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

TOP STORIES

February 2, 1998


Chamber awards citizens for extra efforts



By RICK L. SMITH
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 2, 1998 - People making a difference was the
focus at the 1998 Pecos Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet &
Dinner Friday night.

Outstanding community members from many walks of life in the
city were honored at the awards dinner and several speakers
told the packed banquet room at Reeves County Civic Center
how such people improved the quality of life in Pecos.

"It's people that make the difference," said guest speaker
Pete Gallego, State Representative, Dist. 74.

"I always remember what my grandmother used to tell me, You
have to get involved.' It's not the differences between
people that's the problem, it's the indifference between
people that make difficulties."

Gallego went on to encourage those present to volunteer
their services to the community. He pointed out that if the
12,000 Pecos residents gave only 2 hours of their time per
week it would amount to 24,000 man-hours a week of community
service.

Richard Crider, 1998 Pecos Chamber of Commerce President,
continued the theme for the evening with his interpretation
of what the letters in Pecos stand for:

"P" is for Pride, Projects, Participation

"E" is for Enthusiasm

"C" is for Concern

"O" is for Optimism

"S" is for Service

Those receiving awards were:

Donnie Dominquez - Outstanding Director

Brandy Owen - Women's Division Award of Service

Larry Turnbough - Agricultural Service Award

Fred Martin - Ruiz Profile of Courage

Megan Freeman - Student of the Year

Betty Cook - Educator of the Year

Joyce Morton - Hidden Hero Award

Floyd Estrada - Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Gerald "Junior" Tellez - Citizen of the Year

Retiring chamber directors recognized were: Bob Curry, Dick
Alligood, Gilbert Abila, Gwen Green, Steve Valenzuela, Randy
Graham, Dickie Morelan, Sebero Jaquez, Chrissy Martinez and
Jeff Parras.

New chamber directors are: Henry Dominguez, Dianne Flores,
David Madril, Louis Matta, Fred Dominguez, Velma Dominguez,
Mark Auniga and Donny Dominguez.

Other chamber officers, directors and staff are:

Jim Bob McNeil - President-Elect

Paul Hinojos - Past-President

Linda Jones - Treasurer

Suan Cross - Women's President

Tom Rivera - Executive Director

Rachel Orona - Office Manager

UIL realignment good news for Pecos football


By JON FULBRIGHT
Sports Editor

PECOS, February 2, 1998 - The bi-annual realignment of Texas
schools by the University Interscholastic League may be
terrible news for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD travel budget,
but it's great news for the Pecos Eagles' football team.

The UIL stripped the Eagles of all of their longtime
District 4-4A rivals and placed them in a new District 2-4A,
made up entirely of El Paso-area schools with the exception
of Pecos. And while that will mean either overnight stays or
long Tuesday night road trips for the Eagles' basketball,
volleyball, baseball and softball teams, it will put Pecos
in a district with three schools newly arrived from Class 3A.

Pecos will be paired with Fabens, Clint, El Paso Mountain
View, San Elizario and Canutillo for the next two years,
barring any appeal to the UIL. Fabens, Clint and Mountain
View are moving up after years in Class 3A, San Elizario is
in its second year of Class 4A play after being at the Class
A level as little as 12 years ago, while Canutillo has been
a Class 4A school for only four years, after being forced to
play at the 5A level for several years before that despite a
small-4A school enrollment.

Pecos' old District 4-4A will remain almost unchanged. The
Snyder Tigers will rejoin the group they left in 1990 to
replace the Eagles, while the UIL made some strange moves to
even out Snyder's former Lubbock-area district, as well as
the other Class 4A and 5A districts in the Panhandle.

Meanwhile, the only change facing the Balmorhea Bears'
football team under today's realignment is in their district
number - the Bears will go from District 8-A six man to 7-A
six man, while retaining their six current district rivals.
But the Bears will see a big change in their basketball
district come next fall.

Football is the primary focus of the UIL's bi-annual
realignment, since it requires more players than other
sports, giving larger schools more of an advantage. And
while the Eagles come off a 4-6 season, while their junior
varsity and freshman squads went winless, none of the five
other schools in the new 2-4A had winning records in
football this past season. Fabens' 5-5 mark was the best
overall, but that included a 25-7 non-district loss at home
to Pecos this past September.

A number of players who were on the freshman and JV teams in
1996 did not play in 1997, leading to the Eagles' winless
sub-varsity marks, while a decision is still to be made on
the varsity head coach, after new Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
superintendent Don Love reassigned coach Mike Belew last
month. But Bubba Williams, who took over from Belew as P-B-T
athletic director in January, said he hopes the realignment
will help that situation.

