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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
County to seek juvenile grants from governor
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tues., Dec. 23, 2003 -- Reeves County Commissioners approved
a resolution for a grant application certification form from the Office
of the Governor-Criminal Justice Division for just under $20,000 in
grants and set the holidays for county employees for 2004 during their
regular meeting on Monday
Commissioners approved the submission of an application to the
Criminal Justice Division Office of the Governor for a Juvenile
Probation Detention Services Grant, in the amount of $12,000, with no
percentage to match.
In addition, the commissioners approved the submission of an
application to the Criminal Justice Division Office of the Governor for
a Juvenile Probation Counseling Services Grant in the amount of $7,760
with no percentage to match.
Mary Ann Acosta with the juvenile probation office was on hand and
thanked the commissioners for approving the grant submission.
"Anything we can do to help and applying for grants is a good way,"
said Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo.
Commissioners approved holidays for the county for 2004 and
included: New Year's Day, Thursday, Jan. 1; Martin Luther King, Monday,
Jan. 19; Good Friday, April 9; Memorial Day, Monday, May 31;
Independence Day, Actual Sunday, observe Monday, July 5; Labor Day,
Monday, Sept. 6; Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving,
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25-26; Christmas, Thursday and Friday, Dec.
23-24, although court day for the 27th will be changed to the Tuesday,
Dec. 28.
LMD Architect request for payment invoice No. 312 was approved in
the amount of $761.73, along with the 2004 TCDRS Retirement Plan, which
was approved with no changes.
Personnel and salary changes included: Isaac Diaz as a deputy
sheriff with the Reeves County Sheriff's Department and Amy Rodriguez
as a part-time employee at the Reeves County Library.
Sheriff's probing burglary of liquor store overnight
By BRENDEN BRIGGS
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tues., Dec. 23, 2003 -- Sheriff's Department are
investigating the burglary of a west side liquor store which occurred
sometime early this morning.
The Western Package Store, 2115 W. Third St., was broken into last
night between 12:30 and 7:30 a.m. today. According to Lieutenant Mike
Dominguez, the thieves broke in through the drive through window and
climbed in.
Dominguez said between the damage and the items stolen, the store's
total loss was put at about $1,500.
"We are reviewing the video tape, and have lifted several
fingerprints off of the items left behind by the thieves. It is too
early to say much, due to the investigation still being in the
beginning stages. We have multiple leads and some strong clues, so we
should know much more by tomorrow," Dominguez said.
The thieves tried to damage the video surveillance system, but
failed to get the tape, according to the report.
They mostly stole liquor and beer, but the majority of the monetary
loss resulted from the damage done to the video system and to the neon
signs, Dominguez added.
Christian Home seeks Christmas desserts, helpers
PECOS, Tues., Dec. 23, 2003 -- The Pecos Christian Home is ready for
Thursday's annual Christmas dinner at the Reeves County Civic Center as
far as the main course is concerned, but pies, cakes, and volunteers to
deliver the meals are still needed by Christmas morning.
According to Mark Polzin, director of the home, the supply of food
itself is plentiful enough, thanks to the generous donations of local
residents. However, the home is in need of pies and cakes, and
volunteers to travel to the homes of Meals-on-Wheels customers with
dinners. Help is also needed in serving those eating at the Civic
Center or picking up their meals to take home on Thursday.
The Christian Home has been serving meals on Christmas day and
Thanksgiving for the past 12 years, according to Polzin. "We expect a
better turnout this year, we had 250 last Christmas, but at
Thanksgiving we fed over 360 hungry citizens."
"We are still looking for volunteers to help with the event. We need
drivers for the home meal delivery, as well as servers and cooks for
the second half of the meal," Polzin said. Interested parties need to
show up at the Christian Home on Christmas morning by 8 a.m.
"I would just like to thank all of the Town of Pecos for their
support for the home and its activities. The community has help us
greatly in making this a better year for those in need," Polzin said.
The meal is offered free of charge, with Meals-on-Wheels delivery
from 8 a.m. until 10a.m. and the meal open to the public from 10 a.m.
until about 2 p.m.
The home is always looking for donations of food and money to allow
the home to stay open and aid people year round. For more information
the home can be reached at 445-2049. The home is located at 1201 S. Elm
St.
Tarin withdraws from commissioner's race
By ROSIE FLORES
and
JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writers
PECOS, Tues., Dec. 23, 2003 -- Reeves County Commissioner Herman Tarin
has withdrawn his bid for a fourth term in office, county party
chairman Bobby Dean announced today.
"Reeves County Commissioner Herman Tarin has withdrawn his
application for a place on the Democratic Party ballot and will not be
a candidate for the March Democratic Party election," Dean said in a
faxed release to the Enterprise at noon today.
Tarin, who was first elected as Precinct 3 Commissioner for Reeves
County in 1992, was not available for comment on his decision as of
press time.
Tarin's withdrawal from the Precinct 3 race still leaves three
candidates, Lisa Lopez Boicourt, Rosendo C. Galindo, and Bailey
Wheeless, who have filed for the four-term term. A fourth candidate,
Manuel "Manny" D. Lopez has filed a treasurer's designation with Reeves
County Clerk Diane Florez, but has not yet filed with Dean.
To file officially, candidates must file a petition with 50 names or
pay the filing fee by Jan. 2.
The other incumbent commissioner seeking a fourth term in office is
Felipe Arredondo. He and one challenger, Robert C. Natividad, have
filed with Dean, while two others, Armando "Mondie" Granado and Elizer
"Chel" Flores have filed their treasurer's designations.
