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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, April 21, 2000
Construction job on Business I-20 ahead of schedule
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 21, 2000 - Ongoing construction on Third Street in Pecos
is ahead of schedule, with the completion date set for two to three weeks
from now.
"We're actually ahead of schedule at this point," said project supervisor
Gabriel McClelland, who is working for the Reece Albert Construction Company,
which is in charge of re-paving the curbs and sidewalks on Third Street
(Business I-20) under a contract with the Texas Department of Transportation.
It's the second major curb replacement project in Pecos over the past
several months. The first involved replacement of curbs on South Cedar
Street between First and 14th streets that was plagued with
problems, including cracks in the new sidewalks and a water line accidentally
broken by construction workers.
"We're not the same crew that did the construction work on Cedar Street,"
said McClelland.
The state project was spearheaded by the TxDOT, which had hoped to also
repave Third Street as part of the current project. But the paving plans
were dropped for now when no acceptable bid could be found. TxDOT delayed
its project by nearly two years to allow the Town of Pecos City to replace
a sewer line along a 10-block stretch of Third Street in early 1999.
"I don't know if they're going to re-pave the streets or not, that's
up to the department of transportation," said McClelland.
Reece Albert Construction Company is based in San Angelo with several
of the employees being from Midland, according to McClelland.
"We just lack some sidewalks and landscaping to get this project wrapped
up," said McClelland.
"I just want to thank the people of Pecos for being so patient and cooperative
with us," said cement foreman Sam Hernandez. "We're very pleased with the
work and with the people here in town."
"Everybody has been very cooperative," said McClelland. "We've worked
at other places in the downtown areas and it's very frustrating."
However, in Pecos, the crew has received nothing but cooperation and
things have run smoothly because of that. "We realize it's an inconvenience,"
he said.
"It's been a pleasure working here in Pecos, it's made our job easier,"
said Hernandez.
"We've managed to work really well with the public in Pecos," said McClelland.
The crew was hard at work this morning, when many other businesses are
closed for Good Friday. "We're trying to get as much done as possible,"
said McClelland.
Early voting opens strong for May elections
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 21, 2000 - Contested races have made a big difference
in the early voting totals for the May 6 city, school and hospital district
elections in Pecos.
Not a single race was contested in last year's local elections in Pecos,
and only Balmorhea had any contested races at all. in the surrounding area.
This year, there are contested elections for the city council and mayoral
positions in Pecos, along with the two seats on the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
school board and for the at-large position on the Reeves County Hospital
District board. As a result, election clerk Debbie Thomas said 355 people
cast ballots during the first two days of early voting at the Pecos Community
Center.
"We had 171 voters on Wednesday and 184 voters on Thursday," Thomas
said. "A wonderful day is usually 120 voters, so it's been great."
In the Town of Pecos City elections, mayor Dot Stafford will be seeking
a fourth two-year term and will be challenged by Ray Ortega. In the council
election, incumbents Danny Rodriguez and Ricky Herrera are challenged by
Hector "Tito" Roman.
The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD election has four candidates seeking the
two three-year terms up for election. Incumbent Steve Armstrong will be
joined in the May 6 race by challengers Paul Deishler, Steve Valenzuela
and David Flores.
In the Reeves County Hospital District election, the only contested
race is for the at-large seat, where incumbent Hiram "Greg" Luna is challenged
by Leo Hung. Precinct 1 incumbent Chel Florez and Precinct 3 incumbent
Jesse Prieto are unopposed in their bids for new two-year terms.
Thomas said the names for candidates in the city, school and hospital
board elections are all on one single ballot for voters at the Community
Center. Early voting for the May 6 election is closed today for the Good
Friday holiday, but will be open all next week and on Monday and Tuesday,
May 1 and 2.
Barstow city council voters will also have a contested election for
the first time in years, and Balmorhea will again have contested elections
in its city and school elections. Early voting totals there were unavailable
today, due to the Good Friday holiday.
In Balmorhea, early voting for the city elections will be at City Hall
between now and May 2, while early voting in the school board election
will be in the Balmorhea ISD boardroom.
In the Balmorhea city races, incumbent mayor Ismael Rodriguez is being
challenged by councilman Danny Reynolds and Doug Maynard. Reynolds' seat
was one of two on the council up for election this year. The other incumbent,
Rosendo Galindo, is seeking another two-year term and will face challengers
Tammy Marmillon, Bertha Brijalba and Eddie Roman.
