The Hereford Brand (Hereford, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 87, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 1, 1979 Page: 1 of 26
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Brand (Hereford, TX) and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Deaf Smith County Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Romero Handed 7-Year Sentence for Manslaughter
The Hereford Brand
COOL
A Member of Most Families in the Hereford Trade Area
I
T8th Year, No. 17
Hereford, Texas, Thursday, November 1.1979
Blizzard Kills Cattle, Halts Power
L
7
2/35
*}
Homecominfi Contest
Around Hereford-Lubbock Tilt
Baker Joins Race
For Nomination
Wrong Runway Blamed
On Mexico City Crash
************
***********
Farmers Receive Less for October Goods
i
<
Laona Warren [with scissors] and Karol Shook
[right] cut out decoration* for the walls of teacher
David Ashby’s room in preparation for the annual
Hereford High School Homecoming room contest
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
ASSOCIATION
have an opportunity to prepare their
floats for Friday's Homecoming parade,
which will start at 3 p.m at HHS then
proceed down Main St. Floats will be
judged on the basis of originality and
effort spent in preparing them for the
parade.
Students and other interested
persons will attend a pep rails honoring
the Whiteface football team at 2:15 p.m
Frida. Havers, coaches and Homecom-
ing queen candidates and attendants
will be introduced at the pep rally.
Senior queen candidates are Karla
Driskill. Kim Freeman and Patti
to be hold on Friday. First-period classes decorate
rooms this morning for the competition. [Brand
photo by Paul Sims)
percent gain previously estimated for
1979.
Economists do not consider farm prices
in a single month to be reliable indicators
of future retail food prices
For example. this year the index has
increased in five months, dropped in four
and remained unchanged in one
The October parity ratio for farm
commodities was 68 percent, compared
to 70 percent in September and 71 a year
ago, the report said
At 100 percent, the indicator nouh1
mean, theoretically , that farmers have
the same busing power they had in 1910-
14.
For example, the average actual farm
price of wheat in October was $3.90 a
bushel.
declining for several months during the
nationwide car sales slump
Food prices came down in large part
because of drops in the wholesale cost of
meat.
The Producer Price Index in October
stood at 223.7. That means that goods
that cost $100 at wholesale in 197 cost
5223 70 last month The figure was 12.1
percent higher than in October 1978.
However, a report released Wed-
nesday bv the Agriculture Department
indicated there could be som e relief final
rapidly rising food prices in future
months Agriculture officials said the
prices farmers get for raw products
declined 2 percent from September to
October.
Prices at the farm level were lower for
i*w ECONOMY Pag2)
September
Compared with a sear earlier, prices of
meat animals were up 8 percent in Oc-
tober.
Prices paid by farmers to meet ex-
penses. including living costs, rose 0.8
percent in October and averaged 14
percent more than a year ago
Fruit prices overall rose 5 percent in
October after plummeting 22 percent in
September The October fruit price index
was still " percent below a year ago.
however.
Dairy prices rose 1.5 percent from
September averaging 12 percent higher
than a year ago, according to the
preliminary October figures.
The index of prices for poultry and
eggs declined 6 percent from September
Homecoming Festivities Centered
hoping they can find them all." she
added
John A. Smith reported heavy snowfall
in the region of his farm north and west of
Farmer's Corner in Deaf Smith County,
near the Ford communitv
Cattle also drifted over fences in that
vicinity according to Smith, and numbers
of cattle suffocated under snow drifts,
although head counts on the death loss
won't be available until some of the snow
clears.
Smith reported snow drifts up to five
feet in depth in that area, due to winds
that gusted as high as 50-55 miles per
hour on occasion T uesday , although the
snowfall rapidly tapered off to the south
toward the Milo Center area
At the Mark Hicks farm and ranch
operation west of the Ford community,
preliminary counts Wednesday showed
that cattle losses were at least 120 head,
and could go higher on that one farm
alone
Riders were out in that area again this
morning searching for strayed cattle and
hoping they will find no more drifts
covering the carcasses of livestock.
