Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 47, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 14, 2004 Page: 11 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Singletary Memorial Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
-É-
Cljerokeeaij Herald of Rusk, Texas - Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - Page 11
Wells Police
continued from pg. 1
vehicles owned by Doughtie
Construction of Huntsville.
Windows were shattered in
a motor grader and another
vehicle.
Chief Starnes said a bullet
apparently ricocheted off a troe
branch and hit a man in the
cheek as he stood in his front
lawn visiting with friends,
"This was apparently an acci-
dental shooting,'' he said. "We
have no idea who the shooter
was. It couldhave been a hunter
or someone piddlin' with a gun.
We believe it was a .22."
Investigators theorize that
the shot originated more than
a half-mile away and had a tra-
jectory that carried the bullet
RISD will hear from architects Feb. 9
over a rooftop, where it may
have hit a tree before striking
the victim.
Witnesses said they heard
multiple shots fired.
"Mr. Bradley, who is in his
30s, was taken by ambulance
to Lufkin where he was treated
and released,'' Chief Starnes
said.
The Wells lawman theorizes
that at least two of the three
shootings involved children who
receivedfirearmsfor Christmas
without the requisite warnings
and training.
Ironically, he was making a
presentation to the Wells City
Council Monday night, andwas
in the process of recommending
that the city adopt an ordinance
against shooting firearms
inside the city limit.
During the presentation, he
received an emergency call
about the Highway 69 shoot-
ings.
"Because this wasn't on the
agenda, the council couldn't
take action," said Chief Starnes.
"But I beheve the city needs an
ordinance and will adopt one
soon."
The chief said bad things
always happen in three's, and
he's ready for things to get back
to normal.
All three incidents are cur-
rently under investigation.
Alto council approves overtime
for police, utility employees
continued from pg. 1
classroom. Props being stored
by the chama department will
be moved to the auditorium
building. Current plans call for
the construction of the build-
ing adjacent to the band hall
in front of the ;ig building. This
will make the building acces-
sible to both high school and
junior high students.
The UIL ready auditorium is
expected to seat approximately
750persons. Tobe constructed
separately the auditorium and
classrooms would cost in the
neighborhood of $2.5 million
and the two science labs,
$600,000. By constructing the
two together the board hopes
that the cost will be lower.
Work on the primary school
cafeteria is in the budget and
will be completed in-house
this summer. Superintendent
Dr. James Largent reported to
the board.
Other needed renovation dis-
cussed at the m eeting included
a new entry area at the high
school, which could cost in the
neighborhood of $235,000.
Cost of a complete re-paving
of Eagle Drive will be approxi-
mately $311,000. Ifthe district
decides to only re-pave needed
areas, the costcouldbe lowered
to approximately $200,000.
After construction discussion,
board members decided they
might want to Wait on this.
Another wanted item is
to double the seating at the
baSeball-softball complex and
construct a press box at a cost
of $60,000.
Dr. Largent reminded the
board that the high School gym
will have to be replaced in the
next five to 10 years.
The school electric system
is within code and does not
require any new work, the
superintendent said. However,
the system is up to its capacity
and new breaker boxes cannot
be added. In the event the
school needs more electricity,
additional transformers will
be needed.
School maintenance has
come up with a new product
and the supervisor is not rec-
ommending that any new roofs
are needed.
Currently, the district has
$3.6 million in its building
fund. The school's generalfund
totals $5.9 million. The state
requires that the cost of three
month's operations be kept in
the general fund. That is $2.9
million. However, the district
has always kept 40 percent of
its budget in the general fund,
which will total $4.6 million.
That leaves another $1.3 that
could possibly be transferred
to the building fund, giving the
district $4.9 million available
for construction. With interest
rates low, the district might
want to borrow part of the con-
struction cost and not deplete
its entire building fund.
In other matters, the board
voted to contract with TXU
SESCO for electric services.
In another matter the annual
audit report was approved at
the meeting.
Following an executive ses-
sion, the board approved the
employment of Coreen Gil-
reath as an elementary teacher
and extended Dr. Largent's
contract through the 2006-07
school year.
Attending the meeting were
board members Bryan Selden,
David Fulton, Secretary
Francis Long, President Mike
Ross, Vice-President Cathy
Newman, Richard Massingill
and Dr. Anthony Holcomb.
NEWS
Electric hills cause New
Year's sticker-shock
The month of January will provide
a little more "sticker shock" than usual
when the monthly utility bill arrives in
the mail. The most recent TXU SESCO
electric bill contains the new increase in
electric rates that became effective Janu-
ary 1. "The average increase will be 34
percent," saidTXU SESCO spokesperson
Kim Morgan.
For the last few months TXU SESCO
has been telling customers that an
increase was unavoidable because the
previous contract for power usage had
been locked in for six years.
Over those six years, natural gas
prices as well as many other components
that form the cost of power have risen
dramatically. "We went into the market-
place to find the best possible price for
electric power and think that we did well
with the new cost of 7.8 cents per kilowatt
hour," added Ms. Morgan.
If you have trouble paying your
electric bill call TXU SESCO at 1-800-
550-9803.
Members fine man
for moving mobile
home without permit
By Don Wallace
Cherokeean Herald writer
ALTO — The Alto City
Council unanimously voted to
approve overtime pay for all
pohce and utility employees
who work on a scheduled city
hohday.
The action includes police
and utility employees who
work on hohdays as a part of
their regularly scheduled work
rotation.
They will now be paid time-
and-a-half as holiday pay.
The action was taken during
the regular meeting of the
Murder trial
council, Monday, Jan. 12 at
city hall.
Don Jeter was scheduled to
meet with the council on the
placement of a mobile home
on his property, but he did not
appear. The matter was tabled
until next month.
Martine Tellez spoke to the
council on his placement of a
mobile home behind his per ma -
nent home on Maggie Sessions
Street.
After discussion, Mr. Tellez
was assessed a $500 fine for
moving the mobile home on
his property without a permit.
Mr. Tellez was given 60 days
from the date the city issues
an official letter concerning
the residence, to connect and
enclose the mobile home and
existing house into one struc-
ture.
In the matter, councilwoman
Sancha Wallace voted no and
the remainder of the council
and the mayor voted yes to
Mr. Tellez' fine and ruling.
Mayor Dewey Simms was
given the authority to approve
account s payable for the month
of December 2003 by a unani-
mous vote by the council.
City administrator Terri
Grogan saicl the accounts
for December have not been
approved and the matter
remains on hold until after the
installation of new accounting
software for the city.
Attenchng the meeting were
Simms, Wallace, Grogan and
council members Billy Brooks,
Blake Bailey, Chris Lewis and
Margaret Little,
continued from pg. 1
The women escaped to a
nearby residence for help.
They have since recovered
from their wounds and testi-
fied against Cobb.
The jury went to begin delib-
erations at 12:45p.m. Monday.
Court bailiff, Eclche James took
and delivered lunch orders so
the dozen people coulcl ponder
the decision behind closed
cloors. The three jury alternates
were released from service,
Phifer had saicl the trial coulcl
last two weeks when it began
Monday, Jan. 5. But action
moved quickly in the case,
Phifer later saicl the charge on
Cobb was the most.comphcatecl
he had prepared in his time on
the bench.
Before the jury was sent to
deliberate it was explained to
them the charges and their
choice between guilty and
not guilty on capital murder,
aggravated sexual assault,
kidnapping or robbery It was
also explained that if they voted
guilty for capital murder to not
clehberate on the lesser charges.
Capital murder in Texas carries
a maximum sentence of the
death penalty.
The jury had a total of eight
for ms to choose from along with
the official type written charge
in the crime.
In his closing argument.
Cherokee County District
Attorney Elmer Beckworth
tolcl the jury to take careful
consideration of the "horrible
facts" in the case.
"You will see that the evi-
dence shows Cobb is guilty of
capital murder, not duress."
