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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, June 18, 1999
School board OKs track work, dress code
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 18, 1999--Track surface replacement and a strict student
dress code were approved by the Pecos-Barstow-ISD in a special meeting
Thursday.
The new track surface will make high school and junior high track meets
possible once again. And the dress code will encourage students to create
a positive image for the high school.
Board members approved an interlocal agreement with the Town of Pecos
and Reeves County to improve the track and agreed to advertise for bids
on three items.
"We met with the mayor, the county judge, the road and bridges administrator
and other indivdiuals who will be helping make this project a reality,"
said superintendent Don Love.
The meeting was held to map out what everyone would be responsible for
during the joint project, Love said.
Love estimated the total cost of the project to be $67,650 to replace
the Pecos High School track.
Track meets had not been held in Pecos because the track at the high
school did not meet the requirements.
A rubberized layer 3/8 inches thick and striping will be installed at
an estimated $44,650; $12,000 is to replace inside curbs; $2,000 for drains
(by the maintenance department; $4,000 for 1/2 inch rubberized layer on
long jump, high jump and pole vault runway.
"We will bid out the rubberized layer, inside curbs and the 1/2 inch
rubberized layer for the long jump, high jump and pole vault runway," said
Love.
"I think this is something that will benefit the entire community,"
said Love. "We're real excited about this project," he said.
Board members also approved the revisions to the dress code. The revisions
had been presented to the board at last week's regular board meeting, but
still needed to be put forth before the District Educational Improvement
Committee for a final look.
"This dress code was approved by the school's attorney," said Love.
The dress policy reads that in order to help maintain an appropriate
educational atmosphere at school, students must present a personal appearance
that reflects the educational purposes for which school exists. This purpose
includes preparing students for employment, teaching the importance of
rules and discipline, providing a safe environment, and minimizing disruptions
during school.
The school district recognizes that differences of opinion may exist
as to dress and grooming issues and that the educators charged with enforcing
these rules will be given reasonable discretion in enforcing these rules.
"That was one of the main things we were looking at," said DEIC member
Jim Workman. "We're preparing these students for employment, for a good
future, and the students to make a good physical appearance and represent
us well," he said.
"I want to quote one of Bubba's (Williams) favorite sayings, if you
look good, you'll do good," said Workman.
Workman told the board that some students and parents that didn't mind
what their kids wore to school wanted to form their own committee and bring
their opinions to the board.
"Our objective is to make the students feel better about themselves
and at the same time provide a safe environment for all the students,"
said Workman.
Revisions to the dress code include:
* Shirts may be worn untucked as long as no part of the shirt extends
past the bend of the wrist when arms are extended down the sides of the
body. "Before it was that the shirts could be as long as the end of the
fingertips when the hand was extended straight down," said Workman. "This
will eliminate about 4-6 inches for some students," he said.
In addition, shirts may not be worn if any of the student's midriff
shows when the student's arms are raised above the head. "Little shirts
seem to be in, and this is to eliminate that appearance that when they
raise their hands, you can see their belly button," said Workman.
* Shorts must extend to the middle of the thigh and may not be saggy
or baggy. "We spent some time on this one," said Workman. "When we mean
saggy, it means that they don't fit at the waistline and baggy means that
there is either too much material in the front or the back," he said.
* Fingernail and toenail polish may be worn, but colors that are prohibited
include all shades of black, brown, blue, green, purple, yellow, orange
or any other color an administrator or teacher finds distracting to the
educational process. Metallic fingernail or toenail polish is prohibited.
No black or dark color lipstick or lip liner may be worn. "The colors were
added by the school's attorney to be more specific," said Workman.
* Pants/jeans may not be baggy or saggy or exceed four inches of excess
fabric at the thigh or at the principal's discretion.
* A dress code check will take place during the beginning of every class.
Students in violation will be sent to the assistant principal/principal.
"We had said that a dress code check would be done in first period, but
a lot of students don't show up for first period or they can't," said Workman.
"It's also because some students may have band first period and there may
be too many students to do an appropriate check," he said.
* Jackets and long coats must be taken off and put in lockers upon arrival
at school unless the principal approves the wearing of jackets and long
coats because of extenuating circumstances.
"If it's too cold, once the teacher sees what the student is wearing
underneath, it might not be a problem," said Workman.
