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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, October 22, 2001, PECOS ENTERPRISE
Film crew puts `devil' in old Pecos ice house
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 -- People traveling to the northside of town
last week might have seen a lot of commotion at the old icehouse building
near the Union Pacific Railroad crossing on Elm Street.
Approximately 20 people rolled into town last Wednesday to begin shooting
a short film in and outside the icehouse.
Producer Bret Haller said that the director, Flavin Judd, of Marfa, was
searching the area for an old cotton gin to use in the 20-minute thriller
and came across the old icehouse.
"I came into Pecos for lunch and saw this building," Judd said.
After Judd discovered the old building, Haller said that he took a drive
through town to look at it and was impressed by the people.
"When I drove through everybody was real friendly," he said.
Members of the cast and crew are from all over the country including New
York, Los Angeles, Houston, Austin, El Paso, Marfa and even Pecos.
Unit Production Manager Carlin DeGuerinof Houston explained what the movie
is about.
She said that the movie is "sort of a moral lesson film" about the devil
coming up to Earth to find his replacement and comes across a very nasty
man named Joe.
DeGuerin said that Joe, who is a gambler, gambles his soul with the devil
on a game of tops and loses.
In order to try and win it back, Joe then gambles with the souls of his
wife and children.
Portions of the movie were filmed here as well as El Paso.
This is not the first time that Pecos residents have seen a film crew
come into town.
In 1992, citizens had a chance to become extras on the set of Flesh
and Bone, starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. A small portion of the
movie was filmed at the Town and Country Motel, now known as the Budget Inn.
In 1983, the Kevin Cosner movie Fandango was filmed around the area, including
between Pecos and Toyah and at the Rattlesnake Bomber Base in Pyote.
While filming in Pecos, Judd's crew had to rope off a portion of Elm Street
from Second Street to just over the railroad tracks.
Although roping off the street did not solve all the problems the crew
had with shooting.
Haller and DeGuerin both said that with the numerous trains and cars passing
by the building that it was hard to get the sound quality they need and sometimes
had to wait.
"Sometimes we'd get set up and then a train would come and we'd have to
take a five minute break," DeGuerin said.
Haller said that the main room of the icehouse is so big that the sound
just reverberates off the walls.
Despite that problem, Haller said that the crew has had no other problems
and was able to finish shooting by Sunday.
He said that the people of Pecos have been very friendly to them and no
one has questioned their right to be in the building.
"Everybody in the town has been real nice," he said.
DeGuerin said that nobody has bothered them while they were shooting,
the most that happens is people stare as they drive by.
"Just curious glances," she said.
In order to use the old icehouse building, Judd said that he had to talk
with a lot of people including the city, county and current and former owners
of the building.
After the crew finishes shooting here and in El Paso, the film would be
taken to either Los Angeles or New Mexico for editing.
However, it is unlikely that the residents of Pecos will get a chance
to see the finished product.
Haller said that he and Judd would be taking the film to a few film festivals,
including the Sundance Film Festival.
While their jobs kept the cast and crew busy for most of their stay they
did get the chance to eat at some local restaurants and take a look around
town.
A few members of the cast and crew were even on hand to help cheer the
Pecos Eagles to victory at the home football game on Friday.
Haller said that the cast and crew have enjoyed the city's hospitality
and he wouldn't mind shooting another movie here in the future.
"I'd come back and film here any day," he said.
Wendt enlisted for Adventists' N.Y. relief job
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 -- A Reeves County woman will be traveling on
a mission to help others, following the terrorist attacks last month
that killed an estimated 5,000 people in New York City.
Marla Wendt, member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Saragosa, has
been invited to join other missionaries from around the nation to provide
missionary work for the people of New York City.
Wendt said she is very excited about going to New York to help others.
"I will be doing missionary work, bible work with the ladies organization,"
said Wendt. "I feel lucky to have been chosen," she said.
Janet Fornia, who lives in Tennessee and knows Wendt, suggested she be
one of the missionaries to go to New York. "She knew me and knew I had done
this type of work before and suggested I be one of the missionaries to go,"
said Wendt.
Wendt is the daughter of Bill and Hazel Wendt and has two sisters and
three brothers.
She will be leaving on Thursday and will be in New York for about six
weeks.
"I had done this type of work in the Dominican and was there for three
years," said Wendt. "I would come home on holidays, but otherwise the rest
of the time I stayed there doing Bible work," she said.
"I'm really excited about going to New York, a little bit scared, but
adventurous," she said.
This summer Wendt took an emergency medical service course for ambulance
workers, which will help her in her duties. She is also fluent in Spanish,
which is another plus.
Wendt is planning a fundraiser to help finance her trip and is also taking
donations.
To help finance her trip, donations can be made to Marla Wendt, P.O. Box
593, Saragosa, Tx. 79780 or by calling 915-375-2469.
County seeks re-appraisal of RCDC site
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 -- Reeves County Commissioners agreed to have
a re-appraisal of the Reeves County Detention Center for insurance
purposes by the Texas Association of Counties, after the initial estimate
came in at only 30 percent of the facility's predicted value.
Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo said that the Texas Association of
Counties had appraised the 2,000-bed facility at $12 million.
Victor Uvaldlle, a representative from TAC told commissioners that he
would need their approval to have it re-appraised. "We will need more detailed
information for individual pricing per pod, they only appraised one and I'm
told there are five," he said.
County Auditor Lynn Owens agreed that the appraisal numbers were wrong.
"There are about four different projects we are not getting credit for,"
said Owens.
"There's five pods just in the new one, four in the old unit, plus a segregation
unit, three dayroom areas and a central support services building," said
Galindo. "There's a lot out there."
"I've communicated with the underwriting department and if you could provide
us with something that has a listing of everything," said TAC representative.
"That would help the insurance guy keep the value that you currently have."
The current appraisal amount should be $40 million, said Owens.
It will take at least a month to get another representative out here to
re-appraise the facility at its higher valuation. The re-appraisal is needed
so that the facility can be insured by Reeves County for its proper replacement
value.
In other action today, commissioners approved a space-saver for the Reeves
County Sheriff's Office.
"Basically, we're running out of file space," said sheriff's department
records clerk Gloria Reyes. "We've exhausted our space and filing system
and are in need of a system that will work efficiently for us."
Reyes said that she saw this file saver as a big benefit to the office.
"How long do you have to keep those records?" asked county judge Jimmy
B. Galindo.
"Forever," said Reyes. "The records of those arrested we have to keep
for as long as that person is alive," she said.
Reyes said that the number of repeat offenders is high and that sometimes
there are six folders per criminal.
"Is there any way that we could store the records elsewhere?" asked Galindo.
"We have to keep them where we have easy access to them," said Reyes.
The file-saver would cost $15,532 and there is room for another shelf
in future years, according to Reyes.
Eagle Band given Division III at Odessa event
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 -- The Pecos High School Marching Band received
a Division III ranking after their performance in the Region 6 UIL
Marching Contest in Odessa over the weekend.
Head Band Director Merle Lenfest said that the students worked hard and
performed well on Saturday but there were some things that needed work.
"The rating was fair," he said. "We had some things we need to work on."
The PHS band marched finished third among the three Class 4A teams that
marched in Odessa on Saturday.
Big Spring High School was the only 4A band that was given a Division
I and is now able to advance to Area Marching Contest. Andrews High School
received a Division II from the judges.
Lenfest said that once the band completed their show that night they were
happy with their effort.
"They came off the field feeling good about their performance," he said.
Lenfest said that he knew the students had given it their all during their
performance and were proud of them.
"My overall concern is that that's the best they could do and that they
feel comfortable with that," he said.
Lenfest explained that he never "preaches ratings" to his students, he
just wants them to do their best.
Once the band was in place up in the stands and the judges made their
decision, the ratings were announced.
Lenfest said that many of the students had tears in their eyes once they
heard the ratings and were disappointed.
"It's something that is hard to take because they tried so hard," he said.
However, Lenfest said that he believes that the judges were very fair
and consistent in their decisions.
"When they announced Andrews as a two, I knew what was going to happen,"
he said.
Lenfest said that one of the three judges did give the band a Division
II but with the other two judges giving a three they received a three.
As far as the judges comments, Lenfest said that they were all consistent
with each other, and stated that the band needs to work on marching consistency
and overall sound.
"There wasn't anything in there that I would disagree with," he said.
Lenfest said that the band can now relax a little and begin working toward
next year.
"Now we can sit back, take a breath and actually start to learn what we
need to become better next year," he said. "Next year starts now."
Concert season is a time for the students to actually learn to play better
instead of rushing around to perform each week, according to Lenfest.
Lenfest said that the hardest thing for the students to do is rework their
performance after losing just under a third of the band to ineligibility.
"That made it real hard for our kids," he said.
Lenfest said that he does not believe that a student fails because they
can't do the work but he also said that anyone could have a bad six weeks.
"I've told them that their grades are really important," he said. "With
that many ineligible it's concerning. They nee to concentrate on their school
work."
Now Lenfest and the band must move forward to prepare for concert season
without letting this disappointment break their spirit.
"The toughest part of my job is I'm still new to them and they need to
trust me and know that if they stick with me we'll be alright."
Rifle Match, Turkey Shoot
PECOS, Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 -- The Pecos Rifle and Pistol Club will hold
the final Service Rifle Match of the year this going Saturday at the
Club Range. An M-1 Carbine match will be held after the service rifle
competition.
The Club is also planning to hold a Turkey shoot on Saturday, November
17. The turkey shoot will include a .22 match, a 200-yard unlimited rifle
match, a shotgun match and a 400-yard bottle bust.
For more information contact Smokey Briggs at 445-5475.
Boy Scouts selling Christmas Popcorn
PECOS, Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 -- Local Buffalo Trail Council Boy Scouts
will be selling Christmas Popcorn packages until December 12.
For more information call Yvonna Johnson at 447-4143.
Weather
PECOS, Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 -- High Sunday 95. Low this morning 56. Forecast
for tonight: Mostly clear. Lows 50 to 55. West winds 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy and breezy. Highs in the lower 90s. Southwest
winds 15 to 25 mph. Tuesday night: Partly cloudy. Lows 50 to
55. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Lows 50 to 55. Highs 80 to 85.
Thursday: Mostly clear and cooler. Lows around 40. Highs in the
lower 70s.
Obituary
Lana Osborn
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 newsdesk@nwol.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 2001 by Pecos Enterprise
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