The Panola Watchman (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 122, No. 101, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 17, 1995 Page: 1 of 14
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Appraisal distri
requests AG opinion
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terms, and stale law now allows
ARB members to serve a third
term. Both Williams and Shaw are
said.
An additional board member
will be appointed next month. The
board voted to ask area taxing enti-
ties for suggestions as to possible
nominees.
In other matters. First Slate
I think we’d be wise
In getting an AG’s
opinion...because
we open ourseves
up.
CUFF TEMPLETON
Appraisal board member
pository and a janitorial contract
was approved.
Gray reported that both parties
in the Lake Murvaul lease lots dis-
pute had requested that Judge Joe
Clayton make a decision in the
matter before the end of the year.
Clayton, a visiting judge from
► See WATER, page A2.
By Laura Negri
THE PANOLA WATCHMAN
The Panola County Appraisal
District Board will request an
opinion from the Attorney Gen-
eral's office before releasing infor-
mation on royalty ownership.
The board Wednesday discussed
how to handle a request for the
county's division order roll in elec-
tronic form, and approved the rec-
ommendation from chief appraiser
John Pepper to seek a formal
opinion from the AG's office before
giving out the information.
"I think we'd be wise in getting
an AG's opinion...because we open
ourselves up," noted board member
Cliff Templeton, expressing con-
cerns the board would be vulnera-
ble to a lawsuit if it released the di-
vision order roll without an opin-
ion.
Attorney Raymond Gray, of
Ray, Wood and Fine, told the board
they would have to release the divi-
sion order roll under the Texas
Open Records Act. "It's a losing
battle," Gray said of efforts to pre-
vent the release of the information.
But Pepper felt that, because the
division order roll came from in-
formation given to the district con-
fidentially, in renditions, an argu-
.menLcould be made that the roll it-
self should be confidential.
The division order roll lists
ownership of all the oil and g.-i<
wells in the county by individual
wells. Stored in an electronic for-
mat, the information could be very
useful to someone interested in ac-
quiring the rights to certain wells or
in targeting certain types of royalty
owners, such as those who own
only a small portion of a well.
The board has expressed con-
cerns that such information could
be used improperly by people
seeking to exploit royalty owners.
The information is also very valu- Williams; Shaw has completed two
able, representing thousands of
dollars worth of research if com-
piled from other sources. But the
district would be unable to charge willing to be re-appointed. Pepper
more than a minimum fee to fur-
nish the information, if it is com-
pelled to do so.
Pepper said that as chief ap-
praiser. he could request a formal
opinion on the matter from the
AG's office. The board would then
have a basis on which to make its Bank was approved as the bank de-
decision.
Such an opinion would likely
take more than a month.
The board also voted to reap-
point Tom Ben Williams and Nettie
Shaw to the Appraisal Review
Board, the body that hears disputes
over property appraisals. Board
member.Murray Marie has com-
\ pteted one n^o-year term, as had
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stands with Commissionsr Jimmy Davisfcsnter) as SRA
Operations Manager Maynard Nntoon makes an annoucnement
Panola County.
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Yellow Dog to get boat ramp
Fishermen who frequent Yellow
Dog Park in southeastern Panola
County will soon benefit from a
contribution by the Sabine River
Authority.
Representatives from the SRA.
along with county officials, an-
nounced Wednesday that next week
the agency will begin construction
on a new boat ramp at the park.
The park was originally con-
structed more than 20 years ago by
the county. Since that time, literally
thousands have enjoyed camping,
fishing and hunting around the
park.
When heavy rains caused the
Sabine to rise out of bank in the
early 1990s, the river began erod-
ing soil from underneath the boat
ramp. Today, more than three feet
of the end of the ramp stands above
the river with no support.
County road supervisor Johnny
Parker said about 20 feet of the
ramp has broken away and now sits
in the river bed.
SRA has already begun moving
heavy equipment and will begin
dirt work early next week, weather
permitting.
Once completed, the 18-foot
wide boat ramp will have a 7-1
slope.
"I think this ramp will be a great
improvement to the park and will
allow better access to the river,"
said Walta Cooke, SRA board
member. "Using our resources to
help improve the quality of life for
residents along the river basin is a
major goal for the Sabine River
Authorrty.’'
►X i DanMHumphria
Walta Cooke, Sabina Rroar Authority board member
stands with Commissioner Jimmy Daviafcenter) as
about improvements at Yellow Dog Park in southeastern
Uninsured drivers a source of frustration for officials
1
Section. 14 Pages
ember 17. 1995
lay. [
Volume 122. Number 101
► See INSURANCE, page A2.
By Sherry Koonce
THE PANOLA WATCHMAN
Liability automobile insurance
required by state law is fast be-
coming a point of concern to those
charged with its enforcement and to
motorists unlucky enough to col-
lide with an uninsured vehicle.
In the past year the number of
persons driving without liability in-
surance has grown to one out of
every four persons, according to
when they are faced with having
only enough money to buy gro-
ceries and pay the rent and utilities,
liability insurance is pretty far
down on their priority list," Hanna
acknowledged.
Another problem contributing to
the high numbers of uninsured
motorists is the lack of an effective
enforcement tool.
"There is simply no effective
way to be certain someone is actu-
ally covered when they get stopped
Mark Hanna, spokesperson with
the Texas Department of Insurance.
"We are certainly aware that this
problem exists and is continuing to
grow," said Hanna.
Hanna attributed the high cost of
coverage combined with the diffi-
culty of enforcing state-mandated
insurance requirements as one of
the main reasons people are letting
their policies lapse.
"Insurance is expensive for folks
on a limited budget. Many times
by the police," Hanna stated.
All that is required by a law en-
forcement officer for proof of in-
surance is an insurance card - one
that can easily be obtained by pay-
ing only a fraction of the insurance
policy premium.
"This happens all the time.” said
Carthage Farm Bureau Insurance
Agent Bob Gage. "Our biggest
problem is people come in and
make deposits and are issued a lia-
bility card. After they get it, they
drives the cost of insurance premi-
ums up." Gage acknowledged.
And for those individuals who
find themselves involved in a traf-
fic accident with an uninsured mo-
torist, the expense of fixing their
vehicle could be insurmountable.
"What can you get out of some-
body who doesn't have any
money?" Hanna asked.
But there are recourses if pay-
don't make their payments and let
their insurance policy lapse."
The process. Gage said, not only
contributes to the growing numbers
of uninsured persons driving, but
also drives up the cost of insurance
premiums.
"Every time someone does not
make a payment, a late notice is
sent out. followed by a notice of
impending cancellation and finally
by a cancellation notice. The time
and expense of these procedures
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Only 7 more
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Christmas!
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Laura Negri photo
Amos Harrison joins daughter Simone and the Libby Choir
tor 'Reindeer Twist,’ one of several Christmas tunes
performed by the group In a holiday concert Friday. Parents
and teachers wore recruited to dance to the song, a favorite
with choir members.
Sports
Dawgs taka Nacogdoches
Dragons 96-82.
See pages A7.
4
GOP candidates seek Panola County support
123rd
as
1
1
maintenance coordinator for county
government. I have purchasing and
Precinct 1 Commissionor:
► Jerry Beatty
► Ray Johnson
Toxas Senate:
► Drew Nixon
two daughters and purchased
Panola County Abstract and Title
Co. in January, he was appointed
judge by Texas Gov. George W.
Bush.
"I am a compassionate conser-
vative. I want to see that justice is
carried out fairly, efficiently and
swiftly in Panola and Shelby
Counties," Dowd said. "In the last
three and one half months in
Shelby County, we have disposed
of 71 criminal cases, four juvenile.
13 civil and between IS to 20 di-
vorce and domestic cases. In
► Panola County Republican
Party continues to grow.
Seepage A2.
County Republicans >***? -
* • mnrt ic m
seeking spaces on
primary ballots
employees and I have learned a Jence from Baylor College of Law.
"After college. I moved to
Houston and worked for Exxon,
and later for Covington and Reese.
After living in the big city. I de-
cided I wanted to get closer to my
roots, so I moved to Lufkin where I
was associate general counsel for
Panola County, we have had a sim-
ilar record.
"We have come early and stayed
late to get the backlog of cases dis-
posed of. and we'll continue to do
so." he added.
Dowd noted that as judge, he
hopes he can convince defendants
that they should be personally re-
sponsible for their actions.
"On the domestic front. I stand
strong in seeing that fathers support
their children. If a man does in fact
have some difficulty paying child
support, well work with him. But
no longer will a man stand before
the court and blatantly defy his
obligations." Dowd said.
"As far as civil cases go, we
have a large number of complex
cases and we want people to know
that we will adjudicate those cases
in a timely manner."
Dennis Boemer and Ed Merritt
are only two of several candidates
who aim to win the 1st Congres-
sional District seat.
Merritt, a lawyer from
Longview, told the group that he
has never run for public office be-
fore.
"People in East Texas are saying
they can't vote for Democrats on
the national level — maybe they
can vote for a neighbor who they
► See CAMbVbATES, page AX
123rd District Judge:
► Bi! Blakeman
► Steve Dowd
district judge has two primary ob-
■ first, to see that the
court is run efficiently and eco-
nomically. and second to preside
over court.
"As a CEO for more than 12
years, I oversaw a budget of $27
million and supervised 1,650 peo-
ple. Through that. 1 learned the ap-
plication of the administrative pro-
cess.
"I make one promise — if I'm
elected, there will be no politics in
my court Everyone will be treated
fairly and equally."
Dowd, who currently sits on the
123rd bench, said he is a native
East Texan who grew up in
Hawkins. He earned a bachelor's
degree from Austin College, a
masters from Southern Methodist
SiLpC.rV'Sory exPe7e2ce wi1,h University and a doctor of jurispru-
great deal." Beatty noted.
"We are blessed to have the kind
of tax base we do — we have a lot
more to work with than a lot of
other counties do."
Two other Panola County resi-
dents. Bill Blakeman and Steve
Dowd, will try and earn a place on Temple-Inland Forest Products,"
the Republican ballot as 123rd Dowd said.
District Court Judge. In 1992, Dowd moved to
Blakeman told the group that he Carthage with wife Pam and their
is a resident of the Delray commu-
nity and holds a bachelor of science
in economics, a master's in busi-
ness and a doctor of jurisprudence
degree from the South Texas
School of Law. He noted that he is
a member of the Texas Criminal
former district judge Bennie Boles.
"Judge Boles taught me a lot
about this profession." Blakeman
said. He said that as he sees it. a
By Daniel Humphries
THE PANOLA WATCHMAN
With less than 90 days left be-
fore primary elections. GOP candi-
dates met Thursday night with
Panola County Republicans in
hopes of winning a place on the
March 12 ballot.
County GOP chair Larry Brum-
ley said the party is especially
pleased this election season to be
offering four local candidates com-
peting against one another for two
spots on the Republican ticket.
Ray Johnson and Jerry Beatty
both spoke to the group of close to
30 GOP supporters. Both men arc
vying to be the Republican repre-
sentative for Precinct 1 commis-
sioner.
Johnson told the audience that
he is a Gary native and has lived in
and around the community all his
life. He attended Gary schools, as
well as Panola College and Stephen
F. Austin State University.
"I want to see that every tax
dollar spent, by the county is ac-
counted for." Johnson said. "We
are already spending money that
won't be collected until further on
down the road. Property tax valua-
tions in our county are starting to
go down. To keep an even keel, we
une going to have to see that rev-
enue comes from somewhere.
"We pretty much have a one-
man court up there now." Johnson
added.
Beatty told the group that al-
though he wasn't bom in Panola
County, he's been here since 1959
and considers it home. He also at-
tended Gary schools.
"’ hnw wndred «i»
Inside
Inez Pool looks back on fond
memories of business.
See page A6.
U1 CD CD
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Leach, Ted. The Panola Watchman (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 122, No. 101, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 17, 1995, newspaper, December 17, 1995; Carthage, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1280472/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sammy Brown Library.