Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 149, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 12, 1998 Page: 1 of 12
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697 99/03/10 COMPMW
SOUTHWEST MICRQPUBUSHING
2627 E YANDELL DR
EL PASO TX 79903-3743
Clferokeeaij/Meraia
Texas' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper - Established Feb. 27, 1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel
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Vol. 149, No. 3 - 12 Pages
Thursday. March 12, 1998
Rusk. Texas 75785
25 cents
flection '9$
IIai i.or vi v (ii \m i
Cherokee County voters cast their ballots in the
March 10 primaries on Tuesday. An (I) denotes
incumbent candidates. A (D) denotes Democratic
candidate; (R), Republican; ^ indicates the ap-
parent winner at presstime; and RO denotes a
runoff election.
Future dates to remember include:
Runoff Elections April 14
General Election November 3
Cherokee County Votes %of Total
District Judge, 369th
► R-Bascom Bentley (I) 812 100%
> D-Cralg Caldwell 2.280 100%
State Representative, Dist. 11
► Todd Staple (I) 874
100%
County Court-at-Law
O-LeRue Dixon (1^
D-Forrest Phlfer
IF R-Steve Guv
R-James Williams
1,715
1,524
385
52.94%
47.05%
60.71%
39.28%
County Judge
^ R-Richard East
R-Nancy Hudson
►. D-Harry Tilley (I)
473
470
2,481
50.15%
49.84%
100%
County Clerk
R-Linda Little
J* D-Laverne Luskfi)
753
1615.
100%
100%
District Clerk
^ P-Marlvs Sue Mason (I)
2.575
100%
County Treasurer
^ D-Dlann Norton O
2,568
100%
Commissioner, Pet. 2
D-Leon Burran.
ftO D-Kenneth Hicks
RO D-Kevln Pierce
^ R-Suzann Mehner McCarty
257
436
.568
209
20.38%
34.:
45.04%
Commissioner, Pet. 4
^ Billy Joe McCutcheon (0
494
100%
Justice of Peace, Pet. 1
RO P-Brenda Domlnv 343 37.69%
RO D.Roy Darby 361 39.87%
P^Steve Pate
206
22.63%
239
100%
Justice of Peace, Pet. 2
> D-Chris Davis .(f) 976
100%
Justice of Peace, Pet. 3
> P-Polly Kite (I) 346
U- Sherrel D. Miles 268
** R'Josle Schoolcraft 179
56.35%
43.64%
100%
Justice of Peace, Pet. 4
^ D* Bobby CavenessP) 482
P-Stephen R. Loonev 122
79.80%
20.19%
-graphic design by Cherokeean/Herald
High Price of Campaigns
Dixon-Guy square off in hotly
contested court-at-law race
Votes came at a high price in Cherokee County for
candidates for party nomination to run for Court-at-
Law judge in the November General Election.
Political campaigns for that position proved to be
the most expensive first primary election this year in
the county. At the last campaign expense reporting
period, a total of $17,295 had been spent by the four
candidates vying for positions on the November Gen-
eral Election ballot. Other candidates for other con-
tested Democratic and Republican primaries spent
$9,971.
Of the $17,295 in the Court-at-Law race, Jim
Williams of Jacksonville, who polled 385 votes in the
Republican primary election, spent $10,898. That is
a cost of $28.31 per vote. Mr. Williams was the low
man on the ballot with his 385 votes. His Republican
challenger Steven R. Guy of Rusk, spent $3,123 for
his 595 votes. Those votes cost him $5.25 per vote.
Mr. Guy received $2,140 in political donations and
Mr. Williams reported none.
Incumbent Democrat Judge LeRue Dixon of Jack-
sonville reported that he has spent $2,259 in ex-
penses and received $1,319 in donations. His 1,715
votes cost him $1.32 each. Dixon's challenger Forrest
%
,:p
jpr^k a freywyMjM
Steve Guy LeRue Dixon
Phifer of Rusk spent $1,015 and received $198 in
contributions. His 1,524 votes cost him 67 cents each.
Judge Dixon and Republican challenger Mr. Guy
will met in the November General Election. Mr.
Dixon defeated challenger Mr. Phifer by 191 votes in
Tuesday's primary Democratic election. Mr. Guy
defeated Mr. Williams by 210 votes in the Republican
primary election.
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reserve
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Runoff election set April 14
In a relatively light turnout, Cherokee County
made decisions on which Democrats and Republi-
cans will face off in November with the exception of
two offices. A Democratic runoff must first decide the
candidates in County Commissioner Pet. 2 and Jus-
tice of the Peace, Pet. 1.
In the Justice of the Peace election, Roy Darby and
Brenda Dominy will be in a run-off election, along
with Kevin Pierce and Kenneth Hicks, Democratic
candidates for County Commissioner.
In the Republican race for county judge, only three
votes separated Nancy Hudson and Richard East.
According to state law, Mrs. Hudson has five days to
decide whether to seek a recount of the ballots.
County Clerk Laverne Lusk estimates the cost to
conduct a recount at less than $300. At presstime
late Tuesday night, Mrs. Hudson said she was seri-
ously considering a recount, but had not made a final
decision.
In other offices, Cherokee County Democrats gave
Incumbent Congressman Jim Turner 2,651 votes.
Garry Mauro received 2,139 votes in his bid for the
party nomination for Governor. John Sharp polled
2,388 votes for Lieutenant Governor. All were unop-
posed for the party nomination.
In the Attorney General's race, Morris L. Overstreet
received 421 votes; Jim Mattox, 2,203 votes; and
Gene Kelly, 382 votes.
Paul Hobby, unopposed for Comptroller of Public
Accounts, received 2,263 votes. Richard Raymond
received 2,207 votes for Commissioner of the Gen-
eral Land Office.
In the race for Commissioner of Agriculture, L.P.
(Pete) Patterson received 2,340 votes and Ernesto L.
DeLeon polled 326 votes.
In the Railroad Commissioner race, Joe B.
Henderson polled 1,953 votes and Gary Dugger, 695
votes.
Mike Westergren received 2,047 votes in his unop-
posed bid for Justice Supreme Court, Place 1; Rose
Spector 2,140 votes for Justice Supreme Court,
Place 2; David Van Os, 2,091 votes for Justice Su-
preme Court, Place 3; Jerry Scarbrough, 2,147 votes
for Justice Supreme Court, Place 4 unexpired term.
Charles F. (Charlie) Baird, 2,165 votes, judge,
court of criminal appeals, place 1; Winston Cochran,
2,101 votes forjudge, court of criminal appeals, place
2; Mary Delk, 2,140 votes for member state board of
education; Craig D. Caldwell 2,280 votes in his
opposed bid for the nomination for district judge,
369th Judicial District; Harry G. Tilley 2,481 votes
for county judge; Marlys Sue Mason, 2,575 votes for
district clerk; Laverne Lusk 2,615 votes for county
clerk; Diann Norton, 2,568 votes for county trea-
surer; Carl Wayne Morgan,2,482, for county sur-
veyor.
In the Commissioner Precinct 2 race, Leon Burran
received 257 votes; Kevin Pierce, 568 votes; and
Kenneth Hicks, 436 votes. Billy McCutcheon re-
ceived 494 votes in his bid for re-election as
Commissioner Precinct 4.
In the Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 race, Roy
Darby polled 361 votes; Brenda Dominy, 343 votes;
and Steve Pate, 206 votes. Justice of the Peace
Precinct 2 Chris Davis received 976 votes in his bid
for re-election. In the Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
race, Incumbent Polly Kite received 346 votes, and
Sherrel D. Miles 268 votes; Justice of the Peace,
Precinct 4, Incumbent Bobby Caveness polled 482
votes against challenger Stephen R. Looney's 122
votes.
Republicans gave Brian Babin 835 votes for Con-
gressman; Incumbent Governor George Bush easily
upset challenger R. C. Crawford. Bush received 1,002
votes and Crawford, 25 votes.
