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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
March 19, 2001
Area's elections still uncontested as
deadline nears
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 19, 2001 - With only two more days to file for a position
on the ballot in the May 5 elections, a third candidate has filed for a
seat a seat on the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD board. But only one of the area's
seven scheduled elections is currently contested, meaning only a handful
of voters may have to go to the polls on May 5.
Wednesday is the last day to file for area city, school and hospital
district elections, and under state law, officials can cancel the election
if the races are not contested, in order to save money. As of today, only
voters in Precinct 2 in Reeves County will definitely be casting votes
on May 5, since there are already two candidates seeking the Precinct 2
seat on the Reeves County Hospital District Board.
Local elections that currently are uncontested include those for city
council seats in Pecos, Barstow Toyah and Balmorhea, along with the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
and the Balmorhea school boards, and for the Precinct 4 seat on the hospital
board, for which no candidate has filed so far.
There are four seats open on the P-B-T school board, which got its third
candidate on Friday. Saul "Chip" Flores, has filed for a position on the
board, joining Paul Deishler, who was appointed last year to replace Frank
Apolinar, Jr., and incumbent Brent Shaw. All three have filed for one of
the full three-year terms.
Three of the board's three-year terms, along with Deishler's one-year
unexpired term are up for election on May 5. The three-year terms are currently
held by Shaw, Earl Bates and board president Louis Matta. No one has filed
for the unexpired term as of this morning.
In the hospital district race, Clark Lindley and Linda Gholson have
filed for the Precinct 2 position, currently held by Marcella Lovett, who
has not filed for a new two-year term.
The Precinct 4 seat on the hospital board, for which no one has filed
as of today, is currently held by Holly Key.
In the Balmorhea city election incumbent Ike Ward has filed to retain
a seat along with Olga Lopez who had filed earlier to retain her seat.
Both positions are up in the May 5 elections.
Incumbent Diana Tollet of Toyah has filed to retain her seat on the
council and has been joined by newcomers Danny Wayne Enmon and Laura E.
Budlong. There are three positions open in the Toyah election.
In the Barstow City Council race, all three incumbents whose terms are
up have filed to retain their seats.
Aldermen Olga Abila, Dora Villanueva and Lucio Florez have filed to
seek new two-year terms in the upcoming local elections.
In the Town of Pecos City, two of the three incumbents and one former
city official have filed. Incumbents Gerald Tellez and Larry Levario are
joined by former Pecos mayor Frank Sanchez in the council race. Johnny
Terrazas holds the other council seat whose two-year term expires in May.
If there are no opposed candidates, along with no propositions and no
vacancies to be filled by special election in the various city, school
and hospital board races, the election may be canceled anytime after this
date. For seats on the various board for which no candidate either files
by Wednesday or opts to run as a write-in candidate, the boards can appoint
someone to fill the vacancy following the May 5 election.
The last day a person may register to vote in the local elections is
April 5. Early voting by personal appearance will be April 18 through May
1. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., on Election Day, May 5.
Zoo seeks to get over hump on funding camel
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, March 19, 2001 - Lack of funding has delayed the arrival of a
new animal to the Maxey Park Zoo.
The city recently acquired two African Lions and have been eagerly planning
for the arrival of a camel but have held off on transporting it to Pecos
due to the cost of feeding the animal.
City Health and Sanitation Director Armando Gil said that the city still
plans to get the new camel but have held off the arrival to explore new
ways of funding.
Gil said that the city has looked at many ideas of finding enough funding
to improve and maintain the zoo and its' animals.
"We're looking to also start to charge for people to come in to our
zoo," he said.
The fee would not be very large but it would help the city to keep the
zoo open, said Gil, who mentioned the possibility in January when the zoo's
newest arrivals, a pair of African lions, were brought to their new home.
The lions came from the same source the city is seeking to acquire the
camel from, a ranch for exotic animals owned by Jim and Linda Perry of
Ackerly, Tx., located near Big Spring.
City Manager Carlos Yerena said that the city wants to make the improvements
on the local zoo because it is an asset to the community.
Yerena pointed out that the Pecos zoo is the only zoo between El Paso
and Abilene.
"The city wants to continue to support the zoo because it's an asset
to the community," he said.
Yerena said that the city at this time can not afford any more animals
but is trying to look into numerous grants that would give "innovative
ways to improve the zoo."
He said that right now the city is taking "a step back" to analyze the
zoo in order to make improvements and then promote the city and zoo.
"We want to make sure we have the funding," Yerena said.
Gil said that he plans to invite many civic organizations in this area
to visit the zoo and ask local television stations to possibly do some
kind of documentary on the zoo. He also plans to contact Texas Country
Reporter to ask them to tape a story about the zoo as a segment for the
show.
Gil said that the camel would need lots of hay to feed on and said consideration
has been made on the possibility of local ranchers donating the hay for
the camel.
He said the camel is very tall and well behaved making it possible for
the community members to visit and pet the animal.
"He's people friendly, so people can actually touch him," Gil said.
Because of that fact, Gil said that ideas have come up such as walking
the camel in parades in order for the community to get a close up view
of the camel.
Yerena said that the city should have a "game plan" within a few weeks.
"We're trying to be more efficient," he said. "We want to run it (the
zoo) at least to meet the expenses."
Yerena said that the city has not canceled the plans for the new animal
but just postponed it.
"Eventually we're going to get it here," he said. "Not only the camel
but additional animals as well. It's just a matter of time."
City established fire department early in 1900s
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in a continuing series of features
on historical locations in Pecos region
By The Ghost Writer
The Pecos Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1907 or 1908,
according to an article printed in the Pecos Independent January
13, 1953. They were celebrating their 32nd annual banquet and
were recalling the great Cowan Building fire. Annual banquets must have
started after the fire. The first Fire Department was equipped with one
pumper that was to be pulled by a horse, however, the firemen pulled it
themselves.
The $350,000 Cowan Building burned January 21, 1921. A new fire truck
was in use at the time. The front of the building collapsed causing great
injury to three brothers. Charlie Manahan was fire chief at the time and
served for 25 years, retiring in 1944.
The Cowen Building housed: the Post Office, Manahan Jewelry, Warn Abstract
and Real Estate, (present day Elliott and Waldron Abstract Company) Western
Union, Collings Insurance and Elite Confectionary. Upstairs was occupied
by: Pecos Valley Southern Railroad and attorney, J.F. Ross. Charlie Doty
lived upstairs but received no harm from the fire. (This does not conform
the account of the occupancy in Alton's Hughes' book on Pecos.)
The cause of the fire was never determined; however, they were sure
that it was not caused by an electrical problem as electric power was cut
off for repairs. Only gasoline lights were in use. Pecos had been served
by a central electric and water system since at least 1911. On February
20, 1911, the Pecos City Council granted a fifty-year franchise to Pecos
Light and Ice Company for electric, gas and water systems. The system was
located on Elm Street between First and Second streets. They sold the system
in 1926 for $107,000 and it later became Texas-Louisiana Power Company,
than Community Public Service Company and the name was changed to Texas-New
Mexico Power Company. The water tower and cooling towers have been removed
but the brick building housing the power plant and ice plant remain.
The City Council, in 1953, raised the pay for firemen to $2 from $1
for each fire and $2 per meeting. They were given $3,925 to be divided
among 32 members. This $2 was not enough to cover their cleaning bills
after each fire. Pecos is fortunate to have a good fire department and
the cost is much less than a paid department. The next time you see a fireman,
thank him for a job well done.
My "mature" advisors were discussing the Pecos Fire Department with
great appreciation when one member announced that he had forgotten to shave
that morning. He thought that he must have brushed his teeth twice. That
was accepted by all until it was observed that he had no teeth. The unshaved,
toothless man sat silent for the rest of our meeting trying to remember
what it was that he had done instead of shaving. Old age gives you time
to think of important things.
Internet training course scheduled at
OC next week
PECOS, March 19, 2001 - The Odessa College Continuing Education Department
will be offering an eight-hour internet training course, Tuesday, March
27 and Thursday, March 29, from 1-5 p.m.
Anyone interested should register by Monday, March 26. No textbook is
required. Tuition is $39.
OC will also be offering a beginning Microsoft Word 2000 Course on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, March 26, 28 and 30, from 1-5 p.m. Registration deadline
for that course is this Friday. Typing skills are beneficial and a textbook
is required. Tuition is $60.
For more information stop by the college and pick up an informational
packet or call 445-5535.
Obituaries
Mary Brownlee and Joe Davis
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 indicate payment and release.
Jesus R. Armendariz, 22, was arrested at 10:36 p.m., on March 13 in the
1100 block of Orange Street for assault under the Family Violence Act.
Joel J. Roman, 38, was arrested at 11:10 p.m., on March 13 in the 1100
block of Orange Street for public intoxication.
Two male juveniles were arrested at 10:13 a.m., on March 14 at La Tienda,
both for theft under $50 and public intoxication.
Ramon Medrano, 41, was arrested at 12:23 p.m., on March 15 at Anchor
West for a Ward County warrant for assault under the Family Violence Act.
Esteban M. Enriquez, 63, was arrested at 1:39 a.m., on March 18 in the
700 block of East Second Street for driving while intoxicated.
Joaquin Gervacio, 17, and Fernando Estorga, 35, were arrested at 10:42
p.m., on March 16 in the 700 block of Sycamore Street. Gervacio was arrested
for minor in possession and Estorga was arrested for purchasing and furnishing
alcohol to minors.
Weather
PECOS, March 19, 2001 - High Sunday 62. Low this morning 40. Weekend rainfall
at Texas A&M Experiment Station .06 inch. Forecast for tonight: Mostly
clear. Low in the lower to mid 30s. Light and variable wind. Tuesday: Sunny
and warmer. High in the upper 70s. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Tuesday
night: Mostly clear. Low near 40. Wednesday: Partly cloudy and warm. High
80 to 85. Thursday: Increasing clouds. Low in the mid 40s. High near 80.
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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