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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Thursday, February 11, 1999
Council hears RV park, theater, OC plans
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 11 -- Pecos City Council this morning agreed to advertise
for bids on sale of seven acres west of Reeves County Hospital for an RV
park and learned that work is underway to re-open the State Theater.
But they learned little from Gari Ward about the Pecos Economic Development
Corporation's status. Ward hustled into the meeting an hour late, after
Mayor Dot Stafford sent Police Chief Clay McKinney to fetch him.
"I can only stay a second," Ward said. "I was supposed to meet people
at the sulphur mine earlier this morning."
Ward said he met with representatives from Odessa College Wednesday,
and they will be here next Thursday to evaluate additional properties.
"Do you have any possibility of other type business?" asked Stafford.
"I am working with a company right now, meeting at the sulphur mine,
and with another company. I submitted the minutes of the last board meeting.
I would appreciate your approving the by-laws.
"I apologize. I have to go," Ward said. "This was set up earlier this
week. It was scheduled for Friday but the people got sick."
"The next time this is on the agenda, would you please mark it on your
calendar?" said Stafford.
"I didn't even have notice of it," Ward said of today's meeting.
City Secretary Geneva Martinez and City Manager Kenneth Neal acknowledged
that they did not contact Ward about the meeting.
Neal introduced Richard Creasey, who with Alan Zeman has purchased the
State Theater and are "working on getting funds for restoration."
Creasey said he has purchased a home here and will be moving in shortly.
"I can't wait," he said. United Artists closed the theater, along with
its other single-screen movie houses in Texas, in December of 1989.
Debbie Thomas told the council that the RV park she and her husband
Neal, along with John and Gail Cahill, plan to develop would be located
between Reeves County Hospital and Texas Highway 17 if the city agrees
to sell them lots 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 out of Block 3, West Airport Addition.
While the lots do not front on Interstate 20, access from the north
service road would utilize existing streets, Thomas said. It would be near
the emergency room entrance, but the park would not block access to the
emergency room, she said.
Thomas said the group has a preliminary plan for the park, which would
include 50 to 75 spaces and would offer full amenities to travelers.
Neal said the lots are valued at $3,500 each, while lots fronting I-20
are valued at $12,500 each.
While they are located in the enterprise zone, they do not meet the
"10 new employee" step, "but there are funds available through tourism
because of its being in the enterprise zone," Neal said.
Councilman Randy Graham said the park would be an asset by pulling some
tourists off I-20.
"We need to be building out there," said Stafford.
The council approved amendments to the ordinance creating an enterprise
zone. Neal said the changes merely update the ordinance to meet state requirements.
One change is to add the designation "reinvestment zone."
It would also allow the city to apply for state or federal grants; allow
for purchase or sale of city- or county-owned land below market value;
provide for flexible zoning within the zone; and allow for streamlined
permitting regulations and expedited inspections for construction and major
renovations within the zone.
Classic Cable's proposed franchise was tabled, along with an easement
for the Medical Center building on Texas Street and action on a Type IV
landfill.
Neal said the landfill committee needs to get more information on the
status of an existing trench and the surrounding area before making a recommendation
whether to contract with Charter Waste or to operate its own landfill.
Precinct 3 commissioner Herman Tarin asked the council to work with
Reeves County to provide a landfill for rural residents who are forced
to dump their trash along county roads.
City Attorney Scott Johnson recommended the council approve a 10-year
franchise term rather than 20 as requested by Classic Cable, that Classic
maintain an office in Pecos, that the council consider a larger franchise
fee than 3 percent, and that the council consider prior approval of any
rate increases.
Neal said that Frank Spencer is working on a re-plat of the block where
Dr. W.J. Bang and Dr. David Lovett requested an alley easement for utilities
so they can install a gas line to the Medical Center building.
The city installed water lines without granting an easement, because
they own the property, Neal said, but power poles are located there also.
Pauline Moore, Texas-New Mexico Power Co. manager, said the buildings
are all-electric.
On finance director Steve McCormick's recommendation, the council approved
transfer of $30,000 from the emergency and contingency fund to the employee
health fund to pay outstanding claims and provide a small cushion.
The city's employee health insurance is self-funded, and excessive claims
in 1998 have depleted the fund, McCormick said.
He also recommended raising the premium for dependent coverage from
$100 to $125 per month, which the council rejected. They did increase prescriptions
from $5 and $3 to $8 and $5.
After evaluating the chief of police, fire marshal and municipal court
judge, the council approved their budgeted merit raises.
Raid nets Pecos man on drug charges
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 11 -- A Pecos man was arrested Wednesday night, after a
warrant search executed at his home uncovered a little bit of everything,
Pecos police said.
At about 9:58 p.m., members from the Reeves County Sheriff's Department
and Pecos Police Department Multi-Agency S.W.A.T. Team executed a narcotics
search warrant issued by Municipal Court Judge Phyllis Salyer at the residence
of Gabriel Pena, 31, located at 1111 S. Plum St.
Items located at the residence included a baggy containing marijuana,
a small wood box containing marijuana and 40 tablets of valium, according
to Pecos Police Investigator Paul Deishler.
Located outside the residence inside a 1995 Chevrolet Pickup belonging
to Pena was a white powder substance believed to be cocaine.
"The substance was field tested, and it tested positive for cocaine,"
said Deishler.
Pena was placed under arrest and charged with possession of a controlled
subsance (cocaine) in a drug free zone (within 1,000 feet of Pecos Elementary
School), a third degree felony.
Pena, who is an eighth grade teacher at Crockett Middle School, was
transported to Reeves County Jail where he is currently awaiting arraignment.
Pecos asked to aid victims of earthquake
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 11 -- Pecos and surrounding communities are being asked
once again to help citizens in another country that has endured a terrible
recent tragedy.
"We'll be collecting items, again, but this time for Columbia," said
Immigration and Naturalization Service agent Felix Chavez.
Portions of Columbia were devastated last month by powerful earthquake.
Hundreds of the dead lived in Armenia, a city of 220,000 residents where
entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble and left without water or electricity,
and where residents say relief has been slow to arrive.
The drive is the second in three months launched by the local INS office.
Its workers and the community of Pecos collected items in December to help
out victims of Hurricane Mitch which struck Central America.
January's quake injured hundreds, flattened cities and towns across
western Columbia, rattling buildings as far away as the capital, Bogota,
140 miles from the epicenter. The death toll surpassed 1,000 and destroyed
nearly two-thirds of all the buildings in Armenia, according to news reports.
"We understand that this terrible earthquake left about 250,000 people
homeless," said Chavez.
"We're very pleased with the help the community gave us the last time
we helped out another country and we're here asking for their help again,"
he said.
Items that are very much needed by Colombians include food, such as
canned goods, and water.
"I've been talking to individuals from the Colombian government and
the things they tell me they need the most are camping equipment," said
Chavez.
Since so many homes were destroyed the country is in dire need of tents,
sleeping bags, outdoor cooking utensils and items that can be used outdoors,
according to Chavez.
"We appreciate all the help we received the last time and hope to receive
the same response this time," he said.
Items can be dropped off at the Pecos Enterprise, 324 S. Cedar or if
they want them picked up they can call the enterprise office at 445-5475
or the INS office at 447-4102.
"Any help people can give us will be greatly appreciated," said Chavez.
Golden Gloves tourney brings in 12 area teams
By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Feb. 11 -- Twelve teams, including four local boxers from the
Pecos Warbirds, will be mixing it up this Friday and Saturday at the Reeves
County Civic Center, in the fifth Annual West of the Pecos Golden Gloves
Tournament.
"We should have between 15 and 20 matches Friday and Saturday," said
tournament organizer Fred Martin. "It's about the same as last year. We've
got three teams coming from Lubbock, two from San Angelo, and Odessa's
got a couple of them."
The tournament will begin both night at 7 p.m., with the winners out
of the Open Division advancing to next month's State Golden Gloves Tournament
in Fort Worth.
"We've got 15 Open Division fighters, three in the heavyweight division
and three at 132 pounds. The rest will be like the other years, with one
fight in each division.
"The kid who won state last year from Lubbock (Joseph Rosendo) will
be back, and I think he'll repeat again, and there are three more who were
at state last year who'll be here in this tournament," Martin added.
The Warbirds' fighters will all be in the Junior Olympic Division, which
does not advance to Fort Worth. Manager Roy Juarez said he'll have two
returning boxers from last year, and two new ones entered.
"We'll have Joel Martinez and Tony Reyes. They'll be fighting for the
first time. Tony will be at 87 pounds and Joel at 115, then Michael (Vasquez)
will fight at 112 pounds and Peter Juarez will be at 122," Juarez said.
Vasquez and Juarez lost in the finals of their divisions last year, to
Derek Heredia of Amarillo and Johnny Vasquez of Snyder.
"I can't tell you for sure who they're going to have. All season long
I haven't been to any fights and I can't tell you who's at what weight,"
said Juarez, who has only one other fighter, 8-year-old Aaron Martinez,
in training right now.
That's down from the past two years, and Juarez said for a while this
year he didn't know if he was going to participate.
"I was telling these guys I was planning to take off for about a year,
but I changed my mind and
continue on sports page
Local entries earn ribbons at El Paso Show
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
Pecos entries in the El Paso Livestock Show last weekend placed well,
considering the stiff competition.
The show is one of several large shows attended by Reeves-Loving 4-H
Club and Pecos FFA members, following competition in the annual stock show
at the Reeves County Civic Center in January.
Exhibitors from the Reeves-Loving County 4-H Club and their placing
are:
HOGS
Brandi Brandley, 3.
Chance Robbins, 6.
Candace Roach, 9.
Andrew Lopez, 12.
LAMBS
Michael Lee, 10.
Candace Roach, 15 and 16.
STEERS
Salem Mitchell, 3.
FFA exhibitors places as follows:
HOGS
Kevin Bates, lightweight Cross, 5.
David Bradley, lightweight cross, 11.
LAMBS
Amanda Stickels, finewool, 6.
PHA to discuss budget, CIAP housing work
Pecos Housing Authority Board members will discuss resolution for the budget
for FY 1999 and a resolution for the public housing management assessment
program (PHMAP) FY 1999.
The board will meet at 5 p.m. today at the PHA/FLH, Administration Office,
600 Meadowbrook Drive.
Under unfinished business the board will discuss the CIAP 96 update
and review/approve bids for purchase of a new maintenance truck.
Regular business items for discussion will be monthly income and expense
report PHA, CIAP 96 and CIAP 98; monthly accounts payable and monthly occupancy
report.
In the Farm Labor Housing portion of the meeting the group will read
a letter from John E. Perkins, Rural Development, Community Development
Specialist, Follow up management Review scheduled for Feb. 17, at 10:30
a.m.
A resolution will be discussed to write off to collection losses for
FYE the following: Gonzalo Madrid, $90; Rachel Medellin, $278; Rona Roberts,
$154; Carla Villegas, $124; Donald Johnson, $223; Reydesel Luna, $140 and
James Meininger, $282.
Monthly financial statement for Farm Labor Housing will also be discussed
along with monthly accounts payable, monthly occupancy status and rent
roll and cash journal.
Postal Service seeking bigger Toyahvale site
The U.S. Postal Service announced plans to expand or relocate the Toyahvale
Post Office, the second announcement by the USPS in Reeves County within
the past month.
"We would like input from our community residents and will have several
postal representatives available at a community meeting at 6 p.m., on Feb.
23, at Eastern Gate Chapel on Highway 17 to discuss the expansion or relocation
process," said Toyahvale Postmaster Eva Portillo. "We will consider all
recommendations from the community and other comments received within 45
days of the meeting."
The current post office at Highway 17 and Main Street is no longer adequate
to serve the needs of postal customers in our community, Portillo said.
She added that the Postal Service will consider three options in the
following order: expand the existing post office, move to another building,
or relocate to a new modular building.
If expansion is not possible, the Postal Service will seek to lease
or purchase an existing building or a suitable site to relocate a modular
facility to build a new Post Office for Toyahvale, according to Portillo.
The preferred area is bounded on the north by Highway 17, south by Highway
17 (Fort Davis cutoff), east by ¬ mile from present location and west
by ¬ mile from present location. The site size needed is about one
acre, and the facility should contain at least 525 square feet of usable
area.
Postal officials met recently with Toyahvale community leaders to explore
possibilities for the expanded post office operations.
Community comments can be mailed to: Sandra A. Rybicki, Real Estate
Specialist, 7800 North Stemmons Freeway, Suite 400, Dallas, Tx. 75247-4217.
The Postal Service announced last month it is looking for a site in
Pecos to build a new Post Office, replacing the 63-year-old building at
Fourth and Oak streets.
Obituaries
Butch Doty
Butch Doty, 56, of Chandler, died Monday, Feb. 8, 1999, in Temple.
Services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, at Martin Springs
Baptist Church with Reverends Isaac Johnson and Bob Ellison officiating.
Burial will be in Chandler Memorial Funeral Home in Chandler.
He was born March 8, 1942, in Gadsden, Ala., was a former Pecos resident,
who had lived in Chandler for six years, had served in Vietnam in the United
States Air Force, was an oil driller and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Doty of Chandler; one son, John
H. Doty of Chandler; one daughter, Celestia Pefley of Florida; three sisters,
Geraldine and Joucedene Hallmark of Tennessee, Dorothy Ageloff of Florida
and five grandchildren.
Chandler Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Timothy Sappington
Timothy Sappington, 50, of Pecos, died Monday, Feb. 8, 1999, at the Fort
Stockton Nursing Center.
Graveside services will held at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, at Greenwood
Cemetery.
He was born Aug. 11, 1948, in Elkhart, Ind., had lived in Pecos for
12 years, was a retired mechanic and a Christian.
Survivors include his wife, Leanna Sappington of Pecos; one son, Jason
Sappington of Pecos; one daughter, Shauna Sappington of Reno, Nev.; his
mother, Margaret Sappington of Los Angeles, Calif.; one brother, Richard
Sappington of Los Angeles, Calif. and one grandchild.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Weather
PECOS, Feb. 11, 1999 - High Wednesday 89; low last night 41. Tonight, clear
and very cold. Low in the upper teens. light north wind. Friday, sunny
and warmer. High 55-60. West wind 5-10 mph.
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
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 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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