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Use "FIND" option on toolbar to search for a specific word or string. TOP STORIESNovember 19, 1997
Gramm-Byrd plan may lead to road repairBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, November 19, 1997 - Pecos business and community leaders yesterday heard about a plan to provide an additional $1.9 billion for repairs to Texas highways. Speaking in the Texas-New Mexico Power community room in Pecos, Margarita Velez, an aide to U.S. Senator Phil Gramm, said the Gramm-Byrd amendment to the U.S. Senate's transportation reauthorization bill would increase federal funds available to states for highway needs from $7.6 billion to $9.5 billion by utilizing revenues generated by the 1993 gasoline tax increase. This 4.3 cent gasoline tax increase has been used for deficit reduction. Through the Gramm-Byrd amendment (co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., John Warner, R-Va., and Max Barcus, D-Mont.), Gramm and company are seeking to redirect the tax monies directly to highways. "Senator Gramm thought that it (tax money) ought to go to the highways," Velez said. But even the extra $1.9 million won't provide for all Texas highway needs. Velez said that Nafta has created a headache for many and that law makers hadn't anticipated how much more traffic the trade agreement would generate. She said that El Paso and Laredo have been tremendously affected. But the amendment will not directly lead to an upgrade for U.S. 285 in Texas, as will New Mexico's section of U.S. 285, in preparation for the opening of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad. Hopefully, Velez said, with more money available for in-state improvements the state may allocate money to widen and improve the road for hazardous transport. "Senator Gramm's amendment means jobs for Texas, plain and simple," said David Laney, Texas Transportation Commissioner. "Additional funds are critical to address the growing transportation needs in Texas," he said. "Current funding allows us to meet about 33 percent of the need. We can put this money to work for Texas."
Alternate route considered for nuclear wastePECOS, November 19, 1997 - Douglas Eichorst II, Pecos Area Engineer for Texas Department of Transportation, has been investigating some alternatives to routing nuclear waste trucks through Pecos proper on U.S. 285. County Road 117 is one alternate route under consideration. "There's not much residential area there," he said, "and it would be easy to connect with the rest of the (state highway) system." Traffic counts on the county road came up shy of the 250 vehicles per day needed for the road to come under the jurisdiction of the state (more in the 50-100 vehicles per day range). And, Eichorst said, to change a road to a Hazardous Cargo Route often takes several years. But without additional funding, the current district budget wouldn't be able to provide for upgrading and connecting the road to the state highway system. Eichorst's off-the-cuff estimate of what it would cost to connect the road is about $3 million.
Hospital approves fewer beds, new ambulanceBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, November 19, 1997 - Reeves County Hospital Board of Directors voted last night to reduce the number of licensed beds on the premises. Interim Administrator Terry Andris told the board that new legislation that includes changes in reimbursement levels requires the action. With less than 50 licensed beds, he said, the hospital will be able to maintain current reimbursement levels and even get some breaks down the road. Andris said it is only rarely that the hospital houses more than 15-16 patients at a time, and averages during the past year hovered closer to a five patients. Andris also suggested that should the hospital wish to increase beds in the future it could license the beds under different categories such as elder care or detox. The board approved the purchase of a new ambulance from McCoy Miller Ambulance out of Duncanville, a 1998 model that will be built to order and delivered to the hospital within 90 days of purchase. The ambulance was recommended by the Ambulance Selection Committee and will cost $68,392. The board also voted not to trade in the old ambulance. "I don't know if we want to trade that smoker in right now," Andris said. Board members agreed that the older ambulance was still adequate to make local runs. A new freezer unit ($5,988) for the kitchen and out-patient area renovation were both approved. The renovation has been priced at $3,800 and should cut down on congestion in the front area. Difficulties in recruitment efforts were discussed and, with one registered nurse leaving in January, Andris said that the hospital may have to get an agency nurse to fill in temporarily. Also, Criselda R. Lara, LDN, was granted full allied health proffesional privileges based on medical staff recommendations. 1997 tax rolls, monthly collection report, financial report and payment of bills were all approved at last night's meeting.
Testimony begins in criminal conspiracy trialBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, November 19, 1997 - Two women who were with Ruben Mendoza when he was beaten unconscious last year claim that Gilbert Rayos Jr. held Mendoza's arms behind his back during the attack at the Eddy St. car wash. Lupe Mendoza testified in 143 District Court this morning that she grabbed a tire tool and went to her brother's aid as several men swung bats, sticks and a shovel at him while Rayos held his arms. Lupe Mendoza's testimony was given as part of the criminal conspiracy trial of Rayos in connection with the July 21, 1996, beating of Ruben and Lupe Mendoza. After hitting one of the men with the tire tool, Mendoza said she was approached from behind, and when she turned, Charlie Arenivas hit her in the face with a shovel, knocking her unconscious for a week. Alma Fuentez testified Tuesday that she was with Lupe and Ruben Mendoza when they left a dance at Saragosa Hall following an altercation with a group of men. The men followed in a red car, a brown car and a "blue, junky truck," Fuentez said. When the truck tried to block their exit from the North Side Park, she saw the driver, whom she identified as the defendant. A short time later, the red car stopped near Sonic Drive-In, and Ruben Mendoza approached it with a metal club used to secure automobile steering wheels, Fuentez said. He swung the club at Gabriel Gonzales and knocked out a window in the car, she said. Leaving that scene, the group drove to Eddy St., where they encountered Joe Villa and stopped at the car wash. Lupe Mendoza, who was driving, said the burgundy car drove up beside her car and Rayos drove the blue truck in front, blocking her exit. Ruben Mendoza got out of the car, taking the red club to fend off "about eight" men wielding sticks and bats, the two women testified. Both women said they saw Rayos take a shovel out of the truck bed and hand it to Gabriel Gonzales. Gonzales was previously convicted of aggravated assault on Ruben Mendoza. Rayos grabbed Mendoza's arms after he stumbled and fell to the ground while swinging the club, the women testified. Fuentez said that Rayos also kicked and stomped Mendoza. Rayos is charged with criminal conspiracy for his part in the attack. Fuentez said the men broke off the attack when she got out of the car and screamed that the cops were coming. "Ruben didn't move. I thought he was dead," Fuentez said. "His face was covered up with blood."
