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Top StoriesApril 28, 1998PBT chooses teachers of the yearBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer PECOS, April 28, 1998 - At the April school board meeting, teachers of the year were presented for each Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD campus, and overall elementary and secondary teachers of the year were announced. Trudie Miller was named teacher of the year for Pecos Kindergarten, Patricia Matthews for Austin Elementary, Barbara Armstrong for Pecos Elementary, Anna Belle Chavez for Barstow Elementary, Valerie Martinez for Bessie Haynes, Betty Cook for Lamar Middle School, Olivia Herrera for Zavala Middle School, John Kim Anderson for Crockett Middle School and Jackeline Mandujano for Pecos High School. Valerie Martinez was named elementary teacher of the year, and Jackeline Mandujano is this year's secondary teacher of the year. Mandujano teaches micro computer applications, business computer applications and business communications. She said that in junior high school, she took a couple of business classes and realized that she wanted to become a teacher. "I never thought of being anything else," Mandujano said. She credits her homemaking teacher at Buena Vista High School in Imperial, Cecilia Tellez, with influencing her to become a teacher. Mandujano said that she was an average student but "she believed in me and told me I could do anything I wanted." Mandujano didn't go to college directly after high school, partly because her parents did not have educations themselves and did not see the importance of an education. She spent her first year out of high school working in a grocery store. "To me, that was hard work," Mandujano said. Then, Tellez came back into Mandujano's life. She offered Mandujano a three year scholarship, for $1,000 per semester, that she had been chosen as an alternate to receive. The original winner of the scholarship lost it, so it reverted to Mandujano if she wanted it. Mandujano said that Tellez came to her home and talked to her parents, who finally agreed to let her go to college. Tellez then helped her to complete all the necessary paperwork. "I opened the door to the rest of my brothers and sisters," said Mandujano, the oldest of 11 children. She graduated from San Angelo State University in 1991. As for her younger siblings, she has a sister who also became a teacher, two brothers who are teacher-coaches, one brother with a business degree, four siblings still in college and two still in public school, she said. "My parents now see education as a must," Mandujano said. In addition to teaching, Mandujano is co-sponsor of the Business Professionals of America club with Judy Holland and sponsors students in business-related UIL (University Interscholastic League) activities as well. "My students, I think, are the best. A lot of my students are involved in different extracurricular activities," Mandujano said. "Seeing a student succeed and make something out of themself" is what makes the teaching profession so special to Mandujano. "I think being named high school teacher of the year is an honor," said Mandujano. "I wasn't expecting it, there were so many teachers that deserved that award, so I was really surprised." Becoming a teacher was second nature for Martinez, a fourth-grade teacher at Bessie Haynes. "My parents have been in education all their lives. Also, I thought it was a profession I would be comfortable in and be happy doing," Martinez said. Martinez first attended Midland College on a scholarship, she said, then earned both her bachelors and masters degrees from Sul Ross State University. "There are so many things" that Martinez loves about teaching, most importantly the children, she said. Martinez also enjoys the creativity that the teaching profession allows. "Every day is something new and different. You never know what is going to happen every day, and that's exciting," Martinez said. "When you work with the caliber of teachers that I do, representing the profession as teacher of the year is very important," Martinez said. "I want to be an engineer for change in the school, maybe be an advocate for teachers, because sometimes the public doesn't realize fully what a profound effect teachers have on children's lives," Martinez said. "Just knowing the teachers around here, I feel it is a real honor to represent the teachers as teacher of the year. I just think it goes to show what kind of teachers we have here in the district. We have a strong teaching staff." In addition to teaching, Martinez is active in both student activities and professional organizations. She is a UIL coach in oral reading, second vice president of Delta Kappa Gamma and a member of TAPE, the Association of Texas Professional educators. In the past, she was a student council sponsor. Martinez said that in her classroom, she tries to teach both to the emotional intelligence and the intellectual intelligence of her students. She said that now that she has her masters degree, she may move toward counseling to take care of the students' emotional needs, but doesn't want to give up the classroom. PHA remodeling project ahead of schedulePECOS, April 28, 1998 - Pecos Housing Authority Board members received a tour of one of the newly remodeled apartments located on the south side of town during their meeting held last Thursday. Other apartments getting a "facelift" are those located on Second Street and designated for the elderly. Architect Shane Sigrist was on hand, along with Louie Carraveo of Master Builders. "The project is ahead of schedule and Louie now has all his materials on the job site," said Sigrist. The board received an update on how construction was coming along and both he and Carraveo stated that everything is coming along great. Sigrist told the board that he would be working with PHA Director Nellie Gomez in coordinating the '98 CIAP, and wanted to start efforts on working on that, which is due on June 28. Gomez told the board that due to renovations there are some items that will need to be disposed of including stove hoods, stoves, refrigerators, exterior door, heating units and other miscellaneous items. "These are items that we no longer need and I wanted the board's approval to dispose of them, sell them or whatever," said Gomez. The board approved the sale of these items and told Gomez to go ahead and advertise to get rid of