The Smithville Times (Smithville, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 8, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 19, 1975 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Smithville Times and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Smithville Public Library.
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PAGE 2
THE SMITHVILLE TIMES, SMITHVILLE, TEXAS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1975
Ujxiwns
County Burglary Charges Filed
Inconsistency
New charges have been filed
by the Bastrop County Sheriff s
office in six county burglaries
Herbert Kaats has been charged
with the luly 19, 1973 burglary
of four saddles from Hay Ar
buckle's in Elgin James Jus-
tice and Herbert Kaats have both
been charged in the burglary
of the Cedar Hill Sutxlivlsion
Sales Office on the same night
Kaats, his younger brother,
Michael Kaats, and Tommy
Prim have been charged with
the January, 1975 burglary of
the 1, 1) Cross ranch between
Paige and Me Dade Stolen
items were bows and arrows,
a pellet gun. a 13 gauge shot gun.
helmets, swords, a 22 rifle,
and an automatic rifle
If there's one thing consistent about prototype liberal public
officials, it's their inconsistency
Consistently portraying themselves as the defenders of the
public welfare and interest, these liberals consistently support,
or advocate, every program that comes along to swallow up
taxpayer dollars needlessly and under the guise of protecting
the public interest
Now. closer to home comes a classic example of traditional
liberal inconsistency at its zenith And. of course, it is accom-
panied by further demand upon the Texas taxpayers' pocket txiok
The case in point is the tumult and shouting in the Texas
House and Senate for a Public Utilities Commission to r egu-
late telephone and electric firms in every nook and cranny
of Texas
And, the cheerleaders for a utilities commission are mostly
the same people who bellyache about the existing Railroad
Commission a parallel type agency which is already in the
regulation business and is an elected body
How can the liberal - leanei s in the House and Senate possi-
bly rationalize establishment of another regulatory-type agency
at considerable cost when an established agency is available
to pick up any needed operations at considerable less cost ’
It 's just a pure case of inconsistency sprinkled with a large
supply of politics with an unpleasant odor
There's a better and cheaper way the Legislature can help
municipalites throughout Texas a more suitable wav than a
utilities commission The Legislature can pass enabling leg
islation to (!) permit countv commissioners to regulate tele
phone and electric utilities outside incorporated towns or cities;
and, (2) create and fund an agency within the Railroad Commis-
sion that would be available to counties, cities and towns for
consultation and analysis of rate proposals from telephone and
electric firms
The biggest problem cities and towns face in rate negotia
tions particularly the smallei communities is the lack of ex-
pertise and data to effectively negotiate rates Without infring-
ing upon local perogativos or autonomy, a new agency within
the Railroad Commission can provide this service
It should cost less It is the logical spot It is the State
serving the people, not otherwise And, each community would
retain local control
Liberal leaning zealots in the Legislature probably will find
this idea unpalatable It serves ttie public interest in a logical
way - and doesn't cost taxpayers a bunch of money
Poorer . . . Yet Richer
Dennis Gene Walkei seventeen year old son of Mr and Mrs
Joe Walker. Jr . did not lack for mourners at his untimely
funeral Sunday Mans Jones chapel could not begin to seat
all those who so deeply felt his loss; his classmates and friends
jammed the lobbies and anterooms to pay their last respects
to one who had brightened their days during his short stay with
them
Dennis knew for some time that his days were shortening
He asked Rever end Lewis to play a tape at his funeral which,
m essance, urged Ins friends and loved ones not to worry about
him -that he had made hi■ peace with God and had “sung mv
song before and will sing it again
Dennis worked for over a year here at Tex -Print on the school
Distributive Kducation program He was first employed as an
apprentice pressman with Preston Haley as his mentor
Lager to learn the trade, Dennis acquired the habit of following
Preston everywhere he went, doing everything he did, dogging
his heels It didn't take long for the nickname "Shaddow ",
shortened to “Shadda , to be indelibly applied to the eager
young man
He was a delight to everyone here He was the constant
butt of good humored jokes, because he possessed that rare
gift of being able to laugh at himself We keep a gallery here
of candid shots of our rres at play, and Shadda' is featured
in many of them cutting his way out of a large cardboard
box where he had been imprisoned by playful ro workers,
