Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 98, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1993 Page: 1 of 20
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Polk County Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Livingston Municipal Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Local doctor
on health care
task force
see page 3A
PoJk flnnntv
EOT!
Southwest Micropublishing Inc55
2627 East Yandel1
El Paso Tx 79903
THURSDAY
DEC. 9, 1993
Volume 111 Number 98
The Dominant News and Advertising Source in Polk County
UPSP 437-340 Price: 25 ants
New justice of the peace appointed
County eyeing private sector proposals for solid waste
LIVINGSTON - Although they
delayed action on proposals for
solid waste collection and disposal
to allow for further study, Polk
County commissioners acted on
several other matters -- including
the resignation of a justice of the
peace and appointment of a succes-
sor - during a special-called meet-
ing Monday.
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace
Richard Gerard’s resignation was
accepted by the court. Gerard, who
is leaving to take a job as area
manager out of the Trinity River
Authority’s Lake Livingston Dam
office, has resigned effective mid-
night Dec. 14.
On a motion from Precinct 2
Commissioner Bobby Smith, the
court appointed Onalaska
Municipal Judge David Johnson to
fill the justice of the peace post.
Johnson, who has been municipal
judge for the past three years, said
he filed Friday as a Democratic
candidate for justice of the peace in
the March primary election.
Deen leaving Polk County Memorial post
LIVINGSTON - Robert "Bob”
Deen, who has served as ad-
ministrator of Polk County
Memorial Hospital since April,
1992, will be leaving to become ad-
ministrator of Nacogdoches
Memorial Hospital, effective Jan.
3.
Deen came here under Polk
County’s hospital management
contract with Quorum Health
Resources, Inc. and will be leaving
Quorum to take the reins at Nacog-
doches Memorial, which is
operated by the Nacogdoches
Hospital District.
Calling the Nacogdoches offer
"one of those once in a lifetime op-
portunities that comes along," Deen
said he feels he would not have
been considered for the job if it had
not been for the "good things"
which have happened at Polk
County Memorial. He added he is
proud of the local hospital
employees who helped make those
good things happen.
In a progress report submitted to
the commissioners’ court in Sep-
tember of this year, it was noted
that Polk County Memorial Hospi-
tal "has made a remarkable finan-
cial recovery from almost certain
financial disaster in 1989."
Liabilities of the hospital, for ex-
ample, decreased from $937,120 in
June, 1990 to $291,685 in June,
1993.
Deen said Quorum hopes to have
an interim administrator for the
Polk County hospital by Dec. 14, in
time for the next hospital board
meeting. Deen plans to remain on
the job here through Dec. 17.
Johnson noted that he has had
numerous occasions to work with
Gerard in the past, adding he
worked alongside the judge last
weekend. He said he will continue,
as Gerard has, to work with the
other justices of the peace in rotat-
ing weekend work schedules.
Reflecting another recent change
in county officials, commissioners
approved a bond for Marion A.
"Bid" Smith, who was sworn-in as
county tax assessor-collector last
week.
Having withheld a bill owed to
Doughtie Construction Co. last
month, pending resolution of a
water pressure problem at the jail,
commissioners voted Monday to
release the payment. Even though
the water pressure problem
remains. Architect Armand Fisher
said Doughtie purchased the equip-
ment, which has proved insuffi-
cient, from another company and it
is the other company which should
be held responsible.
Fisher said he will discuss the
matter with the district attorney
prior to a letter being drafted warn-
ing the supplier that legal action
may be taken if the water problems
are not corrected.
Solid waste proposals
Four proposals, each offering
varying options, were received con-
cerning solid waste collection and
disposal.
The court is trying to decide
whether or not to keep the county-
owned landfill and stay in the trash
collection business. In light of cost-
ly updates necessary to meet strin-
gent new federal regulations, they
decided to explore various alterna-
tives.
As County Judge John
Thompson explained, the court pre-
viously decided that, before addi-
tional funds are expended, they
should "go to the private sector and
see what’s available."
Several months ago, the county
was facing approximately $1.5 mil-
lion in expenditures in order to
comply with Subtitle D environ-
mental restrictions which went into
effect on Oct. 9 of this year. Coun-
ty officials traveled to Austin and
talked Texas Water Commission
representatives into extending the
compliance deadline until April 9,
1994.
See COUNTY pg. 6A
City opts to stick
with original contract
fhoto *y vnN a famish
’’MIRACLE ON CHURCH STREET" - Parishioners and
guests circle the perimeter of the new site for First United
Methodist Church of Livingston during a groundbreaking
service Sunday afternoon. This will be die third location on
Third location for First United Methodist
Ground broken for
the same highway for the church, the first of which was built
nearly 150 years ago oh property where the Old City
Cemetery is now located.
new church
LIVINGSTON -- An estimated
300 church members, guests and
other well-wishers, each bearing a
small shovel, broke ground Sunday
Election '94
for the future new home of First
United Methodist Church of
Livingston.
In what parishioners have
Walker announces for county clerk
LIVINGSTON - Judy Walker
has announced her candidacy for
the office of county clerk for Polk
County.
"I was bom in Walter Reed
Hospital in Washington, D.C. on
Sept 20, 1944, to Edward Marshall
and Emily Hamilton," Walker said.
"My parents are deceased but a lot
of you will remember them being
past owners of Holiday Lake
Drive-In Grocery, for 10 years, in
Holiday Lake Estates, Goodrich.
My father also sold real estate in
Polk County, after his retirement
from Union Carbide. I have one
brother, F.M. "Rickey" Hamilton,
who is employed with Eastex
Telephone Co-op, Inc. in
Livingston.
"My education was obtained by
attending first and second grades in
Baltimore, Md., then moving to
Dickinson and graduating from
3a
JUDY WALKER
files for county clerk
Dickinson High School in 1963,"
Walker said. "After graduation I at-
tended Southwestern Business
University in Houston.
"In 1964 I met and married
James Doyle Walker of Goodrich,
who was employed by Owen Furni-
ture Co. in Livingston. In 1974 we
moved to Livingston. Due to ill
health, Doyle was faced to retire
in 1984, as a disabled veteran.
"We have one son, James "Jim"
Doyle Walker Jr. Jim is a 1990
graduate of Livingston High
School. He is now a junior at Sam
Houston State University in
Huntsville and is employed part-
time for Mill Ridge Golf Center in
Livingston.
"We are members of the First
United Methodist Church of
Livingston and members of the
Come As You Are Sunday School
Class.
"I am seeking the office of coun-
ty clerk because of the love and
respect I have for this office,"
Walker said. "I am qualified to run
the office because of the years of
work, and the working relationship,
I have with the office.
"The county clerks I have known
— Kenneth Kennedy, Aline
Stephenson and Martha Johnson --
have made the cleric’s office one of
the best in the state. I would like to
continue with their tradition of
good, friendly and professional
service to the citizens of Polk
County."
Walker’s first employment with
Polk County was with the County
Auditor's Office. From there she
transferred to the County Cleric’s
Office as a deputy under Kenneth
Kennedy and later worked as a
See STEPHENSON pg. 2A
dubbed the continuing "Miracle on
Church Street," the new church is
being constructed atop a hill on a
20-acre tract on U.S. 190 (Church
Street), about a mile west of the
U.S. 59 bypass.
It will be the third site for the
church'onr Church Street The first
home of First United Methodist
Church was built nearly 150 years
ago on the site of what is now the
Old City Cemetery. In 1910, the
church moved to its present loca-
tion at 302 W. Church.
Participation in Sunday’s
groundbreaking service was not
limited to the congregation. Dr. T.
Mac Hood, church pastor, wel-
comed all those gathered, which in-
cluded representatives from neigh-
boring churches of other denomina-
tions and United Methodist Church
officials, including District Super-
intendent Dr. W. Hooper Haygood,
who gave the opening prayer.
Reading of scripture chosen to fit
the occasion and special music led
up to the actual groundbreaking, for
which all present formed a circle
around the perimeter of the church
sanctuary site.
Senior members were asked to
first break ground, the pasta noting
that "their love and concern nur-
tured this church body in the past
ONALASKA - The Onalaska
City Council voted in regular ses-
sion Tuesday night to pay Empire
Construction the amount of
$112,917.30, the amount of the
original contract for the installation
of the city’s natural gas system.
The construction firm is asking
the city to pay about $200,000 for
the work.
The council members and other
city officials met in executive ses-
sion at length with City Attorney
Jim Wright before returning to
open session to vote to pay the
amount of the original contract.
