The Archer County News (Archer City, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 15, 1971 Page: 1 of 6
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The Archer County News
57th Year
Short Grass Randhing Capital of The World
Single Copy 10£
Archer City, Texas 76351
Thursday, April 15, 1971
Nun ber 15
J’ JOTS
*~*By JOE K. STULTS ++++4 \
Spring is beautiful!
Springtime has always been
one of my favorite seasons of
the year. Not so this year. In
this section of North Texas
this time of the year the fields
and pastures are usually a lush
green and all the trees have
already put on their seasonal
dress. But apparently the Mes-
quite has become thirsty in the
long dry spell and is looking
for some moisture before
breaking through in full blos-
som.
—jot—
A couple of issues back I
forecast an inch of rain before
the end of the calendar month
(March). Someone spoke up,
regarding the statement, and
said I was either a fool or a
newcomer to this part of Texas.
I prefer to be called the latter
as next month I will mark my
40th anniversary in this area
and to my knowledge I have
never seen it this dry before.
Even some of the oldtimers
in the county cannot recall a
spell that equals the past 18
months. B. M. Pickard was
in the office this week and he
says that many of the senior
citizens have short memories.
He said that in the fall of 1920
and the spring of ‘21 the
drought became critical and
many of the ranchers were
having to haul livestock water.
He also said that in 1950 it
rained the “bottom out” but
it shut off in the fall and in
‘51 it didn’t rain enough to wet
your shirt sleeves.
—jot—
The dry weather to some is
still just a good conversation
piece but to many in Archer
County the problem is serious.
Many of the stockmen, farmers
and dairymen are in a bind,
not only for water, but for grass
as well. But one can’t stop here
as the city dwellers will soon
be in trouble, too. There hasn’t
been a rain in the past 18
months that has made enough
run-off water to add much to
the city reservoir. City offi-
cials say that there is enough
water in the city lake to last
for another 90 days.
However, Archer County is
not the only dry area in the
state as the drought is consi-
dered more serious in South
Texas. The daily press re-
ported just recently that the Ci-
ty of Houston had only 100
plus days of water supply left.
And the same press reported,
picture-proof, of livestock
dying in South Texas for lack of
water and starvation.
--jot—
I do hope this is the last
time this year that I have to
devote any space on the drought.
It will rain someday, it always
has, and every day that goes
by that it doesn’t rain, it means
we're just one day closer to
the day that it will.
U. S. Senator John Tower an-
nounced this week that the Ru-
ral Electrification Department
of Agriculture had approved a
$150,000 loan to J-A-C Elec-
tric Cooperative Association of
Bluegrove. The loan is to as-
sist financing of distribution
line to serve new customers
and system improvements.
The cooperative serves resi-
dents of Jack, Archer, Clay
and Montague counties.
BEST ACTOR AND ACTRESS honors went to Brian McPherson and Judy Hilbers fol-
lowing the final act of ‘‘Our Girls” by Conrad Seiler. Brian portrayed Elmer Love-
joy, father of the Lovejoy family and they had their share of troubles, especially when
Aunt Jesse, a saucy spinister British lady, played by Judy, came to America to give
her granddaughter her first installment of her inheritance. Thw whole plot centered
around three girls, which happened to be boys, that were favorites of Aunt Jesse’s.
BEST SUPPORTING TOLES-Rhonda Hoggins and Charles Gaines were named best
supporting actor and actress following the junior class presentation of‘‘Our Girls”
by Conrad Seiler. Rhonda was a Swedish maid who had thoughts of returning to her
native land to marry. Charles was the youngest “of the girls” and at times was a pain
in the neck of his older brother, who didn’t want to “play the role of a girl” while
Aunt Jesse visited the Lovejoy family.
School Board
Meets Tonight
Board of trustees of the Ar-
cher City schools will meet
tonight (Thusday) in a called
meeting. The purpose of the
meeting is to begin interviewing
applicants for the superinten-
dent’s position.
Supt. Tim Me Pherson resign-
ed recently to accept a job as
superintendent of schools at
Jacksboro. McPherson will
serve the local school as sup-
erintendent until June 30.
Two of the three applicants
to be interviewed tonight are
presently serving as superin-
tendents and the third appli*
cant is a high school principal
in a large school.
Board Meets
Megargel Independent School
board met Monday evening for
their regular meeting. A can-
vas of the votes and election of
officers topped the agenda.
New board member, O. C.
Sherley, and incumbent John
Pechacek were the newly-elect-
ed members and signed oaths of
office.
E. E Symank was elected
president of the board and serv-
ing with him will be Odell Bis-
hop, vice president, and Sher-
ley, secretary.
Other board members are
Fred Knoblock, Henry Cubaand
Boyd McWhorter.
Court Consolidates Four
Boxes For May Election
County commissioners re-
cently approved consolidation
of the four voting boxes for the
special amendment election to
be held Tuesday, May 18. There
will be just one voting box at
Archer City and this will be at
the city hall. Election judge for
the special amendment election
is Eddie Trigg with Jeff Seay
serving as assistant.
Absentee voting on the
amendments will begin April
28 and close May 14, according
to County and District Clerk,
Irene Stanford. Ballots are be-
ing prepared for the election
and will be available for ab-
sentee voting in the clerk’s
office April 28.
Amendments to be voted on
include:
No. 1 Establishing a State
Ethics Commission empowered
to set rules of ethics for mem-
bers of the legislature, state
officers and legislative officers
and to investigate violations; to
recommend compensation for
members of the legislature and
the Lieutenant Governor; and
to recommend improvements
and economy in the legislative
process.
No. 2 Providing that the le-
gislature may propose amend-
ments to the Constitution in
called as well as regular ses-
sions of the legislature.
No. 3 Removing the limita-
tion on the total state appro-
priations for assistance grants
for the needy aged, the needy
blind, and the needy disabled,
and setting a limitation on total
state appropriations during a
fiscal year for assistance
grants for needy dependent chil-
dren and the caretakers of such
children.
No. 4 Authorizing the issu-
ance of $100 million in bonds to
provide financial assistance to
cities and other public agencies
for water quality enhancement
purposes; providing for the im-
provement and continuance of
the water resources program,
and establishing an interest cei-
ling on Water Development
Bonds at six percent.
&.M
&
iLm
ATTEND AUSTIN MEET--A group of 4-H members from
Wlndthorst are shown visiting with Rep. Charles Finnell of
Holliday. The group was in Austin Saturday, April 3, to par-
ticipate in the “Governor for a Day” activities held in the
state capital. Shown from left are Vickie Schroeder, Mrs.
Lawrence Schroeder, Cathy Schroeder, Mrs. Leo Hoff, Vickie
Veltenheimer and Rep. Finnell. Also attending were Marvin
Henry, county agent, Norman Hoff and Eddie Veltenheimer.
W. 5. Thomas Retires
City Council Airs
Sanitation Problems
Members of the city council
of Archer City met in regular
session Thursday night with the
two newly elected councilmen
also present. Two new
members, W. W. Dorris and
Jimmy Davis, signed the oath
of office but did not participate
in any of the business trans-
actions. Also signing oath of
office was Charlie Lee Martin,
who was re-elected to the coun-
cil. The election laws read that
a councilman must be elected
at least five days, excluding
Sunday, before he can officially
take office. For this reason the
old council voted on all business
that came before the group.
Early in the meeting some
members of the council voiced
disagreements with the city at-
torney, Jimmy P. Horany. The
attorney also countered and at
the conclusion of the heated de-
bate the attorney said that it ap-
peared that he and the council
had some differences and it
would be hard to work in har-
mony. He then offered his re-
signation and the council voted
unanimously on accepting the
resignation.
Dorris, newly elected coun-
cil member, who had served on
the council a few years back,
extended his appreciation to the
council for all of the accom-
plishments made in the past
few years. Dorris, in looking
over the monthly financial re-
port prepared by City Manager,
Charles McDaniel, said, “there
is evidence here that great
strides have been made in im-
provements and financial con-
dition of the city." Following
Dorris’ remarks, councilman
Gene Crutcher, who was de-
feated in the recent election,
gave most of the credit for
the improvements to City Man-
ager McDaniel. Crutcher point-
ed out that the improvements
made were mainly due to good,
efficient office management.
McDaniel gave two reports
to the council. One on the wa-
ter condition of the city and
the other on the fire insurance
key rate.
He said that the city water
supply was slowly becoming
critically low and that it ap-
peared the city had enough wa-
ter in the lake for another three
months without additional rain.
He did say that the city had
ceased selling water for live-
stock and commercial use. He
reported that water rationing
was not necessary now but that
if conditions did not improve
the water consumption will have
to be cut down.
A representative from the
State Insurance Board made
inspections of the city fire de-
partment equipment, ?ater
mains, fire hydrants, etc., re-
cently. He told the city manager
that Archer City had one of the
best departments in the state
for the size of the town.
The council made a ‘ stab”
at completely overhauling the
sanitation department. Appa-
rently many citizens have been
complaining of poor service on
trash and garbage removaL The
council unanimously agreed to
hire three additional men for the
department and put another
truck in service. At the pre-
sent the city owns one new trash
truck and a standby vehicle.
The council instructed Mc-
Daniel to begin search for three
additional employees for the de-
partment at a state minimum
wage of $1.60 per hour.
The plan adopted by the coun-
cil, on a trial basis, was to
use the old truck for the second
trash truck, transferring one of
the experienced employees to
the second truck which is esti-
mated to stand up for only about
three months. At the end of
this period the city will have to
decide whether to purchase an-
other new vehicle or run two
eight-hour shifts on the new
truck that is now in service.
The manager pointed out to the
council that the sanitation de-
partment was operating at about
a break-even basis with the pre-
sent arrangement and with ad-
ded equipment and labor addi-
tional funds will be needed. He
said if the service is doubled
the operational expense will be
doubled.
In other action the council
agreed unanimously to give all
employees, with one year or
more service, a 10 percent
raise in salary. Mayor Rex
Owen said that it had been a
long time since employees had
been given a raise and with at
least 5 percent inflation belig
experienced each year, the
raise, in his opinion, was mini-
mal.
A. C. Wallace Elected
Lions Club President
A C. Wallace, elementary
principal of the Archer City
schools, was elected Tuesday to
serve as Lions Club president
for the 1971-72 term at their
regular bi-monthly luncheon.
Elected to serve with Wallace
were Bob Robison, first vice-
president; Bill Hayes, second
vice president; Harold Wunsch,
third vice president; A O.
Campbell, tail twister; R. A
Killian, lion tamer; and Bill
Holder, secretary-treasurer.
Newly elected board mem-
bers include L N. Barton, Rex
Uwen, Rev. Gene Bynum ana
Charlie King. Hold-over direc-
tors are Harold Wunsch and
Howard Barton.
Workers were also named to
assist Bill Hayes, general
chairman of the annual broom
sale to be held Tuesday, March
27. The sale will be held on
the courthouse square from 8
a.m. until 6 p.m. Proceeds
from the broom sale go to the
Texas Lighthouse of the Blind,
and the club’s share will go into
a special fund to assist local
residents and children with eye
care.
Archer County Youth
Organize 4-H Horse Show
A group of interested Archer
County residents met at the Bill
Abernathy home Monday even-
ing for a weiner roast and to
organize a 4-H Horse Club.
Johnny Hudson was elected
president; Jay McWhorter, vice
president; Jan McWhorter, se-
cretary-treasurer; Kandy Mc-
Whorter, reporter and Glenda
Froman, council delegate.
Twenty-four young people
were present for the meeting.
Adults present were Messrs,
and Mmes. Pete Hudson, Jack
Harney, Jimmy Powell, Bo
Wood, all of Archer City, the
Crawfords of Windthorst, and
Mmes. George Conrady of
Windthorst, Bill Kerr and Tra-
vis Nelson of Archer City; the
host couple, the Abernathys;
and the weiner roast hosts, Mr.
and Mrs. Kenneth McWhorter.
County Agent and Mrs. Marvin
Henry were also present for
PERSONAL
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Ste-
wart traveled to Denton last
Wednesday to visit with the Gene
Smiths and children. They were
accompanied by Mrs. J. C.
Strawn, mother of Mrs. Ste-
wart. The Smiths and Mrs.
Strawn traveled to Portland to
visit Mrs. Stawn’s daughter,
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Osborne
and children. They were joined
Thursday and Friday by another
Strawn daughter, Mr. and Mrs.
Skeeter Matthews and children
of Freer.
the club organization.
The next meeting will be held
at the Kenneth McWhorter farm
arena. This will be a practice
show and young people of the
community are issued a special
invitation to join.
A C. WALLACE
W. F. Men Teach Book
On Christian Living
Seven men from various
churches in Wichita Falls will
teach the book, “Your Life In
Christ,” by Howell Brooks, for
the people of Archer City in
preparation for the City-wide
Evangelistic Crusade, schedul-
ed for mid-summer, the Rev.
Kern Choate, president of the
Archer City Ministerial Al-
liance, announced this week.
The study is scheduled for
seven succeeding Wednesday
evenings at 8:00 p.m., beginning
Wednesday, May 12. The place
will be announced later, Rev.
Choate said.
The book gives practical in-
struction in everyday Christian
living and deals with the plan
of salvation, assurance of sal-
vation, Christian stewardship
and other types of interest to
the lay Christian.
Wayne Watts, independent oil
operator of Wichita Falls, will
teach one chapter of the book
and one chapter will be taught
by Dr. J. B. Hathorn, Jr., a
medical doctor; Elie Lam, real-
tor; James Clutter, Texaco em-
ployee; Harold Warren with Do-
well Chemical Co., Bob O’ Hearn
and Larry Hardie, who works
with the Navigators on Midwes-
tern University campus and at
Sheppard Air Force Base.
The City-wide Crusade is
sceduled for the week of July
18-25 at the football stadium.
The Rev. Carl Alcorn, pastor
of Southside Assembly of God
in Wichita Falls will be guest
evangelist. The music director
will be announced at a later
date. The Alcorn Singers of
Wichita Falls will bring spe-
cial music from time to time
during the week long services.
All churches in Archer City
are cooperating to make the
Crusade a meaningful experi-
ence in the life of every city
resident Committees are made
up of representatives from each
church and names and informa-
tion will be released as plans
progress, Rev. Choate announ-
ced.
'School Grades Are Not A True Measuring Stick'
When W. S. Thomas recently announced
his retirement as superintendent of schools
at Holliday it made one realize that he has
seen all steps of progress in the community.
Following the resignation of Mr. Thomas,
the board hired Ray Cole, high school prin-
cipal, to fill the vacancy.
Thomas, who served the school for the
past 41 years, was the son of John C. and
Alice Willet Thomas. He had one sister and
two brothers. He began school in Holliday
in the old two-story frame building and had
the same teacher for the second, third and
fourth grades. When he reached his junior
year of high school and there were only two
in the class his father decided to send him
to Abilene Christian Academy. He spent two
years there and returned after graduating to
work in the summer mixing mortar for the
new brick school building.
His father had been instrumental in the
plans for the new schooL The retiring su-
perintendent remarked, ‘ I wanted the hard
work to prepare for the football season at
ACC.” He return&Mn the fall to ACC, pUy-
W. & THOMAS
tag end on the football team with L C. Adams,
quarterback, and now postmaster at Holliday.
Supt. Thomas received his degree and had
a teaching job at Rochester but his father
needed him in his business. He started his
teaching career at Holliday in 1930, was
appointed superintendent in 1935. He received
his master’s degree from SMU in education.
He also worked on his doctorate at North
Texas State.
Willet Thomas married Cloe Ramey in 1928.
She was a teacher at Holliday and between
them they have contributed 70 years to the
field of education. Over the past 41 years of
association with the Holliday school, Mr.
Thomas has seen continual progress. In 1941
a new modern building replaced the old brick
structure and then several years ago when
the latest addition was made to the school it
was named the W. S. Thomas Field House
in his honor.
Supt. Thomas states that his philosophy of
education has been influenced by the small
community in which he lives. He firmly be-
lieves that a small school should be tanuly
orientated and individual development is im-
portant. He believes you should not have a
lot of rules but given a good learning situa-
tion and help, that youth will learn respon-
sibility, good citizenship, moral values, and
patriotism.
He further states that grades are not a
true measuring stick and that there is a place
in life for everyone; the exceptional, average
and low student. He did mention that be would
like to see a good vocational program avail-
able for Holliday students.
Supt. Thomas is looking forward to re-
tirement, playing golf with old friends, seeing
more of their children, Patsy Jo and Tommy
and the four grandchildren.
There will be a reception honoris* the
retiring superintendent on May 30, at the
school following baccalaureate services. Ev-
eryone is invited and contrflsutlans for a
farewell gift are being accepted by Mrs.
L. C. Adams at the post office.
• * » 4‘ » V
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Stults, Joe K. The Archer County News (Archer City, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 15, 1971, newspaper, April 15, 1971; Archer City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth708640/m1/1/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Archer Public Library.