"I feel like it will give a boost to the kids and give them
a little confidence in themselves," Williams said. "I'm not
saying its an easy district, but it's sure not as hard as
the one we came out of."

"Now I hope we get more kids out participating," Williams
added.

Pecos High School principal Danny Rodriguez echoed those
statements.

"They've had us going west all these years and now it's
finally happened," he said. "I think it's a good move. It
will help us to be more competitive."

The Eagles have gone 22 years without a playoff appearance,
and after a 4-1 start this past season, suffered their first
winless district season in over 30 years, as some players
either missed workouts or quit the team during the course of
the year.

Williams whose baseball team won't be affected by the
change until the Spring on 1999 and Love were at the
Region 18 Service Center in Midland this morning picking up
their packet on the realignment, as well as finalizing the
1998 football schedule. It was thought the Eagles might end
up in a district with several El Paso schools plus Monahans
and Fort Stockton.

But the Loboes stayed in Class 3A and will not be on Pecos'
regular season schedule for the first time in over a half
century, while the Panthers will be the only former district
rival the Eagles will face this fall.

Pecos will scrimmage Monahans and Midland Greenwood, then
open their season against Denver City. Their other
non-district games are against Alpine, Fort Stockton, Crane
and Kermit. After that, they'll have at least two trips to
El Paso in District 2-4A play this season, and either two or
three trips there in 1999.

The other sports will be facing five games in El Paso for
each of the next two years, which could mean a series of
175-to 225-mile trips on weeknights. "That's a lot of
travel," Williams said. "I'm going to talk with Mr. Love and
see what we can do."

One option, used by Class 2A schools such as Eldorado and
Ozona in the past was to take overnight trips to the area,
playing Anthony on a Friday night and Van Horn on a
Saturday. "We may look at that, but as far as baseball, I
don't know," Williams said.

The talent difference in the other sports doesn't figure to
be as great as in football. Fabens has a strong volleyball
team this past season; Clint, San Elizario and Mountain View
have fielded competitive basketball teams in recent seasons,
and most of the El Paso-area schools have been strong in
cross country and in the distance races in track and field.

District 2-4A's bi-district rivals will be members of
District 1-4A, which is made up of all the Class 4A schools
from the El Paso ISD, Ysleta and Socorro districts. It is
made up of El Paso High, El Paso Bowie, El Paso Burges, El
Paso Parkland, El Paso Riverside and El Paso Ysleta.

Meanwhile Pecos' former rivals Andrews, Big Spring, Fort
Stockton, San Angelo and Sweetwater will now join Snyder in
District 5-4A. And instead of going out to El Paso for first
round playoff matches, their bi-district round games will be
against District 6-4A, which includes traditional football
powers Brownwood and Stephenville, as well as Cleburne,
Everman and Granbury.

Balmorhea meanwhile, will remain with Buena Vista, Dell
City, Grandfalls, Marathon, Sanderson and Sierra Blanca in
the new District 7-A. However, the district does regain the
first round playoff bye in six-man football they lost two
years ago.

In basketball, the Bears will lose all three of their
current District 29-A rivals, Grandfalls, Buena Vista and
Marathon, and will get a much easier number to remember.
Balmorhea will be in District 1-A, with Dell City, Sierra
Blanca and Valentine as their rivals. Their bi-district
rivals will come from District 2-A, made up of Fort Davis,
Marfa, Wink and Fort Hancock.

Monahans remained in Class 3A despite seeing their
enrollment increase to above 730, as the UIL raised the
bottom cutoff for Class 4A schools from 700 to 780 this
year. Pecos reported about 830 students to the UIL last
fall, when enrollment figures for the realignment were
determined. The upper level for Class 4A is now 1,779
students, also up by 80 from two years ago.

The Loboes will remain with Alpine and Greenwood, while
Kermit, Crane and Presidio take the place of Clint, Fabens
and Mountain View in the new District 4-3A, while Lamesa
drops down from Class 4A to 3A and will be paired with
Seminole, Brownfield, Denver City, Slaton and Colorado City.

The loss of Lamesa and Snyder created the UIL's strange
Panhandle pairings. Canyon and Canyon Randall, located just
outside Amarillo, were put in with Lubbock Estacado,
Levelland, Frenship and Plainview to create the new District
4-4A, while Amarillo Palo Duro joins Amarillo Caprock,
Hereford, Dumas, Pampa and Borger in District 2-4A.

That left the Class 5A district in the Panhandle one school
short, which the UIL filled by moving San Angelo Central out
of District 4-5A with the Midland, Odessa and Abilene
schools and into District 3-5A, where their travel woes will
dwarf Pecos' problems. Central's nearest district rivals
will be in Lubbock, 187 miles away, and they'll also play
Amarillo and Amarillo Tascosa, a 298-mile trip from San
Angelo.

Driver refuses DWI tests after accident



PECOS, February 2, 1998 - Friday night was not a good night
to be out driving around Pecos. There were two accidents,
one at 9:49 in the 1600 block of West Fourth Street for
which details are not yet available, and one at 10:21 which
resulted in two people being transported to Reeves County
Hospital. One of them is facing charges of no insurance and
DWI refusal.

According to a police report, Pamela Frances Blackstock, 39,
2270 Barilla Road, was driving a 1988 red and gray Ford
F-150 pickup, owned by James Worsham, south in the 1100
block of S. Cedar at 10:21 p.m. Jan. 30 when she struck
another vehicle in the rear.

The other vehicle was a 1988 Gray Nissan Stanza, driven by
Cyrus Gordon of Barstow.

After hitting the car, Blackstock went right and struck a
stop sign at the corner of Twelfth and Cedar and came to a
stop by the windmill, according to the report.

The Nissan came to rest in the left turn lane in the 1200
block of Cedar Street. Both vehicles had major damage.

According to the report, Blackstock was under the influence
of alcohol and refused to give blood for alcohol/drug
analysis.

The report indicates that in addition to Blackstock being
under the influence of alcohol, her failure to control her
speed contributed to the accident.

Both vehicles were towed by B&B Wrecker Service and both
drivers were transported to Reeves County Hospital, where
they were treated and released.

This morning, Municipal Court Judge Phyllis Salyer said, "We
are in the process of issuing warrants and they will be out
by this afternoon." The warrants will be for failure to
maintain financial responsibility and DWI refusal, the judge
said.

Misunderstandings continue in Head Start



By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, February 2, 1998 - Betty Carter, director of Greater
Opportunities, may wonder just what she has gotten herself
into by agreeing to function as interim provider of Head
Start in Reeves County. Earlier in the week she disputed
several comments made by members of the Pecos Housing
Authority and the Community Council of Reeves County.

Probably the most glaring objection she has is with Bill
Wendt, board chairman of Community Council. Wendt went on
record recently as saying that Greater Opportunities was a
"for-profit" organization that could "eliminate" Community
Council from running the day care. He warned that if this
happened there was a strong probability that the fee for the
program would increase because the new provider would be
more concerned with making a profit.

Rising in defense of Greater Opportunities, Carter said that
while she had no doubt that PHA and Community Council were
at odds with each other, Wendt "knew better than that." She
stressed that Greater Opportunities was a non-profit agency.
"We are a limited-purpose agency. We are just a grantee for
Head Start," said Carter.

Wendt's concern that Greater Opportunities was out to take
over the day care was addressed when Carter stated that her
agency was in no way interested in running the day care
program currently run by Community Council. She said,
speaking of her agency, "We have operated Head Start both in
Ector and Howard counties for the past 32 years . . . The
only other program we would even consider is Infant Head
Start."

Infant Head Start is a version of the Head Start program,
still in the pilot stages in Dallas and San Antonio, that
provides for children from infancy to Head Start age. It is
being promoted by national and regional offices of the
Department of Health and Human Services as another tool to
help low-income families to move from poverty to
self-sufficiency.

Carter pointed out that her agency had not sought to take
over the Head Start program in Reeves and Ward counties, but
that "They relinquished it themselves," Carter said of the
Council. "We were asked by the regional office to be interim
administrator."

Wendt said that his claim that Greater Opportunities was a
for-profit agency was based on "some kind of a paper" he had
read and hasn't been able to find again. He also claims that
Frank Perea, board chairman of the Pecos Housing Authority,
told him that Greater Opportunities was interested in taking
over the day care program.

Carter's views also contrasted with those of Frank Perea.
She disputed Perea's claim that anyone from her agency ever
contacted him or anyone else seeking additional classroom
space for the Head Start program. Carter said that they had
only been "making sure there is proper space" for the
program.

Perea maintains that he received two phone calls from
Richard Smith, assistant director of Greater Opportunities,
while Carter was out of town. Perea said that Smith asked
him if Community Council still had a lease on the day care
building on 10th Street, where Head Start and Community
Council share space.

