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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Thursday, September 16, 1999

Final work on new PHS track set to begin

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, Sept. 16, 1999 -- The completion of a "new" track at Pecos High School will soon become a reality, thanks to the cooperative efforts of the city, county and school, with the final stage of resurfacing scheduled to start on Friday.

"They're on their way today and should start putting in the rubber and latex," said Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Superintendent Don Love, referring to materials and crews coming in from San Antonio.

Work would commence on that phase of the project tomorrow. "They will work on it throughout the weekend and on until Wednesday of next week," said Love.

The work will be done in-between scheduled football games at Eagle Stadium. Pecos' junior varsity will play at home tonight, while the varsity plays its first home game next Friday, Sept. 24, against Crane.

Love said the track would be completely finished by homecoming, on Oct. 1. "They'll work on putting in the rubber and latex all through Wednesday of next week," said Love. "But, we'll need the stripes in there and that will really make it look nice," he said.

The stripes will be put in later, because of scheduled events at the school. "The most important parts right now are the top layers," Love said.

"I can't wait to see it complete, with the stripes it makes it look even better," he said.

In the meantime, Love said they would be asking the public not to go on the track. "We want to ask them to not go on there until it is completely finished and then we'll open it up for everyone," he said.

Wilkins International of San Antonio will be coming in today and will start applying rubber and latex to the asphalt surface on Friday. "All the gates will be locked until they complete this part of the work," Love said.

No skateboards, rollerbades or bicycles will be allowed on the newly renovated track area, according to Love. "We want to take care of it," he said. The track was last replaced in 1983, and had deteriorated to the point that Pecos had to cancel its high school and junior high track meets in recent years.

No public access to the track will be allowed until Oct. 1, according to Love. "We're really excited and hope everyone comes out and enjoys it after that date when it will be completely finished," he said.

Lights will also be set up at the north and south ends of the track. "We want to keep it lighted for those who enjoy walking and for the fitness programs sponsored by the recreation department," said Love. He added that lighting would provide more security, make everyone feel safer and make community members feel welcome.

"We want the lights to be installed by the time they finish the other work," said Love. "So it will be completely ready," he said.

Love said that this was a quarter million dollar project that is only costing the school about $68-$70,000. "This is thanks to the efforts from the city and county in helping us with this project," said Love.

Love said he really appreciated all the help from both entities and wanted to thank them. "They've done a great job and we're just thrilled," said Love. "This is something for the entire community and everyone really pitched in to help."

Other "updating" projects will also be held later on, according to Love. "There's already work being done on the batting cages, racquetball courts and recreation items," said Love. "We want to update other things as we get a chance."

Jury acquits New Yorker in marijuana case

By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, Sept. 16, 1999 -- A federal court defendant went free Wednesday, and a second may get a new trial after juries failed to find them guilty of marijuana possession with intent to distribute.

Both defendants were passengers in vehicles suspected of being involved in marijuana smuggling.

Robert Edward Beaton, 39, of New York, went free after jurors acquitted him of conspiracy, marijuana possession, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense and illegal entry after deportation.

He was arrested Oct. 20, 1998 at the Desert Haven Border Patrol checkpoint east of El Paso when agents found 330.3 pounds of marijuana in the van owned and driven by Beaton's co-defendant, Alfred Antony Reed of Decatur, Ga.

Reed earlier pleaded guilty.

A second jury failed to reach a verdict on George Guzman, 26, of Odessa, who was also a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Border Patrol agents March 16 on U.S. Highway 385 south of Marathon. No contraband was found in the vehicle, but it was linked to another vehicle that did have a load of marijuana.

U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson presided for the two jury trials and began a third today, with Jesus Sotomayor-Garcia as defendant in a drug smuggling case.

Two defendants convicted of illegal entry after deportation drew long sentences because of their prior records.

Mario Alberto Saenz-Gonzalez, 24, will serve 41 months in federal prison, while Pedro Grijalva-Diaz will serve 77 months. Miguel Pacheco-Pena, 39, drew a relatively light sentence of 24 months.

