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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Monday, August 12, 2002
Commissioners
honor Rodriguez
during ceremony
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Aug. 12, 2002 - Trans Pecos Drug Task Force Officer Jaime Rodriguez, who
was slain during a drug interdiction that turned into a gun battle on board
a Greyhound bus three months ago, was honored this morning during
the regular Reeves County Commissioners Court meeting and
his family was on hand to receive a special plaque and medal.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo said a short prayer before
the meeting, honoring Rodriguez, who was shot and killed in the line of
duty on May 16, during the routine bus interdiction at the Greyhound
station in Pecos.
Rodriguez died in Lubbock about 6½ hours after being shot twice
in the abdomen by Richard Colunga II, a 19-year-old Austin
resident. Colunga pulled out a pistol and fired at Rodriguez as the Trans Pecos
Task Force officer asked the man for identification. He was then shot
and killed by Trans Pecos Drug Task Force officer Mike Henderson,
who was conducting the drug interdiction with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez' family, which consists of his widow, Diana and their
two children, Jessica and Jayme were on hand to receive the plaque and
the medal presented by Judge Galindo.
"We want to pray for slain officer Jaime Rodriguez, who gave his life
up in the line of duty," said Galindo.
"He was a wonderful individual who gave his all to his profession and to
this community."
Galindo said that Pecos and Reeves County were fortunate to
call Rodriguez one of their own.
Rodriguez was named to the Policeman Hall of Fame for his
heroic act, which ended in his death on that fateful day, Galindo said. "We
know he's in a better place, but we will always miss him and we will
always remember him," he added.
Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez, along with Task
Force Commander Gary Richards and other officers were also on hand to
comfort the family.
In other business, commissioners signed an interlocal agreement
with the Balmorhea ISD to help provide computers for the district.
"Today is just to formalize the agreement that we had presented
a few months back and that the commissioners had approved,"
said Balmorhea ISD Superintendent Elizabeth Saenz.
Saenz told the court that the group had received the grant that they
had applied for in the amount of $500,000, and required matching funds.
"The city of Balmorhea, the school and Reeves County had agreed to
provide the matching funds, and this is just to formalize that agreement," she said.
Reeves County's matching funds would amount to $15,000,
according to Saenz.
"We have everything ordered and ready to go," said Saenz.
The infrastructure program will provide a computer and printer
for every student in Balmorhea and would create areas where the
Internet can be accessed by the community and visitors to the area, according
to Saenz.
Five centers will have computers and printers available to the public
in Balmorhea, according to Saenz.
Saenz told the group that in addition they had hired a
professor from Arizona State University who will provide training to both
the young and the older generation.
"We have an older generation that is scared of computers and she is
an expert in helping individuals like that learn more about computers and
to not be afraid of them," said Saenz.
The computers will have website filtering controls, so that children
will not be able to access inappropriate sites.
"The parents can log on and check the student's schedule, their
class assignments, their grades and if the student is sick can get
the assignments right from the computer," said Saenz.
They will also provide laptop computers that can be checked
out at the library, for those students who travel or need to go somewhere,
but still need to get their work done. "They'll have their own computer
at home, but the laptops are for when they have to leave their home,"
said Saenz.
"This was a group effort that paid off," said Saenz.
A kiosk will also be set up at the state park, that visitors will be able
to access. "Maybe they have to get some type of work done, or look
up something and they can do that at this location," said Saenz. "This
will also help tourism."
Saenz said that they realized that there were families in the
community that could not afford computers and that this would help
them tremendously. "We want our students to succeed and with the newest
in technology they'll be able to," she said.
The program will go through a wireless system provided by
West Texas Networking. "Alex Gonzales will set up everything for us, and
it will all be done wireless," said Saenz.
Several teachers have already undergone training and they
will teach other teachers and students on how to use this new technology,
she said.
The equipment consists of computers, printers, scanners
and digital cameras, according to Saenz.
Teachers getting first look
at high school renovations
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Aug. 12, 2002 - As Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD teachers, faculty and staff
members attended their first day of the 2002-03 school year; they admired the
new facilities at Pecos High School.
P-B-T ISD employees met today at the high school auditorium to
begin their weeklong in-service, before being sent to the other campus.
"It's beautiful," Computer Science Teacher Sandra Overcash said.
"It's beautiful," Math Teacher Karen Hill said in agreement.
"It's wonderful."
According to Overcash, though almost everything is back in place
in her room, most of the other rooms still do not have all of the materials
back in them with a week to go before the start of classes.
Pecos High School Principal Danny Rodriguez said
that Superintendent Don Love and the board did a great job with the
roll back, which helped in receiving these new facilities.
"This is great," Rodriguez said. "There are new
air-conditioning vents, windows and doors."
According to Rodriguez, the ceilings have been lowered,
carpet has been added to the rooms and there are 100 new lockers down
the hallways.
"The names have been placed on the side of the doors,"
Rodriguez said.
The high school renovations were part of a $3 million project of
campus repairs, combined with asbestos removal, that began during last
year's Christmas break and continued this summer. The biggest changes are
at Pecos High School, which is now the district's oldest school facility,
having been built in 1950.
During registration last week, students were able to take a look
at their new and improved campus.
"They already walked by during registration," Rodriguez said.
"They had nice comments about the place."
Rodriguez said that some of the students said that they were
looking forward to the air-conditioning. According to Rodriguez the
building will now be either cool or warm.
English Teacher Mona Clark thought the building look good.
"It looks good," Clark said.
"It's time we had some decent air and heating."
Spanish Teacher and Coach Rudy Jurado said that he was very
excited about the renovations since they were first announced.
"I've been very excited ever since I first heard about it," Jurado said.
Jurado said that the new renovations to the school make for an
exciting school year and he hopes that the students are as excited. He also
believes that the new look will encourage the students and that they will take care
of it.
Special Education Teacher James Nixon said that he was surprised
with the renovations.
"They are fine. Very nice," Nixon said. "I was pleasantly surprised
that they got through it. It was a lot of work. We are very proud of it."
Construction of the Pecos High School had been started almost
three months ago as part of a renovation plan that would add central air and
heating to the main building of the high school. The construction, however, began
as a process to help with the removal of asbestos.
Other campuses that had some renovation done were Crockett
Middle School and Bessie Haynes Elementary. Crockett Middle School added an
air-conditioner to their gym while Bessie Haynes also had the removal of
asbestos and air-conditioning system.
Pecos Kindergarten
orientation set tonight
PECOS, Aug. 12, 2002 - Orientation will be held for all Pecos Kindergarten students
and their parents from 6:30-7:30 p.m., today.
Registration for all new students who will be attending
the kindergarten school is scheduled from 8-11:30 a.m. and from 1-3:30 p.m.
Benefit garage sale,
barbeque plate lunch
scheduled Saturday
PECOS, Aug. 12, 2002 - A garage sale and barbecue plate sale will be held beginning at 8
a.m., Saturday at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn.
Everyone is invited to come out and browse and enjoy the good food.
Proceeds will benefit the Reeves County Sheriff's Explorer Post #600.
Cruz Anaya
PECOS, Aug. 12, 2002 - Cruz R. Anaya, 63, of Pecos, died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, at her residence.
A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., today at Our Lady of Refuge
Catholic Church in Barstow.
Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Our Lady of
Refuge Catholic Church with Father Miguel Angel Sanchez officiating. Burial will
be in Barstow Cemetery.
She was born May 3, 1939, in Barstow, was a sales clerk for Wal-Mart
and a Catholic.
Survivors include four sons, Gilbert Anaya of Seminole, Larry and
Jesse Anaya of Pecos and Rene Anaya of Midland; one daughter, Aida Leyva
of Kermit; her parents, Felix and Maria Rodriguez of Barstow; two
brothers, Reyes and Manuel Rodriguez of Barstow; two sisters, Freda Griffin of
Barstow, Susan Rodriguez of Barstow and five grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PECOS, Aug. 12, 2002 - High Sunday 102. Low this morning 75. Forecast for
tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows 70 to 75. Southeast winds 10 to 20
mph. Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Tuesday night:
Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid
60s. Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of
thunderstorms. Highs 95 to 100. Thursday through sunday: Partly cloudy. Lows 70 to
75. Highs near 100.
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
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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