Newton County News (Newton, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 28, 2000 Page: 2 of 12
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Page 2, Newton County News, Thursday, September 28, 2000
Guest Column —--
The Fires of September
Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor,
By Mack Hall
One of my students walked into
class yawning the other morning,
which would be unremarkable but
for the fact that he had spent the pre-
vious two days fighting fires in
Newton County with the Trout
Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
And he and all the hundreds of oth-
ers had been successful; the smoke
and ash that drifted darkly across
the high school campus on
Thursday were much lighter on
Friday.
With temperatures at 110 degrees
day after day, strong winds, and no
significant rain since May, subtropi-
cal East Texas had become thou-
sands of acres of kindling waiting
for lightning strikes or the perverted
actions of domestic terrorists.
Happily, all area volunteer fire
departments, often as not under-
manned and under-equipped with
antique fire trucks, were braced for
the inevitable, and when the alarms
sounded they scrambled for action
rapidly and efficiently. The fire-
fighters stayed on the superheated
lines for over a, week, in action and
in danger, and sleep, when possible
at all, was a rare hour or two under
a tarp.
One terrifying technique for sav-
ing a house, as a wall of firecame
down upon it through the pines, was
for a fire truck and its crew to stay
with the house as long as they
could, drenching it with water until
the last second and then fleeing for
their lives, usually on a dusty track
between more flames.
More often than not this worked,
and only a few homes were lost. I
do not know if this technique is
taught in fire school or if it was
developed on the spot as a response
to a crisis in which there were too
few firemen and too few trucks, but
it was a wonderfully gutsy
Thermopylae / Battle of Britain /
Walls of the Alamo thing to do.
That no one in Newton or Jasper
counties heard from President
Clinton or Vice President Gore is
not surprising. Mr. Clinton was too
busy shaking hands with Fidel
“Firing Squad” Castro while Mr.
Gore was eagerly pressing the flesh
in hopes of being President Clinton
II. Both are far more interested in
using taxpayers’ hard-earned money
to fund the likes of Yassir Arafat
than in helping with domestic
crises. We are disappointed but not
surprised.
We are stunningly surprised,
however, and bitterly disappointed
that Texas Gov. George W. Bush
could not be bothered to forego his
personal political agenda for a day
or two and come home and urge
assistance for the burnt-out, worn-
out, forced-out Texans who elected
him.
Mr. Bush was not missing in
action; he was missing due to inac-
tion, as a result of either appalling
insensitivity to the plight of the
home folks or due to a bad staff
decision not to inform him about
how dangerous the situation in East
Texas was.
If Martha’s Vineyard had burned,
Mr. Bush and Mr. Gore and the rest
of the LaCoste pullover crowd
would have flown there instantly,
risking getting ash on their tasseled
loafers to pose with the cameras
while promising wheelbarrows full
of federal funds to rebuild handball
courts and BMW dealerships.
But when poor folks, humble
homes, disappeared in fireballs in
one of the most poverty-stricken
areas in America, the cruel, disdain-
ful silence from both Austin and
Washington was broken only by a
few tears falling onto the smoking
ruins of someone’s hopes.
But let us not focus on those who
did not ride to the sound of the guns,
but on those who did, our magnifi-
cent firefighters from all the local
volunteer fire departments and local
companies and agencies, and all
their supporters who put their own
daily activities aside to provide
food, water and shelter for those on
the line, and all the law enforcement
folks who scouted and provided
information. They were all simply
magnificent, and because of what
they did, we did not suffer a disaster
on the magnitude of Galveston a
century ago.
We could have lost not just lots
more homes, but possibly towns,
and if the several fires had coa-
lesced, hundreds of people could
have been trapped and burned to
death.
Now that the seasonal fire danger
has apparently passed, the tired fire-
fighters will now have to replace
consumables and worn-out equip-
ment through bake sales in super-
market parking lots on Saturday
mornings.
This is unacceptable. Men and
women who risk their lives to save
our homes shouldn’t have to
scrounge for funding in order to do
so. This is the time for the rest of us
— who are not living in refugee
shelters — to step in and do our
part.
Not one firefighter should be out
his or her wages for that week’s sac-
rifice, nor should their employers,
especially the smaller businesses, be
expected to shoulder the burden
alone. The wages should be com-
pensated and the equipment
replaced now, and without one ash-
stained, sweat-soaked volunteer
firefighter having to sell nachos on
a street corner. Time to pass the hat
folks, because we still have homes
in which to hang our hats.
Fire tempers iron into steel; the
fires of September have shown us
that our firefighters are made of
tempered steel indeed.
I would like to personally thank
the residents and employees of the
Newton Independent School
District for their support during my
short tenure as Interim
Superintendent of Schools.
Everyone has made me feel like an
important part of the school district
and community in every respect.
The Board of Trustees, adminis-
tration, teachers and staff have sup-
ported my recommendations and
listened to suggestions as if I were
going to remain employed for sev-
eral years, and it has made this job
easier than anyone could have
imagined. Their dedication to the
students of NISD is apparent in all
decisions, and you should feel com-
fortable knowing there is outstand-
ing leadership and performance at
every level. The challenges that lie
ahead will receive nothing less than
100 percent of their thought and
energies in maintaining the excel-
lent education record that has been
achieved in a very short period of
time.
