Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 28, 1989 Page: 1 of 14

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Established Feb. 27, 1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel ~ Texas' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper
Historical Caddoan
Indian Mounds
Vol. 141, No. 47 - 10 Pages
Thursday, December 28, 1989
Rusk, Texas 75785 25 cents
County is positioned for prosperity in 1990s
By GLORIA JENNINGS
Cherokee County residents are
optimistic about their world as they
look forward to the new year and
the beginning of the final decade of
the 20th century.
Plans were made late in the year
for the Jan. 18 Rusk Chamber of
Commerce banquet themed "Wel-
come to the Future."
Community leaders speculate
that the future is bright for the
county community of some 40,000
plus folks.
A depressed economy closed out
the 80s, in Texas, as well as Chero-
kee County. However, the opening
of a new $2.7 million county jail and
the near completion of a $7 million
plus new wing forthe Texas Depart-
ment of Corrections Skyview Unit
at Rusk added funds to the local
economy. When completed the new
TDC wing will bring the total cen-
sus of the prison psychiatric unit to
525 patients and provide some 625
jobs for the Rusk-Cherokee County
economy. Rusk State Hospital con-
tinues to be the mqjor employer for
the county.
Heavy spring rains closed opera-
tions for the Texas State Railroad
out of the Rusk depot. This cut the
flow of outside funds into the com-
munity. Reconstruction of bridges
and tracks are completed and the
railroad will open in the early spring
for a regular season.
The county was declared a disas-
ter area and federal funds were
Becured to assist farmers, ranchers
and business people with restora-
tion after two separate springfloods.
Early in 1989, Wells citizens heard
Dr. Fredrick Williams, director of
the Center for Research on commu-
nication Technology and Society at
the University of Texas at Austin
speak on developing the
community's strengths and identi-
fying it* weaknesses to encourage
development in the area.
The Cherokeean of Rusk and the
Alto Herald were combined to form
the Cherokeean/Herald, a publica-
tion for the Cherokee County com-
munity. News is recortad and wel-
comed from citizens at Rusk, Alto,
Wells, Maydelle, Gallatin, Reklaw,
Ponta and other county communi-
ties.
Another consolidation came in
late summer with the annexation of
the Cherokee County portion of the
Maydelle ISD to the Rusk School
District. The Anderson County por-
tion of the Maydelle district went to
Slocum. State Educational Agency
personnel met with members of the
Maydelle board from early in Janu-
ary to mid-summer in efforts to help
bring about the change. The
Maydelle ISD line had extended to
almost the Rusk City Limits. For-
mer Maydelle students have become
involved in various school sports
and academic activities.
Forty anniversary festivities were
held at the Cherokee Medical Cen-
ter. Special emphasis was placed on
the hospital's history, early patients
and medical personnel.
From this publication's files, a
month by month summary of the
news for '89 is reported in the fol-
lowing chronological order.
January
Cherokee County officials, who
had repeated the oath of office on
Friday, Dec. 29, 1988, in the Dis-
trict Courtroom, actually began
their four year terms on Jan. 1.
Sheriff Jimmy Dickson and his
staff were busy throughout the New
Year weekend patrolling the county.
Two new commissioners, Bob
Gregg, Precinct l.andF. E. Hassell,
Precinct 3, were welcomed by hold-
over County Judge Emmett
Whitehead and Commissioners
Alton Hicks, Precinct 2, and Billy
McCutcheon, Precinct 4 at the Jan.
3 meeting of the Commissioners
Court.
A Boston investment firm pur-
chased the Beall's Department Store
chain. The chain, along with Palais
Royal of Houston were acquired
Dec. 29, 1988, by Bain Capital of
Boston. The company obtained 15
companies that operate in a variety
of retail and manufacturing busi-
nesses and had a combined sales of
more than $2 billion. The sale was
announced early in the year, but
terms of the sale were not disclosed.
L*
X
IT WAS A HARD DAY'S WORK (or should we say night's). Santa Claus didn't make It back to
the North Pole, Monday morning, before he found a Rusk park bench and stopped off for
a few aulck winks. The Jolly O' Gent was unaware of the camera as he dreamed of kids,
sugar plums and a job well done. The nap was quick and within a flash he was aboard his
sled and on his way home. As he flew out of sight, he was heard to exclaim a Meny Christmas
to each and to all a good day. staff photo
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ICED IN, WISHING AND HOPING...Jo Jo Bice looks wistfully out the window hoping for a rise
in temperature on a zero-degree Christmas Eve. Many areas of the state reported record
lows over the holiday weekend, based on statistics available since the late 1800s. Cherokee
County was no exception to the dramatic plunge In temperatures, with a low of zero
reached during pre-dawn hours Saturday. Fortunately, the Artie Cold was dry throughout
most of the state, accompanied by virtually no precipitation. Jo Jo, the son of Perry and Alice
Bice, enjoyed with all citizens a more balmy Christmas Day Monday when the temp reached
the mid-60s. -staff photo
Banquet speaker is journalist
George S. Smith, journalist and
founder of the Marshall Fire Ant
festival will be featured speaker for
the 49th annual Rusk Chamber of
Commerce banquet at 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 18, 1990, at the Rusk Junior
High School cafeteria.
Theme for the event is "Welcome
to the Future." Smith will share
with banquet attenders his exper-
tise in promoting a community.
The Marshall Fire Ant Festival
was founded in 1983. It now at-
tracts more than 60,000 people an-
nually to Marshall, a community of
24,000.
Smith was chairman of the festi-
val for two yekrs and has served on
the executive board for six. He has
been in charge of publicity since
inception of the festival and has
generated national sponsors and
publicity. The national sponsors
spend more than $30,000 annually
with the festival and on special
projects, the total has exceeded
$100,000.
Smith iai
ingthecit
which annual!
u.
ilKlw2S£ffuSÍ
nnually attracts morothan
500,000 to Marshall. He served as
chairman the first year, co-chair-
man the second year and one of the
three co-chairmen in the third year.
Grimes home
destroyed
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Den-
nis Grimes at Gallatin was com-
pletely destroyed by a fire around
1:30 a.m. Dec. 19.
Mrs. Grimes says everyone has
been so kind in helping the young
people get back on their feet She
and their 2 1/2 year old son have
been given enough clothing to get
by. However,clothingisstill needed
for Grimes. He wears a waist siie 29
and pant length of 36 inches. His
shirt siae is medium.
Also, they still have no forni-
turas, cooking utensils and dishes,
and linens.
Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are cur-
rently staying with his parents and
can be reached at 214-683-6643
He has been in charge of all promo-
tions, including synergistic efforts
with other Christmas festivals
(common brochures, joint media
promotions, etc.), publicity (already
committed in Texas Highways,
Texas Monthly, ABC News, CNN
and PBS) and in recruiting volun-
teers.
He has also headed up the city's
efforts for development of a mural
on the History of Harrison County,
started the "Marshall Welcomes You
to Texas day" each Memorial Day
weekend at the Waskom Tourist
Alto fish fry slated
The Alto Lions Club will hold a
fish fiy from 5p.m. until 8 p.m. Fri-
day, Jan. 5. Price will be $6 for "all
you can eat"
Alto offices close
The City of Alto business office
will be closed New Years Day, Jan.
1. City garbage pick up will be Tues-
day and Friday •• usual.
Aerobics began at the Rusk Civic
Center in January. Shonda McKin-
ney, instructor, still continues with
the sessions, which are free and are
sponsored by the Cherokee Medi-
cal Center.
Auditions for "The Moon Is Blue"
began on Saturday, Jan. 6. The show,
directed by Sara Fairbanks was
presented in late February.
"Cuz" Tom Graham was featured
comedian for the annual Rusk
Chamber of Commerce banquet on
Jan. 19. Citizen of the Year Award
went to Jack White, Cherokee
County Extension Agent.
Wells Elementary School was one
of the schools cited by the State
Board of Education and the Texas
Education Agency for improved
student performance in the board's
academic recognition program. The
school was recognized because 30
percent more students mastered the
TEAMS test than the percentage
reported for the previous year. The
Wells School board finalized its
plans for additions to the Wells High
School building. The plans included
addition of a science lab, ag building
and offices and renovation of the
restrooms in the rock building.
Mary Clem Williams, Alto City
Administrator, announced her re-
tirement at the January meeting of
the Alto City Council. Her retire-
ment was effective Jan. 31.
Jack White and Frank Davis were
named Rusk Firemen of the Year
award recipients at the annual Rusk
Volunteer Fire Department Ban-
quet, Jan. 9.
Ruben D. Olivarez, assistant
commissioner for Accreditation met
with the Maydelle ISD board to ha nd
deliver a letter from William Kirby,
commission of the Texas Education
Agency. Ben Brandenburg was in-
troduced as TEA monitor for the
district. The meeting followed an
accreditation visit to the school on
Oct. 3,1988. The district's deficien-
cies had been delivered to board
members duringthe Christmas hob-
days.
Noel Bradford and James Deal of
Alto were among the Texas A&M
students, who as members of the
Corps and Ross Volunteers partici-
pated in the inauguration of Presi-
dent George Bush.
The Rusk City Council approved
the appointmentofSherry Holcomb
as City Secretary at the Jan. 17
council meeting. Mrs. Holcomb
replaces Dolores Bongard, who re-
signed to accept a position with the
Texas Department of Corrections.
At the same meeting, the council
approved the purchase of a new
computer system for the city at a
cost of $25,094.
Sandra Brum ley was employed
as City Secretary at a special ses-
sion of the Alto City Council on Jan.
26. The Bolac System for the Alto
Wastewater Plant was approved by
the council at a proposed cost of
$242,000. The System installation
is the first step in getting the waste-
water treatment system into com-
pliance with state regulations.
February
Members and gueBts at a Febru-
ary dinner meeting of the Wells
Chamber of Commerce were encour-
aged to develop a comprehensive
economic development plan identi-
fying strengths and weaknesses to
encourage development in the area.
Dr. Fredrick Williams, director of
the Center for Research on Commu-
nication Technology and Society at
the University of Texas at Austin
was guest speaker.
Lamar University's Bryan
Campbell was named to the 1988
GTE Academic All-American Uni-
versity Division team as the second
team punter.
Travel and other activities were
at a standstill due to an ice storm
that plaqued the trea from Friday,
Feb. 3 through the early part of the
next week. The temperature
dropped to a low of 9 degrees on
that Sunday, which was combined
•See PROSPEROUS 90 , p. 2
Cinderella auditions set
Cherokee Civic Theatre has scheduled auditions for its children's
musical "Cinderella." Auditions will be held early in January at the
Cherokee Theatre at Rusk.
High school and junior high students interested in speaking roles
with auditions at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, 1990. Chorus/dancers
will audition at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6,1990. Students of all grade
levels will be used in the production.
"Cinderella" will be presented Feb. 23,24 and 25,1990. Marcelette
Broussard, director, will be assisted by Gloria Dotson, music director,
and Jill Swink, choreographer.
Bureau, which city volunteers greet
more than 1,400 visitors and serves
as step-on guide for FAM tours and
special bus tour groups.
Currently Smith serves as presi-
dent and publisher of the Marshall
News Messenger, Hallsville Herald
and Jefferson Jimplecute.
He is a graduate of East Texas
State University and has taught at
Ouachita Baptist University, Ar-
kansas State University, Prairie
County Community College and
Suttgart High School, as well as
being employed in the print media
since 1972.
He has won numerous awards for
writing, layout and design and
photography. He was named
Marshall's Citiien of the Year in
1986; has been active in the Lions
Club and is a frequent speaker for
banquets, colleges, press associa-
tion meeting, as well as being an
active member of Marshall ciric
organisations.
RLDS *
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St
ANTHONY MUNSINGER, 7,andhlscousln.Crystal.8.proucfy
display the Christmas stocking that he won Dec. 16. He
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Munslnger and she Is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Munslnger. A Christmas
stocMng was awarded each Saturday In December to
an area youngster. staff photo
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