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Top StoriesApril 9, 1998No grant money for Pecos water supplyBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, April 9, 1998 - Adequate: Equal to some requirement; sufficient (for any purpose). Millions of dollars, and the possible survival of the Town of Pecos City as it is now known, may hinge on how the Texas Water Development Board chooses to define this ambiguous adjective. Several representatives of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) appeared before the Pecos City Council at last night's special meeting to explain why the town did not qualify for a large water grant from the organization's Economically Distressed Area program, and to offer other possible courses of action for pursuing a healthy water supply. According to Jonathan Steinburg, assistant general counsel of TWDB, Pecos did not qualify for the $18 million grant because it met the state's minimum water standards. The grant money, he said, is only available to communities found with "inadequate" water sources. "But," City Surveyor Frank X. Spencer interjected, "we don't meet secondary standards. We don't have an approved water system." According to Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission guidelines, said one TWDB member, Pecos has an "acceptable" water source. True, it is not an approved, or "superior," water source, but it is not in a state of non-compliance either, said the representative. The TWDB officials said that most of the grant money ($270 million which comes from the state and $200 million from the federal government) went to communities with either no water supply, or a water supply that was dangerous to the health of the people. The representative stressed their work with border-area colonias. An example of a small border town that had been found sharing a single contaminated well was offered as one type of program TWDB involved itself with. Kevin Ward, TWDB's deputy executive administrator, told the council that the best path to pursue, given that Pecos does not qualify under TWDB guidelines, is the "Safe Drinking Water Revolving Door Fund." While the drinking water fund is technically considered a loan, said Ward, the TWDB has the authority to forgive large portions of it, making it, effectively, a grant in most respects. According to Ward, Pecos had "managed (its) affairs quite well," and should the council reconsider applying for a loan from the organization, TWDB would be "glad to consider it." Mayor Dot Stafford insisted that, for Pecos, repaying a large loan at this time was simply not an option. Frustrated, councilmember Danny Rodriguez told the water representatives that had the council known that they would not qualify for the grant seven years ago, when it began the process with TWDB, "maybe we could have gone another route" and "not be where we are today." Where the council is "today," the council agreed, is staring at an estimated 12-year deadline for finding and developing a new source of safe drinking water for the city. Twelve years is the estimated life left in the Ward County water field that supplies Pecos. Assistant TWDB Director Carl Norris suggested that, in the meantime, Pecos consider practicing stricter water conservation. "Your community appears to have high levels of water consumption and should possibly look at reducing its volume." Councilmember Ricky Hererra asked how soon the council would know what percentage of the loan would be forgiven should they apply for the drinking water fund. At the time of application, was the TWDB answer. At the time when Pecos first approached TWDB, said one water official, the board had "initial concerns" regarding Pecos' qualifications. "We knew there was some potential," he said, "and wanted to do what we could." Hererra said, "It seems to me that we are operating on two different definitions of what 'adequate supply' is." At this point Rodriguez read back to the water representatives from a newsletter supplied to the council concerning grant qualifications. Rodriguez said that by the guidelines stated in the newsletter Pecos qualified for the grant. Steinberg said that the newsletter was only paraphrasing a TWDB statute. "Perhaps it would be wiser to give the precise definition," said Steinburg. Rodriguez responded that it was misleading to communities not to do so. Spencer spoke briefly in defense of the water board by saying, "Anytime a community goes into a grant process there's never a guarantee." It was unfair of the council, he said, to complain: "But we expected it." Then he turned quickly on the TWDB representatives, taking issue with their decided definition of 'adequate supply.' Spencer stressed the dire situation to the officials, saying, "When our recharge is virtually nil and we are drawing on bad water, we can't be sure where the next field we will find water. The closest is 11 miles away. The next closest is 30 miles. And as to water treatment, we have terrible water here. The situation is so drastic it could be compared with those with no water. We have a 12,000 population that we won't be able to maintain." Ward apologized for the "revelations of the last few weeks," and vowed to work with local officials in such a way that there would be "no more surprises." Stafford, bringing the discussion to a close, informed the TWDB officials that she would be asking Senator Madla's Area Representative Tina Hagley, who was present at the meeting, to set up a meeting with the director of TWDB. "I think you really don't understand the magnitude of the problem," she said, before thanking the water representatives for their help. Former Reeves County commissioner diesBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, April 9, 1998 - Tatum Moore Eisenwine, a well respected cattleman and former Reeves County commissioner, died Wednesday, April 8. Eisenwine, 86, died at Reeves County Hospital. His funeral will be Friday. He was born Nov. 30, 1911, in Reeves County. Eisenwine married Maureen Miers, July 16, 1947, in Lea County, N.M. Tatum Eisenwine followed in the footsteps of his father, Julius Eisenwine, who was the first county commissioner in Reeves County. Tatum Eisenwine was a Reeves County commissioner from 1949 to 1954 and from 1956 until 1972. In 1981, the First Christian Church was celebrating its 90th Anniversary and honored Eisenwine for his 57 years of support and dediction to the church. He was a lifetime member of the church. The Eisenwine family was the first family honored as a Pioneer Family by the West of the Pecos Museum, in 1977. "We were the first family that was honored, when they started doing that," said Beau Jack Hendrick. "Tatum was very well-respected as a cattleman and citizen of Reeves County,' he said. Eisenwine was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II from 1942-1945. "He was one of the best cattlemen in the Reeves County area and well known for his cowboying abilities," said Hendrick. Eisenwine was preceded in death by his wife, Maureen, in 1979; two daughters, Julie Dyer in 1989 and Melinda Crist in 1995; a brother J.W. Eisenwine in 1995; and sister, Hazel Hendrick, in 1997. Survivors include: his brother, Norman Eisenwine and wife, Annie Evelyn of Ennis; and seven grandchildren. "He was blessed with numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and he was very close to us, me and my wife, Tina," said Hendrick. "He also received several awards from the state, while serving as commissioner," said Hendrick. Services for Eisenwine will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, at the First Christian Church of Pecos with Rev. J.E. "Mac" McCormick officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Pecos Funeral Home. The family requests memorials be made to the First Christian Church of Pecos or the West of the Pecos Museum. The family will receive visitors at the home of Beau Jack and Tina Hendrick, 1519 Katherine, in Pecos. Today last day for early votingPECOS, April 9, 1998 - While some offices will be closed Friday in observance of Good Friday during the Easter holiday, others have opted to remain open. Early voting in the run-off election ends today at 5 p.m. Reeves County offices will be closed Friday, but state offices will remain open. The U.S. Post Office will be open during its normal working hours on Friday and mail will be delivered at both the homes and the postal boxes. Both First National and Security State banks will be open on Friday, but Security State Bank will not re-open from 5-6 p.m., like they normally do. Town of Pecos City offices will be open only until noon, Friday. Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD students will take the day off Friday and school was let out early today, to begin the Easter holiday. The Pecos Enterprise will be open and the paper delivered at the usual time. Poor roads, sewers addressed by councilBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, April 9, 1998 - Pecos City Council met briefly this morning to move forward on the city's annual seal coating of local streets and approve preliminary plans for the rehabilitation of the city sewer system. Local engineer Frank X. Spencer presented the council with information on both situations. Based on interior line inspection with a newly-purchased television camera, Spencer said that 3,600 linear feet were originally selected for replacement and repair, but new lines have since been found that also need repair. "My recommendation," said Spencer, "is that if the money is there to get it all done -if it all comes under the original bid -we do it all." If the original budget of $250,000 cannot achieve all the repairs, he said, the new repairs should be left out. "The field work has all been done, but we could leave it out if we want to," he said. One other change had to be made to the original proposal. Since checking the grade of the original 12-inch line, Spencer said, the minimum size pipe needed to comply with Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission standards is a 15-inch line. "The current 12-and 10-inch lines do not comply with TNRCC standards . . . I have proposed fiberglass manholes and PVC pipes," he said. According to Spencer's estimates, the new projected total for the project comes to $271,000. Mayor Dot Stafford suggested holding off on the project until after the Fourth of July festivities since the project would interfere with traffic in some areas. Spencer said the project would take about two to three weeks to complete, depending on the contractor hired. The council also voted this morning to move forward with advertising for bids for the city's annual seal coating project. Spencer estimated the cost for the coating of 65,650 square yards of pavement, at 80 cents per yard, at about $52,000. Councilmember Johnny Terrazas asked by what process the streets are chosen for repair and could other streets, in bad states of repair, be added to the list. Water Superintendent Octavio Garcia said that the streets were rotated from year to year and any streets in need of repair should be made known to the city. Councilmember Danny Rodriguez suggested Veterans Boulevard as a street in need of repair. Rodriguez also praised the work of new Police Chief Clay McKinney, saying that the officers' patrolling of the high school had made "all the difference in the world for us" in helping curb delinquency. The council approved the monthly juvenile court report, which showed seven new referrals to the department, and the monthly ambulance report, showing a balance at the end of last month of $323,455. Three charged with possession of heroinBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, April 9, 1998 - Possession of heroin was charged against three of seven defendants indicted Wednesday by the Reeves County Grand Jury. Santiago "Jimmy" Natividad Fuentes, 19, is charged with possession of heroin and cocaine on Jan. 5. His punishment will be enchanced by two prior felony convictions. Ruben Garcia Tercero, 38, is charged with possession of heroin on Feb . 26. He also has two prior felony convictions. Reyes Jose Rodriguez, 47, is charged with possession of heroin on Jan. 23, and he has two prior convictions. Eva Franco Lozano, 32, is charged with delivery of marijuana on June 26, 1997. Florentino Torres Flores, 44, is charged with forgery on Jan. 7. He allegedly passed a forged check for $67.25 at Popular Thriftway. Charged with burglary of a building owned by Ronald Box on Feb. 13 are Micah Brandon Lipscomb, 19, and Ryan William Allen, 21. Two boys in detention reluctant to give up gangBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer Editor's Note: This is the final article in a series about teenagers in custody at the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center who 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 story of two boys. PECOS, April 9, 1998 - "Derrik" is cool and confident, presenting himself as very worldly for his mere 14 years. He has an almost businesslike demeanor when he says that he is in detention for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Derrik said that he got sick of fighting with another boy, so he stabbed him. Derrik makes no bones about being a gang member; he had been in a gang for two years and seems proud of that. He said that gang membership makes him feel like he is part of a family. Derrik has a real family though, one that he said that he isn't close to. He said that both of his parents are still together. He said that neither of his parents use drugs, that his mom doesn't even drink; his dad does drink, but is gone on a job that takes him out of the area frequently. Derrik also said that he has three siblings that he does not feel close to. He prefers hanging out with his gang. He said that he does not have a violent home life, and that he has always done poorly in school and stayed out late. Derrik said that he and other gang members have a good time drinking and smoking marijuana together. They also fight with other gangs over what he referred to as "brown right" and described as a territorial dispute. Derrik said that the gang members use weapons in their fights, "sticks, knives, brass knuckles, bats and bottles," but no guns. He claims that he's never been seriously hurt in one of those fights. He said his gang has both male and female members, "but they (the girls) do their own thing and we do our own thing" as far as issues such as the fighting are concerned, so there aren't boys beating girls in the confrontations. His initiation into the gang was fighting about eight other gang members at once. Derrik said that he did get hurt badly that time, but thinks the beating was worth it. Derrik said that everyone in his gang is pretty much equal, and that there isn't anything about being in a gang that he doesn't like. He admits that the group sells drugs, but denies that the gang members commit burglaries. He doesn't believe that his gang membership affects his relationships with girls. Derrick said that he has no intention of trying to get out of the gang. He plans to finish school and wants to have a job in an office, but he said that he will still be in a gang. He plans on going to college, but has no idea what he wants to study. Derrik knows he doesn't want to end up in prison. He would like to be closer to his family, but that isn't something he is willing to work at. However, he does picture himself as getting married and becoming a father. He said that he would allow his own son to join a gang. His dad let him join a gang, he said, although his father was never in a gang. "Right now we're still youngsters," Derrik said. "I'll see if the gang is still going on when I'm older." He said that he will still claim to be a gang member even if the group dissipates as the members get older. "To another person facing the same decisions he had to make, Derrik would say, "It isn't a problem if you want to be like me, if that's what you want to do." "Clyde" is a polite, 15-year-old boy who talks about enjoying life in a gang, but without commitment to gang membership as a permanent lifestyle choice. He was originally put on probation for committing a burglary, then put into the juvenile center for breaking curfew, a probation violation. Clyde said that he has been involved in a gang in the past, and still considers himself to be a gang member. He said that the gang isn't his family, but the other members feel like his brothers and sisters. Clyde said that the gang members do things together like going to arcades to play games and "most of the time, doing bad things like drinking." Clyde said that he was doing drugs before he was on probation, "just marijuana, that's the only drug I've ever done." He said that everyone in the gang got high together. "That's one reason I got on probation, I was under the influence when I broke into the house," Clyde said. Clyde said that he and a few other boys broke into a house "just for the fun of it." Clyde said he first got involved with his gang about a year ago. He got to know other gang members over about a month's time, he said, then the others invited him to join their gang, and he accepted and was initiated. "I had to fight, like, seven other guys at one time," Clyde said. He wasn't seriously hurt, but doesn't think the whole thing was worth it, either. He lives with his mom, sister and an aunt. His mother and aunt do drink, he said, but not around him. He doesn't believe they use any drugs, and said that his mother has not resorted to use of physical punishment. The drinking, drugs, and feeling of togetherness with other teens is what Clyde said lured him to the gang. He enjoys the gang lifestyle, he said, and has no immediate plans to get out of the gang. Although Clyde enjoys gang life now, he does see himself getting out of the group someday. The gang won't just let him go, though. Clyde said that in order to get out of the gang, he will have to go through another initiation, same as the first one, but to exit the group. Members of Clyde's gang sometimes carry knives or bats he said, but nobody has a gun that he knows of. They do fight with members of other gangs over things like what one person says about another, but not over territory. Clyde said that he has been involved in gang fights with rival gangs "lots of times." Clyde said that he is nearing the end of his probation, and thinks he will be able to break away from the gang once his probation is over. He does have friends outside of the gang, even girlfriends. Clyde said that his gang membership does not affect his relationships outside of the group. He eventually wants to get an education and would like to become a mechanic after high school. These days though, Clyde hardly ever goes to school, and said that the worst thing about going to school is having to get up early in the morning. He said that he wouldn't mind getting up early as much if it were to go to work as a mechanic instead of to go to school. If he were talking to another boy who seemed to be following in his footsteps, Clyde would say, "Stop it, It will ruin your life like it's ruining mine." Closing arguments begin for Republic of TexasBy TERRY WALLACE Associated Press Writer DALLAS (AP) April 9, 1998 - The jury heard two starkly different rationales for the activities of separatist Richard McLaren, his wife, and their band of six followers in closing arguments today at their federal conspiracy and fraud trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Hamilton told jurors that "the laws of the state of Texas and the United States allow people to think pretty much what you want and say pretty much what you want, and that's all right. ... You can think you're an ambassador and that's not the problem," he said. "Whatever you think, you cannot victimize innocent people because that's a crime. You cannot write checks on an account you do not have, because that's a crime," he said. Tom Mills, attorney for Richard McLaren, told jurors that they "won't be asked to decide that Texas is not a state or that the United States is not a nation." Rather, they must decide whether the alleged conspirators "were acting with the intent to defraud or for some other reason." Republic of Texas leader McLaren and his followers are accused of trying to bilk banks and creditors of $1.8 billion. Members allegedly ran up their credit card bills on such expenses as a Lear jet lease for McLaren and a $300 Neiman Marcus sweater for Mrs. McLaren. Then they tried paying the tabs with the so-called "warrants," prosecutors said during the six-week trial. Charges against the nine separatists include various counts of conspiracy, bank fraud, mail fraud and aiding and abetting. U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish allotted each defense attorney 30 minutes for closing arguments; prosecutors had one hour. The separatists don't deny they passed millions of dollars in Republic of Texas "warrants" - documents that resemble checks or other bank documents - to pay their bills. But they claim the self-issued currency was valid because it was backed by $80 billion in state assets. The question of intent was at the heart of the defense's case. Mills spoke of how a priest and a rabbi could spend their lives studying the same Bible and reach opposite conclusion about whether a Messiah had come. "One of them is incorrect, but I don't think either one of them is a fraud," he said. Arguing in her own defense, McLaren's wife, Evelyn McLaren, told of all that she gave up in her life for her husband and his cause: family, job, freedom and security. She said her husband's aims were just in asking for Gov. George W. Bush to submit the question of Texas' statehood or nationhood to a vote. Only when the state refused did her husband act to reclaim assets he believed to belong to a legal nation, she said. "Our forefathers said that if we didn't defend our Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, we would lose it. At this point, ladies and gentlemen, it's slipping away," she said. "I asked you to return a verdict of not guilty, not only for me but for the others. They are heroes because they stand. Our intentions were pure. We did not intend to hurt anybody." Another proposal for endangered species listFrom Staff and Wire Reports PECOS, April 9, 1998 - Just when the 11 West Texas cities that comprise the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority thought they'd have flowing taps for decades, along swam the Arkansas River shiner. The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club is convinced the little minnow is imperiled and is demanding the fish be declared an endangered species in a New Mexico federal lawsuit filed last month. "The loss of the shiner, which depends on that kind of habitat, is an indicator that concerns us,'' said Sierra Club spokesman Scott Royder. "We're basically concerned about the continued decline of an (Ogallala) aquifer that supports animals and humans. We cannot continue to draw water from an aquifer that cannot recharge. I would hope most people would not want the aquifer to go extinct.'' The situation is similar to one Red Bluff Water Power Control District members are trying to avoid along the Pecos River, where preliminary studies have been made into declaring the Pecos River pupfish an endangered species. Royder said the Sierra Club, which also sued to force pumping restrictions on the Edwards Aquifer in Central Texas, is targeting the Interior Department to force action on the shiner. Yet CRMWA officials said during a Wednesday meeting they feel the crosshairs, too. "We don't really have a part in the suit as it's filed now,'' general manager John Williams said. "But if it takes the same course as others we've seen, we need to protect our ability to participate.'' Directors support intervention even though the CRMWA isn't mentioned. Legal costs could range between $25,000 to more than $200,000 if the authority gets involved, but Borger board member Tom Edmonds said the cost could be devastating if it doesn't. "It puts you in a position that you almost have to show up and say, `We think we have an interest that needs to be protected, because we're really not sure why you're having this lawsuit,''' said Edmonds, a lawyer and engineer. "... We're going to protect our rights.'' A committee of CRMWA board members will decide whether or not to apply for intervention. CRMWA cities, which include Amarillo and Lubbock, fear that if the shiner is listed as endangered, the government might limit proposed pumping from underground resources in Roberts County, which the authority fought for years to use in the first place. The Roberts County water is needed to blend with the salty Lake Meredith water the member cities currently receive. Williams said he expects up to 30 percent of the water flowing down the pipelines someday to come from underground. In the Pecos area, the threat is the same. Red Bluff board members were told last month the Pecos River pupfish can only be found in Screwbean Draw, a tributary of the river south of Red Bluff Lake, and has been replaced in the river by the Sheepshead minnow. But the board was also told the fish probably was native to the river only when excess water usage by New Mexico increased salt levels in the river high enough for the pupfish to survive. Federal officials are considering adding the pupfish to the endangered species list as the result of a lawsuit filed against the government, marine biologist Bart Reid told the board in March. That would allow the government to determine water and land usage within the fish's habitat area. The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority has performed a series of environmental impact reports that have determined heavy pumping from Roberts County won't drastically affect the region, but the Bureau of Reclamation hasn't approved the studies yet. For the authority to begin using the Roberts County water,
ObituariesApril 9, 1998Matthew GibsonMatthew Gibson, 24, died Friday, April 3, in Arlington Memorial Hospital, in Arlington. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 11, in Toyah Cemetery. Gibson was born in Austin. He had lived in San Antonio since 1988, was employed with County Line Restaurants and was a Catholic. Survivors include: his father, Randy Gibson, and his wife, Barbara Gibson; his mother, Beth Davis, and her husband, David Davis; two sisters, Monday Ledbetter of San Antonio and Erin Davis of Austin; several aunts, uncles and cousins. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Matt Gibson Scholarship Fund, Madison High School, 5005 Stal Road, San Antonio, Tx. 78247. Billy SeltzBilly Seltz, 66, died Saturday, April 4, at Reeves County Hospital. Services are scheduled for 1 p.m., Friday, April 10, at First Presbyterian Church in Barstow with Rev. Rod Peacock officiating. Burial will be in Barstow Cemetery. Seltz was born April 11, 1931, in Loraine, Tx. He was a retired truck driver and a lifelong Barstow resident. Survivors include: his wife, Elizabeth Seltz of Barstow; two sons, Kenneth Felts of Barstow and U.S. Air Force Col. Ernest Felts of India; five daughters, Ruth Lauderdale of Olney, Tx., Naomi Schulenberg of Andrews, Wanda Felther of Houston, Mary Lauderdale of Midland and Doylene Barrett of Irvin; one brother, Tommy Seltz of Monahans; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Barstow Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 307, Barstow, Tx., 79719. Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. WEATHERPECOS, April 9, 1998 - High Wednesday, 74, low this morning, 38. Skies were mostly clear today across Texas, although temperatures in the Panhandle were barely above freezing at daybreak. The National Weather Service said clear to partly cloudy skies are expected over Texas through Friday at least. Temperatures in West Texas at 5 a.m. ranged from 34 degrees at Dalhart, in the northwest corner of the Panhandle, to 47 degrees at Sanderson, 410 miles to the south. Winds were mostly west to northwest at 10 mph or less. Daytime highs through Friday should range from the middle 70s to the middle 90s.
Pecos Enterprise
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