Keith Moore, CEO of West Texas National Bank, stated that, “Paul joined West Texas National Bank on Nov. 16, 1992. He is a loyal and dedicated employee who has served as Manager of our bank in Kermit since May 2004. Paul has done an outstanding job in that role, and I am confident that he will be successful in his new role in Pecos, as well.”
At this time, Hinojos will continue to be responsible for the bank in Kermit. Management of that bank, under Mr. Hinojos’ supervision, will be addressed in the near future.
Following a previously scheduled vacation, Hinojos will attend the 100th Year Anniversary Celebration of the Pecos bank, and begin his new duties in Pecos on Monday, June 11.
High school grads hear from valedictorian, salutatorian
Quoting from different poets, the Pecos High School Valedictorian gave her speech during commencement exercises at the Pecos High School New Gym, to a packed audience.
Eleanor Mason, daughter of Mike and Socorro Mason, gave the speech to her peers and community members during the ceremony held Friday evening.
“It is my honor to extend to parents, teachers and friends present this evening an enthusiastic farewell from all the members of the 2007 senior class. Enthusiastic because we know that our graduation of this evening does not represent a farewell forever, for we are not leaving the ones we love, admire and respect, we are simply moving forward in our lives and leaving behind our primary education; hence the need for farewells. In bidding farewell, we would also like to remember two of our classmates, Rachel Licon and J.J. Madrid, who died our freshman year,” said Mason.
“Tonight I feel our graduation parallels the following words written by William Thackery, ‘The play is done, the curtain drops; Slow falling to the prompters’ bell; A moment yet the actor stops, and looks around, to say farewell.’
“The play of our education is completed; the superintendent as prompter signals the end of the production to our parents who have patiently watched our performance over the past 12 years and the commencement exercises at the appointed time drop the curtain. Just as the actor stops behind the falling curtain for one more glance out front, we here cast a glance back over our school days and pensively wonder what the audience feels as the curtain is now completely closed and the audience members vacate the building,”said Mason.
“There has been a great deal of pleasure as well as lots of hard work producing this lengthy play, but as the curtain drops on the climax of this, our last act, we seniors glance back once again over the audience for one final look before the falling curtain meets the stage floor,” Mason said.
“Just as life goes on, next year there will be different players, in a new rendition of our drama. Perhaps we will be among the audience watching. If so, we will recall our own adventures in school and in recognizing the importance of the performance at hand, will be proud of the class graduating as it makes its own way to the next stage and next play of life. Though our high school education is now over, we will never really leave it completely, for this day and the experiences of the years gone by are indelibly etched in our memories. In parting this evening, allow me to leave you with the following words: Farewell, friends! Yet not farewell; Where I am, ye too shall dwell,” said Mason.
Mason, who was named Student of the Year 2007, by the Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce, also served as Golden Girl of the Old West.
Mason plans to attend Rice University following high school graduation and double major in political science and sociology. After college, she hopes to continue her education and attend law school. As an attorney, she plans to specialize in constitutional and international law. Her ultimate goal is to participate in the United Nations’ conflict resolution department.
Salutatorian John Paul Salcido, son of John and Rosie Salcido, said that his heroes were his parents.
“We don’t often tell them how we feel, but you need to tell your parents that you love them everyday,” said Salcido.
Salcido read several quotes from Joel Osteen, a preacher from Houston.
“Without opposition or resistance, there is no potential for progress, without the resistence of air, eagles can’t soar,” said Salcido.
“Joel Osteen states: ‘We must conceive our dream on the inside before we’re ever going to receive it on the outside.’
“If you’re not happy where you are, you will never get to where you want to be,” said Salcido.
Salcido also quoted Stan Sifer: “Do not get discouraged because it may be the last key on the ring that opens the door.”
He will be graduating with 20 college hours that will be transferred to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, where he will major in Biology. His goal is to become a medical doctor and help the sick and less fortunate.
Guest speaker for the evening was Dr. David Watts, -president of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
Watts told the group that there are many things happening in West Texas right now and that education is very important.
He made a promise to those graduating that any one them that wanted to attend college, to see him and he would get them a $500 scholarship if they attended the UTPB.
“They did a survey and asked the people if they were happy,” said Watts. “The ones that answered that they were really happy were college graduates,” he said.
Wattts told the graduates that the best way to make money was to advance themselves and get a college education.
“This not only applies to those graduating tonight, but also to those adults who always wanted to attend college, it is never too late,” said Watts.
The top 10 percent of seniors were: Eleanor Mason, 4.32 GPA; John P. Salcido, 4.19 GPA; Brittany L. Castaneda, 4.03; Ramiro M. Guerra, 3.94; Christina M. Cerna, 3.86; Cynthia E. Marmolejo, 3.81; Crystal L. Ikeler, 3.72; Adan B. Medina, 3.56; Jennifer N. Palomino, 3.56; Mauro Barraza, 3.40; Sylvia M. Davis, 3.33; Adriana E. Armendariz, 3.32 and Kyle S. Winkles, 3.29.
PEDC approves retention loans, working With city on hotel infrastructure
Badger BMB Services was approved for two $15,000 forgivable loans Friday at the June 1st meeting of the Pecos Economic Development Corporation - one for this year and one for next.
At the PEDC’s last meeting Trans-Pecos Foods was approved for a similar loan for $30,000.
“Badger has hired 50-plus people in the past two years,” PEDC Executive Director Mike Burkholder said. “Trans-Pecos has added more than 100 jobs.”
Burkholder explained that the loans are job retention incentives.
“If the company has as many or more people employed at the end of three years then we can forgive the loans,” Burkholder said.
Employment reports filed by the company with the Texas Workforce Commission are used to verify the numbers.
Money is still an issue regarding the necessary utilities to support the two hotels that are planned near the intersection of I-20 and State Hwy. 17.
“The city is waiting on a grant to pay for the needed water and electrical infrastructure,” Burkholder said.
PEDC would like to see the city borrow the approximately $500,000 needed to speed things along.
“I don’t think we can afford to wait for the grant,” he said.
The estimate from Texas-New Mexico Power to run power to the site is $120,000.
“We think that number is excessive and that a private contractor could do it for less,” Burkholder said.
“If necessary PEDC could loan the money for the electricity in the hope of recouping the money later.”
As for water, a 12 or 18-inch line will be needed to supply the hotels with water and the final cost will be approximately $240,000.
Burkholder suggested a plan that would use an existing 8-inch line nearby the site to provide temporary water for construction while the bigger line was under construction.
Burkholder also mentioned that the employment numbers published monthly by the Texas Workforce Commission are incorrect and hurting Pecos.
“The jobs that have been created are not showing up in the report,” he said.
“You can easily count 300-plus jobs created in past 24 months and yet we show a decline in the work force,” he said.
Burkholder said that Badger services has added 50 or so jobs, TransPecos Foods 100 or more, Anchor Drilling Fluids 12-14 and Mo-Vac around 25 in the past two years.
“That does not count the 100 or so that I know are working on seismograph jobs,” he said.
“The only thing we can figure is that the payrolls for these companies is made in other cities and so the numbers show up in those cities and not Pecos,” he said.
No matter why the numbers show up, the numbers reflect badly on Pecos’ demographics, which can cause problems from everything from economic development efforts to grant applications.
Area students receive degrees from OC
The following students graduated in May of the spring 2007 semester from Odessa College:
From Balmorhea - AnaLisa Mendoza, child and parent development.
From Pecos - Naomi R. Matta, associate in arts in general studies; Adrianna Mendoza, legal assistant; Jaime G. Mendoza, occupational safety and health; Jeannie Kay Nunez, associate in science in general studies; Adriana M. Ontiveros, legal assistant; Leticia Rayos Rodriguez, associate in arts in general studies.
Levario, Baez have plans to continue education
She will get teaching certification and a Master’s in special education.
Levario was listed on the Dean’s List for the spring semester and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University.
She is the daughter of Ana Garcia and Efren Levario.
Marisela Baez has been accepted to the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
She was listed on the Dean’s List for the spring semester.
Baez received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Our Lady of the Lake University on May 19.
She is the daughter of Salvador and Nestor Baez.
Police Report
EDITOR’S NOTE: Information contained in the Police Report is obtained from reports filed by the Pecos Police Department, Reeves County Sheriff’s Office, or other offices of those agencies. The serving of warrants by an officer for outstanding fines of either traffic citations, animal control violations or other court costs are considered arrests and will be printed as such unless indicated that the fines were paid. In such instances we will indicate payment and release.
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Jeffery Paul Luck, 30, 810 S. Hickory St., was arrested by police on May 29 on a warrant for possession of a dangerous drug, a Class A misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made in the 300 block of South Eddy Street, but that the defendant resisted at irst, which led to an additional misdemeanor charge being added. Two other charges, for evading arrest or detention and driving while license invalid, both Class B misdemeanors, were added after a records check at the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Joe Ralph Hay, 59, 916 S. Elm St., was arrested on May 29 on a charge of public intoxication. Police said the arrest was made in the 300 block of South Eddy Street, and Hay was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Francis Ann Martinez, 25, 844 E. Fifth St., was arrested by police on May 29 on a warrant charging her with failure to pay a fine on a previous incident totaling $332. Police said the arrest was made in the 200 block of South Cypress Street and Martinez was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Rosario Arenivas Gonzales, 26, 724 Mackey St. in Barstow, was arrested by police on May 21 at 7:04 p.m. following a traffic violation in the 200 block of South Ash Street, when a records check revealed an outstanding warrant for fraud (insufficient funds), out of the Reeves County Sheriff’s Department. Gonzales was transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center, where the warrant was served.
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Jose Alfredo Lujan, 45, 412 Bois D’arc St., was arrested by police on May 23 on a charge of public intoxication. Police said the arrest took place at 7:17 p.m. in the 700 block of East Seventh Street, and Lujan was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Pecos police arrested a 16-year-old male juvenile on May 24 on charges of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor, and evading arrest or detention, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made after they were called to Saragosa Park, in the 500 block of South Peach Street, in reference to a juvenile causing problems. Police said the arrest was made after it was determined the 16-year-old was on probation and out past the city’s juvenile curfew hour. He then resisted arrest before being handcuffed and taken to the Reeves County Juvenile Detention Center.
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Joe Daniel Wright, 28, 1114 S. Plum St., was arrested by police on a charge of driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made after Wright ran a red light at Third and Cedar streets. He was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Christopher James Fuentez, 25, 817 S. Alamo St., was arrested by police on May 28 in the 300 block of South Cedar Street, on a charge of public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor. Fuentez was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Camilo Martinez Salcido, 62, 515 s. Almond St., was arrested by police on May 28 on charges of public intoxication and parole violation. Police said the arrest was made after Salcido was found lying in an alley in the 600 block of Mesquite Street. He was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center, where a records check turned up a warrant for parole violation.
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Edwin Ivan Lopez, 17, 416 S. Mulberry St., was arrested by police at his home on May 27 on a charge of cruelty to animals. Police said the arrest was made after officers found roosters being used for fighting were at Lopez’s home. He was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Dora M. Mata, 52, 118 S. Elm St., was arrested by police on May 24 on a warrant charging her with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), a First Degree Felony. Police said the arrest was made after Mata turned herself into officers at the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Vincent Walter Bohlin, 47, of Granbury, was arrested by police on May 24 on a charge of public intoxication. Police said the arrest was made after officers were called to Motel 6, 3002 S. Cedar St., at 12:06 p.m. on a report of an intoxicated male. Bohlin was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Rosie Alvarez, 49, of Toyah, was arrested by police on May 29 on a charge of public intoxication. Police said the arrest was made in the 100 block of West Third Street, and Alvarez was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Elias Urias Ornelas, 18, 1001 S. Locust St., was arrested by police May 25 on a charge of possession of marijuana under two ounces, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said the arrest was made at 2:54 a.m. in the 300 block of East 10th Street. Ornelas was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
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Joe Ralph Hay, 59, 916 S. Elm St., was arrested by police on May 24 on a charge of theft, a Class B misdemeanor. Police said the arrest took place at the Howard Johnson’s Motel, 2207 W. Third St., after officers were called in connection with a report Hay was in possession of stolen property. He was then transported to the Pecos Criminal Justice Center.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 432-445-5475, FAX 432-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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