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TOP STORIESJanuary 29, 1998PBT interviewing for head football coachBy JON FULBRIGHT Staff Writer PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD administrators are moving quickly to fill the vacant head football coaching job, conducting interviews just one day after the deadline for applications. P-B-T superintendent Don Love, personnel director Gome Olibas and athletic director Bubba Williams were busy today interviewing five of the 10 candidates for the varsity job, and have scheduled interviews with four of the other five hopefuls on Friday. Olibas' secretary, Frances Gomez, said Mike Ferrell, Randy Hicks, Fernando Hernandez, Dan Swaim and John Barfield were to be interviewed today, while Ronnie White, Steele Ewing, Jerry Parent and the final person to submit and application, Tony Matheson, will be interviewed tomorrow. Gomez added that she was scheduled to talk to the 10th applicant, Manuel Valles, this afternoon about setting up a Friday interview time. The head coaching job became open earlier this month, when new P-B-T superintendent Don Love reassigned head coach and athletic director Mike Belew to principal at Zavala Middle School. Williams was named by Love as Belew's replacement as athletic director at the time of the Jan. 6 reassignment. Ferrell and Swaim are members of Belew's varsity staff, with Swaim having served for two years and Ferrell last season, after serving as junior varsity head coach in 1996. Parent has been the longtime Zavala Middle School head coach while Ewing served for 12 years as a junior high, sub-varsity and varsity assistant coach for the Eagles. White is currently coaching in the El Paso ISD; Hernandez is coaching in Fabens; Barfield is teaching at Pecos High School; and Hicks is the former Kermit Yellowjackets head coach. Valles, currently coaching in the Laredo ISD, returned his application on Wednesday, while Matheson is currently in Marfa, Gomez said. After the interviews, Love, Olibas and Williams will make a recommendation to P-B-T school board members, who will then vote on their selection. The coaching interviews is one of two major actions that will affect the Eagles' football team over the next five days. On Monday, the University Interscholastic League will release its bi-annual realignment of schools in Texas. The UIL has made no formal statement about Monday's 9 a.m. announcement, but did say the number of Class 5A schools would be cut from 229 to between 210 and 215 for the next two years. However, based on area enrollment reports, it's likely the Eagles will either remain in the current District 4-4A, with Monahans possibly replacing Sweetwater as its sixth member, or Pecos, Monahans and Fort Stockton may be paired with schools on the eastern side of El Paso to create a new District 4-4A.
County joins in agreement for disaster aidBy RICK L. SMITH Staff Writer PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Reeves County has joined with several other cities and counties in the area to provide mutual aid in the event of a disaster affecting any of the other members of the agreement. "We have helped each other informally in the past, like when the tornado hit Saragosa," said Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo. "This agreement will just make mutual aid more official." According the agreement, cities eligible for participation in the mutual aid agreement include: Ackerly, Andrews, Balmorhea, Barstow, Big Spring, Coahoma, Crane, Forsan, Fort Stockton, Goldsmith, Grandfalls, Iraan, Kermit, Lamesa, Los Ybanez, McCamey, Midland, Monahans, Odessa, Pecos City, Pyote, Rankin, Thorntonville, Seagraves, Seminole, Stanton, Toyah, Wickett and Wink. The following counties are also eligible to participate in the agreement: Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward and Winkler. Mutual aid between the participating cities and counties was proposed because both natural and man-made disasters often pose equipment and manpower demands beyond the capacity of most individual cities or counties in the Permian Basin. In the past cities and counties in the area have provided assistance to each other during major disasters and following cleanups. A formal agreement will allow for better coordination of such efforts and ensure that adequate equipment is available for emergencies in the shortest time possible. Members of the mutual aid agreement can receive aid from other members whenever its governing body declares a local disaster. However, if a city's or county's emergency equipment and personnel is already tied up with a local disaster that city or county is not required to send support away from its own emergency, according to the agreement approved by Reeves County Commissioners Monday. In the event of a disaster a city or county can request specific equipment and personnel and specify the location where and when the equipment and personnel will be dispatched. Also, such a request must include who is in charge of the incident and shall provide procedures for immediate communication wit the officer in charge. However, the entity supplying the personnel or equipment can determine how much equipment and personnel it will send. The city or county providing aid will appoint an Incident Commander Officer in charge of the personnel and equipment from the responding entity. In addition, the city or county requesting aid will be responsible for any civil liability that arises from the incident. "This agreement is necessary if someone is hurt," said Commissioner Felipe Arredondo. "It is better for those who help." If federal funding becomes available as a result of a disaster any responding entities are eligible for reimbursement of expenses incurred in helping with the incident. Otherwise, a responding entity shall be reimbursed by the requesting entity for costs incurred in furnishing disaster aid. Any city or county participating in the mutual aid agreement can drop out of the agreement with a 90 day written notice.
Police find heroin packaging paraphernaliaPECOS, January 29, 1998 - A local woman was arrested yesterday afternoon when officers from the Pecos Police Department and the Reeves County Sheriff's Department executed a narcotics search warrant at 702 South Almond Street, according to Narcotics Investigator Paul Deishler. When the search warrant was executed shortly after 4 p.m. officers found paraphernalia that is used to package heroin. Jessica Montgomery, 47, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and was transported to the Reeves County Jail, according to Deishler. He said that other charges may also be pending against Montgomery, but could not specify what those charges might be. Deishler said that the narcotics team executed another search warrant yesterday at around 9 p.m. at 915 South Elm, but no arrests were made because no narcotics were found.
Student arrested for weapon possessionPECOS, January 29, 1998 - A Crockett Middle School student was arrested last Friday for possession of "brass knuckles" at the school. The arrest occured at 9:18 a.m. Jan. 23 and the male juvenile was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, according to Pecos Police reports. The weapon the student had was "knuckles," commonly referred to as "brass knuckles," but in this case the weapon was not made out of brass, according to a Pecos police sergeant who read the report on the case. An unidentified teacher discovered that the student had the weapon at school and school officials had possession of the weapon by the time a police officer arrived at the campus. Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD officials would not comment on the case.
Salgado performs FridayPECOS, January 29, 1998 - A West Texas native will be in Pecos to perform on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Riverside Ballroom. Michael Salgado and his band will begin playing at 8 p.m. and the dance will continue until 2 a.m. The group will also be at McDonald's signing autographs from 5-6 p.m. on Friday. Salgado rose to the top in Tejano and Conjunto music, with his hit single, "Cruz de Madera" and won the Male Vocalist of the Year Award last year. In an interview with Tejano Wave magazine, Salgado said, "I have to thank God, my father, my family and my record label Joey Records International for the promotion and above all thank my fans for their support. There were other talented artists and good bands in the same category, we will always remember the support that we received that night." Salgado plays both Conjunto and Tejano music and has recently released a record in honor of his idol, Cornelio Reyna who died recently. He was named top vocalist by Billboard Hot Latin Charts.
PBT warns parents about infectious diseaseBy ROSIE FLORES Staff Writer PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD officials are warning parents about an infectious disease affecting children in the district. "We have been sending out information on this and warning parents to watch their children for the symptoms," said PBT-ISD Nurse Mary Sanders. Erythema infectiosum is a common disease of school children characterized by a red rash on the cheeks followed by a lacy rash on the arms and legs. It usually causes very little illness although adolescents sometimes have mild joint pains or swelling. Erythema infectiosum was given the name "fifth disease" because it was the fifth of the childhood rashes (measles, German measles, etc.) to be described. The disease is caused by parvovirus B19. It is spread by direct contact with infected mucus from the nose or mouth or by inhaling droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. Illness starts from four to 18 days after exposure. Because of the close and prolonged contact between students, epidemics of fifth disease are common in primary schools and academies. "In Pecos Kindergarten there are about 35 cases that have been reported and probably more than were not," said Sanders. About 60 cases were reported at Bessie Haynes Elementary and Sanders stated that other school districts are probably experiencing the same problem. "Of course, there are some cases that go unreported," she said. Fifth disease rash sometimes begins with no illness at all but usually starts with three or four days of low-grade fever and symptoms of a mild cold. This is followed in seven to 10 days by the appearance of a bright red, raised rash which covers the cheeks, making them look as if they had been slapped. The area around the mouth is usually not involved. After another one to three days, a pink, blotchy and often itchy rash appears on the upper part of the arms and legs, spreading to the trunk and buttocks. As it fades, the rash develops a "lace-like" or "net-like" appearance which can last for five to 10 days. Once cleared, it may reappear for several weeks or months if the skin becomes flushed from exercise, sunlight or a warm bath. Young adults with parvovirus infection can have mild joint pains and swelling (arthritis), often without a rash. The hands, knees and wrists are most commonly affected. Discomfort lasts from a few days to several months. There is no permanent joint damage. There are no complications from infection in a normal child. Children with blood problems such sickle cell disease and those with certain cancers or on chemotherapy can develop severe anemia, usually without a rash. Infection in pregnant women can cause spontaneous abortion or anemia in the unborn baby. "This is very important, that these people be more cautious," said Sanders. "There is no medical treatment for fifth disease," she said. Most children with erythema infectiosum do not need medication or a change in diet. The disease remains contagious from two weeks to three days before appearance of the rash (or joint pains). Children usually feel perfectly well or have only a mild illness at this time and continue to play with other children. Thus, little can be done to stop the spread of this infection. Children are no longer contagious and do not need to be excluded from school once the rash occurs. Pregnant women in contact with an infected child between three days and two weeks before the rash should speak with their doctor. Blood tests to check for immunity or infection are available. Fortunately, most adults have had parvovirus infection during childhood and are no longer at risk of catching the illness. "We've also been having a lot of stomach viruses, but nothing real serious," said Sanders.
District judges sued for more than 1 millionBy PEGGY McCRACKEN Staff Writer PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Pecos County is off the hook, but two state district judges face a wrongful termination suit filed by the former Pecos County auditor. Senior Judge Lucius Bunton has set docket call and jury selection for 9 a.m. Monday in Pecos federal court. Bettye Warnock claims in the suit that 83rd District Judge Alex Gonzales and 112th District Judge Brock Jones violated her First Amendment rights when they failed to re-appoint her as auditor March 5, 1993. The two judges had appointed Warnock to a two-year term in March, 1991. Both said they declined to re-appoint her for a second term because of her inability to work with officials and her attempts to further her personal agendas. In the suit, Warnock lists 48 reports she made to commissioners court, the judges, other officials and/or employees alleging violations of state law, aldministrative regulations and county policies and ordinancess. She claims those are the real reasons the judges terminated her employment. In addition to re-instatement or front pay, Warnock seeks $500,000 for past and future emotional distress, $500,000 in punitive damages, back pay and benefits and attorney fees. Senior Judge Lucius Bunton granted a motion to dismiss Pecos County from the suit because they had earlier won a summary judgment in a similar suit filed in 147th District Court in Travis County. They could not be sued a second time, he said. In his pre-trial deposition, Judge Jones said there were several reasons he did not want to re-appoint Warnock: "First, when Bettye first talked to me about taking the position, she acknowledged to me that her husband, former County Judge Charlie Warnock, was a controversial figure (his failure to render even the most minimal due process in criminal cases was publicized state-wide and many of his judicial actions were overturned...) and had political problems, but she assured me that his problenms were not hers and that his problems would not affect the way she did her job. "However, it was my experience that Mrs. Warnock, once in office, did use her official position to further her personal agenda..." Melissa Hirsch represents Warnock, while the state attorney general's office represents the judges. Also on the docket is one criminal case and one sentencing. WEATHERPECOS, January 29, 1998 - High Wednesday, 73, low this morning, 32. A weak cold front may trigger some showers along the Texas coast through tonight, but the pleasant, unseasonably warm weather will continue across the state through Friday. The front was located in central portions of North Texas early today. West Texas will have mostly sunny days and fair nights. Lows tonight will be in the 20s and 30s in West Texas. Highs Friday should be in the 60s and 70s.
Pecos Enterprise
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