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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Chamber told rodeo events successful this year
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., July 9, 2003 -- Fourth of July activities in Pecos were a big
success and everyone was pleased with the outcome, according to Pecos Area
Chamber of Commerce members.
The group discussed the recent events at their regular meeting held Tuesday
at noon, at the Pecos Senior Citizen's Center.
"I attended most of the Fourth of July activities and was pleased at the
number of people that were there," said chamber president Al Gomez. "Everything
looked like it exceeded expectations."
Gomez said that Pecos had sponsored a wonderful rodeo this year and that
there were a lot of cowboys in town.
"Congratulations to the rodeo committee for doing a fine job and thanks
for all the hard work," said Gomez. Attendance was up this year for the
rodeo, which was plagued by rain a year ago.
This year the melodrama held four performances instead of three and organizers
of that event said that reports show that while it was the best play that
they have sponsored, turnout didn't meet expectations.
"We sold only half as many tickets this year, we don't know if it's because
we held it at the Pecos Elementary or not," said John Grant, one of the
participants in the show.
Grant said that the group is talking about having a dinner theater and
that he had spoken with school personnel about using the Pecos Elementary
for all their plays.
"They said it could be our permanent home, it has a big cafeteria and
plenty of space," he said. The school was closed last year, but part of the
building is still in use for Pecos Head Start classes.
Night in Old Pecos was a huge success and organizers are talking about
making it a two-day event next year.
"We would like to have more volunteers, but we had a huge crowd and the
vendors asked if maybe we could make it a two-day event," said chamber director
Linda Gholson. "We're talking about that."
Gholson said that the Air National Guard Band did an excellent job and
performed at different Fourth of July activities.
"We heard some complaints about them being here and the cost to bring
them," said Gholson. "We just want to set the record straight, they did not
cost a thing."
Gholson thanked the sheriff's posse for feeding them at lunchtime.
"They usually don't perform at the same city for three to four years,
but they said that if we make a special request, they might be able to come
back next year," she said.
Gholson said that the city and county had done a wonderful job of cleaning
up before and after Night in Old Pecos, which was held on June 28.
Women's Division President Shirley Shaffer told the group that the Golden
Girl/Little Miss Cantaloupe Pageant also did well this year.
"Robin LeBeouf and Shonah Lozano did a great job of working with all
these girls," said Shaffer. "They worked every day in June and they also
have families to take care and Robin has a new baby."
"I don't know how they do it, but we sure appreciate them," she said.
Shaffer said that the women will hold their regular meeting in August,
but instead will be sponsoring a family picnic. "I'm also sad to say that
we will be losing our treasurer. Jenny Abbott and her husband are moving
to El Paso," she said.
Gholson said that she had attended a meeting, along with city manager
Carlos Yerena on improving rural communities.
"We don't sell our airport enough," said Gholson of the former Pecos
Army Airbase field. "At that meeting we were told that we have the very
best airport in this area."
Gholson said that she would like to see the chamber do more for the airport
and really support their annual Fly-In scheduled for Aug. 3.
"It used to be held during the Cantaloupe Festival, but the festival has
now been combined with Night in Old Pecos," she said. "The Lions Club serves
breakfast for everyone during the Fly-In and different activities are held."
Debbie Thomas gave the group an update on the Pecos Main Street Project
and said that they are currently working on application that will be turned
in on July 31. "We need letters of support at this time, to put in with
the application," she said.
Thomas said that they are trying to obtain permission from owners of
some of the vacant downtown buildings, to get into the buildings. "Even if
there are no businesses there, we want to decorate the store fronts," said
Thomas. "We just want to make it nicer."
Kathy Hurley said that the parade judges were amazed at this year's parade.
"I think they thought that because Pecos is such a small town, that the
parade would be really small," said Hurley. "They were all pleased and said
that it was one of the best and biggest parades they had seen."
Hurley said that they had rounded up plenty of gifts for the judges and
that the three, Jay Hendricks and Jessica Garate of Channel 9 and Sam Conn
from Channel 7 enjoyed the barbecue luncheon held at the Reeves County Sheriff's
Posse Barn immediately following the parade.
Plans for the second annual City-Wide Hawaiian Luau are in the works.
"Last year we had it the Friday before Labor Day," said Gholson. "This year
it will be held on Aug. 29," which is also the Friday before Labor Day.
A party was held at the West of the Pecos Museum the afternoon of the
luau and Gholson said that a sponsor for the event was needed for this year's
event.
"We also need to know if you want to bring back Wayana Inka," said Gholson.
"It takes some money to bring them here and the dates that they have been
talking about didn't coincide with our schedule."
The group opted to think about it before making a commitment to the San
Antonio-based group, which has performed twice in Pecos, in early 2001 and
2002.
Gholson reminded everyone of a Grand Opening scheduled for July 15. "Dr.
(Joseph) Darpolar will be having a grand opening from 4-6 p.m., and we'd
like to see everyone there," said Gholson.
Dr. Darpolor is moving his practice into what used to be Dr. David Lovett's
office on Texas Street, across from the Reeves County Hospital.
Tax abatement for food plant on city agenda
PECOS, Wed., July 9, 2003 -- The Town of Pecos City Council will discuss
and consider the tax abatement agreement with Trans Pecos Foods during its
regular morning meeting on Thursday, in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
After being tabled in its last meeting, the council will discuss the
request for the abatement by Trans Pecos Foods during their 7:30 a.m. meeting.
