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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, October 25, 2002
Board keeps First Choice as school power provider
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 25, 2002 -- First Choice Power will be providing electricity
to all the local schools for the next year, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
board members decided at a special meeting held at noon on Thursday.
The group met in a special session to discuss the contract with First
Choice, which provided the district's power last year, the first under the
state electricity deregulation plan.
"We received RFP's from a couple of providers," said superintendent Don
Love, who recommended staying with First Choice, a subsidiary of Texas-New
Mexico Power Co. "I think this is a good agreement, compared with the prices
I've checked."
Until last year, T-NMP was the only company the school district could
buy electricity from. In approving last year's agreement, which was higher
than a bid submitted by Energy for Schools, Love said T-NMP might cut local
jobs if the district selected an out-of-town provider, because P-B-T provides
the utility with 20 percent of its local business.
Love said on Thursday that the new contract did reflect an increase, which
was expected. "It will be about $46,000 more this year, but we have the money
in the budget to cover the cost," said Love.
"But we really don't know where we'll stand, with the new air conditioners,
until we run them for a year?" said board member Paul Deishler.
"It will take about that long to see how much more we'll be spending,"
said Love. "We do have a lot of new air conditioning units and it will make
a difference," he said.
Love said he recommended going into an agreement with First Choice for
one year, at the contract price of 4.95 cents.
Council awards $344,000 housing bid
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 25, 2002 -- The Town of Pecos City's City Council awarded
a Midland company a bid for nearly $350,000 to construct affordable
housing in the 800 and 900 blocks of West Washington Street, during
their regular meeting on Thursday at City Hall.
The council awarded the Town of Pecos City Subdivision Housing Infrastructure
construction contract after hearing from Frank Spencer & Associates employee
Edgardo Madrid, that a bid was received as of Sept. 17 from Reece Albert
of Midland for $344,198.
Up to 20 homes are projected to be built in the subdivision, to help solve
the city's ongoing problem of a lack of affordable housing in good condition.
Madrid, speaking for Spencer & Associates, the city's engineering
consultant on the project, said the references that Reece Albert provided
were good and he really wanted to work with them. He also told the council
that the contractor knew that some changes would be made.
Madrid said that some of the changes for the infrastructure included that
some of the streets would no longer be paved in trying to stay with in their
budget.
"We want everything to come from the budget," City Manager, Carlos Yerena
said.
In discussing the changes for the infrastructure, Madrid also informed
the council that Texas-New Mexico Power Company would be charging them somewhere
between $50,000 and $60,000, after which councilman Frank Sanchez, told the
council members that they should look into other options regarding the electricity
providers they use.
"We need to start shopping around," Sanchez said.
He told the other council members that the deregulation process is more
of an advantage for the companies and a disadvantage to its customers.
Sanchez said that they should look into other electricity providers such
as West Texas Utilities (WTU) or Texas Utilities (TXU).
According to Yerena the cost of providing electricity for one corner house
would be around $2,700.
After discussing the changes and their electricity provider, Sanchez made
a motion to award the construction for the Town of Pecos City Subdivision
Housing Infrastructure to Reece Albert with Councilman Johnny Terrazas seconding
the motion.
Madrid also told that council that due to the weather conditions the inspection
of the construction work under development of South Worsham water field project
was put off, therefore the council's approval would be rescheduled for November
21.
A video has also been set to look inside both water wells of which everything
seems to look fine according to Mardid.
Council members also voted to ratify the contract with Lindsay Western
Construction Company for the new city landfill project. Terrazas made the
motion and Mayor Pro-Tem Gerald Tellez seconded it.
A motion was made by Sanchez to accept the offer by Larry Coomer for the
purchase of property located at 906 S. Plum St., which Tellez seconding it.
After reviewing the Errors and Corrections for 2001 and prior tax rolls,
Sanchez made a motion for acceptance with Councilman Michael Benavides seconding
it.
Benavides then made a motion to accept the 2002 tax rolls with Terrazas
seconding it.
In discussing the monthly tax collection report for September 2002, Sanchez
asked Octavio Garcia if the city ever was ever paid for the cleaning of the
lot across from Austin Elementary.
Garcia informed Sanchez that the property must be purchased before receiving
any payment.
Several council members then suggested that the land be donated or purchased
by the school district and made into a parking lot for Austin Elementary.
According to Yerena the lot is about the size of two half-city blocks.
With that said, Benavides then added that he did not want to wait until
the landfills are build before deciding which areas would be cleaned up.
"Jack (Brookshire) has a list already," Yerena said. "Jack is pretty good
about going around and looking at places."
Terrazas made the motion to accept the report with Tellez seconding it.
In other action, Sanchez made a motion to approve the monthly juvenile
report with Terrazas seconding it, while Tellez made a motion to accept the
accounts payable report with Sanchez seconding it. Tellez also made a motion
to accept the minutes from the council's October meeting.
Local residents Emily Fernandes and Yvonna Johnson, wife of City Attorney
Scott Johnson, attended the meeting to voice their opinion about the date
set by council members for Halloween.
The council set Saturday for Trick-or-Treating, but Fernandes said Halloween
should be on its original date and that she would have treats next Thursday
for anyone wanting to go by her home.
Johnson shared Fernandes' views and stated that the children are involved
in other things that they would be too tired to go trick-o-treating.
She also stated she also would have candy at her home on Halloween Night.
Council members took no action was taken on request.
Grand jury returns indictments after acquittal, deadlocked trials
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 25, 2002 -- Reeves County grand jurors returned several
indictments in on Thursday, including some for drug possession and aggravated
assault, while two jury trials ended with no convictions in 143rd
District Court earlier this week.
District county jurors deadlocked in the trial of Billy Ray Box, who had
been indicted for aggravated assault. Box was charged with threatening Donald
William Shields on May 30, with a deadly weapon, a handgun. Box had pleaded
"not guilty", but the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision in the
case.
On Tuesday, Jose Angel Diaz was found not guilty by a 143rd
District Court jury on drug possession charges. Diaz had been indicted for
possession of a controlled substance, cocaine. The indictment stated that
on May 12, Diaz, did intentionally and knowingly possess a controlled substance,
cocaine, in the amount of less than one gram.
Indictments returned on Thursday included: Diana Munoz Rodriguez, 38,
for possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $10,000. The indictment
stated that on Aug. 5, she did knowingly and intentionally possess a controlled
substance, cocaine.
Glen Ford Cameron, 48, for possession of a controlled substance. Bond
was set at $10,000. On Sept. 4, grand jurors said Cameron did knowingly and
intentionally possess a controlled substance, cocaine.
Nancy Gonzales Carrasco, 37, possession of a controlled substance. Bond
set at $10,000. On Aug. 5, she did knowingly and intentionally possess a
controlled substance, cocaine.
Joe Roman Fuentes, 36, forgery. Bond set at $5,000. The indictment stated
that, with intent to defraud, passed to Cecil Lee, a forged writing, belonging
to Roberto Ornelas.
Maria Guadalupe Mendoza, 31, forgery. Bond set at $3,500. On Aug. 19,
she did intentionally knowingly pass a forged writing (a Western Union Money
Order) in the amount of $250 to Gina Lujan, when she knew the writing belonged
to Aurora Aragon, according to the indictment.
Patricia Soto, 38, delivery of a controlled substance. Bond set at $15,000.
On April 2, the grand jury indictment stated Soto did knowingly deliver by
actual transfer a controlled substance, cocaine, in the amount of one gram,
but less than four grams, to Rick Ornelas Ortiz.
Soto, was also indicted for delivery of a controlled substance on May
3, while Ortiz, 20, was indicted on the same charge, with both allegedly
delivering a controlled substance, cocaine, by actual transfer to Jonathan
Rider in the amount of one gram or more, but less than four grams. Bond on
both Soto and Ortiz was set at $15,000.
Raul Pando, 36, possession of a controlled substance, cocaine less than
one gram. Bond was set at $10,000.
Paul Hernandez Juarez, 18, aggravated assault. Bond set at $25,000. The
indictment stated that Juarez did knowingly and intentionally cause bodily
injury and by stabbing, Fabian Orona, with a knife, make the charge aggravated
assault with a deadly weapon, on May 26.
Also indicted for the same incident were: Tito Gabaldon and Sebastian
Cerna, 18, charged with aggravated assault by stabbing Fabian Orona with
a knife on May 26. Bond was set at $25,000 for both individuals.
Rafael Dominguez Lazos, 23, possession of a controlled substance. On Aug.
30, the grand jury said he did knowingly and intentionally possess a controlled
substance, marijuana, in the amount of 2,000 pounds, or less, but more than
50 pounds. Bond was set at $50,000.
Steven Perez, 32, escape. Perez escaped from the Reeves County Jail on
March 8. He was being held at the local facility for burglary and was recaptured
in Odessa last month. Bond was set at $25,000.
Rudolfo Lopez Guebara, 20, sexual assault. Guebara was indicted for having
sex with a child younger than 17 years of age. Bond was set at $5,000.
Trick-or-Treat events planned Saturday night
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 25, 2002 -- Austin Elementary School will be sponsoring
a Harvest Carnival on Saturday for all the youngsters in the community.
The carnival is being held the same night that the Town of Pecos City
Council has officially designated for Trick-or-Treating for all youngsters
in the community. Parents are urged to bring their children around to local
homes on Saturday, because Halloween, Oct. 31, falls on a weeknight this
year.
Children are encouraged to visit homes of people that they know or that
are properly lighted. No candy should be eaten before inspected by a parent
or guardian.
Every year, the Pecos Police Department and the Reeves County Sheriff's
Office has extra officers out on the streets to make sure the children in
the community enjoy a safe and happy Halloween.
The Austin Elementary Carnival will kick off with an enchilada plate dinner
set to begin at 5 p.m., at the Reeves County Civic Center. Tickets for the
dinner are $4.
Game booths will be set up inside the center, and will run from 6-8 p.m.
All games will be 25 cents.
Children will also have the opportunity to go through the Spooky Safari
House, from 6-8 p.m., for $1.
Daylight Savings ending on Sunday, as clocks fall back
WASHINGTON (AP) - With the backyard barbecue season winding to a close,
it's time to say goodbye to daylight-saving time.
Clocks shift back to standard time at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time, giving
an extra hour of sleep to most people Saturday night - an extra hour of work
to those who work the overnight.
The time change affects most of the nation, but not Arizona, Hawaii, the
part of Indiana in the Eastern time zone, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands
and American Samoa. Those regions do not observe daylight-saving time, so
they don't have to switch back.
Daylight-saving time returns for the rest of the country on April 6.
Girls Scouts host 'Tea' on Sunday
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 25, 2002 -- The Girl Scouts of Pecos are inviting all
Girl Scouts, past, present and future, to a special "Tea" scheduled for 3
p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Pecos Girl Scout Hut, 715 S. Park.
Everyone is invited to come celebrate 90 years of Girl Scouting in America.
Weather
PECOS, Fri., Oct. 25, 2002 -- High Thurs. 62. Low this morning 51. Rainfall
last 24 hours at Texas A&M Experiment Station .13 inch. Forecast
for tonight: Cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Lows 50 to 55. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Sat.: Mostly cloudy with a
20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 70. East
winds 10 to 20 mph. Sat. night: Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Lows 50 to 55. Sun.: Decreasing clouds with
a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs 65 to 70. Mon.:
Partly cloudy with chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around
50. Highs around 70.
Obituaries
Alfred Carrasco, Joe Osborn, Michael Rodriguez and Teodoro SiFuentes
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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