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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Thursday, June 8, 2000
Council closes Willow St. RR crossing
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 8, 2000 - City Attorney Scott Johnson said Pecos is under
a mild-condition water conservation plan this morning in the regular Pecos
City Council meeting.
Octavio Garcia told the Council he has informed the schools and parks
to restrict watering.
Garcia also said if residents want to try to conserve water, they could
help by watering in the mornings or evenings.
The Council also decided to close the Willow Street railroad crossing.
The Council discussed whether or not the Willow Street crossing being
closed would affect emergency services' ability to reach victims.
Mayor Pro Tem Danny Rodriguez said the Council needed emergency personnel
to give their advice on the closings.
Fire Chief Roy Pena said closing the crossing would not affect the ability
to reach houses and businesses on the North side.
"For us there are plenty of crossings," Pena said.
Mayor Ray Ortega said the crossing is no longer in service right now.
Rodriguez suggested placing a Dead End sign on Willow Street until the
crossing is officially closed.
The Council also asked for an update on the Rescue Cam purchase by the
Pecos Fire Department.
The Rescue Cam is the thermal imaging camera the fire department is
raising money to purchase. The camera allows the fire personnel to find
people inside smoke filled buildings much faster.
Pena said the camera costs $15,500 and with the county donating half
the money and contributions from businesses and members of the community,
the total raised stand at $10, 193.20.
Pena said the camera would not only benefit the fire department but
also the community.
"It impacts every citizen in the community," Pena said. "This camera
does not belong to the fire department, it belongs to the community."
Anyone who wants to make a donation towards purchasing of the camera
can go to First National Bank and deposit into the Rescue Cam account,
Pena said.
Certified Public Accountant Dan Painter reported to the Council his
procedures and findings from examining the city's purchases and new equipment.
Painter reported that the Municipal Court and the City have had a software
change and upgrade and said, "The transition proved to be anything but
smooth."
Painter suggested more training for the employees.
"You've got an excellent staff and they've been with you for years _
they just need more training," Painter said.
Abidur Khan and Frank Spencer of Frank X. Spencer & Associates reported
to the Council the progress with the closure of trench 1 at the old landfill
and the water well project in Worsham Well Field.
Khan said the trench closure is ahead of schedule.
"They're doing a real good job," Khan said.
He also said at the current rate the project might be finished at the
end of this month.
Both asked authorization to move on with procedures in drilling new
wells for water and reported on the state of Worsham Well Field.
Ortega said the field had lost eight wells in the last three years.
The Council approved the proposals to move on with drilling.
The Council also discussed the requests of purchasing the foreclosed
property at 420 Mulberry Street.
Reeves County Tax Assessor Lydia Prieto reported that three bids and
a re-bid had been received by her office.
The re-bid of $1,000 was approved.
The Council also discussed a request for a survey on Texas Street and
I-20.
Ortega asked Johnson if the city had any obligation to survey private
property.
Johnson said it is the citizen's responsibility to get any questionable
property surveyed.
Johnson asked Spencer for a second opinion and Spencer agreed.
The Council denied the request for the survey.
In other business the Council approved the Municipal Court and Fire
reports and the accounts payable. The update on the Type IV landfill was
tabled because Armando Gill, Public Sanitation and Health Director, was
absent.
Pecos woman cleaning up national ads
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 8, 2000 - How do you get your picture on a national magazine?
Just ask one former Pecos resident, who was featured recently in "People"
and other magazines.
"They were taking pictures of different people, possibly for ads, when
I walked into work," said Amy Lea Barrera.
Barrera who is an employee of Wal-Mart in Austin, had just opened up
at the photo center of the store when she was approached about having her
picture taken.
"I asked why they wanted to take my picture and they said they were
looking for someone to be in one of their ads," said Barrera.
Barrera consented to having her picture taken at that time and thought
it might be used for one of the store's circulars.
"I didn't think much about it, I thought it's probably just for one
of their circulars," said Barrera.
She was told that the pictures would be sent to Bentonville, where the
main office is located, and if she were picked she would be notified within
a couple of weeks.
Two or three days later the ad company contacted Barrera and the following
Monday, she was taken shopping at Wal-Mart for a complete wardrobe.
"Everything I wore for the ad was from Wal-Mart," she said.
Barrera was under the impression that the ad would be for one of the
Wal-Mart circulars and was surprised to find out that the ad was a full-page
featured in "People Magazine."
"The first time the ad came out was when Tom Cruise was on the cover
and then it ran again when the cover featured the most beautiful people,"
said Barrera.
Another ad, with a different ad, featuring Barrera was featured in the
Parade Magazine.
"They sent me a copy of the People Magazine and said they would send
me a copy of the magazine each time the ad ran," said Barrera.
"At first I thought oh, well, it's no big deal," said Barrera. "But
it was really cool and a lot of fun," said Barrera.
Barrera stated that working on that ad made her appreciate models more.
"It's also a lot of hard work, you have to be smiling all the time and
do these little exercise," said Barrera.
A makeup artist worked on Barrera, while her attire was provided by
Wal-Mart. "We worked practically all day, from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m., and
did three different poses," she said.
Modeling, however, is not what Barrera plans to do with her life. She
is currently attending Austin Community College and is enrolled in a Paralegal
program. She plans to study pre-law.
Being in the limelight is nothing new, though, to the former Pecos resident
and 1998 PHS graduate. She was crowned Homecoming Queen her senior year,
was a member of the PHS Student Council, participated in UIL Speech, Mu
Alpha Theta and Business Professionals of America.
She worked for District Attorney Randy Reynolds, her senior year in
high school.
She is the daughter of Esteban, Jr. and Irma Barrera of Pecos.
Grandparents are Esteban, Sr. and Virginia Barrera, Julian Gomez and
the late Refugia Gomez, all of Pecos. Also from Pecos is her brother, Jacob
Barrera, along with several other relatives.
"We're very proud of her, it's not something that happens to you every
day," said Irma Barrera. "We thought it was a big deal, but she didn't,"
she said.
Family Night begins
PECOS, June 8, 2000 - The Pecos High School Natatorium is now open on Tuesday
and Thursday nights for Family Night.
The pool is open from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It costs $1 per swimmer and
50 cents for children under three.
All swimmers 14 years and under must be accompanied by a parent.
Obituary
Ruby Woodley
Ruby Moore Woodley, died Feb. 3, 2000, at her home in Chicago.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June
10, in the Fairview Cemetery in Pecos, with Tommy Williamson, of Pecos,
officiating. An earlier service was held in the Chapel of the Herdegen
Funeral Home in Chicago in February.
Mrs. Woodley was born in Pecos on Aug. 30, 1914, to Ben and Sally Moore.
She married Jake B. "Jack" Woodley in May 1936. A 70-year resident of Pecos,
Woodley was an active member of the Church of Christ, where she taught
Bible classes. Due to declining health, in 1984, she moved to Chicago to
make her home with her son, Earl Woodley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J.B. Woodley; one sister,
Artie Pickett and two brothers, Roy Moore and Bennie Moore.
Survivors include two sons, Dog Pagan of Fort Smith, Ark., R. Earl Woodley,
PhD., of Chicago, Ill.; one daughter, Myrle Latone of Brenham, Tx.; six
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Weather
PECOS, June 8, 2000 - Today sunny and breezy high near 90. Southeast wind
15-25 mph. Tonight clear low in the lower 60s. Southeast wind 10-20 mph.
Friday partly cloudy high around 90. Southeast wind 10-20 mph.
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
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Copyright 2000 by Pecos Enterprise
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