Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 146, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 19, 1994 Page: 1 of 20
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Jim Hogg State nisiuitLui
Alto:
Home of the
Caddoan Mounds
State Historic Site
nri i m itt i i
U|erokeeai}/Merald
Texas' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper -- Established Feb. 27, 1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel
Rusk:
Home of the
Texas State Railroad
State Historical Park
Vol. 146, No. 16- 14 Pages
Thursday, May 19, 1994
Rusk, Texas 75785 25 cents
TSR gets $2.5 million
for rehab of bridges
The Texas State Railroad is due
to receive $2.5 million dollars. The
facility is operated by Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department and pro-
vides a scenic tourist ride between
Rusk and Palestine. Two million
will come from federal funds as part
of the Texas Statewide Transporta-
tion Enhancement Program.
The decision was made during a
Texas Department of Transporta-
tion Commission meeting held in
Austin last month.
"We are delighted that the Texas
State Railroad was awarded this
money. It is my understanding that
the rehabilitation of bridges will
cost $2.5 million dollars, and fed-
eral funding will amount to two
million. I believe this will make the
Texas State Railroad probably the
most cost effective of t he five project s
approved," commented State Rep-
resentative Elton Bonier.
"Gov. Ann Richards has stated
that improving the economy of East
Texas is one of her highest priori-
ties," said TPW Commission chair-
man Ygnacio Garza. "The railroad
brings in over a million dollars an-
nually to the East Texas economy,
making these improvements an in-
tegral part of our efforts in this part
of the state."
The Texas Enhancement Program
is funded by the federal Intermodal
Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act of 1991. This program marks
the first time highway funds have
been dedicated toward enhancing
the traveling experience in Texas
through the development of projects
like these. Federal dollars provide
80 percent while the sponsoring
AREA News Brief
Grand Jury
indicts former
TDCJ Warden
Joe Collins, former Warden at
TDCJ's Skyview Unit in Rusk, was
indicted on a charge of theft by the
Cherokee County Grand Jury last
week, according to Ray Montgom-
ery, special prosecutor for TDCJ.
Collins retired as Warden of
Skyview in the summer of 1993 He
is a resident of Palestine.
The former warden is charged
with taking around 74 cross ties
and using the labor of correctional
officers to haul to his home in Pales-
tine. Some employees were used to
do landscape work at his new home,
it is alleged.
Collins is charged with theft of
property and services belonging to
the State of Texas because the state
employees were paid by the state
while they worked at his home, it is
charged.
Musicals
scheduled
Rusk Elementary School Spring
Musicals were to begin Wednes-
day, May 18 and continue through
Friday, May 20.
Third grade were to perform at 2
p.m. Wednesday in the school caf-
eteria; Fourth graders will perform
at 2p.m. Thursday, May 19 and the
fifth graders at 2 p.m. Friday, May
20.
All parents and community mem-
bers are invited to attend. The mu-
sic is about this country and the
children have organized props, cos-
tumes, choreography, as well as
assisting with the script. School
spokespersons say the public will
eiyoy the children's expressions of
patriotism.
A toy Baptist
sets h 'coming
Annual homecoming at the Atoy
Baptist Church has been scheduled
to begin at ,10:30 a.m. Sunday. Din-
ner on the grounds is scheduled for
noon with afternoon singing from 1
to 3 p.m.
Featured at the 10:30 a.m. Ser-
vice and at 1 p.m. will be gospel
songwriter W. Elmo Mercer from
Nashville, Tenn.
The Rev. Dan Rankin will bring
the morning message at 11 a.m.
Others will sing during the after-
noon
SACUL FOLK FE8TI VAL-The
1994 Sacul Folk Festival will be
held Saturday June 11 at the Com-
munity Center in Sacul. Arts, crafts,
food and Blue Grass music will be
available. A parade will be held at
10 a.m. Booths can be obtained by
calling Novis White at (409) 326-
4544.
agency matches it with the addi-
tional 20 percent.
"This funding comes at a good
time, when capital funds are tight,"
Garza said. "It will allow us to finish
developing some other projects
within the department much
sooner."
"The Transportation Enhance-
ment Program is a venture which
will undoubtedly instill confidence
in your community and stimulate
economic vitality. 1 commend your
diligence in obtainingyour resources
needed to fund this worthwhile
project," David E. Bernsen, chair-
man of the Texas Transportation
Commission wrote Rep. Bomer May
4.
*Please see TSR page 9
MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE $1,000 Scholarship recipient Stephen Adams is
surrounded by Rusk ministers. The award was presented to Adams by the Rev.
Everett McCollum, Alliance president and pastor of the First United Methodist
Church. Pictured are Keith Hassell of Grace Fellowship; Jim Hill of First Baptist;
Hal McNeill, RSH chaplain; Adams, Wayne Clute of First Christian; Don Crawford
of the Church of Christ; Chris Frank of Grace Fellowship; McCollum of First
Methodist; and John Cunningham of First Baptist. Dr. Bill Everett, pastor of First
Baptist Church, is not pictured. -staff photo
Runs set
for fair
May 28 in Rusk is the date for
runners from all over Texas to test
their skill and endurance in the
third annual Rusk for the Train.
