El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 98, No. 40, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 11, 1982 Page: 2 of 33
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Page2-A ElCampo Leader-News, El Carnpo, TX, Wed , August 11, 1982
Wharton County TRC Dedicated To Fulfilling Lives
By KAY KENNEDY RICE
Punchin’ the old time clock again feels good to
Willie Welch
While the depressed economy chips away at
the security of this country’s employed, Welch is
fortunate to be returning to a job, when so many
are without one.
Even more important, the 22 year old El Cam
po man is smiling because he has beat the odds,
with a little help from his friends
In addition to family and concerned friends,
the Wharton County Texas Rehabilitation office
gave Welch emotional and financial support,
helping him return to work two years after a div-
ing accident left him paralyzed from the chest
down
The severity of his injuries left Welch with lit-
tle hope of resuming a normal life His case was
referred to the TRC office in Wharton and things
started looking up
“I wasn’t the kind of fella to stay home all
day,” Welch said ‘ Without a job, I couldn’t take
it.”
Not limited just to clients with physical han-
dicaps, the TRC works with any disabled adult
that is having trouble securing employment
Disabilities may include mental retardation,
speech and learning disabilities, orthopedic
deformities, alcoholism or drug abuse
According to Mike Brevell, counselor, the TRC
is just about ready to close the Welch case, now
that he is successfully employed.
“He’s very happy and has built up his con-
fidence. He could have been dependent on
government support all his life. But now he’s
employed and productive ”
It is that philosophy that has made TRC suc-
cessful. Although it is hard to measure the emo-
tional satisfaction that comes from helping
others, statistics show that every dollar invested
in the TRC program, $11 dollars is pumped back
into the economy in taxes when clients return to
the work force.
Currently the Wharton office is handling 85
cases, but Brevell believes there are more per
sons in need of help that are unfamiliar with TRC
services.
“Many people don’t even know where we are,
until they need us,” he added.
Located at 110 Boling Highway in Wharton, the
office has been open for 11 years Because of
belt tightening throughout the agency, the Bay
City TRC office will consolidate with the Whar-
ton office in August, 1983
More than 75 employees statewide have been
cut, Brevell said, but the agency’s financial
outlook is good
“We’re in line with the Reagan program We
are helping people get back to work and off
welfare or other government support ”
Eighty percent of TRC’s budget comes from
federal funds while the state supplies the re-
maining 20 percent.
The TRC offers clients a wide range of services
including medical, psychological and vocational
evaluations, counseling and guidance, inter-
preter services for the deaf, assistive devices
such as artificial limbs, braces and wheelchairs.
Besides job placement, TRC provides different
types of job training including college,
rehabilitation or trade school.
In Welch’s case, the TRC helped with his
medical bills and helped him modify a van so he
could drive himself to work. The van was pur-
chased after a fund-raiser was held locally to
benefit the Welch family, which includes his wife
and young daughter.
“If it hadn’t been for them (TRC), I never
would have made it financially,” Welch said.
“When I got out of the hospital, I didn’t want to
face other people, but they got me out to meet the
public.”
Brevell cautions that if the TRC is to help, the
client must have the motivation to help himself.
“If it’s not there, we don’t have anything to
offer.”
Brevell draws on resources within the county
to help his clients, including the junior college
and hospitals. Cooperation from the community
helps defray some of the costs of the program,
Brevell said.
“We’ve had real good response from the com-
munity The Mental Health Clinic, hospitals,
Public Health Clinic, public schools, junior col-
lege and church organizations have all come
through for us.
“People like to help people who are going to
help themselves."
A
i- -
r
\/
i^N Ph«Mo hy Kay Rice
Willie Welch at work in the analysis lab
at Ferrotherm Corp.
Wharton Man Cleared In Robbery Of Local Store
A 25-year-old Wharton man,
arrested Tuesday afternoon and
charged with felony theft,
possession of a stolen good and
unlawfully carrying a weapon,
was reportedly cleared of all
charges by District Attorney Jack
Salyer of Bay City because he was
“rearranging” the store.
According to reports released
by David Juarez, investigator
with the El Carnpo Police
Department, Waymond Allen
entered R.B’s Department store
Aug. 3 and allegedly took five gold
chains valued at $1,000 from a
jewelry cabinet.
An employee, at the rear of the
store, reportedly heard Allen
close the cabinet door and asked if
she could help him Allen,
currently on 10-year probation for
a 1981 Gum Jewelry theft, asked
to see some shoes at the rear of
the store
When the attendent noticed the
property was missing. Allen
realized that he had been caught
He allegedly dropped the chains
on a purse counter and left the
store The attendent called police
with a description of Allen and his
vehicle
The Wharton Police Depart-
ment, assisted by Wharton County
sheriff’s deputies, arrested Allen
on a charge of unlawfully
carrying a weapon.
