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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
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Friday, October 16, 1998

Benefits, problems with 4A tax debated


By MARI MALDONADO
Contributing Writer
More discussions about informing the public about the
proposed 4A Sales Tax were gathered during Thursday's Town
Hall meeting, sponsored of the Citizens for a Better
Community (CBC) at the Reeves County Civic Center.

Mike George and Guy Andrews of the Odessa Chamber of
Commerce were on hand to answer questions regarding the
proposed 4A sales tax scheduled to appear on the November 3
ballot.

If passed by Town of Pecos City voters, 1/4 cent of the
city's 1 1/2 cent sales tax funds will go towards economic
development.

The amount is expected to generate $127,000, and if
approved, the committee could borrow five times that total,
with the provision that it be repaid within five years.

The referendum was passed by Odessa City voters last year,
according to Andrews, in a "landslide" win of 70 percent for
and 30 percent against. Monahans and Fort Stockton also have
passes similar measures.

The Odessa campaign was a "grassroots effort," Andrews noted.

George said advocates for the 4A sales tax need to approach
the staunchest of opponents to the tax and educate the
community on what it is that the Town of Pecos City is
trying to do.

"This is the right thing to do," said George, "you just need
to get out and tell the people."

Audience member Linda Gholson noted that, contrary to
popular belief, the sales tax option cannot be included in
the May ballot.

"We have to wait a year," she said before it could be
proposed in an election again.

Her comments came after taxpayer Sammy Urias told committee
members, "I am sick and tired of our taxes being high and we
ain't got nothing to show for it."

He asked about the $120,000 allocated by the city and
hospital district for economic development, "why can't we
use that?"

Town of Pecos City council member Johnny Terrazas explained
to Urias that these funds are not committed for next year.

Fellow council member Ricky Herrera added that the 4A sales
tax option, "gives us the (capability for) long term
commitment towards economic development."

A third councilman, Gerald Tellez, Jr., asked Urias how long
had it been seen he'd seen a tax increase.

"I don't know," Urias said, although while all three
councilmen said they were committed to not increasing taxes,
they agreed that the possibility exists there could be one
in the future.

A sales tax increase is not an option, since the city takes
1 1/2 cents out of the state sales tax and the hospital
district takes the other 1/2 cent allowed. That would leave
council members with the option of increasing property taxes.

"How does the city plan to make up for the one-quarter of
the one-and-a-half percent?" asked Urias.

George said "the city will have to cut back," on spending
until the endeavor pays off and all three council members
agreed short-term cutbacks were inevitable.

"The recent school district tax hike scared a lot of
people." said Linda Ornelas.

"We need to educate the people and tell them what this (4A
sales tax) is all about," she added.

George explained earlier in the meeting that mineral values,
"have gone down considerably."

"Oil and gas companies are taxed on how much (minerals) are
left in the ground," George said.

"As mineral interests decline, oil and gas companies pay
less in taxes and home and business owners take up the
slack, George continued.

"You need to grow and expand. You need to replace what
you're losing," he argued.

"The sales tax is the least costly way to do it," George
said.

"You need to get in the game and play," said Andrews. "Pecos
is in a stealth mode. You're not on the economic radar."

"You think things are bad now," Andrews said, "just wait
and do nothing."

"Pecos has a lot of assets," George said, "you're on the
interstate, you've got a railroad, good schools, housing,
labor availability..."

"The facts are on your side," he said to committee members
and sales tax advocates.

"The people that are against it are not informed and
scared," Andrews added, "and that's enough for them not to
vote for it."

"We're for the Permian Basin. We need to stick together,"
Andrews said, as he and George gave final comments and ideas
on how to distribute the facts on the 4A sales tax.

"Pecos is in a stealth mode. You're not on the economic
radar," said Andrews.

"You've got an opportunity with this 4A sales tax, Andrews
argued. "You've got to get in the game and play," Andrews
said, as 378 Texas communities have done.

George noted that statistics taken from these 378
communities show that the average tax increase was
$12/year/person.

Suspect items found in drug raid


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
Law enforcement officials made one arrest on drug charges
and recovered property that could "possibly" be considered
stolen during a late night search Thursday.

At about 11:25 p.m., officers from the Pecos Police
Department and the Reeves County Sheriff's Department
executed a narcotics search warrant at the home of the
Concepcion Teofilo Garcia family, at 1253 Martinez St.

Police said upon searching the residence a substance
believed to be heroin was found inside the master bedroom
closet. Also found at the residence was paraphernalia used
in the packaging and the injecting of heroin.

In addition, Officers found several pieces of property that
will be released to the criminal investigation division to
check on, because it is believed that it could be stolen.
The stolen items included three computer monitors, a printer
and a modem.

"This is still under investigation, he has not been charged
with stolen property," said Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez.

Garcia was placed in the Reeves County Jail on the offense
of a controlled substance within a 1,000 feet of a school
felony of the third degree.

Garcia, 50, is currently in Reeves County Jail charged with
possession of heroin, a controlled substance and waiting
arraignment.

Thursday's arrest continues the series of drug raids began
in early September, which have resulted in over a dozen
arrests of local residents on drug relates charges.

Contract signed to keep `Meals' at current home


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
Meals on Wheels will still be cooking up their meals to be
delivered to the elderly and shut-ins at the same location
at least for another year.

Their lease to a building on the east side of Pecos was
renewed at the regular Pecos Housing Authority meeting held
Thursday evening.

Guests on hand included Julian Florez, chairman of Reeves
County Community Council; Mary Jane Ontiveros, director of
Community Council, and Hilda Mendoza, director of Meals on
Wheels Program.

After a brief discussion board members opted to continue
leasing the building located at 1001 E. 10th Street to the
CCRC for the Meals on Wheels program.

Meals are cooked at the facility and delivered to the
elderly and shut-ins. Currently the program is serving 130
individuals in Pecos, Saragosa and Balmorhea, according to
Mendoza.

In other action, a retirement plan for PHA employees was
approved with the authority paying the full 15 percent for
the purchase of the retirement plan.

The CIAP budget amendments were approved along with regular
monthly income and expense report; accounts payable and the
occupancy report.

Indictments brought by federal grand jurors


By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Federal grand jurors on Thursday indicted seven defendants,
including a Midland woman for possession of a machine gun
and with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Amy Armstrong, 25, had earlier been charged in the Pecos
federal court with possession of cocaine. That case is on
Senior Judge Lucius Bunton's docket for jury trial Monday.

Thursday's indictment alleges she possessed a Cobra M-11
machine gun on Sept. 1.

Others indicted were:

* Jose Padilla-Flores, 32, and Maria Gutierrez-Quintana, 29,
both of Chihuahua, Mex., importing and possessing with
intent to distribute 354.06 pounds of marijuana on Oct. 9.

* Irene Anita Rodriguez, 39, of Odessa, importing and
possessing 69.4 pounds of marijuana for distribution on Oct.
9.

* Enedina Burrola-Gardea, 54, of Presidio, possession with
intent to distribute 46.94 pounds of marijuana on Oct. 8.

* Omar Pando-Modesto, 20, of Wickett, and Patricia Samaniego
Anzures, 24, of Odessa, possession with intent to distribute
96.5 pounds of marijuana on Oct. 14. Pando is also charged
with possession of marijuana on Sept. 30.

Besides the Armstrong trial, Judge Bunton has six other
criminal cases on the docket for trial or plea, along with
22 sentencings.

Sentencings include Odessa attorney Jose Antonio Chavez and
his investigator, Moises "Boy" Hernandez Jr., on their pleas
of guilty to providing relief and assistance to a drug
smuggler in connection with two loads of marijuana.

One of their co-defendants is also set for sentencing, and
another is on the jury trial docket.

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.
***
Jamie Gomez, 32, was arrested at 2:01 a.m., on October 8, at
the corner of Ninth and Mesquite streets, for driving while
intoxicated. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Lee Galan, 25, was arrested at 2:30 a.m., on October 8, at
the corner of Fourteen and Cedar streets, for driving while
intoxicated. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Randall Raper, 41, was arrested at 4:45 p.m., on October 9,
at 1504 Missouri Street, on a grand jury indictment. He was
transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Alberto Rodriguez, 19, was arrested at 5:45 p.m., on October
9, in the 700 block of Cherry Street, for public
intoxication. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Damian Orona, 20, was arrested at 10:40 p.m., on October 9,
at the corner of Third and Locust streets, on a DPS warrant
for not wearing a seatbelt. He was transported to Reeves
County Jail.
***
Juan Romo, 21, and Josh Dominguez, 19, were arrested at 1:37
a.m., on October 10, in the 600 block of Park Street. Romo
was charged with public intoxication and Dominguez with DWI
refusal. They were transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Gonzalo Sandoval, 50, was arrested at 6:26 p.m., on October
10, in the 100 block of Sycamore Street, for public
intoxication. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Claudia Garcia, 19, and Raul Herrera, 20, were arrested at
12:06 a.m., on October 11, in the 2300 block of Sage Street.
Garcia for assault under the Family Violence Act;Herrera for
public intoxication. They were transported to Reeves County
Jail.
***
Gilberto Juarez, 30, was arrested at 4:30 p.m., on October
12, at the corner of Highway 80 and Duval Road, on DPS
warrants totalling $775. He was transported to Reeves County
Jail.
***
Mike Rayos, 40, was arrested at 10:56 a.m., on October 13,
at Pecos Municipal Court, on a warrant for possession of
drug paraphernalia. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Cynthia Montoya, 41, was arrested at 12:30 p.m., on October
13, at 404 North Hickory Street, on a warrant for criminal
trespass. She was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Juan Flores, 34, Jose Mesta, 27, and Francisco Gonzales, 37,
were arrested at 12:30 a.m., on October 15, at the corner of
Ninth and Cedar streets, for public intoxication. Flores was
also charged with a felony resist. They were transported to
Reeves County Jail.

PECOS VALLEY CRIME STOPPERS


Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 in reward for
information leading to the arrest and Grand Jury indictment
of the person or persons responsible for the incident
described below. Anyone having any information on this crime
or any other crime can call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and
you will remain anonymous.
On August 2, at approximately 12:50 a.m., a male subject
came into the Police Department to report that his vehicle
was stolen from in front of the U.S. Post Office in Pecos.
Complainant stated that he had stopped at the Post Office to
pick up his mail and he had left his light-blue 1987
Cadillac 4-door vehicle running while he went inside the
post office to get his mail. When the complainant went back
outside his vehicle was gone.
On August 2 at 4:30 a.m., a Pecos Police Officer responded
to a grass fire located at the corner of Business 20 and
Duval Road. Upon arrival the officer reported that it was a
vehicle fire, not a grass fire. The officer ran a check on
the vehicle which confirmed was the same one reported stolen
earlier that day.
Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime
call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain
anonymous...thank you.

WEATHER


Thursday's high, 95. Overnight low 69. Rainfall .01 inch.
Month-to-date .08. Year-to-date 4.24. Tonight, mostly cloudy
with a 20 percent chance of showers. Low 55-60. Southwest to
west wind 15-25 mph and gusty. Caution advised on area
lakes. Saturday, becoming partly cloudy. High 70 75. West
wind 10-20 mph becoming northwest to north late afternoon.



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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

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Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise