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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
March 8, 2001
District honors Reynolds with G&T award
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 8, 2001 - It's been a good year for one Pecos High School
student, who has earned several honors throughout 2½ months of 2001.
Randall Reynolds, a senior at Pecos High School, was recognized last
month as the Student of the Year by the Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce
and has recently been selected as the Outstanding Gifted and Talented Student
for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD.
"I didn't expect to receive such an honor and I feel very fortunate
that I was selected to represent our school district," said Reynolds.
A committee of Gifted and Talented Teachers at the high school makes
the selection of a student in the district. "We always select a senior
that is in the program," said G&T Coordinator Nancy Russell.
In addition to being selected Outstanding G&T Student, Reynolds
also designed a logo that was used in all the items used in the regional
conference. "They used his logo in all the certificates and the brochures
at the conference," said Russell. "I think this is the first time that
a student's logo is used."
Even though the logo was not something that was required, Reynolds drew
up the logo and the committee liked it so much they submitted it. "At the
conference they really liked it and it was used throughout," said Russell.
Celebration of Scholars, the ninth regional conference on education
of gifted and talented, was held at the Midland Center, in Midland on Feb.
9-10.
Midland Independent School District and Region 18 G/T Cooperative co-sponsored
the event.
"Randall was unable to attend the conference because he was at the regional
swim meet," said Russell.
As part of the program, the accomplishments of outstanding high school
students representing each sponsoring school district were recognized during
the conference. School districts were asked to select each student representatives
who met the following criteria:
· Participates in the approved gifted and talented program in
their school district;
· Demonstrates the highest standards of scholarly performance;
· Evidences initiative and/or leadership as demonstrated by involvement
in co-curricular, extracurricular, or community service projects;
· Earns a record of outstanding citizenship.
School districts were asked to involved school administration and teaching
faculty in the selection of representative students.
Reynolds was awarded a certificate and a video, containing things about
him and the other students selected for the prestigious honor.
He has been in the Gifted and Talented Program since he was in second
grade and is involved in numerous school activities. He is the son of Randy
and Lisa Reynolds of Pecos.
"I think that Randall is an excellent choice for outstanding G&T
student, we're very proud of his accomplishments and also proud that he
was chosen and that is logo was chosen to be on the brochures and everything,"
said Russell.
Reynolds said, "As I have matured in my young life, I have concentrated
on focusing my abilities on things which I feel will prepare me for the
real world. One of the activities that I use in order to better myself
is art."
"It is something I have loved since the age of three, and I have been
improving my talent ever since," said Reynolds. "Perhaps my greatest achievement
in art is last year's contest win."
Microsoft held an international contest to design a logo for their web
site in September 1999. Reynolds worked on an entry and sent it in to the
company, and his logo was picked as the winner and used on their web site.
"It was thrilling to see my design on the Internet," said Reynolds.
"When I am not drawing or creating designs with my computer, I enjoy
lending a helping hand in the community," said Reynolds. "In the seventh
grade I joined the Pecos Youth Advisory Commission, and I have been a member
ever since."
The Pecos Youth Advisory Commission is a group of 21 teenagers selected
by the Town of Pecos City Council to help make Pecos a better place in
which to live.
"We enjoy serving our neighbors by holding clothing drives, adopting
blocks and highways, and holding fun events for the young people of Pecos,"
said Reynolds.
Every Thanksgiving and Christmas the group delivers turkeys and desserts
to needy families in the community and Reynolds has held officers in the
commission including treasurer and secretary.
In addition to his commitment to the community, he juggles schoolwork
with his position as Co-Captain of the Pecos Eagle Swim Team.
Reynolds qualified for state at the regional meet, and the placed seventh
at the Class 4A State meet two weeks ago.
"I have set high standards for myself that will never change, no matter
where I go or what trials I face," said Reynolds.
Council accepts settlement of suit against gas company
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 8, 2001 - The Town of Pecos City Council approved the settlement
in the class action litigation against Southern Union Gas Company during
the regular meeting this morning in Council Chambers at City Hall.
The cities of Mercedes and Weslaco in the Lower Rio Grande Valley successfully
sued the gas company on behalf of about 35-40 other cities in Texas, receiving
a total of $4.4 million in settlement.
The money will be divided in varying amounts among the cities, with
Pecos due to receive over $17,000.
In order to receive the money set out for the cities, each city must
pass an ordinance allowing Southern Union Gas to "adjust cost of gas and
rate schedules for customers" without giving public notice, according to
the ordinance.
"It is further ordained that all notices and time limits that may be
otherwise required are hereby waived due to the necessity, urgency and
public interests to which this ordinance pertains," according to the ordinance.
