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May 22, 1997

Flag girls plan barbecue


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On Thursday, May 22, the Grandfalls-Royalty Flag Girls are going to hold
a barbecue.

The purpose is to raise money to help pay for new uniforms, reports
Becky Ramirez of Grandfalls.

She says the barbecue will take place at the Grandfalls Community Center
from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The cost is five dollars per plate, which includes brisket, beans,
potato salad, green salad and iced tea.

Dessert is extra and will be sold for a donation.

This barbecue will precede the Grandfalls high school band concert.

The music starts at 7 p.m. in the Grandfalls Community Center.

Ramirez says the girls need $1,000 to help pay for the new uniforms.

They already have raised a portion of this money from a car wash they
held last Saturday in Grandfalls as part of the community's annual flea
market.

Members of the Grandfalls Flag Girls perform at athletic events, band
concerts and at other functions in the Grandfalls-Royalty School
District.

Five teachers resign


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Five teacher resignations have been accepted by the board of trustees
of the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District.

One of the five is Candy Clemmons, a Cullender Kindergarten teacher
whose husband, Jack, is a former Monahans school superintendent. Jack
Clemmons resigned earlier to accept a position as superintendent of
schools in the Victoria School District. Candy Clemmons will be joining
her husband in Victoria. In her letter of resignation to Cliff Stephens,
who succeeded her husband as Monahans superintendent, she writes: "I
will be leaving the Monahans ISD to take a position at Victoria ISD . .
.Thank you. Good luck in your new job and 'hang tough.' "

The other teacher resignations accepted on Tuesday, May 13, were those
of Joy Allen of Sudderth Elementary, Bill Petteway of Monahans High
School, Mary Fulce of Monahans High and band director Jim Rhodes of
Walker Junior High.
Rhodes says in his resignation letter he has accepted the position as
band director in the Forsan School District.

County court to consider physician hire


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Ward County Commissioners are scheduled to meet in a special session at
1 p.m. on Friday, May 23, to consider and act on the hiring of a new
physician.
County Judge Sam G. Massey says the meeting will be in the
commissioner's courtroom at the Courthouse in Monahans.

The doctor, reports Ward Memorial Hospital Administrator William O'Brien
is Dr. Noel F. Villanueva, a general and vascular surgeon who is
certified by the American Board of Surgery.

O'Brien says a tentative agreement has been reached with Villanueva and
that O'Brien now seeks about $50,000 in county funds to bring the doctor
to Ward County.

In the announcement of the special commissioners court meeting, Massey
says its purpose is to "consider and act on a request from hospital
administration for additional funds for recruitment and retention."

Part of the dollars O'Brien says he will seek will be to help establish
the surgeon in practice at Monahans in exchange for a long-term
commitment to practice medicine in the county.

Villanueva, 50, was born in Manila and immigrated to the United States
after graduating from medical school at the University of the East in
the Philippines and post graduate training at the Manila Medical
Center.

His internship was at Altoona (Pa.) General Hospital and his residency
training was at the Bronx Municipal Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital in
Cincinnati and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Granite City, Ill., a St. Louis
suburb.

His hospital affiliations have included Dexter (Mo.) Memorial hospital,
Doctors Hospital in Wentzville, Mo., a St. Louis suburb; St. Joseph
Medical center in Joliet, Ill.; Morris (Ill.) Hospital; Medical Arts
Hospital of Lamesa and McCamey Hospital.

Ward Memorial's O'Brien says the county commission must act on the cash
aspects of the tentative arrival of the surgeon in Monahans before
O'Brien can proceed with negotiations.

The administrator says the dollars for which he will ask the
Commissioner's Court are necessary to provide equipment and other
ancillary costs of bringing the physician to the Ward County area.
Villanueva would practice his speciality and be a part of the Ward
Memorial Hospital Staff. He and his family plan to arrive in Monahans as
soon as possible, says O'Brien.

Sales tax rebates way up


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AUSTIN - State sales tax checks to Ward County 's local governments
increased by more than 65 percent in May, reports State Comptroller John
Sharp.

The Ward County increase was led by Monahans, the county seat, where the
sales tax rebate increased 70.86 percent from $41,367.04 in May of 1998
to $70,679.83 this May.

