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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, February 12, 1999
Englander takes stock of Pecos visit
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 12, 1999 - A young lady who made a 5,000 mile trip from
England to West Texas to gain some knowledge about financial markets has
also met new people and learned new things about West Texas over the past
two weeks.
Shalley Simpson has been in Pecos since the start of the month, getting
pointers from local Edward Jones investor Brandy Owen.
"She's training here with me, because she'll be opening her own office
in England," said Owen.
Simpson said there are three other individuals from "back home" training
in Midland and she will be in Fort Stockton next week for further training.
"The company's training is very intensive and right now, with Brandy
I'm learning how to open up my own office," said Simpson, who has already
endured exams and has passed all of them.
"I've already passed everything and had other training, but now I'll
learn how to open my own office in Liverpool," she said.
There are over 100 regions in the United States and West Texas is ranked
number one, according to Owen. "This training is taking place only in Texas,"
said Owen.
"Edward Jones prides themselves on the fact that they provide individual
attention to clients and assures them they are not just a number," said
Owen.
Edward Jones company was also named one of the top 100 companies to
work for in the January 11 issue of Fortune magazine. "It was ranked number
11 out of the top 100 companies to work," said Owen.
The company operates more than 4,000 stockbrokerage offices, mostly
in suburbs, spends a minimum of $50,000 per broker on training. Twenty-seven
percent of all employees are partners, earning returns on capital ranging
in recent years from 20 to 25 percent. Edward Jones has been in operation
since 1871.
"Now I don't want to go back home, because I just love it here," said
Simpson. "It's really nice here, more of a community."
"It's different from back home, the people are so nice and you just
don't see this community atmosphere there," said Simpson.
She said she enjoys horseback riding, when she's not busy "at the office."
Simpson is a graduate of Leeds University in England and currently lives
with her parents. "I just moved in with them recently because I wanted
to do all this training before opening my own office," she said.
"Everybody from back home feels like I do, they really don't want to
leave," said Simpson.
Bush OKs grant for new drug task force
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 12, 1999 - It's almost official.
Texas Governor George Bush has signed a $465,593 grant to fund the Permian
Basin Drug Task Force, and Reeves County Judge Galindo's signature is all
it will take to activate the grant.
Galindo received the package Thursday, said Sheriff Arnulfo Gomez. Once
he signs and returns the letter of acceptance, the task force will be in
business.
Gomez said that the first order of business will be to advertise for
applications to fill the commander position. Other positions to be located
in Pecos are administrative assistant, secretary, district attorney investigator
and assistant district attorney.
They hope to locate an office building with enough space for all the
administrative staff. Field investigators will be hired by the eight participating
agencies.
The task force was formed after Bush's office decided last May not to
fund the former Permian Basin Drug Task Force, based in Odessa, due to
questions about the use of funds. A second task force, run by the Department
of Public Safety, was created by the state and began operating in West
Texas two months ago.
Pecos trio included in feds' indictments
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 12, 1999 - Three local men, several from the area and members
of a Midland-Odessa gang are among 66 defendants named in federal indictments
Thursday.
Daniel Guerrero, 29, of 405 S. Mesquite St., is charged with importing
and possessing 59.9 pounds of marijuana on Jan. 26.
Ruben Garcia Jr., 20, of 238 W. "C" St., is charged with importing and
possessing cocaine on Jan. 26. He was arrested near Pecos with five pounds
of cocaine in his possession.
Abraham Garay, 19, of Pecos, is charged with importing and possessing
37.2 pounds of marijuana on Jan. 22.
Kayla Neuhaus, 32, of Salt Flat in Hudspeth County, is charged with
theft of mail by an employee. While employed by the Post Office, Neuhaus
allegedly took part of a package addressed to Sonja Sumrall at a Post Office
box in Salt Flat on Dec. 3, 1998.
If convicted, she could be sentenced to five years in prison and fined
$250,000.
Elizabeth A. Parreda, 29, of Monahans, is charged with possession with
intent to distribute 32 pounds of marijuana on Feb. 2.
Luis Gonzalez, 42, of Fort Stockton is charged with conspiracy, importing
and possessing 88.6 pounds of marijuana Jan. 22.
Numerous defendants are from the Odessa-Midland area, including 12 of
21 men and women charged in one indictment with conspiracy, importation
and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and with money laundering
and aiding and abetting.
Others named in the multi-count indictment are from Mexico, Georgia,
Grand Prairie and San Angelo.
Leaders of the organization are identified as Jose Urias-Marquez, 38,
of Midland; Ernesto Luis Valeriano-Valles, aka El Negro, a resident and
citizen of Mexico; and Jaime Urquidi-Ortega, a Mexican citizen - the source
of supply for marijuana.
Oscar Javier Nino, 33, of Midland, is named as principal transportation
and distribution manager.
The organization is suspected of importing and distributing thousands
of pounds of marijuana from Mexico into the United States.
Seven defendants are charged with illegal entry after deportation; two
with transporting illegal aliens; and one with using immigration false
documents. All the others are charged with importing and/or possession
with intent to distribute marijuana.
Women's Division adds new members
PECOS, Feb. 12, 1999 - There are some new members of the Women's Division
of the Chamber of Commerce today, after the group hosted a Valentine Party
and membership drive at the West of the Pecos Museum Thursday night.
"We had a very good turnout," said Judy Tipton, president of the Women's
Division of the Chamber.
Along with regular activities with the Chamber, the Women's Division
takes a leading role in eight annual projects: Golden Girl, Little Miss
Cantaloupe, the Reeves County Fall Fair, Halloween Parade, Tour of Homes,
Christmas Gift Show, Christmas Lighting Contest, and the Christmas Parade.
Tipton said that anyone can join the Women's Division of the Chamber.
"You just have to want to help," she said.
The Women's Division meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 12
noon at the Pecos Valley Country Club. Dues for members are $20 per year.
Tipton said that anyone interested in joining the Women's Division should
call the Chamber of Commerce at 445-2406.
Underground surprises slow sewer project
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 12, 1999 - Problems connecting the old and new sewer line
being installed underneath Third Street (Business I-20) have kept the contractor
on one block of the 10-block project for a month, said Octavio Garcia,
utilities director for the city of Pecos.
Garcia reported to the Pecos City Council Thursday that a large number
of lines discovered underneath the street have also slowed the work.
"there are lines coming all across the highway, so we don't know if
they are live or not," Garcia said. "The gas company and all of them are
looking to see if they are live. Most of them are not in service."
Mayor Dot Stafford said that Holloman Construction Company has also
pulled a lot of their experienced people off the project to work in Colorado,
"so we have novice workers."
"They are trying to train them and work at the same time," Stafford
said. "They are hoping to get through with the job in Colorado and get
the skilled workers back."
Holloman won the contract to replace the main sewer line and 12 manholes
from Oleander Street on the west to Ash Street, one block east of Cedar
(U.S. Highway 285.)
They started at the lower end so they could connect the new sewer to
the old one and keep waste flowing while they work. The south half of the
block between Ash and Cedar Streets has been blocked off for the past month,
with two lanes of traffic open on the north half of the block.
Banks, offices plan to take off President's Day
Banks, state and federal offices will close Monday in observance of Presidents'
Day.
Reeves County and Town of Pecos City offices will remain open.
The Enterprise will publish Monday as usual.
Presidents' Day consolidates holidays formerly observed in honor of
Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Methodist church plans services for Ash Wednesday
First Methodist Church will observe Ash Wednesday with a special service
scheduled for 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Everyone is invited to attend the special service.
Obituary
Mary O. Evans
Mary Oglesby Evans, 47, died Thursday, February 11, 1999, at Odessa Regional
Hospital in Odessa.
Funeral services are set for 2 p.m. Saturday, at Pecos Funeral Home
Chapel with Rev. C.E. McIntyre officiating. Burial will follow at Mount
Evergreen Cemetery.
Evans was born December 21, 1951, in Pecos. She married Lance Dean Evans
on June 2, 1972, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Pecos.
A 1970 Pecos High School graduate, Mrs. Evans attended Sul Ross State
University and earned degrees in biology and secondary education. She later
received certification in special education.
Mrs. Evans was a homemaker and a teacher. Since 1990, she taught special
education students, at Crockett Middle School for two years and at Austin
Elementary School the past six years.
She was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and a supporter of the
American Cancer Society's "Walk for Life." She was a longtime member of
the Pecos Women's Golf Association and coached junior high girls' golf
for two years.
She is survived by her husband, Lance Evans, and their daughter, Blythe
Ann Evans, both of Pecos. Other survivors include her parents, W.R. and
Maxine Oglesby of Pecos; two brothers, Bill Oglesby of Pecos and Mike Oglesby
of Ozona; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer
Society.
Weather
PECOS, Feb. 12, 1999 - High Thursday 56; low last night 19. Tonight, clear.
Low 20-25. Light wind. Saturday, sunny. High in the mid to upper 60s. South
to southwest wind 10-15 mph.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, 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 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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