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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
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Tuesday, August 18, 1998

Reaction divided on Clinton's confession


By PETE YOST
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON -- President Clinton and his family prepared for
vacation today as the nation weighed his suspenseful
testimony in the Monica Lewinsky case and his prime-time
declaration that he had ``misled people, including even my
wife.''

Friends and advisers rallied around the president in morning
TV appearances, amplifying his plea for an end to the
lengthy investigation by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr
that turned from Clinton's financial affairs to his private
life.

Saying ``all of this is part of a much bigger story,'' House
Speaker Newt Gingrich reserved judgment and signaled that
other Republicans should do the same for now.

``I think that everyone would be best served if they waited
for Judge Starr's report and found out what all the facts
were,'' Gingrich, R-Ga., told reporters in Alpharetta, Ga.
``We'd all like to get that done as quickly as possible.''

The Democratic leaders of Congress, Sen. Tom Daschle of
South Dakota and Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, expressed
disappointment in Clinton's personal conduct and said it is
time to end the investigation. ``There is a country to
run,'' Daschle said.

A Democrat in his third term, Rep. Paul McHale of
Pennsylvania, called for Clinton to ``resign or face
impeachment.'' He said the evidence shows Clinton engaged in
``a morally repugnant relationship,'' lied under oath, and
probably used government resources to encourage Ms.
Lewinsky's silence.

One of Clinton's harshest critics, Sen. John Ashcroft,
R-Mo., said he thinks the president ``lost his moral
authority to act'' when he admitted to an inappropriate
relationship with Ms. Lewinsky, then a White House intern.

``He has basically said that he has lied to the American
people, he's lied to his daughter, lied to his wife, lied to
his staff, lied to the legal community,'' Ashcroft said on
ABC's ``Good Morning America.''

In a dramatic day of testimony capped by a brief television
address to the nation Monday night, Clinton acknowledged for
the first time that he had an improper relationship with Ms.
Lewinsky, but denied that he committed perjury or asked
anyone to lie.

He also told the nation that Starr's investigation had
``gone on too long, cost too much and hurt too many innocent
people.''

``I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret
that,'' Clinton said.

``Now this matter is between me, the two people I love most
-- my wife and our daughter -- and our God,'' he added.

But some congressional critics weren't satisfied and bridled
at Clinton's attack on Starr. Sources said Starr may try to
force the president to give fuller answers in a second grand
jury appearance.

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Sen. Orrin Hatch,
R-Utah, expressed anger at the president's attacks on Starr.
``Wasn't that pathetic? I tell you, what a jerk,'' Hatch was
overheard saying Monday night to his entourage as he left a
television studio in Utah where he had given a number of
interviews.

Still, Hatch said the president's expression of regret may
be enough to persuade lawmakers to stop any possible
impeachment inquiry unless prosecutors find evidence of
obstruction of justice.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., a member of the House Judiciary
Committee, said Clinton may have done enough to stave off
impeachment. ``No matter what he said before, I cannot
believe that would rise under any definition to perjury or
impeachment,'' he said.

White House communications director Ann Lewis, appearing on
ABC's ``Good Morning America'', would not say whether
Clinton had apologized to her, saying such discussions were
private.

But on NBC's ``Today,'' Clinton adviser James Carville said
the president did not have to apologize to him.

``The president knows that I love him. ... When a guy is
down you lend a hand and try to pick him up,'' Carville
said.

Early polls were in Clinton's favor, with around 60 percent
of people in a CBS/New York Times survey taken just after
the speech saying they were satisfied with the president's
statement and 40 percent not satisfied. About 60 percent
said the matter should now be dropped. Sixty-nine percent of
those in an ABC News poll said the investigation should end.

A USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll found Clinton's favorable rating
plunged from 60 percent to 40 percent and a 46 plurality
said they did not believe Clinton had told the whole truth
in testifying. But 72 percent said the country would be
better off if he stays in office.

Both sides will watch broader polls that come out later in
the week for signs of stability or erosion in the
president's public support.

Although Starr is in the final stages of his investigation
of an alleged presidential affair and cover-up, his grand
jury is still at work and was to hear testimony today from
former Clinton political adviser Dick Morris.

The president and his family, meanwhile, were due to leave
this afternoon for a vacation at Martha's Vineyard in
Massachusetts.

Wearing a dark business suit and sitting in the same Map
Room where he had testified via video camera hours earlier,
Clinton said in his TV address that he disputed the most
serious charges against him.

``I told the grand jury today and I say to you now that at
no time did I ask anyone to lie, to hide or destroy evidence
or to take any other unlawful action,'' the president said.

Seven months ago, in the Paula Jones lawsuit, Clinton denied
having sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky. ``My answers were
legally accurate,'' Clinton said in Monday's TV address.

But now he says he ``did have a relationship with Ms.
Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It
constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal
failure on my part for which I am solely and completely
responsible.''

One source familiar with White House thinking, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said lawyers both inside and outside
the White House advising Clinton worried that Clinton's
insistence his earlier testimony was ``legally accurate''
might become ``an invitation to Starr and Republicans to
hammer away at every word at the deposition to disprove''
it.