Area residents sentenced for drug possession are:

* Billy Burl Hobbs Jr., 44, of Fort Stockton, 24 months for possession with intent to distribute marijuana;

* Adolfo Galindo-Hernandez, 26, of Presidio, four months for marijuana possession;

* Jesus Benavidez, 23, of Odessa, four months for importation of marijuana;

* Robert Montferrand, 24, of Fort Stockton, 15 months each for importing and possessing marijuana for distribution, concurrent, plus a $1,200 fine;

* Elizabeth A. Parrada, 30, of Monahans, 12 months plus one day for marijuana possession; and

* Jessica Franco Jaquez, 19, of Presidio, four months for possession of marijuana for distribution.

Judge Furgeson has scheduled several sentencings for 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day this week, and jury trials begin at 9 a.m. He has a fourth trial scheduled for Friday.

PHA set to open east side playground

PECOS, Sept. 16, 1999 -- Pecos Housing Authority Board members will preview the opening of a new playground at the Housing Authority's East Side apartments at their regular meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. today at 600 Meadowbrook Drive.

The new playground is designed for PHA resident's pre-school youths, and is part of an overall improvement program for the apartments conducted over the past three years.

Also under communication, a presentation of the High Performers Certificate recently presented to the PHA Director by Mrs. Eileen Rogers, HUD Director, Fort Worth office will be noted.

Under unfinished business board members will receive an update on CIAP 98 Project and Budget; discuss a resolution/award 1998 CIAP General Contractor's Contract; discuss/resolution approval for PHA Administration to apply, "Force Account Contract Labor" during the '98 CIAP Project under budget - line item #1450-Site Improvements in accordance to HUD requirements.

In new business, the board will discuss/review PHA's five year agency plan.

Regular business items to be discussed for both the Housing Authority and the Farm Labor Housing include monthly income and expense report; monthly accounts payable and monthly occupancy report.

In the Farm Labor Housing portion of the meeting board members will discuss the annual supervisory review visit by John Perkins, Community Specialist scheduled for Sept. 23.

Police, task force jail teen on drug charge

PECOS, Sept. 16, 1999 -- Drug paraphernalia landed one young man in jail following a narcotics search Wednesday, executed by the Pecos Police Department and the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force.

The search warrant was executed at the home of Antonio Rodriguez, 17, at 601 S. Willow St..

"Upon searching the residence officers found a substance believed to be marijuana within the bedroom of Rodriguez," said Pecos Police Investigator Paul Deishler.

Also found inside the bedroom was other paraphernalia commonly used in smoking of marijuana.

Rodriguez was placed under arrest for the offense of drug paraphernalia, second offense. "This will be a Class A Misdemeanor," said Deishler.

Police could not say exactly how much marijuana was found in the search. Sylvia Rubio, who also resides at the address, said marijuana seeds, one bong and one rolled cigarrette butt containing marijuana were found during the search.

Rodriguez is currently in Reeves County Jail, awaiting arraignment.

Herrera wins opening Power Points contest

PECOS, Sept. 16, 1999 -- Lupe Herrera was the first local winner of the Power Points football contest, scoring 94 out of a total of 136 points. Herrera won two free tickets to the Reeves County Fall Fair concert on Oct. 1, courtesy of the Pecos Chamber of Commerce.

The highest score statewide came in Abilene, where Jessie Krebbs scored 132 points to win the first prize statewide of $1,000.

The Power Points entry form runs each Monday in the Enterprise and can be returned to the Enterprise office or to businesses helping to sponsor this year's contest.

Lotto

AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Lotto Texas drawing Wednesday night: Winning numbers drawn: 4-7-31-36-41-46. Estimated jackpot: $4 million. Number matching six of six: None. Matching five of six: 60. Prize: $1,670. Matching four of six: 2,959. Prize: $123.

***

AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Wedesday by the Texas Lottery, in order: 0-6-4 (zero, six, four)

Weather

PECOS, Sept. 16, 1999 -- High Wednesday 96; low last night 68. Tonight, mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Low in the lower 60s. East to southeast wind 5 10 mph. Friday, partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. High in the low to mid 80s. Southeast wind 10-15 mph. Extended forecast, Friday night, partly cloudy. Low in the low to mid 60s.



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
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