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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
March 1, 2001
Crews working to upgrade LL field
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 1, 2001 - The Chano Prieto Little League Field is getting
a facelift, courtesy of Reeves County.
Randy Baeza, administrative assistant to Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo
said Galindo has been discussing upgrading the ballparks around town for
about a year and a half.
"Those were his (Galindo) visions, getting these ballparks around town
in compliance," he said, referring to Texas Little League standards, so
that Pecos would be able to host a tournament in the future.
Chano Prieto field is receiving a new automatic sprinkler system and
new lighting, which has been the main problem at the Walthall Street field.
Galindo said that in the past Pecos has not been able to host tournaments
and post-season playoff games due to the lighting and the new lighting
system should allow the city to begin hosting such events.
"The main thing is for them to be able to host tournaments and post
season games," he said.
Little League officials have barred Pecos from playing night tournament
games for the past five years, because the light towers at the Little League
and Senior League field do not meet minimum height requirements. The ban
has forced Pecos to either play early evening games in 100-plus degree
temperatures during July, or move their home playoff games to other cities,
such as Crane and Big Lake, which had regulation lighting for night games.
Baeza said that 11 wooden telephone poles provided the light for the
field, which was a distraction to the young athletes. The current lights
at the field were put in place 15 years ago, when county crews began helping
with maintenance of the city's baseball and softball fields.
The county hired a lighting consultant to plan a better lighting concept
for Chano Prieto Field.
Tim McMurray, president of the Lighting Solution Company in Abilene,
helped the county create a plan to light the field in Pecos.
Baeza said that McMurray was able to replace all 11 of the poles, some
of which were in the in field of play, with fewer aluminum poles.
"With his expertise we're using four poles away from the field," he
said.
Baeza said the four poles would provide better lighting for the athletes
and spectators.
New county employee Peter Mora has been working on the design and layout
of the new sprinkler system for the field.
Mora, who began working for the county in January, is also designing
the landscape for the Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 285 intersection.
Mora said that the new sprinkler system would replace the manual system
in which workers would have to drag out pipe onto the field in order to
water.
The new system has five sprinklers that are on an automatic timing system
that would be set to water when the field is not in use.
"This would be a more efficient water system," Mora said.
Galindo said the new system would eliminate the need for actual staff
to set up the piping on the field in order to water the grass.
"This will make the maintenance and operation of the system a lot more
efficient," he said.
Mora said that the sprinkler system should be in place by the end of
next week.
He said the county is also planning on working on the in field to get
it up to standards and to "get the aesthetic look of it up to par."
"We're going to try to get it into shape," he said.
Both Mora and Baeza said that the work on the field is to benefit the
kids.
"We're just upgrading the facility for the kids," Mora said.
"It's going to benefit these kids and make them better ball players,"
Baeza said.
Baeza said that before the upgrade many people would talk about other
facilities in the surrounding area, but now there will be a "Class A" facility
right here in Pecos.
"Now we're going to have one in our own backyard," he said.
The upgrade has been a joint effort between the Reeves County Road and
Bridge crew, Texas-New Mexico Power Company and the Town of Pecos City,
while the county is providing all the funding for the upgrade, according
to Baeza.
Galindo said that the Reeves County Commissioners have approved the
upgrade as a continuation of the recreation department improvements in
order to help the growth of youth organized sports teams.
Baeza said that this project could not have been done without the support
of Galindo.
"It's good to have an elected official that cares about youth sports,"
he said.
With the Little League opening day coming up in about a month, Mora
said that people might not be able to tell a change in the field, but it
should become evident soon enough.
"It might not be in the best of shape on opening day," he said. "But
by the middle of summer you should be able to see the change."
Council to discuss work on jail during Friday's special meeting
PECOS, March 1, 2001 - The Town of Pecos City Council is scheduled to discuss
numerous documents for the new Municipal Law Enforcement Center in Pecos
during a special meeting set for 12 noon on Friday at City Hall.
The documents up for discussion include the ground lease agreement,
the lease, assignment agreement and the trust agreement for the facility.
The Municipal Law Enforcement Center is scheduled to be built on land
located on West Pinehurst Street (I-20 North access road), between Texas
and Moore streets on the southwest side of Pecos. It would house both the
Pecos Police Department and serve as a 100-bed jail for both city prisoners
and U.S. Marshal's Service prisoners awaiting trial in U.S. District Court
in Pecos.
The Marshal's Service has been housing most of their prisons due for
Pecos court hearings at other facilities outside of Reeves County. On Monday,
Reeves County Commissioners entered into an agreement with the Marshal's
Service to keep some of their prisoners at the Reeves County Detention
Center.
