high school educations. This is an
alternative to getting a General Equivalency Diploma (GED),
although this program is not meant to slight or replace the
GED program.

Jimmy Dutchover, Alternative Education Program Director,
said that "some people just aren't satisfied with a GED, and
that's who we are trying to target."

Dutchover said that groups targeted by the "Back to School
Again" program are adults in the workforce who need a better
education, adults wanting to enter the workforce who need
better skills and recent dropouts who only need a few
credits to graduate.

Dutchover also said that the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD board
had opted not to give a high school diploma to anyone who
earns the majority of their credits through an alternative
education center, so this program is for people who have
already received most of their credits while in high school
and are just a few credits shy of graduation. To be eligible
for the program, a person must have a minimum of 11 credits
from any high school in the state of Texas. So far, no one
has tried to enter the program with credits from an
out-of-state school, he said.

"Back to School Again" classes are taught by certified
teachers, Dutchover said. However, classes aren't taught on
a semester basis as in a traditional school setting; the
curriculum is self-paced. Classes are available for English,
science and math.

On May 22, diplomas will be awarded to current students who
have completed their graduation requirements. They will not
be part of the Pecos High School graduation ceremony.

Dutchover said that on average, there are about 20 students
per night attending the evening classes. "The reason classes
are taught from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday is
because we are trying to be customer friendly," said
Dutchover, who noted that although employers want employees
with more skills, neither the employers or the employees
want their work days interrupted.

"I'm very pleased with the turnout and the devotion these
people have to their educations," said Dutchover.

He said that people take the classes because employers want
employees who have more skills than what is provided in the
GED program. Also, many adults enter the program when their
children reach a point in their education when parents can
no longer answer the children's questions and enter the
program to gain more knowledge and become better parents.

Dutchover said the program is funded through federal money
awarded to school districts to be used for parental
involvement programs. It is left up to school districts to
decide how to use the money. He said that Administrative
Assistant to the Superintendent Gome Olibas wanted those
parents to be able to come back to school and earn their
diplomas. He also wanted students who are recent dropouts to
be able to come back to school and earn their diplomas
without disrupting the flow at other campuses.

"Mr. Olibas feels that a smarter community is a better
community," said Dutchover.

Right now, current "Back to School Again" classes are
scheduled to end the last week of May and resume again next
spring, but Dutchover said that could change if there is
enough demand for the program in the fall, pending school
board approval.

Dutchover said that anyone interested in the program should
call the Carver Center at 447-7265 during the school day or
stop by during an evening session. The Carver Center is
located at 600 East Twelfth Street, across the street from
Bessie Haynes Elementary's athletic field.

Leadership, buzzword at Saturday's forum


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 30, 1998 - More than 50 middle- and
high-school-age youth from Reeves County transformed the
Pecos High School new gym into a boot camp for future
leaders Saturday during the John Ben Shepperd Public
Leadership Institute training day.

Throughout the day-long forum, young people were broken up
into small groups for several sessions on topics such as
Leadership, Communication, Goal Setting and Community
Service. Also, a prominent Texas suicide and drug prevention
team, Straightway, performed after lunch to the rave reviews
of the audiance.

Straightway, a 15-year-old organization, based in
Hungerford, Tx., is dedicated to reaching young people with
its message of hope and love.

Nine members of Straightway's 15-member performance team,
led by 27-year-old Brandon Oliver, entertained and
challenged Reeves County youth to rise above the many
negative messages and role-models in their lives and instead
commit themselves to living full and successful lives.

Oliver, who comes from an alcoholic and abusive family,
testified during the performance for 55 local middle and
high school youths that members of the Straightway team were
not without problems themselves. "By the time I reached 18
years of age I had already messed my life up in so many
ways."

"We believe," he said just prior to the performance, "we
have something to say to this generation." As team member
Rebekah Kirschke, 20, said later of the various Straightway
members, "They chose to stand strong even in the hard times.
It's why I have so much love and respect for everyone on
this team."

Their message of abstaining from drugs, alcohol and
premarital sex, was presented within a flurry of hip-hop
dance steps, matched with edifying R&B and rap-styled
lyrical deliveries.

Members included Oliver, 27, Kirschke, 20, Hannah Garcia,
13, Courtney Davis, 14, Yvette Cantu, 18, Carrie Dumont, 13,
Kelley Crowson, 14, Jessica Crawford, 14, and sound man
Steve Poulan, 24.

