Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 155, No. 13, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 19, 2004 Page: 6 of 16
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-É-
Page 6 - Cljcrokeeai? Herald of Rusk, Texas - Wednesday, May 19, 2004
AISD
Elections
continued from pg. 1
winner: second graders,
D'Anthony Richards, Miguel
Soto, Dalton Starr, Calvin
Bailey, Logan Murr, Charlie
Wallace, Jacolby Whitaker,
Chance Holcombe, Courtney
Cantu, Destiny Jacks, Sta-
ceson Myles, Elizabeth West
and Kelly Crosby the overall
high point winner; third grad-
ers, Cody Birdwell, Jessica
Hernandez, Kristi Hallmark,
Bryce Henley, J.R. Grammer,
Trey Carter, Hailey Wilson and
Sydney Howell the overall high
point winner; fourth graders.
Fuel
Leshia Wells, Adam Davis,
Laura Garcia, Parisha Jacks,
Brianna Martin, Hilary Lincl-
sey, Brodrick Gasaway, Kolton
Black, Daniel Ball and Rhian-
non Quick overall high point
winner.
UIL winners were Margo
Kahla, first place persuasive
speaking, Rachel Campa,
second place spelling and
vocabulary; Lauren Pierce,
second place informative
speaker; Pedro Silva, third
place computer applica-
tions, Kari Middleton, fourth
place, informative speaking;
Anthony Robinson, fourth
poetry interpretation; Joseph
Williams, fourth, headline
writing; Valencia Bradford,
fifth, prose; Corry Lankford,
fifth in computer application
and sixth in headline writ-
ing; Anthony King, fifth in
current issues and events;
Demetria Thacker, fifth in
poetry interpretation; Clarice
Dearman, sixth in persuasive
speaking; ToryPearman, sixth
in ready writing; andShandrel
Whitaker, sixth in feature.
Those qualifying for region
were Miss Campa, spelling
and vocabulary; Miss Kahla,
persuasive speaking; Miss
Pierce, informative speaking;
Mr. Robinson, poetry interpre-
tation; andMr. Silva, computer
applications.
One act play winners were
Bakeitha Simpson, Lauren
Pierce and Tory Pearman,
honorary mention for All Star
Cast; Muffin Thacker, T.C.
Brown and Clarice Dearman,
Please see AISD, pg. 14
continued from pg. 1
gallon, blames the whole
thing on the man in the
White House.
She is very pointed in her
comments.
"It is all Bush's fault!" Ms,
Goff said. "The high gas
prices, the high milk prices.
The war, it is horrible. The
gas prices are just something
he does to keep the war
going. It's outrageous.''
Ms. Goff continued, "We
need a leader for this coun-
try or we are going down
the drain. This kind of thing
didn't happen when Clinton
was in office. I wish he was
still in there.''
Candi Arrington was get-
ting gas at Honey's Conve-
nience store and said she
bought fuel there because of
the price.
"I need to save every
penny,'' she said. "My car gets
good gas mileage. I have a
Chrysler Cirrus and it gets 28
miles a gallon and that helps
since I work in Jacksonville.''
Ms. Arrington also places
blame on the President. "I
think gas prices are just Bush
being greedy.''
Ms. Arrington said she
thinks gas prices will con-
tinue to climb to $2.50 for a
gallon.
Ann White of Rusk had
just put fuel in her SUV and
didn't have a smile on her
face when asked about gas
prices.
"This car just gets 15
miles a gallon, I have really
thought about getting a car
which gets better mileage,''
Mrs. White said. "I find
myself chiving less. But you
have to go places and to work,
I sure don't hke the high
prices of gas."
Mrs. White said, "I have a
reason, a good idea when I
make a trip. Gas prices just
keep going up and up. I think
it might be cheaper to fly
than to take a trip by car.''
Paula Low of Alto is fight-
ing the fuel battle every day.
She recently filled up her
Suburban's large tank at a
cost of $60.
"We have four drivers in our
family,'' Mrs. Low said. "Two
at home, two children in col-
lege. This is not a good time
for the gas to be this price,"'
Mrs. Low said, "I think the
gas price is related to the
war. But it seems like every
time there is a conflict the oil
industry uses that excuse to
raise the prices."
"The gas prices are just
scary, it makes you stop and
think,'' Mrs. Low said. "I try
to run all my errands on one
trip and encourage the other
people in my family to do the
same. My Suburban has been
a great vehicle, especially
with three kids. Now that I
just have one child at home I
might be looking at a smaller
vehicle.''
Jeffery Enoch of Athens
travels with his job for Pepsi
and comes to Rusk two days
a week.
Even with getting reim-
bursed at 37 cents per mile,
he finds the traveling expen-
sive.
"I have a Ford Ranger, it
gets pretty good mileage," Mr.
Enoch said. "But I'd like to
get better mileage."
Enoch thinks the high price
of gas is based on the time of
year and the conflict in the
Persian Gulf.
"The oil companies know
it is summer and they can
charge the higher price and
people will pay it," Enoch
said. "People have to travel.
Like me, my job depends on
it."
Enoch said he does not
blame President Bush for the
high fuel prices.
Another Alto man, a shop-
per at Brookshire Brothers in
Rusk, offered opinions but did
not want his name to be on
the record.
He said Bush was doing a
good job and not the blame.
He also applauded the presi-
dent for the efforts in Iraq.
"We need to be there and the
war has got a lot to do with
prices."
The man continued saying
that maybe the high prices
would keep people off the
roads for unnecessary trips
and perhaps cut pollution.
He said he bought a diesel
Chevy LUV during the last
fuel crisis and still drove it.
Still another customer
offered her two cents worth,
but was unwilling to give a
name to be published.
"It's ridiculous, the milk
is up a dollar since last
Friday. I know that there is
not a shortage of cows. Gas
is almost $2 a gallon... how
stupid is that? I just don't
think there's a shortage."
City of Alto
continued from pg. 1
faw allows us to do to get this
money,"
Threadgill explained that if
warrants were issued, someone
wouldhave to serve the warrant
at the location of the person who
was issued thecitation. He said
that other avenues could be
explored, such as private com-
panies who collect for a fee.
Councilwoman Little said,
"We need to see what it is fea-
sible to collect."
Threadgill said that the per-
sons who owed the money for
the fines could be jailed, but
most jails don't want class C
misdemeanors due to a short-
age of space.
Alto Police Chief Charles
Barron saidperhaps Threadgill
could check with Wells. Barron
said he had heard that Judge
Bailey in Wells had been suc-
cessful in collecting fines and
was aggressive in the pursuit.
The council also took on
the topic of animal control
with councilwoman Margaret
Little involved in the bulk of
the discussion.
Mayor Simms saidheput the
item on the agenda because he
understood that some employ-
ees were confused about the
chain of command and felt
they had "three or four bosses"
to serve, not just one.
Mayor Simms said, "Let's do
something about this, I don't
want the employees sitting in
the middle."
Councilwoman Little said, "I
offer kudos to the workers. I
think they are doing a good job,
just like Danny (Christopher,
utility supervisor)."
Little said, "I have found
homes for at least 35 dogs,
saving the city money. We have
no needto be killing dogs. Ifthe
kennel fills up, I will take them.
I have been doing that anyway.
We have some Wonderful dogs
in Alto, let's not kill them."
Councilwoman Little said,
"If we can wait until the
new animal shelter opens in
Jacksonville this summer,
maybe they can have room for
them."
Councilwoman Little Was
also upset that the current
Alto animal procedure has
any animal euthanized after
three days in the city shelter.
She argued that three days was
not enough time.
Mayor Simms said, "Some of
the dogs cost us. They cost us
in food and people caring for
them."
Councilwoman Little
exclaimed, "No! I don't want
them euthanized. We need
photos of these dogs promi-
nently displayed. It is nothing
to find them homes. I have
done it. I am passionate about
it. I just can not tolerate the
destruction of animals unnec-
essarily."
Councilwoman Little argued
that perhaps 10 days would be
a more fitting time to keep the
animals than three days.
"How about day fees for the
number of days the dogs are
held?" Councilman Brooks
asked.
City administrator Terri
Grogan said that fees are set
up including $20 for adoption
and $50 to getyour dog out after
it had been caught and put in
the shelter.
Grogan said, "I don't want to
kill dogs either, but you can't
keep them forever."
Grogan and the council
agreed that the ordinance
would needto be updated, since
it was drafted in 1972.
The council approved by a
2-1 vote to extend the time an
animal is housed from three
days to 10 days before it is
euthanized. Councilwoman
Sandra Wallace voted against
the measure.
Mayor Simms said that the
animal control officer Kenny
Callaway would be advised of
the new change.
The council also selected
Tuesday, May 25 as the date
to canvass the May 15 election.
It was also decided that follow-
ing the election canvassing, the
council would meet to discuss
the hotel/motel tax issue.
The council will discuss insti-
tuting a hotel/motel tax to be
in place when some structures
are built.
The council will also discuss
adopting the city slogan of
"Alto, City on the Grow" by
Alto Chamber of Commerce
official Dallas Evans.
Evans also presented the city
a five-gallon automatic water
bowl to be used at the animal
shelter.
Alan Ross with Schaumburg
& Polk, I tic spoke on the pro-
posal to smoke test the sewer
hnes.
The last time the lines were
testedin this manner was 1990.
Ross said that a major source of
inflow in the sewer is present
and the city needs to locate the
problem area or areas.
Ross said, "Smoke testing is
a good way to track down the
problem."
Councilwoman Wallace asked
if it would be feasible to use the
test results from the last one
conducted.
Ross said they co ulduse those
test results, but the plans of
the city's sewer system were
not marked with the locations
which were repaired.
Utility supervisor Danny
Christopher chimed in, "I
am not comfortable with the
old records, I am unsure how
accurate they are."
Mayor Simms asked Ross,
"Do you think it is one big leak
or several small ones?"
Ross said, "I think the system
has a significant break some-
where, Maybe in the subdivi-
sion that was never developed,
but lies along a low area of
ground. That would be the
first place I'd start."
'No action has to be taken
on this," Ross said. "I wanted
to put the bug in your ear. I'll
give you a written proposal if
we do the work, in a lump sum
and another price based on the
old smoke test."
The council also voted to
extend the lease for one year
of Purdue Wood Company for
the use of 24.59 acres of land
located in T. Walters Survey
area.
The council also voted to
pursue a proposal by Purdue
Wood of an exchange of prop-
erty.
Councilman Brooks chd not
vote or make a motion concern-
ing the matter because he coulcl
Stand to profit.
In item 3-A the council
approved, by a unanimous
vote, pay application No. 1
to Duplichain Contractors for
work clone on the 2003 TCDP
Grant Project.
The council was going to dis-
cuss the old Germany home at
402 E. San Antonio with Norma
Weaver. Ms. Weaver was not
present and the council moved
on.
Councilwoman Margaret
Little had items placed on the
agenda concerning the sick,
vacation and compensatory
time used by the employees of
the city and discussion involv-
ing a time clock for all employ-
ees, excluding police,
Councilwoman Little saicl,
"Some people want an account-
ing of time. They think that sick
time or vacation time has been
abused."
Mayor Simms saicl, "I am
still confused about what I am
reviewing."
Councilwoman Little saicl,
"Certain people are off too much
or use up too much time. That
is what I was tolcl."
Councilman Brooks saicl, "We
have got to trust the people in
charge of each department for
continued from pg. 1
Baugh, 46 votes; and Ronnie
Tyer, 57 votes were defeated.
Incumbents Teclcly Pearman,
316 votes and Rancly Sturrock,
331 votes were re-eleetecl to the
Alto School Board. Defeated
were Stanley Donnel Mitchell,
130 votes; Pamela Winfielcl, 211
votes; andOdisBryan, 312vote,
votes. Ron Rose with 353 votes
defeated Greg Duphchain, 335
votes for the unexpired term on
the board.
Wells incumbent Mayor Jerry
Ellerbee, 34 votes, was unop-
posed in his bid for re-election.
Incumbents Harlan Neal, 35
votes and Billie Petty with 37
votes were re-elected to the
Wells City Council. Incumbent
James Booker, 17 votes and
James Maclclox, 8 votes were
defeated.
Two incumbents and one
challenger, Larry Bailey, 61
votes; Danny Colbert, 59 votes;
and Susie Edge, 77 votes were
elected to the Wells ISD board.
Incumbent Douglas Glesmann
received 41 votes.
Sean McRight received 305
votes for election to Place 1 on
the Jacksonville ISD board.
Other candidates included Tim
Stranclberg, 167votes; Preston
Meaclor, 177 votes and Rhonda
Coleman, 27 votes; Roy Darby,
unopposeclfor Place 2, received
454 votes.
The Texas Election Bureau
has been contacted to deter-
mine what will be clone about
a tie vote in the Reklaw may-
oral election. Arun-off election
will be calleclfor June 19. Early
voting will be June 9, 10, 11, 14
and 15. Both Gilbert Stafford
and Charlie Glenn received
55 votes each in the election.
Incumbent Bobby House was
defeated by challenger Johnnie
Miller for the Place 3 position.
Vote tally was Miller, 57 and
House, 51. Incumbent Bill
Traweek, 67 votes, defeated
Alice Haws, 13.
Incumbents Richard Bird,
36 votes, and Bill Poteet, 74
votes, were re-electecl to the
New Summerfielcl City Coun-
cil. Cynthia Dorries received
five votes.
Incumbents James Green-
wood with 66 votes was re-
elected to the New Summerfielcl
School board. Also elected was
Jason Wilcox with 95 votes.
Defeated were Incumbent Joe
Taylor with 36 votes and Joe
Suarez with seven votes.
City of Rusk
this."
No action was taken on the
matters.
Councilwoman Little also
chscussecl the possibility of a
weekly or bi-weekly newslet-
ter, communication posted
prominently to assimilate
pertinent information to resi-
dents of Alto.
Councilwoman Little saicl
she recently needed a phone
number for an electrical car-
rier, and only found them after
a long and exhaustive search.
She saicl those things needed to
be ponied for all residents.
Council members agreed
something of this form, per-
haps even pubhsheel once a
year, would be helpful. But no
action was taken.
The council unanimously
approved a resolution with
Gary T. Traylor and Associates
for grant management services
for the city's 2005-2006 Texas
Community Development Pro-
gram application.
Councilwoman Little had an
item on the agenda asking the
council to pay the $99 for her
to attend an ethics seminar in
Bastrop.
Council members saicl this
had not come up before. That
if persons attended this meet-
ing they paid for it themselves.
Council woman Little agreed
to clo so.
The council approved the
minutes and accounts payable
for April 2004.
Alto Police Chief Charles
Barron gave his monthly
report. Barron's report also
detailed malicious mischief to
an Alto pohce car and an Alto
fire truck.
Barron saicl in the case of
the Alto police car, all four
tires were slashed while the
car was parked at city hall.
Barron saicl that burglaries
in the area hacl resulted in the
loss of $2,535 in property with
$1,214 recovered.
Utility supervisor Chris-
topher gave his report and
included a plea for overtime
pay for his workers, not him-
self. He saicl, "These are good
men, they worked one night
until 9 p.m. and they need to
be paid for it."
Municipal judge Threadgill
saicl that $7,150 in fines hacl
been collected during April.
Attending the meeting
were council members Little,
Wallace and Brooks, mayor
Simms and city administra-
tor Grogan. Council members
Chris Lewis and Blake Bailey
were absent.
continued from pg. 1
future."
Action concerning approval of
a contract for animal welfare
services with PAWS was tabled
until a later meeting. If the city
signs the contract Rusk will be
charged $15 for one clay and a
maximum of $45. Currently
the city has been paying the
city of Jacksonville $20 for a
minimum of three clays. City
staff will continue chscussion
with Dr. Anthony Holcomb
concerning the chsposal of its
stray animals. The city has
its own holchng pen and keeps
animals 72 hours before being
transported to Jacksonville.
The council approved an or di-
nance adopting the 2003edition
of the International codes for
builchng, fuel gas, mechanical,
electrical and plumbing.
The municipal court was
authorized to use $2,000 from
the Technology Fund to pur-
chase a new printer and pay
for cable internet service. One
dollar is taken from each city
traffic court ticket to go into the
fund. Currently the fund totals
more than $10,000.
In another matter, the Coun-
cil approved a bid from Chad
Essex for $4.50 per ton to pur-
chase timber. The bid is for
the city's first timber thinning
on a 50 acre tract which was
planted in 1989. Jim Houser,
the city's timber consultant,
recommended that the city
take this bid, netting approxi-
mately $5,000. The next cut-
ting in five years will bring in
more revenue and revenue will
increase with each cutting.
This thinning will take out
every five rows of planted trees
and thin the other four rows.
In another matter, the council
voted 4-1 to rescind Orchnance
94-9 allowing the planning and
zoning commission to make a
zoning recommendation before
annexation of territory to
the city, The orchnance was
approved several years ago
to allow the council to zone
annexed property as it came
into the city. By doing this
the property would be zoned
accorchng to its current use
instead of as one family resi-
dential district as outlined
otherwise.
Mrs. Ross made the motion;
Walter Session, second; and
Mayor Horton and Bobby
Thrash voteclyes. Collie Hagen
voted no. Councilman Donald
Woodarcl hacl already left the
meeting to attend another func-
tion at the time of the vote.
City Manager Kevin Bowclen
reported that he and Director
of Public Works Gene Kelley
will go to Montana June 3-7
to meet with Kampgrouncl of
America (KOA) people. An engi-
neer's scale chawing of Rusk's
proposed KOA campground
should arrive next week. The
campground will have 63 pull-
through sites; 25 back ends; six
tent locations; five cabins; and
one group site.
Following an executive Ses-
sion with city attorney. For-
rest Phifer, the council heard
a request from Jan Pate, local
builder. Mr. Pate asked the
council to determine if the
unused Spinks Street, which
goes through his property,
belonged to the city or is it his
property. Mr. Phifer saicl that
the roaclwas the city's property.
Mr. Pate hacl purchased the
property from C.L. Manning.
He saicl he wanted to know if
there is a road there or not so he
woulclknow how to position new
houses. Mr. Pate was tolcl the
city hacl sold the southern por-
tion ofthe roacl to J. O. Summers
and Mayor Horton saicl the city
probably would be willing to sell
this portion too.
A contract will be drawn up
for chstribution of budgeted
funds to the Rusk Lions Club
for swimming pool operation. It
is hoped that the pool will be
ready to open at the end of the
month. Mr. Bowden reported to
the council that he hacl refused
to re-imhurse the Lions for a
lawn mower and gasohne. I
called TML (Texas Municipal
League) and was tolcl that
the city coulcl not purchase a
lawn mower. The contract will
outhne how city funds can be
spent at the pool."
HAND-N-HAND
LEARNING CENTER
SOON TO BE
CHARLOTTE'S WEB*
Owners: Mark & Charlotte Ford
Now enrolling for our SUMMER FUN PROGRAM
Your kids will have a great time hanging
out with their friends in a safe environ-
ment while participating in a wide variety of
exciting activities.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
Swimming Skating Movies
Arts & Crafts Zoo Recreation
Parks Bowling
Special Events
CALL: 903-683-9691
TO ENROLL
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 155, No. 13, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 19, 2004, newspaper, May 19, 2004; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152625/m1/6/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.