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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, March 10, 2000
School board approves campus changes
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 10, 2000 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD sixth grade students
will have more space for learning and extracurricular activities next year,
following a decision by the school board at Thursday evening's regular
board meeting.
Board members approved reorganization of three campuses, which would
involve moving of sixth grade students to the Zavala Middle School Campus.
All seventh grade students currently attending Zavala, located at 600 E.
Ninth St., will be going to Crockett Middle School, 1801 Missouri St.,
starting in August, a move previously approved by the school board.
Crockett is currently undergoing renovations and expansion to handle
the extra students. Board members had approved the renovations at earlier
meetings and construction work has already begun and will be completed
by the beginning of the next school year.
"With the seventh graders going to school with the eighth graders the
Zavala campus would be empty," said P-B-T ISD Superintendent Don Love.
"They have an automated library, a big gym, music room and now we would
like to move the sixth graders over there, so they can take advantage of
all those things," said Love.
Students currently assigned to or attending program located at the Carver
Center on East 12th Street would then be moved to the Lamar
Middle School on West `F' Street. Carver, the smallest of the school district's
campus buildings, would be left empty, according to Love.
"Are we all full at the Carver Campus?" asked Love.
Carver Director Jimmy Dutchover stated that with the many students wanting
to attend Carver for academics it was posing a problem keeping them separated
from the students attending for discipline problems.
"The academic part is growing, the discipline part is not, thanks to
the great work of the high school administrators," said Dutchover. "We've
got the discipline part pretty much under control," he said.
"We just have no more room, we have too many kids there," he said.
Carver students and administration personnel could use the newest section
of Lamar, located on the west side of the campus, while the older section
could be kept as a storage area, according to Dutchover.
Love told board members that Dutchover had received a grant to install
more computers, which would require more room, also.
"We can't mix the discipline kids with the academics, so we look forward
to having more room," said Dutchover. "We can also have another lab out
there, which would be great," he said.
A total of six rooms are in the newer section of Lamar, with office
space available, restrooms and a cafeteria, according to Dutchover.
"I predict an eighth grade initiative grant, like the one we got for
ninth grade, which would offer computer assisted instruction," said Love.
"We don't have a problem with dropout rate because of this grant, it's
at 1.4 percent."
In conjunction with the move of seventh graders out of Zavala, board
members received an update on the construction at the Crockett Campus.
According to a project report, submitted by Monte Hunter, construction
workers have cleared the building site and have demolished the sidewalk.
Hunter also provided a bar graph schedule detailing when the parts of
the construction will be completed."They've assured us everything will
be ready by the beginning of the next school year," said Love.
County could be big loser from census undercount
From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, Mar. 10, 2000 - Two new reports released Thursday gave local
officials a big reason to urge area residents to fill out and return their
2000 census forms, because failure to do so could make Reeves County a
big loser in the battle for future federal funds.
A study release by a Census Bureau oversight panel Thursday indicated
California and Texas would be deprived of more than half of the $11 billion
in federal aid that states could lose if the population undercount in this
year's census is similar to the undercount in 1990.
At the same time, Census Bureau numbers released Thursday show Reeves
County has lost more population between 1990 and 1999 than any other county
in West Texas.
According to figures in today's San Angelo Standard-Times, Reeves County's
population declined by 1,832 people from 1990 to 1999, falling from 15,852
to 14,020, a loss of 11.6 percent. It was the biggest number decline and
the fourth largest drop in percentage in the region, behind only Upton
(Rankin/McCamey), Reagan (Big Lake) and Terrell (Sanderson) counties.
That compares with gains of between one and 34 percent for other neighboring
counties in the Permian Basin, Trans-Pecos and Big Bend areas, according
to the Census Bureau figures.
Funding and grants for many government programs are based on population
totals, so an undercount in Reeves County could mean significant losses
in state and federal aid after the new census figures are certified sometime
next year.
Census forms were mailed out to county residents beginning last week,
and a "Complete Count Committee" for Reeves County was organized in January
to help with the Census 2000.
Louis Matta is chairman of the Reeves County committee. Sub-committees
include government, with Ricky Herrera acting as chairman there. Jimmy
Dutchover is chairman for education; George Vasquez for religion; Michael
Benavidez for organizations; Johnny Terrazas for business and David Flores
for housing.
"It's very important that everyone fill out the questionnaires and that
everyone be counted," said Benavidez during the group's initial meeting
in January. "They need to give a complete count of each person that's in
their house."
"Through this census we can get funding for our county, so we want to
make sure everyone in Reeves County is accounted for," added Reeves County
Judge Jimmy B. Galindo. "This is very important."
The Census Bureau all but concedes it will not be able to count every
person in America, leading to a battle between Democrats and Republicans
over the use of statistical methods known as sampling to estimate the final
count.
Urban counties also would take a financial hit if a more accurate head
count does not occur, or if a statistical method known as sampling is not
used to account for missing people, said the report released Thursday by
the presidential appointees of the U.S. Census Monitoring Board.
According to the study, California would lose $5 billion and Texas $1.9
billion, while the five counties that make up New York City would together
lose more than $2.5 billion. It also notes that other states could gain
money, predicting a $2 billion windfall for Pennsylvania, and more than
$1 billion for Michigan.
"It's less a question of not having as much or having more than it is
the money that's intended for other groups," board co-chair Gilbert F.
Casellas said. "While on a statewide basis you may consider yourself getting
a larger number of dollars because of your count, based on the analysis,
certain cities within those states actually lose out because of the effects."
Dr. David Murray, a congressional appointee to the board, said he enthusiastically
supported the report if its purpose was to spark more people to respond.
More people may send forms back if they know what census results are used
for, he said.
"But if the major point is to use this as a weapon in a political fight,
then I'd be very disappointed," Murray said. There is a "temptation to
say that statistical methods will solve these problems."
The Census Bureau estimates it undercounted 1.4 percent of the population,
and favors using sampling to account for those people - mostly children,
minorities and residents in urban areas who tend to vote Democratic.
Republicans favor using a strict head count, claiming it provides the
most accurate statistics possible.
The study looked at eight federal programs, which comprise 82 percent
of the $185 billion, allocated to states in 1998. The study is based on
a projected undercount of 1.75 percent in 2000, but said those forecasts
are conservative because the Census Bureau has predicted an undercount
of 1.9 percent.
A 1999 Supreme Court decision mandated that only non-sampled data be
used for reapportioning congressional seats, but left open the possibility
of using sampled data to redraw political boundaries and redistribute federal
funding.
The Census Bureau is scheduled to release both sampled and non-sampled
data. Bureau officials declined to comment on the study.
The study, performed for the board by PricewaterhouseCoopers, forecasted
funds for the 10 fiscal years following 2002, when new formulas based on
2000 census figures could kick in.
The eight-member monitoring board was established by Congress to oversee
Census 2000 operations. Four members were appointed by President Clinton
and four by the Republican-majority Congress.
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On the Net: Web site of the presidential appointees of the U.S. Census
Monitoring Board: www.cmbp.gov.
PHS, Bessie Haynes building repairs OKed
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mar. 10, 2000 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board members went
through a lengthy agenda in a timely and efficient manner Thursday, approving
several items, including advertising for bids for HVAC project for Bessie
Haynes Elementary School and advertising for bids to re-roof sections of
Austin Elementary School and Pecos High School.
"We do have the money to do this project," said superintendent Don Love,
referring to the HVAC project at Bessie Haynes Elementary School that would
include a new air conditioning system for the facility.
"We're ready to have a new air conditioner, we need it bad," said Bessie
Haynes Elementary School Principal Marylou Carrasco.
"We had budgeted for a music teacher and since we didn't get one, we
have that money still," said Love.
"The great thing about this new system, is that it doesn't have to be
turned on in all the classrooms at one time," said P-B-T maintenance director
Joe Coody. "One section of the building can have it one at one time, or
one room."
"With this we don't have to run the whole unit, if we don't need it,"
he said.
Board members also approved a project to re-roof portions of Austin
Elementary and Pecos High School. "We've got a roofing plan and we definitely
need to start at Austin Elementary School," said Love.
The roofing plan includes work on west section of the third east-west
wing at Austin Elementary; while work at the high school would include
the sections over hallway and rooms 27 and 28; rooms 12-16-22 and 15 and
rest rooms, the freshman hall; PHS Cafeteria and PHS Field House.
"That field house has been leaking ever since I was a coach out there,"
said Love. "I really want to get these roofs fixed."
"We'll take bids on all of them and we feel we can't afford them all
we'll just be out the architect fee," said Love. "But I feel we can afford
all three."
The board also recognized swim team members, DECA Club members and Business
Professionals of America during the meeting.
The groups did excellent this year and attended state competition.
"We're just proud of all these students and the hard work they've put
into their respective activities," said Love.
Board members approved a bid for a full-size utility vehicle submitted
by Valley Motors. Valley had the low bid on the van, for $25,500.
"We had budgeted $25,000, but since this is the low bid, we'll have
to come up with the other $500," said Love.
The board also approved a request from the Women's Division of the Pecos
Chamber of Commerce to use the Pecos High School Auditorium for the month
of June and a waiver of the auditorium usage fees. The auditorium will
be used for the Golden Girl and Little Miss Cantaloupe rehearsals and pageant.
An offer to purchase a foreclosed property was approved for the amount
of $3,050, submitted by Sonny Orona. The property is located at 2019 S.
Park.
"We had two offers on this property, and it will still have to go before
the other entities," said school tax assessor collector Lydia Prieto.
Tax refunds for overpayment or erroneous payments were approved. "When
the amount is over $500, we have to get it approved," said Prieto.
Textbook committee recommendations were approved.
"Pecos Elementary School picked a different publisher, we just need
to get it streamlined with the other schools and get the same publisher,"
said Love.
Commissioners to discuss phone system, bus contract
PECOS, Mar. 10, 2000 - A new telephone system for Reeves County, a contract
for bus service with All Aboard of America and payments for construction
at the Reeves County Detention Center will be discussed at the regular
Reeves County Commissioners Court meeting scheduled for Monday.
Commissioners will meet at 9:45 a.m., on the third floor of the Reeves
County Courthouse, and the public is invited to attend.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on Banes General Contractor
request for payment No. 11, request for payment Scott-Thane Ditching Service
and DRG Architect's request for payment invoice No. 165.
A request to advance funds to Juvenile Justice Grant Funds from the
general fund will be discussed along with MGT of America, Inc. and Reeves
County Agreement.
A resolution authorizing additional penalty on delinquent taxes under
section 2: 33.08 tax code; Reeves County lease of real property on county
road 204; men's and women's golf association tournament fee policy and
Saragosa Catholic Church fund raiser at county park.
In other business commissioners will discuss and approve:
· Bond and oath for Mandy Hinojos, Connie Lozano and Catalina
Lozoya.
· Reports from various departments.
· Budget amendments and line item transfers.
· Personnel and salary changes (RCDC, road and bridge, recreation
department, JDC, election workers-county clerk).
· Minutes from previous meetings.
· Semi-monthly bills.
· Spread on minutes: Notice of over-axle over gross weight permit,
appointing order of a district clerk- Pat Tarin; contracts and agreement
for detention of juvenile offenders space available and agreement for secure
post _ adjudication residential service of juvenile offenders space available
FY 2000.
Second incumbent enters RCH race in May 6 elections
PECOS, Mar. 10, 2000 - Precinct 3 incumbent Jesse Prieto has filed to seek
a new two-year term on the Reeves County Hospital District board. He becomes
the second of three incumbents to file for the May 6 RCH elections.
Greg Luna filed last week to retain his at-large seat on the board.
Neither has a challenger. The third seat up for election, in Precinct 1,
is held by Chel Flores.
Through two weeks of filing, only one race, for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
school board, is assured of being a contested election. Two three-year
terms will be decided, and incumbent Steve Armstrong has been joined by
challengers Paul Deishler and Steve Valenzuela in filing with P-B-T secretary
Jo Allgood.
The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD administration office will be open during
Spring Break for those who would like to sign up for a place on the ballot
for the school board elections scheduled for May 6.
Office hours while the students are on break will be from 9 a.m. until
noon and from 1-4 p.m.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) - Results of the Cash 5 drawing Thursday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 14-26-27-34-38. Number matching five of five: 0. Matching four of
five: 191. Prize: $1,042.
***
AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Thursday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 7-1-0 (seven, one, zero)
Weather
PECOS, Mar. 10, 2000 - High Thursday 82. Low this morning 44. Forecast
for tonight: Fair. Low 30-35. North wind 10-20 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny.
High in the mid 60s. Northeast to east wind 5-15 mph. Saturday night: Mostly
clear. Low in the mid 30s. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s
to the lower 40s. Highs in the 70s.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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.
Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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