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| Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Pecos Country of West Texas Top Stories Tuesday, September 8, 1998 Man critical after tank explosion BY PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer Sparks from a nearby water heater or from pickup may have set a fire Monday that destroyed a pickup and badly burned its owner. Abraham Lujan, 32, who was filling the pickup with propane from the main tank at 2510 Yeso Rd., was flown to University Medical Center in Lubbock, said Jack Brookshire, fire marshal. His condition this morning was listed as critical, with second and third-degree burns over 58 percent of his body, said a hospital spokesman. Brookshire said that Lujan had a hose running from the house's propane tank to the pickup's fuel tank in the bed of the pickup. "I don't know if there was a leak, or if he was venting it (to empty the hose) 25 feet from a gas water heater," Brookshire said. "There is a good chance the water heater could have started it, or something from the pickup may have started it." The pickup was "totally involved in fire" when firemen arrived, so it was impossible to tell whether its engine had been running, he said. Firemen were unable to shut off the propane flow, because the hookup did not have a valve at the main tank, as required, Brookshire said. "There was a valve on the end, but it was on fire between the valve and the propane tank. All we could do was let the propane run out and burn out," he said. The main propane tank did not explode, and little damage was done to the house, Brookshire said. Smoke from the fire was visible from Pecos following the explosion, which occurred about 4:15 p.m. Because Lujan was severely injured and immediately taken by ambulance to Reeves County Hospital, Brookshire said he did not interview him to learn specifics of the accident. Dems' chair, Jones work Pecos on holiday By JON FULBRIGHT Staff Writer Labor Day was a working holiday for Molly Beth Malcom, the new chair of the Texas Democratic Party, and for Charlie Urbana Jones, the Democrats' candidate for the 23rd Congressional District. Both Malcom and Jones were in Pecos Monday for the opening of the Democrats' new campaign headquarters, at Fourth and Oak streets. And both expressed optimism about their party's chances in this November's election, despite polls showing some key races going in the Republican's favor. "I don't particularly like polls," said Malcom, a former East Texas Republican who was selected as the party's new leader earlier this year. "The only poll that matters is the one on election day." The latest polling by the Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle shows Texas Gov. George W. Bush holding a 70-21 lead over state land commissioner Garry Mauro, while Republican agriculture commissioner Rick Perry holds a 45-36 lead over Democratic state comptroller John Sharp in the race for lieutenant governor. "If you listen to what he (Bush) is saying, he doesn't have a plan," said Malcom. "People should honestly ask themselves what he has done to make the state better. He's talked about generalities, but I haven't seen him come up with a plan the way Garry Mauro has." Malcom's West Texas tour began Monday with a stop in El Paso, followed by a visit to Odessa, before flying back to Austin after the late afternoon stop in Pecos. While Malcom is using a plane to criss-cross the state, Jones said he's doing most of his campaigning by car, as he seeks to unseat three-term incumbent Henry Bonilla. Jones was beaten by Bonilla in the 1996 congressional election, but said turnout will be more in the Democrats' favor this time around. "We're seeing significant crossover vote in San Antonio. There are more moderates crossing over," Jones said. He cited votes by Bonilla against several bills, including funding for veterans medical care, the Drug-Free Borders Act, and the `three-strikes law' for habitual criminal offenders. "The Border Patrol and DEA are important in this area, and they need the money necessary to stop the flow of drugs. Henry voted against that and we were stunned," Jones said. He also said the Freedom to Farm Act, passed by Congress in 1996, has hurt area farmers because the expected markets to Asia have dried up and price supports have been removed. "I've seen where they're expecting a 30-35 percent increase in the number of bankruptcies for family owned farms," Jones said. The two men do agree on their opposition to the low-level nuclear waste dump site near Sierra Blanca. Jones said he marched with dump opponents last month from El Paso to Sierra Blanca in opposition to the proposed compact, which passed the House last week and is awaiting President Clinton's signature. Malcom said