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Wednesday, February 19, 1997

Home health set for April start, RCH board told


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 19, 1997 - Home health services are about two months
away for Reeves County Hospital, Jason Bullard told the board of
directors in their monthly meeting Tuesday.

Bullard said he has met several times with hospital staff to set up the
organization while awaiting licensing by the state of Texas. Once the
license is granted, the visiting nurses will enlist their first patient
and ask for a Medicare survey, he said.

Home visits are allowed with the license, but no charge can be made for
the services until the survey is complete, he said.

Meanwhile, the finance office has set up a schedule of charges, and a
prospective director is waiting in the wings.

"We are moving ahead quite rapidly," Bullard said. "When we get the
application, we will hire a director and get ready for the survey," he
said.

Bullard said the hospital staff is extremely knowledgeable and
enthusiastic.

"It has been a great joy to work with all of them," he said. "It is very
unusual to have a staff so enthusiastic about starting a home health
program."

A temporary organizational chart to include the home health program was
approved, along with the 1997 management plan.

The plan calls for hiring a permanent chief executive officer; to
recruit a podiatrist for the staff and a nurse-practitioner for the
emergency room and clinic in Balmorhea; and bring in new services of
home health, respite care, pulmonary rehabilitation, and laboratory
equipment for local testing.

Cross training of nursing staff will continue to achieve staffing
flexibility, with a decentralized management team for the Department of
Nursing.

The hospital already has achieved its goal of establishing a pharmacy
and hiring a full-time pharmacist. Wendell Alford has accepted that
position, said interim CEO Terry Andris.

In expanding community services, the hospital will seek to coordinate
with the Reeves County Health Fair Committee to provide low cost or
no-cost screening, testings and health information to the public during
the April event. RCH will also continue to seek grant alternatives for
long-range projects and promote obstetrical services available at the
hospital, since new outside competition is coming to Pecos.

Capital budget amendments were made to provide for replacement of aging
equipment and improving the 19-year-old building and grounds. Salary
increases of up to 2.5 percent will be given as merited.

While business practices are to be revised to improve billing, and
decrease the 14 percent bad debt picture, board member Greg Luna said he
is concerned about legal immigrants who will lose their welfare benefits.

"I don't know how to handle it, because legal immigrants were supposed
to be self sustaining and/or have family that was supposed to sustain
them. I am just wondering about those decreases where some have
Supplemental Security Income and Social Security benefits (which) are
being withdrawn. How is that going to impact us?"

Andris said he plans to attend a meeting in Austin to discuss that
matter.

"It looks like the state legislature will back off some of that and
maybe not reduce benefits as much as we were first told," he said.

Board president Jeannette Alligood said it is not only immigrants that
will be affected.

"Aid for Dependent Children is going away, and I think it will probably
really impact our area," she said. "A lot of families get Medicaid
through that, and they are going to lose it. It is going to be real
rough. We drastically needed welfare reform, but this is a big change
really fast."

Lack of jobs in this area will hamper the new program, which requires
people on welfare to seek work, she said.

Accounting Manager Ymelda Rodriguez reported patient days and total
revenue for January were over budget, cutting the operating loss from an
expected $112,053 to $42,984.

"The staff is doing a real good job and working as a team," said
Alligood.

Elfida Zuniga reported tax collections of 82 percent are up 4 percent
from the same time last year. Delinquent tax collectors are working on
the smaller accounts, she said.

"They are starting to file a lot more suits now," she said. "They are
looking into each account."

The board set a two-hour executive session for self-evaluation for March
13, with a facilitator with Methodist Hospital Systems to lead them
through the process.

After calling an election for May 3, the board approved judges and
clerks and set early voting for April 14-29 in the Community Center, 508
S. Oak St.

Debbie Thomas is elections coordinator for the hospital district, school
and city. She will conduct early voting for all three entities in the
center.

Galindo goes hunting for prisoners

during trip to D.C., through Texas


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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 19, 1997 - Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo has had
a busy travel schedule since the beginning of the year, including at
trip to Washington, D.C. for the Presidential Inaugural Ceremony last
month.

Galindo received his invitation from the presidential inaugural
committee to attend President Clinton's second swearing-in ceremony on
Jan. 20 in Washington.

"It was a historical moment and a great honor to have been a part of the
presidential inauguration," said Galindo.

Clinton pledged to loosen the grips of government, curb partisanship and
temper racial division during his inauguration speech on the rear steps
of the U.s. Capitol.

Clinton, the first-Democrat re-elected to the White House since Franklin
Roosevelt, promised to be bold and strong through his second term, which
ushers in a new century, but he offered no new programs or other agendas
other than his symbolic project to build a bridge "wide enough and
strong enough for every American to cross over to a blessed land of new
promise."

Galindo, who is midway through his first term as Reeves County judge,
agrees with Clinton's philosophy about "building a bridge wide enough
and strong enough," and tries to emulate this in dealing with county
business.

"Our main concern is for the people of Reeves County, in creating jobs
and promoting our county," said Galindo, who spent a week in Washington
and had the opportunity to speak to different influential individuals.

"I met with Congressman Solomon Ortiz, to look into housing military
inmates who have been dishonorably discharged for crimes they committed
during their military careers," said Galindo, who has sought ways to
expand the Reeves County Detention Center.

Galindo said that currently, individuals who have been dishonorably
discharged from the military are sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and are
supervised by military correctional officers.

"They are supervised by other military personnel," said Galindo.

"I spoke to him (Ortiz) about possibly providing these services that we
as a county government can do at a lower cost," said Galindo.

Ortiz, a Democrat who represents Texas' District 27 in Washington, is on
the defense committee of the House of Representatives.

"Ortiz is the third highest ranking official on the defense committee
and is very aware of defense issues," said Galindo.

Galindo also met with Mark Lubin, a legislative assistant to Reeves
County's Congressman, Henry Bonilla, about the possibility of
statistical data in regard to INS detention facilities and possibly
extending services for the INS.

Galindo was in El Paso last week and prior to that had been in San
Antonio, trying to find ways to diversify the client-base at the Pecos
facility.

He met with the officer in charge of detention for INS, and the week
before he met with the United States Marshal for the Western District
Jack Dean in San Antonio.

These efforts are to provide services to the federal government at lower
cost and create jobs for the residents of Reeves County, Galindo said.

At a special commissioners court meeting held recently, they approved
the first stages of expanding the Reeves County Detention Center
facility by 300 beds and creating more jobs at the facility.

"Our concern is on serving the client we currently have, diversifying
our clients and expanding our facility," said Galindo.

Forgery indictments among 13

returned by county grand jury


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 19, 1997 - Forgery accounted for almost half the 13
indictments returned Tuesday by the Reeves County grand jury.

Other charges include sexual assault, aggravated assault, marijuana
possession, burglary of a habitation and criminal mischief.

Luis Villalobos Ybarra, 37, is charged with the sexual assault of a
female on March 3, 1996. His bail is $25,000.

Tyrone Jenkins, 26, is charged with striking Booker Fobbs with a beer
bottle on Nov. 10, 1996. His bail is $15,000.

Jesus Armendariz, 18, Margarita Munoz, 19, and Mireya Munoz, 28, are
charged with scratching a pickup, owned by Sammy Valeriano, on Dec. 1,
1996. Their bail was set at $7,500 each.

Charles Butler, 46, is charged with possession of more than 50 pounds of
marijuana on Feb. 11. His bail is $125,000.

Jose Alejandor Morales, 27, allegedly entered the home of Sharon
Hernandez on Dec. 26, 1996 with intent to commit theft. His bail is
$15,000.

Forgery is the charge against:

- Eliseo Venegas Lujan, 19, for an $85 check on Niomi Tarango, passed to
Toyah Texaco.

- Debra V. Martinez, 27, and Arturo Ortiz Gallegos, 25, allegedly passed
a $150 check on Greg C. Young of Fort Stockton at the Flying J. Travel
Plaza Jan. 23.

- Juan Carlos Lujan, 24, allegedly passed a $744 check signed by Carlos
Lujan at La Tienda Thriftway Nov. 4, 1996.

- Florentino Torres Florez, 43, is charged with passing a $25 check on
Lela Ivy Schneider at Lucky Partners on April 22, 1996.

- Omar Medina, 30, is charged with passing an $869 check signed by Greg
Young of Fort Stockton at Pecos Emporium Jan. 18.

Bail on all forgery charges is $7,500.


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 19, 1997 - District Attorney Randy Reynolds has filed
notice of seizure and intent to forfeit more than $8,000 in cash and a
1976 travel trailer taken as contraband in recent drug cases.

Manuel Quiroz of Balmorhea is the owner of $671.56 seized Jan. 23 by
Clay McKinney.

McKinney seized $7,884.06 from Ismaael Reyes, 717 S. Walnut St., on Feb.
3.

A 1976 TEC travel trailer was seized Feb. 7 from Glenn Cameron on Farm
Road 1216.

Reynolds asked District Judge Bob Parks to forfeit the contraband to the
state.

Wink postmaster jailed; former Pecosite arrested


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 19, 1997 - Recent indictments charge a Wink postmaster
with misappropriation of postal funds and a former Pecos resident with
importing and possessing with intent to distribute over 500 grams of
cocaine in separate cases.

Tony Aguilar, 19, of Odessa was arrested Jan. 28 at the Ysleta Port of
Entry and indicted by a federal grand jury in El Paso. He is being
detained without bond in the El Paso County Jail.

Darrell Fields, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office, said
agents found about 10 pounds of cocaine inside Aguilar's vehicle after
it crossed the Rio Grande.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Mesa appointed public defender Christine
Kelso of El Paso to represent Aguilar, but he later hired Richard Abalos
of Odessa.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Billy Johnson on Tuesday arrested Wink Postmaster
Eulalia Marrufo, 48, on her indictment for allegedly converting $43,887
of Post Office funds.

If convicted she could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined
$250,000.

Gomez says cash unavailable

to get PHA matching grant


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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 19, 1997 - New funds are needed to renovate Farm Labor
Housing units, but obtaining an FmHA grant requires matching funds,
manager Nellie Gomez told the Pecos Housing Authority board members
Tuesday.

Although PHA has no extra funds, the board told Gomez to go ahead with a
housing preservation grant application and to publish those intentions
to alert the public. She said the application deadline is April.

Gomez said a FmHA audit Friday resulted in no findings, but the
inspector will have two or three suggestions that he will put in writing.

In the HUD portion of the meeting, the board approved collection loss
write-offs for two former tenants and approved the Public Housing
Management Assessment Program certification report.

"We did better in some areas," Gomez said, but the average number of
days to refurbish and rent vacant apartments was high at 27.

Of 130 HUD apartments, 124 are occupied.

In executive session, the board evaluated Gomez, then adjourned without
taking any further action.

CORRECTION


Former Pecos Postmaster Paul Morrison was misidentified as Paul
Patterson in a caption under a photo run in Tuesday's Golden Years
section. Our apologies to Mr. Morrison.

WEATHER


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High Tuesday 75, low last night 45. Rain, trace. Year-to-date .37 inch.
Tonight, numerous showers and thunderstorms, some with locally heavy
rain. Low in the mid 40s. East to northeast wind 10-20 mph. Chance of
rain is 80 percent. Thursday, mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of
rain. High around 60. Northeast to north wind 10-20 mph.
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Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
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