The day's events were the result of two months of planning,
said John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute Field
Rep. Evan Crumpton. "Hopefully by the end of the session
(the youth participants) will be planning their own
community service projects."

Crumpton said that a group in Baytown, Tx., had raised
$1,450 from Baytown businesses to feed needy families for
Christmas. Speaking of the Pecos leadership forum, he said
it was worth it "Even if the outcome in one life changed,
one decision to register and vote when 18." To be an
effective leader, Crumpton said, it was first necessary to
learn to serve and be a follower.

Pecos Mayor Dot Stafford gave the opening speech for the
event, laying a foundation on the importance of good
leadership. "I tried to open their ears and minds to what
was being presented," said Stafford. Impressed by the
Straightway performers, Stafford said that there were
tentative plans to bring the group back to perform at Pecos
High School in the fall.

"It's a good start," said Crumpton, appraising the day's
activities, "These kids will take their experience home with
them and inspire others for the next time."

City Secretary and PYAC Coordinator Geneva Martinez said
that the children had a great time at the forum and even
suggested making it an annual event. At the close of the
day, the youth decided to pursue the opening of a city-wide
recreation center.

According to City Manager Kenneth Neal, youth are vital to
the future of Pecos. "That's where new ideas are gonna come
from. Kids have the energy and enthusiasm." Neal said that
several downtown buildings could possibly be converted into
a recreation center. "I'd like to bring downtown back," said
Neal.

Neal and Martinez said they wanted to especially thank the
sponsors and all who helped serve the food. Those who dished
it out to the students included Alice and Ernesto Matta,
Debbie Almuina, Kim Calhoun and Dot Stafford.

Organized by the Pecos Youth Advisory Commission (PYAC), the
forum was presented by the John Ben Shepperd Public
Leadership Institute from the University of Texas of the
Permian Basin.

Local civic leaders took part in the activities as
"facilitators," leading the small groups of students.
Facilitators included city councilmembers Ricky Herrera and
Johnny Terrazas, City Manager Kenneth Neal, Chief of Police
Clay McKinney, County Judge Jimmy Galindo, Lamar Principal
Robert Hernandez, P-B-T ISD Administrator Ana Hernandez and
Pecos High School teachers Jackeline Mandujano and Juan
Dominguez.

Obituaries

March 30, 1998


Catherine Moore


Catherine Moore, 91, died Friday, March 27, 1998, at Sears
Methodist Center in Abilene.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 29, at
Cate-Spencer and Trent Funeral Home Chapel in Sweetwater
with Rev. Malcolm Brown officiating. Burial was in Garden of
Memories Cemetery.

Moore was born Feb. 6, 1907, in Marshall. She was a member
of the First Baptist Church in Sweetwater since 1946, was a
lifetime member of in Mamie D. Crane Chapter #1018 of the
Order of the Eastern Star, and served as a Red Cross
Volunteer during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps
in Pecos and Pyote.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Lee Moore on
Feb. 5, 1982.

Survivors include: one son, Jesse L. Moore, Jr. of
Littleton, Colo.; one daughter, Barbara Rowlett of Lubbock;
one sister, Addie Carter of Longview; six grandchildren; 13
great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

The family requests that memorials be sent to Sears
Methodist Centers, 3202 S. Willis, Abilene, Tx. 79605, or
First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1258, Sweetwater, Tx. 79556.

Joe Hagar


Joe M. Hagar, 83, of Pecos, died Saturday, March 28, 1998,
at his residence.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April
1, at Mount Evergreen Cemetery with Rev. Greer Willis
officiating.

Hagar was born Aug. 3, 1914, in Royce City, Tx. He was a
retired grocery store owner and a Baptist.

Hagar was preceded in death by his wife Ava Hagar in 1996.

Survivors include several nieces.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER


PECOS, March 30, 1998 - High Sunday, 92, low this morning,
50. Showers and thunderstorms will dampen most areas of
Texas tonight and Tuesday. But skies will be clearing across
West Texas after a full day of showers and thunderstorms. It
will be mostly fair tonight and mostly sunny on Tuesday in
West Texas. Lows tonight will be in the upper 20s in the
mountains and in the 30s and 40s elsewhere in West Texas,
highs Tuesday will be in the 50s in the mountains and in the
60s and 70s over the rest of West Texas. A cold front
stretched before dawn today from the low rolling plains of
West Texas to the Big Bend area. Some light rain fell across
West Texas during the pre-dawn hours.



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Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, Publisher
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324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net

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Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise