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| Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Pecos Country of West Texas Top Stories Tuesday, October 30, 2001 TxDOT plans still on schedule for area despite cash shortage By LEIA HOLLAND Staff Writer PECOS, Tues., Oct. 30, 2001 -- As Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot), in Austin, announced project delays due to money shortage two weeks ago TxDot employs in Pecos continue work on projects that are already progressing. Public Information Officer for the Pecos Area Glen Larum said that the money shortage would not affect any projects around Pecos. He said the only project that would be delayed is reconstruction of FM 1053 in Crane County, which has been pushed back to next spring. Construction, which would widen two bridges just south and east of Pecos, has already been in progress for some time and would continue until finished, according to Larum. "Work that is now underway will continue," he said. Plans for building new offices for TxDot in Pecos would continue because it is still in the early planning stages, according to Larum, and would not begin construction until the budget crisis is over. TxDOT plans to build a new facility in Pecos on Interstate 20 on the west side of town, to replace its current yard at Highway 17 and Business I-20. "Building the new offices will actually not be delayed because our plans are still far enough out there," he said. Larum explained that a few things including the good weather this summer, which allowed project crews work steadily, caused the budget crisis. "We had a lot of construction activity this summer," he said. "There was also a reduction in available revenue." However, Larum said that despite the slow down in projects, the effect of the budget crisis should not be noticeable in Pecos. "I don't think it'll be significant," he said. Plans that are scheduled for 2002 are still on schedule, according to Larum, because he said that the delay would be over. "Projects for Pecos in 2002 will be well past this budget," he said. Mag's school  ratings please PHS officials By ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, Tues., Oct. 30, 2001 -- Officials and students at Pecos High School all excited about an article in the latest issue of Texas Monthly magazine, which gives the school high marks in its own rating system for campuses across the state. "We're really happy with this," said Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Superintendent Don Love, after Pecos High School received five stars under the survey done by Texas Monthly and published in their November issue which was released earlier this month. "I think it's great," said Love, who added that not all the schools were ranked. Pecos High School was the only school within P-B-T ISD that was ranked. Other districts, such as Monahans-Wickett-Pyote and Fort Stockton ISD had two or more schools included in the rankings. Love said that the magazine compared the school with other school districts similar to Pecos. "They had a more rigorous TAAS proficiency, they had 85 percent instead of just passing," said Love. The magazine divided schools up based on their income levels. Pecos was compared with the schools that were similar, with between 50-75 percent of the students being considered economically disadvantaged. "With all that we were ranked a five-star school," said Love. "If you look at reviewing the number, P.H.S. had 60 percent or 85 percent or better on the reading TAAS and 44 percent made a score of 84 percent or more on the math TAAS," he said. The school also received a rating on what the magazine termed a gap and Pecos had a minus-2 gap. The smaller the gap the higher the ranking and a positive score represented a very high performance, according to Texas Monthly. In contrast though, Balmorhea ISD saw Texas Monthly give its elementary school the lowest ranking. Balmorhea Elementary received only one star, according to the magazine, due to low reading and math scores. The elementary level was the only one rated in Balmorhea ISD by Texas Monthly, and was given a gap of minus-65, while the district itself was in the same 50-75 percent bracket as P-B-T ISD. This is just another of method of rating, but P-B-T officials are extremely happy with the results, according to Love. "We know what the bottom line is and that is TEA, but it's still exciting when a group like Texas Monthly comes in and rates your school and you receive such good scores," said Love. Love said that this is something positive for P.H.S. and the community. "It's something I've always said, P-B-T ISD is a great place to get a good education, we have kids going to college all over the country and here as well," said Love. "There's no doubt in our mind, that P-B-T ISD has a lot to offer." Love said he has already had a few people call him about the article and has received good responses. "The bottom line is we've got to satisfy TEA, but this was great news," he said. Their criteria was more rigorous, said Love. "This says a lot about our community and our school," he said. The school ratings are available online at www.texasmonthly.com WTNB's drive-thru opening goes smoothly By LEIA HOLLAND Staff Writer PECOS, Tues., Oct. 30, 2001 -- West Texas National Bank employees and customers had a new experience when the bank opened its new drive-thru window yesterday morning. WTNB President John Grant said that the first day with the new windows opened went very well with many customers getting their first opportunity to use the new delivery system. "We had about 500 transactions, which was very good," he said. The three retail and one commercial lane opened for the first time at 7:30 a.m., yesterday morning with bank tellers Aurora Franco and Christina Orona at the controls. While the drive-thru was under construction, the bank set up a temporary drive-thru on Fifth Street between Cypress and Elm Streets, where Franco worked at the old Pecos Savings and Loan drive-thru window. Grant said that he believes that Franco is happy to be back with her co-workers at the bank even though she and Orona were nervous about the first day at the new drive-thru, which is similar to the pneumatic tube system in use for many years at Security State Bank "They were nervous at first," he said. "They found out it was going to be a lot easier than they thought." Franco and Orona said that everyone that visited the new drive-thru was excited about using it for the first time. "Everybody was excited," Franco said. "They think it's high tech." Franco said that at the start of the second day behind the glass that she and Orona were not as nervous as yesterday. "I think it's going to be great," she said. "It's good for Pecos overall." Luckily it didn't take the ladies long to get used to the controls. "We're trying to get used to it," Franco said. "It hasn't taken that long." "It comes naturally," Orona said. Grant said that WTNB's purpose of building the new drive-thru is to make transactions faster for the customers. "The purpose of remodeling the drive-thru is to make it more efficient, faster and more convenient for the customers," he said. Franco believes that the new system does make it faster for the customers and explained that at one point yesterday the lanes were full and before she knew it everyone was gone. Franco and Orona have a few more chances to practice with the new system before the city and county gets paid next week and the bank is swamped. Franco and Orona both said that when that day comes they'll be ready. "That's when the fun starts," Orona said. An open house is scheduled for Nov. 16, according to Grant. He said that the community is invited to enjoy giveaways, food and a live remote for 98.3 FM. "We're just basically going to have fun with it," he said. Grant explained that the bank began planning for the remodeling since last year. Customers are now able to enter the drive-thru from Oak Street and exit onto Sixth Street, which Grant said should be easier. Also, Grant said that with all four lanes open, 15 cars would be able to be in "the cue" before being stopped in the street as opposed to the 12 cars that could be held before the remodeling. "It should be much quicker and more convenient," he said. While customers wait for the lanes to open, Grant said that the Pecos Enterprise would set up paper vending machines at each lane by the end of November. Grant said that he appreciates the work that Spencer & Associates did on construction, especially Augustine Hidalgo, the construction supervisor. The new drive-thru will be opened continuously from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Halloween, full moon paired in rare match-up Wednesday MIAMI - For the first time in 46 years, this year's Halloween ghosts and goblins can trick or treat by the light of a full moon. They won't get another chance until 2020, astronomers said. Wednesday's full moon will look like an orange jack-o-lantern rising from the east at dusk, said Jack Horkheimer, executive director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium. It will appear orange at the horizon because it is seen through denser layers of the earth's atmosphere. Adding to the effect, the moon's tilt at this time of the year makes the "man in the moon" particularly visible. Some astronomers believe jack-o-lantern carving was inspired by the rising, orange October moon, said Horkheimer, writer and host of PBS's nationally syndicated Star Gazer series for 25 years. To make the superstitious even more jittery, a constellation associated with the some end-of-the-world beliefs will also be at the top of Wednesday night's sky. The Seven Sisters constellation, which looks like a small cluster of grapes, has long been a signal for the time of year to honor the dead - such as All Saints Day, Nov. 1. According to myth, the Seven Sisters constellation is at its highest point in the sky during a great calamity, possibly the biblical flood or the sinking of Atlantis. The Aztecs and Mayans believed it would be overhead at midnight on the night the world comes to an end, Horkheimer said. The Seven Sisters and the full moon will both be directly overhead at midnight, he said. "It's just very nifty because it will be a very bright full moon and when it's up high like that, it will just flood the landscape with a lovely bright light," said Horkheimer. FFA meeting set for November 13 at PHS ag building PECOS, Tues., Oct. 30, 2001 -- There will be a FFA meeting at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Agriculture Building at the Pecos High School. There will be the performances of the leadership development events along with major stockshows entries. FFA dues are also due and they are $15 each. All FFA members and parents are invited to attend. 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. *** Javier Rameriz, 49, Jesus Hernandez, 62, and Miguel Natividad, 37, were arrested at 7:55 p.m., on October 18 in the 700 block of East Second Street, all for public intoxication. *** Nolberto Salinas, 73, was arrested at 11:54 p.m., on October 18 in the 300 block of South Orange Street for public intoxication. *** Gabriel Gonzalez, 24, and Joseph Urias, 26, were arrested at 1:38 a.m., on October 19 in the 2900 block of Toliver Street. Gonzalez was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct while Urias was arrested for public intoxication. *** Geronimo Menchaca, 58, was arrested at 11:45 p.m., on October 21 in the 700 block of Cedar Street for public intoxication. *** Alberto Prieto, 42, was arrested at 12:45 a.m., on October 22 in the 600 block of Mesquite Street for abuse of aerosol paint and possession of drug paraphernalia. *** Dana M. Kimble, 19, and David L. Levario, 18, were arrested at 1:26 a.m., on October 22 at Maxey Park both for possession of marijuana under two ounces. *** Donovan A. Rodriguez, 31, was arrested at 11:51 p.m., on October 20 in the 3100 block of Moore Street on a warrant for endangering a child. *** Timothy Villalobos, 19, Leo O. Varela, 18, and D'Andra Fuentez, 21, were arrested at 12:53 a.m., on October 21 in the 600 block of Ross Boulevard. Villalobos and Varela were both arrested for minor in possession and consuming an alcoholic beverage while Fuentez was arrested for making alcohol available to minors. *** Ruben P. Fuentes, Jr., 22, was arrested at 7:51 p.m., on October 19 in the 2000 block of Nebraska Street on a warrant for parole violation. *** Victor O. Prieto, 43, was arrested at 1:37 p.m., on October 22 at Fifth and Locust Street for a felony grand jury indictment for possession of controlled substance. *** Nelson Lee McGrew, 37, was arrested at 4:42 p.m., on October 22 at 14th and Cedar Street on a warrant for motion to revoke. *** Denise R. Kane, 42, was arrested at 7:56 p.m., on October 25 in the 5300 block of South Cedar Street for failure to identify to a peace officer. *** Albert Perez, 20, and Rigoberto Perez, 24, were arrested at 10:44 p.m., on October 25 in the 1100 block of East Third Street. Albert Perez was arrested on a Capias Pro Fine warrant while Rigoberto Perez was arrested on several warrants for theft by check over $20 and under $500, failure to adjudicate, and gone off bond. *** Natividad Ovalle, 31, Joe A. Salas, 23, and Irma Jimenez, 25, were arrested at 6:48 p.m., on October 24 in the 900 block of South Oleander Street. Ovalle was arrested on a warrant for theft by check over $20 and under $500 while Salas and Jimenez were both arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with in 1,000 feet of a school zone. *** Norman T. Gurule, 33, was arrested at 7:10 p.m., on October 24 in the 1900 block of South Cedar Street on a warrant for possession of a substance in penalty of group two, after being lawfully arrested-second degree felony. *** Orlando O. Baeza, 22, was arrested at 10:14 p.m., on October 24 in the 800 block of East Second Street for public intoxication. *** Steve Green, 49, was arrested at 8:56 p.m., on October 23 in the 300 block of West Ninth Street on three Capias Pro Fine warrants. *** Steve Green, 49, was arrested at 1:10 a.m., on October 25 at the Reeves County Sheriff's Office on a Capias Pro Fine warrant. *** Letty Armendariz, 21, was arrested at 8:50 p.m., on October 23 in the 1500 block of Johnson Street on a Reeves County warrant for theft by check over $20 and under $500. *** Rudy Renteria, 30, was arrested at 6:15 p.m., on October 28 in the 800 block of South Eddy Street for public intoxication and theft. *** Ricardo Herrera, Jr., 20, was arrested at 6:11 p.m., on October 27 in the 500 block of South Oak Street on a warrant for speeding (65 mph in a 30 mph zone). *** Pedro Barreno, 17, and Gilbert Plasencia, 20, were arrested at 10:13 p.m., on October 27 in the 800 block of South Locust Street both for public intoxication. Barreno was also arrested for resisting. *** Samuel Mata, 18, was arrested at 10:52 p.m., on October 27 in the 900 block of East Ninth Street for public intoxication. *** Benito Juarez, 18, was arrested at 12:39 a.m., on October 28 in the 700 block of South Pecan Street for evading. *** Ilidia Juarez, 17, was arrested at 1:31 p.m., on October 28 in the 700 block of South Pecan Street for interference and resisting. *** Roberto Rodriguez, 45, was arrested at 9:30 p.m., on October 26 in the 500 block of West 12th Street for operating a vehicle with improper registration and a fictitious inspection sticker. *** Jose Bustamante, 46, was arrested at 12:26 a.m., on October 27 at Third and Palm Streets for public intoxication. *** Edward Briceno, 30, was arrested at 2:06 a.m., on October 27 in the 2900 block of Toliver Street for driving with a suspended license. *** Sonia Y. Rodriguez, 27, was arrested at 2:38 a.m., on October 30 in the 1300 block of Cherry Street on a Hockley County Sheriff's Office warrant for hindering a secured creditor. Weather PECOS, Tues., Oct. 30, 2001 -- High Mon. 84. Low this morning 51. Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows 50 to 55. South winds 5 to 15 mph. Wed.: .Partly cloudy and breezy. Highs near 85. SW winds 15 to 25 mph. Wed. night: Partly cloudy. Lows 50 to 55. Thurs.: Partly cloudy. Highs 80 to 85. Fri.: Partly cloudy. Lows 50 to 55. Highs 75 to 80. Obituary Kelton Garrett Search Entire Site: 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