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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
April 6, 2001
Manpower shortage hampers fight against fire
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 6, 2001 - Pecos Volunteer Firefighters were called out
to the second grass fire within a week just west of Duval Road on Thursday
afternoon and spent more time than expected at the blaze due to a lack
of firemen.
Pecos Fire Marshal Jack Brookshire said the fire started in a ditch
were it burned and then spread into an open field next to the ditch.
Brookshire said that it is hard to tell what started the fire but with
the grass being so dry anything could have started it.
"It doesn't take much at all to set the grass off," he said.
Pecos Fire Chief Roy Pena said that the fire started close to some electrical
poles, which is why they started containing the fire on that side of the
fire and not on the side the wind was blowing toward.
"We were trying to make sure it didn't catch the poles on fire," he
said.
Pena said that the fire department was shorthanded of the available
firefighters who could respond, which led to only one unit answering the
call.
The fire department's newly acquired truck was the unit sent to the
fire, but the firefighters had to control the water manually because the
pony pumper that is designed for grass fires is not yet operational.
Pena said that after extinguishing the fire close to the power lines
they moved to the other side to try and contain the fire before it reached
a lot of debris in the middle of the field that included numerous tires.
Because of the lack of both manpower and a second unit, the fire reached
the tires before they could put it out, Pena said.
Pena said that he requested another unit to arrive at the scene but
because of the lack of firemen for the second unit, "It prolonged the actual
fire fighting to about two hours," he said. "We would have taken care of
that in 30 to 40 minutes if we had enough men."
The land that was burnt belongs to William Wes Jones.
Brookshire said that a fire ban continues for Reeves County and wants
residents to be careful when working outside.
"Everybody needs to use extreme caution," he said.
Brookshire said that county residents may still burn trash as long as
it is in a container with a spark resistant cover.
Immunizations to be offered for first time at Health Fair
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 6, 2001 - Plenty of immunizations will be available Saturday,
during the Annual Reeves County Health Fair.
"For the first time ever, we will be offering immunizations, free of
charge at the annual event," said Reeves County Hospital Director of Program
Development Nancy Ontiveros.
Immunizations will be given from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday at the
Reeves County Hospital, the site for the health fair. A tent will be set
up outside the hospital to provide this special service, which is sponsored
by the community, Reeves County Hospital, Texas Department of Health, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD nursing and the Department of Human Services.
Immunizations that will be provided include the Tetanus, Diphtheria,
Hepatitis A&B, MMR and the Varicella.
"All the immunizations we give now prevent a lot of diseases," said
Jose Padilla with the Texas Department of Health for Regions 9&10.
"They done so well, that people think they don't need them anymore,"
he said, while adding the immunizations are necessary, "because with any
infectious diseases are like dominoes, if one gets it, everybody does."
School nurses have identified about 1,000 children that are not properly
immunized, according to Ontiveros.
"I think this is attributed to three new vaccines that are now required
within the past few years," she said. "In talking to the Balmorhea school
nurse, she told us that they have a lot of children not properly immunized
because there are only two (immunization) providers."
This problem has resulted for several different areas, according to
Ontiveros.
"In Head Start they are required to be immunized at enrollment time,
but no requirements after that," said Ontiveros.
There are few providers that offer immunizations, other than to established
patients, and it's a time-consuming process, according to Ontiveros.
"Normally it's a long waiting process, the patient has to wait two to
three hours in the waiting room, just to receive the immunization," she
said. "We measured the time it takes to get an immunization and it took
55 minutes.
"It's very cumbersome that is why the providers require appointments
and only take a certain number per day or per week," said Ontiveros.
"One of the things that concerns us about immunizations being delinquent
is that it also has an economic impact on the community," said Ontiveros.
"Because the schools will start excluding children that are not properly
immunized and so is Head Start."
This means that the school loses state funding each time a child is
absent, according to Ontiveros.
"TDH is now fining every family who does not have the children current
on immunizations," said Ontiveros. "If an individual does not take advantage
of these free immunizations, they will have to pay up to $65 per shot,
if they don't have preventive coverage on their health plan, which could
be very costly for a family that has several children," she said.
"Under the Texas vaccine program, if someone comes in and can't pay,
they should give it to them for free, because most providers only see established
patients," Padilla said.
During the free immunization clinic, they are requiring that parents
bring in the most current immunization card.
"We have partnered with Dairy Queen and will be offering a coupon for
a free ice cream to each child that is immunized on Saturday," said Ontiveros.
The children will also receive pencils, stickers and other "goodies."
"The Sonic Cup and the Pecos Eagle Mascot will be on hand to entertain
the children," said Ontiveros. "We hope to have a large turnout from the
community."
The immunizations have already been delivered and there will be plenty
of them, according to Ontiveros.
