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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Thursday, November 14, 2002
Council approves two-year extension for Yerena
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Thurs., Nov. 14, 2002 -- Town of Pecos City Council members voted
3-1 this morning to renew the contract of City Manager Carlos Yerena,
following an executive session evaluation that was part of the council's
regularly scheduled meeting.
With Councilwomen Angelica Valenzuela unable to attend the meeting after
having her baby, Mayor Pro-Tem Gerald Tellez and councilmen Johnny Terrazas
and Michael Benavides voted in favor of renewing Yerena's contract, while
councilman Frank Sanchez opposed the approval.
The vote came following the executive session and Mayor Dot Stafford told
those at the meeting the coucil would be renewing Yerena's contract, which
expires in December of 2003.
According to Stafford the council gave Yerena an additional two-year contract
on top of the current City Manager contract. The agreement also allows Yerena
to pursue his Master Bachelor of Arts and gives him a seven-month severance
pay.
The renewal will now extend Yerena's contract till December of 2005. Yerena
took over as Town of Pecos City Manager in December of 2000.
Terrezas made the motion to accept the renewal with Tellez seconding it.
In other business this morning, Askek Rana with Frank X. Spencer and Associates
told the council about converting two proposed 100 gallons-per-minute wells
into monitoring wells in the South Worsham Water Well Field.
Rana said that in a report made by West Texas Water Wells, an enormous
amount of iron bacteria was found in some of the wells. Spencer followed
Rana presentation, told the council not to get alarmed with the word `bacteria,'
for he said that it was just another word for rust.
"Don't let the bacteria name throw you off," Spencer said.
Rana said if the city eliminated at least two of the wells they could
save $150,000 on transmitter lines and other expenses.
Spencer said that the rust was more evident in some wells more then in
others, adding that the accumulation of the rust was due to the well being
inactive.
"It is more evident in the wells done in '94," Spencer said. "Those wells
have never been pumped."
At that point the council watched a video that demonstrated the amount
of rust found in the wells.
In the video that the council was watching, a camera was 189 feet into
the water that showed the amount of rust located inside the well.
Rana and Spencer both told the council that they have asked the contractor
to so some cleaning on the screens of the wells so that they can then run
a camera back through the well again.
According to Spencer the cleaning will be done by brush as well as a high
dosage of chlorine, which would loosen the bacteria on the screen.
"We will use the brush and the chlorine on the older wells," Spencer said.
In using both the brush and chlorine, Spencer said that they would then
be able to see if it makes any difference in the wells.
He also said that they would video each well before and after it is cleaned
so that they will then have a history of each well.
Spencer ended by saying that everything was fine and that they did not
want to create any concerns.
"It won't take much to clean it up," Spencer said. "You will see the scaling
of the rust as the camera comes out of the well. It is a bit of build up
but nothing that shouldn't be expected."
Terrazas made the motion to eliminate two of the wells and Councilman
Michael Benavides seconded it.
The council then heard from another Frank X. Spencer and Associate employee,
Edgardo Madrid, who discussed construction activity on part D of the ground
storage tank and standpipes of development of South Worsham Well Field Project.
According to Mardrid, the floor of the two million gallon tank has been
completed while construction of the roof and shell continues.
"The contractor is doing a good job," Madrid said. "We have no issues
with them. We are pleased with their work."
Madrid also informed the council that the work on the project is on scheduled
and he expects the project to be completed a month ahead of schedule.
Spencer also added to the Madrid's presentations by telling the council
that the contractors have done a real good job.
The council also discussed changing the date for their second scheduled
meeting of the month, which would fall on Thanksgiving Day, with several
councilmen expressed their opinions.
"Lets have it on Friday so we can have leftovers," Terrazas said.
"Lets have a morning so we won't miss the afternoon (football) game,"
Tellez said.
However according to City Attorney, Scott Johnson, historically if they
don't have anything on their agenda they just don't have one.
With that said Stafford said that the council will not have their regular
council meeting and if necessary they will call a special meeting.
Stafford also read a list of the people to be appointed for a full three-year
term on the Pecos Tree Board.
Those appointed were Mike Murphy, Carolyn Winkles, Teresa Winkles, Peter
Mora, and Randy Baeza. Jim Riley, Jon Cook, Russ Salcido, Roy Alvarez, Larry
Levario, Craig Hill, Fariss Murphy and Oscar Mestas were appointed as advisory
members.
The minutes of its regular council meeting held on October 10, were approved
with Terrazas making the motion and Benavides seconding it.
The council went on to approve the accounts payable report and the juvenile
monthly report for October.
Tellez made the motion to accept the accounts payable with Sanchez seconding
it. Sanchez then went on to make a motion to accept the juvenile monthly
report as Terrazas seconding it.
Catholics plan area conference over weekend
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Thurs., Nov. 14, 2002 -- Catholics from around West Texas will be
in Pecos this Saturday for a Eucharistic Conference, which will feature
guest speakers from El Paso and Puerto Rico.
The event is co-sponsored by the West Texas Catholic Communities and TEPEYAC
Institute and will begin at 8:30 a.m., Saturday.
"We will actually have three different sites for the conference," said
Santa Rosa Catholic Church Father Ben Flores.
A Spanish session will be held at Santa Rosa Catholic Church Hall, 600
E. 3rd Street; the English session at St. Catherine's Catholic
Church, corner of Plum and Walthall Streets and youth sessions at the Reeves
County Sheriff's Posse Barn, corner of Ash and 14th Streets.
"Events will begin at 8:30 a.m., at Santa Rosa Hall with coffee and donuts,"
said Flores. "We have had conferences in the past in Pecos, but we hope to
continue with something like this on an annual basis," he said.
"The TEPEYAC Institute is the school for lay ministries of our Diocese,"
said Flores.
Flores said that everyone is welcome to attend the conference, whether
they are Catholic or not. "It will focus on the Eucharist, but everyone is
welcome," he said.
Holy Hour will be held at Santa Rosa Hall at 9 a.m., with several events
scheduled for throughout the day at the different sites.
Most Reverend Armando X. Ochoa, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso
will be a special guest and keynote speaker at the event. Other guest speakers
are Sally T. Gomez-Kelley, a native of Puerto Rico, and Father Arturo J.
Banuelas, Ph.D., of El Paso.
Gomez-Kelley is a grandparent and mother of two adult children, who has
received her M.A. in Theological Studies at Oblate School of Theology and
is studying for a second M.A. in Pastoral Studies at the University of the
Incarnate Word. Currently she is Director of Theological Field Education
at Oblate School of Theology and Director of Ministries at San Fernando Cathedral
in San Antonio.
Father Banuelas received his doctorate in Theology in 1976. He received
his Doctorate in Fundamental Theology, graduating with honors. He is serving
in San Pio X Diocese.
"We're hoping to have this conference every year," said Father Flores.
Hospital holding bake sale to help program
PECOS, Thurs., Nov. 14, 2002 -- A fundraising bake bale will be held beginning
at 9 a.m., Friday in the Reeves County Hospital Lobby.
Cakes, pies, muffins, cookies and more will be available.
The fundraiser is to benefit the Adopt-A-Family Program.
P-B-T board to open bids on baseball field project
PECOS, Thurs., Nov. 14, 2002 -- Competitive sealed proposals for construction
of an awning to the Pecos High School baseball field grandstand will be discussed
during the regular Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board meeting scheduled for this
evening.
The group will meet at 6 p.m., in the Technology Center, 1301 S. Eddy
St., and the public is invited to attend.
In old business, the group will listen to a report on renovations at Pecos
High Schoool, Crockett Middle School, Zavala Elementary, Bessie Haynes Elementary,
Austin Elementary, Pecos Kindergarten and Lamar AEP.
Board members will consider and take possible action on a memorandum of
understanding between the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and Go-Project Head Start;
the discussion of new HVAC at Austin Elementary first grade and method of
procurement; a request by Santa Rosa Catholic Church to use the Pecos High
School new gym this Saturday, and waive fees; Campus Improvement Plans; training
for two para-professionals at Region 18 Education Service Center to fulfill
requirements of the "No Child Left Behind" program, and 2002-2003 textbook
committees.
Under the audience portion of the meeting, the group will recognize the
Boy's District 4-3A Cross Country champions.
Correspondence will include letters and certificates from the Texas Education
Agency for Recognized and Exemplary Campus ratings for Bessie Haynes Elementary,
Austin Elementary, Zavala Elementary, Pecos High School and congratulation
letters and certificates from Region 18 Education Service Center. Gold performance
acknowledgements for Austin Elementary, Zavala Elementary and Crockett Middle
School.
Donations from the Reeves County Appraisal District and the Pecos Eagle
Athletic Booster Club will be acknowledged.
The group will also consider and take possible action on attendance committees;
2002-2003 budget amendments; lease/purchase of Xerox copy machines and sale
of foreclosed property.
Board members will meet in closed session as authorized by the Texas Open
Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Section 551.101 et. seq., Section 551.074;
discuss personnel or hear complaints against personnel and Section 551.071
and 551.129: consultation with attorney concerning pending litigation Cause
#01-10-17485-CVR-Pure Resources vs. PBTISD et al.
The group will return to open session and take action, if any, on items
discussed in closed session.
Consider and possible action on professional personnel: appointments,
reassignments, change of contract, retirement.
Regular agenda items will be:
Enrollment/attendance report.
Tax report.
Depository securities report.
Cafeteria report and commodities received.
Current bills and financial report.
Investment transaction report.
Reconciled bank balance report.
Reeves County Community Recreation Department report.
Date and time for December meetings (Dec. 10 and 12)
Calendar of events.
Request for items for next agenda.
Weather
PECOS, Thurs., Nov. 14, 2002 -- High Wednesday 70. Low this morning 48.
Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows 35 to 40. Northeast winds
10 to 15 mph. Friday: Mostly cloudy and cooler with a 20 percent chance
of showers or thunderstorms. Highs 60 to 65. Southeast winds 5 to 10
mph. Friday night: Partly cloudy and cool. Lows 30 to 35. Saturday:
Partly cloudy. Highs 60 to 65. Sunday: Partly cloudy and warmer. Lows
30 to 35. Highs 65 to 70.
Police Report
EDITOR'S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report
is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves
County Sheriff's Office, or other officers of those agencies. The serving
of warrants by an officer for outstanding fines of either traffic citations,
animal control violations or other court costs are considered arrests
and will be printed as such unless indicated that the fines were paid.
In such instances we will indicate payment and release.
***
Irene Aguirre, 43, was arrested at 11:11 p.m., on Nov. 5 at Seventh
and Palm streets for a warrant for animal ordinance, a warrant for violation
failure to appear, and warrant for default payment on theft up to $50.
***
Rosalio Carmora, 20, was arrested at 1:22 p.m., on Nov. 11, in the 400
block of South Cherry Street for a warrant for criminal mischief.
***
A male juvenile was arrested at 5:39 p.m., on Nov. 10 in the 2000 block
of Rhodes Street for theft.
***
Jason Armendarez Orona, 17, and Paul Mariscal Renteria, 18, were arrested
at 6:30 p.m., on Nov. 9 in the 900 block of Yucca Street, both for possession
of marijuana under 2oz each.
***
Louie Minjarez Rayos, 29, was arrested at 9:24 p.m., on Nov. 9, in the
La Tienda Thriftway parking lot, for public intoxication.
***
Hector Contreras, 54, was arrested at 11:47 p.m., on Nov. 9 in the 1000
block of South Pecan Street for public intoxication.
***
Roy Garcia Carrillo, 35, was arrested at 2:47 a.m., on Nov. 10 in the
700 block of South Eddy Street for driving while intoxicated and possession
of marijuana under 2 ounces.
***
Rhonda Renteria, 20, and Stevie Ornelas, 19, were arrested at 12:30
a.m., on Nov. 9 in the 800 block of South Mesquite Street. Renteria was arrested
for possession of drug paraphernalia, and Ornelas was arrested for public
intoxication.
***
Jaime Natividad, 19, was arrested at 3:30 a.m., on Nov. 9 in the 1900
block of South Alamo Street for public intoxication.
***
Ashley Martinez, 18, was arrested at 10:41 a.m., on Nov. 8 in the 500
block of South Mulberry Street for evading arrest.
***
Travis Harris, 23, was arrested at 7:42 p.m., on Nov. 7 at the Criminal
Justice Center
For outstanding warrants for expired motor vehicle registration, failure
to appear and failure to maintain financial responsibility.
***
Raul Barrera, 33, was arrested at 8:01 p.m., on Nov. 12 in the 300 block
of Locust street for a warrant for evading arrest detention, a Class B.
Obituaries
Jesus Bejarano, Juan Lopez and Daniel C. Vengas
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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