The Silsbee Bee (Silsbee, Tex.), Vol. 70, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 21, 1988 Page: 1 of 24
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Hardin County Grand Jury
Indicts llPersonsTuesday
The Hardin County grand
jury indicted 11 persona Tues-
day on a variety of charges
ranging from forgery to driving
while intoxicated, according to
the records of District Attor-
ney R.F. “Bo” Horka.
Those indicted by the grand
jury were:
Willie Dwayne Lewis, 26,780
N. Fourth St., Silsbee, and
Stan Charles Parker. 28, P.O.
Box 541, Kountse, on charges
of forgery April 5. The men
allegedly forged a $45 check on
the account of John Lewis of
Silsbee at King Saver Ware-
house Foods.
Larry DeneD Smith, 27, P.O.
Box IMS, Silsbee, on a charge
of burglary of a building June 9.
Smith is charged with taking an
air conditioner from the Hic-
kory Grove Baptist Church.
Cathy Ann Billiot, 27, 1193
N. Third 8t., Silsbee, on a
charge of theft-aggregation.
Billiot was charged with theft
in connection with a number of
checks written on or about Dec.
12,1987.
Mark Timothy Fore, 22, P.O.
Box 502, Saratoga, on a charge
of felony driving while intoxi-
cated June 25.
Jerry Lynn Creel, 31, Rt. 6,
Box 362, Silsbee, on a charge of
felony driving while intoxicated
May 26.
Ronald Dustin Hughes, 20,
135 Hillcrest Dr., Lumberton,
on a charge of felony driving
while intoxicated May 22.
Richard Wayne Dexter, 29,
801 Nasa Road, No. 2410,
Webster, and1 James William
Dewitt, 36, P.O. Box 58477,
Webster, on charges of theft
March 17. The men allegedly
sold Mr. and Mrs. Ernest
Piehoff of Kountze a hospital
insurance policy for approxi-
mately $874, but the couple
never received a policy and the
insurance company never re-
ceived the couple’s money.
Larry Arnold Carter, 28, Rt.
1, Box 31, Buna, on a charge of
felony driving while intoxicated
June 18.
Dwight Morrow Raulerson,
50, 5184Vt Streeter, San An-
tonio, on a charge of felony
driving while intoxicated May
23.
The Silsbee Bee
VOLUME 70 - NUMBER 25
SILSBEE, TEXAS 77656, THURSDAY, JULY 21,1988
20 PAGES IN 2 SECTIONS
In-House Study To
Increase Revenue
Underway At Refinery
The chairman of the board of
the company which owns South
Hampton Refining Company
said Tuesday that an in-house
study to determine methods of
increasing the Silsbee oU com-
pany’s revenue is still under-
way.
Jack Crichton, chairman of
the Arabian Shield Develop-
ment Company and its sub-
sidiary, American Shield Refin-
ing Company, said in January
the study revolved around a
specific type of additional pro-
duct that could be manufactur-
ed at the plant. He was not at
liberty to name the product.
The study could be com-
pleted within a few months,
Crichton said Tuesday, addins’
that his oompapy is very satisfi-
ed with South
operations and its president,
Nick Carter.
The Arabian Shield Develop-
ment Company completed a
deal in June 1967 through the
American Shield Refining
Company to buy all of the stock
of the Texas Oil and Chemical
Co. II Inc., the parent company
of South Hampton.
Rural Accidents
Clomi Three In
County During June
Three persons were killed in
two latal rural motor ’ebklf
accidents in Hardin County
during the month of June,
according to Sgt. Burton
(SeeAccident*Sec. l.Popei)
Forest Service
Closes Woods Roods
Near Woodpeckers
LUFKIN-Nearly 500 miles
of dead-end woods roads on the
National Forests in Texas will
be closed because they pass
within 1,200 meters - three-
quarters of a mile - of red-cock-
aded woodpecker colonies. The
woodpecker is on the endanger-
ed species list.
Mike Lannan, supervisor of
the four federal forests in East
Texas, said he took the action,
which affects 826 roads, in
compliance with a June 17
federal court order.
He explained the order re-
quires closure of roads that
pass through colonies and
places restrictions on the use of
those that pass within three-
quarters of a mile of them. It
also prescribes certain forestry
practices within that area.
According to the Forest Ser-
vice official, the 473 mites
closed by his order do not
provide access to private land,
oil wells, developed recreation
sites or any areas affected by
agency contracts. He said a
“significant portion” are un-
improved woods roads, pass-
able only in vehicles with high
clearance, such as pickup
trucks and jeeps.
Lannan said Forest Service
engineers are examining the
entire 2,000-mile road system
of the East Texas national
forests to determine what
additional closures or use res-
trictions will be necessary to
comply with the court order.
That order, signed by U.S.
District Judge Robert M. Park-
er, was in response to a suit
brought against the Forest
Service by the Wilderness
Society, Sierra Club and Texas
Committee on Natural—Re-
sources. V
The Forest, Service has said
it intends to seek further
clarification of the judge’s
order.
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SILSBEE CITY WORKERS PREPARE to cross o crook In tho final stages of an approximately $25,000 sowar project on
East Avenue L. City Manager Ronald Hickerson sold the extension will initially add five houses to the sewer
system and will be available to serve future development In the area. The project Is scheduled to be completed
this week. Working ere Ron Luna (left) and R.J. Wallace (on backhoe), while A.O. Moreno points out details of the
approximately 1,700-foot-long pro|ect to Mayor Wes Latham.
County Tax Collections Running
2% Above Anticipated Amount
Hardin Cbirnty lax collec-
tions are running at least 2
percent ahead of the amount
anticipated in the 1987-88 bud
get and any extra money
brought in could be put into the
Local Citizens Express Opposite Views
On Creek Bill In Washington, D.C.
Persons fa favor of and
opposed to a bill that would add
about 14,000 acres to the Big
Thicket National Preserve got
a chance to air their views in
.Washington, D.C., Friday in a
hearing with the National
Parka and Public Lands Sub-
committee of the House In-
terior and Insular Affairs
Conunittoo,
Five persons spoke for and
five against House Bill 8544,
which would add the Village
Creek and Big Sandy corridors
and the Canyonlands Unit to
the preserve. The bill was
introduced by U.S. Rep.
Charles Wilson.
Hardin County Judge M.R.
“Pete” McKinney, one of those
speaking in opposition to the
bill, said the hearing lasted
about four hours. For tho moat
part, speakers addressed only
committee chairman Congress
man Bruce F. Vento of Minne-
sota.
Following are the speeches
made by McKinney and Silsbee
attorney Houston Thompson,
who spoke in favor of the bill.
M.R. “Pete” McKinney
May I open with the com-
ment that ft is true that many
City Sckatfalet
Second Budgat
Workshop Monday
Silsbee City Council kicked
off tho 1988-89 budget proceoe
( Monday night with ft* first
i Kiulood wnmlaKiwi tJt fk.----
r ™ eOe yeiTt
* The current budget will sxpire
with the end of the flaeal year
Sept. N.
In dlN) workshop council
I* i n |»| pi.
ays 7:30 p.m
wffl spotlight
thoughtful people feel that the
proposed expansion of the Big
Thicket Park is a worthwhile
project. Another truth is that
the majority of the people of
Southeast Texas feel just the
opposite.
And may I further comment
that we appreciate the op-
portunity to be heard, but ft is
unfortunate that the majority
of those people who will lose
the most will not have the same
opportunity due to the short
notice and location of the hear-
ing.
Therefore, for the county of
Hardin and those who cannot
comment, I respectably request
each member of the committe
to:
a. ) Consider the economic
impact on the wood product
industries which contribute so
much to our present economic
posture;
b. ) Consider the impact of the
teas of tax base to the various
public entities involved;
c. ) Consider the interests of
homeowners, and if expansion
is necessary, have the bound-
aries drawn so that American
Citizens will not have-their
homes taken from them.
d. ) Consider the limited fu-
ture economic opportunities of
a county from which all access
to its surface waters has been
taken from ft.
Proponents state that Fed-
eral stewardship is necessary
for protection of certain eco-
logical areas to be joined to the
preeent Kg Thicket Park. The
areas in question are not at-
tractive because of the stew-
ardship of the Federal Govern
meat, bat because of the care-
ful management of timber com-
the im-
e, and pri-
vate property owners who have
protected their tends from all
outsida exploitation for gene-
rations.
Original legislation proposed
by U.S. Representative
Charles Wilson and signed into
tew by President Gerald Ford
was identical to that re-
commended by the Department
of Interior with the exception of
the stream bed corridors.
Wilson's present proposal aims
to include said corridors into
the present park. According to
the Department of Interior at
that time, the approximate
68,000 acres recommended by
ft was all that could be ecolo-
gically unique and that said
recommendations was the re-
sult of many years of diligent
study. It was the only authori-
tative study which anyone had
that made any claims to be
impartial.
Streambeds were to be in-
cluded in the original proposal
of the Department of the Inter-
ior, but ft was told by the Office
of Management and Budget
that scientific justification was
the only acceptable justifica-
tion, as opposed to recreational
usage as with the corridors. Do
subsequent studies and data
show that we have spent $92,-
000,000 for a project of very
narrow appeal and now must
justify this expense by provid-
ing recreational opportunities
which will violate the original
argument for the park. And
that argument, gentlemen, was
to protect the ecological in-
tegrity of the Preserve by
limiting visitor usage.
It has been said that a little
Federal Control soon is follow-
ed by larger Federal Control.
Our citizens were told in Mr.
Wilson's original endeavors
that as long as a drop of blood
ran through his veins, that the
Village Creek corridor would
not be included in the Big
Thicket Park. Now, just a few
years later, he has changed his
mind and is recommending ft
bring included. And our locals
see the evidence of more and
more Federal Control.
You may ask why this in-
creasing control does not in-
spire confidence in the Federal
Government's superior wis-
dom. First, we the locals have
been lied to, seen our local tax
base eroded, seen our local oil
and gas industry, county crews
and citizens befog harassed by
Parka personnel. And last, but.
not least, we see the corruption
in the White House, the bribes
and cost overruns in the De-
fense Departments, the in-
ability of the Postal Service to
deliver mail, the failure of
Amtrack to provide dependable
rail passenger service and the
sloppy operation of the Nation’s
Capitol where crime, polluted
rivers and etc. cannot be con-
trolled.
May I conclude by stating
that the Citizens of Hardin
County asks nothing more than
to be left alone to get along as
best we can. State and local
governments will doubtlessly
make errors in the regulating
and use of our lands and
streams.
We will also succeed at
times. This is how federalism is
supposed to work in s free
country. Congress ought to
leave the people alone. In time,
we will find our own way.
Houston Thompson
I wish to promote the ad-
dition of s Village Creek Corri-
dor Unit to the Big Thicket
Nations! Preserve as an eco-
nomic asset to Southeast Texas
and to Hardin, Tyler and Polk
Counties in particular. Even
before the decline of the timber
industry, this area was eco-
nomically depressed with all
the ills which result from a
one-product economy. The eco-
nomy desperately needs to be
diversified and the Big Thicket
National Preserve offers an
opportunity to build an indus-
try based on tourism which will
cost no local capital outlay, and
will deplete no natural resour-
ces.
In other parts of the country,
community leaders are begin-
ning to recognise the economic
value of scenic, historic and
unusual land features and are
(Sm Thicket Sec. I.Pegel)
he 't year’s budget to help
fight a tax increase, county
officials said.
