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TOP STORIESFebruary 12, 1998Student of the year settles for successBy RICK L. SMITH Staff Writer PECOS, February 12, 1998 - Pecos High School senior Megan Freeman is the kind of person who believes that making good grades and succeeding in everything she does will take her far in life. As a result of that beleif she carries a 4.0 grade point average while participating in several extra-curricular activities. Last month Megan was chosen the Pecos Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year. Second to academics, Megan spends the most time swimming. She has been a member of the Pecos High School Swim Team since she was a freshman. "Being on the swim team has taught me the true definition of teamwork," she said. "And it has taught me how to persevere in any situation." Megan has also been a member of the Pecos High School Marching and Symphonic bands since she started high school. She has been first-chair French horn for all four years and has advanced to the State Solo and Ensemble Contest for the past three years. Megan said she has had the most effect on her high school through participation in the Student Council where she has been her class vice president and the chairman of the S.M.I.L.E. Committee since she became a member of the council last year. "I have enjoyed being a part of the Student Council because it has allowed me to help make Pecos High School a better place," she said. She is also the vice president of the Pecos chapter of the National Honor Society as well as the Secretary of Mu Alpha Theta. Megan has the extra challenge of having Diabetes Mellitus Type I since she was 12. She has to check her blood sugar level four times a day, take insulin injections twice a day and follow a strict diet every meal. "Diabetes has not made my life easy, but it has not stopped me from attaining my goals," she said. "In fact, having this condition has made me realize how precious my life is and it has taught me to never give up, because any obstacle can be overcome with perseverance, will and determination." School district reprimands volunteer firemenBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, February 12, 1998 - Is a volunteer with the fire department free to leave his job to combat fires? Sometimes yes and sometimes no, depending on his employer. For employees of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school district, as of yesterday, the answer is maybe. It depends on the type of fire. A conflict which had been brewing since Friday, when several volunteer firemen employed by the school system were issued official reprimands for leaving school grounds to combat a local structure fire, was resolved at an 11 a.m. meeting yesterday. Fire chief Jack Brookshire and two volunteer firemen employed by the school district met with Superintendent Don Love and Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Gome Olibas and reached a compromise that all parties agreed to. The problems began on Friday at an 8 a.m. meeting involving Brookshire and a fire department contingent, including a fireman representative, a safety officer, the assistant fire chief and three volunteer firemen employed by the school district who met with Olibas to discuss the issue. The position of school administrators at that time was that no school employee would be allowed to leave during school hours to respond to a fire. Ten minutes into the meeting a fire was reported at 408 East 11th Street and the firemen left the meeting to respond to the alarm. When the three firemen returned to their jobs at the school district later that day they were met with letters of reprimand. "My concern is with structure fires," said Brookshire on Tuesday, Feb. 10. "We have six trucks and an equipment van. To get all the trucks out we need 21 people." Brookshire added that some dumpster and grass fires may be attended to by one or two firemen. But the fire at E. 11th was no dumpster fire. And the department was shy two trucks because of lack of man power -even with the school employees. In fact, Brookshire said, the last three fires his team has been called out to found the team short two trucks because there were not enough people to man them. Brookshire estimated that about 50 percent of the volunteer firemen work out of town during the day making them unavailable. This, he said, heightened the need for those employed in town. "If an employer is good enough to let these guys off work to help with fire prevention programs at the schools," said Brookshire, "then the school system should let the school employees off to attend structure fires." According to Brookshire, structure fires represent 25 percent of all fires and require a full contingent of personnel to combat them. Pecos witnessed about 75 fires of this type in 1997. "We're making sure we are taking care of our business," said Love an hour before the meeting. "We want to make sure we're not putting our community in any danger. We're willing to work with the fire department." Brookshire went into the morning meeting full of optimism. "They are really making every effort to work with us. I do appreciate Mr. Love and Mr. Olibas for listening and working with us on this." According to Olibas and Brookshire, a compromise had been reached before noon. "Due to safety concerns," said Olibas, "we will let them leave for the remainder of the year for structure fires. But next year we will have a policy in place that will prohibit them from leaving during school hours." Olibas said the matter had been removed from the school board agenda for tonight. Brookshire was also happy with the result of the talks. "I am happy with the way things turned out and I think Mr. Olibas and Mr. Love are satisfied," he said. Of the four volunteer firemen employed by Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school district, two are teacher's aides, one is a janitor and one is a teacher. Local candidates speak at forumBy RICK SMITH Staff Writer PECOS, February 12, 1998 - About 80 people attended the Pecos Business and Professional Women's Club "Meet the Candidates" forum Tuesday night at the Quality Inn. Most of the local candidates in the March 10 Democratic Primary Election were present for the meeting and were allow five-minute campaign speeches. Incumbent Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo reminded the crowd that when he first took office the county had an $800,000 budget deficit. Galindo pointed out that he has turned that budget deficit around to give the county reserve funds while lowering taxes the past two years. He also pointed out that progressive programs he has supported have turned the Reeves County Detention Center into one of the fastest growing employers in the county. Linda Gholson, seeking to defeat Galindo for the county judge seat, said she believed county commissioners should work together as a unified team that would eliminate controversy in county government. Gholson pointed out that much of the turn around in the county budget was the result of revenues generated by the Reeves County Detention Center into the general budget of the county. All three candidates for the district clerk position were present. Incumbent district clerk Juana Jaquez said that her 11 years experience as district clerk made her more qualified for the position than her two opponents. She said that constantly changing laws made the position of district clerk extremely difficult. Jaquez pledged to continue providing friendly professional service to the public if she is re-elected. District clerk candidate Rosemary Chabarria said her five years experience with the county tax office has prepared her for the district clerk position. Catarina "Kathy" Ybarra, also seeking the district clerk position, said her recent training in computer systems and U.S. and Texas government, as well as years of assisting her mother in community politics has prepared her for the position. Unopposed in his quest for the Precinct 2 county commissioner's seat, David Castillo told those at the meeting that as a Pecos businessman he is very pro-business. He said the county should do everything it can to support local small business. "We have our roots in Reeves County," Castillo said. "Let's cultivate the soil for our seedlings." Incumbent Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace J.T. Marsh pointed out he has held the JP-2 position since he was appointed in 1977. In his 20 years as Justice of the Peace Marsh has attended more than 400 hours of JP training and 20 hours of pathology training. Wes Harpham, seeking the JP-2 spot, said his many years as a peace officer had prepared him for the job. In the hotly contested Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 race, three of the four candidates were at the forum. Janell Ward said she had eight years experience on the Balmorhea city council and her husband was on the Balmorhea school board. "We have to train our kids about what's right and what's wrong and the JP office serves on that level," Ward said. Rosendo L. Carrasco, owner of Carrasco Grocery Store in Balmorhea, said he was seeking the JP-3 office because a number of people in the community had asked him to run for the office. "Their main concern was that we need a justice of the peace who will be there full time," Carrasco said. "I will have my office in the back of my store. The store is open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m." David Dominguez Vejil said if he is elected to the JP-3 position he will be available 24-hours a day. He proposes to keep an office in both Balmorhea and Pecos. Joel Madrid was not present at the meeting. For the office of county clerk only Kristina Kaye Talamantes was present, incumbent Dianne O. Florez did not attend the forum. Talamantes said she was raised in Reeves County and she would like to pay back the community for all that was invested in her as she grew up by serving in the county clerk's office. She pledged to better serve the public by leaving the county clerk's office open during the noon hour. Both candidates for the county treasurer position attended the forum. Incumbent county treasurer Linda Clark reminded those present that she has held the county treasurer office for five years and that she had nine years experience in similar jobs. Terry Terraza said her 14 years of banking experience and her present job as secretary at Pecos High School has prepared her for the county treasurer seat. Frank Spencer, who is unopposed on the ballot for county surveyor, was not present at the forum. Of the three candidates vying for the Reeves County Commissioner, Precinct 4 seat only two were present at the meeting. Mari Maldonado told the crowd that while all holders of public office are public servants, not all office holders see things from the same perspective. Maldonado said she believed it was time for a woman county commissioner. "It's called progress," she said. Precinct 4 incumbent commissioner Bernardo "Chaquen" Martinez said that when a community problem is pointed out to him he always investigates the situation and then takes the action he deems necessary. Gilberto M. Rayos was not present. Unopposed in his bid for Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Lamberto Herrera was not present at the forum. Unopposed incumbent Democratic county chairman Robert Dean was present for the meeting but did not speak. Boxer stabbed at Pecos High SchoolPECOS, February 12, 1998 - One Pecos High School student was stabbed Wednesday afternoon, but not many details were available as of presstime. Boxer Gilbert Plasencia was the victim of a stabbing incident at Pecos High School Wednesday afternoon, Pecos Warbirds trainer Roy Juarez said. Plasencia was taken to Reeves County Hospital, where he was treated for his injury and released, assistant administrator Iris Rives said. Plasencia was scheduled to be one of four Junior Olympic Division boxers the Warbirds would have in the Golden Gloves tournament in Pecos this weekend, along with Open Division boxer Jesus Marruffo. Pecos Police Department would not provide any information on the incident and school officials could not be reached for comment. WEATHERPECOS, February 12, 1998 - High Wednesday, 67, low this morning, 42. An upper level disturbance moving eastward is expected to bring scattered rain to most of the state and the possibility of some snow to the Panhandle. Forecasts called for rain possibly mixed with snow in the Panhandle tonight and Friday. No significant snowfall is expected. There is a slight chance of showers tonight over the Concho Valley and Edwards Plateau. Skies will be clearing tonight and Thursday over the rest of West Texas. Lows tonight will be in the 30s and 40s, highs Friday will be in the 50s in the Panhandle and in the 60s and 70s elsewhere in West Texas.
Pecos Enterprise
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