showing off his legs at a birthday party for one of the crew,
and many others
Our grief for “Shadda ' began, as it did for his family and all
his friends, when his illness was first diagnosed, almost a
year ago We began missing him the day he left his job here
We mourn him now
But although we feel cheated bv his death, betrayed somehow
by the tragedy of his being stricken two months before his
eighteenth birthday, we feel privileged to have had him for the
time he, and we, were allowed
Our lives were enriched by his presence; we are poorer for
his loss
Summer Program Planned
from Page 1
area It outlined possible ar
tivities for all ages, with the
emphasis on youth programs
during the hours of H to 5 and
branching into family or adult
activities in the evenings Some
of the activities suggested wen-
arts and crafts, box hockey
games, softball, free play,
volleyball, tennis or badmin
ton, ecology studies, bicycle
rodeos, watermelon eating and
seed spitting contests, sport
and fun tournaments, pet shows
and pet care clinics, camp-
outs, field trips, and many
other things. In addition she
stated that the plans were sim
ply suggestions, and any group
of youngsters could branch out
from these suggestions, with
their own ideas for activities
She suggested carnivals, ice
cream socials, movie nights,
family picnics, and family fun
ny track meets could tie
scheduled throughout the eight
week period
“The key to success in a
program such as this is total
community involvement and
support,'' stie said
Ms Morrow suggested ttiat
a theme tie carried through
each week's activities to pro
vide more variation and to pro
mote continued interest Some
of the weekly themes suggested
were Bring a Friend; Dis-
cover Our Farth; Wild, Wild
West; Bicentennial (July -1
week); Be a Good Sport Be
Kind To Animals. Pioneer and
Wilderness; and Other People,
Other Places. Fxtra activi
ties or field trips could lie
scheduled during each of these
weeks to correspond with the
week's theme, she suggested
The high school complex
would tie the focal center of the
program, Ms Morrow sug
gested If activities for that
particular morning or afternoon
did not interest some of those
present, they could go to the
swimming pool or organize a
B.I.S.D. Building
. from Page I
estimates, will cost around
$20,000 each to build, and a
minimum of 8 or 9 are need
ed Besides these classrooms,
the school board feels a new
junior high cafeteria is a must
The txiard discussed the cur-
rent lice problem Report was
made that there have been some
minor cases found, 14 in ele-
mentary, 5 in primary, and G
in junior high All of the
school children were sent home
with notes explaining the situ-
ation to their parents Those
with the condition were given
notes explaining treatment and
requesting that they tie kept at
home for several days until the
condition has cleared
The school board election was
ordered for April 5 and two
places are open, »3 and #4
These places are presently
occupied by Robert Jenkins and
Oscar Cassel Superintendent
Fvans was given permission to
select the election judges and
clerks,
Vehicle insurance bids wore
opened and the low bid went to
Rabensburg Insurance Agency
of Bastrop for $2,151 The
board decided to ask for bids
on building insurance and to
award the bid this year to the
lowest bidder
The board voted to accept a
contract with John Sclieulke
upon whose property a building
trades project is to be built.
The contract exempts Sclieulke i
from responsibility in the event
any employee, student or school
invitee is injured due to neg-
ligence while on Scheuike’s
property.
The board voted to permit
a senior girl to graduate this
year although she will be only
a half day student this semes
ter. Due to illness she is
permitted only half-day attend
ance by her doctor, but will
have completed all of her re
quirements by graduation time
After discussion in closed
session the tioard ajiproved the
expulsion of a student They
also contracted for an addi-
tional three years with prin-
cipals Ronald Landrum and
Lucille Perkins. Assistant
principals Riley Jackson had his
contract extended lor an addi-
tional two years
The school board also alter-
ed its pregnancy policy In
the jiast, a pregnant woman was
forced to take a leave of ati
sence at the end of the 6th
month of pregnancy. Now she
will be jiermitted to stav j>c,
viding the continued activity
does not prove injurious to
either her or her unborn child
In a special meeting Feb-
ruary 17, the board formally
accepted the low tiid on building
insurance provided by Maynard
Insurance Cotnjiany of Bastrop
Actual cash values on the
school buildings still need to be
set by Superintendent Fvans
and Billy Maynard in the near
future.
Construction of new build-
ings occujiied the latter part
of the sjiecial meeting After
bantering about individual board
members’ opinions as to which
buildings are more needed than
others and the best way to pres-
ent a bond issue to the public,
the tioard decided it needs to
hold another sjiecial meeting.
This one will tie at 7 30 p.m.
March 5, at the meeting room
next to the superintendent's
office
bowling trip to La Grange or
some other activity By having
a central gathering area, such
activities could tie more easily
planned and put into effect
Mrs Kitty Quitta pointed out
that 32 youths had jiarticipated
in the swimming lessons offered
during last year's SAP pro-
gram . Fourteen of these young
sters passed at least one level
of swimming; two received their
senior lifesaving certificates
and three received their junior
lifesaving certificates, Senior
lifesavers can tie employed by
the Muncipal pool as lifeguards,
along with one W S I certified
supervisor
It was decided to maintain
Smithvillc's SAB committee to
oversee the summer jilanning,
tmt to exjiand its ranks to in-
clude younger and older mem-
bers in order that the entire
community might be rep-
resented Members of the com
inittee will ajipear before city
council and commissioners'
court to present the com-
munity's pleas for funding of
the program
Elgin Man
Killed By
Freight Train
Alexander Rivers, 72, of El-
gin was killed at 8 00 p.m
February 14 when a passing
train ran over his body which
was lying on the tracks. Mi-
Rivers was apjiarently sleep-
ing on the tracks The ac-
cident occurred 100 yards east
of the Elgin policestation, which
is the old dejiot
The train was travelling at
only 15 miles per hour, tint was
unable to stop until after the
body had been run over An
autopsy was ordered by Jus
tice of the Peace Howard Gould
A blood sample has tieen sent
to the Waco office of the Dept
of Public Safety and should
be returned in 10 days.
Results of the blood test
should determine, says Gould,
whether or not there was al-
cohol in the blood stream. Riv-
ers had been found asleep on the
roadway numerous other times
in the past, according to official
sources
Express Your Views
Through The
Letters to the Editor
Column
Let ten To Editor
Loggers?
Dear Editor
Siriithville can
Viewpoints expressed in ' Letters to the Editor" are solely those of the writer To make tins space
available to as many writers as possible, short an to-the-point letters are given preference We
reserve the right to condense or reject any letter All letters submitted to this column must have a
valid signature to tie considered for jiublicatioii However, the letter w riter may stipulate that his
signature not appear in the paper
lay claim to
being home of the world cham
pion “Mimosa Loggers "Gram
for gram they put to shame
Cl lie ^mitlmilli' (Limes
205 FAST THIRD STREET
SMITHVILLE, TEXAS 78957
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President Second Class jiostage paid at Smithville lex is
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Ti e is
WILLIAM K TODD
NANCY TODD( \THERMAN
P R SMITH
FRANK Bt ENTELl.o
DON I CA'l HERMAN II
KENNETH H LONG
DOROTHY M TODD
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J
Paul Banyan's northwest log-
gers even with their fancy chain
saws For precision cutting
they are the envy of skilled
machinists Their main draw
back is that they have absolutely
no appreciation of beauty and
don't know when to stop They
leave my trees limbless
stumps If any one knows how
to dampen their e husiasm
please let me know
K E Erickson
P O Box 2 26
Smithville
Own Letters
Dear Editor
Maytie Councilman Scheler
ought to do a little more home
work before insinuating people
are crack jnits. radicals, or
fools and that the things written
are lies
For your information Mr
Scheler, 1 wrote mv own letters
and also had a lawyer pass his
judgement on them Just be
cause I live on the ojijxisite
side of the tracks doesn't mean
1 am a fool In fact Mr Scheler
I'm pretty sure I've got just
about as much sense as you
have
As far as the letters written
in the pajier you don't know for
sure thev'le lies I know what
I've written is true
As far as the student letters
you don’t know whether what was
stated in them is true or not
The city fathers or some of
them say it was nothing to it
Well I wouldn't go quite that
far I went to Bastrop!Saturday
the 15th, and talked to the boy’s
father According to him, you
had better wait to see what
is going to hajifinn before you
call the contents of the letters
lies Because according to him
you are going to hear more
out of the deal yet
Henry Baylor
Editor's Note At last Mon-
day's City Council meeting,
Mayor Albert Crawford re
jxirted that he had investigated
thoroughly the case of alleged
jiolire brutality outside the
Smithville High School gym
referred to in Mi Baylor's let-
ter Crawford revealed that he
had spoken to the alleged vic-
tim's jiarents who said that
their son had received his facial
lacerations as a resultsof a fall
in Bastrop streets the day fol-
lowing the incident, but that
he had not been mistreated here
Crawford also contended that
he had talked to persons who
had witnessed the incident but
who had seen no evidence of
excessive use of force in the
arrest
Omitted
A portion of a letter which
appeared in the February 15
“Letters to the Editor ' written
by Mr Nelson Scheler, ap-
peared incorrectly The
sentence should have read As
a result any person working
as a jiart of a news medium"
may withhold any.sources of any
information Under these de
filiations almost anyone can
publish information as long as
the guideline of “news med
111111“ is met
Jamboree Days
April 3, 4 & 5
Elizabeth Kaats, Herbert's
wife, has been charged with the
I) Lane trailer house burglary
A 19“ color television set, a
243 rifle , and numerous
“marked" antique coins
According to Sheriff
Nutt, local burglaries are be-
coming easier to solve since
so many county residents are
now burning serial numbers into
their valuables and registering
them with the sheriff's office
When such items are stolen,
they can tie readily traced and
identified from the jiawn shop
back to the thief
James Justice and Herbert
Kaats tiave also been charged
with the July 19, 1973 burglary
of the Samuel Carter residence
in Lake Bastrop Acres A
heater, guns, television set,
clocks, and radios were stolen
from Carter.
