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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, October 8, 1999
Fair produced mixed results, Rivera says
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
The 55th Annual Reeves County Fall Fair was labeled a success
by organizers of the event, held this past weekend. However, the Barbecue
Beef Cookoff and Fall Fair Concert held in conjunction with the fair didn't
do as well organizers said.
All the booths inside the Reeves County Civic Center, where the fair
was held, were filled.
"We had the booths filled with different events," said Chamber of Commerce
Director Tom Rivera, who added turnout for the fair and the booths was
great.
"The fair was super, it's the best that I've seen in the nine years
I have been here," said Rivera.
He praised the fair committee chairman Barbara Creager and all the volunteers
who helped her throughout the entire event. "The success of the fair comes
from having a good chairperson and all the volunteers," said Rivera.
Rivera hopes the fair becomes an even bigger event next year and in
the following years. "With this kind of participation we can make it really
big and better each year," he said.
However, the fair's outdoor events last Friday and Saturday were low
on participation, and plans for them for the following year will be discussed
at length before any decisions are made.
"The turnout for both the cookoff and the concert were pathetic," said
Rivera.
The cookoff had only 28 entries, including three that were free. "Last
year we had 41, the year before that we had 50 something, is that going
to be the trend, that the number goes even further down each year," said
Rivera.
Plans for the event were almost cancelled because of lack of participation.
After speaking to several who had already opted to join the yearly event,
organizers went ahead and held the event in the Reeves County Sheriff's
Posse Arena.
Attendance for this year's concert, held last Saturday at the Buck Jackson
Rodeo Arena, was even more disappointing, and Rivera said, "We're going
to re-look at things and quite possibly decide not to participate in the
concert next year."
The chamber is not the main organizers of the event, but help out with
beverage sales, booth sales, tickets and other areas. "This community doesn't
participate in these events and when they don't it makes it hard to hold
it again," said Rivera.
"People are always complaining that there is nothing to do, but when
we bring events they still don't participate," he said.
Only about 250 people attended the concert which featured five bands.
"We had no participation at all in that event and the cost wasn't high,"
said Rivera. "$10 to go listen to five different bands, in great weather
is not bad," he said.
"We almost had more lamb entries in the stock show than we had people
paying to go to the concert," he said.
"We'll be looking at those two events and setting down some rules,"
said Rivera. "Whether we'll sponsor them again or not is up to the chamber
as a body," he said. "It takes everybody's participation to make this a
better community and to keep these events going every year."
Magic show at PHS Monday to convey message
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
Magic and comedy will be combined to convey a powerful anti-drug message
to Pecos students and their parents.
"We're going to Change the World Tour" 2000 a multi-faceted, highly
entertaining program, will come to Pecos on Monday evening.
Performed by professional illusionist Jeff O'Lear throughout the U.S.
and Puerto Rico, the free community performance will be held starting at
7:30 p.m. in the Pecos High School auditorium.
A performance for the entire family will be staged at the Pecos High
School Auditorium, at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18. Admission will be free
but you must have a ticket to attend. Tickets can be picked up at the Reeves
County Juvenile Probation Dept. at County Road 204. Students must be accompanied
by an adult.
The cost of the performance is underwritten by a grant from a Criminal
Justice Division of the Office of the Governor.
O'Lear and Magic Touch Entertainment have performed for hundreds of
thousands of people of all ages, mixing magic and comedy to convey positive
messages to students about their responsibilities and the dangers of alcohol
and drugs.
The show will include large-scale illusions, including the levitation
of an audience member. O'Lear will also cut himself in half while a member
of the audience will loose his "middle."
O'Lear's highly acclaimed program has been endorsed by the Drug Enforcement
Administration, FBI, the Pennsylvania State Attorney General, MADD, SADD
and D.A.R.E. groups throughout the country and countless educators who
have witnessed the positive impact of Magic Touch Entertainment's program
in their schools.
"Tickets are limited, there are only a certain number that we can give
out," said Louise Moore. "We have room for only so many students and their
parents, so if they want to attend, we urge them to come early and pick
up their tickets," she said.
For more information call Alma Garcia or Louise Moore at 447-6901.
Feds win smuggling verdict, set to add attorney
It took the jury 40 minutes of deliberation before finding a young Dallas
man guilty of alien smuggling.
Miguel Rodriguez was found guilty this morning in the fourth trial held
this week in Judge Ferguson's courtroom.
Jeff Parras was the prosecutor for this morning's trial, with Anthony
Foster dissenting.
Parras also prosecuted Monday's case in which Alfredo Tejeda was found
guilty of importing and possession of marijuana.
"This was a heavy trial week for us," said Parras.
John Clausen of Midland is the fourth attorney to join the Pecos team,
with a fifth one set to join them on Tuesday of next week.
"We're loading up in attorneys for the Pecos Division," said Parras.
Task force busts Midlander in marijuana raid
One man was arrested and numerous items of paraphernalia confiscated in
an investigation in Midland County as part of an operation on Thursday
by the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force.
At approximately 8 p.m., members of the task force executed a search
and arrest warrant at 1001 N. "D" Street in Midland. Officers seized over
five pounds of marijuana, two handguns and numerous items of paraphernalia.
Also confiscated was $700 in U.S. Currency.
Evidence found indicated that the residence had been used in major drug
trafficking, officials said.
Officers arrested Bryan Lee Richardson who was transported to the Midland
County Jail by Midland sheriff's department. His bond was set at $100,000
by Judge Zimmerman.
Members of the Trans Pecos Drug Task Force include officers from Reeves
County, Winkler County, Ward County, Jeff Davis County, Reagan County,
Midland County, Andrews County, City of Pecos, City of Kermit, City of
Monahans and City of Andrews. All participated in the most recent raid.
Federal offices, banks taking off Columbus Day
Federal offices and both local banks will be getting Monday off for Columbus
Day, but most other businesses in town will remain open.
No mail will be delivered on Monday and the Pecos Post Office will be
closed in observance of the holiday. Mail will be delivered to the post
office boxes on that day.
Both First National and Security State Banks will take the day off.
Federal buildings will also close their doors on that day, but county and
city offices will remain open. Local schools also will have their regular
class schedules.
The Pecos Enterprise will be printed on that day and the newspaper will
be delivered as usual.
Residents voice complaints about supermarkets
By SMOKEY BRIGGS
Staff Writer
Representatives of Fenn Foods, Inc., the parent company of La Tienda
and Bob's Thriftway, met with concerned citizens today at City Hall to
discuss problems at both stores.
The meeting was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
"The chamber has had several calls with complaints about the stores
and we felt that a meeting between the stores and the citizens might help,"
chamber president Linda Gholson said.
Fenn Foods is the only major grocery supplier in Pecos, having bought
out the former Furr's store in the Airlawn Shopping Center four years ago.
C. G. Evans, general manager for Fenn Foods, Jay Garcia, store manager
at La Tienda, and Mario Ramirez, store manager at Bob's, listened to customer
concerns and answered questions during the one hour meeting.
Ten customers showed up to voice their complaints.
Complaints ranged from quality of products to selection to customer
service.
"My main complaint is with the produce," Jean Burkholder said. "Consistently
the produce is not fresh. If I want a bag of the pre-cut salad I have to
ask the produce man to please go to the back and find a bag that is in
date. The broccoli is often rubbery. Nothing is fresh."
"I'm going to start going to Midland/Odessa to shop if this doesn't
get better," she said.
"I'm used to being told that we can't get strawberries or other fruits
and vegetables. Why not? H-E-B can. Worse yet, the prices are higher here,"
Burkholder said.
"We have the same problem with meats," Jeannette Alligood said. "You
can't even buy a steak half of the time. There just aren't any in the case."
"A loaf of bread gets mold on it two days after you buy it, if there
was a loaf for you to buy at all," Jo Cooksey added.
"What concerns me even more is that if people are leaving town to buy
their groceries in Odessa then they're buying other stuff in Odessa as
well. In my case, jewelry, but it is happening to all of the other businesses
here," Cooksey said. Cooksey is an owner of Fonville Jewelry.
Mayor Dot Stafford added that frozen foods were also a problem.
"Often, when you buy something, you can tell that it has been thawed
and re-frozen," she said. "I also have a big problem with money leaving
the city."
"I'd like to just echo some of what I hear from my friends," said Brandy
Owen of Edward D. Jones Investments. "There is a lot of money leaving Pecos
because people are going to Odessa to shop for groceries. It hurts the
whole economy here. Produce, frozen food, bread _ you have to pick through
everything."
"We have a big area out here and people might come to Pecos to shop
if we had the right grocery store. A clean store, quality food, and a selection
of basic items is all we need," she said.
"Poor quality is un-excusable," Evans replied. "If out-of-date or near-expiration
food is on the shelves then we will address that. It is our policy to only
stock fresh, quality food and we'll make sure that is what is there. If
this isn't the case then we will find out why and fix the problem."
Addressing the issue of frozen foods Evans told the meeting that after
spending thousands of dollars on repairs that haven't worked, La Tienda
was replacing the existing freezers with new ones. The new freezer boxes
should be in place by the end of next week.
"We are considering replacing the refrigerated cases as well," he said,
"But we're still looking into it."
As to prices, Evans said that Fenn Foods runs regular price checks in
the area.
"We feel that our prices are competitive. We ran our most recent price
check against Monahans and we were competitive, but we didn't compare against
prices in Odessa," he said.
"Cokes are a different issue but that should be changing soon. The old
bottler in this area recently sold out and we had a meeting with the new
bottler two days ago. In the past we've been paying $1.79 in this area
while we could get a six-pack anywhere else for $1.49. This should be changing
in the near future and customers should see the difference on the shelf,"
Evans said.
"These are all problems we want to address," Evans said. "I can't tell
you all how much I appreciate you taking the time to come here and talk
to us. We have a huge investment here in Pecos. We want to be part of the
community and feel like we are, and we want to, and will, address these
problems."
Evans suggested that a shoppers advisory committee be formed and asked
for volunteers from those attending. Tom Rivera said that he would help
form the committee.
"If we could meet once a month, or every six weeks _ whatever is convenient
_ it would be a great help to us as we try to address these concerns. In
essence, the committee would become our secret shoppers and we would get
regular in-put as to how we're doing," he said.
After the meeting Evans said that he was glad the chamber had put the
meeting together.
"This was very positive. These people told us what was wrong and what
they would like to see. We want to be Pecos' store and we will do everything
that we can to be that store," Evans said.
OBITUARIES
Juan Saenz
Juan Fierro Saenz, 67, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, in a traffic accident
in Ward County.
A rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic
Church in Barstow.
Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic
Church in Barstow with Father Manuel Munoz officiating. Burial will be
in Camargo, Chih., Mexico.
Saenz was born Nov. 23, 1931, in Camargo, was retired and a Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Saenz of Barstow; two sons, Javier
Saenz of Pecos and Ernesto Tapia of Chihuahua., Mexico; three daughters,
Elva Durate of Santa Fe, N.M., Bertha A. Beasley of Raleigh, N.C., and
Blanca Lara of Camargo, Chih., Mexico and 16 grandchildren.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Julia Ward
Julia Hampton Ward, 93, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, at the Pecos Nursing
Home.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
She was born Oct. 7, 1905, was retired and a lifelong Pecos resident.
Survivors include one sister, Ora Belle Casey of Kingman, Ariz. and
numerous nieces and nephews.
Pecos Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WEATHER
High Thursday 97. Low this morning 61. No measurable rainfall. Forecast
for tonight: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Low 50 to 55. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday, partly cloudy. High in
the upper 70s. North wind 5-10 mph. Extended forecast, Saturday night,
mostly clear. Low 50 to 55. Sunday through Tuesday, mostly sunny days and
clear nights. highs in the 80s.
LOTTO RESULTS
AUSTIN (AP) - Results of the Cash 5 drawing Thursday night: Winning
numbers drawn: 37-25-3-15-33. Number matching five of five: Zero. Matching
four of five: 317. Prize: $798.
***
AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Thursday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 1-9-0 (one, nine, zero)
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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