Jacksboro Gazette-News (Jacksboro, Tex.), Vol. EIGHTY-FIRST YEAR, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 16, 1961 Page: 1 of 8
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•JACKSBORO GAZETTE-NEWS
DIAL LOgan 7-4596 TO PLACE CLASSIFIED ADS
EIGHTY-FIRST YEAR
JACK COUNTY'S SHOPPING GUIDE SINCE 1880
JACKSBORO, TEXAS, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1961
CROSSROADS TO WEST TEXAS
NUMBER 42
James R. Dennis
About three or four weeks ago
when the spring weather was
having an unseasonable begin-
ning the columnist in the Baylor
County Banner at Seymour ask-
ed that the remaining cold wea-
ther of the season “come on now
so we can get it over with.’’
Biit if cold weather has been
waiting we hope it has given up.
After having quickly become
accustomed to sport shirts, -i
bit of yard work, and seeing ev
erything green up, we. don’t
know if we could stand any se-
vere cold.
And yet it is reckless to talk
this way for Spring doesn’t offi-
cially begin until next Monday.
Cold weather in April and May
isn’t unusual. And the average
last killing frost date for this
area is about April .1 according
to the Texas Almanac.
Don’t blow out the pilot lights,
■■» store your overcoat, or hide the
extra covers yet.
A little more cold weather
would be preferred to more dust
storms.
* * *
With considerable reluctance
we are using a snake picture at
the top of this page this week.
And if past experience is any
indication we are soon to have
any number of invitations to go
snake hunting, take more group
snake pictures, and try to estab-
lish a record system for future
rattle snakes.
But before anyone gets any
ideas we’d like to point out one
thing. We don’t intend to use
any more snake pictures this
fall, we’re not going on a snake
hunt—that’s one thing for sure,
and no size or rattler records
are claimed for any of the above
rattlesnakes.
In the past couple of years we
have published pictures of bob-
cats, big catfish, snowmen, etc.
and immediately we were elected
photographer and historian of
these various items.
Most readers can easily see
how far we were standing from
the snakes when the accompany-
ing picture was taken. And
that’s actually a little closer
than we like to get to rattlers,
copperheads, etc. It is closer
than we plan to get to live ones.
But the principal reason for
these few paragraphs is to point
out that about one picture per
season is about all that has
much reader interest. And this
week's picture may be about one
too many for some.
* * *
Back in 1946 when we had
just returned from 20 army
months in Europe and were
about to terminate our only full-
time employment for anyone but
ourselves, one of our first acts
upon reaching New York was to
call home and tell Mother we
were on the way home, finally.
During the call she suggested
that brother Bill would like to
speak also. “Hurry home, James
and we’ll go snake hunting,” Bill
cheerfuly suggsted.
After a gulp we replied, “I’m
coming home, but I’m not going
snake hunting.” And that still
\ goes.
* * *
When it rains it pours. When
its dry, Its really dry. The same
sort of thing goes with the con-
struction business.
Downtown construction was
mighty slow for some time but
at the moment things are look-
ing up.
Spiller Abstract Co. is plan-
ning to start its new brick and
tile building on the South Side
of the Square Monday. Jack’s
Clothes Shop is nearing the end
of Its remodeling. Remodeling of
a Knox building that will house
.the Ellis Furniture, Appliance
and Plumbing store is just fin-
ished. i
Work is underway on the
Bowling Alley site. Remodeling
of the former Wayne Rider
building, now owned by Murphy
Simpson, is scheduled to start
Monday. Moving of the CofC
office to the Fort Richardson
Hotel lobby is complete.
Present work and moving
plans will leave only two down-
town buildings vacant. And we
hope plans are underway for
filling these.
It is certainly an improve-
ment of recent conditions that
found as many as eight build-
ings vacant.
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35 GOOD RATTLESNAKES are these strung-up, dead rattlers killed last Sunday on the Otis
Henderson ranch northwest of here. The hunters are, LR, Dub Cook, Dale Cantrell, Jimmy Rum-
Gazette-News Photo
age, J. T. Rumage, Theo Cantrell, and Kenneth Cantrell.
3 County School Districts Lose Pupils,
Bryson Shows Gain In Annual Census
Three Jack County school dis-
tricts lost scholastics during the
past year, according to 1961
census figures released this week
by County Supt. E. B. Walker.
Only the Bryson district showed
a gain during the 12 month per-
iod.
Small losses were reported by
the Jacksboro and Perrin dis-
tricts whole Antelope dropped
from 115 eligibles in January,
1960 to only 98 in January, 1961.
The county shewed an overall
loss of 21 scholastics during the
12 months period. Scholastics
counted in the census are young-
sters who will be six years of
age as of Sept. 1, 1961 but not
reaching the 18th birthday as of
that date. A part of the state
funds for schools is based on the
census.
Jacksboro district dropped
from 1070 in 1960 to 1061 on
January 31, 1961. Perrin drop-
ped from 184 to 181 in the same
period. The Jacksboro census
showed it had 1049 white schol-
astics and 21 colored youngsters.
The number of colored scholas-
tics is the same as registered in
1961. Only the Jacksboro district
has colored scholastics.
The Jacksboro census includ-
ity Loses Part of
Good Fire Credit
Jacksboro property owners
will pay slightly higher insur-
ance rates on homes and prop-
erty next year as result of high
fire losses last ' tar. The State
Insurance Boaru has reduced
Jacksboro’s,good fire credit from
20 percent to 15 percent, accord-
ing to local insurance agents.
The new credit rate goes into
effect April 1. It is based on fire
losses over a five year period
and losses for the past two years
have been unusually heavy.
ed 81 white and one colored
youngsters who will enter the
first grade this fall. These are
youngsters who reach the age of
six between Sept. 1, 1960 and
Aug. 31, 1961.
This group more than account-
ed for Jacksboro’s loss cf schol-
astics. The 1960 census register-
ed 105 white and one colored
six-year olds.
Local school officials believe
that several five year old young-
sters were missed by the recent
census. The schools have a diffi-
cult time in registering five year
old that are the eldest child in
the family. Most students are
registered through a census
form sent heme by the eldest
child in the family.
Families having a youngster
who will go to school for the
first time next fall that hasn’t
been registered are asked to con-
tact school officials of their dis-
trict or the County Superintend-
ent’s office at the courthouse.
Showers Breaking
Early Spring Drouth
Showers came to Jacksboro
this afternoon to end what al-
most became a spring drouth.
Wet weather in January and
February put a lot of moisture
in the ground but more was be-
ing needed according to ranch-
ers.
No rain measurements are
available as the heavy shower
began just after the daily 4
p.m. reading at the City Water
plant. A trace of rain fell earlier
in the afternoon.
High temperature of the past
week was 86 degrees Wednesday
while the week’s low mark was
39 last Friday morning. Today
clouds kept the maximum down
to the upper seventies. The mor-
ning low was only 61 degrees.
Jack County Voters To See Lengthy Ballot
At Special Election, Absentee Vote Starts
Rattlesnake Hunts
Spring Pastime
Rattle snake hunting is a
spring pastime for many Texas
residents and last Sunday sev-
eral from here joined in a hunt
at the Otis Henderson ranch
northwest of Jacksboro.
The above picture indicates
they wqre successful but hunt-
ing wodld have been better
month earlier, J. T. Rumage
said. As it was the hunters got
about 35 snakes. The biggest
was 62 inches long, and was
eight inches around. One had 12
rattlers.
Making the hunt was Rumage,
Theo Cantrell, Dub Cook of De-
catur, Dale Cantrell, Kenneth
Cantrell and Jimmy Rumage.
County Grand Jury
Meets Thursday
Jack County Grand Jury has
been called for duty at 9:30
a.m. Thursday, March 23 by
Judge W. A. Hughes of the 43rd
District Court.
Jurors summoned are J. M.
Butler, Newport; Mack Roberts
and Oran Voyles, Antelope;
Paul Roney, Jermyn; Heath
Cranford and W. A. Smith, Per-
rin; Henry Birdwell and Mrs.
M. B. Newsom; D. D. Cleveland,
Post Oak; W. W. Morrow, Vine-
yard; and T. J. Spencer, Bridge-
port Rt.
Also, Neal D. Anderson, D. C.
Smith, J. D. Bloodworth, Mrs.
Raymond Bowen and Mrs. Vera
Henderson, all of Jacksboro.
County Files Condemnation
Suits for 2 Lake Road Tracts
Jack County voters will see a
lengthy ballot in the April 4
Special Election to choose a U.S.
Senator to replace Vice Presi-
dent Lyndon B. Johnson. Seven-
ty-one candidates announced for
the office prior to the deadline
but one withdrew later.
Absentee voting in the elec-
tion began Wednesday morning
at the County Clerk’s office and
will continue through Friday,
March 31. Qualified voters may
either cast ballots in person at
the Clerk’s office, or if living
outside the county may request
ballots by, mail.
Election Boards in the 254
Texas counties were plagued last
week when trying to determine
how to choose the order of can-
didates for the Special Election
ballot. There is hardly a prece-
dent for listing 71 candidates
for a single office. Texas Elec-
2nd Volleyball Meet
At Antelope Gym
The Antelope P-TA is spon-
soring a Volleyball Tournament
March 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th and
25th at Antelope School Gym.
Sandwiches, pops, coffee and
candy will be sold. Admission is
Adults 25c and Children 10c.
tion laws designate the County
Judge, Sheriff, and Cour,ty Clerk
as the group to designate the or-
der of candidates.
Jack County’s three officers
decided that the names of candi-
dates will be listed in alphabeti-
cal order so that voters may find
the name of their candidates
more easily. This should also
SEE Trustee Election, Page 8
Bryson Will Elect
Three Aldermen '
The city of Bryson is electing
three Aldermen in this years
election April 4. Hoy Kinder and
Henry $. Bryson are seeking re-
election. Wayland Biggs is seek-
in to take M. B. Newscm’s place
on tfye Council.
Remaining on the Council are
Mayor W. G Stamper and Aider-
men A. M. Jones and W. S. Mor-
ris.
Refinishing and Upholstery
Workshop at Courthouse
A Refinishing and Upholstery
Workshop will begin in the
Courthouse Assembly Room,
March 20, at 9:30 A.M. This is
the third of a series of 4-day
workshops of this kind being
conducted in the County.
Two Trustees to be Elected April 4
To Each of County's 5 School Boards
Two condemnation suits to se-
ct re right of way for Ranch
Road 2475 in the east part of
the county was filed Monday by
County Attorney Pat Myers. My-
ers pointed cut that the suits
may be withdrawn if settlement
can be made earlier with prop-
erty owners.
The suits were filed agains*
W. J. Dees for 6.15 acres of land
for right, of way; and against
Mrs. Lelia Hill Yates Pr 11.32
acres,of land for right oi way.
A third tract is being sought
for the three miles of right of
way in Jack County. Fayette
Yates owns 33.776 acres needed
for right of way and .524 acres
for a drainage channel.
J. L. Felkr.er, Carl Smith and
Floyd Dixson have been named
Special Commissioners to deter-
mine prices on the two tracts.
The Commissioners will meet
March 21 to set the condemna-
tion hearing date.
Six miles of Ranch Road 2475
Work Is Started
% Perrin FM Road
Ferrier Brothers, a Seymour
contractor, has started erecting
barricades and clearing right of
way on FM 2350 east of Per-
rin. The $99,999 project calls for
grading, structures, base and
surfacing from U.S. 281 at Per-
rin to 4.5 miles east. Work is
expected to take 100 days.
Austin Contracting Co. has
placed base on Highway 24 from
Highway 59 intersection west
to Maryetta. Workmen are doing
dirt work near the Jacksboro
city limits and shaping up other
sections of roadbed for placing
of base.
The 8.27 mile project was
started last August and should
be completed this summer.
M. R. Stewart, Wichita Falls
contractor, has resumed dirt
work on the 5.4 mile construc-
tion section of FM 1125 south
of Newport. Work has been de-
layed by weather and grounds
for about two mOhths.
has been completed from near . in Wise County and three miles
Bridgeport to a point just west ! in Jack.
of Lake Bridgeport. Right cf
way is cur: illy being sought in
Wise Con.it and Jack County
to complete the road to FM 1156,
just n rx.! of Vineyard. The sec-
ond, section includes 3.9 miles
The Ranch Road will eventual-
ly become Highway 24 from
Jacksboro to Bridgeport. Right
of way for the Ranch to Market
road is being purchased entirely
from county funds.
Spiller Abstract Building Contract Let,
Office to be Moved From Courthouse
Construction is scheduled to
begin Monday on a brick and
tile building that will house
Spiller Abstract Co. The 24 by
65 foot building will be con-
structed just east of Bush Jewel-
ry on the South side of the
Square.
The modern, airconditioned
structure is scheduled to be com-
pleted within 90 days, according
to Kyle Spiller, owner of the fu-
ture building and Spiller Ab-
stract Co. It will house the ab-
stract records of the company,
business offices, and have two
offices for Attorney Jim SpiUer.
Two clerks of the company
will have space in the County
2 Youths Steal
Car Parked Here
Two Mineral Wells youths are
now in custody after stealing a
car from in front of the Jack
County courthouse about noon
Tuesday. They will probably be
charged under the Dyer Act in
federal courts with transporting
a stolen car interstate.
The 16-year old youths took a
car belonging to Mr. and Mrs.
George L. Horton. Mrs. Horton,
a deputy at the County Clerk’s
office said she saw the car at
11:30 a.m. and that it was gone
at noon.
The car was found wrecked
early Wednesday morning at
Pawhuska, Okla. The youths are
now in jail at Pawhuska.
Charged with the theft are
Leo Joseph Lebouf and Edwin
Dale Woodring.
Dallas Columnist Speaker Next Tuesday
For Annual Chamber-Commerce Banquet
Residents of the four Jack
County school districts will elect
two trustees for each of the dis-
tricts in elections scheduled for
Saturday, April 1. Voters of
County Precincts 1 and 4 will
select county trustees cn the
same date.
Jacksboro voters will choose
two trustees from five candi-
dates. Joe Culwell and T. D. Wil-
liams are seeking reelection to
second terms. Other candidates
are H. R. Gowan, N. E. Leach,
and Mrs. Mary Elda Sadler.
Bryson district has only two
candidates, L, V. Sartain and
G. S. Damron, both of whom are
seeking reelection,
Perrin has five candidates in-
cluding Rayford Gardner and
L. G. Hutton, both Seeking re-
election, Bill Smith, T. J. Yoweli
and Raymond Hooten.
Antelope has four candidates
for two places. Stanley Jackson
Is aaeking reelection and other
cancuaates are F. O. Garnett, F.
C. Baggett, and Henry Johnson.
C. A. Conner is not seeking re-
election.
County candidates include two
seeking reelection. Carrol Porter
is seeking another two year term
from Precinct 4 and Harry Sikes
is seeking another term as Pre-
cint 1 trustee on the County
Board.
Absentee voting at the County
Clerk’s office continues through
Wednesday, Man* 29,
Weldon Owens, one of Texas’
better-known humorists, will be
guest speaker at the annual
Chamber of Commerce banquet
at the National Guard armory
at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens is known as "The Coun-
try Editor” by thousands who
read his Cross Country column
daily in the Dallas Times Herald
and hear his 6:45 a.m. broadcast
daily over radio station KRLD.
The popular country cesmo-
pilite seasons his down to earth
philosophy with the essence of
human life from the vast areas
of Texas which he covers. His
schedule includes more than 100
after-dinner and luncheon
speeches annually.
Owens is a veteran newspaper-
man, having served as a print-
er’s devil on the Teague Chroni-
cle which he later bought and
developed into a prize winning
Texas weekly. He was later a
columnist for the Fort Worth
Press and founded a weekly
newspaper at Breckenridge prior
to beginning the Times Herald
column.
Tickets for the annual dinner
are yet on sale at the Chamber
of Commerce office and by di-
rectors. Jetton of Fort Worth
will cater the dinner.
S. V. Stark will be master of
ceremonies. Music will be by the
“Five plus Two," under the di-
rection of Bill Parks. Dinner
music will be by Miss Beverly
Nixon. Out of town guests will
be introduced by Mrs. Lester
Raper,
Don Smith will be installed as
president of the CofC. Other new
officers are W. J. Durham, 1st
vice president; Pete Simons, 2nd
vice president, and Dr. W. G.
Mask, treasurer. S. V. Stark is
retiring president.
New directors are Pete Bom-
marito, J. W. Hammond, Pat
Myers, B. M. McNew and Dutch
Shults.
Smith has been principal of
Jacksboro for five years. When
he came here from Granbury he
organized the summer recrea-
m
m
Weldon Owens
tion program. He is past presi-
dent of the Canteen Board and
Jack County Teachers Associa-
tion.
The new president, is an Air
Corps veteran of World War n,
graduate of TCU, and a CofC
director for the past two years.
Clerk’s office to copy deed rec-
ords,. The company hopes to
microfilm deed records at some
future date.
Spiller Abstract Co., the sec-
ond oldest business instiution in
Jacksboro was founded by the
late Capt. George Spiller when
he purchased abstract records
from Robinson and West, attor-
neys. His son, Kyle, became as-
sociated with the firm about
1925 and has been owner since
1928.
Spiller purchased the records
of Jack County Abstract Co. in
Sept., 1956, and now has the
only abstract records in the
county.
Spiller has been County Sur-
veyor since January, 1931, but
plans to vacate the suite of offi-
ces on the 2nd floor of the court-
house when the new building is
completed.
'The Helpmate' Play
Aids Opera House
A capacity audience is expect-
ed for “The Helpmate,” comedy
to be presented in the Jacksboro
High School auditorium at 8
p.m. Friday, according to Amos
Belden, president of the Fort
Richardson Players, sponsors of
the play.
“The Helpmate” is produced
by Variety International Players
of Houston with a cast of pro-
fessional actors whose experi-
ence includes stage shows, mov-
ies and television.
Half of the ticket receipts will
be retained by the local organi-
zation, to be used for improve-
ments to the Opera House for
future productions.
Admission to “The Helpmate”
is 75 cents for students, $2 for
adults. Tickets may be purchas-
ed from members of The Fort
Richardson Players or at the
door.
Election Clerks
Are Changed
Jack County Commissioners
Court made several changes in
the list of Voting officials for
the county’s 18 precincts at the
meeting Monday. Adjustments
were made for several previous-
ly named clerks that were not
qualified or not able to serve in
the Special Elections.
Mrs. Warren Rumage and
Lawtcn Faires were named
clerks in Box 1, Jacksboro;
George Kuykendall replaces E.
B. Abemathie as a judge in Box
2, Jacksboro; Floyd Foster was
named a clerk in Box 4; and
Mrs. Earnest Easter in Box 18,
Senate. Election judge Dave
Haire wras authorized to secure
a clerk in Box 17, Cundiff.
The court also authorized fil-
ing of the two Ranch road con-
demnation suits and checked the
February report for Jack County
hospital.
P-TA Schedules Volleyball Tournament
For April 3-8 at Jacksboro High Gym
The Jacksboro P-TA Volley
ball tournament will be held
April 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 at the Jacks-
boro High School Gym. Admis-
sion will be 25c for all persons
11 years and above. Game time
will be 6:30 p.m.
Atendance last year was 1,690.
The tournament is referred to
by volleyball leagues as the top
Masons to Confer Master
Degree Next Wednesday
Fort Richardson Masonic Lod-
ge No. 320 will confer a Master’s
Degree at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Members of the Eastern Star
will serve dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Charges are $1.25 per plate.
tournament of the year.
Men’s teams entered are Geer
Tank Trucks, Lost Battalion,
Clay Builders, Antelope, Mid-
way, Holliday, Mineral Wells No.
1, Mineral Wells No. 2, Chico,
O'Neal Radiator, Sacred Heart
Alumni, Montague, St. Jo, Post
Oak, Bryson, Hodge House, Per-
rin, and Rhone.
Women’s teams entered are
Rhone, Jacksboro P-TA, Ante-
lope, Midway, Holliday, Chico,
O’Neal Radiator, Sacred Heart
Alumni, Montague, St. Jo, Post
Oak, Bryson No. 1, Bryson No.
2, Perrin, Rhone, Boyd Hobos,
Jacksboro Ind., and Ferguson
Ranch.
'jr
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Dennis, James R. Jacksboro Gazette-News (Jacksboro, Tex.), Vol. EIGHTY-FIRST YEAR, No. 42, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 16, 1961, newspaper, March 16, 1961; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth734009/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Gladys Johnson Ritchie Library.