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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Friday, September 19, 2003
County, city jobless rates increase in August
From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, Fri., Sept. 19, 2003 -- Unemployment in Reeves County and the Town
of Pecos City increased in August, while the jobless rates for most other
area communities slipped slightly, according to figures released on Thursday
by the Texas Workforce Commission, while the state's jobless rate remained
unchanged at 6.6 percent.
Unemployment for Reeves County and Pecos remained in double-digits for
the 15th month in a row, following the closing of the Anchor Foods plant
in May of 2002. Reeves County saw its jobless rate climb from 10.2 to 10.6
percent, as the county's labor force dropped by 14 from July, to 5,599 workers,
while the number of jobs fell by 32, to 5,008.
The county has lost nearly 1,500 people from its workforce since August
of 2002, when the total number of people within the county was 7,059, according
to the TWC figures. The number of jobs in the county following the Anchor
plant's shutdown stood at 5,429, which is 421 more than the current figure
and caused the county's jobless rate to soar to 23.1 percent.
The numbers were similar for the Town of Pecos City, which had a 25.8
percent jobless rate last August following the Anchor shutdown, which put
700 people out of work. The unemployment rate was down to 12 percent last
month, the TWC said, but that total is up from 11.7 percent in July.
Pecos had 4,393 people in the workforce last month, down from 4,402 in
July and 5,648 a year ago, while the number of jobs within the city was
put at 3,864, a drop from 3,889 in July and from 4,189 last year.
Andrews, Midland and Pecos counties were among those that reported declines
in their jobless rates during August, while Ector and Ward County saw their
unemployment figures remain unchanged from July to August. Like Reeves County,
the total number of jobs and the number of people in the labor force in
those counties also declined from July to August.
Winkler County was one of the few counties to join Reeves in seeing an
increase in its jobless rate, from 7.5 to 8.2 percent, due to an increase
in the labor force outstripping a rise in the number of jobs within the
county.
Presidio County's jobless rate remained the highest in Texas, and jumped
sharply in August, from 18.7 to 27.1 percent
The TWC said job losses were normal for August in Texas, and this year's
loss was only one-fourth as bad as usual.
After excluding seasonal patterns, the commission estimated that the
state added 28,500 jobs, the biggest increase in more than two years. Most
of the jobs were created in health care, local school districts and government,
the commission said.
The long slump in manufacturing continued, however, as that sector lost
another 2,300 jobs, the seventh straight month of decline. Manufacturing
jobs are sinking at nearly a 4 percent annual rate.
Diane Rath, chairwoman of the Workforce Commission, said the stabilizing
jobless rate and increase in nonseasonal jobs were encouraging signs.
"Employment growth will be key to our continued economic development,
and it is significant that Texas is still adding jobs in spite of the recent
slowdown," she said.
The following are the preliminary August unemployment rates for the Texas
metropolitan areas, with revised rates for July in parentheses. The local
figures are not adjusted for seasonal patterns in hiring and firing.
Bryan-College Station 2.6 (2.7); San Angelo 3.7 (4.2); Amarillo 4.2 (4.3);
Abilene 4.4 (4.5); Lubbock 3.9 (4.4); Victoria 5.1 (5.3); Wichita Falls
5.5 (5.7); Tyler 4.8 (5.7); Waco 5.4 (5.6); Austin-San Marcos 5.6 (5.9);
Killeen-Temple 5.5 (5.9);
San Antonio 5.6 (6.0); Odessa-Midland 5.9 (6.0); Fort Worth-Arlington
6.4 (6.7); Longview-Marshall 6.7 (7.1); Corpus Christi 6.8 (7.2); Houston
6.9 (7.2); Dallas 7.1 (7.4); Laredo 6.8 (7.8); Sherman-Denison 7.7 (7.9);
Galveston-Texas City 8.8 (9.0);
Brazoria 9.1 (9.6); El Paso 9.8 (9.9); Beaumont-Port Arthur 9.6 (10.2);
Brownsville-Harlingen 10.6 (11.2); McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 13.6 (14.2);
Texarkana 5.2 (5.5);
PEDC board to eye budget, housing plan
PECOS, Fri., Sept. 19, 2003 -- The Pecos Economic Development Corp. will
meet to discuss the up coming budget for next year during a meeting scheduled
for Tuesday on the second floor of the Security State Bank building.
The proposed budget is almost identical to last year's, with the projected
sales tax revenue bringing in $120,000 and a carry over from this year of
$25,000. The only differences are the absence of a debt repayment that
cost the PEDC approximately $20,000 last year and a $400 reduction in the
contingency and miscellaneous allocation.
Also on the table for discussion for Tuesday's 9 a.m. meeting is the possible
development of the Robinson property on the north side of town. A proposed
action on the development of 40 rental houses will be discussed, according
to PEDC president Gari Ward.
The development would provide the town of Pecos with affordable housing
to accommodate the growing county detention center staff and possibly any
industrial jobs that might move into the Reeves County area.
Commissioners to study RCDC lease payments
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., Sept. 19, 2003 -- Lease payments and reserve funds totaling
$11.8 million on the Reeves County Detention Center will be the topic of
discussion for Reeves County Commissioners, during their regular meeting
scheduled for Monday.
Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m., Monday, in the third floor courtroom,
to discuss several items, including the possible appointment of a new agriculture
extension agent for Reeves County. The public is invited to attend.
