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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Hospital adopts 2.3 cent tax hike, $12.75m budget
By BRENDEN BRIGGS
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 24, 2003 -- The Reeves County Hospital Board
approved a 2.3-cent increase in the district's property tax rate on
Tuesday, during their regular monthly meeting, while also adopting the
proposed budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year.
The tax increase came when the board adopted the effective property
tax rate of 0.38048 cents per $100 dollars of valuation. The 2.3-cent
increase to the higher rate should pull in approximately $12 million in
revenue next year, based on a 92 percent collection rate.
The effective tax rate is the percentage of tax that the hospital
would have to levy in order to bring in the same amount of tax revenue
as last year. Declining valuations led to the 2.3-cent increase in the
effective tax rate.
Hospital officials said the adoption of the effective tax rate is
vital to the hospital budget, due to the fact that the Medicaid
Disproportionate Fund, a federal tax revenue matching fund, dictates
how much money it will give an entity based on the amount of taxes it
collects, not the size of its tax base.
"Once again we would like to stress, that this increase has nothing
to do with the addition of new facilities, but rather with the dip in
property values over the past year," hospital administrator Robert
Verner said.
In other business, the board adopted the proposed 2004 operating
and capital budget. The budget takes into account not only the cost of
running the new facilities but also the added revenue that they will
bring in.
The 2003-04 budget totals $12.75 million, which Vernor said is an
increase of $1.9 million from last year. He said the increase is due to
the cost of the hospital's new addition and the hiring of two new
doctors to staff the expanded facility. But he said the new additions,
which include a kidney dialysis unit, would pay for themselves.
The hospital approved the usual district taxing exemptions for
seniors over 65, disabled veterans and the disabled of up to $15,000,
$12,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The board approved the sale of property located on 2027 Adams
Street based on the received $1,000 bid.
The presentation of a proposed bioterrorism readiness plan was
delayed because it was not ready yet. The executive session to discuss
personnel matters was postponed until special session scheduled for
next Tuesday the 30th.
Fair organizers seeking entries for events
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 24, 2003 -- Chuck wagons are being rounded up
for the First Annual Chuck Wagon Cook-Off competition, scheduled in
conjunction with the Reeves County Fall Fair.
"We'll have at least three chuck wagons participate and maybe five,"
said ranch rodeo organizer Jason Garduno, who is also helping to
organize the cook-off, which will be located just south of the Buck
Jackson Rodeo Arena and Reeves County Civic Center.
Garduno said that cooks would cook all day Saturday, Oct. 4 and
judging would be at 4:45 p.m. Plates will be ready by 6:45 p.m. and
will be available to the public for $8 a plate.
Tickets for the event can be purchased at the gate for the ranch
rodeo and the chuck wagon dinner, which will consist of chicken fried
steak, mashed potatoes, beans, homemade bread and dessert.
"They will be competing for money, in each category, meat, beans,
bread and dessert and awards will be handed out for best wagon and best
camp," said Garduno. First place will get $225 and second $125.
Ranch rodeo events will start at 7 p.m., Friday. "This year will
have it two days, so it will continue on Saturday," said Garduno. Seven
teams will compete Friday evening and seven different teams will be on
hand Saturday.
Entries also are still being taken for the ranch rodeo, which will
be held in the Buck Jackson Arena. There will be a cowhide race,
bedroll race, team pinning, team doctoring, team branding, cow milking
and ranch bronc riding.
Individuals who would like to participate can pick up a packet with
all the information at the Pecos Chamber of Commerce Office, 111 S.
Cedar or call 445-2406.
"A number seven USTRC competition will be held at 9 a.m.," said
Garduno. "Books open at 9 a.m. and roping will begin at 10," he said.
The top 12 teams will get a chance to ride a steer for a belt buckle
that will be awarded during the rodeo, according to Garduno.
Admission is $5 and children 10 and under get in free.
All seats will be General Admission, except for the box seats,
according to Garduno. "Our big sponsors are Alfredo's Restaurant and
Security State Bank," he said.
"We'll have two announcers, one in the arena on horseback," said
Garduno. "And each night we'll have a calf dressing contest between
Alfredo's Restaurant and Security State Bank, for entertainment," he
said.
A dance featuring the group, "Gunslinger" is scheduled for Friday
night at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Tickets will be $5 at the door.
The concession stand will be open throughout the events.
The annual Fall Fair will also include the annual Barbeque Beef
Cook-Off at the Reeves County Sheriff's Posse Barn, along with arts,
crafts and food competitions at the Reeves County Civic Center, and the
Fall Fair Livestock Show, which will be held in the exhibition area of
the Civic Center.
Police say drugs, stolen items found following raid
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 24, 2003 -- A Pecos man is in jail facing drug
charges following a search of his home Tuesday evening that also turned
up several items believed to have been stolen.
Officers from the Pecos Police Department executed a narcotics
search warrant at 7:15 p.m., Tuesday at 1332 Leader St.
"Once the SWAT team secured the suspect, who resides at this
address, officers then proceeded to search the premises," said Pecos
Police Investigator Paul Deishler.
Deishler said that Pecos Police Officer Rick Martinez was searching
the suspect, Michael Varela, when he discovered six tin foil packets,
which contained a substance believed to be heroin, in Varela's bedroom.
"While searching the bedroom, officers found materials commonly used
with the injecting of heroin and the packaging of heroin," said
Deishler.
Officers completed their search of premises and Varela was placed
under arrest for the offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance
(heroin) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
During the search of the property, officers also found items
believed to be stolen.
"The criminal investigation division of the police department will
follow up on the possible stolen property to determine if it is
stolen," said Deishler.
Varela was transported to the Criminal Justice Center where is
awaiting arraignment.
Entries sought for pretty baby contest
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 24, 2003 -- The Women's Division of the Pecos
Area Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a Pretty Baby Contest
during the Reeves County Fall Fair, Oct. 3-4.
Interested applicants must be between the ages of 0-24 months old.
Entry forms can be picked up at the chamber office, 111 S. Cedar.
Prizes will be awarded for first through fifth place. First place
will receive a $100 savings bond; second place, a $50 savings bond and
third, fourth and fifth places will receive gift certificates donated
by local merchants.
Entry deadline will be Oct. 2.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 24, 2003 -- High Tuesday 89. Low this morning 60.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows 60 to 65. East winds near 10
mph. Thursday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
Highs near 85. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Thursday night: Partly
cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s to near 60. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s to near 90. Light and
variable winds becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Friday
night: Partly cloudy. Lows near 60. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in
the mid 80s to near 90. Saturday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid
50s to near 60.
Police Report
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information
contained in the Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the
Pecos Police Department, Reeves County Sheriff's Office, or other
officers of those agencies. The serving of warrants by an officer for
outstanding fines of either traffic citations, animal control
violations or other court costs are considered arrests and will be
printed as such unless indicated that the fines were paid. In such
instances we will indicate payment and release.
***
Ernesto Roman, 35, and Rosa Roman, 32,
were arrested for money laundering, a 3rd degree felony, at 1:12 p.m.,
on Sept. 17, while traveling on I-20 westbound, when $11,600 was found
hidden in their GMC Yukon following a traffic stop.
***
Jesus Martinez, 26, was arrested for
unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and a warrant for possession of an
open alcohol container/violation promise to appear at 9:33 p.m., on
Sept. 17, in the 700 block of South Ash Street .
***
Rosalio Camarona, 20, was arrested on a
warrant for consumption of alcohol by a minor at 9:29 p.m., on Sept.
17, in the 700 block of South Ash Street.
***
Miguel Jurado, 17, was arrested on a
warrant for consumption of alcohol by a minor at 9:29 p.m., on Sept.
17, in the 700 block of South Ash Street.
***
Osvaldo Garcia, 40, was arrested for
public intoxication at 9:15 p.m., on Sept. 17, in the 700 block of
South Ash Street.
***
Marcario Salgado, 18, was arrested on a
warrant for minor in possession/ violation failure to appear at 9:27
p.m., on Sept. 17, in the 700 block of South Ash Street.
***
Juan Pisana Hernandez, 28, was arrested
for assault under the family violence act class C at 10:32 p.m., on
Sept. 19, in the 200 block of South Sycamore Street.
***
Arturo Chavez, 38, was arrested on a
warrant for assault under the family violence act, a Class C
misdemeanor, and a violation of a protection order, Class A, at 9:14
p.m., on Sept. 19, in the 1000 block of South Pecan St.
***
Eric Estorga, 20, was arrested on two
warrants for burglary of a motor vehicle Class A at 6:09 p.m., on Sept.
19, in the 600 block of Sycamore Street.
***
Hector Florez, 26, was arrested on a
warrant for a motion to revoke probation on an original charge of
possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces at 3:13 p.m., Sept. 20, in
the 600 block of Sycamore Street.
***
Jamie Natividad, 21, was arrested for
public intoxication at 4:13 a.m., Sept. 20, in the 400 block of South
Peach Street.
***
Albert Prieto Jr., 22, was arrested on a
Reeves County warrant for aggravated assault at 4:06 p.m. on Sept 22,
during a traffic stop in the 700 block of Sycamore Street.
Obituaries
Abel Leos and Raymundo Rede
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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