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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

April 8, 1998


Republic of Texas members convicted


FORT STOCKTON, Texas (AP), April 8, 1998 - A Texas
separatist has been sentenced to life in prison and his wife
to 30 years after both were convicted for a military-style
raid that led to an armed standoff in the mountains.

A Pecos County jury deliberated about five hours Saturday
before handing down the sentences for Gregg and Karen
Paulson, both members of the Republic of Texas, a group that
believes Texas is an independent nation.

The same jury had convicted the Paulsons on Friday on one
count each of burglary with intent to commit an aggravated
assault. The trail was moved to Fort Stockton because of
extensive pre-trial publicity in Jeff Davis County, where
the crime took place.

The charges stemmed from the couple's role in an April 27
assault on the home of Joe and M.A. Rowe, two residents in
the Davis Mountains Resort, a remote rural community 175
miles southeast of El Paso.

The raid, carried out in retaliation for the arrest of a
Republic member, touched off an armed standoff between the
separatists and 300 law officers. It ended May 3 when group
leader Rick McLaren and other members surrendered.

McLaren and his chief aide, Robert Otto, were both convicted
Oct. 31 on organized crimes charges stemming from the siege.
Gregg Paulson testified during his own trial that McLaren
ordered the initial raid.

A fifth person, Richard Keyes III, is awaiting trial in the
incident.

Churches celebrate Easter season


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 8, 1998 - Church services are marking the
Easter season beginning this week.

Holy Week began Monday at Santa Rosa Catholic Church with
the Stations of the Cross, followed by Mass.

On Holy Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m., Santa Rosa Catholic
Church will have the washing of the feet, commissioning of
the Eucharist Ministers, blessing of the bread and a
procession with the blessed sacrament. Holy hour will be
observed from 10 until 11 p.m. and an adoration from 11 p.m.
to midnight.

Good Friday will be observed with at 3 p.m. with station of
the crosses procession beginning at St. Catherines Catholic
Church and ending at Santa Rosa. At 7 p.m., celebration of
the passion of the Lord, the seven words, the adoration of
the holy cross and communion service will be held.

Holy Saturday will start with the celebration of the Lord's
Resurrection at 10 p.m. and the blessing of the fire and
paschal candle, the blessing of the water and the renewal of
baptismal promises.

Easter Sunday will be marked with special services held
throughout the day, beginning at 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and
noon. A procession will be held at 10 a.m.

At St. Catherines Catholic Church Holy Thursday, will be
observed with Mass of the Last Supper.

A communion service and veneration of the cross will be held
on Good Friday, at 7 p.m.

Holy Saturday will be observed at 8 p.m., with an Easter
vigel and a special Easter Service is scheduled for 10:30
a.m., Sunday.

First United Methodist Church will observe Holy Week
beginning with Maundy Thursday. A special service is
scheduled for 7 p.m. that day.

On Easter Sunday a special service will be held at 10:55 a.m.

A Sunrise Service will be held Sunday on the hill north of
Barstow on Farm to Market road 516 with Jim Daniels
officiating. Breakfast will be served at the Community
Center in Barstow following the services sponsored by
Barstow Baptist Church.

Eight different churches will be sponsoring a three-day
event, beginning on Sunday, April 12 through Tuesday, April
14. Heaven's Gates & Hell's Flames, a dramatized real life
presentation, with a cast of 50, will be held at 7 p.m. at
the Pecos High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. For
more information call 445-4921. Free admission. First
Baptist, Calvary Baptist, West Park Baptist, North Temple,
Abundant Life, Mount Zion and Primary Iglesia Bautista
churches are sponsoring the event.

Crockett presents science fair


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 8, 1998 - Future scientists had an opportunity
to show off their inventions at Crockett Middle School's
Science Fair held April 4.

The student's projects were judged based on illustration,
research and student knowledge of research area. The
projects were categorized into three groups consisting of
chemistry, life/earth science and physics.

"Students worked throughout the fifth six-weeks period on
the projects," said teacher Frank Ornelas.

Presenting science projects incorporates all of the TAAS
skills required by the state, according to Ornelas.

"All students are encouraged to participate in the science
fair, which enables them to discover the application of the
scientific process, while learning to work independently in
teams, thus reflecting a practical working environment,"
said Ornelas.

The students at Crockett Middle School continue to marture
and apply academic skills to everyday situations. Presenting
science projects allows the students involved to acquire and
apply those TAAS Life Science skills necessary for promotion
and success in our public school system, according to
Ornelas.

