The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 132, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 16, 1981 Page: 1 of 16
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MICROFILM CENTER, INC.
P.O. BOX 45436
DALLAS, TX 75235
15"
per Issue
The Cherokeean
Texas'Oldest Weekly Newspaper
Home of the
Texas State Railroad
Vol.132 No.9 16Pages
Established as the Cherokee Sentinel. February 27,1850
Rusk, Texas 75785-Thursday, April 16,1981
I
Cable Rate Denied;
Decision Is Pending
ITS EASTER TIME-And these students at the Rusk Independent School District kindergarten at the old Bradford School en-
Joyed an easier egg hunt last week. Tlie annual Rusk Easter Egg hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, at 10 a.m. at Jim
Hogg SUte Park and is open to any youngster 9 year-old or younger. The kindergarten will be registering students for the next
school year April 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Any child who will be 5-years-old on or before Sept. 1 must be registered for school.
-photo by linney patton
Armory Estimate Asked
A cost estimate for developing
renovation plans for the old Armory
Building will be obtained following
Rusk City Council approval Tuesday
night.
Joe Rozelle, president of the Rusk
Chamber of Commerce, was
authorized to obtain a cost bid from a
Tyler architect to draw up plans for
the renovation of the building on
Euclid Street.
Rozelle is seeking council approval
for renovation of the armory into a
civic-community center for indoor
recreation, business meetings, family
reunions, wedding receptions and
other activities. The armory is ad-
jacent to a swimming pool, golf cour-
se and ball park and has a hotel-motel
facility in the immediate area, accor-
ding to Rozelle.
Funds for the renovation work and
architect fees are not now available,
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We are in the midst of what is called
"Holy Week," those days just prior to
Easter. But what is Easter and how
did it get its name? Well, it may have
come from Eostre, a Teutonic god-
dess of spring, or from the Teutonic
festival of spring called Eostur. It is a
date observed by Christians.
The date varies from year to year,
but It falls on the first Sunday after the
first full moon on or after March 21. It
cannot come before March 22 or after
April 25. Now If you're wondering how
this was agreed upon, it was the
decision of the Niocene Council in
A.D. 325 which set the method of
determination of Easter!
It is a time of hope, a time for
rejoicing. A time that is spent in being
glad that we're alive with the oppor-
tunity to claim victories in the NOW.
That is the message of the Easter
celebration.
Rusk has reached It's observance of
a 134th birth-year, which hardly
touches the long ago birth-date of
Christianity. And there are so many to
whom we are Indebted for our present
state of being.
Locally we have one person in par-
ticular to whom we are indebted for a
very real contribution to our present
state of well being. He is J.C. Williams
who served on the City Council of
Rusk for more than SO years and who
was there when such services as city
water and city paving were made
possible for our cltisens. He recently
had surgery in Jacksonville and after
a nip and tuck operation, we can
rejoice with you that "Honey,
Honey," la feeling much better.
We all ewe so much te •• maay
mere tbaa we can ever
•«•haewtedge.. ** al Hester
May your Raster be what you wish
according to Mayor James Fisher.
However, when and if timber
belonging to the city is sold with
revenue to go for recreational pur-
poses, funds might become available
to finance the renovation, the mayor
said. v
Also, Fisher reported the proposed
renovation could be presented for
council approval at a budget hearing
in October.
Rozelle reported he had contacted
Congressman Sam B. Hall to deter-
mine if any federal funding is
available for this type project.
"Hall wrote back that things are
tough," Rozelle said. Tom Barber of
Tyler, grant consultant for the city,
told Rozelle and members of the
council that he didn't know of any
grants that would be available for this
particular project.
In another matter to come before
the council, members canvassed the
April 4 city election with Mayor
Fisher receiving 104 votes; Coun-
cilman Jim Thompson 15 votes for
District 1; and Councilman Donald
Dickerson, 23 votes for District 2.
Gene Kelley was appointed as city
judge. Mayor Fisher asked that a let-
ter of appreciation and a certificate
be issued to outgoing City Judge Allen
Dotson.
City Attorney Larry Sinclair was re-
appointed city attorney.
In another matter, the council ap-
proved an application for Housing and
Urban Development Block Grant fun-
ding totaling $513,000 for the year
1981. The $513,000 is funding for the
second year in a three-year $1.5
million community development
block grant for the city.
The three-year program calls for
$346,000 in 1980 with some 58 percent
already spent or obligated, according
to Barber. The 1982 funding totals
some $641,000.
Funding requested for 1981 will in-
clude rehabilitation $92,000;
acquisition and relocation, $144,000;
clearance, $14,000; code enforcement,
$15,000; water loop, $89,000; paving,
$116,000; acquisition of property for a
park, $10,000; and administration,
$33,000.
'Show, Sell'
Activity
Is Saturday
The Rusk Chamber of Commerce
Merchant's Division will sponsor a
home craft "Show and Sell" Day
Saturday, April IB.
Local craftsmen are invited to
diipley their handmade Items at
tablee, situated In front of the various
downtown, businesses, according to
Fred Gaines, chairman of the mer-
chant's division,
Permits for the showing can be ob-
the Huak Chamber of
Funds for sewer to the Southeast
Rusk target area and the Rusk In-
dustrial Park, located nearby, were
included hf the 1980 funding and the
water loop in the 1981 budget includes
water service to the target area and
the industrial park.
In another matter, council mem-
bers approved $3,400 in expenditures
for providing a six-inch water line to
Jared Street. The water line extension
will allow for the installation of a fire
hydrant within 500 feet of property
Owners living on the street. Presently
homes on the street are more than
1,000 feet from a fire hydrant.
The council approved a mobile
home special use ordinance to allow
for issuance, on a yearly basis, per-
mits for location of mobile homes in
areas other than mobile home parks.
The request for location of a mobile
home in an area outside the mobile
home park will be subject to approval
of the planning and zoning com-
mission and will be issued on a yearly
basis.
The council also approved an or-
**See CITY COUNCIL, p. 16
Rusk City Council's denial of a rate
increase to E-Z Vision TV Cable Com-
pany Tuesday night will force Em-
mett Whitehead, owner, into a
decision. He will either go the ar-
bitration route, or reduce the cost of
doing business.
According to the contract between
the cable company and city, the com-
pany has 15 days to request ar-
bitration. The arbitration board will
consist of three members: one ap-
pointed by the council; one by the
cable company; the two shall make
an effort to select a third member.
Egg Hunt
Is Slated
Saturday
The annual Rusk Easter Egg Hunt
is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Jim
Hogg State Park. The hunt is open to
all area children age 9 and under.
The event is sponsored jointly by
the Rusk Chamber of Commerce and
Buckhorn Grocery. Eggs will be hid-
den by members of the Youth Cham-
ber of Commerce.
Appointments shall become effec-
tive within 15 days from the denial of
the rate increase. Should the third ar-
biter not be named within 10 days, the
County Judge will appoint the third
arbiter within 5 days. The board will
have 30 days from date of their ap-
pointment and qualification to make a
decision.
At a meeting last Thursday
Whitehead told the council that he
would make a decision either to ap-
point an arbiter or reduce of cost of
doing business if his request was
denied.
If the decision is to reduce the cost
of doing business, considerations in-
clude the cancellation of Super Station
Ch. 17, Atlanta, Ga., Christian Broad-
cast Network and the two microwave
channels.
The Rusk City Council, in a three to
two vote, denied a rate increase
requested by E-Z Vision TV Cable
Company at their regular meeting
Tuesday night.
Whitehead, owner-manager of the
company, had requested an increase
of 70 cents to go in effect immediately,
and an additional 30 cents September
1.
Mayor James Fisher told the coun-
cil, "Mr. Whitehead has kept the faith
in improving the system until it is very
acceptable. He has expended a great
deal of monies to build it up...more
Hospital Board Gets OK
The creation of a countywide
hospital authority received tentative
approval from Cherokee County
commissioners meeting in regular
session Monday.
During discussion which lasted two
hours, the commissioners expressed
endorsement for but withheld final
approval of the authority until
nominees for a board of directors
could be accepted.
Rusk Memorial Hospital, Nan
Travis Memorial Hospital and
Newburn Memorial Hospital have
been requested by the commissioners
to submit a list of three to five can-
didates for possible appointment to
the board of directors for the
authority. The commissioners will
meet again, Monday, April 20, to con-
sider the nominees.
The quasi-governmental body
would be able to issue low interest
revenue bonds which would aide in the
purchase, construction, expansion,
equipping or establishment of
hospitals and health care facilities in
the county, County Attorney Robert
McNatt told the commissioners.
The authority would also have the
power of eminent domain and proper-
ty owned by the semi-public agency
would be tax exempt, the county's
legal counsel said.
Commissioner Robert J. Under-
wood expressed concern that the
authority would have the power to
"take a man's property whether he
wants to sell it or not."
Eugene D. Vinyard, a bonding con-
sultant and financial advisor to
Newburn's Hospital in Jacksonville,
U lived (or l
Kxhlbitore wtU tur
it tot ) Until Mat
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lite <'t|ut|imrnl. Ik* «tl>
told the commissioners that no
hospital authority in Texas had ever
used the right of eminent domain in
his years of experience with such
agencies.
When an informal poll of the com-
missioners was taken, Underwood
said he was on the line and Com-
missioners Toby Sartain of Pet. 2, Joe
Henderson of Pet. 3 and Terry
Perkins of Pet. 4 said they agreed
with taking action to establish the
authority.
♦•See COMMISSIONERS, p. 16
Tribute
Is Paid
More than 45 individuals and 20
organizations were honored last
Thursday at an awards luncheon
sponsored by the Volunteer Services
Council of Rusk State Hospital.
The luncheon, which was designed
to award those persons and
organizations who had contributed
significantly to the hospital, was held
at the New Southern Restaurant.
Included in the list of persons
receiving awards was Mrs. Essie
Madden who contributed more than
3,500 hours of service to the patients at
the hospital.
In presenting the award, council
coordinator, Joe D. Rozelle said
"Mrs. Madden has accumulated
hours so quickly that we skipped her
2,500 hour bar."
Mrs. Madden is responsible for the
"All Patient Program" each year at
the hospital's open house. She
provides music for the church ser-
vices in the Valley View and
Maximum Security sections of the
hospital and arranges programs for
special occasions, the coordinator
said.
Mrs. Madden also provides music
therapy for the patients on Wed-
nesdays and offers choir practice, af-
ter hours, to the patients, Rozelle
said.
Mary Johnson and Lucyle Kesler,
both serving as representatives of the
Presbyterian Women's Association of
Jacksonville, were awarded bars for
1,S00 hours of volunteer work at the
hospital.
Rozelle cited their 22 years of ser-
vice to the hospital sponsoring birth-
day parties and bringing donatlona to
the hospital from Jacksonville
Other persona receiving awards tor
between 800 and 1,000 hours oI service
were Mary Buchanan, Mildred
Chapman,
w
than is necessary to justify the in-
crease," the Mayor said.
A motion by Jim Thompson and
seconded by Donald Dickerson to ap-
prove the rate increase failed 2-3.
Councilmen Ernest Singleton, Dan-
ny Berry and Ken Peloquin voted to
deny the increase by voice vote. The
motion to deny was made by Singleton
and seconded by Danny Berry.
Larry Sinclair, city attorney, was
appointed by Mayor Fisher as the
city's arbitrator. However, Sinclair
declined the appointment saying legal
counsel for the city or a member of
the council could not serve on the ar-
bitration board.
Following a nearly two hour
executive session, the council recon-
vened with Mayor Fisher announcing
the council had selected John Rosser
for its arbitrator. Rosser was contaP^
ted after the meeting and agreed to
serve on the board.
The rate increase request was con-
sidered by the council at a meetii
last Thursday night. At that
Mike Sullivan and former coui
member Lewie Byers attended.
Sullivan was vocal in his remarks
that the company should extend ser-
vice. He claimed that the company
was not being operated to Federal
Communication COanmission stan-
dards, and suggested that the con-
••SeeCABLE. p. 16
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The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 132, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 16, 1981, newspaper, April 16, 1981; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151484/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.