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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, May 22, 2000
Commissioners impose burning, fireworks bans
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS May 22, 2000 - The ongoing drought has led Reeves County Commissioners
to again impose an outdoor burning ban and fireworks ban for the County
this morning, during their regularly scheduled meeting this morning.
"The city fire marshal (Jack Brookshire) has requested that we do a
fire ban and fireworks ban for Reeves County, due to the upcoming Fourth
of July," said Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo.
Galindo said Brookshire had suggested that fireworks be used only at
the Martinez Field during the Fourth of July festivities and that outdoor
burning be banned, due to the drought conditions in the county.
"Is there another place that the court would like to consider as a designated
area for fireworks?" asked Galindo.
"How about the Northside Park?" suggested Precinct 4 Commissioner Hivi
Rayos.
"It's very brittle out there and could easily cause a fire," said Galindo.
"I don't know that that would be a good place."
"The old landfill would be a good place, it's big enough and that's
where they held the annual bonfire," said commissioner precinct 1 Felipe
Arredondo.
Galindo suggested talking to the city and discussing the item further
at the next meeting.
Fireworks and burning bans have been in place during the past several
years due to a lack of rainfall in Reeves County. Pecos received just 10½
inches of rain in the past two years, and has gotten under an inch of rain
through the first 4½ months of this year.
In a related item, commissioners also approved submitting a declaration
for Reeves County Ranch and Farm Disaster Drought by Gov. George W. Bush.
"This is a declaration that we want to submit, due to the fact that
there hasn't been much rain in this county for several years," said Galindo.
The ranchers and farmers are facing tremendous damages and losses, according
to Galindo.
Jem Com Technologies was approved as a consultant for Reeves County
telecommunications systems.
"Dailey (Lorraine Dailey, architect for the RCDC), had requested that
we hire a consultant with regard to the decision to improve the telecommunications
systems for Reeves County," said Galindo.
Galindo said Dailey had received three proposals from different consultants
who would review the telecommunications system in Reeves County, comment
on vendors and assist with responses to technical questions. In addition,
the consultant will evaluate telephone performance and assist with all
technical questions and problems that might arise.
The consultant approved for the position has several years experience
and recently completed a job with the San Antonio Schools.
The fee for the consultant will be negotiated to about $6,000 to $10,000
with reimbursable travel fees, at a very reasonable level.
"I think we need to do it right and not halfway and then have to come
back and re-do it," said county auditor Lynn Owens.
The system will be implemented in the whole county and not just the
RCDC, according to Galindo.
`Relay' raises $13,000 for cancer fight
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS May 22, 2000 - Sixteen teams of walkers raised approximately $13,000
for the American Cancer Society Friday night and Saturday morning at Eagle
Stadium.
The teams participated in Relay for Life, an all night celebration and
remembrance of cancer victims and survivors.
The walk began at 6 p.m. with the opening ceremony and survivor lap.
The American flag was raised as Kiara Gutierrez sang the national anthem.
Then 22 cancer survivors stepped onto the track for the survivor lap.
After the survivor lap, each team was required to have someone walking
all night long.
Participants had many reasons for walking.
"I wanted to get involved because my dad and grandmother died of cancer,"
said Winkles Trucks team captain Teresa Winkles.
Many community members got involved in the walk, and were joined by
some out-of-town participants.
Sherry Marshall, committee member and Marshall Family team captain,
said six family members from Oklahoma came to participate in the event
because the family recently lost a member to cancer.
"It's really touched us all," she said.
At 9 p.m., 395 luminaries were lit in honor of or memory of cancer victims
and survivors. One hundred fifty spelled out HOPE in the stands. Each name
and message on every luminary was read aloud in honor or memory of.
The Pecos Downtown Lions Club cooked cheeseburgers for supper and pancakes
for breakfast for the walkers. Pizza Hut donated pizzas for a midnight
snack. The Women's Division provided refreshments and the United Methodist
Women made cookies. Water was also donated by Oasis Pipeline.
Participants played games and door prizes were given away.
Relay for Life chairwoman Tracy Shaw said this year's participation
more than doubled from the six teams last year to 16 teams this past weekend.
"My family has been affected by it and this town has been affected by
it," Shaw said.
The event came to a close Saturday morning with an awards ceremony.
The award for most money raised was given to American Home Health. Austin
Elementary received #1 campsite award and Winkles Trucks got most spirited.
Awards for most money raised by an adult and child were also given to Cindy
Velez from Catholic Daughters of American and Lindsey Shaw from the Marshall
Family.
Relay for Life ended with a final lap involving all the teams and team
members.
