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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
February 10, 1999
SSB board takes no action on buyout
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 10 -- Security State Bank directors took no action Tuesday
on an offer by Dick and Clay Slack to purchase all 75,000 shares in the
bank at $155 per share.
Two directors who were in the meeting said the offer was not discussed.
Five of the nine directors have made a tender offer to the 162 shareholders
to purchase up to 50,000 shares at $140 per share. That offer is good until
Feb. 26.
If the group gains control of 66 2/3 percent of the shares, they plan
to form a bank holding company to operate the bank, according to the tender
offer mailed to shareholders.
"We are looking at consolidation of ownership so we can control our
own future," said senior vice president Bill Oglesby, one of the five.
President and chief executive officer Dudley Montgomery holds the largest
block of shares, which is just under 8,000. He has signed a contract to
sell them to the group making the tender offer and to continue as an officer
in a reduced capacity.
Dick Slack said he expects to make the same agreement with Montgomery
and to retain other employees if he is successful in purchasing the shares.
The Slacks also are majority stockholders in Marfa Bancshares, which operates
banks in Marfa and Presidio.
The directors' group, Oglesby, Ray Owen, Mike Harrison, Jim Kenney and
Greg Johns, own 7,829 shares of SSB common stock, giving them 22.89 percent
of the shares with the Montgomery contract, plus others they have acquired
through the tender offer.
Other SSB directors are Montgomery, Jim Pattee, Bob Bickley and Archie
Scott. Montgomery was out of town today and unavailable for comment.
Chamber's plan for Rodeo Hall gets trademark
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 10 -- An idea brought before the Pecos Chamber of Commerce
last year is slowly coming to life, and the first step has already been
achieved.
"We have received official word about the trademark for the Pecos Rodeo
Hall of Fame," chamber director Tom Rivera told members during their regular
monthly meeting on Tuesday.
John Rediger suggested incorporating a Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in Pecos
late last year, and Rivera said the Chamber has been working on the project
for several weeks.
"Our first step was establishing a trademark and that has been accomplished,"
said Rivera.
Chamber president Linda Gholson stated that the Hall of Fame was one
of several ideas Rediger proposed. "He brought several ideas to us and
this was one of them," she said. "We need to think more positive and act
on more of these ideas."
Rediger was on hand and received the documents sent in from the State
of Texas.
"I'm just very excited about this idea and now we're looking into having
the hall of fame at the old depot," said Rediger. "This is really neat
and we're very happy about it."
The depot at First and Oak streets is being looked at as a possible
location for the Hall of Fame, which will feature rodeo paraphernalia.
"A lot of people have worked on this and continue to work on this and
we just love it," said Gholson.
Rivera told the group that the chamber now has their own website, which
can be found at PecosTexas.com.
"We plan to put the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame on there," said Rivera.
In other business, Rivera said volunteers to help with this weekend's
Golden Glove Tournament.
"We still need volunteers to sign up to help sell tickets and to work
at the concession stand," said Rivera. "We need to have workers, if we
plan to continue having these events."
A meeting on the Y-2K computer problem will be held at 7 p.m., on Feb.
23, at the Reeves County Civic Center and individuals are encouraged to
attend this very informative meeting, according to Gholson.
Women's Division of the Chamber of Commerce president Judy Tipton told
the group that a membership drive Valentine party will be held from 5-7
p.m., Thursday at the West of the Pecos Museum.
"Since this is the women's division, men, send your spouse or a female
friend to join or just to go enjoy herself," said Gholson.
Under old business, the group discussed the lack of membership overall
in the Chamber.
"I was suggested that we adopt the same budget as last year, but the
only way we can make the same budget is to increase membership or raise
our dues," said Rivera.
He added that other ways to bring in revenue would also have to be looked
at.
"We have a shortfall of about $15,000 on membership and we've been able
to stay well under budget, but not when it comes to equipment needed and
salaries," Rivera said. "The budget that was proposed was the same as 1998,
but we'll have to tighten our belts," he said.
Rivera told the group that he could get a package together for a membership
drive. "We only have 141 members and for a town this size that's not a
very good number," he said.
"In the economic development portion of this meeting, I just want to
say that Gari Ward (economic development coordinator) has agreed to become
a part of economic development of the chamber and to work hand in hand
with us," said Gholson.
A guest representing the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD was on hand at the
regular chamber meeting.
Larry Sloan, spoke to the group about everyone getting involved with
the school system.
"I want the community to stand up and say what they want from the school
system," said Sloan. "I would like to see this chamber of commerce and
the whole community involved in our school system," he said.
Sloan said he felt the whole community should support the students and
show them that everyone cares.
"They're not different from other kids, they're better and they can
really accomplish something if we let them know we support them," said
Sloan, who passed out information on SCANS Competencies and the school-to-work
opportunities act.
Affordable housing for community members was also a topic of discussion.
"The idea for discussion is to make this community a more attractive place,"
said Gholson.
She said there are several houses in the community that have not been
lived in for a long time and that a group of volunteers is looking into
finding ways to fix these properties or find the owners.
"A lot of homework has been done on this and Jesse Stephens has been
doing a lot of leg work," said Gholson.
"There are a lot of houses empty, the shell seems to be good, and then
there are some that really need repairs that people are living in," said
Stephens.
He said he has been taking photographs of several of these homes and
trying to come up with ways to make them livable and affordable to individuals.
"We want to make them affordable for people who want to own them," he
said.
Stephens discussed several alternatives in making these homes available
to the public.
If anyone has any suggestions on this problem they can contact the chamber
at 445-2406, according to Gholson.
A "Shop Locally Campaign," is something that is also being looked at
by chamber officials.
"I think this is real important, we can't hide the fact that Pecos is
hurting, so if anyone has any suggestions please contact me or the chamber,"
said Gholson.
A fair committee meeting to discuss the Annual Reeves County Fall Fair
will be held at noon next Tuesday at Cattleman's Restaurant. "We need ideas
and people to get involved, so please attend this important meeting," said
Gholson. "We need to build up our fair and make it better."
Economic development items top city agenda
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 10 -- Economic development is a major topic for the Pecos
City Council in their regular meeting Thursday.
On the agenda for the 7:30 a.m. meeting is an offer to purchase seven
acres of land in the West Airport Addition on the southwest side of Pecos
for a "spacious and attractive RV park."
The council will consider amending an ordinance creating an enterprise
zone to make it also a reinvestment zone. The zone lies primarily along
I-20 and U.S. Highway 285. Its purpose is to encourage establishment of
new business and expand existing businesses through tax abatement and other
incentives.
The amendments allow the city to apply for state or federal grants to
provide infrastructure improvements within the zone; allow for purchase
or sale of city- or county-owned land below market value; provide for flexible
zoning within area of the zone; and allow for streamlined permitting regulations
and expedited inspections for construction and major renovations within
the zone.
Gari Ward, president of the Pecos Economic Development Corporation,
will report on the status of the corporation. In their initial meeting
Jan. 27, the board elected officers, adopted by-laws and discussed several
prospective new businesses.
Classic Cable's franchise is on the agenda, along with a request for
easement to Dr. David Lovett and Dr. W.J. Bang at the medical building;
consider recommendations for a Type IV landfill; funding for employee health
fund and evaluation of the fire marshal, police chief and municipal court
judge.
Man released from RCH, jail after rollover
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 10 -- A one-vehicle rollover on Business I-20 two miles
west of Barstow early today sent one man to Reeves County Hospital, then
to Ward County Jail in Monahans.
Jesus Gonzales, 51, of Barstow, was charged with driving while intoxicated,
said a spokesman for Ward County Sheriff Ben Keele. He was released this
morning on $1,500 bail set by Ward County Judge Sam Massey.
The accident happened sometime after midnight, as the GMC Jimmy that
Gonzales was driving crossed the railroad tracks and overturned twice.
A passersby saw the dust and lights and stopped to help, said a family
member who took Gonzales to RCH. He was wearing a seat belt.
He was treated in the RCH emergency room and released to DPS Trooper
David Storer of Monahans, who filed the DWI charge.
Trooper Storer's report on the investigation was not available at press
time today.
Weather
PECOS, Feb. 10 -- High Tuesday 80; low last night 39. Tonight, partly cloudy.
Low 40 to 45. Southwest wind 15-20 mph, becoming north by morning. Thursday,
partly cloudy, windy and much colder. High 50 55. north wind 15 to 25 mph
and gusty.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, 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
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Copyright 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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