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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Tuesday, June 9, 1998

Ward ready to push a Pecos of possibilities


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
Gari Ward's first impression of the possibilities Pecos
represented came while observing the continuous stretch of
traffic on Interstate 20. Truck traffic tucks its head and
barrels past with scarce a nod. Of the multitude of
18-wheelers transporting raw materials and finished product,
Ward said, "We need to figure a way to get these trucks off
the highway and into Pecos."
Ward, hired two weeks ago as economic development
coordinator for Reeves County, has moved into an office
space at Security State Bank and by his own admission is
already "moving 90 miles an hour" contacting associates
nationwide by phone and fax.
Though he is still new enough to the Trans-Pecos that he has
to read off his new zip code from an address book, marketing
is something he knows through and through.
Ward's experience with economic development is extensive.
From helping to open a 640 acre industrial park on the
Arkansas River in Muskogee, Okla., that gave birth to the
Port of Muskogee (now home to an annual Azalea Festival that
draws hundreds of thousands), to a six month stint in Sitka,
Alaska, where he worked with the largest economic
development company in the world, Lockwood Green, Ward has
traveled and taught communities to sell themselves to
corporate America.
After six months marketing the southeast region of Alaska to
stateside corporations, and a brief respite in Oklahoma
visiting his parents, Ward is ready to start pushing Pecos.
"Existing industry comes first," said Ward. "First we need
to identify the problems in existing industry."
The formula follows: take care of existent industry. Help
them expand their markets. Then begin targeting outside
industries to come set up shop in Reeves County. New
industry not only creates new jobs, said Ward, but it adds
to the county's tax base and brings disposable income that
helps mom and pop enterprises survive and thrive.
Identifying four to eight industrial classifications and
developing a marketing strategy is the next step to economic
development.
Ward said that Pecos was "potentially attractive" because of
its large labor force. Many areas of the country, he said,
did not have the labor necessary to bring in new industry.
The final, and supremely important, step is getting city
leaders into an industrial team training program. The
once-a-week class would city leaders how to sell their Pecos
to the world.
"I can market the community but I can't sell the community,"
said Ward. "Local leaders have to sell to corporate America.
We need to teach these people how to do it."
Economic Development, as Ward defined it, is a good
investment in the future of the community.
"I'm really excited about the people I'm working with. It's
going to be a fun project. The leadership here truly wants
to create results."
But, he cautioned, "It will be rewarding, but the rewards
won't come overnight."

Commissioners take reins of grant


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
Reeves County Commissioners took charge of local housing
projects provided by a grant through the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs yesterday and discovered that
many Pecos homeowners who have been expecting help through
the grant to restore debilitated properties will be left to
their own devices.
The former grant administrator, Mari Maldonado, resigned
before the project was completed and yesterday's action was
an attempt to recover control of the program.
Commissioners reviewed old records to find what money had
been spent and what was left to accomplish before the July
deadline.
County Judge Jimmy Galindo urged his fellow commissioners to
work through the figures with him as he paced before their
desks distributing photocopied sheets with multi-colored
highlight marks.
"We have got to act on this now because of the short time
frame," said Galindo. "Let's start with what we know and
work our way back."
What the commissioners agreed on after they examined the
history of the grant fund was a that many changes to
existent work orders had added $45,000 to the program's
total cost, that Final Touch Construction, the company
awarded several of the construction projects, was incapable
of performing its duties, and that Maldonado had made
promises to Pecos homeowners that no one could keep.
The commissioners first voted to rescind all agreements with
Final Touch and award two of the three contracts to the
second highest bidder - in this case Villareal Construction
in Fort Stockton. The third contract had a discrepancy in
its agreed price and commissioners voted to get another work
write-up and re-advertise for bid proposals.
Galindo informed commissioners that the Department of
Housing required 18 projects completed to match the county's
money. Galindo said he would contact officials in Austin to
see if they would make an exception because of the $45,000
in change orders approved by the housing department that had
severely handicapped the operations in Reeves. He blamed the
large change order amount on Maldonado and an oversight on
the part of housing officials in Austin.
Commissioner of Precinct 3, Herman Tarin, blasted Maldonado
for making promises of grant assistance to over 10 other
homeowners that will not be receiving help. "There is not a
problem telling someone, `Hey, there's no money,' but there
is a problem when they say, `They told us we were going to
get help.'"
Felipe Arredondo, commissioner of Precinct 1, questioned
whether Maldonado was on record as making such promises and
Tarin walked across with a list of names he had checked.
"These are not even being considered," Tarin told Arredondo.
"Someone needs to be a gentleman and write them a letter."
Both Tarin and Arredondo agreed to work to keep pressure on
the contractors to make sure that the work is finished by
the grant's extended deadline of July 30.
Galindo informed the commissioners that they must come up
with $52,000 of "in-kind" services ($10,000 in
administration and $42,000 in demolition service) to qualify
for the grant.
The $70,000 housing grant began on July 1, 1995, and was to
end on April 30, 1998. The county applied for and was
granted a three month extension. The new deadline is July
30, 1998.

Computer over-billing


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
It was with an over-billing matter that Reeves County
Commissioners opened their morning meeting yesterday. County
Auditor Lynn Owens brought it to the attention of the
commissioners that Valcom Computer Center was over-billing
the county by $1,000 for computer software and hardware
installed at Reeves County Detention Center.
Though the Midland company had been awarded the contract by
submitting a bid of $29,618, they submitted a bill to the
county of $30,719.
The difference occurred, Owens explained, when the company
was unable to purchase a preferred hardware component and
had to purchase a more expensive unit.
Owens recommended paying the original bid price of $29,618
and purchasing an UPS File Server, an item not included in
the bid but necessary to the system's operation, for an
additional $652.
The commissioners approved paying the company a total of
$30,270.
The day-room construction project at RCDC is nearing
completion and Warden Rudy Franco presented the
commissioners with a last-minute modification to the
additional beds. Each bunk will be fitted with a plastic
storage space to help keep personal effects off of floors
and, as Franco stressed, improve the sanitary conditions at
the center.
Texas Jail Centers will be inspecting the new facilities on
Thursday, June 18, to issue final approval.
"The quality of life for the inmates has been improved,"
said Franco, "It is an excellent construction."
Franco
furthur informed the commissioners that the inmate
population will be jumping from its current 760 to 900 by
July 1.
Problems at the Reeves County Sheriff's Office were brought
to the attention of the commissioners. According to Owen,
part-time wages for 1998 have been expended for the year and
the department is out of money for equipment and jail
supplies. "This is going to be a continual problem," said
Owen.
A series of personnel and salary changes were approved by
the commissioners.
One regular part-time employee at the District Clerk's
office, one promotion at the Sheriff's Office (countered by
one retirement), one full-time and one part-time employee at
the Juvenile Detention Center, two Maxey Park Swimming Pool
employees and several promotions and three full-time
employees were all approved by the commissioners.

Fierro sentenced to prison


BY PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson on Monday sentenced Juan
Fierro-Rodriguez to 46 months in prison for marijuana
possession with intent to distribute. His was the longest of
six sentences imposed.

Others sentenced for marijuana possession were Jose Efrain
Ceniceros, 37 months; Manuel Soto-Gardea, 18 months; Jose
Abelardo Dominguez, 27 months; and Irma Rodriguez-Heredia,
30 months.

Gustavo Loera Caldera was sentenced to 24 months in prison
for importing and possessing marijuana for distribution.

Judge Furgeson continued sentencing for Martin Todd Stone on
a conviction for importing and possessing marijuana. Some
confusion resulted from separate trials for Stone and his
co-defendant, and Judge Furgeson said he would wait until
the matter is cleared up.

Michael B. Seeley was found guilty of three counts related
to marijuana smuggling, following a bench trial.

Following a hearing on motion to suppress evidence against
Jose Pena-Dominguez, Judge Furgeson said he would rule at a
later date. He issued a warrant for Martin Torres-Sanchez,
who failed to appear for a hearing on his motion to suppress
evidence.

Magistrate Judge Stuart Platt accepted several guilty pleas,
which must be approved by Judge Furgeson before they become
final.

Board designates $50,000 to project


Members of the Red Bluff Water Power Control Board agreed to
designate $50,000 to a salt cedar eradication project at
their regular monthly meeting held Monday afternoon.

Board members voted to designate the funds towards the
project aimed at ridding the area of salt cedars. Salt
cedars along Red Bluff Lake and the Pecos River consume too
much of the water which would otherwise flow downstream
within the district.

The project would involve the use of arsenal herbicide to
rid the area of the water-hungry salt cedars.

"This arsenal will not hurt anything else, so there won't be
anybody to complain that it's hurting the environment or
anything," said Red Bluff General Manager Jim Ed Miller.

The funds would go towards the chemical and application only.

"They told us that they would get the permits for us and we
would just be in charge of sending those out," said Miller.

"I think its a good project and we should go for it," said
board member Richard Slack.

"The USGS wanted us to pay them for them to do the title
search," he told board members.

"I think we should just ignore those guys, send out the
notices and those landowners who want to participate can do
so and those that don't we'll just ignore," said board
member Lloyd Goodrich.

Goodrich also suggested talking to Tim Brown to help with
establishing the boundaries and find out how much of the
land is owned by the state and which part is by private
citizens.

The $50,000 allocated will take care of funding 30 miles of
river.

"It's not a bad chemical and the pupfish people can't
complain about it, the environmentalists can't complain
about it, so the first step will be to commit ourselves to
the $50,000 with the second step being the title searches,
sending out notices," said Miller.

Board members also approved accounts payable, May
disbursements and approved minutes from the previous meeting.

Drought proclamation issued for 207


By MICHAEL HOLMES
Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN (AP) -- An emergency proclamation was announced
Monday for 207 of the state's 254 counties due to an early
drought and extreme danger of wildfires.
Gov. George W. Bush asked President Clinton for federal help
to place fire-fighting equipment and personnel in advance in
areas with the greatest risk of fire.
Bush called on county officials to evaluate the need for
local outdoor burning bans, fireworks restrictions and water
conservation measures.
``Texas is already dry and we face a long, hot summer,''
Bush said. ``Already in early June we are seeing August-like
conditions with the bulk of the summer still ahead.''
``It is threatening crops and could pose major fire and
water problems unless we act now.''
State officials likened the situation to the 1993 and 1996
droughts. They said precautions need to be taken now to be
ready to fight fires and begin saving water.
``I hope this preventative action will help save lives and
property,'' Bush said. ``Of course, what I really hope is
that we don't have any fires.''
The 207 counties covered by Bush's proclamation include most
of the state. The Texas Forest Service listed the danger of
wildfires in those counties as ``extreme.''
Only those counties in the northeastern corner of the state
weren't covered, but the wildfire ranking for them still is
``high,'' according to the forest service.
``We are in drought conditions. We urge counties to step up
and assess their situations, assess whether or not they need
burning bans, assess whether or not they need to put
conservation measures in place,'' Bush said.
Asked whether he would recommend counties prohibit use of
fireworks as the July 4 holiday approaches, Bush said: ``My
advice would be to be cautious. I would urge county
commissioners to take extreme caution because we're dry and
the winds are high.''
According to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and
Texas Water Development Board, about 80 percent of the state
is in drought.
More than 50 counties have burning bans in place. Many
counties report rain shortfalls of 78 percent or more.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley received only 17 percent of
normal rainfall for the March-May period, and officials
estimated potential damage to cotton, corn and sorghum crops
at $97 million.

List of counties in drought proclamation
A list of Texas counties included in a drought proclamation
issued Monday by Gov. George W. Bush:
Anderson
Andrews
Angelina
Aransas
Armstrong
Atascosa
Austin
Bailey
Bandera
Bastrop
Bee
Bell
Bexar
Blanco
Borden
Bosque
Brazoria
Brazos
Bewster
Briscoe
Brooks
Brown
Burleson
Burner
Caldwell
Calhoun
Callahan
Cameron
Carson
Castro
Chambers
Cherokee
Childress
Cochran
Coke
Coleman
Collingsworth
Colorado
Comal
Comanche
Concho
Coryell
Cottle
Crane
Crockett
Crosby
Culberson
Dallam
Dawson
Deaf Smith
DeWitt
Dickens
Dimmit
Donley
Duval
Eastland
Ector
Edwards
El Paso
Erath
Falls
Fayette
Fisher
Floyd
Foard
Fort Bend
Freestone
Frio
Gaines
Galveston
Garza
Gillespie
Glasscock
Goliad
Gonzales
Gray
Grimes
Guadelupe
Hale
Hall
Hamilton
Hansford
Hardeman
Hardin
Harris
Hartley
Haskell
Hays
Hemphill
Hidalgo
Hockley
Houston
Howard
Hudspeth
Hutchinson
Irion
Jackson
Jasper
Jeff Davis
Jefferson
Jim Hogg
Jim Wells
Jones
Karnes
Kendall
Kenedy
Kent
Kerr
Kimble
King
Kinney
Kleberg
Knox
La Salle
Lamb
Lampasas
Lavaca
Lee
Leon
Liberty
Limestone
Lipscomb
Live Oak
Llano
Loving
Lubbock
Lynn
Madison
Martin
Mason
Matagorda
Maverick
McCullough
McLennan
McMullen
Medina
Menard
Midland
Milam
Mills
Mitchell
Montgomery
Moore
Motley
Nacogdoches
Newton
Nolan
Nucces
Ochiltree
Oldham
Orange
Panola
Parmer
Pecos
Polk
Potter
Presidio
Randall
Reagan
Real
Reeves
Refugio
Roberts
Robertson
Runnels
Rusk
Sabine
San Augustine
San Jacinto
San Patricio
San Saba
Schleicher
Scurry
Shackelford
Shelby
Sherman
Somervell
Starr
Sterling
Stonewall
Sutton
Swisher
Taylor
Terrell
Terry
Tom Green
Travis
Trinity
Tyler
Upton
Uvalde
Val Verde
Victoria
Walker
Waller
Ward
Washington
Webb
Wharton
Wheeler
Willacy
Williamson
Wilson
Winkler
Yoakum
Zapata
Zavala

Crash kills family of six


By ANN GIBSON
Associated Press Writer
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - A piece of metal lying on an
interstate highway set off a chain-reaction crash that
killed a family of six and another woman.

One southbound car had already hit the pole-like piece of
metal and pulled over with a flat tire Monday when a
tractor-trailer also ran into the object. Its driver lost
control and the truck veered across the median into the
northbound lanes, where it struck a sport-utility vehicle
and minivan.

A family of six from Madison, Ind., died in the collision in
northern Warren County, about 100 miles south of Louisville.
All were ejected from the sport-utility vehicle.

The family was returning to Indiana after visiting friends
in Alabama. Killed were Ralph Jones, 29; his wife, Robyn
Jones, 29; their 6-year-old son, Dylan Jones; and Ms. Jones'
children, 11-year-old Suzette Garcia, and Ernie Garcia and
Zachary Garcia, who were both 10 but were not twins.

The driver of the van, Roxanna Jakob, 59, of Chattanooga,
Tenn., also died, Deputy Coroner Dwayne Lawrence said. Her
husband, Herb Jakob, 61, was in stable condition at The
Medical Center in Bowling Green.

The truck driver, Arnando Tizon, 41, of Toronto, Ontario,
was treated at the hospital and released. Police said they
did not expect to file any charges against Tizon.

``Our prayers are with him, too,'' said Ralph Jones' mother,
Janet Hill. ``We know it was an accident. I hope he knows we
don't blame anyone.''

Of the children, she said: ``Ernie was a worker - he was
always trying to help. Zachary was a joker - he was always
cutting up. Dylan was the lover - he was always the one with
a hug. Suzette was the little lady. Even with three
brothers, she was very much a girl. She wasn't a tomboy.''

Kidneys removed from man in Kevorkian's presence go unused


By RANDI GOLDBERG
Associated Press Writer
DETROIT (AP) - No doctors wanted to use the kidneys removed
from the body of a quadriplegic who killed himself with the
help of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. And a coroner said whoever took
the organs mutilated the body.

