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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Monday, February 11, 2002
Area accidents leave two dead six others hurt
By LEIA HOLLAND
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Feb. 11, 2002 -- Two area men were killed and another
injured this weekend in Reeves and Pecos Counties, while five other people
were injured in another accident south of Pecos over the weekend
The first fatality occurred at 2:30 a.m., Sunday morning, two miles
south of Pecos on Highway 17. According to a DPS report filed by Trooper
Terry Gilcrest, Christopher Lee Cook, 20, of Balmorhea died at the scene
of the accident.
Cook was driving a 1999 GMC truck with one passenger, identified as
Todd Aaron Bailey, 18, of Denver City when he lost control causing the
vehicle to roll and ejecting Cook.
Gilcrest's report said the vehicle was southbound on Highway 17. "The
driver was swerving left to right and lost control," his report said. "The
vehicle entered a broadside skid to the right and left the roadway to the
West where the vehicle overturned ejecting the driver."
Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 Rosendo Carrasco pronounced Cook
dead at the scene after which his body was transported to Pecos Funeral
Home. Bailey was transported to Reeves County Hospital where he was listed
in stable condition with a fractured arm and minor abrasions.
The report stated that Bailey was wearing a seat belt at the time of
the accident while Cook was not.
The fatality was the second major accident of the weekend on Highway
17 south of Pecos. On Saturday morning a one-vehicle rollover occurred
at approximately 7:10 a.m., 13 miles south of Highway 17, which injured
five people including a two-year-old child.
Both Emergency Medical Service personnel and volunteer firemen were
called to the scene, but no one was reported trapped in the vehicle following
the accident. No further information was gained at press time.
The other fatal accident occurred at approximately 2:10 p.m., Sunday
on a Pecos County road in Fort Stockton, which caused the death of Manuel
B. Ramirez, 33, of Fort Stockton.
Trooper Robert Losoya filed the report for that accident which stated
that Ramirez was driving a 1997 Ford.
"The vehicle was eastbound on Parkview Road traveling at a high rate
of speed," the report said. "The vehicle drifted off the road into a barrow
ditch striking a wire fence. The vehicle then overturned several times
ejecting the driver."
Ramirez was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Dr. Bo Wang, of Fort Stockton, pronounced Ramirez dead at the scene
and his body was transported to Chapa Funeral Home in Fort Stockton.
All the accidents are still under investigation.
Contracts for utilities, RCDC approved
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., Feb. 11, 2002 -- Several items and payments to different
providers working on the Reeves County Detention Center III construction
project, along with county phone and electric services, were approved during
the regular meeting of the Reeves County Commissioners Court.
The group met this morning to discuss and approve several items and
all commissioners were on hand for the regular meeting. Reeves County Judge
Jimmy Galindo was unavailable due to a death in the family, so Precinct
3 Commissioner Herman Tarin filled in for the judge.
Commissioners approved an agreement between the county and Reeves County
Hospital District for RCDC medical services and a contract with WorldCom
Long Distance Telephone Service.
The group approved a two-year contract with the long-distance company.
Commissioners approved First Choice, the subsidiary of Texas-New Mexico
Power Co., for electric power service.
"We had sent out for proposals during the holiday and it had been placed
on the back burner," said county auditor Lynn Owens. "We had sent out four
packets and got two back."
Owens said that the packets that were received were from First Choice
and West Texas Utilities Company. "The First Choice is more detailed and
the one from West Texas Utilities, is more like just a brochure," said
Owens.
Owens said the group could accept the proposal and then negotiate the
terms. "This is just something I don't have a lot of knowledge on," he
said.
Commissioners agreed to accept the proposal from First Choice and let
the county judge negotiate the price and length of contract.
"We'll go ahead and approve it today and let the judge meet with them
and bring something back to the court," said Tarin.
The group approved several payments to providers that are currently
working on the new addition at the Reeves County Detention Center. The
960-bed addition will bring the capacity of the prison to just under 3,000
inmates.