This is the last sales tax rebate report that does not take into account
the extra half-cent sales tax enacted last year in Monahans for economic
development. The Monahans rate, 1..5 cents on the dollar, was effective
on April 1, 1996.

Sales tax rebate checks generally reflect sales taxes collected two
months previous to the month in which the checks are issued. For
example, the May sales tax rebate checks are for sales taxes collected
in March.

Sales taxes collected in other Ward County cities, according to the
comptroller's report are:

Grandfalls - up 22.69 percent from $1,031.75 to $1,265.94.
Pyote - down 10.46 percent from $1,294.95 to $1,159.49.
Thorntonville - up 24.72 percent from $127.09 to $158.51.
Wickett - up 29.95 percent from $2,069.82 to $2,669.23.

Sharp's office delivered a total of $216.5 million in monthly sales tax
payments in May to 1,086 Texas cities and 117 counties.

Statewide, the rebates to Texas cities were up 9.9 percent from $181.3
million last May to $199.3 million this may. Rebates of $7.1 million to
Texas counties were 11.1 percent more than allocations of $15.4 million
to counties in May of 1996. City transit and special purpose districts
received a combined $7.7 million in May sales tax rebates.

Says Sharp: "The Texas economy continues its slow, steady expansion . .
.Year-to-date allocations are 5.6 percent head of . . . last year."

Freight train rips trailer


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No injuries were reported when a Union Pacific freight train ripped the
trailer from the back of a pick-up in Ward County.

Sheriff's deputies say the accident occurred on the Loop Road about a
mile North of U.S. Route 80 at Monahans. The pick-up driver, who was not
identified, told investigators he did not see the train bearing down on
him.

Says a deputy: "The pick-up truck made it across the tracks in time but
the pick-up's trailer didn't."

Highway Patrol Trooper Rodney Tucker was the principal investigator.

The train-pick-up trailer collision was reported at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday,
May 20. Ambulances and fire apparatus dispatched to the site of the
incident were recalled when it was learned there were no obvious
injuries.

China delegation sees progress


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As President Bill Clinton announced earlier this week he intends to
renew China's Most Favored Nation Trade Status, the Monahans Trade
Delegation in China reports progress in luring Chinese shrimp farm
investors.

Monahans City Manager David Mills reports he has spoken with Mayor
David Cutbirth twice since the group left Friday, May 16. Mills says
the mayor sounds optimistic about Monahans chances of Chinese
investment.. "The mayor told me this morning [Wednesday, May 21] the
shrimp farm deal is really looking up," Mills said.

The mayor's fortnight Chinese economic excursion includes Cutbirth's
wife, Patti; Economic Development Corporation Director Charles Walker,
attorney Jack Stern and Stern's wife, Dinana, a Chinese national. The
group is also expected to meet with a Chinese brewer and wine maker
about possible investments in Ward County.

Evans escapes death penalty


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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for
Mark Jonathan Evans.

Investigation into Evans' killing of Joseph Baily McShane III continues
and probably will include Ward County and West Texas.

That was the report on Wednesday, May 21, in Colorado Springs from
Deputy District Attorney Kim Kitchen, the lead prosecutor in the
shooting death of McShane, whose family had extensive oil and financial
interests in Ward County and whose father still is a member of the board
of a bank at Kermit.

Kitchen says the circumstances of the case are such that the death
penalty would not be sought under Colorado law.

Kitchen says she has referred the lead investigator in the homicide to
Ward County Attorney Kevin Acker for any assistance that may be
necessary in the Ward County area of the investigation.

Acker and McShane, who was graduated from Monahans High School and who
earned his pilots license here while only 16, were boyhood friends.
Services for McShane were held in Austin last week.

"Colorado does have the death penalty but seeking the death penalty in
this case is not anticipated," says Kitchen. "We will seek life in
prison on the charge of murder in the first degree. In Colorado, that
means life without parole. Life in prison here really means life."

Evans, a British citizen who has said in a district court affidavit
that he and McShane's wife Maureen were lovers, also says in that
affidavit that he shot McShane on the door step of McShane's home on
Saturday night, May 10. McShane, who was at home with two sons, was hit
seven times in the chest with nine-millimeter pistol fire. Less than two
hours later about Midnight Saturday, Evans surrendered to a Colorado
Springs police officer about two blocks from the McShane home at the
foot of Cheyenne Mountain. Evans claims in the affidavit he and Maureen
McShane had been lovers since meeting in Peru on a holiday trip about
two years ago.

