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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, August 29, 2001
P-B-T, police discuss Bessie Haynes traffic plan
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Aug. 29, 2001 -- A proposed new traffic plan for the area around
Bessie Haynes Elementary School, which handles fourth and fifth grade
students for the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, was outlined during a
special meeting of the P-B-T school board Tuesday afternoon.
Town of Pecos City Police Chief Clay McKinney was on hand for the special
noon session in the P-B-T boardroom.
"I have had some concerns brought forth from some of my officers about
the traffic at Bessie Haynes Elementary School and Austin Elementary School,"
said McKinney.
McKinney told the group that they had come up with some plans to help
alleviate the problem the traffic problem at Bessie Haynes.
"I sent a rough draft to the principal at Bessie Haynes (Mary Lou Carrasco)
and she sent it right back with a few changes," said McKinney. "We're not
here to encumber anyone, we just want what is best for the safety of the
kids."
All board members approved the new traffic route for the Bessie Haynes
Elementary School campus, but McKinney said that the plans would have to
be presented before the city council before anything is done.
"The city manager knows about it, but it will still need to go before
the city council," he said.
McKinney provided a map with the changes and told board members that the
plans included making East 11th and South Sycamore streets into
one-way streets between certain times of the day. "They would be one-way
streets, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and in the afternoons between 2:30 p.m.
and 4:30 p.m.," he said. "We would cordon them off and post signs to let
everyone know."
McKinney said that in the proposal, a section of 11th Street
between Locust and Sycamore streets, which is currently only utilized by
school buses, would be open to everyone. "This part of 11th Street
is for buses only, but we would open it up for traffic," he said.
"There's a bump there that needs to be fixed if it is opened up to traffic,
because some people might not know about it," said P-B-T ISD Superintendent
Don Love. The section is elevated from the regular street level, with signs
warning drivers it is not a through street.
The bus stop would then be moved to the east side of Bessie Haynes, where
the parking lot is located.
McKinney said that the cost to do all this would be minimal.
"They will be able to enter off of Locust or Mesquite streets on to 11
th and exit through 10th or Mesquite streets, once they
have picked up their child," said McKinney.
"We'll need to cordon the streets off and fix the dip, but it wouldn't
be real costly," said Love. "There is a dip on that part of 11th
used by buses only where the curb is still there that needs to be fixed,
and the city could come in and do that."
Love said that the students will be in the cafeteria as always and will
exit the building once their bus drives up.
"The teachers don't want the kids in the halls or the classrooms after
school," said Carrasco.
"With a little education we can get everyone to conform to this," she
added.
"This is just going to restrict the people who live around there, but
we could do a survey or something and let them know," said Love.
"We could put a flyer or something for the students to take home and the
let the parents know when the time comes," said Carrasco.
McKinney said the plans would go before the council first and then it
would be implemented immediately afterwards, if the city agrees.
"I think this is a very feasible and efficient plan and I would like to
commend everyone who worked on it," said school board president Crissy Martinez.
"It's not a perfect plan, but it's something to start off with," said
McKinney.
Love said that the issue could also be brought up during open house at
the school, which is scheduled for this month.
"The main concern is the safety of the students," said Carrasco. "I think
there's more organization like this."
McKinney told the group that he would be meeting with Austin Elementary
School Principal Victor Tarin to come up with a plan for that campus. The
addition of third grade classes at Austin this year has also caused traffic
flow problems around that campus in the mornings and afternoons.
"I've spoken to him and we're going to get together and come up with a
traffic route there as well," said McKinney.
In other action, board members approved TRS insurance as the employee
health insurance.
Love presented board members with statistics and a survey that showed
that most of the employees voted for the TRS plan.
"If we go with this insurance plan we have to do it for three years,"
he said.
"My recommendation is to go with what the insurance committee wanted and
with what the survey said the employees wanted," said Love. "Once we go with
this state health plan, there's no turning back, we have to do this for three
years."
PHA gives OK to golf course expansion
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Aug. 29, 2001 -- The Pecos Housing Authority (PHA) Board of
Commissioners approved an interlocal cooperation contract between Reeves
County, the Town of Pecos City and PHA concerning land for the construction
of two additional holes at the Reeves County Golf Course, during the
regular meeting last night at the PHA/Farm Labor Housing (FLH) Administration
Office on Teague Drive.
The board discussed changes in the contract with County Judge Jimmy Galindo,
which they all agreed on during a previous meeting.
The changes in the contract were small and mainly involved wording.
The contract allows Reeves County to use land owned by PHA on the south
side of Interstate 20 for the expansion of the Reeves County Golf Course.
Galindo said that the revisions to the contract changed wording from PHA
donating land to the county to PHA continuing ownership and letting the county
use the land for beautification.
"Ownership is not transferred," Galindo said.
Board Commissioner Ray Golden asked for a complete description of the
land that is owned by PHA be added to the contract resolution.
In the contract the description of the land is only land South of Interstate
20 owned by PHA. Golden said that he believes that a more detailed description
would be beneficial.
Board Chairman Frank Perea said that PHA would allow the county to use
all of the land owned by housing authority for use in expansion now and in
the future. The land has been vacant since the World War II-era Airbase Apartments
on the south side of I-20 were torn down in the mid-1980s.
Galindo said that the county intends to use some of the land for the expansion
of the golf course. Two holes of the proposed seven-hole addition to the
course would be located on PHA property, and the land that is not used they
would beautify.
"The intention would be to develop and beautify all the land up to the
state property," he said, referring to the I-20 south service road.
The board agreed to pay for the research and recording of a complete description
of the PHA land.
During the FLH portion of the meeting, the board approved the draft copy
of a letter from the Commissioners to Rural Development in regards to their
request for conversion of the Farm Labor status to Multi-family Housing.
Director of PHA/FLH Nellie Gomez said that she has been talking with John
Perkins of Rural Development in Fort Stockton about their request for conversion
of the FLH Apartments on West County Road.
She said that Perkins has been giving her advice on how to go about requesting
a conversion and he said that she needed to type up a letter giving reasons
for their request.
In the letter, Gomez explains that migrant and seasonal farm labor housing
is not as much in demand as in previous years. She said that previously the
demand for housing would be from four to five months and has now been cut
to one month.
Gomez said that a few of the apartments in the FLH have been rented out
to non-migrant working families during the off season, which is what the
FLH has been surviving on.
She said that more people are waiting for openings into the off season
apartments and believe that it would be much more beneficial to change the
housing into Multi-family Housing with a number of three, two and one bedroom
apartments.
"We do have enough people on the waiting list to fill them," she said.
The board also discussed and approved the monthly reports, updates on
various projects and the accounts payable for both PHA and FLH.
Strong storms drench San Angelo, Houston
By The Associated Press
PECOS, Wed., Aug. 29, 2001 -- As much as 8 inches of rain in parts of the
Concho Valley flooded out some residents and covered highways in the
region of West Texas, but residents aren't complaining too much as
they watch reservoirs filling up.
From 5,000 and 10,000 acre-feet of runoff was expected to flow into Twin
Buttes Reservoir after Tuesday's rains. The rains came two days after Stratton
Cralles' church, and many others in West Texas, observed Sunday as Pray for
Rain Day.
The Houston area was under a flash flood watch Wednesday morning as an
east-west line of heavy showers moved north through the city after drenching
Galveston. The National Weather Service for Houston/Galveston said the watch
likely would be extended because more rain was expected Thursday.
Cralle, who lives on the South Concho River, said most of his eight acres
of land were covered in water. His rain gauge, which measures up to 6 inches,
was overflowing when he woke up Tuesday. So he poured out the water and collected
another inch. His garage had 3 feet of water in it.
"It's delightful," he said. "It will take a while to clean up, but its
still great. It should put a lot of water in Twin Buttes. I saw a lot of
it flow by here. We sure are glad to get this rain."
Residents of Christoval in Tom Green County reported from 4 inches to
more than 8 inches of rain Tuesday morning. Around Mertzon, up to 5 inches
fell. U.S. Highway 67 between San Angelo and Mertzon and Farm-to-Market Roads
915 and 2469 near Mertzon were closed due to flooding.
School bus drivers in Christoval could not deliver students to schools
and drivers had to find alternate routes to return students to their home
as some roadways became impassable. Classes were canceled for the day Tuesday.
Authorities were keeping a close eye on the South Concho River, south
of San Angelo, after a river flood watch was issued.
Some residents of Sherwood, a town of about 150, sought help from rising
water early Tuesday when the town and nearby areas received about 5 inches
of rain in a two-hour period.
Heavy rains also fell near San Antonio. A total of more than 7 inches
was reported for Pipe Creek. The National Weather Service said Gonzales,
Medina Lake, Boerne and Leakey have been inundated with up to 5 inches of
rain or more since Sunday.
The level of the Edwards Aquifer, which supplies San Antonio area residents
with drinking water, had been dropping in a summer dry spell.
Now, it appears no limits on water consumption are likely for the rest
of this summer, but the region still needs a wet fall and winter to avoid
restrictions next year, an Edwards Aquifer Authority official said.
"This has bought us more time," said Geary Schindel, the authority's chief
technical officer.
Scattered storms will continue to drop rain in eastern West Texas and
North Central Texas through late Wednesday, said John Cohen, a meteorologist
with the National Weather Service in San Angelo.
"We may not see as much rainfall as we saw this morning." He said. "But
any additional rainfall is going to create additional headaches."
Queen candidate's gordita plate sale scheduled Friday
PECOS, Wed., Aug. 29, 2001 -- A Gordita Plate Sale will be held from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m., Friday at the Santa Rosa Hall.
Plate will consist of two gorditas, available with chile verde with meat
or potatoes and meat; rice and beans for $3.50 or individual gorditas for
$1.50.
For orders call the hall at 445-2302 on Friday.
The fundraiser is to help out 16th of September Queen Candidate
Alex Bitolas.
Freshmen Eagles football opener location changed
PECOS, Wed., Aug. 29, 2001 -- The Pecos Eagles' freshman football team
will open its 2001 season Thursday evening in Carlsbad instead of Kermit,
coach Tino Acosta said.
The freshmen were to have played their opening game in Kermit, but the
Yellowjackets do not have enough players this season for a ninth grade squad.
Starting time for Thursday's game against the Cavemen is 6 p.m. CDT.
Pecos' junior varsity will open their season as scheduled at Kermit on
Thursday evening, while the varsity Eagles will begin their 2001 season on
Friday night, hosting the Yellowjackets at 8 p.m.
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.
***
Louie Rayos, 28, was arrested at 11:02 p.m., on August 23 in the 800
block of South Cedar Street on a Reeves County warrant for harassment.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 8:50 a.m., on August 21 at Pecos High
School for assault causing bodily injury.
***
Daniel Rivera, 23, was arrested at 11:47 a.m., on August 26 at Reeves
County Jail on a Capias Pro Fine warrant and warrants for possession of a
controlled substance, Class B Misdemeanor and delivery of a controlled substance,
State Jail Felony.
***
Benjamin Anchondo, 20, was arrested at 6:51 p.m., on August 25 at Lincoln
and Park streets for failure to identify.
***
Alonzo Munoz, 29, was arrested at 8:39 p.m., on August 25 at Third and
Sycamore streets on a warrant for theft over $50 and under $500.
***
Javier Villegas, 20, was arrested at 12:34 a.m., on August 26 at Reeves
County Civic Center for public intoxication.
***
Hector Rodriguez, 20, was arrested at 5:23 a.m., on August 26 in the
1600 block of Johnson Street for driving under the influence by a minor.
***
Jose L. Lujan, 39, was arrested at 9:07 p.m., on August 24 in the 500
block of South Cedar Street for public intoxication-enhanced.
***
Bernardino N. Mora, 36, and Michelle Rodriguez, 26, was arrested at
11:22 p.m., on August 24 in the 1300 block of Cypress Street both on warrants
for possession of drug paraphernalia.
***
Craig R. Sperlich, 39, was arrested at 12:26 a.m., on August 25 at Flying
J Travel Plaza for theft over $50.
***
William L. Gochicoa, 49, was arrested at 3 a.m., on August 25 in the
100 block of East Fourth Street for public intoxication.
***
Javier Contreras, 38, was arrested at 10:28 a.m., on August 24 in the
200 block of Cypress Street on DPS warrants.
***
Hector M. Rey, 43, was arrested at 8:30 p.m., on August 27 in the 700
block of East Second Street for disorderly conduct and public intoxication,
enhanced.
***
Pedro Morales, 63, was arrested at 10:11 p.m., on August 27 in the 900
block of East Third Street on a warrant for public intoxication and public
intoxication.
***
Edubigen O. Ocon, 28, and Felipe H. Ocon, 71, were arrested at 5:32
p.m., on August 28 in the 1000 block of South Pecan Street both for assault
under the Family Violence Act.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., Aug. 29, 2001 -- High Tuesday 92. Low this morning 67.
Forecast for tonight: Mostly cloudy with a less than 20 percent chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Low in the upper 60s. East wind 5 to
10 mph. Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a less than 20 percent chance
of showers and thunderstorms. High in the lower 90s. Southeast wind
5 to 10 mph. Thursday night: Mostly cloudy. Low around 70. Friday
and Saturday: Partly cloudy. Lows from the upper 60s to lower 70s.
Highs 90 to 95.
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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