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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, January 25, 2000
Commissioners hunt for task force funds
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Jan. 25, 2000 - Lack of funds in the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force
was the cause of a lively discussion at the regular Reeves County Commissioners
Court meeting held Monday morning.
After a lengthy review of the issue, commissioners approved a grant
application for FY 2000-2001 and a cooperative agreement and resolution
on the force, which was created in late 1998.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo voiced his concern that the bed
space option to fund the matching funds for the grant had not been met.
"Right now, the bed space objective is at zero," he said.
Funds for the Reeves County-based task force were supposed to come from
housing U.S. Marshal's Service prisoners at the Reeves County Jail, while
local inmates would be sent to other counties participating in the task
force operation.
But Galindo said that no federal prisoners have been housed at the Reeves
County facility, and that some were shipped to other counties. "Right now
we have a bill from Kermit for $20,000," he said. "Our objective was to
get funds from the bed space."
"The bed space option was to be used as a means to provide the matching
grant funds, and here a year later we're at zero," said Galindo. "We need
to decide where do we go from here."
Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez and Trans Pecos Drug Task Force Commander
Gary Richards were on hand for the regular session. "There are some cities
and counties that are participating that haven't given us their match portion,"
said Gomez. "Maybe what we need to do is ask for the money up front or
they don't participate."
"One thing you have to understand is that the task force is doing their
job, as far as fighting the war on drugs," said Gomez.
About $150,000 worth of drugs and cash have been confiscated, with some
of it already expended for December bills, according to Richards.
"The problem we have as far as seizures is waiting for the court to
award it to us," Richards said. "We're waiting for some seizures to be
awarded to us from some other counties."
"Which counties owe is another concern," said Galindo.
"I'm just going to have to work on those other counties," said Gomez.
Richards said that submitting the grant application was the first step,
and that it needed to get done immediately.
"Well the problem now, is that we set out with the objective of a means
of getting the matching funds and here we ended up with a negative balance,
with inmates that belong in Reeves County being sent to other counties,"
said Galindo. "And now we owe those counties."
"I'll check with the cash match and see how much money we owe the other
counties, they might not even charge us," said Gomez.
"They expected us to make money through the marshal services and Reeves
County would provide the bed space, instead we end up owing more," said
Galindo.
"I don't think they'll submit you a bill for those inmates," said Richards.
Gomez said all new projects and entities have problems when they first
began. "We have had some problems, some obstacles, we can't guarantee that
it will work 100 percent," he said. "We can just do our best," he said.
"It's one thing not to make match portion, but a whole other deal to
put our inmates in another jail," said Galindo.
Galindo said that's just adding to the problem. "They won't want to
pay the matching grant funds," he said. "Instead of owing us the $22,000
for matching funds, they'll tell us we owe you just $10,000 for keeping
your inmates in our jail."
Richards said approval of the resolution and grant was needed by Monday
and the other problems could be worked out later. "We need to go ahead
and submit it, this is just our application of our intent for the state
to look at, then they'll sent it back to the court."
"Who determines the movement of inmates?" asked Galindo.
"The jail administrator and Jeffrey (Baeza)," said Gomez. "Jeff, is
the liaison at the task force who coordinates with the jail administrator,"
he said.
"So the jail administrator has been sending inmates to other counties
in the region?" asked Galindo.
Galindo stated that that action has left the county with a bill, a bill
that the county will have to take care of.
"I don't think they'll deduct it from the cash match that they need
to come up with," said Richards. "I've gotten a firm commitment from the
counties about a cash match."
Richards stated that he thinks the service the task force has provided
has more than made up for the match.
"I think they need to commit from the start, or we'll leave them out,"
said Gomez. "It's the financial part that's been the problem, not the service
the task force has been providing."
"We do want to hurt the drug dealers where it hurts the most, their
pockets, but we don't want to give the wrong impression. We've been very
successful in taking their drugs and their drug money," Richards said.
Richards added that the drug dealers are beginning to bypass this area,
because they know that this task force is here and working hard.
Galindo asked Gomez when the court could get a report on bed space and
said that the county needs to become responsible for the bed space. He
also suggested that the sheriff keep in touch with the sheriffs and commissioners
courts from the other counties and cities with the task force.
"Someone has to be the point of contact from one county to the other,"
he said. "It's better if this is done person to person, not just a phone
call."
"It would really fall into place if you would be the liaison, would
help communications with the counties, the judge, the commissioners courts
and sheriffs," he said.
"We do keep them informed," said Gomez.
"It's just like us, we don't know what the task force is doing, the
only way we do know what they're doing is through the newspaper," said
commissioner precinct 1 Felipe Arredondo. "They don't give us a report
or anything, when have they come in here and told us what they're doing?"
"When they need money," said Galindo.
"It works both ways, if you want to see what we're doing you're welcome
to visit us," said Gomez.
At this point Reeves County has put in $96,000 for the task force, with
the task force providing $30,800, which comes to about $120,000, according
to county auditor Lynn Owens. "That's about half of cash match that's required,"
he said.
"And I understand that another $60,000 is pending," said Galindo.
"We have vehicles and cash that the court might award us," said Richards.
"Those $96,000 are coming back in," said Gomez.
Richards told the court that they have gained a good reputation and
that people are impressed with the way that things are done.
"We need to have each county commit the $22,000 and have each one commit
two bed spaces, and that we resolve the cash issue," said Galindo.
Gomez thanked the court for supporting the task force. "I'm proud that
you took the responsibility, we're struggling, but we're doing our best,"
he said. "We can make it work and we really appreciate it."
"Everybody is for law enforcement," said Arredondo.
Ten counties and cities have committed themselves to the task force
including, Reeves County, Ward County, Andrews County, Culberson County,
Winkler and Jeff Davis counties, Reagan County, Midland County, City of
Kermit and the City of Monahans.
Matching funds sought from these counties is $22,296 apiece.
County OKs deputy's car, won't pay `dog gone' bill
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Jan. 25, 2000 - Reeves County Commissioners approved a new patrol
car for the Reeves County Sheriff's Department, a golf tournament and payments
to different companies during their Commissioners Court meeting on Monday.
But the commissioners withheld payment on a "missing" drug dog during their
second meeting of the year.
Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez told the group that the department
needed to replace a unit.
"There's been a number of accidents lately," said Reeves County Judge
Jimmy B. Galindo.
Gomez told the court that the unit is the same one that was involved
in a previous accident. "It's the same patrol car and now someone ran a
stop sign and hit Hilda's (Woods, the RCSD juvenile officer) car," said
Gomez. "Their insurance is going to pay for it."
A request from the Knights of Columbus to hold a golf tournament on
July 22-23 at the Reeves County Golf Course was approved by the court.
The golf tournament is the Sonny Gordon Memorial Golf Tournament.
A payment for $1.9 million to Banes General Contractors was approved.
The contractors are in charge of the construction of the 1,000-bed addition
at the Reeves County Detention Center.
"Construction is moving on schedule, but we can have a more detailed
schedule and how we have actually spent at the next meeting," said Mark
Schumacker.
A contract with Pitney Bowes with the RCDC was approved. "We have a
state contract, but we have never received the actual contract," said county
auditor Lynn Owens. "We just need the formality of executing the contract."
A contract with KTTK, Inc., for a software system at the RCDC was also
approved during the regular session. "This contract was already approved
by the commissioners court, but now they have changed their name," said
RCDC Warden Rudy Franco.
"The software is up and running. We've filed a lot more applications
and this system has saved time and money," according to Franco. "It's much
better that what we had."
Franco said that everything would remain the same, except for the name
change.
During a discussion on semi-monthly bills, Owens told the court that
there was a bill for the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force that needed to be
paid. "In our original bill, we had paid for two drug dogs and since I
don't have the time to go out and check to see if the departments actually
receive the items that we are paying for, I didn't know we hadn't received
them."
"I have to rely on the department heads to find out about the items,"
said Owens. "We got reimbursed for one, but not for the other one. That's
why I kind of held off on this one bill, I don't want to get into trouble
with the state of Texas."
"I told the sheriff that we needed to assert that we do receive these
items, before I pay the bill," said Owens.
"We never got refunded for the other dog and I don't want to get into
trouble with the state," he said. "But we didn't get the dog."
"The payment to the canine provider will be withheld until we are reimbursed
by the former provider," said Owens.
New hires for the county's early election primary voting were Estella
Nichols, Mary Ann Clark, Patsy Rogers and Geneva Florez.
Olga Florez and Vanessa Valencia will be working as part-time employees
in the county clerk's office during the elections.
Deputation and oath was approved for Debbie Millan.
Personnel and salary changes at the RCDC included a promotion for Joel
Martinez to safety manager at $28,500 and the Reeves County Juvenile Detention
Center, Debra Rayos and George Aranda, as a part-time, as-needed basis
at $6 per hour.
Appointments of hospital staff on board agenda
PECOS, Jan. 25, 2000 - Reeves County Hospital board members will discuss
re-appointment of hospital staff for the years 2000-2001 during their regular
monthly meeting at 4:30 p.m. today in the hospital classroom.
The board will discuss reappointing the active medical staff, allied
health professionals, courtesy medical staff and consulting medial staff,
and will discuss/take action on appointing Dr. Louis Novoa-Takara to consulting
staff as a pathologist, along with granting him clinical privileges.
Other items on the agenda include discuss/consider/take action on recommendations
from the finance committee on orthopedic surgical equipment, a patient/nurse
communications system and a cable TV advertisement. They will also discuss/take
action on the RCH financial statements and budget amendments and on payment
of bills.
Other items include the tax collection and administrator's reports,
take public comments and review the minutes from the board's December meeting.
PHA to discuss commissioner, honor by HUD
PECOS, Jan. 25, 2000 - The Pecos Housing Authority will discuss an honor
from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and discuss
the appointment of a new resident commissioner during its regular monthly
meeting, at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the PHA office, 600 Meadowbrook Drive.
The board will discuss a letter from Mayor Dot Stafford regarding the
appointment of Sandra Lira as a resident commissioner for a two year term
and a letter from Harold Lucas, Assistant HUD Secretary regarding an award
based on advisory score. The PHA has also received an invitation to HUD
Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a ceremony to acknowledge the authority
as a successful performer for the good work in public housing management.
Under new business, the board will discuss/approve the resignation of
two commissioners and the PHA/Farm Labor Housing annual report.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) _ Results of the Cash 5 drawing Monday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 1-6-34-36-37. Number matching five of five: 0. Matching four of
five: 179. Prize: $1,082.
***
AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Monday by the Texas Lottery,
in order: 5-1-2 (five, one, two)
Obituaries
Sara Rose De La Rosa
Sara Rose De La Rosa, 56, of Pecos, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2000 at her residence.
Services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26, at West Park Baptist
Church with
Rev. Rey Carreon officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
She was born Aug. 2, 1943, in Dyersburg, Tenn., had lived in Pecos for
three years, was an inventory clerk and a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Edmundo De La Rosa of Pecos; one son,
Edmundo De La Rosa Jr. of San Diego, Calif.; one daughter, Ana Conejo of
Sacramento, Calif.; one brother, Frank Rose of Memphis, Tenn. and five
grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lillian Renshaw
Lillian Esther "Jacque" Renshaw, 81, of Pecos, died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000,
at the Monahans Managed Care Center.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Pecos Funeral
Home Chapel with Rev. Virgil Gage officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Evergreen
Cemetery.
She was born June 12, 1918, in Fort Worth, had lived in Pecos for 31
years, was a member of the Eastern Star, life member of Disabled American
Veterans and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. She volunteered with
Reeves County Hospital Auxiliary, West of the Pecos Museum and served on
the board of directors of the Pecos Senior Center. She had served in the
U.S. Army as Chief Clerk Quartermaster, being part of the first couple
to enlist in the military service after Pearl Harbor.
She married Virgil "Buck" Renshaw on Oct. 9, 1937 in Fort Worth. He
preceded her in death in 1990.
Survivors include one son, Butch Renshaw of Pecos; two grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
High Monday 73. Low this morning 46. Forecast for tonight: Increasing cloudiness.
Low near 30. East to southeast wind 5-15 mph. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy.
High in the lower 60s. Southeast wind 5-15 mph: Becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy. Low in the lower 30s.
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 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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