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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Tuesday, May 15, 2001
Commissioners OK deal to light Martinez Field
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tuesday, May 15, 2001 -- Reeves County Commissioners approved an interlocal
cooperation contract for community sports and recreation program between
Reeves County, Town of Pecos City and Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD to provide
sports lighting for Martinez Field during their regular meeting on
Monday at the Reeves County Courthouse.
Commissioners also approved DRG's request for payment for work at the
Reeves County Detention Center and a contract between Reeves County and Garza
County Regional Juvenile Center at Monday morning's meeting.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo told the group that the cooperation
contract would allow them to provide lighting at the field, which will be
used for high school softball.
"The school has appropriated $15,000 for this and one of the things that's
vital is that we will install a sprinkler system," said Galindo.
Martinez field was originally built in 1981 for baseball, at a cost of
$99,000. But lights were never installed, which has limited its usefulness
over the past 20 years. The county and Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD renovated
the field in 1998 when Pecos High School began its girls softball program.
Galindo said the field could also be used by other groups, such as the
Senior League baseball, T-ball players, older men's softball and girl's softball.
A payment to DRG for reimbursement in the amount of $1,735. "This is for
the support building and it has been approved," said county auditor Lynn
Owens.
Reeves County Juvenile Probation officer Louise Moore was on hand to talk
to the court about placing juveniles in other facilities.
Moore told the court that they place juveniles at those sites because
they might offer services that are beneficial to those in detention. For
example, some juveniles may be placed at another facility, to deal with their
substance abuse or psychological help, she said.
"This is only if we are able to get state funding and it does have to
go through the commissioners court," said Moore. "They have funds especially
set aside for rural counties."
Contracts with both Garza County Regional Juvenile Center and Interchange
Youth and Family Services, in Hondo, were approved. "We want to have the
contracts for when we go before the judge," said Moore. "The sooner we get
the contracts the better our chances are of receiving the funding, because
we are not the only county that will be seeking these funds."
The facilities in question offer a longer-term type program. "These facilities
offer services for a longer term, for youth that have already been placed
on probation and have broken that probation," said Moore.
In conjunction the group approved a Juvenile Accountability Grant. "This
grant is for $13,000 with matching funds of $1,300 and this is the third
year we have applied for this grant and it's been approved," said Moore.
She said that in the past the funds have been used to purchase cameras
for the high school, along with other projects.
Red Bluff considers action over minnow lawsuit threat
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tuesday, May 15, 2001 -- Red Bluff Water Power Control Board members
discussed funding an effort to head off any plans to alter Pecos River
water releases as part of an endangered species lawsuit, during their
monthly meeting on Monday in Pecos.
The board covered the items listed on their brief agenda in under 45 minutes,
then discussed the possibility that a lawsuit could be brought by an environmental
group that has been fighting to save the habitat of the silvery minnow in
the Rio Grande. Board members said the fish has not been seen in the Pecos
river in over half a century, but were concerned any future lawsuit could
force Red Bluff and other Pecos River water districts into mandatory year-round
water releases.
Board members discussed, but took no action on retaining Austin lawyer
Susan Potts, who helped the district several years ago, when a similar threat
was posed by the Pecos River pupfish. Red Bluff General Manager Jim Ed Miller
said they also planned to talk with water district officials in Carlsbad
about possibly sharing the $10,000 cost for retaining Potts' services.
"I'm hoping we can split the difference," Miller said, while board resident
Randall Hartman said, "Even if it's more money, it doesn't matter."
While Miller said no legal action has been taken by environmentalists
at this time, according to the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico will a large
amount of water from the Jemez Reservoir in coming weeks as part of the state's
plan to sustain the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow.
New Mexico will release 6,000 acre-feet of
water from the reservoir in the next two weeks, and will store spring runoff
water in reservoirs in Northern New Mexico, instead of Elephant Butte Reservoir
near Truth of Consequences in order to assure summer releases to sustain
the minnow.
The state has been forced to re-evaluate its operation of reservoir storage
on the Rio Grande because of lawsuits filed by environmental groups seeking
to force various federal agencies to keep water in the river to sustain the
minnow, the Journal said.
Red Bluff Lake currently stores water during the winter months for release
downstream to farmers during the spring and summer. Similar rules for the
Pecos River could force the district to release water downstream year-round
while altering New Mexico's release schedule of water to Texas.
The board authorized Miller to discuss retaining Potts' services, pending
approval during the June board meeting.
In action that was taken, the board approved fixing windows on a house
at Red Bluff Lake, approved the monthly water report, cash disbursements
and accounts payable, and approved the quarterly investment review.
Miller also told the board he has not yet heard back from the Chicago
corporate offices of Loving Salt Co. on a contract send there three weeks
ago in connection with the Malaga Bend salt alleviation project.
"They've had it for three weeks, but I haven't heard any response," Miller
said. Loving Salt is seeking to pump salt spring water entering the Pecos
River at Malaga Bend to six man-made ponds, where the water would be evaporated
and the salt later mined.
The project would reduce salt levels in the Pecos River below Malaga Bend,
but Miller said the district wouldn't take any more action until hearing
back from Chicago.
"I don't want to spend another dime unless they come back with a signed
contract and earnest (guarantee) money," Miller said. The money, $25,000,
would be equal to the amount of the deposit Red Bluff returned to Loving
Salt's Albert Wagner last year. "If they don't have that kind of money, we
should just forget it," he said.
Reyes' teaching work honored by OC
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Tuesday, May 15, 2001 -- A local teacher has been recognized for his
many years of service and dedication to adult education.
David Reyes received a special award during graduation exercises at Odessa
College recently.
Reyes was nominated for teacher of the year by Odessa College, but even
though he didn't net that award he received an award for Special Recognition
for 20 years of service.
"And in 20 years I have never missed a day," said Reyes.
Reyes teaches adult basic education, English as a Second Language and
also gives GED instruction.
"I was really surprised at learning that I won this award," said Reyes.
Reyes really shouldn't be at all surprised, since he has helped many go
on to earn their GED's, to learn to speak English and to further their education.
"I also taught at the Ector County Public schools, but I enjoy teaching
adults more," said Reyes.
Reyes depends on a wheelchair to get around, but that doesn't stop him
from his devotion to giving to others and providing them an opportunity to
learn.
He lost his left arm in an industrial accident at the age of 12 when he
reached into an operating commercial dryer at the former Pecos Laundry, now
Iglesia Emmanuel, at the corner of Cherry and Willow. He went on to graduate
from Pecos High School in 1951 and some years later experienced what he calls,
"a freak accident."
While working at the Camp Hospital building, which now houses the local
Texas Department of Human Services offices, Reyes said he slipped on a wet
floor while showing another employee around for the TDHS renovation project.
"My head hit the floor so hard," said Reyes. "The only functioning parts
of my body were my eyes and ears."
From that point until 1960 when he began courses at the University of
Texas of the Permian Basin he underwent strenuous physical therapy rehabilitation
at various hospitals, including one in Bethesda, Maryland. He managed to
regain usage of his right arm and left leg, speech, and most of his upper
body.
He received an associate's degree from Odessa College, his BA from UTPB
and his master's degree from Sul Ross State University.
As for his plans for the future, retirement is not included. "I don't
plan to ever retire," said Reyes. "This is something I enjoy doing and will
keep doing for as long as I can."
Latina Pageant's entry deadlines set for next week
PECOS, Tuesday, May 15, 2001 -- The Miss Permian Basin Latina/Teen Latina
Pageant is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., on June 1 at the MHCC Annual Mex-Tex
Menudo Cook-Off at Midland Center.
Any woman with 25 percent Hispanic descent is welcome to participate in either
the Teen and Miss categories.
The teen contestants must be between the ages of 13 and 17, single with no
children and a legal resident of the United States. The miss contestants
must be between the ages of 18 and 28 and can be single, married or divorced
with or without children as well as being a legal resident of the United
States.
The pageant entry fee is $200 and the deadline is May 22. Winners will
represent the Permian Basin at the National Miss Latina/Teen Latina Pageant
in San Antonio on July 3-5.
For an application contact the Miss Permian Basin Latina Pageant at (915)
570-8898 or for more information log onto www.MISSLATINA.com.
Weather
High Monday 93. Low this morning 68. Forecast for tonight: Partly
cloudy. Low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Wednesday: Partly
cloudy and warm. High around 100. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Wednesday
night: Partly cloudy. Low around 60. Thursday: Partly cloudy. High
95 to 100. Friday: Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms.
Lows from the upper 50s to the lower 60s. Highs from the upper 80s
to the mid 90s.
Obituaries
Frank Glier, Jack Rogers and Eugenia Sanchez
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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