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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, August 1, 2000
TML session aided council on new ideas
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
Several members of the City Council represented Pecos at
the Texas Municipal League conference in Corpus Christie last week.
Mayor Ray Ortega and Councilman Ricky Herrera
and Councilman Johnny Terrazas attended the conference for
the chance to learn more about state laws and new ideas on how to help
our community.
The three attended a variety of sessions informing them on
such things as rules and regulations, the technical side of business and
do's and don'ts of what councilmen do.
Terrazas said the sessions lasted throughout the day and where
very informative.
"We had no time to work on our tan," he said.
Terrazas also said they were able to attend roundtable
discussions with other mayors and councilmen from towns this size.
During these discussions they where able to hear problems
other cities are having and how they are dealing with them.
Terrazas said he asked the mayor of Van Horn where they got their
water from and learned that they pull the water from directly under the city.
Terrazas said he and the other councilmen learned many
things, from open meeting regulations, their authority and what they can
and can't do as councilmen, adding that not all towns have the same
problems as Pecos. "Every town is
different," he said.
"You find out things you're not sure of," he said. "It was just
real informative."
He said the guest speakers where very motivating.
Although Terrazas, Herrera and Ortega did not make it to the
beach, the conference was not all business.
They were able to tour the USS Lexington and while on board
they witnessed a major motion picture being filmed.
Terrazas said the production crew of the film "Pearl Harbor" turned
the Lexington into a Japanese aircraft carrier and shot scenes with
Japanese planes landing and taking off.
He said it was interesting to see the production and meet some of
the actors.
About 200 cities of various sizes attended the conference,
which Terrazas said was the perfect opportunity to meet other people
and ask some how they where able to turn their towns around and make
the communities better.
"It gives you hope that we can turn this city around," he said.
The conference also gave the councilmen the chance to make
new contacts and find new resources.
Next year's conference will be in Wichita Falls and is open to all
the councilmen.
School preparing to put student grades online
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
School hasn't started for Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD students,
but teachers are already hard at work on a new computer system, part
of which will also be open to P-B-T parents in the near future.
A group of teachers was on hand this morning at Pecos High
School for training on Grade Speed, a network-based grade book
program provided by the district.
"These are the teachers that will be training other teachers and
staff," said P-B-T ISD Technology Coordinator Jodi Exum.
Bruce Haan, computer programs director and a teacher from
the Jourdanton Independent School District, near San
Antonio, supervised the training session.
"I go to the school districts and provide the training for
these programs," said Haan. "The program is password protected and a
program that is being used by many school districts."
"This group of teachers will be training other staff next week,"
said Exum.
The teachers learning the new system during today's session
were chosen from their respective schools by the administration at that campus.
Aside from allowing teachers to post grades via computer, the
system will also allow parents with Internet access the chance to look at
their children's grades on their home computers.
"These are two big initiations that will be brought on-line this
summer," said Exum.
"Parents can also check students grade through this method,
but nobody can change the grades," said Haan. "There is no way they can
do that."
"This program not only has information, but a
work-based component," said Exum.
Through GroupWise, the second big initiative, teachers
can communicate with each other, check e-mail, reserve meeting rooms
and more, according to Exum.
"As the program grows, we'll be growing with it," said Exum.
"We're giving ourselves some leeway time, before we actually get this
program down."
Exum stated that the first semester would be dedicated
to learning more about the program, how it works and what it can do
for the district. "By January we hope to have everything down 100
percent," she said.
"It will take a few weeks to work the kinks out. That's why
we're giving ourselves this first semester to work things out," she said.
The Internet access will allow both parents with students in
their home to check grades, along with parents either living separately from
their children who have the required access.
"This is a great way for a non-custodial parent to check their
child's progress, but again they can't change anything, they can just view it,"
said Haan.
Other items that can be posted will include work that needs to be turned
in, projects, grading periods and so forth, according to Haan.
There were 23 District Trainers at today's meeting. The program
itself, along with the equipment is provided through state funding, according
to Exum.
