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Use "FIND" option on toolbar to search for a specific word or string. TOP STORIESNovember 7, 1997
Few events will recognize Veterans DayPECOS, November 7, 1997 - A Cub Scout flag ceremony at Pecos Elementary School may be the only Pecos activity to honor veterans next week. No other Pecos Veterans Day activities have been reported to the Pecos Enterprise. The flag ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. However, another Veterans Day ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. in downtown Balmorhea for Balmorhea, Brogado and Saragosa veterans. Everyone is invited to attend. Also, the Pecos Enterprise will have a special page honoring veterans in the Tuesday edition. If you have a veteran that you would like to have recognized, call Christina Bitolas or Mac McKinnon at 445-5475. Apparently, community apathy towards Veterans Day and a reluctance on the part of local veterans to pat themselves on the back contribute to the lack of local recognition of the day. "Generally all we do is put out flags," said Andy Hannah, Quartermaster of Curtis Baker VFW Post #6437, who said that he is not aware of any local Veterans Day ceremonies. He attributes the absence of any events recognizing veterans for their service in Pecos to a "lack of manpower." Tom Rivera, executive director of the Pecos Chamber of Commerce, also is unaware of any local recognition of military veterans on this holiday. Rivera is a veteran as well, and the Veterans' Service Officer for Pecos. If local veterans have a problem they need assistance with, Rivera is the person to call. He is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer. Rivera believes the lack of a local ceremony is due to a "role reversal" type situation. "It seems that most of the community expects the veterans to put on an event, but this is a day that the community is supposed to honor the veterans, not the other way around," said Rivera. "It's been that way for too long." Rivera would like to see something done to remember the service of Pecos veterans and what their service has meant to Americans. "I'm all for doing something," Rivera said. "If somebody calls me and asks me to participate I'll surely help out, but I'm not going to organize an event myself because I don't want to beat my own drum." Veterans Day became a national holiday to replace Armistice Day, a legal holiday celebrated each November 11 since 1928 under terms of a 1926 resolution of Congress to commemorate the end of World War I.
Bush presidential library dedicated at universityBy MICHAEL GRACZYK Associated Press Writer COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) November 7, 1997 - It was George Bush's last hurrah and he left the public stage declaring himself the "the luckiest man in the world." "Now that our political days are over, I can honestly say the three most rewarding titles bestowed upon me are the three I have left: a husband, a father and a granddad," Bush said Thursday as his presidential library and museum was dedicated at Texas A&M University. All the hoopla focusing on Bush was tough. "There is one thing left for me to do - apologize to my mother," he said as President Clinton, former presidents Ford and Carter, their wives, former first ladies Nancy Reagan and Lady Bird Johnson, and some 20,000 others gathered at the $80 million complex which displaced an A&M hog research farm. "I'm afraid some of these exhibits today might violate her 'no bragging' rule. I just hope we've in some way given proper credit to all with whom I worked during every chapter of my life." Many of those people were on hand, including at least 20 members of his cabinet, 10 governors, senators and congressmen, former prime ministers and heads of state, diplomats and more than 60 Bush family members. Also attending were Caroline Kennedy and David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower. "We know George Bush as the world's best dad," said his son, Texas Gov. George W. Bush. "My entire family thanks you for honoring him with your presence today." Seated in Aggie-maroon leather chairs, the past and present White House occupants were flanked by American flags and a blue flag carrying the presidential seal. The Texas A&M band played, the school's chorus of cadets sang, and a team of Army parachusists descended overhead, trailing streams of colorful smoke. "All Americans are united in tribute for his lifetime of service to America," said Clinton, who blocked Bush's bid for re-election five years ago this month. "For more than 4½ years now, even though our relationship began under somewhat unusual circumstances, I have been very grateful thay whenever I call on President Bush, he has always been there with wise counsel. "It's hard to express to someone who hasn't experienced it, what it means in a moment of difficulty to be able to call someone who first of all knows exactly what you're up against, and secondly who tells the truth. And he has done that time and time again." With all his family and friends around, Bush said it was tempting to dwell on the past. He talked about the honor of serving the finest men and women in uniform during the Persian Gulf War, about the courage of people that led to the breakup of the Soviet Union. "Today, one thing is for sure," he said. "I did not lack for inspiration or support during those four years." "As to whether we got things right or could have done things better, the beautiful thing about this library and the 40 million documents here is that history can make that determination, rendering that judgment based on these documents and other material safeguarded in this building. "Hopefully, the insights gained and impressions left by the events on display here will do for our visitors what they have done for the people who lived them: make deeper our appreciation for the blessings of freedom and democracy and make stronger our devotion to them," he said. The 69,000-square-foot Bush museum includes displays that focus on his World War II service as a Navy pilot, as a student at Yale and a Texas oilman, then into politics and diplomacy and his tenure as CIA director, U.N. ambassador, liaison to China, vice president under Ronald Reagan and then to the White House. Mrs. Reagan, representing her ailing husband, said the museum captured Bush's character as war hero, leader and family man, and told of President Reagan enjoying their weekly lunches in the White House when Bush was vice president. "I wish Ronnie could be here today and tell you in person what I know he would say: Thank you for your service and your steadfastness, but most of all for being his good friend," Mrs. Reagan said. Ford talked about Bush's integrity and compassion and love of country, considered old-fashioned in some circles, he said. "President Bush has described himself as a man with a mission," Ford said. "Today, we would be perfectly justified in saying: 'Mission accomplished, well and faithfully done."' A ceremonial key was turned over to John Carlin, archivist of the United States, as the library, built with privately raised money, became the 10th public presidential library open in the country and the second in Texas. About 100 miles to the west is the Lyndon B. Johnson Library at the University of Texas. Johnson's widow was seated next to Barbara Bush on the temporary stage erected over a fountain outside the main entrance to the museum. An 11th presidential museum, for Richard Nixon, is privately operated in California. "This magnificent library will be a place for scholars to try to understand what has happened in some of America's most important years," Clinton said. "It's also a place from which any person can draw enormous inspiration, a place for the re-affiramtion of our faith in America." Copyright 1997 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Volunteer Fire Department elects new officersPECOS, November 7, 1997 - The Pecos Fire Department held their
Customs to introduce truck x-ray machineSAN ANTONIO (AP) - A massive X-ray machine capable of searching an
17 juveniles referred to court in OctoberPECOS, November 7, 1997 - Reeves County Juvenile Court's October report reveals a total of 17 new referrals. Of these 10 were referred by the Pecos Police Department and 7 by other sources. Seven of the 17 were found in violation of juvenile court order. The rest of the referrals break down as follows. One for assault causing bodily injury; two for terroristic threat; three for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana; one for deadly conduct; one for theft of less than $50 dollars; and two for assault of an offensive/provocative nature. Of the 17 referrals, 12 were male and 5 were female; 14 were listed as hispanic and 3 as white.
State economy growing twice as fast as rest of U.S.AUSTIN, November 7, 1997 - As Texas nears the end of another year of solid economic growth, State Comptroller John Sharp announced that the Texas economy, already expanding at twice the national average, will set the pace for other states into the new year. "Texas should remain in the top echelon of state economies for the foreseeable future," Sharp said. "All we need to do is continue to capitalize on our greatest strengths Ä location and a growing population." Writing in the latest issue of his award-winning monthly publication, Fiscal Notes, Sharp said that investments in basic infrastructure will help the state take advantage of its central location and long border with Mexico. "ln the past, railroads, pipeline, petrochemical plants, and other infrastructure developments aided our growth," Sharp said. "ln the future, up-to-date physical infrastructure will be the key to boosting exports and creating new jobs." Sharp said that overall state job growth is up 2.6 percent over last year, and some areas of the state are recovering from recent economic troubles. "We have gained more than 200,000 new jobs to reach a current total of 8.4 million," Sharp said. "Nearly all of Texas' regional economic 'boats' have been lifted by the growing state economy and the continued national economic expansion." Sharp said the economic picture for Texas border counties in particular has brightened since the 1994 collapse of the Mexican peso. This recovery, fueled in part by Mexico's own improving economy, has increased retail activity along the border and is feeding job growth in cities such as Laredo and El Paso. The comptroller noted that agriculture producers have benefited from overdue rains this year, that brought an end to a widespread drought reminiscent of the parched 1950s. Sharp said federal defense cutbacks continue to cast a long shadow, especially in San Antonio, where leaders are trying to mitigate the impending shut down of Kelly Air Force Base; Texarkana, in the midst of dealing with the downsizing of the Red River Army Depot; and Corpus Christi, where potential workforce reductions at one of its military installations present a challenge for the city. Sharp said that Dallas, with its diverse economy, enjoyed the state's second fastest growth rate and generated the most jobs. Austin continued to build upon its reputation as a high-tech Mecca, while Houston capitalized in large part on a rebounding energy market. Sharp's analysis in the current issue of Fiscal Notes looks at economic performance in four major categories, from job and population growth to retail and home sales, for each of the state's 27 metropolitan statistical areas. Texas job growth has outperformed most states in recent years, the comptroller said, and the state economy has grown at twice the U.S. average during the decade of the 1990s. In the employment category, Laredo and McAllen have been adding jobs at a rapid clip as the effects of the peso devaluation wear off. Dallas, as noted above, added the most jobs - 70,000 - with the help of a construction boom. In the area of population increases, all of the state's metro areas are growing, with the Rio Grande Valley and Central Texas leading the pack. As for retail sales, the Killeen-Temple area has experienced an average annual rise of 23.6 percent from 1994 to 1996, thanks to a large degree to the arrival of new retirees, a growing population, and a surge of new businesses catering to Fort Hood. Home sales have also expanded fastest in the Killeen-Temple area, as well as in the region surrounding Galveston and Texas City. Also of note, Sharp said, is that a commercial construction boom and an expanding service sector are fueling growth in the Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito region; that Longview and Marshall are aggressively seeking economic development partnerships with other countries; that Amarillo has become a regional health care center for the Panhandle; and that expanding business operations, especially in the energy market, are driving employment gains in the Odessa-Midland area. Sharp's Fiscal Notes is published monthly by the Comptroller's Research Division. It is available by writing P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711-3528, or by calling toll-free 1-800-531 -5441, extension 3-4900.
Recreation center tops commissioners' agendaPECOS, November 7, 1997 - A proposal to establish a community recreation center for Pecos and Reeves County headlines the agenda for the Reeves County Commissioners' Court meeting Monday. Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo will make the proposal to commissioners at their regular meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m. Galindo said he wants to involve other governmental agencies in the county in the project through an inter-local governmental agreement. In trying to re-establish a recreation center the county made an offer to purchase a building in downtown Pecos. That offer, however, wasn't accepted, Galindo said. County officials are looking at a four-block area to include a variety of sports programs. "After assessing the situation, I believe that the best thing that we can do is to improve and enhance our existing facilities," said Galindo. "I am proposing to the commissioner court to present an inter-local agreement to the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD to create a comprehensive community recreation complex at the Pecos High School facilities." Galindo's proposal includes building two racquetball rooms in the old smaller gym, purchasing the necessary mats for aerobics and martial arts and asking the athletic directors to allow an enhancement of the weight room to better serve both males and females. Other sports facilities would also be enhanced to include the community, according to Galindo's proposal, including offering more summer programs. The county will contribute an initial $500,000 for the project, plus an additional $20,000 a year for operations, according to Galindo. The city has already appropriated $20,000 annually for operations and they would ask the school and hospital districts to consider appropriating $20,000 annually for employee wellness, Galindo said. "That would give us $80,000 to hire staff to supervise and co-ordinate the youth and adult wellness program," said Galindo. In other business, commissioners will discuss a contract for the Older Americans Act Program; award bid proposals on general liability insurance; auto liability and physical damage insurance. Commissioners will also discus/take action on the following: * Bid proposals on real/personal property and heavy equipment insurance. * Bid proposals on law enforcement liability and public officials liability insurance. * Bid proposals on outside audit. * TCDRS funding presentation by Joseph Froth and George Arroyos. * A new soda machine contract. * Replacement of broken windows at 231 S. Oak for 4-H Club adoption of a building. * RCDC correctional officer of the month/year incentive program. * Reeves County Juvenile Detention Contract with Upshur County. * Addendum to Juvenile Detention Contract between Reeves County and Rio Grande Council of Governments. * Canvass the return of the constitutional election. * Reports from various departments. * Budget amendments and line-item transfers. * Personnel and salary changes (juvenile detention center, RCDC). * Minutes from previous meetings, semi-monthly bills and spread on minutes: Western Surety Co. - Bond for Reeves County Auditor Asst. (Renee Cox) and continuing education for Herman Tarin.