Justice is out of jail on a
$1 000 bond, Michael Kaats on
$2,500 bond, Elizabeth Kaats
on personal recognizance, and
Herbert Kaats and Prinz are
each out on $2,000 bond
S.I.S.D.
. from Page I
part in Saturday's UIL activi-
ties being excused.
Superintendent Mabe re-
ported that one bid of $39,750
had been received to remodel
the old gym, while the idea
of erecting a metal building as
a gymnasium had been abandon.
Austin Architect Ray Salas has
agreed to present the Board,
at a later meeting with sketches
on the projiosed remodeling of
the present High School gym.
Malic1 pointed out that Smith
ville's share of the Emergency
Aid money would be approx-
imately $34,000 and may be
utilized for salaries, mainten
ance or transportation
In other business the Board
received an invitation to Mary
Brown and Central schools to
observe the distribution of HIT
books; agreed to purchase a
Bicentennial plaque for the new
Administration Building; an
adjusted the jiay of the election
Judge to $2.50 per hour, and
$200 jier hour for other elec
tion workers.
Prior to closing Board Mem-
ber Phil Tovar requested that an
authorized representative be
ajijiointed to check into an
alleged marijuana arrest at Sam
Houston Elementary and into
a subsequent arrest of a high
school student Since the issue
was not on the agenda the matter
was tabled until the March
meeting
Tovar as Secretary of the
Board reported to date that
two individuals had filed for
the School Board election. Mrs
Marie Poole will seek re-elec-
tion to Place 2 while Dr. J.D.
McBee has filed for Place 1
Prospective candidates must
file with Tovar before midnight
March 5.
Hancock
■ . from Page I
Hancock were in the front room
allegedly arguing over whether
Hemphill should go with Car-
rejo or stay with Hancock and
Vivian.
According toCarrejo’s story,
Hancock began waving the gun
around and shooting lndis-
crimately at the walls and win
dows in an attemjit to scare
Carrejo away. The gun , a
38 Colt revolver, was not fir-
ing correctly, apparently due
to a weak trigger spring, and
Hancock allegedly held the gun
to his jaw in idle jest and it
went off
Hancock then ran over to Car
rejo who was starting to drive
away, showed him the woundt
and the two men then drove to
the Smithville Hospital
Hancock, was not treated at
the Smithville Hospital tint sent
to Brackrenridge Hospital in
Austin where he was released
several hours later
No one has been charged in
the shooting The sheriff's
office has not yet completed
its investigation
Smithville
Municipal
Court Records
February 7 through February 14
Earl W Mutschink, Smith
ville, Failure to yield right of
way -$22.50
Earl W Mutschink, Smith-
ville, Violation of driver's
license restriction “B“ 180day
probation
Augusttna Reyes, Houston;
Sjieeding $18 50
Mauricio Guerrero, Austin,
Spieeding-$1B 50
Torgbs Toledo, Jr Mt
Pleasant. Speeding $17 50
♦
w .a .Lu.li.
By P R Smith
The Smithville Summer Activity Program proposed last week
by City of Austin Parks and Recreation planner Janey Marrow
had one central theme complete and total community involve
ment and participation The idea was to have all day activities
for youngsters of all ages, with additional night activities for
adults or those older students who will be working during the
day.
While all of the activities described may not apjieal to all age
groups. Ms Morrow emjihasized that the plan was just a blue-
print, from which any desired activity could stem. She made
several suggestions for other activities which could tie carried
Min concurrently with jirojiosed ones for youngsters with different
interests.
The students present at the meeting all of high school age --
expressed enthusiasm for the entire plan While some of them
will no doubt be acquiring summer jobs and, therefore, be unable
to particijiate in the program, they expressed great enthusiasm
for the overall plan and seemed eager to contribute their own
suggestions for additional activities 1 have spoken to many
other high school age youngsters since that time to test their
reactions to the program Without exception, they have all said
that it sounded great just what they had Imped for, lo these
many years.
Yet adults present at the planning session, some of them those
who had organized last year's SAP program, insisted that,
although this basic program had worked successfully in Austin
community parks and in other small towns for many years,
it could not jmssibly work here in Smithville The inference
was that Smithville young jieople were different from any other
Texas youngsters they were so much more sojihisticated,
mature, could not possibly be interested in good healthful
outdoor play or group activities “It's fine for the 'little kids "
was one of the statements, “but what about the junior high and
high school kids'1 They're not going to be interested in that stuff
Strange 1 was watching the high schoolers during the present-
ation, and I saw nothing but enthusiasm in their expressions
To conclude then remarks, the adults suggested that the
program tie divided up according to ages let the little kids
come for a few hours and then send them home and let the older
kids take over Divide our small community of youngsters
up into age groups, and banish those who were not scheduled
for activities at a particular hour
After all, came one suggestion, our youngsters aren't accus
turned to having anything, so even a small slice of the day is
more than they are used to having
1 pray that our young people on the SAP committee do not
allow this slicing into age sections to take place While all
age levels do not have to take part in the same activities at the
same time, all age levels should be able to jiarticijiate in the
program all the time unless they would prefer to swim or
do something else. Let's not regress into that ‘now it's yours
now it's mine’ tilt. Let it be ‘ours '
This jirogram can, if it is develojied along the lines of the
original plan and enlarged on by interested jiarticijiants, bring the
community together in such a way as it has never before tieen
united It can help blur, and might eventually obliterate, the
sharp lines that now exist between the children, youth, adults
and elderly of our town Play is ageless Everyone ran enjoy
healthy play, even those who must enjoy it as a spectator! A
community that plays together can also work together for the
overall betterment of that community
City and School Board elections are approaching Have you
registered in order to tie eligible to vote in these elections?
Those who are not registered have only until March 5 to do so
-- just two weeks from press date of this issue We urge
anyone who is not registered especially those newly turned
18 years old or those who will be 18 before election day -- to
assure their right to have a voice in the management of our
school and civic affairs by registering now and casting their
votes on A|inl 5
We also urge all citizens to ask themselves if they feel that
they could serve a useful role in school or municipal manage-
ment II they feel they can, we urge them to file for a position
on council or school board before midnight March 5 Do not
ask yourself how many votes you will get, what others will think
of you for filing, who you might displace or how much fire
you might come under if you win The only criteria to con-
sider is whether or not you feel you can contribute to the better-
ment of your community or school system.
An added election note: It was brought to our attention this
week that the polls will not open at 7 a m as previously announced,
but at 8:00 a m on election day City officials were under the
impression that the (Kills for school board elections habitually
opened at 7:00 a m and therefore decided to coincide with that
time this year instead of the usual 8 a m. However, SISI)
Administrator George Mabe informed city officials and us that
school board [lolls have always opened at 8 a m and would do
so this year. Polls will remain open until 7 ji m
An interesting discussion was held at last week s City Council
meeting concerning the development or lack of same -- of
the airport It seems that the hangar jiayments are no longer
being met by leasees and jirivate jilane owners fine by one
the jn ivate planes are being moved out of the hangar and some
of those remaining inside are not paying their rent In addition
the leasable hay land has shrunk considerably in the last year
and income expected from that source is only $500 this year
( ouncilman Davison stated that the airjioit will not grow or
develop until it is included in the budget, hut went on to say that
nothing should tie done in this area until the hangar is paid for
llie loan on that building has aimroximatelv 3 and one half
years to go Councilman Novosad stated that there was no
need to provide fuel or an operator at the airport until the Science
Park is established.
I go along with Bob Winston and many others, including TAC
, and I-1-A officials at the La Grange meeting. All have wonder
ed why the ( itv of Smithville insists on looking on ttie Airjmrt
as a money making venture - or at the least, one which must
be self supporting when it is, in fact, a civic asset No
one exjiects the city hall or (lie library to make money for the
city oi even to fie self sujijmrting Why do they exjiect the
airjiort to do so?
Attack On Terror, the FBI television documentary film -
ed, iri part, just a few miles northwest of Smithville, will air
locally this Thursday and Friday night The two part docu
mentaly will apjiear on KTB( , Channel 7, at 8 p in each night
County Commissioner Howard Burns has exjiressed some
dismay at the amount ol lawn, tree and tiedge clijijungs which
have been dumjied in and neai the trash barrels on the Amer-
ican Legion grounds Not only does this iluiujung cause an
unsightly blight to the area, tint the county had to pay $10 for
the privilege of conveying the clippings to the dump last month.
In short. Burns would appreciate it if citizens who have
substantial amounts of clijipings would convey these clijijungs
to the diimji themselves There is no charge for individuals
dumping and it does seem needless to haul ttie same load
of trash twice when one trip would do the j"b in a more neat
orderly and consider ate fashion
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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/m1/2/?q=land: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Smithville Public Library.