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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, June 9, 2000
Love announces special meeting for next week
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 9, 2000 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Superintendent Don Love
announced an upcoming special meeting at last night's school board meeting.
The meeting will be scheduled for sometime next week to issue a press
release and to set the record straight on some of the negative articles
that have appeared in the Pecos Enterprise regarding the school
district, Love said, during the audience portion of the meeting.
Board members discussed changing the pay periods to two pay periods
per month instead of one.
A survey was sent out to all the hourly and para-professional employees
in the district to see which they preferred.
A total of 183 surveys were returned with 87 voting for the pay period
to be once a month and 96 voting for twice a month.
"If we were to go to twice a month, we would have to employ one more
person," said business manager Cookie Canon.
Canon stated that there are several districts that currently do the
twice-a-month payroll, but that they have a lot of problems with it. "Big
Spring is probably the biggest that does it. They have a lot of administration
help, but they also have a lot of problems with it," said Canon.
It would also require for individuals to work during the holidays, according
to Canon.
"Right now, I can't do it with the staff that we have," said Canon.
"You told me we could do it," said board member Frank Apolinar, Jr.
Board member David Flores questioned why they had a survey asking for
the employee's opinion, if it couldn't be done at all.
"It's it takes too much, why even do the survey, giving these people
hope and leading them to think that it can be done," said Flores. "There
really isn't any point in doing the survey then," he said.
"When the original request was made, about a year ago, we were doing
better financially," said Love.
"It takes a person and a half to do it," said Canon. "It takes about
60 hours to do payroll," she said.
"If we really want to help the bus drivers and custodians and all those
people, we should look at ways to give them an increase in pay, and not
split their check in half," said board member Louis Matta.
Board members voted to leave the payroll as is, with Earl Bates making
the motion, Brent Shaw seconding it and Billie Sadler voting for it. Frank
Apolinar voted against it and David Flores abstained.
A request from Greater Opportunities of the Permian Basin (Head Start)
for the use of Carver Center Campus was approved.
"They want to move back to town, because they said it had hurt their
numbers when they moved to Barstow," said Love.
Love stated that he had drawn up a lease agreement similar to the one
the group had for the Barstow Campus.
"They have made that formal request in writing," said Love.
Love stated that he wanted the maintenance supervisor to look the Barstow
Campus over and to install bars on the windows.
"We don't want them boarded up, but we want to put something on them,
but make them look nice," Love said.
"We'll be needing to use the Barstow Campus as storage," said Love.
"When they found out that Carver was moving to Lamar, they decided to
ask if they could move back into town," said Love. "And I don't blame them.
They're just like us, looking at the numbers, because that's where their
funding comes from also," he said.
Youngsters running track, having fun
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 9, 2000 - Track is one of the sports offered this summer
for kids.
Pecos High School Track Coach Lily Talamantez said the kids can learn
different field events, distances and how to run relays.
"The purpose is to get them out here competing and get them running,"
Talamantez said.
The lessons are held at the PHS track.
Registration was on Monday and the track lessons began on Tuesday. Talamantez
said there are about 22 kids registered and more will start soon.
Talamantez said four-year-olds through high school-age kids are accepted.
The kids are divided into different divisions: the younger kids go from
8 a.m.-10 a.m. and the older kids from 10 a.m.- noon.
As part of the lessons the kids will have an opportunity to compete
in three or four track meets. The first meet is today in Iraan, Talamantez
said.
The second meet will be in Odessa on June 17. On June 23-24, there will
be a meet in Midland. This meet is a qualifying meet for the regional meet
in Houston. There is another qualifying meet on June 30 - July 1 in Midland
to go to a meet in Bryan.
At these meets the kids will compete with other kids from this area
as well as kids statewide.
Talamantez said these meets would help the kids become acquainted with
competition.
"It gets them used to competition and helps them not be so scared,"
Talamantez said.
She also said going to track lessons helps the younger kids see what
track is like.
"They have a lot of fun," Talamantez said.
For the older kids it's a chance to improve their skills.
Talamantez is still taking registrations at the PHS track and the cost
is $5.
State Theater prepares for open house
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 9, 2000 - State Theater owners Richard and Lillian Creasy
are determined to open their newly renovated theater on June 30.
"Nobody's more eager for it to open that we are," Lillian said.
Richard said some might think the theater still looks dirty and has
a long way to go but all that is left are the little things.
"We're into our final stages," Richard said.
Richard said when he and his crew worked on the lobby floor they found
something interesting. They dug up the raised portion of the floor and
found a concrete slab underneath that was poured in 1954.
"When we dug this up we found a child's feet and hand prints," Richard
Creasy said.
The Creasys and their crew of community volunteers are beginning to
paint the lobby and soon will paint the theater.
Richard Creasy said they have an artist lined up to paint murals in
the lobby. All the fixtures will be in the original 50s style and the murals
will also have a 50s motif.
The Creasys are very appreciative of their volunteers who have worked
with no complaint.
"We've had some kids that have been loyal and steadfast," Lillian Creasy
said.
The State will open on June 30 with an open house from 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
July 1-4 there will be play performances by the Windmill Square Players.
The theater will become the permanent home of the Players.
"This is our fifth home," Players' member Rita Prewit said. "And to
have a permanent home is an asset."
Each performance will begin at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday
that is free to senior citizens. The ticket prices are $5 for adults and
$3 for children.
"We will have popcorn to throw at the villain," Lillian Creasy said.
"We encourage hissing, booing and cheering."
After the performances end the theater will close for the rodeo and
will open for films the weekend after the rodeo.
Richard Creasy said the theater will not be completely done when it
opens but the work will continue.
"We'll just do little things to improve it," Richard Creasy said.
School gets Crockett building report
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 9, 2000 - A report on construction on Crockett Middle School
lab addition and a new air conditioners for Bessie Haynes Middle School
were topics of discussion at the regular Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board
meeting held Thursday evening.
Monte Hunter, with Hunter Corral Associates, was on hand to brief the
board on the ongoing construction at the middle school.
"They're back on schedule, there's a couple of areas where they're ahead
of schedule," said Hunter. "Science equipment should be in late June or
early July," he said.
Hunter stated that this will pose no problem.
The change orders have not been many and only $1,100 has been used from
the contingency fund for the change orders, according to Hunter. "We might
have some more change orders, but they will be little ones," he said.
"This is one of the reports I really enjoy giving, they are doing good
work and everything is working out fine," said Hunter.
Everything will be ready on time, according to Hunter.
A new air conditioning system for Bessie Haynes Elementary School was
approved in the amount of $63,000.
"We have $62,000 budgeted for this and we can come up with the extra
$1,000," said Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Superintendent Don Love.
"It's vital that we move on this particular item," said Love.
Love explained that the project would not be completed before the start
of the school year. "By the time we advertise for bids, open them and then
start the project, it won't be completed by the beginning of the school
year," he said.
Board members approved calling for bids and beginning the project at
the elementary school.
School breakfast and lunches will be a bit higher for the coming school
year, due to the increase in food products, according to Food Services
Director Helen Miller.
"If you've gone to the grocery store lately, you'll understand what
I'm talking about," said Miller.
Miller stated that she called surrounding towns to compare the prices
and arrive at an adequate price.
Miller stated that one of the favorite foods the students enjoy is the
Pizza Hut Pizza, with hamburgers ranking second and chicken strips third.
"We make the Pizza Hut pizza ourselves. I went to training to learn
how to do it, with their sauce and everything else they use," said Miller.
"I then had training here for my staff so that they would know how to do
it," she said.
Breakfast next year will cost 75 cents for kindergarten through sixth
grades and 80 cents for seventh through 12th grades.
Student full pay lunch will be $1.10 for students in kindergarten through
third grade, $1.25 for fourth through sixth graders, and $1.40 for seventh
through twelfth graders.
Students reduced breakfast will be .30 cents for kindergarten through
twelfth grades and lunch will be .40 cents for kindergarten through twelfth
grades.
Visitors breakfast will be $1.50 and lunch will be $3.00.
County Commissioners to work through agenda
PECOS, June 9, 2000 - Requests for payment from architects and contractors
will top the Reeves County Commissioners Court agenda on Monday.
Reeves County Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m., Monday on the third
floor of the courthouse to discuss several items including the Reeves County
Drug Task Force Grant.
A request for payment of Frank X. Spencer and Associates Invoice No.
9 in the amount of $2,025; request for payment of Banes General Contractors
and request for payment of DRG Architects Invoices No. 181, 192 and 192
will be discussed and action taken.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on Reeves General Fund and
Road and Bridge Employee Salary Survey Proposals; retirement plan _ presentation
by George Arroyos with TCDRS; health officer medical benefits; Pritchard
and Abbott Inc. 2000 collection contract changes and LMD Architect contract
for the Reeves County Community Recreation Master plan.
The court will discuss and take action on the Balmorhea Cemetery; Speer
and Murray, Ltd. Contract for Professional Services; RCDC Wastewater Rate
and Wastewater Reuse Study by GSG, Inc.; and a resolution for the development
of legislation regarding low-level radioactive waste.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on foreclosed property bid
for 402 S. Mesquite; advertising for sale of Reeves County Property; increase
Reeves County Transportation fund from $1,000 to $1,500; inmate food bids
and kitchen supply bids; law enforcement supply bids; grievance committee;
testing agreement between PBT-ISD GED Testing Center and RCDC 2000-20001
and deputation and oath for Lorenzo Arredondo.
Under regular business, commissioners will discuss and take action on:
· Reports from various departments.
· Budget amendments and line item transfers.
· Personnel and salary changes (RCDC, auditor's office, county
clerk, juvenile probation department, recreation department, Road and Bridge,
sheriff's office, Trans Pecos Drug Task Force).
· Minutes from previous meetings.
· Semi-monthly bills.
·
Spread on minutes: Notice of over-axle over gross weight permit. Public
notice- Assistant auditors of Reeves County.
Weather
PECOS, June 9, 2000 - Today mostly cloudy and breezy. A 20 percent chance
of thunderstorms high 85-90. South wind 15-25 mph. Caution is advised on
area lakes. Tonight mostly cloudy a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Low in the mid 60s. Southeast wind 10-20 mph. Saturday mostly cloudy a
30 percent chance of thunderstorms high 85-90. South wind 10-20 mph. Saturday
night mostly cloudy a chance of thunderstorms. Low in the mid 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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