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Weekly Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Ward County, Trans Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

Top Stories

Jan. 7, 1999


Parades to honor athletes and band students
Directors plan to add two parades a year in 1999 to the
Chamber of Commerce's usual projects, said executive
director, Sheri Lord. "The parades will honor the kids and
show our appreciation for the work they do," she explained.

The first such parade was held at the conclusion of 1998 to
honor the Lobo football team, volleyball team and Big Green
Band for their accomplishments during the past year.

"There are also a couple of things on the back burner," she
said. "And new brochures are coming out."

The first major event of the new year is the annual
membership banquet, scheduled for Feb. 15. The chamber will
review the past year, present the Merit and Youth Awards and
name the Outstanding Citizen.

In the spring, the Chamber will assist with the Knights of
Columbus Fajita Cook-off at the Million Barrel Complex and
in the summer will sponsor the July 4 Freedom Fest and Green
Thumb Show. They will also help with the Butterfield
Stagecoach Festival in August.

In the Fall, the organization will co-sponsor the Silver
Dollar Classic and Pecan Perfection, and wrap up the year
with the annual Christmas lighting contest and Hometown
Holiday featuring Santa at the Million Barrel.

Median project on front burner


The median project for downtown tops the agenda for Monahans
Main Street Association in 1999, Manager Suzi Blair told the
News, adding that, "We will soon begin work on getting a
Texas Capitol Fund Grant to start on the project."

Adding a median to Sealy Street in the downtown area was one
of the recommendations of the State Main Street City
resource team when they visited Monahans last summer.

The Association recently finished installing a sign at the
Sandhills State Park, also a recommendation of the team.

"They told us there was nothing at the Sandhills to get
people into town," said Blair. "We played with some ideas
and came up with the sign. Funded by Main Street Economic
Development money, the wording was built by Sam and Shirlan
of Vinyl Techniques. Buck McCormick built the frame. The
Main Street Sculpture was done by Wescraft and Metal Art and
the sign was set by Monahans Electric.

There are also several sites still available at the State
Park for trash receptacle signs advertising organizations or
businesses, said Blair. The signs may be purchased by
calling the Main Street Office.

During the visit, the resource team compiled drawings of the
various downtown structures with their recommendations for
restoration. Grant money was made available through a
matching program and the banks set up low-interest loans to
help with the project. One downtown business, McKay's
Furniture, has already taken advantage of the money
available to reface their building and are only a couple of
months away from finishing.

The Butterfield Stagecoach Festival will continue to be
supported by Main Street. "We believe the Festival brings
people to Monahans and we want to grow with that," Blair
explained. "We want to make the Main Street Association's
part of the Butterfield Stagecoach Festival bigger and
better."

The Association will continue the RV pullover program, said
Blair, and will plan new promotions and fund-raisers as they
are needed.

Main Street recently moved their offices in the City Annex
(old TU Electric building) at 114 S. Bruce.

County officials sworn to office


Based on the results of the November election, County
officials took their oath of office in a special ceremony
Dec. 31 in the County Courtroom. A host of friends and
well-wishers were on hand for the swearing-in.

County Judge Sam Massey administered the oath to Kathy
Fausett, Natrell Cain, Nell Berry and Rick McCurdy.

County Clerk Pat Finley did the honors for Judge Massey.

District Clerk JoAnn Roark had been sworn in at a earlier
date.

Obituaries

ELSIE CARR STRONG


Services for Elsie Carr Strong, 81, of El Paso, were held
Dec. 28 at Bethany Christian Church. Burial was in Evergreen
Cemetery.

Mrs. Carr was born in Pecos and raised in Barstow; she died
Dec. 25, 1998. She was a secretary and at one time worked
for the County Clerk's office in Monahans.

Survivors include her husband, True, to whom she had been
married for 59 years; and her son, Carr T. Strong of Houston.

Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.

FRED CRAWFORD

As a tribute to the memory of the country-western great,
Jan. 13 will be "Fred Crawford Day" on KVMC-KAUM radio.
From 7 to 9 a.m., his music will be remembered and played.

Crawford first started playing guitar and singing at
school functions at the age of eight. In 1939, at the age
of 11, he won a talent contest on KWKH radio in Shreveport,
Louisiana, singing "You Are My Sunshine".

By the age of 25, Crawford had started his recording
career. It was 1953, and he and George Jones recorded at
Quinn's Studio in Houston. "Never Gonna Get Married Again"
proved to be his first bestseller, and he made personal
appearances at events like the Louisiana Hayride and the
Barnyard Frolics in Little Rock, Arkansas.

A radio career was born somewhere along the way at KLFY
radio and television in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was on
KERB radio for many years with his "Cornfed Fred Crawford
Show", which aired Monday through Friday, 2-4 p.m. While
working at KERB, he became well known for playing the
records of country-western artists. A few spent the night
with his family when booked for personal appearances in the
surrounding areas. George Jones once ate homemade chili
beans with them, and Crawford also knew and appeared with
Ray Price, Elvis Presley, Bill Mack, Red Sovine, Jimmy
Newman, Slim Willett, among others.

In 1976, he began working at KVMC radio (which later
became KVMC-KAUM), and continued his "Cornfed Fred Crawford
Show" until retirement. He and his wife, Eloise, continued
to live in Colorado City, until his death last year.

From Jan 12-16, Crawford's family will have some of his
memorabilia on display at the Heart of West Texas Museum in
Colorado City.

Fred Benjamin Crawford is remembered and loved by many,
especially his family, who hold him dear to their hearts.

