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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, October 11, 2002
Gallego visits students, ex-classmates in Pecos stop
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., October 11, 2002 -- In an appearance among some old college
friends, State Representative Pete Gallego talked about anything from
politics with the Pecos High School Student Council officers to just
catching up on old times Thursday afternoon, during a campaign stop
at the Reeves County Civic Center.
"I am pretty excited about being here," Gallego said. "I feel right at
home because I've known everyone for some time now."
Gallego is seeking re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from
the 74th District, which had Reeves County added to it during
last year's legislative redistricting. Uvalde Republican Pete Nieto is challenging
him in the Nov. 5 general election.
Gallego said that he has been a representative for the state of Texas
for the past 12 years, and before that, attended Sul Ross State University
in his hometown of Alpine with some of the people in attendance.
"I went to Sul Ross with some of the people here," Gallego said. "Jimmy
Duthover (Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Transportation Director) was my roommate."
Gallego also mentioned other college friends were Eva Arriola, Rosie Salcido,
Brenda McKinney and several others.
Gallego attended Thursday morning's ribbon cutting ceremony for the TransPecos
Foods plant, and said that he feels that it will work out well for Pecos.
Gallego said that the company would help preserve the quality of life
here in Pecos by providing people with jobs.
In the upcoming election, Gallego said that he sees it as a change if
working on the budget, education and on other matters but cannot wait.
"I look forward to it," said Gallego, who could be named head of the
House Appropriations Committee if Democrats maintain control of the House
in November.
In talking to the PHS Student Council officers, Gallego informed them
of the things he has done since he has been a State Representative.
"I am one of five people who get to write the state budget," Gallego said.
"It is amazing the things you get to do."
For Gallego it is important to understand the quality of life out in West
Texas in order to provide the residents in those areas with jobs.
Supporting students further their education is also something Gallego
said he tries to do. He said he has given students that opportunity by providing
them with organizations like the National Hispanic Institute.
"I also try to build up Sul Ross," said Gallego, who had the school's
new gymnasium named after him last year.
In building up Sul Ross, he has helped establish several other branches
of the university and has tried to offer students more courses.
For Gallego is it important to work on local topics.
"I like to work behind the scenes," Gallego told the PHS Student Council
officers.
Though only two of the high school students he talked to will be old enough
to vote in next month's elections, they all agreed that they are very excited
about the opportunity to allowed to vote.
Senior Kristian Aguilar said that she could not wait till she got to vote.
"I am very excited that my voice will be heard this year," Aguilar said.
Dena Dutchover, the daughter of Gallego's former roommate and this year's
Golden Girl Pageant winner, said that though this would be her first time
to vote she knows who she will vote for.
"Yes, I am going to vote _ Pete Gallego," Dutchover said.
Gallego will be in Ft. Stockton and Iraan today, and in Del Rio and Uvalde
on Saturday, October 12.
Commenting about the turn out at the Civic Center, Pecos Chamber of Commerce
acting director Linda Gholson said that she was pleased with the turn out.
"I think we have a nice turn out," Gholson said.
School board approves awning at baseball field
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., October 11, 2002 -- Construction of an awning over the stands
at the Pecos High School baseball field was one of the items approved
by the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD board, during their regular monthly
meeting Thursday evening in the new Technology Center.
School board members discussed a method of procurement for the awning
and agreed on competitive sealed proposals for the stands, which would give
fans at the 28-year-old facility covering from rains and the late spring
and summer sun.
"Monte Hunter has given us some estimates on two different types of awning,"
said PBT-ISD Superintendent Don Love. "We have $32,500 budgeted for this,"
he said.
The two types of awning presented to the board were the cantilevered canopy,
a canopy supports at back of bleachers only at a cost of $48,000 and the
post type canopy, canopy with posts at back and front of bleachers at $30,000.
"We'd really like to have the cantilevered canopy, because it has a post
on the back and no posts on the front," said Love. "But it does cost a lot
more," he said.
Love said that if the board approved, they were looking at an installation
time frame of 90 days. "It would be ready by Feb. 12, before it would be
completed," said Love. "About the time of baseball season."
Love said that steel was probably the hardest part of the installation.
"Getting the steel over here is the main problem," he said.
"I know you said we had this in the budget, but after discussing the summary
of finance and the number of students we lost, can we still proceed with
this," asked board member Steve Valenzuela.
"That's a very good question," said Love. "Every year, we don't spend
everything in our budgets, and electricity is a big concern at this time,
because we hear it's going to go up 19-20 percent. However, we feel like
we'll break even and this is something we can do at this time.
"We have plenty of money in the bank right now, for the next two years
at least," said Love. "As long as we do things through attrition, we're in
good shape."
Love said that the school has an excellent financial manager in Cookie
Canon who can handle money. "We're lucky because she does an excellent job,"
said Love.
Love said that the school has an agreement with Reeves County on use of
the high school field and in that agreement, other groups also use the field
and the awning is very important to every one in the community. "It'll be
some shade for the kids, not much, but at least it will help," he said.
In action on proposals for retail electric service provider, the board
voted to continue with their current service provider, First Choice, a subsidiary
of the local utility, Texas-New Mexico Power Co.
"When you look at the savings that First Choice has provided us with already
and if they continue with that, we'll be saving the school district about
$100,000," said Love. "That will be something that we take back to the board."
The group discussed a Summary of Finance and Love told board members that
he would be updating them periodically.
"We get paid on how many kids show up," said Love. "We've lost 210 kids
in ADA (average daily attendance)," he said. "When you multiply that by $5,000
it's a lot of money," he said.
Love said that that's why ADA was so important.
"I think the principals are doing an excellent job with all the incentives
they are offering to students who attend school daily," said Love. "From
last year at this time we've lost 210 kids."
"We've lost 600 kids since 1998 and that's $3 million," said Love. "We've
cut three to four jobs through attrition, employees who have left the district
have not been replaced."
The board also listened to a plan for dyslexia and handbooks were passed
out to board members during Thursday's meeting.
"We've come up with this handbook to better help the students, the teachers
and the parents understand dyslexia and what the district wants to do," said
Technology Director Juanita Davila.
She told the group that a committee had been formed and that they have
met four times already. "We have outlined our goals and requirements," Davila
said, adding that the teachers who will be helping the students will be well
trained.
"These are the teachers that also do the Reading Academy and will receive
additional training," she said.
"We did have some good information on dyslexia, I just felt that we needed
a little bit more," said Davila.
"Are all the teachers trained to see dyslexia?" asked board member Paul
Deishler.
"Not all of them are, the teachers who do Reading Academy are and we'll
be doing testing throughout the year," said Davila.
The counselors at the schools will be doing the testing, something they
are trained to do, according to Davila.
Commissioners set hearing, vote on budget, taxes
PECOS, Fri., October 11, 2002 -- Reeves County Commissioners will hold
a final hearing on the 2003 fiscal year budget and are scheduled to vote
on it and the county's 2003 tax rate, during their regularly scheduled meeting
on Monday at 9:30 a.m., on the third floor of the Reeves County Courthouse.
Commissioners will meet and discuss several issues, beginning with the
budget, after which they are scheduled to vote on adoption of FY 2003 Reeves
County budget and adoption of the tax rate for 2003. The public and all county
employees are invited to attend.
In other action Monday, commissioners will hear a presentation from a
representative of Edward Jones Investments on voluntary payroll deduction
retirement plan for Reeves County employees will discussed. Also on the agenda
is discussion/action on an interlocal agreement between Reeves County and
County Information Resource Agency; central counting station resolution for
the Nov. 5, 2002 general election; property bid for property located at 1407
E. Second St.; property bid for property located at Ab 304, blk. 13, Sec.
189 H&GN, 20.0 acres, GEO 1000-4195; property bid for property located
at N 65' of Lts. 9,10&11, Blk 5 NP Addition, Geo 490-220 and property
bid for property located at 310 W. 13th St.
The group will discuss and take action on finance plan for Trans Pecos
Drug Task Force vehicles and payments to the contractors currently working
at the construction site of Reeves County Detention Center III.
Regular items on the agenda include: reports from various departments,
budget amendments and line-item transfers, personnel and salary changes (RCDC,
sheriff department, minutes from previous meetings and semi-monthly bills.
Testing registration runs until Tuesday
PECOS, Fri., October 11, 2002 -- Credit for acceleration for grades first
through fifth and Credit for Examination for grades six through eighth are
being held at the different campuses, with registration scheduled now through
Tuesday.
Students in grades 1-5 need to meet follow requirements and score 90 percent
or above on a criterion referenced test, for all grade level to be skipped
in certain subjects in the following areas: language arts, math, science
and social studies.
In grades 6-8 students must score 90 percent or above on a criterion referenced
exam for acceleration for the applicable course.
Registration for the exams is now taking place at the different campuses
and Friday is the deadline to register and students can do so at the counselors
office at the students designated school.
Test dates are Nov. 12-15.
Immunization clinic at Bessie Haynes
PECOS, Fri., October 11, 2002 -- There will be a free immunization clinic
from 3-5 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Bessie Haynes Elementary School library
for students who are lacking some of their shots.
Parents or guardians need to bring their child's shot record.
The school nurse urges individuals to take advantage of this clinic, or
they will have to go their own doctor.
The student must receive these immunizations to continue in school after
a date to be set after the clinic.
Weather
PECOS, Fri., October 11, 2002 -- High Thursday 85. Low this morning 56.
Forecast for tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds
5 to 10 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs 80 to 85. Southwest winds
5 to 15 mph: Becoming northeast 10 to 20 mph during the afternoon.
Saturday night: Increasing clouds. Breezy and cool. Lows near 50. Sunday:
Mostly cloudy. Breezy and much cooler. Highs 55 to 60. Columbus day:
Partly cloudy and unseasonably cool. Lows near 40. Highs 65 to 70.
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
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Copyright 2002 by Pecos Enterprise
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