Severe cattle kisses were also feared in
an area ranging eastward from the Ford
community
Drifting snow also created problems in
the county's west and northwest sections,
where the white powder began falling
early in the day Tuesday and continued
into the night
Mrs. Clint Homfeld reported drifts had
virtually "trapped us in the house"
Wednsday at the Homfeld farm 4" miles
northwest of Hereford.
Homfeld was out on a four wheel drive
tractor equipped with a blade Wednesday
afternoon attempting to clear roads at his
spread and make his way to his cattle
and M.S. Homfeld repoiced .hat one
individual and his son were trapped in
their pickup in a snow drift Tuesday
night, with work underway Wednesday
ISe. SNOW Pag- 21
Marquez. Junior and sophomore
attendants, respectively. are Louise
Mays and Amanda Tijerina. The queen
will be announced at halftime Friday
night.
The annual sophomore-class pancake
supper will be from 5-7 p.m Friday in
the high school cafeteria Tickets will be
sold at the door
The main event of the day w ill be the
Hereford-Lubbock District 4-AAAA
football clash beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Friday. Several Hereford "exes" are
expected to be on hand, and school
district officials are expecting a capacity
crowd on the home side of the field
1
pushed the prices of non-food items up
1.4 percent, the largest jump for one
month this year.
Gasoline prices were up 5.1 percent for
the month and home heating oil rose 4.7
percent. the report said
Early noted that "this is less than the
6.2 percent (for gasoline) and 7.9 percent
(for heating oil) of September, but not by
much."
Energy prices, in fact, were 60.5
percent higher in October than they were
in the same month last year. This
reflects. in good part, the crude oil in-
creases imposed by the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries since the
start of 1979.
Prices for 1980 passenger cars,
reflected in the index for the first time,
rose 0.6 percent last month after
By PALL SIMS
Managing Edl tor
Nick John Romero was found guilty of
voluntary manslaughter and aggravated
assault and sentenced to seven years in
prison and an additional 10 years
probation by a nine man two-woman jury
Wednesday in 222nd District Court
The jur) minus one male member who
suffered a heart attack last week,
deliberated for three hours and 15
minutes before finding Romero guilty of
vountary manslaughter in connection
with the Feb 1' stabbing of Pedro Demas
of Friona.
The jury also found Romero guilty of
an aggravated assault of Juan Ramon
Trevino, also of Friona, who was stabbed
in the same incident at 701 Stanton
Jurors deliberated three hours on the
punishment before sentencing Romero to
seven years in prison for voluntary
manslaughter and recommended proba-
tion on the aggravated assault conviction.
Judge George W Miller of Floydada
did not say. after the punishment was
read, how both sentences would be
earned out, but ordered Romero to report
to the district probation officer today.
Romero showed no emotion as he
stood facing the jury , during the reading
of each verdict Romero's wife, Rosa, sat
next to the defendant and also showed no
emotion
After the reading of the guilty verdicts.
Romero took the stand on his own behalf
during the punishment phase of the trial
He testified. under questioning by
defense attorney Jimms Craig, that he
had neser been convicted of a felony, is
the only means of support of his wife and
young son and felt he should be granted
probation.
Craig, in arguments ot the jury during
the punishment phase, said that Romero
had worked as a feed yard cowboy since
his graduation from high school, had
neser been in serious trouble before and
should be granted probation.
Assistant District Atty Jerry Smith
asked for a prison term "in each of these
causes." Smith said the jury "by its
verdict will put people on notice that if
there is this type of conduct, there is this
type of consequence.
"The defendant says he is asking you
for a second chance, but he’s really
asking for a third chance because you
found him guilty of not one felony, but
two."
The jury, during deliberations on
Romero's guilt or innocence, rejected the
self-defense issue Romero had contend-
ed that Demas pulled a pocketknife prior
to the stabbings m the front yard at 701
Stanton.
The jury also rejected the prosecution's
attempt to convict Romero of murder,
instead finding him guilty of the lesser
offense of voluntary manslaughter
According to testimony in the trial.
Romero stabbed Demas and Trevino
during a confrontation over Romero's
wife. Romero had accused his wife of
being with Trevino, whom she claimed
was the father of her son, according to
Trevino's testimony Monday.
