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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, July 14, 2000
School board hikes employee pay, tax rate
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 14, 2000 - Good news for all Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD personnel
was announced at last night's regular monthly school board meeting, which
approved a new salary and compensation plan for administrative/professional
and auxiliary personnel for the 2000-2001 school year.
"Cookie (Canon, P-B-T's financial director) and I went to a workshop,
where they told us we had to go to a 2 percent or 2.7 percent cost-of-living
pay raises," said Assistant Superintendent Gome Olibas.
The Texas Association of School Boards put on the workshop they attended,
and the district has opted to adopt the TASB model as far as salary and
compensations.
"The look at inflation and the cost of living and they came up with
the figure of 2.7 percent, which we didn't think we could do, but we could
do the 2 percent," said Olibas.
"Our salary and compensation plans from the TASB model, which we had
opted to go with," said superintendent Don Love.
"We started working on proposals and came up with five salary proposals,"
said Olibas.
He outlined the five different scenarios for the district and gave the
board a proposal recommended by both Canon and Olibas and superintendent
Don Love.
"Anything that you do, you do from now on and basically we're paying
for everything in here, the state is not giving us anything," said Love.
"It's up to us to set the budget."
The proposal added $351,817 to the budget, and would include teacher
step-raises, a raise of 3 percent for teachers with 21 plus years experience,
3 percent for directors and administrators and 5 percent for all auxiliary
personnel.
Love told the board that there are currently 57 teachers in the district
with 20-plus years experience and that that number would go up to 59.
Love explained that the raises would begin at midpoint. "The midpoint
of $6.40 would be a 32 cent raise," said Love. "A couple of years ago we
were giving 10 cents," he said.
For instance for an employee earning $12.92 an hour that would mean
a 65 cent pay raise.
"This amount is what I have budgeted, if you choose to down or up it's
up to you," said Love.
Board member Frank Apolinar said he would still like to see the clerks,
nurses, and manual laborers get larger raises. "Some of them are at the
poverty line and they should get more money," he said.
"Do you feel like this is a stepping stone, something these employees
can look forward to?" asked board member David Flores.
"I think we've been stuck in the past and we're trying to correct it,"
said Olibas.
"The beauty of this system is flexibility," said Canon. "There will
be a year in there that we're too poor and we're not married to the step-raises,"
she said.
"If we have a shortfall, what will this do to the budget, with the raises
and all," asked vice-president Earl Bates.
Canon stated that this year the state owed the district money. "The
money we budgeted is closer, so that it won't be prorated," said Canon.
"It's a pretty close estimate."
There are currently 22 administrators/directors/trainers/band in the
school system; 207 teachers; 3 nurses; 29 secretaries/clerks; 70 teacher's
aides; 44 maintenance/custodians; 45 cafeteria employees and 12 bus drivers.
"Remember that what you give them this year, you can't take it back,"
said Canon.
Board members approved the pay raises. "I feel like this is a way to
start somewhere and not fall back," said Canon.
All board members voted for the proposal with the exception of board
member Frank Apolinar, Jr.
Duke chosen as principal for Zavala's sixth graders
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 14, 2000 - With the new school year just around the corner,
principals and vice-principals for the various campuses were approved during
last evening's regular Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board meeting.
Cindy Duke will be the new principal there for the upcoming school year,
when Zavala will be the district's sixth grade campus. She was previously
a Crockett Middle School history and gifted and talented (GT) teacher.
Victor Tarin will be the new principal at Austin Elementary School,
which includes first and second graders. Tarin had been Lamar
Middle School's principal and before that had been the assistant principal
at Pecos High School. He replaces Beau Jack Hendrick, who retired in May.
Juanita Davilla will remain principal at Crockett Middle School, but
she will now be helped by Frank Morin, who will be Assistant Principal
at that campus. The district created the new position because Crockett
will now be the campus for both seventh and eighth grade students. The
school has only been home to eighth graders for the past 12 years, and
the building is currently under construction to accommodate the other students.
Lucila Valenzuela has been named Alternative Education Program Academics
Assistant Principal at Lamar Middle School, which will now house the alternative
program that had been at the Carver Campus. Valenzuela had been the Zavala
Middle School principal prior to her new assignment.
The Carver Campus on East 12th Street will now be home for
the Pecos Head Start program, which had been using the old Barstow Elementary
School building for the past two years.
The new district's ESL teacher will be Angelica Valenzuela. Valenzuela
had been an Austin Elementary School first grade bilingual teacher.
Alvino Garcia will be coaching at the high school level and will be
an English teacher. Garcia had been teaching physical education at Austin
Elementary School.