Beckworth went over the
crime phot os and maps to chive
home points to the jury. Telhng
how the "mentally impaired"
Vanclever just wanted to go
home to take his medicine but
was shot. The DA continued
with statements about the two
women who were shot and left
for dead, one of them repeat-
edly kicked. He tolcl how their
wounds required hospitaliza-
tion and in one case surgery.
At 11:02 a.m. Monday,
defense attorney for Cobb,
Charles Morton began his
statement to the jury that
lasted for more than 30 min-
utes. Morton stressed to the
jury how the "burden of proof
was on the state and the case
must be determined beyond
reasonable cloubt. He again
claimed that Cobb was under
duress and at the time of the
murder "was 17 years old and
had been up for clays using
chugs.
Morton tolcl of how Cobb did
not want to rob the store his
"preacher" owned. He told the
jury to remember the "moment
of duress" was at the time ofthe
shooting because of his fear of
Aclams.
Defense co-council William
House aclchessecl the jury and
tolcl them to look at "Cobb's
situation." And try to deter-
mine his "intent" the night of
the shooting. He urgedthejury
to find Cobb guilty of robbery,
not capital murder.
Beckworth closed the state-
ments for the state saying that
Cobb "placeclhimselfin the situ-
ation" by being with Adams the
night of the shootings. He saicl
duress was not involved.
The DA tolcl the jury to use
common sense and find that
Cobb was guilty of "murder,
colcl-blooclecl murder" in the
case. Hfe said Cobb must be held
responsible for his actions.
Beckworth saicl, "I think the
evidence shows that Cobb is
guilty beyond a shadow of a
cloubt. I'd hke you to return
the verdict of guilty to capital
murder."
Start the prnFtsffwHh § changeI
!v
tole*o
SPECIAL SERVICES with Inter-
1 national Speaker Ray Popham.
Saturday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 18
10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.
Ray Popharn's life's mission is becoming and helping others in
becoming a better person, a brighter Christian and living a blessed
life, He travels the United States and the world establishing, encour-
aging and equipping individuals, pastors and leaders, speaking to
groups of ten to ten thousand. Don't miss these exciting services
as God launches us into this New Year.
River of Life Christian Center
Pastors Robert and Lesa Corbel I
936-858-2184
Located on Hwy 69, one block North of Hwy 21
"Wherever the River flows, there is Life
1. Are you saving enough for retirement?
2. How is your IRA performing?
3. Have you cheeked the diversification
of your IRA investments?
4. When was the last time you reviewed
your beneficiaries?
5. Are you taking advantage of new contribution
limits, possible tax credits and more?
If you need answers to these questions, Edward Jones can help.
Call today to schedule a free IRA checkup!
Steve Slover
1400 Hwy. 84 West Suite 5
Rusk, Texas 75785
(903) 683-1180
or
usm.
m
Member SIPC
www.edwardjones.com
Edwardjones
Serving Individual Investors Since 1871
Tommie Seymore PA-C, Family Practice
Mother b^ances
Trinity
health system
Jacksonville
104 Busy Bee • Alto, TX 75925
'Since the age of five, I knew that I would work in the
medical field. Medicine has always interested me and it
is rewarding to know that you can make a difference in
people's lives.
Tommie Seymore, PA-C, has joined Trinity Mother Frances Health System -
Jacksonville and Trinity Clinic, one of the largest multi-specialty physician
groups in east Texas, with oyer 130 physicians representing 23 specialties,
"I grew up in Wells, Texas, just south of Alto, so this is home to me.
Trinity Clinic has a lot to offer our patients, because they can obtain a
variety of medical services at one easily accessible location," says Seymore.
Ms. Seymore received her physicians assistant certification in 1997 from
The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She has practiced
as a PA-C in busy family practices treating patients of all ages.
Join us for a welcome reception on February 10,2004
from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Trinity Clinic - Alto,
located at 104 Busy Bee.
To schedule an appointment with Tommie Seymore,
please call (936) 858-4488.
Visit our website at www.tmfhs.org.
Wre with you for the journey
www.tmfhs.org
CMYK
-EP-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 154, No. 47, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 14, 2004, newspaper, January 14, 2004; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152605/m1/11/?rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.