"The state is providing all the immunizations and supplies," said Padilla.
"We're very pleased that the community has come together on this," said
Ontiveros.
Other services will be available at the health fair, according to Ontiveros.
Services that will be available Saturday will be CBC, SMAC and Thyroid
Profile for $20, EKG's for $7 and PSA's for men for $20.
"These prices are tremendous cost saving to any individual taking advantage
of them," said Ontiveros.
The Health Fair will also offer free hearing screenings, eye exams,
dental screenings, balance test, cholesterol screenings, grip strength
tests, growth assessment and body fat assessment, among other health-related
services.
Paraffin dips will be offered for arthritic patients, a blood drive
will be held and CHIPs and Medicaid applications will be made available
to health fair attendees.
Spinal screenings, free urinalysis, free blood typing, blood pressure
and glucose tests will also be offered.
"This is a county health fair, we do this for the community and this
is the one day a year where competitors put their differences aside and
are completely focused on offering services to the community residents,"
said Ontiveros.
Ontiveros and all the health fair organizers are urging the community
to take advantage of these services. "We hope to see a good turnout and
invite every one to come to the hospital on Saturday," she said. "There
will be something for everyone," she said.
A free pancake breakfast will be available for everyone and a Barbecue
luncheon is scheduled. Barbecue plates will be $4 and will contain all
the trimmings.
Police find stolen items in east side home
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 6, 2001 - Pecos Police Officers recovered over $1,000 worth
of stolen property from a home on the east side of town Thursday afternoon.
Police Investigator Kelly Davis said that numerous stolen items were
taken out of the home of Catalina Garcia, 76, located in the 400 block
of East Fourth Street at about 4:30 p.m., yesterday afternoon.
Davis said that another officer had received some information leading
to the search of Garcia's home and the recovery of the stolen property.
"During a narcotics investigation, Investigator Paul Deishler obtained
information about some stolen property," he said.
"We went over and got permission to search her residence and located
numerous stolen items," Davis said.
Davis said that the stolen items included TVs, VCRs, stereos, galvanized
pipe, several hand tools, telephones, CDs, bicycles and a brand new air
conditioner.
"Some of this stuff they've had for five, six months and some of it
just real recently," he said.
Seven officers helped in the recovery of the stolen property. However,
as of now no arrests have been made in the case, which remains under investigation.
Davis said that some of the stolen items were taken in from homes and
shoplifted from stores.
"Some items were taken in burglaries in which we've already made arrests,"
he said.
Davis said that they plan on looking through case files of reported
stolen property to try and return items to the original owners.
"We're going to make an effort to find the owners and return their property,"
he said.
Anyone who has not yet reported any stolen property, contact the police
station at 445-4911.
County to study deed for center in Balmorhea
PECOS, April 6, 2001 - A property deed for the Balmorhea Community Center
will be the topic of discussion at the regular Reeves County Commissioners
Court meeting on Monday.
The group will meet at 10:45 a.m., in the third floor courtroom and
the public is invited to attend.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on a resolution declaring
April 22-28, County Government Week; American Cancer Society's Texas Golf
Pass Program and DRG request for reimbursement expenses invoice No. 246.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on a proposal for closing
three-tenths of a mile of Reeves County Road 203; RCDC clothing bids; selection
of grievance committee; property deed for Balmorhea Community Center; deputation
and oath for Reserve Sheriff Deputy Victor Marshal Montgomery and property
bids.
To spread on the minutes: resolution for District Attorney's Crime Victim
Assistance program; resolution authorizing interim Chief Probation Officer
to approve payment of bills; railroad commission of Texas Oil and Gas Division;
order jury selection plan; agreement between Reeves County and Reeves County
Hospital and contract between Reeves County and Sandra Hansen for inmate
transportation coordinator services.
Little League set for 2001 openers at remodeled field
PECOS, April 6, 2001 - The Pecos Little League will start up its 2001 baseball
season on Saturday with four games, following opening ceremonies set for
12 a.m. at Chano Prieto Field on Walthall Street.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo and executive assistant Randy Baeza
are scheduled to throw out the first pitches for the new season, league
president Lee Serrano said. The two were involved in helping the Little
League install both a new watering system for the field, and new light
towers that will allow it to be used for tournament night games in July.
After opening ceremonies, a `C' Division game will open the season at
2 p.m. Serrano said a `B' Division game would follow, while the opening
`A' Division games are set for 6 and 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Weather
PECOS, April 6, 2001 - High Thursday 98. Low this morning 59. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 40 to 45. West wind 15 to 25 mph and gusty.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. High in the lower 80s.West wind 10 to 20 mph.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy. Low in the upper 40s. Sunday through Tuesday:
Partly cloudy. Lows around 50. Highs in the mid 80s.
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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