Arredondo filed his treasurer's designation in September, and named
himself as treasurer. Granado Luzema E. Olivas as his campaign
treasurer, while Flores named himself treasurer for his possible run
for the Precinct 1 seat.
Natividad is the newest candidate to enter the Precinct 1 race,
while Galindo is the latest to enter the Precinct 3 commissioner's
race. Natividad named his wife Bertha as treasurer, while Galindo
designated himself as treasurer for his campaign.
The high number of candidates already in the two races comes after
commissioners have spent the past six months dealing with budget
problems related to the Reeves County Detention Center III project.
RCDC III was built at a cost of $40 million, in the wake of the
successful expansion of RCDC I and the construction of RCDC II during
the past decade. After its opening in March, the county was unable to
find inmates to fill RCDC III and meet bond payments, and in late
October agreed to contract with Wackenhut Correctional Corp. to manage
the prison, an agreement which included the loss of 31 jobs.
The deadline to file for the March primary ballot in both the
Democratic and Republican elections is Jan. 2, but almost all
candidates in Reeves County run in the Democratic primary.
Outside of the two races for commissioner, only incumbents have
filed for the other Reeves County primary election races. Dean is
posting the list of candidates who have either paid the filing fee or
returned a filing petition to his office.
In the other local races, the incumbents who have officially filed
with Dean include: for Reeves County Sheriff, Arnulfo "Andy" Gomez; Tax
Assessor-Collector, Elfida Zuniga; for constable, precinct #2 Jerry
Matta and for constable, precinct #3, Tomas "Tommy" Martinez.
Along with the county positions, other local offices that will be up
for election on March 9, are Reeves County Attorney; 143rd District
Attorney and 143rd District Court Judge.
Judge Bob Parks filed in Austin to retain his position as 143rd
District Court Judge, while former 143rd District Attorney Hal Upchurch
announced in November he planned to run for that seat again, after a
12-year absence. Pecos attorney Randall W. Reynolds currently holds the
position, and was first elected to office in 1996.
Upchurch has already filed in Austin for the District Attorney's
position. He had stated that he will keep his office in Monahans if
elected to the post.
The District Attorney and District Judge positions cover Reeves,
Ward and Loving Counties.
Both the District Attorney and the District Judge candidates will
file their petitions or pay a filing fee in Austin.
Filing for the Reeves County primary elections in March will
continue through Friday, Jan. 2.
Lawsuits delay N.M. purchases of water rights
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) - State Engineer John D'Antonio says the state
has agreed to about $25 million worth of land and water rights
purchases along the Pecos River, but can't close on them until a
long-running water rights lawsuit is resolved.
The state, federal water managers and several Pecos irrigation
districts announced early this year they had reached a settlement
agreement on a 50-year-old water rights adjudication case that focuses
on the Carlsbad area.
However, a few parties have filed notice that they intend to
protest the proposed settlement.
State government last year put up $70 million to buy 18,000 acres
of land and associated water rights around Roswell and Carlsbad to
increase water flowing down the Pecos to meet obligations to deliver
water downstream to Texas.
The Legislature specified no money could be spent to buy water
rights while the adjudication case was pending.
The purchase program is an effort to avoid a "priority call" on the
river, which would cut off those whose water rights on the river were
obtained most recently so as to be able to send water to Texas.
Attorney Paul Bloom, who represents two protesting parties, said
this week he expects it could take many months for the district court
to rule on his clients' claims. He also said appeals after that are
always a possibility.
His clients, Carlsbad farmers Louise and Francis Tracy and the Hope
Community Ditch near Artesia, argue that the proposed settlement would
violate the Pecos River Compact, which specifies that New Mexico manage
the river through priority administration. They also contend the
settlement is outside the authority of the district court.
D'Antonio and his predecessors have warned that the consequences of
failing to meet water obligations to Texas could be catastrophic.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered New Mexico not to fall behind in
its deliveries. A violation could result in a federal water master
taking over management of the Pecos.
State officials have estimated a priority call on the Pecos that
interrupted agriculture would cost about $250 million.
Tom Davis, manager of the Carlsbad Irrigation District, said he was
disappointed by the protests.
"We worked so long, a couple of years to put this agreement
together," he said. "And we tried so hard during that period of time to
include everyone."
Catholic churches plan services
PECOS, Tues., Dec. 23, 2003 -- Catholic Churches in the area have
planned their Christmas Mass schedule.
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, a mass will be held at 7 p.m., at Christ the
King Catholic Church in Balmorhea; 7 p.m., at Santa Rosa De Lima in
Pecos; 8:30 p.m., at Our Lady of Refuge in Barstow; 10 p.m., at St.
Catherine Catholic Church in Pecos and midnight at Santa Rosa.
On Christmas Day, a mass will be held at 10 a.m., at Santa Rosa De
Lima in Pecos; 10:30 at St. Catherine's and 12:30 p.m., at Our Lady of
Guadalupe Catholic Church in Saragosa.
Weather
PECOS, Tues., Dec. 23, 2003 -- High Monday 72. Low this morning 31.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows near 30. South winds near 10
mph. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Highs near 65. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. South winds 10 to
15 mph. Christmas Day: Partly cloudy. Highs near 70. Southwest winds 10
to 15 mph. Thursday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s to the
lower 40s. Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 70s. Friday
night: Mostly clear. Lows near 40.
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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