Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 99, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 12, 1999 Page: 1 of 46
forty six pages : ill. ; page 25 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Polk County^
ENTEL
SOUTHWtCT niCROPUtt-ISHING INC
2fc2? EAST i ANDELL
EL FASO Tx 79903-3724
I
117 Number 99
The Dominant New* and Advertising Source in Polk County
UPS 437-540 Price: SO cants
Court eyes
settlement
LIVINGSTON - Several aU-
lioas have been made to the agenda
for the regular meeting of the Polk
County Commissioners' Coihi a
10 a.m. Tuesday.
Commissioners will consider ac-
tion pertaining to the county's por-
tion of a litigation settlement as a
result of the suit against the Polk
Central Appraisal District.
Commissioners will consider ap-
proval to issue a time warrant for
the purchase of Precinct 3 main-
miner with trade-ins in an amount
not to exceed $80,000, with a ma-
turity not to exceed five years and
an interest rate not to exceed 3.3
percent
Commissioners will also con-
sider approval of a time warrant for
the purchase of Precinct 4 main-
miners with trade-ins in mi amount
not to exceed $113,000, with a
maturity not to exceed five years
and an interest rate not to exceed
35 percent
A Precinct 4 request for perma-
nent mod fund expenditures will be
considered.
Commissioners will consider ac-
tkm pertaining to development of a
master plan for the remodeling and
expansion of administrative and
judicial facilities and historic court-
house master plan.
Commissioners will consider ac-
tion pertaining to a bid for the pur-
chase of two maintained with the
ail or trade-in of two used main-
miners for Precinct 1, as well as a
bid for tha purchase of a tractor
with boom mower and the sale or
Council to consider
annexation petition
BIO THICKET WORK NEARLY COMPLETE - A bulldozer ptSSTSoTw
foot culvert into position to be lowered into a trench as part of the last major part of construction
of the new bridge in Big Thicket Lake Estates. Two 41-foot-long end pieces will be attached to
the main culvert, which will serve as an overflow in the event of high water. After the culvert is
in place, some dirt work and guardrail installation remain. Precinct 1 Commissioner B.E.
"Slim" Speights said the bridge is slated to officially open next month.
LIVINGSTON - A petition lev
annexation on U S 190 west of
FM 330 Nonh and setting of public
hearings on die proposed annexa-
tion will be considered during Tues-
day night s regular meeting of the
Livingston City Council The
council was approached last month
about annexation of property about
three-quarters of a mile west of the
existing city limits, land which is
being considered far private devel-
opment as an assisted living center.
The council is also scheduled to
consider a proposal by St. Luke's
Episcopal Church to operate a bell
can lion at the church, located at the
corner of Willis and Jones streets.
Review of proposals and selec-
tion of an engineering firm for a
$248,400 Texas Community De-
velopment Grant from the Texas
Derailment of Housing and Com-
munity Affairs we also on the
agenda, as is a resolution authoriz-
ing signalors for that grant
Approval of subdivision street
names for Pineywoods Medical De-
velopment, authorization for the
mayor to execute a contract for leg-
islative consulting services and
Candidates lock horns over TDCJ issue
also tor Precinct 1.
Optional public officials coverage
tor the district attorney will be cun-
tor approval, as will the
a maintenance agree-
ment for mw landfill equipment
Commissioners will also set the
2000 county holiday schedule.
An executive session is on the
agenda, at which time commission-
ers will receive advice of legal
counsel and discuss real estate
Other items on the agenda include
approval of the budget amendments,
personnel action forms, payment of
bills and minutes of the Nov. 23
HUNTSVILLE-The District 18
House of Representatives nice
healed up recently during a meeting
of Texas Department of Criminal
Justice employees in Huntsville.
tDCJ employees gathered to con-
tinue organizing their efforts to
secure a pay raise, as many feel
they were shorted during the 76th
legislative session when a substan-
tial pay increase to corrections em-
ployees was not provided.
Both Republican Candidates Ben
Bius and Thomas Lecper and In-
cumbent Democrat Dan Ellis at-
tended the meeting and offered
comments about the plight of
TDCJ employees.
During the meeting, Ellis agreed
to lead a march on the state capiuil
in Austin with correctional em-
ployees who plan on asking Presi-
dent BUI Clinton and Vice President
Al Gore to join in the cause.
During his remarits, Bius re-
minded the participants that the
legislature recently completed a
legislative session in which (hey
hod the largest budget surplus in the
history of the state with which to
work. Bius said that while the ap-
propriations bill passed by the
Texas House Included some $12
billion of new state spending, the
measure Included only a $100 per
month pay rake for TDCJ employ-
ees.
MIt was actually a $6.3 billion
Status report slated
For Onalaska buses
GOODRICH - The district’s
status report and the Goodrich ex-
emplary plan will be discussed and
considered for approval during the
regular meeting of the Boon! of
Trustees of the Goodrich Independ-
ent School District at 7 p.m. Tues-
day.
The board will also consider ap-
proval of the school district's an-
nual audit for year ending Aug. 31.
An auditor engagement letter to
conduct the annual audit ending
Aug. 31, 2000 rod Aug. 31. 2001
will be considered for approval.
The five-year master plan and
See PROJECT pg. 2A
surplus and $1.87 billion of that
went into tax cuts for the people"
Ellis said.
"With 49 members of the House,
a pay raise was a high priority,”
Ellis said. "Of the 130 members of
the Texas House. 49 either have
prisons in their district, or doae
enough to their district to economi-
cally impact it.
Indicating that the budget will
originate in the Senate Finance
Committee during the next session
and that 30 of the 31 senators have
prisons in their districts, Ellis said
he anticipates favorable treatment of
TDCJ employees during the next
session.
“I feel that is was downright irre-
sponsible for Dan Ellis to stand
quiedy by while labor union organ-
izers falsely blamed Governor Bush
See SPECIAL pg. 2A
plans for improvements to the ih-
lapidtued building, owned by Don
Keith at the intersection of Church
and North Washington streets, will
also be considered
The council will also hold a pub-
lic hearing on a dilapkkxcd building
complaint filed on the Beverly
Richard property at 121 Elm St.
and consider a final ivdcr dealing
with that complaint.
The meeting will begin at 3 p m
in the Council Chambers, Living-
ston City Hall.
Jury finds
man guilty
of assault
LIVINGSTON ~ A Polk County
jury took about an hour to find a
Livingston man guilty of two
counts of aggravated sexual assault
of a child Dec. 2. The victim was a
7- year-old boy.
Rene Sonnier, 47, was sentenced
to two 40-year sentences and 238th
District Judge Elizabeth Coker ruled
the sentences will be consecutive or
stacked, meaning Sonnier will be
required to serve a minimum of 30
years before being eligible for pa-
role.
According to Polk County Assis-
tant District Attorney Lee Hon,
who tried the case, the incident oc-
curred during the summer of 1998.
The victim testified during the
evidence portion of the trial, as dd
officers from the Livingston Police
Department and Child Protective
Services.
According to Hon, Sonnier has
two additional pending indictments
for aggravated sexual assault of a
child, in which the victim was an
8- year-okl girl, and sexual indecency
with a child, in which (he victim
wasa9-year-okl girt.
During the punishment phase of
the trial, these two victims testi-
fied, as did Livingston Police De-
tective Ken Bohnert and Alicia
Fisher of CPS.
See THIRTY pg. 4A
Radios considered
ONALASKA -- Radio communi-
cations for the school trans portal ion
department will be considered far
action by the Bond of Trustees of
the Onalaska Independent School
District dining its regular meeting
attftSOpJh. Wednesday.
The board will discuss and con-
skier action on an automated food
line for the cafeteria, as well as
timber on school property.
Bids on county tax foreclosure
property, specifically Lots 412 aid
414 in Sportsman’s Retreat No. 6
will he considered, as will bids on
buses8and9.
The board will review a legisla-
tive update regarding training for
Sec NEW pg. 2A
;-;
Bourque in judge race Smith seeks re-election
More holiday fun
on event schedule
LIVINGSTON - For those who haven't managed to get in the holiday
spirit yet, there are still several upcoming programs snd activities on the
Regteatkin is currently underway to enter the City of Onalaska’s
annual Christmas decorating contest. Categories include religious,
commercial, non-profit and churches. First, second and third places will be
awarded In ail divisions. To enter, contact the Onalaska City Hall at 646-
3000. Judging will take place Dec. 18.
The Polk County Ganicn Club will host an open hot <e at "Miss
Effle's Cottage" at the comer of Jackson rod Mill sheets from 1-4
pjn. today. Refreshments will be served and children may have their
picture taken with Santa Claus.
The First United Methodist Church of Onalaska will present die
Christmas cantata, MIt Took a Miracle” by John W. Peterson, at
t p.m. today. Admission is free.
Central Baptist Church of Livingston will present the Christmas
cantata, "Mary, Did Yen Know” at 5 p.m. today. Admission is
bee.
The annual Tour of Lights bus tours are slated for Dec. 17.
Buses will leave Fedigo Park at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m.,
8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Admission Is free with die donation of canned food
or money for the Polk County Mission Center. Because of limited
seating, tickets must be picked up in advance at the Trade Days office.
Macedonia Baptist Church will present "Christmas Concert or
Leva” at i p-m. Dec. IS.
The First United Methodist Church of Livingston will present (he
Christmas cantata, "Gloria In Excelsls Deo” at 6 p.m. Dec.
I»>28.
LIVINGSTON -- Gerald Botaque
(D-Thc Woodlands) has officially
filed for the Ninth Court of Appeals
judicial race. The race is for a seal
on the court left vacant by the re-
tirement of Judge Earl "Smokcy"
Siover.
Bourque was in Livingston
Wednesday as port of a six-day tour
of the 11 counties in the Ninth
Court's district. The district in-
cludes Polk, Tyler, Angelina, Jas-
per, Newton, San Jacinto, Mont-
gomery, Liberty, Hardin, Jefferson
and Orange counties.
"Thanks to judges like Justice
Siover, East Texans rightly expect
their judges to he impartial, hanl
working and honest," said Bourque
"As a justice on the Ninth Court of
Appeals, I will work hard every day
to meet those expectations and be a
judge of whom all Texans can he
proud."
Bourque, who now lives in The
Woodlands, is s native of East
Texas having graduated from Neder-
land High School and Lamar Uni-
versity, where be was a member of
the Cardinal baseball team. Bourque
received his law degree from South
Texas College of Law and has a
private practice of both civil and
criminal trial wok.
"I have ipent the last two dreads
practicing law in Texas and have
learned that the law must he admin-
istered consistently rod without re-
grad to economic or racial status."
Bourque said. "I'm a candidate far
the Ninth Court because of that ex-
perience, but also because I believe
in the people of East Texas and I
believe in fairness rod justice for
all."
Bourque has been married for 23
years to his wife Marilyn and they
have two children. As a father and
husband. Bourque said he under-
stands (he values and priorities of
Texas families. "My involvement
with civic groups and church have
made me understand that a truly
civil society requires both compav
sion and sound common sense
judgment," he a ided.
Bourque it a member of the
Lion's Club. Lamar Cardinal Club,
The Woodkinda Quarterback Club
and attends the Lord of Life Lu-
theran Church.
The Democratic Primary election
will be held on March 14.
GERALD BOURQUE
Ninth District candidate
LIVINGSTON - Morion A.
"Bid" Smith would like to lake this
opportunity to announce that he is
running for re-election far the office
of Polk County tax assessor-
collector in the upcoming Demo-
cratic Primary.
Having a total of over 13 yean
experience in the tax office, with
six of thow as tax assessor, Smith
said he would tike to continue us-
ing this experience to further walk
for the citizens of Polk County. Be-
ing efficient, hut keeping in mind
that the tax office is a public office,
is a goal that Smith said he and bis
staff strive to promote. Another
goal is to be progressive, using the
latest computers, software and
equipment in performing daily tasks
for die public. By attending election
and education seminars. Smith said
be is able to keep up to date on the
latest laws rod techniques used by
other tax offices around the state of
Texas. Integrating snd passing this
information on to his staff is vital
in keeping the tax office running
lawfully and efficiently, Smith sakl.
The son of the late Nell and Ja-
mie Smith, Bid was raised in Liv-
ingston rod graduated from Living-
ston High School. He graduated
from the University of Texas at
Austin with a business manage-
ment degree. He is married to Grace
Prall Smith, rod they reside in Liv-
ingston. A member of the First
United Methodist Church, he is
also a Lions Club, Livingston
Community Band, and n Appraisal
District board member.
Being involved in the Tax Asses-
sor-Collectors Association of
Texas, Smith is currently serving
as vice president internal. legisla-
tive, Public Information and Educa-
tion are some of the committees on
which he has served. An honor be-
stowed on him by his fellow tax
assessor-collectors around the state
of Texas was being nominated Last
year to receive the Tax Assessor-
Collector of the Year award
"I would like to (hank you, the
citizens of Polk County, for your
vole and support in the Democratic
Primary in March, 2000," Smith
said. "I enjoy my job and pledge
that my staff and I will give you
the best possible customer service
My door is always open. Thanks
far the support you have given me
in the past."
/
MARION A. BID' SMITH
... seeking re-election
jdKaSH -
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 99, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 12, 1999, newspaper, December 12, 1999; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth790702/m1/1/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.