The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1948 Page: 1 of 20
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BUY IT
BUY
IN KERMIT
An Institution Promoting the Interests of Winkler County
Thursday, March 11, 1948
Kermit, Winkler County, Texas
Vol. 12—No. 1
22332
§3
88338
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§85:
8852
8sgs
The
■
Kermit
Broadcast
a
8
BY NEV H. WILLIAMS
Commissioners
Order Issuance
Of Road Bonds
of
i .
E
from the City Hall, all mem
Contract with Canterbury Engi-
the commission were pi o3
NEW RADIO SERVICE
The Weather
sa-
:2392-2223 :
Five Criminal Cases On Docket For
Trial Here Next Week In District Court
CITIZENS SINK CITY BOND ISSUE WITH
ALMOST 6-TO-1 PROTEST VOTE
Tragedy Strikes
Twice In Home
Edwin Clapp Shoes
The Men’s Store
Clyde Barton Heads Sound Business
In City Government Ticket; Baldwin,
Spangler Are Running Mates
Percy Shands Is
Appointed To
School Board
City Stops Work
On Water, Sewer
Edwin Clapp Shoes
The Men’s Store
Edwin Clapp Shoes
The Men’s Store
Edwin Clapp Shoes
The Men’s Store
Edwin Clapp Shoes
The Men’s Store
March 5 .
March 6
March 7 .
March 8 .
March 9
March 10
March 11
Edwin Clapp Shoes
The Men’s Store
Edwin Clapp Shoes
The Men’s Store
Min.
24.0
15.0
27.0
38.5
30.2
16.8
12.8
Auditor, and now heads Elliott-
Waldron Abstract Company, and j
is a director of Kermit State Bank. I
ROSEBUD FLOWER
SHOP TO HOLD OPEN
HOUSE 1 TO 6 SUNDAY
WINK MAN ASSESSED
SIX MONTHS IN JAIL
ON ASSAULT CHARGES
tween Hobbs and Eunice, N.M.
Randall is the second oldest
the four Mallow children.
MARRIAGE LICENSE.
Paul T. Bail and Elizabeth Alice
Mayes.
1
Max.
36.5
64.6
70.0
59.0
72.0
42.0
a
! d,
PROPOSED BORDER STATION — This is an architect’s drawing of the proposed $500,000
border station at Nuevo Laredo, across the Rio Grande from Laredo. Site for the structure re-
cently was cleared.
/
/
Sewell’s, Kermit’s Newest Business
Firm, To Hold Open House Friday
Night; Open for Business Saturday
Edwin Clapp Shoes
। The Men’s Store
v
High and low temperatures for
the week as reported by the offi-
cial weather station at the Wink
airport are as follows:
Percy Shands, assistant district
, ngineer for Richardson-Bass, was
1 A .med a member of the board to
Schools To Close
At Noon Today
All classes of Kermit schools
were to be dismissed at noon to-
day (Thursday) for members of
the faculty to attend the fifteenth
annual meeting of Trans-Pecos
Texas State Teachers Association,
District 6. Classes will be resumed
on schedule Monday morning.
The meeting opens in El Paso
tonight, with headquarters in Ho-
tel Paso Del Norte. Opening ses-
sion is of all groups in El Paso
High School auditorium at 8 p.m.
Section meetings, beginning at 2
p.m. Saturday, comprise the clos-
ing of the convention.
R. H. Rucker is president of the
Kermit local unit; Leta Blundell is
vice-president; Bertha Hahn, secre-
tary, and Lurlene Varnell, treas-
urer.
The Winkler County News
(Member Associated Press)
Open house will be held at the
new home of The Rosebud Flower
Shop, 619 Magnolia Street, Sunday
afternoon.
Mrs. J. J. Bailey, owner and op-
erator of the shop, said the open
house will be from 1 to 6 p.m.
and invites everyone to attend.
Flower favors will be given to each
person attending the opening.
"The new, modern shop has just
been completed, and with the ad-
ditional equipment we will be able
to render greater service to our
customers,” Mrs. Bailey stated.
Plans Formulated
For Improving
Courthouse Square
Bids for changes on the court-
house square have been called for
Monday, March 15, by Winkler
County Commissioners Court.
The proposed changes call for
widening of the drive-way at the
north side of the courthouse, giv-
ing parking space for vehicles of
county officials, and construction
of sidewalks to the east and west
entrances.
The second planned change clls
for alternate bids on sidewalks
on the outer edge of the square.
One bid is for pouring concrete
oyer part of the outer curbs now
covered with gravel, giving wider
walks around the square. Second
bid is on converting the gravel
covered area into part of the street
around the west and south sides of
the square. Cost of the two plans
will determine which is done, ac-
cording to Judge J. B. Salmon.
,A
, Msne
3
332882
All water and sewer construc-
tion in the City of Kermit with
the excption of one 65-foot ditch,
was ordered stopped when the City
Commission met in regular session
Monday, March 8.
According to official minutes
Members of Kermit School Board
met in regular session Tuesday
night and transacted a number of
important school matters.
The board voted to drop any
further proceedings on the Kermit-
Wink school land litigation suit
which has been under way for
many months. Two court decisions
h ve been rendered favoring the
N ink district.
I Citizens of Kermit did a thorough
job Saturday in. defeating the
$750,000 water and sewer revenue
bond issue with a vote of almost
six to one against the proposal.
Drawing the largest number of
voters in any previous city election,
the polls were closed on time Sat-
urday night, at 7 p.m., by Election
Judge M. H. Alberts, with the as-
sistance of the sheriff’s depart-
ment and over protests of Mayor
W. H. Wilson.
Unofficial tabulations on the
three proposals were as follows:
Proposal No. 1—$285,000 for re-
tirement of waterworks and sewer
revenue bearing bonds: 71 for to
523 against.
Proposal No. 2—$200,000 for
waterworks improvement and ex-
pansion: 89 for and 561 against.
Proposal No. 2—$265,000 for
sewer improvement and expan-
sion: 90 for and 561 against.
The controversy over closing on
time arose when Mayor Wilson
demanded the polls be kept open
longer to accommodate late voters.
Alberts ruled that the election
judge and not any city official ran
an election, that the polls would
be closed as called for by law,
and then called the sheriffs de-
partment. The polls were closed
immediately.
Last-minute effort of the city
administration to pass the issue
was distributing, on the morning
of the election, circulars purport-
ing to answer a number of “Whys”
which had been asked by residents
of the town. Opinions expressed by
some who took time to read them
were that, rather than answering
any questions, the circulars were a
desperate back-lash at The Wink-
ler County News and two of the,
individuals who opposed the issut.
Voting was brisk from the time
Local Lions Club
To Host Zone
Meeting April 1
Kermit Lions Club will be host
to other clubs of this area when
the regular zone meeting is held
here Thursday, April 1, according
to the Rev. Strauss Atkinson,
president of the local club.
The Rev. Atkinson stated plans
are to be pretty well shaped up
this week for the meeting which
will be held in the Legion Hut.
Delegations from Lions Clubs in
Pecos, Monahans and Wink will be
in attendance, and indications are
that 150 to 200 persons may at-
tend.
Members of the Kermit club are
planning to prepare and serve the
meal and the program committee
of the club, with Tommy Thomp-
son as general chairman, will be
in charge of the night’s program.
COUNTRY CLUB MEET
POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER
Annual stockholders meeting of
Winkler County Country Club,
which had been called for Wed-
nesday night, was postponed be-
cause of cold weather, officials re-
ported Thursday morning.
F. M. Neely, president, reported
the meeting has been scheduled
ESS9Wednesday night of next week,
March 17.
Most citizens of the town are-,
aware of the need for water and
sewer improvements and expan I
sions, and considerable talk has
been heard for calling another such
election after the April 6 election
of a City Commission.
wsseme < eg aem
John Baldwin
Announces For
City Commission
John Baldwin, local plumbing
contractor, this week is authorizing
The News to announce his can-
didacy for City Commissioner, sub-
ject to the April 6 election.
Baldwin has been a resident of
Kermit for a number of years,
and has built his business into
one of the leading plumbing con-
tracting firms in the area. He is
also active in a number of civic
organizations.
In making his statement, Bald-
win said:
I have entered this race after
being urged to do so by a num-
ber of leading businessmen who
are interested in better city gov-
ernment. I believe the future of
Kermit depends on an efficient,
well-run city administration, one
which will hold the respect and
confidence of its citizens.
"My policy would be to publish,
in detail, minutes of each City
Commission meeting, and regular
audits of city books. If the citi-
zenship desired, I would welcome
the naming of an advisory com-
mittee, representing all sections of
the city and the various types of
businesses.
"Confidence in the city adminis-
trative body is a right which
should be enjoyed by all residents,
and my only pledge is to work for
that confidence.”
eluding Mayor. W. H. W-a.., and
Commissioners J. F. Simpson and
Glenn Rhea.
Simpson made the motion to
stop all water and sewer construc-
tion “with the exception of 65-feet
of eight-inch sewer tile needed to
fill an open ditch.”
Rhea moved that the city sell to
James Sharp, for the sum of $5,
the “old tool house at the lift sta-
tion.” Both motions were approved,
and no other business was re-
ported.
An aroused public has spoken.
In defeating the city bond issue
last Saturday by an almost 6-to-l
vote, the citizens gave vent to their
outraged sense of justice and their
vehement disapproval of the man-
ner in which their city’s affairs
have been conducted in the last two
years. Certainly there is little
doubt but that the people want the
necessary money with which to
expand and improve the water
and sewer systems and come April
6 they will ask an opportunity to
again vote on the issuance of
bonds to finance the program.
• • e
Now, with the first row of
stumps plowed under, -the citizens
will do well to turn their thoughts
to the forthcoming city election
April 6. Never before in the his-
tory of Kermit has an incoming
governing body faced a bigger job
than that which will confront
those whom you will charge with
lifting the city out of the utter
chaos shrouding our City Hall.
Think of Kermit—and give your
best. If you care you will do that.
* * *
Not that it is of any importance,
but there appeared on the streets
of Kermit last Saturday a circular
purporting to answer a number of
questions propounded by a large
number of citizens, including the
editor of this Rag. We believe
the citizens did not think they re-
ceived good answers, and so stated
at the polls a few hours later. All
of which reminds us that rags
are often used to wipe up a lot of
dirt.
Winkler County Commissioners,
in session Monday canvassed votes
of the recent $550,000 road bond
issue and ordered issuance of the
bonds. Final count on the issue
was: of the 436 votes cast, 317
favored the bonds, arid 119 opposed.
Sale of the bonds to Kermit State
Bank, at a previously announced
contract, also was authorized.
Jack Nelson was appointed Con-
stable of Precinct 2.
Commissioners authorized tne
County Auditor to advertise for
bids on a jeep, and accepted the
proposed two units for all-year gas
air conditioning of Kermit library.
Bills were ordered paid and re-
ports of various county officials
were approved.
Man Draws 10-Day Jail
Sentence, on Worthless
Check Charge
Claud H. Denton was tried in
County Court Wednesday after-
noon on charges of swindling with
a worthless check and was given
a ten-day jail sentence.
County Judge J. B. Salmon dis-
qualified himself and appointed
Attorney Bill Pool to preside.
Third week of 109th District
Court opens Monday, March 15,
with five criminal cases docketed.
A special venire jury panel of 80
men has been summoned to report
Monday morning.
First case set to be called is
that of L. F. Hill, Wink, indicted
on charges of murder. Hill’s in-
dictment reulted after the fatal
shooting last Aug. 4 of B. H. Wynn
in a Wink hotel operated by Hill.
Hill’s trial was postponed from a
previous term of court when de-
fense attorneys reported one of
their chief witnesses had not been
located.
Ao criminal cases are docketed
for Thursday, March 18. These
are: Orval C. Blackman, Hobbs, in-
dicted on charges of rape, and
Carl T. Hector, indicted on charges
of attempted rape. Both of these
also were postponed from earlier
terms of court.
Scheduled to be heard during the
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Isaac, for-
merly of Odessa, announce the
opening of Bill’s Radio Service,
March 12, south of the Y on
the Monahans Highway.
They were formerly with Hobbs
Radio and Appliance Co. at Odessa
for two and one-half years.
a
""a •m
Barton Drafted
For Mayor’s Race
Clyde Barton, long-time resident
of Winkler County, late last week
consented to enter the race for
election as Mayor of the City of
Kermit. Barton has "grown up”
with Kermit, coming here in 1927,
when only a handful of people lived
in the county. He is well ac-
quainted with property valuations,
tax rates, and is recognized as a
conservative progressive business-
man.
Barton formerly was County
r -ihi
. —
neering Company of Kilgore was
approved for construction of the-
cinder track on the athletic field.
Supt. S. M. Melton reported work
has already started on this con-
struction.
A Dallas firm of attorneys, Mc-
Call-Parkhurst & Crowe, was
named to handle bond proceedings
for the proposed new school build-
ings.
Also approved was the employing
of Miss Mary K. Boyd as one of
the first grade teachers. Miss Boyd
is teaching The seventh section of
the first grade.
3233388888880808888888 88888888888
Eaase
would not be a ’candidate for any
office. My decision to enter this
race was made only after many
citizens had urged me to do so.
“If the people of Kermit”, he
concluded, “believe I am the right
man to be entrusted with city
business affairs during the coming
critical period, their confidence
will not be betrayed. I am not
hunting any type of ‘salaried job’. I
believe competent, trained person-
nel should be employed to handle
detail work for the city admin-
istration.”
