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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, January 13, 1999
Postal Service eyes new location
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
The United States Postal Service announced plans today to expand the
Pecos Post Office, and are searching for a site or building to replace
the current 63-year-old structure.
"We would like input from our community residents and will have several
postal representatives available at a community meeting at 6:30 p.m., on
Jan. 20, at the Pecos Community Center, to discuss the expansion process
and criteria," said Pecos Postmaster Ramona Sterling. "We will consider
all recommendations from the community and other comments received within
45 days of the meeting."
The current Post Office, at 106 W. Fourth St., has limited parking outside
and is no longer adequate to serve the needs of postal customers in our
community, explained Sterling. The Postal Service will seek to lease or
purchase an existing building or a suitable site to build a new Post Office
for Pecos, she added.
The current building was built in 1935, and for its first 60 years housed
the Post Office on the first floor and Pecos' United States Federal Court
offices on the second and third floors.
Overcrowding for federal court personnel led to the constrction of the
Lucuis D. Bunton III Federal Courthouse two blocks east of the old building
in 1995. The upper two floors of the building have remained vacant since
then.
The Postal Service is seeking a central Pecos location for its new building.
The preferred area is bounded on the north by Third Street and on the south
by Walthall and 14th streets. The area is bounded on the east and west
by Cedar and Eddy streets.
The site size needed is about 1.5 acres, and the facility should contain
at least 6,500 square feet of usable area.
Postal officials met recently with Pecos community leaders to explore
possibilities for the expanded post officer operations.
Community comments can be mailed to: Sandra A. Rybicki, Real Estate
Specialist, 7800 North Stemmons Freeway, Suite 400, Dallas, Tx. 75247-4217.
PHS sculptures to receive Austin display
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
Sculptures designed and built by Pecos High School students will be
on display in Austin from January through March, Technology Director Jodi
Exum told members at Tuesday evening's Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD school board
meeting.
Debra Dobbins, Educational Liaison for the Texas Arts Commission in
Austin, invited PHS art students to submit three sculpture to be displayed
at the TEA Gallery (at the entrance of the School Board Conference Room)
from January through March, according to Exum.
"Students in Walter Holland's 3-D Advanced Art classes at Pecos High
School designed and constructed three sculptures with a Texas theme as
a `learn and serve' project by the students," said Exum.
The sculptures completed include: Pecos Bill taming a tornado; a railroad
engine on its track, representing the connecting of Texas by the railroads
and a Texas collage with the Alamo, the Fort Davis Mountains with McDonald
Observatory and an oil derrick.
"It is an honor for our students and district to be invited to submit
art work to TEA for viewing," said Exum. "I'm just so proud of these students
and Mr. Holland for their efforts," she said.
"Congratulations to the Pecos High School Art department. We feel honored
and very proud," said superintendent Don Love.
Walter Holland will transport the sculptures to Austin on Friday so
they can be displayed at the TEA's Austin office.
In other action at Tuesday's regular monthly meeting, interviews with
qualified engineers/architects will be conducted for design and construction
of administrative services for roof replacement for Pecos High School Building
A.
"We have received three good resumes from qualified individuals and
we plan to interview them and bring back the one the committee picks,"
said Love. "The committee will rank the three and pick out one and that
one will be presented to the board, so that they can approve it."
Love told board members the problem with the roof was going to get resolved
the right way this time. "Before we had just been patching it, but the
problem just got worse," he said.
The problem escalated during last month's snowstorm that hit Pecos.
Melting snow on the roof did damage to some classrooms in the building.
Board members approved a request for the use of the Pecos High School
gyms by the Reeves County Explorers Post for a basketball tournament this
weekend. Members also approved to waive the fees for the use of the courts.
Pecos Police Investigator Paul Deishler told board members that this
will be the third year that law enforcement will sponsor this tournament.
"Every year we donate whatever funds are generated to a worthy organization
in the community," said Deishler. "The year we want to donate the funds
to the Explorers."
Deishler stated that the explorers are made up of a group of high school
students who help out law enforcement officials. "These are the kids you
see helping you park at the rodeo events, concerts and they help out during
the fiestas, in controlling the crowds and doing routine work," he said.
The group is in need of some equipment such as flashlights, radios and
more, according to Deishler. "We don't make any money out of this and they
get to use the concession stand and the proceeds will go to them."
It would cost the group $450 for the use of both gyms if the fees were
waived, according to Love.
Board members received a gift from Austin Elementary and the food services
department during the meeting, in conjunction with school board month being
celebrated in January. "This is to thank the board members for all they
do for us," said food services director Helen Miller. "We really do appreciate
all of them."
Austin Elementary School principal Beau Jack Hendricks also expressed
his and his staff's appreciation.
Card, Graham and Company was approved as the auditor for the schools,
though Love added "It will be just Card and Company from now on," after
local auditor Randy Graham left the partnership.
School board members met in closed session to discuss extending the
superintendent's contract. In open session board members agreed to extend
Love's contract to June 30, 2004, to increase professional growth items
to $5,000 and civic professional organizations to $1,000.
Under personnel changes, Love stated that they will be looking at installing
an interim principal at Pecos Kindergarten. Board members accepted the
resignation of Pecos Kindergarten Principal Anna Hernandez at the last
school board meeting.
"We also be using (Gome) Olibas to do some supervision at the school
and maybe other principals, in the meantime," Love said.
As far as attendance goes, things are looking good, according to Love.
"We're down by about 60-70 kids, but the attendance as compared to last
year is up by about 8-9 kids," he said.
Love stated that everybody is really pulling together in keeping attendance
up, which is where state funds come from.
The tax report, securities report, cafeteria report, commodities received
report, current bills and financial report were approved as presented.
Before adjourning for the evening board president Earl Bates urged everyone
to attend this weekend's Reeves-Loving Counties Livestock Show. "Come out
and support our youth," he said.
Chamber finalizes plans for annual banquet
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
The theme for this year's Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet will again
include promotional items provided by local merchants.
Next week's banquet was the topic of discussion at the regular Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors Meeting held Tuesday at noon.
"We're asking that anybody who wants to, to bring their items by Wednesday
before the banquet to the chamber office," said Brandy Owen.
The promotional items will be giveaways that banquet-goers will be allowed
to take home with them. Banners and displays are also welcome.
"But the promotional items will be souvenirs such as pens, coosies or
other items that can be given out to promote their business," said Owen.
The banquet is scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22 at the Reeves County
Civic Center.
"We had these same theme last year and it worked out really well," said
Owen.
Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased at the
chamber office, 111 S. Cedar or by calling 445-2406. This year's guest
speaker will be Elvia Hernandez, an El Paso city representative. "We've
sold a few, but a lot of people wait until the last minute, so right now
we have plenty of tickets," said office manager Rachel Orona.
During the meeting, school board members were recognized and awarded
a proclamation, declaring January as school board month. "Gov. Bush has
declared this month as school board month and we feel it is important to
recognize our school board, who does a lot for the community," said chamber
president Linda Gholson.
Gholson said that these individuals serve on the board without any
benefits and provide a great service to the community. School board members
present at the meeting included board president Earl Bates and secretary,
Daisy Roquemore. Other members not present include Freddy Lujan, Brent
Shaw, Louis Matta, Steve Armstrong and Alberto Alvarez, Jr.
In other business, Tom Rivera told the group that Fort Stockton is one
of three cities in Texas eligible for a space port. "As a chamber I think
we should send a letter of support of them, because being a city that close
to them will benefit us also," said Rivera.
They do fit all the criteria and surrounding towns have already offered
their support, according to Rivera.
New chamber member Dr. John C. Libbie suggested that instead of just
drafting a letter and mailing it to Fort Stockton, a delegate from Pecos
should go to Fort Stockton as a show of full support.
Rivera told chamber members that the chamber will once again be helping
during the Golden Gloves Tournament scheduled for Feb. 14-15. "We still
need volunteers to help us out there, we want everyone to enjoy being a
member, but we also need the help," he said.
Dick Alligood stated that if members would take a two-hour shift it
would help them out. "We always see the same faces helping out and if we
could just get a few more, that would really help us out," he said.
Rivera told chamber members that he had downloaded all the bills that
will be presented to the legislature this year. "It's the year the legislature
meets and there are a lot of items that will concern us, affect us, such
as school items and if anybody wants to look at them they can come by the
office," he said.
Pot trial suspect's excuse strikes out
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Federal court jurors on Tuesday took less than an hour to find March
Anthony Davis guilty of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Davis, 25, was arrested Oct. 17, 1998 at the Greyhound bus station in Van
Horn after Border Patrol agents found 35.7 pounds of marijuana in his luggage.
Testifying in his own behalf, Davis said he and Augusta Thomas flew
to San Diego, Calif. from Birmingham, Ala., on Oct. 15, "because Augusta
asked me to go with him."
He also said he planned to see his girlfriend in San Diego and to attend
a World Series game.
When Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Miller pointed out that the World Series
game between the Yankees and San Diego Padres that weekend was in New York,
Davis said, "Really, I wanted to see my girlfriend."
Agents checking the bus at Van Horn found 35.7 pounds of marijuana in
a suitcase that also contained items belonging to Davis. However, Davis
testified that he had put his clothes in Thomas' bag when they left Macon, Ga.
Asked why he didn't tell agents the bag belonged to Thomas, Davis said,
"I was forced to be quiet."
Mike Barclay of Alpine represented Davis.
Eva Marie Leahy of Odessa is defense attorney in a marijuana importation
and possession trial underway today before U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks
of Austin.
Stephanie Ann Carrasco, 32, of Amarillo, was arrested Nov. 2, 1998 at
the Border Patrol checkpoint 13 miles south of Alpine on Texas Highway
118.
Inside the 1991 Blazer, agents found 91.84 pounds of marijuana, said
Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Brigman.
Leahy said that Carrasco had been to Mexico to visit the grave of her
estranged husband's grandmother, and that she had given a man named Sergio
permission to use her vehicle while she was at the gravesite on a ranch
owned by her in-laws.
When she left the ranch that night, Sergio told her the closest route
back to Texas would be to cross the Rio Grande at El Mulato, downriver
from the port of entry at Presidio, Leahy said.
"She had absolutely no knowledge her vehicle contained marijuana," Leahy
said.
Referring to noises heard during the opening statements, Judge Sparks
told the jury that the courthouse is haunted, "but they're nice ghosts."
"When you walk through, the lights will go on and then off," he said.
"You will hear noises like we heard. It sounds like someone is hitting
a shovel on the wall...
"When you hear strange noises, don't be alarmed," Sparks said. "It is
this building."
Workmen making the strange noises are installing wiring and equipment
to light and monitor the parking lot. Court security officers can view
any part of the building, inside and out, on monitors in their offices.
Red Bluff accepts employee's resignation
Red Bluff Water Power Control Board members accepted the resignation of
longtime employee David Lewis and delayed action on the district's fiscal
1998 audit during Monday's regular monthly meeting.
Lewis has been the ditch rider for Red Bluff in the Grandfalls-Imperial
area. Vision and heart problems were cited as reasons for his resignation,
and no replacement has been named as of yet.
Randy Graham presented the audit to the board, which opted to delay
action on the report until the district's February meeting.
Board members also approved monthly cash disbursements and accounts
payable for December, and discussed the amount of water in Red Bluff Lake
and the prospects of an allotment from New Mexico, under the Pecos River
Compact.
No action was taken following the water discussion, and general manager
Jim Ed Miller said there was nothing new to report on the district's Malaga
Bend and salt cedar eradications projects.
Obituary
Julia Rossman
Julia Loyce Rossman, 90, of Mason, died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999, in Mason.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m., today in Mason Funeral Home Chapel
with Ray Ash, pastor of the First Baptist Church officiating.
Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m., Thursday in Fairview Cemetery
in Pecos with Greer Willis, pastor of Pecos First Baptist Church officiating.
Rossman was born March 19, 1908 in Coahoma. She had resided in Pecos
from 1928 to 1952; in Fredericksburg from 1952 to 1978 and Mason since
1978. She was a homemaker and a Baptist, having taught Sunday School in
Pecos for more than 25 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Rossman, in 1980; one
daughter, Mildred Loyce Rossman; one son, David Bryan Rossman, and one sister,
Mabel Atchison.
Survivors include one daughter, Julia Joy Gamel of Mason; five grandchildren;
six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to World Hunger,
in care of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 370, Mason, Tx. 76850.
Weather
High Tuesday 74; overnight low 41. Tonight, partly cloudy. Low in the mid
20s. Light north wind. Thursday, partly cloudy. High in the upper 50s.
Northeast to east wind 5-10 mph.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, 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 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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