The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 49, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 31, 1978 Page: 2 of 24
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' I
Page 2 — The Albany News — Wednesday, May 31, 1978
Stenholm Answers Challenges
By Making Letter Public
Charles Stenholm made public
Wednesday, May 24, a private
decision he made the weekend
before. Stenholm answered his
opponent's challenges and ac-
cusations in a news conference
at his Abilene campaign head-
quarters.
Stenholm, leader in the May
6 Democratic primary for the
17th Congressional District, ex-
plained his decision on a public
debate and defended his position
concerning other attacks made
by his opponent.
On Sunday, May 21, Stenholm
mailed a letter to both Abilene
television stations stating his
reasons for declining a proposed
debate between the two candi:
dates.
"I had not planned to make
this personal letter public when
I mailed it last Sunday," said
Stenholm. "But developments
this week have caused me to
change my mind."
"In recent days my opponent
has made repeated calls for a
public debate. I have no inten-
tion of engaging in such a
spectacle. The people of the 17th
District are entitled to know my
reasons," stated Stenholm.
In the letter, Stenholm stated,
"In view of repeated attacks
throughout the district on my
motives and honesty, I am con-
vinced that nothing constructive
or enlightening could come from
such a confrontation. The mood
of the campaign has turned ugly.
Some volunteer workers have
received threatening telephone
calls. There have been annoy-
ance calls to our home in the
middle of the night. In recent
days, it has been intimated that
I have been involved in or
endorsed deplorable acts includ-
ing obscenities and eggs
splashed on a campaign head-
quarters.
"This is embarrassing to me
and my family; insulting to the
people of the 17th District; and
such statements have no part in
a political campaign.
"I simply will not dignify such
accusations by subjecting myself
to a situation where they could
well be repeated.
"The voters have a clear
concept of our backgrounds and
our qualifications. I trust they
will consider also our differences
in attitude."
"The things you have been
hearing from the opposition
camp since the primary are
simply not the way I think a
campaign should be conducted,"
stressed Stenholm.
"I repeat my position that we
do not want more federal aid to
education," said Stenholm. "Re-
cent figures released by the
Texas Education Agency indi-
cate that eight percent of the
money required to operate the
local school district in Texas for
Nursing Home Open House
To Be Held Sunday, June 4
Open House at the Bluebonnet
Village will be held Sunday,
June 4 from 2:00 to 5:00 o'clock,
according to Mrs. Jean Irvin,
administrator.
"We're all settled in now, and
ready for a good time," Mrs.
Irvin said.
Guests will be registered, re
freshments served, and tour
hostesses will show the building.
Everyone is cordially invited.
'This is a dream come true for
many of us," the administrator
remarked, "this is especially
true of my mother, Mrs. Mary
Smith, who has worked for a
long time to make Bluebonnet
Village a reality."
It is good for this small,
historically minded town to have
an 80 bed nursing home for its
citizens, she said.
"Also, we have an excellent
staff. Mrs. Laura Patterson,
director of nurses, and Mrs.
Etna Pate, food supervisor, de-
serve special mention for their
leadership abilities."
Everyone is fascinated with
the new facility and eager to
show it off to the public. A large
crowd is anticipated, Mrs. Irvin
concluded.
AHS Cheerleaders Earn Money
For SMU School August 7-11
Albany High School cheer
leaders are hard at work this
week earning money for cheer
leaders' school at SMIJ August
7-11. They set up a refreshment
stand at the dance recital re
hearsals earlier this week.
Money will be applied on the
camp expenses.
'The drum major, flag girls
and twiriers will be going to
ETSU, Commerce July 9-14,"
said band director Weldon Mc-
Cutchen. These girls have been
making money all year to pay
their way. "Flag girls painted
the curb markings downtown
and sold donuts. The twiriers
have the concession stand at the
softball and pony league games
and sold some stationery."
Yearbook camp will be held
the Aral week in August at
* r. Layout
AZTEC THEATER
WILL BE CLOSED
FOR JUNE A JULY
the 1976-77 school year came
from the federal government."
Continuing to answer his op-
ponent's attacks, Stenholm said,
"A call for one third or 33Vj
percent funding from Washing
ton is, to me, inviting absolute
dictation from bureaucrats if
what we are getting now is any
indication.
"I do believe in federal grants
and aids directly to students,
primarily when they are to be
repaid at low interest rates,"
continued Stenholm. "I do be-
lieve in impacted aid when the
government is responsible for
imposing burdens on a local
school system. I do insist that
we must retain local control, and
it seems obvious to me that this
is hardly possible if we accept
more and more aid."
Concerning campaign finan-
ces, Stenholm stated, "In accor-
dance with our usual procedure,
we are releasing today our
report filed with the Federal
Election Commission for the
period ending May 19.
"I am very proud of the fact
that it has not been necessary
for me to borrow additional
money myself and put it into the
campaign since April 5. People
across the District have res-
ponded in a wonderful way. By
actual count, we have 4,893
individual contributors. This is
more than many statewide can-
didates often have participat
ing," noted Stenholm.
Stenholm ended his press con-
ference by stating, "I have two
challenges to issue to my op
ponent: (1) release your financial
report today, and (2) stay with
the issues and leave personali-
ties out of the campaign."
Memorial Day Observed
During Ceremony May 29
Memorial Day was observed
in quiet ceremony at 6:00 Mon-
day evening at Albany Ceme-
tery. The group of about 30
persons gathered about the
granite marker on which is
carved 176 names of Albany
men. These men served their
country during their lifetime and
are buried in Albany Cemetery.
The Stars and Stripes flew over
the marker on which had been
placed a wreath of red poppies.
Judge Buddy Fincher pro-
claimed the purpose of the meet-
ing: 'To honor departed friends;
to remain strong in faith in God,
in our fellowmen, and in self."
He was introduced by Sam
Webb.
In the brief talk, Judge Fin-
cher said: "Freedom - where
does it come from? Not from
guns, bombs, chemical warfare,
or from fighting men. Ever-
lasting freedom comes from
God....It begins with God and
ends with God."
God gave freedom to man
through His only Son, Jesus
Christ, Fincher stressed, and
His sacrifice is our everlasting
freedom.
"Freedom is not cheap," he
continued, "The Pilgrims didn't
find it easy. It took a lot to
survive."
The Revolutionary War took
many lives and eventually a
nation was the result. The War
Between the States, bad as it
was, freed a nationality of
slavery.
World Wars I and II meant a
great sacrifice in lives and phy-
sical disfigurement, Fincher
said, as did the Korean and Viet
Nam Wars. "We remember our
sacrifices and God's sacrifice
today," he concluded.
The service ended with prayer
and the folding of the flajf bv
Mssrs. Webb and Wayne Wylie.
The flag was presented to Mrs.
Roy Mauldin, Gold Star Mother.
THE ALBANY NEWS
P.O. Box 278
Phone 817-762-2201
published weekly
Second Class Postage Paid
At Albany, Texos 76430
Publication No. 012400
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Donnie Lucas
MANAGING EDITOR
Melinda Viertel
BUSINESS & CIRCULATION
Edith Evans
SOCIAL EDITOR
Elsa Turner
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1978 MEMBEB
Texas Press Assoc.
West Texas Press Assoc.
design and photography will be
among the classes offered. Seve
ral local high school students
interested in working on the
AHS yearbook are planning to
attend.
Leaving For Good?
Then don't forget your Travelers Checks,
Debbie, loss proof money that you can use
just like cash. Instant reimbursement at of
fices throughout the world if lost or stolen.
Buy them at the bank.
"Banking Since 1883"
762-2221 or 762-2222
The First National Bank
of Albany
Member FDIC
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Lucas, Donnie. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 49, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 31, 1978, newspaper, May 31, 1978; Albany, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth429060/m1/2/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.