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TOP STORIESMarch 25, 1998City, school, hospital candidates speakBy RICK L. SMITH Staff Writer PECOS, March 25, 1998 - Seven local political candidates spoke to a crowd of about 40 during the Pecos Business and Professional Women's Club Meet the Candidates forum last night. Thirteen candidates are seeking election or re-election to offices in local city, school and hospital elections to be held May 2. Pecos City Mayor Dot Stafford seeks to retain her position and is opposed by Robert Hernandez. "I've been in education for 28 years," Hernandez said. "I'm very interested in my community. I don't own the community but that's how important it is to me." Hernandez told the audience that Pecos is in desperate need of new water fields and the current water line to the city is in need of repair. "Infrastructure is very important to any city," he said. "Without a good water and sewer system we cannot attract new business to Pecos. The community needs to come together to bring new business to the city." Hernandez said the city needs to pursue more grants to help fund needed projects. Stafford has been the Pecos mayor for the past four years and was on the city council for nine years. She has been on Governor Bush's State Review Committee for the past two years, is secretary for the 143rd Judicial District Community Council and is on the Pecos Economic Development Corporation Board. "While I've been mayor we have decreased the tax rate by two cents to 69 cents," Stafford said. "And in the past four years we have spent $1 million to improve our water." Stafford went on to say that the city has completed phase one in an $8 million water improvement project and has drilled one water well that has better water than the current supply. "I have retired from First National Bank and will work full-time as mayor," Stafford said. City council incumbents Ricky Herrera and Danny Rodriguez are unopposed. "Pecos City is doing well because of efforts of community involvement," Rodriguez said. "We need to hear from you because we are here to serve you." Herrera said he felt there were five main issues facing the city: 1. Pecos has one of the highest tax rates in Texas; 2. The city needs to bring in more business to lower the unemployment rate; 3. City beautification projects need to continue; 4. Youth problems need to be addressed; 5. The infrastructure needs improvement. Of the five candidates for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board, only two attended the forum, although one of those absentees sent a representative. "Louis Matta is highly qualified to serve on the school board," said Juanita Davila. "Louis is open minded, dependable and will put the children first." Davila said Matta had previously served on the school board and currently owns Desert Rentals and Sales and West Texas Finance in Pecos. "Louis' background in finances will help with solving many of the problems facing the school board," she said. Brent Shaw said the current PBT school board has taken very positive actions in the past several months, but may tend to get too involved in the day-to-day operations of the district. Shaw said that the most important issue facing the school district is that "all the children deserve the best education we can provide and we cannot let them down." Frank Rodriguez said if elected to the PBT board he would be open minded and listen to people's problems. Rodriguez said teacher pay was an important issue facing the district. "Why can't we pay our teachers more?" he asked. "I don't know. Why can't we budget so teachers get more pay? A lot of good teachers don't come here because they wouldn't get paid well." PBT school board candidates Earl Bates and Frank Perea did not attend the forum or send representatives. For the three seats up for election on the Reeves County Hospital District Board, only one candidate attended the forum. "The current hospital board is doing great," unopposed incumbent Greg Luna said. "In 1995 the hospital district had to borrow money to pay employees. Since then we have turned the situation around. In addition, we have replaced old equipment and bought an ambulance and pickup. The board has a vision for Reeves County." Hospital district Precinct 3 incumbent Jesus Prieto and his challenger Mike Stallard, along with Precinct 1 unopposed candidate Chel Flores, did not attend the forum. Early voting is from April 15 to April 28 at the Pecos Community Center. Election day is May 2. Monahans meteorites taken for testingBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer MONAHANS, March 25, 1998 - Two rocks found in Monahans and believed to be meteorites are now in Houston for testing and further observation, according to Monahans Police Captain Dave Watts. Officials from both NASA and the Smithsonian Institute contacted the Monahans Police Department expressing their interest in the rocks believed to have come from a meteorite which lit up the sky across West Texas as it fell to earth Sunday evening, according to Watts. The first rock was found Sunday evening, while the second one was found Monday as a deputy was enroute to the site where the first one was found. "Dr. Edward Gibson, with NASA, was here and took the meteorites back to Houston for a 60-day examining and testing period," said Watts. After the 60-day period the rocks will be returned to Monahans, according to Watts. "Basically, they landed in the roadway, in the city of Monahans, so they belong to the city," said Watts. Watts stated that city officials are trying to set up a display case