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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, Nov. 27, 1998
Crowds enjoy turkey dinner, shop
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
More than 270 meals were served at the Reeves County Civic
Center during the Thanksgiving holiday. That is the most
ever served by the Christian Home, said director Bruce Dury.
"About 69 of those were meals served to the Meals on Wheels
recipients," said Dury.
Dury said that he was pleased with the number of volunteers
who showed up to help serve the meals.
"I want to be sure and acknowledge the kids that helped us.
It was really exciting and surprising," said Dury.
Students with the Pecos Youth Advisory Committee, Business
Professionals of America, Our Style Car Club and Santa Rosa
Confirmation class were on hand to help deliver the meals
and help serve.
"They just showed up and I asked them what groups they were
in, or who sent them and they said they just wanted to
help," said Dury.
More than 30 volunteers helped this year and the number of
people fed also increased, according to Dury.
"We did real well with the food also, after we had served
everyone we took what was already on the line and gave it to
the Pecos Nursing Home," said Dury.
"This was bigger than last year and I'm hoping for the same
response for the Christmas dinner," said Dury.
The group is taking today off and will start planning the
Christmas dinner on Monday, according to Dury.
"We're just thankful to all those who volunteered their time
and for the donations received," he said.
Thanksgiving over, retailers used deep discounts and
pre-dawn promotions today, trying to entice shoppers to buy
rather than just browse as they flocked to the stores for
the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, the
Associated Press reports.
The biggest draw in the early morning hours: Furby. The
furry, gremlinlike talking doll has been in short supply
around the nation so shoppers began lining up in the middle
of the night, hoping to snag this year's hot Christmas toy.
Most stores said they were sold out minutes after they
opened.
Three counties seek joint water district
By MARI MALDONADO
Contributing Writer
Dual letters have been drafted and submitted to State
Representatives Gary L. Walker and Pete Gallego for the
formation of a groundwater conservation district to uphold
the water rights of Reeves, Loving and Pecos counties.
The correspondence was prepared by Clark Lindley, secretary
of the temporary board of directors of the Trans-Pecos
Underground Water Conservation District for Reeves County,
and signed by board president A.B. Foster of Reeves County.
Lindley said the board gave him instructions to prepare the
letter, which originally to be sent just to Walker.
"I suggested that since Pecos County lies in Representative
Gallego's district, we ask that he jointly sponsor the
bill," Lindley said.
The letters state that on October 15 representatives from
Reeves, Pecos and Loving counties, "voted unanimously to
form an underground water district...composed of the
entirety of the three named counties. The decision to create
an underground water district was based upon a series of
publicized public meetings held in April, July and September
to discuss the question whether or not to form an UGWD."
The meetings were chaired by cotton farmer Larry Turnbough
and included informational discussions by Walker and Bob
Turner. Walker is known for his former management of the
Sandy Land Underground Water Conservation District in Plains
and his current vice-chairmanship of the House Natural
Resource Committee, while Turner's district includes
adjacent Ward County.
With the board's intention now in writing, Walker, with the
support of Gallego, is expected to introduce a bill before
the House to formally create the underground water district
during January's legislative session.
The bill must also be passed by the Senate to make the GWCD
official. Lindley did not mention a Senate sponsor for the
bill.
If passed, Reeves, Loving and Pecos County voters will
decide next year on whether they wish to become members of
the Trans-Pecos Underground Water Conservation District.
Some of the duties of a groundwater conservation district
include:
* Develop and adopt a comprehensive management plan for the
most efficient use of groundwater, for controlling and
preventing waste of groundwater, and for controlling and
preventing subsidence;
* Require permits for drilling, equipping or completing
wells which produce more than 25,000 gallons per day or for
alterations to well size or well pumps;
* Require records be kept of the drilling, equipping and
completion of water wells and the production and use of
groundwater; and
* Make information on groundwater resources available to the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and TWDB upon
request.
A few of the authorized powers of an GWCD include:
* Adopt rules to conserve, preserve, recharge and prevent
waste of groundwater and control land subsidies;
* Provide for the spacing of water wells and regulate the
production of wells;
* Enforce rules by injunction, mandatory injunction or other
appropriate remedy in a court of competent jurisdiction;
* Acquire land for the construction of and construct dams or
drain lakes, draws and depressions; install pumps and other
equipment necessary to recharge the groundwater reservoir;
and provide facilities for the purchase, sale,
transportation, and distribution of water;
* Make surveys of the groundwater reservoir or subdivision
and facilities for development, production, transportation,
distribution and use of groundwater;
* Purchase, sell, transport and distribute surface water or
groundwater for any purpose; and
* Exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire by
condemnation a fee simple or other interest in property
located inside the district if the property interest is
necessary to the exercise of the authority conferred by
Chapter 36.
Lindley said that the most prominent reason behind area
landowners' desire to create a water district is to avoid
state regulation as the result of Senate Bill 1, passed in
1997.
If local landowners don't take control soon, the
responsibility involving area groundwater will be handed
over to the Austin based Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission.
This would entail, said Lindley, limited contact and the
lack of sympathy specific to the surrounding area.
"The conditions in Central Texas are much different than in
West Texas," said the board secretary.
Lindley cited a Nov. 20 article in the Dallas Morning News
regarding a lawsuit between landowners and Ozarka Natural
Spring Water Company currently before the State Supreme
Court. Landowners were complaining that upon Ozarka's
arrival and pumping started their wells depleted
substantially or were completely drained.
Lindley said that the ad hoc board and all who voted to
create the temporary government body, like the landowners
who took Ozarka to court, are also concerned with the
state's "rule of capture," which is the basis of the
aforementioned lawsuit.
The 94-year-old law states that "percolating" groundwater
can be taken and used by the owner of the property where it
is found regardless of its origination.
A district judge and appeals court have already ruled in
favor of Ozarka without a trial and the Texas Supreme Court
decision is pending.
Walker noted at the trial, "the best thing that could happen
is we leave the authority with the Legislature to set
groundwater policy..."
"We're watching this case very closely," said Lindley.
Other members of the temporary board are Billy Blair and
Billy Hopper of Loving County; Dennis Braden, Tony Cordova
and Glen Honaker of Pecos County and Jerry Moore and Dale
Toone, Reeves County.
Letters in support of the GWCD can be sent to Texas State
Representative Gary L. Walker, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, Texas
79768-2910.
AMTRAK eyes route through Pecos
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
It's been more than 30 years since a passenger train has
roared through Pecos. Now AMTRAK is considering a "flag
stop" here.
Pecos Mayor Dot Stafford said Monday that there is a strong
possibility of Pecos being included on a route that is being
considered in Congress.
"It would run from Fort Worth to El Paso, so we are trying
to get it to stop here in Pecos," Stafford said. "It sounds
very favorable we could. It would be an un-manned stop. We
wouldn't be selling tickets, but people could board here."
City Manager Kenneth Neal said that Texas Senator Kay Bailey
Hutchison is pushing for the route.
"She's chairman of the Transportation Committee and is
pushing for additional rail lines in Texas," Neal said. "We
will meet with the president of AMTRAK and Hutchison on Dec.
4."
Neal said the route will originate in Chicago and continue
to Los Angeles. If it comes through West Texas, it would
stop in Abilene, Odessa, Pecos and El Paso, with a flag stop
at Ranger.
The Pecos stop would be at noon at the "large, beautiful
brick depot building" which the city owns, Neal said.
"It will stop if there is anybody to get off or on," Neal
said. "You would call an 800 number with a credit card to
get a ticket, and they will stop."
The council adopted a resolution supporting the route,
noting that Pecos has in the past been a hub for rail
passenger service and pledging to market the availability of
rail passsenger service if AMTRAK makes Pecos a flag stop.
Anchor West employee dies after collapsing
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
A longtime Pecos resident and Anchor West Foods employee
died Wednesday, and the frozen-food plant has been
temporarily closed.
"It's with deep regret that Teri Romo, longstanding employee
with Anchor West, Inc., died unexpectedly Wednesday evening,
Nov. 25, after collapsing at work, for reasons unknown,
early that morning," said a statement issued by Anchor West.
Romo's body was taken to University Medical Center in
Lubocck to determine the cause of death.
Romo was a quality control technician who was employed more
than five years with Anchor West.
"Teri was a very good person, friend, great mother of three
children, well respected, and loved by everyone who knew
her," said manufacturing manager Steve Cordova.
"All the employees at Anchor West, and Anchor Foods
corporate, Appleton, Wisc., extend their deepest sorrow at
the loss of Teri Romo," he said.
Cordova said this was the saddest day for Anchor West in
Pecos and that the plant will be closed until Saturday.
A safety meeting is planned for Saturday and professional
counseling will be available for all the employees at the
plant. "The safety meeting is just to brief the employees
and update them on safety procedures," said Alfredo Bersosa,
safety coordinator for the facility.
"As soon as this happened we stopped the first shift and
called the second and third shift to let them know we
wouldn't be working," said Bersosa.
Ivar Brandt, plant supervisor, said, "We were scheduled to
work today, but we just couldn't do it."
"This is one of the saddest occasions for all of us, and we
feel extreme sorrow for the family. We offer our
condolences," he said.
Bersosa said that the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration was notified immediately and the information
requested by them was sent as soon as possible. "By law we
are required to contact them right away, which we did," he
said.
"We are just waiting for the autopsy report and so is OSHA,"
said Cordova.
Romo also has a brother and sister employed by Anchor West.
I-20 wreck kills driver
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Thanksgiving Day never dawned for a Lancaster woman whose
car overturned in a construction zone 15 miles west of Toyah
on I-20 early Thursday.
Lachara Pashaun Compton, 22, was thrown from the 1993 Honda
four-door when it overturned twice. Balmorhea Justice of the
Peace Joel Madrid pronounced her dead at the scene at 6:35
a.m. Thursday.
A passenger in the vehicle, Dionte Marquiste Flowers, 19, of
Dallas, was taken to Reeves County Hospital, suffering
contusions and abrasions. He was reported in good condition.
Neither of the victims was wearing a seatbelt, said DPS
Trooper Richard Jacobs, who investigated.
Jacobs said the car was traveling east on I-20 at 4:30 a.m.
Thursday when it drifted off the righthand side of the road.
When the driver over-corrected to the left, the car went
into a sideways skid, struck a dirt embankment and became
airborne. When it hit the ground, it rolled over twice.
Obituaries
Callie Ross Bevill
Callie Ross Bevill, 90, of Pecos, died Tuesday, Nov. 24,
1998 at her residence.
Services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday in First Baptist
Church with Reverend Greer Willis officiating.
Bevill was a graduate of Hocaday School in Dallas, Hardin
Simmons in Abilene, and the Chicago Art Institute. She was
active in numerous clubs and organizations in Pecos and was
a member of First Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Whitney R. Bevill of Fort Worth
and William M. Bevill of Corpus Christi; six grandchildren
and seven great-grandchildren.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be
made to the West of the Pecos Museum or Paisano Baptist
Encampment in Alpine.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Teresa R. Romo
Teresa "Teri" R. Romo, 37, of Pecos, died Wednesday, Nov.
25, 1998, at Reeves County Hospital.
A rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m., Sunday in the Pecos
Funeral Home Chapel.
Mass will be at 3 p.m., Monday in Santa Rosa Catholic Church
with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
She was born Dec. 8, 1960, in El Paso, was an Anchor West
employee, a longtime Pecos resident and a Catholic.
Survivors include two sons, Juan Manuel Romo Jr. and Carlos
Alejandro Romo; one daughter, Eliza Romo Aguilar of Pecos;
her father, Manuel Reyes of Pecos; mother, Irene Ramirez of
Pecos; grandmother, Elisa Ortiz of Marathon; five brothers,
Manuel Reyes Jr., Alvaro Reyes, Rolando Reyes and Eddie
Reyes, all of Pecos, Gilbert Reyes of Saragosa; one
step-brother, Raul Reyes of Pecos; four sisters, Yolanda
Nunez, Gloria Reyes and Mercy Medrano of Pecos, Rosemary
Gallegos of El Paso; one step-sister, Delma Reyes of
California and one grandchild.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
High Thursday 77, low last night 42. Tonight, partly cloudy,
becoming cloudy late. Low in the lower 50s. South wind 5-15
mph. Saturday, areas of morning low clouds and fog, then
partly cloudy. continued unseasonably warm with a high in
the upper 70s. South to southwest wind 10-20 mph and gusty.
Remainder of Thanksgiving weekend, mostly cloudy and cooler
with a chance of showers or thunderstorms. Low in the 50s.
High in the 60s.
Pecos Enterprise
Ned Cantwell, Publisher
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
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise
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Pecos Enterprise