Dr. Michael P. Kaplan, a transplant specialist with Wayne
State University and Harper Hospital, said it would be
impossible to guarantee the organs were removed under proper
conditions. He said his secretary discouraged two patients
who called Monday interested in receiving the kidneys.

``Let's assume I put one of those kidneys into one of my
patients and it doesn't work. What's Jack Kevorkian going to
do about it?'' Kaplan asked.

Kevorkian's attorney Michael Schwartz estimated his office
had received about 100 telephone calls Sunday and Monday
from people inquiring about the kidneys, but as of 11 p.m.
Monday, the deadline Kevorkian had set for using the
kidneys, the organs had gone unclaimed.

The agency that coordinates organ donations in Michigan said
it would have nothing to do with the kidneys harvested from
Kevorkian patient Joseph Tushkowski because it did not know
whether proper standards were followed.

Earlier Monday, county medical examiner L.J. Dragovic said
Tushkowski's body was mutilated by whoever removed his
kidneys for transplantation.

``They didn't remove his sweater. They just pulled it up,
then cut the belly,'' Dragovic said. ``This is not a
situation to be compared with the highly skilled act of
organ procurement surgery ... we're talking about a
chopped-up body.''

POLICE REPORT


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 undicated that the fines were paid. In such
instances we will indicate payment and release.

***
Criselda Reyes, 22, was arrested at 1:18 p.m., on June 5, on
a warrant issued for criminal mischief.

***
Angel Ramirez, 20, was arrested at 5:47 p.m., on June 5, on
a warrant for burglary of a motor vehicle.

***
Sergio Saenz, 21, was arrested at 1:57 p.m., on June 6, at
Tenth and Cedar streets with a Capias Pro Fine warrant. He
was transported to Reeves County Jail.

***
Yolanda Rodriguez, 28, was arrested at 11:40 a.m., on June
8, at the Reeves County Municipal Court on a Capias Pro Fine
warrant.

OBITUARIES

Simon Patino


Simon Patino, 58, died Saturday, June 6, 1998 at Midland
Memorial Hospital.

A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 9 at 1123
Veterans.

Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 10, at St.
Catherine's Catholic Church with burial in Toyah Cemetery.

He was born Feb. 28, 1939, in Pecos, was a lifetime Pecos
resident, worked for the Town of Pecos City Health and
Sanitation Department and was a Catholic.

He was preceded in death by his mother Lucia Villa.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Patino of Pecos; his
father, Lucio Patino, Sr. of Pecos; three sons, Simon, Jr.,
Ray and Eddie Patino of Pecos; four brothers, Manuel Patino
of California, Pablo Patino of Odessa, Lucio Patino, Jr. of
Phoenix, Ariz., Inez Patino of Odessa; five sisters,
Jesusita Brito of Phoenix, Ariz., Isabel Patino and Vickie
Mendoza of Odessa, Elva Saucedo of Phoenix, Ariz., Modesta
Patino of Phoenix, Ariz.; four grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Gene Owens


Gene Owens, 69, died Sunday, June 7, 1998 at his residence.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, at
First Baptist Church with Rev. Greer Willis officiating.
Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

He was born Sept. 24, 1928, in Durant, Okla., was a lifelong
Pecos resident and a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, Beatrice Owens of Pecos; two
sons, Darren Owens of College Station, Tx., Tim Owens of
Midland; two daughters, Holly Barrett of Austin, Linda
Meadows of Grapevine; three brothers, Bruce Owens of
Nedville, Tx., Marcos Owens of Silver City, N.M., Charles
Owens of Silver City, N.M.; three sisters, Susie Wicker of
Oklahoma City, Okla., Jessie Moore of Durango, Colo., Mary
Jo Hooker of Albuquerque, N.M.; eight grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER


Showers and thunderstorms will continue across much of
the northern half of the state tonight and Wednesday, but
most of parched South Texas will remain dry. West Texas will
have partly to mostly cloudy skies with a chance of
thunderstorms over most of the area. On Wednesday there is a
chance of thunderstorms in western and north central areas
and a slight chance elsewhere. Lows tonight will be in the
60s and 70s in West Texas, the 70s in North Texas and in the
70s and 80s in South Texas. Highs Wednesday will be in the
80s and 90s over most of the state.



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