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Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Friday, September 7, 2007
Head Start set for opening at new location
Plumbers, electricians and employees were very busy this morning at the new site for the Pecos Head Start, preparing for the first day of classes next week.
ÒWeÕve been busy trying to get everything ready for Monday,Ó said director Linda Briceno from inside the new place for the little ones, in the former Pecos Day Care building.
The East 10th Street site, and another building across the street that is owned by the Pecos Housing Authority and at one time was their office building, are the new home for Head Start, which had been located at the former Zavala Middle School for the past two years. Head Start was forced to relocated when Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD reclaimed the building for sixth grade classes, while construction of new classrooms at Crockett Junior High is pending.
Briceno said that they are busy moving into the buildings that will house their three and four year old students.
ÒWeÕre excited about opening on Monday and I hope that excitement lasts throughout the year,Ó she said.
Briceno said that everything is going well and on schedule. ÒEverything should be completed by tomorrow,Ó said Briceno.
In addition to a new location, they have added two new employees, a teacherÕs aide and a maintenance person.
The building that was once the Day Care Center will be for the four-year-olds, while the building across the street is being prepared for the three-year-olds that qualify for the early learning program.
ÒThis building, (the old daycare) will house four classrooms of 4-year-olds and the building across the street will have one big classroom that will contain 17 three-year-olds,Ó said Briceno.
She said that she wished that they could accept everyone that applied, but that they had a criteria to follow and because of the space.
ÒClasses are already filled and we have a waiting list, but I sure wish we could accept everyone that filled out an application,Ó said Briceno.
Four-year-old Alexa Hernandez is ready to go to school and was anxious to meet her teacher this morning at the Pecos Head Start.
ÒIÕm four years old, but I feel like IÕm five,Ó said Hernandez.
She said that last year, her teacher was Mrs. Florez and that she was anxious to meet her new teacher.
ÒI feel excited and IÕm ready for school,Ó she said.
Hernandez said that what she enjoyed most about school was playing. ÒSometimes I like to sit down, too,Ó said Hernandez. ÒI learned the ABCÕs last year,Ó she said.
Hernandez said that she was looking forward to learning more things and making new friends.
ÒI already have friends, but I want more,Ó she said.
Briceno said that she has been doing one-on-one parent orientation, because of lack of space.
ÒWe just donÕt have the space to do a big orientation for everyone, so I have been talking to the parents on a one-on-one basis,Ó she said.
ÒIÕm doing it individually,Ó she said.
RCH maintains current tax rate, adds new doctor
Reeves County Hospital will be keeping their current tax rate at the same level for the 2008 fiscal year, board members decided during a special meeting on Tuesday in the hospitalÕs classroom.
The board was also told by RCH administrator Al LaRochelle that the hospital has signed a contract with a new doctor, but he will not arrive in Pecos until he finishes his residency next year.
Hospital board members had met on Aug. 28 to discuss setting the tax rate, but delayed any action for a week, until the administrative staff could draw up a tentative budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins in October. LaRochelle said the budget presented to the board on Tuesday had a $27,000 deficit.
ÒWe didnÕt feel like plugging any more numbers in, and wanted to present a realistic budget,Ó he said.
Lydia Preito, who is retained by the hospital district to calculate the tax rates, said RCH has received $3.17 million in property and sales tax collections during the past year, at the current 1/2-cent sales tax and property rate of .38602 cents per $100 in valuations. She said due to increases in both sales tax collections and property valuations, the hospital would have to hold hearings on Sept. 13 and Sept. 18 if board members went with a tax rate above 35947 cents, the rate that would raise the same amount of tax money as this year.
Prieto said the district could go as high as .38848 cents without triggering the option of a tax rollback election, and LaRochelle and Seals said they recommended maintaining the current tax rate, which is just below that level. Seals said setting the tax rate at the rollback level would only add an estimated $9,400 to the hospitalÕs income.
While the tax rate was set to remain at last yearÕs level, LaRochelle said final work on the budget will continue through mid-September. Board members were told other factors, such as the pending changeover to a critical access hospital, along with costs for physician recruitment, would affect the 2008 budget.
The change to a critical access designation would increase Medicare reimbursements to RCH, while LaRochelle and Seals added that the facility could receive additional state funds if it hires a physician before next September who is certified in obstetrics.
ÒAt this time we only have one, so we wouldnÕt qualify for state funds. But if we can secure an OB by next August, we would qualify,Ó Larochelle said.
ÒI thought it was worth the gamble to get the application inÓ Seals said. ÒIt could be worth up to $400,000.Ó
LaRochelle said the new doctor in internal medicine, Sam Eun Kim, agreed to a contract with the hospital over the weekend. ÒHeÕs doing his residency right now at Tufts University. HeÕll be here in August of next year,Ó he said.
ÒDr. Bang and Dr. (Orville) Cerna and our other physicians did a good job helping to recruit him,Ó he added.
The hospital has been several doctors short for the past few years, and previously had reached a deal with another internal medicine physician who will begin work in Pecos next year. LaRochelle said RCH is continuing to recruit other doctors, but are focusing now on area other than internal medicine.