The council will consider the
possibility of paying the construc-
tion company more in the future, if
the city attorney so advises.
Also following executive ses-
sion, the council voted to hire Bill
Thomas will also work with the gas
system as needed.
Wilburn Stutts, gas superinten-
dent, reported on progress of the
gas system. He also reported that
the vehicle he was using is in dis-
repair.
In the mayor’s report. Mayor
Jeanne Ann Byrd reported that the
city has received numerous com-
plaints of businesses burning trash
in the city.
She said state law does not allow
businesses to bum anything other
than pine straw, and that attempts
will be made to stop businesses
from burning trash.
She also reported that Patricia
Trammell, new police officer, is
doing a good job and is on the job
regularly.
I Also, she said the city hall and
^ prep^ us mTi the pre^nt Thomas of Onalaska as building, to siaiion are^n need oL xuuuae
amT the future.” Parents and
grandparents then had their turn to
"break this ground where God’s
home will provide a model for their
family houses." Children were
asked to break ground "to prepare a
place where they will leant to love
God and grow in grace and good-
ness." The youth broke ground for
the place where they will be "in-
spired to pray and serve."
Community leaders in atten-
dance took a turn with their shovels
in symbolic recognition of the
church as "a link with the past and
a catalyst for the future growth of
the community.” Lay and clergy
leaders, building committee mem-
bers, architects and contractors also
took their turn.
See GROUNDBREAKING pg- 6A
plumbing and electrical inspector, maintenance.
Holiday ‘sounds' ahead
LIVINGSTON - The annual
Sounds of Christmas program,
featuring the Livingston High
School Royal Brigade Band and the
Livingston High School Choir, is
scheduled for 7 p.m. this coming
Monday night, Dec. 13, at the
Livingston High School
auditorium.
The event, sponsored by the Polk
County Chamber of Commerce,
will feature a variety of outstanding
Christmas music, according to Jim
Wright, chamber director.
Advance tickets are now on sale
at area banks.
Tickets, which also may be pur-
chased at the door, are $6 reserve
(front center section, limited num-
ber available), $4 for adults and $3
for students.
Wright said most of the proceeds
to the band and choir.
Arrests made in LHS
graffiti - writing case
LIVINGSTON -- Three young
women have been arrested and
charged with felony criminal mis-
chief in connection with the graffiti
which was found at Livingston
High School on Sunday, Nov. 28.
Sharlotte Hampton, 18, and Tara
Lynn Young, 18, both of
Livingston, were arrested Friday by
Livingston police. Nicole Bell, 17,
of Onalaska, was arrested Saturday
by Onalaska police.
The three were charged with
felony criminal mischief rather than
a lesser charge due to the expense
of the school district to clean up the
graffiti, according to Dell Brown,
Livingston High School principal.
Brown said the cost of cleaning the
graffiti was $2,014.
Livingston Police Detective Ken
Bohnert said all three of the young
women have confessed to painting
racial remarks on the high school
building, walkway railings, picnic
tables and retaining wall about 2
a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28.
Bohnert said his investigation
revealed that the three white
women went to the school with
cans of bright pink, yellow and
orange fluorescent spray paint fol-
lowing an altercation with a black
female Livingston High School stu-
dent at a local fast food restaurant.
Crime Stoppers had offered a
reward leading to the arrest or con-
viction of the persons involved in
painting the graffiti. Bohnert said a
Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrest
of at least one of the women who
was charged. Also, the Livingston
school board had approved a
similar reward. Glenn Pearson, in-
terim superintendent, said the
reward money would go into the
Crime Stoppers fund.
The three young women - all
former Livingston High School stu-
dents - were released from the
Polk County jail on $1,000 bond
each.
CKTtaraos mioto av go ado* uiamon
SURGERY AHEAD - Phil Hughes, a local volunteer
wildlife rehabilitator, nurses a bald eagle found by game war-
dens in the Woodville area. Its shoulder broken, apparently
from flying into a tree, die bird was taken to Polk County
Memorial Hospital for X-rays and will be transported to the
San Antonio area for surgery. Hughes said when the bird is
healed it will be released back to the Woodville area.
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.
Matching Search Results
View four places within this issue that match your search.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. 111, No. 98, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 9, 1993, newspaper, December 9, 1993; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth798018/m1/1/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.