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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, May 12, 1999
Juvenile court has full docket
By ROSE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 12, 1999 -- It's been an extremely busy month for juvenile
court officials, with several cases pending and others getting ready to
go to trial, according to Reeves County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
Alberto Alvarez.
Alvarez said officials are trying to deal with the juvenile problems
as fast as they can. "It was a very busy month, but it's frustrating for
the county prosecutor (Walter Holcombe)," he said.
"He's working on them as fast as he can, but there's a multitude of
problems when dealing with juvenile offenders," Alvarez said.
In listing the juvenile crime activity, Alvarez said there currently
is one juvenile in the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center.
"There might be more today, if those offenders are picked up," said
Alvarez, referring to juveniles scheduled to be arrested for violating
probation terms within the next few days.
However, until improvements are made in the local facility, Reeves County
has to send most of its juvenile detainees to other West Texas locations.
Two juveniles from Pecos, one male and one female, are currently in
boot camp at Sweetwater in Nolan County; one juvenile ordered held for
a probation violation is in the Pecos County Juvenile Center in Fort Stockton;
and there is one male and one female being detained in Midland County and
one male in Ector County.
There have also been nine juveniles who have all been charged with aggravated
assault, a felony.
One juvenile offender has a pending court date for reckless conduct.
"He took shots at the Lamar Middle School with a rifle, some months back,"
said Alvarez.
One juvenile has court pending for resisting arrest, another was arrested
last week, on a probation violation and a third teenager was arrested for
minor in possession of alcoholic beverage. "This one had been arrested,
and then was re-arrested for the minor in possession charge just a few
days later," said Alvarez.
One case is pending, for sexual assault and one other case is pending
on a juvenile for possession of marijauna over 30 pounds, according to
Alvarez.
Alvarez said the juveniles have to be relocated to other facilities
because the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center is only certified for
now as a holdover facility.
"This costs the county from $60 to $70 a day," said Alvarez.
The county foots the bill to have these juveniles detained elsewhere,
since most of the time, the parents are indigent and have the ability or
the money to pay for this, according to Alvarez.
Alvarez said two other juveniles will be going to court soon to get
their case heard, on criminal mischief, involving grafitti and other damage
that occured on Dec. 14, 1998, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 416 S. Plum.
According to police reports, there was extensive damage done inside
the church. The suspects, both of whom police described as juveniles, damaged
the parish hall, study office and the pastor's office. They also entered
the sanctuary, but no extensive damage was done in that area of the church.
However, everything that was breakable in the other parts of the church
was damaged, according to the investigative report provided by the Pecos
Police Department.
Several items were also taken at this time and both juveniles have been
in trouble in the past, according to reports.
"So these two are ready to go to court, they're starting the process,"
said Alvarez. "At a hearing held last week, one of the juvenile's attorneys
filed a motion to suppress evidence."
However, Reeves County-Court-At-Law Judge Lee Green ruled the evidence
could be used in court, "So we're ready to proceed," Alvarez said.
The juveniles, who have been charged with aggravated assault could face
a possible life sentence, if they are tried as adults, according to Alvarez.
"What these kids are looking at whether they be tried as adults or juveniles,
in what court," said Alvarez. "Will they be tried in juvenile court or
as adults? That's the first step."
The county attorney will decide how to file the petition. "If he decides
it's referred to adult court, they'll have a transfer hearing to hear the
evidence," said Alvarez.
"They're a lot of things that need to be addressed," said Alvarez.
If they are tried as juveniles they can still receive 40 years. They
will be detained at a juvenile facility, they do so much time at this facility
and then are transferred to an adult prison, according to Alvarez.
The cases are currently being reviewed by Holcombe.
"It's just really tough right now. He's got a lot to do and there's
a limited amount of attorneys in the community," said Alvarez.
Classic seeks right to close local office
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 12, 1999 -- Cable rate increases, franchise fee, a local
office and an option to renew after 10 years are changes to be considered
by Pecos City Council Thursday when they negotiate a new franchise with
Classic Cable.
In response to the council's earlier proposal, Classic has agreed to
a 10-year franchise term with a 10-year option to renew.
Classic Cable currently has an office in Pecos at Second and Oak Streets
and employs two local technician. But under the franchise agreement the
company has offered, Classic said they did not have to have an office open
here, but would make an 800 number available to all subscribers, and a
technician would assist with system-related issues or questions.
United Video Cablevision had a similar system in place in the early
1990s, after it closed all of its area offices except for Monahans. Classic
Cable reopened an office in Pecos and added a local technician when they
bought United Video's West Texas franchises in 1995.
City Attorney Scott Johnson said he would recommend that the council
not approve a new agreement until the stipulation about maintaining a local
office is put into the contract.
As to rates and charges, Classic added a clause to the contract that
they would charge in accordance with federal law.
The council will also consider amending the ordinance relating to officers
of the fire department as follows:
* One chief, a first assistant chief and second assistant chief
* Seven captains, one of each company
* One secretary
These officers are to be elected for a two-year term by members of the
fire department, confirmed by the city council, and commissioned by the
mayor. Elections are to be held on the first Thursday in November of odd-numbered
years.
Anyone who wishes to run for the office of fire chief shall possess
at least a basic certification license, issued by the Texas Commission
on Fire Protection, at the time of the election.
Other agenda items include an updated cafeteria plan for employee health
insurance, award bid for water well with pump and concrete pad at Worsham
well field, policy on sale of tax foreclosed property, appoint member to
tax resale committee,
Consider semi-annual audit report by Dan Painter, consider engineering
agreement with Frank X. Spencer on water well project, discuss sale of
real property - part of Lot 2, Block 3, North Pecos Addition - offer made
by Arturo Hinojos.
Monthly reports include municipal and juvenile courts.
Newly-elected city councilman Larry Levario will take the oath of office,
and the council will elect a mayor pro-tem.
Councilman Danny Rodriguez will lead the pledge of allegiance, and Ricky
Herrera will voice the invocation to begin the meeting at 7:30 a.m. in
council chambers at City Hall.
Pot smugglers receive five-year terms
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 12, 1999 -- U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson handed out
60-month jail terms on Monday to three defendants for importing and/or
possessing marijuana with intent to distribute
As part of his weekly docket in the Pecos Division Furgeson sentenced
Oscar Ortiz-Venegas, Francisco Acosta-Estrella and Alberto Ramos to the
five-year terms, adding that Ortiz-Venegas' attempt to escape from officers
increased his time in prison.
Sentenced to 24 months in prison for marijuana possession were Refugio
Villalobos-Franco, Carlos Valdez-Castillo, Laurenzo Villa-Espinosa and
Cliff Ellis. Reynaldo Grielva-Hermosillo drew 24 months for importing marijuana,
and Yeden Alvarado Lujan was sentenced to 24 months for illegal entry.
Israel Brito-Rodriguez was found guilty in a bench trial of unlawful
transportation of firearms.
Officers testified that Brito had a Taurus .357 Magnum revolver in a
holster and a Lorcin .25 caliber pistol in his possession at the time of
his arrest.
Omar Cano-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to importing marijuana.
Madera Valley receives grant for tank, pipelines
PECOS, May 12, 1999 -- Work is already underway on a 66,000-gallon ground
storage tank and distribution lines for the Madera Valley Water Supply
Corporation.
Funding is through a $460,400 loan and a grant from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture Rural Development agency, said Steve Carriker, Texas state
director.
Carriker was in Verhalen Friday to present a $1.5 million check to Madera
Valley directors. Sue Lee, widow of the late Cecil Jim Lee, for whom the
project is named, was also present.
"USDA Rural Development is charged with assisting rural communities
by administering programs targeted to strengthening the economy and infrastructure
of rural areas," Carriker said.
Dubbed the Cecil Jim Lee Well Field Project, Madera Valley's storage
tank will handle water from a well field to be developed to transport water
to the Lindsay Addition and Sand Lake area, serving 640 users.
Herman Tarin is president of the district. Directors are Jack Hoffman,
Gus Natividad, R.P. Bowie, Elia Estrada, Paul Ward, vice president; Clay
Lee, secretary; John Clark and Charles Bowers.
"One of the goals of USDA Rural Development is to provide water and
wastewater treatment programs that target public health benefits and economic
opportunities to America's rural communities," said Carriker.
"The Clinton-Gore Administration strongly supports clean water and modern
sewage systems for all Americans. Projects such as Madera Valley WSC will
help make the environment cleaner and protect the public health issues
of the local residents."
In fiscal year 1998, USDA RD made loans and grants totaling $58 million
to rural communities for water and wastewater improvements. USDA's water
and wastewater program is designed to bring fresh, clean drinking water
and sanitary and environmentally sound facilities to rural America's 53
million residents.
Track pact, grid coach on P-B-T agenda
PECOS, May 12, 1999 -- An interlocal agreement with Reeves County and the
Town of Pecos of City on repairs to the track at Eagle Stadium will top
the agenda for the regular Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board meeting scheduled
for 6 p.m., Thursday in the board room.
The high school track was last fully repaired in 1983, and its poor
current condition has forced the cancellation of both the West of the Pecos
Relays, and the Pecos Junior High Relays in recent years.
Board members will meet behind closed doors to discuss applicants for
head football coach, and are expected to name a replacement for Dan Swaim,
who resigned the post on April 8. Assistant coach Gary Grubbs, Zavala Middle
School coach Jerry Parent and Ector County ISD junior high coach Fred Carter
are the applicants for the position.
The board will also recognize boys and girls golf district champions;
girls softball district champions; boys baseball district champions and
the junior engineering technical society regional champions during Thursday's
meeting, and will present plaques to outgoing board members Alberto Alvarez
and Daisy Roquemore.
Billie Sadler and Frank Apolinar, Jr. were elected to the board in uncontested
races, and will be sworn in for three-year terms during the meeting.
In other business the board will discuss and approve proposal for purchasing
software and hardware for tax collection services for Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD; approve resolution for Media Honor Roll; listen to the second reading
of TASB Policy Update 60; and discuss/approve appointing representative
to be on the committee to sell foreclosed property and set length of appointment.
The board will listen to a Y2K report and discuss and approve summer
recreation program, and discuss other personnel and an under-evaluations
of minerals lawsuit.
Other items for discussion and approval include:
* 1998-99 budget amendments.
* Bid for Lot 8, Block 4, Briggs Addition, Barstow, Ward County.
* Set budget meetings.
* Safe and Drug Free Co-op.
* Payday schedule for 1999-2000.
* Revising Policy DK (Local) Assignments and Schedules.
* Bids for Pecos High school Building A roof repair/replacement.
* Appoint board member as TASB delegate and alternate
After the executive session the group will reconvene in open session
and discuss and approve responses to Apache Corporation's discovery requests
(under-evaluation of minerals lawsuit); discuss/approve head football coach;
discuss/approve professional personnel: appointment, resignations, retirements,
reassignments; discuss/approve placing all secondary principals and special
education director on 226 days contracts.
In addition, board members will discuss "Dress for Success"; attendance
report, tax report, depository securities report, cafeteria report, commodities
received report, current bills and financial report, investment transaction
report and reconciled bank balance report.
Under miscellaneous the board will discuss parents and board members
to present diplomas at the Pecos High School graduation, May 28, at Eagle
Stadium (weather permitting).
Appraisal meeting to begin review process
Reeves County Appraisal District's review board will meet at 9 a.m. Friday
to begin the 1999 review process, said Carol King Markham, chief appraiser.
Markham will notify all taxing jurisdictions of the estimated appraised
values for the 1999 tax year. These estimates are subject to changes made
by the appraisal review board during the hearings in June.
The review board will be in session on other days until all tax appraisals
have been equalized and approved and all protests heard.
Review board members are Bob McNutt, chairman, Reecia Pigman and Charles
Mitchell.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Tuesday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 10-18-29-35-37. Number matching five of five: 1. Prize per winner:
$86,709. Winning ticket sold in: Laredo. Matching four of five: 227. Prize:
$573.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Tuesday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 0-5-1 (zero, five, one)
Obituary
Lela Kelley
Lela Clyde Cole Kelley died Monday, May 10, 1999, in Escondido, Calif.
A graveside service will be held in Balmorhea.
She was a teacher of many years. After she graduated from Sul Ross State
Teachers College in Alpine, she began teaching in Pecos at Earl Bell School,
moved to Odessa in 1957, where she taught at Milam and Goliad Elementary
Schools. She studied photography under Martha Edwards at UTPB and was an
active member in the Permian Basin Gem and Mineral Society, the Permian
Basin Stamp Club, the West Texas Archaeological Society and the Daughters
of the Republic of Texas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wm. E. Kelley, her parents,
Jeff and Edna Cole, one brother, Julian Cole, one sister, Mary Lou Cole.
Survivors include one son, Bill Kelley of San Diego; two daughters,
Mary Ussery of Coronado, Calif. and Elizabeth Smith of Odessa; five grandsons;
one granddaughter; two great-grandsons and three great-granddaughters.
Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, May 12, 1999 -- High Tuesday 86; low last night 54. Tonight, increasing
cloudiness with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight.
Low in the mid to upper 50s. southeast wind 10-20 mph. Chance of rain 20
percent. Thursday, partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
high in the mid 80s. South wind 15-25 mph and gusty.
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
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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