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

Pecos At Work

February 27, 1998

Bob's is Pecos' family grocery store

Bob's Thriftway is Pecos' family grocery store. That's the
way the store's manager, Salvador "Howdy" Carrera, likes to
think of it.

"We're a `Home Town' store," Carrera says. "I was born and
raised in Pecos, our meat market manager is from Pecos and
our produce manager is from Pecos. If you want a personal
touch when you shop, this is where you should come."

Carrera has been the manager of Bob's Thriftway, 1800 S.
Eddy St., for more than a year now. He has 14 years
experience with the company.

"If we don't have what you need, we'll go and get it for
you," he said.

Carrera said he believes his store is competitively priced
with any store in the area, even compared to the big grocery
chains in Odessa.

"Overall, our prices are competitive," he said. "Sometimes
they might have different things on sale than us but the
suppliers give us opportunities to make the same sales, it
just might be at a different time."

Also, Carrera added, shoppers at Bob's Thriftway help
support the Pecos community with the tax dollars that are
generated by their purchases.

"When Pecos people shop in Odessa those tax dollars only
benefit people in Odessa," Carrera said.

Horace Bowley, supervisor of both Bob's Thriftway and La
Tienda Thriftway, pointed out that the grocery company also
contributes to the community through donations to
organizations such as the Pecos schools.

"Plus, our store is convenient," Carrera said. "You don't
have to spend $12 on gasoline to go shopping here."

Carrera said he believes communication between customers and
local store management is important.

"If people just let us know what they need then we can take
care of them," he said. "A lot of our customers place
special orders for baked goods, salads, cuts of meat, cooked
brisket and many other items."

"We enjoy doing that for our customers," Bowley added.

"I want to extend a big thank you to our loyal customers,"
Carrera said. "Without them we'd be nothing."

This Saturday Bob's Thriftway is participating in its first
"Crazy Days" sale. Each weekend, for an indefinite period of
time, Bob's will hold special one-day sales with discounted
items.

Pecos' museum impresses visitors

"One of the most fascinating, well done, complete we've
seen." Mr. and Mrs. Dean Terry, Utah.

"Best I've seen!" Mr. and Mrs. Robert O'Dell, Kansas.

"Best Museum in the West that we have seen!" Mr. and Mrs.
Stiflinger, Pennsylvania.

These terrific compliments are representative of the
comments shared by some of the museum visitors at The West
of the Pecos Museum. The museum is located at the corner of
First Street and Highway 285.

Housed in the old Orient Hotel and the old Number Eleven
Saloon, the museum has three floors with 50 full rooms of
authentic items from Pecos' colorful past, which dates back
to the 1880's. The museum offers visitors an opportunity to
experience the old west from gunfighters and old ranch
relics to rooms filled with a variety of Pecos area history.
Guests will enjoy the park area with the grave of Clay
Allison the gentleman gunfighter, the Judge Roy Bean replica
and the 100-year-old chuck wagon, as well as the antique
farm equipment.

The West of the Pecos Museum also owns the historic
Weatherby House, located at 423 S. Oleander St. It is a
wonderful surprise to all who enter it! With beautiful
fabric covered walls and ornate furnishings and personal
effects belonging to the Weatherby family, it is the perfect
setting for social gatherings including bridal showers,
cocktail parties or even murder mystery dinners. Call the
museum to plan your party!

The West of the Pecos Museum is dedicated to promoting
Pecos, preserving our western heritage and serving the
community. The continued generosity of the community is
vital to the progress and maintenance of the museum. Anyone
interested can become involved in supporting the museum
through volunteering time, memorial contributions or by
participating in the museum membership program.

Memberships at the West of the Pecos Museum range from $25
to $1,000 and are tax deductible. The six different levels
of membership all include free museum admission, invitations
to special events, newsletter subscriptions, and a 10
percent discount in the Museum book store and gift shop.
Other privileges such as museum usage, museum tiles and
signed and numbered museum prints increase with the amount
of the contribution.

The West of the Pecos Museum and the Mesquite House Gift
Shop have a great collection of books on the old west as
well as books by area authors and many other wonderful gift
ideas. Pecos Bill books and T-shirts, museum T-shirts and
other area souvenir items can be found in the gift shop and
the book store.

The West of the Pecos Museum is open Monday through Saturday
9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and until 6 p.m. in the summer. Stop by
soon. You'll be glad you did!

