Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 150, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1999 Page: 2 of 16
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Page 2A—CHEROKEEAN/HERALP of Rusk, Texas—Thursday, March 11,1999
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Clferokeeaif/Herald
March 11,1999
Emmett H. Whitehead
publisher
Marie Whitehead
editor
Texas' oldest continuously
published weekly newspaper.
Established as the Cherokee
Sentinel Feb. 27,1850
Scene in Passing
Marie Whitehead
editor @ mediactr.com
March is moving right along
with never an idle moment!
We've had time to wrap up
basketball seasons for girls and
boys teams. The young athletes
are to be commended, along with
parents and coaching staff, for
an outstanding show in playing
ability. We've also had time to
acknowledge the presence of the
unwelcome bugs. These are the
ones that affect the body,
wreaking havoc with routines,
work, play, school, all other
plans. But everyone keeps
waiting, patiently and impatiently, for the arrival
of better weather. But I wonder...how much does
the weather really affect our health? What is
important here is that folks begin to experience
well days!
Among recent office visitors were Pizza Hut
Owner Jackie Ardi and his lovely wife Kathy
with their handsome little son, Joshua. He plans
to be a big brother sometime in July. Jackie is a
very happy man! He is so proud of his family.
A surprise visit from former Ruskite, Byron
Jarratt, was the highlight of last Wednesday. He
was a member of the RHS Class of '71 and has
lived mostly in Austin since. He is now the Senior
Staff Engineering Manager of Product Operations
for DELL. If you aren't familiar with this com-
pany, you're just not into computers! He was
fortunate enough to interview with the man
himself, Michael Dell, and was hired immedi-
ately. Employee No. 177. Now 12 years later, he is
still amazed by the progress his company has
made and that he has made. Some of the teachers
who remember him will be glad to know of his
plans to retire in the not too distant
future. Now, that's moving up ^ g « ••••*..
the ladder of life, quick- # ®
fast! Byron had a serious • «You might be in a Texas
wreck in 1976 and
when he came to and
looked up, he saw a
Cross on a school, and
said, "OK, if You
want my attention
God, you've got it." When
he recovered he went to school and
earned a technical degree in electronics. The
following year a friend told him about DELL and
he applied. And now you know the rest of the story
about his career. He has a beautiful wife and
daughter, Chloee, now in sixth grade. They live
at Leander northwest of Austin. Byron has rather
well defined plans for the rest of his time on Earth.
After retirement, he wants to plow back into the
world his hope to save the Earth, its environment
and all of its creatures. He really is committed to
this...and is wished the same success in his
volunteer role as in his profession. He came this
way to lend support to his Mom who is having
health problems. Our daughter Terrie was among
the '71 graduating class. Somehow you get to know
the kids in class with your kids, a little better than
other students. Graduation '71...today...seems like
only yesterday. It was good to visit with Byron and
re-live happy memories.
Another visitor was former staff member
Michael Session who dropped by to see if we
were getting along without him! It is always nice
when after our people move on, they come back to
say "howdy" with us.
Some of you will remember Gary James of
Houston when he produced a feature program,
"Eyes of Texas." Now, he's working on a book
which will include material from some of his visits
to this area. He will keep us posted on publication
date!
Country Church if the Preacher
says, 'I'd like to ask Bubba to
take up the offering and five
guys stand up.'"
Letters To the Editor
Rusk's Athletic Program Is Excellent
I have recently been hearing criticism about
Rusk ISD coaching staff and would like an oppor-
tunity to respond.
I feel that we have the best athletic director,
who has assembled the best coaching staff we
have had since I moved to Rusk 27 years ago.
Anybody judging our coaching should look at
the overall concept of the program, not just the
playing time of a certain athlete. Only a few of our
student athletes will stay in sports after High
School, but what they learn in being a part of a
team will stay with them wherever they go in life.
My first criteria in judging this coaching staff is
how many students get involved and we now have
the most boys and girls we've ever had involved in
all sports. Those involved in sports are staying in
school and keeping up their grades so they can
participate.
With so many students involved comes the
problem of trying to balance playing time to get
the best athletes to continue to be competitive
while allowing others to get in playing time. I
think our coaches do a great job in this respect on
sub varsity levels. Following the 7th grade and
Junior Varsity this year I saw coaches that
played all the athletes even if it meant losing the
game.
When it comes to Varsity teams, the commu-
nity wants our coaches to use the athletes that
can win. Our school record under Coach Upshaw
has been outstanding, either winning District or
battling for first place in all boys and girls sports.
If you feel as I do, please let the coaches and
school board know so they don't just hear the
negatives.
Joe Ray Ocker
Rusk
dferokeeaif/Herald
USPS 102-520
POSTMASTER Sand «Sdreu changn to: CHEROKEE AN/HERALD. P.O. BOX 475 • RUSK. TEX. 757SS
Periodicals Poalaga Paid at Rusk, Tanas 757B6
Texas' Oldest Continuously
Published Weekly Newspaper
Established as the Cherokee
Sentinel, Feb. 27,1850
Consolidation of The Cherokeean,
The Alto Herald and
the Wells News & Views
Publlthtd weekly on Thursdty by
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(903) 683-2257 • (#03) 586-7771
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GRASS ROOTS
David Fisher is another
visitor who is becoming less and
less a visitor each time we meet.
He doesn't wear a hat, but if he
did, it might be red, white and
blue. On his smiling face, the hat
would look good. He is an
attorney down at Silsbee. Just
watch for his name. You're likely
to meet him one day.
Those of you who can remem-
ber Rusk State Hospital in
the 1950s will recall Cecil and
Laverne Parrish. He was the
——business manager from 1952-57,
approximately. They moved to Austin and in more
recent years, returned to their native land,
Nacogdoches. Since his death in 1997, Laverne has
continued to live in the home they built. Daughter
Patti and her spouse, David Kyle and their son
Parrish, live in Houston. We enjoyed a visit with
the Mrs. Saturday. She is still the same bubbly,
feisty and independent person you remember.
Indirectly heard from, via the First Baptist
Church Newsletter, are the Murrays—Mike,
Valerie, Michael and Baby ? due in September!
They are so excited and hope to be here for a visit
around the end of April. Young Michael is learning
other languages, as are Mike and Val. Their
neighbors speak German and Italian, while trying
to master English. Members of the Murray family
in Rusk will no doubt mark off the days between
now and their arrival!
A few of our known people face serious situa-
tions. Among these are young Cole McStay,
having surgery March 8, following several months
of cancer treatments; Dr. Patricia Ross is being
tested for an irregular heart rhythm; Robert
Stover is recuperating well after triple
by-pass heart surgery last
Thursday; Carl and Bobby
Matthews granddaugh-
ter, Carien Wills, was
to have surgery this
^ week. Sherry
^ Berryhill had surgery
' last Friday and so far, so
good until all tests are in.
■ On the bright side, many of
our human family are better! Mary Ray
went to the doctor last week and enjoyed a meal
out while in Tyler! Jenny Bell was in church
Sunday after a brief sinking spell, likewise for
Mary Turney who is much improved after back
surgery. Tommie Franks is also improving per
her friend, my friend, Zelda Quimby. Louise
Nicholson was seen recently dining out, so her
injured ribs are less and less painful, we hope?
OK, we're nearing the end! Have you noticed the
beauty of East Texas as blossoms emerge? Dog-
wood especially! And that means our treasured
Texas State Railroad will chug off to a new
season start next Saturday. It is a nostalgic
experience, the first time, and again and again! As
long as we can hear the sounds of the antique
locomotives, the letting off steam, bells and
familiar whistles, we will remember yesterday.
You do know, don't you, that without trains this
country could not have evolved as it did? Trains
are a treasured part of our unbelievable past! Plan
now to enjoy the sights and sounds of next
Saturday's departure!
Here's the start of a parting smile for you, left
on my desk: "You might be in a Texas Coun-
try Church if the Preacher says, 'I'd like to
ask Bubba to take up the offering and five
guys stand up."'
OK, for all of you still not wearing a smile, get
one on pretty quick. It will make the rest of the
day go a whole lot better! Until next week?
by Stan Ljmde
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I THINK THERE OUGHT
TO BE A LAW THAT THE
LEGISLATURE CAN ONLV
PASS A NEW LAW IF IT GETS
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High Points From El Camino Real
Chris Davis
e-mail: elcaminoreal@inu.net
Azaleas and dogwoods are
about to be in full bloom
along El Camino Real. I
think my azaleas are in better
shape than they have ever been.
They say if they go through
stress the year before it makes
them bloom prettier the next
year. If that's the case I may
have to carry a stick to beat the
women off this year because of
all the stress I've been under
with Virgil, I'm fixin' to bloom.
Take a Sunday drive and look at
the flowers while you have a
chance. Summer's heat will be
here before you know it. This isn't the home and
garden section of the paper, so I better get on with
your quarter's worth of news.
Twenty-five teachers from the Alto Independent
School District traveled El Camino Real to Austin
and joined about 3,000 more educators to see about
a pay raise and better benefits for teachers in
Texas. Texas ranks 38th in the nation in teacher
salaries and 50th in the amount it' contributes to
teacher benefits. The group met with our State
Representative Todd Staples before the session
began. Speakers from across the state urged
lawmakers to pass HB 144 and HE^402 for the
benefit of our educators. The group said that they
left feeling optimistic about their visit. If I had
been visited by over 3,000 underpaid people driven
half mad by today's youth, I would have promised
them anything, too. If a remedy isn't found soon
the term "going postal" could quickly be replaced
by a far more vicious term, "going teacher."
While I'm on the subject of school, I'll fill you in
on the Alto GT Class field trip for this year. Kelly
West, Teacher/Bus Driver, manned the wheel of a
forty-foot yellow screaming, laughing, griping,
need to go to the bathroom monster better known
as a school bus through Dallas traffic like a
professional truck driver. Twenty- eight students
along with eight parent chaperones who included
myself, Judy Johnson, Kevin Pierce, Jackie
Waddleton, Darlene Fatheree, Shannon
Curtis, Marlene Kahla, Bobby Landrum,
and Jeanie Grammer. We visited the
Kennedy Assassination Museum on the sixth floor
of the Texas Schoolbook Depository and Medieval
Times. The kids behaved wonderfully which made
for a great trip for all. Thanks to all who gave
their support to make this trip possible.
A Mother's Against Drunk Driving
(M.A.D.D.) crash car will be on the Alto High
School campus on March 12. Alto Elementary
teacher, Susie Ikner is a member of the Anderson
County Chapter of M.A.D.D. and is organizing this
event. Pearman Motor Company will be transport-
ing the car to Alto for the organization. As Justice
of the Peace 1 have seen far too many people die
this senseless death and too many families forever
destroyed by drunk driving. I never realized how
many people were on the roads drunk until I
started arraigning prisoners at the jail on week-
ends. Only a fraction of the drunk drivers are
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arrested, and the jail usually has
three or four incarcerated on any
given weekend, so think of all
the ones that get away to run
over you or a loved one on the
road. Go by and see the crash
car at Alto High School and then
talk to your kids about drinking
and driving.
The garage sale for Ashley
Click, who is the Alto 4H
Livestock show queen candi-
date, was a great success. The
fish cooker that was being
raffled was won by Wayne
Waddleton when Jerry Knott
drew out his ticket on March 6. They are going to
have the garage sale again this weekend, so go
shop and support our youth.
Dr. Jimmy Moses sang a solo over at the A.
Frank Smith United Methodist Church on
the Sunday before last. Some of the elderly
members that couldn't hear thought it was a
beautiful number. However, the rest of the
congregation is hoping that God has a sense of
humor. Dr. Moses is President of the choir and
used his influence to obtain the soloist spot. It is
possible that Dr. Moses might be the first choir
president to go through the impeachment process.
Tom Boy Logan has gone a full circle in the
auto body repair business. Fifty years ago he was
working for "Old Man" Baugh at O. B. Body Shop.
He made about $25 a week in those days. He
worked at Pearman Motor Company for a long
time. After being in retirement for several years
he has returned to O. B. Body Shop working part-
time for Garwin Baugh. Garwin said that he
wasn't going to pay any $25 a week for his services
because of depreciation.
My neighbor and personal hemorrhoid Virgil
Schochler is celebrating his 88th birthday on
March 11. The birthday has caused some confu-
sion in the tight wad Schochler home, but I
couldn't help them. I didn't know how to get 88
candles in a Twinkie. I keep hoping he'll improve
with age like a fine wine, but I'm afraid his batch
has turned to vinegar. I tried to help him the
other day tilling his onions since his back was
hurt. I got a little crooked and he started scream-
ing I was going to plow up his potatoes. He doesn't
care how he treats people that are trying to help
him. I believe Monica Lewinsky has more of a
conscience than he does. If the rains don't start
falling a little closer together, I might as well plow
the potatoes up anyway. Happy Birthday, Virgil!
I do hope you people don't forget about me when
news is happening out your way. It is going to be
Spring Break for several school's in our area, so if
you're traveling be careful. Don't worry about a
thing while you're gone. If anything exciting takes
place, I'll fill you in when you get back. I'll see ya
next week.
And remember, God's laws will remain in
force even if the whole world rejects
them.-Dr. James Dobson
1
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Children at Alto Elementary
were enthusiastic about the
school's annual Book Fair.
Parents had an opportunity
to browse through the
selection of books during
an open house last week.
From left are Darrell
Blackmon, Samantha
Blackmon, Corey Caron,
Megan Lewis, Corey Caron
and Devon Caron (kneeling
in front.) Dressed in
character as Clifford Is
Amanda Holcomb.
Alto ISD participates In the
Accelerated Reader
program, and many of the
books available for sale
were on the approved AR
list.
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 150, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1999, newspaper, March 11, 1999; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152415/m1/2/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.