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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Tuesday, November 10, 1998

Teen suspected in robberies


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
A 16-year-old Pecos youth charged with an armed robbery in
Alpine on Oct. 27 also has charges pending in Pecos and in
Austin.

The youth was arrested along with two Sul Ross State
University students on Nov. 2 and charged with armed robbery.

Roland Nelson, 18, of Colorado City; Kyle Phillips, 21, of
Kermit, and the Pecos youth were charged with one count each
of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, Brewster
County Deputy Sheriff Ross Bates said.

"The youth initially gave officials in Alpine false
information about his identity and he was incarcerated as an
adult in the county jail," said Reeves County Juvenile
Probation officer Alberto Alvarez.

Law enforcement officials were suspicious of the youth and
was eventually referred to the juvenile center in Pecos.
"Through some networking we came up with who he really was
and the fact that he is a juvenile," said Alvarez.

Alvarez said the juvenile center has a computer program that
can cross-reference nicknames. "We came up with who he
really was, because of a nickname he had used," said Alvarez.

Nelson and Phillips on Wednesday of last week remained in
the Brewster County jail, each in lieu $75,000 bail set by
City of Alpine Magistrate Charles Blackley. The boy was
taken to the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Facility here
in Pecos.

According to the Alpine police, the juvenile brandished a
handgun, Tuesday, Oct. 27, when two suspects demanded money
from two clerks at DB's Quickmart, located just outside the
east city limit on U.S. 90/67.

About $400 in cash was taken by the two Halloween-masked
robbers. A third suspect waited in a getaway truck on the
parking lot of a nearby hotel.

The clerks weren't hurt. The weapon discharged, apparently
as the suspects jumped a fence behind the store, which had a
security system that was disabled that night.

Bates told the <ital.> Big Bend Sentinel <reg.> that solid
police work led to the juvenile about 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 at
an Alpine apartment complex. Sheriff's deputies, assisted by
university police, took Phillips into custody about 10 p.m.
Monday at Fletcher Hall, and Nelson was arrested at
Mountainside Dormitory about 30 minutes later.

Bates said officers took into evidence a weapon and mask.
Both items were identified by the store clerks as having
been used in the robbery. No money was recovered.

The juvenile had apparently been frequenting Alpine in
recent weeks and had hooked up with Nelson, according to
Bates.

"I had to go to Alpine and positively identify him," said
Alvarez.

He was then transported back to Alpine and under Brewster
County was sent to the juvenile facility in Ector County,
with whom they have a detention contract.

According to Alvarez, the youth is being sought by officials
in Travis County out of Austin for a robbery that occurred
there.

"I also found out that he is wanted by the Pecos Police
Department on forgery charges here," said Alvarez.

"Whoever has the most charges against him, will determine
what case will be used against him," said Alvarez.

Alvarez stated that officials from Brewster County are
contemplating trying the youth as an adult. "Initially his
bail was set at $150,000 when they first thought he was an
adult and he had some idea that he could just bond out," he
said.

"We are going to be keeping posted on him because we do have
charges pending here and Austin is wanting to do something
about him also," said Alvarez.

County pays RCDC bill, sells off items


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
Several pieces of county-owned equipment were declared
salvage items and insurance bids awarded during the regular
meeting of the Reeves County Commissioners Court on Monday
morning.

"These are items that are not usable anymore and it would
cost more to fix them," said county auditor Lynn Owens.

Insurance bids went to Texas Association of Counties for
general liability insurance coverage and real personal
property liability insurance coverage.

Pecos Insurance Agency was awarded the public officials
liability insurance coverage and law enforcement liability
insurance coverage.

The third payment for the new dayroom expansion at the
Reeves County Detention Center was approved in the amount of
$76,706.80.

A request for information from Richard Slack on RCDC phone
usage will be provided for him, according to Reeves County
Judge Jimmy B. Galindo.

"He has requested information on inmate telephone services
and we will fulfill this request under the open records
request," said Galindo.

He said Slack is interested in putting together a proposal.

New hires for the county included Toyah Walker who will be
working in the Reeves County Attorney's office; William
Wayne Price, a new deputy for Balmorhea at the rate of
$20,200 a year; Joseph Ortiz, $16,000 a year, as a jailer at
the Reeves County Sheriff's Office and Oscar Mendoza, Jr. at
the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center, on an
as-needed, on-call basis, at $5.50 an hour.

Budget items and line-item transfers were approved as
presented along with the minutes from the previous meeting.

Semi-monthly bills were "pretty routine", according to Owens
and approved as presented.