Evans says he divorced his wife to follow Maureen McShane to the United
States but that recently the McShanes, who had been estranged, were
attempting reconciliation because of the children.

So far, Kitchen reports, Evans has not entered a plea in the case. There
is a question of an attorney and the Evans family in England is in the
process of attempting to retain a Colorado Springs lawyer, says Kitchen.

Initially, Evans was represented by a public defender. A hearing is
scheduled in district court on May 29 in Colorado Springs to resolve the
issue of legal representation for Evans, says the deputy DA.

Preliminary hearing and the taking of the plea will be scheduled after
that May 29 hearing.

Cleanup on for Saturday


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Saturday, May 24, 8 a.m., Hill Park next to the Ward County Courthouse
in Monahans. Be there!

That is the message from the Monahans Chamber of Commerce which has been
planning Saturday's Clean-Up, Paint-Up, Fix-Up Day for five months under
the direction of Jack Grant.

Actually, reports Chamber executive Tammy Swigert, the work of cleaning
and gleaning trash from the streets, alleys, yards and highways of
Monahans began as early as May 1 and intensified on Tuesday.

"This is why during the week motorists were asked to take special care
as students from Cullender, Edwards, Gensler, Sudderth, Tatom, Walker
Junior High and Monahans High School worked," says Swigert.

The students picked up trash and debris in areas surrounding their
schools. Members of the Chamber clean-up teams also have been mowing
vacant lots.
From the Chamber statement:

"All citizens are encouraged to get involved. Interested citizens and/or
organizations are to meet at Hill Park Saturday morning, May 24 at 8
a.m. Clean-up area maps, as well as trash bags, will be handed out at
this time. Three sections remain North of the railroad tracks between
Mary Street and Harry Avenue for clean-up adoption."

Clean-up Campaign chair Grant reminds all of the citizens of Monahans
that the zones targeted for clean-up and pick-up include Highway 80 East
and West and Highway 18 North and South. Grant notes that these are only
two of the areas that will be cleaned.

Emphasizes Grant: "These areas are highlighted because of tourist
traffic exiting and entering our community."

Residents may start in their own neighborhoods if they wish and still
take advantage of a free trash collection.

From the Chamber statement:

"Residents may place properly contained trash (bagged and bundled),
discarded furniture and other large items in and beside dumpsters in
alleys and (the discards) will be removed free of charge by city crews
through May 24 (Sunday)."

The Chamber warns though:

"No hazardous waste, tires or refrigerators should be placed in alleys
for pick-up. The Monahans landfill has extended their business hours and
will allow residents to dump trash free of charges on Saturday only."

In addition, Swigert notes, special clean-up crews have been working
since May 1 on cleaning and mowing vacant lots and the removal of some
derelict buildings.

More from the Chamber statement:

"Anyone willing to use their riding mower and time will be asked to aid
the group by helping mow predetermined empty lots (on Saturday) . . .

"The county, city, schools, Extension Office, 4-H Clubs, Lions Club,
WDCC, Tau Lambda, Wednesday Study Club, Cadets, Main Street Monahans and
the Opportunity Workshop already have volunteered to donate time and
materials to make this event a success . . .

" Let's all get involved and do our part to beautify Monahans."

Stricter academics face graduates


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Eighth graders in the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District this Autumn
will be the first Lobo students to meet what academicians believe is a
stricter academic challenge to graduation than contemporary graduates
faced.

Twenty-four credits are required for graduation in each of the areas a
student may follow. New requirements include at least one semester of
speech and a year of computer training.

If it works, note academicians, these eighth graders will graduate
smarter and better able to cope with the high technology explosion
anticipated in the first years of the 21st Century. The new standards
are a tool both students and teachers may use, say the education
professionals.

Under the plan, World Geography will be a requirement in two of the
tracks (New Recommended and Distinguished Achievement) toward
graduation. This means students will be exposed to geographic knowledge
they apparently have not absorbed in some contemporary classrooms,
geographic knowledge national surveys have found to be lacking in nearly
70 percent of high school graduates, many of whom cannot find the United
States on a world map.