American Heart Walk set for SaturdayBy ROSIE FLORES
AREA ROUND-UPThe Fort Stockton PioneerFORT STOCKTON, Nov. 6, 1997 - An early morning robbery resulted in the arrest of a Fort Stockton man on aggravated robbery charges. George Pina Dennett, 37, was arrested Saturday morning after he allegedly took $275 from the night clerk at the Econo Lodge on E. Dickinson after telling her that he had a gun. His bond was set at $20,000. The Big Bend SentinelMARFA, Nov. 6, 1997 - Southwest Texas Municipal Gas Co. directors have voted to divest a portion of the company in an apparent creative financial move designed to stave off restructuring an almost $2 million debt due in three years. Directors have signed a letter of intent to sell to West Texas Gas Co. of Midland 81.4 miles of high pressure transmission pipeline and its 265-meter system that serves Balmorhea, Saragosa, Brogado and Toyahvale. The Alpine AvalancheALPINE, Nov. 6, 1997 - In a case that sparked national attention, Republic of Texas members Richard Lance McLaren and Robert "White Eagle" Otto were sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 4, by District Judge Kenneth DeHart. On Friday, Oct. 31, the jury returned a guilty verdict after only one and a half hours of deliberation, sending the court appointed defense attorneys Mike Barclay and Frank Brown into a frenzy trying to find a way to ease the sentence. The International, Presidio PaperPRESIDIO, Nov. 6, 1997 - Presidio school board members took care of a nepotism situation during a special meeting Saturday, according to Superintendent Dr. Sharon Morrow. Trustees accepted the resignation of school board member Abe Franco and rescinded an earlier vote to hire Delfina Anderson as teacher of the 3-year-old student program. The Sanderson TimesSANDERSON, Nov. 6, 1997 - A change in consumption rates and flat fees for active water meters are intended to increase revenues for the Terrell County Water Control and Improvement District. Water board members recently approved a new monthly service charge of $10 for each active meter. Previous charges were only for the amount of water used. The Monahans NewsMONAHANS, Nov. 6, 1997 - Executives of First National and First State banks in Monahans say they expect to be making home equity loans by Jan. 15. That's the earliest the loans can be made under the voter approved home equity amendment to the state constitution on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Property owners in Ward County already have begun receiving their 1997 ad valorem tax bills. As projected, home owners are paying less although tax revenue will be higher. Ward County Tax Collector Dolores Fine, who collects taxes for all the county's taxing bodies, except for the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote School District, and Jeanette Wristen, who is that district's assessor/collector, say Jan. 31, is the deadline for paying property taxes without penalties. OBITUARIESDavid BryantDavid W. Bryant, 67, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1997, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. Graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Barstow Cemetery with Rod Peacock officiating. Bryant was born in 1930. He was a retired trucking manager and a former Van Horn and Pecos resident. He was a graduate of Barstow High School in 1948. Survivors include: one son, Kevin J. Bryant of Buckey, Ariz.; one sister, Patricia Wright of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jess McIlvainJess Hall McIlvain, 64, died May 5, 1997, at his home in Bethesda, Md. Memorial services were held Saturday, May 10, 1997, at Concord-St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Bethesda, Md. His ashes were scattered over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. McIlvain was born March 28, 1933, in Ponder, Tx. He was a 1950 graduate of Pecos High School who entered Texas Tech in 1950 to major in pre-med. He worked as a disc jockey on Pecos and El Paso radio stations. He was in the U.S. Army and was stationed in El Paso from 1953 to 1955. He then returned to Texas Tech and was a 1959 graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Survivors include: his wife, Joni Wimberley McIlvain of Bethesda, Md.; one son, Sean McIlvain of Bethesda; one daughter, Sheila McIlvain of Bethesda; one brother, Tom McIlvain of Carlsbad, N.M.; and one sister, Sarah McLaughlin of Sacramento, Calif.
WEATHERPECOS, November 7, 1997 - High Thursday, 73, low this morning, 42. Pleasant weather is in store for all of Texas for the weekend. It will be clear to partly cloudy. There's no mention of any precipitation. West Texas will have partly cloudy days and fair skies at night through Saturday. Lows tonight will be in the 30s and 40s. Highs Saturday will be in the 70s across most of West Texas, ranging from the 60s in the mountains to the lower 80s in the Big Bend area.
Pecos Enterprise
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