The Rusk Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 23, 1958 Page: 1 of 16
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r 0 Box 8,; ;3
* Sale*
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Town
WitA TRjQAAjnAaftaut
LESLIE M. ROSS, director of
Rehabilitation, Alcoholism Sec-
tion, wrote Glenn Brown a few
days ago expressing appreciation'
for the fine article he wrote on
the Rehabilitation Program in the
Rusk State Hospital . . . Here's
what he had to say ... "I wish to
take this means of expressing our
sincere thanks for the nice job
you did with the enlightening ar-
ticle on our Alcoholic Rehabilita-
tion Program in the Rusk State
Hospital. Mr. Brown, you will nev-
er know the amount of good that
will stem from your article. We
: have already had two admissions
and several inquiries as the re-
sult. The change of public opin-
ion in your area is astounding.
Your pioneering in this field will
bear impact for years to come, and
untold lives will be salvaged as
the result ..."
ANOTHER CANDIDATE has
filed for Tax Assessor-Collector of
Cherokee County. She is Mrs. E.
M. "Dude" Bagley of Rusk, who
is now acting Tax Assessor - Col-
lector. Other candidates seeking
the office are Lester Bolten, Mrs.
Charlie Matthews and Jimme
Cone.
ROUNDABOUT LOOKED OVER
the ballot, and warns everyone to
be sure to cast their vote for this
office in the LAST COLUMN. Oth-
erwise, the vote will not count.
BLANKET CIRCULATION
An Estimated 13,000 People Will
Read This Publication, Based
On Circulation Figures.
The Rusk Cherokeean
TEXAS' OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, ESTABLISHED AS THE PIONEER JULY 5. 18¿7
SERVING THE GREATER RUSK TRADE AREA
VOLUME 111
RUSK, TEXAS
16 PAGES
OCTOBER 23, 1958
NUMBER 18
Rusk - - An Investment
In "Better Living
Three Score And Forty Club Has
Annual Meeting Here Thursday
RILEY MANESS is nervous
these days . . . what with the
•"waiting and anticipation" of hav-
ing an oil well drilled. It's located
on the Travis Peak Exploration,
about 2 miles northwest of here<
. . . John B. Stephens, Jr. of Mt.
Pleasant is in charge. It's to be
known as the No. 1 Riley Maness,
in the Albert Pratt survey, A-716
. . . and all Roundabout has to say
is "luck, boy!"
Box Supper With
Halloween Theme
Planned Oct. 29
An old-fashioned Box Supper
will highlight a family night Hal-
loween celebration for church
families of First Methodist, Wed-
nesday night, October 29th in Fel-
lowship Hall at 7 p.m.
The activity, sponsored by the
Commission on Missions, will fea-
ture booths and other entertain-
ment for the children, along with
a Country Store.
Each family is asked to bring
food, attractively packaged, for
the Box Supper. Proceeds derived
will be used for charity in the lo-
cal area at Christmas.
Co-chairmen are Webb Finley
and Dr. James Fisher.
"It is hoped that all our fami-
lies will plan now to attend this
activity together, and let us enjoy
an evening of wholesome fun,"
said the pastor, Rev. Elwood Bir-
kelbach.
Church Of Christ
Meeting To Run
Through Sunday
Services of the Church of Christ
meeting were continuing this
week, with Merle Bryant, Jackson-
ville Church of Christ, conducting.
The meeting started Sunday
evening and was to continue!
through Sunday, October 26.
Services are being held nightly
at 7.
Eight Countians
Request Absentee
Ballots In Week
Requests for eight absentee bal-
lots had been received by County
Clerk Elma Musick's office thro-
ugh Thursday. Absentee voting
will continue through October 31.
The rule covering absentee vot-
ing by mail was eased somewhat
prior to opening of absentee bal-
loting last Wednesday. As inter
rreted by the Attorney General's
office, the law enables any ouali
fied voter who will be out of tho
countv on election day to request
a ballot and return his vote by
.1 ;fc -1
' w
Mr. P. T. Butler, founder of the Three Score & Forty Club, here
greets one of its oldest members, Mr. H. W. Williamson of Rusk.
About 60 of the county's senior citizens, all members of the club,
met last Thursday in the annual session of the 12-year-old organiza-
tion. Together they represented more than 40 centuries of living.
Mr. W. H. Hanna of Rusk was elected president of the club for the
coming year.
Gala Halloween Celebration Set
For Rusk State Hospital Patients
Tax Statements
Go In Mail For
Record Valuation
Cherokee Countians this week
began receiving their annual state-
ments and still have another eight
days in which to get their three
per cent discounts.
Discounts of three per cent will
be given on taxes paid in Octo-
ber; two per cent in November;
and one per cent in December.
Mrs. Doyle Bagley, acting tax
assessor-collector said the state-
ments cover a county valuation o£
$30,287,752, nearly a $2 million
increase over the 1958 valuation.
All statements will be mailed
out by the end of the week, she
said. The poll tax for 1959 may
also be paid at the same time per-
sons are making their tax pay-
ments, Mrs. Bagley said.
County commissioners Monday
put their stamp of approval on
the tax rolls.
Eagles JDropped
By Center; Try
San Augustine
A fired-up squad of Rusk Ea-
gles staged their best performance
of the season last FYiday night,
but despite their obvious valor,
they dropped a crucial district
game to the talented Center
Roughriders.
The Eagles began the game with
an astonishing display of hard
nosed defensing. The leather pop-
ping immediately had its effect on
Roughrider squadmen and parti-
sans, who reportedly came to
Rusk looking for a somewhat eas-
ier contest.
However, a Center combination
of long passing and swift end
sweeps dipped into the Eagle end
zone twice to post finally a 15-0
score.
Coach Philbrick and Grimes
charges were at a peak for the im-
portant season opener. But the
1958 offensive weakness told re-
peatedly during the battle and on-
ly once was the visitors threaten-
ed.
It was early in the second quar-
ter before Center penetrated the
double stripe The (Utninuitive
Wigging, Roughrider left half whi*
had taken a mauling in the first
quarter sped around right end for
(Continued on Page 4>
The Rehabilitation Therapy De-
partment of Rusk State Hospital,
under the direction of Mrs. Essie
Madden, is planning a gala Hallo-
ween parade and carnival for the*
patients on Thursday, October 30.
King and Queen candidates from
each Ward have been chosen and
the crowning of the King and
Queen of the White and Colored
Patients will be done this week.
Thursday morning at 9:30 there
will be a parade through the Hos-
pital grounds, featuring floats,
bands, and groups of marching pa-
tients. Floats will be constructed
by various departments in the
Hospital and by the Patients and,
Nursing Service on the Wards.
The royal parties will ride on
special floats constructed by the
Rehabilitation Therapy Dept. High
School bands from throughout our
Hospital District have been invit-
ed to march in the Parade, and
several have indicated that they
Will participate, including both
the Rusk High School and the
George Bradford High School
JBands.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the
main auditorium, there will be an,
indoor carnival for all the pa-
tients, who will be divided into
three groups during the remain-
der of the day.
At 10:30, the colored patients
will be present, with their King
and Queen reigning over the fes-
tivities. At 1:00 p.m. one group o{
■white patients will be present, and
at 2:30 the last group will enjoy
the carnival. The King and Queen
of the white patients will reign
during the afternoon's activities.
Volunteers are working toward
getting masks, noisemakers, ma-
terials to decorate floats, game
prizes, and refreshments. The Food
Service Department of the Hospi-
tal will furnish punch and cook-
ies, and the Volunteers will con-
tribute hot dogs and apples.
If anyone has anything he
would like to contribute toward
making the carnival a success,
please contact Mrs. Thelma Jones
in the Volunteer Office at the Hos-
pital. "We are still in need of
flameproof black and orange
crepe paper, and game prizes,
such as 5c candy bars, tobacco,
gum, costume jewelry, men's
handkerchiefs, sox, cosmetics, and
similar items," Mrs. Jones said.
"The public is cordially invited
to attend the parade and carnival,
and we hope to see many of tho
townspeople out. especially to en
joy the parade." she said.
o
Constable is derived from l atin
words meaning "mastw uf t h e
horse."
Some 60 of Cherokee County's
senior citizens, representing over
40 centuries of living, got togeth-
er here last Thursday for their
once-a-year session of fellowship
and reminiscing.
The county's elders were all
members of the Three Score &
Forty Club — an organization
of golden agers who make up per-
haps the most exclusive club in
all East Texas.
Absent from the distinguished
assembly were youngsters under
three score years. But nobody ever
has too many years for member-
ship. The Club's name does not
imply that limitation, members
say. Anyone who goes over a hun-
dred will be the first member of
the group.
The 12-year-old organization be-
gan as a small, private party giv-
en by P. T. Butler of Rusk for a
group of friends. The get-togethers
became regular occurrences, un-
til finally the group founded the
Three Score & Forty Club, an in-
formal organization with a mem-
bership roll of some 120.
J. L. Bagley, secretary-treasurer,
sent out 126 invitations to persons
in the county for this year's an-
nual meeting in the National
Guard Armory in Rusk.
The Club is growing, not spec-
tacularly, he said, but steadily.
Attendance in the last few years
has been about 60-75.
The Rev. J. M. Schwitter deliv-
ered the address to the group
Thursday following the noon
meal. He gave the traditional me
morial, remembering those who
had passed away since the last
meeting.
In the business meeting which
followed, W. H. Hanna of Rusk
was elected new president of tho
Club; C. A. Portis is the new club
treasurer.
H. W. Williamson of Rusk and
K. M. Monkress of Rt. 1, Jackson-
ville, shared honors as dean of
Thursday's meeting. Both ar 87.
Next in age were W. P. Murray*
and J. C. Bass, both of Jackson-
ville, and A. M. Halbert, Rusk, all
84.
Brooks Johnson of Rusk was
said to be the youngster of t h e
group at 62.
Genuine enjoyment and an in-
describable atmosphere of mutual-
ity marked the pre-luncheon fel-
lowship session. The armory audi-
torium was astir with greetings
and with late arrivals circulating
through the group intent upon
making the most of this annual
day of re-acquaintance.
The real significance of the as-
sociation and of the organization
to a non-member is almost elusive.
But H. W. Williamson brought it
more into focus when the 88-year-
old Ruskite stated succinctly: "I
have only a handful of my young-
er-day friends left, and maybe I'll
see them here."
He is one of the age group that
can recall the colorful days that
saw the rise and fall of New Bir-
mingham and the time when Rusk
almost became a boom town.
There are not many people left
who can compare experiences with
them or who have an appreciation
for their recollections.
But this group is about 10 years
the senior of the average Three
Score & Forty member. Al-
though they covered nearly a 30-
year span, the average age repre-
sented Thursday was almost 77.
And even though its members
can look back on middle age. the
entire group is perhaps best de-
scribed as "youth emeritus". Its
membership comprises some of
the most active and prominent
personalities in the county, still
identified as leaders in their
fields, lay and professional.
And the Three Score & Forty
gatherings is where they meet the
people who saw them progress to
their stations and to their venerat-
ed positions in county life.
The members never think of it
this way, but more than 4,000
years of life, experience and wis-
dom assembled Thursday, has
ben decisive in county affairs and
will continue to be.
Cherokee County TB Association
Steps Up Testing Program In Area
Fourth Person
Given 6-Month
Jail Sentence
Following up sentencing of
three persons to six-month jail
terms last week in County Court
was a fourth this week who re-
ceived the same sentence for
theft.
Charles Douglas Odom pleaded
guilty to theft over $5 and under
$50 and was sentenced to the six
months in county jail. He was the
fourth in two weeks to receive a
six-month sentence.
Charged on the County criminal
docket was Raymond Mason,
charged with unlawful possession
of liquor for purpose of sale.
Two suits were filed in the ci-
vil docket: Gray Electric Com-
pany vs Robert E. Kirby, debt,
and J. C. Taever vs Theodore Jack-
son, damages.
District Court civil suits filed
were styled: T. B. Pearsall, et ux,
vs T. D. Jowell, cancellation of
lease and damages; Gertrude Her-
ring vs Raymond Herring, divorce;
Marvin Cox, Jr., vs Employers Mu-
tual Liability Insurance Company
of Wisconsin, compensation; Ray
Sherman, et al, vs Armco Steel
Corporation, damages.
Divorces granted named the fol-
lowing parties: Dora Peoples and
Audrey Peoples, Norma Lue Cole-
man Ford vs James Thomas Ford,
,Mae Retha (Adams) Thompson vs
Audley Thompson. One divorce
suit was dismissed from the dock-
et, along with three other suits.
The Court also entered a judge
ment for the plaintiff in a suit
styled Grady Wilson, et al, vs W.
B. Northeutt.
They are still setting the stage
for three score and forty years
of better living tor the itenera
lions to follow them
Rev. Webb Plans
Attendance Of
Convention 3-5
The Rev. Lonnie Webb, pastor
of the First Baptist Church, Rusk,
will be among the 5.500 persons
from virtually every town and city
in the state expected to attend the
73rd annual Baptist General Con
vention of Texas Nov. 3-5 in Sail
Antonio's Municipal Auditorium.
Experts in the fields of educa
tion and economics head a long
list of prominent speakers who
will appear before the messeneers,
representing more than 1,558,000
Texas Baptists.
The expected attendance figure
is lower than in any recent year.
For the first time the annual con
vention is being held at a differ-
ent time and place than the an-
nual state Baptist Brotherhood,
and Woman's Missionary Union
Conventions. Until this year, the
two auxiliary conventions have
been held as a prelude to the big
convention.
(Continued on Page 8)
Members of the Rusk Kiwanis Club last week received TB Skin-
Tests as part of an expanded county-wide screening program. The
number tested this year is now near 500 and is expected to increase
substantially in the remaining two months. The Rotary Club took
the test in the same week, and Thursday the Rusk Lions Club will
be tested. The schedule has set a number of other groups and or-
ganizations for testing. The screening program is a preface to a chest
x-ray program for those over fifty and for those who react to the
skin-tests.
Saturday's Flower Show Termed One
Of Best In Garden Clubs History
Miss Watson Is
New Maydelle HS
FFA Sweetheart
Marimaude Watson, Maydello
High School senior and daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Jake Watson of
Oakland, last week was named
FFA Sweetheart of the Maydelle
chapter.
She was elected in the chapter's
meeting last Wednesday.
Miss Watson will represent the
Maydelle chapter in the District
Sweetheart contest in Nacogdoch-
es soon, in which contestants
from 23 schools will compete.
The new Sweetheart, a popular
MHS student, is also active in
school sports.
Quarterback Club
To Award Prize
At Halftime Fri.
The Quarterback Club Friday
night will award the prize for its
1958 project — a complete fishing
rig, boat and motor — at the half-
time of the Rusk-San Augustinq
game.
The report was made to mem-
bers at the weekly Quarterback
Club meeting Tuesday night.
Members also heard coaches re-
port on last week's first District
game and saw a film of the con-
test. Coach Mack Philbrick said
the squad turned in a "pleasing"
performance and seemed to have
given 100 per cent effort in the
crucial battle.
They speculated little on t h e
Friday night game with San Au-
gustine. recent victor over Jusper.
The visitors will have a good team,
they said, but ttu\y did not give
them more than an even rank
with the Kagles.
Band Boosters
Membership Drive
Set For Oct. 27
Twenty t w o persons attended
Monday night's meeting of tho
Band Booster organization in the
Band Hall of Rusk High School.
Groundwork was laid for a mem-
bership drive to begin October
27th, continuing through Novem-
ber 3rd, according to president
Charley Christopher.
Membership fees will be $5.00
per family, and will entitle the
bearers to free admission to all
band concerts throughout the sch-
ool year. Car stickers will also be
issued designating membership in
the organization.
Band director Delayne Cassell
reported the most pressing needs
in band equipment are belts and
plumes for the hats, along with
music.
He also expressed regret thai
the Band is still performing with-
out benefit of hats. They were
sent for cleaning and refinishing
the early part of the summer,
with a promised delivery date of
September 1st, but as yet, they
have not been returned.
President Christopher urges all
band parents to be at the Band
Hall Monday night. October 27th
from 7 to 7:30 to begin the mem-
bership campaign They will be is-
sued working material for tho
drive at this time.
The next regularly scheduled
meeting is Noven her 3rd
Taking the spotlight in civic ev-
ents last week end was the Fall
Flower Show, "Autumn Glory"
sponsored by the Daffodil and
Rusk Garden Clubs. Mrs. W. E.
Gabbert served as general chair-
man.
Presented in Fellowship Hall of
the First Presbyterian Church,
the show drew good attendance,
and high praise from all the visi-
tors.
Quoting one of the nationally
accredited flower show judges
here for the occasion, "I have at-
tended, and judged shows in
towns of over 25,000 people. and¡
they didn't compare to this one
today."
She stated it was one of the
most colorful and beautifully dis-
played shows she has witnessed.
A group of six nationally ac-
credited judges were here for Sat-
urday's exhibition, 1 e d by Mrs.
Chilton Musslewhite of Lufkin.
Mrs. Musslewhite, formerly of
Rusk, commented that some five
years ago she assisted with judg-
ing Rusk's annual flower show,
adding, "I just can't conceive of
the improvement and advancement
made in the two Rusk Clubs since
that time."
Mrs. Gabbert reported her grat-
itude for the enthusiasm and ad-
miration shown by the visitors,
and expressed sincere apprecia-
tion to the members of both Clubs
"whose participation and coopera
tion made it possible to stage such
a successful show."
In selecting the various exhib-
(Continued on Page 4)
Wolf Trapper
Is Assigned To
Cherokee County
John C. Estes, wolf trapper,
will be in Cherokee County by No-
vember 1 to begin a trapping pro-
gram in wolf-infested areas of the
county, Steve Lilly, county agent,
said Wednesday.
Lilly received, a letter Wednes-
day saying Estes is being trans-
ferred from Hood county
Assignment of a trapper had
been held up because outbreaks
of wolf attacks in other parts of
the state had left none available
for work here.
Application for a wolf trapper's
services was made by the county
after reports from many farmer*
that the animals were attacking
their livestock and |K>ultr>
In the face of a mounting tu-
berculosis problem in Cherokee
County, the county Tuberculosis
Association this week revealed in
detail its expanded testing pro-
gram as a method of screening
persons for later chest x-rays.
With the testing of Lions Club
members this Thursday, the hard-
working Cherokee County Tuber-
culosis Association skin testing
team will have administered the
TB skin tests to all Rusk service
clubs this year, as well as all of
the county's organized communi-
ties.
The small unit, working night
and day, is faced with an enor-
mous battle against a dread dis-
ease and one which the local prev-
alency thus far has proven to hq
three times the average. And they
state sadly that there are 80
known cases of TB in the county,
with only 10 being treated in hos-
pitals.
The Association has tested !25
persons this year. Fifteen have
been positive reactors, that is,
they have TB germs in their bo-
dies but do not necessarily have
tuberculosis.
Confirmation of these reactors
await chest x-rays.
The mass skin-testing program
is simply a screening program,
growing out of a County Associa-
tion request for the free chest x-
ray. When a sufficient number o£
persons in the county have been*
screened (a number which will
not be determined locally), then
the x-ray service will be offered
—to the reactors to the skin test
and to all persons over fifty.
The Association made the re-
quest to the State Department ofj
Health early in 1958. A represent-
ative from the Department then
recommended the skin test screen-
ing program.
Officers of the Association then
moved to comply with the recom--
mendation and began skin-testing
in organized groups on a volun-
tary basis, beginning with the col-
leges in Jacksonville in May.
Since tuberculosis is definitely
on the increase in the county all
groups have readily cooperated in
the program and many individ-
uals have asked where they may
receive the test, stated Mrs. C. J.
Harkins, executive secretary oí
the Association.
The program is carried on with
the aid of volunteer nurses and
doctors. Serum is free from the
State. The sole source of income
of the Association is from the
sale of Christmas Seals.
To date all the Rural Organized
Communities have been tested
with the exception of a portion of
the Reklaw test. Lions Thursday
will complete all Rusk service
club testing. The National Guard
of Rusk is scheduled for testing!
on November 10, along with the
Kiwanis Club of Jacksonville.
Home Demonstration Clubs, par-
ent-teacher associations and Sun-
day school classes are also in for
the tests.
And soon after January 1,
school children in the county will
begin receiving the tests. They
have been given in the county's
schools regularly for the past five
years.
Mrs. Harkins said 15 positive
reactors to the tests have been
found this year, out of 425 per-
sons tested. This is considerably
above the average, she said, which
is about one per cent.
But to clarify misunderstanding
on the tests, the following state-
ment was issued by Dr. F. H. Brig-
ham, member of the Medical Ad-
visory Board of the TB Associa-
tion:
"Positive reaction to a tubercu-
lin test does not necessarily mean
that the tested indvidual has tu-
berculosis, but only that at some
time in his life he has come in
close contact with tuberculosis
bacteria, and that those germs
have entered his body, whether or
no', they have caused disease."
The statement was prompted
Monday after misunderstanding of
terms arose in connection w i t K
the skm test currently being giv-
en to food handlers.
(Continued on Page A)
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Whitehead, E. H. The Rusk Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 23, 1958, newspaper, October 23, 1958; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth150258/m1/1/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.