I have also witnessed two disas-
ters in this community and the
response of its citizens. In both
cases you should feel a pride that
few communities have had an
opportunity to experience. To liter-
ally dig out of the ashes and build
again without missing a chance to
accentuate the positive is truly
remarkable. The citizens of Newton
have character, determination and
caring for one another that few
communities will ever know or
understand. I can recommend
Newton without reservation to
future residents looking for a great
place to live, work or raise a child.
On Oct. 2, Mr. Gene Isabell will
become Superintendent of Schools,
and that will be my last day as
Interim Superintendent. After many
hours of interviews, the board feels
Mr. Isabell has the vision and skill
to lead this district into the new mil-
lennium without losing the momen-
tum from the past. I encourage you
to make him feel as welcome to
Newton as you did me. He will do
an outstanding job with the chal-
lenges that lie ahead.
Thanks for the memories from a
great community and school dis-
trict. May God continue to bless you
and yours in the future.
Sincerely,
Gary Collins
Dear Editor:
The Newton VFD wishes to say
thank you to many people who
came to our aid during the big fire
the first week of September. We
thank all of the surround fire depart-
ments who sent man power. We
thank our local men who supplied
trucks to get water out to our
pumpers at the fire. We thank all of
the businesses that freely provided
water, ice Gator Aide, Power Aide
and medical supplies. We thank all
of you who gave money for us to get
supplies with. We thank our local
employers who allowed our fire-
fighters the time needed to combat
this blaze. We thank you for all of
the food you provided so that we
could stay on the line and save peo-
ples property. We thank you for
your prayers that saw us to safety.
And, most importantly, we thank
our families who had to go without
us for a solid week. Without their
understanding, there would have
been on Volunteer Fire Department
personnel to fight.
Thank you to all who had a part
in helping our department. You will
be remembered for a very long time.
Thanks seems so little to say, but
you have our appreciation and grat-
itude for all that you did.
Chief Hal Kelley
Newton Volunteer Fire
Department
Dear Editor:
The open letter to Gov. Bush
from Michael A. Manuel in part
made my blood boil. Mr. Manuel is
not a taxpayer of Newton County,
not a resident of Newton County
and not a charter lifetime member
of the Newton VOLUNTEER Fire
Department. It seemed that all he
was concerned about was his hunt-
ing privileges.
In my opinion he has no right to
criticize how the fire was handled
by VOLUNTEERS of Newton and
the surrounding area or the Newton
County Sheriff’s Department.
And to imply that the burning of
the courthouse was by hunting club
members is outrageous. I personally
watched volunteers endlessly go
back and forth fighting fires,
exhausted, filthy, young and old. I
sat in the sheriff's department
awaiting word of my home and
watched the dispatchers answer call
after call, working on caffeine and
their love of Newton.
Mr. Manuel, when you come to
Newton to hunt, where do you buy
your hunting license? Your gro-
ceries? Where do you pay taxes?
Where do you vote? If you had a
trailer to help evacuate people, then
why didn’t you do like hundred of
others and just go from house to
house, offering your services,
instead of criticizing the sheriff’s
department?
I put you in the class of people
who always state “I woulda done
this” or “I coulda done that” but in
reality sits on their and just gripes
and moans.
I cannot imagine anyone writing
a letter such as Mr. Manuel's letter,
but, after all, he is from Vidor.
Martha m. Greninger
Rt. 1, Box 211
FM 2626
Newton, Texas 75966
Newton County Resident
Taxpayer
Hunter
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month G() Texan WinnerS Told
An estimated 11,500 Texas
women will be diagnosed with
breast cancer in 2000, and about
2,600 women will die of the dis-
ease.
Nationally, breast cancer is the
most common form of cancer in
women. Research shows that breast
cancer mortality could be reduced
by at least 30 percent if women fol-
lowed recommended breast cancer
screening guidelines.
All women have a chance of
developing breast cancer. Women
50 and older are the most likely to
develop breast cancer. African
American women are the most like-
ly to die of breast cancer than any
other group of women.
Getting a mammogram and
breast exam only once is not
enough. The American Cancer
Society recommends that women
get a mammogram and clinical
breast examination every year
beginning at age 40. A woman has
the greatest chance of successful
treatment if breast cancer is found at
an early stage.
Early detection practices are part
of a good breast health routine. A
good breast health routine includes
a yearly mammogram, clinical
breast examination and monthly self
examination. Further, Medicare
helps pay the cost of a yearly mam-
mogram for women age 40 or older
with Medicare Part B.
If you are a woman 50-64 years
old with no insurance you may be
eligible for a free mammogram.
For more information call the
Jasper-Newton County Public
Health District at 384-6829, exten-
sion: 241 and speak with Linda
Young or Brenda Davis.
Tax Rebates Up For September
Sales tax rebates for the City of
Newton are up 2.94 percent over
this period last year, according to a
report from Texas Comptroller
Carole Keeton Rylander.
