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July 31, 1997

Windy Williams resigns, board pays $56,618.96


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Winfred (Windy) C. Williams has resigned his position with the
Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District.
The school district pays Williams $56,618.96 as part of the agreement
and the former Lobo athletic director surrendered his employment
contract which had extended through Jan., 10, 1999.
"It's over," says School Superintendent Clifton L. Stephens. "We will
now move forward and look at the bright future ahead not only with
athletics but in academics and all facets of school life."
Williams already has accepted an assistant coaching position at Lubbock
Coronado High School. Williams is in Fort Worth this week attending the
high school football coaching clinic. His son, Garrett, represented
Monahans in the coaches all-state football game on Tuesday night, July
29.
The agreement by which Williams leaves Monahans was the climax of a
series of events that brought Larry Hanna, who won a state football
championship last year at Iraan, to Monahans as athletic director.
Williams won a bi-district championship with the Lobo football team last
Autumn.
Hanna's appointment as athletic director was confirmed in an unanimous
vote of the district's trustees on June 10. He was hired for a salary of
$59,500 a year, about $3,000 more than Williams had been paid and about
comparable to the anticipated seven percent salary increases mandated by
the state and expected to be established this year for teachers. The
official action by which Hanna was hired to replace Williams followed
the May 30 reassignment of Williams. Williams was removed as athletic
director and appointed director of alternative education.
In late 1994, Hanna and Williams had been the finalists for athletic
director and football coach at Monahans. Williams was chosen by then
Superintendent Jack Clemmons, who now is superintendent of the Victoria
School District.
The final parting of Williams and the school district was amicable,
report parties to the agreement by which Williams resigned.
Released under the provisions of the Texas Open Records Act, the
agreement was dated Tuesday, July 22. Its provisions include:
1. The resignation of Williams effective on Thursday, July 24. That
resignation was accepted by the school board. In his resignation letter,
dated July 21, Williams wrote: " Please accept this letter as my
official resignation from the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District.
This resignation is contingent upon the completion of the legal
settlement offered to me by the Board of Trustees and Clifton Stephens,
superintendent.
2. From the agreement: "The School District shall pay a lump sum payment
to employee (Williams) of Fifty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighteen
Dollars and Ninety-Six Cents ($56,618.96) with ten (10) days of the
execution of this Release and Settlement Agreement.. ."
3. "School District will provide a letter of recommendation to Employee
(Williams). In that letter signed by Superintendent Stephens, it is
noted: "During his (Williams) tenure in the school district, we have
been successful in our athletic programs. We competed on the 4A and 3A
level of competition and had great success during the 1996-97 school
year by making the playoffs in 10 team sports as well as several
individual sports."
4. Williams, school district trustees and school district employees all
agree to refrain from "negative, derogatory or disparaging comments"
about any of the parties to the agreement. The agreement was signed by Johnny White, president of the district school board, and by Williams.


Monahans school registration next week,
classes scheduled to begin on August 13


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Summer recess is ending for the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District
and registration for Fall classes starts next week, according to a
statement released by the school district.
Classes are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
At Cullender Kindergarten, 1100 South Leon Avenue, the statement notes,
registration will be from 8 a.m. to Noon on Monday, Aug. 4.
From the statement: "This registration is for every student that will
attend Cullender this school year unless they were a pre-kindergarten
student in the 1996-97 school year. (Cullender registrants) need to
bring birth certificate, shot record, social security card and
verification of income for pre-kindergarten only."
Also on Monday, new student registration only will be conducted at other
schools in the district on the following schedule:
Grades First through Sixth - register from 9 a.m. until noon.
First and Second - Edwards Elementary, 804 South Dwight Avenue. Third
and Fourth - Tatom Elementary, 16-- South Calvin Avenue. Fifth and Sixth
- Sudderth Elementary, 701 North Carol Avenue.
Grades Seventh through Twelfth, register from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Seventh and Eighth - Walker Junior High, 800 South Faye Avenue. Ninth,
Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth - Monahans High School, 809 South Betty
Avenue.
At Gensler Elementary in Wickett, new students only will register from 9
a.m. until noon on Monday, Aug. 4.
All students, returning and new students, for the Monahans Education
Center at 813 South Alice Avenue, will register Wednesday and Thursday,
Aug. 6 and Aug. 7 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
On Monday, Aug. 11, New School Year's Parties will be held for students
at Cullender Kindergarten from 6:30 p. m. to 8 p.m. and at Edwards Elementary from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Fiesta Schedule


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Thursday, July 31

5:30 p.m. - Prizes awarded in the various Main Street Merchants contests
including 100 Main Street Bucks for guessing the correct number of
knots. Main Street Building (Old Texaco Building), Sealy Avenue and Main
Street.
7 p.m. - Kick-Off barbecue with music by Mountain Railway Co. at Hill
Park next to Ward County Courthouse in Monahans
8:30 p.m. - Street Dance in and around Hill Park. Music by Wild Streak
Friday, Aug. 1
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Million Barrel Museum Tours.
9 a.m. - Downtown Festival Grounds open in Hill Park
Continuous entertainment, air conditioned tent, free swimming, all in
Hill Park
Stagecoach and wagon displays at Old Lobo Ford Building
6 p.m. - Sponsor party - Ward County Coliseum. Music by the Ferguson
Band.
7:30 p.m. - Way Out West Bull Riding, Ward County Arena
9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. - Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys - concert and
dance. Million Barrel Museum
Saturday, Aug. 2
9 a.m. - CASI Sanctioned Chili Cook-Off in Pyote
10 a.m. - Parade Downtown
10 a.m. - Hill Park festival grounds open.
Continuous entertainment including Gunfights by the Unforgiven.
Stagecoach and wagon displays at the Old Lobo Ford Building.
11 a.m. - All Kids Rodeo, Ward County Arena
2 p.m. - Stagecoach and Wagon judging, Old Lobo Ford Building
6 p.m. - Sponsor Party, Ward County Coliseum, Music by Mariachi Los
Gavilanes
7 p.m. - Way Out West Bull Riding, Ward County Arena
9 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. - Tejano Dance. Ruben Ramos and Bobby Pulido, Million
Barrel Museum
Sunday, Aug. 3
10 a.m. - Cowboy Church Service in Hill Park
Food booths, craft booths, local and area entertainment, stagecoach rides, train rides.

Yeeee Haaaa
Buterfield Overland Stagecoach
and Wagon Festival busts loose


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Western Week rolled all over Ward County this week.

It started last weekend with the quarterhorse show at the Ward County
Arena which attracted hundreds of contestants and continued until this
week. Monday and Tuesday workers began preparing the Old Lobo Ford
Building for the displays of stagecoaches and wagons from the late
Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries. They also worked on Hill Park,
the main venue for the annual celebration.

The stagecoaches and the wagons already are rolling into town for the
big Butterfield Overland Stagecoach and Wagon Festival.

Barbecue and downtown home music kicks off tonight.The barbecue
features what the brochures call the culinary magic of Melvin Craft.

Before this week's over, cowboys will be riding bulls, men will be
growing beards, women will be demure and men will be packing iron
underneath their sombreros or maybe even in their boots.

There even will be dancing in the streets, not once but twice.

Winners of the various Main Street Monahans contests will be announced
at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, at the Main Street Building at Sealy Avenue and Main Street downtown.

Hill Park Entertainment


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Friday, Aug. 1
9 a.m. - John Wojtkun
9:45 a.m. - Fiddlewest with Washtub Jerry
10:45 a.m. - Andi Montez
11:30 a.m. - Las Tejanitas
12:15 p.m. - Fiddlewest with Washtub Jerry
1:15 p.m. - Toby Gomez
2 p.m. - 50s Girls
2:45 p.m. - Fiddlewest with Washtub Jerry
3:45 p.m. - Rebecca Guerrero
4:30 p.m. - Becky Thornhill and Marvin White
Saturday, Aug. 2
Noon - Thumpin' Puppies
1 p.m. - Fiddlewest with Washtub Jerry
2 p.m. - One Accord
3 p.m. Marvin and Friends
4 p.m. - Fiddlewest with Washtub Jerry5 p.m. - Thumpin' Puppies

Way Out West Bull Riding to rock Arena


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Way Out West Bull Riding, one of the events on the Copenhagen Bull
Riders Master Pro Series, is scheduled to rock the Ward County Arena
during the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach and Wagon Festival.

Bull riding leader Owen Dunn, an outback razorback, is expected to
compete, say the event's organizers.

Competition is scheduled on Friday and Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m.

Way Out West Bull Riding is the twelfth event in a series which has paid
out more than $200,000 so far this season, according to a statement
released by festival organizers. Way Out West Bull Riding is produced by
Bad Co. Rodeo based in Del Rio.

More from that statement:

"There are 20 events in the Copenhagen Bull Riders Master Pro Series and
all of them are sanctioned by the Professional Bull Riders. . .Money
earned at the Way Out West Bull Riding will help qualify the top 40
contestants from the series for the Copenhagen Bull Riders Master Pro
Finals. It will be held in conjunction with the National Western Stock
Show in Denver on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13."

Dunn, an Australian riding out of Mena, Ark., leads the bull riding
series with more than $22,000 won so far in this season's competition.

The Copenhagen Bull Riders Master Pro Series began the 1997 season in
January at Texarkana, Ark.

Says one publicity statement, "Cowboys have long been known for their
independence and competitive nature, characteristics that have held true
throughout the ages.

"Nowhere are those characteristics more evident than at events
sanctioned by the Professional Bull Riders. The competition is as fierce as the bulls the cowboys are attempting to ride.

All Kids Rodeo Sunday


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Kids from five through 19 years old are scheduled to compete in the
second All Kids Rodeo of the Butterfield Overland Stage and Wagon
Festival Saturday, Aug. 2.

Competition starts at 11:30 a.m., according to a statement from the
festival organizers. It will be at the Ward County Arena. From the
statement: "We have the stick horse and stick bull events, mutton
bustin', calf riding, steer riding and junior and senior bull riding..
.Rough stock events will include five and under mutton bustin', six and
under calf riding, seven through 12 steer riding, 13 through 15 junior
bull riding and 16 through 19 senior bull riding. These events will be
jackpot money." The statement notes the legislature has declared rodeo the Texas national sport.

Police probe death of Jeannette Calloway


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Officers are investigating the mysterious death of Jeannette Calloway of
Monahans, Police Chief Dave Watts reports.

Calloway, 29, was found about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in a house on South
Main Street by officers responding to a call from a neighbor.

The house, officers note, was not her home.

Watts and Police Lt. Charles Sebastian say Calloway was taken to Ward
Memorial Hospital in Monahans and then transferred to Odessa Medical
Center where she died on Sunday, July 28.

The body has been transferred to Lubbock for autopsy.

"We are investigating," says Watts. "We may know more when we receive
the results of the autopsy. We are investigating because this is a
suspicious death."

So far an official cause of death has not been determined.

Callaway had lived in Monahans for the past eight years.

Surviving are husband David Wayne Callaway, son of Harold and Patsy
Callaway, owners of Radio Station KLBO; two sons, David Wayne Callaway
Jr. and Curtis Lewis Callaway, all of Monahans; parents Paul Hubert Jr.
of Whittier, Calif., and Nancy Hubert of Lake El Sonore, Calf.; two
sisters, Pamela Beck of Rosehead, Calif. and Wenette Morassino of
Fontana, Calif.

Memorial services were held at Harkey Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, July 30.

Johnny Roy killed in rig accident near Midland


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Johnny Unitas Roy, who was graduated from Monahans High School in 1989,
was killed on Wednesday, July 23, in an Oil Patch accident near Midland.

Roy was 27 years old. He was the son of Clayton and the late Joyce Roy.

The accident occurred on an FWA Drilling Co. rig about 20 miles from
Midland, relatives and friends report. FWA is based in Midland.

A family spokesman reports Roy was working at the base of a rig about 1
p.m. with his cousin, Randy Ramsey, and other FWA hands.

Says the relative, Kathy Ramsey: "A pin slipped and pipe fell about 125
feet to the bottom of the rig. The pipe hit him. My cousin was there
when it happened."

The cousin to which Kathy Ramsey refers is Randy.

Kathy Ramsey says Johnny Roy was pronounced dead at the scene of the
incident. She says Roy had worked for FWA for a long time and had been a
resident of Odessa for about five years.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 28, in Faith Temple Church at
208 North Harry Avenue in Monahans.

The Rev. A.W. Ramsey officiated at the services.

Kathy Ramsey presented the eulogy.

Burial was in Monahans Memorial Cemetery.

Survivors include wife, Cyndi; children, Brianna, Derian, Kianna and
Makayla, all of Odessa; Derel Roy of New Mexico, Darrel Roy, Chelse Roy
and Eureka Roy, all of Monahans and James Andra Roy of California;
father, Clayton, and stepmother, Peggy; grandmother, Ethyl Ramsey, all
of Monahans;

Also, a brother James Roy; sister-in-law Maribel Roy, brother-in-law
Anthony Rabon;

Three sisters, Dana Rabon, Denita Roy and Megan Roy, all of Odessa.

Roy was called either "T-Bone" or "Tootie" by family and friends. He had
served in the United States Army at Fort Dix, N.J. Roy and Cyndi
Anguiano had been married in Lovington, N.M., only a little more than a
year ago on Jan. 16, 1997.

Drilling company officers did not return calls asking for comment on the accident.

Main Street Monahans on way
to Austin to seek state sanction


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Main Street-Monahans' trustees and its project manager flew to Austin on
Wednesday, July 30, to seek state sanction as a "designated Texas Main
Street City."

They took with them two heavy volumes that comprised the official
application for the designation that will mean Main Street-Monahans
access to state and federal resources of architecture and desire as
well as the status needed to seek some state, federal and private
foundation grants.

Those making the trip were Main Street directors Billee Lou Harris, Mary
Jeanne Asbury, Joy Fletcher, John Paul Wade, Armando Ochoa, and Marcus
Lujan and Main Street Project Manager Suzi Blair. Main Street is focused
on preservation and enhancement of downtown Monahans. The Texas
Historical Commission will choose five Main Street cities for 1998. Last
year, Main Street-Monahans' application was not accepted. This year,
says Blair, "I feel good about it. We have made many strides in the past
year."

One of those was hiring a project manager which Main Street-Monahans
previously did not have. She says Main Street 1993 goals include
individual merchants beginning preservation projects on their quarters
and finishing the interior of the Main Street Building. An announcement from the state is expected in October.

Todd Hunt elected assistant cashier at First State


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Todd Hunt has been elected assistant cashier of First State Bank in
Monahans, according to an announcement by First State Bank President
Charles N. Wade.

Hunt has been with First State Bank since June of 1996. Wade says the
new appointment came at an election conducted by the First State Bank
Board of Directors.

Hunt has been a resident of Ward County all his life. He was graduated
from Grandfalls-Royalty High School in 1991 and was graduated summa cum
laude in economics from Tarleton State University in 1995.

Wade also notes that Todd is a Ward County Livestock Show director and a Special Olympics Trade Coach.

Four felony DWI indictments returned


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Four felony DWI indictments have been returned by the 143rd District
Court Grand Jury sitting in Monahans, Ward County.

The indictments were four of several returned on Wednesday, July 23, and
filed in the office of District Clerk Jo Ann Roark.

Driving while under the influence of intoxicans (ethanol or narcotics)
felony charges were filed against:

Ermin Valenzuela Gardea, 34, in connection with an arrest on March 11.
Gardea has two previous DWI convictions, according to court records. One
was on March 29 of 1994; the other on Feb. 26, 1989. Bond was set $7,500.

Ramon Guadalupe Porras, 41, in connection with an arrest on March 8.
Previous DWI convictins were on Feb. 26 of 1990 and on April 12 of 1990.
Bond was set at $7,500.

Raymond Eugene Mayfield, 48, in connection with an arrest on March 28.
Mayfield's previous DWI convictions were on Jan. 20 of 1994 and on Feb.
24 of 1995.