Rick Perry polled 819 votes for Lieutenant Gover-
nor.
Candidates for Attorney General Garry Williamson
polled 453 votes; Tom Pauken, 211 votes; and John
Cornyn, 258 votes.
In the unopposed race for nomination for Comp-
troller of Public Accounts Carole Keeton Rylander
received 738 votes. Candidates for the General Land
Office David Dewhurst received 434 votes; Jerry
Patterson, 387 votes and Don Loucks, 37 votes.
Hamp Hodges received 314 votes and Susan Combs
582 votes for Commissioner of Agriculture. Tony
Garza received 601 votes and Steve Stockman 340
votes in the railroad commissioner race.
Candidates for Supreme Court Justices included
Craig T. Enoch 738 votes for Place 1; Harriet O'Neill
526 votes and Candace G. Tyson 284 votes for Place
2; Greg Abbott 690 votes for place 3; Steve Smith 452
votes and Deborah Hankinson 383 votes for Place
4.
Candidates for Judge of the Court of Criminal
Appeals included: Mike Keasler 192 votes, Vicki
Isaacks 155 votes, David A. Schulman 82 votes,
Lloyd W. Oliver 66 votes and David Barron 254 votes
for Place 1; Harvey Hudson 166 votes, Jerry E. Smith
Please see RUNOFF, page 12
TSR Begins 23rd Tourist Season
Lunsford admits to killing wife
M Sentencing will begin in 6 weeks
Frederick Wellborn Lunsford, 55, of Rusk pleaded
guilty Monday morning to murder, a first degree
felony, in the 2nd Judicial District Court of Judge
John Robert Adamson. Mr. Lunsford acknowledged
Monday morning that he had knowingly committed
the murder of his wife, Janis Pamela Lunsford, 48.
Sentencing is expected to be in approximately six
weeks. This sentence will come after he is sentenced
on a drug related charge in the U.S. District Court of
Judge John Hanna in Tyler.
Mr. Lunsford had requested the case to be disposed
of as quickly as possible to avoid publicity.
Mr. Lunsford pleaded guilty last week in federal
court to a charge of distributing a controlled sub-
stance to his wife, without her knowledge on June 28,
1997.
Although Mr. Lunsford is a junior the word junior
was struck from the indictments at the request of one
Please see LUNSFORD, pg 12
Frederick Lunsford (center) leaves the district
courtroom Monday with his attorney, Ricky
Richards (right).
Alto students take stock in exhibit
Texas State Railroad engineer Blair Laveil stands beside engine 300 at the maintenance yard in Rusk.
The locomotive Is ready to run for the 1998 seaaon. The traína begin their annual trips Saturday,
March 14. TSR workers expect s busy year and many student runs have already sold out. For
reservations call 903/683-2561.
Alto FFA students are steadily preparing projects
for the upcoming Cherokee County Jr. Livestock
Show. Woodworking, metal fabrication, and raising
livestock are all tasks which these students are
accomplishing with hard work and a willingness to
learn.
"These kids are eager to learn," said Harry Sump,
Alto agricultural mechanics instructor. "They have
been staying up here until at least 10 p.m. at night
working on projects, and this is at their own request.
I don't have to tell them to work, they just want to."
Such hard work and dedication shows in the handi-
work of the students. They have completed difficult
projects such as trailers, stalls, trimmings shoots,
and a few handy, original inventions which they
created themselves.
See Photos on pane 12
The students are also showing projects in the
highly competitive Houston Livestock Show.
"I have been teaching for 16 years and it is rare to
run across so many students so eager to learn," Sump
said. "It is very rewarding to work with them."
The high school provides the material for the metal
fabrication and the woodworking projects. The ani-
mal projects are solely funded by the student. Most
of the projects must be sold in order to cover the
investment made by the school. Any profit made ove
the cost of the project may benefit the Alto FFA.
Many private buyers visiting the livestock shov
may find a great buy on a quality project.
,.u.
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 149, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 12, 1998, newspaper, March 12, 1998; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152363/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.