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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Thursday, January 6, 2000

TxDOT sets Cedar St. sidewalk repairs

By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Jan. 6, 2000 - Curbs along South Cedar Street are looking a lot better since a Texas Department of Transportation project began six weeks ago.

The sidewalks, however, are another story. But TxDOT resident engineer Paul Henderson said that problem should soon be resolved with the arrival of addition state funds to fix up sidewalks along a 14-block stretch of Cedar Street.

Crews began work in mid-November on the original job of replacing the curbs along Cedar Street (U.S. 285), along with adding wheelchair accessible ramps at several street corners. The work has just past the halfway point, but on some downtown streets there are gaps and cracks between the new curb and the old sidewalks.

"There are some gaps in there and holes in the sidewalk," Henderson said, but added, "The money has become available to do the sidewalks there."

"We had to do a change order on the contract (for the curbs), and that takes a good bit of time," he said. "The cost of it exceeded my authority to tell them to go to work."

Henderson said he's authorized to order work that costs under $25,000, but the sidewalk repairs will cost over that amount, which required approval from Austin.

"It does cause a delay, but I feel it's best for the community," he said, adding that approval of the additional work was expected "any day now."

Most of the sidewalks will be replaced between First and 14th Streets. "The Museum wanted us to leave their old sidewalk and the wooden one they have there alone, but it will mainly go from there to 14th Street," Henderson said. "There are gaps and broken sidewalks in there we're going to fix."

As for the curbs, the recent cold weather has slowed that project. Morning temperatures have hovered around 20 degrees on and off since mid-December, and Henderson said, "Some stuff is temperature sensitive…you're not supposed to pour concrete when it's below 40 degrees."

The work on U.S. 285 from First to 14th streets two years comes after TxDOT installed new sidewalks and covered over a drainage ditch along Cedar Street between 14th St. and Interstate 20. TxDOT crews also are continuing work on relocating the I-20 westbound entrance ramp from U.S. 285, while Union Pacific crews today re-opened the railroad crossing on U.S. 285 at First Street, after replacing rails during the early part of the week. Rail replacement will continue over the next several days on the west side of Pecos.

Balmorhea students preparing for livestock show

BALMORHEA - Jan. 6, 2000 - Animals will be abundant in Balmorhea this weekend, with the annual Balmorhea Livestock Show set for Saturday morning and afternoon at Balmorhea High School.

Events will begin at 10 a.m., with the showing of the hogs, at the Balmorhea High School Ag Building.

A noon break will consist of a barbecue lunch, and the stock show will then resume with judging of goats, lambs, and then steers.

Awards will be given out in all events, and the winners will compete in the Reeves-Loving County Livestock show, scheduled for Jan. 14-15 at the Reeves County Civic Center.

Pattillo says aiding community behind seeking office

PECOS, Jan. 6, 2000 - David Pattillo says he would like to see Pecos and Reeves County prosper, which is one of the reasons he has filed to for run for the Reeves County Commissioner Precinct 3 position in March's Democratic primary election.

"I want to see the community grow, the way it used to be, and for Reeves County to prosper," said, who is one of four candidates seeking the Precinct 3 spot. Incumbent Herman Tarin, James "Jimmy" Gallego and James H. Thomas, Jr. are the other candidates in the March 14 race.

Pattillo is a 47-year-old Pecos native who owns Pecos Battery and Electric, located across the street from Security State Bank. It's a family business owned and operated by Pattillo and was first established in 1947 by his father, the late Dick Pattillo.

"I have been there since 1983, and I also raise cattle in the Balmorhea area," said Pattillo. "My mother is Jo Pattillo, three years ago I married Jan Holley-Pattillo, also a native of Reeves County," he said.

Pattillo has three children, Kelcey, Erinn and Matthew.

"Having lived in Reeves County for may years and watching the economy slowly die, I would like to be a major part of helping to rebuild it," said Pattillo. "We are so fortunate to have Anchor West, the prison, and Smithers test track. However we need more industry."

Pattillo said that the community cannot totally survive on the industry and agriculture we have. "I think my experience as a business person will be an asset to the commissioner's court, along with my agriculture experience," he said.

"I would like to see the commissioners court operate like a business," said Pattillo.

He said he would like to see more advertisement on commissioner's court agendas and to possibly have the meetings in the evenings to allow those individuals that work during the day a chance to attend and participate.

"Maybe even have the meetings late, to give them a chance to attend and find out what's going on in our county," said Pattillo.

Having not served in a political position, Pattillo said, "I believe I can honestly represent the citizens of Reeves County from the people's point of view with success. Your vote and support will be greatly appreciated."

"I just see the community and the county shrinking, and feel like I want to be here and make sure there's always a Pecos and a Reeves County," said Pattillo. "There's no where else I want to live, Pecos, Reeves County is my home and I would like to see it grow again."

Task force aids in cocaine bust of Amarillo trio

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Jan. 6, 2000 - The Trans Pecos Drug Task Force had a fairly busy month in December with several arrests made both near and far.

On Dec. 22, an investigator with the task force conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 20 in Ward County, which investigators said turned up approximately two pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. Arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, over four ounces and under five pounds, was David Ramirez.

One week later, on Dec. 29, task force, assisted by agents from the Panhandle Regional Narcotics Trafficking Task Force, the Amarillo Police Department Agents, SWAT Team and F.B.I, completed a six-month investigation, which ended in a five kilogram (11 pounds) cocaine seizure as part of a reverse drug sting.

The investigation led to the arrest of three suspects for Possession of Cocaine and Illegal Investment. The suspects arrested were identified as Carlos Hugo Galindo, 29, Moses Rato Franco, 44 and Wilfredo Grimaldo, 28, all of Amarillo.

In conjunction, over $30,000 and a vehicle were seized.

The estimated street value of the cocaine was $85,000, according to the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force Commander Gary Richards.

The Trans Pecos Drug Task Force was formed in 1998 and covers over a half dozen counties in West Texas. It is headquartered in Pecos and is under the direction of Sheriff Arnulfo "Andy" Gomez and Commander Gary Richards.

School holding board training seminar Jan. 11

PECOS, Jan. 6, 2000 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, Board of Education will sponsor a Board Training seminar, at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the P-B-T boardroom, 1304 S. Park St.

The team building session is facilitated by Region 18 Education Service Center in Midland.

Obituaries

Jessie Couch

Jessie Sue Armstrong Couch, 91, of Pecos, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, at Reeves County Hospital.

Services are scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 8, at First Christian Church with Reverend Chris Diebel of Abilene officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery.

She was born Oct. 17, 1908, in Grandfalls, was a retired teacher for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and a member of the First Christian Church in Pecos.

Survivors include two daughters, Christie Couch Staplenton of Haskell, Susann Couch Flowers of Old Glory; two brothers, Fred P. Armstrong of Pecos, Cole Armstrong of Pecos; two sisters, Hope A. Wilson and Ethel A. Collier of Pecos; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Clyde McDaniel

Clyde McDaniel, 62, of Pecos, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, at Reeves County Hospital.

Services will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 7, at West Park Baptist Church with Rev. James Sain and Rey Carreon officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery.

He was born Oct. 24, 1937, in Lamesa, was retired from Union Pacific Railroad and a Baptist.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Curtis "Buz" Lee and two sisters, Ruth Vasquez and Gladys "Mike" Scifres.

Survivors include his wife, Patsy McDaniel of Pecos; one son, John McDaniel of Monahans; three daughters, Roberta Lott of LaVernia, Patti Penney of Rockdale and Wilma Brookshire of Ballinger; one sister, Ruby "Fritzi" Dee of Shamrock; one brother, George Clint "Buck" McDaniel of Grand Prairie and 15 grandchildren.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lotto

AUSTIN (AP) - No ticket correctly matched all six numbers drawn Wednesday night for the twice-weekly Lotto Texas game, state lottery officials said. A winning ticket would have been worth an estimated $4 million. The numbers drawn from a field of 50 were 3, 4, 22, 23, 31 and 43.

***

AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Wednesday by the Texas Lottery, in order: 5-5-2 (five, five, two)

Weather

PECOS, Jan. 6, 2000 - High Wednesday 70. Low this morning 30. Forecast for tonight: Fair skies. Low in the low to mid 20s. Northeast wind 10-20 mph: Diminishing overnight. Friday: Partly cloudy. High in the lower 50s. East wind 10-15 mph. Friday night: Increasing cloudiness. Low 25-30. Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High in the mid 60s.



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
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