Extension service seeking approval for new building
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS May 22, 2000 - The Reeves-Loving County Extension Program Council
will meet Tuesday at 12 noon at the Pecos Valley Country Club to discuss
several items, including a request for a new building on the west side
of Pecos.
The building requested is the old Billy Sol Estes building on Highway
17 between Veterans and Stafford boulevards.
Terry Holder, Reeves-Loving County Extension Agent _ Agriculture, said
the new building is needed.
"The new building will have more room and more office space," Holder
said.
The Extension Service now shares space in the Reeves County Annex building
on West Daggett Street with several other county and state agencies.
One of the problems with the current set-up is the Extension Service
has lost its meeting room because of scheduling problems with the Meals
On Wheels program.
"The new building could be used at anytime," Holder said.
Marie Cardenas, County Extension Agent _ Family and Consumer Science,
said meetings couldn't be held in the mornings because of Meals On Wheels.
"It's kind of chaotic," Cardenas said, as those groups wanting to use
the meeting room had to find other locations.
Cardenas said with the new building, civic groups would be able to use
the meeting room, and holder added use of the room would be free of charge
if it were available, Holder said.
The new building would have a full demonstrative kitchen and meeting
rooms.
RCH board members to pick new officers during meeting
PECOS May 22, 2000 - Reeves County Hospital board members will take
the oath of office for their two-year terms and elect new offices for the
2000-2001 year during their regular monthly meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
at the classroom of Reeves County Hospital.
Leo Hung will be sworn in as the new at-large member of the hospital
board, following his victory on May 6 over incumbent Hiram "Greg" Luna.
Incumbents Chel Flores and Jesse Prieto will also be sworn in to new terms
in office, after running unopposed for the Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 seats
earlier this month.
After the oaths and the election of a new board, members will have several
items of business to discuss, including a contract with U.S. Radiology
Partners for radiology services at the hospital, and discuss/take action
on the appointments of Dr. Don Apodaca and Dawei Zheng to the consulting
staff with clinic privileges for the emergency room.
The board will hear a report from hospital administrator Charles Butts,
and will read out a memo to staff members at the hospital. Other items
on Tuesday's agenda include:
_ Bank resolution for Security State Bank and First National Bank;
_ Resolution amending authorized representatives for TexPool;
_ Appointment of a representative to serve on a committee to sell foreclosed
properties at 420 Mulberry St., 609 Almond St. and 1014 E. Eighth St.
The board will also hear a tax report, discuss/take action on financial
statements and budget amendments and discuss/take action on payment of
bills.
Public comments will be heard just before the swearing in of new officers,
and a join committee report will be presented following the election of
new board officers.
Meetings scheduled on management plan for Big Bend area
May 22, 2000 - The National Parks Service is holding a series of
meetings this week to discuss the future of Big Bend National Park and
the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.
The meetings are to help devise a management plan for the park and river
for the next 15 to 20 years. The public comments are designed to help planners
know what visitors want in the way of facilities and uses for the area.
The first meeting will be at 7 p.m. tonight at the Terlingua School
in Study Butte. The other meetings are set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Meeting
Room A at Sul Ross State University in Alpine; 7 p.m. Wednesday at the
Sanderson Community Center and 7 p.m. Thursday at Extension Room E2.036
at the State Capitol in Austin.
"We strongly urge you to attend one of these meetings," Big Bend Superintendent
Frank Deckert said. "Your input is important in developing successful plans."
Obituaries
Juanita Metcalf
Juanita Trichell Metcalf, 56, of Pecos, died Friday, May 19, 2000, at Medical
Center Hospital in Odessa.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at the Pecos Funeral
Home Chapel with Dex Welch officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Evergreen
Cemetery in Pecos.
She was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Coushatta, La., was a member of the first
graduating class of Odessa College School of Nursing in Pecos, had worked
as a surgical nurse at Reeves County Hospital since 1976.
Survivors include two sons, Terry Metcalf of Alexandria, Ky. and Curtis
Metcalf of Pecos; three daughters, Connie Spivey of Vidor, Karen Metcalf
of Converse, La. and Lynell Putnam of Orla; two brothers, Jimmy Trichell
of Odessa and Delton Trichell of Bossier City, La.; two sisters, Sandra
Rice of Independence, Mo. and Marion Turner of Big Lake and nine grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jeffrey Pacheco
Funeral services are incomplete for Jeffrey Pacheco, 10, of Pecos who died
Sunday, May 21, 2000, at Odessa Medical Center.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS May 22, 2000 - High Sunday 96. Low this morning 60. Forecast for
tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 60-65. Southwest wind 5-10 mph. Tuesday: Partly
cloudy and hot. High near 105. West wind 5-15 mph. Tuesday night: Partly
cloudy. Low around 65. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High near 104.
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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