In the Balmorhea School Board election the three-year terms of Reyes
Castillo and Paul Matta are up in May. Mata has filed to seek another three-year
term and will be challenged by Dora Machuca, Tommy Ray Dominguez and Louis
Rene Contreras and Raymond Carrasco.
Over in Barstow, early voting will be held daily next week and on May
1 and 2 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Barstow Community Center. Barstow
voters will have one contested race, with incumbents Robert Ortega and
Benny Avila facing challenger Pablo Navarette. Benny Hernandez will be
unopposed in the race for Barstow mayor, where incumbent Salvador Villalobos
opted against seeking another term.
Toyah city elections won't be held this year, as both the mayor and
council elections there are uncontested. Ann Marsh has filed to run for
mayor, while Paul Anthony Budlong and Sharon Sanchez signed up for the
two available Toyah city council seats.
Budlong is currently serving as mayor for the little community, a position
he won in 1998. The council seats up for election are those won by Clara
McConnell and Howard Dennett two years ago.
Recount scheduled Monday in Precinct 3 runoff
PECOS, April 21, 2000 - A recount of the April 11runoff election for Reeves
County Commissioners Precinct 3 has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday at
the Reeves County Courthouse, county clerk Dianne Florez said today.
"Mr. (Bobby) Dean set it up, and we're going to do it on Monday," said
Clerk Dianne Florez of the recount of the April 11 election, in which incumbent
Herman Tarin defeated challenger David Pattillo by 17 votes.
The recount was delayed until Dean, the Reeves County Democratic Party
chairman, could be released from Medical Center Hospital in Odessa after
suffering a heart attack last weekend.
Pattillo, who lost out in the primary runoff election by 17 votes to
Tarin, requested the recount after he had beaten Tarin by 11 votes in the
March 14 Democratic Primary. Both men then advanced to the runoff election
in the four-person race because no candidate received 50 percent of the
vote.
Freshman plans return to state science fair
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 21, 2000 - A Pecos High School student is already planning
for next year's science fair competition, following her recent trip to
the 2000 state science fair.
"I didn't advance to nationals, but that's okay, there's always next
year," said freshman Pecos High School freshman Hannah Paz, who placed
first at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin science fair and
then attended the Texas State Science and Engineering Fair at the Austin
Convention Center.
"It was a lot of fun," said Paz, who added, "I worked really hard, but
there were a lot of good projects at the state competition."
"It is extraordinary that Hannah was able to qualify for the State Science
Fair this year," said teacher Barbara Scown. "She is an exceptional student
and we are so very proud of her."
Scown said Hannah has accomplished this feat entirely on her own, and
she wants to continue this research next year.
"Teacher Sandra Overcash has helped Hannah some this year with her graphs
and I know that we can still improve more in that area," said Scown.
This was more a learning experience, since Paz is just finishing ninth
grade and will be able to compete three more years, according to Scown.
For her project, Paz tested fifth and eighth graders, to see what color
they observed first. She tested them both on the television screen and
in person, to see if it made a difference
"And it did," said Paz, who generated different results on the test.
"It made a big difference."
The eighth graders chose yellow and on the television screen, the popular
color was black. The fifth graders results were a little bit different,
according to Paz.
"It has been at least 15 years since I've had a student interested in
working on a science fair project here at high school and I'm excited about
the prospect of working with Hannah next year," said Scown.
However, this is not Paz' first experience in attending state science
fair competition. As an eighth student at Crockett Middle School, Paz also
advanced to state competition last year
Her project placed second in the Behavioral Sciences Division at the
Regional Science Fair at UTPB in Odessa, earning Paz a trip to Austin.
At that competition, Paz' project, "Battle of the Sexes," received the
Teachers Choice award at the local science fair held at Crockett Middle
School.
Her idea for his particular project stemmed from a conversation held
in class, about who follows directions the best, boys or girls "Battle
of the Sexes" is a behavioral science project whose primary research deals
with finding out which sex follows directions better.
According to the project findings, female students follow directions
more accurately than male students.
Last year, was the fourth year, Paz had attended regional competition.
Her science project career began when she was in fifth grade when she and
another student, Julissa Leal, won the local competition and the Society
of Petroleum Engineers Ribbon at the regional competition in Odessa. As
a sixth grader she placed first in the local science fair, but didn't place
at regionals in Odessa.
"I've always been real interested in science," said Paz, who added she
also enjoys math classes.
At the state competition this year, Paz competed with grades 9-12, together
in Austin, "Which means she was competing against junior and seniors,"
said Scown.
The Senior Division is much more demanding and research oriented than
the Junior Division, according to Scown. And the Senior Division goes through
two rounds of judging.
"There were so many good projects at state and every year you can add
to a project you've already worked on," said Paz. "Like this boy that had
made an engine and this year he added more to it."
The projects were really good and everyone had worked hard on them,
according to Paz.
"I plan to go with my mom this summer to San Antonio and talk to a man
who helps with science projects, gives ideas," said Paz, who is the daughter
of Diane and Guadalupe Paz.
When she's not busy working on research for projects, she enjoys talking
on the phone, hanging out with her friends and going places.
The project she worked on this year took her about a month to complete.
"I'm really a procrastinator, I guess that's why it took me so long," she
said laughing.
Annual Golden Girl Style Show planned
PECOS, April 21, 2000 - A Style Show and Barbecue Dinner will be held featuring
this year's Golden Girl Nominees next month at the West of the Pecos Museum.
This year's event will be held at 6 p.m. on May 6, in the courtyard
of the museum, at First and Cedar streets.
Tickets for the event are $12 and can be purchased from any of the nominees.
Tickets can also be purchased by calling Suan Cross at Security State
Bank at 445-9000 or by calling 445-3046.
Only 140 seats will be available and 110 tickets are already out to
be sold.
Commissioners to discuss cash for Task Force
PECOS, April 21, 2000 - A cash match for the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force
and a resolution and interagency agreement for the force will be the topic
of discussion at the regular Reeves County Commissioners Court meeting
scheduled for Monday.
The group will meet at 9:30 a.m., on the third floor of the courthouse
and the public is invited to attend.
Commissioners will discuss FY 2000 EMS/Trauma Care System Fund emergency
medical services contract; Eastside Community Center parking lot interlocal
cooperation with City of Pecos and an agreement with Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD testing center and RCDC.
The group will discuss and take action on reclassification change of
an EMT to Registered Nurse; holiday leave policy amendment; Barn Risk Management
request to settle insurance claim for Road and Bridges; DRG Architect's
request for payments and the independent audit report FY 1999.
Other items for discussion and action are:
· Deputation and oath for reserve deputy Frederick Hochmann.
· Reports from various departments.
· Budget amendments and line-item transfers.
· Personnel and salary changes (RCDC, Road and Bridge).
· Minutes from previous meetings.
· Semi-monthly bills.
Obituaries
Alcario Corrales
Alcario Leyva Corrales, 74, of Farmersville, Calif., died Wednesday, April
19, 2000, at Kaweah Hospital in Viselia, Calif.
A rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, at Hatley Funeral Home Chapel.
Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, at Holy Family Catholic Church
in Viselia, with burial in Viselia Cemetery.
He was born Jan. 26, 1926, in Fort Davis.
Survivors include his wife, Martina Brijalba Corrales; two sons, Alberto
Brijalba Corrales of Denver, Colo. and Ismael Corrales of Viselia, Calif.;
one daughter, Ana Bel Corrales Rios of Farmersville, Calif.; three brothers,
Juan Leyva Corrales, Ricardo Leyva Corrales and Manuel Leyva Corrales of
Pecos; one sister, Lilia Corrales Singh of Fort Stockton, and seven grandchildren.
Hatley Funeral Home of Viselia is in charge of arrangements.
Lorane Fields
Lorane Fields, 89, of Pecos, died Tuesday, April 18, 2000, at her residence.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 22, at the Pecos Funeral
Home Chapel with Reverend Billy Woodard officiating. Burial will be in
Eastside Cemetery.
She was born Oct. 6, 1910, in Waco, had lived in Pecos for many years,
was a homemaker and a Methodist.
Survivors include two sons, Jake Gardner of Los Angeles, Calif. and
Jimmie Wright of El Paso and many other relatives.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, April 21, 2000 - High Thursday 83. Low this morning 53. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low in the lower 50s. South wind 10-20 mph.
Saturday: Partly cloudy and breezy. High in the lower 90s. Southwest wind
15-25 mph and gusty. Saturday night: Partly cloudy. Low 55-60. Sunday:
Partly cloudy. High 90-95.
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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