Environmental concerns frustrate board


By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
Red Bluff Water Power Control Board members vented their
frustration at the ongoing delays in the proposed Pecos
River desalinization project at Malaga Bend, and also voiced
their concerns about federal controls of water releases on
the river in New Mexico, during their monthly meeting on
Monday in Pecos.

General manager Jim Ed Miller told the board there had been
no progress on the Malaga Bend project, in which Red Bluff
would pump water from a salt spring into three man-made
lakes, from which salt would be mined by Loving Salt Co.
after the water evaporates. Miller said Loving Salt Co.
president Albert Wagner is still awaiting results of his
environmental impact statement on the trio of three acre
ponds he plans to build.

"This is the first time I've seen Albert discouraged like
that," Miller said. "He was supposed to have a meeting this
week, but it was canceled and moved up another week."

The board also discusses their problems and those of New
Mexico with endangered species in the Pecos River. The
district has already spent money for a study of the Pecos
River pupfish -- which federal officials are considering
putting on the endanger list -- and learned last week that
the government is trying to dictate water releases in New
Mexico, over the objections of state officials, to save the
Pecos bluntnose shiner.

In response to a question from board member Manuel Lujan,
Red Bluff president Randall Hartman said, "Our part (of the
study) is settled as of now," and Miller added they are
still awaiting a hearing on the pupfish issue.

On the bluntnose shiner, which lives in the Pecos River
north of Carlsbad, N.M., Miller said there wasn't much Red
Bluff could do about the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's plans
to increase Pecos water flow this winter without first
securing new water rights.

"It's between the State of Texas, New Mexico and the federal
government. We don't have enough clout," Miller said, adding
pessimistically, "I don't think even the president can do
anything with environmentalists."

Hartman explained federal officials want to increase the
sudden water surges on the river, as opposed to the steady
flow that the river's dams normally deliver downstream. "The
surges of water are need to help the fishes' reproduction,"
he said.

New Mexico state engineer Tom Turney said on Oct. 29 the
plan could shortchange farmers both in New Mexico and in
Texas and could also could reduce New Mexico's court-ordered
water deliveries to Texas.

"The way they (environmentalists) want, eventually, you're
going to have in New Mexico, except for the high spots,
along the Pecos River will be a game preserve," Hartman
said, saying the plans will eliminate farms that use the
Pecos River water for irrigation.

"If people start to get hungry, then they'll understand.
That seems to ring a bell," he said.

Prior to the discussion on the New Mexico problems, the
board raced through their brief agenda, approving cash
disbursements and accounts payable for the month, along with
the November water report.

The board agreed to contract with Randy Graham to do the
district's annual audit, at a cost of $2,600, and approved
merit bonuses for district employees equal to 40 percent of
one month's salary. "We've been doing it that way every year
since I've been here," said Miller, is response to a
question about the plan from Lujan.

The board also voted to change the current retirement plan,
allowing employees to be vested in eight years instead of
12. The change will also allow those vested to pass on their
accumulated benefits to survivors. Under the old plan,
survivors would only back get the money contributed to the
program if an employee worked for the district for less than
20 years.

Schools plan early release


All Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD students will be let out of
school early on Friday, Nov. 13, in order to give Eagle fans
an opportunity to make the 210-mile trip to El Paso for
Pecos' football playoff game against El Paso Burgess.

All students will be released at 1 p.m., Friday, while
teachers will be officially off duty at 1:30 p.m.

"We want all the parents to be aware of this," said
superintendent Don Love.

A city-wide pep rally is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday at
the new gym to wish the Eagles good luck. Everyone is
invited to attend.

"We want to invite everyone to go out and support the Pecos
Eagles at the El Paso game," said Love. The Eagles will be
making their first playoff appearance in 23 years on Friday,
when they face Burges in the 8:30 p.m. CST game.

Love stated that Pecos has up to six early release days and
that he has already spoken to TEA.

"UIL gives us 10 days and when you get in the playoff five
extra early days," said Love.

He said that the extra early release issue will be brought
up before the school board at their regular meeting Thursday
evening, but that he doesn't anticipate any problems.

Stores darkened by power outage


By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Darkness descended on parts of downtown Pecos Monday night
when high winds blew a fuse wire off an insulator, said
Tommy Terry for Texas-New Mexico Power Company.

Cable television was knocked off the air for over an hour
while linemen located the damage and made repairs. Power was
also cut to several businesses on the east side of Cedar
Street, including Pizza Hut and Allsup's.

Terry said the insulator was on a line feeding out of the
main substation. He added that he was not certain what time
the power went off, but it was restored about 8 p.m.

