|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
Deeds earn Natividad `Hidden Hero' award
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, February 6, 2001 - A man described as modest, quiet and humble
was named the winner of the 2000 Ruiz Profile of Courage/Hidden Hero Award,
which was given out Saturday night at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet,
at the Reeves County Civic Center.
"The profile of the Hidden Hero is an individual who looks and finds
ways of filling the necessities to make one's lives a difference," said
Dianne Florez, who had the honor of presenting the important award at last
Saturday's special event to Ben Natividad.
"It is an individual that strives to live a life helping and serving
others," said Florez. "This individual has unique feelings and sentiments
that sees the importance of each and everyone's needs."
The Hidden Hero can be seen in each and everyone of us, but the key
to it all is that when the key is in your heart _ will you use it to open
the door and the way to better someone else's life, according to Florez.
"We all try to maintain the Golden Rule and try to apply it to the neighbor
across the street or to the fellow sitting next to you. But the Hidden
Hero just doesn't think _ he acts on it, he puts words and thoughts into
action," said Florez.
Florez said that this year's Hidden Hero should be welcomed and recognized
for all the services and courage he wholeheartedly gives. "He is a man
who puts God first above all by volunteering and building the church spiritually,
cleaning and maintaining the cemetery, remembering and honoring to the
highest regards to a fallen veteran, volunteering and finding the time
to deliver meals to those confined at home, and assuring that families
needing a warm place and a roof over their heads are provided during our
community Christmas in Spring," said Florez.
Florez said in the winter Natividad always checks on anyone that he
thinks might need help with heating and in the summer he checks to help
with combating the heat problem for others, and cleans the Santa Rosa Cemetery.
It takes him about a week to complete the job if he doesn't get any help.
During the 16th of September Fiesta, he helps in getting
things set up. Anything from helping to move the portable buildings from
the back of the church to the fiesta grounds, to going out and gathering
material to put on top of the structure that will provide shade.
The Christmas in Spring program has been able to assist several families
a year with home repairs due to the invaluable services of Natividad, a
member of the group's board. When the application is approved, he visits
the home and evaluates the needs to be done, makes a list of the materials
needed, organizes the family work crew, and selects the materials. He then
oversees the work until the job is completed.
Natividad has worked in this capacity for over 12 years. He and Joe
Tersero worked together in the beginning, but since Joe moved away, Ben
has worked alone for the past three or four years, Florez said.
Natividad was born March 15, 1938, to Manuel and Belen Natividad. He
has seven siblings, three of whom are deceased.
On Feb. 6, 1956, Ben and Ernestina Pena were married. He is the proud
father of five children, the grandfather of 10 and the great-grandfather
of three.
In January 1956, Natividad enlisted in the United States Army. He served
with the RA 25971265 Paratroopers, Company "M" 188th Air 11th,
ABN Division.
Some of his affiliations are with the Catholic War Veterans, Military
Funeral Volunteers, V.A. Hospital Volunteers, Christmas in Spring, Meals
on Wheels, Santa Rosa Catholic Church Member and volunteer.
The Natividad Family was honored as the Reeves County Hispanic Pioneer
Family on Sept. 23, 1995. This reception and ceremony was held at the West
of the Pecos Museum.
"This person is a veteran himself, a man that I so highly respect and
appreciate and want to thank for serving and saving our home, the United
States of America, a dignified man that brings love to his family by giving
to others," said Florez.
The Hidden Hero award was one of eight awards given out Saturday at
the Chamber banquet. Among the other awards was the Agriculture Award,
which was presented to Ysidro Renteria.
Renteria served as a minority advisor for the Agricultural Department
of Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee for a couple of
years. He is now serving as one of the Directors for the Upper Pecos Natural
Resources Conservation Service Committee, since 1999. He is also a member
of the board for the Trans Pecos Cotton Association Committee.
The 39-year-old Renteria was born April 1, 1961 in Pecos and lived most
of his life in the Pecos-Mentone area. He was raised on a farm and helped
his grandfather, who was a farmer and his father, who is currently a farmer
also. He attended Wink schools and graduated from Wink High School in 1981.
Renteria obtained his own farm and started farming on his own in 1984.
He got married in April 1984, to Diamantina Villalobos and the couple
has two children, Ysidro, Jr., who is 14 years old and Amanda Nicole, who
is nine years of age.
Pecos FD hosts regional emergency training class
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, February 6, 2001 - The Pecos Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD)
is scheduled to host an Incident Command System (ICS) school for all emergency
responders from across the region the week of Feb. 26 at the Reeves County
Civic Center.
Fire Chief Roy Pena said the training class would last four days, ending
on March 1, and would teach emergency responders what needs to be done
in case of a disaster situation, such as bomb threats or natural disasters.
"We're getting ready for the unexpected," he said.
The program is designed to train emergency responders with the responsibilities
to use, deploy, implement and or function within an ICS, according to a
information sheet sent to many fire departments across the state.
Pena said that emergency responders would include the firemen, Reeves
County Sheriff's Deputies, Pecos Police Officers, Emergency Medical Personnel
as well as the mayor, county judge, Town of Pecos City Councilmen, Reeves
County Commissioners, DPS Troopers, school and hospital administrations.
Dallas Renfrew, former President of the Texas State Fireman and Fire
Marshall Association, is scheduled to be the instructor for the training
classes.
Pena said that when Renfrew was president he was in charge of all the
fire districts in Texas, "but happens to be from our district."
Renfrew, who is originally from Seminole, would cover ICS command and
command staff functions and applications; command function exercises; ICS
general staff functions and applications; ICS staff function exercises;
ICS practical applications; adopting an ICS and ICS standard operating
procedures.
Pena said that it would be at least six or seven months before another
training school for this topic is held again somewhere in Texas so he is
trying to get as many firemen to come to this school in Pecos as he can.
He said the PVFD has mailed information to all the fire departments
in this area as well as inviting many people other than the firemen from
Pecos to join as well.
"It has been mailed to all 44 fire departments in the Permian Basin,"
he said. "Hopefully we'll get some firemen to come in and attend this one."
Firemen and other emergency responders are not required to attend all
the classes but Pena wants to encourage them to attend as many as possible.
Each four-hour class goes toward certification with the Texas State
Firemen and Fire Marshall Association.
"We're urging all the emergency response volunteer to attend all of
the classes," Pena said.
Pena said that the classes should be interesting and worth while.
"We're looking forward to it," he said.
"He's (Renfrew) a good man," he said. "He'll make it very interesting."
Pena said that anyone in the community who is interested may also attend
the four-day training session.
It is free of charge and will be held from 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Monday, Feb.
26 _ Thursday, March 1 at the Reeves County Civic Center.
Anyone interested in attending needs to contact Lt. Javier Contreras
of the PVFD at 445-3519 or go by the PVFD Central Fire Hall on Cedar Street
across from Pizza Hut.
Junior high swim sign-ups planned for next Monday
PECOS, February 6, 2001 - Registration for junior high swimming is scheduled
for next week at the Pecos High School Natatoruim.
Any sixth, seventh or eighth grade students who are interested in joining
the Pecos Junior High swim team should be at the Pecos High School Natatorium
on Iowa Street at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, Feb. 19.
For more information or questions call the pool at 447-7242.
Police Report
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report
is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County
Sheriff's Office, or other officers of those agencies.
The serving of warrants by an officer for outstanding fines of either
traffic citations, animal control violations or other court costs are considered
arrests and will be printed as such unless indicated that the fines were
paid. In such instanced we will indication payment and release.
David G. Salcido, 29, was arrested at 12:01 a.m., on January 30 in the
600 block of South Pine Street for assault causing bodily injury against
the Family Violence Act-State Jail Felony.
Alfred Gomez, 40, was arrested at 6:57 p.m., on January 27 in the 400
block of West Seventh Street for a DPS speeding warrant.
Kristi Dawdy, 19, was arrested at 10:40 a.m., on January 26 in the 400
block of South Cherry Street on two warrants for forgery by check and theft
of a firearm.
Sergio T. Castro, 34, was arrested at 11 p.m., on January 25 in the
200 block of East 12th Street for public intoxication.
Adolfo D. Chavez, 57, was arrested at 12:41 a.m., on January 25 in the
2200 block of South Park Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
Gilbert Plasencia, 19, was arrested at 3:24 a.m., on January 25, in
the 1600 block of Morris Street on a Sheriff's Office warrant for aggravated
assault.
Felipe Rodriguez, 51, was arrested at 1:57 p.m., on January 23 at the
Department of Public Safety office on a DPS warrant for driving while intoxicated
with an accident.
James L. Sharp, 39, was arrested at 5:09 p.m., on January 23 in the
1300 block of Cypress Street on a warrant for no insurance.
Mike Franco Jimenez, 45, was arrested at 5:25 p.m., on January 26 on
the corner of Pecan and `A' Streets for public intoxication with other
than alcohol.
Raymond H. Theftford, 25, was arrested at 9:04 p.m., on January 24 at
Balmorhea Lake for assault under the Family Violence Act.
Kenneth Northern, 33, was arrested at 2:27 a.m., on February 1 at Eighth
and Ash streets for theft under $50.
Rosalinda V. Munoz, 52, was arrested at 8:38 p.m., on February 3 in
the 200 block of East 12th Street for public intoxication.
Margarita A. Munoz, 23, was arrested at 10:21 p.m., on February 3 in
the 1900 block of West Fourth Street on a warrant for four counts of perjury
on signing forgery affidavit.
Melvin Garcia, 35, was arrested at 1:29 a.m., on February 4 in the 700
block of Cedar Street for public intoxication.
Obituary
Martha Hagar
Weather
PECOS, February 6, 2001 - High Monday 79. Low this morning 45. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 35 to 40. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Wednesday:
Partly cloudy: Breezy and warm. High 70 to 75. Southwest wind 15 to 25
mph and gusty. Wednesday night: Partly cloudy. Low near 40. Thursday: Mostly
cloudy and breezy with a slight chance of rain. High near 55. Friday: Partly
cloudy and cool. Low around 30. High near 55. Saturday: Partly cloudy.
Low 25 to 30. High 60 to 65.
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
|