Craig, during final arguments
Wednsday morning, claimed Romero was
defending himself from the two men
"who had threatened him in the past and
had even tried to break into his house."
Craig reminded the jury that a
pocketknife was found in Demas' pants
Mexican officials said the runway on
which the plane landed had been closed
for two weeks for repairs and was dark,
while the adjacent, parallel runway that
was open was well lighted
Tail marks on the runway indicated
that the pilot tried to take off, officials
said, but the plane's landing gear hit a
truck, killing the driver The impact sent
the airliner sliding across to the other
runway and it crashed through a mobile
lounge and slammed into an Eastern
Airlines building, killing two people in
the building
"Everybody didn't die right away."
said Pandora Drickersen Scott, 19. of
Chico. Calif., a passenger who survived
the crash "Some were trying to get out
Some of them...they were crying 'Help.
Help'' then they were either calm or
something must have happened to
them ”
In Washington, the FAA officials said
is- CRASM, Pag- 21
WASHINGTON <AP> — Higher prices
for energy products and 1980-model cars
helped push wholesale prices up 1 per-
cent in October, the government said
today.
The overall increase. following a 1.4
percent surge m September occurred
despite a 0.1 percent dip in wholesale
food prices.
Although food-price decline was a
hopeful sign for inflation-weary con-
sumers. few other figures in the Labor
Department's Producer Price Index
signaled an end to the persistent price
spiral.
John Early, a Labor Department
economist, said "November and
December could be pretty much a
repeat" of the October performance
Prices at the producer level — one step
************
A parade through downtown
Hereford, the day long ringing of the
victory bell and the crowning of a senior
queen will highlight Friday’s Hereford
High School Homecoming acitivities. all
of which are centered around the
HHS-Lubbock High football game in
Whiteface Stadium.
Activities actually began today, as
first-period classes decorated rooms.
The halls and high school cafeteria also
were to be decorated today in
preparation for Homecoming Friday.
A panel from the community will
judge classroom decorations Friday.
Tonight is the last night students will
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sharply lower
prices for hogs and cattle contributed to a
2 percent drop in the government's index
of prices that farmers received last
month
The Agriculture Department said
Wednesday lower prices for calves,
soybeans, corn and broiler chickens also
were reported Higher prices for milk,
oranges. grapefruit and wheat helped
dampen the price declines for other
commodities, however
Despite the decline, the overall farm
price index was 8 percent above a year
ago, the department's Crop Reporting
Board said
According to the preliminary October
figures the index of prices at the farm for
meat animal, dropped 4 percent from
......................................................... ........ J I See T RIA L. P ag- 2)
Fuel, New Cars Push Up Wholesale Costs
Baker said the nation needs a president
who will "face up to the realities of a
Soviet foreign policy that probes every
weakness and fills every vacuum, a
president to insist on defenses strong
enough through the next generation to
give us the confidence to stand tall again
“I am ready to be that president," he
declared.
He also said he could bring "unity and
action" to deal w ith the nation's domestic
problems and described himself as "ar-
ticulate enough ...tough enough... honest
enough... compassionate enough. young
enough...experienced enough" to pro-
vide the leadership the nation needs
In an appeal to tellow Republicans.
Baker said he can win votes "in the South
and in the North. on the farms and in the
cities, with the whites and with the
blacks. with the old and with the young."
Baker, who describes himself as a
"center of gravity" politician, declared
his candidacy in the Senate Caucus
Room, a traditional forum for launching
(Se. BAKER, Page 2)
WASHINGTON <AP) — Sen. Howard
H Baker Jr declared his candidacy for
president today, coupling a warning that
"America has lost its margin for error"
with a new appeal for defeat of the SALT
II treaty.
Departing from the traditional
generalities of presidential an-
nouncement speeches, Baker devoted a
major section of his brief statement to the
proposed arms treaty between the United
States and the Soviet Union.
"Approval of this treaty with its ac-
ceptance of Soviet strategic superiority
could guarantee to the Soviet Union the
margin for error that used to be ours."
said Baker, who as Republican leader of
the Senate has emerged as a key op-
ponent of the pact
Referring to President Carter and the
president’s rival for the Democratic
presidential nomination. Sen. Edward M
Kennedy. Baker said Carter negotiated
SALT and Kennedy suppons «.
"They may be on the right political
side." he said. "But they are short-
sighted and they are wrong."
because of lower egg and broiler prices
Turkey prices at the farm, however,
gamed during the month Overall, the
index was down 15 percent from a year
ago.
Retail food prices overall are expected
an er age around 11 percent higher than in
1978 when they gained 10 percent, ac-
cording to department economists
Although most of the increase occurred
earlier this year moderate increases still
are expected in remainder of 1979.
The department is expected to an
nounce its official food price predictions
for 1980 next week.
Meanwhile, department economists
have said informaily that food prices next
year mas increase * percent to 12 per-
cent. but probably less than the II
short of retail grocery, drug and
department store shelves — have ac-
celerated at an annual rate of 12.3
percent in the first 10 months this year.
Early said.
That could make 1979 the worst since
1974, when producer prices went up 18.3
percent, h he said.
Changes in the Producer Price Index
are watched carefully because they often
show up after a month or two lag at retail
stores.
Retail prices in September, the most
recent month available, were 12 percent
higher than in September 1978. And they
have been rising at the fastest rate since
. <46. when the government lifted World
War II price controls.
Most of the October increase was
blamed on rising energy costs, which
MEXICO CITT IAP) — A landing on
the wrong runway was olamed for the
crash of a Western Airlines DC-10 at the
Mexico City airport in which 74 persons
were reported killed.
"It was definitely not structural,
there's no question about that," said
FAA spokesman Dennis Feldman in
Washington
The airport was shrouded in fog when
the plane from Los Angeles landed before
dawn Wednesday on a runway that was
closed for repairs hit a truck and crashed
into two buildings Officials said 71 of the
88 persons aboard the jetliner and three
on the ground were killed
Seventeen others aboard Flight 605
survived Three were in intensive care,
nine were reported in satisfactory con
dition. and five were released after first-
aid treatment
The pilot. Capt. Charles Gilbert. 53. of
Rolling Hills, Calif , was among those
killed
Bl JIM STEIERT
Brand Farm Editor
Although moisture from a winter storm
which hit the area Tuesday morning was
welcomed by area wheat farmers,
residents in rural areas of Deaf Smith and
neighboring Oldham County are still in
the process of digging out from
near-blizzard conditions which accom-
panied the storm
The task is grim indeed for stockmen in
an area ranging from roughly Walcott
north to Adnan and east to Vega. where
cattle followed their instincts to move
aw ay from the biting snow-laden w inds
Livestock piled up in fence comers
where snow drifts covered and suffocated
large numbers of cattle, while others
were trampled by cattle piling up in fence
corners seeking escape from the weather.
With snow drifts reaching depths of up
to eight feet in the Adnan s icinity, many
cattle simply walked over fences and
stockmen began the task of gathenng up
strays Wednesdav. a chore which would
continue for days with the livestock
scattered.
Power was off to rural areas and the
communities of Adrian, Vega and
Wildorado Tuesday, although crews
worked through the night Tuesday and all
day Wednesday restoring service to areas
where it had been interrupted.
Mrs. Jim Perrin reported that "a good
eight inches" of snow covered the ground
at the Perrin farm northwest of Hereford
near Adnan.
"There are some severe cattle losses
here Cattle are out everywhere, and we
lost our power at noon on Tuesday it will
be a while before we find all of the lost
cattle. We found one pile with 12 dead
ones in it, and you can look out across the
pasture and see dead ones everywhere.
They laid down and got drifted up and
smothered," she reported.
"If you have a four-wheel drive you can
get around. Otherwise it's a problem
The men have been having the cattle and
16 rafts 15'
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 16 places within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Sims, Paul. The Hereford Brand (Hereford, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 87, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 1, 1979, newspaper, November 1, 1979; Hereford, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1422025/m1/1/?q=1966+yearbook+north+texas+state+university: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Deaf Smith County Library.