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Weekly Newspaper and Tourism Guide for Ward County Trans Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

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Sept. 3, 1998

Club has director for awhile


Pete Martinez has agreed to continue as director of the Boys
& Girls Club Monahans for at least eight weeks, reports
Danny Morriss of the boys club board.

Martinez , the first director of the Monahans club had
resigned to accept a position as a truant officer in the
Kermit School District. On Thursday, Aug. 27, in a meeting
with the board, Martinez agreed to continue as director for
at least eight weeks but he will not report to the Monahans
club building until about 4:30 p.m. because of his work with
the Kermit school district.

Meanwhile, Morriss says the club board is searching for a
part time youth worker to open the boys and girls club at 3
p.m. and provide resource assistance for club members. He
says anyone interested in the position should contact the
club at 112 South Main Street or telephone 943-5780 or voice
mail at 560-7660.

Martinez gave his notice on Wednesday, Aug. 26, Morriss
says: "The Boys, Girls Club of Monahans is pleased to
announce that Pete Martinez has agreed to continue in his
position as unit director.

Lord to direct chamber


Sheri Lord, active in civic affairs, an employee of First
State Bank and a former Monahans city secretary, Wednesday,
Sept. 2, was appointed executive director of the Monahans
Chamber of Commerce.

Terry Kirkland, president of the Chamber, made the
announcement after a 4 p.m. meeting with Lord. Members of
the board had voted to confirm Lord's appointment on Tuesday.

She suceeds Tammy Sweigert as executive secretary. Sweigrt
resigned earlier this year to enter private business after
more than two years as the Chamber executive.

Lord was City Secretary for five years. She has been with
First State Bank for two years.

Kirkland says Lord plans to begin work by mid-September.

Lord already is a member of the board of the chamber and is
president of the Women's Division of the Chamber.

Sheriffs, chiefs back task force


Sheriffs and police chiefs from across the Permian Basin and
the Trans Pecos Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 2, agreed to back
an antidrug task force option that would be based in Reeves
County.

"Gov. George W. Bush's criminal justice staff told us to
come up with a plan," says Andrews County Sheriff Wayne
Farmer. "We have that plan."

The meeting took place in the Monahans City Council chambers
at City Hall.

Ward County Sheriff Ben Keele and Monahans Police Chief
Charles Sebastian both say they support a regional attack on
drugs that would be coordinated through the office of
Reeves County Sheriff Arnulfo Gomez, who would receive the
federal dollars allocated for such efforts.

Law enforcement command officers have been looking for an
alternative to the Permian Basin Drug Task Force since June
1 when members of the governor's criminal justice staff
refused to allocate federal funds because of allegations of
fiscal mismanagement. The refusal to fund the Ector County
headquartered regional drug effort in effect killed the task
force. . A state grand jury has refused to issue indictments
based on an 18-month-long inquiry into the way the defunct
Permian Basin Drug Task Force was operated.

The decision to kill it was not transmitted to law
enforcement officers who were members of that unit's board.
Among those members was Ward County Sheriff Keele.

Meanwhile, the governor's office has attempted to establish
a Department of Public Safety led task force in the Permian
Basin that exists only on paper. Law officers from Van Horn
to Midland said they liked the Pecos option. Bush says he
awaits a report in writing on the latest law enforcement
summit in Monahans..

Meanwhile the governor's DPS controlled effort generally has
gained only token support. Ector County commissioners
recently rejected becoing the granting agency for the
anti-drug traffic dollars because the governor's office told
them they would have no control over a drug task force's
policies or expenditures. Reeves County Sheriff Gomez says
he has prepared the necessary application to become the
focus for the grant. It is now being examined, he says, by
the Reeves County Commissioners Court. Gomez says he will
have the paper work in Austin as soon as possible.

Hospital scrambles to fill EMS slots


Ward Memorial Hospital Administrator Steve Holmes says he
expects to fill quickly the ambulance service positions
vacated by workers he says overreacted to unfounded rumors.

Six of 11 emergency service employees have quit, four since
Thursday, Aug. 27.

Says Holmes, "It was apparent the recent rash of
resignations is the response to rumors circulating and not
based on factual information."

Those rumors varied in content but essentially left the
impression emergency service workers would be required to
double and triple their production by working in the
emergency room. It is true ems personnel may be asked to
provide emergency room relief. If so, they will be
compensated for any additional hours that may require, say
hospital officials.

The four resignations have not and will not hamper delivery
of medical services in Ward County, emphasizes Holmes.

"There will be no lapse in service," says Holmes. "We
already have contacted several certified individuals who
have applied for employment. A number of those positions
will be filled in the next two weeks. The remainder will be
filled as appropriate applications are received from
licensed emergency service technicians or paramedics."

Two emergency service technicians resigned in July, Holmes
reports, at about the same time Ward County Commissioners
began investigating the possibility of out sourcing the
county's ambulance service, which traditionally had been
operated through the hospital.

Says Holmes: "Those positions were not filled pending the
decision on possible privatization because we had adequate
staff until a decision could be made."

Four other resignations came after The Monahans News
reported on Thursday, Aug. 27, commissioners probably would
approve a plan to forego privitazation and keep the
ambulance service within Ward Memorial's jurisdiction. The
hospital plan would streamline and enhance emergency medical
services while providing some relief, by reality scheduling,
to the hospital emergency room staff. Monday, Aug. 31, the
commissioners approved the proposal.

Homes recalls: "The commissioners court sought proposals to
privatize the service. While commissioners were seeking
proposals, we had an opportunity to do some research to
determine whether it would be reasonable for the service to
stay under the umbrella of the hospital. We took our
findings to the commissioners and reported to them so they
could consider the information along with the
(privitazation) proposals. This past Monday (Aug. 31) the
commissioners decided it would be in the best interests of
the hospital and the community to keep the ambulance service
under the hospital umbrella."

Robinson named Miss Monahans


Rebekah Robinson, a Monahans High School senior who loves
animals and plans to be an animal psychologist, Wednesday,
Sept. 2, was crowned Miss Monahans 1998-99.

The 17-year-old winner has a grade point average of 3.55, is
a varsity swimmer, and is a member of Future Homemakers of
America, Future Teachers of America, 4-H, American Junior
Rodeo Association, Special Olympics volunteers, and her
church youth group.

Garry Waggoner crowned Robinson. Waggoner is a member of
the scholarship committee that sponsored the competition.
Waggoner says Robinson also will serve as the Monahans
Rotary Club Sweetheart for 1998-99. She is scheduled to
compete in the Miss Permian Basin Pageant at the Permian
Fair in Odessa this month and, says Waggoner, "I think she
will be proud to put this on her resume."

The coronation took place at the regular luncheon meeting of
the Rotary Club in the dining facilities of the United
Methodist Church.

Robinson won a competition held on Saturday night, Aug. 29,
in a classroom at Monahans High School, says Waggoner

Kari Almanza was first runner up in the contest.

Other competitors were Jennifer Smith, Lori Enriquez, Amber
Rogers and Kristin Higgins. All are seniors at Monahans High.

The sponsoring committee was comprised of Mayor David and
Pattie Cutbirth and Gary and Dianne Waggoner.

Robinson receives a $500 scholarship to the college or
university of her choice.

Robinson plans to attend Texas A&M University where she will
major in animal science/psychology.

The competition was based on an essay and an interview
submitted by each of the contestants by three out-of-town
judges, who were not identified, a tradition in comparable
competitions in Monahans.

Robinson notes that her hobbies include an abiding interest
in animals and "helping others - Cancer Research and
Awareness benefits, travelling, dancing and photography.

She succeeds Leah Nichols, Miss Monahans 1997-98,who could
not be present for the crowning because she is away at
university.

As Miss Monahans, reports Waggoner, Robinson serves as
Chamber of Commerce ambassador.

Friends seek park mascot


Friends of Monahans Sandhills State Park continue their
search for a winning entry in the mascot contest.

The deadline for entries is at 3 p.m. on Sept. 11. The
winner receives $100.

Contestants are asked to draw and name a park mascot based
on animals native to the sandhills past or present.

Entries should be mailed to Monahans Sandhills State Park,
PO Box 1738, Monahans, Tex., 79756.



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Copyright 1998 by Ward Newspapers, Inc.
Joe Warren, Publisher
107 W. Second St., Monahans TX 79756
Phone 915-943-4313, FAX 915-943-4314
e-mail monnews@ultravision.net

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Copyright 1998 by Ward Newspapers Inc.