The county is still hunting inmates for the new RCDC III addition, a
960-bed addition to the existing 2,000-bed prison for which the county must
make $40 million in lease payments, to go along with existing lease payments
on the RCDC I and II facilities. The County is receiving man-day rate payments
from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for the 2,000 inmates at RCDC I and II,
but without the funds from housing prisoners at RCDC III, the county faces
possible default on all three sections of the $89 million prison, which
is cross-collateralized.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on the 1998 RCDC lease payment
of $318, 692; 1999 RCDC lease payment of $420,077; 1999 RCDC reserve fund
for $29,166 and 2001 RCDC lease payment of $411,117 during Monday's meeting
Appointment of a new Reeves County Extension Agent-Agriculture will be
discussed during the meeting. The county has been without an extension agent
since January, when Terry Holder resigned from the position.
Commissioners will also discuss payments to Frank X. Spencer, LMD Architect
and Robert Gorence and Associates, PC. The group will discuss and take action
on authorization to declare property located in Block 3, Airport Addition,
Town of Pecos City, as surplus and advertise for sale.
A change from Bank of America to Bank One for state sponsored travel
contract; sheriff's and constables 2004 fees will be discussed and action
taken.
Regular agenda items include: reports from various departments; budget
amendments and line-item transfers; personnel and salary changes (library
department, juvenile department, golf course, district clerk's office and
recreation department); minutes from previous minutes and semi-monthly bills.
Former Pecos resident named
Texas National Guard general
PECOS, Fri., Sept. 19, 2003 -- A former Pecos resident was promoted to
one of the highest positions in the Texas Army National Guard earlier this
month.
Darren G. Owens, a Texas Army National Guard officer and Texas A&M
alumnus, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General during a ceremony
held at Camp Mabry on Sept. 6.
Brig. Gen. Owens assumed the duties of Assistant Division Commander for
Support (ADC-S) of the 49th Armored Division in July of 2002. Previously,
Owens was the commander of the 3rd Brigade, 49th Armored Division of Dallas.
Owens began his military career after receiving his Bachelor of Science
in Agricultural Economics in 1973. He joined the Texas Army National Guard
in 1977, beginning as an anti-armor platoon leader with the 2nd Battalion
142nd Infantry in Tulia. He attended the Air Defense Officers Basic Course,
Improved Hawk Officer Course, Logistics Officer Course and NBC Officer Course
at Ft. Bliss. He was assigned as an Air Defense Missile Platoon Leader on
active duty from October 1973 until October 1976.
Owens joined the TXARNG in July 1977 with the 2nd Battalion 142nd Infantry
in Tulia and was assigned as Anti-Armor Platoon Leader, Infantry Company
XO and Infantry Company Commander. He attended the Infantry Officer Advance
Course in 1982 at Ft. Benning, Ga. And was assigned as the Assistant S4
for the 2nd Battalion 112th Armor, Fort Worth, from July 1984 to October
1984 when he was returned to 2nd Brigade as the Assistant S3, a position
he held until October 1984 when he was returned to 2nd Brigade as the Assistant
S3, a position he held until October 1986.
He was then transferred to the 36th Infantry Brigade in Houston, as the
S3 in September 1992 where he remained until being assigned to 5th Battalion
112th Armor as Battalion Commander. He held that position until August 1996,
when he was transferred to the 2nd Brigade as the Brigade XO. BG Owens remained
there until being reassigned as the Brigade XO for the 36th Infantry Brigade.
In April 1999, he assumed the Command of the 3rd Brigade, 49th Armored Division,
Dallas.
He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (5th Medal), Army Commendation
Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal,
Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Army Reserve Component Reserve Medal (5th
Award), and the Expert Infantry Badge.
He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff Officer Course, Tank
Commanders Certification Course, Tactical Commanders Development Course,
Battle Commanders Development Course, General Officer Training Course, and
U.S. Army War College Graduate with a MS in Strategic Studies.
BG Owens is employed by the USDA Farm Service Agency as a Supervisor
Program Specialist. He resides in College Station and is member of Eastside
Baptist Church, BCS Camp Gideon's International and the American Legion.
He is a member of the Texas Association of State and County Office Employees,
Texas Association of District Directors, National Guard Association of Texas,
National Guard Association of the United States and the United States Armor
Association. He is past president of the Lone Star Chapter of the Armor
Association and a recipient of the Order of Saint George.
Brig. Gen. Owens is the son of Bea Owens of Midland and the late Gene
Owens, former Pecos residents.
He and his wife, Lori, live in College Station and have four children,
Brigada, Amy, Brady and Michelle.
BG Owens assumed the duties as the Assistant Division Commander for Support
(ADC-S), 49th Armored Division, Austin, in July 2003.
OC adult education sign-ups scheduled
PECOS, Fri., Sept. 19, 2003 -- Odessa College's Adult Basic Education
Program will be registering students for basic education (levels 2-8) and
secondary/GED (levels 9-12) classes Sept. 29-Oct. 3. Both morning and evening
classes are available, and the classes are free of charge.
If you are beyond compulsory public school age and officially withdrawn
from public school, come to Odessa College, Annex B, Room 100, across from
OC's main entrance on University Boulevard between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday
through Thursday or between 8 a.m. and noon on Friday.
In order to enroll for the fall semester, individuals must register by
Oct. 3.
The office is closed from noon until 1 p.m., Monday-Thursday.
For more information call 335-6380.
Weather
PECOS, Fri., Sept. 19, 2003 -- High Thursday 90. Low this morning 65.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low near 55. Southeast winds 10 to
15 mph. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs 85 to 90. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday night: Partly cloudy. Lows near 60. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 90s. Southwest winds 10 to 15
mph. Sunday night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
Lows near 60.
Obituaries
Phyllis Stool and Marjorie Wilson
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 2003 by Pecos Enterprise
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