According to Perea, Smith told him that he needed to do some
measurements and find out what the needs of Greater
Opportunities were. Perea said that Smith expressed interest
in leasing all or part of the 10th Street building which
currently houses two Head Start classrooms as well as the
day care and Meals on Wheels.

Smith admits to contacting Perea about securing space for
the Head Start program. Their first conversation centered on
the 10th Street building. "I told him we were interested in
the building and very likely could use all the space," said
Smith.

"He [Perea] told me that if they [Pecos Housing Authority]
needed to relocate the day care, they could." But, Smith
also holds that he never approached anyone about taking over
the day care. "We only want to continue and improve [Head
Start] operations. We are not trying to run anybody out of
business."

Meanwhile, Wendt said that the housing authority is taking
bids on the 10th Street property, and the council may be
forced out of the building. "This will put nine people out
of work, there will be no elderly meals and no medical
transportation program," said Wendt. These actions of the
PHA, he claims, will be "putting people back into poverty
instead of working to pull them out."

Perea said that PHA is waiting on a proposal from Greater
Opportunities for the building. "I don't know if Community
Council is going to make one, but we're entertaining the
idea of soliciting both."

Perea insists that the Pecos Housing Authority has no
intention of dissolving day care. "There is a great need for
day care. PHA will support whatever efforts -whether by
Greater Opportunities or Community Council -to keep it
going."

Caprice Cox, director of Community Council, said that her
agency held a parents meeting on Tuesday, January 27, to
"straighten out the rumors," and discuss what action must be
taken to keep the day care.

Obviously angered over Perea's suggestion at a recent PHA
meeting that Greater Opportunities should take over the day
care, Cox asked, "What gives Mr. Perea the authority to
recommend anything concerning our program? The day care
belongs to Community Council."

But despite the rough edges surrounding Greater
Opportunities' new service area, Carter says her experience
has been predominately favorable. "I have found the staff to
be very pleasant and helpful," said Carter. "We will try to
make sure the services continue as smoothly as possible for
the children."

Greater Opportunities will be holding a buffet for parent's
at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Reeves County Civic Center.
Parents of Head Start children from Saragosa, Monahans and
Pecos are invited to attend the meeting. The purpose of the
meeting is to introduce the idea of parental involvement and
to assure parents local Head Start services will continue.

"Parents need to know Head Start is OK," said Carter.

Greater Opportunities became the interim provider of the
Head Start in Reeves and Ward counties when the program was
dropped by its previous provider, Community Council of
Reeves County, as of the first of the year.

Head Start is a national program providing comprehensive
developmental services (such as health, nutritional,
education and other services) primarily to low-income,
pre-school children between three years of age and the age
of compulsory school attendance, and their families.

About 130 children benefit from Head Start programs in
Reeves and Ward counties.

Commissioners table recreation program



By Mac McKinnon
Enterprise Editor

PECOS, February 2, 1998 - Reeves County Commissioners
meeting in emergency session this morning approved a
resolution on consolidation of the county and Town of Pecos
City for maintenance of birth and death records and tabled
one item for lack of information.

Commissioners also approved paying $8,149.06 to Amardillo
Drilling of Alpine for drilling of a well at Saragosa
Cemetery. The well has not been hooked up, according to
Commissioner Herman Tarin, as West Texas Utilities has not
yet provided electric service.

Also approved was a budget amendment to pay for the well
drilling.

One other item on the agenda was the take action on the
interlocal agreement between the county and Balmorhea school
district on a community recreation program whereby school
facilities will be open for three evenings -Wednesday,
Saturday and Sunday -to the public.

The county is providing money to help buy more exercise
equipment. Tarin reported that the school board, which has
approved the contract, wants more specific information in
the contract on the amount of money provided by the county
and exactly what that money is to be used for.

However, County Judge Jimmy Galindo was not present for the
meeting as he had an illness in the family and he was the
one working on the contract. The matter was tabled until the
next meeting.

Regarding the consolidation for maintenance of birth and
death records, the matter was requested by County Clerk
Dianne O. Florez so that anyone, regardless of where they
were born, can come into the clerk's office and get a birth
certificate as a result of an online service with Austin and
using special birth and death certificate printing paper.

Money for the new computer and required software is
available in a special clerk's fund. This will become
effective June 1.

Also not present for the meeting was Commissioner Bernardo
Martinez.