Trans Pecos Foods took over the former Anchor Foods plant last year, and
is seeking the abatement in order to buy new equipment for the facility,
which formerly was the city's largest single employer.
In other action, the council will discuss and consider a resolution authorizing
participation in the Texas Main Street Program and designating the City
Manager to coordinate all program activities, a contract for election services
and a change order to add approximately 76,000 square yards of caliche roads
alongside pipelines on Town of Pecos City development of the South Worsham
Well Field.
The minutes of the council's regular meeting held on June 26 and the
accounts payable report are on the agenda for approval.
KWES to feature Pecos on July 21 broadcasts
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., July 9, 2003 -- Members of the NewsWest 9 team will be in Pecos
again this year during their 11th annual "Under West Texas Skies" tour.
Two members of the team, Richard Acosta and Carlos Madrid, of NewsWest
9/KWES-TV talked to Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce Directors about their
trip to Pecos during the chamber's Tuesday meeting.
NewsWest 9 will broadcast live the week of July 21-25 from cities around
West Texas during its 11th annual "Under West Texas Skies" tour. The entire
news team will be on location live for the 4:30, 5 and 6 p.m. shows. There
are events for the whole family planned at each site, as well as news stories
featuring highlights from each community.
"We feature this program every August," said Richard Acosta, while explaining
that this year's trip has been moved up two weeks to the third week of July.
Acosta told the group that every year the group goes to five nearby cities
for a week and broadcasts live from that location.
"The big problem is that this year we won't have the big satellite truck,"
said Acosta. "We had to figure out where we could go with our reserve truck."
Acosta said that in order to do that, they would have to set up a truck
in Pecos and one in between Pecos and Odessa. The signal has to be relayed
to KWES because Pecos' elevation is about 400 feet lower than the Midland-Odessa
area.
"They told us it would be a big hassle, but we decided we wanted to come
to Pecos anyway," he said.
This is the first time that any city has the opportunity to do the broadcast
back to back. "This is the first time any city is getting to repeat it one
year after another," he said.
Acosta said that despite lightning and thunderstorm warnings, there was
a big crowd at the West of the Pecos Museum, the site of last year's broadcast.
"We even had rain for a little while, but despite all that we had a big
crowd and a lot of enthusiasm," said Acosta.
The ever-popular "Ugly Dog Contest" is scheduled again this year. Residents
are asked to bring their favorite mongrel on a leash to the location. Ribbons
are awarded with the grand prize winner receiving a gold cup full of doggy
treats.
A hot dog eating contest will be held that evening. Trophies and ribbons
are awarded to the persons eating the most hog dogs in a timed competition.
New this year is the "Ice Cream Eating" contest sponsored by Gandy's.
"Gandy's will also be giving away ice cream along with the contest," said
Acosta and the area Coca-Cola bottler would be on hand making sure everyone
has a nice cold drink.
The Red Cross of the Southwest will be on hand giving tours of their
mobile rescue unit, while United Blood Services sets up a mobile blood drive
and the Midland-Odessa Golden Corrals will be giving away food coupons.
The crew will arrive via charter buses provided by All Aboard America.
"Our first stop will be Pecos and we will be broadcasting from the grounds
of the West of the Pecos Museum," said Acosta.
The big event is planned for Monday, July 21 and the entire community
is invited to participate, according to Acosta.
Acosta said that anchor Jay Hendricks will be on hand, along with others
from the NewsWest 9 team. "Stephanie Rivas is on maternity leave, but she
said she might come to Pecos and bring her little baby with her, we don't
know yet," he said.
Acosta said that the group also wanted to interview a member of the chamber.
"We'll do a live interview and that person can promote Pecos, because after
all you're community is your product," he said.
Acosta added that this was a good opportunity to let everyone know all
that there is in Pecos and was a good way to advertise the city.
Other interviews will be conducted throughout the broadcast and will be
aired at different times. "And of course we have to have a lot of cantaloupes,"
said Acosta.
"We want to encourage you guys to invite everyone out there," said Acosta.
"We have a wide range of viewers and this will be a great way to advertise
your city," he said.
The NewsWest 9 team will be in Kermit on Tuesday at the Winkler County
Courthouse; at the Lakeside Park in Andrews on Wednesday; at the new Family
Aquatic Center at Hill Park on Thursday and in Big Spring on Friday, at
the Comanche Trails Park.
"This year's theme is 'It's a Friends and Family Summer." It's a chance
to get out and visit our friends around West Texas. Each year we visit new
places and learn new things," Hendricks said.
"This is one of our favorite weeks of the year. Each community always
welcomes us with open arms," said Acosta. "It's just our small way of saying
thank you for making us number one."
Girls softball team holding car wash
PECOS, Wed., July 9, 2003 -- Members of the Pecos 12 and under girls All-Star
softball team are holding a fundraising car wash today at Gibson's True
Value, in the 800 block of Walthall Street.
The funds are to support the team's trip to the regional All-Star Tournament,
scheduled for Midland on July 19-21. Pecos teams in the 10 and under and
14 and under age groups also are scheduled to participate in the tournament.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., July 9, 2003 -- High Tuesday 95. Low this morning 70. Forecast
for tonight: Clear. Lows in the upper 60s. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Thursday:
Sunny. Highs near 90. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Thursday night: Clear. Lows
in the lower 70s. Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 90s. Saturday:
Clear. Lows in the upper 60s. Highs in the mid 90s.
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 2003 by Pecos Enterprise
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