Cooper Review (Cooper, Tex.), Vol. 137, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 17, 2011 Page: 1 of 6
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□ COMMERCIAL
□ REAL ESTATE
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FIRST NATIONAL BANKIN COOPER
“R til 1395-21311
WEST SIDE SQUARE - COOPER
Issue 137 Volume 11
Delta County's Hometown Newspaper
50 cents
Fire claims Cline family home
Staff photo by Cindy Roller
A recent Saturday night fire claimed the home of Eddie Jo and Samantha Cline, located at 1626
State Highway 19. Six area fire departments were dispatched to the scene before Cooper Fire
Chief Charles Ruzicka declared it "a total loss."
By Cindy Roller
Staff Writer
"X X That does it
% I mean to walk
V V away with just
the clothes on your back? It
means much more to Eddie Jo
and Samantha Cline and their
three young children, Dakota,
14, Makayla, 12, and Ethan,
5, after a fire destroyed their
home Saturday, March 5.
According to Cooper Fire
Chief Charles Ruzicka the
cause of the fire is still under
investigation. The emergency
call came in at approximately
9 p.m. Saturday night. The
single story, wood frame
home, located at 1626 State
Highway 19 (on the corner of
C.R. 4615), was “a total loss”
said Ruzicka.
Six area fire departments,
including Klondike, Enloe,
North Hopkins, East Delta,
Sulphur Bluff and Cooper,
were dispatched to the fire.
It took about 21 men battling
the flames for over two hours
to finally dissipate the threat
of spreading.
“The firemen did a good
job fighting the fire,” said
Ruzicka, on his first house
fire in his month as chief
for Cooper. “We all did our
jobs. We were out there until
11:30 p.m. putting out hot
spots, cooling it down and
preventing it from spreading
to the other structures and
the butane tank. ...We were
thankful no one was home at
the time of the fire.”
The Cline family is
currently residing with Eddie
Jo’s parents, Eddie and
Vickie, who live at 300 East
Fort Worth Street in Cooper.
Eddie Jo and Samantha’s
home was estimated to be
1,500 square feet, and they
were without insurance
coverage. They estimate the
cause of the fire of their Delta
County home was electrical.
The family had just moved
into their “little country
place” in November and was
just starting to settle in after
the holidays.
“The whole town of Cooper
has come together to share
with us,” said the wife and
mother of three on their loss.
“It is just amazing the support
we have been giving - local
children have giving as much
effort as the adults. Ethan’s
kindergarten class donated
toys and clothes and Makayla
came home with a brand new
pair of shoes from one of her
classmates, who worked to
earn the money to buy them
for her.”
The neighbors, friends and
family have delivered meals.
However, the greatest gift
is the assistance the family
has received in the form of
a mobile home to be moved
onto their property.
From the work of fire
fighters to a new roof over
their heads, locals have
“helped in every aspect” since
the tragedy.
“The fire fighters returned
three times to put out the
flames,” said Cline, noting
word of the fire came from
their son’s friend, who heard
it on the scanner. Eddie Jo
and Samantha were headed
out of town, and the couple’s
children were with their
grandparents, Eddie and
Vickie.
“Some have helped with
money or food,” the very
grateful mother said. “It
has been awesome support.
Everything has all been from
the heart, especially all of the
many hugs.”
Local churches are in the
process of collecting clothing
for the family. Mickey Jo
Land, of Cooper, and Lonnie
Sanders, student minister
at New Life and teacher at
Cooper High School, are
taking donations for the
family.
The Cline family has
had even more trials. The
day following the fire, the
youngest Cline was in the
emergency room with fever
and rash. The mother said
their son is recovering.
Ethan’s sixth birthday wifi be
March 27. Among what was
lost in the fire were the gifts
purchased for his big day.
“We are just so thankful to
so many people,” Cline said,
“Through it all, our faith is
strong.”
Cooper sales tax collections on the rise
By Kimberly Palmer
Staff Writer
The City of Cooper’s sales
tax rebate for March 2011
shows an increase over the
same month in 2010 with
$5,150.06 in collections.
During the same taxing
period last year $4,132.84
was collected which shows
is an increase of 24.61
percent in collections.
Payments year to date
for Cooper are $20,692.21
which is up 13.8 percent
compared to last year at this
same time with $18,182.44
in collections.
Texas Comptroller Susan
Combs said the state’s sales
tax revenue in February was
$1.75 billion, an increase
of 9.7 percent compared to
February 2010.
“This is the 11th straight
month that sales tax
revenue has increased,”
said Combs. “Much like in
recent months, there were
increases across all major
sectors including oil and gas
activity, manufacturing and
retail trade. We wifi continue
to monitor current economic
conditions and gauge the
effects on consumer and
business spending.”
On Friday, March 11,
Combs delivered $433.1
million in March sales tax
payments to Texas cities,
counties, transit systems and
special purpose districts.
Local sales tax allocations
are up 7.1 percent compared
to March 2010. So far this
calendar year, local sales
tax allocations are up 7.9
percent compared to the first
three months of 2010.
State sales tax revenue
for February and March
payments made to local
governments represent sales
that occurred in January.
The City of Pecan Gap
sales tax rebate for March
declined 45.12 percent over
the same month in 2010
with $83.56 in collections.
During the same taxing
period last year, $152.28 was
collected. Year to date sales
tax collections total $845.03
which is down 1.55 percent
over the same time period
in 2010 where $858.37 had
been collected.
Upcoming local events, mark those calendars
Chamber hosts
after hours event
The Chamber of
Commerce will be hosting
“Meet the Directors” on
Thursday, March 31 from 5
p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Delta
County Public Library.
Everyone is invited to attend
this free event. Refreshments
will be served. For more
information contact Karen
Falls at 903-395-4575 or
268-7588 or at the Chamber
at 903-395-4314.
Extension office
hosts gardening
program
The Delta County
Extension office wifi
be hosting a vegetable
gardening program next
Thursday, March 24 from 6
p.m. until 8 p.m. There wifi
not be a charge to attend,
and it wifi be held at the
Delta County Civic Center.
Topics include garden
preparation, vegetable
varieties and insect control.
Weather
A partly cloudy sky with a 10
percent chance of precipitation.
High 80 F. Low 59 F.
CISD Honor Rolls
and more school news
See page 6
Bleachers, closing
of county roads and
fine collections top
Commissioners Court
discussions
By Cindy Roller
Staff Writer
Delta County Civic Center bleachers, closing of
county roads and new software to collect fines were
among the discussions at the 9 a.m. Commissioners
Court meeting Monday in the courtroom on the third
floor of the courthouse.
Present were Judge Herbert Brookshire,
Precinct 1 Commissioner RIP Templeton,
Precinct 2 Commissioner Max Moody, Precinct
3 Commissioner Wayne Poole and Precinct 4
Commissioner Mark Brantley.
Commissioner Poole motioned to open the Delta
County Civic Center wooden bleachers to sealed bids
for the next two weeks.
“They are an accident waiting to happen,” Poole
said. “We can’t use them, but maybe someone could
refurbish the wood.” Templeton seconded. The item
passed to accept bids in a 5-0 vote.
Judge Brookshire discussed possible action to
close county roads 3080 (in Ben Franklin) and
2085 (partially). The item was unanimously tabled
following more research.
Judge Reed explained the implementation of the
OmniBase services for fine collections. Reed noted
the motion was approved in June 2007. He said it
wifi serve as a tool to collect fines with the added
bonus of the DPS licensing system (meaning those
with fines will be unable to renew their licenses).
Reed sought approval for the use of tech fund of
$7,500 for the EDOC upgrades which ties into the
OmniBase service. Some of the advantages include
the court wifi receive tickets without the need of
retyping, tracks and alerts the court when there is a
uncompleted step, monitors payment of fines, new
search capabilities and a system back up. Moody
motioned to approve with Templeton seconding,
wrapping discussion with a favorable 5-0 count.
Other items discussed on the agenda were a letter
from Texas Veterans stating the completion of
required training, notification from Texas Department
of Public Safety of the low interest loan qualification
due to last year’s drought and the Justice of the Peace
office will be accepting credit cards to pay fines
without cost to the court.
Seat belts are to be worn by all county employees.
Poole motioned to accept this to prevent any liability
for Delta County with Templeton seconding it. The
five on the court approved the April 1 start date.
Brittany Cobb presented an agreement letter for
County Information Resource Agency (CIRA) for
management of the County’s website. Cobb noted
it was free, standard policy and the agreement
could be terminated easily anytime. The website is
currently used to post agendas, minutes, bills and
contact information. Motion to accept was made
by Templeton and seconded by Moody along with
unanimously approval.
Sheriff Teague discussed the possibility of
providing Workers Compensation Insurance to a
small number of non-paid employees. He noted he
has four non-paid full time deputies he is considering
changing to “reserve deputies” (whom must be
bonded).
He said the research is “still a work in progress.”
No action was taken on discussion to convert
Private Road Ralph Hall to a County Road due to
neighbors not being receptive to the proposal.
Templeton proposed the trade of a 1995 Mack
Truck (that is inoperable) and a 1966 Clem Dump
Trailer (to which are dually owned by Precincts 1
and 3) for a 1991 International Dump Truck owned
by Lamar County Precinct 1. Poole seconded,
passing it with a 5-0 vote.
Reports from the Delta County Attorney, Sheriff
and Treasurer were given, payments of bills and
approval of prior court minutes. With no other
pressing business, the meeting was adjourned at
10:19 a.m.
Cooper Lake Dam Report
Current Elevation 432.48
Normal Elevation 440.00
Currently Releasing 4 CFS
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Palmer, Roger. Cooper Review (Cooper, Tex.), Vol. 137, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 17, 2011, newspaper, March 17, 2011; Cooper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth804998/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Delta County Public Library.