Schools focus on counseling this week


PECOS, February 2, 1998 - Counseling Week will be celebrated
throughout the week with special events planned at the
different campuses.

The Guidance and Counseling Department of
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD announced plans for observing the
National and Texas School Counseling Week, Feb. 2-6.

The theme for this year's observance is "Promoting the
Wellness and Safety of Children," said Ana M. Hernandez,
director.

"Counselors will be hosting an Open House for teachers,
parents, and community members at each of their assigned
campuses," she said.

Counselors invite the public to visit them and preview the
displayed materials used for guidance. The Guidance Program
involves four components of student services: guidance,
which is a preventive program of whole class instruction on
any of 10 modules; responsive services, which is a career
development and educational planning program providing whole
group and individualized assistance; and system support, a
coordination of support services among educators and
community service providers.

Counselors serving the PBT ISD are Rosie Salcido, Austin
Elementary and Crockett Middle School; Deneisa McNeese,
Pecos Elementary, Zavala and Lamar Middle Schools; Virginia
Cabellero, Bessie Haynes and Carver; Jim Adams and Pat
Cobos, Pecos High School.

Open house activities will be held at Austin Elementary, in
the counselor's room, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Friday; at Bessie
Haynes, Friday from 1 to 3:30 p.m.; at Pecos Elementary,
Monday, 8:30-3 p.m.; at Lamar on Friday, 8-11 a.m.; at
Crockett Middle School, Thursday, 9 until noon and at Pecos
High School, all day Friday.

OBITUARIES


Jesus Duhon



Jesus Duhon, 61, of Galveston, died Saturday, Jan. 31, 1998,
at Midland Memorial Hospital.

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 2, at
Mount Evergreen Cemetery, in Pecos, with Father Roberto
Alvarado officiating.

Duhon was born July 1, 1936, in Pecos. She was a homemaker
who had lived in Galveston for 30 years and was a Catholic.

Survivors include: one son, Michael Gonzales of Texas City;
one daughter, Rosa Gonzales of Texas City; three brothers,
Carlos Gonzales of Pecos, Jose and Cipriano Gonzales of
Odessa; six sisters, Antonia Gonzales of Midland, Jacinta
Wallas of Crosby, Andrea Bruson, Pauline Jacoby and Narcisa
Gonzales of Odessa and Adela Gonzales of Mobil, Ala.; and
two grandchildren.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Rosa Salazar



Rosa Salazar, 35, died Friday, Jan. 30, 1998, at UTMB
Hospital in Galveston.

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 2, at
Mount Evergreen Cemetery with Father Roberto Alvarado
officiating.

Salazar was born June 19, 1962, in Pecos and had lived in
Texas City for 30 years. She worked for the Cook School
District and was a Catholic.

Survivors include two sons, Alberto and Baldomero Salazar of
Texas City and one brother, Michael Gonzales of Texas City.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Rachel Eppenauer



Rachel Irene Eppenauer, 50, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998,
at her home in Von Ormy, Tx.

Funeral services were at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, at
Sunset Chapel in San Antonio.

Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb.
3, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Fort Davis.

Eppenauer was born Dec. 16, 1947, in Alpine. She graduated
from Pecos High School and attended South West Texas
University in San Marcos and Sul Ross State University in
Alpine. Eppenauer was a National Intercollegiate Rodeo
Association Finalist during her college years. She was the
founder of a jewelry design company known as "Pin-A-Pocket."

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, A.R.
Eppenauer Sr. and Rachel Eppenauer and her parents, A.R.
(Buddy) Eppenauer Jr. and Elizabeth Fowlkes Eppenauer.

Survivors include: two brothers, A.R. (Bob) Eppenauer III
and Edwin Holland Eppenauer of Fort Davis; two nephews; and
one niece.

Memorial Funeral Home of Alpine is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER



PECOS, February 2, 1998 - High Sunday, 62, low this morning,
27. January 1998 was the first rainless month in the area
since November, 1995. A cold night is in store across most
of Texas tonight before unseasonably warm temperatures
continue on Tuesday. Lows will be below freezing as far
south as the Hill Country tonight. It will be clear to
partly cloudy across West Texas. It will be sunny on
Tuesday. Lows tonight will be in the 20s in the mountains
and in the 30s and 40s elsewhere in West Texas. Highs
Tuesday will be in the 50s and 60s over most of West Texas,
ranging upward into the 70s in the Big Bend area
Temperatures were in the 20s and 30s in West Texas.



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Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.

324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net

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Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise