|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, August 19, 2002
Schools report few problems on opening day
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- Students and teachers alike were enjoying
their first day of school in the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, with many
students getting their first looks at several newly renovated campus
buildings.
The biggest changes made during the summer as part of the district's $3
million renovations project was to the main building at Pecos High School,
where officials said things went smoothly this morning.
"Everything is coming along great," said Pecos High School Principal Danny
Rodriguez, as the first classes were held today following renovations and
repairs to the 52-year-old school.
Rodriguez said that everyone was pleased with the new renovations. "They're
enjoying the new air conditioners right now," said Rodriguez. "The new carpet
cuts down on the noise and all the students are nice and cool in here."
Some students seemed kind of lost and confused this morning, according
to Rodriguez. "It was the freshman students that were confused, they didn't
know about the outside classrooms and which building was building `A' or
building `B'," he said.
Rodriguez said that the first period this morning was kind of slow. "We
had a lot of students still picking up schedules and some new ones that were
just registering," he said.
"We're still waiting for a number count and we hope the numbers will be
up," said Rodriguez. The PHS enrollment has dropped in recent years, and
the school moved down from Class 4A to Class 3A for UIL extracurricular competition
for the 2002-2003 school year.
The renovations forced most of the classrooms and offices to have their
chairs, desks and other materials stored or relocated while work was being
done over the summer. Rodriguez said that they had started moving back in
the last of the items last week.
"We still have a few little items to move, but everything has already
been put back in place," said Rodriguez.
Asbestos abatement at the high school began during the Christmas break
last year, and new air conditioning units and new windows were installed
along with the new carpeting and other items over the summer.
At the junior high level, new Crockett Middle School Principal Victor
Tarin said that things went smoothly at his campus this morning.
"Everything is coming along great," said Tarin. "We're off to a great
start."
Tarin said that the school had held an assembly first thing this morning
and the staff was introduced to the students, along with himself as the new
principal of that campus.
"We put out our expectations and goals for the new year," said Tarin.
Tarin said there very few snags with schedules and other things. "We'll
do some changes on the schedules probably tomorrow, but for today they go
to their regular classrooms," he said.
All the construction at that campus has been completed and things look
great, according to Tarin.
Other campuses to undergo major renovation work during the summer included
the 49-year-old Zavala Middle School, and 30-year-old Bessie Haynes Elementary,
which received new air conditioning units over the summer.
Elderly woman left homeless after trailer fire
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- A Saturday night fire in a rural area between
Pecos and Toyah left an elderly woman without a home and destroyed
most of her possession.
The Pecos Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire call at about
9:40 p.m. at a site east of Shaw Road Saturday night, after a trailer home
belonging to 89-year old Ruth Ince caught fire.
The trailer was located about three miles north of Interstate 20. Fire
and Emergency Medical Service personnel responded to the call, but the trailer
was completely engulfed in flames by the time they made the 15-mile trip
out from Pecos.
Ince said that when she was preparing to take a bath she first noticed
the fire.
"I was getting ready to take a bath when I smelled the smoke," she said.
Though Ince was able to get out of the trailer before the fire spread,
she was unable to retrieve a dress to put on over her undergarments.
Ince did not require transport to the hospital following the fire, and
said today that family members had taken her shopping for cloth following
Saturday's fire.
"They took me shopping yesterday," Ince said.
With her home completely burned, Ince said that she had stayed with her
sister and would continue to stay there until they find a trailer for her.
"I am staying here with my sister," Ince said. "We are going to get another
trailer."
Ince trailer mobile home was located next to her sister and brother-in-law's
(Mr. Mrs. John Griffis) home.
According to Fire Marshall Jack Brookshire the fire started in the kitchen
of the mobile home.
Rivera seeking new tenants to fill downtown buildings
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- With local businesses inquiring about opening
shop in the downtown areas of Pecos, there is hope that other business
may make the same move.
According to Town of Pecos City's Main Street Program Director, Tom Rivera,
there are two active parties that have inquired about the vacancy of the
Woolworth building at Third and Oak streets.
A business that has shown interest in the building is Dollar General,
which is currently located on South Eddy Street.
According to Rivera, the local manager of the Dollar General store has
asked about the location but Rivera said that was the only contact that was
made.
"Only one business has made a proposal to the owners of the building,"
Rivera said.
Rivera said that the owner Rundman Partnership, out of Dallas, mailed
the key to him so that businesses interested in the building could look at
it.
The building Dollar General is looking at was previously the home of another
discount store, F.W. Woolworth. It closed in 1989, when the company pulled
all of its discount store operations out of West Texas.
According to Rivera the two-story Woolworth building is a sound structure
but he did add that the building would need a new roof. Rivera also said
that most of the buildings located in downtown are real good buildings, but
because of their age, the roofs would be a drawback for potential new tenants.
Rivera said that if it is reopened, the Woolworth building would have
to be a slope roof, which tend to be more expensive, and not a flat roof.
Oak was one of Pecos' two main business streets until the 1980s, when
several stores closed or moved to different locations.
"There are four vacancies in the 300 block," Rivera said. "Everything
is vacant in the 200 block except for Rancho Viejo, Tony's Carpet and a finance
company."
Rivera said their main purpose is to get businesses into the downtown
area in order to make Pecos an official main street city.
Rivera also said that he also hopes there will be more business with lofts
in the downtown area.
As of now there is only on business, Rancho Viejo, in which the owners,
Allan and Blanca Gallegos live over their business.
"Old Visions Night Club is the larges building that is vacant," Rivera
said. "It is now owned by the county."
According to Rivera the Town of Pecos is self-initiated as a main street
city but do not get all the benefits.
"We are looking forward to some day in which every empty building is full,"
Rivera said.
Band Boosters plan first meeting of year this evening
A Pecos Eagle Band Booster meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. this evening
at the Pecos High School Band Hall.
Election of officers for the 2002-2003 school year will take place at
this time. All band students and parents are invited to attend.
Weather
PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- High Sunday 96. Low this morning 74.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated evening thunderstorms.
Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Tuesday: Partly
cloudy with isolated late afternoon thunderstorms. Highs 100 to 105.
Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Tuesday night: Partly cloudy with isolated
evening thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Wednesday: Partly cloudy
with isolated late afternoon thunderstorms. Highs 100 to 105. Thursday:
Partly cloudy with isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Lows
in the mid 70s. Highs 100 to 105.
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
|