The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 109, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1999 Page: 1 of 12
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500
The oldest business in West - established in 1889
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Volume 109, No. 49 - One Section Thursday, December 9,1999 West, Texas
News Digest
Community Carol Sing at West church
I The West Area Ministerial Alliance is having its second annual
Christmas carol singing this Sunday at the West Brethren
I Church at 901N. Marable Street. The service, which consists of
carols and various musical specials will begin at 6 p.m., but for
those who like organ music, James Polasek will play for about
15 minutes prior to the service. Polasek is an accomplished
I organist from Bryan.
West church plans chicken dinner
I The Bold Springs Baptist Church Brotherhood has scheduled a
fried chicken dinner with all the trimmings and dessert begin-
ning at 10:30 a.m. this Friday in the church cafeteria. Those
wishing to have their dinners delivered or to place orders are
asked to call 826-3225.
I West ISD to dismiss classes early
West ISD will have an early dismissal schedule on Dec. 16 and
I 17 due to final exams. The three campuses are to dismiss at the
following times: West Elementary School, 2 p.m.; West High
School, 2:10 p.m.; and West Middle School, 2:20 p.m. The school
district announced classes will not be conducted on Dec. 20 -
Jan. 3 and are to resume on Jan. 4.
West garden club plans Christmas party
The West Bluebell Garden Club is scheduled to observe their
annual Christmas party at Docks restaurant in Waco. All
members are to meet at 11:15 a.m. Dec. 16 in the West Public
Library so they may carpool to Waco. Guests are welcome to
attend.
Gholson FCE Club plans luncheon
The Gholson FCE Club will have their annual Christmas
luncheon and auction fund-raiser at noon Dec. 12 in the Gholson
Baptist Church. Members are asked to bring a covered dish,
canned goods for the needy and articles for the auction. Guests
are also welcome to attend.
St. Mary's School plans annual raffle
St. Mary's School is currently selling tickets for its annual
raffle. The top prize is a 2000 Ford Ranger. The second prize is
a $1,500 shopping spree to any West business. There are 20
prizes in all and tickets are available after Mass each Sunday,
at the church rectory, at St. Mary's School. Grimm Insurance
Agency. West Lumber Company and St. Mary's School Board
members. The drawing is planned for this Sunday.
Purple Heart Chapter to meet
Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 476 of West has
scheduled a family day fur 11:30 a.m this Saturday at Kolacek's
Kolace Kitchen in West. All members are urged to attend.
American Legion plans Christmas party
American Legion Post 478 has scheduled its annual Christmas
party for 7 p.m. this Friday in the West VFW Club.
Christmas Parade in Elm Mott
A Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Elm Mott United Meth-
odist Church, is planned for 11 a.m. this Saturday in Elm Mott.
There is no entry fee and registration begins at 9:45 a.m. and
the line-up beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Geneva
Hall with the parade ending at Linden Hall. Prizes for the best
three entries are to be awarded at the Elm Mott United
Methodist Church after the parade. Chili, hot dogs, frito pie,
Christmas cookies and Christmas crafts are to be available at
the Elm Mott United Methodist Church following the parade.
For more information, contact Darrel Phillips at 757-1061.
VFW Club plans New Year's Eve party
All West VFW club members, their Ladies Auxiliary and guests
are invited to attend a New Year's Eve party on Dec. 31 at the
VFW Post. The club will open at 4 p.m. with the music beginning
at 8 p.m. There is no admission charge for those planning to
attend this party.
Lone Star Hall fund-raiser planned
SPJST Lodge 54 and Lone Star Hall have scheduled a fund-
raiser dinner for Feb. 6, 2000. Proceeds are to go towards
renovations at Lone Star Hall. Donations are being accepted for
the auction and raffle. Anyone wishing to donate items for the
auction or raffle is asked to contact Mary Lou Mynar at 826-
3921 (home) or 826-3718 (work) or donations can be brought by
The West News.
•
After Prom Party group raising funds
The West High School After Prom Party Planning Committee
is selling umbrellas and cookbooks to help defray the costs of the
upcoming After Prom Party. The red and white umbrellas, with
Trojan logo, are on sale for $ 15 and cookbooks are on sale for $ 10
each. The umbrellas and cookbooks are on display at all three
West ISD campuses and The West News. These items can be
ordered or purchased at the above locations. For more informa-
tion, contact Sharon Middlebrook at 826-4053.
West News Christmas deadlines
The West News will publish its annual Christmas edition
on Dec. 23. All advertisers wishing to get their Christmas
Greetings in this issue are asked to contact the news
office at 826-3718 prior to the Dec. 17 deadline. All area
children wishing to have their Letters to Santa pub-
lished in this issue are asked to have them in the office
by Dec. 17. Those wishing to mail the letters to Santa
Claus should mail them to: The West News, P.O. Box 38,
West., Texas 76691.
New ambulance facility dedicated...
Three area agencies
launch program
to check on elderly
West Volunteer Ambulance Service officers are pictued at
the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new' ambulance building
last Saturday afternoon.
This past Saturday afternoon, area residents gathered in the new
Emergency Medical Services Facility in West for its formal dedica-
tion and also for the announcement of a new program for senior
citizens and others.
West Hospital Authority President David Pareya said the an-
nouncement of the new "Are You O.K.?" program came as part of a
cooperative effort of the hospital authority, West Volunteer Ambu-
lance Association and the West Police Department.
The program incorporates a computer-generated dialing system
using the telephone to daily check on the welfare of each enrolled
senior citizen. This program is designed for area senior citizens
along with medically disabled persons and shut-ins living alone and
needing to be checked on every day within the community.
Pareya wished to emphasize that there is no charge for this
program while adding that people living in West, Leroy, Tours,
Gerald, Ross, Gholson and the surrounding area are invited to enroll
in the program. "We want to stress that it is a free service to the
citizens of the community."
He noted that those wishing to enroll in this program are asked
to contact the hospital authority at 826-7000 and then fdl out a
subscriber form and other needed documentation. "All this informa-
tion is totally confidential."
Once a person is enrolled, the person then chooses a time between
7 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day they wish to receive the phone call, seven
days a week, 365 days a years. "Once a time has been established, we
wish to stress that the person has to be at home and answer the
phone," Pareya explained. Should they fail to answer then the
computerized system will call again in three minutes to give the
person another chance to answer. If there is no answer the second
time, then the West Ambulance Service and West Police Depart-
ment will be alerted and the system will print out information on the
person not answeringthe phone, given to them and they will go to the
address to check on the person and see if he or she is all right. "We
will assume they need medical care."
"Both (police department and ambulance service) are sent out,"
Pareya explained, "and that is what is unique about our system. In
almost all instances where this system is used the police department
operates it," he continued, but because the West system is housed in
the new ambulance facility, both departments are notified. "In our
opinion, time is of the essence. Instead of one agency involved, we
have three and we think that enhances the system even more."
Pareya said he knows this type of computerized system has been
used in various cities in McLennan County for the past five years and
is currently in use in Bellmead, Robinson and Lacy-Lakeview. He
said their reports have been very favorable. "We have talked with
other agencies having this system and there has been a saving of
lives as a result of this program and that is what matters. They say
that after a while, the people look forward to getting the call. They
know that someone is checking on their well being."
Currently he said the hospital authority, which is funding the
project, is enrolling people for this system which is scheduled to
begin on Jan. 3. "We hope we will have 100 subscribers to the system
when it kicks off."
Again he stressed that there is no charge for those wanting to
enroll on this daily computerized calling system and there is no age
limit for those wanting to be put on the calling list, though it is
geared for the area's senior citizen population.
With the building of the new ambulance facility, both the ambu-
lance service and West Hospital Authority are now housed in the
same facility and the hospital authority along with help from the
ambulance service will monitor this system.