Ms. Lewinsky has detailed an alleged sexual relationship
with the president in her own grand jury testimony, and she
has turned over a dress she told prosecutors may have been
stained from sex with Clinton.

Weighing task force cost


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
Since Ector County Commissioners voted not to host the
revamped Permian Basin Drug Task Force earlier this month,
the multi-county agency has continued adrift with only the
curious nibbles of interested parties.

Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez is one such party.

Having received an application and information about hosting
the force, Gomez said this morning that while he had his
doubts that the county would be able to afford hosting the
force, he did plan on discussing the matter with 143rd
District Attorney Randy Reynolds and Reeves County
Commissioners.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush's office has offered to pay any
potential host agency for the first nine months of
operations, but Gomez still sees only the possibility of
hosting the force for one complete year.

Ector commissioners voted 3-2 against hosting the task
force, after Bush's office said the Ector County's Sheriff
Reggie Yearwood, and not the commissioners, would have
control over the task force's financial operations. Ector
County hosted the old Permian Basin Drug Task Force, with
Tom Finley as commander, until it was de-funded by Bush's
office in May of this year.

While over 30 West Texas agencies in the 15 counties
formerly served by the force have expressed interest in
being a part of the task force, no county has stepped
forward to host it.

Should the force remain in limbo, the governor's office said
it will turn it over to the direction of the Texas
Department of Public Safety to be commanded by 22-year
veteran of DPS David Bradshaw.

Sales tax rebate checks show rise


From Staff and Wire Reports
August's sales tax rebate checks for most area towns showed
double digit increases from a year ago, according to figures
released this week by Texas Comptroller John Sharp's office.

Pecos, Balmorhea and Toyah all followed the trend, with
rebate checks up both from last year and from the July tax
rebate figures.

Pecos' check, from its 1.5 cent city sales tax, totalled
$79,574, up 15.1 percent from the $69,126 the city got back
a year ago. For the first eight months of 1998, the city has
gotten $523,530 back from Austin a 7.93 percent rise from
the $485,028 total from January to August of 1997.

Balmorhea's check on its one-cent sales tax was $1,304, a
25.9 percent rise from the $1,036 of a year ago. Overall,
the city has gotten back $6,270 this year, up 38.93 percent
from 1997.

Toyah's August check of $512 was an 18.7 percent rise over
last year, and its eight month total of $3,331 is up 13.27
percent over the previous year.

Reeves County Hospital District had the biggest jump in
Reeves County. It's August check of $39,911 was 51.3 percent
above last year, and its year-to-date total of $217,877 was
up 15.68 percent from last year.

Statewide, $255.8 million in monthly sales tax collections
were returned to Texas cities and counties in August, and
were based on June sales tax collections. The total was 12.7
percent more than the payments for August 1997. For the
year, those payments are up 11.5 percent over 1997.

``The Texas job market and new businesses are still growing
steadily and retail sales continue to soar, as consumers
show confidence in a rosy outlook for the Texas economy,''
Sharp said.

Among area cities, only Andrews reported a decline from a
year ago, falling 2.2 percent, but still collecting $79,268
on its one-cent sales tax. Fort Stockton had the sharpest
rise, with a $111,814 check representing a 32.9 percent
increase. Monahans' August check of $100,418 was up 58.46
percent, but part of that was due to a increase in its sales
tax from 1.5 to two cents during the past year.

Odessa also increased its sales tax from a year ago, from
1.0 to 1.25 cents, and its overall $1,237,408 check was up
16.09 percent. Midland, with a one cents sales tax, received
a $1,364,189 check back from Sharp's office, up 7.8 percent
from 1997's total.

RCH holds budget hearing tonight


Reeves County Hospital District board members will consider
the fiscal 1999 operating and capital budgets this evening,
and plan to set the tax rate for the upcoming year, during
their regular monthly meeting at the RCH classroom.

Board members will hold a budget hearing during the 6:30
p.m. meeting, after discussing and considering both the
anticipated collection rate and the calculation of the
effective and rollback tax rates.

Other items on the agenda include:

-- Discuss and consider hospital district exemptions;

-- Discuss and consider tax collection report:

-- Discuss and consider revised QA/QI risk management plan;

-- Discuss and consider purchasing a sterilizer for surgery,
and;

-- Discuss and consider reappointment to courtesy staff and
clinic privileges for Dr. Richard Duke in the field of
orthopedics.

Financial statements, budget amendments and payment of bills
are the other items on this evening's agenda.

Commissioners approve agreement


By MAC McKINNON
Enterprise Editor
Reeves County Commissioners, meeting in a special emergency
session this morning, approved an interlocal agreement with
Reeves County Water Improvement District #1 to build three
islands in Lake Balmorhea for animal habitats.

The action was necessary since work on the islands is
expected to take place this weekend while the lake is down.
It has been drained to a large extent to make needed repairs
and in preparation for a fish kill scheduled for next
Monday.

