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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Thursday, October 16, 2003
RCH receives $55,000 in grant funds from state
By BRENDEN BRIGGS
Staff Writer
PECOS, Thurs., Oct. 16, 2003 -- Reeves County Hospital has received a
$55,000 grant from Texas Gov. Rick Perry's office, part of $3.6 million
in grants handed out statewide for the assessment and improvement of
hospital facilities.
Perry's office made the announcement of the grants on Wednesday,
saying they will allow the individual institutions to be eligible for
federal assistance grants.
"This grant gives hospitals in underserved areas the funds necessary
to bring their facilities up to federal standards," Spokesperson for
the Office of the Governor Gene Acuna said.
The $55,000 awarded to Reeves County Hospital can be used for the
assessment of community needs, the development of a health care model,
assistance with federal application process and to provide for
additional equipment needed to bring the facility up to Federally
Qualified Health Center standards (FQHC).
Hospital officials did not have any final plan for use of the money,
but said the funds could specifically be used to offset some of the
cost associated with the new dialysis center opening in the spring.
"The grant amount is slightly less than we applied for," RCH
Director of Program Development Nancy Ontiveros said, "we are hoping to
use the funds to stock the new hospital wing with new equipment that
will help the hospital qualify as a FQHC."
"By making this important state investment, Texas is in the
position to attract additional federal funds for center that will
provide high-quality, cost-effective and comprehensive primary and
preventive care," Perry said in a press release. "by increasing the
number of federally qualified health centers in Texas, we increase
access to health care throughout the state."
As part of Senate Bill 610, the funds are part of the Governor's
health care plan for the state. The legislation is part of an effort to
increase the number of FQHC throughout the state that will allow the
facilities draw upon federal funds to better serve the people.
The program is designed to benefit those areas that are lacking in
access to health care by all people in the community. In 2001 the 181
FQHC's in Texas provided health care to 483,452 patients, of which 59%
were uninsured. The hope is that the program will expand the
availability of health care to those people who don't have it now,
specifically the extension of services to low-income and uninsured
Texans.
Eagle Band to march in Odessa competition
PECOS, Thurs., Oct. 16, 2003 -- Pecos High School Eagle Band members
will be competing Saturday afternoon in the Class 3A competition of the
University Interscholastic League Region 6 Marching Competition, at
Ratliff Stadium in Odessa.
The Eagle Band will perform at 4:30 p.m., against other area
marching bands at the 3A level, mostly made up schools from Pecos'
District 4-3A.
"They're just going to go out there and do the best they can," said
Eagle Band Assistant Director Scott Bostwick.
Under a rule change in the mid-1990s, bands only are allowed to
advance past the regional level to area competition every other year.
Winning bands in last year's Class 3A and 5A competitions advanced in
2002, and this year, only bands in Class A, 2A and 4A will advance past
Saturday's competition in Odessa.
Bostwick said that the bands practice everyday and on Monday
evenings.
The other bands in Saturday's competition will be getting in their
final practices on Friday night, at halftime of area football games.
However, since Pecos' scheduled game this week was cancelled when
Presidio dropped its football program, an open rehearsal has been
scheduled for 7 p.m., tomorrow at Eagle Stadium. Everyone is invited to
attend.
"As long as they do their best, they'll be alright," said Bostwick.
"They're going to go out there and do their best and that's all we can
ask of them," he said.
The group received a "Two" rating during last year's competition.
Division I is the highest ranking a band can receive from UIL judges,
and rankings range from I to IV.
Deadline Saturday for rec dept. soccer registration
PECOS, Thurs., Oct. 16, 2003 -- Saturday is the deadline for parents
to register their boys and girls at the Reeves Co. Community Sports and
Recreation Dept. for the fall youth soccer program.
The program will be divided up into leagues based on age groups, and
boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 14 are eligible to
participate. Entry fee is $10 per child, with a deadline of Saturday to
sign up at the recreation department office in the old Pecos High
School gym
Forms can be picked up at the office during regular office hours.
Returned forms must have the signatures of both parents, and a copy of
the child's birth certificate also must be provided.
For further information, call the recreation department at 447-9776.
Weather
PECOS, Thurs., Oct. 16, 2003 -- High Wed. 89. Low this morning 53.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows near 55. NW winds 10 to 15
mph, shifting to the NE 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph after
midnight. Fri.: Partly cloudy. Highs near 80. NE winds 10 to 15 mph.
Fri. night: Partly cloudy. Lows near 50. SE winds 10 to 15 mph.
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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