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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, March 27, 2002
Board discusses plans for hospital modernization
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wednesday, March 27, 2002 -- An update on a facility master
plan was one of the numerous topics reviewed by the Reeves County Hospital
District Board of Directors during the regular meeting last night in the
hospital's classroom.
Rob Meese, project manager from Hammel-Green-Abrahamson, Inc., gave
the board a report on the plans and specs that have been developed to give
the hospital a more updated look as well as more room.
Hospital Administrator Robert Vernor explained to the board and the
people present at the meeting that the hospital has been working on a master
plan for the past couple of months, however, that does not mean that the
hospital would follow through with the plans.
"All of this is still in the planning stages," he said. "No decisions
have been made."
Vernor said that the plans are being made to determine what the hospital's
needs are, the feasibility of those plans and how, if approved, the plans
would fit into the budget.
Meese informed the board and the audience that his company took a "broad
brush look" at the 24-year-old facility to determine what is needed.
"The entire facility is aging," he said. "It's time for some updates
and changes."
Meese started by looking at the exterior of the building and determined
that the parking lots need improvement along with an overall update of
the look of the building, which would help with the image of the hospital.
For example, he said that there needs to be emphasis on the entry with
possibly adding a tower in order to make the hospital recognizable from
the highway.
"And it would also be a recognizable symbol for the rest of Pecos,"
he said.
Meese said even changing the color of the building would "bring the
look of hospital to a little more contemporary feel."
As far as the interior, Meese explained that the current emergency room
is too crowded and a new addition would be needed in order to expand the
area.
With a new addition, Meese said that that would free up a lot of room
within the hospital allowing them to expand on some of the departments
such as radiology.
The board met in executive session to discuss further information on
the master plan with Meese.
In other business on Tuesday, the board awarded a bid for financing
of an ambulance and ultrasound equipment to West Texas National Bank, with
Board member Leo Hung abstaining from the vote.
Before the board opened the two sealed bids from West Texas National
Bank and Security State Bank, Hung explained that he has received many
comments from community members about his possible conflict of interest
in this subject.
Along with being a hospital board member, Hung is also a board member
for West Texas National Bank and stated that many people believe that puts
him into conflict of interest.
"Many people don't have an understanding of the conflict of interest
law," he said.
In order to determine whether or not he would have a conflict of interest,
Hung did some research and even called the Texas Attorney General.
He said that it was determined that he would legally be able to vote
because he would not receive a commission as a result of his vote. However,
he decided to abstain from the vote anyway.
Board President Linda Gholsen opened the sealed bids and read them aloud
to the board and audience.
After reviewing the bids, both of which were for the amount of $157,200
to be paid back in 60 months, the board determined that West Texas National
Bank turned in the better bid, based on the finance charges each bank listed.
West Texas National Bank's bid included an estimated finance charge
of $18,426.60 at the initial rate of 4.45 percent. Security State Bank's
bid was with a finance charge of $29,586.60 at a fixed rate of 7 percent.
The board also approved the ratification of organizational structure,
operation policies and procedures for RCH Home Health and approved continuing
the employee health insurance plan with their current provider of Blue
Cross, Blue Shield.
The board approved a resolution for giving property tax relief to organizations
that provide specific charitable services, which the school board recently
approved as well.
Also on the agenda was discussion of sale of property at 1607 S. Eddy
Street and 503 S. Ash Street, both to Carmen Jasso of Pecos.
In other business the board approved the monthly tax report, financial
statements and budget amendments and the payment of bills.
Area churches set Good Friday, Easter services
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wednesday, March 27, 2002 -- Pre-Easter and Easter Sunday services
will be held in different churches in the area and the community is invited
to attend the one of their choice.
First United Methodist Church invites anyone who is interested to participate
in its special pre-Easter services.
A Maundy Thursday service will begin at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the church,
located at Third and Elm streets. The communion service is held annually
to commemorate Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples.
On Friday, church members and visitors may "come and go" throughout
the afternoon to hear scripture readings that tell the Passion story, or
the events leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection. Cathedral music
and the smell of myrrh will help set the mood for prayer and meditation.
The church will be open from noon to 3 p.m. on Good Friday.
"We welcome anyone who would like to share in these services to please
come," said pastor Bruce Abbott.
The Methodist church will have its Easter services during morning worship
at 10:55 a.m., Sunday.
Area Catholic churches will observe Holy Thursday with special services.
Christ the King Parish in Balmorhea will have a service at 5 p.m.; Santa
Rosa Parish, Pecos, at 7 p.m. and St. Catherine Parish at 8 p.m.
On Good Friday, March 29, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Saragosa will
have a service at noon as will Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Barstow. Santa
Rosa Parish in Pecos has a service scheduled for 3 p.m., with Stations
of the Cross, in procession from St. Catherine to Santa Rosa; while St.