Silt in the bed of the lake will be pushed up to build the
9-foot high islands. The exact size of the three islands at
the northeast end of the lake is not known, and will depend
on the amount of silt that is available.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Herman Tarin brought the matter
before the commissioners court so that the county could use
two front end loaders on the project. The Water District
will pay for operators for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, Brady Construction of Odessa and Roy Lindsey
Construction of Pecos have donated use of bulldozers while
Ellen Weinacht will pay for fuel for the machinery. The
state will pay for some of the machine operators.

It is hoped that a grant will be available next year to make
other improvements at the lake, Tarin said.

Some of those hoped for improvements include an observation
tower and fishing-observation tee piers.

Removing the silt will increase the lakes capacity, even
though the islands are being constructed, Tarin noted. Other
work going on now will be to raise the road level and add
parking.

Present for the meeting were Tarin, County Judge Jimmy
Galindo and Commissioner Felipe Arredondo. Absent were Dr.
W. J. Bang and Bernardo Martinez.

Santa Rosa's novena to begin Thursday


A "novena" will kick off events for the Fiesta de Santa Rosa
in honor of the patron saint of a local church.

The novena, a devotion which prayers for the same intention
are said on nine consecutive days, will begin on Thursday
and a daily mass will be held from then until Aug. 28 at
Santa Rosa Catholic Church, 620 E. Fourth St.

Santa Rosa De Lima, the church's patron saint image will be
moved to the front of the church on Aug. 28, after the daily
mass.

A reception is scheduled following the mass will be held
featuring a covered dish supper and special entertainment.

Candidates for 16th of September Queen will be introduced at
this time along with the Reinita Guadalupana.

Guadalupana's, the women's church organizations, is
currently looking for old pictures of the church to be
displayed during the fiesta. If anybody has any photos or
would like more information call 445-6133.

The special fiesta will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, with
festivities that day beginning at 7 p.m., at the Santa Rosa
Hall, located across the street from the church.

Trio receive 63 months on pot case


BY PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Three defendants who had been convicted of importing and
possessing marijuana for distribution were sentenced Monday
to 63 months in prison.

U.S. District Judge Emilio Garza of San Antonio presided for
the trials and returned Monday for sentencing.

He handed down two concurrent 63-month sentences to Efrain
Soto-Palomar, 21, of Ojinaga, Mex., Omar Prieto-Trevizo, 33,
of Pingree, Idaho, and Carlos Sanchez-Dominguez, 25, of
Chihuahua, Mex.

Blasa Gonzalez, who was convicted only of possession of
marijuana for distribution, was sentenced to 27 months in
prison.

Each will serve a term of probation after being released
from prison.

AREA NEWS ROUNDUP

The Big Bend Sentinel


MARFA, Aug. 13, 1998 -- A Presidio County grand jury on
Tuesday declined to indict the U.S. Marine who shot and
killed a young Redford man last year. It was the third grand
jury to look into the May 1997 shooting death of 18-year-old
Esquiel Hernandez Jr. by U.S. Marine Cpl. Clemente Banuelos.
Neither the first grand jury nor the second panel issued any
indictments in the case as well. Hernandez was herding his
family's goats by his home near the border with Mexico, and
Banuelos and three other Marines were on a drug interdiction
mission for the Marfa Border Patrol Sector when the fatal
accident occurred.

The International


PRESIDIO, Tx. Aug. 13, 1998 -- A total of 1,193 students
enrolled in Presidio schools Monday, the first day of
classes in the 1998-99 school year. Presidio Elementary had
562 students and Franco Middle School, 250 students and
Presidio High School had enrolled 381 students. The U.S.
government has agreed to pay $1.9 million to the family of a
Redford teenager killed by a Marine along the Texas-Mexico
border in Presidio County last year.

The McCamey News


McCAMEY, Aug. 13, 1998 -- Meisha Gomez, a senior this fall
at McCamey High School recently returned from New York where
she attended school for six weeks. The college-credited
course was the School for Film and Television at the Three
of Us Studio located in Manhattan. In the past year, she has
appeared in area television commercials for Midland Angels
baseball and The Kettle Restaurant and is currently signed
with the Michael Thomas Agency in Dallas.

Sanderson Times


SANDERSON, Aug. 13, 1998 -- At a public meeting attended
by less than 30 people, three visitors gave a lengthy and
full explanation of the process, the effects, costs, and
benefits of that process of weather modification. George
Bowmar, Austin, a meteorologist with the Texas Natural
Resources Conservation Commission, used a slide presentation
to explain in detail the science and methods of cloud
seeding -- the when and how process and effects of the
various processes. Bowmar was just one of the guest speakers
on hand.

Monahans News


MONAHANS, Aug. 13, 1998 -- Christopher Paul Molina, 27, the
amateur heavyweight boxing champion of West Texas, is guilty
of two charges filed against him after an eruption of
assault and violence at the Monahans home of his then
mother-in-law Thursday, Jan. 22. Judge Bob Parks of the
143rd District Court began to read the jury's verdict at
1:34 p.m., Wednesday, July 12, at the Ward County Courthouse.

WEATHER


High Monday in Pecos 94 degrees. The low this morning was
71. Forecast for tonight: Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of
thunderstorms. Low around 70. Wednesday, mostly cloudy with
a 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. High in the
upper 80s. Southeast wind 5-15 mph.



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

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Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise