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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, August 9, 1999
Stores reporting tax holiday boosted business
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
PECOS, Aug. 9, 1999 -- Shoppers gave area retailers an early Christmas
present over the weekend as folks took advantage of the first sales-tax
holiday held in Texas.
"The response was unbelievable," Chris Metler said. Metler is the store
manager for Bealls at 910 S. Eddy St.
"It is too early to know exactly, but I would estimate that we tripled
our sales over the weekend," she said.
Metler said that Bealls' back-to-school sale ran in conjunction with
the sales-tax holiday and shoppers took full advantage of the extra savings.
"It was better than our One-Day sales, and those offer significant savings,"
she said. "We were packed and steady from open to close, Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. Even the One-Day sales have slack times. This weekend, there
weren't any."
Peggy Walker, owner of Needleworks Etc., at 241 S. Oak St., reported
similar increases.
"We had a significant increase in sales over the weekend," Walker said.
"We aren't open on Sunday, but Friday and Saturday were very good days
here in Pecos."
Walker said that she saw even heavier traffic at her Alpine location.
"This is a great event. Anytime we can get a break on taxes is good
and this was good for retailers and consumers," she said.
Walker also said that if the tax holiday is held again next year, response
will be even better.
"Next year, people will be more aware of the holiday and the potential
savings," she said. "I think turn-out will be even better."
Wal-Mart raked in its share of tax-saving shoppers as well.
"This was a great — a really good weekend for us," Tim Bernicke, store
manager said.
"I'm not sure if this will create an increase in our annual sales —
some people may have put off buying, or bought early, to take advantage
of the tax holiday — but Friday, Saturday and Sunday were very good days,"
he said.
The tax break applied to most clothing items, including shoes, as long
as the items cost less than $100.
State officials estimate that shoppers saved about $69 million dollars
in unpaid sales taxes during the three-day weekend.
Ex-Pecosite's infant dies in car rollover
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Aug. 9, 1999 -- The seven-month-old son of a former Pecos resident
was killed on Friday in an accident on Interstate 20 in Midland.
Joseph Trejo died of massive head trauma at Midland Memorial Hospital
following the accident, which also injured his mother, Cheryl Lyn Aocsta,
20, of Carrollton.
According to a press release by the Midland Police Department, which
investigated the accident, Acosta was driving westbound on I-20 going from
Carrollton to Pecos in a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire when he car reportedly veered
across a lane of traffic and then rolled over twice.
The accident occurred about 12:45 p.m. on I-20, a half-mile west of
the Midkiff Road exit, police said.
Acosta received broken bones in the accident and was also taken to Midland
Memorial, where she was treated for her injuries and released over the
weekend. Police said she was cited for having an unrestrained child in
the front seat of her vehicle.
Police said under Texas law, all children under the age of two must
be restrained in an infant car seat. The citation, the only one filed,
is a Class C misdemeanor, according to Tina Sanders-Jauz, public relations
officer for the Midland PD.
Funeral services for the infant were scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Pecos
Funeral Home chapel, with burial at Fairview Cemetery.
Trials by woman judge a first for Pecos court
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Aug. 9, 1999 -- U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson this morning
introduced the first woman district judge to sit on the Pecos Division
bench.
Judge Ginger Barrigan of New Orleans, La. presided for jury selection
in three trials that she will conduct this week.
"She is a great judge and a great person," said Judge Furgeson.
Citing the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees
a trial by jury to accused persons, Judge Furgeson said the jury system
is the greatest institution of democracy in this country.
"Maybe I am biased, but I see our people come in here week after week,
month after month, at great sacrifice who serve the cause of justice so
well and ensure our courts do justice," Furgeson said.
"We have the best court system in the world because jurors are here
to make the hard decisions," he said.
On trial this week are Jorge Arturo Rivera-Alvidrez, Miguel Machuca-Barrera
Jr., Rigoberto Salas and Antonio Sanchez-Salas.
Their attorneys are Gerald Lopez, Robert Harris and Eduardo Solis.
Last week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stuart Platt held initial appearance
hearings for Mary Margaret Marquez, 22, of 1011 S. Cherry St., and Manuel
Jimenez Guerrero, 20, of Mexico.
Marquez was indicted July 29 for possession of more than 100 kilograms
of marijuana (306.58 pounds) on July 19. She was released to her mother,
Sylvia Marquez, on $10,000 bail.
Guerrero is charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm
by an illegal alien and possession of a stolen firearm.
Century plant blooms on `speedy' timetable
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
CHAPARRAL VILLAGE, Aug. 9, 1999 -- Bob Crouch has been watching his
century plant thrive for the last 20-plus years, since planting it in the
late 1970s in the patch of desert separating the Barstow Highway and his
Chaparral Village — a combination bar and pro-shop for the nine-hole
public golf course he operates.
But it never did anything but survive until last week.
"This is the first time this plant has ever bloomed," Crouch said. "I've
never seen one bloom before."
"Although the name of the plant (century plant) is a misnomer, it isn't
far off," Lynn Rawe said. Rawe is the local extension program specialist
for horticulture with the Texas A & M extension service.
"There are five species of agave plants in this area and all are commonly
called "century" plants because of the length of time they take to bloom,"
she said.
According to Rawe, century plants will generally bloom after 40 to 100
years.
"It is a one-shot deal for the plant. After blooming the parent plant
will die, but before it does, small plants will spout from the roots around
it," Rawe said.
Rawe said that the reproductive strategy is an adaptation to harsh desert
climates where rain and other resources can be scarce.
"The plant spends decades gathering and storing energy and water. When
conditions are right, the plant will expend these stockpiles in creating
the magnificent blooms that can grow from 10 to 30 feet in height," she
said.
Rawe said that the recent rains may have stimulated the plant to flower.
DPS troopers unable to find `roll and run' accident
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
VAN HORN, Aug. 9, 1999 -- Texas Department of Public Safety troopers
went on a wild car chase Sunday after receiving a report that a westbound
Saturn station wagon rolled over at Mile Marker 132 on Interstate 10 in
Hudspeth County..
Pecos DPS dispatcher Kathy West said she received a call at 11:39 a.m.
Sunday from a motorist who said he was at the scene of the rollover, along
with five other vehicles.
The caller said the Saturn was westbound when it flipped and wound up
on the eastbound lane, ejecting two people. They got back into the car
and drove off, West said.
Van Horn Trooper Eathan Upshaw said that he drove from Van Horn to the
junction of interstates 10 and 20 without finding any sign of the car,
which reportedly left the scene eastbound.
"We never did find the vehicle," Upshaw said.
RCH board sets budget workshop
PECOS, Aug. 9, 1999 -- Reeves County Hospital District directors
will hold a budget workshop at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the hospital classroom.
Also in the meeting, the board will consider changing the next regular
meeting date to Aug. 24, said Charles N. Butts, administrator.
Update on springs top item for water district
BALMORHEA, Aug. 9, 1999 -- An update on Phantom Springs/Bureau of
Reclamation tops the agenda for the Reeves County Water Improvement District
#1 in their regular meeting at 4 p.m. today.
Jim Wilbur, Gary Dean and Michael Humphries will give the update.
The board will also discuss the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission's drought contingency plan and USBR management plan presented
by Larry Brown, allot fourth turn water and present engagement letter from
Dan Painter, CPA for audit of fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2000.
Old business, bill payment and a closed session to discuss personnel
close out the agenda.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Lotto Texas drawing Saturday night: Winning
numbers drawn: 1-6-14-21-24-26. Estimated jackpot: $10 million. Number
matching six of six: 2. Winning tickets sold in: Houston, Emory. Matching
five of six: 108. Prize: $1,378. Matching four of six: 5,979. Prize: $90.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Texas Million drawing Friday night: Winning
numbers drawn: 89-0-39-10. Number matching four of four in Group One: zero.
Number matching four of four in Group Two: zero. Prize: $25,000. Number
matching four of four in Group Three: zero. Prize: $10,000. Number matching
three of four in any group: 405. Prize: $300.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Friday night:
Winning numbers drawn: 13-15-23-26-31. Number matching five of five:
zero Matching four of five: 269. Prize: $823.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Friday by the Texas Lottery,
in order: 7-7-0 (seven, seven, zero)
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Saturday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 8-0-1 (eight, zero, one)
Obituary
Joseph Trejo
Funeral services for seven-month-old Joseph Trejo were scheduled for 2
p.m. today at Pecos Funeral Home chapel, with Rev. Benny Chavez presiding.
Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery.
Trejo was born on Jan. 15, 1999 in Dallas and died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999
at Midland Memorial Hospital following a car accident.
Survivors include his parents, Tomas Trejo and Cheryl Acosta of Carrollton;
his maternal grandparents, Luis and Tomasa Acosta of Pecos, and his paternal
grandparents, Silvestre and Emitelia Trejo of Mexico.
Weather
PECOS, Aug. 9, 1999 -- High Sunday 105; low last night 74. Rainfall .03
Saturday at Texas A&M Research Station. Tonight, mostly clear. Low
in the mid 70s. Southeast wind 10-15 mph. Tuesday, mostly sunny and hot.
High near 100. South wind 10-15 mph. Extended forecast, Tuesday night,
clear. Low 70 to 75. Wednesday through Friday, mostly sunny days and fair
skies at night. Lows 70 to 75. Highs 95 to 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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