Other reassignments include:
· Crissy Dominguez from Zavala Middle School sixth grade special
education inclusion teacher to Pecos High School Special Education inclusion
teacher;
· Oscar Guerrero from Zavala Middle School sixth grade teacher
to Crockett Middle School history teacher;
· Rebecca Jeffries from Zavala Middle School sixth grade teacher
to Crockett Middle School Special Education inclusion teacher;
· Betty Diane Paz from Bessie Haynes Elementary School fifth
grade teacher to Zavala Middle School sixth grade Special Education inclusion
teacher;
· Jesus Prieto from Zavala Middle School sixth grade ESL teacher
to Austin Elementary School first grade bilingual teacher.
Appointments were:
· Melvin Paul Davis, Bachelor of Science/Applied Physics/Angelo
State University; one year experience, Pecos High School physics teacher;
· Judy Ann Fuentes, Bachelor of Arts/Psychology/Sul Ross State
University, no experience, assignment, Pecos Kindergarten Special Education
Teacher;
· Virginia Hunt, Bachelor of Arts/Psychology/Sul Ross State University,
no experience, assignment, Bessie Haynes Elementary School fourth grade
teacher;
· Joy Lewis, Masters of Education/Education/Sul Ross State University,
29 years experience, assignment, Bessie Haynes Elementary School fourth
grade teacher;
· John Mitchell, Bachelor Business Administration/Management/University
of Texas Permian Basin, no experience, assignment, Zavala Middle School
sixth grade teacher;
· Anita Rutledge Moody, Bachelor of Science/Interdisciplinary
Studies/Sul Ross State University, 2 years experience, assignment, Bessie
Haynes Elementary School fourth grade teacher;
Brian Williams, Masters of Education/Education/Sul Ross State University,
21 years experience, assignment, Pecos High School geography teacher. Williams
resigned his former contract as a world geography teacher and coach at
Pecos High School.
Resignations came from:
· Lacey Exum, Special Education teacher for the visually impaired/District;
· Martha Franks, fourth grade bilingual teacher/Bessie Haynes
Elementary School;
· Winnette Hillger, Special Education teacher/Pecos High School;
· Peggy Jones, English teacher/Pecos High School;
· April Malo, Spanish teacher/Pecos High School;
· Lezlie Olibas, English/Journalism/SOL/ESL teacher/Pecos High
School;
· Kenneth Ragland, Assistant band director/Crockett Middle School;
· Tabitha Rosales, fourth grade teacher/Bessie Haynes Elementary
School;
· Dina Williams, fourth grade teacher/Bessie Haynes Elementary
School;
· Kenneth Wooley, Special Education teacher/Crockett Middle School.
Retiring will be John Barfield, physics/physical science teacher/Pecos
High School.
City discusses extension site, OKs loan plan
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 14, 2000 - Terry Holder, Reeves County Extension agent,
explained his office's need for a new building to the Pecos City Council
yesterday morning.
Holder said the extension office would like to move into the old Billy
Sol Estes building on Balmorhea Highway.
The extension offices are currently on the east side of the old Reeves
County Hospital on Daggett Street. Holder said that right now they have
no storage space. They also have lost their meeting room because of scheduling
problems with the Meals on Wheels program.
"The new building could be used at anytime," Holder said. "This will
help a great deal to facilitate us for meetings."
Councilman Ricky Herrera asked if there would have to be some renovation.
Holder said that most of the building is in good shape except for parts
in the back.
Pecos Fire Chief Roy Pena said that he had checked out the building
and two-thirds of it was in great shape. He agreed with Holder that the
back area needed to be worked on.
Holder said the biggest expense would be the heating and cooling systems.
Lydia Prieto, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Tax Assessor Collector, said the
property would also include barns behind the building and possibly the
old beer depot building.
The Council decided to postpone their decision and place it on the next
agenda.
Council members did approve action on loans totaling over $8.9 million,
which will be used in the construction of the new South Worsham Water Field.
Larry Skiles, Financial Advisor for the city, read notices of combination
tax and revenue certificates of obligation to the Council. These notices
will soon be published for the public.
The Town of Pecos City will be receiving a loan that will not exceed
$8,375,000 from the State to extend the Waterworks System. The city is
beginning construction on the South Worsham Well Field and need the money
to cover the expenses.
The city will also have a second "backup" loan in the amount of $460,000.
This loan will not be used unless needed.
The Council will sell certificates of obligation to the State at a one-percent
interest fee but will not receive the total amount of money at one time.
Steve McCormick, Finance Director for Pecos, will receive the construction
bills. Once he has looked over and approved the expenses he will send them
to the Water Development Board in Austin. That board will then pay the
bills.
"We'll only use as much as we need," McCormick said.
The money will only be drawn out as the project progresses allowing
the city to pay less interest if the total amount is not used.
The Council approved After approving the request of purchase on the
foreclosed property located at 402 South Mesquite Street by Benjamin Munoz
for $3,500, City Attorney Scott Johnson asked the Council to consider a
policy on tax foreclosed properties.
Johnson suggested that once a bid for a foreclosed property was approved
nobody could submit more bids.
Prieto told the Council that in 1996 the school board made a policy
allowing only current taxpayers to make bids.
The Council discussed and approved the suggested policy, and in a separate
action, reappointed Prieto to the position of tax assessor collector for
the Town of Pecos City.
Pecos Health and Sanitation Director Armando Gil discussed three items
on the agenda with the Council.
The first was a request to pass an amended ordinance for animal control.
Gil said the ordinance reads that a dog can be unrestrained as long
as it is with its' owner. He said there has been problems were the dogs
don't listen to their owners when someone walks by, and is requesting that
all dogs must be chained up or fenced in at all times.
Councilman Johnny Terrazas questioned the part of the ordinance stating
"when an Enforcement Agent has commenced pursuit of an animal running at
large, he may continue said pursuit and follow the animal onto any unenclosed
private property for the purpose of apprehending it as soon as possible."
Gil explains that the enforcement agent may follow a dog onto private
property and still have the authority to pick up the animal.
"This ordinance puts some teeth into it," Johnson said.
The Council approved this amended ordinance.
The second item Gil requested was the amended ordinance regarding the
regulations of food establishments.
Gil said there are new rules made by the Texas Department of Health
and he would like to add these laws in the ordinance.
Gil would also like to change permit fees. The changes apply to all
food vendors, temporary vendors and restaurants as well as seasonal food
booths.
The following fee schedule applies to permits issued under this ordinance.
1 or 2 persons employed - $25.00;
2 and not more than 5 - $40.00;
5 and not more than 10 - $50.00;
10 or more - $60.00;
Mobile/Commissary Concessions - $40.00;
Seasonal (one time fee) - $40.00;
Temporary (14 days) - $30.00;
Snow Cone Stands - $40.00;
Gil assured the Council that the permit fee raise is still comparatively
low.
"We're still way below the permit fees of anywhere in the Permian Basin,"
Gil said.
The Council decided to pass the amended ordinance.
The last item Gil reported on was the recommendation from the plumbing
board on inspection fees.
Pecos does not have a plumbing inspector right now.
City Manager Kenneth Neal said that both candidates for the plumbing
inspector failed the State test to be licensed.
Currently an inspector from Monahans is traveling here to do the city
inspections.
Gil recommended that the Council raise the plumbing inspection fees
to $12.50 per inspection to cover the cost of not having a city plumbing
inspector.
The Council approved an ordinance to provide that fees for plumbing
permits be set at $12.50.
These notices of obligation and they will be published in the Enterprise
in the near future.
The Council discussed the proposal for the engineering and management
services for the Texas Community Development Program projects.
They discovered by hiring both services now Pecos would receive five
more points from the state for the projects.
The Council was told that by doing this it was kind of an open application
to help Pecos get additional five points to get what the city wants later.
The Council approved hiring Frank X. Spencer and Associates for the
engineering services and Carlos Colinas-Vargas and Associates for the management
services.
The Council also approved the second reading of the ordinance for closing
the railroad crossing on Alberta Street as well as Lillian Creasy's request
to move the street dance for the grand opening of the State Theater to
July 22.
They approved the accounts payable, the fire report and the minutes
of the last meeting on June 22.
Task force's afternoon raid nets suspect on heroin charge
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 14, 2000 - A Pecos man was arrested Thursday after a narcotics
search uncovered drugs and paraphernalia in the residence.
Officers with the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County Sheriff's Department
and the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force made the arrest after executing a narcotics
search warrant at 915 S. Cherry St., the home of Armando Martinez and Gloria
Hernandez.
"Once the Swat Team had executed the warrant and the residence was secured,
I met with Mr. Martinez and Ms. Hernandez and provided them with a copy
of the search warrant issued by Judge Amonario Ramon," said Pecos Police
Investigator Paul Deishler.
He said the officers then proceed to search the residence for narcotics
or other drug related paraphernalia.
