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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, October 10, 2000
RCDC completion date now set for Nov. 18
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, October, 10, 2000 - A mid-November completion date for the 1,000-bed
addition at the Reeves County Detention Center was set by the project's
contractors during the regular meeting of the Reeves County Commissioners
Court on Monday.
Commissioners approved certificates of payment to Banes General Contractors,
change order requests and time extension request, the fourth new completion
date for the facility since early September.
Mark Schumacher, with Banes General Contractors, told the court that
the new target date for completion has been set for Nov. 18. "After the
jail commission did the inspection on the buildings completed we met with
the contractors, heating and cooling people, control clerk and everyone
else involved, and came up with a schedule," said Schumacher.
He told commissioners that there will have to be one more inspection
and presented the court with a draw schedule for payments remaining.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo asked county auditor Lynn Owens
if he had any problems with the draw schedule presented by Schumacher.
"As far as the draw, no, I don't have problems with it," said Owens.
The letter on Sept. 19, written by architects Dailey, Rabke and Gondeck,
indicated that payments would be stopped until directed by the commissioners
court, according to Galindo.
"The important thing to remember is that progress is achieved and payments
to workers need to be made for final completion," said Galindo. "I think
it's important to realize that they have turned over 394 beds and we are
right around the corner to completion."
According to Galindo, 89 percent of the work is completed and is within
the Guaranteed Maximum Price.
"It's exceeding the contractual time-frame, but they are doing a great
job," he said.
"I though it was important to see how much money is still needed and
how much money will be drawn," said Galindo. "$1.1 million for September
will be drawn, $1.1 for October and the final draw will be $429,941, through
December and January," he said.
Galindo stated that several factors were taken into consideration for
the delay in the completion date, including the change orders, a new sewer
system and water towers.
"There are legitimate aspects that the court needs to consider," said
Galindo.
However, he said the issue of liquidated damages still hangs in the
balance and that the completion date was what was important.
Commissioners approved authorizing DRG Architects progressive payments
for the next five months, not to exceed the Guaranteed Maximum Price, as
certified by DRG.
"Ms. Dailey will work on this schedule until Nov. 18," said Galindo.
Commissioners also approved Geotechnical Engineering Services for the
Balmorhea Community Center during their Monday meeting, and discussed the
county's bidding procedures.
"We authorized Ms. Dailey to negotiate the fee with Trinity Engineering,"
said Galindo.
On the county purchasing issue, commissioners discussed competitive
bidding requirements and local vendor requirements, but tabled the item
until a formal letter from the District Attorney's office regarding the
issue can be obtained. District Attorney Randy Reynolds was unable to attend
the regular meeting.
"At this point it needs to be clear, there are laws and we need to see
what local vendors can do to resolve this issues," said Galindo.
Under the law, anything over $25,000 needs to be bid out.
"I think the county should do it's best to get the best price and items
for the county," said Galindo.
"My position is that there are many things we have to buy out there
and many times we would have exceeded the maximum," said Owens.
"I have always felt that as long as you purchase the items and there's
no intent on day-to-day items, it doesn't matter if you spent more," said
Owens. "If you don't do it intentionally of buying the items and they total
more than the $25,000, then you're not breaking the law."
Local vendor Larry Windham, of Gibson True Value was on hand for the
meeting.
"I understand that your hands are tied, but you should also use common
sense," said Windham. "Why send someone all the way to Odessa when you
just need to buy a couple of screws," he said.
"Bid out large items, but if you need to buy a 29 cent item, I don't
have to send someone all the way to Odessa," he said. "There's no way to
bid some of these items out, because you don't know how much you're going
to use."
"We've asked the DA for his assistance in this," said Galindo. "Once
we get something in writing we'll do most of our purchases in town, up
to the legal limit."
"He said he would keep an eye on our purchases and if there was something
there, he would let us know," said Owens. "If we get it in writing, then
we won't be breaking the law."
"As soon as we receive an opinion, we can go back to business as usual,"
said Galindo.
Commissioners also approved a security alarm system for the Reeves County
Clerk's office. "There are times when one of the clerks is working in the
back, another is in court or out of the office and nobody is really up
front," said Reeves County Clerk Dianne Florez. "This alarm system will
signal when someone walks in and let the clerks in the back know that someone
is in the office."
Florez stated that her office is always busy and sometimes they are
unable to tell if someone walked in. "This would help us in letting us
know that someone is there, when we can't be up front," she said.
Meneses dies from injuries in '87 tornado
By ROSIE FLORES
and
JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writers
PECOS, October, 10, 2000 - The 1987 Saragosa tornado claimed its 31st
life on Monday, when a victim of the 1987 disaster died at a Houston area
nursing home.
Ramon "Kiki" Meneses, 35, of Saragosa, had been in a coma in the Houston
nursing home, where he was transferred several years ago. He was 22 years
old when he became one of the 150 people injured when the tornado struck
the small town in southern Reeves County on May 22, 1987.
Rescuers found Meneses unconscious about 2½ hours after the tornado
demolished most of the town, including his parents' mobile home. Neighbors
said they saw Meneses clinging to the spoiler of his Pontiac Fierro as
the wind lifted his body to a horizontal position, and then whirled him
away with the rear spoiler of the car still in his hands.
Meneses was thrown head first into the ground, suffering a severe head
trauma which left him hospitalized for 18 months, during which he was comatose
much of the time.
His cerebellum was injured and short-circuited his memory. Doctors thought
he would be a vegetable, but he was slowly regaining his sense of smell
and taste when he fell in the hospital bathroom, banging his head.
The fall apparently jarred his memory and he snapped out of the coma.
Meneses, a weightlifter and a maintenance worker for the Texas Department
of Transportation, was brought home to his parents' house on Dec. 18, 1988,
where he had lived before the tornado struck. After returning home, he
continued to undergo treatment for the severe disabilities he suffered
as a result of the tornado.
"He understands everything that goes on," his brother Jesus Meneses
said at the time he was released from the hospital. "If we say we're going
to do something for him, he screams. He can repeat a few words."
Meneses never fully recovered from his injuries, and slipped back into
a coma several years ago. After the death of his mother, he was transferred
to a nursing home in the Houston area where his sister lives.
Meneses was racing to the home of his aunt, Ninfa Ontiveros, when he
suffered his injuries. Ontiveros' home was destroyed and she was one of
the original 30 victims of the Saragosa tornado, most of whose victims
were attending a Head Start graduation at the town's community center,
which was also destroyed.
Saragosa remains the worst tornado disaster in terms of loss of life
in the United States in the past 20 years.
Alpine cleans up from Sunday's ice storm
From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, October, 10, 2000 - Cold weather caused problems for the outdoor
events this past weekend at the Reeves County Fall Fair, but the Pecos
Valley escaped the cold and freezing temperatures that hit the mountain
areas over the weekend, and left some residents in the Big Bend without
power this morning.
Rain and sleet coated trees with up to a quarter of an inch of ice and
sent them crashing into yards, cars and power lines in the areas around
Marfa, Fort Davis and Alpine.
AEP West Texas Utilities said crews were working Monday morning to restore
power to 4,500 homes across Jeff Davis, Presidio and Brewster counties.
Most of the outages were reported in Alpine, and officials said no injuries
were reported.
"We have a devastated courthouse lawn. Trees are precious in West Texas
and it looks like we have lost a few. Hundreds and hundreds of trees have
been destroyed or damaged across town," said Brewster County Judge Val
Clark Beard.
Beard said almost every tree in the courthouse lawn had some form of
damage.
"The dearest to us are the pecan trees, they took some really bad damage,"
Beard said.
Icicles still clung to trees and power lines in Marfa, but less damage
was reported. Officials said the longest residents had been without power
was about 20 minutes.
Rain and sleet fell over the Big Bend steadily all weekend. Most areas
received between 1 1/2 and 2 inches of precipitation, said Chris Smallcomb,
a weather service meteorologist in Midland.
"The Chisos Basin had one inch of ice and snow as of this morning,"
Smallcomb said. "They still had roads closed in the Chisos Basin as of
this morning."
The Pecos area received just under one-tenth of an inch of rain on Sunday.
"Most of the rainfall was south of I-10," Smallcomb said, though winter
storm warnings were out for the Guadalupe Mountains to the northwest over
the weekend, as well as in the Davis Mountains and Big Bend region to the
south.
"It came down pretty vigorously. Basically the reason they are having
all the problems out there is because they are in little valleys," Smallcomb
said. "Cold air will sit in the valleys. It is still rain but it will freeze
in there."
Temperatures Monday morning
Fall Fair's food, handcraft, art events winners named
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, October, 10, 2000 - Despite the cold weather and the cancellation
of some annual events the Reeves/Loving County Fall Fair was a success.
Pecos Chamber of Commerce President Tom Rivera said the turnout for
the fair was great although temperatures, which never got out of the 40s
during the weekend, might have hurt it.
"It was excellent," he said. "It would have been a lot better if not
for the weather."
The cookoff and concerts were canceled this year for lack of interest
and replaced with a ranch rodeo.
However, next year the cookoff will resume under the control of the
Reeves County Sheriff's Posse, according to Rivera.
Rivera said the indoor events, including the livestock show, fair booths
and art exhibits, went very well.
One of the most anticipated contests of the Fall Fair each year is the
most beautiful baby contest.
This year's winner is eight and a half month old Xavier Rivera III.
Xavier is the son of Ann Marie Henry and Xavier Rivera, Jr., and received
$100 savings bond.
In other fair events:
Iva Joe Stephens swept the category of hand pieced and hand quilted
quilts winning Best of Show, first and second place.
Stephens also took first place in the machine pieced and hand quilted
quilts while Ava Gerke placed second and Lynn Fowler placed third.
In the quilts category of baby quilts, miniatures and wall hangers Sue
Toone placed first, Kate Crenshaw placed second and Kathy Pascal placed
third.
Roy Prewit walked away with first and second in the machine pieced and
machine quilted quilt category while Jerry Needy took third.
Patsy Gerbert and Faye Lease placed first and second in the yeast bread
category.
Lease also took second in the sweet bread category with Grace Box placing
first.
For the women's cakes, Willie Hamilton placed first, Glenda Willis placed
second and Virginia Pena placed third.
For the men's cakes Prewit placed first while the team of Angel Crawford,
Gito Crawford and Barbara Cardenas from Reeves/Loving 4-H was first in
the youth section.
Lease took another place with first in the cookie category while Gigi
Stroup and Catherine Thomas placed second and third.
Thomas placed second in the candy category with Patsy Boles placing
first and third.
For the men's candy David Teal placed first and GeNelle Willis took
first in the youth candy.
For the youth pies category Katie Fossum received first.
Margie Williamson took first in the women's canned goods-jelly category
with second and third going to Virginia Pena.
On the men's side of the canned goods-jelly first place went to David
Compton.
For the canned goods-preserves Williamson swept first, second and third
place.
She also took third in the women's canned goods-pickles category while
Gwenda Reynolds placed both first and second.
For the men's canned goods-pickles Jim Allen placed first and third
while Prewit took second.
Best of show went to Hamilton.
In needlepoint, Doris Moorman placed first and second.
Laurie Vipond placed first in the cross stitch-linen and for cross stitch-aida
cloth Laura Teal placed first while Bessie Osborn placed second and third.
Joyce Morton swept first, second and third place in embroidery while
Jesus Gonzales swept men's embroidery with first and second.
First place for knitting went to Barbara Creager.
For the crochet-Christmas category Janet Prewit placed first while second
and third went to Sheri Arlene Liles.
Christie Blake took first place in the crochet-baby category and second
in the crochet-dolls category with Jackie Tollett and J. Prewit taking
first and third.
For the crochet-lace category Arlene Hill placed first.
Vickie Hannz took first and second for the leather pillows category
with Pena, Pascal and Amelia Reyes placed first, second and third in the
fabric pillows category.
Pascal also took first place in the hand-stitchery category with Hill
placing second.
Pena placed first in the afghan category while Dora Rochen placed second
and Doris Tillery placed third.
Sherry Marshall took first place in ceramics while Patsy Boles took
second and third.
Martina Chavez swept first, second and third in the China painting category
while Sally Perry place first in the recycled items category.
Perry also placed second in the refinished furniture category while
Donna Woodard placed first and third.
In men's woodworking, Dick Hays placed first and second with Phillip
Stroup placing third.
Ebo Teal swept the men's ceramics category with first, second and third.
For clothing, Tillery placed first and second while Fowler placed third
and GeNelle Willis placed first in the youth clothing.
In the youth needlework category GeNelle Willis placed first and second
in crochet and Jennifer Brookshire placed first in beadwork while Daniel
Quintana placed first in latch hook.
Lauren Wein placed first in the youth pottery and Jena Cranfill placed
first in the youth woodwork.
Kema Brookshire placed first in both plastic canvas and beadwork.
In the felt category, Blanca Avila took first while Amelia Reyes took
second.
Maria Tellez placed first in the nature category while Moorman received
Best of Show.
Williamson received all places given in the photography categories of
portrait-black and white and color, natural history-color, old structures-color
and black and white, scenic-color, human interest-black and white and Best
of Show.
R.L. Tellez took first in photography human interest-color while Williamson
took second.
In now categorized photography Calvin Howard placed first while Tellez
placed second and third and J. Ross Busby placed first for youth.
Busby also placed first in pencil drawing.
Marshall placed first in the collection-pins category while Boles placed
first in both collections of buttons and angels.
Clarence Cox placed first for his polished rocks while Alice Branham
took first for geodes and Larry Busby also took first in the petrified
category.
Lessie Woodard received all the places given in the specialty items
categories of carving, musical instruments, hobbies and Best of Show.
Dan Reynolds was recognized for his yellow cherry tomatoes, miniature
red cherry tomatoes, green peppers, Anaheim pepper, spineless okra and
dwarf okra in the fresh fruits and vegetables category.
Shannon Busby was recognized for the hot chili peppers and pumpkin categories
while David Teal was recognized for his pomegranates.
Also recognized in the fresh fruit and vegetables are Debbie Riley for
red cherry tomatoes, Loring Box for pears, Clarence Cox for gourds and
Marie Cardenas for pansies.
In the herb category Catherine Thomas was recognized for her herb garden
while Margaret Lindley placed first and third in the cut stems while Gretchan
Luna placed second and first in the potted herbs.
For the art show Joyce Morton placed first in oils while Jan Chandler
and Doris Tillery placed second and third.
Barbara Creager placed first in watercolor, Pearl Gustafson placed second
and Williamson placed third.
Nancy McAnally received Best of Show.
From entries from Balmorhea Junior High School James Tarin placed first
while Stephanie Iniguez and Jessica Gallego placed second and third.
Daniel Tarin placed first and second from entries from Walter Holland's
Gifted and Talented Art Class while Joseph Rodriguez placed third.
From Pecos Kindergarten, Marissa Hinojos took first while Terri Jasso
and Bianca Lazcana placed second and third.
Kelly Lease placed first from the entries from first grade while Marissa
Tarango placed second and Melissa Penaflor placed third.
For second grade, Tatum Windham placed first, Amber Dawdy placed second
and Jasmine Tarin placed third.
Elias Alvarado, Aileen Rayos and Laura Vasquez placed first, second
and third from third grade.
Jonathan Ornelas took first in the fourth grade entries while Everett
Parker placed second, Kyle Wardlow placed third and Jessica Perea placed
first in the framed division.
Miguel Rodriguez and Randy Muniz placed first and second from high school
while Rodriguez received Best of Show.
Pilot's license eases Vernon's oilfield job
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, October, 10, 2000 - Joe Vernon climbs into the light just at
daybreak in his Cessna 150 and lands eight minutes later at his first job
of the day: an oil well located 38 miles from his home near Alamo.
"Driving a pickup, I wouldn't even be out of sight of the house in eight
minutes," Vernon said. "The plane saves me eight hours a day in travel
time."
That's why Vernon spent two weeks in intensive training last month to
qualify for a pilot's license, then passed oral and flight exams at the
Midland International Airport.
FAA designated pilot examiner Don Wilkins gave Vernon his check ride
on Sept. 28.
"Now I can carry passengers," Vernon said.
His most enthusiastic passenger is his son, Cody, 3.
"Cody will be piloting a plane before he drives a car," said Vernon.
"He loves it. He climbs in the plane when it is parked at the house and
pretends to be flying."
Wife Helen was a more reluctant passenger when she took her first flight
in a small plane after Joe got his license. Holding on for dear life, she
nevertheless enjoyed the ride, Vernon said.
"She and the boys were great supporters while I was away from home,"
Vernon said. He studied late into the night at the Avion North pilot training
school, spent the night in their pilot bunkhouse, and then took to the
skies early the next morning.
"I drove to Pecos in the afternoon, checked a few wells, then drove
back for the evening session," Vernon said. "It was tough, but worth the
effort."
Cindy Rea checked the wells Vernon couldn't get to, and she did such
a good job that she is now employed full time by the Vernons' oilfield
pumping business.
"I appreciate all the hard work she put in, and the quality of her work,"
Vernon said. "She was out until midnight sometimes."
Vernon's license is realization of a dream he's had since childhood.
