The MONAHANS NEWS

Weekly Newspaper for Ward County

TOP NEWS

May 8, 1997

West Texas Country auditions begin

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Auditions have been scheduled for a concert version of the the
sesquicentennial musical, "This West Texas Country."
Monahans Community Theater, in conjunction with Monahans High School,
will hold the open auditions. Fifteen singers/soloists are required for
the performance scheduled at the Million Barrel Museum on May 31 as part
of the facility's anniverary celebration.
Those who wish to audition should report to Monahans High School at 7
p.m. on Monday, May 12.
For more information, call Evelyn Jones at 943-5160.
The show will focus only on the music of the production.
World Wide Web seminar June 3

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Cyberspace in Ward County will be the focus of a seminar scheduled on
June 3 at the Ward County Convention Center, reports Charles Walker,
director of the Monahans Economic Development Corporation.
Says Walker:
"Monahans Main Street Association, Ward Memorial Hospital and the
Monahans Economic Development Corporation will host a WWW.Monahans
Community Information Meeting."
WWW is the code for World Wide Web on the internet.
The convention center meeting starts at 6 p.m.
From Walker:
"The purpose of this Community Information Meeting is to communicate to
the public the many different ways the Monahans Web Page is being used.
All interested citizens are encouraged to attend this meeting."
Last year, Walker notes, was the year Monahans got on the Web.
"Nineteen-ninety-seven is the year to get Monahans businesses,
organizations and governments ready to reap the rewards of an internet
presence," says Walker.
Parum family benefit set

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Phil Standefer and the Phantom Band of Monahans will be featured
entertainers at a benefit and dance for the Parum family who recently
lost their home in a fire in Odessa.
Parum works in Monahans.
The dance will take place Saturday, May 10, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
at the American Legion Hall Post 430 at 2701 E. 8th Street in Odessa.
Tickets are $4.00 per person or $6.00 per couple. Children 12 and under
free. A special appearance will be made by the Dixie Dance Kings and
friends.
The event will also include prizes, raffle tickets and auctions with all
proceeds going to benefit the Parum family.
The family is also in need of household goods of all types and clothing.
If you can help, call Phil Standefer at 943-2374.
The public is encouraged to come out, listen and dance to the country
sounds of Phil Standefer and the Phantom Band with the Dixie Dance Kings
& friends and help out a good cause at the same time.
Building permits leap

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More than $100,000 in commercial building permits, keyed by $100,000 in
remodeling on the Downtown Chevron, were issued in April, according to
the monthly building permit report issued by the City of Monahans.
According to the report from City Inspector Bobby Sinclair, $20,390 in
residential permits were issued; $130,300 in commercial permits; and
$2,000 in institutional permits.
The $100,000 permit to Meaders & Tatum for work on the Chevron Station
was the largest. Company officers say they plan to reopen the station in
about six months after the work is finished. The station had closed last
year.
A $30,000 building permit was issued to the City of Monahans for
construction of a pavilion at the Monahans Cemetery.
Grandfalls seats two councilors

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Incumbent Paul Armstrong and Margaret Cahill led the voting in
Grandfalls for two seats on the Grandfalls City Council on Saturday, May
3. Cahill had 36 votes; Armstrong, 32.
Wickett water commended

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Water in the City of Wickett has earned a commendation from the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Committee.
According to a communique from the state, Wickett has received a
Certificate of Outstanding Performance.
From the report:
During the five year period 1992-96, the City of Wickett's public water
system has had no violations related to the total coliform rule. The
staff of the Public Drinking Water Section and the Field Operations
Division recognized and awarded the certificate for this outstanding
performance."
Wickett's water superintendent is Chuck Hudson.
"He along with his assistant, Hal Creel, are responsible for this
outstanding performance certificate," says a statement from the City of
Wickett.
Chevron car wash in the works

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Meaders & Tatum has started a $100,000 remodeling and refurbishing
project that means the reopening of the downtown Monahans Chevron with a
high-tech, brushless car wash.
That was the report on Wednesday from John Tatum, a principal in the
firm. Tatum projects the reopening in about six months. The station at
310 South Main Street has been closed for about one year, says Tatum.
But reopening is coming as quickly as the remodeling work can be
finished.
Tatum says the work began last week.
"It sometimes seems that remodeling takes longer than building from
scratch," reports Tatum. "It's going to be abut six months. We have to
remodel the interior."
When the work is completed, the feature will be the car wash in which no
brushes touch the vehicle being cleaned.
Says Tatum: "We're going to do a convenience store with a drive-through
touch free car wash. You won't have to worry about one of those brushes
taking off an antenna. The only thing that will touch the car will be
the cleaning solution."
Tatum says the fuel pumps will be equipped with "the latest in
technology. You can pay for your gasoline or your car wash right at the
pumps with your credit card."
The Downtown Chevron will include a full-service convenience store but
Tatum notes the most unusual focus of the reopened business will be the
car wash and what it means to residents of Monahans.
"One thing for certain," says Tatum. "My wife won't have to drive to
Odessa to wash her car."
Friends pile up Sandhill funds

