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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
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Wednesday, October 25, 2000

Butts replaced by Murphy as administrator

By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer

PECOS, October 25, 2000 - The new interim administrator for Reeves County Hospital, Richard Murphy, got his first glimpse at the how busy and crowded the hospital's Board of Directors meetings are at the regular meeting at 6 p.m., last night.

Murphy sat in on the meeting as new interim administrator as outgoing administrator Charles Butts finished off his duties at his last meeting with the hospital board.

Butts recently resigned from his position to move on to other things. His last day was Tuesday while Murphy spent his first day at the hospital on Monday.

Under a contract the hospital has with Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Murphy was appointed to fill in as interim administrator.

During the meeting Butts told the board and staff on hand that it's been an honor working with them.

He also said he is proud of leaving the hospital in the best financial shape in years.

"It's been quite a party," he said.

Butts said he is confident about Murphy coming on as the interim and would be beneficial to the hospital.

"I know he'll be an asset to you," he said.

The Board gave Butts a picture of a West Texas sunset to remember Pecos and his time here.

Murphy said he thought the meeting went very well and looks forward to working with the board and staff.

"It appears we have a very good hospital board," he said. "I feel very comfortable with this board. I'm looking forward to working with them and getting things done."

Murphy also said he has enjoyed working with the staff.

"We've got a great bunch of folks here and again I'm looking forward to working with them," he said.

In regular business, board members for the second time heard from Roy Riggs of Lodging Enterprises about the tax abatement for the new Oak Tree Inn his company plans to build.

The new motel would house mainly Union Pacific Railroad crews for hours at a time. The railroad is centering its crew changing areas on two sites _ Pecos and Sweetwater _ along the route between Fort Worth and El Paso.

Riggs originally placed a resolution on the agenda for the hospital to nominate his company for the enterprise zone in Pecos.

He told the board that he was mistaken and only needed a nomination from the Pecos City Council and continued to ask for the abatement.

Board President Marcella Lovett said they could not take any action on the abatement until they are contacted by the city with the facts of its decision of the tax abatement.

"There are a lot of things we need to look at," she said.

Terry Holder of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service asked the board to approve the Extension Service's request to move into the old Billy Sol Estes building on Highway 17.

Holder has request all the taxing entities permission to use the building and had gotten approval from all except the RCH Board.

Lovett said she believed the Board needed to motion to approve the request "so they can get on and move into it."

The Board motioned and approved Holder's request.

Human Resource Director Nadine Smith informed the Board of a new retirement savings plan that the hospital staff could contribute to if they wanted.

She said the plan would allow individuals to contribute money to the retirement savings, in addition to the policy through the hospital.

Smith said she had talked it over with the City Attorney Scott Johnson and he felt it was fine and the plan would not cost the hospital any money.

"It's by their choice, if they don't want to participate they won't," she said.

The board approved the additional retirement savings plan, and later approved new guidelines for bidding on foreclosed property.

The guidelines include payment of prorated taxes for the current tax year if approved to purchase.

Any offer that is received after 5 p.m. on the first day of the month will not be considered until the next month.

All offers must be sealed until a taxing entity looks at it and once one taxing entity approves a bid they would not accept any other offers.

The Board approved the recommendation from Butts to allow Iris Rives, assistant director of the Reeves County Hospital Home Health, to sign any paperwork pertaining to Home Health.

He said that as administrator he was authorized to sign for Home Health but since he is leaving it would be easier to authorize Rives to sign.

The Board also approved moving the December meeting a week early due to the Christmas holiday. Under its regular schedule the meeting would be on Dec. 26. Instead, members will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Other items on the agenda included the financial reports and payment of bills.

The Board took no action on the discussion of errors and correction of the 1999 tax rolls and the 2000 tax rolls because they were not ready for presentation.

Drinkers help out police during three-day class

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, October 25, 2000 - Pecos police had no problem with local community members getting intoxicated Tuesday afternoon on South Eddy Street, since is was part of a course to help officers in the area to recognize intoxicated drivers and pedestrians.

"We recruited volunteers from the community to help out by drinking alcohol," said Pecos Police Investigator Kelly Davis of the volunteers, who were asked to drink two drinks and then they would get tested to see how intoxicated they were.

They would then drink some more and the officers would see how the extra drinks would affect them.

"This helped us to recognize intoxicated individuals," Davis said Tuesday, during the second of three scheduled three-day training courses for all law enforcement officers. The classes were held at Odessa College Pecos Technical Training Center on South Eddy Street.

"Yesterday and today is when we were having the volunteers drink," said Davis.

"The drinking part is being held from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.," said Davis.

And of course, the volunteers had a ride home following their "volunteer work."

Davis stated that they didn't have as many volunteers as he thought they would have, but they did all right. "The volunteers were served rum, vodka and whiskey," said Davis.

"This really helped us out and we appreciate those who could come out and volunteer," said Davis.