she broke with the Republicans in 1992 because of their increasingly hard-line positions on issues such as the minimum wage and school vouchers. "THe Republican Party is concerned about a small group of people," she said. "They put a pretty mask on and talk a good game, but their plans are only for a small group. ... Overall, the Republican Party in Texas has been taken over by the radical right." Among Mauro's proposals in his race against Bush is a $6,000 pay increase for Texas teachers, which Malcom supports. "They say the state has a budget surplus, but I don't consider the budget to be in surplus when Texas is well below average in expenditures for our children." Malcom predicted that Democrats would turn out in November, despite recent reports of low voter turnout due in part to President Clinton's affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. A report from independent counsel Ken Starr's office, written by former Pecosite Stephen Bates, is due out at early as this week. "President Clinton was wrong in what he did," she said. "It was indefensible, but he has admitted it's wrong, and it's time to move on. "Texas Democrats are focusing on matters important to Texas families. I think if Republicans tie everything to President Clinton, they're making a big mistake." Local `shoot house' is training site for members By PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer Guns drawn, two police officers ease into a house where suspects may be hiding. They spot a small child in the hallway, and just behind the child is a "bad guy" who must be dealt with. Do they shoot? That scenario and others were staged in Pecos Friday to train 35 area sheriff's and police department officers in real-life situations they may face in the future. Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney said the S.W.A.T. training is provided by an organization known as the Sheriffs of Texas Agreed Response, or STAR. Police departments may participate if the county's sheriff is in agreement, he said. Any time a department needs help, they may call on one or all the other agencies. "It may be anything from search and rescue to barricaded subjects, high risk drug raids to putting on programs at schools," McKinney said. Friday's training included a "shoot house," where officers shoot live rounds at targets. Some targets are marked with an X, designating them as "good guys," who should not be shot. Each target has a balloon attached that will deflate and let the target fall if the officer hits a vital spot. He credited investigator Kelly Davis with that idea. McKinney said that local businesses donated old tires for use as thick walls in the shoot house, which is located behind an earthen berm on the rifle range. "It is the only shoot house between Midland and El Paso," he said. "Three or four months ago, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission in El Paso trained inside it." Another berm serves as a building where another group of trainees arrives in an armored personnel carrier to make an armed search of the premises. "We have two armored personnel carriers," McKinney said. "They are the same type used at Fort Davis (during the Republic of Texas standoff last spring) to move men closer to the situation as safely as possible." Surplus military equipment donated to the agencies includes equipment vans and travel trailers that support the teams in the field. "We can send a four-man team into each situation and be fully equipped with gear, sleeping quarters and everything," McKinney said. District Attorney Randy Reynolds visited the training site Friday morning, both as an interested ex-policeman and as legal adviser for the group. "I support law enforcement," Reynolds said. "I came out to see how they do things. It will be good to have this knowledge under my belt." McKinney said that 12 to 15 counties were represented in Friday's training session. PECOS VALLEY CRIME STOPPERS On June 3, Pecos Police responded to a Burglary of a Habitation located at 707 South Peach. Upon arrival officers were advised that a person or persons had gained entry into the residence by cutting the rear screen door. Once inside the person or persons took assorted tools from inside the residence. Estimated value of tools was placed at $70. Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain anonymous...thank you. AREA NEWS ROUNDUP The Big Bend Sentinel MARFA, Sept. 3, 1998 -- Cross Pharmacy is closed and the neat rows of -toiletries, perfumes and gifts soon to be liquidated. After 42 years of service to the community, George Cross abruptly closed the doors and gave up his keys last Friday signaling an end to what may have been the oldest continually operated business in Marfa. Cross said that recent changes in the health care industry and what he termed "turmoil" in the insurance industry combined to send his business into a decline during the past few years. The International PRESIDIO, Sept. 3, 1998 -- The Presidio City Council put together a new budget in marathon session recently, raising water rates but cutting almost $173,000 from this year's budget. The council did not raise property taxes, but approved a $1.25 water rate hike for all residential water users. After heated and emotion discussion that occupied much of the nearly eight-hour session council members trimmed a nearly two million dollar budget into one totaling just over $1.8 million for the 199 fiscal year which began Tuesday. The McCamey News McCAMEY, Sept. 3, 1998 -- A Disaster Recovery Center opened Monday, Aug. 31, in Del Rio to assist individuals and businesses affected by the flooding that struck southwest Texas beginning Aug. 22, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced recently. Numerous other state, federal and voluntary agencies also will have representatives available to answer questions. Iraan News IRAAN, Sept. 3, 1998 -- Misty Lane Hayre, of Sheffield, won two world champion titles and a top ten finish in three separate events the American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA) Championship Show in Fort Worth, Aug. 7-15. Misty and One Red Hot Zip topped 12 entries to win the World Champion Western Pleasure Title. She and Real Chance View competed against 81 entries to win the Reserve World Champion Hunter Hack Title as well. Monahans News MONAHANS, Sept. 3, 1998 -- Ward Memorial Hospital Administrator Steve Holmes says he expects to fill quickly the ambulance service positions vacated by workers he says overreacted to unfounded rumors. Six of 11 emergency service employees have quit, four since Thursday, Aug. 27. OBITUARIES Jack W. Hawkins Jack W. Hawkins, 90, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998 in Cortez, Colo. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Cortez, directed by Firtel Funeral Home. He was born in January, 1908 and moved to Pecos in the early 1930s to be editor of the Pecos Enterprise. In 1935, Hawkins and Barney Hubbs started KIUN Radio, and Hawkins operated the station from 1935 through 1956. The partners also started radio stations in Carlsbad, N.M., Alpine, Fort Stockton, Odessa, Big Lake, McCamey, Blanding, Utah, and in Cortez, Colo., which Hawkins operated until its sale in the late 1970s. Since that time, Hawkins had been in the real estate and travel agency business. After Barney Hubbs' death, his son, Bill Hubbs, was partner in the real estate agency. Survivors include one son, Jim Hawkins, of Ruidoso, N.M., three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. The family requests memorials be directed to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church's memorial scholarship fund. Guadalupe Romo Guadalupe "Chino" S. Romo, 68, of Pecos, died Monday, Sept. 7, 1998, at Midland Memorial and Medical Center Hospital in Midland. Mass was scheduled for 2 p.m., today at Santa Rosa Catholic Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. He was born Dec. 12, 1929, in Aguas Calientes, Mexico, was a lifetime Pecos resident and a Catholic. He was preceded in death by his wife Angela Romo. Survivors include two sons, Jose Isidoro Romo of Odessa, Carlos Romo of Pecos; two daughters, Dolores Cravens of Odessa, Rosie Gomez of Wickett; one brother, Jose Romo of Rosales, Chih., Mexico; one sister, Rosa Romo of San Lorenzo, Mexico and eight grandchildren. Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Loy Weldon Loy Marie Weldon, 86, died Sunday, Sept. 6, 1998, at Reeves County Hospital. Graveside services are scheduled for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Fairview Cemetery with Rev. J.M. McCormick officiating. She was born Feb. 20, 1911, in Maplewood, Ohio, had lived in Pecos since 1978 and was a Methodist. Survivors include five brothers, Doyle R. Miller, R.L. Miller, Lawrence Eugene Miller, Carroll Allen Miller and Merle Miller of Lakeview, Ohio; three sister, Freemont Miller of Waynesville, Ohio, Jane Ann Regal of Harrisburg, Penn. and Rita Zimmerman of Lakeview, Ohio. WEATHER High Friday 97; Saturday 96; Sunday 94; Monday 94. Low Saturday 66; Sunday 65; Monday 65; this morning 64. Forecast for tonight: fair. Low around 65. East to southeast wind 5-15 mph. Wednesday, partly cloudy. High around 90. East to southeast wind 10-20 mph. Search Entire Site: Pecos Enterprise Mac McKinnon, Publisher Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc. 324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772 Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321 e-mail news@pecos.net Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise