The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 23, 1989 Page: 1 of 18
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Rusk, Alto newspaper merger to be effective April 1
Change. Folks react differently to it, but without the flexibility
to accept change life would become stale and unproductive.
We MUST deal with new ideas, new methods and new
technology which come into our lives. We can fight change - or
we can join forces with change to make life better and more in-
teresting.
This month you will share a momentous change with us as
we converge our two publications, The Cherokeean of Rusk
and the Alto Herald of Alto, into one entity. The focus of this
change is better service, better value to you, and more unity of
purpose and design as a county-wide publication. The new
name will be Cherokeean/Herald.
Although a merger of two newspapers, our publication after
April 1 will be a totally new concept. The Cherokeean/Herald
will be a publication of news from throughout Cherokee Coun-
ty, not segregated by community. We feel that in this way we
can serve rural residents as well as those who reside in towns.
Our newspaper will be a unique newspaper for Cherokee
County. We will continue to give you the news you can't read
anywhere else -- area births and obituaries, marriages, cour-
thouse news, school news, news of churches and civic
organizations.
We feel the advantages of this single publication will be
many:
1) A single-minded concentration on better service with one
quality newspaper.
2) A free flow of news and information throughout Cherokee
County (many persons who submit news often request "both
papers").
3) Double value for our readers for one subscription charge.
4) Ability to fulfill reader requests for an editorial page which
circulates throughout the county, as well as features of interest
county-wide.
5) Better service and increased circulation advantages to
those who advertise through our newspaper.
6) Ability to publish more of your local announcements and
• reports.
In this move, we aren't taking away anything. You'll just get
more and better news and service!
To answer some expected questions:
* Subscription charge will remain the same. You'll get
double the value for the same cost, the best features of both
newspapers for the price of one. Those who have subscriptions
to either the Alto Herald or The Cherokeean will automatically
receive the Cherokeean/Herald. Those who subscribe to both
newspapers will receive a Cherokeean/Herald subscription
equal to the combined time remaining on both subscriptions.
* Advertising rates will remain unaffected for 30 days. On
May 1, all rates will be adjusted to reflect the "combination"
rate now charged for advertisements which appear in both The
Cherokeean and the Alto Herald. This adjustment is not a rate
increase, but pays for the increased circulation which the ad-
vertiser will receive through the merger.
* Items for publication will continue to be accepted at the
newspaper offices in Alto, 208 W. Cooper, and in Rusk, 618 N.
Main. Alto area residents are served by a call-forwarding
system which features a local, toll-free number. The number to
call for service in Alto is 858-4141. Rusk area residents may
continue to call 683-2257 and Jacksonville residents are ser-
ved at 683-7771 (except 8-9:30 a.m. during Talk Time).
We are excited about the new possibilities this merger offers.
Our ultimate aim is better service through the presentation of
comprehensive local and area news and announcements -- to
give you the most convenient and efficient service possible. We
are truly grateful for your continued faith, support and weekly
contribution of articles. Your trust motivates us to greater ser-
vice. Sandy Allen
Established as
The Cherokee Sentinel
February 27, 1850
The Cherokeean
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper
i
Home of the Texas State Railroad
Vol. 141, No. 7
Thursday, March 23, 1989
Rusk, Texas 75785 25cents
GETTING READY FOR THE annual Rusk Chamber of Commer-
ce/Ocker's Affiliated Food Store sponsored Easter Egg Hunt
are Jody Moake, his grandmother Florence Ocker, the Easter
Bunny himself, Cindy Richards of Alpha Alpha Gamma Chap-
ter of Beta Sigma Phi and Chamber President Stephanie
Caveness. In addition to the egg hunt, members of the sorority
will be taking pictures of youngsters with the Easter Bunny.
Photo charge is $3. -staff photo
>íi¥í5ííSSí:*!"íí¿!"íííSí:"ííí:':yiííí:'ííííííítW^
'Round Town
with Mrs. Roundabout
A bit of humor expresses a serious
thought. This was shared a few
weeks ago by June Cervenka. Not in
its entirety, the quote here conveys
the value of every thing...even one
thing...like the key on a typewriter.
Read with me.
•'Xven though my typxwritxr is
an old modxl, it works wxll xxcxpt
for onx of thx kxys. I'vx wishxd
many timxs that It workxd pxrfx-
ctly. Trux, thxrx arx 42 kxys that
function, but onx kxy not working
makxs thx dlffxrxncx." And as you
might expect, the message is found
in the last sentence: "I am a kxy
pxrson and thxy nxxd mx vxry
much."
So thanks to Junx...for hxlping
mx gxt this column startxd! The
value of all parts working is well
expressed above. And when
something happens to our bodies,
the value of all parts working is un-
derstood! Here are two "for instan-
ces" for you! But, it's all good
news!
Sunday was a coming-home day
for two of our residents. Coming
home from a hospital is cause for
happiness. Joy Buckner, after 16
days at Tyler, arrived around noon.
A few hours later, Linda Cobble got
back to Rusk and her precious
child, Brittany.
For those of you who are
unaware, Joy managed to make her
mistake for this year in early Mar-
ch. Cars are not unlike horses. Both
can throw you...even run over you,
drag you. And Joy really had a
dreadful, freak accident at her
home. But now, 16 days later, one
operation later, it is "joy" for the
Buckner family to have Joy home.
A several month convalescence is
anticipated. Major bone damage
involving the hip, socket and pelvis
need time to mend. But she can
hobble around on one leg...and sure,
like a typewriter key, it's o.k. for
one to not function properly.
Especially when she knows It isn't
forever. She has better days ahead.
And about time. Da vie (Crockett),
her husband was seriously ill back
in February...and in that time, their
See *R'ABOUT, P. 12
Suspect held in Alto murder
One suspect has been arrested in
the murder investigation of Jackie
Hicks of Alto. Terry A. Watkins, a
Nacogdoches CPA, was arrested
Saturday morning in Houston after
the Cherokee County Sheriff's
Department received a tip on his
location and called Houston Police
Department.
Watkins, a 43-year-old white
male, is in Cherokee County Jail.
Bond was set at $100,000.
Hicks was found dead of multiple
gunshot wounds at his residence six
miles south of Alto about 9:05 a.m.
Saturday, according to the Sheriff's
report. The investigation is not
complete, according to Sheriff
Jimmy Dickson, who named
Deputies Archie McKnight and Don
Anderson to the case. The Cherokee
County District Attorney's office
and Constable Chris Parsons are
also aiding in the investigation, ac-
cording to Sheriff Dickson.
Dickson said Rita Hicks, the vic-
tim's wife, left the residence around
7 a.m. Saturday to work at the feed
store and, while at work, received a
phone call from an anonymous per-
son advising her that she needed to
go home and check on her husband.
Mrs. Hicks contacted Constable
Chris Parsons and the two went to
the residence, where they found
Hicks dead on the floor in the kit-
chen area, according to the report.
Hicks was pronounced dead by
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace
Dalford Stewart, and the body was
taken to Southwest Institute of
Forensic Science, Dallas, for an
autopsy, the Sheriff said.
The murder apparently occurred
some time between 7 a.m. and 9
a.m.
Funeral for Hicks was at 11 a.m.
Tuesday in the O.T. Allen & Son
Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev.
Odis Bryan officiating. Burial was
Commissioners ponder septic tank permitting
October 1 is deadline
Ed Bojarski of the Cherokee
County Health Department and
representatives of the State Health
Department were on hand Monday
morning for a public hearing con-
cerning septic tank licenses. The
hearing was conducted prior to the
regular commissioners court
meeting in the county courtroom at
Rusk.
County Judge Emmett Whitehead
said he understood there is no
choice concerning the issue. The
county will either take over the sep-
tic tank permit procedure or the
matter will be handled by the state.
In the event the state does the per-
mitting, cost to property owners
will be 25 to 40 percent more. Fees
for the state licensing process will
go into the state kitty and will not
remain in Cherokee County. The
licensing program goes into effect
Oct. 1.
All existing septic tanks will be
grandfathered in. However, if a
complaint is filed against an
existing septic tank it will be per-
mitted just like a new tank. In the
event the program is maintained by
the county, fees will be set by the
county.
Chuck Thomas, executive direc-
tor of the Angelina Neches River
Authority, attended the meeting.
He stated that his people wanted to
handle the permitting procedure. In
the event the county contracts with
ANRA, they will do the initial in-
spection concerning need and
develop the design. The property
owner will be responsible for con-
struction. ANRA will then do an in-
vestigation to determine if the tank
meets requirements. Construction
of the tank will be done by the
property owner or a person holding
a license to construct septic tanks.
Average cost of construction of a
spetic tank in Cherokee County now
runs around $1,900. Cost of the per-
mit and license will be in addition to
that.
Persons installing septic tanks
will be licensed. Those persons will
attend a training seminar.
The program will cover all septic
tank with a flow of less that 5,000
gallons daily. License for tanks
with a flow of more than 5,000
gallons daily will be handled by the
Texas Water Commission.
In other matters to come before
the commissioners was approval of
a bid from Citizens Bank of Rusk as
county depository.
Commissioners designated April
as Fair Housing Month in Cherokee
County. A proclamation adapted by
the commissioners said that the
county affirmatively supports
federal objectives related to fair
housing and equal opportunity.
Peace Justice Archie Cook
presented a proposal for furnishing
his office and courtroom at the new
county jail. Cook said he wanted a
bench and chair for the judge, a
witness chair, baliff's chair and a
six seat jury box. The courtroom
would either have benches or
folding or stacking chairs.
Judge Cook said he plans to pur-
chase a robe to wear while having
court. He noted that he wants two
flags purchased for use in the cour-
troom.
Renovation of furniture in the
sheriff's office for the state trooper
office and renovation of two tables
in the JP office were discussed. The
furniture will be sent to Texas
Department of Corrections for
renovation.
Band contest, booths
to highlight May 27 Fair
Plans are being made for Rusk's
Third Annual Fair on the Square
May 27. Visitors are invited to enjoy
the many arts and crafts, foods, and
Rusk's own Chiefs Bean Bean stack
ups. Can-can girls and other enter-
tainment will be featured in the
Rusk's local saloon.
Contact has been made with the
Indian Reservation of Livingston
and plans are to have costumed In-
dians operating a crafts and food
booth.
Committee-sponsoréd activities
will include a cake walk, an ugly-
truck contest, Knock Out Knude
Knees contest and children's games
on the grass off the square.
A street dance and the Battle of
the Bands are planned for the
evening. First place will win one-
hour studio demo time.
With several new attractions
added, planners are working to en-
sure the success of the fair. Singing
groups, arts and crafts booths,
various food vendors and the Battle
of the Bands are just some of the ac-
tivities.
Last year's fair hosted more than
50 craft booths and ap-
proximately 4,000 people. Persons
interested in an arts and crafts
booth should contact Ruth 1 >ss at
214-683-1885.
Deadline for entries of the B title
oí 11 >c Baud is May ii> nore
information, contad Karla Kt Her-
ir .nal 214/683-64(41.
roí any otner information, con-
tact Barbara Montgomery at 214-
683-5673 or the Rusk Chamber of
Commerce at 214-683-4242.
in Old Palestine Cemetery near
Alto.
Hicks, a native of Rusk, had lived
most of his life at Alto. He was
owner and operator of Hicks Feed
Mill in Alto and was a member of
the Alto Missionary Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Rita
Hicks of Alto; two daughters,
Ranita Hicks and Lisa Hicks of
Alto; his father, Earl Hicks of Alto;
his mother, La von Hicks of Wells;
two brothers, Tommy Tobias of
Wells and Edward Tobias of Pollok,
a sister, Judy Montes of Wells; and
several nieces and nephews.
News Briefs
Number for crisis
The number for the Cherokee
County Crisis Center was reported
in error in last week's issue of this
publication.
The center's number is 1-800-442-
1691.
Bake Sale planned
The Cherokee County Shrine Club
Auxiliary will have a bake sale
Saturday March 25 at Brookshire's
on North Main in Rusk beginning at
8a.m.
Also they are sponsoring a Bean
Dinner April 7 at the Shrine
Building in Rusk.
Bus run cancelled
The city operated bus for the
elderly will not run Thursday or
Friday because of Easter holidays.
Fish Fry announced
The Maydelle Save Our School
Organization will sponsor a Fish
Fry and Country Western Band
Show Friday, April 7.
Tickets for the fish fry dinner are
$5 for adults and $2.50 for children,
age 12 and under. The dinner of fish,
beans, cole slaw, hush puppies,
dessert, tea and coffee will be ser-
ved in the school cafeteria from 5 to
8 p.m.
Danny Mays and the Texas
Tradition Music Makers will per-
form from 7 to 10 p.m. in the school
gym. Admission for the concert is
$2 for adults and $1 for children.
Breakfast to be served
The Elderly Nutrition Program
will serve breakfast at 8 a.m. Sat.
Mar. 25. Donations of $1 are asked
of senior citizens.
* Junior Livestock Show winners'
photos, p. 6
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The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 23, 1989, newspaper, March 23, 1989; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151896/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.