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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Reeves County, Trans-Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

TOP STORIES

January 7, 1998


Freeport Culberson production reduced



By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 7, 1998 - A more than 20 percent reduction in production at Culberson, Tx. Freeport-McMoRan Sulphur Inc. is not expected to result in layoffs at the mine, according to company officials.

The company announced Monday plans to reduce production of sulphur by 200,000 long tons every year in response to market conditions. To achieve this Freeport-McMoRan Sulphur Inc. (FSC on the New York Stock Exchange) will reduce production at its Culberson, Tx. Frasch mine by about 550 long tons per day.

FSC began as a new public company on Dec. 23, 1997 in the wake of a massive merger between Freeport-McMoRan Inc (NYSE:FTX) and IMC Global Inc. (NYSE:IGL), with IGL as the surviving entity. Robert M. Wohleber was named president, chief executive officer and a director of FSC the same day the new company was formed.

"This current action to reduce our sulphur production," said Wohleber, "is being taken in response to a developing near-term imbalance in the U.S. sulphur supply."

Production at the Culberson mine, according to FSC Director of Communications Bill Collier, will be reduced by about 22 percent - from 900,000 long tons last year to an anticipated 700,000 long tons this year.

Collier said that he did not expect any lay-offs. "There are none associated with the reduction," he said. When questioned about the life-expectancy of the mine, Collier forecasted another ten years of production.

Freeport-McMoRan Sulphur Inc. is now the largest producer of Frasch sulphur in the world. The company is involved in mining, purchasing, transporting, terminaling and the marketing of sulphur, and the production of related oil and gas reserves.

Talamantes seeks county clerk position



PECOS, January 7, 1998 - Kristina Kaye Talamantes filed her treasurer's designation and filed with Democratic Chairman Bobby Dean before the deadline Friday in her bid for county clerk in the March 10 Primary Election.

"In seeking the office of county clerk of Reeves County, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the citizens of Reeves County," said Talamantes.

Talamantes goes by the nickname "KK," was born and raised in Pecos and is the daughter of Teresa M. Talamantes and the late Ruben N. Talamantes. Her grandparents are Marcos and Georgia Mendoza of Pecos and the late Isaias and Jesusa Talamantes of San Angelo.

"KK" Talamantes has two sisters who reside in San Antonio, Laura S. Talamantes and Barbie T. Iniguez.

"I graduated from Pecos High School in 1993 in the top 10 percent of my class, was active in my studies and served all four years in high school as the class president," she said.

Talamantes received special recognition from the Texas State Senate for her leadership and received an Associate Degree in Education from Odessa College. She also has certification in phlebotomy.

"While attending college I was employed by Medical Center Hospital in Odessa as a phlebotomist and am presently employed as a legal secretary for attorney Jeff Parras," said Talamantes.

The county clerk's office deals with many important legal documents and permanent records that, like the medical profession, leave no room for error, according Talamantes.

"I feel that I am qualified to serve as Reeves County Clerk with my knowledge of law, my education and my dedication to my community," said Talamantes. "I am single with no dependents and I could give my full attention and participation to the needs and duties of the office," she said.

"With my education, legal secretary background and excellent office skills, I feel I can serve the citizens of Reeves County as county clerk in an excellent manner," Talamantes said.

Water board to hold public meeting



MIDLAND, January 7, 1998 - A public meeting has been scheduled for next Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Midland by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to hear comments on the final draft of the regional water planning areas and water plan rules mandated by passage of Senate Bill 1 last year.

The meeting, set for 9 a.m. on Jan. 13 in the Midland County Library, 301 W. Missouri St., will address the rules for state and regional water planning and future plans which must be submitted by the various agencies every five years beginning in September, 2000.

Public comment period on the final draft of the water plan ends on Jan. 26, according to TWDB officials.

The current plan that will be discussed next Tuesday would divide the state into either eight or 16 regions. Reeves County would be the western border of Region F under the 16-region plan considered the primary option. The region would stretch as far east as Brownwood and Junction and include San Angelo and the Midland-Odessa area.

Under the alternate plan, Reeves County would be in Region 4, that again would have its eastern border near Junction and Brownwood but would extend west to El Paso and include all of the Rio Grande area between there and south of Sanderson.

Every entity in the state that controls 10,000 acre/feet or more of water, such as cities, large private users, water districts and irrigation districts, will have to come up with their own water conservation plans. Plans could include the emergency seizure of unused or under-used water resources from neighboring areas, according to a briefing given to Red Bluff Water Power Control District board members in December.

Each of the regional planning areas will have a board initially made up of 11 members, who will oversee the water conservation plans for their area. Groups such as Red Bluff were urged to seek representation on the board when it is appointed, in order to safeguard their water rights.

Persons unable to attend the Jan. 13 meeting but who wish to comment about the water plan's final draft can do so either by writing Carolyn Brittin at the Texas Water Development Board, P.O. Box 13231, Austin, Tx., 78711-3231; by faxing (512) 463-9893; or by e-mailing SB1@twdb.state.tx.us. Copies of the final draft are available at the same address; by calling Diane Burr at (512) 475-2057 or e-mailing dburr@twdb.state.tx.us; or through the TWDB's web site athttp://www.twdb.state.tx.us/www/twdb/sb1_hp.html .

New superintendent approved for PBT



By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 7, 1998 - The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD officially has a new superintendent and a new administrative assistant to the superintendent and personnel director. Both positions have been vacant since the beginning of the school year.

Last night, the PBT school board hired Don Love, formerly principal of Zavala Middle School, to be the new district superintendent on a 3 ½ year contract at an annual salary of $75,000 plus the same benefits the previous superintendent received.

Gome Olibas, formerly principal of both Lamar Middle School and Barstow Elementary, was named as the new administrative assistant to the superintendent and personnel director at an annual salary of $62,500 plus benefits to be recommended by the superintendent.

Decisions to hire these individuals were unanimous. There is no word yet on who will be taking over the principalships of the schools that Love and Olibas left for their new administrative positions.

Hiring and resignations of other professional personnel was also unanimously approved at last night's board meeting.

One dead in one-vehicle accident



By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 7, 1998 - One person was killed in a one-vehicle accident shortly after 9 a.m. today about three miles north of Pecos on U.S. Highway 285.

A dark blue pickup with New Mexico license plates overturned, trapping the driver inside the crushed cab of the truck. The jaws of life were used to extract the driver from the vehicle.

The driver of the truck, a male who has not yet been identified, was still breathing when he was removed from the vehicle, according to Fire Marshal Jack Brookshire, who was at the scene of the accident. According to DPS Trooper Richard Jacobs, the victim died later. The identity of the victim was undetermined as of press time.

This is the second accident in three days along this straight stretch of road just outside of town. On Jan. 4, there was a two-vehicle collision about one mile further north that resulted in one fatality and four of the other five persons involved being injured.

OBITUARY


Alyne Ryan



Alyne Ryan, 87, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998, in El Paso.

Services are scheduled for 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 8, at Wilkerson Memorial Chapel with Rev. J.R. and Carol Canfield, officiating. Burial will be in Marion Cemetery in McCulloch County.

Ryan was born Dec. 18, 1910, in Cherokee, Tx. She was a homemaker and a Methodist.

Ryan was preceded in death by her husband Carol Ryan; one son, Curtis Ryan and one grandson, Tony Max Ryan.

Survivors include: one son, Ronnie Ryan of Barstow; one daughter, Latitia Otero of El Paso; one sister, Patricia Jordon of Columbus, Tx.; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Wilkerson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER



PECOS, January 7, 1998 - High Tuesday, 61, low this morning, 36. Numerous creeks and rivers are filled to their banks, raising a threat of flash flooding today, the National Weather Service said.Reports of rainfall totals from 5 to 8 inches have been reported across the state, with additional rains expected tonight and Wednesday before a Pacific front moving into Central Texas exits the region. Temperatures cooled to the 50s and lower 60s across the hill country and South Central Texas, with northerly winds of 5 to 15 mph and gusty. Temperatures early today ranged from 34 at Wichita Falls to 59 at Lufkin. The weather service said cooler temperatures today could cause rain to change to sleet or snow in western parts of North Texas, but no significant accumulation is expected. An upper-level low-pressure system continued to move slowly across West Texas and eastern New Mexico early today. Energy from this system combined with cold air at the surface to help produce scattered areas of light snow across the southeastern Texas Panhandle.



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Pecos Enterprise
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Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise