The Smithville Times (Smithville, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 19, 1975 Page: 1 of 8
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VOLUME 84, NUMBER 8
THE SMITHVILLE TIMES, SMITHVILLE, TEXAS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1975
Times Photo
OFF THE TRACK
Six cars of this MK T Railroad freight train turned over last Thursday about one quarter mile
north ol Smithville The corn laden cars were part of a train of more than 60 cars altogether
Railroad investigators had not yet determined cause of the derailment at press time.
Summer Activities Proposed
Janey Morrow of Austin,
planner for the city of Austin
Parks and Recreation Depart-
ment. presented a program of
summer recreation for Bastrop
County at a meeting of the
Sinithville Activity Program
and interested parties Thursday
night. The program will en-
compass the period from June
9 through August 8, on a live
day a week basis from 8 a m.
to !i p m Also included in
the proposal draft were two
evenings pel week for family
or adult activities
The planning meeting, called
Mr Charles Harris, rep-
resenting the Sayers Com-
miinitv Center appeared before
the Smithville School Board
Monday evening to request the
permanent use of the Center
building The building, which
is adjacent to the Mary Brown
School, is considered part of
the Mary Brown complex Pre-
sently. the two large front
rooms of the building house the
Center, while the school system
utilizes a warehouse area for
storage.
Harris and his delagation
questioned the Board about
purchasing the building, point-
ing out that by housing the Com-
munity Center in a permanent
facility, federal funding could
be obtained to maintain anditn
and conducted by Steve Quitta,
director of B.C.C.A , drew ap-
proximately 25 interested youth
and adults to the City Hall Coun-
cil chambers. Quitta listed the
facilities made available by the
three county communities and
outlined his proposals for fund-
ing summerlong activities for
each of the cities. Although
the rural area program has not
yet been firmed, there will also
lie a program outlined for this
area in the future.
Facilities available to the
activity program in Smithville
are the High School gym-
prove the Center
The question of bonded in
debtness of the building and
as to whether or not the Center
building was included in the
indebtedness; and if so, it the
building could be sold or given
away.
Board members requested
additional time to consider the
matter and check into the legal-
ities before giving Mr Harris
an answer. Board member
Bob House, asked Mr Harris
and his delegation to consider
the possibility ol a long term
lease A decision on the matter
should tie reached at the March
meeting of the Board.
In closed session the Board
reviewed teacher contracts for
a vear. Put on continuous
nasium, playground areas and
tennis courts, some school
classrooms and a bus for spec-
ial trips. In addition, Smithville
will have a municipal pool this
year which will be made avail-
able for swimming lessons and
recreational swimming The
lessons will probably come un-
der the SAP program.
Klgin has available some
school facilities, and theirpro-
gram will be handled by the
Javcees with funds provided by
BCCA
Bastrop Activity Program
will have the use of two rooms
Contract at Central school were
Ms Me Cullough and Ms. Camp-
bell Rehired on probation were
Ms French, Ms. Washington,
Mrs Phillips and Mrs Nees.
Hired as a probationary teacher
was Mrs Reue.
At Sam Houston Elementary
and the Junior High all contracts
were approved The retire-
ment of Pete Davidson from the
Junior High was noted Miss
Berndt and Mrs Fitch have
been rehired at the high school,
and one year contracts were
approved for Coaches Britten-
burg. Stacey, Helratnp and
Stockton. Contract of Athletic
Director Charlie Callaghan,
which has one year remain
ing, was not renewed for an ad-
ditional year.
Upon a recommendation from
Superintendent George Main*,
the Board voted not to rehire
Mrs Margaret Kennedy.Cen-
tral School; Carl Boyer, SHS;
and Band Director Donald
Swann
The Board tentatively rehired
those teachers working under
Federal programs, contigent
upon application approval and
federal funding
Permission was granted by
the Board to extend the use ol
a school bus to Mr and Mrs
Harry Crockett to transport
volunteers who will be represt-
ing Smithville at the KLRN,
Channel 9 television Annual
Auction Mr Crockett will
purchase the gasoline, while a
local school tius driver has
donated his time
A change in the school cal-
endar was also approved The
Monday. March 31st holiday, has
been changed to Friday. April
•1. thus enabling students to take
part in Jamboree festivities
The day, however, will be a
teacher in-service day, with
teachers taking an active roll
in Jamboree and those taking
Continued On Page 2
in the primary school rest
rooms and playgrounds and ten-
nis courts.
Quitta proposed that funding
for all three programs tie ob-
tained from 1) Commisioners'
Court (Revenue Sharing Funds-
$3,000 ($1,000 each); Commun-
ities-$1,000 (donations or fees,
$333 each); BCCA $3,000
($1,000 each); and municipal-
ities-$3,000 ($1,000) each.
These funds, totalling$10,000
for the cities, would tie utilized
for personnel, insurance, game
tables and craft supplies, trans-
portation, playground equip-
ment, utilities and consultant
fees. A Recreation Director
and Assistant Director would
be hired for each community,
three CKTA youths and adults
of each community would tie
asked to contribute their time
and ideas to the program.
Although the overall program
proposed by Ms. Morrow is pli-
able, it was based on similar
programs carried out in Austin
community parks and park pro-
grams and in other smaller
cities throughout the Centex
Continued On Page 2
B.I.S.D.
Discusses
Construction
Further classroom construc-
tion and the means by which it
can be financed was a major
concern of the Bastrop Indep-
endent School District school
board at their regular meeting
February 12. The school board
needs a maximum of $2 8 mil-
lion dollars to bring the dis-
trict to the size and condition
they feel it ideally should be
Ttie entire district is present-
ly valued at $26 million, and
the school district can indebt
itself for one-tenth ol that
amount which is $2 6 million.
Subtracting their present debt
of $800,000, the B I.S.D. can
legally incur only $18 million
more in debts
The school board was hoping
to take out a time warrant in-
stead of trying to pass a bond
for tins money At Wednes-
day night's meeting. Superin
tendent Charles Evans reported
to the hoard members that state
law allows a school district
a maximum of $60,000 on a
time warrant The time war-
rant ran be issued for up to
5 years at 6 percent Interest
There is a possibility that
the B.I.S.D will receive from
$60 to 64.000 from the state
legislature in rebates this year
Classrooms, the school board
Continued On Page 2
Times Photo
CHAMBER SPEAKER
Congressman “Jake' Pickle spoke at the February 11 Elgin
Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Although stating he
hoped no one would take anything he said politically ", lie
threw some sharp darts at President Ford s energy and eco-
nomic policies.
SISD Hears Delegation
Hangar Lease Approved
In an adjourned City Council
meeting Monday night, tenative
approval was given to George
Gant to lease the Municipal
Airport hangar and 'surround-
ing apron and work area.’ The
approval was given in response
to a letter and accompanying
check from Gant received by
and presented by Councilman
Bill Davison Gant proposed
to lease the hangar and sur-
rounding area' for $150 a
month for the first six months
and $200. a month for the next
six months, with a renewal
clause at $200 a month for a
year at the end of the first
year
Although council had turned
down a similar proposal made
by Martin Goebel and Boti
Winston several months ago for
a greater amount of rental, all
except Councilman Robert
Smith voiced instant support
of the proposal. Gant revealed
that he had leased the Lost
Pines facilities and needed
more hnagar and win k space
to carry on a complete air-
craft repair, painting and sales
business. He included the apron
and tie-down areas in this re-
quest with the idea of main-
taining this area and charging
monthly fees for the tie-downs
He also promised to maintain
the runway area or to notify
the city of needed maintenance
His request stated that he would
lease the building and property
with the intention of becoming
the Fixed Base Operator at the
airport
Councilman Smith insisted
that the ‘apron and surrounding
area' be better defined before
any agreement be approved with
Gant Other councilmen agreed
that the area should tie defined
by definite boundries to avoid
confusion. He also felt that a
‘clause requiring Gant to provide
gasoline should be included
in the contract, although Gant
insisted that he intended to put
gas in one of the pumps as soon
as he could acquire permission
to use it Smith's suggestion
that Gant post a default bond
amounting to two or three
months rent was refused by
Gant, who stated that his or-
ganizational expenses would be
high enough without that ad-
Notification of a proposed 2
cent per day increase in base
charge to customers by Entex
Gas Company was read to
council at Monday night’s Water
and Light meeting Crawford
reported that, in view of a
financial statement supplied by
one of Entex’s stockholders, he
had notified Entex that he saw
no basis for the increase and
requested that the company
clarify its contention that the
increase is necessary. The in-
crease will take effect April 1
unless blocked by council
Crawford revealed that
Bashore Engineering Company
Smithville
Tommy Hancock allegedly
shot himself in the jaw the even-
ing of February 9 after having
a disagreement with Eric
Carrejo, of Smithville at the
old Ramsey farm on farm road
535, the Bastrop County
Sheriff's office reported.
According to Sheriff Jimmy
Nutt, the Smithville police De-
partment was notified Feb 9
by the Smithville Hospital that
a young man had just been
brought in with a bullet wound
in the head. When the police-
realized the matter was out of
their jurisdiction, they called
Sheriff Nutt, who dispatched
Deputy Teddy Hoffman to the
ditional expense.
One of the anticipated expen
ses listed by Gant was insurance
to cover possible damage to any
planes housed or tied down in
the area covering Ins proposed
contract, as he felt he would
be liable for any such damage
was working on infiltration
studies in connection with the
EPA sewer plant grant, and
that a Dallas firm had tieen
hired by the engineers to do
infiltration gauging and
metering An industrial waste
ordinance, required by EDA
before the grant can be tno-
cessed, is being worked up
Crawford also stated that
there was a possibility that the
City of Smithville might be per-
mitted to supply the power for
the Science Park if it could
submit a bid under that of
Bluebonnet. The hitch seems to
be in the installation cost, which
Bluebonnet lias offered for
hospital.
Hoffman had been told by
the sheriff to call and ask for
assistance if naroctics or foul-
play appeared to be involved
Sheriff Nutt received a call
from Hoffman later and sent
Deputies Don Uzell and Son
ny Brookshire to investigate
Eric Carrejo reportedly told
the following story to Deputy
Brookshire that evening. Car-
rejo, Hancock, David Vivian,
and Sandy Hemphill were at the
Ramsey farm which is now
owned by Vivian’s father. Viv-
ian and Hemphill were in the
back room while Carrejo and
Continued On Page 2
Mayor Crawford stated that ttie
City had never been liable for
any such dam mage Gant re-
plied that . if this was so, it
was the only city in ttie country
which could make that claim,
and listed several cases of suits
Continued On Page 3
$55,000 Utility manager Benny
Wesson expressed doubt that
the city could match that bid
for installation
The 1974 audit of Maxwell
Inge. CPA, of Garner Maxwell,
was accepted as presented
Councilman Scheler reported
that Smithville merchants had
reserved four hours of the
evening of Mav 5 on KERN,
Channel 9 television, as City
of Smithville night. The date is
part of a week long campaign
put on tiy the educational station
to raise money for continued
operation Auctions will beheld
each day and night that week,
with items of $25 valueor more
being donated and the station
receiving the funds.
Communities are being offered
time at a cost of $300 per four
hours to promote their cities
and merchants. Scheler
revealed that the bank, the
savings and loan and the
Chamber of Commerce wished
the city to join them in paving
this $300 fee and also requested
that city officials go to the
station that night to help
promote the city and ttie
auctioning of local donations.
Before the auction, a
promotional film strip will be
shown which will point out all
the advantages and beauties of
ttie city of Smithville. The pro-
gram is anticipated to reach
1.75 million homes.
Council agreed to take part
in the program and to donate
the city’s $75 share ol the cost.
Rate Increase Considered
Shooting Reported
Times Photo
FOREST FIRE
This large woods fire at String Prairie was one ol several wild fires in the area Monday The
fire, spotted by Forest Service spotter Pauline Winston, was believed to have started by the
unattended burning of debris Winston reported the fire to the LaGrange office of the Texas
Forest Service, which immediately dispatched equipment and firelighters to the area. Units
from the Bastrop Countv Volunteer Eire Department assisted the firefighting with manpower
Firefighters Elect New Officers
The Bastrop County Fire-
fighters' Association. Inc held
its annual membership meeting
in the Bastrop City Hall on Feb-
ruary II, 1975 Representatives
from all the county's fire de-
partments (Bastrop, Elgin,
Smithville. McDade. Bluebonnet
Acres and Lake Bastrop Acres)
were present. The purpose
of the meeting was to elect
directors and officers for the
upcoming term
Directors were elected first
The new directors then drew
lots to determine who would
serve one, two, or three year
terms This wa s done to create
a continuity of the board
whereby two new directors will
be elected each year io serve
three years The Board of Di-
rectors and their terms are:
Carl B Spooner of Bastrop and
Henry Grimes of McDade. three
years; Leon Miller ol Bluebon-
net Acres and Emil Mogonye
of Elgin, two years; Carroll
Burns of Lake Bastrop Acres
and Pat VacekofSmithville,one
year
Ofticers elected to serve for
the coming vear were. Presi-
dent, Ray Barron of Bluebonnet
Acres; Vice-President. Hubert
L Linenberger of Lake Bas-
trop Acres; Secretary, Jimmie
W Cottle of Bastrop; Treas-
urer. Carl B Spooner of Bas-
trop. and Sgt -at-Arms. Wil-
fred Alexander of FJgin
The regular business meeting
which followed the elections
was highlighted by the explan-
ation ol a Texas Forestry Ser
vice co-operative program
John Stein of the Texas Forestry
Service outlined ttie program to
the group Under this program,
fire departments engaged in
combating rural range, grass,
and brush fires mayobtaincer
tain equipment from the Texas
Forestry Service at a minimal
cost
Specifically discussed at tins
meeting was a crawler-type
tractor with plow and a truck
designed to transport the trac-
tor '’crosscountry The BCFA
voted unanimously to accept the
proposal ol the Forestry Ser-
vice to place such a truck/trac-
tor unit in Bastrop County
Under the terms of the agree-
ment, the BCFA will pay the
cost of putting the equipment
in first class working order,
house, operate, and maintain
the equipment The Forestry
Service will turn the equipment
over to the local group and in-
struct them in the mechanical
operation of the equipment as
well as firefighting techniques
most effective when using
such a machine If all goes well,
Bastrop County citizens can ex
pert the unit to be "oil the job"
in a lew weeks, ready to render
assistance anywhere it is need
ed in the county
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Catherman, Nancy Todd. The Smithville Times (Smithville, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 19, 1975, newspaper, February 19, 1975; Smithville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth870061/m1/1/?q=land: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Smithville Public Library.