The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 4, 1974 Page: 1 of 14
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KicrciU i
P. 0. Box
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The Cherokeean's Heritage Proven By Thesis Research
According to the date on our nameplate. The
Cherokeean should be celebrating its 127th birthday this
week. By way of extended research on the part of our own
Marie Whitehead, we have determined that we should
celebrate as our birthday February 27. On that date, in
1850, the Cherokee Sentinel was established as the true
ancestor of this publication
Through the years, the true founding date and The
Cherokeean's claim to the title of Texas' oldest weekly
newspaper has been questioned. The recent research was
submitted by Mrs. Whitehead as partial fulfillment for the
Master of Arts degree in Journalism at Stephen F. Austin
State University. The thesis seeks to answer two basic-
questions: Is The Cherokeean a descendant of the Rusk
Pioneer, and can it claim beyond dispute the title of
Texas' oldest weekly newspaper''
Until the purchase of the newspaper by Klton B Miller
in 1934, publishers had accepted the founding date for The
Cherokeean as Feb. 27. 1850. Miller decided that the
newspaper was a descendant of the Rusk Pioneer.
Believing February, 1847 to be the correct founding.
Miller changed the date on the flag It carried this date
until 1946 when the new publisher. Frank L. Main changed
the month and year to July 5, 1848
Main's successors reviewed the records in Itt.Vi and
agreed that the newspaper was a true descendant ol the
áiierofew
Sentitifl.
VOLUME VI.
RUSK, TEXAS, SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1856.
NUMBER 24.
Rusk Pioneer established in 1847. The date was again
changed-this time to July 5, 1847.
As a result of the thesis study, Mrs. Whitehead learned
that the Rusk Pioneer was moved to Palestine and that the
present Rusk publication descended from the Cherokee
Sentinel, lounded on Feb. 27, 1850. Careful study of
newspaper type by an expert indicated that the Texas
observer, descendant of the Cherokee Sentinel and The
Cherokee Standard, indisputable ancestor of The
Cherokeean were printed from the same typesetting
equipment
Through this study, a definite lineage has been
established. The newspaper has undergone nine name
changes, to say nothing of changes in ownership. The
original Cherokee Sentinel was changed to The Texas
Observer in 1865, to The Rusk Observer, 1878 and to The
Cherokee Standard, 1882.
In 1888, The Cherokee Standard and the Labor
Enterprise merged to form the Standard Enterprise. The
Standard Enterprise and the Cherokee Herald
consolidated to become the Standard Herald between 1890
and 1893, with John B. Long as editor. The name. Standard
Herald, was changed by Long to the Industrial Press in
1897.
The Industrial Press and the Rusk Weekly Journal
united under a single owner in 1906 and was renamed The
Press Journal. The Rusk Cherokeean owners bought The
Press Journal in 1923, keeping their own name. The
present owners dropped the word "Rusk" from the name
in 1959, leaving only The Cherokeean.
So far as is known, The Cherokeean remains the oldest
weekly newspaper in Texas. The Huntsville Item once
claimed the title, but it is no longer a weekly publication.
The Bastrop Advertiser, nearest competitior for the title,
claims a founding date of March 1,1853. The Cherokeean,
therefore, has a distinct right to the title which is noted on
its flag.
Although the owners must concede to a younger
birthdate, the claims to Cherokee Sentinel ancestry is not
taken without pride. In her thesis, the writer remarks:
"The word, 'sentinel,' is defined by the American
College Dictionary as one who, or that which, watches, or
stands as if watching. It is appropriate that the present
Cherokeean should derive its ancestry from this
publication, in that the newspaper no longer represents
pioneer life; rather, the role of the news media today is
one of watching, reporting, interpreting, and analyzing
events as they happen."
Viewing the situation in this light, we are proud to claim
and celebrate as our birthday February 27,1850. We hope
to measure up to the role implied in the title of our mother
publication.
Volume 125
Number 19
The Cherokeean
Texas' oldest weekly newspaper, established as the Cherokee Sentinel, Feb. 27, 1850
Rusk, Texas, Thursday, July 4, 1974
14c Per Issue
14 Pages
Commissioners Court Asks For Majority Opinion
Before Acting On County-wide Reevaluation Issue
Rusk Chamber Chairman Expresses
Disappointment at Festival Turnout
No definite steps were taken
toward county-wide reevalua-
tion of taxes at the meeting of
interested citizens Thursday
night. The assembly met in the
county court room to discuss
the pros and cons of a joint
reevaluation effort by the
county, cities and schools of
Cherokee County.
About 50 people were present
for the discussion. Most of
those who voiced an opinion
favored reevaluation. Only one
citizen expressed strong op-
position to the program. Bufc
despite the favorable attitude
of those present, Judge Jones
and the County Commissioners
Court made it clear that the
Court would take no action in
the matter unt'l a fair
'Round
TOWN
With Mrs. Roundabout
Last week proved beyond
doubt that this column does
have readers! The reference to
the snake in our bathroom was
not intended as a test of
readership, so that was a side
benefit. And we're thankful for
every one of you. Since so
many of you raised questions,
desiring the full story, here it
is.
Our youngest daughter, now
Ifi. and a friend were at the
farm house one afternoon.
Daughter No. 2 was engaged in
housekeeping maintenance
which is a good thing for a
female to understand. The
operation of certain electrical
gadgets, like vacuum cleaners,
is recommended training for
the girl child. For that matter,
it helps when the bo\ child has
had this experience, too!
She had started into the
bathroom, an area which
always needs attention during
housecleaning. The snake was
snuggled in the corner on the
floor, right under the lavatory
which is a part of a built-in
facility of one drawer and a
small cabinet.
Deadly snake hears blood-
curdling scream and realizes
his mistake!
Daughter No. 1 is joined by
friend and the confusion is
too much for water moccasin.
Three frightened creatures
look at each other and wonder
what to do. Snake says to
himself, "beat feet." The only
possible refuge is up the pipes
for the lavatory, a path which
leads to the dressing table
drawer and cabinet. Voting
people, excited and at the same
time compassionate, seek to
capture long creature with no
legs.
Aided by one shovel and
worn out broom stick, they
succeed in breaking one glass
jar, very large, obtain another
jar, very large, and finally
coax uninvited houseguest
from dressing table drawer
into less spacious, but more
safe accommodations. And
that's where we find the
outstanding speciman-in a jar
on the kitchen cabinet. Right
after we revive from the
sinking spell follows, we
lettltte tlml the stranger m our
house is not really alone in the
jar. Oh no. Compassionate
youth hadn't wanted him to be
hungry, so he is provided with
our own favorite pet toad from
near the back door. Snake and
toad peer with fear from inside
the jar, and we in turn, peer
with fear from the outside. Can
it be. and yes. it is.
Well, at times like this, a
mother asks herself. "And I
wanted to be a mother?" Thus,
the afternoon provided many
learning situations. For the
young people, it was a
challenge to supply the
appropriate action for the
-KSee H'About. Page 7
sampling of Cherokee County
residents approved the idea.
"We need every city council,
school board, and all members
of the Commissioners Court
present at a meeting," said
Terry Perkins, Precinct -4
commissioner. "We can't take
much forward progress until
then."
Bertis Watson, Precinct 1,
was the only commissioner
absent. He was in a Houston
hospital.
The other commissioners
expressed the need for caution
also. Joe Henderson, Precinct
3, said he would consider the
program if the majority of
Cherokee County citizens
wanted it. Pete James.
Precinct 2, pointed out that
those not present at the
meeting to voice their opposi-
tion would probably voice it
later. "They'll show up later,"
he said.
J. M. Boone, superintendent
of schools for Rusk, presented
the gathering with facts
concerning inequities in tax-
ation
"We have large inequities in
our tax structure." he said.
"Land is on the roll at $12 per
acre .the true and real value
ol most land in the county is at
least Sloo-SL'iin per acre."
Boone also told the group
that he had faced count v
taxpayers who felt they were
paying more than their fair
and equal share of taxes. He
said that he had to agree with
them when similar property
appeared on the tax rolls for a
much lesser value. No one at
the meeting was willing to say
that county tax values were
anywhere near fair and equ.il.
Most of the >e who expressed
opinions were representatives
of county taxing authorities
which must make some move
toward reevaluation in the
near future.
A member of the Jackson-
ville City Council speaking as a
county resident said "I
personally think a reevaluation
would be good... I don't propose
to speak for the City Council."
He said that Jacksonville is in
fair shape "for a year or
two-as long as our Revenue
Sharing holds out..."
Tony Murray. New
Summerfield school superin-
tendent. also spoke as a citizen
and agreed with Boone that
inequities exist and should be
corrected as much as possible.
"There will always be some
inequities." he said. "But we
can do better than we're doing.
I don't look for a lot of help
from the constitutional con-
vention." He referred to a
section of the new constitution
which would require each
county to reevaluate.
Judge Jones cautioned
against trying a piecemeal
program. He also spoke
against leaving the entire job
of reassessment in the hands of
outside appraisers.
"Our outside appraiser has
done a very good job," he
noted. "But one man couldn't
do it in a million years...or two
men." * -
"If we all go on our own, we
will at least double the cost of a
+ See' REEVALUATION, Pg7
Southland
Gives $1,000
To Library
The Southland Foundation of
Southland Paper Mills Inc. has
donated $1,000 to the Singletarv
Memorial Library to be used
toward the purchase of
microfilm reading facilities to
better utilize the library's
collection of historic news-
papers.
The check was mailed, along
with a letter, to Emmett H.
Whitehead, Rusk newspaper
publisher, from Melvin E.
Kurth Jr., president of the
foundation. Bob Bowman,
director of Public Relations for
Southland, was in Rusk
Monday to make the formal
presentation to Mayor Morris
W. Hassell.
Kurth. in his letter, pointed
out that more and more
research material is being
placed on microfilm. "News-
papers represent a very real
and timely account of East
Texas' heritage and history
and I hope the enclosed
check...will be of some help in
this project." Kurth said in his
letter.
City To Halt
Garbage Pickup
For July 4
No garbage pickup will be
provided in Rusk on July 4.
Garbage trucks will run later
in the week
City Hall offices will also be
closed July 4.
"The attendance at the
Cherokee Independence Days
Festival this weekend was not
as large as expected but we
have gained a wealth of
experience in the promotion of
the event," says JoEd Ander-
son, special activities chair-
man.
The Special Activities and
Tourist Committees of the
Rusk Chamber of Commerce
sponsored a Cherokee Inde-
pendence Days Festival last
weekend.
"We certainly appreciate the
cooperation of all those
who participated in the parade
Saturday," says Anderson.
"This was one of the best
parades ever held in Rusk."
The parade featured entries
from all branches of the
military service, local floats
and entries, antique cars,
Shrine Jeep Patrol, Shrine
Mini-Cycle Patrol and Lt. Col.
Thomas J. Curtis, former POW
as parade marshal.
"We were hoping for a larger
crowd." says Anderson, "but
all the people who volunteered
their time to work on the
project in advance, and that
day. were like the cloud's
Neches Depot
To Be Moved
To Palestine
A Palestine organization has
purchased the Old Neches
railroad depot for a railroad
museum. The museum is to be
placed near the terminal for
the Texas State Railroad in
Palestine.
The Diamond Stack Preser-
vation Society which promotes
the development of tourist
facilities in Palestine for the
Texas State Railroad purchas-
ed the depot from E.B. Berden
of Troup. The purchase price
has not been disclosed.
The railroad is to run
between Rusk and Palestine.
The Rusk city park will be near
the Rusk terminal.
A representative for the
Palestine society said that the
depot should be, "An architec-
tural gem" after renovation.
ACCEPTS t'llECK-ltoh Bow man, director of
Public Itrlntions for Southland Paper,
presents a check to Rusk Ma\or Morris
Massed in behall of the Southland Foundation
and Melvln K. Kurth Jr . president ol
Southland I'apei The check lot Ii.imiii will ht>
used toward the purchase of microfilm
reading equipment for Slngletan Memorial
l.ihran. standing right Is State Representa-
li\r Emmett II Whitehead, publisher of The
t hciokccan, who received the check tiom
Km Ih si,ill photo
mmmxmmm
$300 To Be fiiven Away
Drawings for three cash prizes, totaling $300, will be
held at 4 p.m. Monday in the office of the Rusk Chamber of
Commerce.
The cash jackpot is sponsored again this month by the
Retail and Trade Committee of the Rusk Chamber of
Commerce. Joe Ray Ocker, president.
"The prlies will be for 1150, >75 and $75," says
Chairman Ocker.
Registration began Thursday, June *7 A list of
participating merchants muy be found on Page 14 in this
issue of The Cherokeean
silver lining. It is indeed ajoy
to work on a project with so
many good people who are
willing to work so hard for our
town."
More than 300 persons
attended the jamboree in the
football stadium Saturday.
Entertainment was provided
by the Shady Grove Ramblers,
Silver Moon Bluegrass Band,
Changin' Tymes and Miss
Texas Bluegrass Trenda Rom-
ell.
Of particular interest during
the day's activities were the
helicopters which were on
display. Two helicopters land-
ed on First State Bank parking
lot, one on the chamber lot on
Lone Oak and another on the
corner of Lone Oak and Sixth
streets.
"Again, let me thank all
those who worked on the four
day celebration," Anderson
concludes. "We hope to benefit
from tly experience we've
gained, and present a bigger,
better show next year."
\\
Ol'R AMERICAN HERITAOE-SymMa of our heritage. Old
Glory and I'ncle Ham, remind us of the freedom we gained with
the signing of the Declaration of Independence July 4,177* by M
men who were willing to pay any price for freedom. Let us pause
this July 4 and pay homage to our heritage. Have a happy 4th!
•■staff photo
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The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 4, 1974, newspaper, July 4, 1974; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151077/m1/1/?q=1966+yearbook+north+texas+state+university: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.