Colored Rock Map of Texas at I-20 in Pecos, Click for Travel Guide Pecos Enterprise

Enterprise

ARCHIVES
Archive 62
Archive 74
Pecos Country History
Archive 87
1987 Tornado Photos
Rodeo Photos 88 |
Archive 95
Archive 96
Archive 97
News Photos 1997
Rodeo Photos 97 |
Archive 98
News Photos 1998
Rodeo Photos 98 |
Parade Photos 98 |

Area Newspapers
Advertising
Classified


|

Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Wednesday, November 18, 1998

Development board selected by city council


By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Pecos City Council this morning approved articles of
incorporation for the Pecos Economic Development
Corporation, Inc. and appointed five directors, after
canvassing the Nov. 3 election ballots on the 4A Sales Tax
proposal.

The special meeting was set specifically for the
corporation's organization and no other items of business
were considered.

Articles of incorporation call for three-year terms for
directors, and they may serve up to three consecutive terms.
Initial terms are staggered so that only one or two will
expire each year.

Appointed directors and the expiration date of their initial
term are: David Dutchover, 2000; Frank Spencer and Mike
Burkholder, 2001; Pauline Moore and Oscar Saenz, 2002.

Alternates who would serve if one of more of those named
decline the position or resign are Bob Curry, Trey Miller
and Gilbert Abila.

City Attorney Scott Johnson was named registered agent. He
will receive legal papers for the corporation.

Numerous changes were made in proposed by-laws, which will
be submitted to the board for their input before they are
adopted.

Terms of directors were changed from five years to three,
with the maximum number of terms changed from two to three.

Ricky Herrera suggested the additional term be allowed so
that experienced directors could remain on the board for up
to nine years, if reappointed by the council.

Johnson suggested the addition of the term "at-will
employee" to the job description of the president of
economic development.

"It is a legal term. You avoid a bunch of due process
requirements," Johnson said. It clearly establishes there is
no contract with the director. The board may give a
contract, but if they don't, it is very clear it is at will."

Additions were made to require state nepotism laws to apply
to any contracts; to allow the board to excuse members
absent from meetings due to exigent circumstances; to
require board approval of all hires; to allow only board
members to sign checks; to require a report to the council
of expenditures over $10,000; and to require board approval
for any loans made to the corporation.

Voters on Nov. 3 approved the 4A Sales Tax plan by nearly a
4-to-1 margin. It allows the city to redirect one-quarter
cent of its 1 1/2 cent sales tax towards economic
development. Similar measures already are in place in other
area cities, including Odessa, Monahans and Fort Stockton.

Christmas for Kids planning fundraising


A group whose main objective is to provide a warm and happy
Christmas for children in the community will once again be
working hard to reach their goal and is seeking the
financial support of area residents.

"Our goal, again, is to raise $5,000 to buy Christmas gifts
for the children on our list," said Christmas for the Kids
coordinator Sofia Baeza.

The group, with the help of all Pecos High School athletes,
will be going door-to-door asking for monetary donations on
Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., to fulfill their goal.

Christmas for the Kids provides the essentials that children
need and should have in our community, according to Baeza.

"We want to make sure that all the children are entitled to
warm clothing, good shoes and other essentials needed to
attend school comfortably," she said.

PHS athletes have volunteered their services again this year
while members of the Pecos Volunteer Fire Department and
Ambulance Service, will be stationed at the corners of Third
and Cedar streets and Seventh and Eddy streets collecting
for the same cause.

Those who would like to be recipients of Christmas for Kids
presents can pick up applications at the Reeves County
Sheriff's Office. Deadline for applications is Dec. 5.

Not only does the group provide clothing, shoes and jackets,
but they also strive to help with school supplies and other
necessities the children might have, according to Baeza.

For more information or to pick up an application call the
sheriff's department at 445-4901.

FFA work takes Laurence on long trip


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
A local Future Farmers of America member helped determine
the direction of the national organization this past weekend
at the 71st National FFA Convention.

Pecos High School Student H.D. Laurence, vice president of
the Area II FFA Association, represented Texas as an
official delegate to the convention Nov. 12-14, in Kansas
City, Mo. Attracting more than 45,000 FFA members and
guests, this is the world's largest annual student
convention.

The 18-year-old Laurence joined 475 FFA officers from all 50
states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands who
conducted the business of the National FFA Organization
during special sessions of the convention.

"As a delegate I was there two days before the convention
started," said Laurence.

Laurence's plane trip was the beginning of his adventure.
"It was the first time I had flown and had to change planes
so many times," said Laurence. "And the worst part is, I had
to go to one of the biggest airports, Dallas," he said.

Despite the long trip to get there, Laurence said that the
experience was great and he had a lot of fun.

"I also got to meet a lot of other people and learn new
things," he said. "It was an exciting challenge, helping to
decide the future of FFA and to be a part of the FFA
organization."

The national FFA Convention is the culmination of the year's
activities for FFA members. Opportunities for personal
growth and leadership development are presented by
educational and motivational speakers including Les Brown,
motivational speaker; Warren Faidley, storm
photographer/chaser; Gerda Klein, author and historian;
Baxter Black, cowboy poet; and Robin Roberts, sportscaster.

This year's convention theme, "Making the Connection,"
symbolized the agricultural education organization's mission
to continue to connect its members to their communities, the
agricultural history and to the nation.

Laurence, a senior at Pecos High School participates in
local and state livestock shows as part of the FFA
organization.

He competed in the calf scramble in the Houston Livestock
Show and won $1,000 towards the purchase of a heifer.

"I will be returning in February to Houston to show her,"
said Laurence. "She won grand champion here, so now I'm
going to take her back and hopefully win some more."

Laurence will also be attending the National Youth
Leadership Forum, on defense, intelligence and diplomacy.
"About 350 juniors and seniors from across the nation are
chosen and will be going to Washington, D.C. in February for
this forum," said Laurence.

"So I'll get to fly again then, I'll fly from Washington
directly to Houston for the stock show," said Laurence.

Laurence said that his parents will be transporting his
prize heifer from Pecos to the stock show where he will meet
them.

Laurence has already joined the U.S. Army and plans to use
the money allotted from them to attend college. "I already
have $50,000 from them to be used for college," said
Laurence. "I'll leave July 15, of 1999 to Fort Knox,
Kentucky and then I'll be headed for Germany."

Following his stint in the army he plans to attend college
and major in agriculture education. "I've learned that in
order to be a success you need an education," said Laurence,
who eventually plans to become an agriculture teacher.

Laurence is the son of Paul Laurence and Pam Laurence, both
of Pecos and is the president of the Pecos FFA Chapter.

FFA is a national organization of 447,880 members preparing
for leadership and careers in the science, business and
technology of agriculture. The organization has 7,503 local
chapters located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico,
Guam and the Virgin Islands. FFA's mission is to make a
positive difference in the lives of students by developing
their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and
career success through agricultural education. Local, state
and national activities and award programs provide
opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills
learned in the classroom.

PECOS VALLEY CRIME STOPPERS


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.

On July 22, Pecos Police officers responded to the burglary
of a habitation located at 366 S. Magnolia St. Upon arrival
officers met with a complainant who stated that person(s)
had entered the residence and taken a motion sensor white
light, a small wooden table and a thermostat window air
conditioner cooler.

Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime
call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain
anonymous.

CORRECTION


Friday's story on the Pecos Housing Authority Board's
monthly meeting incorrectly said the PHA was looking to use
the former Pecos Learning Center as the site for a new day
care facility. THe PHA is looking at the former Pecos Day
Care building on the east side of town, which is owned by
the housing authority.

WEATHER


High Tuesday 77, low last night 45. Tonight, fair. Low in
the upper 40s. Northwest to north wind 5-15 mph. Thursday,
partly cloudy and cooler. High in the mid 60s. north to
northeast wind 10-15 mph.



Search Entire Site:


Pecos Enterprise
Ned Cantwell, 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

Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.

Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise