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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, June 13, 2000
Cows shot on Pattillo ranch
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 2000 - Six cows and two calves were shot to death last
weekend at former county commissioner David Pattillo's ranch. There is
an ongoing investigation into the shootings.
According to the Sheriff's report, Pattillo reported the shootings on
Sunday, June 11.
Sheriff's Deputy Danny L. Reynolds took Pattillo's statement.
According to the sheriff's report, Pattillo discovered the dead animals
on Saturday morning and called Pecos Veterinarian, Dr. Ronald Box and asked
him to determine the cause of death.
Box discovered bullet wounds on all the animals he inspected. Pattillo
then asked someone to inspect the area with a metal detector to look for
bullets and cartridge casings but with no results.
Pattillo contacted Texas Ranger Gerry Villalobos in Fort Stockton and
cattle inspector Bill Hargis in Van Horn as well as the Sheriff's Department.
Villalobos and Hargis met with Pattillo on Monday and came across some
evidence, Hargis said.
Hargis said that there is a suspect but are not willing to release names
at this time.
Pattillo does not understand why anyone would kill the animals.
"This was done out of pure meanness," Pattillo said.
The investigation is continuing and will be featured on Crime Stoppers,
which will offer a reward.
"It is a despicable crime to kill an animal just because you're mad
at someone," Hargis said. "It's a cowardly thing to do."
Hargis believes that someone had to see something and would encourage
anyone with information to contact the Pecos Crime Stoppers.
Commissioners contemplate master plan
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 2000 - A master plan for community-type recreation projects
was the topic of discussion and approval at Monday's Reeves County Commissioners
Court meeting.
Commissioners approved the master plan outlined by architect Lorraine
Dailey at the afternoon session of the meeting.
"For a good while now, we've been looking at community-type recreation
projects and the prospect of applying for grants for these projects," said
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo. "What had inhibited us was that we
didn't have a master plan," he said.
Galindo stated that one of the projects he had discussed with grant
writer Jimmy Dutchover was a hike and bike trail, a master plan for landscaping
and design at the entrance to the community and the possibility of developing
a western theme for the community.
"We'd like to begin on some of these projects and we'd also like to
look at the golf course and the senior league field," said Galindo. "These
are some of the things people in the community have been talking to me
about," he said.
Galindo stated that he had spoken to Dailey about developing a master
plan and possibly beginning on some of these proposed projects.
"There are a number of projects that need to be looked and laid out
in a master plan, and I have asked Ms. Dailey to assist Reeves County to
be able to receive funding for these projects," said Galindo.
"I propose to look at six different projects and do the concept and
render color drawings and say, yes, we have a plan and hopefully qualify
for some of these funds," said Dailey.
With a master plan, Reeves County will then be able to apply for funding
from different agencies.
"I will propose that a portion of those funds, the design part, be offered
back up to half of my fee, towards that," said Dailey.
Commissioners listened to a report from Dailey on the Balmorhea Community
Center.
The new community center will be approximately 3,500 square feet (with
600 square foot covered porch), to be located at San Angelo and Fourth
streets, in Balmorhea
The group listened to a lengthy discussion on the Reeves County Retirement
plan, presented by George Arroyos with TCDRS, but took no action.
"You have until Dec. 31, to make any changes and if you don't want to
make a change, submit a no change form," said Arroyos.
Commissioners discussed the buy-back option for employees and the rule
of 75, but a motion made by commissioner precinct 1 Felipe Arredondo, to
install these two items in the retirement plan died for a lack of a majority.
Commissioner Precinct 3 Herman Tarin suggested waiting until September
or November to render a decision on the retirement plan changes.
"We'll keep the forms and look them over, and decide what changes to
make if any," said Galindo.
Commissioners approved several payments during their meeting including
a payment for DRG Architects invoice No. 181 in the amount of $35,108;
payment to DRG Architects payment invoice No. 192 in the amount of $4,686
and payment to Frank X. Spencer and Associates invoice No. 9 in the amount
of $2,025.
Inmate food bids, kitchen supply bids and law enforcement supply bids
were awarded during the meeting.
Grievance committee members approved included, Tanya Blackhead, Pedro
S. Lopez, Antonio Zermeno, Rudy Lopez, Raymond L. Chacon, Elida B. Mendoza,
Frank North and Natividad Salcido.
New hires included at the Reeves County Detention Center, Charles Moore,
Edward Gonzales, Charles K. Hunter, Diana Marquez, Emilio Chavez, Blanche
Camu, Carriz Carrasco, Esteban Barrera, Veronica Salgado and Larry Dominguez
as Correctional Officers I at a salary of $19,000 per year.
Aaron Roman has been promoted to the position of Central Laundry II
at a salary of $21,000 per year at the RCDC; Sylvester Carrasco has been
promoted to the position of Central Laundry II at a salary of $21,000;
Anna Ortega has been promoted to the position of Unit Manager at a salary
of $28,500 and Laura Contreras has been promoted to the position of Administrative
Assistant III at a salary of $23,000 per year.
In the county auditor's office, Debbie Almuina has been appointed to
the position of Assistant Reeves County Auditor at a starting salary of
$17,000 and Zulema Dominguez has been advanced to the position of Assistant
Reeves County Auditor II at the rate of $18,000 per year.