Get rid of scrap tires for freeBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, November 19, 1997 - Disposing of scrap tires will be easier until the end of the year, according to Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo. "We have a window of opportunity from now until the end of the year, to dispose of used tires at no cost to the consumer," said Galindo. "This is the county's opportunity to get rid of all these tires." Safe Tire Disposal, out of Midlothian, is providing a trailer for the county's use to haul away scrap tires. The trailer is currently parked at Hector's Tire and Service, 5102 S. Cedar, and was parked in Toyah last week. "We picked up a big load from Toyah and this trailer is full already," said Reeves County Road and Bridges Administrator Russ Salcido. "They're going to come pick this one up today and park another one here," he said. Galindo and others working in conjunction with the project would like county residents to bring their old tires to where the semi-truck is currently parked or to call Galindo's office for the location of where to go to dispose of the scrap tires at 445-5418 and ask for Anita Baeza. "They're not charging us anything to come pick up the tires at this time," said Galindo. A story which appeared in the Pecos Enterprise on Nov. 12 stated that Safe Tire Disposal would impose a fee for a trailer load of tires to pay the tire scrappers. However, that fee won't be implemented until the beginning of next year. "We want to dispose of as many tires as we can before then," said Galindo. The project is in cooperation with the Safe Tire Disposal Company and Reeves County and is overseen by Galindo with the help of Baeza and the Road and Bridges Department.
Smithers appoints new managerPECOS, November 19, 1997 - Ted L. Yost has joined Smithers Scientific Services Inc. as general manager of its automotive proving grounds in Pecos. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the test center for analytical testing of tires, vehicles and vehicle components. Yost brings to Smithers more than 33 years of tire manufacturing, marketing and technical experience, most recently as vice president of operations and plant manager at Fidelity Tire Manufacturing Co. His background also includes 22 years at the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in positions ranging from manufacturing to technical manager. He also worked as a technical director at Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. Yost holds a Masters degree in industrial management from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics from Drake University. Yost and his wife, Pat, reside in Monahans. Smithers is a leading independent testing, research and management consulting firm, serving an international client base in the tire, automotive, elastomerics, chemicals, plastics, medical goods and marine industries.
Search continues for missing planePECOS, November 19, 1997 - The Civil Air Patrol is still looking for a missing Cessna 180 that had been on route to Van Horn last Thursday from Bryan, Texas. Dennis Blanchard, owner of Pecos Municipal Airport, said that there hasn't been any word yet but the wife of the pilot had called him two or three times searching for information. Anyone with anything to report on the missing plane can call the primary mission base in Georgetown at (512) 869-3349, or the secondary base in Fort Stockton at (915) 336-7009. The plane went missing between 8 p.m. and midnight on Thursday, November 13.
OBITUARIESMiguel and Angel GabaldonMiguel and Angel Gabaldon, infants, died Monday, Nov. 17, at Reeves County Hospital. They were born Nov. 17, at Reeves County Hospital and were Catholics. Graveside services are scheduled for 3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Fairview Cemetery with Father Juan Narez officiating. Survivors include: their parents, Miguel and Velma Gabaldon of Pecos; grandparents, Gregorio Gabaldon and Mary De Carmen of Chihuahua, Mexico; and one sister, Christina Gabaldon of Pecos. Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WEATHERPECOS, November 19, 1997 - High Tuesday, 67, low this morning, 30. Temperatures over Texas are warming, but still the National Weather Service advised residents to drive with extreme caution today. The trouble, rather than snowy or rain-slick highways, was fog. The weather service issued a dense fog advisory through mid-morning for all of North Texas except the northwestern and southeastern thirds. The advisory area was generally southeast of a line from Sherman to Weatherford to Brady and northwest of a line from Marshall to Athens to Franklin. Meteorologists blamed the fog on light wind and a very moist lower atmosphere. But the fog was expected to burn off within a couple of hours of sunrise. With early morning temperatures in the 30s, wind chill factors were minimal because of light and variable winds. West Texas skies remained mostly fair and fog free. Overnight, temperatures across Texas ranged from the low 30s in the Panhandle to the middle 50s over the lower Rio Grande Valley.
Pecos Enterprise
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