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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
March 7, 2001
School board reassigns PHS band director
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 7, 2001 - The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board reassigned Pecos
High School band director William Goff to an assistant band director's position
Tuesday night, after meeting behind closed doors for evaluations and renewal
of probationary and term contract employees and evaluations renewal of assistant
principals' contracts.
The one-year term contract for Goff, who has been the head band director
for the past three years, was the only contract not renewed by the board
during their regular monthly meeting.
Board president Louis Matta read the terms for Goff's new contract, stating,
"Reassignment of William Goff of one-year term contract for certified classroom
teacher on an 11-month basis to a one-year term contract for certified classroom
teacher for a 10-month basis and his reassignment will change from head band
director to assistant band director."
Overall, the board approved one-year probationary contracts and one-year
term contracts on a total of 192 teachers. The approvals were for continuing
contracts and one-year probationary dual assignment contracts with the professional
personnel, one-year term dual assignment contracts and one-year term contracts
for non-certified personnel.
One-year term contracts for licensed vocational nurses including Mary
Sanders and Alicia Urias were approved and one-year probationary contract
for licensed vocational nurse, LaRhonda Eubanks.
One-year term contract for certified administrators including Cynthia
Armbruster, Benny Hernandez, Francisco Morin and Lucila Valenzuela were approved.
Resignations included those of John Barrett, Special Education Teacher,
Zavala Elementary School, effective May 25, Melinda Flores, Physical Education
Teacher, Crockett Middle School, effective May 25 and Alejandro San Martin,
Spanish Teacher, Pecos High School, effective May 26.
Retirements included Hiram Luna, AEP Teacher, Lamar Alternative Education
Program, effective May 26.
Board members approved the purchase of a new school bus, as recommended
by Transportation Director Jimmy Dutchover.
"We're talking about getting a very good vehicle for that price," said
Dutchover.
Dutchover told the group that the bus would be delivered here and since
it's affiliation is in Odessa, repairs would be made there as well. "We have
to go to Odessa to get our buses repaired anyway, but they have a freighter
in Odessa," said Dutchover.
The body has a five-year warranty, with the extras having a two-year warranty,
according to Dutchover. "This is really a good deal," he said.
Total purchase price was set at $55,564.
Board members approved a request from the Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce
Women's Division for the use of the Pecos High School Auditorium and to waive
fees.
"We do this for them every year and have done it for several years," said
superintendent Don Love.
The women would like the use of the auditorium for the Annual Golden Girl
Revue and for the practices prior to the event.
Two offers to purchase property were approved including a property located
at 405 S. Mesquite, appraised at $8,397. The property was approved for sale
to Alfred Garcia in the amount of $1,000.
The other property is located at 1401 S. Cypress, appraised at $29,245
and approved for sale to Sylvia Lujan for $2,025.
Council to discuss settlement
of Southern Union Gas lawsuit
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 7, 2001 - The Town of Pecos City Council is scheduled to
discuss a settlement agreement on a Class Action Suit against Southern Union
Gas Company, in which Pecos would receive over $17,000.
City Finance Director George Bejarano said the suit involves approximately
35 to 40 cities including Pecos against the Rio Grande Valley Gas Company,
a part of Southern Union Gas.
"Pecos is set to receive $17,483," he said.
Bejarano said that the suit "deals with the proper notification in increasing
rates" by the gas company.
In order for Pecos and the other cities involved in the lawsuit to receive
the money divided among them they must approve an ordinance written up as
a result of the suit.
The total settlement comes to the amount of $4.4 million.
The Council is also scheduled to discuss approval of numerous ordinances
and resolutions. They involve making claims for certain fire department responses,
renaming the Interstate 20 frontage road for former Reeves County Sheriff
Raul Florez, along with the renaming of Rancho Street, as well as approving
a central counting station for the city election.
In other business the Council will review the ambulance and municipal
court reports and the accounts payable.
First incumbent joins race
for Balmorhea ISD board
PECOS, March 7, 2001 - One person has filed to run for one of the two
available seats on the Reeves County Hospital District board, while in Balmorhea
an incumbent is seeking to retain his post on the school board.
Linda Gholson has filed for a seat on the Hospital Board, in Precinct
2, a seat currently held by Marcella Lovett. The other seat on the hospital
board up for election on May 5 is the one for Precinct 2, currently held
by and Holly Key.
Along with the hospital board races, area city council seats will also
be voted on in the Pecos, Barstow, Balmorhea and Toyah city elections, along
with the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah and Balmorhea ISD school district boards.
There have been no new filings this week in the Pecos city or Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD elections, but an incumbent on the Balmorhea School Board has filed to
retain his seat. Armando Mondragon will seek a new three-year term on the
board.
