The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 1997 Page: 1 of 10
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New Area Code
Page 5
Voluma 107, No. 22
Two Sections
350
Tn effestNews
th u r s d ay Celebrating 107years serving tne West area
Illy 29, 1997 Covering West, Abbott, Aquilla, Axtell, Birorne, Chalk Bluff, Elm Mott, Gerald, Gholson, Hillsboro, Leroy, jfalone, Penelope, Ross, Tokio, Tours, Waco and Whitney
West school board
rehires employees
News Digest
West KC Picnic Sunday
The 34th Annual Columbus Day Picnic is scheduled for this
Sunday at the West Columbus Club. A West Czech-style
dinner, consisting of fried chicken, country sausage with all
the trimmings, is planned from 11a.m.-2 p.m. All adult plates
and plates-to-go are $5 each with plates for children under 12
priced at $3.50. Games, entertainment and an auction start at
1 p.m. This year there will be a celebrity Dunkin' Sam booth
and the following have agreed to be dunked: Mayor Russ
Willsey, Darren Banik, Rev. John Crowder, Rev. Don Ketchum,
JeffKubacak, Ed Trochim, Tommy Muska, Father Ed Karasek,
Vikki Daniel and Tom Marek.
Leroy Fire Depart, fund-raiser Sunday
The Leroy Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a Ham-
burger Lunch fund-raiser from 11 a.m. • 2 p.m. this Sunday at
the Fire Station in Leroy. The meal is to consist of a barbecued
hamburger with all the trimmings served with a choice of
drinks. Plates-to-go will be available and the cost of the meal
is to be on a donation only basis. Proceeds from this event are
to go towards the many operating expenses of the volunteer
fire department. Everyone is invited to attend.
West VFW Post to meet June 11
West VFW Post 4819 is scheduled to meet on June 11 in the
VFW Club. The ladies auxiliary will meet at 7:30 p.m. with the
men to meet at 8 p.m.
Over 50 Dance set for Friday
The Over 50 Dance is scheduled from 7-10 p.m. this Friday at
West Fraternal Auditorium. Jesse Mears and the Fiddlin'
Fever Band will provide the music. Admission is priced at $4
with no smoking or alcohol allowed.
EVOS Lodge 46 June 1 meeting
RVOS Lodge 46 has scheduled their Summer Social for June
1 at Cottonwood Hall. The hall opens at 11:30 a.m. with lunch
at 1 p.m. Members are asked to bring pastries for desserts.
Bible School at Methodist Church
The Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church of Gholson will
have Vacation Bible School from 8:30 -11:30 a.m. June 9-13.
The school is for children ages three through the sixth grade!
The theme is "Celebrate Jesus" and there will be bibie stories,
songs, drama, crafts, recreation, Christian fellowship and
refreshments. For further information, contact Lelia McDugal
at 829-1063.
Father Beyer to speak at West church
Father Richard Beyer, chaplain at the VA Hospital in Waco,
will speak at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in West
immediately following the 5:30 p.m. Family Rosary and 6:30
p.m. Mass on June 4. He has authored two books, Bleated Art
Thou and Medjugorje Day by Day. He has lectured nationally
and most recently on Mother Angelica's EWTN Catholic
Network. He and Father Bill Brooks, pastor of St. Jerome's
Church in Hewitt, will host a pilgrimage to the shrine of
Medjugorje, Yugoslavia this October. Everyone is invited to
attend his talk.
Swimming lessons at MCC
"Operation Waterproof, swimming lessons at McLennan
Community College in Waco, will be conducted for West
students from 9:25 -10:35 a.m. (Monday through Thursday)
June 2-12. Bus transportation will be provided from West
High School at 8:45 a.m. and returning at 11:15 a.m. The cost
for the lesson is $29 per student and $6 for the bus transpor-
tation. Children wishing to take the lessons must be at least
38 inches tall. Information forms are available at all West
schools and for further information, contact Jean Smith at
826-5655.
West VFW Post fund-raiser
WastVFWPoet 4819 ia currently selling tickets on ten$l,000
idgjjjgjQyen awry. There will be ten different drawings
and the tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from any
West VFW member or at the VFW Post.
Marriage Class at Brethren Church
The West Brethren Church is offering a 13 week video series
on marriage beginning the first week in June. The 30 minute
videos feature Dr. H. Norman Wright and other prominent
Christian teachers. Call Dr. Don Ketcham at the Brethren
Church for more information (826-4667 or 826-3146).
Residents warned about salesman
Aresident in the White Oak area near Ross reported Wednes-
day morning warning residents about a salesman soliciting
door to door earlier this week in the area. The resident
reported the salesman to be extremely aggressive in wanting
to get in the house and wantingto see thechildren living in the
home. She noted the salesman did not have a permit and was
reported to the M»i*nnan County Sheriffs Department.
Anyone with questions concerning a door to door salee-
manshould ask for their permit and call the 8hsriffs Depart-
ment if they are suspicious about the salesman.
Ag boosters to sell barbecue chickens
The West A* Booster Club is to sell barbecue chickens on June
8 at the Ole Csedt Smoke House in West beginning at 10 sun.
and -—tinning until all ililti ir> mlfrwjpcf Si rJrr
idvance, call I
wmamm
li
I I
Keys to the city.
West Mayor Russ Willsey (left) presents Hillerest Baptist Medical Center President R
E. Scott with a plaque symbolizing the keys to the city. This presentation was ma
Thursday in the Hillerest Medical Center at West as community members were im
a noon luncheon to meet with Hillerest Baptist Medical Center officials.
St. Mary's School top grads honoi
St. Mary's School in West had
its eighth grade promotion cer-
emony on Monday at St. Mary's
Catholic Church of the Assump-
tion with the Rev. Ed Karasek
and Rev. Melvin Dornak
concelebrating the Mass before
the ceremony.
Amy Barton was honored as
the class Valedictorian and
Stephen Hutyra as the Class
Salutatorian. Amy, the daugh-
ter ofSa idy Barton and the late
Raymond Barton Jr., had a 95.3
grade average. Stephen, the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hutyra,
had an average of 91.5.
Amy was also named the re-
cipient of the annual Msgr.
George Doskocil Religion Award.
Laurie Sykora sang at the
Mass accompanied by Mrs. Dor-
othy Kucera as organist.
St. Mary's Principal Joe
Gough also present
Principal's Service A
Sandy Barton and
Hutyra.
Stephen Hutyra
The West Independent School District Board of Trustees re-
employed several employees and also accepted some resignations
during their May 14 meeting in the school district's administration
building.
Ten secretaries and clerks were re-employed at the meeting.
They were Joyce Schroeder, Doris Hutyra and Sara Gerik, central
office; Sharon Middlebrook and Susan Mercer, elementary school;
Pat Lee and Linda Straten, middle school; and Carol Campbell,
Debbie Pavlicek and Suzanne Ferrero, high school. Johnny Chudej
was re-employed for ground maintenance in the school district
along with Lewis Webre in maintenance.
The following teaching assistants were re-hired at West High
School: Wanda Adair, Ti-In Facilitator, Alma Roessler, content
mastery; and Vickey Craig, Donna Pustejovsky, Damon Pokluda,
Linda Pliscott, Linda Westphal, Sheliah Dennis, Gina Hargrove,
Jennifer Nicholson and Lois Ferguson, all special education.
Teacher assistants re-hired at the middle school were Julie
Mechell and Dorothy Warren, special education with Wilma Koetecka
in both the middle school and elementary school library.
Elementary school teacher assistants re-hired were Debbie Vrba,
Patricia Kolar, Sandra Kettler, Linda Rejcek, Denise Rogers and
Margaret Wright, title I; Donna Hykel, Dyslexia Program; Cherri
Matua, physical education; Ella Morgan, Diane Strohacker, Kathy
Cinek, Melanie Baranowski, Sharon Burnham, Melanie Johnson,
Leeann Mesmer and Sharon Kutscherousky, all special education;
Marian Cune, English as a Second Language; and Debbie Ivy,
permanent substitute. Dianne Griffin was re-hired as a part-time
nurse.
Ron Straten was re-hired as transportation director for the school
district and Joyce Dulock as food service director. Jerry Nors was re-
employed as maintenance director.
The school board approved the employment of Sandy Confer,
elementaiy school teacher; Leah Edes, business teacher at high
school; and Vikki Garland, high school English teacher.
The board approved the retirement of elementary school teachers
Ruby Lois Jonea (fifth grade) and Pat Revill (first grade). They also
accepted the resignations of kindergarten teacher Valerie Nance
and high school English teacher Christine Truitt.
The school trustees approved the position for an assistant band
director. The person hired for this position is expected to serve in the
dual role as choir director and assistant band director.
In other board action, West Middle School employee Debbie
Marak addressed the trustees and read a Thank You letter to West
ISD Superintendent Jack Crain for his work in the school district.
She described him as a "man of integrity" while adding that his
"heart is always in the right place." She noted that he always "goes
above and beyond the line of duty” and "always will listen to us."
The school district's Health Advisory Council also addressed the
school trustees. Pat Lednicky, one of two nurses employed by the
school district, discussed the topic of sex education taught in the
school district and the direction it should take in the future.
It was noted the advisory council recommended the district teach
an abstinence baaed sex education course to the students and to
begin teaching a form of the course to students in the school district
at an earlier age.
The board members were also presented a summary of a Reality
Check Presentation at West High School on March 30 and at West
Middle School on April 24. A survey of 29 high schools boys (average
age 18) revealed that 76 percent have had sex prior to the presen-
Please turn to page two for more on School Board.
Fund-raiser for West girl sbtfor Friday, Saturday
Michelle Coleman reflects
back to the days when her six-
year-old daughter Mikaels was
a healthy, playfiil little girl who
made friends easily.
"She was a very rambunctious,
firecracker-type child," the
mother said in describing her
child who has been stricken for
the past three years with a rare
was always smiling, laughing
and playing. She didn't have an
enemy in the world. There was
always a smile on her face.”
That type of active lifestyle is
now but a memory, as the youth
is no longer able to walk or talk
and is completely bedridden as
her body readies the latter stages
in a battle with Batten Disease.
The Children's Brain Diseases
Foundation describee the disease
as "a genetic devastating neuro-
logical, degenerative disease. It
affects persons of all ages, but
especially infanta, toddlers, and
school age children. It begins
unexpectedly and leads to early
death in the 90's.....— It is an
inherited disorder affecting the
brain and vision primarily and
leading to a progressive loss of
brain function. Acting through
the central nervous system, this
"Mikaela was a normal, ac-
tive toddler, and just before she
turned three, she started having
seizures. By her fourth birthday
she was loosing her balance and
speech and between her fourth
and fifth birthdays she lost her
speech, sight, mobility and the
ability to eat," her mother re-
'Hfl’MgMI |9 ..... - .
Due to the isrfty of the dis-
ease, diagnosis did not come
quickly. "There are about 650
children diagnosed with the dis-
ease currently living in the
United States, Canada and New
Zealand," Michelle Coleman said
while adding there are only 20 in
Texas currently with the disease.
Because of its rarity, the doctors
just don't know a lot about it."
Nearly two years went by be-
fore Mikaela's disease was be
pinpointed. "It took two years
from her first seizure to get a
diagnosis. We did ail kinds of
tasting and in January 19% her
Dallas doctor called with the di-
agnosis. Up until then, we knew
she hade serious disease, but It
thawed s lot of the classic signs
for a vast pool of rare diseases."
Batten Disease "kills offbrain
all other body fanetkns as well,
leaving the child hslplaas.*
*
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Knapek, Larry. The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 29, 1997, newspaper, May 29, 1997; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth715203/m1/1/?rotate=0: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting West Public Library.