Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 158, No. 6, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 4, 2007 Page: 6 of 16
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Page 6A - Cljerokeeai? Herald of Rusk, Texas - Wednesday, April 4, 2007
2 killed, 1 hurt in New Summerfield crash
A car crash near New
Summerfield claimed the lives
of two Jacksonville residents
Sunday evening as their Ford
Ranchero collided with a F ord
F250 on U.S. Highway 79 near
New Summerfield.
The Ranchero, driven by
James Cuturnings. 46 of
Jacksonville, was headed east
on U.S. 79, when it attempted
to pass multiple vehicles in a
no-passing zone, said Trooper
Tom Bledsoe of the Texas
Department of Public Safety.
Trooper Bledsoe said as
the Ford F250, driven by
Terry Harris, 51 of Carthage,
approached, Mr. Cummings
tried to re-enter the ea stbound
lanes.
"Due to (the Ranchero's)
high speed and hard braking,
(Mr. Cummings) lost control
and went into a side skid,"
Trooper Bledsoe said.
The Ranchero struck the
F250 in the westbound lane.
íAr-Sv^-
The driver of this Ford F250, Terry Harris of Carthage, was
injured when his vehicle was struck by a Ford Ranchero
driven by James Cummings of Jacksonville. Mr. Harris was
wearing a seat belt.
Trooper Blecloe said.
Killed in the accident was
Mr. Cummings and Danny
Bolton, 47, of Jacksonville.
Mr. Harris was injured in
the accident and taken to
East Texas Medical Center in
Jacksonville. Trooper Steven
Crosby investigated the acci-
dent.
The driverand passenger of this Ford Ranchero were killed when they struck a Ford F250
in on-coming traffic, said officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway
Patrol. Neither occupant was wearing his seat belt.
Paige Penn of Rusk anxiously awaits hernextturn during
the Cherokee County Spelling Bee. Paige won third place
at the regional spelling bee on March 17.
'Himultuary' stumps
Rusk's super speller
By Leland Acker
Staff Writer
Paige Penn's trip to the
regional Dallas Morning
News/ESPN spelling bee in
Carrollton on March 17 was
not in vain. The Rusk Junior
High eighth-grader won third
place in the bee.
Rusk Junior High Principal
John Burkhalter had noth-
ing but praise for Paige's
performance.
"Shebeat some tough spell-
ers," he said. "She's really
smart."
The regional spelhng bee
featured 30 spellers from
various counties in the state
of Texas.
Paige lasted eight rounds,
before being eliminated by
misspelling the word "tumul-
tuary."
"I thought the pronouneer
said 'chumultuary,' so I
missed it because of the 'ch,'"
Paige said, milling that the
hst of words in the regional
spelling bee wa s harder than
those at the county spelhng
bee.
"We started with alfalfa,
then phenomenon," she said.
"I spelled contrapuntal."
Paige said another word
called out at the bee Was
Khe Sanh.
"They went several rounds
after I left," she said. "They
would ask questions such
as the origin of the word,
alternate pronunciations
and asked to have the word
repeated several times."
Paige said she was excited
to participate in the regional
spelhng bee, which was held
at the TWL studios in Car-
rollton.
"They had a background
with different letters and
ther e wer e a bunch of people
in the spill-over room."
Paige said the audience was
kept in the spillover room
and was able to watch the
competition via television.
When Paige was called upon
to spell a word, the cameras
would show her mother's
reaction.
"My mom was on TV eight
times," she added. "(Winning
third) is cool, I guess. I wish
I would have gotten first so I
could go to Washington."
Mr. Burkhalter pointed
out the first place winner is
the reigning champion from
last year.
Paige is a member of the
Rusk Junior High band, a
cross country runner and a
hbrary aide. Debbie Miller
is her mentor.
Paige is also enrolled in
the Advancement Via Indi-
vidual Determination (AVID)
program, which is a college-
prep program for junior high
students.
She is also in the gifted-
talented program.
Paige said when she fin-
ishes her education, she
would like to be a frog biolo-
gist, or a pastry chef.
She has set a goal of being
valedictorian of her class and
hopes to attend the Univer-
sity of Texas.
Wells adopts higher teacher salary schedule
For the first time in the school
district's history. Wells ISD has
been able to establish a com-
pensation plan above the state
minimum, said Superintendent
Dale Morton. The compensation
package is competitive with
school (listnets in the area.
This week, members of the
Wells ISD Board of Trustees
expressed their desire for each
child to leave with an outstand-
ing education. The board also
decided to take the action neces-
sary to make this happen.
Supt. Morton said, "The best
Way for a school district to reach
its potential is to employ and
retain skilled and dedicated
educators. Small class sizes, tre-
mendous community support,
a great learning environment.
Sunrise
academic and professional
potential and the opportunity
to be part of a vibrant school
community make Wells ISD the
place to be."
The 2007-08 Wells Indepen-
dent School District Compensa-
tion Plan is designed to attract
outstanding new teachers and
to reward current employees
whose loyalty has made each
child's educational experience
possible.
Each returning employee
(including paraprofessional
and ancillary personnel) will
receive an aggregate wage or
salaryincreaseof $1,000. Addi-
tionally, teachers will receive
the annual state incremental
increase (step).
To attract new applicants.
the District has set beginning
teacher pay at $30,000. Incre-
ments of $500 are provided
for employment in statewide
shortage areas. The plan also
provides for the first-year
teacher to receive a check in
August. Normally, the first
check a teacher receives is in
September.
The stream of applicants at
Wells ISD had slowed to a trickle
in recent years as applicants
rushed to districts that were
starting teachers thousands
of dollars ahead of the Wells
District.
"The Board of Trustees rec-
ognized that applicants were
choosing to work for schools
that paid more, and Wells was
missing out on some employees
who could make great contri-
butions to its students," Supt.
Morton said.
"Our mission and our most
important task is the daily
education of each boy and girl,
first in the classroom; second
in extra-curricular activities;
and last, in each contact the
student has with employees,"
Mr. Morton continued.
"Because of sacrifices made
in the past, we are now able
to move forward with a cost
effective plan that will make a
real impact on the education of
our students. We beheve these
compensation efforts will appeal
to the new educator and will give
them a goodboost as they begin
their professional careers," he
added.
continued from pg. 1A
Lord, no matter what their
race, social status or pres-
tige. Everyone needs Jesus
and He is there to accept
any and everyone," said Mrs.
Lankford.
Several hundred persons
will attend the pageant.
Eastside Baptist Church
will provide some seating.
However, those attending
are encouraged to bring their
own lawn chairs. In addition
to local citizens, a number of
persons camped at the park
will attend the event.
Planners for the pageant
said, "Many people come to
Rusk every year on Easter
weekend to view the pag-
eant."
Heath Thompson, a member
of the youth group, said,
"Doing this program helps
show God's love for us."
Brittany Lankford, another
member of the youth group,
said, "It is our way to share
God's love for people."
Those who play the part of
Jesus say the portrayal is very
humbling. One of the hardest
parts to play is that of the
soldier who beats Jesus.
Richard Davis, who has
played the part for several
years, said, "Every year some
three or four-year child comes
up to me and says, "I'm mad
at you, you hit Jesus." One
year he related that his grand-
daughter did not talk to him
the rest of the day because of
his part in the performance.
Sound effects add to the
spiritual mood of the event.
Calendar of Easter events
Rusk's annual egg hunt
is April 7
The annual Rusk Easter Egg hunt
sponsored by Brookshires Bros,
and the Kiwanls Club Is planned
for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 7, at Jim
Hogg Park.
All children from toddler age
through the third grade are invited
to participate.
Annual Easter fund raiser
will be noon April 8
The Sacul Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment annual Easter fund raiser will
consist of lunch with ham, dressing,
veggies, dessertand drink. The lunch
will be served from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
April 8 atthe Community Center, State
Highway 204 in Sacul.
Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for
children under 12. An Easter egg hunt
is planned for the children at 2 p.m.
George W Bradford
reunion planned April 6
An all-school George W. Bradford
High School reunion is planned for
11 a.m. Good Friday, April 6, at the
Cherokee County Informer office.
All former faculty and students are
invited.
"I am thanking all in advance for
their cooperation and patience in get-
ting this reunion together," said Helen
Colston Boston of Longview, who
serves as the reunion president.
Wells's sunrise service
planned 7 a.m. April 8
A sunrise community service is
planned for 7 a.m. Sunday, April 8,
at the pavilion at the Wells Cemetery,
with Calvary Baptist Church, Falvey
Methodist Church and other com-
munity churches sharing the service
The public is invited to attend.
Holy week services
planned
Rusk churches have scheduled
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
services during this year's holy week
observance.
Maundy Thursday services are
planned for First Presbyterian Church
at noon and First United Methodist
Church at 6 p.m.
Good Friday services will include
12:15 p.m. at First United Methodist
Church and 7 p.m. at River of Life
Church.
Jacksonville sunrise
service begins at 6:30 a.m.
The annual Jacksonville Ministerial
Alliance Easter Sunday service will
begin at 6:30 a.m. at Love's Lookout,
U.S. Highway 69 N.
The Rev. Zetra Hill will deliver the
Easter message.
Bettye Turney will present a
trumpet accompaniment. Those
attending are asked to bring their
own lawn chair.
In the event of rain the service will
be held in the Norman Activity Center,
526 E. Commerce St., Jacksonville.
Foradditional information call (903)
586-4538.
Inside this issue
Easter time is quite often when adults consider giving live animals to children. Some of these living gifts can
actually make children ill. Young animals, especially chicks and ducklings, frequently harbor salmonella or other
germs in their intestinal tracts. For complete story, see pg. 5A.
Eastside Pastor Mike Brad-
ford said, "This will be the
first time for my family and
me to see the pageant and
be part of such a great min-
istry."
Former directors of the
pageant include, Doyle and
Laurie Joyner, Tracy Jinkins,
Donna and Mike Hill, R.S. and
Esther Dyess, the late Reda
Wilcox and Weida Woodruff.
Elderly Drivers
continued from pg. 1A
then maybe they can afford an
eye exam," he said. "I waS hit
by an elderly man several years
back who admitted he did not
see me."
Donna Bothwell Smith said
the proposed legislation would
provide a way to monitor driv-
ers whose vision and reflexes
are waning.
"Reaction time does become
slower with agility becoming
impaired and vision problems
arise with age oftentimes," she
said. "With screening, those
things could be monitored and
taken care of on an individual
basis."
Ms. Smith noted that not all
elderly related accidents are
the fault of the elderly,
"Also while there are good and
bad driver s from all age group s,
the hazards that I witness most
often seem to emanate from
those younger drivers who
consider themselves excellent
drivers who zip in and out
squeezing into any opening in
order to hurry up and wait," she
said. "Of course, being bullet-
proof encourages that attitude.
It appears that some do not take
into consideration varying con-
ch tions that might be occurring
with those chiving the other
vehicles on the roacl."
Jacksonville City Council-
woman Phyllis Wilburn agreed
with the Senate version of the
bill for similar reasons.
"It's a reasonable request.
Accorchng to studies, senior
drivers have highest rates of
fatal car accidents per mile
except teenagers. Drivers over
80 are more than twice as hkely
to be at fault in a fatal colhsion
than the average driver," she
saicl. "They are simply trying
to save lives by testing older
drivers whose reflexes and
abihties may not be as sharp
as they once where."
Other residents just think it
is a good idea.
"I think the mandatory
vision tests at 79 are extremely
generous, in comparison to
Waiting until someone is 90.
Mandatory chiving tests for
someone, beginning at age 85
is still a little late but at least
something is being proposed of
this nature," saicl Lt. Brandon
McElroy of Athens, now in
Iraq, Jim for the Senate bill."
"Well I am not one for any
more rules than necessary,
I believe vision testing after
90 would be a good idea,"
saicl William Blankenship of
Arlington.
Some oppose the bills
Not all residents are happy
with the proposed legislation.
Eva Nance saicl it is unfair to
senior citizens.
"The younger generation is
just as unrehable, or maybe
more so than us elderly," she
saicl. "I'll be 78 next month and
my husband is 82. We haven't
had any mishaps to speak of
ever!"
Mrs. Nance expressed con-
cern for how the bill would affect
her personally.
"My hcense is good for six
more years. Does this mean
I'll have to go through another
exam (next year)? I hope not.
This is a bunch of baloney!"
Still other residents voiced a
desire for a better alternative.
Gay Hennage saicl she would
like to see an alternate means
of transportation be provided
for those affected by the leg-
islation.
"There are so many things
our elderly population needs,"
Ms. Hennage saicl. "I clo hope
our government will begin to
provide for and not take away
from them."
Maxine Holder saicl while she
would favor the legislation, the
fact remains that there are bad
drivers from all age groups.
"I think a questionnaire
would be more advisable, one
that asks questions about
whether they have trouble
driving at night, when they had
their eyes checked last and if
they've had one or more tickets
within six months," she saicl.
"This would then require that
special re-testing."
So while the legislature
debates the bills in Austin,
senior drivers and local resi-
dents seek a perfect solution
in an imperfect world.
CM K
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 158, No. 6, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 4, 2007, newspaper, April 4, 2007; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152776/m1/6/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.