C. C. Slogan Contest
Awaiting Return
Of President Halley
Unforeseen delay has resulted in
checking the entries submitted in
Kermit Chamber of Commerce slo-
gan contest, Manager Charlie
Green announced this week. The
delay has been caused by the ab-
sence of Judge S. M. Halley, presi-
dent of the organization, who is in
South Bend, Texas.
A total of 274 entries were sub-
mitted in the contest, Green re-
ported.
"We are going to give due con-
sideration to each slogan submit-
ted,” Green stated, "and since the
slogan contest was largely Judge
Halley’s idea, he will serve as head
of the committee to make the
final decision.”
pembers.of the polls ovene at 8 wo, with
Pa e3l.0, in- the edstesi rush o' alosine time
cen .d, Action offin s w ked
until almost midnight to corp l€c.
counting the votes.
Of Kermit Family
Within less than a week after
his father was killed in an air-
plane crash, little Randall Mallow,
5, was critically injured as he
played around a heavy piece of
road building equipment in use on
the Kermit-Andrews Highway.
The child was crushed by the
heavy roller about 6 p.m. Saturday
afternoon, shortly before his
mother, Mrs. Elbert Mallow, re-
turned from a trip to the scene
of the plane crash which had killed
her husband Sunday, Feb. 29.
Reports quickly spread that the
accident had been fatal, but physi-
cians reported this week the boy
has a chance of recovering. He
suffered a fractured skull, chest
injuries and other serious hurts.
Funeral services for Randall’s
father were held Tuesday after-
noon, March 2, from the Baptist
Church. His death resulted when
the private plane he was piloting
crashed late/ Sunday after it had
been landed on the highway be-
smseug
. P
So s 2s
K -O
didate to announce for Mayor, has
withdrawn from the race in favor
of Barton, and this week is offic-
ially announcing his retirement
As the situation now stands, four
candidates are listed for Mayor,
and five have filed for City Com-
missioner.
Candidates for Mayor are Bar-
ton,, J. F. Simpson, incumbent
member of the City Commission;
C. D. Parker, and Fred Pearson.
The five Commissioner candi-
dates are Baldwin, Spangler, Cecil
Atwood, Arkin Cook, and H. A.
(Red) Coulter.
Oscar Maples
Withdraws From
Mayor Race
Oscar Maples, in announcing his
withdrawal from the Mayor’s race,
issued the following statement
Wednesday:
"Rarely is a city or municipality
offered the service of a man of
statesman caliber to serve as a
city official. Kermit, in my opinion,
is being offered the privilege of
voting into office the best all-round
qualified and most capable man in
town for the office of Mayor.
“Had I known that we could
have persuaded or even drafted
Clyde Barton to make the race for
Mayor I would not have announced
for the post, but since he has re-
luctantly consented for his name
to be placed on the ballot I am
only too glad to step aside and
offer my unequivocal support and
influence in his behalf and, to
steal some of the words of Clint
C. Small in a similar situation,
'anyone that has the good judg-
ment to be one of my potential
voters is certainly intelligent
enough to decide what is the best
interest of Kermit.’ Which is, in
my opinion, the election of Clyde
Barton as our Mayor.”
Jack Baker of Wink, charged
with aggravated assault, was tried
in County Court Wednesday after-
noon and sentenced to six months
in jail and a $100 fine. County
Judge J. B. Salmon presided.
Testimony, as brought out in the
trial, was given by Baker’s fifteen-
year old daughter, who testified she
had been severely beaten by her
father. Also testifying were her
fourteen-year old brother and
Elmo Taylor, deputy sheriff in
Wink. Evidence presented was the
young girl’s nose had been broken,
part of her hair pulled out, and
her face and body battered and
badly bruised.
A treat is in store Friday night,
March 12, for residents of Ker-
mit and surrounding territory,
when open house is held for
Sewell’s Jewelry Store and Flower
and Gift Shop, located on Austin
Street. All who have inspected the
building since its completion have
highly praised its general ap-
pearance and outstanding attrac-
tiveness. Open house hours will be
7:30 to 9 p.m.
From the ultra-modem store
front to the flower arranging de-
partment in the back, the entire
building, all equipment, and fix-
tures are of the latest design,
planned as an appropriate back-
ground for the unusual offering of
merchandise being featured.
Display windows are cleverly , ar-
ranged to give a maximum of
Tow space,’ with one special fea-
tore being a small window in
which will be shown only one high
quality item at a time. On enter-
ing the building one of the most
striking fixtures is the flower dis-
play box, centering the back wall,
with a single large glass front
sharply outlined with a wide,
leather-like frame.
All fixtures are of blond maple,
highlighted by light plaster walls
and a tile floor of soft grey, black
and cream, with occasional squares
of terra cotta. Display shelves are
made more eye-catching by mir-
ror backgrounds.
Owner-Manager J. C. Sewell and
Mrs. Sewell, who will assist in op-
eration of the store, are busy this
week uncrating, and arranging the
big stock of gift merchandise
which has been arriving the past
several weeks. Sewell announced
many nationally known brands
will be handled including Imperial
crystal in floral Candlewick de-
sign; Reed & Barton sterling sil-
ver and Alvin sterling; Parker-
Sheafer pens; and Air Queen lug-
“ze. Famous brands of chinaware
also will be carried in stock as
soon as first shipments can be
arranged.
A complete line of Hallmark
greeting cards is one of the fea-
tures of exceptional interest. Cards
of all types, for all occasions, and
in many different moods are dis-
played on a rack designed by the
makers of the cards.
Quality diamonds and jewelry
will be available, as will leather
goods, costume jewelry, radios, lug-
gage, and full line of gift items.
The store will be open for busi-
ness the following day, Saturday,
March 13.
Emory Spangler
Announces for
City Commission
Emory E. Spangler, resident of
Kermit for the past twelve yers,
entered the race late Saturday for
election as City Commissioner as
a member of the Sound Business
in City Government ticket.
Spangler is one of the success-
ful young businessmen of Kermit,
having been associated with the
same life insurance company for
the past twelve years. He was
married here, owns his own home,
and has two children.
He is past president of the Lions
Club, a veteran of 17 months ser-
vice in World War II with eleven
months overseas duty, is now
county chairman of the Red Cross,
and active in Boy Scout and Girl
Scout work.
In making his announcement,
Spangler stated:
“Kermit has been my home for
many years and I hope to live
here many more. My only interest
in entering this race is that of
a man who owns part interest in
a big business, and wants to see
a success made of it. Kermit is
big business in which all of us are
stockholders. It is of vital interest
to everybody that reliable, com-
petent, unselfish officials be en-
trusted with its operation.”
After filing for a place on -the
April 6 ballot, Barton stated:
“I have never had any ambilstthe unexpired term of the late
tions whatsoever to enter any kind i Walter Fiensy. Shands has lived in
of politics. In fact, sometime ag, Kermit for the last two years.
L made deiinite statements a. I Contract with Canterbury Engi-
Drafting of a "Sound Business in
City Government” last week
brought a number of changes in
the political picture for the City
Commission election, April 6.
Clyde Barton, former County
Auditor, now with Elliott-Waldron
Abstract Company, was named to
head the ticket as candidate for
Mayor. Selected to run with Bar-
ton were John Baldwin, local
plumbing contractor, and Emory
E. Spangler, insurance company
representative.
Oscar Maples, second can-
k“-mmm_— ' V
* - '
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Werst
Join News Staff
Mr. and Mbs. J. Lee Werst this
week joined the staff of The
Winkler County News, according
to Nev H. Williams, publisher.
Werst is experienced in many
departments of newspaper and
printing work. He will act chiefly
as outside contact man for com-
mercial printing and assist with
advertising, Williams stated. Mrs.
Werst will handle society report-
ing while Mrs. Nina Barnes is
on leave of absence and also will
do straight news reporting.
Werst formerly was part owner
of the Temple Daily Telegram,
holding the position of advertising
manager. For several years he was
mechanical superintendent of
Western Newspaper Union in Dal-
las. They came to Kermit directly
from McCamey where Mr. and
Mrs. Werst assisted with the pub-
lication of four newspapers for
that area.
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IN "57
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week is the trial of Jerrell Dean
Ford, indicted on charges of theft
of $80 from John Woodrow Aider-
man last June 14; and the trial
of Doyle E. Brown, one of three
Odessa youths who were allegedly
involved in theft of articles from
a drilling rig in the Wheeler Field
last Sept. 26.
Civil suits have comprised the
first two weeks of the March term
of court. The case of C. O. Beaty
vs. Tom H. Sanders reru in a
judgment being returned against
the defendant for a debt of $1,-
452.20, with interest, and the return
of 38 cases of whisky to the plain-
tiff.
The compensation suit of Her-
man Carr vs. Texas Employers In-
surance Association resulted in
awarding of $2,750 to the plaintiff,
with one-third to be paid to At-
torneys H. L. Roberson and Mar-
tin, Moore and Brewster, and two-
thirds to the plaintiff.
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Williams, Nev H. The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1948, newspaper, March 11, 1948; Kermit, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1466707/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Winkler County Library.