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Sandhills Friends are collecting the dollars as part of a matching funds
project that would provide nearly one million dollars for improvements
and upgrades at the unique park.
Richard J. Hoyer of Monahans, treasurer of the Sandhills Friends, says
the blooming yucca touched the $100,000 mark on the drive scale because
of an anonymous $25,000 gift from a foundation.
Hoyer and Kathlyn C. Dunagan, president of the Sandhills Friends, say
the goal is to reach the $160,000 figure by September or October so that
work can begin as soon as possible.
Dunagan notes that $10 donations from those who enjoy the park and want
to see it preserved would enable the goal to be reached. Donations can
be mailed to Friends of Monahans Sandhills State Park, PO Box 387,
Monahans TX, 79756.
The projected upgrade includes extensive remodeling and exhibits at the
park visitor's center.
Student Council wins sweepstakes

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Monahans High School's Student Council is the winner of the Texas state
sweepstakes award, reports MHS council advisor Dolores Ratcliff.
The Lobo Council won the award at the Student Councils State Conference
in Austin the weekend of May 3. Says a statement from Ratcliff: "They
achieved this award for having been named Outstanding Student Council,
Outstanding Energy School, Outstanding DASH School and Outstanding Pride
and Patriotism School."
Student Council members who made the trip to Austin include Amy Morgan,
Janie Willson, Adam Palmer, Annee Tucker, Julie Rowe, Jae Bigham,
Jennifer Smith and advisor Ratcliff.
Ratcliff notes Morgan, president of the Lobo Council, has been named
Outstanding Student Council Girl in District 8. She is president of
District 8. Gabe Rubio of Big Spring was designated Outstanding Student
Council Boy. Ratcliff has been chosen Outstanding District Advisor of
the Year. Morgan has been a member of the council for four years.
Says Ratcliff: "Working with student leaders is one of the most
challenging and rewarding experiences. MHS has an outstanding group of
leaders . . . willing to work in a positive way to better our school and
community."
This school year the Monahans High School Student Council has served as
president of District 8. Seven of the 10 years Ratcliff has been council
advisor, the council has served as a district officer school.

Ten vote in Thorntonville

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A total of 10 votes elected three members of the Thorntonville City
Council on Saturday, May 3.
The council met Tuesday night, May 6, and canvassed the returns.
Elected were Larry Jones, Alvin L. Wells and Bill Mann. There was a
reason for the small vote, reports Thorntonville city officials. All the
victors ran unopposed.Newcomer joins G-R school board
Incumbents Chris Kessler and Mike York plus newcomer David Tucker were
the winners in the balloting for the board of the Grandfalls-Royalty
school district on Saturday, May 3.
Tucker won a three-way race to succeed Junior Bowden for the Place 5
seat on the school board. Bowden chose this year not to seek reelection
after spending many years on the Grandfalls-Royalty school board.
Tucker, a chemist, had 68 votes in the balloting. His nearest challenger
had 18.
Place 6 trustee Chris Kessler and Place 7 trustee Mike York easily won
election to full three-year terms on the board.
Kessler had 56 votes; York, 51.
School superintendent Charles Carter reports that York and Kessler had
been appointed to unexpired terms No challenge to close vote planned
Members of the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District board Monday, May
5, made official what administrators believe is the closest
two-candidate vote in the history of the school district.
School administrators told the board losing candidate Alan Steen had
indicated he had no plans to challenge his three vote loss. Winner
Steve Hurst was on hand at the board meeting for the official tally.
Steen was not.
Members of the board examined the vote sheets and honored retiring board
member Robert Wells, the incumbent for whose seat Hurst and Steen had
run.
After receiving an award for his years of service from Board President
Johnny White, Wells said:
"I've enjoyed it but its time for a change."
White asked Wells if he would be available for the May 29 graduation to
present diplomas to graduating seniors in case some students wanted to
receive their diploma from him. Wells readily agreed. Hurst, who
officially takes his first seat as a member of the school board at the
next meeting, also will be present.
Board member John Sconiers moved to accept the results of the May 3
election after the canvass. Trustee Ruben Martinez seconded. The board
approved unanimously.
District 6 Trustee Steve Swarb, who was elected without opposition,
stepped forward and shook hands with Hurst.
Hurst wins by three ballots

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Steve Hurst won the District 7 position on the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote
School District Board of Trustees by three votes on Saturday, May 3.
The vote was 114 for Hurst, 111 for opponent Alan Steen.
It probably was the closest two-candidate race for the Monahans school
board in the history of the school district, says Mike Fletcher,
assistant superintendent for administration.
Fletcher says several years ago there were two trustee elections in
which runoffs were required and in which the leaders in the two races
were separated by four votes But the Hurst-Steen contest was "without
argument" the closest any school official could recall or find in a
check of the records.
Hurst and Steen challenged each other for the position held by Incumbent
trustee Robert Wells. Wells chose to retire from the board and not seek
re-election.
Wells was given a plaque on Monday, May 5, by fellow board members to
mark his years of service to the school district.
The race to succeed Wells was undeniably close.
Steen led 58-56 coming out of the early vote but Hurst made up the
difference and added three on Election Day.
The new board member won by 1.3 percentage points in the only contested
race on the ballot in the Spring municipal-school district elections in
Monahans.
"I knew it was going to be close," said Hurst, a co-owner of Monachem
Inc. in Monahans. "I didn't know it was going to be this close."
Hurst and Steen, an employee of Star Electric Co. for 19 years, ran a
campaign focused on the issues and their own qualifications.
Both men have been active in civic, religious and business affairs in
Monahans.
Both have been involved in working with youth. Hurst won the Monahans
Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award in 1993. Steen is the Youth
Minister of First Baptist Church-Monahans.
In Hurst's campaign, he noted:
"Fair representation for students, teachers and taxpayers."
Steen had said he wanted to help "maintain a necessary harmony and
working relationship between the schools and the community of Monahans."
Athletic awards on tap

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The Lobo Booster Club will present the Todd Larned Memorial to a male
and female athlete who participated in two or more sports. The Monahans
News will present its award to the outstanding woman athlete at Monahans
High School for the 1996-97 School Year.
Both will occur at the Monahans High School All-Sports Banquet at 7 p.m.
on Monday, May 12, at the Ward County Convention Center. Seven-dollar
tickets are available from the High School office, the field house,
First State Bank or First National Bank of Monahans.
Chili chef breaks Odessa strangle

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Devastating chili teams from Odessa took nine of the first 10 places in
the Big Chili at Pyote last weekend, May 3 and 4.
The only chili chef to break the Odessa strangle on the main
competition was Debbie Hickle of Terlingua and she finished sixth.
Odessa teams also took two of the three places in chili showmanship
although the first prize showmanship winner was Bill Henderson of Hobbs,
N.M.
But Ward County did score in the side competitions. Monahans chefs took
all three places in the barbecue ribs and a Pyote chef finished third in
brisket.
Monahans cooks also took it all for barbecued chicken.
Plus cooks from the Ward County seat took two of the prizes for beans.
Judges for the Chili Appreciation Society International Inc. (CASI)
competition at Pyote scored it this way:
Chili
1. Mona Larson of Odessa.
2. Beverly Maynard of Odessa.
3. Becky Sam Dixon of Odessa.
4. Kevin Larson of Odessa.
5. Bill Simpson of Odessa.
6. Hickle.
7. Barbara Large of Odessa.
8. Leroy Hopkins of Odessa.
9. Mary Kingston of Odessa.
10. Joann Scott of Odessa.
Chili Showmanship
1. Henderson.
2. Sherill Sanders of Odessa.
3. Joann Scott of Odessa
Beans
1. Ed Carman of Wink
2. Becky Grigry of Monahans.
3. Phil Tripp of Monahans.
Brisket
1. Tom Yarbrough of Odessa.
2. Richard Scott of Odessa.
3. Richard Jacquez of Pyote.
Ribs
1. Melba Grigry of Monahans.
2. Dorothy Thompson of Monahans.
3. Becky Grigry of Monahans.
Chicken
1. Melba Grigry of Monahans.
2. Becky Grigry of Monahans.
3. Dorothy Thompson of Monahans.
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Copyright 1997 by Ward Newspapers, Inc.
107 W. Second St., Monahans TX 79756
Phone 915-943-4313, FAX 915-943-4314
e-mail news@bitstreet.com
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