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TOP STORIESApril 15, 1998Local incumbents fall in runoffsBy ROSIE FLORES and GREG HARMANStaff Writers PECOS, April 15, 1998 - With smiles for everyone, Gilbert "Hivi" Rayos celebrated his victory last night surrounded by friends and family. Rayos won the Reeves County Commissioner Precinct 4 run-off election, defeating incumbent Bernardo "Chaquen" Martinez. Martinez had the precinct 4 seat for 20 years and was challenged in the March Primary Elections by both Rayos and Mari Maldonado. With no precinct 4 candidate receiving a majority of votes in March a run-off election between Rayos and Martinez was scheduled. Rayos beat out Martinez in the run-off election by 66 votes, winning with 392 votes to Martinez' 326 votes. "This wasn't a spur of the moment decision to run," said Rayos. Rayos had thought about running for the position of commissioner for about seven and half years and finally made up his mind in December of 1996. "I just thought it was time for a change," said Rayos. About making any changes, Rayos stated, "I'm going to feel my way and see what we can do, I want to communicate with the other commissioners and do what is best for this county." Right now, Rayos said, "I feel great, it's been a hard fought race and I'm glad it's over." "I wouldn't have done it without the people's help, they just wanted a change also," said Rayos. Rayos stated that he doesn't know if the north side swimming pool will remain open and it will be up to the commissioners court to vote on that. "I would like to see it open, because the kids really want it," he said. Rayos plans to attend the commissioners court meetings and become more informed. "It was a good, clean race and I had a lot of help," said Rayos. As for remaining in his current position as Reeves County Deputy, Rayos stated that he doesn't know yet and it will be up to the sheriff. "I do know I can be a reserve deputy," he said. "I just want to thank all the people that helped me, those who voted and especially my family for putting up with all this," said Rayos. In the Democratic run-off for Reeves County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Rossendo Carrasco beat incumbent Joel Madrid, 389 to 316. Carrasco said this morning, "I have no words to describe those people who went out and supported me, and those who didn't . . . well, I'll make them proud of me too." The Ward County run-off election results are as follows. In the race for county clerk, Natrell Cain won with 1158 votes to Judy C. Greer's 1072; Cathy Fausett will be the new Ward County Commissioner Precinct 2 with 549 votes to Henry Cutbirth's 400 votes; and Rick McCurdy will serve as the new County Commissioner for Precinct four, drawing 282 votes, compared with Don Creech's total of 122. In the run-off election for Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in District 23, Joseph P. Sullivan received the majority of Ward County votes, with 1234, compared with 503 going to Charlie "Urbina" Jones. West Texas rocks, rolls againBy GREG HARMANStaff Writer PECOS, April 15, 1998 - History echoed itself near Alpine at 5:34 this morning, as an earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter Scale let surface-dwellers know that there is still activity down below. Another, stronger quake that measured 5.6 stirred residents around Alpine and Marathon three years ago almost to the day, on April 13, 1995, and was felt as far away as Dallas and Austin. But this year's near-Easter quake wasn't as destructive as its predecessor. No structural damage has been reported. According to information gathered by Kelly Dyal, departmental secretary of the geology department at Sul Ross University, the epicenter of today's earthquake was 26 miles east of Alpine, in the Glass Mountains area. Dyal said she did receive one call from a woman near Marathon complaining about the movement. "I told her it may be time to start thinking about moving." Residents of Alpine also felt the results of the quake. According to the Brewster County Sheriff's Department, the quake was felt in neighboring Presidio County. The National Weather Service said this morning's quake was likely an aftershock of the 1995 earthquake. Since Sierra Blanca was originally proposed as a low-level radioactive waste disposal site seven years ago, the presence of seismic activity has been one of the dump opponents' main objections to the Hudspeth County location. Ruben Alvarado, the chief engineer for the Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority's proposed Sierra Blanca site, said he is satisfied that the as-designed facility, though the first of its kind, would weather all such quakes. "The analysis and design was done using the same type of engineering analysis as (they use) in California," said Alvarado, "using the same type of computer programs." That the proposed design has never been used before is nothing unusual, he said, as there hasn't been a new low-level nuclear waste containment site built in this country in the last 30 years. Ultimately, his faith rested with the concrete canisters that would contain the radioactive waste from industrial and medical facilities. "They are very thick," said Alvarado, "We're pretty comfortable with that. "We are not concerned with earthquakes of this magnitude," he continued, "particularly as far away as they are." In a press release following the 1995 earthquake, Alvarado said that "the proposed facility was analyzed assuming a Magnitude 7 earthquake occurring six miles from the site," the location of the nearest known fault, "as well as a magnitude 6 event occurring immediately beneath the site. In both cases our evaluations showed that the facility will perform satisfactorily with no failure of canisters or covers." High-profile dump opponent Bill Addington, and spokesperson for the Sierra Blanca Legal Defense Fund, said that the siting process by which the TLLRWDA has recommended the "most seismically active area in Texas " was "not about science, it's about political science. There's not that many votes out here and they think we can't fight back." The TLLRWDA can test their cement waste containers with computers, he said, but "the true test is in the ground." The '95 quake was strong enough to damage homes in both Alpine and Marathon. At Sul Ross University, several suspended ceilings were dislodged and one Marfa eye-witness saw dust coming from the base of the Davis Mountains following the quake, as if they were settling back into place. The proposed location for the low-level radioactive waste site is seven miles southeast of Sierra Blanca in Hudspeth County, about 125 miles northwest of the epicenter of the 1995 earthquake. PBT ISD taxpayers will keep exemptionBy CARA ALLIGOODStaff Writer PECOS, April 15, 1998 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD taxpayers will keep a 10 percent local option homestead exemption on their property taxes, against the recommendation of the PBT ISD superintendent at Monday's PBT ISD board meeting. Don Love wanted the exemption dropped because of the financial situation of the school district. The district's operating costs are staying level while its income is going down. "We're between a rock and a hard place and don't know which way is up," said PBT ISD Trustee Earl Bates. "We may have to go to the tax payers to stay alive. To do away with the local exemption would be hitting the taxpayers twice," said Trustee Steve Armstrong. He said that the increased state exemption, voted into law last August, and local property devaluation would counter the loss of the local exemption for homeowners. The district has had to dip into its reserve fund for about $1 million each year for the past two years, decreasing the fund to a little more than $1 million to start the current school year. District administrators expect another shortfall this year. The exemption was passed for another year by a 5-2 vote, with Armstrong and Trustee Freddy Lujan voting against granting the exemption for another year. Love and PBT Business Manager Cookie Canon were designated as investment co-officers for the district. Following the example the board set earlier this month regarding the cheerleading constitution, the school board voted to change the student council constitution so that any student who meets University Interscholastic League requirements can run for student council office. Love also told all assembled how much the district has appreciated Linda Gholson's many years of service on the school board. Gholson decided not to seek another term on the board. "There are many people out there who could do as good or better of a job on the school board, but nobody who can enjoy it more than me," Gholson said. Also during the meeting, the board observed a moment of silence to honor teachers Lydia Bitolas and Linda Faulkner, both of whom died recently. Teacher of the Year candidates were introduced to rounds of applause during Monday's school board meeting. The candidates for this year's award were Trudie Miller -Pecos Kindergarten, Patricia Matthews -Austin Elementary, Barbara Armstrong -Pecos Elementary, Anna Belle Chavez -Barstow Elementary, Valerie Martinez -Bessie Haynes, Betty Clark -Lamar Middle School, Olivia Herrera -Zavala M.S., John Kim Anderson -Crockett M.S. and Jackeline Mandujano -Pecos High School. Valerie Martinez was chosen as Elementary Teacher of the Year and Jackeline Mandujano was named Secondary Teacher of the Year. Summer school has been approved for this summer but all location details are not yet finalized. This year, students will have to show proficiency in the subject they are attending summer school for as well as attend classes no less than 90 percent of the time the classes are given. During the regular school year at PHS, students must be in attendance 90 percent of the time and earn a grade of at least 70 to receive course credit. Love told the board about an essay contest local students will be able to enter, sponsored by the Natural Resources Foundation of Texas. Details of the contest appears on today's Lifestyle page in the Pecos Enterprise. As in past years, the school board approved use of the Pecos High School auditorium for this year's Golden Girl Revue and waived the usage fee. Two personnel appointments and one resignation were approved last night. Eva (Abrego) Castro, a teacher with a Masters degree in Spanish/Bilingual Education and 20 years of experience, was hired to be the new bilingual teacher at Pecos Elementary and Gary Grubbs, who holds a Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology/History and has 11 years of experience, will be the new PHS physical education teacher. Jennifer Degler has resigned from teaching fifth grade at Bessie Haynes. Heaven or Hell production response strongBy PEGGY McCRACKENStaff Writer PECOS, April 15, 1998 - "We need to saddle up; the ride is just beginning," said Kevin Kimmel of the 640 decisions resulting from the "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames" drama presented at the Pecos High School auditorium Sunday through Tuesday nights. Kimmel, youth director for First Baptist Church, said unity among the churches made the positive results possible, and is just the beginning for a spiritual revival that will cause Pecos to "serve Jesus as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords." Follow up by the churches involved is a priority, Kimmel said. "We are concerned that someone contact them about reading their Bible daily, praying and seeking fellowship in a body (church) somewhere." Decision cards with a church preference noted by those who responded will be distributed to that particular church. Those with no preference will be shared with participating churches so everyone will be contacted. James Sain, pastor of West Park Baptist Church, said response to the drama was great. "It was well received by those attending. The response is evidence of the quality of the production and the desires of the hearts of many people. It shows there is a hunger for God." More than half those attending responded to the invitation to accept Jesus as savior or to re-dedicate their lives to His service. "We appreciate the cast, attendees and responders," said Rev. Sain. "And we invite those who made a decision to come see us; to worship with us; we want to help you." One follow-up action by West Park is to show a videotape of the stage production at 6 p.m. May 3 for those who missed it. Kimmel said he expects great things to result from the large number of youth making a decision. "I look at our teenagers and see them on fire for the Lord," he said. "I think they are finally seeing what the Lord can do in their lives and the lives of their friends, and it really excites me to see that." Children and teenagers invited their friends to attend, prayed for them and rejoiced to see them respond to the message: Accept Jesus and go to Heaven or spend eternity in Hell.' Others cried and prayed for their parents who have not accepted Jesus. "If only one responded to the invitation, all the work we did would have been worth it," Kimmel said. "But God chose to pour out his blessings upon us. We don't deserve it." WEATHERPECOS, April 15, 1998 - High Tuesday, 90, low this morning,47. A cold night is in store across West Texas in the wake of a weak cold front that was moving southward through the low rolling plains and southern sections of the Panhandle today. The mercury dipped to 39 at Dalhart before dawn today and forecasts called for lows in the 30s and 40s on Thursday morning in West Texas. But sunny skies will allow for a quick warmup over most of West Texas on Thursday. Highs Thursday will be in the 60s and 70s over most of West Texas, ranging from the 50s in the Panhandle to the lower 80s in the Big Bend area.
Pecos Enterprise
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