The science fair had a total of 28 teams/projects entered. A
third of the students at CMS participated in the fair and
each team was comprised of three to four students. A total
of 106 students participated in the fair.

Sweepstakes first place winners included the team of Oscar
Arculeta, Lisa Lopez, Ashley Contreras and Brian Fuentez,
whose project was in the physics category. Their project was
titled, Rotary Traffic Switch.

Second place winners were Andrea Herrera, Delissa Munoz and
Cessylia Chavez, with their project, What Gas is Produced?,
which is in the chemistry category.

The third place project, Clean Water, in the life/earth
science category, was constructed by Kristina Dominguez,
Crystal Garcia, Joey Rodriguez and Michael Chavez.

The fair was officiated by students from the Pecos High
School science departments. The eight student judges were:
Alva Alvarez, Elizabeth Parent, Erin Dominguez, Matt Ivy,
Sarah Armstrong, Griselda Zapata, Frank Perea and Efrain
Rodriguez.

The students participating were from the classes of Jim
Workman, Kim Anderson and Francisco Ornelas.

"With the advent of new cirrucula for the State of Texas and
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), these teachers
hope to increase the success of their students in
accompanying them as they continue in their areas of
teaching and research," said Ornelas.

The diverse backgrounds of the teacher-teams in the areas of
agronomy, biology, chemistry, and teaching compliment the
student potential at Crockett Middle School, according to
Ornelas.

"As we advance into this technological millenium, the
support from administrators and the community for our young
scientists is crucial and essential to the success and
growth of the students in our community," he said.

The science program at the school had attained a passing
status of 71 percent for TAAS examinations under the
direction of former Crockett Middle School principal, Danny
Rodriguez and hopes to receive "recognized" status in the
1997-98 school year.

"Juanita Davila has been very supportive of the science
program and also has expectations of achieving a `recognized
campus' status for the TAAS examination results for
1997-98," said Ornelas.

The continued support of the administration of PBT ISD and
the community will ensure the success and growth of our
students. Public schools continue to be leaders in the
preparation of students for the world of tomorrow, according
to Ornelas.

"Positive changes, constructive criticism and teamwork are
necessary in the improvement of the education provided to
the children of Pecos," he said.

The team approach maintains that students, parents, and the
district can provide the most open-minded approach toward
the education of a community. Commitment to the success of
public education illustrates our appreciation for your
participation, according to Ornelas.

Boys, drugs add up to jail time for two girls


Low self-esteem compounds problems


By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer
Editor's Note: Some teenagers in custody at the Reeves
County Juvenile Detention Center recently agreed to speak to
a reporter about their experiences. Their names have been
changed to protect their identities. Their detention at this
facility does not mean they are from the local area. This is
the first of a two-part series telling the juveniles'
stories. Today, the girls' stories will be told.

PECOS, April 8, 1998 - Both boys and girls get into trouble
with the law these days, and drugs, gangs or both are often
factors involved in their situations.

"Emily," 16, looks like any wholesome American teenager,
except for the orange detention center uniform. She is
polite, and answers questions purposefully, as if granting
interviews was an every day occurrence for her. Emily said
that her trouble wasn't because of gang involvement. "I
never messed with it," she said, although she said that she
has been around a lot of gang activity.

"I was arrested for possession of marijuana." Emily said
that she wasn't dealing the drug, just transporting it for
her then-boyfriend.

Emily said that she was 14 when she first tried marijuana,
and shortly after that, she started using cocaine.

The first time she tried marijuana, Emily said, she and her
boyfriend had gone out with a friend. She was nervous at
first, but went along with the others, who had smoked
marijuana before. She got high that first time, then "did it
again and again."

"I was worried about growing up too quick, so I didn't have
time to worry about the drugs," Emily said. She said that
her boyfriend manipulated her into transporting the drugs
for him. According to Emily, he wasn't a drug dealer, "just
a transporter and a user."

Emily's problems with the law go back to when she was 14 and
was arrested for auto theft. At that age, she quit school
and moved in with a boyfriend. She admits that she was
having sex with the young man, and realizes now that she had
low self-esteem. She said that she had become rebellious and
wanted to be out on her own.

"I moved out at a young age, and there was a lot of travel
-jump, jump, jump -that's how I ended up here (in custody at
the JDC)," Emily said.

She said that her self-confidence has improved since she has
been at the detention facility, and that she has had the
opportunity to contemplate all that has happened in her
life. "After you wind up in a place like this, you can look
back and see your mistakes. It's up to us to decide if we
want to learn from them or keep making them," Emily said.

As far as her home life was concerned, Emily said, " My mom
drank a little bit while I was growing up, and my father
wasn't around. There wasn't anything drastic." She has a
stepfather, who is incarcerated.

"I don't drink and I don't do drugs anymore," Emily said.
"I'm stable enough where I can resist" drug use after being
released from the detention facility.

Emily is currently re-enrolled in high school and plans to
graduate. According to Juvenile Probation Officer Alberto
Alvarez, she has a 94.7 percent average, high enough to
qualify her for honor roll if she were attending a regular
high school.

She hopes to become a psychologist and wants to work with
troubled teens. "I feel the experience I've had could help
other kids," Emily said, "because troubled kids know how
troubled kids think." She doesn't yet know where she will go
when she is released from the JDC.

If she could give one piece of advice to another girl who is
following the same path she was on, Emily would say,
"Respect yourself. When you respect yourself, you respect
everything around you."

Emily said she feels that kids who are drawn into crime and
gang activity are people who have low self-esteem and are
crying out for help, not recrimination. She said that if
anyone sees a teen getting into trouble, she hopes that they
will try to help instead of ridicule that young person.

"Tiffany," a 14-year-old girl who has been in trouble with
the law on a variety of charges over the years, admits to
drinking, using drugs, running away from home, violating
curfew and committing perjury. She denies being involved
with a gang. She said that she is in the juvenile detention
center because of a probation violation while on probation
for the perjury charge. Her probation violation was a curfew
violation, and she came up positive on a drug analysis test
as well.

She first got into trouble with the law after crashing her
mother's car at the age of 12.

Tiffany said that she lied on the witness stand in order to
protect a boyfriend. She had been involved with the same boy
since she was 12 years old. At that age, she was already
using drugs and having sex, she said. The boy was four years
older than her.

At first, Tiffany said that although her boyfriend used to
beat her up, she wasn't trying to protect him because she
was afraid of him, but because she felt that she loved him.

It may seem contradictory to other people, but Tiffany said
that she felt good with this boy, even though he "tortured"
her. Tiffany is a quiet, shy girl who speaks slowly and more
often nods than makes a direct statement. She finally looked
down at the ground and said that she did lie for the boy
because she was scared of what he would do to her if she
didn't lie to protect him. "I don't think I would have been
on probation" if it hadn't been for the perjury instance,
she said.

Tiffany couldn't give a specific answer when asked why she
risked being in serious trouble with the law to lie for her
boyfriend, but when asked if she thought she had low
self-esteem, she said, "I probably do."

Tiffany grew up in a home with a mother who used to drink,
she said, a father who is a heroin addict, and older
siblings who she watched getting high with their friends.

She said that she started using drugs at the age of eight,
and doesn't even remember the first time she got high.

Tiffany said that getting high made her feel "stupid"
afterward, but "I liked the way I felt when I was high." She
said other people "sometimes" talked her into getting high,
but she did say more than once that she got high to be part
of a crowd. She was doing spray (inhaling spray paint fumes)
about once a day for about a year and a half before being
sentenced to the juvenile detention center.

She said that she doesn't do very well in school, but knows
she could do better. Tiffany said that she wants to do
better in school, but has a hard time staying out of
trouble. She wants to finish high school and hopes to become
a physical therapist.

Tiffany is scared of losing her family while she is in the
detention facility. She said that being locked away from her
family makes her think about her life. She believes that her
love for her family may give her the motivation she needs to
stay out of trouble in the future.

If Tiffany met another girl whose life seemed to be heading
in the same direction as her's did, she would advise her,
"Stay in school, don't do drugs, and even though of course
you're going to be interested, try not to get involved with
boys until you're older."

Resource Agencies

If you see yourself, a friend, neighbor or family member in
a situation similar to that of one or more of the juveniles
portrayed in the above article, here is a list of phone
numbers for agencies where you may be able to find help.

Stay Together Program -for the prevention of runaways,
truant and at-risk youth -1-800-922-STAY

Boys Town National Hotline (both boys and girls are welcome
to call) -1-800-448-3000

Narcotics Anonymous -1-800-747-8972

Cocaine Hotline -1-800-COCAINE

Alanon/Alateen (support groups for family members/teens
affected by another person's drinking) -1-800-344-2666

Runaway Hotline -1-800-392-3352

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
-1-800-843-5678

Battered Women and Their children (call collect)
-1-915-683-1300

AIDS Information -1-800-299-2473

There are also Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous
meetings here in Pecos several times a week.

