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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Thursday, July 8, 1999
First charges filed in Tercero murder
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 8, 1999 -- A man currently jailed in Odessa has been charged
with murder in connection with a body that was found northeast of Pecos
in May, and further arrests may be made in the case.
The body that was found May 20 on the Ward County side of the Pecos
River had been identified as being that of Pecos resident Ruben Garcia
Tercero. Garcia, 39, had been reported missing since April of 1998.
Ward County sheriff's deputies and Texas Rangers excavated a grave site
on the east side of the Pecos River below Barstow Dam, where a body had
been buried.
"We have served a warrant on one individual," said Ward County Sheriff
Jerry Helfin, who identified the man as Joe Angel Hernandez, 31, of Pecos.
He was served with a warrant for murder and his bond for that offense set
at $100,000, according to Heflin.
The sheriff said that the warrant had been served on Hernandez in Ector
County Jail in Odessa, where the suspect is currently being held on other
charges.
"He'll eventually be brought back to Ward County on that warrant," said
Heflin.
The charges Hernandez is being held on in Ector County include robbery,
evading arrest, threat causing bodily injury and death, murder and robbery.
Total bonds for Hernandez have been set at $202,000, according to Ector
County Jail personnel.
"We're still investigating this incident and more arrests will be made,"
said Helfin.
Heflin said a second warrant has been issued, but has not yet been served
on another individual.
"We be looking at some more that may be involved, but we haven't served
any other warrants yet," said Heflin.
Tercero's remains were found after Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez
obtained information about its location. He had been reported missing by
his mother, Catalina Garcia last year. She told deputies she had not seen
her son since April when he said he was going to a friend's house.
Garcia said at the time her son had a drug problem and suspected foul
play.
"He knew there was a warrant out for his arrest, because he had been
arrested before and they had upped the bond," said Garcia, who added Tercero
had been planning to turn himself in after visiting with his two sons,
who were scheduled to be in Pecos in June on 1998.
City asked to help fix up East Side Center
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 8, 1999 -- David Terry, president of The Tree Club, a new
organization promoting community cooperation, asked the Pecos City Council
this morning to improve and maintain the East Side Community Center.
Councilman Ricky Herrera said he got involved with the Juneteenth celebration
held at the center, and found it to be in poor condition.
"The floor is the biggest concern," he said. "Some doors needed new
locks. Since it is a city-owned building, they felt like some maintenance
and repairs should be handled through the city just like our other community
center."
Terry said the center is like a piece of history.
"When we have a major function, it takes people back down memory lane."
Someone has been renting out the building for events like quinceneras,
receptions and funerals, he said. And the Carver Reunion attracts 1,500
to 2,000 people every two years.
Children play around the building, where weeds have been allowed to
grow, and parents are concerned they may be bitten by a snake, he said.
City Manager Kenneth Neal said that Conrado Saldana has checked out
the building and recommended pouring a concrete floor at a cost of about
$5,000.
Councilman Danny Rodriguez suggested creating a separate line item in
the 1999-2000 budget for the center so that repairs could be ongoing.
Billy Woodruff said that the city should control the rental and use
the proceeds to maintain the building.
"It is just being demolished," he said. "The city did some work five
or six years ago, but you can't tell it. It is just like a bunch of savages
have been in there. They just tear it up and leave it."
Councilman Larry Levario said the city needs to set up guidelines on
who can use the building and start charging for its use.
The first priority should be to replace doors that have to be wired
shut because the locks are broken, he said.
Mayor Dot Stafford appointed a committee to determine the most urgent
needs.
Regarding a request to install a street light in the area of 1915 Missouri
St., the council decided not to set a precedent of placing street lights
in the middle of a block.
Numerous streets are dark in between the lighted corners, noted Levario.
"I don't think we need to be installing lights in the middle of the
block," he said. "They have to take some responsibility too. I have been
driving by there, and I hardly see any porch lights on."
Rejecting a proposal to advertise for bids on a used pickup for the
parks department that could make out-of-town trips, the council instructed
Neal to have department heads coordinate trips using one pickup.
Utilities Director Octavio Garcia said the water department makes a
trip to Odessa twice a month to deliver water samples, and they could pick
up supplies for the parks department.
Following a closed session to evaluate the city manager and city secretary,
the council approved salary increases of 1.5 percent for Kenneth Neal and
Geneva Martinez.
State wants hepatitis shots for area kids
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 8, 1999 -- Area health care practitioners are asking that
parents and guardians immunize their children with the newest hepatitis
vaccine before the start of school five weeks from now.
