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TOP STORIESDecember 18, 1997Dispatching for police, sheriff combinedBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer PECOS, December 18, 1997 - A new dispatch system will ring in the new year for two local law enforcement agencies. Beginning Jan. 1, 1998, the Pecos Police Department will handle all of the dispatching duties for both the police department and the Reeves County Sheriff's Department. Because sheriff's dispatchers are so busy with their responsibilities of running the jail (Reeves County Jail) and taking care of the prisoners, they often don't have time for dispatching, said Pecos P.D. Lieutenant Kelly Davis. "Dispatching is a full-time job," Davis said. "In order to provide better service to the public, and the officers, we decided to have all dispatching for both the sheriff's department and the police department done here at the police department." In return for dispatching services, the sheriff's department will cease charging the city for housing prisoners in the county jail. "We'll have the dispatching of the fire department and the ambulances - 911 is already here," said Davis. "If anyone needs a police officer or a sheriff's deputy starting Jan. 1, they should call the police department at 445-4911," Davis said. The department's computer system will be online for the dispatchers by then, so they will have instant access to the information they need, according to Davis. Also, calls to both the police department and 911 will be recorded so the department can keep more accurate records. Davis said that anyone wanting copies of either accident or incident reports should get them from the police department from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and that anyone needing information on Reeves County Jail prisoners should contact the sheriff's office. Their phone number is 445-4901. Inmates' children ensured merry YuleBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, December 18, 1997 - Children who have one or both parents in prison will be receiving a good Christmas, thanks to the Pecos Ministerial Fellowship. "We've been doing this for a few years, but this year it came a little bit late," said First Baptist Church preacher Greer Willis. Willis stated that he sought the help of the Lions and Rotary Clubs to help out this year, since the group started working on their "Angel Tree" later than usual. Each group donated about $100, which took care of about 6 children, according to Willis. "We spread the list out among all the congregations in the Ministerial Fellowship and we will be handing out the gifts today," said Willis. About 45 children are on the list this year, and all are from local families, according to Willis. The contact organization is LOOP, Loved Ones of Prisoners, out of Odessa. "Some of these children have one or both parents in prison, every year we have some that have both," said Willis. Willis stated that the targeted families are usually very receptive to this program and each child receives a couple of gifts. "This year we decided to buy a gift and give each one a gift certificate, so they can personalize their own gift," said Willis. Sometimes church members know the families in the program and they help those families out even more. "Some of these churches also minister to the family, provide other necessities, and some of the families have been know to become a part of the churches that have helped them," said Willis. This year about six churches took families under their wings, to help them out not only during this holiday season but throughout the year. The project itself is run by Chuck Colsen Prison Fellowship, an international organization aimed at trying to keep prisoners in touch with their families. "Each prisoner fills out an application, which is where the list comes from, and on there is a place for them to write their own message," said Willis. "This year, more than ever, we're trying to convey the messages these people have written down," said Willis. On each gift a note is filled out, with the message the prisoner has written for his family, such as "I love you," or whatever he/she wants to convey, according Willis. "That's the main thing, we want to help prisoners stay in touch with their families and we hopefully want to pass their message along to the child," said Willis. Postmaster changes holiday hoursBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, December 18, 1997 - While Pecos Postmaster Ramona Sterling is away on a special assignment to Washington D.C., the San Antonio District West Texas Postal Operations has replaced her with Tony C. Ramirez, Officer in Charge/Postmaster. "After reviewing the needs of our customers over the past few years, records indicate that very little activity is conducted after noon on Christmas and New Year's eves," said Ramirez. With this in mind, Ramirez stated, "We would like to allow our employees an opportunity to be with their families earlier on these two very special occasions." As a result, the local post office retail/window operations will close at noon Dec. 24 and 31. However, mail delivery will remain on normal schedule, according to Ramirez. Office operations will return to normal hours Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. Ramirez graduated from Pecos High School in 1967 and in 1971 graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. He worked for the Edgewood ISD, Saladmaster Corp. and Boy's Clubs in San Antonio