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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Gomez opposes bill to eliminate drug task forces
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- Local law enforcement officials and Trans Pecos
Drug Task Force officers are hoping state lawmakers reject a proposed
bill that would end funding for task force operations across Texas..
"We're hoping it won't go through," said Reeves County Sheriff Andy Gomez
of the bill, proposed by an Austin lawmaker, which would eliminate Task Force
funding as part of an effort to cut into the state's budget deficit.
Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin, who authored the bill, was quoted in today's
Odessa American as saying he does not believe the task forces do the job
they were chartered for.
The proposal, HB 801, reads in its entirety: "The criminal justice division
may not award a grant under this section to a multi-jurisdictional drug task
force."
"They've just not been effective and in some cases have been proven to
be corrupt," said Keel, who was sheriff in Travis County from 1992 to 1997.
"The idea is flawed. There is no accountability for these guys. There's no
accounting for task force operations. I think the drug task force is just
a failed experiment," he said.
Gomez said that while the money is approved for drug task forces each
year by the Criminal Justice Division of the Texas Governor's office, the
money actually comes from the federal government, and totals about $600,000.
"They're federal funds, but are being managed by the state," he said.
"We don't know yet what is going to happen, we're still checking on what
is exactly was filed," said Gomez, who added that he has already talked to
Rep. Pete Gallego about the bill.
"He said that that representative is really pushing that bill, but a lot
of bills never go through so we're hoping this one won't," he said.
Gomez said that local law enforcements officials are also going to start
writing letters and passing out petitions in favor of the task force. "We'll
be working hard to keep it, because it is important to this area," said Gomez.
The Trans-Pecos Drug Task Force is one of two multi-county drug task forces
that serve the Permian Basin. It was created, along with the West Texas Narcotics
Task Force, after problems with the Permian Basin Drug Task Force caused
then-Gov. George W. Bush's office to defund the agency five years ago.
FBI assisting arson probe of house fire
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- Town of Pecos City Fire Marshal Jack Brookshire
said he has talked to FBI agents about helping with the investigation of
a Feb. 17 fire that destroyed a home on the west side of town.
Brookshire said he would remain in charge of the investigation, but has
asked FBI arson investigators to help with the probe of the fire at Seventh
and Bois D'Arc streets
Brookshire said four days after the blaze that arson was suspected as
the cause of the fire. An arson dog from Austin was brought in to search
through the fire damage and was able to detect a 2½-gallon container
of gasoline inside the home.
The house belonged to Reeves County Hospital employee Beverly Bold-Warrior.
Brookshire she had been out of town during the incident, and was in the
process of moving when the fire occurred.
The fire was reported at 3:01 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 17. Brookshire
said that the building was engulfed in flames by the time fire trucks arrived
on the scene and the home was a total loss.
School board to discuss campus consolidation options
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board members will
once again discuss possibilities of closing campuses during their regular
board meeting scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, in the Technology Center, 1301
S. Eddy St.
Everyone is invited to attend the open portion of the meeting, which is
being held a week earlier than usual due to the school district's spring
break holiday next week.
The group is already planning to relocate sixth grade students from Zavala
Elementary to Bessie Haynes Elementary for the 2003-04 school year, and will
discuss and consider the different campus consolidation possibilities. Those
include moving sixth graders to Bessie Haynes Elementary; moving DAEP/AEP
students to Zavala and close Lamar and portions of Zavala; moving DAEP/AEP
students to Pecos High School and closing both Lamar and Zavala or leaving
DAEP/AEP at Lamar and closing Zavala.
The consolidations are being done in order to cut the district's budget
due to a decline in enrollment. Another budget cutting measure on Thursday's
agenda is the elimination of the high school's powerlifting program, which
was begun three years ago.
In other action, board members will recognize district, regional and state
swim team and a plaque to the Pecos High School from U.S. Department of Education
will be awarded.
Under correspondence: a letter from the Texas Education Agency on the
2002-2003 PEMIS submission and PID information; letter from Whirlwind Tours
bus driver and donations from Reeves County Teachers Credit Union.
Under new business the board will consider and take possible action on:
providing transportation for the 2003 National Hispanic Institute Collegiate
World Series at Sul Ross State University; update on Summary of Finance for
2002-2003 and 2003-04; construction of a softball field and method of procurement;
approval of Long Range Plan for Technology; designation of auditor for current
year funds 2002-03 compensatory education audit and leaver audit; adoption
of textbooks as per the textbook committee selection recommendations; first
reading for Policy Update 69; sale of foreclosed property and 2002-2003 budget
amendments.
The group will meet behind closed doors in closed session as authorized
by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Section 551.101 et.
seq., Section 551.074: a. To deliberate the appointment, evaluation, reassignment,
duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee; (1) To discuss
evaluations and renewal of probationary and term contract employees; (2)
Consideration of proposed non-renewal of teacher term contract; (3) Consideration
of termination of probationary contract employee at the end of the contract
period. B. To hear a complaint or charge against a public officer or employee
and Section 551.071; (1) Consultation with attorney regarding consideration
of proposed non-renewal of term contract, termination of probationary contract
and other personnel matters.
Board members will return to open session and take action, if any, on
items discussed in closed session.
Consider and possible action on professional personnel contract renewals
and consider and possible action on professional personnel appointments,
reassignments, change of contract, retirements, resignations.
Regular agenda items are: 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, attendance/enrollment report, date and time
for next meeting, calendar of events and request for items for next agenda.
Emergency personnel get WIPP safety update
By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- Local officials and law enforcement agencies
gathered at the Reeves County Sheriff's Office Classroom this morning
to get an update on safety plans for transporting radioactive materials
to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, NM.
WIPP opened three years ago to handle low-level radioactive waste transported
from various storage sites around the United States. Some of the waste being
shipped to WIPP from the east coast travels through Pecos, and emergency
response personnel were given a briefing on the facility by Mike Rutherford,
Emergency Planner for the WIPP/ Transportation Project Bureau of Radiation
Control.
He explained that WIPP is a place in which clothing, tools, rags, debris,
residues and disposable items contaminated with radiation are disposed of
properly. It's located in an isolated area 26 miles southeast of Carlsbad,
and 75 miles northwest of Pecos.
"The area was also picked because it contains a lot of salt and there
is an absence of water," Rutherford said.
The area is currently stable and should remain stable for another 50,000
years, Rutherford added.
He said there are three types of radiation, alpha, beta and gamma, alpha
being the less threatening of the three.
"The majority of radiation that passes through here is alpha," Rutherford
said. "Alpha can be shielded with a single sheet of paper. It is a threat
if is ingested."
Beta can be shielded with a sheet of metal and can travel 20 feet and
can penetrate the first layer of skin while Gamma can expose higher amounts
of radiation over 20 feet and should be shielded by concrete or a by staying
at longer distance from the source, Rutherford said.
Though alpha is the least dangerous of the three, Rutherford told the
group that they should limit their exposure to radiation.
"The size and weight of the barrels are a greater health hazard," Rutherford
said.
Rutherford said that the shipments passing through Pecos come from Savannah,
Ga., off of Interstate 20 and north on U.S. 285 to Carlsbad, and that there
are classes to train emergency services how to deal with an incident in which
radiation is involved.
"We provid ed eight hour classes on how to handle contaminated victims
with radiation," Rutherford said. "We have a doctor out of Philadelphia who
teaches the class free of charge."
The classes are taught on site, with four hours of lectures and four hours
of hands-on training to allow the hospital staff to respond to any emergency
coming into their hospital, he said.
Rutherford added that the WIPP truck drivers are trained in dealing with
any incident that may arise.
"Our drivers are trained," Rutherford said. "They are to notify the main
office if something happens. If they are able they are to rope off the scene
and work with the local jurisdiction. They have gone through all of these
classes that I have mentioned."
Some of the classes offered include Command and Control, First Respond,
First Respond Refresher and Incident Command, which are all free of charge.
However, Rutherford said that if an accident involving one of their vehicles
were to occur, either a response radiation program manager from Midland would
be available or since they would send their response team from the WIPP site.
"If an incident does happen you are to take control of the scene," Rutherford
said. "You can also take readings and contact us."
Other responding personal are in Amarillo and Arlington, Rutherford said.
The transportation of the contaminated items is packaged individually
in an airtight plastic bag were it is then placed inside a 55-gallon barrel
which is also lined with plastic.
"The fourteen 55-gallon barrels are then placed in tubes." Rutherford
said.
During the drive from the Georgia to Carlsbad, Rutherford said that the
trucks first stop 26-miles from their departure point to check over on their
cargo and then repeat the procedure every 100 miles or every two hours. Because
of their frequent stops Rutherford added that it takes the drivers anywhere
from 12 to 14 hours to pass through the state of Texas.
"The drives do not have a time requirement," Rutherford said.
He added that I-20 was picked as the truckers traveling route because
it is opened year round.
"The drivers do stop for weather conditions," Rutherford said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also monitors the route of all
the drivers. A city or town is notified that a truck with hazardous material
will be passing through, Rutherford said.
"About three to four shipments pass through here a week," Rutherford said.
He added that the drivers must also pass several tests in order to keep
their job.
"The drivers must have no moving violation once they do they are out of
a job," Rutherford said. "They also go through drug testing and have two
to three unannounced drug tests per year."
The drivers must also continue on their designated route till they reach
Carlsbad. Any detours that are not announced will also cost the driver their
job.
"One driver must always remain within 25-feet of visual distance from
the vehicle," Rutherford added.
Combs to miss grand opening event at dairy
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- The state's ongoing budget problems have forced
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs to cancel her trip to Pecos
on Thursday for the grand opening of the "Flat Top Dairy Go-Around"
located off U.S. 285 between Pecos and Fort Stockton.
Combs was scheduled to give the keynote address as part of a schedule
of stops across West Texas and the Texas Hill Country on Thursday, but last
week her Special Assistant for Producer Relations, Brian Murray, sent a letter
to Pecos Economic Development Corp. President Gari Ward informing him that
the mandates budget cuts in all departments would prevent her from making
the trip to Pecos.
"To meet our budget obligations at TDA, the Commissioner has had to cancel
many planned meetings and visits," Murray's letter said.
The ceremony is still scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday at the dairy, located
20 miles southeast of Pecos. E. Eugene Norwood of Goldwaithe built the dairy
and go-round, which is permitted to handle as many as 6,000 cows.
Ward said last year when construction was underway that the dairy will
be the fifth in the county, four of which have been started in recent years.
He said the openings would mean that nearly 10,000 dairy cows would be located
in Reeves County by this year, and cited a study done at Tarleton State University
in Stephenville that showed every 1,000 dairy cows there translated into
$2.4 million added to the local economy.
Along with her trip to Pecos, Combs was also scheduled to visit Dell City
Rocksprings and Crystal City for Town Hall meetings on Thursday.
`Fat Tuesday' dinner events called success
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- About 300 people took advantage of an excellent
meal and entertainment on Fat Tuesday, as part of a dinner event
at the Reeves County Civic Center last evening.
"We had about 250 people that actually came in and sat and ate at the
civic center," said Knights of Columbus member Michael Benavides. "There
were about 50 walk-ins."
"Next Wednesday, we'll have a total count, because we still have some
tickets out there," said Benavides. "It all looks very positive."
Individuals could eat in or take out, during the inaugural Fat Tuesday
Spaghetti Dinner, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, which marked the
beginning of Lent today.
"There was plenty of food for everyone," said Benavides.
Kathy Hurley was the winner of the bake-off contest, and collected $40
for her efforts. King of Mardi Gras was Richard Dutchover and Queen was Jessica
Leija.
The king was chosen by the number of beads he had won at the end of the
evening and the queen was chosen by finding a little doll inside the piece
of cake she was eating.
"The idea of finding the little doll inside the cake is a Mardi Gras tradition
and the number of beads idea was our own," said Benavides.
"It was a really good turnout and next year we're hoping it will be bigger
and better," said Benavides. "We hope to get the other side of the civic
center to add more games and things for the kids, because they really enjoyed
that."
Benavides said that they had received a lot of compliments on the spaghetti
and fixings. "The cooks did an outstanding job, they worked very hard and
it was very rewarding," he said.
He added that he wanted to thank all the people that attended, all those
who volunteered and the advertisement the event received.
"We just want to thank everyone, because it takes the entire community
to make events like this a success," said Benavides. "Hopefully next year,
it will be bigger and better."
Benavides said that he was glad they had plenty of help and that everyone
did an outstanding job.
Tumbleweed Smith holding book signing
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- Tumbleweed Smith, syndicated newspaper columnist
and producer of, "The Sound of Texas," radio program, will be signing his
new book, Under the Chinaberry Tree, from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday
at the West of the Pecos Museum.
Smith is heard weekdays on KIUN radio, and his column is also published
weekly in the Pecos Enterprise. He will also have some of his cassettes and
CDs.
Weather
PECOS, Wed., March 5, 2003 -- High Tuesday 77. Low this morning 44. Forecast
for tonight: Mostly clear. Lows near 40. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Thursday:
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 20
mph. Thursday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. Friday:
Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. Saturday: Partly cloudy.
Lows near 40. Highs in the lower 70s.
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 2003 by Pecos Enterprise
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