Mauro Carrasco Valdez, 43,; in connection with an arrest on Feb. 23.
Valdez's previous DWI convictions were on May 21, 1990 and on April 17,
1989. Bond was set at $7,500.

In other indictments, two men were charged with possession of cocaine
after their arrests on May 19. The two were identified as Adrian Ramos
Martel, 26, $100,000 bond; and Humberto Galindo, 35, bond $20,000.
Also, Timothy Alan Weldy, who already had been indicted on charges of
indecency with a child and sexual assault of a child, was indicted on a
second sexual assault of a child charge. The first charges were based on
Oct. 1 incidents; the latter on a Nov. 1 incident. Weldy's bonds now total $125,000.

Dudley awarded the Legion of Merit


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Army Lt. Col. Marcus G. Dudley has been awarded the Legion of Merit,
according to an announcement from the Army and Air Force Hometown News
Center at Kelly AFB in San Antonio.

Dudley is the son of B.F. Dudley of Wickett.

The nation's fifth highest medal is awarded for exceptionally
meritorious conduct.

Main Street-Monahans' trustees and its project manager flew to Austin on
Wednesday, July 30, to seek state sanction as a "designated Texas Main
Street City."
They took with them two heavy volumes that comprised the official
application for the designation that will mean Main Street-Monahans
access to state and federal resources of architecture and desire as
well as the status needed to seek some state, federal and private
foundation grants.
Those making the trip were Main Street directors Billee Lou Harris, Mary
Jeanne Asbury, Joy Fletcher, John Paul Wade, Armando Ochoa, and Marcus
Lujan and Main Street Project Manager Suzi Blair. Main Street is focused
on preservation and enhancement of downtown Monahans. The Texas
Historical Commission will choose five Main Street cities for 1998. Last
year, Main Street-Monahans' application was not accepted. This year,
says Blair, "I feel good about it. We have made many strides in the past
year."
One of those was hiring a project manager which Main Street-Monahans
previously did not have. She says Main Street 1993 goals include
individual merchants beginning preservation projects on their quarters
and finishing the interior of the Main Street Building. An announcement
from the state is expected in October.

These students are working.
They're not the high school students everyone seems to complain about.
They're cutting grass, remodeling what used to be called "the white
building" on the Grandfalls-Royalty High School campus, into a weight
room for all the small school's athletes, helping with the plumbing at
the four new school-district owned houses for teachers, and digging a
new triple jump pit over at the football stadium.
On this day, a Friday, July 25, the walls are being painted in the
weight room and the ceiling is being lowered. There's a construction
deadline here, notes Grandfalls JTPA boss Laura Moses, who is the
Grandfalls girl's basketball coach when school is in session.
That deadline is the start of school and that deadline is the weight
room has to be finished before the Autumn athletes (football, volley
ball and cross country) arrive to use the new facility.
It's been an eight-week program for the about 10 student workers,
financed by a federal grant and directed by Moses.
Those 10 students: Laura Porras, Janet Enriques, Donna Olivas, Arturo
Rodriguez, Miguel Porras, Jaime Ramirez, Ricky Jay Martinez, Jesse
Santiago, Sammy Olivas, Mark Williamson. Porras and Enriquez are at the
working end of long-handled pain rollers on this Friday.
Enriques and the two Porras workers are cousins.
Rodriguez, Miquel Porras and Ramirez are lowering the ceiling and
installing windows.. Soon the whole crew will be finishing off office
space in the weight room.
True it is not constant work with no reward.. There are those short
cooling little rides on the golf cart at the breaks and there is the pay
check. Each of the students works about 30 hours at week at minimum
wage, $4.75 an hour, which may make this, Moses notes, the best Summer
job in Grandfalls.
"They work hard," says Moses, "And they have fun. They reinforce a pride
factor in their school and in themselves."
She continues: "This gives the kids an opportunity to earn money and
learn skills they can use throughout their lives. Other students will be
able to see the result of the Grandfalls 10's Summer recess - the new
weight room, the repainted locker rooms and landscaped grounds, all work
the district's staff would not have had the time to do.
.

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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