Juarez went to Wharton to in-
terview the suspect in connection
with the incident After denying
involvement in the crime, the
suspect told Juarez that the
property was located in the store
Juarez located the chains and
filed charges on Allen for felony
theft on Wednesday
Salyer’s decision to drop the
charges came after he in-
terviewed the suspect
Fred Heath, 607 Erin, told
police that a bicycle valued at $89
was stolen from the local bowling
.111 * > CM .' N M< ( li.uiu .
sometime Saturday
Randall Raney, 407 Ash. told
police that a bicycle was stolen
from his residence sometime
Saturday The bicycle was valued
at$50.
Phillip Ermis, 706 Ave. I, told
police that an ice chest was stolen
from his residence sometime
between July 25 20 According to
reports, the chest was valued at
$35
Anita Cruz, 1011 E Strand, told
police that a bicycle was stolen
from her residence sometime
between Wednesday and Thur-
sday The bicycle was valued at
$110.
Hubert Graham, 706 West First,
told police that a theft occurred in
his yard sometime Thursday.
According to reports, a bicycle
wheel valued at $10 was stolen
Anselmo Guajardo, 1513 Bravo,
told police that a theft occurred at
his residence sometime between
Thursday and Friday A bicycle
valued at $20 was stolen in the
theft.
J J Wenglar, 302 East Seventh
Street, tola deputies that a pony
valued at $150 was stolen from
property between County Roads
319 and 389 Time of the theft is
unknown
Nancy Ryan, 2202 James Ave.,
told police that a tricycle valued
at $28 was stolen from her
residence sometime between July
27 and August 2
Eric Volkert, 920 Lilly, told
police that his vehicle was broken
into while it was parked at his
residence An equalizer valued at
$57 was stolen in the incident.
George Nohavitza, 904 Mer-
chant. told police that the Jr High
School located at McClure and
Askey was damaged sometime
between Friday and Monday.
According to the report, vandals
broke seven windows valued at
$22.,
George Gold of El Carnpo told
police that someone fired a series
of shots on EM 2765 near FM 2564
sometime Friday. The shots were
reportedly fired near Gold’s
cattle.
Pearley Farrow, 401 Foerster,
told police that she was assaulted
at 200 Palacios sometime Sunday
Farrow was reportedly struck
with a pipe in the back She
declined medical treatment No
arrests have been made in con-
nection with the attack.
Mark Heinen, 1601 Charlie, told
police that he was shot with a
pellet gun sometime Sunday at
1100 Delta. Heinen was treated
and released from El Carnpo
Memorial Hospital The incident
is currently under investigation.
Police arrested Ronald Becker
of Rosenberg Friday and charged
him with unlawfully carrying a
weapon. Becker was arrested at
1100 E Jackson He was ad-
ditionally charged with disorderly
conduct. Becker posted a $1,056
bond
Elizabeth Cox of Houston was
arrested by police Monday and
charged with unlawfully carrying
a weapon and disorderly conduct.
Cox was arrested on North
Wharton Street. She posted a
$1,206 bond.
Police arrested Rickey Deeds of
Arkansas Sunday and charged
him with possession of marijuana,
possession of drug paraphernalia
and unlawfully carrying a
weapon Deeds was arrested at
1500 W. Norris. He was tran-
sferred to the Wharton County
Jail.
Two men were arrested at 903
W Jackson Sunday and charged
with possession of marijuana and
public intoxication
Ruben Cantu, 306 Market and
Lauro Davilla III, 305 Pierce,
each posted an $1,113 bond.
Deputies arrested Nathan
Holiday, Route 3, Tuesday and
charged him with felony criminal
mischief. Holiday was charged
with pushing a car parked in
Edwin Gangl’s driveway into his
garage Aug. 3. A 16-year-old
juvenile is also being sought in
connection with the incident.
Police arrested Jesse Delgado,
701 Divide, Sunday and charged
him with DWI. Delgado was
arrested at 100 Railroad He
posted a $500 bond.
Jesse Lopez of Edna was
arrested Saturday by police and
charged with DWI. Lopez was
arrested at 200 Gladys. He posted
a $1,000 bond.
County Approves Pay Increases
short stories
(Conlimn'd From Page 11
increases for mechanics,
maintainer. bulldozer and
Gradall operators
Precinct 2 commissioner I^eroy
Macha questioned the proposal
for dragline operators, saving, “I
have more problems with
mechanics ”
As with the Sheriff's Depart
ment, one step is equal to $52,
while two steps are equal $104 per
month
Precinct 4 commissioner John
Drozd said he would like to
question businesses as to what
they pay for the various skills
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The Court decided against taking
action on the request until it can
be studied further
In another personnel matter
Niemeier asked the Court if his
office could start issuing
disability checks every other
week instead of every week He
said the County pays $70 a week to
personnel on long term leave
This amount is now exempt
from deductions, but beginning
Jan 1 it must have Social Security
taken from it. which will mean it
must I>e run through the payroll
system, which is a more involved
procedure than writing a check
uvrv
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w ithout deductioas
Commissioners approved the
request
The Court also approved an
$11,000 budget amendment
requested by Barbara Bixby,
county librarian, for the purchase
of three duplication machines
Hie librarian will seek com
petitive bids
Bixby plans to purchase the
present machine now in the main
library in Wharton She plans to
replace the copier in El Campo s
branch iibrary with a larger
model, and East Bernard, which
din's not presently have a copier,
w ill receive one
The coin operated copiers are
for the public s use
On Aug 31 at 10 a m com-
missioners will open bids on a
Gradall for Precinct 1 The Court
voted Monday to advertise for
bids
A plat on Vitera Acres. Section
2, was accepted, and the in
junction against selling lots im
posed on the subdivision several
months ago for failing to meet
county regulations was lifted
Commissioners also ratified the
low bid of $8,764 on a new Sheriff 's
I>epartment car submitted a
couple of weeks ago by Don Elliott
Chevrolet of Wharton The car
replaces one that was totaled
when a car driven by a drunk
driver hit it
Prisoners in Wharton County’s
jail shouldn't find too much to
complain about, except perhaps
the food, since the county was
issued a certificate of cer-
tification Monday by the Texas
Commission on Jail Standards.
Commissioners Court and the
county sheriff have been making
specified corrections at the jail
the past few vears to bring it into
compliance with stale standards.
City Okays Ordinance
Tu
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it ontinued From Page I)
street it was emphasized
An ordinance allowing the city
manager to install mandatory
water rationing was the last item
of bus i nmx
t'hc ordinance will give the city
manager the authority to put
manditor\ rationing into effect in
case ot severe drought conditions
a natural disaster or equipment
breakdowns that would limit
water ptinqMiig
The ordinance will carry a
penalty of up to $200 per violation
fine and allow city police to enter
private property to ascertain
violations
The present policy of <xfd even
day voluntary rationing will tie
continued until further notice
however city officials report
•• w»>.
County Judge Dan Sklar said
some of the major deficiencies
which have been corrected during
this period were lighting
problems, installation of smoke
exhaust fans, a buzzer svstem
was installed on the back door,
prisoners are now allowed in sq
ft per inmate in cells, exit signs
were installed librarv use was
provided for. fire drills are
conducted and correctional of-
ficers are mi dutv in (he jail 21
hours a da v
Vnd we learned veslerdav that
Ihe sheriff's Department has
taken on a new depulv David
Vndieji zak a native of sugar
land has been a correctional
officer al Ihe counts jail the past
vear In Max however he
inrlirit hi* a*%4M lale itegrer in
inniinal |u*tnr from Ml li II,
began hi* dolus a* a patrol
deputy Sunday, lie has lived in
Wharton the past couple of years.
A list of school supplies for all
grades in the El Carnpo ISD and
St. Philip's Catholic School will be
run as soon as the schools get
them to the newspaper. An effort
will be made to at least get the
lists started in Saturday's edition.
Those that aren't printed
Saturday will be run Wednesday.
The Ixiuise list was turned in in
time for today's edition.
St Philip's School will have
final registration, paying of fees
and tuition Vug 16-27 from K a m
until noon and from 1-4 p.m
School begins Vug 30 at 8:30 a m
and will dismiss at noon A
regular schedule will begin Aug
31. sixth, seventh and eighth
grade bovs wanting to plax
football should meet in the Parish
Nall M lag. 23 at 7:30 pja.
Durst ions about registration may
be directed to the school offire bv
calling .VI3-2001
V final reminder that the I nited
Pentecostal I hurch of El fampn
• s having a walk a thon Saturdav
bom Wharton to El ( ampn
'lonev raised will help sponsor
missionaries and their families in
foreign land* If interested In the
walk a ihmt tall $1 1 2331
I
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Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 98, No. 40, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 11, 1982, newspaper, August 11, 1982; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1006846/m1/2/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Wharton County Library.