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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, December 13, 2000
Commissioners get outline of park proposals
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, December 13, 2000 - Constructing a hike and bike trail, upgrading
the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena and expanding the Reeves County Golf Course
from 11 holes to a full 18-hole course were just some of the ideas included
in a master plan introduced at a public hearing held Monday evening at
the Reeves County Courthouse.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo outlined the master plan during
the public hearing and told those assembled that architect Lorraine Dailey
had been working with them in identifying all of the parks to incorporate
into the master plan.
"We began by identifying all the parks and recreation in Reeves County,"
said Galindo, who was joined by Reeves County Recreation Department Manager
Nora Geron in listing all the facilities, including gyms and basketball
courts.
"From here it's a matter of trying to identify the opportunities and
strategic funding efforts," said Galindo.
He said that before pursuing funding for the many ideas to improve and
enhance the community, Reeves County Commissioners had to come up with
a master plan that will be used to seek funding.
"We have to present a master plan to apply for funding through the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Commission and other funding groups," said Galindo.
At the rodeo arena and adjacent Reeves County Civic Center, Galindo
said there was a possibility of doing a major community park around the
rodeo arena and civic center. "We want to really began landscaping that
area and paving the parking lot and proper traffic control," he said.
"Another possibility is to add RV hookups, so that we don't have all
the rodeo participants hooking up all possible outlets," Galindo said "They
(the rodeo cowboys) could just hook up to a stall and it would take care
of all their needs, once we get our new water line in," said Galindo.
As far as funding for upgrading the arena, Galindo said, "Last week
I spoke to the lady who takes care of our revolving loan fund and discussed
the possibility of using those funds to fix the rodeo stands. There's a
possibility of loaning that money for county purpose and us paying it back."
The current balance in the revolving loan fund is $460,000, according
to Galindo.
"We're looking at leveraging that," he said, adding he has talked with
the West of the Pecos Rodeo Committee about the proposal, and what else
could be done to improve the facility.
"Number one would be major rehab on the arena and putting in new stands,"
said Galindo. "Two, redoing the parking lot and three, a hike and bike
trail and the addition of a community park all around which will include
landscaping."
The revolving loan fund would be one way to fund it, while improving
the entire area also opens the doors to submit this project to Texas Department
of Transportation enhancement, according to Galindo.
"They provide funding for projects next to the highways and this would
qualify for matching funds," said Galindo.
The hike and bike trail would definitely qualify. "Also, the Parks and
Wildlife could provide a way of funding, and the hike and bike would qualify
for this as well."
Galindo said the theme for the landscaping and enhancements would be
Home of the World's First Rodeo. "We want to incorporate the same theme
all around," he said.
"We want to have a consistent theme in the community, as far as landscaping,"
said Galindo.
The Western Theme would include silhouettes of horses and cattle at
entrances and exits to the community. "We plan to use shrubbery that will
grow in West Texas," he said. "We might not have grass, but we'll have
these shrubberies and trees."
Silhouettes of cattle, made out of steel and an "arroyo", a design used
by TxDOT, would be part of the landscaping.
"A bucking horse like the one placed in front of the rodeo arena, would
be placed on I-20, on the other side, where the big Texas sign made out
of rocks is," said Dailey, who designed the Reeves County Community Recreation
plan.
"We'll keep your rodeo theme, because everywhere you have, Home of the
World's First Rodeo and why not keep the bucking horse," said Dailey.
"We could use the resources we already have, such as rocks for landscaping,"
said Galindo.
"Having something like this really begins to be a cross-functional area,
it gives you an idea of the direction Ms. Dailey has taken for us, formed
real-life examples of what we're looking for," said Galindo.
"I've talked to people who are willing to donate rocks and then they
see the possibilities, there may be more," said Galindo.
"You can have groups of different plants that will grow here," said
Dailey.
Galindo said there are 1,000 trees growing at Reeves County Detention
Center that will be used. "And we plan to get 1,000 more every year and
use inmate labor," he said.
Galindo said he hoped to enlist Pecos High School art teacher Walter
Holland in the project. "He is very, very talented and I don't think there's
nothing we can't show him that he can't do," said Galindo.
"He did that big Eagle that's in front of the high school and he made
it out of scraps," said Nora Geron.
Galindo said this wasn't something that would be done in a year, but
that it would take time. "Right now, we needed somebody to help us with
the master plan," he said. "W have four opportunities to fund it," he said.
"We're talking about three projects, the civic center, rodeo arena that
has different components; landscaping along the interstate and entrances
and have that consistent design and the third project, develop an 18-hole
golf course," said Galindo.
"I met with a few of the golfers in trying to develop the 18-holes at
the course," he said. One new hold would be added to the existing 11-hole
area, two would be build along Interstate 20, where the old Airbase Apartments
were located, and the other four holes would be on the south side of the
golf course, behind the current No. 5 and No. 6 holes.
Another project would be to establish a wastewater treatment system
at the RCDC, according to Galindo. "If we clean it enough we can use it
at the golf course," he said. The Ward County Golf Course in Monahans already
uses recycled water for irrigation.
"But before we go forward, we need to drill another water well," said
Galindo. "It will be very beneficial to reuse the water from the prison."
"Anything that we can do to improve our community is great," said Reeves
County Commissioner Precinct 3 Herman Tarin. "It will mean a lot to the
people."
"We need to submit this plan to the Parks and Wildlife in January,"
said Dailey.
"They're conceptional, they need a little more definition to them,"
said Dailey. "What are we going to define, and what we want to apply for?"
"I'm excited to be involved and see definite potential," she said.
Chamber plans Peruvian group concert event
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, December 13, 2000 - A Peruvian group will be making a stop in
Pecos next year, bringing with them their own special, native Peruvian
music.
Pecos Chamber of Commerce Directors voted to contract with the group
at their regular noon luncheon held Tuesday at the Pecos Senior Center.
The concert is tentatively set for Feb. 21 or Feb. 23.
"This is a great group, we went to listen to them and everyone really
enjoyed it," said chamber of commerce director Tom Rivera.
"It's a great show that these people put on," said member Dick Alligood.
"They will inspire you," he said.
Rivera told the group that he had five of their CD's for anyone who
wanted to listen to them.
In other action, directors tabled taking any action on contracting with
Carson and Barnes Circus to perform in Pecos.
"We can discuss it again at the next meeting," said president Jeannette
Alligood.
"I think it's an excellent opportunity," said Rivera. "We need to raise
membership, but we also need some events."
The group discussed the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet set for Feb.
3 at the Reeves County Civic Center. "Our guest speaker will be (state
representative) Gary Walker, so make plans to attend," Rivera said.
Alligood told the group that their application for the Main Street Program
was not accepted. "We didn't make it, but they strong suggest that we re-apply
next year," she said.
Alligood said that the Chamber will be receiving official notification
on the reasons of why they didn't get it this year.
"They did come out here twice, without notification and saw some things
that they felt, we could do on our own," said Alligood. "Hopefully, we
can work together to get this accomplished."
Rivera said that a new year is beginning and they will be working harder
than ever. "We'll be concentrating on getting our membership up," he said.
City Council set to discuss forgery case
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, December 13, 2000 - The Town of Pecos City Council is scheduled
to discuss the possibility of forgery litigation involving an account at
Security State Bank in executive session of the regular Council meeting
at 7:30 a.m., tomorrow at City Hall.
During a meeting in September, Bill Oglesby, new president of Security
State Bank, informed the Council that an Oregon woman, identified as Dawana
Shinkle, was able to counterfeit city checks and steal about $19,000 from
the city's account.
In that meeting Oglesby said the forgery also involved three different
municipal accounts in Texas.
City Attorney Scott Johnson said the Council would discuss the possible
litigation toward not only Shinkle but also Security State Bank because
the Bank "paid it out on an improper endorsement."
Johnson said nothing has been decided yet and it is up to the Council
to decide what should be done.
He said Security State Bank is willing to help the Council with whatever
is decided.
"Security State has indicated a desire to assist the city in any way
possible," he said.
During the open session of the meeting the council is also scheduled
to discuss the possible sites for the new Municipal Law Enforcement Center.
Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney said last week that James Parkey, president
of Corplan Corrections, would make a presentation to the Council about
all the sites.
A council-appointed site selection committee including McKinney, Parkey,
U.S. Marshall Billy Johnson, Mayor Ray Ortega, Interim City Manager Octavio
Garcia and Councilman Johnny Terrazas looked at three different sites for
the new facility.
The locations of the sites include east of the Reeves County Hospital,
west of the hospital and south of West County Road were the old Airbase
Apartments were located.
McKinney said the site selection committee met several weeks ago to
discuss the different sites and now the choice is up to the council.
"It's the council's call," he said.
McKinney said that if council members choose a site next week, the next
steps would be to conduct an environmental impact study and get approval
from the Texas Attorney General's office.
McKinney said that after that is done then construction could begin.
"If everything falls on schedule, hopefully in late February early March
there'll be some groundbreaking," he said.
The new facility would allow the U.S. Marshal's Service to house inmates
awaiting trial at the Lucius D. Bunton Federal Courthouse in Pecos. It
would have an initial capacity of about 100 inmates, most of whom the city
hopes will be from the Marshal's Service, which currently sends many of
its prisoners to out-of-town jails.
The building would include enough space for the whole police department,
as well as the jail facility.
The Council is also scheduled to discuss the employment contract with
Carlos Yerena, the new City Manager.
The Council selected Yerena in late November from 16 applicants for
the city manager position after reviewing his application and several interviews.
Yerena is scheduled to officially begin his duties as City Manager next
Monday.
Pecos Fire Chief Roy Pena is also scheduled meet with the Council to
discuss awarding a bid for 2001 emergency pumper/tanker fire apparatus.
Pena said he and Mayor Ray Ortega made a trip to Dallas in June to begin
looking for companies to buy a new vehicle.
He said after talking to about 20 companies only three responded with
bids.
Pena said the Council would decide on which company to award the bid
to at the meeting.
Ortega said the new vehicle, which would be a 1,000-gallon booster,
would replace one of the current trucks that have the same capacity that
was purchased in 1976.
"This is the one that rolls all the time," Ortega said.
He said the fire department would be left to decide whether or not to
sell the old fire truck or give it to another community in Reeves County.
"The usual practice is it goes to a city in Reeves County that needs
it," Ortega said. "The last one went to Toyah."
In other business the Council is scheduled to discuss the annual report
and renewal of contract for the 2000-2001 audit with Certified Public Accountant
Dan Painter as well as the purchase requests for three foreclosed properties.
Obituary
Jessie Kelton
Weather
PECOS, December 13, 2000 - High Tuesday 31. Low this morning 25. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low near 30. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Thursday:
Partly cloudy and warmer. High in the lower 60s. Southwest wind 10 to 20
mph. Thursday night: Increasing cloudiness. Low in the mid 30s. Friday:
Mostly cloudy. High near 60. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Low in the 30s. High
in the 60s.
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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