and will include the names of the youngsters who found the first rock. "We want to give them some kind of recognition," said Watts. Residents across the area reported hearing a `boom' which lasted for about five seconds, and others saw a streak of light travel from southeast to northwest about 7 p.m. Sunday. A four-inch piece of rock, believed to be a meteorite, landed about 30 yards from a group of youngsters playing basketball on the north side of Monahans, while a second, slightly larger rock, was found by a Ward County Sheriff's Deputy at a nearby site. The first rock was brought into the police station shortly after it was discovered. The second rock was found about 800 feet away, embedded in the roadway. "It's a little bit larger than the first one, but other than that, it looks about the same," said Watts. Watts said the department was called out to the scene after a group of youngsters reported something falling from the sky. These rocks are actually not that valuable except for
"Dr. Gibson told us that had we waited to have these rocks
The freshness of the rocks, since they had just fallen from
"He said since they were so fresh we could get more
According to Gibson, both rocks could be valued up to
"Titanic" inspires three studentsBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, March 25, 1998 - Three Zavala Middle School students were so inspired by the Oscar winning movie and ship "Titanic" that they made a model of the sea-going vessel as a school project. "They're assignment was to build something with easily obtainable materials," said middle school teacher Kim McBride. McBride stated that the idea of the project stemmed from a book the class had been reading titled, Keplik, the Match Man. "In the book, Keplik makes things out of match sticks, he even made (a model of) the Brooklyn bridge," said McBride. Phillip Salcido, Lara Weinacht and Kimberly Olivas, decided that they wanted to make a model of the Titanic after seeing the movie and liking it so much. "We wanted to make a project that was really nice and we all really like the movie," said Salcido. Salcido and Weinacht have worked on other projects together and all three say they plan other projects together in the future. It took about four days to complete the huge model ship, which looks remarkably like the ship depicted in the movie. "The last day we didn't finish until 12:45 a.m., but we wanted to finish it that day," said Salcido. The students used chicken wire for the base of the ship, paper mache, cardboard boxes, a panel of wood, paper towel rolls and construction paper to make up the body. Cotton balls were used as smoke coming out from the stacks and a plastic blue curtain represents the ocean. "These classes give you projects right and left, but we enjoy doing them," said Salcido. All three students are honor students at the school and involved in extracurricular activities. Salcido is also a member of the band, where he plays the coronet. He also runs track and likes sports and music. "I also like to play Nintendo," said Salcido. Weinacht is a member of the band, where she plays the clarinet. "I love school and I like getting involved," said Weinacht. "I just like a little bit of everything," she said. After her school activities she stated that she doesn't have much spare time left and when she does she enjoys spending time with her friends. Olivas is also a member of the band and plays the clarinet. She enjoys getting involved in all aspects of school activities and stated that she enjoys, "hanging out with friends." "I also enjoy playing in sports," said Olivas. More than 500 pounds of marijuana seizedBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, March 25, 1998 - One individual transporting more than 500 pounds of marijuana didn't bother to conceal it very well, according to Permian Basing Drug Task Force Commander Tom Finley. Javier Rodriguez, 20 years old, of Hagerman, N.M. was arrested for possession of more than 50 pounds of marijuana but less than 2,000 pounds and was transported to the Ward County Jail in Monahans yesterday. Rodriguez was pulled over after drug task force officer Robert Martin noticed his Chevy Suburban weave off the road. "I don't know if he was weaving because he spotted Martin or because the smell had gotten to him," said Finley. Finley stated that the marijuana was stored loosely in the back of the Suburban. "Martin walked up to the suburban and was asking for his driver's license and insurance when he smelled it, and spotted the marijuana in the back," said Finley. "Part of it was covered with a blanket, but most of it could be seen, just by standing by the vehicle," he said. "Martin said he could smell it as soon as the driver opened his window," said Finley. During the search, about 500 pounds of suspected marijuana valued at $332,000 was seized. Rodriguez was stopped just four miles outside of Monahans, at mile marker 86. "This is the second largest drug bust this year (in the Permian Basin), the first one was in February, where 700 pounds were confiscated," said Finley. This makes 990 pounds of marijuana confiscated so far this month, according to Finley. "I know this shipment was enroute to Odessa, but to where or who we don't know," said Finley. Dogs make effective tool for U.S. Border PatrolBY PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, March 25, 1998 - Leo the drug-sniffing dog circled the jury assembly room in the federal courthouse Tuesday, alerting to the scent of marijuana hidden underneath one of the benches. Passing a table laden with cake and cookies, Leo searched the room for the "toy" he believed he was smelling. Air-conditioning vents wafted the scent around the room, making it difficult to pinpoint its source. Passing down one aisle, Leo sniffed his way past court support personnel gathered to watch the performance they had so often heard described in trial testimony. After several passes, Leo homed in on the baggie, settling back on his hindquarters and barking when he knew he had found his toy. Luis Barrera, who held his Belgian Shepherd's leash and observed his every move during the search, leaned close to the bench and let a chewable toy slip out of his coat sleeve for Leo to gnaw on as a reward. Barrera explained before the search that he has to be careful not to let the dog see him taking the toy out of his sleeve so he will believe it was the source of the odor he just located. Such dogs find marijuana, heroin, cocaine and people hidden inside false compartments, gas tanks, truck trailers, vehicle tires and any number of locations, said Barrera. Sometimes the contraband is packaged so tightly and masked by another odor that the agents are unable to smell it. But the dogs usually can, except in rare cases, said Barrera's partner, Loraine Hollenbeck. The duo are stationed in Alpine, and often are called to check suspicious vehicles and other locations for contraband. Barrera said he watches Leo's ears and nose as he searches. "You think of it as a gun," Barrera said. "When a vehicle comes up and he sniffs up in the air, you know the contraband is high. If he sniffs down, it is low." The scent spreads in a cone shape from the target location, he said. If the wind is blowing, the dog may alert with his ears at the rear of a vehicle when the contraband is under the hood. But when he locates the source, he will indicate the location by sitting still. Some will bark, as Leo does, while others will scratch or bite at the source of the scent. Barrera said the dog is only a tool, and the handler must interpret his actions to determine where the contraband is located. "Too many people depend on the dog," he said. Agents have a new laser scope they can put inside a gas tank to view the interior and find sealed packets that dogs cannot detect, Hollenbeck said. "It lights up the area, and you can see packages when the dogs miss it," she said. INS Inspector Henry Gamboa of El Paso said that he becomes suspicious of a traveler who arrives at the port of entry sweating in cold weather or dressed in a coat when it is "super hot" outside. Suspected smugglers are sent to a secondary area where their vehicles may be inspected thoroughly for contraband. Customs uses smaller dogs than the Belgian Shepherd so they can get into smaller places, and they do not frighten people, Gamboa said. Barrera said the dogs are aggressive with people only when they see their master attacked. "We want them to be aggressive toward the toy, but not with people," he said. To test a young dog for suitability before training begins, the agent will throw a toy and have the dog fetch it. After numerous throws, when the dog is tired and thirsty, the trainer will throw the toy past water. If the dog stops to get a drink, he is sent back to the contractor who provided him, Barrera said. Leo lives with Barrera and his family. Despite his $10,000 price tag, the dog would be retired if his handler were transferred to another position. Hollenbeck said she has applied for a dog, and is in line to receive the next one that becomes available. Hollenbeck and Barrera often take Leo to area schools to acquaint students with his work. City council meets tomorrowPECOS, March 25, 1998 - The City Council of the Town of Pecos City will meet at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow in the City Council Chambers to discuss problems with Classic Cable outages; leasing of the service station on US 285, south of I20, to Wes Tex Waste Services, Inc.; and to proclaim March 28 "Leadership Awareness Day" in recognition of Saturday's John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Student Forum. Also on the agenda are the monthly reports from the tax collector's office, municipal court, Pecos Ambulance Service, and city financials and accounts payable. Community Council meets ThursdayPECOS, March 25, 1998 - The Community Council of Reeves County will hold its regular monthly meeting of the board of directors at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Pyote Community Center. After approval of the minutes of the Feb. 26 meeting, five items of old business will be discussed -a Head Start update, a board vacancy for the private sector, indigent care, day care and the Pecos Housing Authority. There will be two closed sessions during the meeting, one for an executive director evaluation and one to discuss a legal matter. Personnel policy, program reports, and a financial report from Card, Graham & Co. are the other items on the agenda before adjournment. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting and address the board on any of the agenda items. WEATHERPECOS, March 25, 1998 - High Tuesday, 94, low this morning, 51. The pleasant weather will continue across Texas tonight and Thursday, but most areas will have windy conditions. It will be partly cloudy and breezy with pleasant temperatures forecast across all of Texas tonight and Thursday. It will be partly cloudy in West Texas tonight and partly cloudy and windy on Thursday. Lows tonight will be in the 40s and 50s in West Texas, highs Thursday will be in the 70s and 80s statewide.
Pecos Enterprise
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