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Friday, November 29, 1996

Rain expected to last through weekend

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From Staff and Wire Reports

PECOS, November 29, 1996 - Chill winds and stormy weather covered most
of Texas today and the dismal weather was expected to continue into the
weekend.

Pecos received its first rain of November, as .62 inch fell Thursday
under chilly temperatures that never climbed higher than 41. The
overnight low of 35 allowed travelers and those headed back to work
today to avoid having to deal with icy streets, though others to the
north and east weren't as lucky.

A winter storm watch will be in effect until Saturday in West Texas,
where more rain is expected in the Permian Basin, while sleet and snow
are possible in the South Plains and Texas Panhandle.

Areas of light rain lingered over the area and temperatures were in the
50s today while lows tonight and Saturday will dip into the 30s.

In North Texas, temperatures were generally in the 40s and winds speeds
were between 5 to 10 mph. Light rains to heavy storms also dominated the
region.

The forecast for North Texas calls for rain with isolated thunderstorms.
Highs will be between 54 to 64. Lows will be between 43 to 60.

In South Texas, temperatures were in the upper 40s in the Hill Country
to the lower 60s along the coast. Skies were partly cloudy with
scattered rain.

The forecast predicts cloudy skies with more drizzle. Highs will be in
the 60s with some lower 70s in the Rio Grand Valley. Lows will be in the
mid 40s.

Copyright 1996 Pecos Enterprise. All rights reserved. AP contributed to
this report.

Volunteers serve Thanksgiving meals

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From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, November 29, 1996 - Texans found unique ways to say thanks on
Thanksgiving Day - everything from making dinner for thousands to
special deliveries in the rain.

More than 200 residents in Pecos were visited by volunteers who made
sure no one was left without a meal Thanksgiving Day.

Bruce Dury of the Pecos Christian Home said volunteers served some 190
meals to persons at the Pecos Community Center and at their homes
through their residential delivery program.

"We did real good," said Dury, and added, "we had a fair amount of
volunteers."

Dury stated, "We're now gearing up for Christmas," and added, "we need
about 15 turkeys," along with other food items.

The home relies on public donations for their program.

Also partaking in the Thanksgiving Day spirit was staff member from the
American Home Health Agency, who delivered 60 meals.

Irma Castillo said that AHH nurses and office employees showed up at 10
a.m., were split up into five route groups and made deliveries in, "a
couple of hours."

"Everything went fine," she said. Meal recipients were received from the
Meals on Wheels program, Castillo said.

"We sent out flyers with registration forms (to AHH patients)," she
said, and served those who requested meals as well.

The service was funded and coordinated by AHH.

Elsewhere in West Texas, in the farming community of Pep, they had
plenty of turkey, but they had even more German sausage.

The town of 100 people hosted its 51st annual Thanksgiving festival on
Thursday, with 5,800 pounds of German sausage, 50 pounds of breakfast
sausage, 700 pounds of turkey and 145 pounds of turkey breast for the
1,000 or so people they expected to show up.

Why so much sausage? Well, tiny Pep, which is about 43 miles northwest
of Lubbock and has a post office, a gas station, a church, a parish hall
and an alternative school, is known for it.

``People come from all areas to buy our sausage,'' said Marcy Demel, one
of the principal organizers.

They weren't worried about leftovers, either.

``Sometimes we've got a little left over, but it's all gone before
Christmas,'' Demel said.

But Pep's meat supply was outweighed by The 17th annual Jimenez
Thanksgiving Dinner.

In San Antonio, chefs began cooking about 150 or more turkeys a day
beginning Monday to prepare for the event which fed about 20,000 people
at the San Antonio Convention Center.

The only thing lacking at the event was it's founder - Raul Jimenez.

Every year, the restaurateur wears his trademark blue costume and
oversized chef's hat to the dinner for the homeless and elderly,
greeting crowds and dancing to mariachi music. This year, however, ill
health kept him at home.

Patricia Jimenez said her father kept up with pre-Thanksgiving Day
preparations.

``He came to all 16,'' she told the San Antonio Express News. ``He can
recall the emotion and joy. Though he may not be here physically, he'll
be here in spirit.''

If anyone knows about serving large groups of people, it's the Salvation
Army. In Dallas, at the Carr P. Collins Social Service Center, more than
800 people had showed up for Thanksgiving dinner by early afternoon.

Carol Frank, executive director of the center, said they expected to
feed about 1,100 people Thursday.

``We have just been overwhelmed by the number of families,'' Ms. Frank
said.

She said most of the people coming to the center for dinner were
families from the surrounding community. About 100 volunteers were
pitching in to serve dinner.

Ms. Frank didn't have an exact count on how much food was being used,
but said the food director had prepared 87 turkeys and there was a lot
of the rest of traditional Thanksgiving food.

``I couldn't even count the pumpkin pie, couldn't even begin to count
it,'' she said. ``Believe you me, it takes a lot of food (to feed 1,000
people). I'll tell you that.''

Across the state In Houston, the Bank United Thanksgiving Day parade
featured a ``Texas-sized'' version of ``101 Dalmatians'' - 303
dalmatians and their owners. Among the group were ``dalmatian
wannabes,'' which included chihuahuas in dalmatian sweaters.

A giant turkey also made a customary appearance, along with Santa Claus.

Meanwhile, a South Texas family started a new custom, making
Thanksgiving Dinner a private labor of love for their neighbors.

Addie and Ysidro Arismendez, along with their eight children, their
children's spouses and 22 grandchildren prepared meals for about 300
elderly and handicapped Bee County neighbors, expanding on a decade-long
tradition.

Gerald Arismendez, son of Addie and Ysidro, said every member of the
family participates in the assembly-line preparation of the meals - the
smaller children helping with tasks like stuffing bread into plastic
bags.

``We do this to instill a spirit of sharing and caring to our kids,'' he
said Thursday. ``If we can demonstrate this and instill this in our
children, they're going to do that with their children.''

About 20 members of the Palm City Lion's Club in McAllen braved a chilly
drizzle to take Thanksgiving meals to the doorsteps of local low-income
families.

The volunteers took turkey, rolls, stuffing, potatoes and soda to 50
families.

``It's great we can help these families a little,'' Luis Figueroa, one
of the volunteers, told The (McAllen) Monitor. ``Without these meals,
they probably won't have Thanksgiving dinner.''

The Lion's Club has been delivering the meals for more than 20 years.
One of the recipients this year was the family of Leticia Valles.

``I've never had a turkey on Thanksgiving before,'' Valles said. ``We've
never had the money.''

Copyright 1996 Pecos Enterprise. All rights reserved. AP contributed to
this report.

Pecosites see Siberia's rough life during mission

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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, November 29, 1996 - A missionary journey to another country has
made one Pecos couple humbler and more appreciative of their
surroundings.

The journey began on Oct. 2, when Cindy and Dickie Jones left Pecos for
their trip to Siberia.

The couple plan to discuss their trip to far eastern Russia during a
special slide presentation at West Park Baptist Church at 6 p.m. on
Sunday.

"We had been asked by Calvin Beach, International Crusades, Dallas, to
accompany him. He would be in Ghana, Africa, prior to going to Siberia,
but would meet us in Moscow," said Cindy Jones.

The couple had spent several months in prayer and preparation for this
trip.

"We asked ourselves many times why the Lord would call us to go," said
Jones. "Ordinary people, no formal training, and so unworthy; the Lord
made so many things happen to bring this trip about."

There was no doubt in their minds that they had been called. The purpose
would later come to light.

"We turned ourselves over to the Lord to use us in whatever way he
chose," Cindy said. "We also knew this was the first time that we would
be allowed to witness in Siberia, and could possibly be the last."

