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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 26, 1996 - Reeves County Commissioners discussed and
approved preliminary plans for construction of a second perimeter fence
at the Reeves County Detention Center during their meeting this morning.
Engineer Frank X. Spencer provided the court with blueprints of the
project and explained where the fence, sidewalk and other modifications
would be made at the facility.
"The Bureau of Prisons has provided us with guidelines, or should I say
what they expect of a second perimeter fence at the RCDC," said Spencer.
"This is something that has been on the back burner for some time," said
County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo of the project, whose cost is expected to
range well into six figures.
Bureau of Prisons had requested a second perimeter fence be constructed
at the facility some time ago, but the plans had not been implemented.
"Along with the existing fence, they want us to create another fence
with 50 feet in between the two," said Spencer.
Spencer met with BOP representative Tommy Duncan. "Duncan told us that
BOP usually requires that they have a 12 foot fence and that the fences
be 20 feet apart," said Spencer.
Light posts will have to be moved, along with water valves and gas
meters, according to Spencer.
"The existing fence is eight foot high and the new one will be 10 foot
high, and they have asked us since they won't require the 12 foot fence,
that we add two more coils of (barbed) wire," said Spencer.
The facility will be completely encircled by the new fence, including
the farm area.
"There will be about 5,200 feet, about a mile of fencing throughout the
site," he said.
Texas-New Mexico Power Co. has agreed to re-locate the nine light posts
at no cost to the county, according to Spencer.
"We'll have to talk to the gas company about relocating the gas meters,"
he added.
"Instead of tearing down existing fence, we'll just have to add two more
coils, which will save some money," said Spencer.
"These specifications came from BOP, it's not something Frank came up
with," said Galindo.
"This is a standard procedure for prisons, in order for them to approve
this fence, they gave us the details of what they wanted," said Spencer.
This will upgrade the facility from a minimum security prison to a
medium security prison, according to Galindo.
"The main objective is that this will increase capacity of the system,"
he added.
The project will be funded through Carlyle Capitol Markets, which
provided the financing for the new addition to the RCDC.
Along with the fence's dimensions, another specification the BOP
requested was that the contractor use white gravel.
"The only place we have found that carries white gravel is in the
Odessa/Midland area, and it's really expensive," said Spencer.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Herman Tarin suggested speaking to a man in
Balmorhea who carries white gravel.
"It might be cheaper with him, I don't know how much he has, but we can
certainly talk to him," said Tarin. "Road and Bridges personnel could
bring it in, saving some money."
Spencer asked that county workers "get a sample to show to BOP, because
we don't want to bring something in here that they don't accept."
Commissioner Precinct 2 W.J. Bang suggested painting the gravel white in
order to meet with specifications.
Spencer told the court he already has six contractors waiting for the
plans in order to bid on the project.
A fee for Spencer was approved at 10 percent, with a cap put on the fee.
The contractor himself might sub-contract some of the work locally,
according to Spencer.
"Our next step is to approve these plans so that they can be bid on by
contractors, and make them the final plans," said Galindo.
An emergency order prohibiting outdoor burning was also approved during
the morning portion of today's regular meeting.
In accordance with the provisions of the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, a
state of disaster has been declared based on the imminent threat
wildfires. Because of that, the county has authorized limitations on
activities which tend to increase the likelihood of such fires, said
Fire Marshal Jack Brookshire.
"We strongly urge that outdoor burning be restricted until some rainfall
occurs," said Brookshire.
There have been some problems with farmers burning an area and then just
leaving it, which may spread and burn some other farmers' acreage or
other areas and structures, according to Brookshire.
Under the new rule for all unincorporated areas of Reeves County, a
person violates this order if he burns any combustible material outside
of an enclosure which serves to contain all flames and/or sparks, or
orders such burning by others.
Upon notification of suspected outdoor burning, the fire department
assigned to the location of the fire shall respond to the scene and take
immediate measures to contain and/or extinguish the fire.
As soon as possible, the Reeves County Fire Marshal, or any
duly-commissioned peace officer, shall be sent to the scene to
investigate the nature of the fire.
A violation of this order shall be prosecuted under section 418.173 of
the government code.
This order may be enforced by any duly-commissioned peace officer and
that the venue for prosecution of this order will be county court at law.
"This is just a temporary emergency order," said Brookshire.
"In certain areas we may lift the order," said Fire Chief Doug Cox.
"We'd just like to control this, until we get some moisture," he said.
Farmers will have to find other ways to clear off ditches, according to
Brookshire, until some rainfall hits our area.
"We had a temporary emergency order prohibiting fireworks a few years
back because of this and if we don't get any rainfall by then we might
have to have another order again," he said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report is obtained
from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County
Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, or other agencies;
and from interviews with officers of those agencies.
On Feb. 5, David Mata reported to police that an unknown subject had
used a sharp object to scratch the right side and tailgate of his 1995
Chevrolet pickup while parked at a Pecos High School parking lot. Mata
did not give an exact time.
Amy Barbosa, 19, 911 W. Fourth, was arrested Feb. 7 after police
conducted a warrant service at her residence. She was charged with
criminal mischief between $1,500 and $20,000.
Police arrested Dustin Wagoner, 18, of Oregon, on Feb. 9 after serving
him a warrant for presumption of theft of check at the Reeves County
Jail.
Olga M. Levario was cited for failing to yield right of way at a stop
intersection during an investigation by police of a two-vehicle accident
at the corner of Washington and Hackberry Streets. The police report
indicated that Norma R. Evaro was eastbound in a 1976 Oldsmobile Delta
'88 at the 1300 block of Washington when she was struck by Levario, who
was eastbound at the 800 block of Hackberry in a 1988 Ford Tempo.
Levario allegedly pulled into the intersection from a stopped position.
During the early morning hours of Feb. 12, Ezequiel Morales Arevalo was
arrested at the 900 block of Cypress Street for public intoxication
police received a phone call into someone honking his horn and
disturbing neighboring residents.
Bobby Lee Olivas, 20, 2205 Barrila Road, was arrested at the 1800 block
of South Eddy Street for driving without a driver's license on Feb. 15.
Police arrested Oscar Rodriguez Rubio, 30, 221 N. Cedar, on Feb. 15 on a
warrant service for burglary of a habitation. The arrest took place at
the 400 block of South Mesquite Street.
At 2:54 a.m., Feb. 16, Kenneth Paul Kirouac, 34, was arrested by police
at the Flying J Truck Stop, 100 block of Pinhurst, for public
intoxication.
A clerk for the Allsup's convenient store at 708 Cedar reported to
police on Feb. 16, 11:54 p.m., that two Hispanic males entered the store
and ran out without paying for an 18-pack of Budlight beer and three
12-packs of Bud Light beer.
Jesus Ortega, Jr., 17, 805 E. 10th, was arrested by police at the 800
block of East 10th Street for public intoxication and having an expired
driver's license.
During the early morning hours of Feb. 18, police arrested Lorenzo
Rodriguez Carrasco for public intoxication at 110 E. Ninth St. No age or
place of residence was available for Carrasco.
Police arrested Rudolfo T. Orona, 20, 501 Palm, at the 700 block of East
Third Street for DWI by refusal to submit to breathalizer. The arrest
took place during the early morning hours of Feb. 18.
PECOS, Feb. 26, 1996 - The Pecos High School Band Boosters will hold a
special meeting tonight to appoint a new Vice-President for the
organization.
Former VP Irma Barrera has taken over the President's seat after former
President Henry Almanza resigned his position because of health reasons.
Band booster Bertha Natividad said today that the group will also
discuss matters concerning the upcoming annual band booster auction.
The special meeting will take place at the Pecos High School band hall
at 6 p.m. All band booster members are invited to attend.
By JEAN PAGE
Associated Press Writer
LUBBOCK - Women in rural West Texas who live miles away from mammogram
facilities can soon have breast-cancer screening come to them.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center will unveil today a
mobile clinic expected to serve 3,000 women in its first year.
Texas Tech signed a five-year contract with the state to provide
mammograms and health education in 10 counties south and west of Odessa,
including Reeves County. A $300,000 grant from the Texas Cancer Council
paid for the bus-sized vehicle and other start-up costs.
``We promised the state we would not stand by idly while watching
somebody with breast cancer not get treated,'' said Dr. Glenn Roberson,
the clinic's medical director in Lubbock.
Texas first lady Laura Bush was expected to attend the unveiling
ceremony in Odessa.
The clinic will travel within Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Loving, Pecos,
Reagan, Reeves, Upton, Ward and Winkler counties.
Hospital workers in that vast region say women's health has suffered
because no mammograms are available there.
``It's very inconvenient for the women in our county because many of
them are indigent or elderly,'' said Cheryl Roberts, director of nursing
at the 13-bed McCamey Hospital, about 60 miles south of Odessa.
``They're not getting any screening because they don't want to bother
anybody'' for a ride to El Paso, San Angelo, Big Spring, Midland or
Odessa, she said.
A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray that can show a cancerous lump only
one-eighth of an inch in diameter, long before it can be felt. Texas
Tech's mobile clinic comes equipped with a darkroom so that its film can
be processed on board.
Patients start out by watching a videotape on breast health and hearing
a lesson on warning signs of cancer. They also get a clinical exam in a
separate room aboard the vehicle.
Cost is $65. It takes about 40 minutes, operators said.
Roberson said local doctors in the region will provide follow-up care if
suspicious areas show up on the mammograms.
``Early detection means cure,'' Roberson said. ``Late detection means
death.''
The American Cancer Society estimates that one out of every nine women
in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
Jim Hurley, spokesman the Texas Cancer Council, said a 1994 health
survey of far West Texas found that the lack of mammograms was the
region's top cancer concern.
``Women had to drive several hundred miles just to get a routine
mammogram,'' Hurley said. ``It's hard enough to get people to get a
mammogram anyway, without throwing in a several hundred-mile drive.''
The clinic will see patients by appointment beginning April 1 in
Monahans. It will stay two or three days at each site it visits.
Call 1-800-222-8388 to schedule an appointment with the mobile mammogram
clinic.
By MARI MALDNADO
Staff Writer
Texas Attorney General Dan Morales met with community members and local
officials Friday for the signing of an agreement to implement a local
Triad anti-crime program for senior citizens.
Triad is a three-way effort among a sheriff, the police chief and the
American Association of Retired Persons or older/retired leaders in the
area. The three agree to work together to reduce the criminal
victimization of older citizens.
"We now have about 20 of these Triads," Morales told a group of about 50
persons that gathered to meet the attorney general Friday afternoon at
the Pecos Senior Citizens Center. "It's a covenant between all acting
entities to make a mutual agreement and keep a contract," against white
collar criminals, he said.
While collar crime, "has now emerged as the number one consumer crime
against our senior citizens," the attorney general said. "It's a $40
billion a year crime!" He added that telemarketing fraud is the most
popular of the white collar crimes directed towards the country's senior
citizens.
"I consider it one of the top priorities (of the Attorney General's
office) to protect our senior citizens."
Pecos Mayor Dot Stafford took the podium and read the agreement before
it was signed by her, along with Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez, Pecos
Police Chief Troy Moore, Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo, Senior
Citizen Center Director Donna Woodard and Executive Director of the
Reeves County Community Council Yvonne Martin.
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District Board President Linda
Gholson recognized the Pecos High School Peer Mediation Group that was
present for the agreement signing. PHS was one of two schools selected
by Morales' office for a PMG to help decrease the gap of
misunderstanding between teens and adults.
A senior advisory council, or SALT (Seniors and Lawmen Together) will be
the key component for the success of the local Triad, the attorney
general said. They will act an advocacy/advisory group and provides a
forum for the exchange of information between seniors and law
enforcement.
Council members will be selected and invited by the chief of police, the
sheriff, and someone representing older citizens. They will plan
activities and programs which will involve and benefit both law
enforcement and seniors like crime prevention programs for older
persons, provide information on how to avoid criminal victimization,
expand neighborhood watch involvement and conduct home security
inspections or provide information.
Stafford closed the meeting by thanking Reecia Pigman, Armando Granado
and Olga Lopez for their help in establishing local Triad.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Officials want to put the brakes on the what is
believed to be the longest school bus ride in the United States.
