Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 159, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Page: 1 of 16
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thecherokeean.
O Vol. 159 ■ No. 8 ■ 16 pgs.
¿mmú
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper
WEDNESDAY
April 16, 2008
Rusk, Texas ■ 50 cents
GLENN JOINS
BLACK SHIRT
DEFENSE ..
RAGLES HIT 3-GAME WIN STREAK, PG. 2B
ALTO BASEBALL GETS FIRED UP, PG. 8B
Lost Socks?' F nd em April 25 n Rusk
RUSK ISD
Rumor: McDonald s is coming to Rusk o 119 nri
directors,
Location being considered is near intersection of U.S. Highways 69 & 84
The McCat is out of the bag.
One of the worst-kept secrets in Rusk has
the town abuzz at coffee shops and lunch
sites around the city; officials are close to
announcing that a McDonald's restaurant
will open soon in Rusk.
The Rusk city manager and Rusk Chamber
of Commerce executive director are both
tight-lipped about the transaction, andboth
declined to name McDonald's as the restau-
rant chain looking at property in Rusk.
However, sources familiar with the real
estate negotiations say that an official an-
nouncement could be made in a week or
two.
The location under consideration is on
property located near the intersection of
U.S. Highways 69 and 84.
Á new restaurant in Rusk could provide a
McBoost to the local economy.
Preliminary estimates project that ap-
proximately $2 million could be added to
the local tax base.
The county's two largest employers. Rusk
State Hospital and the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice, employ approximately
2,000 persons.
No information is available on the floor
plan under consideration and whether the
design will include a full drive -through .play-
ground and restaurant. Some McDonald's
locations are connected to gas stations/con-
venience stores.
Another store: concept is McStop, which
targets truckers and travelers.
Calls to the McDonald's regional office
were not immediately returned.
McDonald's began in 1940 in San Berna-
dino, Calif. The current corporation was
founded by Ray Ivroc in 1955.
The chain has expanded to 120 countries
and territories around the world, and serves
approximately 54 million customers daily.
McDonald's Corp. is a publicly traded
company on the New York Stock Exchange
(MCD), Stock hit a 52-week trading high
at $63.69 per share on Dec. 12, 2007, and
closed Monday at $55.82.
INSIDE
16-year old attempts
robbery
The Cherokee County Sheriff's
Office received a 911 call Sunday
morning around 11 a.m. reporting
an attempted robbery and assault
at a home in the Troup area.
see page 1B
Murder-for-hire plot
busted
Investigators with the Chero-
kee County Sheriff's Office have
arrested a Jacksonville-area
woman for attempting to hire
someone to kill her ex-hus-
band.
see page 1B
Credit union welcomes
new CEO
Rita Hilliard, CEO at Southern
Cherokee Federal Credit Union,
welcomes Donald O'Keefe. Mr.
O'Keefe, who resides in Flint, has
been selected by the credit union
board to replace retiring Mrs.
Hilliard. He reminds members
of the upcoming credit union an-
nual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday,
April 17, at Rusk State Hospital
chapel.
Ride for Relay
scheduled for Saturday
The Ride for Relay annual
motorcycle show and competi-
tive observation run benefitting
the Cherokee Counly Relay for
Life will be held Saturday on
the square in Rusk. Bike show
registration will be held from
9:30-10 a.m., with the bike show
taking place from 10-11 a.m. The
observation run will begin at 11
a.m., with optional lunch stops
ícluded. The entry fee of $10
per person goes to the Relay for
Life, which raises awareness and
funding for cancer research.
Weather Outlook
>>5* ir
THURSDAY
isolated t-storms
30% chance of rain
High: 75
Low: 52
OLDIES RADIO
KWRW - FM and KTLU - AM
SPRING DELAYS
Possible underground spring snags highway construction in Rusk
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PHOTO: LELAND ACKER
Traffic slows for construction along U.S. Highway 69 in Rusk, as the top layer of pave-
ment was removed from the outside southbound lane of the road. Work on U.S. 69 has
halted due to the presence of water beneath the pavement.
By Leland Acker
Staff Writer
Southbound drivers along
U.S. Highway 69 in Rusk
will have to be patient with
the stalled road construction
until the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) can
figure out how to solve a water
problem which is hampering
repair efforts. Larry Krantz,
pubhc information officer for
TxDOT's Tyler district, said
crews working on U.S. 69 in
Rusk discovered water oozing
out from underneath the p ave-
ment as crews were attempt-
ing to repair the road base.
"It's been really wet for the
past couple of weeks, he said.
"We're looking at the design
and trying to figure out how
to mitigate the water under
the pavement.
Mr. Krantz said he believes
the water may be coming from
an underground spring.
"It was just a wet, low spot,
like there is a spring there/'
he said. "It s not a conducive
situation to opening the out-
side southbound lane to traffic.
It's stalled out until we figure
out what to do, which I believe
we're very close to doing."
Mr. Krantz said TxDOT's
funding issues will not prevent
the U.S. 69 project in Rusk
from being completed, but
added that funding becomes a
concern when unplanned pr ob -
lems arise in construction.
"In the end, the right thing
will be done," he said. "Hope-
fully; people will bear with us
until then."
TxDOT's plan for U.S. 69
in Rusk is to repair the road
base for the outside lanes, then
cover the highway with a hot
mix of asphalt.
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
Former RHS teacher pleads guilty in federal court
Harold (Bo) Scallon, 60, of Ponta,
pled guilty to charges of possession
of material involving the sexual
exploitation of a child April 8 before
United States Eastern District
Magistrate Judge
John D. Love.
Mr. Scallon, a
longtime Rusk High
School Enghsh and
drama instructor,
was charged with
| possession of more
than 150images and
trading in child por-
nography. According
to information presented in court,
law enforcement officers executed
a search warrant at Scallon's
residence July 6, 2007. A personal
computer was seized at that time.
Forensic analysis of the computer
revealed visual depictions of mi-
Bo Scallon
nors involved in sexually explicit
conduct.
Mr. Scallon was indicted March
4 for possession and distribution
of material involving the sexual
exploitation of minors.
OnAug. 29, 2007, he was charged
with distributing computer files
containing child pornography and
possessed a per sonal computer with
a hard disk containing the sexual
exphcit material, the indictment
stated.
The distribution charge will be
dismissedbecause of his plea agree-
ment, Mr. Baldwin said.
Sentencing date has not been set.
Mr. Scallon fa:ces up to 10 years in
federal prison and a fine of up to
$250,000.
He was represented in court by
Keith Brown of Sherman. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin is the
prosecuting attorney.
This case is part of Project Safe
Childhood (PSC). In February
2006, the Department of Justice
created Project Safe Childhood,
a nationwide initiative designed
to protect childreil from online
exploitation and abuse.
The U. S. Attorneys o (Tices.
Project Safe Childhood, marshals,
federal, state and local resources
have banded together to better
locate, apprehend and prosecute
individuals who exploit children
via the Internet, as well as identify
and rescue victims.
For information about Project
Safe Childhood, visit www.project-
safechildhood.gov.
This case is beinginvestigatedby
the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion, U.S. Secret Service and the
Longview Police Department.
to retire
5 coaches submit
resignations
By Gloria Jennings
Staff Writer
Members of the Rusk Independent School
District board accepted five retirement re-
quests and nine resignations following an
executive session Monday night. Oneperson
was employed.
Those retiring included long-time high
school principal Ricky Hassell and band
director Gary Robbins. Mr. Hassell has 23
years with Rusk ISD, 10 of those as high
See RUSK ISD, pg. 6A
CITY OF RUSK
City Hall
needs roof
By Gloria Jennings
Staff Writer
The Rusk City Council approved a change
order Thursday to purchase a refurbished
aerator for the new water well on FM 343.
Originally $100,000 was budgeted to pur-
chase a new aerator, but a refurbished one
was located for S75.000. The refurbished
aerator includes the same warranty as a
new one.
Alan Ross of Schaumburg & Polk, Inc.
of Tyler, the city's engineer for the project,
met with the council to give an update on
the project.
Cost for installation and electricity service
was budgeted at $50,000. However, the price
had gone up. After negotiation with the
electric provider, the cost has been lowered
to just over the budgeted amount.
In another matter,- the council discussed
location of electronic variable message bill-
See RUSK CITY COUNCIL, pg. 6A
CITY OF ALTO
Chief wants
new officer
Full-time relief officer needed
for vacations
By Leland Acker
Staff Writer
While the meetings of the Alto City Council
are becoming more harmonious, the chal-
lenges the city faces are not getting easier.
Such was proven at the regular meeting of
the city council Monday as leader s worked to
resolve continued problems in the city's gas
system, the decaying building which used
to be city hall and managing the number of
police reserves.
"I have five reserves right now," said
Charles Barron, Alto police chief. "All but
one are employed (elsewhere) full-time. To
add anyone, I would want someone expe-
rienced who has been in East Texas for a
long time."
Chief Barron told the council that one of his
reserves is preparing to leave for Iraq, while
another works for a university out of town.
He explained what he needed is an officer
who can relieve current officers so they can
See ALTO CITY COUNCIL, pg. 6A
CM K
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 159, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 16, 2008, newspaper, April 16, 2008; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152830/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.