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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, September 29, 2000
Commissioners approve budget, worker pay hikes
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 29, 2000 - Valuations are down Reeves County, but other
sources of income will not only mean no property tax increase for local
residents, but good news for county employees who will be receiving a raise,
county commissioners decided on Thursday.
Commissioners held a Public Hearing on Thursday morning for the county's
2001 proposed budget, and County Judge Jimmy Galindo said the new budget
is based on tax rate of 54.869 cents per $100 value.
Commissioners then adopted the new budget and set the tax rate at a
meeting held this morning on the third floor of the courthouse.
Most local governments get their income from property taxes, but Galindo
said since 1995, there has been a drop in valuations from $401 million
to $358 million in Reeves County.
"We're witnessing a continuing reduction in tax values," he said. "Over
a five year period there has been a significant drop in actual cash that
is collected in taxes, but we have been able to lower taxes three cents
in the past five years and been able to keep it even though valuations
have dropped."
State law requires every tax-assessor collector calculate the tax rate
that would raise the same amount of money that was in the budget the previous
year, according to Galindo.
"The effective tax rate would have amounted to .6563 cents, which means
we collect less on taxes," he said, which would have been two cents higher
than the effective tax rate for the 1999-2000 county budget.
"As you know most governments in the region use the effective tax rate,
we have chosen to not do so and not raise the taxes in the county," said
Galindo.
Income the county has received through the Reeves County Detention Center
has helped offset the loss in property valuations, and the amount the county
gets from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons will rise over the next few months,
as the new 1,000-bed addition is opened. The new section will double the
RCDC's capacity to 2,000 inmates.
"There was an outcry in the community that we needed jobs and we have
been very fortunate to have been able to create 300 more jobs," said Galindo.
He said the BOP was a very important client that helped with the creation
of these positions and through continued effort and work they could keep
that relationship solid to be able to keep those positions.
The new inmate transportation bus will also be providing much needed
revenue to the county, with the bus transporting inmates not only to the
RCDC here in Pecos, but also in New Mexico where a new 1,000 bed prison
is being constructed, according to Galindo.
"These are positions that will be here for many years to come," he said.
Galindo stated that even though the county has not raised taxes in the
past few years, other entities have chosen to do so.
"If there is a company that is interested in coming to Pecos they will
look at the taxes collectively," said Galindo. "And they will see an increase,
even though Reeves County haw not raised taxes."
"We have not added to the tax burden," said Galindo.
Galindo outlined the financial situation of the past few years and stated
that this was the first year in a long time that all employees would be
able to receive a raise.
"These are very needed raises for this dedicated group of people," said
Galindo.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Herman Tarin told the group about the many things
the county has been able to accomplish and that the county has funded in
the past few years.
Tarin mentioned the refurbishing the old Pecos High School gym for a
sports and recreation department, helping the city out with their water
system, water provided at the cemetery in Saragosa, two sets of lights
for the parks and numerous other projects.
Galindo's budget proposed a salary raise for all the commissioners;
however, those individuals chose not to take the raise.
"I don't want to sound presumptuous," said Galindo. "In my budget proposal,
I didn't give myself a raise."
County Auditor Lynn Owens stated that Commissioner Precinct 1 Felipe
Arredondo, wanted to propose a pay raise for the county judge that would
come to 54 percent, and bring Galindo's salary up to the same level of
Sheriff Andy Gomez. "I told him that before he proposed it, he had to make
it public and we printed up a public notice that came out in the newspaper."
"I did make that proposal and that idea came from me," said Arredondo.
"I feel the judge has been working very hard and he has accomplished many
things."
Commissioner Precinct 2 David Castillo reiterated what Arredondo had
stated and added, "If we had hired a grant administrator to do all the
things he has done it would have cost the county a lot of money."
"He has put in a lot of hard work and there are a lot of people employed
thanks to his hard work and dedication," said Castillo.
Galindo's salary would be raised from $32,558 to $50,190, which would
make it the same as the sheriff's new salary. Both would also have a travel
allowance of $9,600.
Staff Writer Leia Holland contributed to this story.
Pair arrested after morning drug raid
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 29, 2000 - Local law enforcement officials arrested
two people this morning on heroin possession charges, following a raid
on their Mesquite Street home.
"We had a lot of complaints about drug activity in this area, so we
were doing some surveillance," said Pecos Police Department Investigator
Paul Deishler, after police officers, along with Reeves County sheriff's
deputies and the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force executed a search warrant
at about 9:10 a.m., today at 510 S. Mesquite Street.
Once the warrant was executed and the occupants of the home, Rosie Rodriguez
and Manuel Rivera were secured, officers proceeded to do a search of the
resident.
During the search a substance believed to be heroin was found inside
the residence. Also found during the search was material commonly used
in concealing and transporting drugs, police said.
Syringes usually used for the injection of heroin were also found during
the search, according to Deishler.
Officers completed the search and both Rodriguez and Rivera were transported
to Reeves County Jail where they were charged with possession of a controlled
substance (heroin) and drug paraphernalia.
Nine indicted by district court grand jury
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 29, 2000 - Reeves County Grand Jurors handed down indictments
to nine people during their session held on Thursday in the 143rd District
Courtroom at the Reeves County Courthouse, seven of those indictments on
drug-related charges.
Vincent Daniel Calderon, 21, was indicted on a charge of knowingly delivering
a controlled substance, marijuana, of five pounds or less but more than
one-fourth ounces. Calderon was arrested on May 9, 2000 and had a bond
set at $15,000.
Bobby Ray Holman, 24, was indicted on two counts, one for possession
of a controlled substance in the amount of 400 grams or more, and a second
county of illegal investment in a controlled substance. Holman was arrested
on August 9, 2000 and bonds were set at $15,000 and $10,000 on the two
charges.
Timothy Rodriguez, 27, was also indicted on the same two counts, possession
of a controlled substance in the amount of 400 grams or more and illegal
investment in a controlled substance. His arrest also took place on August
9, 2000 and he was given $15,000 and $10,000 bonds.
Felix David Hernandez, 42, was indicted on a charge for possession of
a controlled substance in the amount of less than one gram. Hernandez was
arrested on June 22, 2000 and had a bond set at $10,000.
Ramon Natividad, 54, was indicted on a charge of possession of a controlled
substance in the amount of less than one gram. Natividad was arrested on
August 23, 2000 and was given a $10,000 bond. Arrested on the same day
and indicted on the same charge were Francisco Garcia Rico, 58, and Michael
Varela, 27. Bonds of $10,000 were also set on Natividad and Varela.
In the two non-drug related indictments returned Thursday, Dante Lujan
Cernao, 21, was indicted on a charge of intentionally or knowingly possessing
an illegal knife (switchblade) and carrying on school premises. Cernao
was arrested on August 28, 2000 and bond was set at $5,000.
Lenard Carson, Sr., 52, was indicted on a charge of indecency with a
child younger than 17 years old. Carson was arrested on July 26, 2000 and
had his bond for release set at $5,000 with conditions.
"Hollow Man" highlighted by special effects
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 29, 2000 - What would you do if you were invisible?
Columbia Tri-Star's 'Hollow Man' shows audiences of one man's
dream of invisibility.
'Hollow Man' stars Kevin Bacon ('Footloose') and Elizabeth Shue ('The
Saint'), who both play scientists on the verge of a scientific breakthrough
of not only making animals invisible but also turning them back to normal.
The only step left is testing the procedures on humans.
Co-starring with Bacon and Shue is Josh Brolin as the handsome scientist,
Matt Kensington.
People in there early to mid-twenties might remember Brolin as the cute
older brother of Sean Astin in the semi-cult classic 'The Goonies'.
But in this movie, Brolin is a slightly better actor who has gotten
more handsome with age.
Shue, who plays the doctor in the middle of a love triangle, Linda McCay,
gives a good performance and once again is surrounded by some of the best
looking leading men in Hollywood.
Bacon, playing Dr. Sebastian Caine, has got to be the best performance
even though half the time his voice is the only thing doing the acting.
Bacon knew how to be the bad guy in his first movie 'National Lampoon's
Animal House' and has gotten even better at it as his career progressed.
'Hollow Man' also started Kim Dickens ('Mercury Rising'), Joey Slotnick
('Twister'), Mary Randle ('Bad Behavior'), Greg Grunberg ('Senseless')
and the veteran actor William Devane ('Knot's Landing').
Director Paul Verhoeven ('Basic Instinct') did an excellent job of directing
the actors, who had to act toward something invisible most of the time.
The best part about this movie is the special effects.
The special effects people were able to make Bacon's face take shape
in smoke and water and whatever else you could think of.
The awesome effects almost take away from the plot of the movie but
it doesn't matter.
Even the beginning credits were well done and original. Sometimes it's
more fun to watch a movie's credits to see what new and creative way the
director, producer and editor come up with to tie the credits in with the
plot.
So, if you have a strong stomach, go see this movie. If you have a week
stomach…go see this movie…just don't eat before hand.
'Hollow Man' is rated R.
Extension Service's annual Field Day set Tuesday
PECOS, September 29, 2000 - The Texas A&M Agricultural Experiment Station
west of Pecos will host their annual Field Day, Tuesday, Oct. 3, beginning
at 3 p.m.
The Texas A&M Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Agricultural
Extension Service, Trans-Pecos Cotton Association, and Cotton Incorporated
sponsor the event.
Highlights of this year's tour will include studies including a sulfurous
acid generator, mobile drip system, variable furrow irrigation spacings,
hybrid Bermuda grass, and cotton improvement program. The Extension Service's
farm is located seven miles west of Pecos on Interstate 20.
Weather
PECOS, September 29, 2000 - High Thursday 86. Low this morning 49. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 60-65. South wind 10-20 mph. Saturday:
Partly cloudy. High in the mid 90s. Southwest wind 10-20 mph. Saturday
night: Partly cloudy. Low around 60. Sunday: Partly cloudy, breezy, and
cooler. High 75-80.
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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