Fred Crawford (1928-1998)

CLEAVE LAMAR SWAFFORD


Services for Cleave Lamar Swafford, 83, of Wink were held
Thursday at First Baptist Church with Bro. Bobby Braswell
and Bro. Henry Freund officiating. Burial was in Kermit
Cemetery directed by Cooper Funeral Chapel.

Mr. Swafford was born January 22, 1915 in Wilbarger County
and died Dec. 29, 1998 in Kermit. He had served a six-year
term as a Wink City Councilman and was a member of First
Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane Swafford of Kermit;
two daughters, Julie Purcell of Kermit and Sue Adams of
Wink; two brothers, Lamoine Swafford of Kermit and Jack
Swafford of Albuquerque, NM; two sisters, Lorene Kelly of
Odessa and Benita Nichols of Austin; and five grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer
Society.

KENNETH A. WATSON


Graveside services for Kenneth A. Watson, 59, were held
Saturday in Andrews North Cemetery, with Rev. Gene Brown
officiating. Burial was directed by McNett Funeral Home.

Mr. Watson was born Dec. 7, 1939 in Odessa, and died Dec.
30, 1998 in Dallas. He married Barbara Brock on August 30,
1958 in Eastland and served as superintendent of T.U.
Electric for 33 years in Andrews and Monahans.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Watson of Andrews; two
sons, Dan Watson and Steven Watson, both of Andrews; one
daughter, Julie Davis of Andrews; and seven grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be made to the charity of your
choice.

DELFINA GONZALES


Services for Delfina Gonzales, 73, were held Saturday at St.
John's Catholic Church, with Fr. John Lucido officiating.
Burial was in Monahans Memorial Cemetery, directed by Harkey
Funeral Home.

Mrs. Gonzales was born Jan. 3, 1925 in Roswell, N.M., and
died Dec. 30, 1998 in a Snyder hospital. She was a
homemaker and had married Angel Gonzales Feb. 2, 1946 in
Big Spring.

Survivors include three sons, Jaime Gonzales of Uvalde,
Philip Gonzales of Monahans, and Angel Gonzales of Snyder;
five daughters, Cris Benitez of Snyder, Angie Munez of
Odessa, Delvia Abila of Washington, Irene Bustos of
Monahans, and Cruz Hale of Houston; one brother, Thomas Sosa
of Anthony; one sister, Maria Munoz of Big Spring; 27
grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Angel and eight
brothers and sisters.

BETTY JO FOWLER


Services for Betty Jo Fowler, 75, were held Wednesday at
First Baptist Church of Wickett, with Allie Balko
officiating. Burial was in Monahans Memorial Cemetery,
directed by Harkey Funeral Home.

Mrs. Fowler was born Nov. 6, 1923 in Petrolia, and died Jan.
4, 1999 in Medical Center Hospital. She was a homemaker and
had lived in Wickett for 42 years.

Survivors include her husband James Fowler of Wickett; three
daughters, Vicki Kinsey of Horseshoe Bay, Susan Griggs of N.
Richland Hills, and Patty Wright of Odessa; one sister,
Evalyn Kitchens of Pampa; six grandchildren; and three
great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

LEONA PEARL FRANKLIN


Services for Leona Pearl Franklin, 81, were held Wednesday
at Harkey Funeral Chapel, officiated by Trent Smith. Burial
was in Monahans Memorial Cemetery.

Mrs. Franklin was born July 20, 1917 in Lake Arthur, N.M.,
and died Jan. 3, 1999 in Manor Park. She was a homemaker
and a Protestant, and married Robert Bruce Franklin in
Monahans on Feb. 25, 1938.

Survivors include one sister, Della Sanders of Kermit; and
numerous nieces and nephews.

ROSE B. WRIGHT


Graveside services for Rose B. Wright, 80, were held Tuesday
at Kermit Cemetery. Burial was directed by Harkey Funeral
Home.

Mrs. Wright was born on July 15, 1918 in Apache, Oklahoma,
and died Jan. 3, 1999 in Monahans Senior Health Center. She
was a homemaker and a Baptist.

Survivors include one son, James Wright of Kermit; and
numerous nieces and nephews.

COY LOONEY


Services for Coy Looney, 68, were held Tuesday at Harkey
Funeral Chapel, with John Cary officiating.

Mr. Looney was born Jan. 26, 1929 in Douglass, and died Jan.
3, 1999 in Ward Memorial Hospital. He was involved with
oilfield maintenence and married Sherry Woodard on June 1,
1957 in Carlsbad, N.M.

Survivors include his wife Sherry of Monahans; two sons,
Ronnie Looney of Kermit and Randy Looney of Ft. Worth; one
daughter, Lonna Davidson of Athens; two brothers, Olind
Looney and Berdine Looney, both of Alto; one sister, Mary
Lou Patterson of Odessa; and three grandchildren.

BERNICE FELTS KETCHUM


Services for Bernice Felts Ketchum, 79, were held at San
Saba City Cemetery, with Rev. Sam Crosby officiating.
Burial was under direction of Howell-Doran Funeral Home, Inc.

Mrs. Ketchum was born March 22, 1919 in Cherokee, and died
Dec. 25, 1998 at her residence. She was a housewife and a
member of the Parkview Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, Bobby Joe Ketchum of San Saba
and Leroy Ketchum of Monahans; two daughters, Barbara Brown
of Corpus Christi and Yvonne Shivener of San Saba; eight
grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces
and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two
sisters, and six brothers.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or
Parkview Baptist Church.



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Ward Newspapers, Inc.
Joe Warren, Publisher
107 W. Second St., Monahans TX 79756
Phone 915-943-4313, FAX 915-943-4314
e-mail monnews@ultravision.net


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