Stamford American (Stamford, Tex.), Vol. 77, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 16, 1998 Page: 1 of 22
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T AVAILABLE COPY
STIRRING WITH STAMFORDITES
Featured this week - Irene Stewart
Your Hometown Newspaper
American Vol. 77, No. 4
Leader Vol. 99, No. 30
Thursday, April 16,1998
&
BULLDOG NEWS
Special Section this week
featuring School News
-c
STAMFORD AMERICAN]
50 cents news stand price
» • '
Walker honored for 13-years
service; new ag. barn planned
by: Linda Dalliston
Stamford School Board mem-
bers presented Mrs. Carol Walker
with a plaque for her thineen years
of service^to the school children of
Stamford” at her last meeting with
the board Thursday evening. Mrs.
Walker decided not to run for her
place on the board again this year.
The May 2nd school board election
will see six people running for Mrs.
Walkers place on the board of trust-
ees.
Board members agreed to a rec-
ommendation by Superintendent
Robert Damron to begin the demo-
lition of the old ag. bam, near the
rodeo grounds. Mr. Damron said
that he would like* to proceed with
help of the ag, students in the de-
struction of the present building
along with the hiring of some school
district employees. These people
would be covered under school in-
surance. Damron said the new fa-
cility had originally been priced at
$70,000. “I have learned that this
project was probably over-planned.
I would like to see the construction
begin with the hiring of people at
will and the school purchasing the
materials,” he said. The board had
put out for bids on the school farm
construction months ago and had
received no bids.
The board voted unanimously to
enter a three-year contract with
TASB(Texas Association of School ■'
Board) Risk Management Fund to
provide Workers’ Compensation
insurance to the District. The three-
year contract will save the district a
considerable amount of money for
coverage: “The first year 1 came
here, this coverage was costing us
$120,000; this $35,000 for the first
year of coverage sounds good to
me,” Mr. Damron said.
Final action of the board con-
sisted of a motion to pursue chang-
ing to Winschool student software
wi(h the support by Region 9 Edu-
cation Service Center. If Region 9
will not support the district, the
board voted to purchase the soft-
ware directly from the vendor.
The school is currently using
Prostar software that is compatible
for use only in the Junior and Se-
nior high school. The Winschool
program with Wichita Falls would
enable Reynolds, Oliver, and
Wetherbee schools access to the
program. The Winschool program
would save each teacher at least two
hours time during each grading pe-
riod. If support is not forthcoming,
the school district will spend ap-
proximately $33,000 for the new
software.
District 7
Students from Mrs. Burnett's and Mrs. Hickman's Oliver cl/ssesrec
jight, this being Child Abuse Prevention Month. Pictured from
clockwise from bottom left, are Lori Fernandez, Mikaela Longoria,
Rory Cook, Casey McGlasson, Megan Valencia and Carlos Robles.
See story on page 8. . • , ,
Citizens invited to meet sheriff’s
staff at Saturday “Cookout”
Jones County citizens arc invited
to attend a "cookout" to meet their
sheriffs department staff. Sheriff
Robby Wiedeking says "Everyone is
invited to come out and meet this
dedicated team of employees. This
is an opportunity for citizens to meet
the staff and to voice their opin-
ions." The "cookout" will begin at
6 p.m. this Saturday at the sheriffs
department.
This time is scheduled in order
for all employees to be able to at-
tend while remaining on the job and
serving the county. "During the
month of March numerous ob-
stacles have been placed in the path
for our employees to overcome. I
am pleased to have such a dedicated
team of employees to work and take
a stand with on Saturday, April 18,"
Sheriff Wedeking said.
Early Voting
Early Voting for the school and city council began April 15 and ends
April 28. Saturday, May 2 is Election Day.
Garden Club Flower Show
The Stamford Garden Club will have a Flower Show on May 2, 1998
from 3-6 p.m. at the VIP Center. For entry information call Pat Prewit or
Chris Grounds.
No School
There will be no school on April 17th.
Stamford Garden Club
The Stamford Garden Club will meet April 23 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
at Central Presbyterian Church for a Fellowship Workshop.
T¥ash-A-Thon
Temple Baptist Church will be having a Trash-A-Thon on April 25th.
Proceeds will help youth go to summer camp. Call 773-2139 for more
information.
Sirens to be Tested
The City of Stamford will be testing its weather alert warning sirens on
Friday, April 24 instead of April 17 due to the track meet at 12:00 noon,
weather permitting.
MCRDC
The McCaulley Recreational Development will host a Senior Citizen’s
Dance on Monday, April 20 from 7-10 p.m. in the Community Center.
For more information call 915-962-5441.
Wild Horse Prairie Days
The Haskell Wild Horse Prairie Days Steering Commitle is sponsoring a
western theme parade on June 5 to kick off the third annual Wild Horse
Prairie Days. Call 940-864-3507 for more information.
Jones County Retired Teachers
The Jones County Retired Teachers Association will meet in Hamlin at
Rath City Steak House at 11:30 on April 17. All retired personell is invited.
Opera House Musical
The Third Saturday Musical at the Opera House in Anson is this Saturday,
April 18. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Call 915-823-3761 for more
information.
Team Roping
The Rochester Junior Class is having a Team Roping to benefit their
daw Ou May 16. Call 940 743-3340 or 940-743-3347 for more
information. t
Stamford Ministerial Alliance
The Stamford Ministerial Alliance will meet on Thursday. April 23 at
noon at the VIP.
Exchange Club members helped the Easter Bunny by hiding 1300 eggs at Harmon Park. Children filled their
baskets in record time. Canines joined in the fun!
track meet t
be held here B
The 1998 District 7-AA VanH»'
Track Meet will be held on Friday,',
April 17 al Stamford High School.
Field events and preliminaries are
scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. Fi-
nals will start al 4:00 p.m. After
admission has been paid, patrons
will be stamped to allow them tyk
come and go as necessary.
The Stamford FFA Booster Chib
will host a concession stand located
at the football field. A large variety
of drinks', snacks and food items will
be available
Scratch meeting will be troih
7:45 - 8:30 am. Running prelims
and field events will begin at 9:00
a.m and running finals will begin
at 4:00 p.m.
window , and installtion of three new
showers.
Wedeking assured the court that
three jailors would finish school at
the police academy on Friday as
certified jailors. The sheriff said he
would be interviewing next Tuesday
to fill the vacant positions in his
department. “Fourtccn«ippications
have been received; less than half
of those jieoplc arc qualified.” Chief
Deputy Cochran said.
After a long discussion with the
court about the costs for additonal
employees, repairs, and moving the
911 sytem to a new room in the
sheriff’s building, the sheriff and his
chief deputy were asked to be
present at a called meeting the fol-
lowing Monday with an alternative
plan that might save the county
money. “We have spent hours on
this plan. Jail standards have
changed and many small jails are
facing the same problems,” Cochran
told the court. One of the larger
expenses in meeting the jail stan-
dards is the new showers. One
shower is priced at $1500, three arc
needed. The 1941 models have
lasted 57 years to date. Commis-
sioners hope the new ones will last
as long. Jail repair expenses were
approved.
Another large expense is the hir-
by: Linda Dalliston
Sheriff Robby Wedeking insisted
that the Commissioners Court be
sworn in as w. II as he and Chief
Deputy Phulip Cochran at
Monday’s meeting. Last week
Wedeking and Cochran took the
oath without question in a called
meeting. “We would be glad to take
an oath if the judge and commis-
sioners swear in,” Sheriff Wedeking
said. Judge Brad Rowland told the
sheriff he was being sworn in due
to some questions he had pertain-
ing to the truth on some records
from the sheriff’s department. “I’m
an elected official just like you arc;
if I am required to take an oath then
you and the commissioners should
also,” the sheriff insisted. When the
judge asked “Who is supposed to
swear us in?” Wedeking advised the
court that the County Clerk could
do so. Margaret Jones then admin-
istered the oath to the judge and
commissioners “to tell the whole
truth.”
A lengthy discussion followed
the formal procedure centering on
meeting all of the jail standards that
must be met to reopen the county
facility. Wedeking and Cochran pre-
sented a diagram and plan for meet-
ing the guidelines set by the state
agency details for installation of bug
screens, replacement of a broken
ing of additonal jailors “A dis-
patcher was considered as a jailor
before now. We have been in non-
compliance with jail standards as I
have brought before the court sev-
eral times before the inspection.
The inspector allowed us to func-
tion with fewer jailors until a prob
Icm occurred. Wedeking ex-
plained. Commissioners had asked
why the jail had not had these re-
quirements placed on them in the
past.
“Adding a new room m the jail
for 911 equipment, plus hiring three
new jailors is a tremendous cost to
the county," Judge Rowland said
He then asked for the sheriff income
back with another less costly option
The matter will be addressed again
Monday
Other court business included:
♦Testimony from George Morns,
former jailor, who resigned al the
end of March. ’ Morns brought a
large number of copied mcmoran
dunes from the sheriff's office be-
fore the court with verbal explana-
tions of performing his duties while
an employee ,as directed by the
sheriff and Cochran. Morris said live
sheriff had “jumped on me in front
of guests in the of lice," when he
asked for additional information to
write a termination letter that he had
• Commissioners Court
Sheriff demands court be sworn ”To tell the truth
been ordered to write. Morris
he needed more notes to co
the letter. He said he was char
with insubordamtion.
♦The court approved a request ’
lor $2,890 for added security for the •
staff of the Adult Probation Office
that was damaged in an arson fire
January 23 of this year. Jud
Rowland and Commissioner James
Wylie voted “no” to the expenditure.
“I'm not against safety; with a de*
crease the tax-base, 1 just don’t
want the county to pay out
money," Judge Rowland said.
♦Approval for continued su
of the MHMR in the annual amount
of S3,000 was given.
♦Approved an interlocking gov-
ernment between Jones County. Pre- „
imet 3 and Hawley.
♦Adopted the existing archive &
program for the Texas State Library
for use in records management for , *
all local governments.
Commissioners went into execu-
live session with their lawyers to Lj
discuss a pending lawsuit involving v
Barbara Russel vs. Jones County, Et '■
Al Russell is a former employee,
whoalicgcs sexual harassment. The
1996 suit is also against former Jones w
County Sheriff Mike Middleton eng
his chief deputy, Eric Coleman.
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Dalliston, Linda. Stamford American (Stamford, Tex.), Vol. 77, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 16, 1998, newspaper, April 16, 1998; Stamford, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1186802/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stamford Carnegie Library.