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September 5, 1997
Long-time PBT teacher
named Special Ed Director
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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 5, 1997 - Teaching children with special needs is nothing new to the new Director of Special Education for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school district.
Donna Davis has been teaching special education for 20 years and has taught a regular classroom for one year. All 21 years have been with the PBT school district.
"I always taught special education and I felt I needed the experience of teaching a regular classroom, which is what I taught last year," said Davis.
The special education director position is one of the PBT jobs that opened this year with the resignation of Crissy Urias who held the position of personnel/special programs director.
Urias' former position also included the duties of: district personnel director, bilingual, migrant and federal title programs.
"The special education director position is a full-time job by itself," said interim superintendent Wayne Mitchell.
"When Crissy left, it was the perfect time to split the position and the person who will fill the position of special ed director, Donna Davis, had already been decided on," said Mitchell.
"She has been in this system a long time, has taught special education for some time, received her mid-management certificate and was ready to fill the position," he said.
"We were quite fortunate there was already someone here to fill the position," said Mitchell.
Mitchell stated that this isn't the type of position the district would want to leave unfilled, even for a day.
Urias had also previously recommended Davis for the position.
Davis is a Sul Ross graduate with a degree in education. She received her master's recently in school administration.
"Our biggest goal right now is getting our office set up in the other building," said Davis.
Davis and her staff are temporarily housed in the choir room, located next to the band hall at Pecos High School.
"The building should be ready within the next two weeks and then we can get everything done better," she said.
Davis has big plans for the coming year for all students in special education.
"The programs are already in place and we just want to build on that and make them better," she said.
"Since I've always taught special education, being the director is fulfilling a lifetime dream," said Davis.
A Special Olympics program is planned for this school year along with several other programs.
More than 300 children are special education students and there are teachers and teachers aides in each campus qualified to teach them.
"These are children who are handicapped in some way, with learning disabilities, visually impaired and hearing impaired," said Davis.
About possibly providing a sign language class, Davis stated, "We will have one if we feel it's something that is needed and that's a very big possibility."
Davis has studied sign language, but stated that it's something that needs to be utilized or else you forget how to use it.
"We have an excellent staff and we have great plans for a really successful year," said Davis.
The new position of administrative assistant to the superintendent will be advertised at an annual salary of $46,000. This position will include all of Urias' former duties, with the exception of special education.
One helps two with new blood donation process
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PECOS, September 5, 1997 - The Permian Basin Blood Institute held a blood drive yesterday at Reeves County Hospital and premiered two unit red cell collection, a process which hasn't been performed in Pecos before.
In two unit red cell collection, the donor gives two units (pints) of blood, and receives 600 milliliters of saline solution in return. Their blood is drawn in cycles by a machine, which also injects the saline back into the donor. The donor receives the saline to replenish their fluid loss.
According to Collections Manager Clint Vanlandingham, this method of blood collection was recently approved by the FDA, and allows a donor to help two people with one donation.
The only difference between this and the standard one unit donation, said Vanlandingham, is that "height and weight requirements are different for this type of donation," because more blood is taken. He said the requirements are different for male and female donors.
At the Institute's last blood drive in June, Vanlandingham said that the response of the people of Pecos was so great that they were understaffed, and that caused a bit of a wait for some donors.
"This time we came prepared, and no one has had to wait," he said.
Yesterday, 47 people registered to donate, 29 gave whole blood, eight participated in the two unit red cell collection, four gave PSA and five were deferred. A total of 37 pints of blood were collected.
The Permian Basin Blood Institute plans to hold its next blood drive at the hospital in early December.
Three plead guilty to felonies,
Judge considers nine more
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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 5, 1997 - Three defendants entered guilty pleas Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stuart L. Platt as he held docket call on felony cases assigned to District Judge Royal Furgeson.
Judge Furgeson will consider the remaining nine cases on Sept. 15.
Gilberto Perez-Herrera, 37, of Odessa, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana (136 pounds) on February 4.
Rudy Bernard, 22, of Monahans, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana (139.46 pounds).
Regina Rose Casey, 50, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5.38 pounds of cocaine.
Judge Platt also held arraignment and detention hearings for Adolfo Renteria-Hernandez and Ricardo Lozano-Griego, and a preliminary revocation hearing for Sergio Quinones-Baeza.
Senior Judge Lucius Bunton has 11 criminal cases set for trial Monday, including a "felon in possession of a weapon" charge against Republic of Texas "citizen" Dugley Edward Vandergriff.
He will sentence Janet Fay Salvato at noon.
Friar named as Ward Co. auditor
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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 5, 1997 - Ellen Friar has accepted the position of Ward County Auditor as of Oct. 1. She has been assistant auditor for Reeves County the past nine years.
"I think it is a very good opportunity for her," said County Auditor Lynn Owens. "I hate to see her leave; she's very competent help."
District Judge Bob Parks made the appointment to the $36,000-per-year office.
Friar said she likes her job and her boss, but is looking forward to moving to Monahans. Her father, Bill Youngblood, works for the Monahans Post Office.
"I like working with numbers," she said. "Lynn is the best boss there ever was."
Co-worker Angela Harrison is learning Friar's job while Owens seeks a replacement for her. Of Friar's leaving, Harrison said, "It's the pits!"
Friar's oldest son will remain in Pecos with relatives to complete his senior year at Pecos High School. Her youngest will be in the eighth grade in Monahans.
Forger sentenced to eight years
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By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, September 5, 1997 - District Judge Bob Parks on Thursday accepted guilty pleas in seven felony cases and placed one defendant on pre-trial diversion.
Nepuseno Hidalgo pleaded guilty to two of six forgery indictments. He was sentenced to eight years - deferred adjudication - in one case, plus a $500 fine and restitution of $1,300. He received credit for 110 days spent in jail since his arrest.
In the second case, he will serve five years community supervision and pay $164.50 court costs. Four other charges were dismissed.
Jesus Armendariz pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to five years - deferred adjudication - plus $314.50 court costs and $140 restitution to the Department of Public Safety. He received three days jail credit.
For a separate charge of possessing a prohibited weapon, Armendariz was given six years - deferred adjudication - and a $1,500 fine.
Javier Torres Flores pleaded guilty to burglary of a habitation and was sentenced to six years in prison plus a $1,500 fine. A second charge was dismissed.
David Granillo Anaya will serve seven years in prison and pay a $1,500 fine for possession of marijuana.
Cindy Arenvias admitted tampering with government records. Her deferred adjudication sentence is three years in prison and a $500 fine, with restitution of $9,203.44 to the Texas Department of Human Services.
Deferred adjudication means that if a defendant successfully completes a term of community supervision, the conviction will not become final, and the charge will be dismissed.
Judge Parks placed Jacob Chavez on pre-trial diversion for burglary of a building and dismissed a theft charge against Moises Arenivas because his co-defendant agreed to pay restitution.
Dove possession, bag limits change
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By GILBERT GUZMABN
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dpt.
PECOS, September 5, 1997 - Not only does September mean cooler temperatures, but for many it's time to dust off their shotguns and hit the fields in search of doves.
Dove bag and possession limits have changed for the 1997-98 hunting season.
Dove hunters in the Central Zone will have a more liberal bag limit this year. Daily bag limits are 15 mourning, white-winged and white-tipped doves in the aggregate including no more than two white-tipped doves.
Hunters in possession of white-winged doves will still have to have a white-winged stamp along with their hunting license.
Dove season opened on Sept. 1 and continues through Oct. 19 then opens again Dec. 26 and continues through Jan. 5.
Hunters in the Trans-Pecos area will have the opportunity to hunt both mourning and whitewinged doves.
Mourning doves are slightly smaller than whitewinged doves. They generally are seen in flights of 35 birds and have a rapid wing beat with a pointed tail and erratic flight pattern.
The whitewinged dove is larger with a very conspicuous white bar on its wings and a long, round tail. Whitewinged doves are seen in larger flocks and have a higher and slower flight pattern, when compared to mourning doves, especially during fall migration.
Hunters may refer to their Texas hunting and fishing guide, now called OUTDOOR ANNUAL, for more information.|
Disabled face new registration rules
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AUSTIN, September 5, 1997 - Texans who apply for disabled person motor vehicle registration face new requirements effective Sept. 1. These actions are the result of a new state law approved by the 75th Legislature earlier this year.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is responsible for implementing these new procedures. Beginning Sept. 1 a first-time application for disabled person vehicle registration must be accompanied by a notarized written statement or a written prescription from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Texas. The statement or prescription must also include a certification of whether the disability is temporary or permanent.
Also required will be a drivers license number or the number from a personal identification card issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Disabled parking placards issued to persons with a permanent disability will now be valid for four years instead of five; placards issued to persons with a temporary disability will expire after a period of time not to exceed six months and can only be renewed when the request is accompanied by a physician's statement or prescription.
"This law applies to those who apply for disabled person motor vehicle registration for the first time on or after Sept. 1," said Jerry Dike, director of TxDOT's Vehicle Titles and Registration Division. "Citizens who already have disabled person placards or license plates won't be affected when they go in for a renewal."
Another law that goes into effect Sept. 1 allows TxDOT to issue more than one set of disabled person license plates to persons who own more than one specially-equipped vehicle. Persons who have questions about the new requirements for disabled person motor vehicle registration should contact their local county tax assessor-collector.
The state's 254 tax collectors are TxDOT's statutory agents for issuing motor vehicle registrations and titles. These county officials also collect related fees.
Queen Elizabeth II addresses nation
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By ROBERT SEELY
Associated Press Writer
LONDON (AP) September 5, 1997 - Queen Elizabeth II ended her seclusion in Scotland's Balmoral Castle today, departing for London to address the nation after stinging criticism she had been aloof since the death of Princess Diana.
The queen, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, left in a convoy of limousines soon after Prince Charles had departed with his sons, William, 15, and Harry, 13.
The princes were due to visit Diana's coffin at St. James's Palace in London today, the day before the princess's funeral.
The address and the queen's early departure from Balmoral - she originally planned to come to London on Saturday by Royal Train - followed claims that the royal family was not sharing in the public outpouring of grief.
On Thursday, Prince Charles appeared in public with his sons for the first time since Sunday. Charles held Harry's hand as the family, along with the queen and Prince Philip, looked at floral tributes left outside the Crathie church, near Balmoral.
In another last-minute change, Diana's brother, the ninth Earl Spencer, announced today that his sister will be buried on an island in the grounds of the family's stately home, Althorp Park, instead of in the nearby village church.
Earl Spencer, who had said Sunday that there was "blood on the hands" of every editor who bought pictures from freelance photographers who had hounded Diana, intervened Thursday to bar seven tabloid editors from attending the funeral. With the funeral approaching, there has been no let up in the public surge of emotion. Early today, police estimated that 12,000 people were waiting to sign condolence books at St. James's Palace.
A group of singers gathered at the Queen Victoria monument opposite Buckingham Palace, singing hymns including "The Lord's My Shepherd," "Silent Night" and other favorites, joined by a growing number of bystanders.
In Paris, French police detained three more photographers in their investigation of the crash that killed Diana, 36, her new love Dodi Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul. Earlier, seven photographers and a motorcyclist were detained.
The paparazzi could be charged with manslaughter and other crimes. All of those detained have denied claims that the high-speed pursuit of Diana's car caused the wreck that took her life.
Police said Thursday that the Mercedes Diana was riding in had at one time been stolen and stripped before it was repaired. It was unclear whether that affected the car's mechanical functioning.
Sources close to the investigation also said authorities are particularly interested in how the car of one photographer came to be parked in front of the crumpled Mercedes. They are looking into the possibility that the car might have cut off Diana's sedan.
Many Britons on Thursday welcomed the queen's decision to address the nation, an event that normally happens only once a year, at Christmas.
"The queen is in a difficult situation," said Lucille Horgan, 35, who traveled to Westminster Abbey on Thursday from her home in Lincoln, in central England, to lay flowers. "She has so many people to please, and yet she must keep up with tradition."
In the four days after Diana's death, the royal family issued only one public statement.
"Your people are suffering - Speak to us Ma'am," blared the front page of the Daily Mirror, the newspaper that bought the final paparazzi pictures of Princess Diana alive. The Sun's front page demanded: "Where is our queen?"
On Thursday, the queen said she was "hurt" by the newspaper criticism.
To cope with the expected million or more mourners Saturday, a third giant TV screen - in addition to two already promised for Hyde Park will be erected in Regent's Park, where up to 70,000 people will be able to watch coverage of the funeral, Buckingham Palace said.
And for the first time, the queen has ordered that the Union Jack flag replace the monarch's personal flag - the blue, red and gold Royal Standard - over Buckingham Palace on Saturday. It will fly half-staff all day - another first.
British commentators said anger from some over the queen's reticence rose from a generational gap between her and the majority of Britons.
"'All you need is love' was their central doctrine," columnist William Rees-Mogg said of Diana's generation, born in the 1960s and 1970s. By contrast the queen's generation, brought up in World War II's privation and emphasis on discipline, "was taught to control its emotions."
"Some at least of the universal grief which is felt for the death of the princes reflects the loss of one member of the royal family who truly represented the people of her time," Rees-Mogg said.
Midland seniors absolutely
can't wear class T-shirts
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MIDLAND, Texas (AP) September 5, 1997 - For seniors at Midland Lee High School, the rule on wearing their class T-shirts is as clear as a bottle of vodka.
Absolutely not.
Principal George Cooper banned the shirts this week because they play off Absolut, a popular brand of the Russian spirit. The front reads "Absolut Seniors," while the back reads "98 Proof."
"In no way does LHS want to be associated with alcohol," Cooper said.
Cooper first thought the shirts would read "AbsolutLee Seniors," he said, adding that he wasn't aware Absolut was a brand of alcohol.
Clothing depicting alcoholic products violates the school district's dress code.
Only about 100 of the $15 shirts were sold, Cooper said. The senior class must refund any student who wants his money back.
Armored car theft suspect staying in Texas
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BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - A man wanted in Florida for allegedly stealing $22 million from an armored car company will remain in Texas for at least a few more days while authorities prove he is who they say he is.
A federal magistrate has ordered an identification hearing Thursday at which prosecutors must show that the man they have in custody is Philip Noel Johnson.
Johnson, 33, a former armored car driver for Loomis, Fargo & Co., is accused of raiding the vault of the company's Jacksonville, Fla., office on March 29. The heist was one of the biggest in U.S. history.
Authorities contend Johnson held two co-workers at gunpoint as he filled a van from floor to ceiling with bags of cash. One co-worker was later found handcuffed inside a closet at Johnson's Jacksonville home.
OBITUARY
Santiago (Jimmy) Lara
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PECOS, September 5, 1997 - Santiago (Jimmy) Lara, Jr., 46, died Thursday, Sept. 4, 1997, at Reeves County Hospital.
A rosary is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel.
Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, at Santa Rosa Catholic Church with Father Juan Narez and Father Paul Mata. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
He was born Sept. 11, 1951, in Pecos, was a cook and a member of Santa Rosa Catholic Church.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Maria E. Lara.
Survivors include his father, Santiago Lara, Sr.; one son, Jeremy Scott Lara of Albuquerque, N.M.; one daughter, Josett Lara of Albuquerque, N.M.; five brothers, Jesse E., Ysabel, Salvador, Daniel and Timothy Lara all of Pecos; three sisters, Monse Lara Ybarra, Teresa Lara Carreon and Amalia (Molly) Lara all of Pecos and one grandchild.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WEATHER
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PECOS, September 5, 1997 - High Thursday, 86, low this morning, 67 . West Texas will have partly cloudy skies. Lows tonight will be in the 60s. Highs Saturday will be in the 80s and 90s.
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324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
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