FNB adds Kermit bank, will install ATM

The First National Bank of Pecos enjoyed another excellent
year in 1997, according to Bruce Duston, President.

First National ended 1997 with $53 million in assets, 46
million in deposits, $26 million in loans and Capital Funds
are $6 million. First National also reports another year of
exceptional service to the Pecos community.

Paul Hinojos, Vice President, completed a highly successful
year as President of the Pecos Chamber of Commerce. Dot
Stafford, Vice President, is fulfilling her second term as
Mayor of the Town of Pecos City.

The year 1998 will be eventful for First National Bank. The
Bank will expand its operations to include Kermit and
Winkler County. New automated bookkeeping and ATM services
will become available. Regrettably, the bank will bid
farewell to Dot Stafford's full time services after 35
marvelous years at First National.

Please plan to wish Dot well upon her retirement.

A retirement reception was held for her on Thursday in the
lobby of the First National Bank.

City water field project progressing

For the upcoming year, Town of Pecos City officials have in
sight a plan to repair and replace over 3,000 linear feet of
the underground aqueduct transfer line that draws water to
the city from the Ward County Well Field. And the chances
are very great that the city may receive a $350,000 grant
that would pay for the majority of the project.

"Hopefully in the not-too-distant future," said City
Manager Kenneth Neal, "we will be able to develop the
(Worsham) well field. One report estimated in would cost six
million dollars to develop."

Neal said that he was "very excited" about the
recently-formed Pecos Economic Development Committee and
their efforts at attracting businesses to Pecos.

Also, after reviewing the results of a recent sewer smoke
test, Neal said, city officials were pleased to find that
the situation is not as bad as first suspected. The city has
purchased a city vacuum truck and T.V. inspection camera to
enter and inspect the lines. Neal said that the camera work
was a big step in keeping Pecos sewer lines "up to par."

To keep the city attractive, Neal said the city was
continuing their once-a-year seal coating of the streets and
maintaining the demolition program to get rid of those
unsightly buildings in town.

Neal added that alley clean-ups, that under the city were a
once-a-year, are now performed by Wes Tex Waste once a
month. "That's very beneficial," said Neal.

Smithers is largest testing facility

Smithers Transportation Test Center, located just south of
Pecos since 1987, is the world's largest independently owned
and operated automotive test facility. The 5,800-acre
complex provides year-round impartial and analytical testing
of vehicles and their components.

Vehicles tested at Smithers range from passenger cars,
motorcycles and all-terrain units to trucks of all kinds,
including dirt haulers, earth movers and military vehicles.
Testing of parts and components such as tires, fuels and
lubricants is also conducted under tightly controlled
conditions.

Among the service and testing capabilities at Smithers are:

* Vehicle performance durability which includes power train
and all component testing;

* High-speed vehicle evaluation to 200 mph.;

* Vehicle dynamics;

* Fuel economy/alternate fuel testing;

* Suspension system/wheel testing;

* Route characterization;

* Noise, coast-down and rolling resistance studies; Open
highway/city stop-and-go driving;

* Brake testing;

* Vehicle/bus vibration evaluation;

* Tire testing to include durability, performance, ride and
handling, hydroplaning and treadwear;

* Multi-client component tests; and

* Intelligent vehicle highway systems evaluations.

Vehicle testing at Smithers is conducted in accordance with
the following standards: U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and
Society of Automotive Engineers procedures. Also, European
and Canadian regulatory performance standards, and American
Society for Testing and Materials procedures.

Clients may chose from a wide variety of standard test
procedures, or Smithers will custom design a procedure to
meet specific needs. Clients may contract their entire test
program with Smithers, or the company will rent its facility
and equipment so that clients can conduct their own testing
using their own staff.

In addition, Smithers uses hundreds of miles of public
highways and mountainous terrain roads within 75 miles of
the Pecos test center to conduct tests. Smithers also owns
huge tracts of land surrounding the circular complex where
off-road tests can be designed and conducted.

Customized facilities can also be constructed to meet a
client's specific needs.

The test center was acquired in January 1987 by Smithers
Scientific Services, Inc., based in Akron, Ohio. The
facility has employed up to 150 people as fleet and
high-speed test drivers, mechanics and maintenance people.

Ted L. Yost is general manager of the test center. Raymond
B. Farmer is managing director of Smithers Tire & Automotive
Testing Division, and J. Michael Hochschwender is president
and chief operating officer of the parent Smithers company.

Anchor West is onion processor

At Anchor West, on I-20 at the south edge of Pecos, 492
employees work around the clock to cut and slice onions,
bread, par fry, package and ship them around the world.

Appleton, Wis. based Anchor West has become one of the
largest employers in Reeves County. Anchor processes onions
grown in the Pecos Valley during the harvest season, from
late May through August. They import onions and other
produce in the off season.
(Link to anchorfoods.com)

Flying J manager touts monthly specials

The new manager of Pecos' Flying J Travel Plaza, Julio
Hernandez, is also new to Pecos and wants to get to know his
new community.

"I'm trying to get the store move involved with the
community," said Hernandez.

Hernandez said that he is originally from Brownsville, but
was recently transferred to the Pecos Flying J from their
travel plaza in North Platte, Neb. He has been with the
company for six months and here in Pecos for one month.
"Basically, I'm pretty excited about being down here in
Pecos," Hernandez said.

"I want the public to come out here and meet me and my
crew," Hernandez said. He wants to introduce himself,
assistant damagers Carlos Campos and Sony Celeya, restaurant
manager Diana Lara and all of the other Flying J employees.
"As far as my cashiers go, I've got a pretty good crew," he
added.

Hernandez said that Flying J has monthly promotional sales
including flyer items in their convenience store. The store
sells traditional convenience items, as well as NASCAR
souvenirs, electronics items such as a TV/VCR combo
currently selling for $329 and there is even a boutique case
featuring collectible figurines. He said Flying J also has
the lowest fuel prices in town.

"We're going to run different promotions through the year,"
Hernandez said.

In addition to their fuel and retail offerings, Flying J is
the home of The Cookery, a restaurant that features
breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets.

"Our restaurant has a pretty big menu, including everything
from steaks to hamburgers," Hernandez said. The restaurant
special for March will be a 12 ounce. sirloin steak for
$7.99.

In the store, March specials will include a six-inch
submarine sandwich for $2.29 and a variety of CD-ROMs with
titles such as "Streets USA," a mapping program, "88 Million
Households" and "16 Million Businesses," which are both
phone book CD-ROMs.

Pecos Funeral Home in area since early 1900s

Since the early 1900s Pecos Funeral Home has been serving
area families "in their time of need."

Manager Pablo T. Carrasco said the local funeral home has
been in business "for a long time."

It first began operating under the ownership of the
Anderson Family at the corner of Fifth and Cypress streets,
and in 1962 relocated to its current address, 607 W. Third
St., when the home of a prominent ranch family, the Rosses
was renovated for the operation.

It was recently bought out by the Loewen Group of Family
Funeral Homes, whose headquarters is in Canada and Regional
Office in Abilene.

Carrasco, Funeral Directors and embalmers, Jackie Harkey,
Tony Lujan and William Toliver make up the funeral home
staff.

"All the paperwork is done right here in this office," said
Carrasco of his function and station in the two-story
building.

Pecos Funeral Home offers services that begin with the
preparation of the body to the burial.

The funeral home manager said either Harkey or Lujan are
always present for the preparation of a body and during all
funeral services.

Personal beauticians are called in if requested, he added.

PFH staff work with family members to coordinate all the
services and even have a room filled with a selection of
caskets that range in price and intricacy.

The bottom floor of the building has two viewing rooms for
family members to spend with their loved one, and a chapel
that sits 250 people and is equipped with a family room.

The facilities are modern, Carrasco pointed out, the
hearses are immaculately kept and every funeral need is
considered.

"We're on call 24 hours a day," said Carrasco, "and we
honor all burial insurances."

Pecos Funeral Home believes that everyone deserves a proper
burial and "nobody will be turned away," indicating that
they offer payment plans to fit any family's need.

"Everybody is treated fairly," and equally, he added.

Pecos Home Heath treats patients like family

Pecos Home Health stands by its motto, "treating your
family like ours," as it administers home health care.

Their service is based on the notion that home health care
is providing service to recovering, disabled, or chronically
ill persons who need treatment and/or assistance with the
daily activities of living.

Owners and operators, John and Landa Rediger of Rediger's
Pharmacy, believe "generally home care is appropriate
whenever a person needs assistance that cannot easily or
effectively be provided solely by family or friends on an
ongoing basis."

Because advancing technology yields equipment and people
trained to use it, every day more people are able to leave
institutions, or never enter them, they said. "They can be
cared for effectively and efficiently at home under a
doctor's supervision."

Delivering a choice in home health care, PHH provides such
things as: skilled nursing services, case management,
personal assistance through home care aides, physical
therapy (by contract), lab services, IV infusion/education,
wound and dressing care, diabetic teaching and therapy,
catheter care, parental nutrition, ostomy care, pain
management and support, PICC line placement and management,
nutritional counseling and pediatrics.

PHH arranges services dealing with durable medical
equipment, respiratory therapy and prescription services.

The local home health agency accepts Medicare and Medicaid
as payment in full and will verify insurance benefits, as
well as discuss your coverage as a free service prior to
initiating any care.

Home health care is often recommended to families by their
physician, medical social worker or hospital discharge
planner.

Patients or their families can, however, seek these
services on their own.

One of the agency's registered nurses will evaluate and
assess the patient's needs at no charge.

Pecos Home Health is located at 721 S. Plum St.

Rediger's offers customers tasty antibiotics

What flavor do you want your antibiotics?

Take your prescription to John Rediger at Rediger's
Pharmacy, and he just may ask you that very question.

Rediger's can compound prescriptions to your doctor's exact
specifications.

"We can enhance the flavor of antibiotics for kids so they
don't mind taking them, or we help people who have trouble
swallowing tablets by suspending the tablet in liquid and
giving it whatever flavor they want," Rediger said. "We put
in some mint flavor for a nursing home patient, and it took
the `yuck' out of the Geritol."

Rediger's has about 30 flavors available, including creme
dementhe, bubble gum, tangerine, tutti fruiti, tropical
punch, cherry, apple, pineapple and banana.

"That's another advantage we have over the drug companies,"
Rediger said. "Because they mass market the drugs, they
can't offer all these different flavors. We can
individualize the drug to the taste of the customer."

Individualized drugs that cost less are the aim of
Rediger's Pharmacy's expanded compounding service.

Compounding includes the formulation of all types of
prescription and over-the-counter medications.

"Compounding is where pharmacy started some 2,000 years
ago, when pharmacists used the mortar and pestle to grind
leaves and stems to make drugs," Rediger said.

"We've come full circle and are compounding again, but this
time because compounded drugs are often less expensive, more
accurate and more personalized."

Rediger said that manufactured drugs, because they are made
in such large quantities, are allowed to vary from the
published dosage by up to 10 percent. The Food and Drug
Administration allows generic drugs to vary up to 20 percent.

"We compound with less than 1 percent error," Rediger said.
"It's more precise and accurate because we compound in
smaller quantities."

Some drugs can be compounded at the pharmacist's counter at
Rediger's while other are compounded in the "glass room," a
six-foot square facility that includes equipment for
specialized compounding.

A "hood" area in which air is used to keep drugs sterile
meets required conditions for compounding intravenous and
inhalation therapy drugs and eye drops.

Other types of drugs that can be compounded include
medicated lozenges, popsicles, lollipops, bandages, pastes,
sprays, creams and ointments, capsules and most any other
oral medication.

Compounding also allows drugs to be made in the exact
strength desired by the physician for the patient, Rediger
said. Manufactured drugs, on the other hand, usually are
only available in standardized strengths.

Compounded drugs are many times less than the
over-the-counter price. All this makes it easier on the
patient.

"It's a tripod between the physician, the patient and the
pharmacist working together to best meet the needs of the
patient," he said.

Rediger's Pharmacy has been serving the Pecos area since
1954, and has been in its present location at 724 S. Eddy
St. since 1962.

Pharmacists are John T. Rediger, who has been practicing
since 1966, and his father, F. John Rediger, who has been a
pharmacist since 1928. Each is licensed in three different
states.

Rediger's Pharmacy is open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Western Abstract's `97 business strong

According to Rusty Carpenter, owner and manager of Western
Abstract & Title Co., 1997 was another profitable year.

One of the most interesting highlights was the sale of the
historic Scarborough-Lineberry ranch to Boyd Oil & Gas. This
ranch, which sprawls across three counties and into
southeastern New Mexico, had been in the
Scarborough-Lineberry family since 1918.

It was another great year for real estate transactions,
with a substantial increase in oil and gas leasing and
research for seismograph and exploration activity, according
to company secretary Patsy Bulsterbaum.

Western Abstract & Title Co., located at Fourth and Oak
streets in Pecos, has a complete abstract plant covering
Reeves, Culberson and Loving Counties. Abstracts are
prepared for attorney's to determine ownership of property,
whether for a mineral lease or for preparation of deeds and
liens.

"Transfers of small to medium ranches, financing new home
purchases, renewing and modifying liens on homes and farms,
sales of real property and lease of real property all
require some title work by an abstract and title company,"
said Ms. Carpenter. "We are fortunate that many of the
residents and landowners of Reeves, Loving and Culberson
counties use our company for their transactions.. We believe
that the most interesting people in our counties walk
through our doors."

About 60 percent of the company's business is in title
insurance with the balance of the business generated by
preparation of abstracts and run sheets and title searches.

Title insurance underwriters for the company are Chicago
Title Insurance Company, Stewart Title Guaranty Co. And
Title Resources Guaranty Co.

"We continue with a substantial portion of our income is in
abstracts prepared for oil, gas and mineral lease purposes
and the trend seems to be increasing," she noted.
"Additional income from title searches also continues to
increase."

In addition, to Ms. Carpenter others working in the office
are Patsy Bulsterbaum, secretary, Debbie Lopez, data
processor and clerks Sis McElroy, Denise Garcia and Frankie
Grammar.

Gibson's adding more building supplies

Serving area residents for over three decades now, Gibson's
True Value Home Center, at 810 Walthall St., offers a
diverse stock for a variety of home needs.

"Jack Chenault and his wife and her brother started the
business in 1965," said owner Larry Windham. "Her brother,
Don Doan, was also a partner in it. She bought him out in
1976, and in 1994 Mrs. Chenault retired and I purchased the
store from her."

Windham has been the long time manager of Gibson's, which
originally was affiliated with the chain of discount stores
throughout Texas, but became a True Value store back in
1985, while retaining the familiar name.

"We plan to add more building materials in the future,"
said Windham. The store already carries plumbing and
electrical supplies, along with paint and tools. "Those are
our main components now," he added.

The store's camera center carries an assortment of film and
offers Express Delivery for regular prints. A person can
take their film in before noon and have their prints in the
next day, according to a store employee. Special orders take
a little longer.

Hunting, camping and work equipment are also available at
the store, as are garden tools and supplies, household
cleaning, health and beauty products.

Windham's wife, Gloria, son, Keith, and daughter, Tammy,
make up the 11-member staff. Others are: Manager Ysabel
Lara, Paul Hernandez, Mandy Sotelo, Delma Lozano, Lupe
Herrera, Julie Garcia, Alice Lara, and Jesus Baeza.

Gibson's True Value Home Center is open Monday through
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

La Nortena well known around area

What started as a little family business, La Nortena
Tortilla Factory became one of the best known businesses in
Pecos and surrounding cities.

At the beginning La Nortena was not a productive business,
said Miguel Castillo, the actual owner of the Tortilla
Factory.

The first owner was Mrs. Ambrosia. Ramon Vasquez, a friend
of Miguel Castillo, bought the tortilla factory from Mrs.
Ambrosia. He ran the place for six months until he decided
to sale it to Miguel Castillo.

In that time the tortilla factory produced nothing else but
tortillas. Miguel Castillo said that it took a long time to
make a good tortilla. He tried for almost ten years to learn
how to cook the corn, run the tortilla machine and its
maintenance, work out the exact time for the best product
result and know why the tortilla taste changes.

Miguel Castillo said that in order for a business to grow,
the business man needs to loose his love for profit and love
what he is doing.

When he began to run this business he worked from 12 to 14
hours daily. David Castillo, one of Miguel's sons, said that
little by little while the members of the family grew up
they started to help their parents in the family business.

La Nortena Tortilla Factory is still in business due to the
help of his sons, said Mr. Castillo.

La Nortena Restaurant opened in what used to be a gas
station, 13 years ago. With the restaurant, he found out
about the specific characteristics that a corn tortilla must
have depending on its use.

At the factory they produce thick tortillas for enchilada
plates, thin tortillas are perfect for chips and they also
have the option to use flour tortillas.

Lately David Castillo has been developing a project to
create a tamale factory, new and innovative to enter this
segment of the Mexican food market.

David Castillo has been documenting a marketing survey of
all customers that come to Pecos from Odessa, Midland,
Monahans and other cities, to buy products from La Nortena,
especially tamales.

The Castillo family would like to bring money from the big
cities into our small town to create work opportunities and
operate more businesses so people would have another reason
to visit this town.

RCH Home Health nears first year

"Our focus is community involvement and education," said
Tojia Criss, RN Director of Reeves County Hospital's Home
Health Services. The program that opened in April of this
year is, until it achieves certification, free to the public.

"We are the only affiliated hospital home health service
that provides continuity of care from the hospital to your
home," said Josaphine Ingram, LVN. While the program is
located at Reeves County Hospital, not all its referrals are
from there. Many patients have been referred privately, from
area doctors, and other hospitals.

The group provides many educational services that are free
and open to the public. This November, which is Diabetes
Awareness Month, they will host Monday night meetings. The
first Monday lecture will be an introduction to diabetes
(about 1 in 3 Hispanics are diabetic); the second Monday
will cover nutrition and cooking; the third Monday will
cover foot care; and the fourth Monday will deal with
gestation, eye, and renal (kidney) care. At the meeting
there will also be door prizes and refreshments.

"We participate with Meals on Wheels (a non-profit group
that delivers hots meals to the elderly and disabled) and
would like to encourage other businesses in town to join
also," said Criss.

For more information on the educational meetings, or for
24-hour a day service, call 447-3670. As their slogan says,
they "still believe in making house calls."

Pecos Insurance's owners with agency 38 years

The Pecos Insurance Agency, Inc. is in its second
half-century of service to the Pecos community, and its
current owners are nearing the end of their fourth decade
with the company

The company will celebrate its 51st anniversary on Sunday,
having been licensed March 1, 1947, by Paul Dowling, W. H.
Holcombe, and Archie Scott.

The agency is presently owned and operated by Edward A.
Daniel and Roy Prewit. Both joined the agency in 1960. They
are assisted by Rosemary Varela, Tina Trujillo, and Karen
Hornberger.

Companies represented by Pecos Insurance Agency, Inc. are
Trinity Insurance Companies, CNA, American Fidelity
Insurance Companies, Union Standard Insurance, The St. Paul
Insurance Company, Fidelity & Deposit, Western Surety, and
Merchants Bonding Company. They also represent other
companies who provide all types of special insurance.

This general insurance agency handles fire, auto, casualty
and marine insurance placement for both personal and
commercial clients.

Crop hail and multi-peril insurance is available for farm
customers, and life insurance along with group health
coverage with Blue Cross is also offered

The Pecos Insurance Agency, Inc. staff wishes to thank its
clientele for their support and loyalty through its
half-century of operation and pledges the same dedication to
the satisfaction of its customers now and in the future.

First Baptist sponsoring Spring drama

The focus at First Baptist Church this spring will be on a
drama that will be presented for three nights, starting the
evening of Easter Sunday. The First Baptist Church will join
together with a number of other churches in the community to
present the drama "Heaven's Gates, Hell's Flames."

The goal of the drama is to illustrate what the Bible says
about eternity and the consequences of the choices that we
have made in this life. The Bible teaches that the spirit of
man lives on after death. The Bible also teaches that
individuals determine their own eternal destiny.

Often, people give little or no thought to the reality of
eternity. "Heaven's Gates, Hell's Flames" is a dramatic
portrayal of several characters, varying in age and
circumstance, as they face death. Each of these characters
have thought of eternity before they die. Each character
faces the consequences of his or her decision as they stand
before the throne of God and God's "book of life" is
consulted.

The Bible says in the book of Revelation, "Nothing impure
will ever enter (heaven), nor will anyone who does what is
shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are
written in the Lamb's book of life."

This drama has been in large demand. It began touring this
country in the 1980s, and now includes 41 teams (26 in the
United States and Canada and 15 in other countries).

The traveling team consists of a dad, mom and family who
travel wherever the drama is to be presented. The cast is
made up of members of the host churches. The team provides
the stage setting and the costumes.

The community is invited to come at no cost to see the drama
that will be presented in the Pecos High School auditorium
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings, April 12-14, at 7 p.m.

Ortiz Insurance expands services

Local insurance agent Luz Ortiz and his wife Isa continue
to expand their business to better meet the public's needs.

The local agent acknowledges his many "loyal customers,"
who he said stuck with him "no matter where we go. We really
appreciate their business."

Ortiz said he began with American National Insurance in
1977 and in 1984 went on with Employers Insurance of Texas.

"When that went under," he said, he opted to "go on my
own," with his wife in 1990, taking over the former EIT
office in the corner of Washington and Johnson Streets,
carrying only Metropolitan Life.

In 1992 the couple dropped Metropolitan and began to expand
their business along with the services they offer to the
public by offering policies from other insurance groups,
such as National Lloyd's, Progressive and Northwestern.

Policies through Dairyland and Foremost Insurance companies
have also been added on since the couple began their
business, along with Viking County Mutual, State and County
Mutual, Southern County Mutual and Home State County Mutual.

Ortiz Insurance has added two new policies in the past
year. Old American was added in May, 1997 and Charter soon
after.

Luz said he is able to monitor and make payments to Old
American, Charter and Progressive via the computer. "We are
able to load payments and information right then and there,"
he said. "We don't need money orders like we used to."

Another benefit, he added, was the insurance company
receiving their payment immediately.

For the past three years, policies for life, fire, home,
commercial, auto, motorcycle, mobile homes and motor homes
have been prepared for customers at the Luz Ortiz Insurance
Agency in Pecos, Monahans, Kermit, Wickett, Grandfalls and
the surrounding area.

Luz said he likes to assess a potential customer's
situation before advising them to sign up with his agency
because, "I don't feel comfortable," allowing them to cancel
a policy they've had for a long time.

"I like to see what's best for them," he said.

The couple enjoys using their business in promoting local
events for the community and said, "We enjoy being on our
own."

Ortiz said that he would like to find a new building to
move the business into, maybe within the next year. Also, to
better accommodate his customers, Ortiz said he would like
to get a drop-box for after-hours payments, and possibly a
drive-through window for those hot, summer months.

Products at Vasquez designed for all ages

Good values and going to great lengths to make their
merchandise appealing to a wide variety of customers are
credited for the last three years of success reported by
Vasquez Home Furnishings in Downtown Pecos.

Ed Vasquez, family proprietor, said that the store has made
an extensive effort in the last few years to appeal to the
tastes of younger buyers, in concert with maintaining its
longtime reputation for its solid, traditional styles.

"We still offer traditional styles and always will, but
we're also showing some of the contemporary styles and bold
colors that you might not think of when you think of Pecos,"
he said.

"Actually, people here like them," he added.

Vasquez has been at its current site since 1966, when Ed's
father, George, helped move the business, then called
Terrazas Furniture, from a location on East Third Street. In
1971 the elder Vasquez became the sole owner of the
business, buying the 50-percent share of its original owner,
Pete Terrazas.

George and his wife Lois closed the store seven years ago
for restocking and remodeling, integrating additional
inventory space as well as acquiring more warehouse space,
with the purchase of a building on South Cedar Street.

It reopened in 1989 under the Vasquez family name for the
first time.

Over the years, the business developed a reputation for
friendly, dependable service that much of Pecos could attest
to. Customers came to know Vasquez as a warm, friendly man,
whose basic integrity set a policy for his staff.

Son to George and Lois, Ed serves as business manager of
the store, while his brothers Mickey and David serve as
assistant manager and service supervisor, respectively.

Other employees include secretary/receptionist Socorro
Mendoza and Mary Pallan, stocking/delivery personnel is
Jorge Hernandez, along with DECA student Billy Tarango.

In the furniture department, Vasquez's inventory includes
brand names like Bassett, Sealy, Simmons and Ashley.

In the electronics department, which offers television
sets, stereo systems and portable stereos, Vasquez offers
names like Sharp, Magnavox, Crosley and Sony.

Maytag, Hardwick and Crosley brands can be found in the
appliance department on such household items such as
washers, dryers, refrigerators, vacuums and other small
appliances.

George Vasquez said his store's appliance service center is
authorized to service Maytag washers and dryers, but the
department will repair other brands as well.

"We service everything we sell, regardless of what warranty
the manufacturer offers and the quality of our service
equals the quality of our merchandise," he said.

"Come in and see for yourself, firsthand, why we are on the
cutting edge for our customers," he added.

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