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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Monday, April 26, 1999

Bigham on trial for girlfriend's slaying

By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 26, 1999 - Jury selection began this morning in the murder trial of Christopher John Bigham, 36, of Washington State.

Bigham is accused of shooting his girlfriend, Lora Ann Brooks, on Dec. 1, 1997 at his 20-acre "ranch" on the Pecos River.

He was arrested Aug. 19, 1998 after Brooks' parents reported to the FBI that their daughter was missing and that Bigham had returned to Washington state with her three children.

Bigham later admitted to Texas Ranger Jerry Villalobos that he shot Brooks in self defense and burned her body in a barrel.

A Department of Public Safety dive team retrieved a barrel from the Pecos River, and pathologists determined that debris in the barrel contained bones of two human toes.

Brooks' daughter, Anna Martin, 14, is one of several witnesses subpoenaed to testify during the 143rd District Court trial, which Judge Bob Parks said may take two days.

Bigham's attorneys, Adrian and Brian Chavez, have said they may raise the insanity defense. Anticipating that, Judge Parks earlier ordered a psychiatric examination of the defendant to determine if he was sane at the time of the shooting.

District Attorney Randy Reynolds and his assistant, Lisa LaPlant, are prosecuting for the state.

Local marshal gets into foreign affairs

By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 26, 1999 - Nine years after entering the U.S. Marshal service, deputy marshal Billy K. Johnson made his first international extradition trip last week, returning a suspect wanted for murder to Ector County.

Johnson and deputy Bob Quinn of El Paso left Monday for Frankfurt, Germany, where they spent two days in the cold, rainy climate.

"I was definitely glad to see West Texas," Johnson said of his arrival at 5 a.m. Saturday.

Johnson said he enjoyed the trip and "I would like to do it steady."

While in Frankfurt, Johnson and Quinn trained with a German S.W.A.T. team.

"I didn't learn anything new, but it was different," Johnson said. "The German Border Patrol and German police are very professional, impressive organizations, and they treated us very well."

Besides the extradition warrant for murder out of Ector County, Johnson had a federal warrant for the suspect on a charge of crack cocaine possession.

"He was in jail for attempted murder in Germany," Johnson said. "He had been in jail 10 months awaiting trial. I think they finally dismissed the charges."

Gospel singer to perform

PECOS, April 26, 1999 - Gospel singer Gary McSpadden will appear in concert at First Baptist Church in the 11 a.m. worship service next Sunday, May 2, said Mike Pharaoh, music director.

McSpadden has recorded 12 solo albums while maintaining a heavy concert schedule. He also writes songs, counsels young Christian artists and is involved in mission outreach.

As a teenager, Gary's dream of being involved in Gospel music became reality. After joining the Statesmen as a fill-in for Jake Hess, Gary soon became a member of the Oak Ridge Boys. From there, he and Jake Hess formed the Grammy award-winning Imperials.

Aligning his singing career with hands-on ministry, Mcspadden jointly pastored a church with his father. Beginning with a handful of members, the church quickly expanded to more than 1,000 in attendance.

McSpadden's music ministry in the church became so widely known that Bill Gaither, one of the most respected men in Gospel music, asked him to join the Gaither Trio, which he traveled with for 11 years.

Songs McSpadden has written from personal experience include "Jesus Lord To Me," "Hallelujah Praise The Lamb" and "Jesus Be Jesus In Me."

He hosts Gary McSpadden's Gospel Jubilee in Branson, Mo., broadcast each week on FamilyNet.

Gary McSpadden Ministries supports mission work in Romania, India, Mexico, Haiti, Ireland, Scotland and inner city outreach in the United States.

Pharaoh said that everyone is invited to attend the free concert.

Drug task force topic for city

PECOS, April 26, 1999 - Pecos City Council has set an emergency meeting for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to discuss joining the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force for the 1999-2000 grant period and to consider acquisition of real property.

The discussion of property will first be held in executive session, and any action will be taken in open session.

No late hopefuls apply for PHS coaching job

PECOS, April 26, 1999 - There were no late applications for the vacant head football coaching position at Pecos High School, leaving three candidates vying for the job between now and the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board's May meeting.

Assistant varsity coach, Gary Grubbs, Zavala Middle School coach Jerry Parent and Fred Carter, a Pecos native currently working in the Ector County ISD are the three who have applied for the position, after head coach Dan Swaim resigned on April 8 to become an assistant coach at Midland High.

Gome Olibas, personnel director for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, said on Friday he hoped to conduct interviews this week, and that the school board would make a final decision on May 13.
 

Texas Lottery

AUSTIN (AP) _ Results of the Lotto Texas drawing Saturday night: Winning numbers drawn: 11-17-26-32-38-49. Estimated jackpot: $7 million. Number matching six of six: None Matching five of six: 79. Prize: $1,615. Matching four of six: 4,237. Prize: $108.

***

AUSTIN (AP) _ Results of the Texas Million drawing Friday night: Winning numbers drawn: 67-56-88-17. Number matching four of four in Group One: none. Number matching four of four in Group Two: one. Prize: $25,000. Number matching four of four in Group Three: one. Prize: $10,000. Number matching three of four in any group: 437. Prize: $300.

***

AUSTIN (AP) _ Results of the Cash 5 drawing Friday night: Winning numbers drawn: 8-27-28-30-35. Number matching five of five: One. Prize per winner: $91,271. Winning ticket sold in: McAllen. Matching four of five: 194. Prize: $706.

***

AUSTIN (AP) _ The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Friday by the Texas Lottery, in order: 4-1-6 (four, one, six)

***

AUSTIN (AP) _ The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Saturday by the Texas Lottery, in order: 8-2-0 (eight, two, zero)

Obituary

Amparo Gallego

Services for Amparo Gallego, 70, of Saragosa, were at 2 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Saragosa. She died Saturday, April 24, 1999 at her residence. Burial was in Saragosa Cemetery, directed by Martinez Funeral Home.

She was born Nov. 14, 1928, in Terlingua, was a housewife and a Catholic.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Gallego of Saragosa; seven sons, Joe Gallego III of Corona, Calif., Billy Joe Gallego and Jimmy Gallego of Saragosa, Freddy Gallego and Alan Gallego of Pecos, Tony Gallego of Presidio and Sammy Gallego of San Angelo; three daughters, Nora Briceno of Pecos, Linda Briceno of Saragosa and Alexa Gallego of San Angelo; three brothers, Victoriano Molinar Jr. of Alpine, Raul Molinar of Pecos and Joe Molinar of San Antonio; two sisters, Alicia Portillo of El Paso and Elva Molinar of Odessa; 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
 

Weather

PECOS, April 26, 1999 - High Sunday 86; low last night 49. High Saturday 58; overnight low 54. High Friday 91, low 49. Trace of rain Saturday. April rain trace. Year-to-date .48 inch. Tonight, fair. Low in the lower 50s. Southwest wind 5-10 mph. Tuesday, mostly sunny and warmer. High near 90. South wind 10-15 mph.
 



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
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