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PECOS, March 17, 1997 - Head Start Policy Council members reversed a
decision made Thursday, voting 6-0 Friday to hire Mary Jane Ontiveros as
director for the Head Start program that serves Pecos, Saragosa and
Monahans.
Two Saragosa parents who had opposed Ontiveros' hiring in Thursday's
meeting objected to reconsidering the matter and left after council
chairman Laura Carrasco declared a quorum of five parents and two
community representatives.
That left only five council members and no quorum. Members rounded up
another parent to complete the quorum of four parents and two community
representatives, said Frank Perea, interim executive director for the
Community Council of Reeves County.
The first motion was to invalidate Bill Wendt's vote in Thursday's
meeting because he told Carrasco after the meeting that his term expired
in November, 1996, Perea said.
That made the vote not to hire Ontiveros 3-3, a tie.
Perea said he gave the council resumes of all the seven applicants he
interviewed for Head Start director, and they went into executive
session.
The council then called Ontiveros in and interviewed her for about 30
minutes. After re-opening the session to the public, they voted
unanimously to give her the job.
Ontiveros began work with Head Start in February, 1987, as a cook in
Saragosa. After a tornado demolished most of the community and killed 30
people during graduation ceremonies for that program in May 1987, the
Head Start teacher was unable to resume work, and Ontiveros took that
position, which she held for five years.
She then held the title of program coordinator for 1½ years and was
promoted to Head Start director in April, 1993.
Ontiveros said she began having misunderstandings with Community Council
executive director Yvonne Martin.
"She wanted me to be lenient with the rules and regulations of the Head
Start program, so we started having conflicts," Ontiveros said.
"I gave her my oral resignation, but my staff convinced me I should stay
to help the program work and help them get their child development
certification," she said. "I submitted a letter to Martin telling her I
wanted to stay, but she didn't accept it. She gave me a letter of
termination in August, 1994."
Ontiveros said she re-applied every time the position came open, but had
not been hired until now.
"The staff convinced me to come back," she said. "They felt that I was
the one that needed to be here due to problems the program was having. I
knew what the deficiencies were and how to correct them."
Most of the deficiencies are corrected, except for a community needs
assessment and administrative procedures, Ontiveros said.
"We will be doing a CNA to find out where the needs of the community are
and whether they need a Head Start program," she said. "We will learn
how many families are in Winkler, Ward, Reeves and Loving counties
because that is the area the Community Council serves."
The administrative plan will tell how, who, when, where and what time
the staff is to perform their duties.
"We will also get trining this week on how to develop it," she said.
"Then we will need support of the board, policy council and parents to
assist in developing the plan."
Other deficiencies include replacing playground equipment and getting
staff training so they can do a better job, Ontiveros said.
"The main focus right now is the six deficiences. I am pretty sure we
will have them done by April 27, but it will take a lot of time,
involvment of the staff, support of the community reps and parents in
order to get the deficiencies corrected."
Ontiveros said she was "kind of concerned" about comments made by Wendt
which appeared in Friday's Enterprise. Wendt said he voted against
Ontiveros' employment as Head Start director because that is what
Saragosa residents wanted.
"It upset me Friday, but over the weekend most of the people from my
community were congratulating me and said they were glad I was there,"
Ontiveros said.
"I don't know if there was only one or two people and they made it seem
like a whole community," She said. "I know everyone there and I don't
think it was everyone. I have always got along with everyone really well
- with the staff. Nobody else but them can say how we got along."
Ontiveros said Wendt's comment that most of the deficiencies are
corrected and an inexperienced director could be trained to carry on the
duties also concerned her.
"That has been done before," she said. "It is not as easy to do as it is
to say. Training is not enough. You need good background knowledge of
duties you are going to perform."
Ontiveros said she takes paperwork home on weekends to read and plan.
"I do it for the program because it is something our children need," she
said.
"I thank everyone that supported me and encouraged me to come back. I am
going to do my best for all, even those that were against me. My door is
always open."
PECOS, March 17, 1997 - Accidents in the area over the weekend and early
this morning sent six persons to Reeves County Hospital, with a mother
and daughter later going on to a Lubbock facility.