It is part of a new Texas state program which all of the school
districts eventually must adopt if their curriculums are to be
recognized by the state. Members of the district's board of trustees
accepted that plan on Tuesday, May 13.

High school counselors Gayla Langley and Randy Johnson explained the
state's goals and what the new standards mean.

Notes Langley: "We are phasing it in here. Other school districts in
Texas have chosen to implement all of the programs immediately."

Under that decision to phase in the new requirements, some will be in
place for the graduating class of 2000.

"All will be required for 2001," says Langley.

"There are options in these programs. We want to encourage the students
to accept the most daunting challenges and this applies to athletes as
well. Any NCAA division one school will not award a scholarship unless
these academic standards are met or exceeded in the classroom."

For the Class of 2000 at Monahans High School, both the New Recommended
and Distinguished Achievement Program options in the graduation programs
will be operational. In 2001, it extends to the complete class with the
implementation of the requirements even in the so-called "New Minimum"
graduation tracks.
Notes Langley: "It should be noted that this is not
Monahans-Wickett-Pyote
School District policy. It is state policy."

Professionally, Langley likes the program.

"It is challenging," Langley says. "We need to encourage students to
strive for the utmost and prove to themselves they can meet a standard
of excellence."

Some of the new specific requirements:

1. Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry or higher level math courses are
required for all graduation programs except regular academic and new
minimum. Algebra I completed in the eighth grade will count for high
school credit. All students are required to take three math credits in
high school.

2. Art, band, choir or theater arts will meet the required fine arts
credits.

3. Academic elective credit must be selected from World History, World
Geography or a hard science course.

4. At least one computer course is required.

5. In addition, there are three options from which to choose.
A. Mathematics, science, elective. The credit must consist of calculus
or trigonometry and either elementary analysis or analytic geometry.

B. Career and technology. Three and one-half credits in a coherent
sequence of courses for career and technology preparation.

C. Specialization. Three and one-half credits in a specialization in
science, social studies, mathematics, languages other than English, fine
arts or technology applications (computer).

Langley and Johnson note Distinguished Achievement Program track
students must, in addition to the three foreign language credits (not
now required) and other higher level courses:

I. Have grades of 3.0 (B) or above on courses taken for college credit,

II. Score three or above on the College Board Advanced Placement
Examination,

III. Score four or above on an International Baccalaureate examination
and

IV. A score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for recognition as a
Commended Scholar or higher by the National Merit Scholarship
Corporation.

End-of-school events

Thursday, May 22, 7:30 p.m. - Award Assembly. Students will receive
various academic and extracurricular awards. Some scholarship
announcements will be made.

Wednesday, May 28, 8 p.m. - Baccalaureate Services at Monahans High
School Auditorium, The Rev. John Lucido, speaker..

Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. -Commencement. Multi-Purpose Complex.

OBITUARIES


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Longtime Grandfalls resident buried Monday

Services for Louise Hanson, 81, were held Monday in Harkey Funeral Home
Chapel officiated by Rev. Leroy Henson. Burial was in Monahans Memorial
Cemetery .

Mr. Hanson was born May 19, 1915 in Hazel, Okla. and died May 16, 1997
in an Odessa hospital. A World War II Army Veteran, he was a retired
auto mechanic and had lived 45 years in Grandfalls.

He married Velma Webb in Monahans June 24, 1968.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Bobby Walker of Daphine, Ala.,
Steve Walker of Eunice, NM, and Leland Walker of Monahans; four
daughters, Claudine Robinett of Denver City, Betty Sue Rowe of Canyon,
Jo Ann Todd of Whitehouse and Gloria Sprouse of Monahans; 21
grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
Laura Higginbotham dies in Arkansas

Services for Laura Ann Higginbotham, 21, were held Sunday in Harkey
Funeral Chapel officiated by Rev. Bob Porterfield. Burial was in
Monahans Memorial Cemetery.

Ms. Higginbotham was born April 2, 1976 in Kermit and died May 14, 1997
in West Memphis, Ark. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include two sons, Chris Higginbotham of Kermit and Bryan
Higginbotham of Marion, Ark., her parents, Burl and Linda Higginbotham
of Monahans; two sisters, Barbara Torres of San Antonio and Susan
Fredrick of Monahans and a brother, John Bernard of Drumright, Okla.

