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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Monday, October 5, 1998

Livestock land buyer to appeal judge's ruling


By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Sandra Kimbel, who purchased the Pecos River Livestock Co.
property at sheriff's sale two years ago, is protesting and
appealing the judgment rendered Sept. 21 by Judge Paul
McCollum.

Judge McCollum presided for a non-jury trial involving
Reeves County, directors of the now-defunct Pecos River
Livestock Co. goat farm, and its manager, Danny Reynolds.

Although Sheriff Arnulfo Gomez gave Kimbel a deed to the
80-acre goat farm on her bid of $9,200, a cloud remains on
the title because the directors who are guarantors on the
$131,000 loan from Reeves County claimed they were not
notified the sale was to take place.

Judge McCollum has ruled that the sale was not made in
accordance with the court's order.

Kimbel has asked the judge for a copy of that order, which
she said was not a part of the records she received from the
court files.

Gomez assured her that the sale was legal, as did former
143rd District Attorney John Stickels, who represented
Reeves County in the lawsuit, she said.

"I have been waiting for a year and a half for your Honor to
sign the final judgment because I (HAD) a buyer for the
property," she said in a letter to Judge McCollum.

McCollum said in his "Findings of Fact and Conclusions of
Law" that the parties to the suit subsequently stipulated
that $30,000 (the amount offered to Kimbel for the property)
would be an appropriate value for the goat farm to be
applied as payment to the outstanding interest and principal
due on July 26, 1996.

"Where is the stipulation you mentioned?" Kimbel asked Judge
McCollum. "It is not a part of the judgment that I can see.
My attorney drafted an agreement for the defendants to sign
when I was trying to get a clear title, but to my knowledge,
it was never signed by officials of Reeves County."

Stickels said this morning that the stipulation was made
orally in open court.

"I agreed, if the court finds the sale was not done in
accordance with regulations, the fair market value would be
$30,000," he said.

But Stickels said he advised the county not to sign the
agreement giving Kimbel a clear title, "because she bought
whatever title the sheriff gave her.

"There was never any agreement made that she would buy
anything other than the title the sheriff conveyed to her,"
Stickels said. "I am not putting the county at risk by doing
something other than what the court ordered them to do when
this case was pending."

Kimbel said she paid two years' delinquent taxes on the
property after she purchased it, and she was paying current
taxes until she found out the sale may have been illegal.

"I asked John Stickels about it and he said it was legal,"
Gomez said this morning. "I'm not an attorney, so I don't
know."

He said he had not received a copy of the letter, but when
he does, he will research it and get some answers.

Judge McCollum found that after the sale of land, payments
made by one of the guarantors and other property sales were
deducted from the principal, the guarantors owe Reeves
County $82,156.41 in principal, $9,982.56 in interest and
$9,213.90 in attorney fees.

Winners at Fall Fair announced


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
First prize ribbons went to several individuals this
weekend, out of the many who participated in the food, arts
and crafts divisions of the 1998 Reeves County Fall Fair at
the Reeves County Civic Center.

In Division 1, youth and adult foods, GeNelle Willis placed
first with her turkey cookies and Virginia Pena won a first
place ribbon in the adult canned goods.

In Division 2, youth and adult clothing, GeNelle Willis won
a first place ribbon for her poodle skirt.

Other Fall Fair stories will appear in Tuesday's Enterprise

In Division 3, youth hobbies and crafts, Jene Cranfill, took
first place with her "pouting doll" and Laura Teal took
first in the adult section with her southwest wreath. Second
place went to Sue Toone, who entered a tote; third place,
Joyce Shaw, who made an angel doll and also placing third in
this division was Louise Johnson who also had an angel doll.

In Division 4, adult needlework, quilts who earned ribbons
were Sue Toone, first place, a denim quilt; Jerry Neely with
a "cowboy boot" quilt took second, and third place went to
Jerry Neely with a "bears paw" quilt.

For knitted and crocheted articles, an afghan by Virginia
Pena won first place; second place went to Jerry Neely who
entered an Aran Knitted Afghan, and Delma Lerma placed third
for her crocheted stockings.

One individual won all the top honors in creative stitchery.
Sharon Gooding won three first place ribbons for a
cross-stitch picture, a cross stitch cow bow and a cross
stitch cow.

In Division 6, youth and adult photography Laura Teal won
four, first place ribbons. Her entries included "David's
Tree," "Out My Window," Wild Seed Farm and a picture of a
windmill.

Second place went to Teal, for her Cody the Pilot photo,
with two second place ribbons going to Connie F. Herrera.
Herrera's photography were softball photos. R.L. Tellez took
one first and two second place ribbons with a Jr. League
Champions photo, sheep grazing photograph and a windmill.

In Division 7, youth and adult art, Cindy Perkins placed
first with a Tweety, and a Dalmations and Rebecca Gooding
was also awarded a first place ribbon for her picture.

Special Exhibit Ribbons went to Sue Toone for a baby quilt
display and family quilts.

Derailment tears up Pacific's Toyah siding


Four cars of an eastbound Union Pacific train derailed a
siding at Toyah and fell off their wheels about 9:30 a.m.
Saturday.

No one was hurt, said John Bromley, public relations officer
in Omaha, Neb. The accident took place just west of Toyah as
the train was headed off the siding towards Big Spring,
according to a train crew member.

The fifth and sixth cars from the end of the train cars fell
off their wheels on the north side of the track. They were
loaded with lumber, Bromley said.

Two following cars also ran off the rails, but didn't turn
over. Bromley said he expected a crew to right the cars and
get them back on track today.

Trains continued their regular schedule, because the
wreckage on the siding did not block the main tracks. The
front and rear sections of the train were separated so that
cars could cross the tracks in Toyah.

Toyah is one of the oldest depots on the railroad and long
served as a turn-around point for engines and crews.

Wild Bunch claims toop cookoff titles


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
One group of barbecue beef enthusiasts went "wild" this
weekend after netting several awards at the 1998 World
Championship Barbecue Beef Cookoff.

The "Wild Bunch" won Best Camp, an honor that had been won
for several years by the Baeza brothers/Jersey Lily
Steakhouse. Wild Bunch also claimed first in the Pro
Division and first in the Club Division, amidst many cheers.

The group was unable to participate in the annual event in
1997, something they have been doing for several years, due
to a death in one of the camp member's family.

Second place in the Pro Division went to Fred Orona and
second in the Club Division was the Robert Natividad Camp.

There were 37 entries in this year's event five more than
the number of competitors last year, and about the same as
in 1996.

This year's entry fee was $75 per team, with a grand prize
of $300 and a silver plate to the overall winner. First
prize of $200 and a trophy going to winners in the Amateur,
Club and Pro divisions. In addition, a new division,
sponsored by Liberty Pump and Supply Company, included all
oilfield companies wanting to participate.

The winner of this division took home a trophy and $100.
Contestants in this division were also eligible to
participate in any of the other divisions consisting of
Amateur, Pro or Club Division.

Second prize in each division is $100 and a trophy, and
awards were also presented for Worst Barbecue and Best Camp.

Some amateurs who entered the contest fared very well with
Jesse Baeza, who entered the contest for the for first time,
taking first place in this division and Gloria Orona and her
gang netting second.

Worst Barbecue, who according to organizers of the event
turned in "beef jerkey," went to Tony Hinojos.

In the new division, the Oilfield Division, top honors went
to Grady's Western Supply who teamed up with Garland
Roustabout.

Commissioners OK agreement on 4A election


Reeves County Commissioners, meeting in emergency session
this morning, approved an interlocal agreement with the Town
of Pecos City to conduct the election on the proposed
reallocation of sales tax money.

The issue, if approved by voters Nov. 3, would take 1/4 cent
sales tax from the city and redesignate it to use for
economic development. It is not a tax increase.

Reeves County Clerk Dianne O. Florez had informed County
Judge Jimmy Galindo that the interlocal agreement was
necessary and it has to be submitted to the U.S. Justice
Department for approval.

The issue will be on the general election ballot Nov. 3.

Sales tax vote's backers tout benefits


The 4A sales tax referendum that will be on the Nov. 3
ballot is a vote for new jobs and taxable capital investment
for Pecos and Reeves County, according to supporters of the
issue.

They have said the quickest way to reduce property taxes and
provide additional city services is through the creation of
an expanded local economy and expansion of local businesses
with the procurement of new industry.

The 4A sales tax has proven to be the most popular and
productive tool in Texas to create jobs and capital
investment.

Texas is the most business friendly state in the country,
they said, and the state's economic diversification since
the "oil bust" is proof of the growth potential.

Those supporting the issue have said that negative growth
has taken place in Pecos and, granted, "accepting change is
not pleasant. Many times, the fear of change effects
attitudes of community leaders and citizens. But now, the
time is right for positive change to take place in Pecos.

"Community leaders are pro-active and are willing to pay the
price for positive attitudes and growth," the group said.
"It is important that all registered voters of Pecos express
themselves at the Nov. 3 general election with a `yes' vote
for new jobs for Pecos which will create a better/brighter
community for the future."

The Pecos Economic Development Corporation has attempted
change locally to turn around the economic decline of the
community with a professional approach in creating jobs and
capital investment.

Those in the non-profit corporation have said that the
entire community and county can prosper from the program. It
has been said that in order to initiate the desired results,
it takes long-term financing to implement programming that
will create results and put Pecos on sound financial footing
for many years in the future.

The group is a non-political corporation that demands the
professionalism and the credibility that will stimulate the
economy of Pecos and Reeves County. Many measures have been
put in place in the past 90 days to recruit new industry
that will create new jobs and offset the losses from the
closing of the Freeport McMoRan sulphur mine.

Group members said that Pecos is currently in a crisis
position economically, but the initiatives are in place to
address the economic development needs of the community and
county.

Much work has been completed, said Gari Ward, economic
development coordinator. That work includes identifying the
weaknesses and strengths of the community, and industrial
classifications that are compatible to the area. A database
has been established to solicit growth and expansion for the
community, an additional industrial site has been
identified, an expanded enterprise zone is being established
and additional work has been completed to attract new jobs
to Pecos.

The PEDC is committed to growth and development for Pecos
and Reeves County, according to Ward, and with reversing the
economic decline that prevails today. Through the 4A sales
tax, the State of Texas has made it possible for our city to
be competitive in the industrial recruitment arena.

Those involved in PEDC said passage of the 4A sales tax Nov.
3 is a must. Without approval the future of Pecos is very
bleak and the economic decline will only escalate and will
increase pressure to raise property taxes to meet the
demands of city government.

WEATHER


High Friday 92, Saturday 96, Sunday 95. Low Saturday 53,
Sunday 61, this morning 71. Forecast for tonight: Increasing
clouds. A 20 percent chance of showers. Lows 50-55.
Northeast winds 5-15 mph. Tuesday, mostly cloudy. A 20
percent chance of showers. Highs around 70. East winds 10-15
mph.



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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