The most serious accident took place about 7:40 a.m. Saturday. Texas
Department of Public Safety Trooper William P. Blakeley was dispatched
to an accident at the 180 mile marker of U.S. Interstate 10, three miles
east of Kent.
Guillermo Borgon Campos, 25; Margarita Beltran Campos, 21,; Jessica
Campos, 3, and Yesenia Campos, 1, all of San Antonio, were transported
from the scene to Reeves County Hospital.
Blakeley reported that Guillermo Campos fell asleep at the wheel of a
1990 Plymouth Sundance while westbound on I-10. He then ran off to the
right side of the road and overcorrected.
The vehicle came back across the westbound lane sideways into the center
median where it overturned 1¼ times, coming to rest upside down, facing
northeast.
Jessica Campos was ejected and knocked unconscious, according to the
investigating trooper.
Guillermo Campos was admitted to the Reeves County Hospital for
observation and Yesenia was treated and released, according to a RCH
representative.
Margarita Campos remains at Lubbock Methodist Hospital and is listed in
stable and good condition, according to a hospital spokesperson, who
added that Jessica was released and was staying in the same room as
Margarita.
All passengers except Jessica were wearing seat belts, said Blakeley,
who said Guillermo Campos received a citation for allowing a child to
ride unrestrained.
On Sunday, Police Patrolman Ishmael Gamboa investigated a two-vehicle
collision in the 1500 block of South Cedar Street.
Esmeralda Arenivas, 19, who was driving a 1996 Ford Ranger pickup,
reportedly struck a 1991 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, driven by Mark
Allen Zuniga, 37.
Arenivas was southbound and attempting to make a left turn when she
failed to notice Zuniga approaching from the north.
Pecos ambulance were dispatched to the scene, but there was no hospital
record of anyone being treated.
No citations were issued.
This morning, about 7:35 a.m., Blakeley was again dispatched to the 372
mile marker of Texas Highway 17, about 15 miles south of Pecos.
He reported that Mary Lopez Ontiveros, 33, of Saragosa, who was driving
a 1994 GMC pickup, rear-ended a 1985 Chevrolet pickup driven by Roberto
Alvarez Cazares, 64.
Cazares suffered minor cuts to the head after hitting the back window
and breaking it out, Blakeley said. He was transported to Reeves County
Hospital.
Ontiveros was also transported upon her request, said the trooper. She
was treated and released, according to hospital spokesperson.
Conditions were foggy, said Blakeley, and any citations as a result of
the accident are still pending.
PECOS, March 17, 1997 - Senior Judge Lucius Bunton presided for jury
selection in two criminal and one civil case this morning and ordered
one jury to return at 12:30 p.m. to begin hearing testimony.
In that case, Julea Simpson, 19, of Fort Worth, is charged with
possession with intent to distribute flunitrezepam on Nov. 22, 1996. Her
attorney is Lizabeth Rogers of El Paso.
The other criminal case is styled USA vs. Jose Eduardo Quezada-Huerta.
Tom Morgan represents Quezada on a drug charge. Judge Bunton hopes to
start that trial at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
In the civil case, Eugenio Rodriguez is suing Reeves County Sheriff
Arnulfo Gomez for placing him in segregation without due process.
Rodriguez has been an inmate in state prison since 1985. He was brought
to Pecos to testify in a trial and placed in Reeves County Jail Nov. 18,
1993.
Gomez says in a motion for summary judgment that Rodriguez has been
continuously in administrative segregation in state prison for fighting,
contraband and refusing to obey orders.
When placed in Reeves County Jail, his segregation classification was
continued.
Rodriguez testified he was told he was placed in segregation, not as
punishment, but for his own protection. Segregation had no effect on the
length of his incarceration.
Another civil trial that was scheduled to begin this week was settled
out of court.
In that case, Deborah Parker sued Pecos County and its hospital board,
claiming the board violated her federal civil rights and the state
whistleblower act when they terminated her employment as administrator
of the Iraan hospital in May, 1996.
She said she was terminated her because she reported violations of
federal and state law. However, board members claim that Parker was
terminated for poor job performance and made the reports after they
placed her termination on the agenda for discussion - so she would have
a lawsuit against the hospital.
PECOS, March 17, 1997 - Jury selection began this morning in the
aggravated assault trial of Gabriel Gonzales, 19.
Gonzales is charged with beating Ruben Mendoza with a bat and shovel on
July 21, 1996. The indictment is enhanced by the allegation that
Gonzales and four others acted as members of a criminal street gang in
beating Mendoza and his sister, Lupe Mendoza. Both were hospitalized as
a result of the beating.
The beating occurred at the car wash at Eighth and Eddy streets.
Indicted along with Gonzales were Jose Urias, 21, Gilberto M. Rayos, 26,
Joe Machuca, 21 and Charlie Arenivas, 17.
District Attorney Randy Reynolds is prosecuting, assisted by
investigator Orlando Franco.
Richard Abalos of Odessa is defense attorney. Judge Bob Parks is
presiding.
PECOS, Mar. 17, 1997 - Parents concerned about the recent dress code
changes at the Pecos High School were unable to hold their scheduled
meeting Sunday afternoon.
Spokesperson for the group, Louis Matta, said this morning that both the
Pecos Community Center - where the group met on March 9 and had planned
to meet again Sunday at 4:30 p.m. - and the Reeves County Civic Center
were booked.
Matta said a letter has been submitted to Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
Superintendent Mario Sotelo requesting that the dress code be put on the
agenda for Thursday night's school board meeting.
However, a preliminary agenda received this morning by the Enterprise on
the May 20 meeting does not include the dress code item.
Matta said he will be meeting Sotelo later today to discuss parents'
concerns, "to see if we can reach an agreement."
He added that he'll be requesting a postponement of the dress code until
parents, administrators and school board members can meet and further
discuss the issue.
Changes in the dress code at Pecos High School, which limited the type
of clothes students could wear, and banned other types of grooming items
in class, were approved at the school board's Feb. 27 meeting.
The changes led to four days of protests by a group of PHS students the
week following the board's vote. School was closed last week, due to
Spring Break.
They will also consider CIC (AIM) asset management, property tax
abatement and guidelines, financial reports, bills, medical staff report
and administrative report.
The board meets in the hospital classroom. All meetings are open to the
public.
FORT STOCKTON, Mar. 13, 1997 - Citing a growing problem with gophers in
the area, a representative from Texas A&M is seeking the help of Pecos
County and other local government entities in funding a solution. During
Monday's meeting, Pecos County Commissioners considered the problem and
noted other entities in the county may contribuge to the cooperative
effort.
FORT DAVIS, Mar. 12, 1997 - Although the meeting dragged on for 2½ hours
last Thursday, it ws effectively over within the first five minutes.
Monday morning, Jeff Davis County commissioners made it official, in a
5-0 unanimous vote, the court shot down any thoughts of a bill in the
Texas Legislature to form a historic district in Fort Davis. A week
earlier copies of a 12-page bill had shown up in Fort Davis.
Commissioners said the bill is too wide in scope, too strict in tone and
contains some tough peanlties for those who can't or won't comply.
MARFA, Mar. 13, 1997 - One of the earliest pioneers of Presidio County
will be honored by the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City on
Saturday. Lucas Charles Brite, a rancher, businessman, politician,
theologian and philanthropist, will be inducted into the Hall of Great
Westerners at the 26th annual Western Heritage Awards.
ALPINE, Mar. 13, 1997 - Brewster County Sheriff Steve Whitley made
history last Thursday when he hired his first femal deputy. Elva Acosta,
36, of Alpine was hired after the department fired deputy Joe Hamilton.
Acosta, who said this is her lifelong dream, graduated from the 1996 Sul
Ross State University Police Academy and became a reserve officer/jailer.
PRESIDIO, Mar. 13, 1997 - The streets of Presidio are taking on a more
appealing appearance with the installment of lamp posts on O'Reilly
Street and palm trees near the port. There's also the completion of the
park near Big Bend Telephone Co. to look forward to. But residents can
expect even more improvements during the coming year, with help from the
Texas department of Transportation's $700,000 allocation for a highway
beautification project.
