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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, June 9, 1999
Welcome rains may come again
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--Tuesday's .15-inch rain in downtown Pecos brought
the year's total to 1.17 inches as recorded by KIUN Radio.
At the Texas A&M Research Station six miles west of Pecos, .27 inch
was recorded, causing jubilation that the year-to-date total went over
1 inch, said secretary Jaxie Young.
June rainfall has been scant ever since the National Weather Service
opened the Pecos observation station more than 100 years ago. Last year,
.05 was recorded for the entire month of June. The average for that date
is .032 inch, with a high of .41 in 1944.
Average June rainfall is 1.09 inches, with the high of 3.31 recorded
in 1980.
Tuesday's high temperature of 101 exceeds the average of 97, but is
less than the high of 110 recorded in 1955.
Last year, the high on June 8 was 94.
The Associated Press reported that thunderstorms rumbled in the northern
Texas Panhandle, Trans-Pecos and Big Bend overnight, with more scattered
rainfall expected today.
Funnel clouds and waterspouts are also possible along the coastal areas
of Southeast Texas and the upper coast, under the influence of a low-pressure
system. A funnel briefly touched down Tuesday on Houston's east side, with
damage to a warehouse.
Showers and a few thunderstorms were already developing and moving inland
from the Gulf of Mexico. Rain was still falling near Fort Stockton. But
no severe weather was yet reported.
Elsewhere in the state, it was a quiet night.
Early-morning low temperatures fell into the 60s in the Panhandle and
70s elsewhere. It was 61 degrees at Dalhart, 75 at Dryden, 80 at Galveston
and Rockport and 69 at Conroe.
Winds generally were southeast statewide at 5 to 15 mph, but variable
and gusty up to 30 mph in and near thunderstorms.
A chance of late-afternoon and evening thunderstorms was forecast regionwide
except for far West Texas.
Daytime highs through Thursday should be mostly in the 90s, with 80s
in the mountain regions and some readings near 110 degrees along the Rio
Grande.
Lows overnight were expected in the 50s on the Marfa Plateau, 70s in
the Big Bend valleys and in the 60s elsewhere.
Highs on Tuesday ranged from the 100s over western portions of deep
South Texas to the upper 80s along the coast. Topping the readings was
Laredo with 101 degrees. Rainfall totals were generally under 1 inch with
a few locally higher amounts, including 3.34 inches at League City.
Chamber name change to identify functions
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--Pecos Chamber of Commerce will be seeking a new
name for their organization.
Executive director Tom Rivera told board members during their regular
monthly meeting Tuesday that he wanted to ask them to think about changing
the name to Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"Really we are both," said Rivera.
Board members agreed to let Rivera talk to the Secretary of State and
arrange for the name change.
In other business, Women's Division president Judy Tipton told the board
that practice has already started for the Golden Girl nominees and practice
for the Little Miss Cantaloupe contestants is set to begin.
"Tickets will go on sale the 15th or 16th of this month at Security
State Bank," said Tipton.
The pageant will be held at 8 p.m., Friday, June 25, at the Pecos High
School Auditorium.
Rivera reported for the advertising committee that all the billboards
promoting Pecos are up.
"They should be good for the next four to five years and we won't have
to spend any money on them until then," he said.
Board member Larry Sloan said that traveling back to Pecos this weekend
he noticed a lot of signs for Fort Stockton.
"It just said Fort Stockton so many miles, and again another Fort Stockton
sign. I just thought this would be something we might look into," he said.
"They spend a lot of money in Fort Stockton on billboards," said Rivera.
"But these were highway mileage signs and maybe we could get some extras
telling how many more miles until Pecos to advertise a little bit more,"
said Sloan.
Rivera said he would have to look into it since they are highway mileage
signs put up by the Department of Transportation.
President Linda Gholson reported that the Fall Fair Committee had met
and will be meeting again next Tuesday.
"We have gone over the rules time and again, and they are ready to be
published," she said.
Ray Ortega and Louis Matta have taken over the concert, with the chamber
getting a part of the profits, Gholson said. They were not present to report.
Rivera said that the chamber is soliciting funds to bring the bands
that will be performing at Night in Old Pecos.
"We need to raise about $1,800 to pay for the bands, so that we won't
have to charge admission," he said.
Several local businesses and individuals had already made some donations,
he said.
Night in Old Pecos is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, June 26.
Sign up for the talent show that will be held in conjunction with Night
in Old Pecos is being held. The fee is $5 and the funds go toward paying
for the awards, according to Rivera.
Tots learn how to swim
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--Little swimmers are "splashing around" in the
Pecos High School pool each morning, but there's no danger of them drowning.
The little ones are taking swimming lessons offered by Pecos High School
with instructors certified by the Red Cross.
Lessons for children 3 years old all the way to students who are in
junior high are taking advantage of the lessons.
About 156 kids are in this first session, which will end soon, but another
session will be coming up on June 14-25. Parents can register their little
ones at the PHS Pool or can call 447-7242. Lessons are $25 per child, for
a two week period.
The pool is open in the mornings from 9 a.m. until noon and parents/guardians
will find out at which time their child will be taking lessons when they
sign up, according to PHS Swimming Coach Terri Morse.
"There are four different times they can come and take the lessons and
when they sign up we will let them know which class they will be in," said
Morse.
Family Night Swimming is being held from 6-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays
through the month of June. Admission is $1 per person.
Adults Swimming Lessons will also be offered this year, according to
Morse.
Lessons for adults will be from 6-7 p.m., June 14, 16 and 18 and June
21, 23 and 24. Adults lessons are $30 per person.
Council eyes rate increase for sewer use, water taps
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--Improvements to the city's water and sewer system
are expensive, and the Pecos City Council on Thursday will consider increasing
rates to cover some of the cost.
Residential users will see an increase of 50 cents per month in their
minimum sewer charge and 5 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used if the
proposed ordinance amendment is adopted in two readings.
Water usage is based on the average monthly usage during the preceding
November, December and January, typically low-water use months.
For each new sewer tap, the fee will be $150.
Water tap charges will increase $25 per month for 3/4 inch and 1-inch
lines and $50 for 2-inch lines.
The proposed rates are $225, $300 and $700 for water taps.
Looking at a cost of $8.2 million to develop a new water field and lay
new pipe from the wells to the existing transportation line, the council
will consider a resolution seeking a low-interest loan from the Texas Water
Development Board.
Finance officer Steve McCormick said the board will loan the money at
1 percent interest. McCormick, bond counsel Peter M. Tart, engineer Frank
X. Spencer and financial advisor Larry Skiles will be authorized to appear
before the board to represent the city on its loan application.
Also on the agenda is approval of plans and specifications for bids
on a water transmission line replacement that is funded by a grant.
The council will consider advertising for bids in the Odessa American,
and a pre-bid conference will be held June 30 at Spencer's office. Bids
are to be received at 3 p.m. July 8 if the council adopts the proposal.
The council will also hear a status report on sewer system repairs,
replacement and final closure of the landfill trench, and wastewater treatment
plant permit application.
Other agenda items include the second reading of three ordinance amendments:
fire department elections, Classic Cable franchise, and water rate increase;
airport project and employee review for the city manager and city secretary.
The council meets at 7:30 a.m. in city hall council chambers. Mayor
pro-tem Danny Reynolds will preside in the absence of Mayor Dot Stafford.
Track work on agenda for board
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--An interlocal agreement with Reeves County and
Town of Pecos City for repair/replacement of the Pecos High School track
and discussion of applying for Odessa College grant for Community Technology
will be topics of discussion at the regular Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board
meeting.
School board members will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 10 at 1304
South Park. The public is invited to attend.
Under old business the board will discuss length of contracts for administrators/pay
raises, set budget meetings and discuss revising student dress code.
New business will consist of approving advertising for bids for telephone
service; discuss accepting gift of donated property located at 1201 W.
3rd Street; report on 76th Legislature's funding formula and discuss cafeteria
guidelines and prices for the 1999-2000 school year.
In other business the board will discuss accepting greenhouse gift and
report on central counting equipment at Reeves County Courthouse.
Other items for discussion and approval include:
* Y2K report.
* Summer school report.
* Transfers for Wink ISD.
* 1998-99 budget amendments.
* Attendance report.
* 2nd reading and approval of Policy DK (Local) revisions.
* Professional personnel: assignments, resignations, retirements and
reassignments.
* Tax report.
* Cafeteria report.
* Commodities received report.
* Depository securities report.
* Current bills and financial report.
* Investment transaction report.
* Reconciled bank balance report.
* Time for next meeting.
* Request for items for next agenda.
The group will meet in closed session, to discuss personnel or hear
complaints against personnel.
Wickett school to close
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--MONAHANS, Texas (AP) — The only elementary school
in the West Texas town of Wickett will close despite objections from more
than 100 residents.
The shutdown of Gensler Elementary School in Wickett was approved 4-2
Tuesday night by the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote school board.
"The school is the heart of the community," said Wickett resident Julie
Sellers. She said property values would plummet and the community shrink
without the school.
Wickett resident Dena Tipping agreed.
"If they close Gensler down, it will be the end of the town," she said.
"I am not happy about it. Gensler is pretty much the backbone of the town."
Parents noted that Wickett students passed all standarized state tests
this year.
But Superintendent Cliff Stevens said closing the school was fiscally
necessary.
"We are in the same financial boat as Pecos and Goldsmith were when
they closed their schools," Stevens said. "We are looking at budget cuts
like everyone else. The head and heart fight over this."
Stevens admitted that small schools are good, but not when there isn't
enough money to operate a good program.
Wickett is located about 10 miles west of Monahans and has a population
of about 600.
LOTTO
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Tuesday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 5-8-10-19-32. Number matching five of five: 3. Prize per winner:
$28,173. Winning tickets sold in: Austin, El Paso, Houston. Matching four
of five: 302. Prize: $420. Matching three of five: 9,028. Prize: $23. Next
Cash 5 drawing: Thursday night.
Obituary
Don Doan
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--Don Doan died Tuesday, June 8, 1999 in Odessa. Services
will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Frank Wilson Funeral Home Chapel in Odessa.
Graveside services and burial will be in at 2:30 p.m. in Rose Hill Cemetery
in Merkel.
Mr. Doan was born Sept. 13, 1927, in Merkel, served in the Army during
the Korean conflict and was awarded the Bronze Star. He owned and operated
businesses in Merkel and Stamford before moving to Pecos where he was a
partner of Gibson's Discount Center from 1965 to 1979. He served as a Pecos
City Councilman from 1974 to 1976. After retirement in 1983, he moved to
Odessa. He was a member of the Westwood Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Neva Doan of Odessa; one daughter, Dianne
Hesseltime of Spring, Tx.; two sons, Steve Doan of Odessa and Kevin Doan
of Midland; one sister, Sis Chenault of Pecos; one brother, Billy D. Doan
of Merkel; six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
WEATHER
PECOS, June, 9, 1999--High Tuesday 101. Low last night 66. Rainfall .15
inch. Year-to-date 1.39 inch. Tonight, partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance
of thunderstorms. Low in the upper 60s. Southeast wind 10-20 mph. Thursday,
partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of late afternoon thunderstorms. High
90-95. Southeast to south wind 10-20 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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