Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 152, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 28, 2001 Page: 1 of 14
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/Herald
Texa ' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper - Established Feb. 27,1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel
New DcrduncI
The newt and advert lelng
S2, No 19-1 1 Pnqcs
Thursday, Juno 28, 2001
Rusk, Texas 75785
• p.m. Friday Juna M for the
laaua of July • due to
25 cents
Rusk voters will decide future of railroad museum
M
embers of the Rusk City Council met
Monday afternoon to adopt an ordi
nance calling a city election for Aug.
11 to oonaider approval of the uao of the city
economic development half-cent tax revenue
for another purpose. Voters will be aaked to
designate up to $300,000 of the sales tax rev-
enue to pay the city's matching funds in the
event the city receives a $1.5 million Texas
Pepartment. of Transportation Enhancement
Program grant.
The grant and matching fonda, if approved, will
be used to construction a railroad museum on
11 acres of the Cannon property now owned by
the city and located across Highway 84 from the
Texas State Railroad shop and maintenance
building.
Coat of construction of the building itaelf will
be in the neighborhood of $160,000. The build-
ing will be approximately 1,200 square feet and
will include a small meeting room fbr groups up
to approximately 116 persons.
Railroad memorabilia will be sought by dona-
tions and purchase.
If the city is able to get the grant it will create
an atmosphere fbr the fulfillment of long time
dreams of Rusk area people who have wanted
a museum to compliment the Texas State Rail
Please see RAILROAD, paga to
ocatsa on
ÉMMB AAMfcAA Ik*
VUvl PCfuW TTOHl wif
TSR maintenance
complex on U.S. Hwy
M *
Courthouse shines through
paintings, new discovery
BY BMNT Huai
CmtKmetM/HeMLD wmrtn
Over a year after the
dedication of the
murals in the Chero-
kee County Courthouse, the
project has been completed.
Artist Darell Massey is proud
of his works and thinks that
the community should enjoy
them for many years.
Total cost of the elaborate
project is only $400, which
covered supplies and materi-
als. Mr. Massey's labor is
free, because he is incarcer-
ated at the Texas Depart-
ment of Correction's Hodge
Unit in Rusk.
Judge Bascom Bentley, II!
launched the program when
he saw the extraordinary tal-
ent of Mr. Massey.
Mr. Massey was chosen,
along with five other men, to
begin a similar project,
though not as elaborate, at
the Anderson County Court-
house.
When Judge Bentley saw
some of Mr. Massey's works
he had a concept in mind for
the Rusk courthouse.
Judge Bentley envisioned a
historical mural upstairs in the
Cherokee County Courthouse.
When he saw that Mr. Massey
could paint portraits his plans
fomented in a different direc-
tion. The historical mural on
the second floor of the court-
house is inore than 130 foet
long and depicts scenes from
the days of Indians to the
present.
"Darell Massey is truly gifted.
He has enormous talent. It is a
shame that he wasted it in the
past; we can only hope he will
continue to use it when he gets
out. I think he will," said Judge
Bentley.
Mr. Massey's passion for art
began ata very young age when
he won an art contest in the
third grade. He is a self taught
artist who has been painting
for 15 years and drawing all of
his life.
District Clerk Marlys Sue
Mason described how polite and
considerate Mr. Massey is. "It
has been a pleasure getting to
know him and to watch him
paint for houra on end. Heiaa
very dedicated artist and I dont
think we can thank him
enough. He even painted a
picture of my house for me,"
she said.
County Judge Harry Tilley
said that when large groups of
people are planning on coming
to Rusk, the Chamber or Main
Street will call and make ar-
rangements to have the court-
house open on weekends by
appointment.
"We get so many compliments
on the work that he did. It
looks great and it really added
to the courthouse," said Judge
Tilley. "We couldnt have pur-
chased it because of the ex-
pense."
Along with the many houra
of painting Mr. Maaaay has also
done some exterior work on the
courthouse. He rediscovered a
metal awning on the north en-
trance of the courthouse which
had become drab and discol-
ored with age.
See COURTHOUSE, pg. 10
TOCJ Inmate Darell
Maaaay appllee the
Wissnhaa In —
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County Courthouee where
a copper awning waa
rediscovered.
Experts suggest
firework guidelines
Fireworks will light up the
sky again this year with public
firework displays on the Fourth
of July.
Jacksonville is hosting their
traditional July 4 celebration.
Jacksonville will have a free
fireworks display on the Fourth
around 6 p.m. on Lake Jack-
sonville.
Local fire departments are
usually responsible for the
public's safety when a large
fireworks display is presented.
The actual firing of the display
is managed by a trained pyro-
technic operator and crew. The
operators know and comply
with all state and local regula-
tions.
The following tips come from
the National Council and
should help make the display
more enjoyable to the public,
as well as make the display as
safe as possible.
Spectators should obey all
ushers or monitors and respect
the safety barriera aet up to
allow the trained operator
room to safely do his job. Re-
sist any temptation to get dose
to the actual firing site. In
Please see FIREWORKS, pg 10
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Summer Games and Activities
Jr
Ruak Primary School recently begen eummer echool for etudente
entering Pro-K through eecond grede. The etudente heve a variety
of gamee and ecMvWeethet help their educational neede. Prom left
are first gradare Blake Curtía, Keehannon Dearmen and Androe
Colllne playing a puzzle geme that halpe them with the ABC'e.
Utility companies prepare for summer
I Social agencies
offer help to needy
throughout long, hot
summer season
BY RWKMCCUM
Were* CHW0Ki®uit#i*AU>
- Thursday, June 21, marked a day
that many Texan* have come to
dread. The official start to summer
begins with the summer solstice,
the longest day of the year, and the
beginning of sweltering, hu mid heat
that can only be described as sti-
fling.
The long hot summers can be espe-
cially difficult for older consumers
who sometimes have to choose be-
tween paying their utility bills and
buying other necessities such as food
and medications,
TXU Gas and Electric recently
made a $R million gift to social organi-
sations that will go toward assisting
those hardest hit to help pay their
bills.
In addition they have joined forces
with several other utilities to formu-
late the Texas Heat Relief Initiative"
a comprehensive plan to provide low-
income assistance and provide en-
ergy assistance programs.
The money will be very useftil be-
cause electric bills for TXU customers
are expected to be 21.5 percent higher
than last summerforthesameamount
of usage according to company spokes-
woman Sandy Smith.
The reason is the increased cost of
natural gas that powers electric gen-
erating plants.
On the plus side, the power short-
agea that have plagued the western
states is not a concern for Texana.
The Lone Star State should have
more than enough to meet the de-
mand of consumers this summer.
Companies have been building power
plants at a rapid rate since the state
opened up its wholesale electric mar-
ket to competition in 199ft.
Local agencies are also preparing
for the hot summer to come. HOPE
in Jacksonville will loan box fens to
those in need. They will need to be
returned in November.
Cherokee County Coop spokesper-
son Tony Cumminge states that the
agency that they normally refer
people to for assistance reports that
due to the high bills through the
winter months they have exhausted
the fiinds to be used.
"Each situation will be looked at
on a case-by-case basis. The most
important thing for people to do is
call our billing department as soon
as they get their bill and realise
there is going to be a problem. We
want to do everything we can to
help," said Cumminge.
Tops in Texas comes
to JacksonvUle July 12
Jacksonville's 39th annual
Tops in Texaa Rodeo ia
planned fbr Thursday
through Saturday, July 12-
14 with performances at 8
p.m. each day. This year's
show will feature Neal
McCoy Home Again on
Thursday; Eddy Raven on
Friday; and Trini Triggs on
Saturday.
McCoy will make Ma sec-
ond appearance at the Topa
ia Texaa Rodeo. Many local
fens remember McCoy ae a
youth growing up in Jack-
sonville
Rodeo Ticket Information
ia available at the Norman
Activity Center at 828 East
Commerce in Jacksonville.
Ttcketa may be purchased
with Visa and MastsrCard
by calling B88-S285. Ths
ticket office opens Monday
July 2. The office ia open
Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. It
will be cloaed on July 4 and
July 14. *
Thursday box sea ta are$18
when available. Reeerved
seats are 215 and end re-
. served are $12. Friday and
Saturday box sea ta ara 812
if available; reserved seats
$10 and end reaerved $8.
Weatern Week in Jackaon-
ville begins on Monday. July
9 with the Cloggere aha
square Dancers at 7 p.m. A
street Dancebegina at 8p.m.
featuring the Country BÜuea
Band.
Tuesday. July 19, there
\ will be judging of the Beat
—
Vv
see RODEO, pego 10
New superintendent ready to assume duties
BVRickMCCUM
OwwaWAisf km.o
New Ruak ISD superinten-
dent Ja free Largent ia eager to
asaume the responsibilities and
duties feeing him aa the head of
the Ruak Independent School
District.
While Largent enjoyed the
opportunity to guide claae-A
Chireno ISD he wanted the
opportunity to head up a larger
school district.
Dr. liftfgent, who attended
public school in Kirbyviile and
completed hie higher education
at Sam Houaton State Univer-
sity waa thrilled that he will
have the opportunity to stay in
Bast Tixae and rear hie chil-
dren in a "great city aaah aa
Ruak.*
Largent emphaaiaee that hie
for the school district is
Iq all areas of the
system."
"Right now I am trying to
meet all the people that 1 can
along with moving my femily
and trying to get settled in. The
opportunity to follow a man of
Mr, Murray's stature will be
great. He has done such a great
job as evidenced by the quality
of the Ruak School District,"
said Largent.
The immediate taaks at hand
include the hiring of a junior
high principal and filling a po-
sition that waa recently added
at the Central Office.
"I am ao thankfiil for the
warm reception that the people
of Ruak haa extended to myself
and my femily, The tranaition
time has gone very smoothly
and 1 look forward to the day to
day reaponsibilitiee that come
with the territory," aaid
Largent,
Largent officially aeaumee
dutiee on July 2. He will be
joined by hia wife Jeri and their
two children Jan Lynn and
Juatin Michael.
Jamee Urgent aeeumee the
Superintendent of Ruek ISD July t.
reeponelbllltlee
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 152, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 28, 2001, newspaper, June 28, 2001; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth168692/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.