McCAMEY, Mar. 12, 1997 - Upton County Sheriff's deputies responding to a
call for assistance pursued a vehicle driven by David Rios on March 3.
Rios stopped 1.6 miles est of Midkiff and pointed a pistol at Deputy
Pritchett. Prtichett shot him once in the lower extremity with a
12-gauge shotgun. Rios is in Midland County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond
on a charge of aggravated assault on peace officer.
CRANE, Mar. 13, 1997 - The Crane Memorial Hospital board of directors
may finally be confronting some of its long-standng problems, thanks to
a strange turn of events and an unlikely source. Willford Alford, whom
the board hired as administrator, opted instead to take a pharmacist
position in Pecos. The board then called an emergency meeting to decide
if it should hire an interim administrator. They hired Michelle Aguilar,
the administrator's executive secretary and medical records clerk.
Aguilar gave the board her unvarnished assessment of the hospital's
problems and vowed to make changes immediately. By Tuesday night's
meeting, the changes had begun, with billing procedures and collection
of past due accounts on $881,000 uncollected revenue.
MONAHANS, Mar. 13, 1997 - Jobs and dollars are coming bck to the oil
patch in Ward and Winkler counties. Oil and gas field wages are up more
than $1 million a year. Production values and economic factors in the
two counties pushed past $1 billion last year. Wages paid to oil and gas
extraction workers in the second quarter of 1996 totaled $5.1 million,
compared to $4.9 million for the smae period the previous year. The
Texas Railroad Commission reported that Ward County last year produced
6.1 million barrels of oil and 64.86 million Mcf of natural gas valued
at $243 million at the wellhead.
Felisiano Hignojoz, 68, died Friday, March 14 in Colorado City.
A mass was held today at 11 a.m. at Santa Rosa Catholic Church with
burial at Greenwood Cemetery.
He was born June 9, 1928, was a lontime Pecos resident, a retired
laborer and a Catholic.
Survivors include two stepsons, Reynaldo Ramirez of Dallas, Fernando
Granado of Burlock, Calif.; five step-daughters, Melinda Medina of El
Monte, Calif., Lolly Granado of Los Angeles, Calif., Ymelda Vejil of
Santa Fe, N.M., Hilda Flores of Midland and Irma Lara of Fort Worth; one
brother, Eloy Hignojoz of Odessa; four sisters, Elena Matta, Juanita
Bitolas, Ciria Gamboa of Odessa, Gregoria Garza of Pecos; 20
grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
E.J. (Jesse) James, 81, of Pecos, died Saturday, March 15 at Fort
Stockton Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. today at Fourth and Bois D'Arc
Church of Christh with Jim Morrow of Alamgordo officiating along with
Monty Huffman of Pecos assisting. Burial was held in Evergreen Cemetery.
He was born March 8, 1916 in Rule, Tx.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Verna Christine James.
Survivors include his wife, Ina Bess James of Pecos; three sons, Jesse
James Jr. of Llano, Ike James of Keller, Neil James of Fort Stockton;
five daughters, Tomijo Blackstock and Mary Ann Box of Pecos, Linda Cox
and Mavanee Young of Odessa, Ruth Loftin of Alamagordo, N.M.; one
sister, Iola Reeves of Colorado City; 18 grandchildren; 26
great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces
and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to
Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad, N.M.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Joseph Wilhelm Carl Knust, 76, of Clifton died March 13.
Funeral services were March 15 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in
Clifton. The Reverend John R. Austin presided. A burial followed at the
Clifton Cemetery.
Knust was born March 14, 1920, in the Running Brook Farm just south of
Womack. A former resident of Pecos, he was a United States Navy veteran
of World War II.
Knust retired from managing a feedlot in Pecos in the 1970s before
moving to back to Bosque County.
He is survived by wife, Lydia Knust, of Clifton; four daughters, Barbara
Treat, Sue Mills, Nell Vaughn and Christina Mills; one sister, Rosa
Knudson; seven grandchildren and two neices and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Esther Wiederaenders.
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Copyright 1997 by Pecos Enterprise
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
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