The cold front that triggered the high winds rolled through
Reeves County just before 6 p.m., kicking up dust
reminiscent of the 1930s. Pecos was only brushed by the weak
southern edge of the front, which sent overnight
temperatures only as low as 49 degrees. Farther north, the
front pushed temperatures below the freezing mark in
Amarillo, while Lubbock's low this morning reached 34
degrees.

Ex-Pecosite is fed court's new deputy


By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Cristina Rodriguez has used the skills she honed as
secretary to the Reeves County attorney to move up to
courtroom deputy for U.S. Magistrate Judge Stuart Platt.

Working in both Pecos and Midland, Rodriguez schedules all
proceedings for both dockets.

Judge Platt handles misdemeanor cases from arrest through
sentencing; accepts grand jury returns on felony
indictments, arraigns the defendants, and accepts guilty
pleas in felony cases assigned to District Judge Royal
Furgeson.

"It is real interesting," Rodriguez said of her new job. "It
is a lot of work, but real interesting, the things you hear
in court and the people you see from all different walks of
life. Everyone gets in trouble."

Rodriguez was born and raised in Pecos. She and her husband,
Gilbert, now live in Odessa. They have a 2-year-old child
and are expecting another in January.

She and Judge Platt are in Pecos two days a week for
magistrate court.

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.
***

Ismael Flores, 24, was arrested at 11:24 p.m., on October
31, in the 200 block of South Cherry Street, for assault
under the Family Violence Act and resisting arrest. He was
transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Marcus Ramos, 25, was arrested at 9:59 p.m., on November 3,
in the 2100 block of West Third Street, for driving while
license suspended. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Brenda Camacho was arrested at 1:57 p.m., on November 4, at
the corner of Sixth and Cedar streets, on DPS warrants. She
paid the fines and was released.
***
Gerald Smoot, 42, was arrested at 3:30 p.m., on November 4,
at the Reeves County Sheriff's Office, on a Grand Jury
Indictment/DWI warrant. He was transported to Reeves County
Jail.
***
Dagoberto Rodriguez, 40, was arrested at 10:48 p.m., on
November 5, in the 700 block of East Eighth Street, for a
violation of a protective order. He was transported to
Reeves County Jail.
***
Sunny Ignacio Chavez, 20, was arrested at midnight, on
November 6, at the corner of Third and Cedar streets, on a
warrant for assault. He was transported to Reeves County
Jail.
***
Sunny Ignacio Chavez, 20, was arrested at 12:12 a.m., on
November 7, at the corner of Third and Cedar streets, on a
Capias Pro Fine warrant. He was transported to Reeves County
Jail.
***
Reydesel Luna, 22, was arrested at 2:50 p.m., on November 6,
in the La Tienda Thriftway parking lot, on DPS warrants. He
was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Aminda Jean Allgood, 37, was served with a warrant at 11:29
p.m., on November 6, at Reeves County Jail, on a warrant for
forgery, a state jail felony.
***
Brandy Dedra Varela was arrested at 2:02 a.m., on November
7, at the Town and Country, 900 W. Palmer St., on a DPS
warrant. She paid the fine and was released.
***
Carlos Abila, 44, was arrested at 8:07 p.m., on November 7,
in the 800 block of West Walthall Street, for driving while
intoxicated. He was transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Jadson Ephriam, 23, and D'nan Ramirez, 21, were arrested at
4:32 p.m., on November 8, in the 2200 block of Missouri
Street, for assault under the Family Violence Act. They were
transported to Reeves County Jail.
***
Marco Antonio Rubio, 22, was arrested at 1:05 a.m., on
November 9, near Flying J, 100 East Pinehurst St., for
public intoxication. He was transported to Reeves County
Jail.

OBITUARY

H.A. Williams


H.A. Williams, 81, died Saturday, Nov. 7, at Memorial
Hospital in Midland.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., today at Bell-Cyper-Seale
Chapel in Andrews, with Reverend Hershell Williams
officiating.

He was born Aug. 12, 1917, in Hope, Ark. and was an oilfield
worker.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny and Leck
Williams.

Survivors include his wife, Rosa Mae Williams of Andrews;
one daughter, Carolyn Bynum of Pecos; one sister, Marylynn
Smyrl of Burleson; four brothers, Hershell Williams of
Madrid, Tx., Bill Williams of Clarksville, Hump Williams of
Decab, and Shirley Williams of Azel; and two grandchildren.

Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER


High Monday 85, low last night 49. Tonight, mostly clear.
Low in the lower 30s. Light south to southwest wind.
Wednesday, mostly sunny. High 65-70. South wind 10-20 mph.



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