Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Reeves County, Trans-Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

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Wedesday, Jan. 14, 1997

Teacher days off concern for school board

By CARA ALLIGOOD
Staff Writer

Last night's school board meeting was fast but not furious.
All but two of the issues approved were done so unanimously,
and one of those, payment of bills, was approved with the
usual abstentions of Linda Gholson and Earl Bates. The issue
causing the most discussion was the use of sponsorship days
for teachers to take time off to attend their childrens'
games and performances.

The following was submitted to the board of education by
Superintendent Don Love:

"The question has arisen whether of not teachers who are
absent from class because of attending a school sponsored
event in which their child is participating should lose part
of their attendance incentive pay. The opinion of the
administration is that the attendance incentive pay should
be reduced if a substitute is required by the teacher's
absence.

I recommend up to four sponsorship days per year where
PBTISD will pay for substitute teachers by the days absent
will count against the attendance incentive.

If teachers have been designated as student supervisors by
the administrator responsible for the activity, no reduction
of incentive pay will be required."

The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD has a policy of paying teachers
a $1,000 bonus for perfect attendance at the end of the
year. If a teacher is absent from class one day, their bonus
is reduced by $200, two days by $400 and so on. This policy
was instituted as an incentive to promote better attendance
among classroom teachers, and is not paid to other district
employees.

Because of the district having four different
superintendents this school year, Love said, the policy has
been administered inconsistently because of different
interpretations by different administrators. He sought to
straighten everything out by clarifying the policy once and
for all and sticking to it.

Love said that the incentive will be reduced regardless of
whether a substitute teacher is hired or not.

Linda Gholson spoke about the method of choosing which
teachers would be asked to travel with students as
supervisors, and got the board to agree that teachers who
are parents of participating students will be given priority
when a group needs additional supervision.

Trustee Earl Bates cast the single dissenting vote because
he was opposed to changing the incentive pay policy in the
middle of the school year.

In other business, Love was appointed to replace former
Interim Superintendent Kenn Norris as representative to the
committed for the wellness program.

P-B-T ISD is considering entering into an interlocal
agreement with Reeves County and the Town of Pecos City to
form a community wellness program. According to the plan
presented by Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo, at last
month's school board meeting, the city and county will
contribute funds to upgrade school facilities in exchange
for public access to those facilities. New facilities such
as a racquetball court may also be built.

According to Galindo, the city and county prefer to work out
an agreement with the school district to building new
facilities from the ground up.

At the December meeting, it was decided that Trustee Freddy
Lujan would serve on a committee with Norris and
then-athletic director Mike Belew to work with city and
county officials interested in devising a plan that will
work for all the entities involved. Since Love was hired as
superintendent, Norris is not with the district anymore and
can no longer serve on the committee.

Belew has been reassigned as principal of Zavala Middle
School, but replacing him on the committee was not
discussed. During other business later in the evening,
Lawrence Williams was officially reassigned the athletic
director's post.

Bates was appointed to the committee to sell foreclosed
property.

West Texas Gas won the district's fuel service business even
though their bid was one cent per gallon higher than that of
Desert Distributors because they have more distribution
locations, more safety features and conveniences at their
locations and provide credit cards for out-of-town purchases.

The district's 1996-97 audit was not discussed because the
auditor was unable to attend the meeting.

Pecos High School Building A's roofing problems were
discussed, but not acted upon.

As for PHS Building B, "this roof is complete," said Love.
"I feel like we've got an outstanding roof, from everyone
I've talked to." The school board approved a final payment
to the roofing contractor of $10,606.

The board also approved paying engineer Frank Spencer the
$7,250 that he asked for. "It's actually money that's being
removed from the contract (because the project wasn't
finished on schedule) and not coming out of the budget,"
said Bates.

Local Policy CQ, regarding electronic media, was approved,
with Technology Coordinator Jodi Exum as the designee.

Other items which received unanimous approval were
elementary and secondary attendance committees, the
appointment of Love as AEP/Expulsion Hearing Officer, a job
description for the position of Athletic Director/Baseball
Coach, advertising for a head football coach and the
appointments, resignations and transfers of professional
personnel.

Sheri (Denton) Miller was appointed as an Alternative
Education Program (AEP) teacher.

Carlton Taylor resigned as a Marketing/U.S. History teacher
at PHS effective May 23, 1998.

District transfers are as follows:

Mike Belew, from Athletic Director/Head Football Coach to
Zavala 7th Grade Middle School Principal;

Robert Hernandez, from Assistant high School Principal at
PHS to Principal at Lamar Middle School/Barstow Elementary
School;

Anna Hernandez, from Director of Guidance and counseling to
Directing Counseling/Bilingual/ESL/At-Risk/Parental
Involvement/Migrant

Gabriel Pena, from Bessie Haynes Elementary School Fourth
Grade Teacher to Zavala Middle school 7th Grade Math Teacher

Lawrence Williams, from Physical Education Teacher at PHS to
Athletic Director/Head Baseball Coach; and

Veronica Valenzuela, from Physical Education Teacher at
Barstow Elementary School/Pecos Kindergarten to Physical
Education teacher at Barstow Elementary School/Lamar Middle
School.

Chamber banquet to feature promotions

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

Promotional items are needed to help decorate the tables for
the Annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, scheduled for
Friday, Jan. 30.

The Women's Division of the Chamber of Commerce is
requesting promotional items from all businesses for use as
table decorations for the banquet, according to the new
president of the divsion, Suan Cross.

Cross spoke to the board of directors of the chamber during
the regular meeting Tuesday and told them things are coming
along great in regards to preparations for the banquet.

"Anyone who has items that can be displayed needs to bring
them to the chamber office by Friday, Jan. 23," said Cross.

Large items or banners that will be displayed need to be at
the civic center by Wednesday, Jan. 28, after 5:30 p.m.

"This is the date we will start decorating the civic
center," said Cross.

Cross also told board members that the first meeting of the
women's division, went great and had a good attendance. "We
were real pleased with the number of women who showed up for
the first meeting of the year," said Cross.

Pete Gallegos, State Representative from Alpine, will be the
guest speaker at the Annual Pecos Chamber of Commerce
Banquet.

The Annual Awards Banquet and Dinner, will begin at 7 p.m.,
at the Reeves County Civic Center and the community is
invited to come out and join them.

Chamber members had asked the community to help to select
the recipients of several awards including, Citizen of the
Year Award, Hidden Hero and the Ruiz Profile of Courage
Award.

Other awards to be given out that evening are the Out-Going
President's Award, Women's Division Award of Service,
Outstanding Student Award, Teacher of the Year, Ruiz Profile
of Courage, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and the
Agricultural Service Award.

Those retiring from the Board of Directors will be
recognized at this time, as well as incoming directors and
newly elected officers.

Tickets will be $15 per person and may be purchased through
the Pecos Chamber of Commerce office, or any of the
directors.

In conjunction, individuals who do not want to attend the
banquet and dinner, can attend the dance scheduled for after
the banquet. Entry fee for the dance will be $5 with Ricky
Barreno, D.J. on hand to provide the music.

"People will use their banquet tickets to get into the
dance, but they don't have to attend the banquet and dinner,
they can purchase a ticket for the dance only," said Chamber
Director Tom Rivera.

Reservations may be made by contacting the Pecos Chamber of
Commerce, P.O. Box 24/111 South Cedar, Pecos, Tx., 79772, or
call 915-445-2406. The chamber's fax number is 915-445-2407
or they can be reached by e-mail: pcoc@bitstreet.com.

Colorado woman guilty pot trial

BY PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

Federal court jurors on Tuesday found Elizabeth Acosta, 38,
of Loveland, Colo. guilty of possession with intent to
distribute marijuana on Oct. 19, 1997.

Senior Judge Lucius Bunton is presiding for a second jury
trial today, this for Ricky Lynn Alexander, 37, of Dallas,
who is charged with possession with intent to distribute
marijuana.

His attorney is Mike Barclay of Alpine, who also has a bench
trial, a plea and a sentencing for other clients today.

Judge Bunton sentenced 11 defendants on Monday, with the
longest sentence nine years in prison.

Cayetano Beltran-Rios, 48, was convicted of importing and
possessing with intent to distribute heroin on Aug. 26,
1997. After she completes the 108-month sentence, she will
serve four years supervised release.

Her co-defendant, Enue Perea de Beltran, 50, will serve 87
months for importing heroin, also with four years supervised
release.

Martha E. de la Rosa-Valenzuela, 34, of Chihuahua, Mex.,
will serve 18 months for importing and possessing marijuana
with intent to distribute. The sentences will run
concurrently, and she will serve two years supervised
release.

Ernesto Chavez-Alvarez, 27, was sentenced to 18 months, plus
three years supervised release, for importing marijuana on
Sept. 2, 1997.

Sentenced for possessing with intent to distribute marijuana
are:

* Alejandro Paz-Munoz, 22, of Chihuahua, Mex., 18 months
plus two years supervised release;

* Miguel Angel Marquez-Marquez, 25, of Chihuahua, Mex., 60
months, plus four years supervised release;

* Gary Wayne Clark Sr., 23, Longview, 15 months, plus three
years supervised release;

* Patrick Jerome Hailey, 26, Memphis, Tenn., 16 months,
consecutive with three sentences in Pulaski, Tenn.; plus
three years supervised release;

* Susan Delgado, 25, Odessa, 30 months plus three years
supervised release; and

* Salvador Garcia-Hinojos, 42, Fort Stockton, 24 months plus
three years supervised release.

Judge Bunton has a third jury trial scheduled for Thursday.

Livestock show at RCCC begins Thursday

The 1998 Reeves-Loving County Junior Livestock Show and Sale
opens Thursday, January 15 at Reeves County Civic Center.

The weigh-in for sheep, goats and swine will be held
4:30-7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Reeves County Civic
Center. Steers weigh-in will be held from 4:30-5:45 p.m. on
Thursday at the 4H Complex and need to be in RCCC Show Barn
by 6 p.m.

The goat show begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, following by
the steer show at 5:30 p.m. and the lamb show at 6:30 p.m.
The swine show begins at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

A barbecue will open at 5 p.m. Saturday and last until 6:45
p.m. Tickets for the barbecue cost $5 per adult, $3 per
child, and may be purchased in advance from any FFA or 4H
member. The event closes with a premium sale starting at 7
p.m. Saturday.

Pecos Valley Crime Stoppers

Crime of the Week

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 in reward for information leading to the arrest and Grand Jury indictment of person(s) responsible for the incident described below. Anyone having any information on this crime or any other crime can call "Crime Stoppers" at 445-9898 and you will remain anonymous.

On Nov. 28, 1997, the Pecos Police Department was dispatched
to 2115 Country Club in reference to a Burglary of a Motor
Vehicle. Sometime between the hours of 1:30 p.m. and 8:30
p.m. on Nov. 28, a person or persons burglarized a red, 1990
Mitsubishi two-door while it was parked in front of the
residence. Taken in the burglary was a Sony AM/FM cassette
player, two 10-inch speakers in a subwoofer box, one U-S
amplifier and one Jenson crossover. Total value of stolen
property was placed at approximately $800.

Appraisal board to elect officers

The Board of Directors of the Reeves County Appraisal
District will meet this afternoon to administer the oaths of
office and elect officers for 1998.

The board will discuss expenses and balances for Oct., Nov.
and Dec. of 1997; a TML risk pool insurance proposal by
Thomas Taylor; a telephone system proposal; and hear the
progress report. An appraisal review board member will be
appointed at the meeting, and litigation by LBO Energy will
be reviewed.

The meeting will be held at 403 South Cypress at 5 p.m.

OBITUARY

Eliseo Acosta

Eliseo (Eli) Acosta, 26, died Monday, Jan. 12 in Hobbs, N.M.

Viewing is 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14 and from 8 a.m.
until 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Pecos Funeral Home
Chapel. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

Acosta attended Pecos High School before moving to Hobbs.

Survivors include his wife, Alma Granado of Hobbs, N.M., one
son, Eliseo Acosta, Jr. of Hobbs, N.M., Parents Candelario
and Elena Acosta of Hobbs, N.M., six brothers, Pedro
Martinez, Mario and Elias Acosta of Hobbs, N.M., Alvin and
Larry Nichols of Tucson, Ariz., Frank Mata of Roswell, N.M.,
four sisters, Delma Herrera and Olga Nichols of Hobbs, N.M.,
Tavita Valencia of Artesia, N.M. and Maria Elena Munoz of
Pecos.

Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WEATHER

High Tuesday 54, low last night 34.

Skies will be clearing across most of Texas tonight and
Thursday.

Temperatures will be climbing on Thursday. But another cold
night is in store across all of the state before the warming
trend begins.

It will be partly cloudy across West Texas.

Skies will begin clearing from the west across North Texas
tonight. There may be some occasional rain and thunderstorms
in eastern sections tonight and there may be some heavy rain
in southeastern sections tonight.

Clouds will be decreasing on Thursday across all of North
Texas.

It will be cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms
tonight in South Texas. Clouds will be decreasing on
Thursday.

Lows tonight will be in the 20s and 30s in West Texas, the
upper 20s in western areas and in the 30s and 40s across the
rest of North Texas and in the 30s in the Hill Country and
in the 40s and 50s elsewhere in South Texas.

Highs Thursday will be in the 50s and 60s except in South
Texas where readings will be in the 60s.

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