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PECOS, October 22, 1996 - Reeves County's Democratic officials will be
hosting a barbecue luncheon Wednesday. and are expected to greet some of
the party's leading Hispanic officials during a tour stop at the Pecos
Senior Citizens Center.
The bus caravan, which is currently on a 5-day, 2,151-mile trek across
the state, is scheduled to arrive at 12:45 p.m. The exact lineup of
officials who'll visit Pecos was not known at presstime.
At all stops, members of the caravan will encourage Hispanics and all
Democrats to get out and vote in the Nov. 5 general election, especially
during the early voting period that ends Nov. 1.
"Texas Democrats are revved up and smelling sweet victory," said Texas
Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, chairman of the Clinton-Gore Texas
campaign. "This tour is designed to remind our voters that the only way
to assure a Democratic win is to get to the polls and vote!"
Frank Perea, local member of the Clinton-Gore campaign team, reflects
that sentiment. "We need a big turnout to ensure a victory for Clinton
and Gore and help the Democratic Party take over the Congress and Senate
once again," he said.
"It's important that we start getting ready for the election," added
Perea.
"Now more than ever, people should become acquainted with the issues
regarding the 1996 Presidential Election," said Reeves County Judge
Jimmy Galindo, who also supports the Clinton-Gore ticket.
"Because of the mean-spirited, Republican attack waged against the
working class, we should make ourselves acquainted with the details of
issues such as welfare reform, immigration, Medicaid and Medicare and
national defense," Galindo said.
As well a big turnout at the polls, Perea expressed he'd like see a
large crowd for the Texas officials' visit.
The caravan also plans morning stops on Wednesday in Ozona and Fort
Stockton and afternoon and evening visits in Odessa and Lubbock.
Brisket and, "all the trimmings," will be served at the Pecos Senior
Center for free, concluded Perea.
PECOS, October 22, 1996 - Jurors in 143rd District Court deliberated 1½
hours Monday before finding Samuel "Sammy" Lozano, 32, guilty of
indecency with a child. They recommended a sentence of 20 years in
prison and a $10,000 fine, the maximum allowed under the law.
District Attorney John Stickels said he is extremely happy with the
verdict.
"I can't think of anybody who deserves it more," he said.
A 12-year-old boy testified during the one-day trial that Lozano
fondled his genitals after offering him a ride home from a dance at
Saragosa Hall on April 14 of this year.
Lozano had been convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1984 and was
placed on four years probation, Stickels said. During the course of that
investigation, Lozano signed a confession that he also committed
indecency with a child on the same victim.
According to Regional Manager, Rowdy Whittington, the cable provider
wants to play an important role in the community. Whittington stated,
"this program caught our eye because it is designed to enhance the
reading ability of the students and develop the student's interest in
reading."
The Read-A-Thon is designed to encourage students to make reading a
part of their lives, by having them read or be read to, thus improving
their reading habits.
Fourth and fifth graders are being encouraged to find at least five
sponsors to support their reading exercises for 600 minutes at one-cent
per minute. By the time a child has completed the entire exercise, a
sponsor will donate $6 to the program.
The support and encouragement of the sponsors will in turn enhance the
student's reading skills and at the same time help Bessie Haynes earn
the $2,500 for the Accelerated Reader Program.
ARP is a computer program, accompanied by books, that aids in the
training of students to read innovatively.
By teaching students how to read proficiently, Bessie Haynes Elementary
Principal Mary Lou Carrasco said that students will find it easier to
keep up with their levels.
Classic Cable would like to see all local businesses and individuals
get involved with this program and help the school raise the matching
funds.
"The more enthusiasm and commitment the community shows, the more
involved the students will want to be," said Whittington.
"We're (Bessie Haynes staff) very happy," said Carrasco, about the
Classic Cable matching donation.
"It's important for businesses to work with the schools and develop a
partnership," she added, "that's the only way we can help our kids...by
working together."
"By helping our children learn how to read, we' helping Pecos," said
the elementary principal. After all, "the best work force, is an
educated work force."
"This helps our economic base," added Carrasco, "and I'd like to see
that as an educator."
According to Carrasco, the Read-A-Thon will go on until Nov. 15.
Individuals wishing to join in on the worthwhile program can call
447-7244.
Classic Cable provides cable television service to over 52,000 homes in
Texas and over 170,000 in the Midwest. The company bought the Pecos
cable system, along with those in Barstow, Monahans, Kermit and Crane,
in January of 1995.
PECOS, October 22, 1996 - As a result of the 1996 Farm Bill passed by
Congress, the Upper Pecos Soil and Water Conservation District is
attempting to lead the way in developing programs and initiatives to
improve soil and water resources at the local level.
Larry Fernandes, chairman of the SWCD headquartered in Pecos, said they
will conduct a work group meeting with conservation partners and
interested persons at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Reeves County Civic
Center.
"After years of applying top-down program management approaches in
federal conservation programs, the 1996 Farm Bill establishes a locally
driven process, coordinated by conservation districts, to guide the
state and nation's agricultural conservation efforts," Fernandes said.
"It provides tremendous opportunities for local people to become
involved in assessing local resource needs, setting priorities,
developing conservation policy, providing technical support, accepting
program applications and approving conservation plans upon which
cost-sharing will be based," he said.
The process deals with developing a list of priority areas and concerns
for the long-range Farm Bill program for fiscal year 1998 and beyond.
Local recommendations coming out of Wednesday's meeting will flow to the
state level, where the district's various technical issues, resource
priority areas and program policies will be reviewed and integrated into
a state, regional and national program.
"We are really excited about the opportunities the new farm bill offers
because Congress is seeking our leadership to assist our community in
carrying out a cooperative, locally driven, incentive-based conservation
program that wisely invests public resources to protect local natural
resources," said Fernandes.
"He collects plaques," Judge Bunton said during ceremonies at the Pecos
federal courthouse. "I thought plaque was for your teeth. He puts them
on the wall.
"He's received one from the IRS," Bunton said. "I have paid taxes since
before he was born. I never got one.
"The FBI gave him one. I never got one from the FBI...U.S. Customs in
Houston. I have been through Customs at Houston. I never got a thing.
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service. I've mailed a lot of letters. I
never got a plaque. The police department in Beaumont. I have been to
Beaumont. I talked to several policemen. They never gave me a plaque.
"The Hunt County Texas Bar Association for outstanding service from 1980
to 1986. He's also received a plaque from the Hunt County Legal
Secretaries Association..."
Platt credited the knowledge and wisdom of people in those agencies for
shaping his philosophy.
He described a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper named Barry
Washington of deep East Texas.
"He was known for making interdiction stops along Highway 59 around
Carthage," Platt said. "He was a frequent witness at trial. Judge
William Wayne Justice said Washington understood the Fourth amendment
better than anyone he had seen.
"Lawyers would cross examine him; sometimes they would ask one question
too many," Platt said.
On one of those occasions when Washington had made a traffic stop and
suspected drugs were in the car, he called for Panola County's drug dog.
The dog sniffed out a large quantity of cocaine.
"During the trial, Barry was testifying in his slow, East Texas drawl.
The lawyer asked one too many questions. He had been haranguing the
issue of the idea that `If you are so good at sniffing out drugs, just
how good are you?
"When it comes to sniffing out drugs, who is better, you or that drug
dog?" the lawyer asked.
"Washington paused, looked at the jury and said, `When it comes to
sniffing out drugs, I believe the dog is better, but when it comes to
common sense, I do believe I have the edge.'" Platt recalled.
"I do hope that when it comes to common sense, I will have the edge,"
Platt said.
Christopher Paul Corralez' age was inadvertently listed as 20 in a story
published in Monday's Enterprise. He is actually 19. The article also
wrongfully defined his parents as Ralph and Naty Corralez, who are in
actuality his grandparents. His parents are Paul Rubio Corralez, of
Pecos, and Betty Florez, of San Antonio.
We apologize for the errors.
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Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
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