Also on the agenda is the certificate purchase agreement and preliminary
offering statement with the design/construction management contractors,
Corplan Corrections.
First Balmorhea candidate files to retain council seat
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 1, 2001 - An incumbent on the Balmorhea City Council whose
term expires this year has signed up to retain her seat in the May 5 elections.
Olga Lopez filed to run in the elections, seeking one of the two-year
terms that will be up for election. Lopez currently holds one of the two
available seats.
Council seats also will be open on May 5 in the Pecos, Balmorhea and
Toyah city elections, along with the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah and Balmorhea
ISD boards and for two of the four precincts in the Reeves County Hospital
District.
All three incumbents on the Barstow City Council filed for re-election
this week, while two of the three incumbents on the Town of Pecos City
Council filed last week for new two-year terms.
In Barstow, aldermen Olga Abila, Dora Villanueva and Lucio Florez are
seeking new two-year terms in the May 5 elections. In Pecos, incumbents
Gerald Tellez and Larry Levario have filed for new terms and have been
joined by Frank Sanchez, who served as the city's first Hispanic mayor
between 1984 and 1986.
Levario is completing his first term on the council and Tellez is finishing
up his third term. Three seats are up for election on the Pecos City Council.
Johnny Terrazas holds the third seat that will be decided on May 5.
In the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board election, four of the seven
seats will be voted on this year, and two incumbents already have filed.
Paul Deishler, who was appointed last year to replace Frank Apolinar,
Jr., on the board, has filed for one of the full three-year terms along
with incumbent Brent Shaw.
Three-year positions on the board up for election on May 5 are those
currently being held by Shaw, Earl Bates and Louis Matta, who is president
of the board. Deishler's unexpired term will also be up for election.
In the Reeves County Hospital Board election, only voters in Precincts
2 and 4 will be casting ballots this year. No one has filed for either
of those seats, which are held by Marcella Lovett and Holly Key.
March 21 is the final day to file in the area elections. If there are
no opposed candidates, along with no propositions and no vacancies to be
filled by special election in the various city, school and hospital board
races, the election may be canceled anytime after this date.
The last day a person may register to vote in the local elections is
April 5. Early voting by personal appearance will be April 18 through May
1. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., on Election Day, May 5.
Events announced by P-B-T to mark Public Schools Week
PECOS, March 1, 2001 - Students and educators throughout the state are
taking time during the week of March 5-9, to invite their communities into
the schools to see first-hand how they are preparing for the future.
New week has been designated Public Education Week, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD Superintendent Don Love said. "The community is always welcome in our
schools, but this week is especially exciting because our children have
planned many special activities to demonstrate the learning taking place
each day," he said. "As part of the week-long emphasis, we are inviting
parents and community members to visit classrooms to see how well our schools
measure up."
The week of March 5-9 marks more than 160 years of a free public education
in Texas and it marks the 52nd year of celebrating that fact through Texas
Public Schools Week _ a tradition begun by the Masonic Lodge of Texas in
1950.
The theme for this year's celebration of Texas Public Schools is Bright
Eyes, Bright Minds, Bright Futures. Ask any teacher, and most will mention
the light a child gets in his/her eyes when they finally "get it." Whether
it is the first time they realize they can read or the first time they
understand a math concept, teachers say they can literally see that "light
bulb of understanding" shining in their eyes. That energy the teacher sees
in their eyes reflects the brightness of their minds and their futures.
Whether college or medical school is part of students' futures, or they
are focused on a trade or technical skills, Texas schools are working hard
to prepare students so that their dreams can become a reality.
OC-Pecos offers 3½-month course on EMT training
PECOS, March 1, 2001 - A Basic EMT course will be offered at the Odessa
College-Pecos Center beginning on March 5 and will end June 21.
The class will meet on Monday and Wednesdays from 6-10 p.m.
New students must complete admissions paperwork at the Pecos office;
returning students must complete a re-admit form at the Pecos office and
students can ask about the financial aid process.
Students are asked to register by Friday, March 2.
Pecos Technical Training Center office hours are from 8 a.m. to 12 noon
and from 1-5 p.m.
Police Report
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report
is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County
Sheriff's Office, or other officers of those agencies. The serving of warrants
by an officer for outstanding fines of either traffic citations, animal
control violations or other court costs are considered arrests and will
be printed as such unless indicated that the fines were paid. In such instanced
we will indicate payment and release.
Elsie Rodriguez, 19, was arrested at 2:10 a.m., on February 11 in
the 800 block of South Locust Street for public intoxication, disorderly
conduct-language and resisting arrest.
