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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, December 31, 2001
New Year brings cheaper rates for TNMP customers
By BARBARA NOVOVITCH
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Dec. 31, 2001 -- Pecos residents can choose from among
four providers for their electricity in 2002 and beyond, after deregulation
of the Texas electrical utilities begins on January 1.
And even if the choice is for a company from Austin (Green Mountain),
Dallas (TXU Energy) or Houston (Reliant), the power lines and customer
service will still be provided by First Choice Power, the new company name
for the competitive sister company of Texas-New Mexico Power.
"According to the Public Utility Commission, you have to register with
the PUC if you want to provide power to other localities," explained Valerie
Smith, director of communications for First Choice Power in Fort Worth.
Three companies have signed up to compete with First Choice in the Pecos
market.
"The three new companies listed for the Pecos area on the PUC website
for electricity deregulation are Green Mountain Energy from Austin, TXU
Energy headquartered in Dallas and Reliant from Houston," Smith said. The
website address is www.powertochoose.com.
Customers can go to that website and get phone numbers and websites
for the three additional providers, she said.
"If they choose not to choose, their service rolls over to First Choice
Power, which is the sister company of Texas New Mexico Power."
John Jackson at the Pecos offices of TNMP said that "very few" had changed
their provider thus far.
Smith said the rate for First Choice works out to 8.69 cents per kilowatt-hour,
or from 18 to 23 percent less than current prices.
"First Choice is called the `price to beat' for new providers," she
explained since the new sister company of TNMP is the incumbent electricity
provider in the area.
"If you're the incumbent in the area, then the price for that area is
regulated," she explained. It lets competitors know this is the incumbent
provider's price, and they need to be competitive."
She said the average customer in Texas uses 1100 kilowatt hours of electricity
per month, and that works out to an average monthly bill of $95.
To get other providers' prices, she advised customers just to call and
ask. "It's like buying a car," she said.
Although the possibility to switch electricity providers begins Jan.
1, the new service for those who choose to use new providers would not
begin until after the normal meter-read date unless the customer asks for
an immediate meter reading, she said.
Power companies charge a fee for an immediate meter reading, and those
who ask to switch their electricity provider will also need to confirm
their decision within 14 days to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas
(URCOT).
Smith said she did not anticipate the Texas electricity deregulation
to create a fiasco like the situation in California, where electricity
prices skyrocketed.
"The state law in Texas is vastly different," she said, "and the energy
situation is different too. California had a huge energy shortage, whereas
Texas has lots of new generation and a strong energy supply."
"In California also the law wouldn't allow providers to make long-term
power agreements, so the providers had to buy from a spot market," she
said.
The situation allowed providers to put their prices up daily _ and usually
hike them daily as well.
Texas companies have entered into long-term power agreements, she said.
She said the legislature looked at several models, and that California
was a negative example. "Texas did the opposite, and it's expected to be
a completely different marketplace."
Candidates increase as deadline for filing nears
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Dec. 31, 2001 -- Names of possible candidates for the
March elections keep trickling in, as the deadline to file for a position
on the ballot gets closer.
Deadline to file a treasurer's designation, which is the first step
in filing for a position, is 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2.
"I'll be open until 6 p.m., for anyone that decides they want to file,"
said Reeves County Clerk Dianne Florez. "They will then talk to either
Bobby Dean, the Democratic Party Chairman for Reeves County or Lou Weinacht,
the Republican Chairman," said Florez.
Clinton M. Glenn has filed for the position of Constable Precinct 2
and designated Linda F. Glenn as the treasurer of his campaign.
Norman Hill has filed to run for County Commissioner Precinct 2. Hill
named Ben Price as his treasurer.
Ramon H. "Wolfe" Munoz has also filed with the Clerk's office for County
Commissioner Precinct 4, naming himself as treasurer.
David Castillo, the incumbent Precinct 2 commissioner, and Frank "Kokie"
Apolinar have filed treasurer's designations to run in the March 5 Democratic
primary election, while Precinct 4 incumbent Gilbert "Hivi" Rayos also
has filed his treasurer's designation with Florez' office.
Candidates must still file papers with Reeves County Democratic Party
Chairman Bob Dean in order to officially enter the primary.
Reeves County Clerk Dianne Florez will possibly have an opponent after
Sofia Abila filed her treasurer's designation to run for Reeves County
Clerk. Abila named Shirley Abila as her treasurer in the campaign.
Florez had filed her treasurer's designation last week to retain her
post.