Services for former resident held in Brownfield

Services for Fred Otis Clark, 56, were held Saturday in Memorial Chapel
of Brownfield Funeral Home officiated by Rev. Cletus Caswell. Burial was
in Terry County Memorial Cemetery in Brownfield.

Mr. Clark was born Sept. 29, 1940 in Challis Community and died May 15,
1997 in a Lubbock hospital. He had been employed with the police and
sheriff's departments in Monahans before moving to Brownfield to accept
a similar position. He was a member of the Baptist church.

Survivors include two sons, Jeffrey Clark of Wolfforth and Jay Clark of
Irvin; a sister, Lenell Johnson of Brownfield; four brothers, Mickey
Clark of Monahans, Hugh Clark of Brownfield, Dewey Clark of Lampasas and
Clarence Clark of Lubbock

Music teacher,"Wade" May, buried in Abilene

Services for Hattie Lee "Wade" May, 85, were held Thursday in First
Christian Church in Abilene with Rev. James Zug officiating. Burial was
in Elmwood Memorial Park under direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.

Mrs. May was born in Texico, N.M. and died May 13, 1997 in an Abilene
hospital. A music teacher, she had lived in several West Texas towns
settling in Abilene during the 60's. She was a homemaker and a member of
First Christian Church. She was also a member of the Ladies
Auxiliary-VFW Post 6873, a member of the Rose Park Line Dancers and
played the piano and organ at several nursing homes.

She married Louis May in 1986 in Abilene.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Wallace Wade of Dallas; two
daughters, Karen Gambill of Meridian, Miss., and Rosaline Brinkley of
Elgin; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

"Effie" Myers services set for Saturday

Services for Eunice Josephine Myers, 86, are scheduled for 2 p.m.
Saturday at Harkey Funeral Chapel officiated by Rev. Everett Hewett.
Burial will be in Monahans Memorial Cemetery.

Mrs. Myers was born Jan. 6, 1911 in Pauls Valley, Okla. and died May 19,
1997 in a Monahans care center. She was a homemaker and a Baptist.

Survivors include a son, John Myers of Monahans; two daughters, Joan
brown of Rangely, Co. and Peggy Austin of Canoga Park, Ca; a sister,
Alta Lee Smith of Dallas; 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Myers in 1968.

Tommye Ivy services to be held in Wickett

Services for Tommye Ivy, 70, are set for 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist
Church in Wickett officiated by Dr. Allie Balko. Burial will be in
Monahans Memorial Cemetery under direction of Harkey Funeral Home.

Mrs. Ivy was born Aug. 10, 1926 in Weatherford and died May 20, 1997 in
an Odessa hospital. A long-time resident of Wickett, she was a homemaker
and a Baptist.

She married Thomas Warren Ivy in August of 1946 in Midland and he
preceded her in death in 1966.

Survivors include two sons, Billy Ivy of Wickett and Sammy Ivy of
Abilene; a daughter, Glenda Pucell of Eagle Pass; two brothers, James L.
Shelby of Chicago, Ill. and Bill Shelby of Georgetown; seven
grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Davidson infant buried Friday in Odessa

Travis James "T.J" Davidson, infant son of Phillip Davidson and Tiffany
Alderidge, died Tuesday, May 13, 1997 at an Odessa hospital. Graveside
services were held Friday at Sunset Memorial Gardens under direction of
Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel.

Survivors include his parents, both of Odessa; grandparents, Foster
Alderidge, Daniel Nichols, Billie Nichols, Annette Davidson, Billy J.
Davidson and Ruth Davidson, all of Odessa; great-grandparents, James
Butler, Barbara Watt, Jack Watt and Fred Alderidge, all of Odessa, Ann
Shacklford of Midland, Travis Littlejohn and Glenda Littlejohn, both of
Monahans and Billy James Davidson of Fort Worth; and
great-great-grandparents, J.C. Williams of Odessa, Billy Joe Ottaberry
and Edna Ottaberry, both of Monahans and Irene Alderidge of White Bluff,
Tenn.

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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