Monday -AA and Alanon open meeting, 7-8 p.m., St. Mark's at
Fifth and Plum in the back

Tuesday -AA and Alanon closed meeting (separate rooms) 8-9
p.m., 125 S. Oak, across from the caboose

NA -7:30-8:30 p.m. Reeves County Hospital cafeteria

Thursday -AA and Alanon closed meeting 7-8 p.m., Fifth and
Plum

Friday -AA and Alanon open meeting 8-9 p.m., 125 S. Oak

Sunday -NA -7-8 p.m., MHMR at the old hospital on Daggett St.

Seven juveniles referred to detention center


PECOS, April 8, 1998 - The juvenile monthly report for the
month of March shows seven new referrals to the juvenile
court's detention facility, bringing the total number of
Reeves County youth detained to six and the total number of
out-of-county youth to 16.

The seven referrals break down as: one runaway; one failure
to attend school; two violations of juvenile court order;
one charge of criminal mischief causing damage of over $500
and under $1500; one charge of criminal mischief causing
damage of over $20 and under $500; and one case of
home-related crisis intervention.

Of the seven new referrals, three were male and four were
female. Six were listed as Hispanic and one was listed as
black.

One case was referred by Reeves County Sheriff's Department;
two by Pecos Police Department; one by parents, one by
municipal court, and two by "other."

New phone scam diverts calls


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 8, 1998 - A story in Friday's Pecos Enterprise
warned readers of several phone scams that seem to target
Hispanics, but a new one has been detected that targets
businesses.

According to information received, a swindler calls into a
company, identifies himself as a phone company technician
who is testing the lines and asks the employee who answers
to touch nine, zero and the pound sign, then to hang up.

This gives the thief access to a local phone operator, who
is then requested to switch the call to an international
exchange.

"We've received a call about this, but we don't have a lot
of information on it," said Katie Bohuslaz, Public Utilities
Commission spokesperson.

"We're aware of this scam, but most of the information we
have has come from different articles," said Bohuslaz.

According to Bohuslaz, the scam is being widely publicized
by public utilities companies and they are warning their
employees and others about it.

Employees are warned that if they do receive such a call
from someone who asks for an outside line to do tests, to
get their name, company, phone number and supervisor's name,
then do some checking. Don't simply connet them to an
outside line.

"This is really outside our jurisdiction, so there isn't
much we can do about it, but they are urged to contact local
officials," said Bohuslaz.

"As soon as we think we've heard of all the scams, they
always come up with something new to try to swindle people,"
she said.

Alvin Crow to spend week in Pecos


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 8, 1998 - At the age of four you are too young
to go to school, you can't drive, what has a kid got to do
but burn his fingers into the fretboard learning to play one
heck of a mean fiddle.

That's what Alvin Crow did perched atop his Grandpa's lap in
Oklahoma many years ago. A band leader for 20 years, Crow is
still going strong with eight albums under his belt and
several regional hits, including "Nyquil Blues."

Now local talent will have the opportunity to jam with Crow
as the West of the Pecos Museum and Texas Folklife Resources
sponsors his week-long community residency in Pecos.

Crow will be performing and speaking on western swing fiddle
music from Monday, April 13, to Sunday, April 19, to groups
at the Lions Club, Pecos Nursing Home, Pecos Senior Citizens
Center and area churches and schools.

He will perform at Balmorhea's Senior Citizens Center on
Thursday, April 16. "We'd like to share him a little bit,"
said Brandy Owen, executive director of the museum.

All area musicians, whatever your taste in music, are
invited to converge at 7 p.m., Monday, April 13, on Windmill
Square, next door to the Convention and Visitors Center, for
an evening of impromptu jams.

The museum's annual barbecue fundraiser, normally in May,
will be held a little early to coincide with Crow's
residency. It will be at 7 p.m., Friday, April 17 at the
West of the Pecos Museum.

"We're inviting all to bring out their lawn chairs and
attend this event," said Owen.

Interested musicians may call 445-5076 for more information.

Two fail to appear in federal court


BY PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 8, 1998 - Senior Judge Lucius Bunton ordered
two federal court defendants arrested this morning when they
failed to appear on drug and immigration charges.

Luis Exiquio Carrillo of El Paso reported Monday that his
car broke down in Sierra Blanca while he was enroute to
Pecos for court. He was advised to find a way to get here by
9 a.m. today, but failed to do so, said his attorney,
Anthony Foster of Alpine.

Carrillo's co-defendant, Maria Guadalupe Rodriguez-de Cruz
did appear and pleaded guilty to one count of transporting
illegal aliens.