If you missed out on volunteering for the officers this time, the group will have another course in November and volunteers will be needed then as well.

City hopes to scare up support for Saturday trick-or-treating

PECOS, October 25, 2000 - Ghosts, goblins, witches and more will be out early in Pecos, and the community is asked to be on the lookout for the little pedestrians on Saturday night.

The Town of Pecos City Council is planning to ask local residents to observe Halloween on Saturday, by voting on a resolution during their regular meeting Thursday morning. Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year, and the council is seeking to change the trick-or-treating date to Saturday so that children will not stay out late during a school night.

This is an action that has been taken by the council several times in recent years, when Oct. 31 has fallen on Monday through Thursday.

Changing Halloween to Saturday would also let trick-or-treaters stay dressed up longer, in order to participate in the Annual Halloween Parade. It is sponsored by the Women's Division of the Pecos Chamber of Commerce and will be held on Saturday in downtown Pecos.

Line-up and judging will begin at 5:30 p.m., at the drive-thru of First National Bank. The parade will begin promptly at 6 p.m. and end at the West of the Pecos Museum.

Other items on the council's brief Thursday agenda include considering American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC) to administer the `cafeteria' plan, which involves insurance options for city employees.

Other items on the agenda include discussion of the errors and corrections for 1999 and prior tax rolls, 2000 tax rolls and considering the guidelines for foreclosed property bids.

`Christmas for Kids' seeks donations

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, October 25, 2000 - A group of "elves" will once again be working hard to make this Christmas season a merrier one for those less fortunate.

"We want to provide the essentials for as many children as possible, this Christmas season," said Christmas for the Kids organizer Sofia Baeza. "We want to help as many families as we can."

The organization, which is designed to bring warmth and happiness to as many children as possible, will begin accepting applications for the program on Thursday at the Reeves County Sheriff's Department.

"We encourage people to come pick up their applications early," said Baeza. "We want to keep our money in Pecos, so getting the applications back early, will let us know exactly what we need and we can all our shopping here."

Last year, Christmas for Kids helped out 521 children, with 181 families benefiting from the special project.

This year's goal is to raise $6,000. "We raised about $5,200 last year, but we feel we'll have more children and more families on the list," said Baeza.

A barbecue lunch will be held to raise funds for the project. Barbecue plates will be sold from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn.

The group will also have a door-to-door drive, collecting money for the project, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 18.

"Since 1996, when we started this program, our community has always been there for us, I know it will be here again this year," she said.

Those who would like to be recipients of the program can pick up and return their applications any time between Thursday and Dec. 6.

"We provide the essential items such as shoes, clothes, jackets and we want to help every child that is on our list every year," said Baeza. "We want to make it a `Happy Holiday,' for these less fortunate children in our community."

Baeza stated, "I think Christmas is about giving and we are trying to do that."

The group has already received their first donation from the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse. Other contributions will gladly accepted and appreciated.

For more information on the program call the Reeves County Sheriff's Office at 445-4901.

Barstow planning Halloween event

PECOS, October 25, 2000 - A Halloween Carnival will be held from 7-10 p.m., Saturday, at the Barstow Community Center.

An Enchilada Supper will take place from 4-7 p.m., at the center.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

The event is sponsored by the Barstow Fire Department.

Posse Barn site of costume party set for weekend

PECOS, October 25, 2000 - Come dressed as Dracula, a ghost, or a goblin, have fun and help raise funds at the same time.

The Reeves County Sheriff's Department is sponsoring a Masquerade Party/Dance, beginning at 7 p.m., Saturday at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn.

Music will be provided by the groups Brilliante and Nueva Generacion of Pecos.

Entry fee is $5 per person or $8 for a couple.

The fundraiser is being held to raise funds for vests for the sheriff's department deputies. A prize will be awarded for best costume at the party.

Obituary

Margarito Benavidez

Margarito Benavidez, 69, of Pecos, died on September 29, 2000 in California.

A memorial is scheduled for 11 a.m., on Thursday, at the Martinez Funeral Home Chapel

The remains will be buried on Saturday, Oct. 28 in the Van Horn Cemetery.

He was born March 9, 1931, in Pecos, and lived in Hamet, Calif., for 37 years. He was a supervisor for a telephone company.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Sebero Benavidez, Federico Benavidez and Juan Chavez and one sister, Consepcion Lerma.

Survivors include his companion of 23 years, Rita Luna of Hemet Calif., three sisters, Pabla Garcia of Pecos, Frances Bustamantes of Odessa and Cecilia Moreno of California; and three stepchildren, Linda Nunez of Pecos and Gloria Luna and Pedro Benavidez of Odessa.

Weather

PECOS, October 25, 2000 - High Tuesday 85. Low this morning 61. Forecast for tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Low in the mid 50s. Southeast wind 10-20 mph. Thursday: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Southeast wind 10-20 mph. Thursday night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Low in the mid 50s. Friday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. High in the 70s.



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