"We'd like for them to go ahead and start doing that now instead of
waiting until the last minute," said Reeves County Hospital Director of
Nursing L.G. Crawford.
Crawford was talking about the hepatitis A vaccination that is now required
for school enrollment in 32 border area counties. "We just received this
information today, but already we are making plans," said Crawford. "We
are already contacting our providers of the vaccine."
Children in the 32 border area counties of Texas must be vaccinated
against hepatitis A illness to attend public or private schools or child-care
facilities this school year. The requirement is effective Aug. 1 and applies
to children 2 and older who were born after Sept. 2, 1992.
"We're already well into July and August is just around the corner,
that's why we're telling parents and guardians to take care of this soon,"
said Crawford.
Vaccinations are already in stock and more have been ordered. "We want
to be sure to have enough for all the children," Crawford said.
The 32 counties are Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson,
Dimmitt, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis,
Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, McMullen, Pecos, Presidio,
Real, Reeves, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy,
Zapata and Zavala.
Under Texas Department of Health (TDH) rules approved by the Texas Board
of Health, 2-year-olds in the 32 counties must have one dose of the two-dose
hepatitis A vaccination series to attend child-care facilities. Children
3 and older must have two doses given at least six months apart and must
have had the first dose before they can enroll in schools or child-care
facilities.
"Individuals need to contact the health care providers," said Crawford.
"Also, people that bring their children to the emergency room for treatment
will be asked if the child has been immunized with this new vaccine."
Children who have had hepatitis A infection are considered immune to
the illness and do not have to be vaccinated if proof of immunity or previous
infection is provided.
Though the rules only apply to school enrollment, TDH recommends that
all of the estimated 228,000 children ages 2 through 6 in the 32 counties
be vaccinated against hepatitis A.
Studies indicate that 50 percent of the children in some of the 32 counties
have been infected with hepatitis A by age 10. During the last 10 years
there has been an average of 39 cases of hepatitis A infection per 100,000
population per year reported in the 32-county area. The U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention recommends routine hepatitis A vaccinations
be considered in areas with at least 10 cases per 100,000 population per
year over a 10-year period.
Hepatitis A is a viral disease spread by the fecal-oral route through
close personal contact or by consuming contaminated food or water. The
disease affects the liver. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite,
nausea, abdominal discomfort, jaundice and dark urine. Symptoms can last
several weeks. Young children may be infected without showing any signs
of illness.
Satellites map local fields in eradication zone
PECOS, July 8, 1999 -- Using state-of-the-art technology provided
by Global Positioning Satellites, the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation
has begun an extensive mapping process of all cotton fields in the El Paso/Trans
Pecos Boll Weevil Eradication Zone.
"The mapping phase provides us with the precision we need as we begin
the eradication process," said EP/TP District Supervisor Larry Rodgers.
"We use the same GPS satellites that the U.S. military employs giving us
unparalleled accuracy that is so vital in the program," Rodgers said.
"The other critical element is working with cotton growers to gather
information relative to establishing communication lines identifying field
locations, acreage, and point of contacts," he added.
Grower participation, cooperation and understanding are vital to a successful
eradication effort in the zone.
"Having access to fields, we are able to efficiently set and check boll
weevil traps and this will further enhance the effectiveness of the program,"
Rodgers said.
"Precise mapping helps cotton growers by allowing very accurate applications
of Malathion ULV, the only insecticide used by the Foundation and the same
insecticide that many communities use when spraying for pesky mosquitoes.
The ULV stands for ultra low volume and it is applied at 12 ounces per
acre," said Program Director Osama El-Lissy.
"After many years of research
Federal court hearing for Herrera delayed
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 8, 1999 -- U.S. Magistrate Judge Stuart Platt had a busy
day scheduled for the Pecos courtroom today, with defendants indicted by
the grand jury last month to be arraigned.
Felony pleas are also on the docket, as Judge Platt assists District
Judge Royal Furgeson with his caseload in the absence of Senior Judge Lucius
Bunton.
One show cause hearing will not take place as scheduled because the
subject is in jail in Tennessee.
Bail bondsman Joey Herrera has been subpoenaed to explain why he should
not been held in contempt of court for failing to appear before Judge Platt
on June 10 for a hearing on a bond matter.
On April 20, Herrera posted $50,000 surety bail for Jesus Ortiz and
$25,000 surety for Gia Ortiz, charging them $7,500.
On the judge's amended order, Herrera later withdrew the surety and
posted $5,000 cash bond, then requested an additional payment of $7,500
from the defendants, according to court records.