They left Midland and flew to Dallas, where they met with 53 other
Christian witnesses who were going with them. After getting acquainted
with some of the other crusaders, they boarded their flight to London.

"We arrived in London at 6:50 a.m. the following morning, tired and
hungry," said Jones. "We all tried to find something edible in the
airport, but London airport food was definitely not to our liking."

After a five-hour layover, they continued on to Moscow.

The group arrived about 9:25 p.m. that night, and were taken to the
hotel by bus. The ride was very long and everyone was tired and hungry.
The trip began to take its toll on all.

"We arrived at the hotel at 10:30 p.m. and were greeted by our pastor,
Calvin Beach. Now our group is complete, and we total 54," said Jones.

The group was told that the restaurant is closed and would reopen at 8
a.m., but this would not help them at all, since they have to be in the
lobby at 5:30 a.m. to board the bus back to the airport. The plane to
Tuymen was to leave at 7 a.m.

"We arrived in Tuymen at about 4:30 p.m., where we were met by our
pastor from Ishim, Dimitri Stroh," said Jones, who added Stroh spoke
only a word or two of English.

"We traveled to Tuymen with two other teams, one team (stayed) in
Tuymen, another (left) for another city later on," said Jones.

By this time, they have only had three hours sleep in the past three
days, and have eaten only snacks in that time.

Jones described their experience in trying to catch the train, their
physical exhaustion and their feelings of frustration and fear.

"Wartime or depression was our first thought," said Jones.

They spent seven hours on the train and arrived in Ishim at 4 a.m.

The streets there were all dirt roads with deep ruts from long, wet
weather.

"We arrived outside a dark concrete apartment building and as we move
into the building there is no light of any kind, no windows," said Jones.

She said they have never been to a place so dark and disorienting.

"We cannot see at all. We hear the pastor move on the stairs, and we
slowly begin to feel our way," said Jones.

The three climb three flights of stairs before they hear the pastor
knock.

"As I follow, I am praying," said Jones.

Finally, the door opens to reveal a smiling woman.

"It's the most wonderful smile I have ever seen, a woman so happy that
it literally warms you just to look at her," said Jones.

The work begins the next day at the Ishim House of Prayer.

"This church is the only Baptist Church in Ishim, and has 33 members,"
said Jones. "These people are the most committed, witnessing believers
we have ever met."

After prayer, the Jones' and the pastor leave on foot to witness all
over the city.

"We had to check in with the local officials and obtain a visa to stay
in Ishim," said Jones.

Thankfully, they were given access to all of Ishim. The mayor and local
officials are very open. "In some cities this is not allowed," explained
Jones.

"We witnessed in homes, on the street, in the college and schools," she
said. "The people of Ishim have a great hunger for the Lord, and will
make every opportunity to hear the word of God."

Ishim is a city of 70,000 people, 60 percent of whom are unemployed.
"This is not to say they don't work very hard in their lives, only that
they are not employed for wages," said Jones.

Of the other 40 percent, about half work for the government and have not
been paid for six months or more. There is no way to tell if or when they
will get paid.

"These people have very little and don't expect things to improve," said
Jones.

Alcoholism is a big problem. They raise everything to eat, they fish,
and they work at anything they can do to provide for themselves and
their families, according to Jones.

"But, they seem to live only for the day, they have no hope," she said.

At any time of the day or night there are hundreds of people walking on
the dirt streets of Ishim. There are no paved streets, just as there
are no smiles on the faces of those walking.

"When we asked them about the lack of smiles, they said the people have
so many problems that they have no reason to smile," said Jones.

"We averaged about 10 miles per day walking and witnessing," said Jones.

The written testimonies are translated into Russian and, through an
interpreter, they are able to witness and answer questions about the
Lord.

"The people of Ishim are like sponges, soaking up every bit of
information," said Jones. "They have prayed for believers to come and
teach them."

Some of the older people were imprisoned under the former Communist
government for being Christian believers.

"We were privileged to meet the old pastor of the church who had been in
prison for many years because of his belief. He is blind and almost
totally deaf, but his faith is strong," said Jones.

"It was wonderful," she said of the many people who came to listen
everyday to the preaching and music.

"We were rewarded by a final count of 3,573 people being saved while our
teams were in Siberia," Jones said.

"We will thank the Lord every day of our lives that He has given us this
opportunity, and that the people of Pecos and our other friends were so
supportive with their prayers and gifts," said Jones. "The Lord willing
we will continue to go and tell."

Shootout puts Mexican cops in El Paso jail

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EL PASO (AP) - Two Mexican police officers are in a Texas jail after
chasing a suspected drug trafficker across the border, shooting at him
and attempting to take him back to Mexico, sheriff's deputies said.

``Even if you are police, you don't just run a U.S. checkpoint, shoot at
people and drag them across the border,'' said Sheriff Leo Samaniego.
``We don't want to overplay it, but this could create quite a stir
internationally.''

Juarez police officer-in-charge, Fernando Villasania, said the Mexican
officers were attempting to issue a federal arrest warrant for drug
trafficking, giving no reason why the officers chased the suspect and a
his female passenger onto U.S. soil.

Mexican officials have no jurisdiction in the United States. The
converse is also true.

``This is very unusual,'' said Sheriff's Capt. Larry Wilkins. ``This was
an armed incursion on U.S. soil. I don't know of anything like this
happening since the days of Pancho Villa.''

The chase began when Juarez police signaled for the suspect to stop his
car and he instead sped away heading for the border crossing - known as
Porfirio Parra on the Mexican side - opposite the Fabens International
Bridge, said a Juarez police spokeswoman. She would not elaborate
further.

U.S. Customs Service agents heard noises near the bridge early Thursday
morning. When they began investigating the source, they witnessed about
12 Juarez officers chasing a man through the cotton field, Wilkins said.

The Juarez officers apprehended the car's occupants, shoved them into
their patrol cars and fled back toward Mexico as U.S. Customs officials
tried to stop them, he said.

Both the man and woman are being held in Juarez on flight and resisting
arrest charges.

``If we were to do what they did on their side, they'd raise holy
hell,'' Samaniego said. ``We used to have real good relations with
Juarez police but the last few years it's really gone to pot.

``It would be different if they just came across and wanted to make a
U-turn. But taking someone back across like that practically amounts to
kidnapping. What if there was a U.S. citizen in the car?''

Copyright 1996 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

OBITUARY

Mary Ornelas

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Mary "Babe" Alvarez Ornelas, 42, died Tuesday, Nov. 26 at Northwest
Texas Hospital in Amarillo.

Mass was held today at 2 p.m. at Santa Rosa Catholic Church with burial
at Greenwood Cemetery.

She was born April 15, 1954 in Monahans, was a longtime Pecos resident
and a Catholic.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Rosie D. Jares.

Survivors include her husband, Esquiel "Chacal" Ornelas; her father,
Bernard Jares of Pecos; one son, Joe Ornelas of Littlefield; three
daughters, Joanna L. Ornelas of Littlefield, Tammie L. Flores of Big
Spring, Tabatha L. Rodrigues of Amarillo; three brothers, Gilbert Ortega
of Midland, Tony Jares of Temple, Jerry Jares of Dayton; three sisters,
Yolanda Fuentes of Midland, Mary "Candy" Martinez of Midland, Debbie
Gomez of Andrews and 10 grandchildren.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER

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High Thursday 41, low last night 35. Rainfall .62 inch. November
rainfall .62 inch. Year-to-date 10.65 inches. Tonight, mostly cloudy. A
30 percent chance of showers. Low around 40. Southwest wind 10-20 mph.
Saturday, a 30 percent chance of morning showers, otherwise cloudy and
turning colder. High 45-50. West to northwest wind 15-25 mph and gusty.

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. Neither these AP
Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for
personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for
any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the
transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages
arising from any of the foregoing.
_


Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
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