TOP STORIES

November 7, 1997

Few events will recognize Veterans Day

PECOS, November 7, 1997 - A Cub Scout flag ceremony at Pecos
Elementary School may be the only Pecos activity to honor veterans
next week. No other Pecos Veterans Day activities have been
reported to the Pecos Enterprise.

The flag ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

However, another Veterans Day ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. in
downtown Balmorhea for Balmorhea, Brogado and Saragosa veterans.
Everyone is invited to attend.

Also, the Pecos Enterprise will have a special page honoring
veterans in the Tuesday edition. If you have a veteran that you
would like to have recognized, call Christina Bitolas or Mac
McKinnon at 445-5475.

Apparently, community apathy towards Veterans Day and a reluctance
on the part of local veterans to pat themselves on the back
contribute to the lack of local recognition of the day.

"Generally all we do is put out flags," said Andy Hannah,
Quartermaster of Curtis Baker VFW Post #6437, who said that he is
not aware of any local Veterans Day ceremonies. He attributes the
absence of any events recognizing veterans for their service in
Pecos to a "lack of manpower."

Tom Rivera, executive director of the Pecos Chamber of Commerce,
also is unaware of any local recognition of military veterans on
this holiday. Rivera is a veteran as well, and the Veterans'
Service Officer for Pecos. If local veterans have a problem they
need assistance with, Rivera is the person to call. He is a
retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer. Rivera believes the lack
of a local ceremony is due to a "role reversal" type situation.

"It seems that most of the community expects the veterans to put
on an event, but this is a day that the community is supposed to
honor the veterans, not the other way around," said Rivera. "It's
been that way for too long."

Rivera would like to see something done to remember the service of
Pecos veterans and what their service has meant to Americans.

"I'm all for doing something," Rivera said. "If somebody calls me
and asks me to participate I'll surely help out, but I'm not going
to organize an event myself because I don't want to beat my own
drum." Veterans Day became a national holiday to replace Armistice
Day, a legal holiday celebrated each November 11 since 1928 under
terms of a 1926 resolution of Congress to commemorate the end of
World War I.

Bush presidential library dedicated at university

By MICHAEL GRACZYK
Associated Press Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) November 7, 1997 - It was George
Bush's last hurrah and he left the public stage declaring himself
the "the luckiest man in the world."

"Now that our political days are over, I can honestly say the
three most rewarding titles bestowed upon me are the three I have
left: a husband, a father and a granddad," Bush said Thursday as
his presidential library and museum was dedicated at Texas A&M
University.

All the hoopla focusing on Bush was tough.

"There is one thing left for me to do - apologize to my mother,"
he said as President Clinton, former presidents Ford and Carter,
their wives, former first ladies Nancy Reagan and Lady Bird
Johnson, and some 20,000 others gathered at the $80 million
complex which displaced an A&M hog research farm.

"I'm afraid some of these exhibits today might violate her 'no
bragging' rule. I just hope we've in some way given proper credit
to all with whom I worked during every chapter of my life."

Many of those people were on hand, including at least 20 members
of his cabinet, 10 governors, senators and congressmen, former
prime ministers and heads of state, diplomats and more than 60
Bush family members. Also attending were Caroline Kennedy and
David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

"We know George Bush as the world's best dad," said his son, Texas
Gov. George W. Bush. "My entire family thanks you for honoring him
with your presence today."

Seated in Aggie-maroon leather chairs, the past and present White
House occupants were flanked by American flags and a blue flag
carrying the presidential seal. The Texas A&M band played, the
school's chorus of cadets sang, and a team of Army parachusists
descended overhead, trailing streams of colorful smoke.

"All Americans are united in tribute for his lifetime of service
to America," said Clinton, who blocked Bush's bid for re-election
five years ago this month. "For more than 4½ years now, even
though our relationship began under somewhat unusual
circumstances, I have been very grateful thay whenever I call on
President Bush, he has always been there with wise counsel.

"It's hard to express to someone who hasn't experienced it, what
it means in a moment of difficulty to be able to call someone who
first of all knows exactly what you're up against, and secondly
who tells the truth. And he has done that time and time again."

With all his family and friends around, Bush said it was tempting
to dwell on the past. He talked about the honor of serving the
finest men and women in uniform during the Persian Gulf War, about
the courage of people that led to the breakup of the Soviet Union.

"Today, one thing is for sure," he said. "I did not lack for
inspiration or support during those four years."

"As to whether we got things right or could have done things
better, the beautiful thing about this library and the 40 million
documents here is that history can make that determination,
rendering that judgment based on these documents and other
material safeguarded in this building.

"Hopefully, the insights gained and impressions left by the events
on display here will do for our visitors what they have done for
the people who lived them: make deeper our appreciation for the
blessings of freedom and democracy and make stronger our devotion
to them," he said.

The 69,000-square-foot Bush museum includes displays that focus on
his World War II service as a Navy pilot, as a student at Yale and
a Texas oilman, then into politics and diplomacy and his tenure as
CIA director, U.N. ambassador, liaison to China, vice president
under Ronald Reagan and then to the White House.

Mrs. Reagan, representing her ailing husband, said the museum
captured Bush's character as war hero, leader and family man, and
told of President Reagan enjoying their weekly lunches in the
White House when Bush was vice president.

"I wish Ronnie could be here today and tell you in person what I
know he would say: Thank you for your service and your
steadfastness, but most of all for being his good friend," Mrs.
Reagan said.

Ford talked about Bush's integrity and compassion and love of
country, considered old-fashioned in some circles, he said.

"President Bush has described himself as a man with a mission,"
Ford said. "Today, we would be perfectly justified in saying:
'Mission accomplished, well and faithfully done."'

A ceremonial key was turned over to John Carlin, archivist of the
United States, as the library, built with privately raised money,
became the 10th public presidential library open in the country
and the second in Texas.

About 100 miles to the west is the Lyndon B. Johnson Library at
the University of Texas. Johnson's widow was seated next to
Barbara Bush on the temporary stage erected over a fountain
outside the main entrance to the museum.

An 11th presidential museum, for Richard Nixon, is privately
operated in California.

"This magnificent library will be a place for scholars to try to
understand what has happened in some of America's most important
years," Clinton said. "It's also a place from which any person can
draw enormous inspiration, a place for the re-affiramtion of our
faith in America."

Copyright 1997 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed.

Volunteer Fire Department elects new officers

PECOS, November 7, 1997 - The Pecos Fire Department held their
annual elections last night. The results are to be effective
December 4, 1997.

Jack Brookshire was elected to the position of Fire Chief.

Elected as First Assistant Chief was Mike Elliott.

Roy Pena was elected Second Assistant Chief.

Mark Mendoza was appointed Secretary.

Salvador "Howdy" Carrera won Fireman Representative.

Training Officer will be David Elliott.

Appointed as Safety Officers were Amonario Ramon and Ernest Matta.

The Benovelent Committee will be Roque Matta and Arcadio Baeza.

Amonario Ramon was elected to the Pension Board for a three-year
term.

Customs to introduce truck x-ray machine

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A massive X-ray machine capable of searching an
entire tractor-trailer for drugs will be unveiled in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley next week.

The U.S. Customs Service has already made one big drug catch while
trying out the $3.4 million machine and started a controversy at
the same time. The high-tech devices take about seven minutes to
scan a big rig's cargo and hunt for contraband stashed in walls,
tires and fuel tanks.

The vehicles are pulled by chain through the housing unit that
looks like a giant car wash.

"We don't want to give away too many details of what they can do
and can't do. We don't want the bad guys to know," said Ray Mintz,
director of technology for Customs.

The CargoSearch can also detect explosives, firearms and stowaways
that normal X-ray machines do not.

A ribbon-cutting is scheduled Nov. 14 at the international bridge
south of Pharr.

Four more X-ray units will be set up in South Texas over the next
two years. They will be set up at Laredo, El Paso and at the new
Los Tomates bridge under construction at Brownsville.

The Pharr machine had its first success earlier this month when
Customs inspectors on a training run found about 600 pounds of
marijuana hidden in a supposedly empty tractor-trailer returning
from Mexico.

Business and community leaders in Progresso, the border crossing
point south of Pharr, fear that there will be an economic downturn
if the big trucks no longer come through their town.

"We need this bridge for economic reasons," said Progresso Mayor
Arturo Valdez.

Copyright 1997 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed.

17 juveniles referred to court in October

PECOS, November 7, 1997 - Reeves County Juvenile Court's October
report reveals a total of 17 new referrals. Of these 10 were
referred by the Pecos Police Department and 7 by other sources.

Seven of the 17 were found in violation of juvenile court order.
The rest of the referrals break down as follows.

One for assault causing bodily injury; two for terroristic threat;
three for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana; one for
deadly conduct; one for theft of less than $50 dollars; and two
for assault of an offensive/provocative nature.

Of the 17 referrals, 12 were male and 5 were female; 14 were
listed as hispanic and 3 as white.

State economy growing twice as fast as rest of U.S.

AUSTIN, November 7, 1997 - As Texas nears the end of another year
of solid economic growth, State Comptroller John Sharp announced
that the Texas economy, already expanding at twice the national
average, will set the pace for other states into the new year.

"Texas should remain in the top echelon of state economies for the
foreseeable future," Sharp said. "All we need to do is continue to
capitalize on our greatest strengths Ä location and a growing
population."

Writing in the latest issue of his award-winning monthly
publication, Fiscal Notes, Sharp said that investments in basic
infrastructure will help the state take advantage of its central
location and long border with Mexico.

"ln the past, railroads, pipeline, petrochemical plants, and other
infrastructure developments aided our growth," Sharp said. "ln the
future, up-to-date physical infrastructure will be the key to
boosting exports and creating new jobs."

Sharp said that overall state job growth is up 2.6 percent over
last year, and some areas of the state are recovering from recent
economic troubles.

"We have gained more than 200,000 new jobs to reach a current
total of 8.4 million," Sharp said. "Nearly all of Texas' regional
economic 'boats' have been lifted by the growing state economy and
the continued national economic expansion."

Sharp said the economic picture for Texas border counties in
particular has brightened since the 1994 collapse of the Mexican
peso. This recovery, fueled in part by Mexico's own improving
economy, has increased retail activity along the border and is
feeding job growth in cities such as Laredo and El Paso.

The comptroller noted that agriculture producers have benefited
from overdue rains this year, that brought an end to a widespread
drought reminiscent of the parched 1950s.

Sharp said federal defense cutbacks continue to cast a long
shadow, especially in San Antonio, where leaders are trying to
mitigate the impending shut down of Kelly Air Force Base;
Texarkana, in the midst of dealing with the downsizing of the Red
River Army Depot; and Corpus Christi, where potential workforce
reductions at one of its military installations present a
challenge for the city.

Sharp said that Dallas, with its diverse economy, enjoyed the
state's second fastest growth rate and generated the most jobs.
Austin continued to build upon its reputation as a high-tech
Mecca, while Houston capitalized in large part on a rebounding
energy market.

Sharp's analysis in the current issue of Fiscal Notes looks at
economic performance in four major categories, from job and
population growth to retail and home sales, for each of the
state's 27 metropolitan statistical areas.

Texas job growth has outperformed most states in recent years, the
comptroller said, and the state economy has grown at twice the
U.S. average during the decade of the 1990s.

In the employment category, Laredo and McAllen have been adding
jobs at a rapid clip as the effects of the peso devaluation wear
off. Dallas, as noted above, added the most jobs - 70,000 - with
the help of a construction boom.

In the area of population increases, all of the state's metro
areas are growing, with the Rio Grande Valley and Central Texas
leading the pack.

As for retail sales, the Killeen-Temple area has experienced an
average annual rise of 23.6 percent from 1994 to 1996, thanks to a
large degree to the arrival of new retirees, a growing population,
and a surge of new businesses catering to Fort Hood.

Home sales have also expanded fastest in the Killeen-Temple area,
as well as in the region surrounding Galveston and Texas City.

Also of note, Sharp said, is that a commercial construction boom
and an expanding service sector are fueling growth in the
Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito region; that Longview and
Marshall are aggressively seeking economic development
partnerships with other countries; that Amarillo has become a
regional health care center for the Panhandle; and that expanding
business operations, especially in the energy market, are driving
employment gains in the Odessa-Midland area.

Sharp's Fiscal Notes is published monthly by the Comptroller's
Research Division. It is available by writing P.O. Box 13528,
Austin, Texas 78711-3528, or by calling toll-free 1-800-531 -5441,
extension 3-4900.

Recreation center tops commissioners' agenda

PECOS, November 7, 1997 - A proposal to establish a community
recreation center for Pecos and Reeves County headlines the agenda
for the Reeves County Commissioners' Court meeting Monday.

Reeves County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo will make the proposal to
commissioners at their regular meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Galindo said he wants to involve other governmental agencies in
the county in the project through an inter-local governmental
agreement.

In trying to re-establish a recreation center the county made an
offer to purchase a building in downtown Pecos. That offer,
however, wasn't accepted, Galindo said. County officials are
looking at a four-block area to include a variety of sports
programs.

"After assessing the situation, I believe that the best thing that
we can do is to improve and enhance our existing facilities," said
Galindo. "I am proposing to the commissioner court to present an
inter-local agreement to the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD to create a
comprehensive community recreation complex at the Pecos High
School facilities."

Galindo's proposal includes building two racquetball rooms in the
old smaller gym, purchasing the necessary mats for aerobics and
martial arts and asking the athletic directors to allow an
enhancement of the weight room to better serve both males and
females.

Other sports facilities would also be enhanced to include the
community, according to Galindo's proposal, including offering
more summer programs.

The county will contribute an initial $500,000 for the project,
plus an additional $20,000 a year for operations, according to
Galindo.

The city has already appropriated $20,000 annually for operations
and they would ask the school and hospital districts to consider
appropriating $20,000 annually for employee wellness, Galindo said.

"That would give us $80,000 to hire staff to supervise and
co-ordinate the youth and adult wellness program," said Galindo.

In other business, commissioners will discuss a contract for the
Older Americans Act Program; award bid proposals on general
liability insurance; auto liability and physical damage insurance.

Commissioners will also discus/take action on the following:

* Bid proposals on real/personal property and heavy equipment
insurance.

* Bid proposals on law enforcement liability and public officials
liability insurance.

* Bid proposals on outside audit.

* TCDRS funding presentation by Joseph Froth and George Arroyos.

* A new soda machine contract.

* Replacement of broken windows at 231 S. Oak for 4-H Club
adoption of a building.

* RCDC correctional officer of the month/year incentive program.

* Reeves County Juvenile Detention Contract with Upshur County.

* Addendum to Juvenile Detention Contract between Reeves County
and Rio Grande Council of Governments.

* Canvass the return of the constitutional election.

* Reports from various departments.

* Budget amendments and line-item transfers.

* Personnel and salary changes (juvenile detention center, RCDC).

* Minutes from previous meetings, semi-monthly bills and spread on
minutes: Western Surety Co. - Bond for Reeves County Auditor Asst.
(Renee Cox) and continuing education for Herman Tarin.

American Heart Walk set for Saturday

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, November 7, 1997 - People will be walking for a good cause
early Saturday morning and more are encouraged to join them.

"This is our annual American Heart Walk," said Nancy Ontiveros,
Director of Program Development and Community Services at Reeves
County Hospital and a member of the American Heart Association, an
organization that raises funds for the fight against heart disease.

The walk will begin at 9 a.m. in the Reeves County Hospital
parking lot.

"We have many businesses and individuals already signed up to walk
and any walker who has survived a heart attack will be given a red
cap to indicate he is a heart attack survivor," said Ontiveros.

The walk has five sponsors, including all the local home health
agencies, Reeves County Hospital Home Health, American Home Health
and Pecos Home Health. First National and Security State banks are
also sponsors for the event.

Rudy Jurado and Dr. David Lovett are chairpersons for this year's
walk.

"We expect a large crowd. Individuals who have not picked up a
pledge sheet, but would like to walk with us, can walk with the
group anyway in the morning," said Ontiveros.

Refreshments will be served and awards handed out in different
categories, such as the largest amount raised by an individual and
the largest amount raised by a group.

Competition is planned among some of the businesses, according to
Ontiveros. Balmorhea will also be having a Heart Walk at the same
time as the Pecos group.

"Balmorhea is part of the Reeves division and all funds raised by
them will go to the Reeves division," said Ontiveros.

Heart disease is the number one killer and the number one cause of
death in Reeves County, according to Ontiveros.

Through the Heart Walk the American Heart Association hopes to
educate people about heart disease, how to prevent it and raise
funds for more research.

Anyone who donates to the project will receive a receipt for tax
purposes and a pie chart that shows the breakdown of where the
funds raised are going to, according to Ontiveros.

Ontiveros encourages anyone interested to join them Saturday
morning and walk for a good cause.

AREA ROUND-UP

The Fort Stockton Pioneer

FORT STOCKTON, Nov. 6, 1997 - An early morning robbery resulted in
the arrest of a Fort Stockton man on aggravated robbery charges.
George Pina Dennett, 37, was arrested Saturday morning after he
allegedly took $275 from the night clerk at the Econo Lodge on E.
Dickinson after telling her that he had a gun. His bond was set at
$20,000.

The Big Bend Sentinel

MARFA, Nov. 6, 1997 - Southwest Texas Municipal Gas Co. directors
have voted to divest a portion of the company in an apparent
creative financial move designed to stave off restructuring an
almost $2 million debt due in three years. Directors have signed a
letter of intent to sell to West Texas Gas Co. of Midland 81.4
miles of high pressure transmission pipeline and its 265-meter
system that serves Balmorhea, Saragosa, Brogado and Toyahvale.

The Alpine Avalanche

ALPINE, Nov. 6, 1997 - In a case that sparked national attention,
Republic of Texas members Richard Lance McLaren and Robert "White
Eagle" Otto were sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 4, by District Judge
Kenneth DeHart. On Friday, Oct. 31, the jury returned a guilty
verdict after only one and a half hours of deliberation, sending
the court appointed defense attorneys Mike Barclay and Frank Brown
into a frenzy trying to find a way to ease the sentence.

The International, Presidio Paper

PRESIDIO, Nov. 6, 1997 - Presidio school board members took care
of a nepotism situation during a special meeting Saturday,
according to Superintendent Dr. Sharon Morrow. Trustees accepted
the resignation of school board member Abe Franco and rescinded an
earlier vote to hire Delfina Anderson as teacher of the 3-year-old
student program.

The Sanderson Times

SANDERSON, Nov. 6, 1997 - A change in consumption rates and flat
fees for active water meters are intended to increase revenues for
the Terrell County Water Control and Improvement District. Water
board members recently approved a new monthly service charge of
$10 for each active meter. Previous charges were only for the
amount of water used.

The Monahans News

MONAHANS, Nov. 6, 1997 - Executives of First National and First
State banks in Monahans say they expect to be making home equity
loans by Jan. 15. That's the earliest the loans can be made under
the voter approved home equity amendment to the state constitution
on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Property owners in Ward County already have
begun receiving their 1997 ad valorem tax bills. As projected,
home owners are paying less although tax revenue will be higher.
Ward County Tax Collector Dolores Fine, who collects taxes for all
the county's taxing bodies, except for the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote
School District, and Jeanette Wristen, who is that district's
assessor/collector, say Jan. 31, is the deadline for paying
property taxes without penalties.

OBITUARIES

David Bryant

David W. Bryant, 67, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1997, at Good
Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz.

Graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at
Barstow Cemetery with Rod Peacock officiating.

Bryant was born in 1930. He was a retired trucking manager and a
former Van Horn and Pecos resident. He was a graduate of Barstow
High School in 1948.

Survivors include: one son, Kevin J. Bryant of Buckey, Ariz.; one
sister, Patricia Wright of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two grandchildren;
and four great-grandchildren.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jess McIlvain

Jess Hall McIlvain, 64, died May 5, 1997, at his home in Bethesda,
Md.

Memorial services were held Saturday, May 10, 1997, at Concord-St.
Andrews United Methodist Church in Bethesda, Md. His ashes were
scattered over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

McIlvain was born March 28, 1933, in Ponder, Tx. He was a 1950
graduate of Pecos High School who entered Texas Tech in 1950 to
major in pre-med. He worked as a disc jockey on Pecos and El Paso
radio stations. He was in the U.S. Army and was stationed in El
Paso from 1953 to 1955. He then returned to Texas Tech and was a
1959 graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

Survivors include: his wife, Joni Wimberley McIlvain of Bethesda,
Md.; one son, Sean McIlvain of Bethesda; one daughter, Sheila
McIlvain of Bethesda; one brother, Tom McIlvain of Carlsbad, N.M.;
and one sister, Sarah McLaughlin of Sacramento, Calif.

WEATHER

PECOS, November 7, 1997 - High Thursday, 73, low this morning, 42.
Pleasant weather is in store for all of Texas for the weekend. It
will be clear to partly cloudy. There's no mention of any
precipitation. West Texas will have partly cloudy days and fair
skies at night through Saturday. Lows tonight will be in the 30s
and 40s. Highs Saturday will be in the 70s across most of West
Texas, ranging from the 60s in the mountains to the lower 80s in
the Big Bend area.

Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, Publisher
Peggy McCracken, Webmaster
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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