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Archive 2002

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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas

Top Stories

Monday, August 19, 2002

Schools report few problems on opening day

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- Students and teachers alike were enjoying their first day of school  in the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, with many students getting their first  looks at several newly renovated campus buildings.

The biggest changes made during the summer as part of the district's $3 million renovations project was to the main building at Pecos High School, where officials said things went smoothly this morning.

"Everything is coming along great," said Pecos High School Principal Danny Rodriguez, as the first classes were held today following renovations and repairs to the 52-year-old school.

Rodriguez said that everyone was pleased with the new renovations. "They're enjoying the new air conditioners right now," said Rodriguez. "The new carpet cuts down on the noise and all the students are nice and cool in here."

Some students seemed kind of lost and confused this morning, according to Rodriguez. "It was the freshman students that were confused, they didn't know about the outside classrooms and which building was building `A' or building `B'," he said.

Rodriguez said that the first period this morning was kind of slow. "We had a lot of students still picking up schedules and some new ones that were just registering," he said.

"We're still waiting for a number count and we hope the numbers will be up," said Rodriguez. The PHS enrollment has dropped in recent years, and the school moved down from Class 4A to Class 3A for UIL extracurricular competition for the 2002-2003 school year.

The renovations forced most of the classrooms and offices to have their chairs, desks and other materials stored or relocated while work was being done over the summer. Rodriguez said that they had started moving back in the last of the items last week.

"We still have a few little items to move, but everything has already been put back in place," said Rodriguez.

Asbestos abatement at the high school began during the Christmas break last year, and new air conditioning units and new windows were installed along with the new carpeting and other items over the summer.

At the junior high level, new Crockett Middle School Principal Victor Tarin said that things went smoothly at his campus this morning.

"Everything is coming along great," said Tarin. "We're off to a great start."

Tarin said that the school had held an assembly first thing this morning and the staff was introduced to the students, along with himself as the new principal of that campus.

"We put out our expectations and goals for the new year," said Tarin.

Tarin said there very few snags with schedules and other things. "We'll do some changes on the schedules probably tomorrow, but for today they go to their regular classrooms," he said.

All the construction at that campus has been completed and things look great, according to Tarin.

Other campuses to undergo major renovation work during the summer included the 49-year-old Zavala Middle School, and 30-year-old Bessie Haynes Elementary, which received new air conditioning units over the summer.

Elderly woman left homeless after trailer fire

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- A Saturday night fire in a rural area between Pecos and Toyah left  an elderly woman without a home and destroyed most of her possession.

The Pecos Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire call at about 9:40 p.m. at a site east of Shaw Road Saturday night, after a trailer home belonging to 89-year old Ruth Ince caught fire.

The trailer was located about three miles north of Interstate 20. Fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel responded to the call, but the trailer was completely engulfed in flames by the time they made the 15-mile trip out from Pecos.

Ince said that when she was preparing to take a bath she first noticed the fire.

"I was getting ready to take a bath when I smelled the smoke," she said.

Though Ince was able to get out of the trailer before the fire spread, she was unable to retrieve a dress to put on over her undergarments.

Ince did not require transport to the hospital following the fire, and said today that family members had taken her shopping for cloth following Saturday's fire.

"They took me shopping yesterday," Ince said.

With her home completely burned, Ince said that she had stayed with her sister and would continue to stay there until they find a trailer for her.

"I am staying here with my sister," Ince said. "We are going to get another trailer."

Ince trailer mobile home was located next to her sister and brother-in-law's (Mr. Mrs. John Griffis) home.

According to Fire Marshall Jack Brookshire the fire started in the kitchen of the mobile home.

Rivera seeking new tenants to fill downtown buildings

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer

PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- With local businesses inquiring about opening shop in the  downtown areas of Pecos, there is hope that other business may make the  same move.

According to Town of Pecos City's Main Street Program Director, Tom Rivera, there are two active parties that have inquired about the vacancy of the Woolworth building at Third and Oak streets.

A business that has shown interest in the building is Dollar General, which is currently located on South Eddy Street.

According to Rivera, the local manager of the Dollar General store has asked about the location but Rivera said that was the only contact that was made.

"Only one business has made a proposal to the owners of the building," Rivera said.

Rivera said that the owner Rundman Partnership, out of Dallas, mailed the key to him so that businesses interested in the building could look at it.

The building Dollar General is looking at was previously the home of another discount store, F.W. Woolworth. It closed in 1989, when the company pulled all of its discount store operations out of West Texas.

According to Rivera the two-story Woolworth building is a sound structure but he did add that the building would need a new roof. Rivera also said that most of the buildings located in downtown are real good buildings, but because of their age, the roofs would be a drawback for potential new tenants.

Rivera said that if it is reopened, the Woolworth building would have to be a slope roof, which tend to be more expensive, and not a flat roof.

Oak was one of Pecos' two main business streets until the 1980s, when several stores closed or moved to different locations.

"There are four vacancies in the 300 block," Rivera said. "Everything is vacant in the 200 block except for Rancho Viejo, Tony's Carpet and a finance company."

Rivera said their main purpose is to get businesses into the downtown area in order to make Pecos an official main street city.

Rivera also said that he also hopes there will be more business with lofts in the downtown area.

As of now there is only on business, Rancho Viejo, in which the owners, Allan and Blanca Gallegos live over their business.

"Old Visions Night Club is the larges building that is vacant," Rivera said. "It is now owned by the county."

According to Rivera the Town of Pecos is self-initiated as a main street city but do not get all the benefits.

"We are looking forward to some day in which every empty building is full," Rivera said.

Band Boosters plan first meeting of year this evening

A Pecos Eagle Band Booster meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. this evening at the Pecos High School Band Hall.

Election of officers for the 2002-2003 school year will take place at this time. All band students and parents are invited to attend.

Weather

PECOS, Monday, August 19, 2002 -- High Sunday 96. Low this morning 74. Forecast for tonight: Partly  cloudy with isolated evening thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast  winds 10 to 20 mph. Tuesday: Partly cloudy with isolated late  afternoon thunderstorms. Highs 100 to 105. Southeast winds 10 to 20  mph. Tuesday night: Partly cloudy with isolated evening  thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 70s. Wednesday: Partly cloudy with isolated  late afternoon thunderstorms. Highs 100 to 105. Thursday: Partly cloudy  with isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Lows in the mid  70s. Highs 100 to 105.



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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
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Copyright 2002 by Pecos Enterprise