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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country
of West Texas
Opinion
Sage
Views
By Smokey Briggs
Tuesday, August 15, 2000
A little warm irony
Some days it is hard to find much humor in the world - unless you enjoy
an ironic twist.
We note with irony the hand wringing of many self-proclaimed environmentalist
concerning the many forests that are being consumed in this season's forest
fires.
Here is the irony. No matter what you think of logging, it is logging
that reduces the risk of wildfires, and logging that creates roads that
give firefighters access to fires, and loggers who do much of the real
fire fighting with their heavy equipment.
In the last 15 years so-called environmental groups have counted many
victories over logging interests. With decreased logging brush and dead
falls have piled up making ideal fire conditions.
Abandoned access roads have also been overgrown and are not passable.
Out of work loggers have also gradually left the region to seek other
employment.
So we have created forests prone to catch fire, eliminated the roads
needed to move fire-fighting equipment, and run-off the loggers to operate
the heavy equipment that puts out most fires.
And now, we are surprised that the forests are burning and we can't
put the fires out?
As the Greenpeacers whine, you have to wonder if they ever considered
the long-term consequences of their political actions or simply operated
on whether or not something felt good at the moment.
As to real environmental impact, the burned areas, which look far worse
than any area ever touched by lumberjacks, will sprout good graze for elk
and deer populations next year.
In coming years hunters will have the tree-huggers to thank for plentiful
game - an irony that may be lost on the environmentalist crowd which usually
like people who shoot Bambi even less than people who chop down trees.
Like most things, however, there will be a cost.
High-mountain trout populations may be devastated this year when winter
rains wash ash and large amounts of easily eroded soil into the creeks
and streams.
In high school physics we learned that for every action there is an
equal reaction. Maybe the Greenpeace guys skipped class that day.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Smokey Briggs is the editor and publisher of the
Pecos Enterprise whose column appears on Tuesdays. He can be e-mailed at:
smokey@pecos.net
Our View
Cooperation key for city and county jail projects
The Town of Pecos City may have a good idea in building a new jail facility
to house federal prisoners.
In a city fighting low revenues and high taxes a new revenue source
is a good thing.
From what city officials have said, it sounds like the business is out
there, and Pecos needs only to build the facility to start making money.
The only obvious fly in the ointment is the potential for competition
between the city and county for the same inmates.
Currently the county houses federal inmates at the county jail as a
revenue source and expansion of that facility is also in the works.
What the city of Pecos and Reeves County must avoid is overbuilding
and creating two marginal or money-loosing facilities.
Maybe there are enough federal prisoners to go around and maybe not.
To avoid a potential disaster, County and City officials must work together
on these projects.
If they do not, the citizens of the county and the city will be the
real losers.
Your View
Top notch talent not needed for Fall Fair
Dear Editor:
I just wanted to comment again on the concert for the Fall Fair.
Remember, there are a lot of country Texas singer/songwriters that would
be happy to put on a concert that wouldn't break your budget.
You don't need top notch talent or big bucks, just quality. You have
a lot of very talented country artists residing right here in our very
own back yards. It won't hurt to look into it.
Just thought I'd help out. I know there's places here in Plano that
have local country singers/bands that are excellent. I know they couldn't
cost a whole lot of money because the places that have these folks on stage
don't have a whole lot of money to put up either. Here's some web links
that might help out in your search.
http://www.larryjoetaylor.com/; Larry Joe Taylor is country's answer
to Jimmy Buffet.
http://www.maxstalling.com/ The best description I can give you for
Max Stalling is "comfortable" country music.
http://www.1100springs.com/ 1100 Springs is country like we used to
have out at the Posse Barn dances in the earlier days. Before Nashville
started coming out with disco and calling it "country" music.
http://www.hardcountryradio.com/links.html This web site has all those
links I listed above, plus more.
Hope this helps out a little.
KIM BALOG
Reader explains difference between landfill, transfer station
Dear Editor:
This letter is in reference to the City Council meeting that was held
on August 10, 2000. It seems that our Councilman Mr. Johnny Terrazas does
not know the difference between a Landfill and a Transfer Station. Councilman
Terrazas, to put it as simply as possible, a landfill is a designated area
that has a hole in the ground and is filled with trash and debris. A Transfer
Station (which is what Pecos has) is a building that temporary houses the
trash and debris until it is loaded and transferred to a landfill.
Also Councilman Terrazas please re-read the city ordinance that you
as councilman signed - it states that lumber and pipes longer than four
foot long will not be accepted. In the future please read what you sign,
for your sake and that of the citizens of Pecos.
Also this same contract states that citizens are allowed to dump ONE
FREE LOAD A MONTH up to 2000 lbs. per month. We require the citizens to
show proof of their residence by showing a Water bill or Drivers Licence.
If your interpretation of hassling means, I am going by the rules, which
I have stated above - that you as a councilman voted for - then I am hassling.
Also the Pecos Transfer Station is open 6 days a week. Monday thru Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (in addition we are opened through the lunch hour)
Saturday 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon. So where is the little access to the
site???
In addition let's not blame the trash in the alleys on the Transfer
Station - because as I have explained already the Transfer Station is NOT
in charge of picking up the trash - we transfer it.
With all this in mind Councilman Terrazas lets look at the problem realistically
with open eyes and not jump to conclusions and point fingers, until you
know all the facts. If any of the above of which I have stated is not in
accordance with the City Council. Please enlightened me as, I am only going
on what you as part of the City Council voted on. I welcome anyone including
you Councilman Terrazas to call me or come by and visit with me if you
have any questions or concerns, my phone number is 447-9133.
JERRY MILLAN
Pecos Transfer Station Manager
Citizen's death causes concern for family, friends
It saddens me to think about the family of Ysmael M. Lara and what they
must be going through after their father died in the custody of Reeves
County.
I have been waiting for an article to come out in the paper, saying
what really happened that evening Mr. Lara was arrested. An autopsy was
ordered and found that Mr. Lara was not intoxicated. The reputation
of a hard working man was damaged when you printed an article stating that
he was arrested for intoxication.
I would like to see the paper print another article stating the facts.
It's not going to change what happened, but maybe, just maybe, give his
family a sense that someone cares. To see how Mr. Laras image was tarnished
by one article and the actions by Reeves County Sheriff's Department.
My question, did they give him a breathalyzer test? Did they smell alcohol
on his breath? Mr. Lara suffered from a heart attack and he laid in that
cell, and he cried out asking for someone to help him, until he died. When
he arrived at the hospital, it was too late.
FROM
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Company loses revenue over internet services
Dear Editor:
Quite a bit has been written here lately about the free distribution
of music over the Internet. It's important to remember that free distribution
of copyright material has been going on since Gutenberg invented the printing
press. Lending Libraries do it. Napster is in trouble because they make
it possible for you to buy a single CD and distribute it to 300,000 of
your closest friends. The big record companies are in trouble because each
time someone does this the company loses revenue. On the other hand, I
make easy listening music and upload it to MP3.com where it is available
to the public for free. MP3.com pays their musicians! What is it that the
legislators are missing here? The solution to this problem will undoubtedly
bring an end to the music industry as we know it but here's the bottom
line: If the musicians and their producers don't get paid for their work
there will be no more original music for anyone to fight over.
R B FIELD
www.mp3.com/rbfield
(email via the above site please)
Centrepoint, box 19532
Vancouver B.C.
Canada V5T 4E7
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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Peggy McCracken, Webmaster
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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