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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Courthouse hosts local ceremony honoring victims
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 11, 2002 -- Pecos area residents, along with local law
enforcement, firefighters, EMTs and reserve and retired military personnel
gathered at the Lucius B. Bunton Federal Courthouse this morning for a commemoration
ceremony of the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks
on the United States.
The ceremony began at 9:15 a.m., as Pecos Downtown Lions Club and Pecos
City Council member Michael Benavides welcomed everyone out to the event.
An opening prayer immediately followed with Lions Club member John Grant
reciting two biblical phrases before and after the prayer.
Mayor Dot Stafford followed in reading a proclamation that would declare
September 11, as a day of remembrance in the Town of Pecos City.
Grant then led the audience into several patriotic songs, including America
the Beautiful, before police and the city's emergency warning sirens were
sounded at 9:30 a.m.
Following that, those at the courthouse were called on to recite the
Pledge of Allegiance, which was then followed by a minute of silence.
The lowering of the flag to half-staff at the courthouse was done by
courthouse security Clifford Adkins.
The Catholic War Veterans performed a 21-gun salute, which was followed
by the Taps played by Pecos High School band member Dallas Goff.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of certificates of appreciation
by the Federal Courthouse staff to local law enforcement and emergency services.
Roy Pena, Fire Chief of the Pecos Fire Department; Clay McKinney, Chief
of the Pecos Police Department; Andy Gomez, Sheriff of the Reeves County
Sheriff's Office; Gary Richards, Commander of the Trans Pecos Drug Task
Force; John Cravey of the Pecos EMS; Derek Evans of the Texas Department
of Public Safety; Monty Zimmermann and Susan Chavez of the United States
Immigration and Naturalization; John Carter of the U.S. Border Patrol; Billy
Johnson of the U.S. Marshal Service and Steve Balog of the U.S. Court Security
Office all receiving a certificate.
Grandchildren of area residents born on Sept. 11 mark birthdays
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 11, 2002 -- Amber Ann and Audria Ann Garay celebrated
their first "patriotic" party together along with several family members.
The twins were born Sept. 11, 2001.
They are the children of Angela Ortega and Oscar Garay and have one brother,
Nathan Garay.
Amber and Audria enjoyed their party with refreshments, games, piñata
and gifts. Their patriotic cake was given to them by their aunts and uncles,
Amy and John Romero and Robert and Beatrice Ortega.
Grandparents are Armando and Angelina Ortega of Barstow and Ismael and
Gloria Valeriano of Pecos.
The twin's godparents are Armando Jr. and Michelle Ortega of Artesia,
N.M.
Chamber updated on plans for Fall Fair
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 11, 2002 -- Plans are coming together for the Annual Reeves
County Fall Fair, scheduled for Oct. 3-5 at the Reeves County Civic Center.
"The fall fair committee met recently and the group is working hard on
new ideas and projects," said Debbie Thomas, during the regular Pecos Area
Chamber of Commerce Directors meeting, held Tuesday at noon.
Thomas told the group that Jason Garduno is working on putting together
a ranch rodeo at the adjacent Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena during the fall fair
activities.
"Booths are still available and Austin Elementary will be decorating
with red, white and blue and farm animals," said Thomas. "In the past, they
have done scarecrows to decorate with and this year it will be farm animals."
Thomas said that appraisers for the animals will be back again this year,
and setting up and decorating will be done Thursday, Oct. 1. "They're going
to try to keep it open for the schools that want to go in and decorate,"
she said.
"Jason is working really hard in putting together this ranch rodeo, and
that's something we really need to bring people in," said chamber president
Kevin Duke.
Entry fee for the ranch rodeo events is $5 for teens and adults, and
free for children 12 and under, according to Duke.
Women's Division President Laura Briggs told members that "Welcome Baskets"
have been delivered to several new families in the community.
"We delivered several baskets and everybody seemed really pleased, but
now we're hearing that there are some new families we need to go visit,"
said Briggs. "I'm going to try to assign a business to each woman in the
club to go visit and gather something from them to place in the baskets."
Briggs said that items such as menus, jar openers, a welcome letter,
or anything with the businesses' logo. "It can be anything, just so that
the people will know about their business," she said.
Briggs said that if anybody knows of a new family or individual in the
community to contact her or the chamber office, so that they will be properly
introduced into the community.
"At our last meeting we discussed having a dance for Christmas, but I
don't think we'll be able to do it for this Christmas, maybe for Valentine's
Day or next Christmas," said Briggs. "The cost of a big band and just finding
one is harder than I thought."
The Women's Division is also working hard on doing something for the
teachers in the community. "We thought about having a teacher's tea, but
everybody has been so busy, so we'll probably do something else for them
next semester," Briggs said.
She added that the Women's Division will be hosting an appreciation dinner
for all the EMT's and firemen in the community on Oct. 12. "Jennifer Galvan,
a reporter for the newspaper will be the chairperson for that event," said
Briggs.
Thomas told the group that a new exhibit will be on display at the West
of the Pecos Museum for the month of October. "However, we need some sponsors
to help us with this exhibit, because it will cost $1,000 to bring it here,"
said Thomas.
The traveling exhibit is provided by the American Airpower Heritage Museum
of Midland. It is entitled: North America: United In Victory, a multi-venue
exhibit which documents a unique part of North American history and perpetuates
its rich cultural heritage by providing a compelling and educational experience
focusing on the history and achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen, the Navajo
Code Talkers, and the Mexican 201st Fighter Squadron.
"If anybody is interested in helping us out, they can come by the museum
or call us," she said.
The exhibit consists of seven free-standing panels. It also includes an
interactive kiosk that allows visitors to get a more in depth look into each
history and dramatically enhances the overall impact of the presentation.
"It will be very nice and something different for the community to come
and see," said Thomas. "And of course exhibits are free to the community."
Town of Pecos City Manager Carlos Yerena updated the group on what projects
the city is currently working on.
"Right now, our biggest project is the landfill," said Yerena of the new
trench being built south of town. "We hope to get it in operation soon."
Yerena said that the project is a big expense, but something that the
community really needs. "This will be a Type I and Type IV landfill and we'll
be able to really start cleaning up the community, because we'll have somewhere
to dump all that debris," said Yerena. Currently, the city ships most of
its garbage to a regional landfill west of Odessa.
Yerena said that the city already has someone with a license that will
operate the facility.
Reeves County Hospital Administrator Robert Vernor told the group that
plans for the expansion at the hospital are coming along great.
"We're down to getting the details for each of the rooms and area," said
Vernor. "We also hired a consultant to help with the kidney dialysis room
to get everything in the right place."
Vernor said that the group plans to move dirt and start on the architecture
by the first of the year.
Duke told chamber members that the Hawaiian Luau held last week had been
a huge success and the chamber plans to have host it again last year. "Peaceful
Garden had a great reception and the museum decorated the courtyard and
everything was great," said Duke.
Rural funds application, budget on council agenda
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 11, 2002 -- The Town of Pecos City Council will discuss
and consider a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to
the Texas Community Development Program's Office of the Rural Community
Affairs for the Community Development Fund during their regular meeting
Thursday morning in Council chambers at City Hall.
The meeting will begin at 7 a.m. and council members will discuss and
consider approving the contract with the Office of Rural Community Affairs
for the HIF Project. The council will also discuss an ordinance for the
making of appropriations for the support of the Town of Pecos City, for
the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2002 and ending on September 30,
2003 during the meeting.
In appropriating the money the council will put it into a sinking fund
to pay the interest and principal due on the City's bonded indebtness.
The council will also hear the first reading for adoption of the annual
report budget of the Town of Pecos City for the 2002-2003 fiscal year, and
will also discuss and consider an ordinance levying taxes for the use of
and support of the municipal government of the Town of Pecos City, providing
for the interest and sinking fund for the year 2002-2003.
Each levy will then be appropriated for its specific purpose in its first
reading.
A discussion and consideration for the approval of the local option over
65 exemption, the local option of Medical Disability exemption and the disabled
veterans exemption will also be a part of the councils agenda.
Non-budget or tax items on Thursday's agenda include discussion of the
closing the streets around Santa Rosa Church for the September 16th
celebrations this weekend, the recommendation for the appointment to the
Permian Basin Airport board and any items that should be placed on the next
agenda.
The council will also vote on approving the minutes of its regular council
meeting of August 22, 2002, the accounts payable report and the juvenile
monthly report of August 2002.
They will also hear a presentation by the Pecos Economic Development
Corporation.
"Heroes" pep rally scheduled Friday at new gym
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 11, 2002 -- An All-American Heroes Community Pep Rally
will be held at 3:05 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13, at the new Pecos High School
gym.
Local heroes will be honored during the Pep Rally and everyone is invited
to attend.
Eagle football season tickets remain on sale
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 11, 2002 -- Season ticket sales for the Pecos Eagle home
football games continue on sale now through Friday, the day of Pecos' opening
home game for the 2002 season.
The Eagles will have only four home games this year due to the cancellation
of their Oct. 18 game against Presidio. Tickets for those games are on sale
for new season ticket buyers at the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Business Office,
1302 S. Park St.
Season tickets are $20 each. The games are this Friday against Lamesa,
homecoming on Sept. 20 against Brownfield, Oct. 4 against Lubbock High and
Nov. 1 versus Fort Stockton. Starting times for all the games is 7:30 p.m.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., Sept. 11, 2002 -- High Tuesday 86. Low this morning 76. Rainfall
last 24 hours at Texas A&M Experiment Station .06 inch. Forecast for
tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows 65 to 70. East winds 5 to 15 mph. Thursday:
Partly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90.
Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Thursday night: Partly cloudy with isolated
showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. Friday: Partly cloudy with a
20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs 90 to 95. Saturday: Partly cloudy
with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows 65 to 70. Highs in the
lower 90s.
Obituary
Virgina Holmes
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 news@pecos.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 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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