Leonel Ramirez, 23, was arrested at 5:09 a.m., on February 11 in the
900 block of West Fourth Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
Ciro Ortiz, 51, was arrested at 10 p.m., on February 9 in the 600 block
of East Second Street for public intoxication.
Martin Vasquez, 17, and Jose Tovar, 19, were arrested at 11:32 p.m.,
on February 9 on 12th and Cherry streets. Vasquez was arrested for minor
in possession of alcohol and Tovar was arrested for driving under the influence
and minor in possession of alcohol.
Robert James Petersen, 29, was arrested at 5:05 p.m., on February 9
in the 1600 block of West Third Street for public intoxication and disorderly
conduct.
Raul L. Granado, 19, was arrested at 3:43 p.m., on February 8 at Third
and Oleander Streets on an Ector County warrant for theft by check.
Debra Lara Cross, 40, was arrested at 12:38 a.m., on February 8 at Third
and Park Streets for driving with license suspended.
A male juvenile was arrested at 6:03 p.m., on February 12 in the 1500
block of South Eddy Street on a warrant for possession of marijuana and
possession of drug paraphernalia.
Albino Tarango, 44, was arrested at 6:56 p.m., on February 12 in the
800 block of East Second Street for public intoxication.
Jesus Jose Rayos, 45, was arrested at 1:39 a.m., on February 10 in the
600 block of South Elm Street for public intoxication.
Raul Fierro, 25, Mark Salazar, 25, and Javier Rodriguez, 22, were arrested
at 9:15 p.m., on February 18 at the La Tienda parking lot. Fierro was arrested
for reckless driving and two counts of unlawfully carrying a weapon, Salazar
was arrested for public intoxication and Rodriguez was arrested for interference
with a police officer.
Cathy Baca, 26, was arrested at 11:51 p.m., on February 16 in the 1100
block of Cherry Street on a capias pro fine warrant.
Amy Ornelas, 17, and Joanna Baca 22, were arrested at 12:56 a.m., on
February 17 in the 900 block of West Fourth Street. Ornelas was arrested
on a capias pro fine warrant and Baca was arrested for probation violation.
Eric Garcia Muniz, 20, was arrested at 11:42 a.m., on February 17 at
North Side Park of possession of marijuana under 2 ounces-Class B.
Guadalupe Morales, 41, was arrested at 10:34 p.m., on February 15 in
the 2200 block of Cactus Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
Patricia Munoz, 28, was arrested at 9 p.m., on February 14 at Saragosa
Hall on a Bexar County Sheriff's Officer warrant for dangerous drugs/delivery
of a controlled substance.
Maria Smith, 33, and Jose Smith, 34, were arrested at 1:33 a.m., on
February 15 in the 3000 block of Aggie Street both for assault under the
Family Violence Act.
Rolando Hernandez, 23, Jesus Escontrias, 23, Irma Orona, 28, and Lorena
Orona, 21, were arrested at 2:05 a.m., on February 15 at Fifth and Oak
streets. Escontrias, and both Oronas were arrested for public intoxication
while Hernandez was arrested for driving while intoxicated-2nd
offense and blood test refusal.
Guadalupe Rodriguez, 29, was arrested at 3:37 p.m., on February 14 in
the 1900 block of Ivey Street on an Ector County and a Ward County warrants
for no drivers license and failure to adjudicate.
Clifton Ray Ikeler, 20, was arrested at 1:03 p.m., on February 26 at
Lincoln and Missouri Streets on a warrant for taking a controlled substance/dangerous
drug into a correctional facility.
Steve Green, 49, was arrested at 11:21 p.m., on February 24 at the First
Baptist Church for public intoxication.
Christopher Marchan, 17, Tiffany Garcia, 18, Clifton Ikeler, 20, and
a female juvenile were arrested at 12:26 a.m., on February 24 in the 1800
block of Eddy Street. The juvenile was arrested for possession of marijuana
under 2 ounces. Marchan, Garcia and Ikeler were all arrested for minor
in possession of alcohol and possession of marijuana under 2 ounces.
Weather
High Wednesday 38. Low this morning 36. Forecast for tonight: Mostly cloudy
with a 20 percent chance of rain. Low in the mid to upper 30s. Light south
wind. Friday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms.
High in the upper 50s. South wind 5 to 15 mph, becoming northeast 10 to
20 mph late. Friday night: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers
or thunderstorms. Low in the upper 30s. Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a
chance of showers. High in the 50s. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the
30s. Highs in the 60s.
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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