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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, May 4, 1998
Shaw, Matta, Bates win terms
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
The newest member elected to the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
board is looking forward to working with the board members and school administration.
"I just want to thank everyone who came out and voted, my supporters and especially my family," said Brent Shaw, who was elected along with a former member, Louis Matta, and incumbent Earl Bates to three- year terms following Saturday's election.
"We've got a tough situation ahead of us, but we've got good people on the board and in the community and together we can make the right decisions," said Shaw, who netted 900 votes to earn a spot on the school board for the next three years. "I think we'll work well together and improve our school system and make it into a good situation."
Shaw stated that he was pleased with the turnout. "We had good weather, it was a beautiful day which encouraged more people to come out and vote."
"I'm just looking forward to doing the best I can to help out my community and I think that together all things are possible," he said.
Matta is not new to the school board, having served five terms beginning in 1974. His 904 votes topped all vote- getters on Saturday.
"I'm looking forward to again serve on that board,; said Matta. "I'm appreciative of all the support I got, calls from people urging me to get back on the school board."
Matta stated that his primary concern is the financial difficulties the school is experiencing. "I feel there has to be major restructuring on how money is spent."
"I know most of the board members personally and have been involved with them in other projects and I'm anxious to work with them," said Matta.
Shaw and Matta won the positions currently held by Frank Perea and Linda Gholson on the school board. Gholson, the former P-B-T school board president, decided not to run for a new three-year term, while Perea, who replaced Gholson as president last year, received 722 votes. The other candidate in the school board race, Frank Rodriguez, picked up 750 votes.
Bates, who has served on the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD board since 1986, received 852 votes on Saturday and said that he is very excited about being re-elected to serve his fifth term.
"I'm just here to serve the people and the school district and I'm happy to have been re-elected," said Bates. "I'd like to thank all the voters that supported me and I plan to do all I can for them."
Stafford elected to third term as mayor
By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
Dot Stafford was re-elected to a third two-year term as Town of Pecos City mayor on Saturday, defeating former city councilman Robert Hernandez.
Early voting results showed Stafford leading Hernandez, principal at Lamar Middle School, by nearly 200 votes, and after all election day ballot boxes were opened and counted Saturday evening, Stafford widened that to a final 278 vote margin.
"I want to thank all my supporters," the newly- re-elected mayor said from the Reeves County Courthouse after the results were announced over the radio. "
I shall continue to work for the city to the best of my abilities."
Stafford, who received 917 votes to 639 for Hernandez, said she appreciated all who toughed it out in such a hot day and got out and voted.
Across the street at Hernandez's campaign headquarters, the challenger said that although he had lost, he was pleased with the support he had received.
"I was facing a tough incumbent. I wish Dot Stafford the best of luck." Hernandez said he could not speculate as to whether he would seek the seat again next election.
Both incumbents on the Pecos City Council were voted back into office without opposition. Danny Rodriguez, who serves as Mayor Pro Tem, secured 955 votes, and Councilman Ricky Herrera received 867 votes. They will also serve two-year terms.
Incumbent members retain postions
There were no surprises in the election for Reeves County Hospital District Board of Directors on Saturday as all three incumbents, only one of whom was challenged, were returned to their seats by area voters.
Incumbent from Precinct 3, Jesus "Jesse" Prieto, edged out his challenger, Mike Stallard, by 44 votes, garnering 51.54 percent of the total ballot count.
Chel Flores, unchallenged for Precinct 1, was returned to office with 305 votes, and Greg Luna, also unchallenged, was returned to his at-large seat on the hospital board with 993 votes.
It will be the second two-year term for Luna, while Flores and Prieto will be serving their third two-year terms on the RCH board.
Officials hunt cash to build new water field
By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
Town of Pecos City officials returned from the state capital last week with more options in mind for gathering the funds to secure the city's water supply into the next century.
The city is seeking to develop a new water field within the next 10 years, and Mayor Dot Stafford, City Manager Kenneth Neal, City Councilman Johnny Terrazas and County Surveyor Frank Spencer spent two full days gathering grant and loan information and meeting with various governmental agencies in Austin.
That included a meeting with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), which recently turned Pecos down for a grant after several years of working with the city. However, Stafford said the latest meeting with TWDB failed to result in any new information.
"It was about the same as they presented us with last time," said Stafford.
The officials again suggested that Pecos apply for a low- interest loan, and the group accepted an application from the board but has not filled it out.
City officials have expressed concern over entering into a loan agreement, stating that Pecos simply did not have the resources to pay off a loan.
Neal said that the group also met with the Economic Development Administration, the Texas Capital Fund and Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Between the three, Neal said, there was about $2.3 million available. The city had been seeking $18 million from the TWDB for the development of a new water field, repairs to the current water transfer line and local sewer repair. The city is now pursuing a leaner sum of $8 million for the development of the new water field.
City officials were first warned in 1994 that a new water field needed to be developed. The current supply from the Ward County Well Field has been estimated to have 10 years of life left.
"In West Texas, water is our number one priority," Neal said on Friday. "We have to have it to survive."
Neal added that grant monies are getting difficult to find as more agencies prefer to offer low-interest loans only.
"Right now, we don't have a dime from anybody, but we got everyone thinking and talking," he said.
Openings filled on Balmorhea, Toyah councils
Incumbents were winners in Saturday's local elections in both Balmorhea and Toyah, though newcomers were able to pick-up a couple of spots thanks to open seats on both city councils.
Incumbent Rosendo Galindo was re-elected to the Balmorhea City Council, and will be joined by newcomer Danny Reynolds. Galindo received 83 votes to 50 for Reynolds and 44 for Tami Marmillion. Reynolds will take the seat held by Rosendo Carrasco, who was nominated for Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace in last month's Democratic Party primary.
Incumbent Mayor Ismael Rodriguez was unopposed in his bid for a new two-year term, and received 64 votes.
In Toyah, Paul Budlong will be the new mayor. He was elected to the post, receiving 28 votes to his opponents, Jack Osborn, 22 votes.
In the city council elections there were two seats up for election, which were won by Clara McConnell, who netted 36 votes, and incumbent Howard Dennett, who got 34. Both will serve two-year terms.
The other candidates in that race, Bart F. Sanchez netted 27 votes, and Jana McHorse, 13.
In the Balmorhea ISD election, the two incumbents, Paul Ward and Armando Mondragon, won new three-year terms on Saturday. Mondragon picked up 106 votes to 97 for Ward and 61 for challenger Virgil Ray Gage.
No voting was held for the Barstow city positions, since both the council and mayoral candidates were unopposed. Salvador Villalobos will serve as the city's new mayor, while incumbents Robert Ortega and Benny Avila will start new two-year terms as Barstow aldermen.
OBITUARY
Karine Talley
Karine Talley, 91, of Pecos, died Saturday, May 2, 1998, at her residence.
Graveside services were held this morning at 10:30 a.m., at Mount Evergreen Cemetery with Reverend Monty Huffman officiating.
She was born May 18, 1906, in Dallas, had lived in Pecos since 1950 and was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include three grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WEATHER
High Sunday 92. Low this morning 54. Forcast for tonight: It will be partly cloudy through Tuesday across West Texas with a chance of showers and thunderstorms over the Panhandle, low rolling plains and Concho Valley through tonight. North Texas will have partly cloudy skies tonight with a chance of thunderstorms in northeast sections and a slight chance of evening thunderstorms over most areas through tonight. The showers and thunderstorms in South Texas should primarily be confined to the Hill Country tonight. Lows tonight will be in the 40s and 50s in West Texas, the 60s across North Texas and in the 50s and 60s in South Texas. Highs Tuesday will be in the 80s and 90s in West Texas, ranging upward to near 102 in the Big Bend area and in the 80s across the rest of the state.
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
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