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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, November 23, 2001, PECOS ENTERPRISE
Graffiti removal program for city starts next month
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Nov. 23, 2001 - Graffiti in Pecos has become a terrible eyesore,
but local officials hope a new program will help alleviate the problem.
The Graffiti Removal Program will kick off at 8 a.m., on Saturday, Dec.
1. It is being funded through a Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block
Grant that is given to the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center each
year.
"Through this grant, I will be able to purchase the necessary materials
such as paint, roller, pans, etc., that is needed in order to cover up
the graffiti in the city of Pecos," said Pecos Police Department Gang Officer
Armando Granado, who will oversee the program.
Graffiti removal will be performed in two different stages, according
to Granado. The first stage will target all the buildings that have graffiti
on them.
"If the building is abandoned, we will go ahead and paint over the graffiti,
but if the building is an active business, I will first talk to the owner
or manager and get their consent to paint over the graffiti," said Granado.
The reason for this is that some of the buildings have colored walls
and Granado said that he will only purchase three different colors of paint.
The second stage will target the homes that have cinder block, metal
and wooden fences that have graffiti on them. "With this stage we will
need to get in touch with the media letting the citizens know that if they
have a fence with graffiti and want it removed to contact me at the Pecos
Police Department," said Granado.
"I will be using Pecos youth from the ages of 10-16, that have been
ordered by the court to perform community service as ordered by the City
of Pecos Municipal Court," said Granado. "While supervising the youth and
making sure that the job is done, it will give me the opportunity to talk
to the youth and hopefully lead them in the right direction."
Granado said that he felt that this program would benefit the community
of Pecos and the police department. "It will show the community that the
police department really cares what our city looks like," he said.
"Through this program it will hopefully create a better relationship
between the community and the police department," he said. "It will show
the community that the police department is here for them, and that we
will do or help out in any way we can."
This program should be a big plus for the police department, according
to Granado.
The goals of this program will be to get the local youth involved in
the safety and welfare of the community and schools.
For more information on the program contact the Pecos Police Department
at 445-4911.
Christian Home helpers fix 330 turkey dinners
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Nov. 23, 2001 - The Pecos Christian Home's annual Thanksgiving
dinner attracted fewer people than in recent years on Thursday, officials
involved with the event said today, which may be due to pre-holiday food
donations that were handed out in the community.
Bruce Dury, executive director of the Christian Home, said a total of
330 people were served between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thanksgiving day. That's
down from the over 470 who were given turkey dinners and desserts by volunteers
at the Reeves County Civic Center a year ago, while a total of 98 people
in the local Meals on Wheels program had their dinners delivered by volunteers,
down from 139 a year ago.
Dury said the Civic Center was at its busiest between 10 and 10:30 a.m.,
when groups ordering plates came in, and volunteers began delivering the
Meals on Wheels holiday dinners.
"Most of it was between 10 and 10:30 a.m. We try to get them out first,
but the problem is getting enough volunteers here at that time. But we
get it done," Dury said.
Volunteer Velma Bradley, who helped with the preparation of the meals
at the Civic Center, said last week's delivery of food baskets by the West
Texas Food Bank may have been the reason fewer people took advantage of
the Christian Home's dinner this year.
"They gave out about 600 food baskets, so some people may have stayed
home and done their cooking there," she said. This was the first year for
the food bank's effort in Pecos, and officials said last week they delivered
42 tons of food to the local families.
The drop-off was less in the Meals on Wheels program, which serves the
homebound and elderly in Pecos, but does not run on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers
went to local homes to deliver the meals, after the helpers at the Civic
Center kitchen prepared them.
"We went to 11 homes," said Sylvia Dannelley, who helped deliver meals
along with her son Jay. "I always wanted to be able to do this, but had
other plans. But this year I said to my son that we're going to do this.
"It was fun to do, because we got some deliveries on Orange Street where
he had delivered Jesus videos other times, and it was interesting to go
back to the houses we had been at before," she said, though Dury added
there were a few problems.
"One lady in a hospital bed she went to didn't speak any English, and
she didn't speak any Spanish, so that made it quite interesting," he said.
Dury wanted to thank all those who helped both in preparing and delivering
the meals on Thursday, along with those who donated desserts and prepared
the turkeys, dressing, vegetables and other items in the days leading up
to Thanksgiving.
The Christian Home will be holding another free dinner at the Civic
Center on Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25. Last year, the Christian Home
and its volunteers served a total of 380 people Christmas dinner.
Eagles place 19 players on All-District Football squad
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Nov. 23, 2001 - A dozen members of the Pecos Eagles varsity football
team were named to the first team all-district 2-4A football squad, while
seven other Pecos players were second team selections in voting by the
district's coaches last week in Van Horn.
Pecos had 19 different players selected to 20 spots on the 2-4A team,
after finishing second to El Paso Mountain View in the district standings.
The team was released last Friday, following the elimination of Pecos,
Mountain View and third place Fabens from the Class 4A playoffs.
Of the 19 players, the only multiple selection came at the special teams
spot, where junior Abel Lopez was selected as first team punter, after
also earning first team wide receiver honors. He was one of five first
team picks on offense, and was joined by juniors Matthew Levario at running
back, Joey Ortega at tight end and Tony Trujillo on the offensive line,
while senior lineman Adan Salgado also was a first team selection.
Trujillo was the only repeat first team selection from a year ago at
his same position, while Levario earned first team honors last season as
a kicker and was a second team pick at defensive back. This year he spent
most of his time on offense, rushing for 1,041 yards in 11 games, while
leading the district in scoring with 141 points.
Lopez led the Eagles in receiving with 10 catches for 209 yards and
one touchdown, while Ortega had eight catches this season, for 89 yards.
As a punter, Lopez had 32 attempts during the season for a 35 yard average
and shared first team honors with Clint's Leonardo Carpio.
Defensively, Pecos put seven players on the first team, including all
four linemen, in ends Justin Evans, a senior and Robert Natividad, a junior,
along with senior Sammy Gonzales and junior Hugo Rodriguez on the interior
line. Seniors Richard Rodriguez and Peter Juarez were named to the first
team out of the secondary at safety and cornerback, while senior linebacker
Mason Abila was the Eagles' other first team pick.
While the Eagles' defense didn't post the numbers of a year ago, they
did score two shutouts during 2-4A play, and also blanked Canutillo after
an opening kickoff return and shut out Fabens in the second half of their
win over the Wildcats. All of the Eagle linemen were first-time first-team
picks, with Gonzales finishing tied for second in the district in fumble
recoveries with four. Abila sat out last season after earning all-district
honors in 1999 and both Juarez and Rodriguez were second team selections
last season.
On the second team, the Eagles put a couple of senior linemen, Job Navarette
and Hector Contreras, on the offensive squad, along with junior quarterback
Freddy Torres and sophomore receiver John Parent. On defense, senior safety
Jason Gonzales was a second team pick for the second straight season, and
was joined by junior linebacker Will Armstrong and junior cornerback Ruvel
Carrasco.
El Paso Mountain View also placed 19 players on the first and second
team squads, led by Offensive MVP Joey Amaya, who ran for 1,536 yards and
13 touchdowns as a sophomore. Canutillo linebacker Jacob Gaytan was Most
Valuable Player on defense for the district this season.
County studies donation of land, buying property
PECOS, Nov. 23, 2001 - Reeves County Commissioners will meet Monday during
their regular meeting to discuss several items in open session, including
the donation of land for a community center at park in Balmorhea, but will
meet behind closed doors to discuss acquisition of property by Reeves County
and classification of letter for appointment to replace retiring Judge
Lee S. Green.
The group will meet at 9:30 a.m., in the third floor courtroom and the
public is invited to attend the open portion of the meeting.
Commissioners will discuss and take action on the Nature Conservancy
of Texas' donation of land to Reeves County for Balmorhea Community Center
and Park; Texas Water Development Board Subdivisions regulations; LMD Architect
request for payment invoice numbers 197 and 216, RCDC-3 remodel project;
Reeves County Sheriff's Office; bond and oath for Yvonne Abila and Connie
Lozano.
Under regular agenda items the group will discuss and take action on:
Reports from various departments.
Budget amendments and line-item transfers.
Personnel and salary changes (RCDC, recreation department, library,
sheriff's department).
Minutes from previous minutes.
Semi-monthly bills.
Spread on the minutes: Notice of over-axle/over gross weight permits.
"God's Army" marching group meets Tuesday
PECOS, Nov. 23, 2001 - Elementary and middle school students are invited
to join "God's Army," a marching group that meets after school every Tuesday
at the Bessie Haynes/Sidney Sadler Community Center, 1100 S. Locust St.
Soldiers in God's Army pledge allegiance to the American flag, the Christian
flag and the Bible at each session, march to military commands and memorize
scripture to earn pieces of God's Armor as described in Eph. 6:10-18.
A Bible (sword of the spirit) and a baseball cap with patriotic emblems
and the logo "God's Army" (helmet of salvation) are the first pieces of
armor to be earned, said Bud Nelson, the drill instructor.
Nelson is one of many adults recruited from eight churches to lead the
student group and provide refreshments.
Obituaries
Frank Baca
Services are incomplete for Frank Baca, 57, who died Wednesday, Nov. 21,
2001 at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.
Peaceful Garden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Luciana Garcia
Luciana Garcia, 67, of Pecos, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001, at Medical Center
Hospital in Odessa.
Services were held at 2 p.m., today, at Primera Iglesia Bautista, Eighth
and Sycamore Streets with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
She was born Nov. 9, 1933, in Ojinaga, Mexico, was a homemaker, a lifetime
resident and a Baptist.
Survivors include one son, Rojelio Garcia of Odessa; five daughters,
Maria Quesada of Odessa, Janie Martinez of Eddinburg, Socorro Munoz and
Maria Orosco of Pecos and Sylvia Gonzales of Kermit; two brothers, Timoteo
Rodriguez of Ojinaga, Eladio Rodriguez of Odessa; three sisters, Maria
Orona of Ojinaga, Mexico, Aurelia Garcia of Odessa and Lydia Munoz of Pecos;
26 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Peaceful Garden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Randy Hernandez
Randy Hernandez, 43, of Pecos, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001, in Pecos.
A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., today, at Peaceful Garden Funeral
Home Chapel.
Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 24, at Santa Rosa Catholic
Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
He was born July 30, 1958, in Pecos, had served in the U.S. Navy, was
a lifetime Pecos resident, a maintenance employee at Best Western Motel
and a Catholic.
Survivors include his mother, Diega Hernandez of Pecos; two sons, Alex
Abila of Pecos and Alfred Hernandez of Lubbock; one daughter, Diega Hernandez
of Lubbock; two brothers, Daniel and Sammy Hernandez of Pecos; two sisters,
Elva Orona and Silvanna Licon of Pecos and two grandchildren.
Peaceful Garden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Augustina Vasquez
Augustina Vasquez, 84, of Pecos, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001, at Medical
Center Hospital.
Visitation will be today, Saturday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov. 25, at
the Pecos Funeral Home Chapel.
A prayer service was held at 2 p.m., today at the Pecos Funeral Home
Chapel with Deacon George Vasquez officiating.
She was born May 28, 1917, in Pecos, was a lifetime Pecos resident,
a homemaker and a Catholic.
Survivors include two sons, Reynaldo Dominguez of Pecos and Carlos Vasquez,
Jr. of Iowa Park, Tx.; one daughter, Mary Prieto of Odessa; one sister,
Anita Aguirre of Pomona, Calif.; five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, Nov. 23, 2001 - High Thanksgiving Day 74. Low this morning 61. Forecast
for tonight: Decreasing cloudiness. Windy early. Lows 40 to 45. Northwest
winds 20 to 30 mph during the evening: Diminishing to 10 to 15 mph after
midnight. Saturday: Mostly sunny and cooler. Highs in the mid 60s. West
winds 10 to 20 mph. Saturday night: Mostly clear. Lows near 30. Sunday:
Partly cloudy and warmer. Highs in the upper 60s. Monday: Partly cloudy.
Lows in the 30s. Highs in the upper 60s.
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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