prior to his employment with the US Postal Service. His career appointment with the USPS as a distribution and window clerk began in 1977. He was in management training as a delivery supervisor from 1985 until he was promoted to Hispanic Coordinator in 1989. Later he was promoted to a customer services supervisor in 1992. In 1995 he was selected as Postmaster of Bandera, Tx., until he was assigned as Officer-in-Charge/Postmaster of Pecos in December of this year. Ramirez and his wife, Blanca have five children and four grandchildren. He is also the son of Filomena Ramirez of Pecos. Sales tax rebates increase from 1996AUSTIN, December 18, 1997 - Sales tax rebates to Texas cities and counties in 1997 increased 6.8 percent from last year, according to a recent report from State Comptroller John Sharp. Pecos rebates for the year were almost two percent more than 1996. The final Texas sales tax rebates for 1997 totaled $164.7 million bringing the total city and county sales tax rebates for calendar year to more than $2.1 billion as the growth outlook for the Texas economy continues to outshine that for the nation as a whole, Sharp said. The state delivered another $793 million in local sales tax revenue this year to mass transit systems in eight of the states largest cities. December sales tax rebates to Texas cities totaled $150.6 million, 3.9 percent higher than the monthly payments of $144.9 million one year ago. Rebates of $14 million to Texas counties were 1 percent higher than allocations of $13.9 million in December 1996. The December payments to Taxas cities and counties include local sales taxes collected by monthly filers on October sales and reported to the comptroller in November. Rebates to Pecos this month totaled $60,081, almost 11 percent higher than December 1996. Total sales tax rebates to Pecos for the year was 736,591 compared to 723,396 last year. The total rebate to the Reeves County Hospital District for the year was $285,855 compared to $271,733 last year a little more than a five percent increase. The city of Houston received a December sales tax rebate of $19.5 million, 2.8 percent more than the $19 million delivered to the city last December. Total payments to the city of Houston for 1997 were 6.2 percent more than total payments for last year. Dallas received a sales tax rebate of $13.2 million in December, 4.3 percent higher than last year's $12.7 million payment for the same month. Dallas received 3.8 percent more in total sales tax payments in 1997 than in 1996. The San Antonio allocation for December totaled $8.3 million, virtually unchanged from the payment for December 1996. This year, San Antonio received 5.3 percent more in local sales tax payments than the total for last year. The Austin sales tax allocation for December was $6.7 million, 11.7 percent higher than the December 1996 payment of $6 million. In 1997, Austin's total sales tax rebates were 5.4 percent more than those for 1996. Fort Worth's $4.12 million sales tax allocation was 1.6 percent less than the rebate of $4.18 million for December of last year; however, total rebates to Fort Worth in 1997 were 5.5 percent above those for 1996. The city of Arlington's $3.1 million allocation decreased 14.6 percent from the $3.6 million in sales tax rebates for the same month last year; again, however, the city's total rebates for 1997 were 4.3 percent more than those for 1 996. El Paso's sales tax rebate of $3 million was 2.9 percent more than the $2.9 million payment delivered in December 1996. El Paso's total sales tax payments for 1997 reflect an increase of just under 1 percent from those for 1996. December sales tax rebates to several other Texas cities were: Plano, with a rebate of $2.4 million, for a 2.3 percent year-over-year increase; Irving, with an allocation of $2.3 million, up 8.1 percent over 1996; Corpus Christi, with a $2 million payment, reflecting a 1.1 percent year-over-year increase; Lubbock, with a rebate of $1.8 million, for an increase of 4 percent for this calendar year over 1996; and Beaumont, with a $1.6 million rebate, for a year-over-year-increase of 3.5 percent. Quarterly payments to mass transit authorities were as follows: Houston MTA, $73.5 million, up 6.4 percent for the calendar year; Dallas MTA, $73.8 million, up 2.7 percent year-over-year; San Antonio MTA, $13.9 million, up 3.7 percent over last year's total; Austin MTA, $23.3 million, up 5.6 percent 1997 over 1996; Fort Worth-MTA, $6.7 million, up 5.5 percent year over-year; and Corpus Christi MTA, $3.5 million, Jown 1.2 percent for the calendar year. The monthly rebate to the El Paso City Transit Department was $1.4 million, for a total calendar year increase of 1.2 percent. The Laredo City Transit Department sales tax rebate for December was $206,946, for a year-over-year increase of 8.7 percent. Twenty-nine special purpose Districts around the state received payments totaling $4.4 million. Golden Angel tree short of giftsBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, December 18, 1997 - So far, The Golden Angel Tree at the Pecos Nursing Home is a great success. All 80 angels on the tree were spoken for with promises of gifts for the residents. However, only 14 gifts have been received and the nursing home needs them all in time for its party tomorrow. The tree is decorated with golden angels, which have the names of all the residents of the home inscribed on them. Attached to the angels were little gift cards with the residents' choice of a gift or