In the past, this event was spon-
sored by Run Make It Happen Inc.
but such interest was generated
that this year the Rusk Road Run-
ners Club has been formed.
1992 was the first year the 10K
and Family Fun Run were featured
as part of the Annual Memorial
Day Saturday Fair on the Square.
The early morning race commemo-
rates the beginning of the summer
schedule of the Texas State Rail-
road.
While runners race for T-shirts,
medals, glory and challenge, Rusk's
Run offers that famous East Texas
brand of hospitality all visitors en-
counter at the "Best Street Party in
Texas, Rusk's Fair on the Square."
For information, interested run-
ners can contact Carol Stovall at
903/683-5433 or Mike Murray,
Main Street Coordinator, 903/683-
2213.
Alto ISD election
returns recounted
A petition for a recount of the Alto
ISD School Board, May 7 election
returns, was requested last week.
The returns have been recounted.
Britton Tilley, GregDuplichain and
Suzette Kessel are the newly elected
school board members.
Basketball camp
is scheduled
Rusk Summer Basketball Camp
is scheduled for May 31 through
June 3 at the Rusk High School
Gym. Ages for participants are Kin-
dergarten through eighth grade.
Sessions for girls will be from 8
a.m. until noon and for boys from 1
until 4 p.m. Cost is $35 per camper.
Coach Tom Guidry will be girls
coach. He can be reached at 683-
5401 or 683-2218.
Coach Marks Langham is boys
coach. He can be reached at 683-
4025 or 683-3434.
Baseball camp is set
Fightin' Eagle Baseball Camp is
planned for June 6-10 at the Rusk
High School baseball field. Cost is
$30 and includes a T-shirt, booklet
and certificate of attendance. Camp
director is Kirk Youngdale, assisted
by Kevin Ellis. For additional infor-
mation interested persons can call
903/683-5405 of 683-4025. Regis-
tration is 9 a.m. until noon on May
21 and 28.
BI-DISTRICT BASEBALL--
The Alto Bi-District Baseball game
will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday May
20. Alto will compete against Elysian
Fields at the Stephen F. Austin Sta-
dium in Nacogdoches.
Rusk studies Wetlands
sewage treatment
Alto Academic 'AJ
Club members told
The City of Rusk will do a study to
determine if the city can use a Wet-
lands program for sewerage treat-
ment. E D. Brady, P.E., Senior Ex-
ecutive Office for Schaumburg &
Polk Inc. consulting engineers, met
with the council May 11 to discuss a
program for the city. The firm has
built a Wetlands disposal site for
the City of Beaumont
A Wetlands system uses natural
growth, subsidize with a natural
flow rock re-filtering system. With
the Wetlands program, a city can
use a pond or a conventional treat-
ment plant.
Rusk Mayor Mike Crysup says "It
looks like the pond system would 1
best for Rusk."
Brady noted that he has looked at
the city's sewer plant site and it
looks like a long narrow Wetland
would be most feasible.
The council authorized soil inves-
tigation. "If you don't have clay, it
would be cost prohibited to build,'
Brady said.
If the soil is all right, then Brady's
firm will begin working on state
requirements.
Ralph Stokes, the city's engineer,
will continue to work on plans for a
new sewer plant. In the event the
Wetland program is workable for
the city a meeting will be called to
determine which route the city
would go.
"If the city can get a permit from
the Water Commission for the Wet-
lands, the cost would be several
hundred thousands of dollars less,
"Mayor Crysup said. The mayor
noted that 60 percent would be cut
from the total operating expense at
the disposal site
This is a new process for Texas.
There are .s.nne Wetland sites in
Louisiana and California. The Beau-
mont site has already been permit-
ted.
In another matter, the council
authorized advertising for bids for
a lease agreement for trucks for the
city water sewer department.
George B. Clark of Tipton Ford Inc.
of Nacogdoches discussed a pro-
gram, which his company operates.
According to the figures presented
by Clark, t he city could save a con-
siderable amount of money by us-
ing the leasing concept.
J.C. Uanks was re-appointed City
•Judge and Steve Guy, City Attor-
ney.
A canvass of the May 7 city elec-
tion showed that the three candi-
dates Gloria Guinn Jennings, Dis-
trict 3, received 22 votes; Ken Smith,
District 4,11 votes; and Frank Mad-
den, District 5, 34 votes.
Alto High School's valedictorian
is Ellen Pearman with a grade point
average of 96.813. Eric Penn is Sa-
lutatorian with a grade point aver-
age of 94.702 for Alto High School's
senior class of 1994.
Pearman, the daughter of Bob
and Liz Pearman, plans to attend
the University of Texas at Austin
and become an opthamologist. While
in high school, she has been in-
volved in Student Council, National
Honor Society, Cheerleading, Ten-
nis and One-Act Play. Ellen was
voted Miss AHS, Homecoming
Queen and Class Favorite. She has
Ix'cn involved in UIL Academic Com-
pet ition and participated in the state
debate meet as a sophomore.
Penn, the son of Ray and Cathy
Penn, plans to attend Baylor Uni-
versity and major in business of
law. Eric has been involved in Stu-
dent Council, National Honor Soci-
ety, and Future Farmersof America.
He was voted Mr. AHS and Best
Dressed and participated in foot-
ball and baseball. He has been in-
volved in UIL Academic Competi-
tion and paf^icip&ted in *.he state fl
debate meet as a sophomore.
Other members named to the
Academic "A" Club in the order of
their grades are: Carla Lawson,
Kevin Pegues, Julie Jones, Keith
Mason, Dana Shely, Judy Crosby,
Mitch Carroll, Angelique Wilson and
Brian Faulk.
Graduation exercises are set for 7
p.m. May27at theStudent Field. In
case of rain, the ceremonies will be
held in the gymnasium.
Public hearing attended
by four Alto citizens
Escaped RSH patient
woundert in chase
Gunfire ended a wild chab, for an
escaped Rusk State Hospital pa-
tient near Palestine shortly after 11
a.m. Monday. The patient was
wounded in the forearm and hand
and was returned to Rusk after be-
ing treated at a Palestine hospital.
The suspect, Raphael Ross of
Houston, stole a food truck from
Rusk State Hospital and made his
run for freedom by traveling north
to Jacksonville and then heading
toward Palestine on U.S. 79.
Two Cherokee County Sheriff
Department units and Jacksonville
City Policemen chased the man
through Cherokee County. They
were joined by Anderson law en-
forcement personnel
Two Anderson county sheriffs
units were destroyed and a
constable's vehicle was badlv dam-
aged. A fourth sheriffs vehicle was
damaged also, according to Ander-
son County Sheriff Mickey Hubert.
Anderson County Sheriff s Deputy
Liz Kelly shot the man in the fore-
arm and hand. This ended t he chase
on Loop 256 around 1:15. Texas
Rangers are now investigating, the
Anderson Sheriff told news media.
No Cherokee County vehicle was
damaged nor any person injured,
Sheriff Campbell said
Although all Alto citizens were
urged to attend and voice their opin-
ions at the public hearing with the
Alto City Council, held Monday
eveningat the Alto Lions Club Build-
ing, only four attended.
The public hearing was held to
discuss the reasons why improve-
ments to the city's sewer collection
system are necessary, the cost of the
projected improvements and the
manner of paying for the mandated
improvements. The citycouncil was
hoping to hear suggestions from con-
cerned citizens.
At an earlier date, the council
i net ructed it s financial adviser Gary
Machak of Rauscher, Pierce,
Refsnes, Inc. to proceed with plans
for the re-issuance of the 1988 sew er
bonds with the addition of $200,000
for the new sewer improvements
Sewer deficiencies must be solved
before Dec. 31, 1994 The city has
reported flows of over 200 percent
permitted capacity during wet
weather months $6,950 has been
paid in fines for the deficiencies
between Sept. 1988 and Oct. 1990
Smoke testing was completed in
IUMMWIIP1
to
RU8K ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Yearbook it dedicated In memory of Loretta
Stewart. Charlea Horton, right, school principal, presents a copy of the Yearbook
to Mrs. Stewart's family. Pictured are Mrs. Stewart's children, Lorl, Tracy and
Darwin and her husband, Elmer Stewart. A scholarship fund has been established
In memory of Mrs. Stewart. •staff photo
1993 for the improvements. Recom-
mendations for repairs were made
and $200,000 was the projected cost.
A suggestion was made at the
hearing that the city borrow money,
it already has in a liquid account
and pay a percentage plus the prin-
cipal back over a period of time. And
if the water and sewer rates are
raised, they should be raised to a
minimum of what it will cost for
preventative maintenance along
with paying back that loan.
Water and sewer rates for the city
have not been raised since 1988
Concern was expressed for raising
rates too much and too fast for those
who are on social security. A sug-
gestion was made to raise it gradu-
allv. /|
Mayor James Grammer said that
increasing water and sewer rates
could likely increase each Alto
resident's bill by about $10 a month.
As an example on what it would
cost to pay back a loan, Grammer
said that payment on $200,000 for
20 years at 6.5 percent interest is
$18,151 per month
Theatre slates
banquet here
Thursday, 7 p.m.
For t he first time in several years,
the Cherokee Civic Theatre's An-
nual Membership Meeting and
Awards Banquet will be held in
Rusk at the Southern Motor Inn
Restaurant. A time for socializing
will begin at 6:30 p.m. and dinner
will begin about 7 p.m. Thursday,
May 19. Attendance is open to all
members of the Cherokee Civic
Theatre and the general public.
Those wishing to reserve a place
can mail $10 per person to the
Cherokee Civic Theatre, P.O. Box
6(36, Rusk 75785 before Tuesday,
may 17
'Please see Theatre page 9
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Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 146, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 19, 1994, newspaper, May 19, 1994; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152164/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.