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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, July 30, 1999
`Planned unemployment' ahead for Pineda
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 30, 1999 -- Where have the years gone? Dora Pineda asks
herself that question as she gets ready to retire from her 30-year job.
Pineda is a Workforce Development Specialist IV, for the Texas Workforce
Commission of Pecos and today is her last day at the office.
Pineda started working at the unemployment office on a part-time basis
as the front clerk, a position she held for five years. Then for the past
18 years has done a lot of traveling and a lot of learning.
"I feel happy that I'll get to do other things, but I feel sad about
leaving because I want to continue helping people," said Pineda.
Pineda has done plenty of traveling and learning during her 30 years
at the office. "Every Tuesday I would go to Marfa, Alpine and Presidio,"
said Pineda.
The last few years, she has been busy trying to help as many people
as she can.
"These last few years I have been working with all migrant workers,"
said Pineda. "This is especially during the summer, when they come to work
at the onion sheds, cantaloupe fields and packing sheds."
Pineda helped the migrant workers, going as far as going to their work
site. "Even though I had other primary duties, I would still go out and
try to help them," she said. "I worked a lot with the Migrant Summer Farm
Workers Program and did all I could to provide them with jobs and plenty
of information."
Because of her numerous work-related responsibilities, Pineda was not
often at home. "I was always at work or traveling and now I just want to
spend time with them," she said. "We often worked weekends also, which
limited what we could do as a family."
Her family consists of her husband, MacArthur and her children, Edward,
Nancy Ann and Steven.
"I'm going to miss her," said co-worker Maria Ortiz. "I've just been
here a short time, but have learned a lot from her."
When she doesn't know the answer to something or needs help, she relied
on Pineda to help her out. "I knew she was there and I could count on her,"
Ortiz said.
Along with helping migrants find employment, she also provided other
services for the group. "I generally informed them of their rights and
also provided services to all veterans," said Pineda.
She said that her services to veterans brought her great joy, since
she herself is a veteran. The experience she gained through the Armed Forces
helped her get the job at the Workforce commission, she said.
"It prepared me for this job, gave me the ability and experience to
meet people and to help them," she said.
Pineda was the first Hispanic female in Reeves County to volunteer for
the Armed Forces. She served in the U.S. Army from June 5, 1958 until Dec.
4, 1960. "Back then it was called the Women's Army Corp, which is just
the regular Army now," she said.
She spent 18 months in Korea and Japan and enjoyed her travels immensely.
"I loved it and I learned a lot," said Pineda. "The experience helped me
to cope with problems and help others."
She was a communication specialists during that time.
Pineda also offers counseling at the Workforce commission. "I counsel
them, help them prepare for job interviews," said Pineda. "I was just basically
the employee services provider for the commission."
Pineda helped out the disabled and was the handicapped specialist for
the agency. "Through the agency, I have received a lot of training," said
Pineda. "I've learned a lot these past 30 years," she said.
She plans to enjoy spending time reading, writing and doing some traveling.
"Maybe not right away, we won't travel, but that's one of our plans," Pineda
said. "I want to spend time with my family," she said.
Pineda's last few days have been filled with dinner out, provided by
her co-workers, a balloon bouquet, cake and punch.
"We've been cramming since we found out she was retiring," said co-worker
Eva Diaz. "There's so much to learn from her and so short time," she said.
"She's very pleasant to work with and we've really enjoyed working with
her," said Diaz.
"They're fast learners," said Pineda. "I don't expect that they will
have many problems," she said.
"She knows all the answers, I just don't know what we're going to do
without her," said Diaz.
Pecos woman indicted for misuse of funds
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 30, 1999 -- A Pecos woman was indicted by a federal grand
jury Thursday on 70 counts of misuse of Title XVI benefits, while 23 other
inditements were returned on drug and illegal entry charges.
Yolanda Hinojos, 57, of 1718 Jackson Blvd., was indicted for misuse
of Title XVI (Social Security) benefits on 70 occasions between Aug. 3,
1994 and Feb. 1, 1997, the grand jury indictment alleges. Following the
indictment, she went before Magistrate Stuart Platt in U.D. District Court
in Pecos, and was later released after posting bond set by Platt of $15,000.
According to the indictment, Hinojos made an application to receive
federal government benefits in the name of Carlota Nunez, for use and benefit
by Nunez, but converted all or part of those benefits for other uses.
The felony indictment for misuse of government funds carries a maximum
sentence of five years on each count, along with restitution and a $100
special assessment.
Hinojos' indictment was the only one involving a Pecos resident by the
federal grand jury, but several Odessa residents were among those indicted
on drug or illegal entry-related charges.