City Attorney Scott Johnson recommended to the Council to approve the
ordinance in order to receive the money.
He said that the city would receive payments over a three-year period
and getting the money is a nice surprise.
"It's unexpected," he said.
In the public comment portion of the meeting, Michael Benavidas with
the Pecos Lions' Club reported to the council that he and Assistant Administrator
to Reeves County Judge Randy Baeza attended a program in Lubbock recently
for Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB).
"We are now a part of it," Benavidas said.
Benavidas said KTB is tries to help educate communities and help them
gain pride in where we live.
He gave the Council a packet of information on the program that explained
what KTB's mission is and such things as the benefits and responsibilities
of the community.
"Keep Texas Beautiful's mission is to empower Texans through education
to take responsibility for enhancing their community environment," according
to the handouts.
Benavidas said that KTB has many educational tools to give to the communities
that are a part of it including a curriculum for teachers.
Benavidas said that he has been working with many people to get this
program going in Pecos and the next step is to form a board who would run
the program in Pecos.
He said that the program, with the support of the city and county, would
be beneficial to the community and it would help the city become a Main
Street city.
"With your support, the city and county, this will be successful," he
said. "The program is going to enhance the community."
Councilman Gerald Tellez motioned to table two items on the agenda in
which the Council were to discuss renaming the Interstate 20 North Frontage
Road (Pinehurst Street) as well as Rancho Street.
Tellez motioned to table the items for further study.
The council approved the order of election scheduled for May 5 as well
as the location for the central county station to be at the Reeves County
Courthouse and appointment of officials for the election.
Members also approved a grant of electric line easement to Texas New
Mexico Power Company through a section of city property.
Utilities Director Octavio Garcia said the easement would allow the
power company to get electricity to water well seven. "So we can get the
easement, get the power and get the well going before summer."
The council approved an ordinance, authorizing claim for certain Pecos
Volunteer Fire Department responses.
Johnson said the ordinance allows the PVFD to start billing for fire
department responses to vehicle accidents, hazardous waste spills or release
and certain other public health responses.
"There will be no billing charge to residents of the city of Pecos and
Reeves County," he said.
In other business the Council approved the minutes from previous Council
meetings, the ambulance and municipal court reports and the accounts payable.
The council has scheduled a workshop to discuss the proposed municipal
criminal justice center at noon, on Friday, and also will have a special
meeting at 12:30 p.m., to discuss a Texas Department of Transportation
aviation grant.
Security State opening branch in Marathon
PECOS, March 8, 2001 - Security State Bank of Pecos announced that it plans
to open a branch banking office in Marathon.
The branch is to be operated as TransPecos Banks _ Marathon and will
feature all of the services presently available at Security State Bank.
These include business, agricultural, home and personal loans, a full
array of checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit and
retirement accounts, as well as trust and investment management services.
It will be located in an historic building at 109 U.S. Highway 90, that
at one time was home to the original Marathon State Bank founded in 1909.
Bill Oglesby, President of Security State Bank of Pecos, said that "the
new branch will enable us to better serve the needs of West Texas ranchers,
businesses and their families and is a continuation of Security State Bank's
78-year history of service to the TransPecos region. Security State Bank
of Pecos is dedicated to serving the banking needs of West Texans."
The new bank facility is scheduled to open in early April.
For more information contact Brenda McKinney at Security State Bank
of Pecos, 915-445-9000.
School district sets Spring Break election sign-ups
PECOS, March 8, 2001 - Individuals wanting to pick up a packet to file
for a place on the ballot in the May 5 elections for Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD board can still do so during Spring Break.
The school district will be on Spring Break the week beginning with
Monday, March 12 through Friday, March 16, but the administration office
will remain open.
Individuals can pick up packets at the administration office, 1304 S.
Park, from 9 a.m. until noon and from 1-4 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.
Helena Fossum, 47, was arrested at 9:04 a.m., on March 6 at Reeves County
Jail on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance.
Joanna Lee McCormick, 25, was arrested at 11:29 a.m., on March 7 at
the DPS office for two outstanding DPS warrants for speeding and failure
to adjudicate. McCormick paid the fines and was released.
Weather
PECOS, March 8, 2001 - High Wednesday 74. Low this morning 48. Forecast
for tonight: Mostly cloudy. Low in the upper 30s. Northwest wind 10 to
15 mph in the evening: Becoming light and variable after midnight. Friday:
Partly cloudy. High in the mid 60s. Light and variable wind in the morning:
Becoming southeast 10 to 15 mph by afternoon. Friday night: Increasing
cloudiness. Low in the 30s. Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High in the upper
60s. Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Lows in the lower 40s. Highs in the mid 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
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Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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