"The teachers are getting paid for training, through state technology
funds. Elementary school people will receive their training next Wednesday,
while middle and high school people will receive their training on Thursday,"
said Exum.
"We're training these people now to use GroupWise, what it will do for
us, how to access from Internet and then they will train the others," said Exum.
On Sept. 15, the district will have an early release technology day.
"That when these people will train the staff on GroupWise," said Exum.
"We're letting the students out early so that all the staff (including
para-professionals) can train on this program," according to Exum.
"We're hoping that we can work out any issues the first semester and
be 100 percent by January," said Exum.
One of the things that P-B-T ISD Superintendent Don Love will have
to decide is when teachers will need to check their e-mail. "He can decide,
let's say check it every morning by 10 a.m. or in the afternoon, or whatever,"
said Exum. "This is so that if he has something to send out and communicate
with everyone in the district, everyone will know exactly when to check."
Eventually the plan will allow the teachers to do purchasing orders,
reserve meeting spaces and facilities. "It has a work flow component that allows
you to handle scheduling for the district," said Exum.
"We'll be learning more things as we go along," said Exum. "This
is definitely a work in progress, as it grows, we'll grow into it."
"It sounds wonderful to me, it's so expedient," said PHS teacher
Priss McNutt. "I think it will be great."
Olivia Herrera said this would solve having to do a lot of paperwork
and time. "Teachers will have more time to spend with the students," said
Herrera. "I think it will also solve a lot of headaches in the office."
"This is going to be neat and so much easier," said first grade
teacher Gradene Gerbert. "It will save a lot of time."
Gerbert said once everyone gets on board, "we'll be flying."
Tax Exempt Items
By The Associated Press
The following is a partial listing of items that will be exempt from
state sales taxes on Aug. 4-6 in observance of the sales tax holiday.
Also listed are items that will remain taxed:
Tax Free Taxed
Baby clothes; Accessories (barrettes, pony tail holders,
wallets, watches); Bathing suits; Backpacks; Belts; Baseball cleats and pants;
Boots (cowboy, hiking) Belt buckles (without belt); Bras Boots (fishing, climbing,
ski); Bridal apparel; Cloth and lace;
Caps/hats; Dry cleaning services; Costumes; Football pants; Diapers;
Golf gloves; Formal clothing; Handbags and purses; Gloves; Handkerchiefs;
Gym Suits Hard hats; Hooded shirts; Helmets; Hosiery; Ice skates;
Jackets; Jewelry; Jeans; Laundering services; Jerseys; Leather goods;
Jogging apparel; Pads (football, hockey, soccer, elbow, knee,
shoulder); Lingerie; Roller blades; Neckwear; Safety clothing; Pajamas;
Shoes (bowling, golf); Pants; Raincoats; Robes; Shirts; Shoes; Socks;
Shorts; Suits; Sweatshirts; Sweat suits; Sweaters; Swim suits; Tuxedos;
Work clothes; Under clothes.
First practice for PHS band set for tonight
The Pecos High School Marching Band will begin
nightly practices at 6 p.m., tonight.
Practices from now on will be from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Monday
through Friday at the PHS band hall or on the practice field by the natatorium.
For more information call the band director at 447-7218.
Marriages
Marriages for June 2000, as filed with the Reeves County Clerk's Office.
Roger M. Armstrong and Jacqualine L. Sears.
Kevin Ross and Sherry D. Sloan.
Jacob Gonzales Esparza and Maribel Munoz Salinas.
Cody Seth Arpe and Deanda Dawn Allgood.
Marriages
Marriages for July 2000, as filed with the Reeves County Clerk's Office.
Sergio Jasso Patino and Valeria Franco Lazcano.
Adan Madrid Padilla and Rachel Orona Contreras.
Manuel Gabaldon Nieto and Genoveva Sanchez Martinez.
Tommy Joe Terry and Nancy Kay Hastings.
Divorces
Divorces for July 2000, as filed with the Reeves County District
Clerk's Office.
Laurie Long and Curtis Long.
Carina Enriquez Holguin and Martin Holguin.
Police Report
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report
is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department,
Reeves County Sheriff's Office, or other officers of those agencies.
The serving of warrants by an officer for outstanding fines
of either traffic citations, animal control violations or other
court costs are considered arrests and will be printed as such
unless indicated that the fines were paid. In such instanced we
will indication payment and release.
***
Two female juveniles were arrested at 2:46 p.m., on July 18
at Flying J for theft under $50.
***
Eric Baeza, 18, was arrested at 8:05 p.m., on July 19 in the 100
block of Lincoln Street on a DPS warrant for permitting an unlicensed
driver to drive.
***
John Howard Phipps, Jr., 45, was arrested at 12 p.m., on July 19 in
the 1800 block of Alamo Street on a warrant from Lauderdale, Miss.,
for probation violation and possession of methanphetamenes.
***
Hector Jose Perez, 22, was arrested at 9:30 a.m., on July 18
at Toliver Street and Country Club Drive on a Winkler County
warrant for driving while license suspended.
***
Christopher Paul Sims, 26, was arrested at 1:50 a.m., on July 18
in the 100 block of Lincoln Street for resisting arrest and assault
under the Family Violence Act.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 2:44 p.m., on July 20 in the 800
block of South Eddy Street for probation violation.
***
Elaine Ornelas, 31, was arrested at 1:06 a.m., on July 23 in the
400 block of Sycamore Street on a warrant for parole violation
and failure to appear for a resisting arrest charge.
***
Horlando Garcia, 25, and Abel Velasquez, 21, were arrested at
3:24 p.m., on July 22 at Third and Eddy streets. Garcia was arrested on
a DPS warrant riding while not secured by a safety belt and
a warrant for violating the promise to appear and a Ward County
warrant for failure to appear. Velasquez was arrested on a DPS warrant for
use of equipment not approved and a warrant for failure to appear.
***
Pedro Morales, 62, was arrested at 7:04 p.m., on July 22 in the
700 block of East Third Street for public intoxication.
***
Manuela G. Florez, 31, was arrested at 12:06 p.m., on July 22
at the police department on a warrant for class C traffic violations.
***
Tristan Teodoro Lucio, 42, was arrested at 10:53 p.m., on July 21
in the 800 block of East Third Street for public intoxication.
***
Fabian Dominguez, 33, was arrested at 5:02 p.m., on July 21
at the Reeves County Jail on a warrant for theft by taking $600 from
a female, a Class A misdemeanor.
***
Pedro Morales, 46, was arrested at 8:05 p.m., on July 21 at Second
and Sycamore streets for public intoxication.
***
Ramon Medrano, 39, was arrested at 12:41 a.m., on July 26 at La
Oficina for public intoxication.
***
Jose Manuel Garcia, 45, was arrested at 3:07 p.m., on July 25
at Wal-Mart for theft, class B misdemeanor.
***
Two female juveniles were arrested at 5:07 p.m., on July 24 at
Wal-Mart for theft.
***
Jacob Natividad, 20, was arrested at 12:34 a.m., on July 27 in the
700 block of Pecan Street for public intoxication.
***
Antonio Salmon, 56, was arrested at 12:11 a.m., on July 28 in the
200 block of South Locust Street under the Family Violence Act.
***
Juan Cadena, 35, was arrested at 2:20 a.m., on July 31 in the 1600
block of Cowan Street for public intoxication.
***
Elias Sanchez, 48, was arrested at 5:36 p.m., on July 30 in the 700
block of East Fifth Street for public intoxication.
***
Jaime Casarez, 17, was arrested at 2:18 a.m., on July 30 at Saragosa
Hall for public intoxication.
***
Ruben Sandoval, 42, was arrested at 1:58 a.m., on July 29 at La
Oficina for public intoxication.
High Monday 94. Low this morning 65. Forecast for
tonight: Partly cloudy with a less than 20 percent chance of showers
or thunderstorms. Low in the upper 60s. Southeast wind 5-15
mph. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High around 100. Southeast wind
5-15 mph. Wednesday night: Partly cloudy. Low in the upper
60s. Thursday: Mostly sunny and fair at night. Low 65-70. High
between 100-105.
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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