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Top StoriesApril 1, 1998UIL Academic members move to regionalsBy ROSIE FLORESStaff Writer PECOS, April 1, 1998 - Pecos High School students did very well at UIL Academic competition and some are getting ready to compete in regionals. "We are very proud of all the students who competed," said biology teacher Barbara Scown. "They always pull through for us," she said. Scown and several other teachers are sponsors for the students and help them prepare for competition. The UIL Academic team attended the district meet at Howard College, in Big Springs, on Friday, March 27. Regional competition is scheduled for April 25, at Angelo State University in San Angelo. "We want to congratulate all the students that went to district, and those that will be continue on to regionals," said Scown. The accounting group is sponsored by Charlie Wein. Erin Paz netted a first place in district competition; Dalila Valenzuela, placed second; Erik Barreno, third place and Belinda Heard, fourth. The first place team consisting of Erin Paz, Dalila Valenzuela and Erik Barreno, will continue to regionals. Priss McNutt is in charge of Current Events. In that category, Jonathan Fuentes netted third place and Tye Graham fourth. News sponsor is Peggy Jones. Brandi Harrison placed second in district competition and Marissa Jasso netted third in that category. Feature writing winners included Brandi Harrison, sixth place; in the headlines category, Erin Paz placed first and Dalila Valenzuela got sixth place; and in editorials, Erin Paz placed fifth. Peggy Jones is also sponsor for these categories. Science teachers include Jerry Workman, John Barfield in physics and Barbara Scown in biology. Jeff Lam placed first in top biology and top chemistry while in top physics Efrain Rodriguez took second place and Jonathan Fuentes placed fourth. The first place science team of Jeff Lam, Efrain Rodriguez and Jonathan Fuentes will compete in regional competition. Jackeline Mandujano is the teacher for computer applications. In that category Efrain Rodriguez took first place. In informative speaking, Josh Casillas placed third and Eric Machuca took sixth place. Ben Price is sponsor for that category. The following students will advance to regional competition, Erin Paz, Dalila Valenzuela, Erik Barreno, Jonathan Fuentes, Brandi Harrison, Marissa Jasso, Jeff Lam, Efrain Rodriguez and Josh Casillas. "These students always pull through for us, and we're just very proud that we have such a hard-working group of students," said Scown. PBT officials look to make up $1 million deficitBy CARA ALLIGOOD and GREG HARMAN Staff Writers PECOS, April 1, 1998 - A $1 million plus deficit faced by the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD has district officials scrambling to find a way to balance the budget. They may have to cut the budget or raise property taxes, or both, according to district auditors. During the February school board meeting, Robert Card, CPA, representing Card, Graham and Co., told the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board of Trustees that the annual audit for the year ending Aug. 31, 1997 showed total expenditures exceeding total revenues by $1.1 million. Card told board president Frank Perea that factors which caused the deficit were beyond the control of the board. However, Card said, the school board is at "the point it either needs to find deep cuts or face up to a tax increase, or some of both." The school board has resisted raising taxes for several years, even though that has meant dwindling state funding. PBT ISD Business Manager Cookie Canon said "because we have kept the same tax rate for so long, the state doesn't think we need help." She said that the tax rate set by the board has stayed around $1.4 per $100 of property valuation for the past four to five years. Board member Linda Gholson said the board had compared the benefits of extra state money secured by raising taxes with the increased financial burden that raising taxes would put on local taxpayers and found raising taxes wouldn't be worth it. Last August, Texas voters opted to raise the homestead exemption on property taxes by $10,000, from a $5,000 exemption to a $15,000 exemption. Because property values in Pecos are rather low as compared with many communities across the state, that exemption took a large chunk out of taxable property in the district, and therefore meant even less local revenue for the district when 1997 taxes were collected in October, according to PBT ISD Tax Collector Lydia Prieto. Now, the district administration is trying to find a way to compensate for the shortfall. "We're working on that, and we'll have all the information at the regular board meeting on April 9," said PBT ISD Superintendent Don Love, who declined to discuss any specifics before the information is presented to the school board and the public at the meeting. Love said that nothing concerning the district budget is definite yet, and "the current figures are projections." He explained, "I've been going around to schools and talking to them (district administrators) in the last administrators' meeting, and talking to them about what things look like and what we may have to do." "In June, we'll make our final numbers that we'll send to Austin," said Love. Enjoy a day of care at the health fairBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, April 1, 1998 - Where can you get a free pancake breakfast, a hearty barbecue lunch, free- and reduced-cost health care services and a free massage? A fancy spa in Dallas or Houston? Maybe. But this Saturday you can get it all at the Reeves County Hospital 11th Annual Health Fair. About 56 booths at the fair will feature health care equipment, information and affordable health care services at the Reeves County Hospital. Booths will be located throughout the hospital and volunteers will be on hand to help point the way. Volunteers will begin serving the free pancake breakfast which consists of pancakes, bacon, orange juice and coffee, at 8 a.m., to the first 700 individuals or until everything is gone. The breakfast is sponsored by Reeves County Hospital, Pfizer and Wyett Pharmaceuticals and the Pecos Masonic Lodge. "We have several new exhibits and we're very excited that it continues to grow," said health fair committee member Nancy Ontiveros. "This is one of the largest health fairs we've had and while several exhibitors that have been coming every year, have stated they will be unable to attend this year, we've acquired some new ones," she said. "We're just excited about attracting all these new services," said Ontiveros. "We always get really excited this time of year and get ready to work," said committee member Linda Gholson. Something new this year will be sponsored by Texas-New Mexico Power Company and is an arching demonstration. Another new service will be a simulated rollover demonstration by the trauma unit, according to Ontiveros. Two different displays by inventors from New Mexico will feature their inventions and will provide demonstrations. The displays will be by Whimsies. A barbecue lunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m. Plates will be $4 for the public. Another new service is sponsored by the Odessa Heart Institute, who will be providing cardiology information, according to Ontiveros. Many of the old favorites will also be available including, the blood package for $20, the EKG's for $7, PSA's for $20, free dental and hearing tests. "A blood drive will also be going on throughout the day," said Ontiveros. All blood donors will receive free prizes. Many door prizes will be given out every 30 minutes and individuals are encouraged to get a ticket upon walking in at the health fair. Individuals can pre-register for the health fair on Friday, from 3 to 6 p.m., in the hospital lobby. "This is to help them avoid long lines in the morning," said Ontiveros. The health fair committee consists of 15 individuals that represent various organizations throughout the community. "We want to encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of the low cost and no-cost screenings that will be available on Saturday," said Ontiveros. "We want to encourage everyone to make a day of it," said Gholson. Wanted: Mrs. Pecos?By GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, April 1, 1998 - Pecos women with glamour and talent who are ready to "strike a pose" competing for the title of Mrs. Texas 1998 are being sought for the nationally televised Mrs. America Pageant. Married women from throughout the state are invited to compete in the event every year. According to Tana Herrington, the pageant's executive director, "The pageant exists for one reason only -to celebrate the beauty of America's married women." Women of all ages and from all walks of life are welcome to seek the crown, but they must be married and live in the state of Texas. "One of our contestants had six children and several had none," said Herrington recently, "The qualities that all of the contestants seem to have in common are self-confidence, a positive outlook and a definite zest for life." The winner of Mrs. Texas will receive an all-expense paid trip to compete in the national program, as well as several thousand dollars worth of prizes. The pageant will be held in Houston, Texas, on the weekend of June 26-28, 1998. For more information, contact Herrington at (407) 566-8260. Minnow stands to get federal endangered labelBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, April 1, 1998 - As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) pushes back the deadline on public comments concerning the possibility of adding the Pecos pupfish to the federal endangered species list, another lesser known fresh-water minnow is also being proposed for the list. According to officials at the USFWS, the Devils River minnow, already on the state threatened species list, is limited to the spring-fed streams in Val Verde and Kinney counties and northern Mexico. Factors in the minnow's demise, USFWS officials state, include declines in water quality and quantity and predation from non-native fish, including the small-mouth bass. Congressman Henry Bonilla has spoken out strongly against the USFWS move to add the minnow to the federal roster. "This is a classic example of the federal government once again jumping in and ignoring the rights of landowners in Texas," said Bonilla. "The people of South and West Texas have cared for their land and the environment for generations. Bureaucrats in Washington can learn a lot from these folks when it comes to forming a plan that protects wildlife in these areas. According to Bonilla, landowners near the Devils River are working diligently with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to devise a conservation plan for the minnow. The USFWS will accept public comments and information on this proposal until July 27. Once the comment period is closed officials at USFWS will evaluate all submissions and decide within a year of the date of the proposal whether the species will be added to the federal list of endangered species. But Bonilla warns that the pattern of the USFWS is to conduct surveys, illicit public comments and then "go ahead and push their agenda anyway, without regard for the concerns of private property owners." The USFWS is reviewing a conservation agreement developed by landowners, TPWD and USFWS that may reduce or eliminate the threat to the species' survival. "That's our hope," said USPWS spokeswoman Julie Martenson, "that (the conservation agreement) will be found adequate." With an effective local initiative in place there would be no need to place the species on the federal endangered species list. All comments regarding the proposal should be sent to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnett Road, Suite 200, Austin, Tx. 78758. WEATHERPECOS, April 1, 1998 - High Tuesday, 71, low this morning, 33. Clear skies and warm temperatures prevailed over most of Texas Tuesday as a cold front that caused some hail and wind damage left the state. In West Texas, high pressure continued across the region resulting in sunny skies. Temperatures were in the 50s to the north and in the 70s elsewhere. Winds were southwest at 15 to 25 mph. The forecast for West Texas calls for fair skies Wednesday. There will be a slight chance of showers. Highs will reach the 70s and 80s. Lows will be in the 30s and 40s.
Pecos Enterprise
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