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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Wednesday, September 23, 1998

Pecos cooler, others stay hot as fall arrives


From Staff and Wire Reports
Texans love to brag, though most are ready to stop talking
about one of the hottest, deadliest and costliest summers in
state history.

The calendar says today is the first day of autumn, but the
heat is hanging around: 100-degree temperatures were
forecast in many parts of the Lone Star State.

Texans would like to be done with the summer of 1998, the
season that gripped the Dallas area with 29 straight days of
100-plus heat. They're not likely to be nostalgic over
making it through the second-driest summer on record.

In Pecos, temperatures were already approaching the 110
degree mark by mid-May, and were as high as 114 degrees in
June. West Texas temperatures cooled off some in July as the
Dallas area was experiencing its 100-degree streak, and on
Tuesday, the city's high temperature was just 79 degrees,
after hitting the 100 degree mark on Monday.

The city also received three-tenths of an inch of rain,
which raised the rainfall total to over four inches for
1998. Almost 90 percent of the 4.16 total has been recorded
in the past 45 days.

Area ranches also received needed rains during the past
month, enough in some cases to at least partially refill
water tanks for livestock. However, rains from remnants of
Tropical Storm Charley in late August and from Tropical
Storm Frances earlier this month only reached the
southeastern sections of the Permian Basin and the eastern
Concho Valley before dying out.

The first significant summer rains finally began in early
August, and those, along with the cooler temperatures, may
help Trans-Pecos cotton farmers salvage a normal crop in
1998. But other areas of the state weren't as lucky.

The heat ravaged Texas' cotton crop in the South Plains and
both cotton and corn crops in South Texas. Agricultural
losses were estimated at more than $2.1 billion, making it
the costliest drought since a seven-year dry stretch of the
1950s.

At least 131 people died of the heat in Texas, including 51
illegal immigrants near the Mexican border. About 100 died
of the heat in 1980, excluding illegal immigrants.

Dallas-Fort Worth endured its hottest May-August on record.
Overall temperatures averaged 85.9 degrees, exceeding the
85.6 average in 1980.

Fifty-one times - more than seven weeks in all - afternoon
highs reached or exceeded 100 degrees. Sundown brought
little relief, with overnight lows of at least 80 a record
38 times.

Mary Jo Walker's kids will recall how they were dragged to
the library, pool, shopping mall and twice to Colorado -
just about anywhere there was air conditioning or cooler
weather. ``You can't do Chuck E. Cheese's every day,'' Ms.
Walker said.

Security guard Beth McDonald said she would ``go home, turn
on the air conditioner, strip and play on the computer.''

Searing, unrelenting heat also took a deadly toll elsewhere
over the summer: At least 31 died in Louisiana, 22 in
Oklahoma, seven in Alabama, three in Missouri, two in
Pennsylvania and one each in California, Arizona and Oregon.

Many of the heat's victims in Oklahoma were elderly people
who didn't have air conditioning.

``There were a lot of people who said they were tired and
sluggish, said they weren't resting well,'' said Candy
Richardson, city clerk and treasurer in Altus, Okla., which
recorded 89 days of triple-digit heat. ``I think everyone
here is ready for winter.''

Trees, shrubs and grass are scorched brown. Many plants
simply gave up. Similar stories could be told of surrounding
states, especially Oklahoma, where rainfall was a foot below
normal.

``I'm real glad the summer's over,'' said Luke Duel,
undersheriff of Oklahoma's Logan County. ``It's been a long,
hot one.''

Autumn or not, some Texans had no plans to turn off the air
conditioners.

Sheryl Boyles, an office courier who drives more than 300
miles every day, is among them. Don't try telling her it's
fall, she said, ``not until the temperature changes.''

Officials formalize drug task force plan


By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
After meetings Tuesday afternoon and this morning, Reeves
County law enforcement officials have laid out detailed
plans to host a regional drug task force.

Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney said that letters of intent
to participate will go out today to 15 agencies in the 11
counties who have said they want to be a part of the new
group.

The letters of intent are part of a package that McKinney,
Reeves County Sheriff Arnulfo Gomez and 143rd District
Attorney Randy Reynolds are preparing for Reeves County
Commissioners, who must vote to host the task force before a
state grant can be obtained to fund it.

Plans are for each participating agency to provide one
full-time investigator to the task force for undercover work
in any of the 11 counties.

Some agencies in the 17-county Permian Basin region opted to
join the state task force operated by the Department of
Public Safety as a replacement for the defunct Permian Basin
Drug Task Force. The city of Odessa agreed to join the DPS
force on Tuesday, and other area counties, including Crane
and Howard County, have also signed up to work with the
DPS-led group.

The Permian Basin Drug Task Force lost it's funding in May,
following a decision by officials with Texas Gov. George W.
Bush's office. Alleged financial irregularities against the
task force and commander Tom Finley were cited as reasons
for the action, but no indictments were returned last month
in connection with the case by an Ector County grand jury.

Adjustments in water projects on agenda


A change order for the Town of Pecos City water system
improvements project and the selection of an engineer for
1997 water transmission line improvements project phase IV
will be discussed at Thursday's regular city council meeting.

The meeting will be an evening session, beginning at 5:30
p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

Council members will discuss and consider authorization to
advertise for bids on sanitary sewer improvements on Third
Street and consider a request by Texas-New Mexico Power
company employees to clean up and improve a vacant lot
downtown, at 229 S. Oak St.

A report on the Reeves County Juvenile Facility will be
presented by Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney.

Other items on the agenda include several ordinances which
will be read for the second time.

Also on the agenda will be to discuss and consider:

* A request from Pecos Housing Authority for city assistance
on water and sewer lines.

* Errors and corrections for the 1997 tax roll and prior
years.

* Appointment to the Permian Basin Airport Board.

The group will meet in executive session to discuss and
consider the evaluation of municipal employee - the shop
foreman and salary of assistant emergency management
coordinator.

Council members will also address these issues in open
session.

INS staff commended for video court work


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
Pecos area Immigration and Naturalization Service officials
were commended recently for their continued work at the
INS's facility on West Palmer Street.

"You've been together a little over a year now, and last
year you did something very resourceful," said Assistant
District Director with the Detention and Deportation in the
El Paso District, Vincent J. Clausen, who was in Pecos to
present the staff with a bronze plaque in appreciation for
their efforts in working with the video courtroom at the
Reeves County Detention Center.

Clausen also commended the staff on the number of cases
resolved locally, which is up to 99 percent of those heard.

"Just about a year ago that number was 75 percent, so it has
gone up considerably," said Institutional Hearing Officer
Alex Rodriguez, who is with the Pecos Division.

Rodriguez stated that his office processes all the aliens
that are amenable to be removed so that they won't have to
be housed at a service detention center.

The process can take as little as seven days, according to
Rodriguez.

Some of these individuals come from the Reeves County
Detention Center.

The first step in the process requires a file. If there
isn't a file, one is created for the individual. The
individual is then interviewed, issued documents and the
court puts them on a calendar.

The case is then heard at the RCDC over a closed circuit
video connection with a judge in Dallas. In 95 percent of
the cases the judge makes a decision, based on the
information gathered on the person.

"Since last year we had the number of cases heard up to 75
percent, but it is now a lot higher," said Rodriguez.

This means three out of every four are being processed and
are immediately removed, according to Rodriguez.

"Before it was one out of three," said Rodriguez.

In addition, Clausen stated that a monthly employee will be
honored. August's employee of the month was Yolanda Pacheco,
who received a pin.

Chihuahua man acquitted in pot trial


By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Toothpaste that masked the odor of marijuana and a
legitimate reason for being in the United States may have
helped a civil engineer from Delicias, Chih., Mex. gain his
freedom Tuesday.

A federal court jury acquitted Jose Antonio
Sanchez-Jaurequi, 51, of possession with intent to
distribute 62 pounds of marijuana, which was in a hidden
compartment in his borrowed car.

Sanchez testified that he was enroute to Wichita Falls to
look at some equipment when he was stopped by a U.S. Border
Patrol agent on June 13. Two changes of clothing in his
luggage supported his claim that he planned to stay a few
days.

Tearful during his testimony, Sanchez also cried when the
jury returned a "not guilty" verdict at about 6 p.m.

Scott Johnson represented Sanchez, while Fred Brigman
prosecuted for the government before Senior Judge Lucius
Bunton.

A second jury trial began this morning, with Jay Miller
prosecuting for the government and Merry Worley defending
Sandra Renteria.

Renteria was arrested July 6, along with her husband, Robert
Granado of Odessa, and their two children. Border Patrol
Agent Warren Bennett testified that he found 354 pounds of
marijuana in the rear of the GMC Suburban which Granado was
driving.

Worley claimed that Renteria was asleep and did not know the
marijuana was in the vehicle.

Bennett said the marijuana was wrapped in bundles and
packaged in burlap sacks, covered by a blanket. He said he
noticed a strong odor of marijuana when he first entered the
vehicle with his K-9 partner, Duke.

After Duke alerted to the marijuana, the couple was placed
under arrest and taken to the Border Patrol station in
Alpine for questioning.

Judge Bunton accepted guilty pleas in five drug cases Monday
and revoked probation for two defendants, along with
numerous sentencings.

Cipriano Galindo-Villa pleaded guilty to possession with
intent to distribute 498 pounds of marijuana.

Barbara Ann Portillo pleaded guilty to misprison of a felony
- failure to report knowledge that 498 pounds of marijuana
was imported - on June 24.

Luis Raul Cardoza-Gamboa pleaded guilty to possession with
intent to distribute 218 pounds of marijuana.

Lorenzo Gallegos-Valdez pleaded guilty to possession with
intent to distribute 218 pounds of marijuana on June 4.

Gregory A. Niehenke and John R. Aycock admitted violating
terms of their probation from a 1994 conviction and were
sentenced to 13 months and 14 months in prison.

Motivational seminar set for Thursday


The Pecos Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a motivational
seminar tomorrow (Thursday) at the Swiss Clock Inn.
There will be two sessions, from 9 a.m. to noon and from
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $39 per person.
The motivational speaker is Tom Starr.
"It would be nice if the whole town participated in this,"
said chamber Manger Tom Rivera. "We have 12 for sure, but we
need at least 25 to offset the cost of the speaker," he said.

Pecos Valley Crime Stoppers


On March 22, at approximately 10:27 p.m., Pecos Police
Officers responded to a burglary of a habitation located at
209 South Plum Street. Upon arrival the officer met with the
complainant who stated that a person or persons had gained
entry into the residence by breaking a window on the
northeast side of the residence.

Once inside the person or persons removed a black stereo
entertainment system, with a 51 CD changer and dual
cassettes, valued at approximately $1,200. also taken were a
white Radio Shack cordless telephone valued at $50, a Mickey
Mouse piggy bank with an undetermined amount of money, and a
jar containing $20 in 50-cent pieces.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime
call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain
anonymous.

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 indicated that the fines were paid. In such
instances we will indicate payment and release.
***
Crystal Mendoza, 17, was served with a warrant at 3:53 p.m.,
on September 18, at Reeves County Jail, for possession of a
controlled substance (cocaine).
***
Oscar Granado, 34, was arrested at 7:51 a.m., on September
19, in the 2200 block of Johnson Street, for assault by
threat. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Pedro Morales, 60, was arrested at 4:32 p.m., on September
19, in the 800 block of East Second Street, for public
intoxication. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Jesus Padilla, 27, was arrested at 2:12 a.m., on September
20, at the corner of Third and Cedar streets, for assault
under the Family Violence Act. He was transported to Reeves
County Jail.
***
Jesus Villalobos, 28, was arrested at 4:05 a.m., on
September 20, in the 100 block of North Oak Street, for
public intoxication. He was transported to Reeves County
Jail.
***
James Pickett, 41, was arrested at 1:11 a.m., on September
22, in Toyavale, for public intoxication. He was transported
to Reeves County Jail.
***
Johnnie Strain, 17, was arrested at 11:19 a.m., on September
22, at Pecos Municipal Court, on a warrant for an minor in
possession charge. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Tomas Salgado, 27, was arrested at 2:30 a.m., on September
23, in the 600 block of South Cedar Street, for a DWI
refusal. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.

OBITUARIES

Antonia Jaquez


Antonia Bueno Jaquez, 89, of Pecos died Tuesday, September
22, 1998, at Odessa Medical Center in Odessa.

A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24, at
Martinez Funeral Home Chapel.

Mass will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25, at Santa Rosa
Catholic Church with burial in Mount Evergreen Cemetery.

She was born May 13, 1909, in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico, was a
housewife, a longtime Pecos resident and a Catholic.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marcelo Jaquez and
one son, Simon Jaquez, Sr.

Survivors include four sons Sebero, Lazaro, Fred and Greg
Jaquez all of Pecos; five daughters, Nati Flores and Josie
Elliott of California, Elvira Valdez and LaLa Roman of
Pecos, and Inez Hignojoz of Odessa; one brother, Nicho Bueno
of Holland, Mich.; a sister, Isidra Bueno of Holland, Mich.;
41 grandchildren; 81 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great
grandchildren.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Manuel Ramos


Manuel Ramos, 79, of Pecos, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998,
at Odessa Regional Hospital.

A chapel service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept.
24, at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Greenwood
Cemetery.

He was born March 30, 1919, in Fort Stockton, self-employed
as a handyman, was a United States Army veteran and a
longtime Pecos resident.

Survivors include his wife, Maria Ramos of Pecos; one son,
Efrain Ramos of Greenbrier, Tenn. and five grandchildren.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER


High Tuesday 79. Low this morning 63. Rainfall past 24 hours
.3 inch. Total for month .68 inch. total for year 4.16
inches. Forecast for tonight: partly cloudy. Low in the
lower 60s. Southeast wind 5-15 mph. Thursday, partly cloudy.
High in the lower 90s. South 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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