Jeanette McCreight, county
tax assessor/collector, said the
county had collected about 94
percent of taxes by mid-June,
with some collections made
since that time. The collection
rate could go as high as 96
percent by the time the fiscal
year ends Sept. 30, but the rate
will probably drop about 1
percent as errors are dis-
covered, she said.
"To me that’s s fairly good
average,” McCreight said. ‘The
test few years it's been a little
slower; there's been s lot of
unemployment. This has been s
better year as far as collections
8»-
County Jutfys M.R. “Pete”
McKinney said he estimated
the county would collect 92
percent of its taxes when he
prepared the year’s budget.
“(The collections) are a whole
lot better than what I had
anticipated,” McKinney said,
pointing out that he had drap-
ed the estimate in light of the
area's depressed economy and
low collections during the pre-
vious year.
Officials estimate the per-
centage of taxes the county will
collect in s given year, then
combine the figure with other
income sources-such as fees-
to project the amount of re-
venue which will be available to
the county during the budget
year.
If % percent of taxes are
collected, the 3 percent dif-
ference in actual and projected
collections could mean an al-
most 5150,000 bonus to the
county , McCreight said.
Any extra money would pro-
bably be carried over into the
1988-89 budget to reduce the
amount of revenue needed,
though it could be added to the
current budget if an emergency
was deck red, McKinney said.
“I would like to keep (any
additional funds) to help out
next year,” an action which
could help the county forego a
tax increase, he said.
The clerks in the county tax
office have made a concentrat-
ed effort in recent months to
collect delinquent taxes, an
action which helped raise the
collection rate. The recent hir-
ing of a tew firm to act as the
county's delinquent tax at-
torney should help improve the
rate farther, McCreight said.
Tunning Program
Is Available For
Job Seekers Over 50
The Opportunities Indus
trialization Center of Southeast
Texas is currently enrolling
economically disadvantaged job
seekers aged 50 years or better
for its employment and training
program.
OIC offers free job search
classes and job placement as-
sistance. Financial assistance is
available for eligible partici
pants while enrolled in the
six-weeks class. Classes meet
four days per week, Monday
through Thursday.
The program is operated by
JPTA funds through the local
Private Industry Council and is
sponsored by the Southeast
Texas Regional Planning Com-
mission.
Details about the program
are available from the JTPA
unit of the Texas Employment
Commission.
SUSHI lOPOl NO. 927
i.C. Arnold To Be
Installed As
Worshipful Master
A called communication of
Silsbee Lodge No. 927 A.F. &
A.M. will be held Saturday,
July 2% at 7:30 p.m. for the
purpose of installing officers for
the ensuing Masonic year.
An evening meal will be
served at 6:00 p.m. in the lodge
banquet room.
Officers to be installed are:
E.C. Arnold II, worshipful
master; H.B. Jones, senior
warden; C.C. Warden, junior
warden; F.N. Adcock, treasur-
er; D.L. Webb, secretary; C.L.
Drake, chaplain, D.F. Duffle,
senior deacon; C.E. Smith,
junior deacon; H.J. Bourgeois,
senior steward; M.L. Good son,
junior steward; and J. W. Whit
ton, titer.
W.P. Lamb, part grand
master of the Grand Lodge of
Texas, will be the installing
officer. L.M. Prather, past
district deputy grand maste$
will be the installing marshal.
This will be an open meeting
to which all members, their
families and masons are in-
vited.
City’s Sales Tax Check Reflects
7.8% Increase Over 1987 Period
The City of Silsbee’s recent
monthly sales tax rebate check
showed an almost 7.8 percent
increase from the 1987 payment
for the same period, reflecting
a statewide increase in rebate
checks sent to cities by State
Comptroller Bob Bullock July
12.
“The gaining strength in our
state economy is befog reflect-
ed on a local level, and local
governments can continue to
expect a steady increase in
their share of sales tax collec-
tions," Bullock said.
