The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 137, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 20, 1986 Page: 1 of 16
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Micm?!^* , INC
p. 0. BOX '¿5436
DALLAS, TX. 75^45
'Big Time in Texas'
See story page 4
Small Horses Win Big
See story page 11
25
Per Issue
The Cherokeean
Grades Are Good!
See RHS Honor Rolls page 8
Home of the
Texas State
Railroad
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper—Established As The Cherokee Sentinel, February 27, 1850
Vol. 137, No. 2
Thursday, February 20,1986 — Rusk, Texas 75785
12 Pages
Financing of Jail Discussed
By Commissioners Court, Industrial Banking Rep
New Signs Ready
Margaret Perkins, chairman of the Rusk Chamber Tourism Division and Adon Duncan, project chairman,
display new signs made at Rusk State Hospital for the lassie Belle Furnace area. Archie Sickle and Steve
Wimer were responsible for getting the signs made. Materials were provided by the tourism committee and
the Rusk chamber. -staff photo
Mike Byrd. East Texas represen-
tative for the First Southwest Com-
pany of Longview, discussed cer-
tificates of obligation and issuing of
bonds with Cherokee County Com-
missioners Monday.
Byrd explained his company is
what is known as an industrial
banking firm. There aren't deposits
and loans, but Southwest assists
states and subdivisions in packaging
bond programs. The company is a
privately owned Texas corporation
that was organized in 1946. There
are six offices. The company repor-
ted $5.75 billion in financing last
year. Most of that was in Texas.
The construction of a new jail can
be financed through general
obligation bonds, certificates of
obligation or the county can choose
to lease the facility, as another firm
has discussed with the court, he
said.
Both the general obligation bonds
and certificates of obligation are
either tax backed or backed by
revenue, according to Byrd. The
general obligation route is the
regular bond issue and is a voted
obligation of the county. With cer-
tificates of obligation, the court
would not call an election The
county would start out with
publishing a notice of its intentions
two times. The legal notice would
show the date, time, place and
amount of fund to be authorized for
the jail construction. Citizens would
then have an opportunity to come
forward with a petition containing
at least 5 percent of the voters to
block the issuance of the cer-
tificates, he said. The petition
would force a bond election. If there
is no petition, the court is free to
authorize the certificate issuance.
Byrd said he would work with a
bond attorney in planning the jail
financing. There are three bond at-
torneys in Dallas and four in
Houston. All are good and Byrd said
he would work with any law firm
the county chooses. "I'm just like a
hired hand, I will be here all
through this thing. You are the
boss." The certificates of
obligations or bonds will be sold at a
fixed rate, he said. The bond condi-
tion at present is better than it has
New Signs Ready for Historic Sites in Area
New signs for the Tassie Belle
Furnace and historical sites were
displayed Thursday afternoon at a
meeting of the Rusk Chamber of
Commerce Tourism Division The
signs were made at Rusk State
Hospital under the direction of
Steve Wimer and Archie Nickle
They are Marine Plyboard with a
redwood stain The letters are pain-
ted with white enamel The cham
ber paid for the supplies
'Round Town
\
With M r;>. Roundabout
V
*
.A
The age-old question is, "Have we
left the world a better place than we
found it? Nobody asks if we had a
good time here, or did we enjoy our
stay. "Have we left a place better
because we came." Thai's the
rhetorical quéstions
Maybe it has to do with how man*
bridges we built, or how many
buildings we constructed, or how
many planes we flew. But, can it
mean, how many lives did we
touch? How many friends did we
make, bring a smile to a face?
The value of a person's worth on
the planet Earth is inevitably left to
the reflection of those who live on
and sometimes the historians Tur-
ning to the historical side of things
this week, it is with pride that we
remind you that this publication has
a continuous business genealogy of
136 years!
The Cherokeean dates to Feb. 27,
1850 ... Just 14 years short of the
date Texas is observing as its I50th
birthday! Having researched its
historical past and its publishers,
this community has been served by
some mighty fine folks! In my
humble opinion!
In the doing of this for a master's
degree thesis back when, it
necessarily had to be documented
in a scholarly fashion! (And to tell
you the truth, since that was ac-
complished, I have tried to put the
"scholarly" business behind me
and just enjoy the pure joy of
history for itself!)
Some of the editors and
publishers really caught my fancy.
You could tell by their editions that
moat of these people were really in
to what they were doing. They loted
II. They .promoted the local area.
And the county. And the state.
Without embarrassment, a few of
these wore John Henjamln l ong
•Ml Wallace Kills. Mr. l ong has
heat of descending kinfolk* still
hare ... not to mention members of
pfcMter families who remember
Mm by reputation b> name, l uville
Heard and her kinspeople are
among his descendants, also
Charles Long and his family, and
Mayor James l^ongand his.
Mr Ellis was not a native, as was
Mr Long, but he plowed new
ground in journalism which may
remain to be matched. He served
not only as this publication's
publisher, but he also gave leader-
ship in the Texas Legislature
Another was Elton B. Miller who,
bless his heart, is still among the
active, writing journalists. From
time to time we hear from him with
reminiscent articles which we
always try to fit into the news
space. He is a RFA1. historian. You
would just have to read the issues
during his three year ownership to
appreciate how much he ap-
preciated the history of this great
community and county. He too. has
descendants with us today. Ken
Miller, new owner of Sears, and his
dad. Paul MiUer. are his cousins.
Many wonderful people have
touched the lives of all citizens with
this newspaper during the passage
of time. Obviously they gave it the
best they had, just as we continue to
do this very day. It surely is our
special privilege to be a part of
YOUR newspaper and to accept the
attending responsibilities which
this entails.
Have we left the world a better
place because we came? Leave that
for future judgement. I can truth-
fully say we are lucky to like what
we do, enjoy serving you. There is
no greater blessing. And 136 years
from now, I hope that whoever is at
the helm of The Cherokeean's ship
just may research thr records and
find that some of us really loved
what we were doing ... and wish
that they, too, will be so lucky.
Finding that historical thread in
life is like a lifeline It connect* the
|iast with the present and
provides promise for the future
l iitlhievl week" >mw
Adon Duncan with the aid of
students from the agriculture
department at Rusk High School
have cleaned up the park area
right-of-way. The committee
authorized the purchase of posts to
get the signs up.
Plans are progressing for the
summer class reunions, according
to Tommie Franks, chairman of
that committee The reunions will
begin in June and continue for nine
weeks She said there will be a
general assembly around 2 p.m for
all classes having reunions each
weekend
Charles Hassell discussed the
trail ride being held in the area this
spring in connection with the Texas
Sesquieentennial Riders will be in
Rusk Memorial Day night (Mon-
day, May 26). Hassell says they will
arrive here around 2 or 3 p.m. and
will leave on May 27 Dr Kyser of
Longview is coordinating the ride
and says there will be ap-
proximately 100 riders with 10
wagons We will have a parade in
Rusk after they get here," he said.
Members were encouraged to at-
tend the East Texas Chamber
Tourism Conference and
professional development seminar
March 12-13 at Longview
Charles Maple, assistant superin-
tendent of the Texas State Railroad,
presented an update on the railroad
spring opening date on March 22.
Press Day and FAM tour rides are
set for March 22.
A group from the tourism com-
mittee recently visited Chalybeate
Springs, a part of the old New Bir-
mingham. according to chairman
Margaret Perkins. She said due to
the location of the springs, it would
be difficult to get tour buses out
there "However, we found a bath
house and springs, it was just
great," she said
Helen Cromwell, who has moved
to Rusk from the Washington, D. C.
area said she was amazed with the
historical sites in the Rusk area
"The things I have seen here are
as good as anything that we paid $25
to $30 to see in Washington,'' she
said.
A discussion of the old brick fac-
tory and the foundry were conduc-
ted during the meeting. Paul Cox
reported that a small lake is located
past the foundry. He said if the
foundry was cleaned up and the
area cleared to the lake, an ideal
stop for visitors touring area his-
torical sites could be developed.
Members discussed the opening
of the old church at the Rusk State
Park, was held in connection with
the FAM visit in early March. Also
discussed at the meeting was the
committee's attire-of denim shir-
ts and jeans. Members were en-
couraged to get shirt patches if they
did not have them Brochures were
distributed to be taken to Rusk
businesses. If anyone is missed
Mrs. Perkins asked that they con-
tact the Chamber office.
Attending the meeting were Mrs.
Perkins, Mrs. Cromwell, Flossie
Nixson, Paul and Del Cox, Eleanor
Gabbert, Hassell, Beth Banks,
Lester Hughes, Mrs. Franks,
Virginia Penney, Duncan, Maple,
Sue Zane Robinson, Stephanie
Caveness and Gloria Jennings.
been in years, according to Byrd.
During the Monday meeting, the
Commissioners approved bids for
road materials from Treadwell Oil
Co., Exxon. Leo Hicks. Bryan and
Bryan, Texas Steel Culverts and
Lauder and Lauder.
A bid from Kenneth Dixon to pur-
chase a county owned portable
building for $176.50 was accepted.
The court on a vote of 3 to 2 ap-
proved the relocation of the
Jacksonville Department of Public
Safety office. The State Trooper of-
fice will be moved from the Justice
of the Peace. Precinct 4 office on
North Bolton to a site on East Rusk
Street. Rent for the new offices will
be $185 per month. The motion to
approve the relocation of the
Jacksonville trooper office was
made by Joe Anderson, Precinct 3,
and seconded by Robert Under-
wood, Precinct 1. Judge Robert
McNatt cast the other vote in favor.
Voting against the motion were
Commissioners Toby Sartain,
Precinct 2, and Frank Ross.
Precinct 4. Ross said he wanted to
consider a request from Bobby
Caveness. JP. Precinct 4, to move
his office to New Summerfield at
the same time that the trooper
request was considered. However,
Caveness' request was not on the
agenda. The troopers have been
sharing an office with Caveness and
the Probation Department at the
site adjacent to the laundramat.
In another matter, the court ap-
proved payment of mileage for em-
ployees of the custodial depar-
tment to clean the Jacksonville tax
office.
Expenses for Diann Norton, coun-
ty treasurer to attend a seminar at
Nacogdoches was approved.
Local Candidates File
For Places on City, School Election Ballots
Several candidates have asked
for election to three city council
seats and three places on the Rusk
ISD board of trustees.
Deadline for filing for the city
election is Feb 19 and candidates
for the school board have until 5
p.m. on March 5 to ask for a place
on the ballot.
Council incumbents, Charles
Hassell, District 4. and Mike
Crysup, District 5, are unopposed in
their bids for re-election.
District 3 Incumbent Edd Stover
is not seeking re-election. Seeking
his seat on the council are Gloria
Guinn Jennings, Wilson Lilley and
Mack Henderson.
Terms of School Board President
James Campbell, Billy Joyce and
Forest Dyess expire with this elec-
tion. Campbell has filed for re-
election and Joyce was to file Wed-
nesday for re-election to the board.
Other candidates for the at large
positions are Bill Middleton Jr.,
Ken Smith and Candis Blankinship.
Kiwanis Auction Slated
Proceeds Will Aid Youngsters' Health Needs
Local Kiwanians are busy
making plans for their first club
auction, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 8 at the armory-
building on Euclid Street.
The club will ask local merchants
and citizens for donations of items
to be auctioned off and items to be
sold on a consignment basis. They
say they will auction off merchan-
dise for a 30 percent fee.
Roland McArthur says, "We are
asking residents to donate now. buy
later '
In addition to the auction, snacks
and the famous Kiwanis ham-
burgers will be sold.
Proceeds will go toward dental,
eye and other health care for area
youngsters as well as special aid to
the physically handicapped
children.
Two Are Finalists
In National Merit Scholarship Program
Merit Scholarship Finalists
Finalists for the National Merit Scholarship program from Husk In
im are Sethurama Srinlvasan Jr. and Lisa Welch. They were selec-
ted with some l&.ouo high school scholars. From this group, some
y moo scholarships w III be awarded later this spring. -staff photo
Two Rusk High School students
have qualified as finalists in the
1966 competition for the National
Merit Scholarship program
Sethurama Srinivasan Jr. and Lisa
Welch have been presented with
Certificates of Meritt and letters
from Rusk High School Principal
Dean Evans
Srinivasan and Miss Welch were
selected from approximately 18,000
semi-finalists in the United States
The selection of some 5,800 Merit
Scholars from among the finalists is
now in progress
During the months of March and
April, Merit Scholarship offers will
be mailed to winners, whose prin-
cipals also will be notified confiden-
tially Names will be released in
April and early May to the media
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The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 137, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 20, 1986, newspaper, February 20, 1986; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151736/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.