Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 153, No. 17, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 Page: 1 of 14
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CIjerokeeaij/Herald
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper - Established Feb. 27, 1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel
Vol. 153, No. 17-14 Pages Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Ezelle Trial Begins
The trial began Tuesday
in the case of the 1986
murder of Maydelle
resident Martha Ezelle.
See page 6
Rusk, TX 75785
25 cents
e
Commissioners. Sheriff
Employees Assoc. to meet
The Three Rivers District Cub Scout Day Camp was held June 10-14 at the Lions
Club Pool and Rusk Civic Center. Approximately 90 boys and 25 staff attended the
week-long camp and participated in the activities. The theme forthe camp was "Once
Upon a Time..." and centered around the Dr. Doolittle character. Guest speaker Jack
White informed the children about the Cherokee County Search and Rescue team.
Cherokee County Com-
missioners will meet at 1
p.m. Thursday in the county
courtroom for a workshop to
hear from representatives of
the Cherokee County Sheriff
Employees Association and
TMPA regarding their salary
increase request. The Sheriff
Employees Association has
placed petitions at various
sites throughout the county.
The petitions are to request a
referendum election in the event
the association and county com-
missioners do not come to an
agreement concerning salary
hikes for employees of the
sheriff's department.
Commissioners met Monday
morning to consider a 16-item
agenda. Sheriff James Campbell
said the average jail popula-
tion is 89.8 prisoners per day
the lowest number in recent
years.
The county is having to con-
struct an addition to the county
jail because of overpopulation.
The current jail is designed
to serve approximately 102
prisoners.
Utility lines over county
roads were approved for all
precincts.
Co m mi s sioner s aocep ted
a donation of land for a gun
range from Dave Durrett, who
has bought the Comer Hudson
property. Mr. Durrett, who lives
in Canada, plans to move here.
Sheriff Campbell said. "He
wants to build a new range
with concrete and donate it to
the county. Heonlyasks thatthe
commissioners have an acre sur-
veyed by the county surveyor.
The range will be named in
memory of Mr. Hudson.
County Judge Harry Tilley
was authorized to advertise
the County radio tower for sale,
to be moved, re-erected and
leased back to the county for
the sheriff's department.
Commissioners approved
the expenditure of $1,045 per
month for new indigent health
care computer services, program
and maintenance. The current
program works on a DOS format
and the system freezes up fre-
quently. The new system will
provide updates.
Aeon tract was approved with
Southwest Securities for finan-
cial services in regards to selling
the certificate of obhgations for
the renovation of the county j ail.
The amount of the jail renova-
tion will be set later.
Commissioners approved the
employment of WHJ Architects
for jail construction.
An off-system bridge replace-
ment program with Cherokee
County and Texas Department
of Transportation on ('R §¡>314
was approved. The bridge is
located at Cuney, and Hen-
derson County has already
approved the project. The county
will provide its share of the cost
with in-kind participation.
Aresolution in support of the
Rural County Judges Associa-
tion concerning fuel taxes for
county roads was approved.
The county will sign docu-
ments financing Precinct S's
purchase of a new tractor and
boom axe with 1st Continental
Leasing.
Darrell Kinchen will work
with Commissioner Moody
Glass, Precinct .3, concerning
water flooding CR 3916 and
CR 3917.
Richard Klein was authorized
to construct a new hanger at the
Cherokee County Airport.
Elmer Beckworth, district
attorney, and Dave Sor re 0.
assistant district attorney,
will attend an annual criminal
and civil law update seminar
in South Padre Sept. 24-27.
A report from the license
and weight department was
accepted. An interlocal agree-
mentbetween Cherokee County
and ONCOR Electric Delivery
Company was approved. The
Cherokee County Safety Incen-
tive Program Review Report for
May IX was accepted.
Report from Orval (íri mes.
Constable Precinct I. was
approved. Mr. Grimes issued
three citations, served two cita-
tions and attempted to serve six
citations. He spent 24 hours in
his office and had a bailiff pres-
entthree times. He made official
contacts with clients six times
and traveled 1,177 miles.
City of Rusk will apply
for $250,000 grant
Money and community services
headed the issues brought before
the Rusk City Council Thursday
evening.
The city will make apphcationfor
a $250,000 city grant to the Office
of Rural Community Affairs under
the Texas Community Develop Pro-
gram to provide sewer services to
citizens living on Crockett Street,
just outside the city limits.
Dr. Jim Largent, Rusk ISD
superintendent, spoke with the
council concerning water service
to the new intermediate School.
"The water pressure is low at the
high school and cannot suppily two
fire hydrants in the event of a fire,"
Dr. Largent said. He proposed that
the city pay for providing services
to the property line and then Rusk
ISD will increase the size of the hne
within the district property. If the
proposal is approved, it will be done
ifthe city waives the costof $26,000
in building permits for the project,
If the city elects to do this, the
water hne will be laid from Beale
Street to the school property. Gene
Kolley. director of public works said,
"I think we can cut the estimate
down to about $88,000." Originally
Please see GRANT page 6
New RSH superintendent Ted Debbs
settles into job and local community
70 former RSH guards
may receive benefits
State Rep. Chuck Hopson met
Monday afternoon with 45 TDCJ
employees who had formerly worked
for Rusk State Hospital Maximum
Security Unit.
Rep. Hopson initiated the meeting
with the employees and Art Mosley
and Carol Johnston of TDCJ in
Huntsville.
Rep. Hopson said he plans to file a
pre-bill around the middle of Novem-
ber to get these employees the haz-
ardous duty pay that they thought
they were receiving as TDMHMR
employees.
The state representative explained
Please see TDCJ page 6
By Amy Halbert
Cherokeean/Herald Writer
Ted Debbs has been on the job for
about a month now as Rusk State
Hospital's new superintendent. And
in that time, he's noticed a few things.
Mainly the high quahty of the staff
he's inherited and that it's more fun to
ride his motorcycle around Cherokee
County's hilly country roads than
Austin's congested interstates.
Debbs took over the reigns at RSH
from exiting Superintendent Diane
Fáucher May 1. Since theil he's been
learning the hospital's structure, its
patient flow and most importantly,
he's been meeting the staff. And trying
remember the namesandfaces of some
of the hospital's 947 employees.
"One of the biggest strengths of this
hospital is the longevity of the staff,"
Debbs said. "There are many employ-
ees who have retired and come back,
which is a tribute to their desire to be
here." He also has high praise for the
hospital's general treatmentprotocol,
which he says is very comprehensive.
Patients receive both psychiatric and
physical care.
As for changes, Debbs says he basi-
cally believes in the philosophy if it's
not broke, don't fix it. "I don't want to
alter a structure if it's working. But
when I do see areas to revise, I want
Ted Debbs
to make the changes subtly, with low
anxiety." Debbs says he prefers to keep
the staff informed at all times, rather
than sending out a surprise memo one
day with a list of new mandates.
One area of improvement Debbs
is looking into is the Texas Depart-
ment of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation's current philosophy of
treating patients, which tends to
group patients with the same disease
in one category. For example, if two
patients enter the hospital with the
same disease—one severe, one mild—
Please see DEBBS page 6
■ Rusk bank
honors Debbs with
reception June 29
A public reception will be
held Thursday, June 29 in the
lobby of Citizens 1st Bank in
Rusk to honor new Rusk State
Hospital Superintendent Ted
Debbs.
Special guests from the
Texas Department of Mental
Health and Mental Retarda-
tion in Austin will also be
present.
They include Harold K.
(Kenney) Dudley, director of
mental health facilities, and
Sharon Hunter, assistant
director of mental health
facilities.
Mr. Debs and his family
will be welcomed earlier the
same day from 1-3 p.m. at the
Dogwood Room in Building
611 Avenue C, at Rusk State
Hospital.
The public is invited to that
reception also, but RSVPs are
required. For more informa-
tion call 683-7327.
Pool fund
established
Splash Day at the Lions
Club Swimming Pool in Rusk
was postponed indefinitely
this summer after vandals
damaged the filter basket.
However, an outpouring of
community support is prompt-
ing members of the Lions Club
to try and get the pool up and
running.
"Because of publicity about
this problem, we've had calls
from people who want to help,"
said Vic Whadford, chairman of
the Lions Club committee over-
seeing the swimming pool.
A fund was established
Monday to accept cash dona-
Please see POOL page 6
RSH Tul
Purses/Billfeids
Art Supplies
IEye Shadow/Mascara
Instar« Coffee/Tea
Sunglasses
Costume Jewelry
Combs/Brushes/Picks
Hair Clips/Banana Clips
Socks/Booties
Postage Stamps
Checkers/Dominoes/Cards
ish List
kflpp/Lipstick/Blush
Bandanas/Hankies
raft Kits
Soap/Deodorant
Shaving Cream/
After : ' ve
Wrist Watches
Stationery/Cards
Straw lats/Visor Caps
Candy/Gum
Plastic Cups/Mugs
graphic-Cherokeean/Herald
The Volunteer Council of the Rusk State Hospital is sup-
porting a drive to help patients have a more therapeutic
and comfortable stay at the hospital. They are collecting
the suggested items above along with cash donations.
Donations may be mailed to the VolunteerCouncilfor Rusk
State Hospital Inc., P.O. Box 318, Rusk 75785-0318. For
more information call the Volunteer Council at 683-7327.
C IV K
Committee plans July 4 celebration
County-wide
celebration
planned in Rusk
Co mmitteechairmen and vol-
unteers for Cherokee County's
first July 4th celebration in
Rusk will meet at 9 a.m. June
26 to finalize plans for the
event. The meeting will be
held at the Southern Cherokee
Federal Credit Union building
and all interested persons are
invited.
Those involved in the project
met Wednesday June 12, for a
planning session.
Pam Green Black of the Alto
Trail Riders saidher group will
sell barbecue plates at the all
day^event.
Activities for the day will
begin with opening ceremo-
nies at 9:15 a.m. The parade
will begin at 10 a.m.
There will be all sorts of
food items, arts and crafts
and a gigantic garage sale at
the footbridge park. Booths
at the footbridge are $5 each.
Participants are asked to bring
their own tables.
Contests of various sorts are
planned throughout the day, as
well as a variety of entertain-
ment. Apatriotic program will
be presented by a community
70 voicechorus at I lie Cherokee
Civic Theatre.
Flyers will be distributed pro-
moting the apple pie contest.
There will be pies auctioned
and sold.
Main Street will sponsor
historical tours of the town at
no charge to those taking the
trolley rides.
Gymnastic girls andboys will
perform in front of Chapman's
Pharmacy.
Children IDs will be done
by the Sheriff's Department
staff.
A petting zoo and various
games will be included for
children.
Veterans will ride in the
antique armored vehicles.
There are three POWs signed
up for the parade, "VA officer
Ken Hannah said.
One of the highlights of the
event will be the reading of the
Declaration of Independence
by Murray Smith.
Posters will be placed on hght
poles in the downtown area to
let people know the times and
locations of various events.
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 153, No. 17, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 19, 2002, newspaper, June 19, 2002; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152522/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.