Board member Freddy Lujan questioned whether students could wear their
coats if they had a class in another building and their locker was in the
main building.
"The teacher will make the judgment, I'm sure if the weather is bad
or it's raining they can wear their coats and the teacher will make that
decision," said Workman.
"A lot of this came from things the students were wearing in May, when
the weather is not cold and its nice outside," said PHS principal Danny
Rodriguez. "These are just precautions because of things that have happened
in the nation," he said.
Rodriguez said that wearing a coat or jacket during the winter months
is all right, but that students were wearing jackets in the spring, when
the weather was really warm.
"Big thick jackets in April and May are not needed. We have some good
air conditioners, but they are not unbearable," said Workman.
"We're doing this because they might be hiding something or their clothing.
Sometimes they don't want us to see what they're wearing," said Workman.
PHS assistant principal Victor Tarin said that during the spring several
students who were wearing long coats and thick jackets were questioned.
"We confiscated a lot of items including those big thick markers," said
Tarin.
Tarin said there had previously been a lot of graffitti in the bathrooms
and other areas of the school that were done with these markers. Other
items found underneath the coats and jackets were cigarrette lighters,
a couple of lasers (which are banned at the schools) and a cellular phone.
Gas plant back online after Thursday's fire
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
Wickett, June 18,1999--Fire engulfed a portion of the Dynegy Midstream
Services natural gas plant north of Wickett around noon Thursday.
Mario Alvarez, an equipment operator for Ward County, saw the fireball
rise in the sky just after he finished his lunch, a short time after 12
noon.
"I was walking north, and I saw the smoke rising over the hill," Alvarez
said. "Then, maybe a minute later, there was an explosion and I could see
the fire."
Alvarez estimated that the fireball rose at least 100 feet into the
air.
"The fire was really big like that for a couple of minutes and then
it died down and there was a lot of smoke," he said.
Other witnesses estimated that the fireball rose 150-200 feet in the
air.
The resulting smoke plume was visible from the hill just east of Pecos
at 1:20 p.m., about 30 miles away.
Jennifer Rosser, manager of corporate communications for Dynegy, said
that no one was injured in the blaze.
"The fire started while a transport truck was being loaded with natural
gas condensate," Rosser said this morning. "At this time we don't know
the cause of the fire, but it is under investigation."
Rosser said that the plant, which is a natural gas processing facility,
was not seriously damaged and that it is fully operational today.
Rosser also expressed her company's appreciation for the fast and effective
response of the Wickett and Monahans volunteer fire departments.
"The accident occurred shortly after 12 noon and was contained within
two hours," she said. "The firemen did a great job."
Broken bone decks judge
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 18, 1999--Visiting Judge Pat Baskin handled the pre-trial
docket in 143rd District Court this morning in the absence of Judge Bob
Parks.
Judge Parks, who was limping while in Pecos for a hearing Thursday on
a motion for new trial, is at home with a boot on his foot.
Doctors found a broken bone in the foot, Judge Parks said. His court
administrator, Kathy Adams, said she does not know how long he will be
out of the office.
Judge Baskin will handle the Monahans docket this afternoon.
The Pecos docket today included eight tax suits filed by Rusty McInturff
of Calame, Linebarger, Graham; several divorce and civil cases, and 20
criminal cases set for arraignment, attorney appointment, probation revocation
and adjudication of guilt, as well as pre-trial motions.
Fleet additions OKd by board
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 18, 1999--New vehicles will be added to the fleet for the
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD while updating school buses is something planned
for the future.
Board members on Thursday approved the request by transportation director
Jimmy Dutchover to purchase some new vehicles to be used by the district.
A new vehicle for the superintendent, a minivan for the transportation
fleet and a minivan or used car for the transportation fleet were included
in Dutchover's budget. In addition a bumper trailer will also be purchased.
About $46,000 is in the proposed budget to purchase the vehicles, according
to Dutchover.
The old vehicle currently being driven by the superintendent will be
passed on to another staff member or put back into the fleet.
"The minivans are more economical because you can put a sponsor in there
with them, if they are only taking a few students to the event," said Dutchover.
"We will have a total of seven vehicles we can use," said Dutchover.
There are currently three minivans that can be used, with a new one
on the way, according to Dutchover.
One of them is being used daily to transport students to Odessa.
Board president Earl Bates told the group that before the district didn't
have very many minivans because of the strict guidelines but that now that
things have changed it would be more economical to use the minivans.
Dane Atkinson, with TASB made a lengthy presentation on the salary study
and compensation plan for administrative/professional and auxiliary personnel.
He handed out booklets for the board members to look at and study.
"This describes what the study did, how we got our information and the
surveys we did," said Atkinson.
The booklet covers a myriad of subjects including comparisons to other
school districts, state and federal regulations and how they affect the
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD.
"This is a how to do it book, to look at and study," said Atkinson.
Review board hears pipeline protests
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 18, 1999--Two representatives of pipelines crossing Reeves
County signed in early for the appraisal review board hearings this morning
to protest mineral values.
Randy Elkins of Tulsa, Okla., said he would protest minor details of
the appraisal for the new Longhorn Pipeline that is valued at $5.5 million
in Reeves and Ward counties.
The Ward county portion is in the Barstow area where Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD has taxing jurisdiction. Pritchard and Abbott appraisers valued that
section of line at $1 million.
Lines crossing Reeves County are valued at $4.5 million.
Total estimated tax for Reeves County, the Reeves County Hospital District
and Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD is $120,000 for 1999, Elkins said.
"We have worked out most of the problems with Pritchard and Abbott,"
Elkins said.
Pritchard and Abbott representatives Gary Young and Randy Prince were
present at this morning's meeting, continuing telephone talks with property
owners.
Tom Davenport of Midland was present to represent the interests of West
Texas Gas, who has natural gas distribution pipelines lying within the
appraisal district.
Pipelines are classed as personal property.
Real estate hearings are set for Monday and Tuesday in the district
office at 403 S. Cypress St.
WIPP plant gets waste shipment
PECOS, June 18, 1999--Nuclear waste from a plant in Colorado has arrived
at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, N.M., said Energy Secretary
Bill Richardson.
The shipment of 26 drums of non-mixed waste, left the Rocky Flats, Colo.,
site at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and arrived at WIPP Wednesday afternoon. It will
be stored 2,150 feet underground.
Non-mixed waste consists of disposable items - like clothing, tools,
rags, residues and debris - contaminated with radioactive elements. The
waste is not contaminated with chemicals, like cleaning solvents or lead,
that would cause it to be regulated under the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, Richardson said.
Tuesday's shipment from Rocky Flats consisted of old graphite molds
used in the former nuclear weapons production process.
"With this shipment we continue to demonstrate our commitment to clean
up and close Rocky Flats - and make good on our obligations to the state
of Colorado," Richardson said.
"Further, it shows the American people that we are making real progress
toward cleaning up the Cold War legacy of nuclear weapons production -
and providing for safe, permanent disposal of transuranic waste."
RFETS will send about 2,000 shipments to WIPP between now and completion
of the site cleanup.
The 705-mile trip took about 17 hours, including the time required for
WIPP drivers to stop and inspect the truck every 100 miles or two hours.
The inspection stops are performed in accordance with safety protocols
developed by DOE and the Western Governors' Association.
Since opening March 26, WIPP has received 13 shipments of transuranic
waste. Eleven shipments came from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New
Mexico. The other two originated from Rocky Flats and the DOE's Idaho National
Engineering and Environmental Laboratory near Idaho Falls, Ida.
During the expected 35-year operating life of WIPP, the DOE will transport
some 37,000 loads of transuranic waste from 23 locations nationwide.
Dance features Tejano stars
PECOS, June 18, 1999--Little Joe Y La Familia along with Ruben Ramos
play for a dance Saturday, sponsored by Committee 88.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased
at Dan's Music and Video, Lucky Partners and Terrazas.
The dance will start at 7 p.m., in the Reeves County Civic Center.
LOTTO
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Thursday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 3-24-28-36-38. Number matching five of five: 1. Prize per winner:
$85,437. Winning ticket sold in: Leakey. Matching four of five: 167. Prize:
$767. Matching three of five: 7,260. Prize: $30. Next Cash 5 drawing: Friday
night.
WEATHER
PECOS, June 18, 1999--High Thursday 84; low last night 65. Tonight, partly
cloudy. A slight chance of thunderstorms. Low in the mid 60s. Southeast
wind 5-10 mph. Chance of rain less than 20 percent. Saturday, partly cloudy.
High around 90. Southeast wind 10-15 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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