|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Thursday, October 21, 1999
Guebara settles in at Wal-Mart
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Oct. 21, 1999 - Keeping customers happy is the number one goal
of Olga Guebara, the new manager of the Pecos Wal-Mart.
Guebara assumed the duties of manager of the facility in August and
is enjoying her new position tremendously.
"I really like it, I've done this for a while now, so it's not new to
me," she said.
Guebara started working at the local Wal-Mart in April of 1986 and has
assumed different positions within the store since then.
She started in the processing area, later was department manager and
CSM, for house wares and toys and then became the assistant manager in
1991.
Being in charge of the entire operations of the local store, Guebara
oversees about 80 employees. "Basically, I'm in charge of everything that
comes in the store and that goes out the store, including the customers,"
said Guebara. "We have to keep the customers happy."
Schedules, inventory, receiving and, of course, complaints are a part
of her everyday routine.
"It gets very hectic sometimes, but it can be fun," she said. "There's
a lot of paperwork."
Guebara has gone through extensive training as assistant manager and
has completed managerial training. "I was in California during the earthquake,
doing training while I was assistant manager and have completed all my
training," she said.
When she's not busy at the store she enjoys spending time with her husband,
Ramon, and her three daughters, Tiffany Machuca, age 12, Katrina Machuca,
9 and her baby, Ramona Guebara, 4.
"We enjoy doing family things and I enjoy going fishing with my husband
and girls," said Guebara.
When you go to Wal-Mart, you'll see friendly faces and one of them will
be the new manager.
"I want to keep in touch with my customers needs, so they won't have
to go all the way to Odessa," said Guebara. "We also want to provide service
with a smile."
She is also the first local individual to be given the position of manager
of the facility. "It's just great because, as a local, we already know
everybody," she said.
More Women in Business
Pair arrested in Wednesday drug raid
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Oct. 21, 1999 - Cocaine, marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia
were seized during a narcotics search held Wednesday evening at an east
side residence.
The items were seized as the result of a raid which occurred shortly
before 8 p.m. on Wednesday, when officers from the Pecos Police Department
and the Reeves County Sheriff's Office executed the search warrant at the
home of Danny Ephriam, 501 E. Second St.
"Upon executing the search warrant and all subjects were secured within
the residence, officers proceeded to search the residence," said Pecos
Police Investigator Paul Deishler.
He said during the search of the residence a substance, which tested
positive for cocaine, was found.
Also found inside the home was paraphernalia used in the packaging and
smoking of marijuana and paraphernalia used in the ingesting and smoking
of cocaine.
"Other evidence was also taken from the residence during the search,"
said Deishler.
Ephriam, 51, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled
substance (marijuana) and possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).
Bond for the marijuana possession was set at $5,000, with the bond for
the cocaine possession set at $10,000, by Justice of the Peace Amonario
Ramon.
Also arrested during the incident was Alfredo Reyes, 41, who was charged
with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). His bond was set at
$10,000.
Prop 2 would ease seniors' mortgage rule
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a series of articles
on the proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution which voters will
decide on in the Nov. 2 general election.
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Oct. 21, 1999 - Proposition 2: The constitutional amendment
relating to the making of advances under a reverse mortgage and payment
of a reverse mortgage.
This proposed amendment expands the conditions under which a lender
in a reverse mortgage secured by a homestead may require repayment, requiring
the lender to notify the borrower before a reverse mortgage is foreclosed
for certain grounds.
It allows the borrower to cure certain grounds for foreclosure and requires
that certain foreclosures be made only by a court order.
Raises the age of eligibility for a reverse mortgage from 55 to 62 and
provides greater flexibility in delivery and use of the loan. A governmental
agency or instrumentality may take assignment of a reverse mortgage in
order to cure a default.
Background:
In 1997 voters adopted a constitutional amendment allowing reverse mortgages
secured by homestead property. A reverse mortgage is a credit agreement
under which a lender provides money to a borrower in exchange for a lien
on his home. The borrower is generally not required to repay the money
or interest until he dies or moves out of the home. Reverse mortgages are
usually used by senior citizens to convert the equity they have accumulated
in their homes into money that may be used for current expenses.
Although allowed by law, lenders are not making reverse mortgages in
Texas. Because of language in the law restricting when lenders may require
repayment, and inconsistency with federal law, Fannie Mae will not purchase
the reverse mortgages on the secondary market and the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development will not insure the mortgages.
The proposed amendment is intended to address the concerns of Fannie
Mae and HUD. It clarifies when death or absence of the borrowers from the
home is grounds for the lender to require repayment of the mortgage.
It adds grounds for which the lender may require repayment when the
borrower's actions endanger the lender's lien.
The lender is also required to give the borrower notice of a possible
foreclosure because of these additional grounds and allows the borrower
to avoid foreclosure by remedying the problem.
Arguments for:
1. Many senior citizens have accumulated a large amount of equity in
their homes. Reverse mortgages would allow them to use that value as income
for retirement expenses or for other purposes. The amendment would remove
barriers to the mortgages.
2. Conforming state law to federal law and practices in other states
and providing means to more fully protect lender's liens will create more
certainty and efficiency for reverse mortgage lenders.
Arguments against:
1. When voters authorized reverse mortgages they set strict limitations
to protect senior citizens. Refusal of lenders to participate is no reason
to remove the protections. The practices of the federal government or of
lenders in other state should not be allowed to determine the level of
protection that this state provides its senior citizens.
2. The limitations in state law are still too restrictive because they
continue to prohibit cash advances under a reverse mortgage to be made
in the form of a line of credit, which is the most flexible and advantageous
to borrowers. Borrowers should not be forced to take advances on their
reverse mortgage and to begin accumulating interest on those advances before
the borrower needs the money.
This analysis is taken from a publication by the Texas Legislative Council.
Next: Proposition 3 - eliminating duplicative, executed, obsolete, archaic
and ineffective provisions of the Texas Constitution.
DRUG FREE RALLY
PECOS, Oct. 21, 1999 - Pecos High School student council members
work with other students and counselor Eva Arriola to prepare the banner
for the District Drug Free Rally scheduled for Friday morning at Eagle
Stadium. All students will be bused to the Eagle Stadium and everyone is
encouraged to wear red. The rally will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30
a.m. Guest speaker will be special FBI Agent Tony Franco, who grew up in
West Texas. Other activities are planned throughout the morning.
Ag commissioner to hold meeting in Ft. Stockton
Farmers, ranchers and the community are invited to meet with Texas Agriculture
Commissioner Susan Combs Monday in Fort Stockton to discuss issues affecting
agriculture.
The town hall meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Pecos County Extension
Center, off U.S. 285 at Airport Drive, north of Interstate 10.
People may voice their concerns, ideas and solutions for agriculture,
Texas producers and their rural communities. Commissioner Combs will also
visit with producers and community leaders about opportunities for rural
economic development in the area.
For more information, contact Scott Heselmeyer, TDA Producer Relations
Specialist, at 512-463-4879.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Lotto Texas drawing Wednesday night: Winning
numbers drawn: 11-15-22-33-38-47. Estimated jackpot: $29 million. Number
matching six of six: 0. Matching five of six: 181. Prize: $1,450. Matching
four of six: 9,410. Prize: $100.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Wednesday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 6-0-4 (six, zero, four)
Weather
PECOS, Oct. 21, 1999 - High Wednesday 79. Low last night 39. Slightly warmer
temperatures were predicted through Friday. Daytime highs should range
from the 70s to 80s in the Rio Grande valley. Lows overnight were expected
from the 40s to near 50, with some 30s across the Oklahoma and North Texas
Panhandles and southwestern mountains.
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
|
