Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 42, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 24, 1981 Page: 1 of 44
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f 75235
GOOD
MORNING!
Polk County
ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY,
May 24, 1981
The dominant news and advertising source in Folk County, since 1882
VOLUME 99»
NUMBER 42
4 SECTIONS 44 PAGES '
USPS 437-340 PRICE: 25 CENTS
Crash under investigation
Local pilot killed
mi
1
UVINGSTON - Federal Aviation
Association (FAA) representatives
have begun an investigation into the
cause of a plane crash late Friday
afternoon in which a Livingston man
was killed.
Donald F. Williams, 51, was pro-
nounced dead at the scene by Precinct 1
Justice of the Peace G.H. Galloway
after the small plane he was piloting
crashed in the Beacon Bay parking lot
shortly after take-off from Livingston
Municipal Airport.
Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Barry
Caver, who made the initial investiga-
tion, said witnesses told him Williams
was a professional stunt pilot who was
reportedly practicing for the national
stunt-flying finals. The plane was an
S-l-S Pitts which, the officer was told,
was constructed by Williams from a kit
for an estimated (30,000.
Another witness at the scene, a fellow
pilot who had reportedly talked to
Williams just prior to his take-off, said
the victim had indicated he was going
to attempt a flat spin.
The plane was removed to a hanger
at the Livingston airport Friday even-
ing, where it was kept under lock and
key pending the arrival of the FFA in-
vestigators, Caver said. He added the
FFA office indicated It would also send
a pathologist to determine if any
natural causes were involved in
Williams’ death.
The crash occurred at approximately
4:05 p.m.
Superintendent indicted
in bomb threat incident
Crash kills one
ENTERPRISE PHOTO
Emergency crews prepare to remove the body of Donald P.
Williams of Livingston from the wreckage of his single-engine
Pitts aircraft The airplane crashed Friday afternoon in a
restaurant parking lot near the intersection of FM 3126 and
Hwy. 350 shortly after take-off from Livingston Municipal Air-
port
r
Dunbar bids opened;
appraisal bill paid
LIVINGSTON - Having earlier ex-
pressed concern that they could not af-
ford competitive bidding, members of
the Committee to Save the Dunbar
Complex were somewhat relieved
Thursday night to learn trustees of the
Livingston Independent School District
had received only one bid on the proper-
ty, that being a token bid by the com-
mittee.
Action toward the acceptance of that
bid, however, was postponed until the
next regular board meeting to allow
consideration by the trustees and the
school district’s attorney. The commit-
tee, which has submitted plans to turn
the 10-acre Dunbar campus into a com-
munity center, bid $1 “and other
valuable considerations” for the pro-
perty and its existing facilities. An
alternate bid suggested the committee
pay the district 25 percent of the pro-
ceeds from various fund-raising ac-
tivities to be held during the next year.
Submitted in the event the district
chooses to reject both the original and
the alternate bids on the purchase of the
property was a second alternate bid
asking for the property and the existing
buildings to be leased to the committee
for $1 a year “and other valuable con-
siderations.” That lease could only be
guaranteed for the duration of the cur-
rent school trustees’ terms and would
be subject to renewal or cancellation
each year, cm* possibly every two years.
The Committee to Save the Dunbar
Campus was represented at the
meeting by Jack Daniel, with East
Texas Legal Services. Daniel was ask-
ed by the school board to explain what
the committee meant by “other
valuable considerations.” He answered
that much of the benefit of a community
center would go to students already
served by the USD and that many of
the activities which would be offered at
the center would be directly linked to
education. “Our emphasis is really on
the same people,” he said.
Committee member Sherman Jef-
.
Reaction
I’m going to enroll In college this
fan under the GI BIB. Can I go to a
Veterans Administration hospital to
take the physical exam that’s re-
quired by the college?
The VA Information Services of-
fice says you cannot VA hospitals
are not allowed to perform routine
physical examinations, only an ex-
am to determine if there is need for
:lheauK,«e-
r tf Ok writer, tot
ferson asked the board if it was the
usual practice to open bids at one
meeting and award them the next.
USD Superintendent Travis Gibson
said the procedure is often used by the
district to allow time for proper con-
sideration. Board President Richard
Gilbert added that no more bids will be
accepted at this time. “No one can slip
in under you at this session,” he said,
adding the district does, however, have
the right to re-bid the property if it so
chooses.
Sonny Johnson is chairman of the
Dunbar committee.
Appraisal bill paid
Despite being admittedly disgruntled
with having to pay the largest share of
the cost while having only one vote on
the board of the Polk County Tax Ap-
praisal District, school trustees voted
Thursday to pay their share of the
operating costs. Business Manager
Sam Gordon presented a bill from the
tax district for $29,260 to cover the
USD’s 29.26 percent share of the cost
for the first two quarters of 1981.
The school board voted May 13 not to
file a lawsuit asking for a judicial ruling
on the legality of the percentage of
representation of the present member-
ship of the tax board. School Board
President Richard Gilbert said follow-
ing that decision, that a lawsuit could
be a viable option at a later date, but
that much would depend on the actions
of the Texas Legislature toward propos-
ed changes in the laws governing the
central appraisal districts.
Following an instructional report,
during which members of the district’s
Advanced Merit Program (AMP) Com-
mittee commented on the enthusiasm
of participating students, trustees ap-
proved the proposed program and AMP
budget for the 1981-82 school year. The
program, designed for gifted and
talented students, provides enriched
mathematics and science programs on
the high school and junior high school
levels and enriched English classes on
the high school level. Under the approv-
ed plan, the AMP concept will be ex-
panded into the elementary level in the
areas of reading and mathematics.
The budget for the program includes
audio-visual aids, books, magazines,
testing materials, general supplies,
travel and consultants, for a total cost
of $3,000. The committee members
reported they are in the process of mak-
ing application for state funds for the
program and feel optimistic the funding
will be approved.
In a tax report submitted by USD
Tax Assessor-Collector Jay Snook, it
was stated tax collections at the end of
April totaled 83.9 percent, which is
slightly above the percentage reported
at this time last year. Trustees approv-
ed adjustments to the tax roll.
Maintenance activity in the district
has been for the most part routine, ac-
cording to Maintenance Supervisor
Richard Morris. He added his depart-
ment is in the process of taking an in-
ventory of old desks, chairs and other
equipment in the district to determine
whether a sale or auction of used equip-
ment would be feasible. Morris also
suggested the board consider im-
provements tp the kindergarten
playground.
In personnel matters, the board ac-
cepted the resignations of Townie
Squires, who is retiring as elementary
teacher, and Ruth Peebles, junior high
school social studies teacher. Trustees
voted to employ Donald Hanks as junior
high teacher coach, Jill Davidson as
elementary education teacher, Yvonne
Brightman as special education
clerical aide and Susan Evans, junior
high social studies.
LIVINGSTON - Suspended Goodrich
School Superintendent Jerry E. Easley
was indicted Thursday on two counts of
misdemeanor terroristic threat by the
Ninth District Grand Jury meeting in
Livingston.
The charges stem from a bomb threat
which was received at the Goodrich
School the morning of April 20.
Easley, 40, who was suspended by the
Goodrich school board Jan. 30, was
originally charged with felony assault
in connection with the bomb threat but
was indicted on the lesser misde-
meanor charges. J
According to John McDonald, assis-
tant district attorney for the Ninth
LWffiSal District, The original assault ’
charge was filed under a law which
classifies a .disruption of a public ser-
vice as a third degree felony punishable
by imprisonment in the Texas Depart-
ment of Corrections.
LIVINGSTON - Plagued with
mechanical problems, which Trinity
River Authority officials claim are not
unusual for a newly-constructed water
treatment plant, latest predictions call
for treated water from Lake Livingston
to begin flowing through city lines by
the middle of this week.
Plant Manager John Pearsall said
the main problems lie in two water
'pumps which have malfunctioned, but
repairs are currently underway and he
predicted the pump station should soon
be able to draw enough water to begin
flushing the lines.
The TRA has warned that
week of operation and advised city
residents to drain water heaters and to
keep faucet strainers clean until the
water becomes clear. The discoloration
would be caused by the dislodging of
miheral deposits in the water lines, but
poses no health hazard, according to
the TRA.
Pearsall said residents in Huntsville
were similarly cautioned when that city
switched over to a surface water
system, but that the impact of the
change was less than expected. He add-
ed there is no way to accurately predict
the water quality during the switch un-
McDonald said the grand jury hear-
ing the case decided a school was not a
public service as defined in the law and
voted to indict the suspended
superintendent on a lesser charge.
He added the case now will be
transferred from district court to coun-
ty court, which has jurisdiction over
misdemeanor offenses.
According to the indictment, the first
count of the terroristic threat charge
stems from the interruption of “the
lawfid use of the Goodrich Independent
Schdbl building” by the bomb threat.
The second count alleges that school
secretary Jerry Hon, who received the
threat, was placed “in fear of immi-
nent, serious bodily injury” by the call.
The bomb threat reportedly was
received shortly after 9 a.m. April 20 by
Hon in the form of a telephone call to
the school. In her statement to sheriff’s
investigators, Hon said the caller told
her “There is a bomb in the school.”
She identifed the caller’s voice as
Easley’s explaining she was able to
recognize it because she worked with
the suspect for almost four months
before he was suspended last January.
After the call was received, students
and faculty members were evacuated
from the school buildings while
members of the Polk County Sheriff’s
Department and Livingston and
Goodrich volunteer fire dep
searched for an explosive device. No
bomb was discovered in the i
The suspended
arrested later that day op
issued by Precinct 1 Justice of the
Peace G. H. Galloway, who sutMwquettt-
ly released the suspect on a $5,00&||pW
sonal recognizance bond.
See EASLEY pg. 2A
•ffl
Location major problem
CVAE class in limbo
GOODRICH - Although the Goodrich
school board voted to accept a
Cooperative Vocational Academic
Education (CVAE) program last
February, the matter still appears to be
in limbo with board members now fac-
ed with tiie problem of where to locate
the program.
Although no formal action was taken
during the board’s meeting Thursday,
school trustees met with Texas Educa-
tion Agency representative Charles
Kesselberg to review their options con-
cerning the vocational program.
The matter of the CVAE courses has
been an issue in Goodrich for several
Indictments
months. Its addition to the school cur-
riculum last January was one of the
reasons the school board has listed for
its attempt to fire Superintendent Jerry
Easley. School trustees contend the
program was not authorized by the
board.
Formal board approval of the CVAE
program came after Easley’s suspen-
sion on Jan. 30.
Acting school administrator Sam
McDonald told the four trustees present
at Thursday’s meeting that if they still
wish to continue with the program they
must decide if they want to renovate the
school’s New Hope facility or build a
See GISD pg. 2A
Latest TRA estimate
says water on way
returned
LIVINGSTON - A 24-year-old Liv-
ingston man charged with sexual abuse
of a child was among 14 people formally
indicted Thursday by a Ninth District
Grand Jury meeting in Livingston.
Bryon Elliott Breir was indicted by
the grand jury on a sexual abuse of a
child charge stemming from an inci-
dent reported Jan. 28 involving a
junvenile male.
In other action, Sharon Hooper
Williams and Billy Barrett Jr. were
each indicted on theft charges filed in
connection with the April 28 theft of 10
rifles and shotguns and about $3,000 in
cash from Walter Wilkerson.
A third suspect in the theft, Mickey
Rogers, plead guilty earlier this month
and was sentenced to three years in the
Texas Department of Corrections.
In other grand jury action, f
Dale Gray was indicted (
habitation and robbery i _ „
connection with the May 1 break-in at
the Ida Benjamin residence.
.........nBK
l 1
I 4
Se '*** ^
Joel Ratliff, Lloyd Lowe aal Gloi
Farquar also were each indicted
burglary of a building chagps stem
ing from the May 8 MM
building owned by Bill Bovd.
A burglary of: ^
4 /,£.
HI"'
;Wilr
-raCsia
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 42, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 24, 1981, newspaper, May 24, 1981; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth781537/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.