The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 203, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, July 31, 1998 Page: 1 of 4
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SOUTH MICROPUBLISHIN
2627 E YANDELL DRIVE MICROPU
EL PASO TX 79903
Wbe Jlopfun* Count? Ccfjo
Absorbed The Gazette Circulation By Purchase On May 12, 1928
VOL 203 — NO. 30 SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS — FRIDAY, JULY 31,1998 4 PAGES — 25 CENTS — PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
Boys and Girls
Club panning
Aug. 6 auction
By PENA GRAVES
Car washes, bake sales and
cake walks can all become suc-
cessful fund-raisers. But the
Boys and Girls Club of Sulphur
Springs has chosen another pop-
ular way to raise money: an auc-
tion.
The organization will host its
event at Shannon Oaks Church
of Christ Aug. 6 to raise money
for the upcoming year. Proceeds
will go toward the general oper-
ations fund, not the capital cam-
paign fund.
The auction will get under way
at 7 p.m., with Wade Bartley as
auctioneer.
“Auctioning items to raise
money is new, to the Boys and
Girls Club,” said Margin Lath-
am, president of the the group’s
board of directors. “Maybe this
will be something we can do
every year.”
“The money that we raise will
be used to help keep the club
going,” said board member
Randy Graves. “It’s for the
everyday expenses. We have a
budget, but it doesn’t cover every
expense.”
Items to be auctioned have
been donated by local businesses
and merchants^But there are a
few items that were donated
through other means, and these
took a little work to get.
“Most of the items were donat-
ed by local merchants," said
Graves. “I contacted some of the
merchants,-but Margin wrote the
governor and asked him to sign a
baseball for the auction, and he
did. Other board members were
able to get a baseball signed by
Nolan Ryan.”
Some of the items ready for
biding are an antique roll-top
desk, a watch donated by Willis
Gold and Diamond, Advantage
Copy PC copier, Texas Rangers
tickets, Briiey’s Barber Shop
haircuts, KDXE advertising, an
ice cream maker and Six Flags
tickets. A
“The businesses that hate
donated items will be recognized
on the radio broadcast of the auc-
tion, and I will probably put a
thank you in the paper when it is
all over,” said Graves.
The club is still looking for
items to be donated, said Graves.
“Something new would be
great,” said Graves. “But if it is a
piece of furniture that is in good
condition, like the roll-top desk,
then we could use anything like
that. We could use any items that
people would like to bid on.
“The Advantage PC copier and
the roll-top desk will probably
bring a lot of money to the auc-
tion,” said Graves.
“But you never know. There
/ was one auction where the Briley
haircuts went for $100 each.”
Graves said that he and the
board have been planing the auc-
tion for almost a month and
added it’s been a learning experi-
ence.
“Maybe we’ll learn from our
mistakes and know some better
things to do next time,” he said.
Two men face
pot charges
From Staff Reports
Two Brownsville men were arrest-
ed Monday afternoon on felony drug
charges after narcotics detection dogs
sniffed out more than 40 pounds of
marijuana hidden in a gas tank.
Stan Avery, drug interdiction offi-
cer with the local drug task force, said
Ernesto Berlanga, 19, and Joe Jesus
Santana Jr., 17, were taken into cus-
tody about 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Avery said he stopped the vehicle
the two men were in about 5:30 p.m.
for following a car too closely on
Interstate 30, approximately five
miles east of Sulphur Springs.
“We noticed some discrepancies in
the gas tank, and we ran my dog,
Woedan, and [Sulphur Springs police
officer] Buddy Williams' dog, Tim-
my, on the truck, and they both alert-
ed on the gas tank," Avery said.
Grass fire scorches 2,000 acres
Wildfire,
Black smoke rises from a fire that scorched an esti- or more departments spent about three hours fight-
mated 2,000 acres Monday afternoon about three ing the fire, which burned two mobile homes and one
miles southwest of Cumby. Firefighters from a dozen vacant structure.
By BRUCE ALSOBROOK
News-Telegram City Editor
What started as a simple grass fire
southwest of Cumby Monday after-
noon rapidly accelerated into a wild-
fire that scorched an estimated 2,000
acres.
Firefighters from Cumby, Miller
Grove, North Hopkins and Sulphur
Springs were part of the contingent of
at least a dozen fire departments that
battled the fire, which burned for
about three horns.
The firemen received help from the
air, as well. Two helicopters from
Denton County scooped up buckets
of water from nearby pools to dump
on the fire, while a C-130 cargo plane
from the Texas Forestry Service
dropped flame-retardant chemicals to
hinder the growth of the fire, which
witnesses said spread rapidly.
“I’ve been in San Diego and seen
fires racing up the hills out there, but
it was nothing like this,” said Steve
Scott, Hopkins County sheriff’s
deputy and a volunteer fireman.
The fire started about 3:30 p.m.
Monday in Hunt County, approxi-
mately four miles southwest of Cum-
by and south of Interstate 30.
Firefighters and deputies were
posted along the highway to help
control traffic and keep a watchful
eye out for flying embers crossing to
the north side of the interstate, where
fields of tall, dry grass would have
provided a dangerous fuel for the
blaze.
Hopkins County Sheriff Butch
Adams said at least one small fire
flared up north of the highway, but
firemen were able to douse the threat
before it spread.
Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies
helped evacuate people from homes
in the path of the fire, which burned
one vacant structure and two mobile
homes.
“When we told them to evacuate,
they were very cooperative,” said
Adams.
“Nobody said they weren’t going.”
The flames capie close to a resi-
dential area, but firemen were able to
control the blaze before it reached the
homes.
The wildfire never spread into
Hopkins County, but witnesses said
the flames flirted along the Hunt-
Hopkins boundary line before fire-
men were able to get the fire under
control about 6:15 p.m.
No serious injuries were reported,
although several firefighters were
reportedly overcome by smoke and
the record-setting temperatures that
reached a high of 104 degrees Mon-
day.
Devices illegal under state law
By PENA GRAVES ______
Local law enforcement officials say they have
been trying to enforce the law to rid the county
of an assortment of gambling devices that start-
ed popping up in the area last year.
“Gambling devices have been illegal for
years,” said Hopkins County attorney VaLinda
Hathcox. “It goes back to the days when there
was Galveston Island.” i
But because the state’s gambling device laws
are vague and complex, citizens of Sulphur
Springs and surrounding areas have purchased
these machines and are playing them.
According to Hathcox, the push to get rid of
the devices started when Gov. George Bush
announced that Texas needed to eliminate “8-
liner” machines. The 8-lingrs are devices that
allow players to bet and win with eight differ-
ent combinations of symbols. The payoff for
these machines is calculated by each line.
But Billy Bclgard, public relations director
for the Gold Rush, a Sulphur Springs business
that uses the devices, said the machines are not
gambling devices but redemption games.
“According to 47.01 paragraph B of the
lexas Penal Code, redemption games are legal,”
said Belgard. “It legalized adult redemption
games in 1995.”
Machine owners have argued that their
machines fall within the boundaries of the law
because each line of the machine paid $5,
according to Hathcox. They were apparently
informed that if the winnings were less than $5,
then it was legal. But Hathcox said these
machines have a “let it ride” feature allowing
players to win up to $200 and making the
machine illegal.
“The gambling devices and paraphernalia
rules are confusing and unclear to many peo-
ple," Hathcox acknowledged. “There are differ-
ent categories of machines that have different
rules. That’s why there has been so much con-
fusion and misinformation given.”
Hathcox said she has heard numerous argu-
ments from both machine owners and players
concerning the devices.
“People have said ‘What about bingo, and
why is it legal?”’ said Hathcox. “It’s legal
because it has been approved and adopted by
the state.
“Other people have asked how come they can
go to Louisiana and play the machines but they
can’t do it here? Well, gambling is legal in
Louisiana. The games are regulated and have a
set payout to winners. Besides the fact that they
[8-liners] are illegal, the payout of the machines
aren’t regulated here.”
Belgard maintains the games are “good, clean
fun” that give adults something to do with their
time.
“Our clientele is mostly ladies in their late
50s or early 60s, and there is no alcohol so
nobody has to worry about drunks, fights, or
loud groups,” he said. “It’s a quiet place for
adults to get out of the sun and have a good
time.”
But the question of legality is moot for the
Gold Rush. The machines were to be removed
Tuesday to avoid prosecution from the county
attorney’s office.
“We wanted Mrs. Hathcox to confiscate one
of our machines so that we could go to trial and
get a ruling on it to see what exactly was illegal
about it, but she wouldn’t help us,” said Bel-
gard. “So we told our clients that we were sor-
ry and that we fought for them but that we had
to pull the machines July 28.”
“I agree that there are ambiguities in the law,”
said Hathcox. “And I am trying to explain it to
the machine owners. Ignorance of the law is not
an exception, but we’ve made efforts to alert the
public and we are giving them until Aug. 1 to
get rid of their machines.” ’
Local jobless rate up
to 5.5 percent in June
By BRUCE ALSOBROOK
The unemployment rate in Hopkins County took
a not-unexpected upward turn from May to June,
according to estimates by the Texas Workforce
Commission.
The jobless rate rose from 4.6 percent in May to
5.5 percent last month as new jobs couldn’t keep
pace with the added number of people looking for
work.