ÒNow weÕre focusing on family practitioners. WeÕre focusing on three who can do OB-GYN, and weÕre also looking at one PA (physicianÕs assistant),Ó he said.
Rubios announce the birth of their baby girl
Enrique Jr. and Christina Rubio are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Aryssa Rae Rubio.
She was born at 1:22 p.m., August 6th, weighed 6 lbs. 5 oz. and measured 19 3/4 inches long.
Her maternal grandparents are Ruben Orona and Marylou Orona. Paternal grandparents are Enrique and Norma Rubio.
Baby Aryssa was welcomed home by family and friends including her big brother Enrique Rubio III.
Vocational School of Nursing holds graduation exercises
The Odessa College Vocational School of Nursing Monahans Extension will hold graduation exercises on Thursday, August 9 at 7 pm in the Monahans High School Auditorium for the graduating class of 2006-2007.
The student nurses began classes in August of 2006 and completed their final exams on Wednesday, August 1, 2007.
Each of the students will take a state board exam to be licensed before beginning their careers as licensed vocational nurses (LVN).
State board exams are now offered in Midland and San Angelo according to a spokesman for the college.
The 2007-2008 Vocational School of Nursing will begin August 27th and run for one year, ending in August. Classes are held daily 8 am to 5 pm, with periodic breaks during holidays.
For those interested in signing up for the next session, a high school diploma and a Nurse Entrance Test (NET) exam are required.
The cost for the classes is $4,500, which also includes books and uniforms. Students must maintain a 75 average throughout the course to graduate.
For more information contact the office at 420 S. Ike or call 432-943-5368.
Police Report
EDITORÕS NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County SheriffÕs 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.
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Michelle Montoya, 21, 1219 S. Walnut St., was arrested by police on Sept. 3 on a warrant charging her with theft by appropriation, a Class A misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made at 7:44 p.m. in the 700 block of Oleander Street, and Montoya was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Nelson McGrew, 43, 811 E. 11th St., was arrested by police on Sept. 4 on a charge of assault under the Family Violence Act. Police said the arrest was made after McGrewÕs sister said he had grabbed her by the neck and tried to choke her while at the residence. McGrew was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Faustino A. Delgado, 24, 2521 Waterwell Rd., in Coyanosa, was arrested by police on Sept. 2 on a charge of public intoxication. Police said the arrest was made at 212 S. Eddy St., and Delgado was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Frank Matta Rivera, 35, 612 S. Pecan St., was arrested by police on Sept. 2 on a warrant. Police said the arrest was made in the 400 block of South Sycamore Street and Rivera was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Howard Rodriguez, 18, 901 S. Walnut St., was arrested by police on Sept. 2 on a warrant. Police said the arrest was made in the 400 block of South Sycamore Street and Rodriguez was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Elizabeth Medrano, 43, 110 Business I-20 in Barstow, was arrested by police on Sept. 1 on a warrant, issued out of Ector County. Police said the arrest was made in the 900 block of South Cedar Street, and Medrano was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Lilah Renee Rodriguez, 21, 904 E. Fifth St., was arrested by police on Aug. 24 on a warrant for non-payment of a $265 fine on an original charge of running a stop sign. Police said the arrest was made in the 900 block of East Fifth Street, and Rodriguez was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Pecos police arrested a male juvenile on Aug. 25 on charges of theft over $50 and under $500 and evading arrest or detention. Police said the arrest was made at 904 S. Oleander St., and the juvenile was then taken to the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center.
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Elizabeth Jimenez Garcia, 23, 2402 Barrilla Rd., was arrested by police on Aug. 26 on warrants for non-payment of fines on original charges of no proof of financial responsibility ($282), and no valid driverÕs license ($159). Police said the warrants were served while Garcia was in the Reeves County Jail on a separate charge.
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Ashley Nicole Martinez, 23, was arrested by police on Aug. 25 on warrants charging her with no valid driverÕs license (third offense) and failure to appear. Police said the arrest was made at MartinezÕs home, at 811 E. Fifth St., and she was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Serjio Armendariz, 50, of Waco, was arrested by police on Aug. 25 on a charge of public intoxication. Police said the arrest took place at the Town and County Food Store, 1219 S. Cedar St., at 8:16 p.m., and Armendariz was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Michelle Mendoza Montoya, 21, 1219 S. Walnut St., and Leticia Florez Romero, 34, 417 S. Plum St., were arrested by police on Aug. 25 on charges of furnishing Alcohol to minors, a Class A misdemeanor. Police said the arrest occurred in the 1600 block of West Second Street at 11:45 p.m. following a traffic stop, and Montoya and Romero were then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Brenda Dominguez, 46, 822 S. Walnut St., was arrested by police on Aug. 25 on a charge of assault by threat under the Family Violence Act. Police said the arrest was made after Dominguez allegedly threatened her daughter with a knife at their home. She was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 432-445-5475, FAX 432-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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Copyright 2003-04 by Pecos Enterprise
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