He learned to fly as a young man living in the Rio Grande Valley, and flew
to Pecos many times. Now he can take his family back to the Valley to visit
relatives, shaving two days' travel time by renting a plane large enough
for all four, plus luggage.
When he does have to drive on the highways, though, Vernon finds he
is more careful.
"I am more attentive," he said. "You have to pay attention when you
fly. I pay attention more to what's going on around me when I am going
down the road. The training does a lot for you mentally."
Flying his own plane also gives Vernon the opportunity to do mission
work in conjunction with West Park Baptist Church, the Pecos Valley Association
and Texas Baptists' River Ministry.
Joyce Morton, the associational missions coordinator, often drives to
Terlingua to deliver medical supplies, food, clothing, appliances, auto
parts and other supplies to the Big Bend Baptist Church. From their storehouses,
the church ministers to families along the Rio Grande, making frequent
trips into Mexico to deliver supplies and to preach at local Baptist churches.
"Sometimes she just has a few items to take, and it is a long trip.
Most of the time she'll be there overnight. I can take it in the plane
and be back at work by noon," Vernon said.
Vernon's fight with the U.S. Air Force over low-level bomber training
missions that put his home directly in the flight path has resulted in
a compromise that helps his family and other pilots as well.
Not only was the flight path adjusted to miss his house, the Air Force
agreed to put UHF radios in their B-1 and B-52 bombers so the crew can
warn pilots of small aircraft when they will be in the area.
Military planes use VHF radios, and Vernon said that he could not legally
install a VHF radio in his plane. But the Air Force could install the UHF
radios, and they agreed to that compromise.
"I talked to Dwight Williams (air space manager for Dyess Air Force
Base) a week ago. They don't have them all done yet, but most do have them,"
Vernon said.
"A pilot can announce over that frequency where he is, and they will
come back and acknowledge your position," Vernon said. "It is putting the
burden on them to avoid a collision."
It's not perfect, he said, but "Since we couldn't get rid of them, we
are going to have to live with them. Williams put out a great amount of
effort to try to make things workable with us."
And when a pilot-in-training flies wide of his designated flight path
and rattles the Vernons' windows during the night, Joe is likely to be
at home with his family instead of driving on caliche oilfield roads trying
to finish his rounds for the day.
"I even have time to attend Austin's PeeWee football games."
Second meeting on waste dump set for Barstow
PECOS, October, 10, 2000 - U.S. Representative Henry Bonilla and Steve
Fryar, candidate for State Representative, will be speaking at a public
meeting at 2 p.m., Saturday, at the Barstow Community Center.
The subject to be discussed is Envirocare's license application for
a radioactive nuclear waste facility, which would be located in the Barstow
area.
Everyone is encouraged to attend and express their opinions.
Bonilla, R-San Antonio, is being challenged by Isidro Garza for his
congressional seat, while Fryar is challenging Odessa Democrat Bob Turner
for the state representative's seat that includes Ward County and the Barstow
area. Turner and Garza appeared at a public forum on the same issue held
this past Saturday in Barstow.
Obituaries
Martha Medrano
Martha Chavez Medrano, 37, of Pecos, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2000, at Medical
Center Hospital in Odessa.
Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel,
with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
She was born Oct. 22, 1963, in Pecos, was a longtime Pecos resident,
an LVN nurse and a member of the Apostolic Church.
She was preceded in death by her father, Tomas B. Chavez.
Survivors include her mother, Jesusita Lara Chavez; two brothers, Hector
Chavez of San Angelo and Arturo Chavez of Pecos; three sisters, Eva Chavez
of Pecos, Gloria Chavez Holguin of San Angelo and Anita Chavez of Monahans.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ramon Meneses
Services are incomplete for Ramon Meneses, 35, of Saragosa, who died Monday,
Oct. 9, 2000, in Houston.
Meneses was a Saragosa tornado victim and had been in a coma.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Pauline Yarbrough
Pauline W. Yarbrough, 69, of Pecos, died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, at Reeves
County Hospital.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Greenwood
Cemetery with Rev. James Henderson officiating.
She was born June 6, 1931, in Jacksonville, Tx. and was a
Weather
PECOS, October, 10, 2000 - High Monday 47. Low this morning 34. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low in the lower 40s. Southeast wind 5-15 mph.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy and breezy. High in the mid 70s. South wind 15-25
mph. Wednesday night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers. Low
in the mid 40s. Thursday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers
or thunderstorms. High in the mid to upper 70s.
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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