two. "All the angels were picked out, but of the 80 that were on the tree, only 14 gifts have been placed under the tree and we need to know if they are going to bring the gifts in or not," said Gilda Vejil, the creator of "The Golden Angel Tree," located in the Pecos Nursing Home lobby. Individuals in the community were asked to pick out an angel, purchase a gift for the resident at the home and return the gift. "If for some reason they can't purchase the gift, we need to know now, so that we can purchase one for them," said Vejil. Vejil is asking those who picked out an angel to contact her, at 447-2141, and let her know if they will be able to purchase the item or not. Gifts need to be returned to the nursing home by at 1 p.m. tomorrow, in time for the Christmas party scheduled for the evening. Vejil also received a cash donation of $150. "With this money I was able to purchase socks for all the residents," said Vejil. Vejil purchased two pairs of socks for each of the residents at the home. POLICE REPORTPECOS, December 18, 1997 - EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County Sheriff's Office, or other officers of those agencies. The serving of warrants by an officer for outstanding fines of either traffic citations, animal control violations or other court costs are considered arrests and will be printed as such unless indicated that the fines were paid. In such instances we will indicate payment and release. *** Dorothy Smith Wilson, 43, 2019 S. Park, was arrested at 3:27 p.m. Dec. 12 at 200 E. B St. on a warrant for delivery of a controlled substance, marijuana less than two ounces. *** Rebecca Lujan Prieto, 18, 1019 S. Martinez, was arrested at 3:37 p.m. Dec. 12 at municipal court on service of warrants for traffic citations, paid the fines and was released. *** Angel Ramirez, 19, 805 S. Cherry, was arrested at 11:50 p.m. Dec. 13 at La Officina Bar, 611 E. 2nd St., on a capias pro fine warrant for minor in possession/consuming alcoholic beverages. *** Louie Elliot Rico, 17, was arrested Dec. 14 in the 700 block of S. Palm for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. *** Jeanette Florez, 19, was arrested at 3:36 a.m. Dec. 14 in the 700 block of S. Palm for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. *** Ysa Munoz, 24, 1101 S. Elm, was arrested at 1 a.m. Dec. 14 at her residence for resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor. *** Luis Carlos Machuca, 30, Lovington, N.M., was arrested at 12:16 a.m. during a traffic stop in the 2200 block of S. Highway 17 for driving with no valid driver's license. *** Annette J. Ybarra was arrested at 2:59 p.m. Dec. 11 at Wal-Mart for theft over $50. *** Johnny Lowell Strain was arrested at 1:51 p.m. Dec. 12 at Pecos High School on a warrant for delivery of a controlled substance. *** Jeanette Florez was arrested at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 on a warrant service at municipal court. *** Joshua W. Daniels was arrested at 12:17 a.m. Dec. 13 during a traffic stop at 3rd and Peach for outstanding warrants. *** A white, 1993 Ford pickup, owned by Pepsi Corp., was damaged in the form of its drivers side window being shattered, when a Dodge Caravan drove by it headed in the opposite direction at about 3 p.m. Dec. 9 on Highway 17 east of Balmorhea State Park. CRIME OF THE WEEKPECOS, December 18, 1997 - Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and Grand Jury indictment of person(s) responsible for the incident described below. Anyone having any information on this crime or any other crime can call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain anonymous. On Nov. 6, 1997, Pecos police responded to a burglary of a habitation located at 1901 Jackson Blvd. Sometime between Oct. 30, 1997 and Nov. 6, 1997, a person or persons gained entry into the residence by prying open a small bathroom window. Once entry was gained, the person or persons took a Hitachi 25-inch color TV, an 18-inch RCA satellite dish and receiver, a VCR and a truck speaker box with 12-inch "Pyle Driver" woofers. Value of stolen property was placed at $1,575. OBITUARIESJessie AllenJessie Bell Allen, 80, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997, at Reeves County Hospital. Memorial services are set for 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, at First Christian Church. Allen was born April 20, 1917, in Pecos and was a lifelong Pecos resident and a Protestant. Survivors include: two daughters, Helen Allen and Laura Quisenberry of Odessa; and one sister, Birdie Slack of Pecos. WEATHERPECOS, December 18, 1997 - High Wednesday, 71, low this morning, 26. Texas enjoyed one last sunny and mild day today as a cloudy, wet and cold weekend loomed on the horizon. The high pressure that brought the sunny and mild weather exited the state to the east as a Pacific winter storm approached from the west. A low pressure trough developed overnight from the Panhandle to the Big Bend. This morning dawned with temperatures in the 30s and 40s before heading to expected highs of the 60s and 70s. West Texas and the Panhandle expected fair skies tonight before clouds increase and temperatures cool on Friday as a high-altitude storm system approaches from the west. There will be a slight chance of showers over the far west Friday. Lows will be in the 30s and 40s, with Friday highs from the 40s in the Panhandle to the 70s in the Big Bend, but generally in the 50s and 60s.
Pecos Enterprise
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