Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 145, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 13, 1994 Page: 1 of 16
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Jim Hogg State Historical Park
L'O:
Alto:
Home of the
Caddoan Mounds
State Historic Site
Texas' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper — Established Feb. 27,1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel
Rusk:
Home of the
Texas State Railroad
State Historical Park
Vol. 145, No. 50 - 10 Patees
Thursday, January 13, 1994
Rusk, Texas 75785 25 cents
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GMM002I34-TX
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW 1,000 bed prison unit Is underway on land adjacent to the
8kyv. lew Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Among the key personnel who
ar«leading the early-on work are the men shown above. From left, front, they are Bruce
,%ollmorgen, mechanical Inspector; Bill Bond, senior Inspector; Charles Schulz, project
manager for TDCJ; Dennis Grones, project manager for Bill Harbert Construction Co.;
David Turner, architect for PGA&L; back row, same order Karl Moser, project engineer;
Art Chlaverlnl, project superintendent; James Lacy, assistant project superintendent
and Jack Snyder, quality control manager. Not pictured Is Robert Phillips, field
superintendent for Cluff Construction Company of Houston, the firm In charge of
excavation and site preparation, which Is now underway.
•staff photo
At 53rd annual Rusk Chamber Banquet
State Comptroller John Sharp
will speak, Citizen of Year named
State Comptroller John Sharp will
speak, a Citizen of the Year will be
named and new chamber officers
installed at the 53rd Annual Rusk
Chamber of Commerce Banquet at
6:30 p.m. Thursday. Last year's
Citizen of the Year Ruth Ross will
make the announcement for the
honoree named for 1993.
Former Citizens of the Year are
Raymond Cooper in 1966; the Rev.
Dr. Jewel McClure in 1967; Ralph
Travis in 1968; Dr. W. E. Gabbert in
1969; Johnnie McKay, 1970; Gene
Meyers, 1971; Mary Buchanan,
1973; Joe Terrell, 1974; E. H. and
Marie Whitehead, 1975; Frank and
Sarah Summers, 1976; George
Dodd, 1977; Joe Ray Ocker, 1978;
Zula Pearson, 1979; Will Cumbee,
1981; Tony Murray, 1982; Charles
and Flossie Nixson, 1983; Virginia
Penney, 1984; Charles Hassell,
1985; Glenn Miller, 1986; Stephanie
Caveness, 1987; Jack White, 1988;
Jerry and Anita Ocker, 1989; Mike
Crysup, 1990; Paul and Del Cox,
1991; and Mrs. Ross in 1992.
In 1990, the guest speaker, Mr.
Sharp was elected to his current job
as State Comptroller. He is recog-
nized throughout the country for
his policies on the management of
the state's fiscal resources. Immedi-
ately after taking office, Sharp mo-
bilized the massive Texas Perfor-
mance Review, a historic audit of
state government that found more
than $4 billion in immediate sav-
ings and some $12 billion in savings
for taxpayers through 1997. In early
1993, he presented the legislature
with an additional $4.5 billion in
proposed savings.
His office has received dozens of
awards for innovation and effi-
ciency, and is nationally recognized
for its efforts to reinvent govern-
ment. He recently served as special
advisor to the President of the
United States in an audit of the
federal government patterned af-
ter his own Texas Performance Re-
view.
Sharp is currently directing work
on the Forces of Change, a sweeping
study of the economic, demographic,
environmental, criminal justice and
other mqjor issues likely to bhape
Texas over the coming generation.
Sharp's Texas School Perfor-
mance Review is an ongoing pro-
gram to use public education funds
as efficiently as possible in the class-
room, rather than on unnecessary
administrative costs. And Project
Fair Play, the most extensive tax
collection program ever undertaken
in Texas, netted more than $103
million in back taxes and interest
for the state.
It was a John Sharp report that
cited Cherokee County as one of the
top 15 rural counties in Texas in
economic growth for the period be-
tween 1985 and 1990. Sharp has
recently recommended the initia-
tion of entrepreneurial programs
in the management of Texas State
Parks. With four state parks in
Cherokee County, these recommen-
dations could have tremendous lo-
cal impact.
Rusk Chamber President, Wayne
Pianta, stated that, "In extending
the invitation to John Sharp to be
our banquet speaker, I asked that
he share his projections for our
economic future and update us on
his plans for management of the
state's fiscal resources.
"I pointed out that we have four
state parks in Cherokee County
and benefit tremendously from the
economic impact of the Texas De-
partment of Criminal Justice and
Rusk State Hospital facilities lo-
cated here. As a potential candi-
date for governor in the coming
years, we in Cherokee County need
to get to know Mr. Sharp and learn
more about his visions for our eco-
nomic future.
" I would encourage everyone in-
terested in the future of Cherokee
County to feel welcome at our An-
nual Banquet whether they are a
member of the Rusk Chamber of
Commerce or not."
The meal will be catered by the
Courthouse Cafeteria and tickets
for the banquet can be obtained by
calling the Rusk Chamber of Com-
merce at 903-683-4242.
COORDINATING PLANS for the Rusk Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday night are
Nell McNatt, Carol Stovall and Wayne Planta, from left. Theme for the annual membership
meeting/banquet Is "Rusk: From Landmark* of the Put to Vision* for the Future." The
banquet is to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Rusk Junior High Cafetorlum.
-staff photo
Introducing a new fcature...please see pg. 8
'Hometown Happenings' by Wendy Collins
MH/MR Chairman visits
Joins State Senator, State Rep., Treasurer
Chairman of Texas Mental
Health, Mental Retardation Board
Ann Utley and State Treasurer
Martha Whitehead visited Rusk
State Hospital Monday. Their stop
followed a luncheon in Jacksonville.
Chairman Utley's comments un-
derscored a positive attitude toward
the continued service of Rusk State
Hospital, Lufkin State School and
community center service.
Toward Buz Parrish, superinten-
dent, she directed several com-
ments. "I have known and worked
with Buz some 12 years now. It is bo
furtunate out system has him. It is
so fortunate for Rusk State Hospi-
tal to have him. You (Buz) have set
some impeccable standards and
should pat yourself on the back at
night. I bring you this message from
the board and department that we
are impressed with the service you
render to the East Texas area."
She was high in her praise for the
three elected officials at the meet-
ing-Sen. Bill Haley, Rep. Elton
Bomer and Treasurer Whitehead--
Planning development
begins for RSH building
Preliminary plans for a new
multi-purpose building at Rusk
State Hospital were revealed by
RSH Supt. Harold R. (Buz) Parrish
Monday afternoon.
The Superintendent stated that
he is working with key people in
MH/MR's Centra] Office in Austin
on plans for design and function of
the new facility.
Parrish declined to give a cost
estimate of the proposed new build-
ing, and warned that the project is
in the conception stage.
"We (Sen. Bill Haley and Rep.
Elton Bomer) have been discussing
the possibility of funding this build-
ing for a number of months. Our
people can be assured that we will
do all within our power to make
funds available for the project,"
commented Rep. Bomer.
Legislative Budget Board hear-
ings will begin this year and the
proposed building will be brought
before the board.
Rep. Bomer pointed out that em-'
ployees of Rusk State Hospital have
an outstanding reputation for ser-
vice and this reconl will help them
in their efforts to fund the project.
Parrish also commented that the
State is close to awarding a $2
million contract to renovate the
geriatric building.
for the interest and support that
their presence reflected.
The meeting was held in the
chapel at RSH. Superintendent
Parrish opened the program with
jovial humor of good wishes to
everyyone for a happy new year. He
thanked the employees for their high
quality of work and dedication.
He introduced Jim Perkins, mas-
ter of ceremonies, who evoked stand-
ing ovations twice for the remark-
able presentation of Sen. Haley and
Rep. Bomer.
Perkins introduced Treasurer
Whitehead who added her com-
ments of praise for the work being
done in this area on behalf of MHMR.
In her introduction of Chairman
Utley, she said, "It has been said
that if the state had just four more
volunteers like Ann Utley we
wouldn't need elected officials."
The MHMR Chairman made it
clear that she wants to be a strong
voice for MHMR. "I want to be your
advocate. I want to hear from you.
You may call me in Austin or Dallas
and I will be glad to hear from you."
A near capacity auditorium was
warm in its response to her remarks.
Visiting with the press after the
program, Chairman Utley made it
clear that she sees positive, con-
tinuing service from Rusk State
Hospital to the citizens of its 29-
county catchment area.
She said she was looking forward
to a return visit.
SPECIAL VISITORS TO RUSK STATE HOSPITAL Monday were greeted by Superintendent
Buz Parrish, left. With him are Chairman of the MH / MR Board Ann Utley, State Treasurer
Martha Whitehead, Rep. Elton Bomer, Sen. Bill Haley and Rusk civic leader Jim Perkins.
-staff photo
Cherokee commissioners seek
applications for sheriffs position
Cherokee County Commissioners
accepted the resignation of Sheriff
Jimmy Dickson Monday morning.
The commissioners will receive re-
sumes, applications and letters of
recommendation through Jan. 18.
Candidates will be interviewed dur-
ing the afternoon of Jan. 24 and a
new sheriff will be named later that
afternoon.
Dixon submitted his resignation
to accept a Special Texas Ranger
position on Jan. 16 with the Texas
and Southwestern Cattle Raisers
Association. He will be involved in
investigating duties for the associa-
tion in nine counties including
Cherokee, Anderson, Henderson,
Freestone, Navarro, Ellis, Kaufman,
Van Zandt and Rockwall counties.
Chief Deputy Don Anderson was
appointed at the Monday morning
meeting as acting sheriff.
In other matters, a Salary Griev-
ance Committee was named to be
compared for Cassandra Jones of
Rusk, Marlene Waits Kahla of Alto,
Jeffery Lee Fatheree of Alto, Sally
Suzann McCarty of Rusk, Eugene
Carrier III of Wells, Ross Hicks of
Wells, Mary Netron of Jacksonville,
Anita Malone of Troup, Bert Neal
Tucker Sr. of Jacksonville, and al-
ternates James Long of Rusk and
Joel A. Moore of Jacksonville.
Holidays for county offices and
employees include Martin Luther
King's birthday, Monday, Jan. 17;
Washington's birthday, Monday,
Feb. 21; Texas Independence Day,
Wednesday, March 2; Good Friday,
Friday, April 1; Memorial Day,
Monday, May 30; Independence
Day, Monday, July 4; Labor Day,
Monday, Sept. 5; Columbus Day,
Monday, Oct. 10; Veterans Day,
Friday, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving Day,
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and
25; Christmas, Friday and Mon-
day, Dec. 23 and 26 and New Year's
Day, Friday, Dec. 30.
Commissioners began work on
renovation of the courthouse. Bids
will be sought for renovation of the
three outside doors and for the relo-
cation and installation of a new
transformer to provide electrical
service to the courthouse.
Commissioners discussed
whether to apply the rest of the
budgeted renovation funds toward
replacement of courthouse windows
or to the relocation of the county
attorney's offices. The court also
discussed with Mike Leinback,
county architect, the possibility of
renovating the courthouse elevator
at a cost of around $16,500.
In another matter, Deputy Sher-
iff Geneva Miller was authorized to
participate in the 8th Governor's
Conference on the Prevention of
Child Abuse to be held J an. 27-29 in
Austin.
A health insurance claim outside
the plan for occupational therapy in
the amount of $1,972 was autho-
rized for payment.
Expenses were approved for Dis-
trict Attorney Jim Cromwell to at-
tend a Cross Examination Seminar
in Dallas on Jan. 20.
Cromwell explained to commis-
sioners that he and his staff will
purchase six cellular phones and
service at their own expense.
A STEP employee in the district
attorney's office is no longer eli-
gible for the program. He asked
commissioners to authorized em-
ployment of the person for 1"* days
per week as a part time county
employee. Action was tabled until
the next meeting.
The county will send a registered
letter to a delinquent leaseholder
at the Cherokee County Airport. In
the event payment is not received
in 10 days, the lease will be can-
celled.
Plans were made to seek bids for
runway striping at the airport.
Bids were accepted for sale of
surplus property stored in the court-
house basement.
Purchase of shelve units from
Pro-Med Systems for the county
clerks's office was approved. Pay-
ment for the shelves will come from
the Preservation Fee Account.
Payment of tuition fee for
Edmund Bojarski to attend class at
the University of Texas at Tyler
was not approved.
Bond payment of $3.25 per indi-
vidual was approved for reserve
deputy constables. Similar bond
payment is made by the county for
individuals serving as reserve
deputy sheriffs.
Resignation of Brenda Dominy
as Records Management Clerk was
accepted.
Mrs. Dominy resigned because of
demands of her regular position in
the county clerk's office did not
leave her sufficient time to handle
the Records management Clerk
position.
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Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 145, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 13, 1994, newspaper, January 13, 1994; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152146/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.