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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, June 7, 2000
Natural gas prices going up for area
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 7, 2000 - Natural gas prices for consumers in Pecos will
be a little bit higher and the local utility company is asking everyone
to take precautions to avoid higher bills.
Southern Union Gas (SUG), announced that the June Cost of Gas rate for
Pecos/Monahans has increased $.216 per CCF (Hundred Cubic Feet) from last
June's prices to $.45138 per CCF.
Current natural gas prices are substantially above the historic levels
set in the winter of 1996-1997 and trends indicate that the cost of gas
may be significantly higher this winter. Just like the stock market, the
price of gas is subject to fluctuations as dictated by market forces. While
this does not mean that gas prices will continue to rise, consumers should
be prepared for higher bills associated with the increased cost of gas.
"We don't know exactly how much higher the gas bills for consumers will
be, but we do want to warn them to be prepared," said Southern Union Gas
Area Manager Danny Shelton. "We do know that it will be a sizeable bump,
we just don't know for sure how much," he said.
It is important that the cost of gas included in a monthly gas bill
is a "pass through" cost, meaning that the SUG makes no profit on the cost
of gas. The cost of natural gas, however, is market-based and changes frequently.
SUG makes its profit from transporting gas to the end-use customers. The
rates that SUG charges for delivering gas are set by the municipalities
SUG serves and/or the Railroad Commission of Texas and cannot be changed
without their approval.
"Southern Union Gas wants to inform our customers of these market-driven
increases and provide them with an option to protect themselves from potentially
higher than normal natural gas bills," said David Stevens, president of
Southern Union Gas Company. "While natural gas is still the least expensive
and cleanest energy source available today, consumers may be in for some
sticker shock due to these abnormally high commodity prices," he said.
"We encourage our customers to sign up for the Average Bill Calculation
or ABC plan, which provides some protection from fluctuations in gas costs,"
said Stevens.
The ABC plan provides residential customers with a set monthly bill
price based on their historical consumption patterns. These "levelized"
payments protect consumers from market-driven price spikes. This means
no unexpected increases in monthly gas bills. To sign up for the ABC plan,
SUG customers should call the number on the top of their bills.
Southern Union Gas, a division of Austin-based Southern Union Company,
serves approximately 523,000 customers in Texas, including the cities of
Austin, El Paso, Brownsville, Galveston, Port Arthur, Mineral Wells and
Weatherford.
Local girl battling meningitis in Lubbock
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 7, 2000 -An eleven-year old girl from Barstow is hospitalized
in Lubbock fighting two very serious illnesses.
Shayna Goode is at University Medical Center fighting off two viruses
_ viral encephalitis and viral meningitis. Both viruses have gone into
her brain and affected her ability to move.
Lisa Goode, Shayna's mother, said she started to feel bad on May 14th.
Goode said at first Shayna had a sore throat and then developed a really
bad headache. Soon after she started running a fever and vomiting
Her family decided to take her to the hospital in Monahans where she
stayed for two days and then was transferred to the Odessa hospital and
admitted into ICU for eight days. Shayna's condition worsened and was sent
to Lubbock, where she has been for two weeks her mother said.
Goode said her daughter is doing a little better, but you never know
what the day will bring.
"One day she'll do good and the next day she won't do as well," Goode
said.
Saturday was the worst day she has had. Her temperature was 104.1 and
she continually vomited during the night. Goode said that they were unable
to give her any medicine to help because she couldn't keep it down.
She is feeling better today and her headache has finally receded, Goode
said.
Goode said Shayna is taking this well and has been very strong. She
also said the doctor talks to her, so that she can understand everything
that is going on "He talks right in front of her about her illness, which
makes it easier for her to understand what is happening to her," said Goode.
"She's taking it really well," Goode said. "She is amazing."
The doctor believes the way Shayna has been sleeping so much is helping
her more that anything, Goode said.
Her mother said she has lost about 35 pounds and has lost a lot of muscle.
"She's real weak and her legs don't have any muscle tone," Goode said.
Goode said Shayna is currently doing physical therapy and will continue
the regimen after she is released from the hospital.
She said Shayna has been able to walk a little better and sat up in
a chair for 30 minutes yesterday.
Dr. Richard Lampe is her attending physician and a Pediatric Infectious
Disease Specialist.
"We think she's doing a lot better," Lampe said.
Lampe said he cannot give specific details about patients but was able
to answer the question of whether or not Shayna's viruses are contagious.
"I'm not caring for any patient at this time with a contagious disease,"
Lampe said.
Shayna loves to go swimming, roller blade and ride her bike. Hopefully,
physical therapy will help her do these things again, Goode said.
Goode said the doctor believes that she will make a full recovery and
hopefully she will be able to go home soon.
Goode said medical payments will be hard but Shayna's grandmother did
have her on Medicaid.
"I don't know what we would have done without that," Goode said.
Barstow resident Lorna Navarette said Barstow citizens have held a raffle
and gathered donations totaling about $300.
"People have been affected by this and have pulled together to help
Shayna and her family," Navarette said. "And it is really appreciated."
Shayna will be a 6th grader next year. She is the daughter
of Gary and Lisa Goode and has two sisters _ Stephanie, 20, and Chelsea,
5. Her grandparents are Hovis and Margie Windham of Pecos and Maulding
and Billie Goode of Barstow.
If you want to donate money to help with medical costs please contact
Lorna Navarette at the Pecos Enterprise.
There will be a bake sale at the Pecos Enterprise this Friday with all
the proceeds going to Shayna.
Search uncovers drugs, paraphernalia
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 7, 2000 -The fight against dangerous drugs in the community
continues with Pecos Police Department and other offices joining together.
On June 6, at 10:43 a.m., officers with the Pecos Police Department,
Reeves County Sheriff's Department and the Trans Pecos Narcotics Drug Task
Force, joined together to execute a search warrant.
The officers went to a travel trailer, located at 1302 E. Third Street,
to execute the narcotics search warrant, at the home of Joel Fuentes.
"Once the warrant was executed and Fuentes was secured by the Swat Team,
officers proceeded to search the travel trailer," said Pecos Police Investigator
Paul Deishler.
Deishler said that during the search officers located a substance believed
to be heroin.
Also during the search the officers located contraband commonly used
in the packaging and injecting of heroin.
After officers completed their search of the premises Fuentes was transported
to the Reeves County Jail, Deishler said.
Fuentes, 33, was charged on warrants for unauthorized use of a motor
vehicle and state parole violations.
"The investigation in reference to the heroin located inside the residence
is ongoing and more arrests are pending," said Deishler.
School board to hear Crockett report
PECOS, June 7, 2000 -Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board members will listen
to a report on Crockett Middle School 8th Grade lab addition
project and Pecos High School and Austin Elementary roofing projects at
their regular meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Board members will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, in the Board Room, 1304
South Park. The public is invited to attend.
The board will recognize Leslie Olibas _ yearbook sponsor and former
board members Steve Armstrong and Freddy Lujan.
The group will discuss and approve revising the job description for
assistant principal positions; appointing school board members to insurance
committee; a partnership with Odessa College for Gearup Program and concurrent
book waiver.
Board members will discuss and approve cafeteria guidelines and prices
for the 2000-2001 school year; holiday calendar for custodial/maintenance
employees; bi-monthly payday for hourly/paraprofessional employees and
listen to the summer school report.
Other items for discussion and approval include, 1999-2000 budget amendments;
a report on tentative in-service schedule for 2000-2001 school year; a
request from Greater Opportunities of the Permian Basin (Headstart) for
the use of Carver Center and telecommunications infra-structure fund grant
_ PHS.
Board members will discuss and approve a request to purchase foreclosed
property, Lot 7&8, Block B-3, college addition.
The group will meet behind closed doors in executive session to discuss
personnel, including reassignment of principals or hear complaints against
personnel.
They will return to open session and take action, if any, on items discussed
in closed session.
Board members will discuss professional personnel: resignations, retirements,
appointments, reassignments and change in contracts.
Regular items for discussion and approval include:
· Attendance report.
· 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.
· Time and date for next meeting.
· Request for items for next agenda.
Golden Girl Bake sale set
PECOS, June 7, 2000 -Home-baked goodies will be for sale beginning at 9
a.m., Friday, at both First National and Security State Bank.
The annual event is sponsored by the 2000 Golden Girl nominees.
Obituaries
Martha Ann Dean
Martha Ann Chappell Dean died at her home near Sydney, Australia, on Sunday,
June 4, 2000, after an 18-month battle with ovarian cancer.
She spent her childhood in Texarkana, Tx., and received her Bachelor's
Degree from Austin College in Texas. She received a Master's Degree from
the University of Georgia and her Ph.D. from Syracuse University in New
York in 1980. Her research into the history of experimental psychology
using computer analysis of academic journals won high acclaim in her field,
and is still used to teach courses in the history of psychology today.
Dr. Dean joined the Institute for Scientific Information in Philadelphia
as a research analyst, and later worked in Princeton, New Jersey at PA
Technology, an international technology consulting firm, as an information
analyst.
Her husband, David Dean, is a 1967 graduate of Pecos High School.
In 1989, she migrated with her husband and family to Sydney, Australia.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. David Dean of Sydney, Australia;
one daughter, Dorothy Dean of Sydney, Australia; one son, Daniel Dean of
Sydney, Australia; her parents, Bob and Billie Chappell of Tulsa, Okla.;
two brothers, David Chappell of Petaluma, Calif., Tom Chappell of Farmington
Hill, Michigan; one sister, Susan Matthews of Decatur, Ill.; her mother-in-law,
Nancy Dean of Pecos and numerous nephews and nieces.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to
the Royal Hospital for Women _ GO Fund, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031,
Australia.
Jose Gomez
Jose Angel Gomez, 87, of Pecos, died Monday, June 5, 2000, at the Pecos
Nursing Home.
A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., today at the Martinez Funeral Home
Chapel.
Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, June 8, at Santa Rosa Catholic
Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
He was born Aug. 8, 1912, in Brogado, Tx., was a lifelong Pecos resident,
retired, and a Catholic.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, June 7, 2000 -Today Partly cloudy. High 90-95. South wind 10-20
mph. Tonight Mostly clear. Low in the lower 60s. Southeast wind 10-20 mph.
Thursday Partly cloudy. High 90-95. Southeast wind 10-20 mph and gusty.
Extended forecast Thursday night mostly clear. Low in the lower 60s.
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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