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Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

P-B-T nixes dual coach role, leaves volleyball post open

Pecos High School coaches will not serve as head coaches in more than one sport unless approved by the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board, members decided Thursday evening, during the board’s regular monthly meeting at the Technology Center.

The board discussed the issue with community members, who were on hand to voice their concerns about one coach being head of two separate sports, before making their decision.

The problem came up following the decision by PHS head volleyball coach Becky Granado to give up the position she had held for the past eight seasons at the end of this past school year. Pre-season workouts for the Pecos Eagles volleyball team begin on Aug. 1, and with the position still unfilled, the board was given a recommendation that PHS head softball coach Tammy Walls be named to handle that position.

Walls has been the head softball coach for the Eagles for the past eight seasons, and served as freshman volleyball coach last year. But both parents and students questioned the decision to have one head coach for two different sports.

Jessica Florez, who will be a senior at Pecos High School, spoke to the board during the audience portion of the meeting.

She stated that the group was concerned about the girl’s athletics program.

“We would like to see the numbers grow in all sports and at the same time be successful. In order for this goal to be accomplished certain issues need to be addressed,” said Florez, who was a member of both the varsity volleyball and softball teams during the 2004-05 school year.

Florez said that experienced, dedicated and motivated coaches are very important in order for the girls program to be successful.

“An inexperienced coach may hinder the program. Not only do coaches want to surround themselves with winning, hungry, and energized coaches, we athletes want the same. Athletes are eager to be surrounded by positive and determined attitudes which will encourage and help build a winning program,” she said.

Florez said that they did have talent, they just needed direction and guidance. She said that after hearing about the major changes in the girl’s athletics, they had approached athletic director Patrick Willis about their concerns.

“His message to us, ‘It doesn’t matter who your coach is because you all playing for yourselves not your coach,’” I agree as an athlete we play for ourselves, however, in order to have team success the coach plays a vital role in preparing a program for the athletes, not just a program but a quality program that will enable us to be successful.

“What our program is now in need of desperately is still experienced, skilled, dedicated, and strong leadership to make our program strong both in numbers and talent,” said Florez.

She said that coaches have the ability to make an athlete be the very best they can be through hard work and commitment.

“After participating in sports at PHS, I will take away with me memories – memories of role models like Coach Granado. Coach Granado holds a very special place in my heart and in others because she understands the true meaning of giving from the heart,” said Florez. “She knew the meaning of hard work – the countless hours of preparing for the next practice and how to help improve the game.”

P-B-T ISD Superintendent Ray Matthews said that it was more time-consuming to have one coach be head coach of two sports, but that it is done.

“It takes the right person to do it, but it can be done,” he said. Board member Amy Miller said that she had contacted a former athletic director to get his opinion on the matter. “he said that it’s not wise to have one person be head coach of more than one sport,” said Miller.

Board members then voted not to allow the appointment of one person as head coach of two sports, without the board’s approval.

Willis said on Monday the district was still looking at its options, and hoped to have the position filled by the end of this week.

Board members approved other appointments during the meeting, which included a new food service director.

The board approved the appointments of:

Louis Villalobos: degree – Associate – Applied Science/Odessa College as the new food services director.

Brandon Shanklin: certification, Teacher Certification Program; degree: Bachelor of Arts/Howard Payne University, assignment: Special Education/Coach at Pecos High School.

Crissy Zuniga: certification, Generic Special Education Grades (PK-12); degree, Bachelor of Business Administration/Sul Ross State University, assignment: PPCD/Homebound Teacher at Pecos Kindergarten.

Reassignments approved were:

Donna Gent – from Junior High girl’s coach to head girl’s track/assistant volleyball; Pat Gent – from Junior High boys’ coach to freshman boys’ coach (football, basketball and baseball);

Rudy Jurado – drop assistant powerlifting;

Lisa Lowry – from head girls’ basketball/assistant girls’ volleyball to head girls’ basketball/assistant girls’ track;

Robbie Ortega – from assistant varsity football/assistant boys’ track to assistant varsity football/head boys’ track;

Becky Wein – drop assistant cross country;

Art Welborn – from head boys’ basketball/9th grade football to head boys’

basketball/assistant varsity football.

Chamber briefed on results of rodeo events

A car show to raise funds for Special Olympics is one of the events planned by employees at the Reeves County Detention Center III for next month, Pecos Chamber of Commerce members were told during their meeting last week.

Reeves County Detention Center III Warden Martin McDaniel was on hand at the regular Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting on July 12 to talk about the upcoming event, for which all proceeds go towards the Special Olympics.

“That’s a very special cause that we are dedicated to,” said McDaniel.

The West Texas Heat Wave Car Show will be held from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Reeves County Civic Center.

The event is co-sponsored by the Reeves County Detention Center III/GEO and the Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce.

Admission will be $6 per person and $1 for children 8 and under accompanied by a parent/guardian.

For more information on the event contact Garry Hill at 432-447-2920, ext. 1535. RCDC III workers provided games during the Night in Old Pecos event that was held prior to the West of the Pecos Rodeo.

“We’re at $8,300 in funds for the Special Olympics, we made about $3,000 at the rodeo,” said McDaniel. “We’re really shooting for $15,000.”

He said that they would be inviting local restaurants or groups to set up food booths at the car show. “We’d like to give other groups a chance to sell food,” he said.

McDaniel said that they have about $1,000 in Trophies that will be handed out at the car show.

“If anyone wants to help, let us know,” he said.

Chamber members also were given reports on other rodeo-related events during their Tuesday meeting.

The Annual Golden Girl/Little Miss Cantaloupe Pageant was a success, according to Women’s Division President Michelle Workman.

“We opened it up to the public during a rehearsal on Thursday, since it was already sold out for the Friday night performance,” said Workman. “Profits will go to the West of the Pecos Museum, something that has been done in the past years.”

She said that it took about 89 volunteers to orchestrate the annual event.

“We give out four scholarships and the women’s division will be busy working on the Fireman’s Appreciation Dinner, which is the next event coming up,” said Workman. Night in Old Pecos had a great festival, said organizer for the event Debbie Thomas.

“We had 38 vendors and the GEO group provided a lot of games for the younger ones,” she said. “We did make a little bit of money and everyone had a good time.

“We’ll start working on next year’s event, next Tuesday,” she said.

This year’s West of the Pecos Rodeo Parade was one of the largest in the past few years, according to Venetta Seals, who presided over the meeting in the absence of chamber president Jimmy Dutchover.

“We want to thank everyone for coming out and thank our judges,” said Seals.

Seals told the group that she had received a brochure for new holiday lights. She said that she knew it was a little early to start thinking of Christmas decorations, but that the group wanted to see more lights this year around the city.

“We want to see more lights on I-20,” said Seals. “We want to see if we can purchase more this year.

“Look at this brochure and we’ll talk about it again at our August meeting,” she said. Bill Oglesby spoke on behalf of the advertising committee and said that the group will be working on advertising the city zoo, Maxey Park and the golf course a little bit more. “We want to set aside a good portion of the funds this year to promote Pecos more,” said Oglesby.

The Old Timer’s Reunion held during the West of the Pecos Rodeo Parade was a huge success. “We had 243 sign in and 106 were paying tourists, so that was great,” said Thomas.

The event was held at the West of the Pecos Museum and the guests had an opportunity to see the parade from seating set up in front of the museum.

Cancer test results force decision on treatment

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the seventh part of a story by Enterprise business manager Peggy McCracken on her recent diagnosis of cancer. By PEGGY MCCRACKEN
Staff Writer

Two more tests and I will soon know how much the breast cancer has spread and where it is located.

Friday I go to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa for a CT scan and bone scan. The worst part is sitting in the radiology lobby drinking about a quart of barium in banana juice.

I usually eat a banana at mid-morning, so I thought the juice would be a good substitute. It was a little too good, and I haven’t wanted a banana since.

The tests weren’t bad, but like the PET scan the day before, I had to hold my arms above my head for the duration. Neither took the 55 minutes the PET scan took, so I prayed for endurance and kept still.

Since it would take a week or longer to get the results, I scheduled a vacation in between the tests and a return visit to Dr. Borra. Laura Briggs agreed to handle the Pecos Enterprise books while I was away, and Smokey promised not to mess up my Monahans books. (He didn’t).

I left my dented car for Fred Brookshire to fix while I was gone. Smokey drove me to Monahans to work on Wednesday, then on to the airport motel for the night. After a refreshing swim in their outdoor pool and a crappy supper in their “restaurant,” I got a good night’s rest and woke up at 5 for an early flight.

Upon my return the following Wednesday, Bud and Lois Nelson picked me up at the airport. We discussed my health situation, which Bud understands because he had two wives die of cancer.

I was expecting to see Dr. Borra on Friday, but had a message to report Thursday instead. Good news. Now I will find out what my future holds.

Thursday morning, I work in Monahans, then drive on to Odessa for the 1:30 appointment. After I have napped on the examining table for an hour, Dr. Borra comes in and asks me if I have had any pain in my ribs and lower back. Since I ignore pain, I wasn’t sure, but said, “No, I don’t think so.”

“The cancer has spread to your bones,” she said. “It is most active in your skull, ribs and lower back.”

Not the news I was looking for, but not surprising. I asked how long it would take to do its job, without treatment, and she said about six months. She recommended two courses of chemotherapy, along with a growth inhibitor and bone strengthener, all by infusion, followed by radiation.

“What treatment would get me 10 years?” I asked.

“I can’t guarantee you 10 years,” she said, predicting that her course of treatment would buy me two or three years.

I had her write down the names of the drugs she proposed and told her I would do some research before I decided what to do.

She said that she could understand if I didn’t want chemotherapy at my age, but I should at least have the growth inhibitor and bone strengthener. She recommended an MRI or bone biopsy to confirm the test results, but I declined both and told the receptionist I would call for an appointment when I had made my decision.

I haven’t called yet. My decision at this point is to eat the most healthful food I can find and let God decide when I will be carried away.

KWES making Balmorhea stop on annual road trip

Balmorhea State Park will be the site on Wednesday for a live broadcast by KWES-TV, as part of their News West 9 road tour.

KWES-TV will broadcast live via satellite from five locations this week, including Balmorhea, as part of their 14th annual “Under West Texas Skies” event, which began on Monday and continues through Friday. Ch. 9 will broadcast live for the 4, 5 and 6 p.m. shows.

The first broadcast was scheduled for Monday in Marfa, where the entire news team will broadcast from the Hotel Paisano. On Tuesday, the show moves to Fort Stockton’s Zero Stone Park.

Wednesday’s show will be broadcast from Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, and on Thrusday Monahans is the featured location ,with the activities being held on the lawn of the Ward County Courthouse. The final show of the week is scheduled for Friday in Big Spring.

During and in-between the newscasts, the very popular “Ugly Dog Contest” is scheduled again this year. Residents are asked to bring their favorite mutt or mongrel on a leash to the location. Ribbons are awarded with the grand prize winner receiving a gold cup full of doggy treats.

Also on schedule is the “Hot Dog Eating Contest.” Trophies and prizes go to the persons eating the most hot dogs in a time competition. The contest is open to anyone age 12 and over and is sponsored by 7-11.

Back again is the ever popular “Ice Cream Eating Contest.” Gandy’s Ice Cream is providing prizes for participants ages 6-16. Trophies will also be awarded from NewsWest 9.

New this year are the preliminaries for the Southwest Airlines-News West 9 “Look-a-Like Lift-Off.” Persons can come dressed as their favorite celebrity. Southwest Airlines is providing daily prizes with those winners competing in the finals. The grand prize winner wins a trip for two anywhere Southwest Airlines flies.

La Ley 104.7 Radio will broadcast live, and the American Red Cross of the Southwest will bring their mobile unit for touring. United Blood Services will be on hand for anyone wishing to donate blood. Coca Cola will also provide refreshments at each location.

According to News Director, Jay Hendricks, “This is our chance to get out and visit our friends around West Texas. It’s a great opportunity to show our viewers just some of the stories about the wonderful people and places around West Texas.”

“This is one of our favorite weeks of the year. Each community always welcomes us with open arms. It’s just our small way of saying thank you for making us number one,” said Hendricks.

Loving FSA committee spot seeks nominees until Aug. 1

Reeves County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Carol Salinas announced the USDA has begun accepting nomination forms for eligible candidates to serve on local FSA County Committees. The nomination period started June 15 and runs through August 1.

The Loving County committee seat is up for election in 2005 and represents LAA#4, which includes all of Loving County.

“I encourage local producers to get involved and make a difference in the local agriculture industry by becoming a member of their local FSA County Committee,” said Ms. Salinas. “FSA County Committees play an important role in the decision making process for commodity price support loans and payments, conservation and disaster programs and other important agricultural issues in impacting their farming community,” she said.

Almost anyone participating or cooperating in a local FSA program and who is of legal voting age can be nominated as a candidate. Individuals may nominate themselves or others.

All nomination forms must be received in the County FSA Office or postmarked by Aug. 1. Voting takes place between Nov. 4 and Dec. 5.

To hold office as an FSA County Committee member, a person must meet the basic eligibility requirements described below:

Participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA.

Be eligible to vote in a county committee election.

Reside in the LAA in which the person is a candidate. (In some cases, this requirement may be waived. Check with the local county office.)

A person must not have been:

Removed or disqualified from the office of FSA County Committee member, alternate, or employee;

Removed for cause from any public office or have been convicted of fraud, larceny, embezzlement, or any other felony; or Dishonorably discharged from any branch of the armed services.

Interested individuals who are uncertain about their eligibility to serve on the FSA County Committee should contact their local FSA office for affirmation of eligibility to serve.

More information on the COC elections, including the nomination form, is available at the local USDA Service Centers or online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/elections/Default.asp.

Commissioners approve use of golf course for tournament

Reeves County Commissioners approved use of the Reeves County Golf Course for a golf tournament next month, during their July 11 meeting at the Reeves County Courthouse.

Commissioners agreed to close the golf course to other golfers for the special event, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20.

“The court has to approve additional tournaments held out at the golf course,” said County Judge Jimmy Galindo.

Galindo said that about 4-5 years ago a group of local and out-of-town golfers gathered at the local golf course for a unique scramble event.

“They have from 30-40 chips and each has a number and depending on which number they pick, the players are paired together with a three-some,” said Galindo. “That group will then compete with other teams.”

Galindo said that the event was very unique because the players don’t know who they will be paired off with.

“It has become so popular,” he said.

Jaime Mendoza, one of the organizers of the event, said that the event would begin at 9 a.m., on Aug 20.

“There will be food and D.J. music and will be a one-day event only. “The money coming in will go towards cash prizes,” said Mendoza. “We have helped several individuals with fundraisers.”

Brown, Herrera announce August wedding plans

Mr. and Mrs. William Brown announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Leslie Brown to Jaime Herrera.

The bride-elect is the daughter of William and Elsie Brown of Pecos. She is a graduate of Pecos High School and a graduate of Odessa College with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. She is currently employed with Midland County Sheriff’s Office.

The future groom is the son of Ricky and Sylvia Herrera of Pecos. He is a graduate of Pecos High School and is currently employed with Greywolf Drilling.

The couple will be married at noon, Saturday, Aug. 13, at Santa Rosa De Lima Catholic Church.

OC offers help to new students

The Odessa College Help Center is now providing new students with an additional opportunity to take care of admissions, financial aid, testing, advising and registration. The Help Center will hold “Super Tuesday” each Tuesday through Aug. 9 at the counter in the lobby in the front of the OC Help Center located on the second floor of the OC Student Union Building.

“Super Tuesday is designed to be a faster and shorter enrollment process for new students,” said OC counselor Rosie Aguilar. “We are always available to see new students and there are no specific times, no pre-registration, or appointments,” she said. For more information on “Super Tuesday” contact the OC Help Center at 335-6433.

Garcia receives scholarship

McMurry University has announced recipients of its McMurry Scholarship awards for the 2005-2006 academic year.

Receiving a McMurry Scholarship was Danielle N. Garcia of Pecos.

Founded in 1923 by the United Methodist Church and offering bachelor’s degrees in the fine arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, business, education, and nursing, McMurry University has gained a national reputation for excellence and value through the achievements of our faculty, students, and graduates.

McMurry’s students are affected daily by its Core Values: Christian Faith as the foundation of life, Personal Relationships as the catalyst for life, Learning as the journey of life, Excellence as the goal of life, and Service as the measure of life.

McMurry boasts of an outstanding faculty and staff whose goal is to maximize each student’s level of achievement and to expose them to those qualities that go into making a successful life.

McMurry has been recognized annually since 1996 by US New and World Report for quality and value.

Ramirez, Franco announce wedding plans

Francisco C. Ramirez and Maria Paz Ramirez, of Midland, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Ibefel Ramirez to Mike Franco.

Franco is the son of Robert and Irene Franco of Pecos. He is a 1990 Pecos High School graduate and is currently employed with CitiFinancial in Odessa.

The future bride is a 2000 graduate of Pecos High School and is employed with the Office of the Attorney General.

The couple plan to wed Sept. 10 in Midland and will make Midland their home.

PHS athletes’ physical forms due back

Physical forms for Pecos High School football and volleyball players are due in by Friday, July 29, while incoming PHS football players will also have helmet fittings and receive their workout equipment on July 28-29, according to trainer Joel Birch.

Workouts for both football and volleyball begin on Monday, Aug. 1, and no player will be allowed to participate in pre-season drills without having a physical and getting a medical form signed by their doctor and returned to their coach. Formers are available either through local doctor’s offices or at the PHS field house.

Equipment fittings for Pecos Eagles varsity, junior varsity and freshmen football players will be from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon, and from 1:30 to 5 p.m. on July 28-29 at the PHS field house, Birch said.

Harrison named to Dean’s List

The College of Liberal Arts at Texas A&m University announces with great pleasure that Kaci Shea Harrison has earned the distinction of “Dean’s List Student” based on her spring semester’s performance.

This recognition is based on her semester grade point ratio of 3.75 or higher and completion of 15 hours or more. The College of Liberal Arts takes pride in the quality and accomplishments of its students.

The faculty and administration appreciate the effort required to perform at this level. Harrison was a 2004 graduate of Pecos High School.

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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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