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Top StoriesApril 23, 1998Gang, drug-related problems increasingBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, April 23, 1998 - Gang and drug-related problems continue to plague local teens, Chief Juvenile Officer Alberto Alvarez told the Pecos City Council this morning. The number of delinquent referrals have increased tremendously, he said, especially among young women. "What we are seeing in common is that these young people are getting little to no supervision in the home," said Alvarez. One major problem was "ranking," he said. "Ranking" is a process where prospective gang members choose to undergo severe beatings by several gang members to be initiated as a member. Alvarez cited two recent instances where the prospective member had to be treated by a doctor after the initiation. To gain permission to leave the gang the member must endure an even more severe "ranking" by fellow members. Alvarez said he knew of teens who wanted out of their gangs but were afraid to go through this final "ranking" procedure. Of the youth being sent to the detention facility, about 98 percent are testing positive for drug use -cocaine and marijuana being the most prevalent -with users recently being found among fifth and six graders, said Alvarez. Council member Danny Rodriguez offered that the city had $10,000 set aside for a juvenile enforcement officer and that maybe the county or sheriff's department would match the sum to bring in an officer to focus on these problems. Alvarez said that County Court-at-law Judge Lee Green and himself have long maintained that a juvenile law enforcement officer is critical for Pecos, especially when the Pecos Police Department in getting "bogged down" with juvenile cases. Clay McKinney, Pecos Chief of Police, citing a recent meeting concerning delinquent youth that was attended by Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo, Pecos High School Principal Danny Rodriguez, Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez, Alvarez and himself, said he felt that hiring a juvenile officer was a great idea. Gangs, he said, are a sign of the times. "It's not just here but everywhere." Councilman Randy Graham said that the issue should be put on the agenda quickly. Alvarez said there is plenty of grant money available in the state for gang suppression initiatives and that, as far as he knew, Pecos had never applied for any of them. "We've had to focus on these water improvements," said Mayor Dot Stafford. Rodriguez recommended bringing El Paso Court-at-law Judge Saldivar, recognized nationally for work he has done in gang suppression, to Pecos for a day-long workshop to be open to the public. The council voted to put the issue on its next agenda to consider the matter at the March 14 meeting There are currently about 30 juveniles under supervision in Pecos, said Alvarez, with 13 cases pending. The council had planned to discuss with members of Duncan Disposal the additional fees being charged by the company for the disposal of animal carcasses at the landfill. However, no representative was present at the meeting. "They are using some of our facilities without compensation," said Health Department Director Armando Gil, "Maybe we can work out a deal." No action was taken on this item. The council approved a lease agreement with Nelson Aero, a kit airplane producer that may employ upwards of 10 people. City Manager Kenneth Neal pointed out that the company's owner, Bud Nelson, was serious about the proposal and had already bought a house in Pecos. According to the lease the city agrees to fix up the office and hanger, located at Pecos Municipal Airport, to the tenant's satisfaction. Neal estimated it would take about $1,700 to make the neccessary repairs. Before going into airplane kit production, Nelson had been a chief engineer at Boeing in Seattle, Wash., said Neal. The council accepted an agreement with Raba-Kistner Consultants Inc., for the closure of city landfill Trench One, Area B, for a proposed total fee of $39,765. The city will continue to send out informative notices on municipal activities with Pecos residents' water bills, but also approved this morning posting the city information and events on cable television channel six. Neal was put in charge of the channel news. As one council member said, "He's the guy who runs the city." The council approved the monthly municipal court report, which showed the total court fees and fines collected listed at $11,970.50. Tax collections for the city was approved with March collections listed at $32,474.90 and outstanding balance of $963,965.72. The city's accounts payable was also approved at $192,275.66. In closed session, the council approved Raymond Ortiz Jr. as a Police Reserve Officer, a voluntary position that receives no salary. Also, both Gil and Water Superintendent Octavio Garcia received a 1.5 percent raise. According to City Secretary Geneva Martinez, municipal employees will now be evaluated every six months instead of every year. Therapeutic riding center plannedBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer PECOS, April 23, 1998 - A resident of southern Reeves County was in Pecos Wednesday morning volunteering to cook lunch for children at the Pecos Learning Center while she is on a break from her studies at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she is working on a masters degree in education. Kate Vigneron was born in Louisiana and spent 29 years living in and around Paris, France with her husband, Jean-Maurice. She also operated the Greasewood Cafe in Balmorhea and still owns the building, she said, although it is now leased to another couple. Vigneron also owns the 4,000 acre Madera Hills Ranch near Toyahvale. She is currently completing a M.Ed degree and plans to graduate in December. She then plans to become a certified therapeutic riding instructor and open a therapeutic riding center on her ranch, where people with various handicaps will be able to come for horse-riding therapy. Vigneron plans to receive her therapeutic riding instructor certification from the North American Handicapped Riding Association (NAHRA). While beginning the riding center, she also plans to work under a supervisor to obtain her license as a mental health counselor. To acquire the counselor license will take a minimum of two years and 3,000 hours of on-hand counseling under her supervisor's watchful eye, she said. The therapeutic riding center will be non-profit, Vigneron said, so she will be looking for volunteers when the time comes to open it. Her goal is to help physically and mentally challenged children and adults. Vigneron plans to create a comprehensive presentation that she will take to schools and hospitals to explain her therapeutic riding program, she said. The center will offer day programs so the participants will not have to stay at the ranch for an extended period of time. "Since it is a non-profit organization, I plan to have cookouts and trail rides to raise funds. The money will go into a kitty to keep the program going," Vigneron said. Vigneron said she began this path in her life when her own health was poor in 1985. From her own search for wellness came her education and interest in this field, and a desire "to give it all back." Country club to repair poolPECOS, April 23, 1998 - A number of improvements are underway at the Pecos Valley Country Club, mostly in the swimming pool area, stockholders were told at their annual meeting Tuesday night. There was a large crowd on hand for the meeting. Bill Oglesby was elected president, succeeding Ken Winkles Jr., who had served for two years in that office. Other officers elected were Starkey Warren, vice president, and Marina Weinacht, secretary. New board members are Terry Burkholder, Mike Murphy and Louise Cassell. Outgoing board members are Winkles, Ray Owen and Leslie McNeil. Holdover directors are Cindy Duke, Becky Spencer and Ronnie Daniel. The board has voted to assess members $150 to be paid at once or over a three month period to do $10,000 work on the pool, pay $11,000 to retire debt and have $3,000 to $4,000 for cash flow. Changes in the pool area included reworking plumbing for the pool and changing the set-up for the snack bar area. A number of other changes are also being made. A number of maintenance problems at the pool are also being dealt with. New members for the club are also being sought. Marybell Estrello took over as manager of the club Jan. 1. POLICE REPORTPECOS, April 23, 1998 - EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County Sheriff's Office, or other officers of those agencies. The serving of warrants by an officer for outstanding fines of either traffic citations, animal control violations or other court costs are considered arrests and will be printed as such unless indicated that the fines were paid. In such instances we will indicate payment and release. If police are unable to fully identify a person who is arrested, the incomplete information will not be published. *** Sammy Valeriano, 26, 2401 Cactus, was arrested at 7:30 p.m. April 8 for assault under the family violence act. *** Javier Castillo Navarette, 18, 115 W. 10th, was arrested at 8:20 a.m. April 14 on a grand jury indictment. *** On April 18, all four tires on a vehicle belonging to a Balmorhea man were punctured. Damage was estimated at $232. *** Between 10 p.m. April 14 and 11 a.m. April 15, a Motorola cellular phone was stolen from inside a 1998 Dodge vehicle. *** At around 4:30 a.m. April 19, the rear window of a 1983 Chevrolet was broken with an unknown object. *** On April 16, $40.31 worth of gas was stolen by the driver of a Ryder truck in a drive-off from the I-10 Fina station in Balmorhea. *** Gloria Menchaca, 20, 901 Locust, was arrested April 20 on an outstanding warrant for assault. *** Criminal damage was done to a car in Balmorhea between 3 and 8 a.m. April 19. The hood, driver's side door and back panel had been spray painted. *** Richard Haggard, 33, CO, was arrested at 1:42 p.m. April 20 for assault causing bodily injury. *** Diesel fuel worth $339 was stolen from Cravey Brothers Inc. at a job site about five miles north of Orla sometime prior to April 21. *** Steven Pineda, 31, Tra Park #53, was arrested April 21 on a warrant for assault. *** A Murray 10-speed bicycle was stolen from a residence in the 1100 block of S. Pecan between midnight and 12:25 p.m. April 18. *** Maria Guadalupe Valenzuela, 33, Ft. Stockton, was arrested at 11:15 a.m. April 18 at Gibson's for theft over $50 and on a warrant for forgery. *** The rear window of a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am was broken with a beer bottle between 3 and 4 a.m. April 19 at a residence in the 2000 block of S. Park St. *** Jose Gomez, 1027 Martinez St., was arrested at 5:40 p.m. April 15 at Wal-Mart for criminal trespass. *** Ariel Lopez Guerrero, 1002 S. Elm St., was arrested at 10:51 p.m. April 16 at 4th and Cedar for driving under the influence of alcohol. *** Benjamin V. Valeriano, Jr., 2327 Cactus St., was arrested at 10:51 p.m. April 16 at 4th and Cedar for minor in possession of alcohol. *** Juan Reynaldo Parada, 1401 W. 5th St., was arrested at 10:51 p.m. April 16 at 4th and Cedar for minor in possession of alcohol. *** Victor Samuel Romo, Jr., 2327 Cactus St., was arrested at 10:51 p.m. April 16 for minor in possession of alcohol. *** Ismael Menchaca, 1110 S. Orange St., was arrested at 10:26 p.m. April on a warrant for harassment. *** Sonia Sanchez Olivas, 1110 S. Orange St., was arrested at 10:16 p.m. April 16 on warrant service. *** David M. Florez, Odessa, was arrested April 18 on a warrant service. *** Jose Luis Rodriguez, 112 N. Pecan St., was arrested at 11:58 p.m. in the 100 block of N. Walnut for public intoxication. CRIME OF THE WEEKPECOS, April 23, 1998 - Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and Grand Jury indictment of person(s) responsible for the incident described below. Anyone having any information on this crime or any other crime including narcotics can call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain anonymous. On March 31, 1997, a Wal-Mart official advised local law enforcement authorities that during the Easter holiday, while the store was closed, a person or persons had taken several trees and a bail of peat moss from the garden area in front of the store. It was reported that an orange pickup was seen in the area loading items up. ObituaryApril 23, 1998Frederick StewartFrederick C. Stewart, 81, of Roswell, N.M., died Monday, April 20, 1998, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, April 24, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church with Father Bob Williams officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m., in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruidoso N.M. with Father John Penn officiating. Stewart was born Dec. 8, 1916, in Canyon, Tx. He lived in various West Texas towns, graduated as valedictorian from Vernon High School in Vernon and graduated from Southwestern University in 1960, where he was salutatorian of his college class. He attended the University of Texas Law School and went into the U.S. Army where he served in World War II as a Captain in the Headquarters Speical Troops of the 3rd and 4th Infantry. Later, he served as Major and aide to the Commanding General. After the war, Stewart worked in Pecos, as Supervisor of the West Texas Region of Sweetwater Cotton Oil Company. He ws president of the Pecos Valley Country Club, the Pecos Rotary Club and a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Pecos. Survivors include his wife, Betsy Stewart of Ruidoso, N.M.; one son, George Sessions Morrison, Jr. of Alamogordo, N.M.; one daughter, Carol Weicker of San Rafael, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. WEATHERPECOS, April 23, 1998 - High Wednesday, 83, low this morning, 45. More sunshine and warm temperatures are in store for Texas today. West Texans enjoyed a clear morning, thanks to a continuing high pressure system. Temperatures at 5 a.m. were in the 40s and 50s. Winds ranged from 5 to 15 mph. This afternoon should be sunny and hot, with high temperatures ranging from the 70s to the 90s. Lows should dip into the 40s tonight.
Pecos Enterprise
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