Statewide, sales tax rebates are
up 11.9 percent for the same period.
The City of Newton received
$16,772,. compared to $16,292 in
1999.
Payments to the City, year-to-
date totaled $163,990, compared to
$155,371 in ‘99, an increase of 5.54
percent.
Neighboring Jasper’s September
payment was down 7.48 percent
from September 1999.
September sales tax rebates rep-
resent sales taxes collected in July
and reported to the comptroller in
August.
Winners in Saturday’s Go Texan
Barbecue Cookoff have been
announced by Ricky Simmons,
Newton County Go Texan
Ambassador and cookoff chair.
The annual event is under the
auspices of the East Texas Barbecue
Cookers Association.
Taking first place in the brisket
division was Jefferson County
Cookers, Rodney Lawless, head
cook, who donated his $120 first
place prize to the Newton County
Go Texan Scholarship Fund.
Second place honors went to the
Zavalla River Rats, Jerry Campbell,
head cook; and Larry Marshal and
the Hooterville Hicks took third
place.
Other winners in the division,
fourth through 10th, included
Firehouse Charlie’s, Sam
Furgerson; Hot & Nasty Cookers,
Ronnie Burns; Smoke Ash Cookers,
John Randolph; Coast Line, Otis
Lane; Outlaws, Buddy Outlaw;
Cayenne Man, Jim Walters; and
Newton County Go Texam Bradley
Smith.
Winning top honors in the chick-
en division was Hot & Nasty
Cookers of Lufkin. Second place
went to Burkeville’s Super Intend,
Jim Shurtliff, head cook. Third
place winner was Newton County
Go Texan Cookers.
Fourth through 10th place win-
ners were Firehouse Charlie’s;
Cayenne Man, Jim Walters;
Outlaws; Coast Line; Bon Wier
Sizzlers, Bob Baker; Zavalla River
Rats; and Hatches Friends, Cecil
Spears. .
Taking first place money in both-
er the pork ribs division and the
pinto beans division was Jerry
Campbell’s Zavalla River Rats.
Second through 10th place
awards in the pork bis division went
to Newton County' Go Texan
Cookers; Bon Wier Sizzlers; Smoke
Ash Cookers; Hatches Friends;
Hooterville Hicks; Hot & Nasty,
Cayenne Man; Super Intended and
Firehouse Charlie’s.
Second through fifth place win-
ners in the pinto beans competition
were Cayenne Man, Firehouse
Charlie’s, Hooterville Hicks and
Jefferson County Cookers.
Simmons expressed his thanks to
all the participants and said a spe-
cial thanks to Ronnie Hatch, S&R
Enterprises, and Cecil Spears for
their monetary donations.
He termed the event “very suc-
cessful” and noted that the dates for
next year’s event have already been
set: Sept 20, 21 and 22, 2001.
The gray fox is the only member of the dog family that frequently climbs trees. It may scamper into the
branches for no reason at all. ._ ■—
Who To Call In Government....
U.S. Government:
FAX: (202) 225-5955
President Bill Clinton
White House
State Government:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Gov. George Bush
Washington, D.C. 20010
P.O. Box 12428
(202) 456-1414
Capitol Station
U.S. SENATOR:
Austin, Texas 78711
Kay Bailey Hutchinson
(512) 463-2000
283 Senate Russell Bldg.
STATE SENATOR:
Washington D.C. 20510
Drew Nixon
(202) 224-5922
P.O. Box 368
Austin; (512) 482-5834
Carthage, Texas 75633
U.S. Senator Phill Gramm
(903) 693-9133
370 Russell Office Building
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Washington, D.C. 20510
State Rep. Ron Lewis
(202) 224-2934
P.O. Box 119
Congressman Jim Turner
Maruiceville, Texas 77621
208 Cannon House Office
1-800-464-1645
Bldg.
P.O. Box 2910
Washington, D.C. 20515
Austin, Texas 78768-2910
(202) 225-2401
TU
MEMBER
2000
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
Newton County News (UPS
766- 520) is published weekly
on Thursday by the Newton
Publishing Company, 112
Glover Drive, Newton, Tx.
75966. Subscription rates are
$19 per year in Newton
County, Jasper, Kirby ville,
Brookeland, Merryville and
Orange and $24 per year else-
where. Periodical postage paid
at Newton, Texas. Postmaster
send address changes to
Newton County News, P.O.
Box 65, Newton, Tx. 75966.
Phone and fax is 409-3792416.
Publisher.......Glen A. Mitchell
Editor.................Mary Collins
Office Mgr.......Angie Mitchell
Advertising...Barbara Mitchell
FIRST PLACE — Taking first place in the chicken division of the Go Texan Barbecue Cookoff
were the Hot & Nasty Cookers of Lufkin. Ronnie Burns was head cook.
Hermit crabs generally live alone, in the shells of sea snails. A hermit crab may pull out the live snail,
getting a new house and a feast as well!
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Collins, Mary. Newton County News (Newton, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 28, 2000, newspaper, September 28, 2000; Newton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth635163/m1/2/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Newton County Historical Commission.