The deadline to file in all elections is March 21, and filings will continue
all next week in the P-B-T election despite spring break, while offices will
be open in Balmorhea on Friday, March 16, during the holiday period.
Jo Allgood will be in the Pecos school administration office next week
from 9 a.m. until noon and from 1-4 p.m. The secretary in the Balmorhea office
will be in on hand on Friday, after lunchtime.
In the P-B-T school board election, 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 of the board's three-year terms and Deishler's unexpired term are
up for election on May 5. The three-year terms are held by Shaw, Earl Bates
and Louis Matta, who is president of the board.
In the Balmorhea city election incumbent Olga Lopez has filed to retain
her seat, one of two up for election on May 5. In the Barstow City Council
race, all three incumbents whose terms are up have filed to retain their
seats.
Aldermen Olga Abila, Dora Villanueva and Lucio Florez have filed to seek
new two-year terms in the upcoming local elections.
In the Town of Pecos City, two of the three incumbents and one former
city official have filed. Incumbents Gerald Tellez and Larry Levario are
joined by former Pecos mayor Frank Sanchez in the council race. Johnny Terrazas
holds the other council seat whose two-year terms expire in May.
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.
Board reviews delinquent tax payment plan
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 7, 2001 - Paying local taxes doesn't have to painful or a
big ordeal, school officials told local residents Tuesday during the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD board's regular monthly meeting.
The board along with tax-assessor-collector Lydia Prieto discussed possibilities
at their regular meeting held Tuesday in the boardroom.
The item had been a topic of discussion at previous board meetings, where
board member Paul Deishler said that the board just wanted to help the taxpayers.
"We know that times are hard and it's difficult to pay the taxes, but
we want to help by providing options," said Deishler.
Several taxpayers were in the audience talking about their taxes and the
situations they are facing because of delinquent taxes. They told the board
that it was difficult to pay for the taxes due to the bad economy and that
they were asking for a chance to keep their property.
Board president Louis Matta said that he would refer them to the tax attorneys
and they could work something out with them.
"None of us want someone to lose their property," said Matta. "We don't
want to see that."
Those on hand stated that the public is not as well-informed on what the
status of their situation is and would like to be better informed.
Prieto said that notices are sent out in October and May. "In May the
letter is to notify the taxpayer that if the taxes are not paid by July 5,
an additional 15 percent will incur, for the attorney's fees. We also notify
them that it they don't pay them by July 1, they will be delinquent," she
said.
In addition, Prieto said that the attorneys send out four letters per
year, notifying the taxpayer of their status.
Board members approved an acceptance of partial payments until Jan. 31
of each year. "This is just for current taxes, not the delinquent ones,"
said board member Brent Shaw.
However, Prieto said that her office would accept any kind of payment
the taxpayer can make.
"We'll accept anything they can give us and help them to catch up or stay
current," she said, adding that her office was willing to help with anything
or answer questions the taxpayer might have. "We realize that times are hard
and we are willing to work with them."
"The tax office has and will continue to accept tax payments on current
taxes if the taxpayer desires to pay one entity per month; taxpayers may
also pay one half of their school taxes in a single month and pay the remainder
the next month. If there is a balance of unpaid taxes by Jan. 31, penalty
and interest will be incurred," said Prieto.
Border Patrol agents
squeeze pot seizure
out of orange truck
PECOS, March 7, 2001 - U.S. Border Patrol agents on Sunday seized over
1¾ tons of marijuana at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint on Interstate
10 in Hudspeth County.
In a press release, the Border Patrol said over 3,600 pounds of marijuana
was found hidden beneath a load of oranges in a commercial truck. Agents
arrested the driver of the tractor-trailer rig and the passenger, both resident
aliens from Cuba.
The El Paso Police Department accepted custody of the trailer, the marijuana
and the detained individuals. The total weight of the marijuana was 3647.28
lbs. The estimated value is over $2.9 million.
The seizure was the second-largest of the year so far at the Sierra Blanca
checkpoint, the Border Patrol said.
Obituary
Ageda Nunez
Weather
PECOS, March 7, 2001 - High Tuesday 74. Low this morning 43. Forecast
for tonight: Occasional rain and a few thunderstorms. Low in the mid 40s.
East wind 10 to 20 mph. The chance of rain is 80 percent. Thursday: Cloudy
and cooler with rain likely. High in the mid 50s. North to wind 10 to 20
mph. The chance of rain is 60 percent. Thursday night: Mostly cloudy. Low
in the mid 30s. Friday and Saturday: Partly cloudy. Lows in the 30s. Highs
in the 60s to near 70.
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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