Martin Gonzalez was scheduled to enter a plea in a drug
possession case, but his attorney, Tony Chavez, sent word
that he has absconded.

"We will issue a warrant for his arrest forthwith," said
Judge Bunton, who closed out his week's docket before noon
today.

Weather bodes well for crops across the state


From Staff and Wire Reports
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP), April 8, 1998 - Producers are
crying tears of joy as dry and sunny weather has been ideal
for Texas 1015 onion production and quality this year, the
Texas Agricultural Extension Service reports.

Locally, onion expert A.B. Foster, who recently sold his
1,200 acres of onion land to Randy Taylor, said that
everything looks good for now but it is still another two
months before local onions will be harvested.

"The winds aren't real good for 'em," said Foster, "but it
doesn't hurt 'em too much."

Leonard Pike, director of the Vegetable Improvement Center
at Texas A&M University, said the yields, quality and prices
of 1015 in his part of the state are good.

"The quality is probably as good as we've had in many, many
years," he said. Pike said last year's excessive rains
destroyed numerous acres of onions. However, he said the
weather has been very cooperative, with lots of sun and
little rain while the crop was growing and maturing this
year.

"It was rain, rain, rain for about six weeks last year," he
said. "This year the weather has been almost perfect." Pike
said the 1015 onions are well-adapted to the Texas
environment.

"Generally, we have the necessary environment to produce the
big, mild, sweet 1015s out of Texas," he said. "It's
probably the best in the world."

Pike said as an onion breeder, he never imagined an onion
could become so popular. However, since the early 1980s, the
1015 onions have remained very popular despite several other
marketed onion varieties. Darlene Barter, manager of the
South Texas Onion and Melon Committee, said more than 2,000
acres of 1015 onions were planted in the Rio Grande Valley
and Winter Garden areas.

"The early rains thinned the crop some," she said. "But
what's left is absolutely beautiful." Barter said producers
are expecting a very good onion crop. She said the tonnage
is down, but the quality is excellent.

In South Texas, Extension horticulturist Dr. Lynn
Brandenberger of Weslaco, said despite recent strong winds,
the crop still looks good.

"So far, so good," he said. "At least we're not in a real
wet and cold mode like last year."

Brandenberger said while other onion varieties are presently
being harvested, 1015 onions are a late variety. He predicts
they will be harvested in mid-to-late April.

Brandenberger said 1015 onion prices have decreased, but are
steady.

Obituary

April 8, 1998


Tatum Eisenwine


Tatum Eisenwine, 86, died Wednesday, April 8, at Reeves
County Hospital.

Services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 10, at the
First Christian Church of Pecos with Rev. J.E. "Mac"
McCormick officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

The family will receive visitors at the home of Beau Jack
and Tina Hendrick, 1519 Katherine Street in Pecos.

Eisenwine was born on Nov. 30, 1911, in Reeves County. He
served as county commissioner for more than 22 years and was
a lifetime member of the First Christian Church. He was a
veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II from
1942-1945.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maureen in 1997, two
daughters, Julie Dyer in 1989 and Melinda Crist in 1995, a
brother J.W. Eisenwine in 1995, and a sister, Hazel Hendrick
in 1997.

Survivors include: his brother, Norman Eisenwine; seven
grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; many nieces;
and many nephews.

The family requests memorials be made to the First Christian
Church of Pecos or the West of the Pecos Museum.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER


PECOS, April 8, 1998 - High Tuesday, 80, low this morning,
44. Strong thunderstorms raced at a high speed across a vast
area of the state during the night and early today. The
storms were generated by a southward moving cold front and
triggered numerous warnings from the National Weather
Service during the early morning hours. The thunderstorms
had brief heavy rainfall, hail ranging from the size of peas
to the size of golf balls, frequent lightning and winds
gusting from 50-70 mph. Hail the size of golf balls pelted
Ennis in Ellis County, just south of Dallas, and slightly
smaller hail was reported at Garland and in Kaufman County.
Several tornado warnings were issued, but there were no
reports of significant damage by dawn. Funnel clouds were
sighted near Wimberly and Junction. Most of the
thunderstorms were in North Texas, South Central Texas, the
Edwards Plateau and Concho Valley. One line of thunderstorms
was centered in the Tyler area about 5 a.m. It will be
partly cloudy through Thursday in West Texas. Lows tonight
will be in the 30s in the Panhandle. Highs Thursday will be
in the 70s and 80s in West Texas.



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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
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