"I think it is a very worthwhile service," Pareya said while adding
that the computer-generated messages are available in various
languages and can be fine-tuned to the individual getting the call.
Christmas in West...
The holiday season was in
full swing in West last Fri-
day as various groups and
organizations participated
in the West Chamber of
Commerce's annual "Christ-
mas in West" progam. The
top picture shows Santa
Claus arriving on a buggy
pulled by a reindeer and two
elves. In the middle picture,
the West Community Cho-
rus performs a Christmas
carol for the audience and in
the picture to the left, a
shepherd boy in the Manger
scene smiles for the camera.
staff photos by Larry Knapek
Toys to be distributed Dec. 18...
Kiwanis Club sponsoring Toy Drive
The West Kiwanis Club is
sponsoring its Ninth Annual
Christmas Memories Toy Drive
in West i n an effort to collect toys
to give to West Independent
School District children.
This drive netted toys for over
115 children in 1998 making it
the largest toy total in the drive's
history. The previous high was
recorded in the drive's third year
as 110 toys were collected.
Anyone wishing to participate
in making this Christmas spe-
cial for area children may drop
off a new unwrapped toy or game
at West Bank and Trust between
the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on
Monday through Thursday or
from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday.
Those not having time to go
shopping, but would still like to
help with the toy drive can give
monetary contributions for the
purchase of new toys.
Monetary contributions can be
taken to Tim Jaska at the State
National Bank during its busi-
ness hours on Monday through
Friday.
Anyone knowing a family in
need of assistance is asked to
please contact Don Ketcham who
reported the Kiwanis Club wants
to make sure that no child under
the age of 12 has a toyless Christ-
mas.
The toys are to be distributed
between 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 18 in
the West Community Center.
For more information on the
drive, contact Ketcham at 826-
3146 or 826-4567.
Frank Enders announces his candidacy for Sheriff of McLennan County
Frank Enders has announced
his candidacy for the Democratic
primary, seeking the position of
McLennan County Sheriff.
Enders will bring a vast amount
of knowledge in law enforcement
to the people of McLennan
County.
He served in the Sheriff’s
Dept, in Harris County approxi-
mately seven years and is a
successful businessman in
McLennan County. Enders has
shown he has what it takes to
become the Sheriff of McLennan
County. "In business, you have
to treat others with courtesy and
respect to be successful," he said.
Frank Enders is a candidate
for McLennan County sher-
iff__
Having moved to McLennan
County nine years ago he has
observed and personally felt
there that there has been an ab-
sence of overall courtesy and re-
spect from some law enforcement
agencies. Through talking with
the publ ic over time, he has found
this to be more of a universal
viewpoint among the people of
McLennan County.
After much consideration, he
has decided to offer his services
to the citizens of McLennan
County as a candidate for Sher-
iff. Enders stated that he would
make the Sheriffs office a place
where honest citizens can go for
help, if they need it. Making life
simple and enjoyable again for
the public, is a top priority, if he
is elected. He feels, being Sheriff
of McLennan County, can afford
him the opportunity to do this
for the citizens. "It seems like
the 'big' people monopolize most
industries and the average per-
son is forgotten," he said. He
wants to bring back those memo-
ries for the people who can re-
member how it used to be in
McLennan County.
For the younger folks, he
wants to create happy memories
for their future. He feels that
America is still the greatest na-
tion on earth. McLennan County
has a long and proud heritage
and he wishes to move forward.
The Sheriffs Dept, has alot of
positive features to it, including
several qualified people to do the
job. Part of his duties would be to
see these policies are enforced by
the department. He stated that
as Sheriff of McLennan County,
he will not allow another Branch
Davidian holocaust.
Paid political advertising by
Claud R. Enders, Treasurer, 2140
McLaughin Road, Waco, TX 76712.
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Knapek, Larry. The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 109, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1999, newspaper, December 9, 1999; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth715396/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting West Public Library.