The marathon, 160-mile commute has been one of life's dreary constants
for Big Bend-area high school students since the early 1960s. And it
will end forever this spring if local educators and community leaders
have their way.
``By hook or by crook, we're going to have a new high school here by
August,'' Terlingua Common School District principal Kathy Killingsworth
told the San Antonio Express-News.
The two dozen students live in Big Bend National Park, Lajitas,
Terlingua and other Big Bend settlements. But because classes at the
Terlingua and San Vicente school districts stop at the eighth grade,
students must attend Alpine High School, 80 miles to the north, to stay
in school.
By the time they disembark the bus each evening, some of them have put
in more than 200 miles by car and bus. In four years of high school,
that would add up to 150,000 miles.
``I don't like riding the bus four hours each day. I get up at 5 a.m.
and catch the bus at 5:45 a.m.,'' said Jenny Hines, 17, a junior.
The school project got the official launch this week, when trustees for
both the San Vicente and Terlingua districts approved a proposal for a
``partnership'' high school and sent it to the Texas Education Agency
for review.
As outlined, the new school would accommodate about 40 students in seven
classrooms, and use both full-time and guest instructors.
The proposal describes a technologically advanced school where high
school students will benefit from traditional teaching methods with
interactive video and other computer-based instruction.
If it comes to pass, the new school would catapult the district from the
age of Norman Rockwell to that of Microsoft magnate Bill Gates.
The proposal is especially daring given the extreme modesty of the two
districts' collective resources.
San Vicente, based at the park, has only 22 students and 11 taxpayers
with a tax base of $5 million. The Terlingua district, based in Study
Butte, has about 110 students and a $25 million tax base.
Instead of raising taxes, a not-for-profit entity called the Big Bend
Education Corporation has been created to buy the land, build the high
school and then create an endowment for future improvements.
Ramrodding the fund-raising is Doug Smith, 75, a brusque, retired
engineer who since January has been stalking donations of cash, building
materials and other negotiable assets.
But Smith needs about $400,000 just to build the school, which right now
is a graded piece of desert adorned with a couple of yucca plants.
So far he has only $36,000 in the bank.
The two districts would be responsible for equipping the high school
with everything from chalk boards to video terminals, and they also are
seeking donations and grants.
Oscar Garcia of Terlingua said he would be delighted to roll up his
sleeves and help build it.
``I'm ready to work. Pour cement, adobe for a couple of days,'' he said.
``My daughter has been riding the bus for three years.''
Graveside services for Haskell "Hack" Holmes, 88, were at 11 a.m. today
in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery, directed by Pecos Funeral Home. He died
Friday, Feb. 23, 1996, in Reeves County Hospital.
He was born Oct. 1, 1907 in Montague County; owned Holmes Oil Co; was a
former Pecos City Councilman, a Mason and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Louise Holmes of Pecos; one son, Stephen
Holmes of Pecos; one daughter, Marty Parton of El Paso; one brother, Ken
Holmes of Midland; one sister, Oma Pogue of Quanah; 10 grandchildren and
14 great-grandchildren.
Madge Lindley
Madge Lindley died this morning in Reeves County Hospital. Pecos Funeral
Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.
Reeves County Hospital District directors will consider staff and
clinical privileges for Kai-Wood Ma, M.D. in their regular meeting at 6
p.m. Tuesday.
Dr. Ma has recently obtained his Texas license to practice medicine,
completed obstetric training and set up a private practice in family
planning, obstetrics, pediatrics and adult health.
The board will consider contracts with John J. Ingram & Associates to
help people obtain Supplemental Security Income to pay their hospital
bills; with a purchasing group known as VHA; and with TPA, a cardiac
acute intervention program.
Other agenda items include appointing judges and clerks for the May 4
election; consider an organizational chart; consider purchase of a
centrifuge for the laboratory and a kitchen stove; and consider indigent
care health providers.
In the last meeting, the board discussed adding Dr. Chun Shon Lee to
the list of approved indigent care providers. However, since he is not
on the active medical staff, some board members suggested the matter be
referred to the medical staff for a recommendation.
Board meetings are held in the hospital classroom and are open to the
public.
TAAS Math reviews will be conducted by Tomas Valenzuela at Carver
Center from 6-8 p.m. each Monday.
Additional items will be announced by Valenzuela when the group meets.
The TAAS tests will be given at Pecos High School on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday, March 5-7. The writing test will be given on
Tuesday, March 5, beginning at 8:20 a.m.
The math test will be given on Wednesday at 8:20 a.m. and the reading
test will be given Thursday, March 7 at 8:20 a.m.
Depth P14.10 I2.47
Any out of school students should consult the counselors' office about
registration.
March test results should be in by April 26, and seniors will be given
one more opportunity to take the test, which must be passed before a
student can graduate, April 30-May 2.
Students are urged to make use of the review sessions for math as they
have proven to be beneficial for many. Any questions concerning the TAAS
test should be directed to the High School Counselors' Office 447-7229.
Ron Garrison of Garrison Associates in Benecia, Calif. gave a
presentation entitled "Pro-Active Solutions to Crime and Violence," to a
group of local residents and school personnel Friday during an all-day
seminar. He claimed that there is power in numbers and outlines various
solutions for combatting local crime and violence.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report is obtained
from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County
Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, or other agencies;
and from interviews with officers of those agencies.
On Feb. 5, David Mata reported to police that an unknown subject had
used a sharp object to scratch the right side and tailgate of his 1995
Chevrolet pickup while parked at a Pecos High School parking lot. Mata
did not give an exact time.
Amy Barbosa, 19, 911 W. Fourth, was arrested Feb. 7 after police
conducted a warrant service at her residence. She was charged with
criminal mischief between $1,500 and $20,000.
Police arrested Dustin Wagoner, 18, of Oregon, on Feb. 9 after serving
him a warrant for presumption of theft of check at the Reeves County
Jail.
Olga M. Levario was cited for failing to yield right of way at a stop
intersection during an investigation by police of a two-vehicle accident
at the corner of Washington and Hackberry Streets. The police report
indicated that Norma R. Evaro was eastbound in a 1976 Oldsmobile Delta
'88 at the 1300 block of Washington when she was struck by Levario, who
was eastbound at the 800 block of Hackberry in a 1988 Ford Tempo.
Levario allegedly pulled into the intersection from a stopped position.
During the early morning hours of Feb. 12, Ezequiel Morales Arevalo was
arrested at the 900 block of Cypress Street for public intoxication
police received a phone call into someone honking his horn and
disturbing neighboring residents.
Bobby Lee Olivas, 20, 2205 Barrila Road, was arrested at the 1800 block
of South Eddy Street for driving without a driver's license on Feb. 15.
Police arrested Oscar Rodriguez Rubio, 30, 221 N. Cedar, on Feb. 15 on a
warrant service for burglary of a habitation. The arrest took place at
the 400 block of South Mesquite Street.
At 2:54 a.m., Feb. 16, Kenneth Paul Kirouac, 34, was arrested by police
at the Flying J Truck Stop, 100 block of Pinhurst, for public
intoxication.
A clerk for the Allsup's convenient store at 708 Cedar reported to
police on Feb. 16, 11:54 p.m., that two Hispanic males entered the store
and ran out without paying for an 18-pack of Budlight beer and three
12-packs of Bud Light beer.
Jesus Ortega, Jr., 17, 805 E. 10th, was arrested by police at the 800
block of East 10th Street for public intoxication and having an expired
driver's license.
During the early morning hours of Feb. 18, police arrested Lorenzo
Rodriguez Carrasco for public intoxication at 110 E. Ninth St. No age or
place of residence was available for Carrasco.
Police arrested Rudolfo T. Orona, 20, 501 Palm, at the 700 block of East
Third Street for DWI by refusal to submit to breathalizer. The arrest
took place during the early morning hours of Feb. 18.
High Sunday 76, low last night 44. Tonight, partly cloudy. Low 40-45.
West to northwest wind 10-20 mph. Tuesday, partly cloudy and cooler.
High 60-65. Northwest wind 10-20 mph.
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Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
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