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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, April 19, 2000
Pecos residents get Main Street program briefing
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 19, 2000 - About 30 Pecos citizens spent last night learning
about the Texas Main Street Program at a meeting hosted by the Pecos Chamber
of Commerce.
Genora Young, Director for Tourism and the Main Street Program for Fort
Stockton, and Fort Stockton city manager Chuy Garcia, were on hand at the
Reeves County Civic Center to explain the ins and outs of the program,
how to get started, and the different benefits cities reap from participating.
"The Main Street Program is a state program focused on reviving downtown
areas," Young said.
"Downtown is the heart of a city, and when it is dead, that reflects
on the whole community," she said. "In Fort Stockton, our downtown program
eventually became our Uptown/Downtown program that includes the entire
city."
"You get out of this program exactly what you put into it," Young said.
"It can be a tremendous benefit- it has been for Fort Stockton - but it
is not a "fix it." It won't do anything more for you than you put into
it."
Young explained that five cities a year are chosen by the Main Street
Center in Austin to participate in the program.
"The Texas Main Street Program is the most successful in the nation.
Starting with the original five cities, there are now 87 Main Street cities
in Texas," Young said.
Young said that if a town is chosen, then it has to commit to the program
for three years, including a resolution by a branch of local government
to fund the Main Street director's position.
"This is the primary cost of the program to the city," she said.
Garcia recommended that $50,000 be set aside for funding the position,
leaving the city's total commitment at $150,000 for three years.
Young also said that to be selected, a city has to demonstrate broad-based
support for the program.
The more local government entities, the more civic organizations and
business organizations that pledge their support, the better chance you
have of being selected, she said.
Garcia said that Fort Stockton has financed the program primarily through
bed tax funds collected from local hotels.
"This is a program that Pecos has definitely got to get i on. We're
a number of years behind the power curve and we need this," Chamber of
Commerce Executive Director Tom Rivera said after the meeting.
Rivera said that the topic would be on the city council's agenda at
the next regularly scheduled meeting, April 27, at 7:30 a.m., at city hall.
Fuentes enjoys new San Diego job, N.Y. award
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Pete Fuentes left New York in a blaze of glory, carrying a shiny new
Emmy to San Diego, Calif. and a new job in television management.
The Balmorhea native, who has covered television news and special events
in New York City for the past 12 years, won the award for outstanding writing
in a piece titled "Year Ender."
"I was glad it was for writing," said Fuentes in a telephone interview.
"That's what we do; that's our craft. I am doing the same things here as
head of special projects for Fox Television."
Fuentes said the move to San Diego last September followed an offer
he couldn't turn down.
"It has been terrific," he said. "It was a great transition from the
Bronx to the area near La Jolla. We live in Coronado."
The weather has been perfect ever since his move, Fuentes said, and
he has enjoyed every minute. He recently visited his father in the Lindsay
Addition, and noted it was dry as dust in Pecos.
"It has been an incredible year," Fuentes said of the move and his award.
" I was tickled to death when I saw the awards on television and learned
I won."
His new job kept Fuentes from returning to New York for the National
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awards ceremony Sunday night
at the Plaza Hotel in NYC, but he was there in spirit.
"It was a good parting accomplishment after being in New York 12 years,"
he said. "It was sweet to win one more for the Gipper."
Fuentes won many awards during his years in New York, and has twice
been invited to judge the Associated Press awards in Dallas.
His new job as department manager for special reports keeps Fuentes
busy with investigations, in-depth reporting and lifestyle reports.
"It was a real good move," he said. "We are happy. The weather here
is eternally 70-75 degrees."
Early voting opens today for area elections
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 19, 2000 - Early voting began today for area city, school
and hospital board elections, and voters in Pecos again will be able to
cast their ballots for all three local races at the Pecos Community Center.
Voters around the county can also cast their ballots between now and
May 2 at the Community Center for the at-large position in the Reeves County
Hospital District election, while voters in Balmorhea and Barstow will
also have early voting sites in their towns for the May 6 elections.
Unlike recent years, most local elections are contested this year. In
the Town of Pecos City elections, mayor Dot Stafford will be seeking a
fourth two-year term and will be challenged by Ray Ortega. In the council
election, incumbents Danny Rodriguez and Ricky Herrera are challenged by
Hector "Tito" Roman.
The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD election has four candidates seeking the
two three-year terms up for election. Incumbent Steve Armstrong will be
joined in the May 6 race by challengers Paul Deishler, Steve Valenzuela
and David Flores.
In the Reeves County Hospital District election, the only contested
race is for the at-large seat, where incumbent Hiram "Greg" Luna is challenged
by Leo Hung. Precinct 1 incumbent Chel Florez and Precinct 3 incumbent
Jesse Prieto are unopposed in their bids for new two-year terms.
In Balmorhea, early voting for the city elections will be at City Hall
between now and May 2, while early voting in the school board election
will be in the Balmorhea ISD boardroom.
In the Balmorhea city races, incumbent mayor Ismael Rodriguez is being
challenged by councilman Danny Reynolds and Doug Maynard. Reynolds' seat
was one of two on the council up for election this year. The other incumbent,
Rosendo Galindo, is seeking another two-year term and will face challengers
Tammy Marmillon, Bertha Brijalba and Eddie Roman.
In the Balmorhea School Board election the three-year terms of Raymond
Carrasco and Paul Matta are up in May. They've both filed to run again
and are challenged by Dora Machuca, Tommy Ray Dominguez and Louis Rene.
Over in Barstow, early voting will be held daily from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
at the Barstow Community Center. Barstow voters will have one contested
race, with incumbents Robert Ortega and Benny Avila facing challenger Pablo
Navarette. Benny Hernandez will be unopposed in the race for Barstow mayor,
where incumbent Salvador Villalobos opted against seeking another term.
Meanwhile, in Toyah, where contested races have been normal in recent
years, city elections won't have to be held this year, after only three
candidates filed for the available positions of mayor and on the city council.
Ann Marsh has filed to run for mayor, while Paul Anthony Budlong and
Sharon Sanchez signed up for the two available Toyah city council seats.
Budlong is currently serving as mayor for the little community, a position
he won in 1998. The council seats up for election are those won by Clara
McConnell and Howard Dennett two years ago.
Jumping rope earns Jurado Heart Association award
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, April 19, 2000 - Jumping is something that comes easy to one
Pecos coach, and he's put his skills to good use by helping to raise funds
for a worthy cause.
Rudy Jurado, a coach at Crockett Middle School, has been involved with
the Jump Rope for Heart for the past 10 years and was recently named The
American Heart Association's Outstanding Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator
in Region 13 for 1998-1999.
"I love physical education, that's why I majored in it," said Jurado.
While teaching physical education, he became a coordinator for the Jump
Rope For Heart program. "I thought this would be something good for the
kids and then they asked me if I wanted to be a member of the American
Heart Association," said Jurado.
His love for physical education, jumping rope and staying fit, has paid
off. "I love working with the kids and physical education is important
to me," he said.
Jurado has begun a new program at the junior high level, Hoops for Heart,
a program aimed towards older students.
"We have a three on three tournament and it's geared toward older kids,"
said Jurado.
Jurado said his rope jumping talent comes from years of experience.
"I've just been doing that for so long, it comes easily."
He also coordinates programs to help kick off the annual Jump Rope for
Heart program. He teaches the children how to jump rope and helps thing
with routines to entertain the school.
The Jump Rope for Heart program is a joint educational and fundraising
program of the American Heart Association, Recreation and Dance, two organizations
that share a long-standing interest in the health of Texas children. The
Jump Rope for Heart program, adopted in 1980, is designed to teach children
how to develop positive health attitudes and behaviors and raise funds
to help fight the leading cause of death in Texas. This school year marks
the 20th Anniversary for the program in Texas.
Jump Rope for Heart helps save lives because of the more than 3,500
program coordinators dedicated to teaching a healthy lifestyle curriculum.
The criteria used to determine the winner of this special award included:
a minimum of three years of experience with Jump Rope for Heart as an event
coordinator; service as a positive role model for students epitomizing
personal health, fitness, and sportsmanship while promoting physical activity;
additional American Heart Association volunteer service such as an American
Heart Association Board member/committee member, Jump Rope for Heart Task
Force chairperson, or any other American Heart Association leadership position;
commitment to the JRFH program by serving on a local, state, district or
national committee and/or having presented workshops or programs at these
levels; and membership with the Texas Association for Health, Physical
Education, recreation and dance.
In addition to this recent award, Jurado was named the AHA Regional
Volunteer of the Year for 1998-1999 in Region 13, which encompasses a 19
county area. He has served as President of the American Heart Association
Board for Reeves County for two years, previously served as vice-president,
has been the Hoops for Heart Coordinator for two years and previously served
as the American Heart Walk Vice-Chair and Chair.
When he's not busy coaching at the school, Jurado enjoys lifting weights
and jogging. This is also the first year that is the fitness trainer for
the police academy.
In addition, he has also served as head coach for Pecos' cross-country
team for the past four years.
Jurado teaches drivers education in the mornings and during the summer,
something else that keeps him busy.
He has been the coach at Crockett Middle School for the past two years,
had been a teacher at Bessie Haynes Elementary School and before that had
been at Austin Elementary School.
Obituary
Ruth Crisp
Ruth Whitfield Crisp, 88, died Tuesday, April 18, 2000, at Helena Regional
Medical Center, in Helena, Ark.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 21, at Sunset
Memorial Park, in West Helena, Ark., with Reverend Edward Warren officiating.
She was born July 10, 1911, in Connell's Point, Ark., was homemaker
and a member of the United Methodist Church, in Marvell, Ark.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Crisp.
Survivors include one son, Jerry Crisp of Pecos; three brothers, Norman
M. Whitfield of Memphis, Tenn., William M. Whitfield of Jasper, Ala. and
Dan P. Smalley of Tyrone, Ga.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home of West Helena, Ark. is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, April 19, 2000 - High Tuesday 100. Low this morning 98. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low near 50. Northwest wind 15-25 mph and gusty
early: Diminishing to 10-15 mph after sunset. Thursday: Partly cloudy and
not as warm. High in the mid 80s. Northeast wind 10-20 mph. Thursday night:
Partly cloudy. Low in the lower 50s. Friday: Partly cloudy. Low in the
50s to near 60. High in the mid 80s to near 90.
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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