|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, August 15, 2000
Commissioners give phone pact to El Paso firm
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, August 15, 2000 - A contract for a new phone system for Reeves
County offices was awarded to an El Paso firm during Monday's meeting of
the Reeves County Commissioner's Court.
JanCom Technologies recommended that Inter-Tel Technologies, Inc., based
in El Paso receive the bid award. Other bids came from Oilfield Phone Service
Co. in Pecos and Midessa Telephone Systems, Inc. of Midland/Odessa. JanCom
is a telephone consultant hired by the county to put together requests
for proposal bids, and their recommendations were in a letter sent to county
commissioners.
In their letter, JanCom, stated that Inter-Tel has proposed a system
that consists of three Hybrid Key/PBX systems. One each of these systems
will be located at each of the facilities, including the Reeves County
Courthouse, the Reeves County Sheriff's Department and the Reeves County
Detention Center.
Each system will have it's own Central Office trunk lines as well as
a leased digital link between systems to provide a very high level of reliability,
integration for single point administration, single point voice messaging
system and future unified messaging. The access to administer all of these
systems is via a browser-equipped personal computer that is included in
the proposal. This PC will also host and perform call accounting functions.
The base system proposed provides Unified Messaging (UM) save for the ability
to access fax's via the UM system. The ability to receive faxes via the
system is a simple upgrade, with costs from $4,480 to $12,800 depending
upon the number of simultaneous sessions required. UM will only be available
to users on a Local Area Network (LAN) common to the UM Server. As Reeves
County integrates inter-connected LAN's within all three facilities, the
UM system will be available to any licensed user on the LAN.
"They also recommended that the same person who receives the bid for
telephone services do the data cabling as well, and run concurrent with
the telephone cable," said architect Lorraine Dailey, with Dailey, Rabke
and Gondeck Architects.
John Ortega, account executive for Inter-Tel, spoke at length about
the many possibilities and options that will be offered by their company.
Ortega told commissioners that his Inter-Tel is a manufacturer of telephone
systems and is progressing rapidly as technology advances.
"We've been in this business for 30 years and the person that started
the business is still taking us into the next century," said Ortega.
Inter-Tel will subcontract the cabling portion of the project, thereby
providing additional manpower to expedite the project schedule.
Inter-Tel is offering lease and lease-to-own options that, if permissible,
can significantly reduce up front costs as well as the risk of long-term
maintenance and technological obsolescence.
JanCom Technologies said the Inter-Tel proposal is highly responsive
to the Request For Proposals, and is the only proposal received that fulfilled
the formatting and information content requirements.
Oilfield Phone Service Co., proposed a system that is minimally compliant
with the RFP, JanCom's letter said. Its Panasonic Key systems proposed
is a digital key system, which they said is highly reliable, but does not
possess the level of integration or feature availability of a modern hybrid
key system or PBX.
"We didn't supply the consultant with everything he asked for," said
Oilfield Phone Service Co. President Dick Alligood. "We supplied him with
generalities, because we were advised that what we proposed would be reviewed
department by department and changed according to what each department
needed."
"We did not provide all the information that the consultant specified,"
he added. "The system is up and running at the Reeves County Detention
Center and it could just be added to," he said.
JanCom said that Midessa Telephone Systems, Inc. provided a proposal
that was totally non-compliant and would not meet the needs of the county.
Midessa's proposal was not considered beyond a cursory review.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo made the motion to award the bid
to Inter-Tel and work towards a final and best price to be ratified on
Aug. 28. "And to work toward that as soon as possible," said Galindo. "Time
is essence at the Reeves County Detention Center."
"The Inter-Tel bid was very responsive to what we asked for, but there
is some fine-tuning to do," said Galindo.
OC officials say first registration going well
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, August 15, 2000 - Registration for classes at the Pecos Technical
Training Center of Odessa College has been going well today, Director of
OC Pecos Michelle Workman said.
Workman said students have been coming in to register since early this
morning.
"We've had a pretty steady crowd since 8:30," she said. "It's exciting
to see so many people."
As of 10:30 this morning, approximately 50 had registered at the OC
Pecos campus, according to Workman.
Dean of Workforce, Continuing and Distance Education Robert Munoz believes
the registration has gone smoothly thanks to Workman's and Eva Diaz' efforts
over the summer preparing the new campus.
"Students have come in well informed and know what needs to be done,"
Munoz said. "That makes the students move quickly through the process."
Maggie Mendoza is one of the many students registering for classes and
said she is excited to have the OC extension in Pecos.
"It makes it easier to go to school and stay close to my family and
boyfriend," she said. "Plus it's cheaper and saves money on gas."
Mendoza said she is able to go to work during the day and be a full-time
student at night.
"With the school here I can take my basic classes so when I move to
San Antonio I can concentrate on my major," she said.
Munoz said right now all the courses offered at the Pecos extension
are night classes, but he plans on establishing day classes in the future.
He also said if people have any classes they want to see developed or
teach they could call him at his office in Odessa at 915-335-6685 with
their suggestions.
Munoz said having the Pecos campus would benefit a lot of people.
"I think it is going to be great for both of us, Odessa College and
Pecos," he said.
Munoz said a staff of 15 people would come over to Pecos every semester
for registration.
Classes at OC Pecos will begin on Monday August 21 with late registration
beginning August 22-25.
Community members can register today till 7:30 p.m.
Red Bluff board discusses improving lake's facilities
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, August 15, 2000 - Red Bluff Water Power Control Board members
were asked to improve the facilities around the south end of Red Bluff
Lake, during their regular monthly meeting in Pecos on Monday
Residents from the Red Bluff Dam area made the trip down to Pecos to
ask members to fix up the boat ramp and campgrounds at the lake, and also
discussed getting the lake store reopened and clearing brush out from areas
near their homes.
"What we have now, it's hard to get in and out using the ramp," said
Crystal Warnick, one of several summer and full-time residents at the lake
who attended the meeting. Others said holes near the end of the ramp created
large drop-offs while trying to get boats in and out of the lake.
"I know Red Bluff is for irrigation, but I don't know why it can't be
improved for the enjoyment of people," said Keri Carter.
General Manager Jim Ed Miller said Rich Shoemaker of HDR Engineering
would take a look at the ramp problem when he's up there to check on the
next phase of the gate replacement project at Red Bluff Dam.
"I know if you have something there more people will come as a rule,"
said Red Bluff board president Randall Hartman. But he and other board
members said the isolation of the lake and its facilities made some things,
like picnic tables and shelters, subject to vandalism.
"I love it at Red Bluff, but when I look off the porch the place looks
so neglected it's humiliating," Carter said.
Residents said they would be will to help out in both repairing the
picnic facilities and in operating the Red Bluff Lake Store, which has
been closed for several years. Miller suggested a six-month lease agreement
for the store. "If it works out, it can be extended," he said.
"If they're willing to fix the tables we should be willing to supply
the materials," said board member Teresa Walker, and board members eventually
agreed to place the items on the September agenda for consideration.
On two other subjects, Miller told residents problems with roads in
the area would have to be dealt with by Reeves County Precinct 4 Commissioner
Gilberto "Hivi" Rayos and not by the water district, while the board said
they could try and clear out the brush with heavy equipment that will be
on-site later this year in connection with the other projects.
The board also said they would look at moving a portable boat dock over
to the west side of the lake from the Sandy Beach area on the east side,
which has not been open to cars since the Red Bluff Dam road was closed
seven year ago. But the board said no to putting any money into fixing
up the old Red Bluff Hotel.
"We've been throwing good money after bad for 50 years," Miller said
about district funds put into the two-story hotel. "If you want to take
it and fix it up, but we're not going to put another dime into it."
On a related topic, the board discussed replacing piping to the homes
from the lake's water pump, but decided first to get an opinion from the
Attorney General's office on the status of providing water to area residents
from the lake.
Miller said the water is provided to residents, though it's not suitable
for drinking due to its high salt content. But he added that the state
wanted the district to cut off water service several years ago, but were
talked out of the action by then-Pecos River Compact Commissioner Brad
Newton.
Red Bluff water apparently isn't very good for waterfowl either, judging
by the comments board members made to Phillip Dickerson, the new area Private
Lands Wildlife Biologists for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Dickerson discussed several items with the board, including allowing
duck hunting on sections of Red Bluff Lake for the first time. He said
a flooded area on the northeast end of the lake would be best for hunting,
though Hartman had his doubts it would attract many people.
"Ever eat a duck off the Pecos River?" he asked. "After the duck's been
there for a few days there ain't many tough enough in this room to do it."
Dickerson suggested the board either allow Red Bluff to be added to
the TP&W's leased hunting land program, in which hunters paying a $40
permit are allowed into selected sites across Texas, or, allow sections
of the lake to be part of the general state duck hunting area, which requires
a $15 permit. He said under the first plan, TP&W could pay Red Bluff
up to two times the ad valorem tax rate for use of their land.
Dickerson also supported trying to maintain endangered species, which
has become an issue along the Pecos River in recent years. "If we've to
an endangered species declining, if we can do something for the habitat
without seriously jeopardizing the lifestyle of the farmers and ranchers,
we need to do it," he said.
Earlier in the meeting, the board approved a $50,000 contribution to
the next stage of the Pecos River Salt Cedar Eradication Project. Board
member Manuel Lujan said Barney Lee of the Soil Conservation Service, said
they would try to spray an addition 28 miles of the river this coming year.
The first section sprayed last fall covered the area from the Red Bluff
Dam to the Highway 302 crossing at Mentone.
Accounts payable, cash disbursements and the water report were also
approved Monday, and the board also said the next round of bids on the
Red Bluff Dam project would be unsealed at the board's September meeting.
Vehicles found with cash, pot in traffic stops
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, August 15, 2000 - A routine traffic stop landed a Juarez man
in jail on drug charges over the weekend and local officers assisted Department
of Public Safety in another case last night, where drug money was confiscated.
The first incident happened about 3 a.m. Saturday, when Trans Pecos
Drug Task Force Investigator Danny Reynolds, made a routine traffic stop
at the half-mile marker on I-20, on a 1998 Ford Explorer.
"I received consent to do a search of the vehicle," said Reynolds.
The density meter showed that there was something in the spare tire,
located underneath the Explorer.
"There were other clues and when we looked in the tire we found the
bundles," said Reynolds.
The task force found several bundles with 35.4 pounds of marijuana with
a street value of about $21,000.
Arrested in the incident was the driver of the vehicle, Daniel Ortega,
26, of Juarez, Mexico, who was charged with possession of a controlled
substance with intent to distribute. Justice of the Peace J.T. Marsh set
Bond at $25,000.
There were two passengers with Ortega, two children ages 10 and 8, according
to Reynolds.
The Drug Task Force wanted to thank Sue Carrasco, an employee of the
Pecos Police Department, who took care of the children on her own time,
while awaiting the arrival of Children Protective Services. "We want to
thank her for her assistance to the juveniles and her concern for the two
young ones, while waiting for CPS," said task force commander Gary Richards.
"That goes beyond the call of duty," he said.
In a separate incident, task force officers assisted the Department
of Public Safety, who requested the use of some of their equipment.
The incident happened at 11:17 p.m., Monday, when DPS pulled over a
1990 Dodge Ram Charger.
"They requested the use of some of our equipment, on a vehicle from
Dallas to Juarez," said Investigator Danny Reynolds.
Found during the search was $8,500 in cash in a passenger compartment,
that the K-9 alerted to. There was also cash in another compartment above
the gas tank, according to the officer's report.
The vehicle was seized for being used in illegal activity; the money
was seized and turned over to the Department of Public Safety, as drug
money.
The subject was questioned and released, according to Reynolds.
Immunizations offered at clinic set next Tuesday
PECOS, August 15, 2000 - An Immunization Clinic will be held next Tuesday,
Aug. 22, at the Texas Tech Health Clinic, located in the old Reeves County
Hospital, 700 Daggett St., Suite C.
Immunizations will be administered from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., and
Hepatitis A & B shots will be administered from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30
p.m.
Individuals are asked to bring the child's immunization records.
Obituaries
Maria Martinez
Maria P. Martinez, 67, of Pecos, died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2000, at St. Luke's
Hospital in Houston.
Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., today at St. Catherine's Catholic Church,
with Father Mike Alcuino. Burial will be in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery.
She was born April 19, 1933, in Presidio, Tx., was a lifetime Pecos
resident, and a Catholic.
Survivors include her husband, Salvador C. Martinez of Pecos; her mother,
Rosenda M. Pisana of Odessa; her children, Dan P. and Becky Martinez of
Kingsville, Sam P. and D'Andra Martinez of Midland, Joey and Valerie Martinez
of San Marcos, Rick and Barbara Martinez of Denver, Colo., Estella and
Oscar Rodriguez of Pecos, Elida and Frank Rodriguez of Pecos, Anna M. and
Armando Madrid of Pecos, Isabel M. and Rudy Falcon of Odessa; five brothers,
Monico M. Pisana of San Antonio, Manuel M. Pisana of El Paso, Eusebio M.
Pisana of Grand Prairie, Domingo M. Pisana of Roswell, N.M., Billy M. Pisana
of Austin; seven sisters, Pola Rubio of Pecos, Gabina Hernandez of Pecos,
Juanita Acosta of Carlsbad, N.M., Cecilia Garcia of Odessa, Linda Minjarez
of Mesquite, Candida Chavez of Odessa, Christine Guerrero of Odessa; 24
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Rafael Ochoa
Rafael J. Ochoa, 39, of Pecos, died Wednesday, Aug. 9, in Santa Anna, Michocoan,
Mex.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 11, in Santa Anna.
He was born Jan. 8, 1961, in Santa Anna, was co-owner of Speedy's Family
Diner, lived in Pecos for seven years and worked for Western Geophysical
Baker Hughes.
Survivors include his wife, Emma Gabaldon of Pecos; his mother, Micaela
Ochoa of Michocoan, Mexico; four sisters, Guadalupe Munguia of Guadalajara,
Mexico, Adelina Ochoa of Santa Barbara, Calif., Irene Ochoa of Santa Anna,
Michocoan and Rosio Ochoa of Santa Anna, Michocoan; one brother, Arturo
Ochoa of Santa Anna, Michocoan.
Juan Rey
Juan Rey, 66, of Pecos, died Monday, Aug. 14, 2000, at Reeves County Hospital.
Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 17, at Santa Rosa Catholic
Church with burial in Balmorhea Cemetery.
He was born Nov. 24, 1933, in Toyah, was a construction worker, a lifetime
Pecos resident and a Catholic.
He was preceded in death by one son, Curtis Wayne Rey, on Oct. 30, 1961
and two brothers, Thomas and Gilbert Rey.
Survivors include his wife, Petronila Sanchez Garcia; one step-son,
Bobby Caprerra; three daughters, Betty Rey Lozano of Balmorhea, Peggy Rey
Hougham of El Paso and Delfa Rodriguez of Pecos; one brother, Alfredo Rey
of Midland; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jaime Valles
Jaime Armando Valles, 68, of Pecos, died Friday, Aug. 11, 2000, at Odessa
Medical Center Hospital, following a long illness.
He will be taken to San Antonio Del Bravo, Mex., and burial will be
in San Antonio Del Bravo Cemetery.
He was born May 31, 1932, in San Antonio Del Bravo, Mex., was a laborer
in agriculture, a longtime Pecos resident and a Catholic.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Jesus Socorro Valles, Sr.
Survivors include his wife, Juana V. Valles of San Antonio Del Bravo,
Mex.; two sons, Jaime A. Valles, Jr. of Ojinaga, Mex., and Cruz V. Valles
of Dumas; one daughter, Melva V. Reyes of Pecos; two brothers, Tomas R.
Valles, Jr. and Jose R. Valles of Pecos; five sisters, Olivia V. Romo and
Maria Luisa V. Medina of Pecos, Elauteria V. Valeriano of Ojinaga, Mex.,
Maria V. Baeza of San Antonio Del Bravo, Mex., and Lydia V. Sanchez of
Ojinaga, Mex.; nine grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, August 15, 2000 - High Monday 101. Low this morning 65. Partly cloudy.
Low 70-75. Southeast wind 10-20 mph. Wednesday: Becoming mostly cloudy.
High in the mid to upper 90s. Southeast wind 10-20 mph. Wednesday night:
Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms. Low 70-75.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers or thunderstorms. Low
70-75. High 90-95.
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
|