Commissioners approved payments to LMD Architects for $3,186, to Lorraine
Dailey, reimbursement for December; a payment to LMD Architects Invoice
#225 for Dailey's professional fees, construction phase for $41,353 and
a payment to LMD Architect for payment, for kitchen consulting in the amount
of $266. "We agreed to pay her $30,000 for these services and that's just
averaged out per month," said Owens.
The group approved payments to Acme Electric Company in the amount of
$133,950; Texas Commercial Fence, Co. in the amount of $37,617; Howard's
Mechanical, Inc., for $507,404; ISI Detention Center in the amount of $35,113;
N.C. Sturgeon, payment in the amount of $730,493; R.W. Jones and Sons,
$484,139; Carothers Construction, Co., $125,279 and Trinity Engineering,
in the amount of $6,521.
"All of these have documentation and have been approved by the architect,"
said Owens. "Everything checked out."
Commissioners approved the purchase of a new copier for Justice of the
Peace Precinct 2 J.T. Marsh's office.
"Mr. Marsh has had an old copier for a long time, it was purchased second
hand," said Owens. "It's now about 18 years old and has quit working."
Owens said that they simply can't get any parts for this old copier
and told the group that Marsh had requested a new copier for his office.
"It's really hard for him to have to drive all the way from Toyah just
to make a copy," said Owens.
Owens said that Marsh wanted to purchase a copier from Jay Chandler
out of Fort Stockton, who would also keep up with the maintenance on the
new machine. "We could order one from a catalog, but this way, Mr. Chandler
from Fort Stockton will do all the maintenance on the machine," he said.
"We need one we can depend on. They've been servicing my old one for
years," said Marsh.
The new item will be purchased with funds from the General Equipment
budget.
The group approved a software maintenance agreement for the new jury
selection system for 143rd District Court.
"Two or three years ago, the court approved a new jury system for district
court, we had all the software installed and we have an annual fee to keep
this software maintained," said Owens.
Deputation and oath for Jose Luis Hernandez was approved.
New hires at the Reeves County Detention Center included: Donny Winfrey
as Correctional Officer I at $19,000 per year; Janice Dominguez, David
Ramirez, Gilbert Carrillo, Betty Zakshesky, Michelle Carrasco, Ian Dominguez,
Alexa Medrano, Joaquin Gervacio, Amber Diehl, Daniel Fuentez, Bertha Orona
and Rodney Carrasco as Correctional Officer's I at $19,000 per year; Joe
Martinez, as a temporary construction employee at $12 per hour; Jaime Jurado
was promoted to COII at $24,000 per year; Geneva Rayos, COII at $24,000;
Kevin Rodriguez, COII at $24,000 per year; Irene Soto to COII at $24,000
per year; Kristina Martinez as a part-time receptionist at the Reeves County
Sheriff's Office; Jeffrey Ortega was promoted at the Reeves County Sheriff's
Office to shift supervisor at $28,000 per year and Corina Matta was hired
at the Reeves County Auditor's Office at $20,000 per year.
Pecos LL holds meeting tonight at Saragosa Hall
PECOS, Mon., Feb. 11, 2002 -- The Pecos Little League will be holding an
organizational meeting for the 2002 baseball season tonight at 7 p.m. at
Saragosa Hall, at Sixth and Peach streets, league official Lee Serrano
said today.
All coaches and other league officials are urged to attend tonight's
meeting.
Weather
PECOS, Mon., Feb. 11, 2002 -- High Sunday 52. Low this morning 24. Forecast
for tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s. Southwest winds 5 to 15
mph. Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 60. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph.
Tuesday night: Mostly clear. Lows 25 to 30. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Highs
55 to 60. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Lows 30 to 35. Highs in the mid 60s.
Obituaries
Pedro Alarcon, Jose E. Bustillos, Christopher Cook, Henry W. "Togo" Jones,
Ynes L. Nieves, Donald Wayne "Babe" Phillips and Benito Ramos Salcido
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
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Copyright 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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