Catherine Parish, Pecos will have services at 6 p.m., Passion and Santa
Rosa Parish, Pecos, 7 p.m., Passion.
Easter Vigil will be observed at Christ the King Parish, Balmorhea,
at 6 p.m.; Our Lady of Refuge, Barstow, at 6 p.m. and both St. Catherine
and Santa Rosa Parishes in Pecos will have services at 9 p.m.
On Easter Sunday, Santa Rosa Parish will have services at 7:30 a.m.
and 10 a.m.; St. Catherine Parish, Pecos, 10:30 a.m. and Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Saragosa at noon.
Council to discuss contracts for housing project services
PECOS, Wednesday, March 27, 2002 -- The Town of Pecos City Council is scheduled
to discuss an agreement for contractor services for the housing infrastructure
project during the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m., tomorrow at City Hall.
The city hosted a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for a new single
family home subdivision on Washington Street.
The city is planning to build the infrastructure before any homes would
be constructed. Work on installing water and sewer lines in expected to
take about seven months, while the actual construction of the first home
is to begin sometime this fall.
The council will also consider a resolution authorizing participation
in the "Texas Main Street Program" and designating the Main Street Director
to coordinate all program activities.
Also on the agenda is discussion of the interagency agreement with the
Trans-Pecos Drug Task Force as well as consider approval of the Pecos Police
Department's racial profiling policy.
Driver victim of gambling scam at truck stop
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wednesday, March 27, 2002 -- A "scam" that occurred Monday night
at the Flying J Travel Plaza left one truck driver out of a large sum of
money.
"It was a scam," said Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez. "I've seen this
on television and know that it's been done at other places, but it had
never occurred here before."
Reeves County Sheriff Deputy Richard Natividad was dispatched to the
Flying J Travel Plaza on Monday, March 25.
Natividad met with Bryan P. Chandler, 39, who said that a group of males
had taken his money from him at the Flying J parking lot.
"What they do is get a group of guys who play cards and let one win,"
said Gomez. "He keeps winning and winning and then that guy turns around
and asks another who is standing by watching if he can borrow some money,
telling him he can win it back."
In the incident report, Chandler said that while he was parked at the
Flying J truck parking lot, he was observing a group of about five male
subjects, all between the ages of 35 and 50, gambling on a game of cards.
He stated that one male subject asked him for some money to bet on the
game and Chandler agreed to lend the male subject $800 and that both would
split the profit.
The male subject then lost all the money on the card game and attempted
to leave. Chandler said he then told the male subject he wanted his money
back and that all five male subjects became angry with him. They told Chandler
that he lost his money on the bet and that he couldn't have it back.
"What they were doing was letting that guy win so that Bryan would think
that he could win all the card games," said Gomez. "When the guy asked
Bryan for some money, he thought he was going to win it back easily, but
it was all scam, they were all in on it."
Chandler said that all the male subjects then ran to their vehicles,
identified only as one maroon possibly Oldsmobile with a beige top, and
a small light blue 4-door Chevrolet, and headed west on the north side
service road.
Several Reeves County Sheriff's Deputies attempted to locate both vehicles
but were unsuccessful, Gomez said.
Weather Service holding Skywarn program tonight
PECOS, Wednesday, March 27, 2002 -- The National Weather Service will conduct
a skywarn program from 7-9 p.m., today, at the Community Center, 508 S.
Oak. The public is invited to attend and learn more about weather watching.
Runoff races' early voting starts Monday
PECOS, Wednesday, March 27, 2002 -- Early voting will begin April 1, at
the Reeves County Courthouse for the Democratic Primary Run-Off Election,
from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Election day will be April 9.
The last day for the county clerk to receive applications for ballots
by mail will be April 2. If anyone has any questions concerning the Democratic
Primary Run-Off Election they can contact the county clerk's office at
915-445-5467.
All county Democratic voters are eligible to cast ballots in the runoff
election for U.S. Senate between Ron Kirk and Victor Morales, while Precinct
2 voters also have a runoff election for Justice of the Peace, between
J.T. Marsh and Jim Riley.
Weather
PECOS, Wednesday, March 27, 2002 -- High Tues. 63. Low this morning 39.
Forecast for tonight: Increasing high cloudiness. Lows 45 to 50. South
winds 5 to 15 mph. Thurs.: Considerable high cloudiness. Highs around 85.
SW winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming west 10 to 20 mph by afternoon. Thurs. night:
Mostly cloudy. Lows 50 to 55. Fri.: Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers
and thunderstorms late. Highs 75 to 80. Sat.: Mostly cloudy with a chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 50. Highs around 70.
Obituaries
Raymond Bowie, Inez Patino and Petra Zermeno
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 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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