Others filing their treasurer's designation are Jaime Salgado for Justice
of the Peace, Precinct 2. Salgado will be facing incumbent J.T. Marsh and
challenger Jim Riley. Both Marsh and Riley have officially filed with Dean
for the Precinct 2 seat.
Incumbent Rosendo Carrasco has filed his treasurer's designation to
run for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3; while Walter Holcombe has filed
for County Court-At-Law Judge, a position he was appointed to recently
to fill the unexpired term of Judge Lee Green.
District Clerk Pat Tarin has filed to retain her position, as has Reeves
County Treasurer Linda Clark, while Jerry Matta has filed for Constable
Precinct 2 and Lamberto Herrera for Justice of the Peace Precinct 4.
Louis Matta has filed his treasurer's designation, naming himself as
treasurer, to run for the office of Reeves County Judge, against incumbent
Jimmy B. Galindo, who has filed both his treasurer's designation and with
Dean to seek his third four-year term on the opening day of filing, Dec.
3.
Incumbent Precinct 4 Commissioner Gilbert "Hivi" Rayos has filed for
a second four-year term in office, while former Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school
board member Frank "Kokie" Apolinar, Jr. has filed his treasurer's designation
for Precinct 2 commissioner and named himself as treasurer. David Castillo
is the incumbent commissioner in Precinct 2 and he has also filed to retain
his position.
Individuals who have officially filed with Bobby Dean include, county
court-at-law judge, Walter M. Holcombe; county judge, Jimmy B. Galindo;
district clerk, Pat Tarin; county clerk, Dianne O. Florez; county treasurer,
Linda Clark; commissioner, precinct #2, David Castillo and Norman Hill;
commissioner precinct #4, Gilberto "Hivi" M. Rayos; justice of the peace,
precinct #1, Amonario P. Ramon; justice of the peace, precinct #2 J.T.
Marsh, Jim Riley and Jaime Salgado; justice of the peace, precinct #3 Rosendo
L. Carrasco; justice of the peace, precinct #4, Lamberto T. Herrera; constable,
precinct #2, unexpired term, Clinton Glenn and Jerry Matta.
Groceries open, most businesses closed
PECOS, Mon., Dec. 31, 2001 -- Most area businesses will be closed on the
first day of 2002.
The post office and both banks will be closed tomorrow as will all county
and city offices.
The Lucius Bunton Federal Courthouse was closed today and will remain
closed for January 1st.
Folks will still be able to buy those last minute party needs at the
local grocery stores, however. Bob's Thriftway and La Tienda will both
be open during regular hours Tuesday.
The Pecos Enterprise will not publish on New Year's Day.
Smithers Scientific Services Inc. closes tire, automotive dept.
PECOS, Mon., Dec. 31, 2001 --
PECOS, April 2, 2001 - Smithers Scientific Services Inc. said today
it is closing its tire and automotive testing complex here due to an inadequate
business volume over the last several years that has adversely impacted
operations, company officials said.
The action comes three weeks after the Akron, Ohio-based company announced
it had entered into a joint venture with Auto Testing Co., Inc., a subsidiary
of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., to conduct durability testing
for Mercedes' parent company, DaimlerChrysler Corp, at the Automotive Testing
Properties proving ground near Laredo.
The move will affect 31 salaried and hourly employees at the Pecos track,
who are being offered equivalent jobs at other Smithers locations. In addition,
employees will be given severance packages that vary by seniority with
the company. Smithers is also consulting with state and local support groups
and agencies in an effort to help workers find employment.
***
PECOS, April 2, 2001 -The U.S. Air Force is continuing its plans to
initiate the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI) in West Texas,
following the second lawsuit against the plan to fly low level bomber runs
through the area. The Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Association
(DMTPHA), along with several area farmers and ranchers, filed a lawsuit
on Friday against the Air Force, Secretary of U.S. Air Force Lawrence Delaney,
the United States Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld to try and stop the RBTI. A similar suit was filed earlier this
year by a group of South Plains farmers, ranchers and environmentalists.
The Air Force is seeking to fly B-1 and B-52 bombers on training missions
at altitudes of around 3,000 feet in the South Plains area, and as low
as 500 feet in Reeves County. Two manned electronic scoring sites would
be built, employing about 30 people, one near Verhalen in Reeves County
and the second between Snyder and Lamesa in Scurry County.
***
PECOS, April 3, 2001 - Community residents had an opportunity to meet
the candidates for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board's May 5 election on
Tuesday evening, during a forum at the Pecos Technical Training Center
of Odessa College.
Cynthia Armbruster, president of Delta Kappa Gamma, which sponsored
the event, introduced all candidates that were on hand. She thanked the
candidates that were able to attend the forum, which was limited to only
the P-B-T election. Voters will also cast ballots in area city and hospital
board elections on May 5.
The candidates presented their biographies and talked with those in
attendance, but did not take any formal questions from the crowd.
***
PECOS, April 3, 2001 - Pecos Housing Authority board members reappointed
Sandra Lira to the resident commissioner's position on the board during
their monthly meeting on Friday, were updated on current budget expenditures
and on the situation with Farm Labor Housing prior to the start of the
2001 harvest season and discussed a future change in status for the FLH
apartments.
Lira was reappointed to a new one-year term under a revised state law
that allowed for consecutive appointments of resident commissioners. Under
the law, one seat on housing authority boards is filled by a resident commissioner,
who must be a tenant in a housing authority building.
***
PECOS, April 3, 2001 - Leo Hung, owner of Professional Pharmacy and
American Home Health in Pecos, assumed control of the Pecos Nursing Home
on Sunday from longtime owner Greg Johns. Johns has operated the nursing
home for the past 25 years and moved to El Paso several years ago.
Jim Lofton will assume duties as the nursing home administrator, while
Carolyn Hughes will take over as director of nursing. Lofton had been the
administrator of the facility and left about 14 months ago.
***
PECOS, April 4, 2001 - Barstow residents are relying on a post office
with wheels to receive their mail.
The town's Post Office has been moved into a mobile unit located in
front of the regular building on FM 516 due by officials at the U.S. Postal
Service's main regional office in San Antonio because of concerns about
the safety of the unoccupied building next door, according to Barstow Postmaster
Gloria Avila.
"We hope this is just temporary," said Avila.
***
PECOS, April 5, 2001 - Community members and businesses were left without
long distance service for the second time in as many days and for the third
time in just over two weeks today, when a fiber-optic phone cable was cut
early this afternoon.
The exact cause of today's outage had not been determined at press time,
but the first two incidents were caused by Southwestern Bell crews who
have been installing new fiber optic cable during the past few weeks along
Interstate 20 between Penwell and Pecos.
Wednesday afternoon's outage not only affected long distance service
for home and office phones but also completely shut down Internet, cellular
and 911 services. Those services were also affected by this afternoon's
outage.
***
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.
Pecos Fire Chief Roy Pena that the fire department was shorthanded of
the available firefighters who could respond, which led to only one unit
answering the call.
***
PECOS, April 9, 2001 - Department of Public Safety Troopers were busy
Friday with numerous accidents that were blamed on the extremely high winds,
blowing dust and poor visibility that affected areas throughout West Texas.
The most serious accident was reported at 1:51 p.m., on Friday when
a dump truck and a sedan collided about six miles south of Pecos on Highway
17.
Pecos Emergency Medical Service personnel responded as well as the Jaws
of Life Unit, which was needed to cut open the top of the vehicle to free
the driver, who suffered leg injuries in the head-on collision. Another
passenger in the car also was transported to Reeves County Hospital.
***
PECOS, April 9, 2001 - More than 60 volunteers picked up trash Saturday
morning as part of the Keep Pecos Beautiful Clean-Up
"This was our best effort yet," said Michael Benavides, the executive
director of the Keep Pecos Beautiful Committee. "Participation is growing
every time we do this."
Benavides said that the committee was formerly known as the Pecos Beautification
Committee.
***
PECOS, April 9, 2001 - The lines were long for testing and other services
Saturday morning, as people turned out early for the 14th Annual
Reeves County Health Fair, held at the Reeves County Hospital.
"After looking at everything we determined that about 1,000 individuals
had come through the health fair," said Reeves County Hospital Director
of Program Development Nancy Ontiveros.
***
PECOS, April 10, 2001 - A proposal for closing three tenths of a mile
of Reeves County Road 203 between Greenwood Cemetery and Locker Road was
approved by the Reeves County Commissioners Court during their regular
meeting on Monday, as a way to improve security at the Reeves County Detention
Center.
Reeves County Detention Center Warden Rudy Franco was on hand during
the regular meeting to talk to the commissioners about the proposal and
explain the reasons behind requesting the road be closed to the public.
***
PECOS, April 10, 2001 - Officials with the Occupational Safety Health
Investigations will be conducting an investigation into Friday's gas storage
tank explosion Northwest of Pyote that killed two Midland men.
Ward County Sheriff Mikel Strickland nothing new has been discovered
since the explosion occurred Friday afternoon, as the two men were using
welding tools on the newly installed storage tank.
According to a press release from Ward County Sheriff's Department the
explosion occurred at about 3:15 p.m., on Friday approximately 10 miles
northwest of Pyote off Highway 2355. When deputies arrived at the scene
they found the two men, identified as Norman Perea Pallanes, 32, and Gilberto
Urias, 27, both of Midland, had been killed.
***
PECOS, April 11, 2001 - A Fort Worth woman was killed, several cars
and trucks were destroyed and at least a half dozen area communities were
without power Tuesday night and this morning, after high winds struck across
West Texas for the second time in five days.
Isabel Blanchard at the Pecos Municipal Airport said winds reached as
high as 73 miles an hour at 5:54 p.m. The traffic fatality occurred about
6 p.m., as part of a fiery multi-vehicle pile up on Interstate 20 at the
37 mile marker west of town.
According to the report by the Department of Public Safety, a 1999 Freightliner
truck tractor driven by Gregory Esterline of Colorado Springs was stopped
on the side of the road on the eastbound side of I-20 because of the dust
when a 1999 Volvo truck tractor driven by Dorothy Lee Clark, 42, of Fort
Worth struck the freightliner from behind.
***
PECOS, April 11, 2001 - The Pecos Economic Development Corporation hosted
a tour of the Town of Pecos City and the new site for the Realistic Bomber
Training Initiative (RBTI) for local citizens, representatives of the company
that will operate the electronic scoring site and U.S Air Force officials
Tuesday.
The group was able to get a look at the bomber-training site located
approximately 17 miles south of Pecos in the morning, before high winds
struck the area.
Once the site is completed the Air Force is planning to fly B-1 and
B-52 bombers on training missions at altitudes of as low as 500 feet in
Reeves County.
***
PECOS, April 13, 2001 - Pecos schools have two new principals after
last night's Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD school board meeting.
After a closed executive session the board voted to appoint Pecos High
School Assistant Principal Benny Hernandez as principal at the Zavala sixth-grade
campus next year, while Zavala principal Cindy Duke will take the place
of retiring kindergarten principal Gail Norris.
The board also approved the retirement of Assistant Principal Lucila
Valenzuela, and the appointment of Scott Bostwick as assistant band director
at Crockett Middle School.
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.
***
Samuel Valencia, Jr., 22, was arrested at 6:41 p.m., on December 11
at the Pecos Police Department on DPS warrants for speeding and failure
to adjudicate.
***
Severo B. Fuentez, 48, was arrested at 7:25 p.m., on December 11 in
the 1000 block of Plum Street on a police department warrant to obtain
a dangerous drug by passing an altered prescription.
***
Felipe Ornelas, Jr., 18, was arrested at 6:36 p.m., on December 12 in
the 900 block of South Eddy Street on a Capias Pro Fine warrant for public
intoxication.
***
Benjamin Hernandez, 35, was arrested at 3:20 a.m., on December 14 in
the 1700 block of Adam Street for assault under the Family Violence Act
and interfering with an emergency phone call.
***
Rachel Padillo, 29, was arrested at 2:06 a.m., on December 13 in the
900 block of South Cedar Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
***
A female juvenile was arrested at 2:19 p.m., on December 12 at Fourth
and Mulberry Streets on the request of the Juvenile Detention Center.
***
Ramon Natividad, 56, was arrested at 2:40 p.m., on December 12 at Sixth
and Almond Streets for motion to adjudicate on possession of controlled
substance.
***
Amy Bersosa, 25, was arrested at 3:06 p.m., on December 12 in the 400
block of South Locust Street for possession of drug paraphernalia.
***
John L. Davis, 35, was arrested at 12:35 p.m., on December 27 at the
Pecos Police Department for outstanding DPS warrants for speeding and failure
to adjudicate. He paid the fines and was released.
***
Jesse Sauceda, 35, was arrested at 9:21 p.m., on December 26 at Eddy
and Veterans Street on a Reeves County warrant for insuficiant funds in
checking.
***
Adam Machuca, 28, was arrested at 10:48 p.m., on December 25 in the
2200 block of South Eddy Street on DPS warrants for operating an unregistered
motor vehicle and failure to display driver's license.
***
Joe Arthur Salas, 24, was arrested at 5:14 a.m., on December 25 in the
1500 block of Iowa Street on a warrant for motion to adjudicate on possession
of marijuana, DWI refusal-causing an accident, no liability insurance and
no driver's license.
***
Erica R. Madrid, 20, and Jorge Armendariz, 24, was arrested at 9:59
p.m., on December 23 in the 1000 block of West Ninth Street both for assault
under the Family Violence Act.
***
Pilar F. Chavez, Jr., 24, was arrested at 6:58 a.m., on December 23
in the 1400 block of Johnson Street for public intoxication.
***
Rudy Minjarez, 47, was arrested at 4:22 p.m., on December 23 in the
1900 block of South Cedar Street for robbery.
***
Maria C. Garcia, 47, was arrested at 2:20 a.m., on December 22 in the
900 block of West Seventh Street for public intoxication.
***
Neal Martinez, 35, Tabita Acosta, 32, and Trista Barela, 17, were arrested
at 2:06 a.m., on December 22 in the 1200 block of South Park Street all
for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana under two
ounces, and possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) within 1000
feet of a school.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 6:06 p.m., on December 20 at Walmart
for theft over $50 and under $500.
***
Jaime L. Wade, 44, was arrested at 11:06 p.m., on December 20 in the
1100 block of Lunday Drive for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
***
Richard L. Urias, 22, and Mark Salazar, 25, were arrested at 1:58 p.m.,
on December 21 at the Purple Sage. Urias was arrested for disorderly conduct
(fighting) while Salazar was arrested for evading arrest or detention.
***
Christina Acosta, 25, Gabriel Candia, 28, and Raul L. Fierro, 26, were
arrested at 2:30 a.m., on December 21 at the Quality Inn. Acosta and Candia
were arrested for public intoxication while Fierro was arrested on a Reeves
County Sheriff's Office warrant for reckless conduct and on a DPS Pecos
warrant for speeding.
***
Juan Carlos Lujan, 29, was arrested at 749 p.m., on December 19 in the
700 block of South Walnut Street on a Capias Pro Fine warrant for speeding.
***
Jesus Orosco, 35, was arrested at 8:19 p.m., on December 18, in the
900 block of South Cedar Street for public intoxication.
***
Joann Villescas, 26, was arrested at 8:45 p.m., on December 18 in the
500 block of Walthall Street on a warrant for failure to provide food and
water for an animal.
***
Esmilda Hernandez, 44, was arrested at 9:18 p.m., on December 17 at
Eddy and Washington Streets on outstanding DPS warrants for unregistered
driver and no liability insurance.
***
Joe Martinez, 17, was arrested at 10:15 p.m., on December 17 in the
1100 block of Oleander Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
***
Virgina Romero, 50, was arrested at 9:53 p.m., on December 17 in the
300 block of East 14th Street for assault under the Family Violence
Act, resisting arrest and interference with an emergency call.
***
Gerardo Mendoza, 22, was arrested at 6:47 p.m., on December 16 in the
300 block of South Cedar Street on a warrant criminal trespass.
***
Jaime Natividad, 18, was arrested at 9:18 p.m., on December 16 in the
900 block of East Eighth Street for public intoxication and assault under
the Family Violence Act.
***
Gary Neal Tate, 44, was arrested at 8:30 a.m., on December 16 at Flying
J Truckstop for theft under $50.
***
Diane Mendoza, 37, was arrested at 7:07 p.m., on December 15 in the
100 block of South Pecan Street for public intoxication.
***
Rosie Rodriguez, 49, and Frank Rivera, Jr., 52, were arrested at 11:13
p.m., on December 15 in the 1100 block of East Third Street both for public
intoxication.
Weather
PECOS, Mon., Dec. 31, 2001 -- This afternoon partly cloudy. Highs 40 to
45. SE winds 5 to 15 mph. Tonight cloudy. A chance of snow or sleet. Lows
near 25. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent. SE winds 5 to 15 mph.
New years day cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 30. Significant
snow accumulations possible. SE winds 5 to 15 mph. The chance of snow is
50 percent. Tues. night cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows near
20. Wed. decreasing clouds and cold. Highs 30 to 35. Thurs. and Fri. partly
cloudy and warmer. Lows from the mid 20s to the lower 30s. Highs in the
50s. Sat. and Sun. partly cloudy and cooler. Lows 20s. Highs 40s.
Obituaries
Guadalupe Armendariz, Manuel Baeza, Kendall Belles and Norman Eisenwine
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 newsdesk@nwol.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 2001 by Pecos Enterprise
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