Officer Armando Granado located a balloon and a syringe inside the bathroom
of the residence. Inside the balloon was an undetermined quantity of a
substance believed to be heroin, according to the officers.
Officers continued their search of the premises, and inside the master
bedroom officers located packaging material commonly used in the packaging
of heroin.
Martinez, 29, was arrested and charged with the offense of possession
of a controlled substance (heroin) within a 1,000 feet of a school (Pecos
Elementary School).
He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in reference
to the packaging material that was located inside his residence. His bond
has been set at $25,000 by Judge Ramon.
"The investigation is continuing and more arrests are forthcoming,"
said Deishler.
Deadline Monday for crop certificates to get to FSA office
Monday is the deadline at the Reeves/Loving County FSA Office for producers
in Reeves and Loving County to complete their 2000 spring seeded crop certification.
Certifications after the 17th will be charged a late file fee.
Area businesses eligible for SBA fire disaster loans
PECOS, July 14, 2000 - Businesses in New Mexico and five Texas counties
that may have been indirectly affected by May's forest fires are eligible
to apply for disaster loan assistance with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Economic injury loans are available to small businesses that suffered
substantial losses of income as the result of the fires that burned in
Texas and New Mexico between May 5 and June 9 of this year. The loans are
not intended to cover physical damages resulting from the fires.
Businesses in all areas of New Mexico except for Union and Hidalgo counties,
plus Reeves, Loving, Culberson, Hudspeth and El Paso counties in Texas
are eligible. For further information, call the SBA's toll-free number
at 1-800-366-6303 or 817-267-4688 for the hearing impaired. The deadline
for filing in Feb. 13, 2001.
Toone to close grocery after 52 years in Pecos
EDITOR'S NOTE: The last three paragraphs of the story
on the closing of Toone's Grocery were left out of Thursday's Enterprise.
The full story is printed below:
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, July 14, 2000 - A longtime Pecos business will be closing its
doors soon with a feeling of sadness.
"It's been a most enjoyable 52 years, but I need to close down before
I make a career out of it," said a smiling Jimmy Toone, who will be closing
the doors to Toone's Grocery Store for the last time this month.
Toone's, located 2136 W. Third St., Has spent over a half century in
Pecos providing groceries and supplies to many farmers, ranchers and community
members.
Toone came here from the El Paso area in October of 1948, during the
Bracero season when Pecos would see between 25,000 and 28,000 cotton pickers
in the area.
"We catered mostly then taking care of laborers for the farmers," said
Toone.
In about 1946-47, many farmers from the El Paso area moved to Pecos
and started putting in new land, drilling wells and growing cotton, according
to Toone.
The building was an old army barrack, which was remodeled to resemble
a store. "We operated for 2-3 years and saw very few of our customers,"
said Toone. "Orders were written out in Spanish."
In the early `50's, the store got a Bracero contract and they'd bus
laborers here from the El Paso area. "They brought them here to grocery
shop," Toone said. "Many times, there would be about 1,000 men waiting
outside the store to buy groceries.
"Pecos people have been very supportive and we are greatly appreciative,"
said Toone, a World War II veteran who served as a pilot, before returning
to civilian life, opening up his store in Pecos and raising a family here.
He and his wife, Melba, who died in 1993, raised three children, Sherma,
Johnny and Jaime. He also has six grandchildren.
"I'm looking forward to some repairs to old age," said Toone about his
upcoming retirement.
Toone plans to have hip and knee surgery that he hopes will get him
back on the golf course in the future.
"I hope to be back on the golf course some day and I only dream of being
on the tennis court," Toone said.
He added that if his health were better he wouldn't even be thinking
of retirement. "If I felt good, I wouldn't think about quitting. It's not
my desire to throw in the towel."
Toone said that he and his assistant Joe Herrera, who has been with
him almost since the store opened, were thankful for the support of the
people and the many friends they made throughout the years.
Herrera has been a Toone's employee for over 40 years.
"It's been a lot of work, but I've enjoyed being associated with Pecos
and the people," said Toone. "It has been an enjoyable 52 years."
He thanked the community, farmers and ranchers for the past 50 something
years and stated that he would miss each and every one of them. "I'm sure
going to miss everyone and visiting with them. But I thank them for being
here for us and for being such good friends," he said.
Weather
PECOS, July 14, 2000 - High Thursday 104. Low this morning 69. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low in the lower 70s. East wind 5-10 mph. Saturday:
Partly cloudy. High around 104. South wind 10-15 mph. Saturday night: Partly
cloudy. Low in the lower 70s. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Low in the 70s. High
100-105.
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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