Those indicted included:
— Maricruz Chavez of Odessa: Importation of a controlled substance and
possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to distribute;
— Mary Margaret Marquez of Odessa: Possession of a controlled substance
(marijuana more than 100 kg and less than 1000 kg) with intent to distribute;
_ Omar Arnold Rodriguez of Odessa: Possession of a controlled substance
(marijuana more than 100 kg and less than 1000 kg) with intent to distribute;
— Rolando Chavez Montalvo of Odessa: Possession of a controlled substance
(marijuana more than 100 kg and less than 1000 kg) with intent to distribute;
— David Salatiel Antuna of Odessa, and Christopher M. Clark and Terrie
Jean Wellborn, both of Baton Rouge, La.: Possession of a controlled substance
(marijuana more than 100 kg and less than 1000 kg) with intent to distribute;
— Reggie Olivas and Rebecca Carrillo, both of Odessa: Importation of
a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a controlled substance
with intent to distribute and use of a minor to avoid detection;
— Francisco Torres-Gamon of Wichita Falls: Importation of a controlled
substance (cocaine over 500 grams and under 5 kg) and possession of a controlled
substance with intent to distribute;
— Miguel Angel Mata-Sandoval of El Porvenir, Chih., Mex.: Three counts
of importing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance
(marijuana more than 100 kg and less than 1000 kg) with intent to distribute
on Apr 24, 1999; and one count of possession of a controlled substance
(cocaine over 5 kg) with intent to distribute of May 22, 1999;
— Thomas Rodriguez-Carrasco, Colonia Dos De Octubre, Chih., Mex.: Possession
of a controlled substance (marijuana more than 100 kg and less than 1000
kg) with intent to distribute;
— Marcelo Lopez Quintero, Camarga, Chih., Mex.; Possession of a controlled
substance (marijuana more than 100 kg and less than 1000 kg) with intent
to distribute;
— Jose Manuel Lopez of Amarillo: Importing a controlled substance (marijuana)
and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;
— Raul Gonzales-Nava, Acapulco, Mex.: Illegal entry with enhanced penalty
for 1995 felony possession of marijuana conviction out of Orange Co., Calif.;
— Carlos Gomez-Cortes: Illegal entry after deportation;
— Ezequiel Ibarra-Barron, Monclova, Coah., Mex.: Illegal entry after
deportation;
— Juan Antonio Salivar-Salasies, Juan Aldama, Zact., Mex.: Illegal entry
after deportation;
— Adrian Fraire-Esquivel, Juan Aldama, Zact., Mex.: Illegal entry after
deportation;
— Jaime Baeza Carrasco, illegal entry after deportation;
— Lazaro Pando-Hernandez, Ojinaga, Chih., Mex.: Illegal entry with enhanced
penalty for 1995 felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
conviction out of 83rd District Court;
— Fernando Jasso Arevalo, Ojianaga, Chih., Mex.: Illegal entry with
enhanced penalty for 1997 DUI conviction out of Midland County;
— Ramon Olivarez-Munoz of Gilmer: Three counts of transportation of
an illegal alien;
— Miguel Rodriguez of Dallas: Three counts of transportation of an illegal
alien;
— Sergio Garcia-Rodriguez: Four counts of transportation of an illegal
alien;
— Isaias Goves-Flores of Irving, Tx.: Two counts of transportation of
an i
— Juvencio Lomos-Lozano of Presidio: Failure to appear;
— Delfina Carrasco of Portales, N.M.: Failure to appear;
Guilty pleas were also taken in federal court on three defendants, while
a fourth, Juan Ramon Salazar Ramirez, was sentenced to 51 months after
pleading guilty to conspiracy to a possess with intent to distribute over
50 kg of marijuana.
James Earl Luna pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possession
with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Brenda Joe Alvarado pled
guilty to one county of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana)
with intent to distribute and Guadalupe Belmirez pled guilty to conspiracy
to possess marijuana with intent to distribute.
City scores high in TCDP grant bid
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 30, 1999 -- Pecos hopes of obtaining a grant from the Texas
Community Development Program improved on Thursday, when it's application
ranked second out of 17 area cities who presented their requests to the
Permian Basin Regional Review Committee.
However, Town of Pecos City Manager Kenneth Neal said the high ranking
on the list for the 1999-2000 Texas Community Development Program grants
doesn't assure the city it will receive the money..
"This was just at the regional level, after this it will go to Austin,"
said Neal. "Usually the top seven or eight get funding and the rest don't."
That's not good news for Balmorhea, which finished at the bottom of
the rankings by the committee, following their meeting in Midland on Thursday.
The 17 cities are seeking a share of the $1,814,758 allocated to the
local TCDP by the State of Texas. "They don't know how much funding we'll
get if any, but we'll know after it goes to Austin," said Neal.
These scores do not guarantee the final ranking will look like this,
he added.
In the scoring at the regional level, Wickett came in first; city of
Pecos, second; Monahans, third; Crane, fourth; Grandfalls, fifth; Stanton,
sixth; Pecos County, seventh; Ector County, eighth; Lamesa, ninth; Kermit,
10th; Big Spring 11th; McCamey, 12th; Glasscock County 13th; Seminole,
14th; Segraves, 15th; Midland County, 16th and Balmorhea 17th.
"We're hoping for the best once this application goes to Austin," said
Neal, who added the grant did not have to specify how the money would be
used.
Killer sought revenge on `greedy people'
By PATRICIA J. MAYS
Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA, July 30, 1999 — The investor who killed his family and nine
people at two brokerage firms vowed in a note to kill "the people that
greedily sought my destruction," police said today.
Mark O. Barton left the computer-generated note in the living room of
his family's apartment in suburban Stockbridge, describing how he killed
his wife and two children by hitting them in the head with a hammer Tuesday
and Wednesday, said Jimmy Mercer, police chief in Henry County, where Stockbridge
is located.
The note made no direct reference to Thursday's slayings at the two
brokerage firms in Atlanta, except the veiled threat against greedy people.
"I don't plan to live very much longer, just long enough to kill ...
the people that greedily sought my destruction," he wrote.
Barton wrote that he killed his children — 11-year-old Matthew and 8-year-old
Elizabeth Mychelle — to spare them the pain of living without parents.
Using a hammer "just seemed like a polite way to kill and a relatively
painless way to die," he wrote. "There was little pain. All of them were
dead in less than five minutes."
Barton also expressed regret for killing his 27-year-old wife, Leigh
Ann, "my honey, my precious love."
"I killed Leigh Ann because she was one of the main reasons for my demise
as I planned to kill the others. I really wish I hadn't killed her now.
She really couldn't help it and I love her so much anyway," he wrote.
Barton, 44, killed himself Thursday evening as police closed in on him
in Atlanta's northern suburbs about five hours after the shootings in Atlanta.
Twelve people were injured at the two brokerage firms, some by bullets
and others by their frantic attempts to avoid the killer. Seven remained
in critical condition today.
Six year ago, Barton was a suspect in the bludgeoning deaths of his
first wife and her mother, authorities said. But Mercer said Barton's note
denied responsibility for those slayings.
Speculation on a motive has centered on Barton's work as a day trader,
investors who dabble in risky, moment-by-moment changes in the stock market.
The shooting rampage — the third in the Atlanta area in little more
than two months — and the ensuing manhunt stunned the city of 3.1 million
and quickly captured national attention. It was the latest in a grisly
wave of mass slayings at schools and workplaces, and President Clinton
today expressed sadness at the bloodshed.
Barton, dark-haired and 6-foot-4, was wearing khaki shorts when he walked
into the Momentum Securities brokerage at the Two Securities Centre building
in the trendy Buckhead section of Atlanta about 3 p.m. Thursday.
Four people were dead within minutes.
"I saw a lot of blood in the hallway," said Chris Carter, 32, who works
on the building's third floor. "There was a trail of blood leading from
one end of the hallway to the other." It wasn't immediately clear what
relationship Barton had with the Momentum firm, if any.
Barton then walked across a busy six-lane road and into the All-Tech
Investment Group, a day trading firm in the Piedmont Center building where
he had been a client. Five died there.
Barton, who was carrying a pistol in each hand, at one point reportedly
said: "I hope this doesn't upset your trading day."
Barton came into the office "and after speaking with our branch manager,
suddenly stood up and for no reason opened fire on the manager and his
secretary," Jai Ramoutar, director of All-Tech, said in a statement released
from the company's headquarters in Montvale, N.J.
"This man then went into our main trading room and began indiscriminately
shooting the customers."
Nell Jones, 53, a day trader at All-Tech, said she was sitting at her
computer when she heard shots.
"I was sitting outside the door when he exited, so I was the first person
to look into his eyes," Ms. Jones told WSB-TV. "He was someone who was
very calm and determined, no feelings. The bullet missed me and then he
turned to shoot at other people, so I was able to escape,"
Mayor Bill Campbell said the victims were shot with 9 mm and .45-caliber
handguns.
For hours, the mayor and police did not know where Barton was and SWAT
teams and helicopters swarmed Buckhead to look for him. Police told workers
to stay in their offices and lock the doors; some huddled in their cubicles
four hours after the shootings.
"We put the furniture up against the door and barricaded ourselves in,"
said Morgan Lyle, 51. "We had no idea what was going on so we just got
really quiet and tried to stay calm."
Barton eventually showed up at Town Center Mall in Atlanta's northwest
suburbs, where he approached a woman in the parking lot, said Cobb County
police spokesman Dana Pierce.
"She was able to run away and contact security," he said today. "What
his intentions were with her is a still part of the investigation." He
wasn't sure if she recognized him from news reports or was afraid because
of something he had said or done. She contacted mall security, and around
the same time, someone else also spotted Barton's dark green minivan.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Thursday night:
Winning numbers drawn: 9-11-14-32-39. Number matching five of five:
3. Prize per winner: $27,328. Winning tickets sold in: Houston (2), Sherman.
Matching four of five: 229. Prize: $537.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Thursday by the Texas
Lottery, in order:
6-6-4 (six, six, four)
Weather
High Thursday 103. Low this morning 76. Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy
with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Low 70-75. South to southeast
wind 5-15 mph. Saturday, partly cloudy with a less than 20 percent chance
of thunderstorms. High around 105. South to southwest wind 10-20 mph. Extended
forecast, Saturday night, partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Low 70-75. Sunday through Tuesday, partly cloudy with
a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows 70-75. Highs around
100.
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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