The Alto Herald and The Wells News 'N Views (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 26, 1981 Page: 1 of 14
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Established
Vol. 85 No. 46
The Wells News TV Views
Alto, Texas 75925-Thursday, March 26,1981
14 Pages
15* Per Issue
Home of
JoreJt Mill Plantation
Jr. Stock Show
Termed ‘Best’
The Cherokee County Junior
Livestock Show held last week has
been termed by all leaders involved
as the best yet in the event’s history.
More than $95,000 was recorded in
sale.? during an auction of 136
animals, hitting an all time high.
The two-day event climaxed Friday
evening with the crowning of a queen,
barbecue supper and the auction of
animals.
Fashion
Show
Slated
All the latest in spring and summer
fashions will be presented at the
fashion show and tea sponsored by the
IJ M W of the A. Frank Smith United
Methodist Church in the Fellowship
Hall Saturday, March 28, from 2 until
4 p.m
Included in the show will be some of
the stylist dresses in pastels and a
multitude of color variations just
right for Faster Also, casual wear
which is a must for the fashion min-
ded missy
Those in charge of the show said
these fashions are great for a shop
ping trip or casual dinner The juniors
will be delighted with the pastel jeans
and short sets which will be a hit in
school and the summer months of hot
weather ahead
It also was pointed out that the
cowgirls can see the comfort and style
in the western wear division of the
show
Fashions for the show will be
provided by J B. White Co., Sarah's
Western Wear and Fashions a la
Judy.
A fun timi as well as a preview of
the styles and style changes for the
upcoming warm season will be the or
der of the show
Proceeds from the event will be
used by the UMW for various projet
ts
A Buyer-Seller barbeque Is plan-
ned for 6 p.m. Friday in the
Showbarn as an event of ap-
preciation. Seilers of animals will
present the buyers with a color pic-
ture of the animal and the seller will
receive a check fron the sale at the
show, from the committee.
High bidder at the auction was Ken-
neth Gardner of the Caliente Club
paying $1,624 to Rebecca Dover of the
Maydelle FFA chapter for her grand
champion slaughter steer
First National Bank of Jacksonville
bid $847 for the grand champion
slaughter heifer shown by Karen
Thomas, Jacksonville FFA Club.
Other high bidders in the auction
were these: Allied Texas Bank of
Jacksonville for the grand champion
market barrow shown by Stormi
Johnson, Jacksonville 4-H; Isaacs
Motor Co. of Rusk, $336 to Pete Terry,
Ponta 4-H, for his grand champion
open gilt; Jim Harlan of King
Chevrolet paid Randy Wright of the
Bullard FFA $216 for his reserve
champion open gilt.
Also. Angelina-Neches Railroad bid
$1,092 for the grand champion Stocker
heifer shown by Tony Barlett. Wells
FFA Chapter; Carr Oil Co bought the
grand champion feeder beef entry
shown by Roger Ward, Craft 4-H;
Continental Bank of Alto bid $140 for
the grand champion broiler shown b.
Missy Williams of the Bulah 4-H;
Cherokee County Farm Bureau paid
$150 for the grand champion meat pan
rabbits shown by Darren McCaa,
Wells 4-H Club; the Neches River
Ranch paid $1,236 tor the reserve
champion slaughter steer shown by-
Anthony Holcomb, Rusk FFA; Lona
Star Feed of Jacksonville bid $906 for
the reserve champion slaughter
heifer shown by Sherrv Corbell, Craft
4-H.
Also the Feed Depot of Jacksonville
bid $625 for the reserve champion
market barrow shown by Jay North-
cutt. Troup FFA; Rusk Federal
Savings and Loan Association bought
the reserve champion feeder beef for
$707, shown by David Ball, Rusk FFA.
Other prize winning entries were
auctioned by Wayne Brown of Troup
and Jack Dillard of Waskom during a
several hour bidding session
•See STOCK. P. 4
\
s
STOCK SHOW QUKKN-Miss Sue Ann Spurgeon receives
congratulations on her new title from Joe Kay Ocker, chairman of the
1981 Junior Livestock Show. The new queen was announced last
Friday evening at the stock show. Joe Terrell served as master of
ceremonies for the event and stated that the 15 queen candidates
raised $9,795 which will be used in support of the annual event. (See the
Queen and her court page 9. --staff photo
Last Call: Dues!!
Alto and residents of the immediate
area are responding to the call for
signing up as participants of the Alto
Emergency Ambulance Service
during the new year.
Members are asked to sign for the
service prior to March 31.
As of Tuesday morning, 161 persons
had registered and paid their fees,
which are $40 for a family and $25 for
individuals
Those who have not done so who
desire to be eligible for the amublance
to serve are asked to do so' im-
mediately.
Checks payable to the Alto Emergen
cy Ambulance Service may be mailed
to P.O. Box 447, Alto, or leave at the
City Hall, Boyd's Drug or South-
western Electric
Fees provide service to hospitals in
Rusk, Jacksonville. Nacogdoches.
Crockett. Tyler, Lufkin, and
Palestine. The fees also include
unlimited emergency calls and a limit
of three transfers per year.
During 1980, the ambulance service
had 358 subscribers, a d. op from 424
in 1979.
Ilf • J
W m-
Jf
Homecoming
Starts Saturday
\:
<:M •»
r
SM1’ /
"COUNTRY LIVINCi"--Members of the decorating committee for this
year's Wells Homecoming get ready to begin their work of decorating
the auditorium in this year’s theme. Left to right are Rosemary
Moore, Jeanine Creekmore and Chairman lla/el Fitts.
-photo by diana speer
County Eyes
Bond Request
The establishment of a countywide
Hospital authority was considered by
Cherokee County commissioners
Monday but action was postponec un
til the next regular meeting of the
court
The proposal was presented by
representatives from Newburn
Memorial Hospital officials at the
regular bi-monthly meeting of the
commissioners Monday
Making the request to the court
were C.L. Newburn Jr , son of the
founder of Newburn Memorial and
executive director of the hospital
Lum Newburn, the hospital's ad-
ministrator and grandson of the foun
der, and Gene Vinyard. the financial
advisor for the facility.
If created, the authority would be
empowered to issue low interest, tax
exempt bonds to help hospitals .vithin
the county. The authority would not
have any taxing powers.
The sole reason for requesting the
authority was to help Newburn
Hospital finance a new $7 million
facility by the issuance of the tax
exempt bonds, Vinyard told the court
However, the hospital authority
would not benefit Newburn alone.
Vinyard said Financing for any
hospital in the county would be
available for the authority upon ap
proval.
Hospital construction could be
financed cheaper because the tax-free
bonds are offered at a lower interest
rate than conventional loan methods,
the advisor toid the commissioners
The authority would be overseen by
a board composed of between seven
and 11 directors appointed initially by
the commissioners. Vinyard said
Newburn Memorial decided earlier
to remodel its present facilities in
Jacksonville but was forced to decide
to build a completely new facility
because of inadequate space at the
present location
A site for the new plant has not been
announced yet.
The commissioners agreed to send
the proposal to the county attorney ior
a legal opinion and to take the
question under consideration again at
their April 13 meeting
The commissioners approved a con
tract between the county tax
assessor-collector and the Cherokee
County Tax Appraisal District The
contract says that the county fur
nished the district eight employees
from Jan 1 through March 31 at coun
tv expense
Beginning April 1 of this year, per
sons lent by the county to the district
become employees of the tax ap-
praisal district and will be paid
through appraisal district finances
The district has been w orking on the
county's 1961 tax rolls, according to
Sid Danner with the appraisal district
office
Also, the contract will legitimize the
testimony of the appraisal district
personnel before a board of
equalization or in a court on behalf of
the county should any litigation arise
The commissioners approved
making Peggy Thrash the chief
deputy in the tax collector-assessor's
office since the current chief deputy,
will be moving to the appraisal
district office
One position m the county tax office
was retained for future employment
of a worker who is currently a Com
prehensive Training and Em-
ployment Act (CETA employ ee
An informal meeting of the staff,
governing boards and administrators
of taxing agencies within the couri-
tywide appraisal district boundaries
has been set for Thursday, March 76
(today) at 2:30 pm in the council
room in the county courthouse
Bill Avera of the Cherokee County-
Child Welfare Board, told the com
missioners that he was not there
' ‘asking for any money ”
Instead, Avera said, the cities in
Cherokee County had contributed to
the care of foster children so well that
the board was not in any need for
money Also, Avera said, donations
during the Christmas program helped
to fund that program fully, causing no
drain on the board
Avera said he was making his an
nual, informational visit with the
county commissioners
In other action, the court approved
a bond for Pet 2 reserve constable
William Germany , and approved a
General Telephone right-of-way in
Pet 1
After the meeting, the county judge
and some of the commissioners met
with engineers from the East Texas
Testing Laboratories to discuss the
lining ot the trench at the county lan
dfill site near Gallatin
County Judge Orvan B Jones said
he did not know when the site will be
in operation when questioned by
r eporters
Saturday is the big day in Wells as
the community holds its eighteenth
annual homecoming with the theme of
‘‘Country Living ”
Homecoming President Larry
Bailey said that the events get under-
way with registration from 9 a.m. un-
til noon at the high school building
Name cards, meal tickets and dance
tickets may be picked up at that time.
The honor class of 1960-61 will meet
for a coffee from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m.
at which time they will select a
Coming Home Queen and King who
will be recognized at the coronation
that evening.
At 1 p.m., all are invited to the
parade down Highway 69. Anyone can
join in the parade and awards will be
given The best float will be awarded
$25, with the second place getting $15
and third place getting $10. The best
decorated car will receive $10 and the
best decorated bicycle will receive $5
Dinner will be served in the
Elementary Building Cafeteria from 5
u ..il 6:30 p.m. The menu consists of
barbeque chicken, potato salad, pinto
beans and dessert The price of the
dinner is $4, and reservations are
necessary.
The traditional Homecoming
program will be held in the
auditorium beginning at 7 p.m where
this year's candidates will learn
whether they have won the crown
Candidates are Pam Jacobs, senile
Terri Rumbaugh, junior; Angu
Rogers, sophomore and Traci
Sessions, freshman.
In addition to crowning ceremonie-
the dedication of the 191-
Homecoming will be made The
dedication is kept a secret until the
Homecoming program The drawing
for the three prizes on which queen
candidates have been taking
donations will also be held Prizes ai ■
a half beef, a weedeater and a char
coal water smoker, donated at cost by
Boles Food Store and Western Auto-
Fred Daiches Jewelry in Lufkin i:
donating a gift for the newly crowned
queen
A dance with music by The Texa-
Gold Rush will be held in th'
auditorium following the coronation
about 9 p m Tickets are $5 in advam •
and $6 at the door Persons interested
in tickets should contact Mildre
Glover or obtain them from the
registration desk Saturday morning
Two other events will be taking
place during the day There will be a
open house at the Rube Session--
Memorial Library from 10:30 a.m. un
til 2 pm, and a baseball game and
other activities will ne heid at the
W C. and Winnie Wisener Sports
Complex beginning at 2 pm and
lasting for about two hours.
TSR: Local Scene
Of Nostalgia Opens
by linrt Mir ham
As the sound of the steam whistle
startled the waiting passengers into
silence Saturday morning at the
Texas State Railroad, it was the
summer of 1915 again
Having grown up near a sand
quary, the sound of steam powered
trains filled my childhood The trains
always caused the coyotes to run and
howl, and there was the screech of the
wheels and the rumble of the cars
being coupled Everything was there
but the coyotes.
This was the first weekend of the
new season for the Texas State
Railroad State Historical Park A full
load of passengers was on hand for the
first trip of the season There were
adults reliving days from their pasts,
and kids along just for the pure fun of
riding a train Thee there was the
crew pacing up and down beside the
train as anxious to get started as the
ngsQpnpprR
Dr, Jewel McClure
Given Promotion
Dr Jewel M McClure, now serving
as pastor of the First Methodist Chur
eh in Seabrook. will become superin-
tendent of Lakeview Methodist
Assembly at Palestine in June
He succeeds Dr Weldon Morton
who is retiring after nine years ser-
vice to the hugh encampment facility
The announcement was made by
Bishop Finis Crutchfield of the Texas
Conference of the United Methodist
Church, following a meeting of his
cabinet in Houston
Other appointments w ill be announ-
ced following the annual Conference
meeting at Houston in June
Dr McClure is a native of Alto and
graduated from its high school He
has held pastorates which included
the church at Rusk for seven years
More recently he has filled these
pulpits: Missouri City United
Methodist Church. Park Place United
Methodist Church, Houston, and St
Mark's United Methodist Church.
Bavtowr. lie has filled the Seabrook
pulpit for two years
The superintendent-elect holds a
bachelor's degree from Stephen F
Austin State University,
Nacogdoches, a degree from Perkins
School of Theology, Southern
Methodist University. Dallas, and
received his doctorate from National
Christian University, Washington.
DC
He and his wife, Dorothy, who is
also a native of Alto, are the parents
of four children, two of whom are
Rusk residents Kennv McClure and
Mrs Dot tie Norton
Union
Slates
Meetings
The subject of organizing state em-
ployees by a union will be discussed in
two different meetings here next
week Both will be held at 7 p.m -one
on Monday and a second on Tuesday--
at the New Southern Motor Hotel
Possibility of state employees
organizing into a union has been
talked for more than a year The AFL-
CIO was active in East Texas political
campaigns last year and claimed
credit for unseating statewide, 11
conservative members of the Texas
Legislature
Opponents of the union point to the
lack of success by unions in pessing
legislation during previous sensions of
the Legislature
For many years state employees
have been represented and served by
the Texas Public Employees
Association
The waiting was over at 11 a m
with another long blast of the whistle,
Engineer Rodger Graham eased the
throttle forward and the train pulled
out of the Rusk station for the first run
of the season
The preparation for this trip started
last October with the maintenance
foreman, explained that during th«
winter the mechanics had taken the
driving gear and driving rods apart
and had replaced the brass bushings
Engine 400 was called into service
for the f-st run from Rusk Main-
tenance and repair is still in progress
for engine 201 There should also be a
new engine for the Texas State
Railroad ready by June or July The
overhaul crew is busy getting engine
1316, moved in from Fort Concho
State Park in San Angelo, ready for
use Engine 1316 w ill be the largest of
the engines in use at the state railroad
park
The trip is a little different this year
compared to past years The trip is a
little shorter now but there is a n< w
turn-around in Maydelle The turn
around uses a spur w ith a turn table
The engine uncouples and leaves
the cars on the main track while it
moves onto the spur and the tur
ntable Steam is diverted from the
boiler of the engine to a small steam
drive which rotates the train engine
180 degrees The engine then uses the
spur to get behind the train for the
return trip to Rusk
Runs are scheduled on Saturday
and Sunday only now through May 24
The summer schedule begins on Mon-
day, May 25 During the summer the
train runs Thursday through Monday
Reservations may be made by calling
683-2561 or writing the Texas State
Railroad, Box 39, Rusk. Texas 75785
Whether you are taking a trip back
into your memory or just learning a
little about American History, this is
one of the most exciting ways to go
AHS 50 Year
Reunion Planned
The Alto Class of 1931 is planning
a 50 year reunion on Saturday,
May 16
If you are a member of that class
and can come, please let Mrs
Alene Watters Rozelle know how
many will be in your party so
reservations can be made. She will
let you know where, when, and how
much If anyone knows of any
member of that class or faculty,
please send her the name and ad-
dress We are looking forward to
talking about ‘ the olden days ”
Contact her at: Mrs Alene Wat
ters Rozelle, 1405 Ruth Drive East,
Longview, Texas 75601, br call her
at (214 ) 753-0973
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The Alto Herald and The Wells News 'N Views (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 26, 1981, newspaper, March 26, 1981; Alto, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth844057/m1/1/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stella Hill Memorial Library.