them. Years of talk might result in local water districtBy RICK SMITH Staff Writer PECOS, April 28, 1998 - Area farmers, ranchers and politicians have been talking about forming a local water conservation district for at least 40 years, according to a representative of the Trans-Pecos Cotton Growers Association who spoke to Reeves County commissioners during their meeting yesterday. The recent passage of Senate Bill 1, that would allow the state to regulate water conservation if a local district is not formed soon, might bring about a water conservation district that would include Reeves County. "Twenty years ago we tried to form a water conservation district but it failed because the laws empowering the creation of such a district were different then than now and represented problems to those connected to it," said Bob Bickley. "Now we must form a water district made up of local citizens or our water will be controlled by state officials. We've always found that keeping control closer to our own level results in a better job of regulation." Commissioner Herman Tarin said that State Representative Gary Walker was in Pecos last week promoting the formation of a local water district. The proposed local water district would include parts of Pecos, Ward and Loving counties along with Reeves County. A potential board of five directors must be selected and the actual boundaries of the water district must be proposed, Bickley said. Walker will then present the proposals to the state legislature next year for approval. If the proposals are approved by the state legislature next year then voters in the water district will determine if the water conservation district will actually be formed. As tax of as much as two cents per $100 of property valuation may be imposed upon those in the water district to pay for a water district manager and a small staff, Bickley said. The water district board would regulate the spacing of water wells in the district, according to Bickley. According to a pamphlet handed out by Tarin during the meeting, the water district board would have the power to: adopt rules to conserve groundwater; provide for the spacing of water wells; acquire land to erect dams or drain lakes; construct dams; install pumps or other equipment necessary to recharge the groundwater reservoir; make surveys; purchase or sell surface water; power of eminent domain; carry out research projects; require permits for transferring groundwater out of district; require well owners to cap wells; levy taxes; apply for and receive grants; and issue and sell bonds. "The district would provide protection so that if you drill a good well your neighbor cannot drill another well right beside yours," Tarin said. Bickley proposed that a cap be set on the amount of tax that could be levied to support the water district. "It would be hard to pass legislation if the voters felt they would be burdened by an onerous tax," Bickley said. Commissioners encouraged Bickley and the Trans-Pecos Cotton Growers Association to continue seeking support for the water district. In other business, commissioners approved a proposal by Tarin to have speed limits installed on County Rd. 314 near Balmorhea because residents there have complained of too many high speed vehicles passing through the area. A bid was awarded for installation of a computer network at the Reeves County Detention Center by Valcom for $30,868. Commissioners were informed that GTE has agreed to install a new phone cable to the Reeves County Courthouse, at no cost to the county, so that additional telephone lines and tele-equipment may be installed. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, J.T. Marsh's request for an additional $400 for supplies and $500 for travel expenses was approved by commissioners. They also agreed to increase Marsh's one support staff from working two days a week to four days a week in his precinct. Commissioners were also informed that the expansion of Reeves County Detention Center was on schedule and all work is expected to be completed by July 27. Securing a future for local water rightsBy GREG HARMAN Staff Writer PECOS, April 28, 1998 - Entering the Ready Room at Texas-New Mexico Power Company's regional office windswept and dusty after another rainless week, area landowners convened on Wednesday, April 22, to discuss the preserving and protecting of a treasured resource, underground freshwater aquifers. Gary Walker, Texas Representative for District 80, encouraged landowners from Reeves, Pecos and Ward counties that the best way to protect local water may be to form a local underground water conservation district. "Our best defense is to prove we are managing our resources properly with local money and local people," said Walker. "If you formed an underground water district before El Paso came in, it could limit the amount of water to leave the county.." Himself a member of an underground water district in Plains, Walker said that there was only one court case between a municipality and a water district. This, he said, was over 20 years ago -and the water district won. While opening the meeting, Trans-Pecos Cotton Growers Association President Larry Turnbough reminded those present that the question is not whether we need an underground district but "to work out the particulars" for that district. These particulars were quickly raised as participants asked how water districts are paid for, could cities be excluded from the district and what were the specific responsibilities of water districts? Walker answered the questions, saying that district lines could be delineated any way the group chose to, incorporating portions of a city or county only. Districts, he said, are generally paid for with tax revenues, but a "cap," or limit, may be used to restrict the upper end of that tax. Citing the responsibilities of underground water districts, Walker referred back to a handout he had circulated earlier in the meeting. That handout stated the required duties of a water district, including to "Develop and adopt a comprehensive management plan for the most efficient use of groundwater," to adopt necessary rules for implementing the management plan, requiring permits for drilling, equipping, or completing wells which produce over 25,000 gallons per day, and preparing and approving an annual budget. "Someone is going to manage your ground water," warned Walker, "I think it will be sooner than we think." The creation of an underground water district, Walker said, would require the drafting of a bill, the delineation of the district and a listing of the preliminary five member board. The bill would then be introduced, with the specific delineations and preliminary member names, when the Texas House of Representative's reconvenes in January. "Then, in 60 days it will probably be signed by the Governor into law," said Walker. A district-wide vote on the proposed water district could then take place. Turnbough said at this point that landowners couldn't "sit back and think it is going to happen." If landowners moved forward with the plan, he said, it would "be a sign to the cities" that they were taking charge of their water. Most attendees agreed that the district should contain all of Reeves County, possibly excluding Pecos City, the northern portion of Pecos County and western Ward County. No action was taken at the meeting. Another meeting will be called, possibly as soon as next month, to discuss the matter further. Juvenile overflow contracts just a precautionBy CARA ALLIGOOD Staff Writer PECOS, April 28, 1998 - Reeves County's contracts with Ector and Midland counties to house an overflow of juvenile detainees is just a precaution, according to juvenile probation officer Alberto Alvarez. Alvarez explained that the contracts were negotiated primarily for the detention of females, but anybody could be taken to one of the other counties. He said that there will probably be a similar agreement with a Fort Stockton facility when it is completed. He said the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center was built with three rooms for females and nine rooms for males because historically there have always been a lot less female referrals than male referrals. "There were seven or eight, maybe nine females referrals last month. You can imagine the dilemma we would have been in if we had had to house them all at the same time," said Alvarez. "It's a sign of the times." Alvarez said that the RCJDC has had more female referrals so far this year than in the past 12 years. "I asked for contracts with Ector and Midland counties as a backup service," Alvarez said. "We have come close to having an overcrowding situation recently, so this is a precaution. It's just an emergency plan." Alvarez said that currently, Reeves County is not paying to have any of its juveniles in custody at another facility, but a time may come when the contracts are necessary. "I can't just take a kid somewhere without an existing contract. We may not ever need to use it," Alvarez said. Pecos joins state in celebrating tourism PECOS, April 28, 1998 - For one week in May cities across the U.S. will celebrate one of the most vital boosters to localeconomies -tourism. And Texas, the second most popular tourist destination in the country, isthrowing a hoe-down of its own. In conjunction with National Tourism Week, May 4-8, Texas will kick off its week of festivitieswith a proclamation from Texas Governor George W. Bush recognizing the significance oftourism -the third largest industry in the state. State officials also will encourage travel/tourismemployees to wear a green ribbon during the week to create awareness about the economicimpact of tourism. According to Tracye McDaniel, Director of Tourism for the Department of EconomicDevelopment, this year's theme, "Texas Tourism...Something to Celebrate" reflects theexcitement about Texas and its thriving travel industry. "Because of our geographic, cultural and historical diversity, Texas is the second most populartourist destination in the U.S.," said McDaniel. "Tourism Week is an opportunity to acknowledgethe importance of this industry and to celebrate all of the exciting contributions tourism makestoTexas." Travelers to Texas generate $27.5 billion annually. In addition, more than 464,000 Texans areemployed in travel-related jobs, such as as hotels and attractions. As Texas continues to gain intravel destination popularity, residents will reap the benefits. In 1996, direct travel expendituresgenerated nearly $4.6 billion in tax revenue. Without this revenue, each Texas household wouldpay an additional $667 in taxes to maintain existing government services. "Locally, tourism employs more than 190 residents and generates an economic impact of$14,460,000," said Tom Rivera, Executive Director for the Pecos Chamber of Commerce. "Tocelebrate National Tourism Week, we're having a proclamation signing on May 1. Also, a familywill be kidnapped off the interstate. This family will receive a free lunch, a gift basket and warmhospitality. The Visitors' Center located inside the Chamber of Commerce will be hosting anOpen House for all those wanting to visit and get information." Paul Serff, president of the Texas Travel industry Association, agrees that the contributionsrealized from tourism far exceed that from other industries. "Travel and tourism is one of the fewindustries that makes a dramatic impression on both urban and rural areas in terms of economicand societal impact," said Serff. "It can also be credited for not only saving, but preserving andenhancing histroical and cultural treasures, our state's diversity and the vast, natural landscapes.It's an undervalued industry that impacts us all." For more information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations, please call1-800-8888-TEX or view the web site at www.TravelTex.com. For further information on TexasTourism Week in Pecos call the Chamber of Commerce at 445-2406. CRIME OF THE WEEKPECOS, April 28, 1998 - Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and Grand Jury indictment of person(s) responsible for the incident described below. Anyone having any information on this crime or any other crime including narcotics can call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain anonymous.
WEATHERPECOS, April 28, 1998 - High Monday, 70, low this morning, 41. The storms subsided Monday, but don't be fooled - more rain is in the forecast for much of the state today. West Texas skies were cloudy this morning, except for fair skies in the far West. Light rain fell in the Panhandle. Temperatures were in the 30s and 40s, with gusty winds up to 20 mph. The afternoon should be partly cloudy with showers possible in the Panhandle. Highs are forecast in the 60s and 70s with lows tonight in the 40s.
Pecos Enterprise
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