It’s the same story at the beginning of every sum-
mer. The number of people in the civilian labor
force (the number of people working or seeking
work) usually increases in June of each year as the
end of the school term increases the number of job
applicants.
According to estimates compiled by TWC. the
number of people in the labor force over the past
eight years has been at its highest in June five times.
The other three highest counts have come in July.
The June CLF promises to maintain that trend.
The number of people in the labor force rose by
more than 500 last month to 15,739, a 3 percent
growth and the most recorded to date in 1998.
Meanwhile, the number of people employed in Hop-
kins County increased from 14,567 in May to
14,877 in June, a 2 percent rise but not enough to
keep the jobless rate from climbing 0.9 percentage
points.
The unemployment rate’s increase from May to
June is nothing new. however, as the same scenario
occurs each year. Over the past five summers, the
jobless rate has risen from May to June ever year,
with an average increase of just under 0.5 percent-
age points each time.
Hopkins County's jobless rate fared a little better
than the rest of the state but not as well as most of
the surrounding counties. Statewide, unemployment
stood at 5.6 percent for the month of June, a hefty
increase from the 4.3 percent in May. but for the
same reason — a labor force that expanded faster
than job growth.
Delta County unemployment rose a full percent-
age point last month to 4.1 percent. f
No parking
A Mitsubishi Gallant
driven by a Sulphur
Springs woman
crashed into a vacant
house on Whitworth
street about 9 a.m.
Tuesday. Police said
the driver apparently
stepped on the gas by
accident, which
caused the mishap.
The driver and a pas-
senger were taken to
Hopkins County
Memorial Hospital
after suffering minor
injuries.
Staff Photo By
Aotort SuWvat
Hopkins to get
disaster funding
By DENA GRAVES
Hopkins County, along with all other
counties in Texas, was designated as
emergency disaster area Thursday.
U.S. Rep. Max Sandlin and 11 other
lawmakers from across the country met
with President Clinton and U.S. Secre-
tary of Agriculture Dan Glickman to dis-
cuss disaster assistance to the drought-
plagued areas around the country.
Clinton declared all Texas counties eli-
gible for disaster assistance, making fed-
eral aid available to farmers. He also said
he will send Agriculture Secretary Dan
Glickman to Texas and Oklahoma next
week to inspect areas hit hardest by the
drought and harsh temperatures.
Congressman Sandlin has been work-
ing with USDA and the president to
bring emergency assistance to East Texas
farmers and ranchers.
“This is a good start. The president
and Secretary [Glickman] are listening to
our needs and offering badly-needed
help. However, we still need to address
our feed and hay availability problem
immediately and the Secretary’s propos-
al doesn’t go far enough. We are in a
state of emergency and we need all the
help we can get,” said Sandlin.
The president also repeated his support
Thursday for several measures in
Congress to help farmers across the
country who are suffering from incomes
that are down 35 percent compared to
1996, partly because of disasters and
partly due to lagging foreign trade cou-
pled with big harvests.
“We simply can’t flourish if we let our
rural roots shrivel and decline.” the pres-
ident said from the White House in a ses-
sion broadcast to radio stations in farm
states. “In Texas, almost three quarters
of the cotton crop is lost. And in North
Dakota, retired auctioneers are being
pressed into duty just to handle all the
families who are being forced to sell all
their farms.”
The emergency assistance announced
by the secretary will help, Sandlin said,
but there is a need to fund the Disaster
Reserve Assistance Program (DRAP) so
farmers and ranchers can feed their live-
stock.
“East Texas farmers and ranchers need
emergency feed assistance. Right now, I
am working with fellow Texans and
members from other affected states to
find a way to fund DRAP and bring
some much needed relief. People need to
understand just how desperate our situa-
tion is,” said Sandlin.
According to Sandlin, the DRAP pro-
gram provides emergency assistance to
livestock producers for losses of feed
grain crops, forage and grazing due to
natural disasters. Farmers will be assist-
ed through forms of cash reimburse-
ments for up to 30 percent cost share of
eligible feed.
The drought assistance for Texas
includes Emergency Loan Assistance
(EM loans), noninsured crop disaster
assistance program (NAP), emergency
hay and grazing of conservation reserve
program (CRP), and emergency waiver
form the environmental quality incen-
tives program (EQIP).
The EM loans, NAP, and the EQBP
programs are new programs. The EM
loan program will aid farmers and ranch-
ers who have suffered at least a 30 per-
cent loss of production or other physical
loss.
Rural News: 4
Club News: 2
Reunions: 3
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Keys, Scott & Lamb, Bill. The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 203, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, July 31, 1998, newspaper, July 31, 1998; Sulphur Springs, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth780921/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hopkins County Genealogical Society.