Filimon Talamantez has been hired for the position of Contract Teacher
for the T.J.P.C. Program Funding, Deterrence Activity Program, sponsored
by the Juvenile Probation Department; Jason Abila will be a physical fitness
trainer for the recreation department, along with Rudy Jurado at $8 per
hour; Lenard Carson will work at the concession stand at the Northside
Pool at $5.15 per hour; Delma Gonzales was hired as an aerobics instructor
substitute for the recreation department on a part-time basis at $6 an
hour for low impact aerobics; Rebecca Reynolds will work at the concession
stand and be a lifeguard substitute at the Northside Swimming Pool at $5.15
and $6 per hour and Janet Cranfill was hired as a Tae Kwon Do instructor
for the recreation department at $8 per hour.
In the Road and Bridges Department, Paul R. Corrales was hired as a
full-time Roadway Maintenance Tech I at $7 per hour; David Acosta, was
hired as a full-time Roadway Maintenance Tech II, at an hourly rate of
$7.74 an hour and a part-time employee under the addressing and maintenance
for 911 at an hourly rate of $11.65 an hour and Billy Rodriguez as a part-time
employee at an hourly rate of $6.72.
In the Reeves County Sheriff's Office Leslie Brown will be working as
a receptionist; Michael Dominguez was promoted to sergeant and his salary
will be $25,100 and Alfonso Esparza was promoted and his new salary will
be $21,000.
Trans Pecos Drug Task Force employee Lorenzo Arredondo will be an investigator/supervisor
at $33,000 per year.
County schedules salary survey workshop
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 2000 - The first step in the general fund and road and
bridge employee salary survey will be a workshop scheduled for next week.
Commissioners agreed to form a committee made up of Reeves County employees
for the survey at their regular meeting held Monday on the third floor
of the courthouse.
"We had published a request for proposals to do the salary survey,"
said Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo.
A group of Reeves County employees made a presentation to the court
during the regular meeting while another proposal from MGT, a private company,
was received.
"We have two proposals one from a company and one from the public sector,"
said Galindo. "One that costs money and one that promises to make up a
team," he said.
Reeves County Treasurer Linda Clark made the presentation to the court
on behalf of several county supervisors who put together a team and suggested
they do the survey.
"I talked to David Pope, with the Texas Association of Counties and
he said we could do the survey," said Clark. "He said he would be more
than willing to help us do the survey," she said.
Clark stated that their plans included forming a committee and that
other counties have done this with the committee made up of department
heads. "We all feel that we can do this and save the county some money,"
she said.
"Ultimately, whatever decision is rendered, it will come back to us,"
said Clark.
Clark said the survey could be done in a workshop type setting and that
the department heads were willing to do it after hours on their own time.
"Each department head needs to be involved in this," she said.
"A lot of employees don't take into consideration the benefits plan,
the good medical coverage and the good retirement plan," said Galindo.
"I think this will be a learning process as well," he said.
Commissioners agreed to hold a workshop beginning at 3 p.m. next Monday.
"The only reason this committee was formed, was in trying to save money
and maybe to give employees a raise," said Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez.
"You were going to pay a company to do this and instead we can use those
funds for something else," he said.
Gomez suggested each of the department heads getting the employees to
fill out a form and compare them to other counties.
"We wanted to help save the county the consultant's fee," said Gomez.
"We thought we could do it ourselves," he said.
"We don't want the county to spend money, this is very important to
us," said Clark.
Commissioners approved a public notice for a workshop to discuss the
general fund and road and bridge salary survey, for 3-5 p.m., Monday, June
19.
Pecos pastor arrested on assault charges
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 13, 2000 - James Mathew Williamson, 41, was arrested at
7:08 p.m., on June 12 on a warrant for assault causing bodily injury to
a family member - a 3rd degree felony.
Williamson is the pastor for the First Assembly of God Church in Pecos,
Texas.
According to Chief of Police Clay McKinney, Williamson turned himself
in at the Reeves County Jail after the warrant was issued.
According to the arrest report, the victim is a minor that was a resident
of Williamson's home at the time of the assault.
Municipal Court Judge Amonario Ramon issued the warrant on the basis
that the family wanted the charge pursued.
The victim received facial injuries as a result of the assault, according
to the report.
"His offense was elevated to the next higher offense because of a previous
assault conviction in another county," McKinney said.
Williamson will be arraigned at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the municipal court.
Rifle match set for Saturday
PECOS, June 13, 2000 - The Pecos Rifle and Pistol Club is holding a service
rifle "clunker" match Saturday, June 17 at the rifle range. Entrance fee
is $6. Any unmodified military rifle with iron sights is acceptable. Shooters
must be able to reloaded by means of a charging strip, enbloc clip, or
magazine to complete the rapid-fire segment. Practice targets and scopes
will be available at the range after 6 p.m., June 16th, for
sight-in. Interested persons can contact Smokey Briggs at 445-5475 or 445-5155.
Weather
PECOS, June 13, 2000 - Today morning low cloudiness otherwise partly cloudy
with isolated afternoon thunderstorms possible. High in the lower 90s.
South wind 10-20 mph and gusty. Chance of rain less than 20 percent. Tonight
partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Low in the upper
60s. South wind 10-20 mph. Wednesday partly cloudy and slightly cooler
with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. High in the upper 80s. South
wind 10-20 mph necoming northeast 10-20 mph and gusty by noon.
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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