' Statewide, year-to-date
payments are 10.8 percent
higher than they were in the
same period teat year, Bullock
said. July checks were up 14.3
percent from those mailed in
July 1967. Bullock said 915
checks totaling $61.3 million
were mailed to cities which
collect the local option sales tax
at the 1 percent or 1.5 percent
rates.
Sitebee's check for the period
totaled 534,481, compared to
1987*8 check for 531,993. The
check brought the year-to-date
payments to $270,725, a 2.2
percent increase from the $264
,834 received in 1987 for the
same length of time.
Lumberton received a check
for $12,964, which represented
a 10.2 percent increase from
the $11,761 received in 1987.
Payments to date showed an
increase of almost 9.6 percent
with this year's payments total-
ing $96,626.
Sour Lake saw its check
jump almost 32.9 percent, from
$3,559 in 1987 to $4,728 this
year. The check brought the
year’s total to $38,449, a 26.4
percent increase from 1987
payments of $30,411.
Kountze's check for $3,338
represented a 23.9 percent
drop from the $4,387 received
in 1987. Payments to date total
$42,701, a 4.4 percent decrease
from this past year.
Houston's payment of $10
million rose 17.5 percent over
last year's allocation and Dallas'
check showed a 10.1 percent
increase.
Allocations to the state's six
metropolitan transit authorities
also showed an increase of 17.5
percent with checks totaling
$28.9 million. Checks totaling
$5.8 million were mailed to 81
counties that collect the one-
half percent county tax, Bullock
said.
(See T«m Sec. I. P«f« S)
Number Of Persons Per Household
In County Declines Since 1980
By T.P. Crump
The average household in
Hardin County declined from
2.96 persons in 1960 to an
estimated 2.75 person* in 1986
while the average household in
Texaa declined very slightly
from 2.82 persons in 1980 to an
estimated 2.81 persons in 1986.
According to a report issued by
tho Census Bureau, the aver-
age household in the United
States declined from 2.75 per-
sons in 1980 to 2.67 persons in
1166.
Nationally, this ia the small
eat household rise on record
since the Census Bureau began
compiling household data in
1940. The Census Bureau de-
fines a household to include all
persons occupying a housing
unit. This housing unit may be
a house, an apartment, a group
of rooms, or even a single room
if that room is occupied as a
separate living quarters. Mem
hers or occupants of a house-
hold are defined as any group of
persona sharing living quarters
or, in the case of one-person
households, any single person
occupying separate living
quarters.
Demographic exports attri-
bute the decline in household
size to a number of factors. A
significant number of those
persons born during the baby
boom from 1946 to 1964 elected
to have significantly fewer
children than their parents.
This trend was apparent both
nationally and locally. While
the population of Hardin Coun-
ty increased from 40,721 in
1980 to an estimated 42,600 in
1966 or by 4.6 percent, the
number of persona under 18
years in Hardin County fell
from 13,148 in 1980 to an
estimated 12,610 in 1986 or by
4.1 percent. The proportion of
the papulation of Hardin Coun-
ty acred less than 18 years fell
from 32.8 percent in 1980 to an
estimated 29.6 percent by 1986.
The population of the United
States increased from 226,545,-
805 in 1980 to 241,038,000 by
1986 or by 6.4 percent. How-
ever, the number of persona
aged less than 18 years In the
United States declined from
63,659,400 to 62,753,200 or by
1.4 percent white the national
proportion of persons under 18
years of age declined from 28.1
percent to 26.8 percent.
At the same time that the
proportion of children in the
population was declining both
locally and nationally, the num-
ber and proportion of house
(See HeeaeheMfat. I, *•*••)
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Read, R. L. The Silsbee Bee (Silsbee, Tex.), Vol. 70, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 21, 1988, newspaper, July 21, 1988; Silsbee, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth820413/m1/1/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Silsbee Public Library.