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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, May 10, 2000
Chamber prepares Airfield reunion events
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, May 10, 2000 - They were stationed in Pecos from 1942 until
1945 and the memories of their stay will be relived this weekend as they
come together for another reunion.
The Pecos Army Airfield Reunion 2000 has been scheduled for this Thursday
through Saturday, and some couples have already arrived for the happy occasion.
"We have 56 people registered to come, they will stay four nights and
three days," said West of the Pecos Museum Executive Director Debbie Thomas.
Thomas talked about the upcoming bi-annual event during the monthly
Chamber of Commerce Directors' meeting, held Tuesday at the Pecos Senior
Citizens Center.
"We all need to get together to give them a big welcome," said Thomas.
"We would love to have at least one of you at each of the events," she
said.
"A flagstone being constructed at the Pecos Municipal Airport, the Pecos
Tree Board helped with some plants, the Catholic War Veterans will be doing
a 21-gun salute and the Boy and Girl Scouts will be helping during the
ceremony on Saturday morning," said Thomas.
The events will start with registration/get-acquainted session set for
2-5 p.m. on Thursday at the Swiss Clock Inn and at 6:30 p.m., a cocktail
party at the Pecos Valley Country Club.
On Friday, registration will continue from 8-11 a.m., with more visiting.
A luncheon will be held at noon at the Pecos Senior Citizens Center with
Friends of the West of the Pecos Museum and at 6 p.m. everyone will enjoy
hamburgers at the West of the Pecos Museum Courtyard, sponsored by the
Pecos Lions Club.
Saturday morning events will kick off at 10 a.m., at the Municipal Airport.
Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, the Pecos High School Band and the Catholic War
Veterans will all be on hand for the special ceremony.
At 6:30 p.m., everyone will meet at the Pecos Valley Country Club for
a banquet, with the Pecos High School Mariachi Band, a guest speaker and
a magic show, as entertainment.
A Pecos Army Air Field Display is set up at the West of the Pecos Museum.
"It won't take a lot of effort on our part to really welcome them and
show our hospitality," said Thomas.
"We really do need to make them feel welcome and to be at each of these
events," said Chamber of Commerce President Jeannette Alligood. "I would
like to encourage everyone if they have some spare time to attend one of
these activities."
In other business Tuesday, board member Linda Gholson said a grocery
store meeting was held late last year and some community members were disturbed
because they were not invited to attend the meeting.
"The whole community was not invited to this meeting, but it was a good
meeting to get some rules set up," said Gholson. "However, there was to
be another meeting within a month, and so far nothing has happened."
Gholson stated that chamber director Tom Rivera has been trying diligently
to talk to the supermarket group that owns both grocery stores in town,
to no avail.
"He hasn't been able to get a hold of them so that we can set up another
meeting," said Gholson.
Gholson stated that she didn't the chamber should be blamed for not
inviting the whole community to the meeting and not following through.
"I don't want people to blame us, we have been trying to get a hold of
them," she said.
Gholson stated that things had become a little bit better at both grocery
stores following the meeting held last year. "It was short-lived, the good
changes didn't last and people are still saying they can't find what they
want at the grocery stores here in town," said Gholson.
"I think something needs to be done, we were the ones that set up the
first meeting," said Gholson. "It needs to be known that it's not the chamber's
fault that nothing new has developed."
"I think we should go ahead and schedule a meeting, whether they are
here or not and let the public know we did invite the Fenn group," said
board member Steve McCormick.
"They're losing all the businesses money, because when people go out
of town to grocery shop they spend money on other things also, such as
eating out and at the other stores," said Alligood.
Chamber members agreed to work on getting another meeting set up within
the next 30 days. "They will be invited to attend, whether they choose
to or not, it's up to them," said Alligood.
Board member and school personnel Larry Sloan told the group that Thursday
students would be at the businesses shadowing individuals at respective
business place.
"We also have a group working on a project for tourism and hospitality,"
said Sloan.
The students will visit the different businesses associated with tourism
and hospitality, write a report on their findings. "They'll be judging
the businesses on their hospitality and write everything down," said Sloan.
Sloan stated that this would be a good thing, because it would show
a young person's perspective. "I'll bring back their findings to the chamber,"
he said.
Alligood told the group that they have been talking about setting up
computer classes and had sent out surveys. "We would need at least 10 people
to make a class," said Alligood. "Hopefully we can get something together
this summer."
In other business, board members agreed to have a D.J. only playing
music at Night In Old Pecos, to be held in conjunction with West of the
Pecos Rodeo activities.
"I don't think it's the bands that draw in people," said Alligood.
This year there will be more vendors on Oak Street, a kid's fair and
a car show, according to Rivera. "We're getting a lot more interest from
vendors," said Rivera.
A drawing for an afghan will be held at the Windmill Square, a clown
will be selling balloons and a lot more activities for the children are
planned, according to Rivera. "If any of you has any more ideas for activities
for youngsters, you need to share them," he said.
Rivera stated that this event will be family-oriented and will provide
something for everyone.
In the executive director's report, Rivera stated that he had spoken
with the attorney's handling the lawsuit filed against the band, "Mazz,"
which backed out of a contract to perform in Pecos in 1997. "After three
years, they were finally served Saturday night," said Rivera.
The group will have to show up for court on June 13 to show cause, according
to Rivera.
"They had issued a judgment for us for $89,000, but if we can get a
fraction of that it will be great," said Rivera. "It's been three years."
Everything is in place for the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame, according to
Rivera. "We applied for a C-3 and were approved by the IRS," he said.
Rivera told the group that they had ordered canvas bags that will be
sold by all the merchants and can be purchased at the museum.
"They will have the museum logo on one side and the Texas Rodeo Hall
of Fame logo on the other," said Rivera.
They will be available for sale through the merchants, the museum and
will be here by June.
"They're still trying to get an appraisal on the depot," said Rivera.
"All other legalities are in place," he said.
School board to elect officers after oaths
PECOS, May 10, 2000 - Oaths of office will be issued to newly elected members
for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board, and new officials for the board
will be voted on during the regular monthly meeting, set for Thursday evening.
Members will meet at 6 p.m., in the boardroom, 1304 S. Park St., where
newly-elected board members David Flores and Steve Valenzuela will be sworn
into office. The two were elected to three-year terms on the board this
past Saturday, and the vote was made official after ballots were canvassed
during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon.
In regular business, board members will discuss Crockett Middle School
lab addition project report; bids for school-owned Meadowbrook Addition
property; a report on security cameras for Pecos High School's parking
lots on Washington and Park streets and an early release day on Sept. 15,
for technology training.
During the meeting the group will recognize boys and girls golf district
champions; girls' softball district champions; VICA and Land Judging Team;
fifth grade UTPB Regional Science Fair winners and PHS UIL state competitor
and science fair state competitor.
Under correspondence is to appoint board member as TASB delegate and
alternate; a letter from Texas Department of Agriculture and resolution
for Media Honor Roll.
The board will discuss and approve HVAC renovation-Bessie Haynes Elementary
School; representative to serve on the committee to sell foreclosed property;
math-science coop; summer recreation program; payday schedule and 1999-2000
budget amendments.
The board will hold a public hearing on Title I-Part A and Title VI
and set budget hearing dates.
Board members will discuss school finance, property values and tax collection
and Enhanced Curriculum Grades 1-6 and Selection Criteria.
The group will discuss and approve school meal initiative coop evaluation
report; 3 TSTA concerns submitted by Jamie Crisp and conducting inventory
scan for Lamar, Carver, Zavala and Crockett schools.
Board members will meet behind closed doors to personnel or hear complaints
against personnel and private consultation with the board's attorney.
The group will return to open session and take action, if any, on items
discussed in closed session.
On the agenda are professional personnel: appointments, resignation,
retirements, reassignments and change of contract.
In other business, the group will discuss and approve requests to purchase
foreclosed properties, Lot 7, Block 52 Original and Lot 2, Block 91 Original.
Regular items for discussion and action include:
· Tax report.
· Depository securities report.
· Cafeteria report.
· Commodities received report.
· Current bills and financial report.
· Investment transaction report.
· Reconciled bank balance report.
· Reeves County Community Recreation Department report.
· Parents and board to present diplomas at PHS graduation May
26 at 8 p.m. at Eagle Stadium (weather permitting).
· Time and date for next regular board meeting.
· Calendar of events.
· Request for items for next agenda.
New mayor to take office on Thursday
PECOS, May 10, 2000 - The Town of Pecos City Council will swear in Mayor-elect
Ray Ortega and councilmen Ricky Herrera and Danny Rodriguez during its
regularly scheduled meeting tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. at City Hall.
Both councilmen are returning for new terms after winning re-election
in last Saturday's election.
The council will also appoint a new mayor pro tem.
On its regular agenda the council is slated to discuss and/or consider:
· An Eastside Community Center parking lot.
· An appointment to the Pecos Economic Development Corporation.
· The closure of railroad crossing closures at Willow, Alberta
and Locust Streets.
· Appointments to the Plumbing Board.
· Recommendations from the Plumbing Board on inspection fees.
· Town of Pecos City participation in Trans Pecos Drug Task Force
for fiscal year 2000-2001.
· A request from the Girl Scouts to reserve Maxey Park.
· An engineering contract with Frank Spencer and Associates for
the South Worsham Water Field.
The council also has one item slated to be discussed in executive session
_ an employee review of the utilities director.
Rec department sets Taekwon-Do, aerobic classes
PECOS, May 10, 2000 - The Reeves County Community Sports and Recreation
Department is forming morning classes in Takekwon-Do and low-impact aerobics.
The Taekwon-Do class is open to boys and girls between the ages of 5
and 10, and will be held two days a week for six weeks, while the aerobics
classes are for adults and will take place four times a week.
The rec department is also registering players for its girls' softball
leagues through next Tuesday, while youth T-ball league sign-ups continue
through May 25. Registration applications for either league can be picked
up weekdays at the recreation department office from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.
For further information on any of the programs, call the RCCRD office
at 447-9776.
Obituaries
Helen Balog
Helen Balog, a longtime Pecos resident, died this morning in Odessa. Services
are tentatively set for Saturday morning in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Odessa.
She had served the Pecos Division of U.S. District Court as a magistrate
clerk. Her husband, Steve Balog, is a court security officer and a former
deputy U.S. Marshal.
James Thomas
James Franklin Thomas, 64, of Van Horn, died Sunday, May 7, 2000 at his
home.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 10, at First Baptist
Church in Van Horn with Rev. Vic Taylor and Rev. Joe King officiating.
Burial will follow in Van Horn Cemetery.
He was born Jan. 7, 1936, in Amarillo, moved to Van Horn in 1971 and
was a member of First Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by one son, Mal Thomas; one granddaughter,
Heather Ann Thomas; his father, Olen A. Thomas and one brother, Ray Thomas.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Thomas of Van Horn; one daughter, Paige
Thomas of Rogers, Ark.; his mother Ada Thomas of Albuquerque, N.M.; one
brother, Sol Thomas of Sierra Blanca; two sisters, Ruthe Cochran of Albuquerque
and Bonnye Rich of Ruidoso, N.M. and three grandchildren.
Van Horn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, May 10, 2000 - High Tuesday 92. Low this morning 62. Forecast for
tonight: Mostly clear. Low in the mid 60s. South wind 10-15 mph. Thursday:
Sunny and hot. Breezy with a high near 100. Southwest wind 15-25 mph. Thursday
night: Mostly clear. Low in the mid to upper 60s. Friday: Mostly sunny
and warm. Clear at night. Low in the mid to upper 60s. High in the low
100s.
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
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Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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