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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, November 30, 2001
Nebraska jobs not guaranteed to Anchor staff
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., Nov. 30, 2001 -- Anchor Foods employees will have a shot at
100 job openings at the company's Grand Island, Neb., plant, when parent
company McCain Foods shuts down Anchor's plant in Pecos next year,
but none of those positions would be guaranteed, according to company
officials.
However, McCain will offer other jobs to local workers at an Anchor plant
in Wisconsin, for those willing to move out of Texas.
"There are going to be 100 jobs available in the Grand Island plant, owned
by McCain, but these employees still have to apply for the positions," said
Anchor Plant manager Bruce Salcido.
A story on Thursday by the Associated Press indicted that McCain Foods
would offer job transfers to 100 of the 700 employees in Pecos, with the
expansion of McCain's food-processing facility in Grand Island. That facility
is currently half the size of the Pecos plant, with only 350 employees.
"They have the jobs open, but the Pecos employees still have to apply,
and these positions would be in production," said Salcido.
Meanwhile, David Peterson, McCain Foods human resources manager for that
plant, was hoping most of the jobs would be given to local residents.
"We don't know how many workers will transfer in from Texas," he told
the Grand Island Independent, while adding. "I hope to provide a lot of jobs
locally."
Salcido said that the good news was that McCain Foods would be in Pecos
to talk to the employees about positions in their other facilities.
"One for sure is the one in Rice Lake, in Wisconsin," said Salcido. "They'll
be coming down here to talk to the employees about positions available in
their other facilities, if they would like to relocate," he said.
Salcido said that McCain Foods will also be participating in the job fairs
that are being planned by concerned citizens in Pecos.
"I'm hoping something will materialize," said Salcido.
McCain Foods bought the Anchor Food Products' plants and food-service
division in September and earlier this month announced it would close an
Anchor plant in Pecos.
With the added workers, the Grand Island plant will operate at full production
by May, Peterson said. Its operations will be ramped up to 24 hours a day,
five days a week starting in February.
To prepare for full production, McCain is spending $10 million to upgrade
the Grand Island plant, Peterson said.
The jobs being added are for production laborers with hourly wages of
$10 to nearly $13, depending on the shift worked. Full benefits also will
be offered, Peterson said.
The Grand Island plant will continue to make battered and breaded cheese
sticks, onion rings and jalapeno peppers sold under the Golden Crisp, Moores
and McCain brand names.
According to The Independent, the McCain plant in Grand Island began
in 1962 under the name Delicious Foods. Bill Peterson started the company
in the old Fairmont Creamery building, which was destroyed by fire in 1963.
The company moved to Hastings, Neb., until 1965, when it returned to Grand
Island at its current location on North Broadwell Avenue.
What began as a breaded and batter-dipped vegetable business, focusing
on onion ring production, was expanded in 1971 and 1976 to include breaded
and batter-dipped mushrooms, onion chips, zucchini, cauliflower and okra.
Peterson sold the company in 1983 to Chef Francisco. It was bought by
H.J. Heinz in 1991 and operated under the name Ore-Ida. The Canadian-based
McCain Foods Ltd. bought the plant in 1997.
Christian station seeks help with funding to stay on air
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., Nov. 30, 2001 -- A local Christian music radio station is facing
shut down, and local sponsors are seeking financial help from the community
to keep it in the area.
The 24-hour Christian radio station, K217CC, a low-powered station broadcasting
on 91.3 FM, may be moved to another location, because operation costs are
not being met locally.
"The church has sponsored and are paying for the tower," said Glenda Willis,
of First Baptist Church. "But they make sure it's being listened to and they
are saying that the pledges made are not enough to keep it here."
Willis said that twice a year a Share-A-Thon is held to help raise funds
for the station. "They said that they could move the equipment elsewhere
because they go by the number and total amount pledged," she said.
Anyone who would like to help keep the station in the area can contact
the station at 1-888-326-4543 or make a contribution.
The station provides a discussion of current events each morning from
10-11 a.m.; Focus on the Family by James Dobson at 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. and
Larry Burkett, along with Christian music and several other commentators.
"We want to make them realize that there are people here who enjoy the
station and want to keep it," said Willis.
Willis said that the station provides 24-hour news, alternative news source
and is now playing everyone's favorite Christmas music, from now until Christmas.
The station can be heard in about a 15-mile radius around Pecos, and is
one of only four FM stations available full-time to listeners in the area.
Rock stations KPTX and KCDQ and country station KKLY are the other full time
stations heard locally, though others from the Midland-Odessa area and New
Mexico are available at certain times of the day.
Drug raid nets paraphernalia, two arrests
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., Nov. 30, 2001 -- A narcotics search warrant executed Thursday
evening failed to turn up any drugs, but paraphernalia commonly used
with drugs was confiscated and a man was arrested on separate charges,
according to Pecos police.
Officers from the Pecos Police Department and the Reeves County Sheriff's
Department executed the narcotics search warrant at 7:52 p.m., Thursday,
at 511 W. Fifth St.
Once the residence was secured, officers proceeded to search the residence,
according to Pecos Police Investigator Paul Deishler.
"During the search the officers located several items which is commonly
used in the smoking of marijuana," said Deishler. "Also located inside the
residence was a controlled substance which was not prescribed to any of the
occupants of the residence."
Officers completed their search of the premises and Ronald Keith Leigh,
45, was placed under arrest for the offense of possession of drug paraphernalia,
along with Sherry Shuessler, 47, who was charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia and possession of a dangerous drug.
Neff loses job after Fort Stockton food fight
From Staff and Wire Reports
PECOS, Fri., Nov. 30, 2001 -- The head of a food bank that delivered baskets
to 600 Pecos families the week before Thanksgiving has lost her job,
following reports of a confrontation with food recipients during a
similar distribution in early November at Fort Stockton.
Dolly Neff, the West Texas Food Bank's executive director for 16 years,
said board members asked her to abandon her post earlier this week after
complaints that she stood on a chair and yelled at recipients of the charity's
Thanksgiving meal items for not being more grateful to get the donations.
"It's a terrible time to go through with this," Neff told the Odessa American
for its Friday editions. "I offered to stay through Christmas, but they said
go."
Several people complained about Neff's conduct following the pre-Thanksgiving
event in Fort Stockton event, where they accused her of mounting a chair
and yelling at people who were in line to receive boxes of food.
"She (Neff) was screaming at old people, telling them they had to be grateful
for charity," said Rachel Escamilla, who attended the food giveaway.
Escamilla said about 25 families walked out of the city's civic center
to avoid a run-in with Neff.
Neff didn't deny the accusations, but said she doesn't think she was asked
to resign because of the subsequent complaints.
"That happened during a whirlwind tour where we delivered more than a
million pounds of food in nine days," Neff said. "When we got to Fort Stockton,
it was already chaotic and somebody had to bring order to it."
Fort Stockton was one of several stops on the week-long tour across West
Texas by the Food Bank. About 600 families in the Pecos area picked up food
baskets during the distribution on Nov. 14 at Winkles Trucking on Highway
17.
The Food Bank, along with North Temple Baptist Church, Santa Rosa Catholic
Church, Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida and Compassionate Care, handed out 150
pounds of food, including turkey, to needy families in Pecos.
At the time, Neff said that this was the first year that the Food Bank
has joined efforts with local charities in the 22 counties the Food Bank
serves for the holiday season. Other stops along the way included Midland,
Big Spring, Presidio, El Paso and Odessa.
Tom Anderson, chairman of the food bank's board, denied that the board
asked Neff to resign. Anderson also said he didn't believe Neff's resignation
was related to the incident at Fort Stockton.
"Absolutely not," he said. "The two are not connected."
Neff said she believes the board decided to ask her to leave during a
Nov. 19 board meeting.
Earlier that day, 30 people met in Fort Stockton to log complaints about
Neff's behavior. Anderson attended that gathering.
Meanwhile, Mana Ratanasavetavadhana confirmed that he is replacing Neff,
but referred all questions to Anderson.
During her Pecos visit, Neff said she began working for the West Texas
Food Bank when it was a small operation in 1985, and when her youngest child
was in high school.
"I started working with the Food Bank because I wanted to help people,"
she said.
Neff explained that there was a need for food banks in 1985, but when
she began working there she expected the need to go away.
"We never thought we would be needed past a few years," she said.
However, Neff now believes that food banks across America are a major
infrastructure for the people.
Neff said that at each stop, the Food Bank delivers food to at least 300
families.
Racquetball courts at rec department will open
PECOS, Fri., Nov. 30, 2001 -- The Reeves County Community Sports and Recreation
Department's new racquetball courts will open on Monday, according to recreation
department director Nora Geron.
The two courts are located in a new building located next to the old Pecos
High School gym, which also houses the recreation department office, where
people can reserve times for the courts, which are the first in Pecos since
the closing of the old West Pecos Gym in 1990.
The reservations can only be made 24 hours in advance, Geron said. To
make reservations or for further information, call the RCCSRD office at 447-9776
Christmas Lighting Contest scheduled to start
PECOS, Fri., Nov. 30, 2001 -- The Women's Division of the Pecos Area
Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring their annual Pecos City Christmas Lighting
Contest.
Judges will choose one decorated, lighted up home on the evenings of Friday,
Dec. 7, 14, and 21.
Winners will receive cash prizes and a plaque will be placed in front
of the home. The home will also appear in the Pecos Enterprise.
For more information or to nominate a home call Laura Briggs at 455-5155
or contact Lupe Davis at the Chamber of Commerce office at 445-2406.
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.
***
Melissa Ortiz, 26, was arrested at 11:15 p.m., on November 26 in the
500 block of North Hickory Street on an Ector County Warrant for selling
alcohol to a minor.
***
Gilberto Barragan, 37, was arrested at 6:29 p.m., on November 23 in
the 1400 block of South Eddy Street on an outstanding DPS warrant. Barragan
paid the fine.
***
Benjamin Chavez, 57, was arrested at 7:37 p.m., on November 23 at Quality
Inn for public intoxication.
***
Daniel Perea, 35, and BK Perea, 44, were arrested at 7:45 p.m., on November
23 in the 1000 block of Meadowbrook, both under the Family Violence Act.
***
Alex Plasencia, 19, Javier Contreras, Jr., 18, Christopher J. Fuentez,
19, and a male juvenile were arrested at 7:37 p.m., on November 22 in the
500 block of South Elm Street. All were arrested for evading arrest or detention.
***
Jason L. Payne, 20, and Rojelio A. Marta, 20, were arrested at 10:28
p.m., on November 22 in the 2200 block of Eddy Street. Both were arrested
for open container of alcohol and possession of a controlled substance (cocaine)
over one gram. Payne was also arrested for public intoxication while Marta
was arrested driving under the influence.
***
Steven C. Perez, 31, Jose A. Martinez, 17, Jose M. Hernandez, 21, Arturo
Gallegos, 30, and Toribio Rodriguez, 18, were arrested at 11:46 p.m., on
November 22 in the 1100 block of East Third Street. Perez, Hernandez and
Gallegos were arrested for making alcohol available to minors while Martinez
and Rodriguez were arrested for minor in possession.
***
Alonzo Mendoza, 46, was arrested at 12:55 a.m., on November 23 in the
500 block of North Oak Street for public intoxication.
***
Juan Carlos Lujan, 29, was arrested at 7:30 p.m., on November 21 in
the 900 block of South Sycamore Street on a warrant for no liability insurance
proof.
***
Martin Miranda, 28, was arrested at 8:49 p.m., on November 21 in the
400 block of East 12th Street on a Capias Pro Fine warrant for
public intoxication.
***
Veronica J. Arredondo, 24, was arrested at 2:03 a.m., on November 22
at the Purple Sage on Interstate 20 and Highway 285 on a warrant for failure
to make a complete stop.
***
Rachel Orona, 25, and Joann G. Florez, 31, was arrested at 2:15 a.m.,
on November 22 in the 700 block of South Cedar Street. Both were arrested
for disorderly conduct (fighting in public).
***
Luis B. Orona, 30, and Alvaro Navarette, 19, were arrested at 1:07 a.m.,
on November 21 in the 700 block of Alberta Street. Both were arrested for
public intoxication and making alcohol available to minors.
***
Pedro Barragan, 44, was arrested at 11:39 p.m., on November 19 at Stafford
and Cactus Streets for driving while intoxicated and refusal.
***
Eliseo Lujan, 22, Benjamin Anchondo, 20, Fabian M. Tarango, 22, and
Lionel R. Pando, 29, were arrested at 8:34 p.m., on November 18 at Exit 42
on Interstate 20. All were arrested for open container of alcohol while
Lujan, Tarango and Pando were also arrested for making alcohol available
to a minor. Anchondo was also arrested for minor in possession.
***
Rodolfo Beltran, 38, was arrested at 9:55 p.m., on November 18 in the
200 block of South Walnut Street for DWI refusal.
***
Joey L. Villanueva, 25, was arrested at 12:04 a.m., on November 19 in
the 400 block of Pine Street for evading arrest or detention and open container
of alcohol.
***
Steven C. Perez, 31, was arrested at 3:22 a.m., on November 19 in the
1100 block of South Cedar Street for public intoxication.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 10:42 p.m., on November 27 in the 1100
block of South Orange Street for failure to identify to a peace officer and
curfew violation.
***
Erek R. Brown, 21, and Steven M. Unland, 19, were arrested at 9:30 p.m.,
on November 17 in the 900 block of South Cedar Street. Brown was arrested
for possession of marijuana, open container of alcohol, a Reeves County Sheriff's
Office warrant for motion to revoke-burglary, and two DPS warrants for failure
to adjudicate and speeding. Unland was arrested for possession of marijuana,
minor in possession, open container of alcohol and possession of drug paraphernalia.
***
Marco A. Rubio, 25, was arrested at 4:19 a.m., on November 18 in the
2100 block of Country Club Drive for assault under the Family Violence Act.
***
Gustavo M. Salgado, 59, was arrested at 8:06 p.m., on November 16 in
the 800 block of Martinez Street for public intoxication.
***
A female juvenile was arrested at 11:39 p.m., on November 16 in the
1100 block of South Third Street for evading arrest or detention.
***
Donny Ray Winfrey, 37, was arrested at 9:06 a.m., on November 16 at
the Reeves County Sheriff's Office on a warrant for burglary of a motor vehicle.
***
Rosalinda Munoz, 53, was arrested at 7:59 p.m., on November 15 in the
700 block of South Ash Street for public intoxication and resisting arrest.
***
Orlando O. Baeza, 22, was arrested at 9:10 p.m., on November 14 in the
300 block of Mulberry Street for public intoxication.
***
Gustavo Salgado Montoya, 59, was arrested 2:38 p.m., on November 14
in the 1200 block of South Cedar Street for public intoxication.
***
Steve Green, 50, was arrested at 8:09 p.m., on November 28 at 11
th and Willow Streets for deadly conduct.
Weather
PECOS, Fri., Nov. 30, 2001 -- High Thurs. 51. Low this morning 40. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. West winds 5 to 10
mph. Sat.: Partly cloudy. Highs 60 to 65. NW winds 5 to 15 mph.
Sat. night: Partly cloudy. Lows 30 to 35. Sun.: Partly
cloudy. Highs 60 to 65. Mon.: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid
30s. Highs in the mid 60s.
Obituary
Alberto Moreno
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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