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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, May 10, 2002
Florida woman taking new trip to raise cancer funds
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, May 10, 2002 -- Adventures continue to roll in for a Florida
woman who is currently on her third motorcycling trip around Texas
in efforts to raise money for cancer research.
Catharine Rambeau, 67, has traveled along the borders of Texas once a
year for the past three years finding more amazing things each year.
Rambeau spent the night in Pecos Thursday, almost one year after she first
stopped in Pecos during her second Texas tour.
Rambeau begin this year's journey on April Fool's Day and has already
traveled over 3,000 miles, which is over half of the total miles she traveled
last year.
Rambeau said that she traveled a total of 3,750 miles the first year she
made the trip, 5,500 miles the second trip and expects to go even further
this year.
"This is the best trip," she said.
Each year the total mileage increases as her love of Texas increases.
She said she finds more reasons to visit more counties and towns each year.
Rambeau said she has loved Texas ever since the first time she made her
way through Texas on the way to California with her son.
"Texas has always been one of my favorite states," she said.
Texas ranks right up there with Maine and Missouri as one of the nicest
states, in Rambeau's eyes.
"I've never had anybody who was rude to me in the state," she said.
The many "odd" men and women in the state are also one of Rambeau's favorite
things about the Lone Star State.
"Both the men and women are not put off by oddities, which is probably
why I fit in," she said.
Rambeau enjoys traveling alone because it gives her time to pay attention
to what she wants and does not have to worry about keeping track of anyone
else.
"I ride alone because what I'm interested in is what I see and the people
I see," she said.
While on her trips, Rambeau takes her time and learns a lot about each
area she's in all by talking with the people.
She has numerous stories about the people she meets and the places that
she has been just on people's suggestions, including a place where she ate
the best grapefruit pie.
Rambeau said she thinks it is amazing how people are connected, describing
the various connections as a "human internet."
"There are connections everywhere," she said.
Making connections is part of what Rambeau is attempting to do for children
with cancer.
Along the way, Rambeau informs people about the children at the Texas
Children's Hospital in Houston.
Rambeau finishes each Texas trip at the hospital, where she visits with
the numerous young cancer patients.
She said she uses the memory of those visits and those children to continue
to motivate herself on her trips.
She spoke of one visit where she sat in on a writing class for the children
where the kids were asked to write down things that were important to them
and make a poem from them.
Rambeau said one girl, whom she called Clara, wrote such a wonderful poem
that completely amazed her.
"Her poem made the hair on my arms stand up," she said.
She explained that the poem described what's cool and what isn't cool
in life.
"She had it dead right," she said.
Knowing children like Clara are what motivate her to help raise money
for cancer research.
"That stuff is good motivation for me," she said.
Rambeau said that many people believe that she is very sweet for taking
the time to help the children however she does not believe that is so.
"This have nothing to do with being sweet," she said.
She explained that she enjoys traveling and does not have trouble asking
for help when it involves other people.
Rambeau said she never thought about raising money until she decided she
wanted to help and try to make a difference.
"I said to myself, how can I make life a little easier for people and
still have fun," she said.
Today, Rambeau plans to travel to Odessa, where she said she might stay
a few days to have a few things fixed on her motorcycle, including a cracked
windshield which was the result of a run in with a vulture.
Anyone could keep track of Rambeau's progress by logging onto www.texaschildrenshospital.org/cancer
, where you can read columns telling more of her trip.
Chavez, Herrera named top teachers for 2001-02
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, May 10, 2002 -- Teachers of the Year for each of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD's campuses were recognized during Thursday's monthly school board
meeting, and the elementary and secondary teacher chosen as Teacher
of the Year were also announced to the board.
The Elementary Level Teacher of the Year for the District is Anabel Chavez
and the Secondary Level Teacher of the Year for the District is Olivia Herrera,
who were two of six teachers selected from the P-B-T campuses.
Chavez teaches at Bessie Haynes Elementary and Herrera is a teacher at
Crockett Middle School. The other teachers selected were Lupe Acosta from
Pecos Kindergarten; Becky Patterson from Austin Elementary; Diane Paz from
Zavala Middle School and Thomas Valenzuela from Pecos High School.
Both Chavez and Herrera were on hand for the regular board meeting and
received their awards from PBT-ISD Superintendent Don Love.
In other action Thursday, board members approved free summer school for
Pecos High School students.
"In the past these classes were $70 each," said PHS Principal Danny Rodriguez.
Several students have already signed up for the courses, which include
English IV-first and second semester; English III- first and second semester;
Government A.M. or another class which has 10 or more students.
"We'll also offer Economics and World History," said Rodriguez. "As soon
as we find out we let the students know so that they can take advantage of
it."
"This helps students advance to the next grade level and helps with the
dropout rate," said Rodriguez.
A total of 38 students have already signed up for the English IV class,
according to Rodriguez.
"We have the teachers that are willing to work for the summer, they'll
have a summer job and they're available," he said.
Land gift for community center tops agenda
PECOS, Friday, May 10, 2002 -- The donation of property by the Nature
Conservancy to Reeves County for the Balmorhea Community Center and a lease
agreement between Reeves County and the U.S. Department of Justice's Immigration
and Naturalization Service for a Video Teleconferencing Courtroom at the
Reeves County Detention Center are among the items for discussion at the
regular Reeves County Commissioners Court meeting.
The group will meet at 9:30 a.m., Monday, May 13, in the third floor courtroom
and the public is invited to attend.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on Reeves County participation
in the Pecos Workforce Network Program; Reeves County local match for elderly
meals program; Resolution for Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense Grant
Fund; Resolution authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Development
Program Colonia Construction Fund Application to the Office of Rural Community
Affairs; Resolution authorizing Reeves County participation in the state
of Texas Contract Airline Fares/Travel Agency Program; declare autos as surplus
material in the sheriff's department; interlocal agreement between Reeves
County and Texas Political Subdivisions Worker's Compensation Joint Self-Insurance
Fund and award bid No. 01-02 inmate work boots and jackets.
The group will also discuss and approve payments to the different construction
workers and the LMD architect for the Reeves County Detention Center III.
The group will discuss and take action on assistant warden contract between
Gary Payne and Reeves County; termite control authorization for Reeves County
Library; declare autos as surplus material in the sheriff's department; reports
from various departments; budget amendments and line-item transfers; personnel
and salary changes (RCDC, sheriff's department); semi-monthly bills and minutes
from previous meetings.
Mail carriers hold food drive Saturday
WASHINGTON (AP) - The annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive by the nation's
letter carriers is scheduled Saturday.
Carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns are taking part.
The letter carriers are asking people who want to donate to leave a bag
of nonperishable food near their mailbox. The carrier will collect it on
regular rounds and the food will be donated to local food banks and charities.
Last year carriers collected 70.1 million pounds of food in the drive.
Pageant hopefuls appear Saturday at Style Show
PECOS, Friday, May 10, 2002 -- The Golden Girl Style show will be held
at noon, Saturday at the Reeves County Civic Center.
The show will also feature the Little Miss Cantaloupe contestants along
with other models.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by any of the Golden Girl or Little
Miss Cantaloupe nominees or the Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce.
This is a fundraiser for the Golden Girl-Little Miss Cantaloupe Revue
scheduled for June.
Sadler selected board president after taking oath
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Friday, May 10, 2002 -- One current and one past member who were the
top vote-getters in last Saturday's Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD school
board election were sworn in to their three year terms on Thursday,
and several school groups were recognized by the board following the
ceremony
Paul Deishler joined Billie Sadler, who won re-election, in taking the
oath Thursday evening during the monthly P-B-T board meeting in the Technology
Center. Sadler picked up the most votes in last Saturday's election, while
Deishler was second in the four-person race for the two available board seats.
Sadler has served off and on for the past 12 years, while Deishler filled
an unexpired term in 2000 and 2001, but lost in his bid for a full term last
year.
The board was also reorganized during the regular session and a new president
took over at the meeting. Sadler was named president; Lila Cerna is vice-president
and Crissy Martinez, former president of the board, took over as secretary.
The students recognized by the board were involved in spring semester
extracurricular activities. Walter Holland introduced his art students who
did an outstanding job this past school year. Laura Salgado and Jena Cranfill
received All State Medals for their work. They were recognized at an awards
assembly, April 13.
"Laura is a graduating senior who is going to the University of Texas
of the Permian Basin to study art and psychology. Jena is a sophomore," said
Holland. "Jena won a drawing at state and was able to participate in a workshop
with Ms. Capriva, the state of Texas' Artist of the Year."
Holland announced the results of the 2002 Visual Arts Scholastic Event
held in Houston. "The competition was held April 12-13, at the University
of Houston at Clear Lake," said Holland. "J. Ross Busby, Bobby Orona, Laura
Salgado and Jena Cranfill competed and attended workshops," he said.
Other groups recognized included Zavala Elementary Regional Science Fair
students; Crockett Middle School state science fair students; fifth grade
UIL science fair regional students; Business Professionals of America state
qualifiers; Distributive Education Clubs of America state qualifiers; UIL
district winners- regional qualifiers; softball champions; baseball champions;
golf champions; tennis champions; powerlifting champions; track champions
and powerlifting champions.
PBT-ISD Superintendent Don Love handed out awards to the coaches and announced
the Coach of the Year award. Bubba Williams, athletic director and head baseball
coach was honored as this year's Coach of the Year for District 2-4A.
The students received a round of applause for their efforts and were congratulated
by the board for their outstanding performances.
In other action, the board listened to a report on renovations at Pecos
High School, Crockett Middle School, Bessie Haynes Elementary, Lamar AEP
and Pecos Kindergarten.
Architect Monte Hunter updated the group on the construction that is continuing
at the different campuses.
"Everything is coming along on schedule," said Hunter, who added that
crews were mainly working on the outside of the buildings while school is
in session. He provided a written report for the board on all the projects
and a budget of contract cost summary.
"They're working outside the building at Bessie Haynes until school gets
out," said Hunter. "When school gets out, they'll remove the asbestos."
Hunter said that Mid-Tex is doing an excellent job and is actually ahead
of schedule on some of the projects.
"Do you think they'll finish before the new school year starts?" asked
board member David Flores.
"Oh yes, they'll finish on time," said Hunter. "Mid-Tex is real good and
they work on a time-schedule that they meet."
Weather
PECOS, Friday, May 10, 2002 -- High Thursday 85. Low this morning 62.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Lows near 60. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Saturday: Partly
cloudy and breezy. Highs near 95. South winds 15 to 25 mph. Saturday
night: Partly cloudy. Lows near 60. Sunday: Partly cloudy
with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs near 90. Monday:
Partly cloudy and cooler. Lows 55 to 60. Highs 80 to 85.
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
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Copyright 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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