Their attorney, Adrian Chavez, filed a motion claiming that Herrera
had threatened both defendants that he would withdraw the bonds if they
failed to pay the additional $7,500.
Chavez alleged that Herrera is not authorized to post bonds in federal
court.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Billy Johnson said that, since Herrera is in jail
in Tennessee on another bond matter, the Pecos hearing was canceled.
Judge releases Guerrero, extends probation
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 8, 1999 -- Visiting judge Pat Baskin on Wednesday extended
the probation of Juan Humberto Guerrero for six months and ordered him
released from jail, following a lengthy hearing in 143rd District Court.
District Attorney Randy Reynolds had filed a motion to revoke Guerrero's
probation shortly before the term expired on June 25. He had been convicted
of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and with delivery of cocaine
on Oct. 9, 1992.
District Judge Bob Parks had placed Guerrero on 10 years community supervision
on June 25, 1993, but reduced that in 1997 to six years.
Reynolds alleged in the motion to revoke probation that Guerrero had
left Reeves County without written permission on Jan. 2, and was not at
home that night as required.
Records of the Three Palms Inn were subpoenaed to prove that Guerrero
was in Presidio that night.
In the four-hour hearing, two probation officers testified, as did a
chemist with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Numerous individuals testified on Guerrero's behalf.
Pecos victory helps Murray set cash record
PECOS, July 8, 1999 -- The $11,608 won by Ty Murray at this past
weekend's West of the Pecos Rodeo helped the seven-time National Finals
Rodeo champion set a record for a single weekend of earnings, the Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association said Wednesday.
Murray won the All-Around and Saddle Bronc title at the West of the
Pecos Rodeo, and collected $11,608 on the way to a $41,865 weekend at six
rodeos across the Western United States.
The seven-time NFR All-Around champ won $10,613 in Greely, Colo., $5,741
in Cody, Wyo., and $5,265 in St. Paul, Ore. Murray picked up another $6,655
competing in rodeos at Prescott, Ariz., Molalla, Ore., and Oakley, Utah.
He moved from fifth to second place in the 1999 All Around standings, trailing
only roper Fred Whitfield, who placed third in calf roping in Pecos last
weekend and went over the $100,000 mark in single season earnings faster
than anyone in PRCA history.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Lotto Texas drawing Wednesday night: Winning
numbers drawn: 8-14-21-23-28-35. Estimated jackpot: $17 million. Number
matching six of six: 0. Matching five of six: 101. Prize: $1,641. Matching
four of six: 8,906. Prize: $67.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Wednesday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 7-3-7 (seven, three, seven)
Obituaries
Gail Berry
Gail Berry, 53, of Andrews, died Tuesday, July 6, 1999, in Shannon Medical
Center in San Angelo.
Services will be held Saturday, July 10, in Means Memorial United Methodist
Church with Rev. Jim Terry, officiating. Burial will follow in the Andrews
Old Cemetery.
She was born July 29, 1945, in Andrews, had lived in Pecos, San Angelo
and Andrews, was employed with GTE for 32 years and retired in April 1999.
She was a member of the Means Memorial United Methodist Church in Andrews.
Survivors include her mother, Jessie Hallene Roberts of Andrews; a daughter,
Sherri Dawley of San Angelo; a son, Clint Berry of Colorado Springs, Colo.;
a brother, Bill Roberts of Andrews and three grandchildren.
McNett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Pablo Garcia
Pablo B. Garcia, 90, died Wednesday, July 7, 1999, at Reeves County Hospital.
A rosary will be held, at 7 p.m., Friday, at Martinez Funeral Home.
Services are set for 10 a.m., Saturday, at the Church of Christ of Latter
Day Saints with Bishop John Swanson officiating. A military graveside service
will be held at Toyah Cemetery.
He was born March 2, 1909, in Ojinaga, Chih., Mexico, was a longtime
Pecos resident, had retired from Grace Co. and as a custodian for the Church
of Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had served in the U.S. Army during World
War II in India-Burma from Oct. 1943-July 1945. He received six medals,
the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, two Bronze Service Stars, the Purple
Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Emblem-WWII.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Atanasio and Simona Garcia.
Survivors include two daughters, Petra Lara of Pecos and Ramona Chavez
of Holland, Mich.; 15 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great
grandchildren.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
High Wednesday 97; low last night 69. Tonight, partly cloudy with a less
than 20 percent chance of evening showers or thunderstorms. Low around
70. Light southeast wind. Friday, partly cloudy with a less than 20 percent
chance of showers and thunderstorms. High in the mid 90s. Southeast wind
10-20 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
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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