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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Pecos Country
of West Texas
Opinion
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Squarely Pegged
By Peggy McCracken
Light the dark world
with holiday cheer
Before I left for work this morning, I dragged out Leon's Nativity
scene, Peggy Lynn's "Home for Christmas" wooden cutouts, the little
lighted Christmas tree and a string of multicolored lights to frame the
big front windows.
Thanksgiving comes first, I know, but Christmas is what gives us
something to be thankful about. Jesus had to be born into this dark
world to light up our lives and make them worth living (and dying).
I like Freddie Barton's prayer: that we would be lesser lights to
point the way to the greater light of God and His son Jesus.
Lesser lights are the stars we see when we look up on a dark night.
How beautiful the heavens with all the twinkling lights forming the Big
Dipper, the Little Dipper, the Milky Way and other configurations named
by man.
When Jesus was born, an extra-bright star alerted men who studied
those configurations that the world had a new King. Lights on our
houses, trees and shrubs remind passersby during this season that Jesus
was born for a reason. He didn't stay in that manger cradle, but grew
into a strong man who ministered to the poor and needy while on earth,
died in our place on the cross, and rose from the grave to sit at the
right hand of God with all authority and power.
It is fitting that we who have been abundantly blessed share those
blessings as we celebrate Jesus' birth and give thanks for all He has
done for us. Not only does He save us from the spiritual death we
deserve, He provides for our every material need if we let him.
I'm thankful for a safe trip to St. Louis earlier this month for my
grandson's wedding and to visit Peggy Lynn. I'm thankful David and
family will be coming for an early Christmas. That frees me up to help
Velma Bradley and Mark Polzin with the Christian Home's Thanksgiving
and Christmas dinners at the Reeves County Civic Center.
Everyone knows I am not a cook, so my part will be to provide
cranberry sauce and help with cleanup. That was my job when Leon did
the cooking. I know how to scrub pots and pans.
However you celebrate these special days, spread the light.
"You are the light of the world...Let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matt 5:14a, 16.
Editor's Note: Peggy McCracken is Enterprise business
manager and webmaster. Contact her at peg2@pecos.net
Your View
Citizen thanks fans, players and coaches for a great year
Dear Editor:
I'm a Football parent so please forgive me if I go on and on about
gridiron conversation. Thus it brings me to the subject of my letter to
this newspaper ... Football! The season has come to an end for Pecos
but not without some notable improvements and some considerable hope
for next years season. Most notable THE PECOS EAGLE DEFENSE remained in
the TOP 10 of the PERMIAN BASIN AREA Football Statistics. They allowed
only 172 yards rushing and 95 yards of passing per game and only 22.3
points as well. Not one of our opponents can use a game against Pecos
as a source for single game receiving or rushing stats. However 3 of
the 4 district opponents we faced were the source for some other teams
top ten single game and receiving statistics. Which means Greenwood,
Kermit, and Ft. Stockton had enough yards of offense against them that
whoever their opponent was made the final top ten list for most yardage
in a single game whether it was passing or rushing. Again no team we
faced in district made enough offensive yards against Pecos to go on
this list. Also consider that the Varsity consisted of over 50 %
underclassman that will return next year.
Coach Willis did a fine job of taking over as head football coach on
short notice and putting a whole new program in with only 3 weeks
before their first scrimmage. (This is the second straight year this
has happened and the 3rd program that has had to be introduced in this
manner) Remember the Eagles had El Paso Riverside frustrated and on the
ropes and beat Midland Christian who are on more than one of those top
ten lists. The eagles defeated Brownfield who made the playoffs in
their district. The Eagles also came out on top over Lamesa who in turn
defeated Monahans. All this with less than a month to prepare our boys
who have been through 4 different programs in 3 years. Therefore when
our boys return next year I hope that Head Football Coach/Athletic
Director Willis will have made the changes necessary not just on the
practice field but in the staff room to ensure a more successful season
next year. Coach Willis you have a lot to be positive about. Best
wishes for next year and know that there are many people here that
support you and believe in you (Your wife can count on my family to
feed the coaches again) I hope you get strong support from the
Administration and School Board if hard choices have to be made and any
changes you might have to make.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those fans that
attended football games. Many of you made the trip to Brownfield,
Lamesa, and Lubbock, which is not just a drive down the street. I
especially am grateful for all you that attended and stayed for the
last game against Greenwood in spite of the weather. I'm sure it made
the night warmer for our boys on the field. To all those football
players that were still on the team that last night you should be proud
of each other because there wasn't a quitter amongst you. All of you
stayed and continued to represent Pecos High School in the best way you
could. I especially would like to thank the parents who helped keep
your sons eligible to play. Thank you for being committed to their
studies and help keeping their grades up. Those young men that stayed
eligible are in the top 10% in life. To the families of the coaches who
also have vested interests in our football program I thank you for
supporting your loved one who spent so much time with the football
team.
Respectfully,
DAVID CASTILLO
Pecos Eagle Fan
Doctor disappointed with editor over column
Dear Editor:
I remain concerned about our county finances. The future of Pecos and
the future of the county are intertwined by their respective fiscal
management or mismanagement. I appreciate that the Editor shares my
concerns about county management and the future of RCDC and its
employees. However, the city's situation is similar. Yet, the
Enterprise remains silent on the city's matters. To whit:
Sheriff Andy Gomez and Chief of Police Clay McKinney are both chief
administrative officers of their own law enforcement agencies. The
Editor defers judgment that Sheriff Gomez declines to serve as a
monitor between the county and Wackenhut Corporation with regard to the
management of RCDC. Meanwhile, McKinney is to serve a like position as
temporary city manager. I would prefer that both gentlemen use their
time making our community safe, rather than supervising fiduciary
matters. Sheriff Gomez's actions indicate he agrees with this position.
McKinney is a fine gentleman. But, I'd prefer he spend this time making
our streets safe.
The Editor is disturbed by Mr. Weinacht's offer to donate his salary
back to the County. The Editor believes this arrangement is not "fair"
to Mr. Weinacht. This is the first time the Editor, who touts a mantra
of "life is not fair," uses this tact. But let's look at fairness in
similar situations.
Mr. Weinacht has stated he'll temporarily decline his salary of
$61,000 per year. Chief McKinney accepts the $90,000 per year post as
city manager at the bargain-basement salary of $800 per month ($9,600
per year). Mr. McKinney is donating his worth as city manager to the
tune of $80,400 per annum. This is $19,400 more "unfair" to McKinney
than the "unfair" situation. Weinacht imposes on himself. Yet, the
Enterprise does not decry the "unfairness" to McKinney.
The Editor states that Mr. Weinacht related that his appointment as
monitor was not "good old boy" politics related to Judge Galindo taking
care of a "friend." Yet, Chief McKinney and Mayor Dot Stafford share a
similar relationship and belong to the same community service
organizations. The Enterprise remains silent and does not insinuate
cronyism by our Mayor.
The reason? Clearly the Enterprise is friendly with the Stafford
administration and decidedly unfriendly to that of Judge Galindo. While
not impartial, it is not unexpected. Newspapers and their editors are
seldom objective. Being human they too have their own friendships and
objective. Most of us don't enjoy having a couple of columns to hold
forth with our partiality.
Smokey's suggestion that the RCDC contract "monitor" form as a
triumvirate, covering separate aspects of monitoring (law, finance, and
administration), is troubling. It's not his usual "small government"
line of thinking. Doing so would only add strata to the levels of
bureaucracy that already burden the county. Briggs would likely suggest
that the "bankers" and "successful businessman" come from the ranks of
those unfriendly to the County administration. This would be cronyism.
It would not benefit the citizens or jobless county workers.
Our county doesn't need more bureaucracy, paid or unpaid. Our local
government and civic organizations are already thus overburdened. There
are meetings abut meetings, committees on committees, and scores of
retreats and discussions. Milling around is movement, but it's not
progress.
Clearly, we need leadership. More rulers does not equate to
leadership. I pray that a leader will emerge from among us.
Unfortunately, the most eligible have fled, disgusted by cronyism,
tribalism, and small-town politics. The Editor knows this. Rather than
appealing for "fairness," Smokey should use his small press to extol
the virtues of self-control, self-reliance and the need for courageous
leadership. Doing so would be consistent with the values the Editor
usually espouses.
I was disappointed with his Sage Views of 18 November .
JOHN LIBBIE
Veterans Day
EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter was to be published in the
Veteran's section on November 11, 2003, but was not printed due to lack
of space.
November 11th was Veterans Day. Just another day for most people,
unless you happen to be a Veteran. Although now it seems as if its just
business as usual. It should be a day designated in honor of the past,
present, and future young and old men and women in the Armed Forces.
Does anybody remember WWI,WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc.? Ask a Veteran
"What does it mean when people say that Freedom is not Free?" He or She
may tell you of the blood , sweat, and tears that goes with that
saying. Or they may tell you of the sacrifice that their loved ones
also had to endure. We are the people that did not run to Canada or
Mexico, instead we fought for our country. It does not matter if you
fought in a combat zone or not. If you served in the military, you are
a Veteran..
So what are we supposed to do on Veterans Day? There is a man named
Alvin King who never served in the U. S. Armed Forces. Yet he is
credited with giving us Veterans Day 50 years ago this month. Although
Armistice day was established in 1938, King decided to overhaul the
observance into all Veterans Day. This year he has planned out a full
week of activities from November 5th thru November 11th. Included are a
USO Show, a mounted demonstration by the I' Calvary of Fort Hood,
Texas, a World War 11 battle reenactment and several guest speakers
from distinguished military leaders and a former POW. On November 11th
after a free breakfast for Veterans, the parade begins at 9:30 A.M...
It is then followed by a service at All Veterans Memorial, lunch at the
American Legion Post, dinner at Golden Corral and a concert by the Air
Force's Heartland of America Band.
I guess that what I am really saying is that we should not wait for
another fallen Hero to show our appreciation to our Veterans. The time
to do it, is now! Just look around you. How many of yours fellow
workers are Veterans? Do you know? Do you care? How many Veterans are
out of jobs, disabled or need transportation to Odessa or Big Spring VA
Hospital? How many are homeless and families of Veterans who need help
or questions answered? There are many other areas that need to be
addressed. Are the schools even educating our young children on the
importance of Veterans Day?
Somebody should do something. Well let me put my money where my
mouth is and say that I will make myself available for any and all
Veterans who may have any questions, ideas, suggestions or just want to
shoot the breeze. They can call me or email me. I may not have all the
answers but together we will figure it out. By the way I served 2 years
in the Marines (one tour of duty in Vietnam) Semper Fi and 19 years in
the Army.
May God bless each and every Veteran and their families from the
bottom of my heart.
SFC Richard Molina
Pecos, Texas 79772
Email: elfida@nwol.net
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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
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