El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 82, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 4, 1984 Page: 3 of 26
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Bell System Breakup Goes Smoothly
By CYNTHIA L. MILLER
Telephones did not self destruct
and the stock market didn’t crash,
but American Telephone and
Telegraph (better known as
AT&T) diverged into several
separate companies on New
Year’s Day.
In the meantime, the Texas
Public Utilities Commission is
still studying the largest rate hike
request in history, $1.7 billion,
submitted by Southwestern Bell,
which is now completely in-
dependent of AT&T
According to Ronna Martin,
PUC information coordinator, the
rate hike request, which would
triple basic local phone service
rates, is still being studied.
Hearing resumed after the
holidays Tuesday
Paul Johnson, SWB community
relations manager, said that the
PUC staff has recommended a
$9 9 million increase in rates, and
that SWB is asking for $1 3 billion,
down from the original $1.7 billion
request.
Southwestern Bell handles only
local service and long distance
within LATAs now, and AT&T
handles all other long distance.
Telephones placed and serviced
by the Bell System are now the
property of AT&T Residents have
the option of continuing to lease
the phones from the company or
purchasing their phones
Though Southwestern Bell now
owns no telephone equipment, a
new subsidiary, Southwestern
Bell Telecom, will begin
marketing new equipment for
businesses and probably
residences near the end of the
month, said Johnson
SWB Telecom will market
phones manufactured by many
companies, including IBM, ITT,
TIE, Technicom International,
NEC Telephones, American
Telecom, Inc. and Northern
Telecom The new SWB sub-
sidiary will also provide service
on the phones it sells, Johnson
said, probably through a main
tenance contract system.
Southwestern Bell will continue
to provide local phone service to
residents of Texas. Oklahoma,
Arkansas. Missouri and Kansas
New connections for residents and
businesses will be provided by
SWB. as well as special services
such as Touch-Tone calling, three
way calling and call forwarding
In addition. SWB will provide
some long distance service. The
service area is divided into
LATAs, and SWB will provide
long distance calling within these
regions Southwestern Bell
operators will still assist with
these calls, and they can connect
with AT&T and other long
distance operators “Customers
won’t notice the change,” Johnson
said, although some operators are
now AT&T employees and some
are emploved bv Southwestern
Bell
Another subsidiary to the
system is Southwestern Bell
Publications, which will publish
yellow pages telephone direc-
tories and may pursue "new
business opportunities.”
Johnson said Again, Johnson
said, customers won't notice the
organizational change, except
that more specialized
publications may be introduced
A brand new technology w ill be
the basis for another subsidiary.
Johnson said Southwestern Bell
Mobile Systems will market
cellular mobile telephone service
in metropolitan areas, such as
Houston Instead of the traditional
25-mile transmission limit on
mobile phones. Johnson said,
cellular technology will pass a
call from one part of the city to
another automatically as the
caller drives through
Good news for AT&T
stockholders, according to local
investment counselor Diane
Olson, is that they still own the
same amount of shares in AT&T,
as well as shares in the seven
companies that broke from the
corporation.
Though active trading in
telephone shares of all companies
may follow the divestiture of
AT&T, the overall effect on the
stock market has been negligible
1984:
Leaders Look Ahead
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the conclusion of interviews with
city and county leaders on their outlook for the new year. The first part
of the series appeared in Saturday’s edition.)
Ken Wright
Chief Appraiser
Central Appraisal District
Things should go smoother for the Wharton County Central Ap-
praisal District office in 1984, predicts Ken Wright, chief appraiser.
With the bulk of the re-appraisal effort behind them, Wright believes
the tax roll will be on schedule this year — which is not only good news
for the CAD but the county’s seven taxing entities as well.
Wright admits there are still some kinks that must be worked out on
some property appraisals, but he does not foresee any “complications”
in 1984. He encourages anyone who does have a complaint or question
their appraisal to get it taken care of in the new year.
Another plus for the CAD will be new quarters, which will give the of-
fice more room to operate. A building, recently purchased by the coun-
ty commissioners, will be remodeled for the CAD and other offices.
Theodore Nicksick
WCJC President
WCJC is expected to have a good year in 1984 with high enrollment
continuing. Also, building maintenance, beautification of the campus,
and raising funds for the junior college are also on tap for 1984, as well
as the reinstatement of the band and the Starlette programs.
Nicksick does expect the enrollment of 1984 to even top that of 1983.
“Pre-enrollment for this coming spring semester is up to 100 students
already, which indicates that we have more (enrollees) this spring
(’84) than last spring,” he said. “We see continued growth and educa-
tional service up for this year.”
The band and the Starlette programs, which were cancelled this fall
due to lack of interest, will be reinstated this year. “We’re in the pro-
cess of advertising for a band director and a Starlette director. We
don’t expect to get any right now, however....We’ll be recruiting this
spring (for band and Starlette members),” Nicksick said.
Raising funds for the school is also a big priority for 1984. “We’ll ask
for private grants and funds as our first option, and if that does not
work, we will have to look for another option,” Nicksick said.
Johnnie Cosper
Wharton County Extension Agent
Agriculture in 1984 is predicted to improve a little with the PIK (pay-
ment in kind) program, but generally, farmers in Wharton County, like
farmers in the rest of the nation, will still have some hard times ahead.
“Next year, I see some potential problems due to the farm bill as it is
currently written. There is a 10 percent set-aside for grain....Nation-
wide, if we have a normal crop, not outstanding nor a failure, I’m
afraid we will still have a surplus,” said Johnnie Cosper, Wharton
County Extension Agent.
“This next year they predict an 8-billion bushel crop, which is 1
billion more than we will need,” Cosper continued. “It will have a
depressing effect on the market. We expect prices to be lower than last
year (for the farmers).
Cosper said. “The farmers will have to take a good look at farm pro-
grams which will increase crops from 1983 levels....There will be no
price improvements for crops.
“I see depressed prices as far as crops go. 1 encourage farmers to
lake a good look from farm to farm ...90 percent of Wharton County
farmers will be better off to go on the (PIK) program than farm all the
•and I think they need to be in the program for assurance of loan and
arget prices,” he added
Entex Provides Relief For Poor
Programs Help Needy, Elderly With Utility Bills
Low-income households in
Wharton County and throughout
Texas will have some help paying
this winter’s heating bills through
two programs announced this
week.
According to Commissioner
Marlin Johnston of the Texas
Department of Human Resources
a one-time; payment under the
new Home Energy Assistance
Program is available to many
low-income households who this
month received food stamps, Aid
to Families with Dependent
Children, Supplemental Security
Income or needs-tested Veterans
Administration benefits.
Potentially eligible veterans
are those who receive payments
under Section 415, 521,541 or 542 of
Title SB of the U S. Code or under
Section 306 of the Veterans and
Survivors Pension Improvement
Act of 1978.
Eligibility is limited by gross
income. Aid is available for a one-
person household with a gross
income of less than $355.49 per
month.
The other guidelines are: a two-
person household, $581.49; a
three-person household, $790 49; a
four-person household, $985 49; a
five-person household, $1,162.49;
and a six-person household,
$1,359.49.
Eligible households must be
subject to energy cost increases
because of higher bills or rent due
to rising utility costs.
Johnston said application forms
are mailed automatically to
households which receive food
stamps, AFDC, and SSI.
Households receiving needs-
tested Veterans benefits must
request an application DHR this
month. Anyone else who feels he
or she is eligible should contact
their local DHR office
Don Coffman, manager of the
local Entex gas company, has
announced the continuation of his
company’s voluntary energy
assistance program also
designed to help needy persons
pay their natural gas heating
bills.
Entex has added a contribution
of $100,000 to the renewed
program The company began the
program in December, 1982, with
a similar contribution
Entex is asking its customers to
consider a small, monthly $1
contribution on a voluntary basis.
A customer may make this tax
deductible donation by over-
paying his or her gas bill by
exactly $1 and Entex will assign
this overpayment to the program
According to Coffman, Entex
will begin inserting special en-
velopes in its bills for customers
who wish to make larger
donations. Checks should be made
payable to the Entex Energy
Assistance Fund
The program helps avoid crisis
situations by giving direct
financial assistance to those
eligible recipients as determined
by financial agencies. Wharton
County Junior College ad-
ministrators Dr. John Brooks and
Caroline Osborne are in charge of
the Wharton County program,
Coffman said.
The program is designed to help
those 65 years of age or older on
fixed incomes with no alternative
source of funds and will include
special hardship cases of all ages.
Help will also be given to the han-
dicapped, blind, or otherwise in-
firmed with no alternative source
of funds.
Farm Bureau Members
Attend State Convention
Short Stories
Thirty-five voting delegates
representing Wharton County
Farm Bureau recently par-
ticipated in the 50th annual Texas
Farm Bureau convention held
Nov. 27-30 in Houston.
They were: Mr. and Mrs.
Adolph Kutach, Mr. and Mrs.
Darrell Kutach, Mr. and Mrs.
Anthony Kutach, Mr. and Mrs.
Jerry Winkenwerder, Mr. and
Mrs. Anton Sabrsula, Mr. and
Mrs. Lonnie Beard, Mr. and Mrs.
Donnie Kainer, Mr. and Mrs. A.J.
Richter, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie
Kainer, Mr. and Mrs. E.F.
Petersen, Mr and Mr« S A
Wilbeck, Mr. and Mrs. Clark
Wilbeck, Mr. and Mrs. David
Foehner,
Mrs. Jeff Kalina, David Green,
Irvin Ullman, Tommy Smith,
Danny Gertson, J.B Gary,
Robert Wittig, Philip Miller and
David Stelzel.
Policies directing the state’s
largest farm organization were
adopted by more than 1,200
delegates from 216 organized
county Farm Bureaus during this
meeting Recommendations on
national policies were also ap-
proved These policies will ad-
vance to the American Farm
Bureau Federation annual
meeting to be held Jan. 8-12 in
Orlando, Fla.
Speakers featured at the con-
vention included Dr. Richard L.
Lesher, president of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, S.M.
True Jr of Plainview, TFB
president; Warren Newberry of
Waco, TFB executive director,
and George O. White of Harwood,
TFB secretary-treasurer.
The business session covered
the final two days of the meeting
The last order of business was the
election of the president, S M
True Jr
County leaders also attended
several special conferences
during the convention. Con-
ference topics included field
crops, livestock, natural
resources and education, taxes,
and transportation and farm
labor Commodity conferences
included: beef and sheep and
goats; cotton and peanuts; dairy
and poultry; wheat and feed
grains; rice and soybeans, and
citrus and pecans
This year’s youth winners were
Tawn Dulin of Lynn County, 1984
Queen; and Ray nee Davis of
Plains, Talent Fund winner
329th District Court Judge Dan
Sklar empaneled his first grand
jury last Monday. It is anticipated
he will receive indictments on
Monday. Jurors serving a six-
month term are Thomas Dannelly
(foreman), Jeffrey Blair and
Delia Perches of Whurton, James
Otto of East Bernard, R.L.
Carter, Irma Rocha and Jerome
Dorotik of El Campo. LaVerne
Premeaux and J.A. Schmidt of
lx>uise, Betty Muegge of Glen
Flora, Wayne Herrington of
Boling and Edgar Roades of
Newgulf.
week. The hig freeze is respon-
sible for some of the problems.
People burning pastures and
barrels should be extremely
cautious and should not leave the
fires unattended. They should also
have a broom, shovel or some
other tool handy to heat out any
flames that are not wanted.
Precinct 4 employees enjoyed a
fish fry Friday afternoon a! the
precinct barn. Seems Harold
W’igginton gave "Doc" Drapela.
the commissioner, 50 pounds of
fish, which Doc fried for his
employees.
Two Wharton County men have
been named delegates to the
National Cotton Council for 19X1.
Jim L. Harton of El Campo was
named an alternate producer
delegate, while R.D. Moses Jr. of
Wharton was named a ginner
delegate. The Cotton Council will
have its annual meeting in Little
Rock. Ark. Feb. 5-7.
And at the Precinct 3 barn
Friday afternoon two retiring
employees were recognized by
Commissioner Arvid
Schoeneberg. Pete Garcia, a
dozer operator, retired after 25
years and one month with the
county. Joe Peters, a maintainer
operator, retired after 20 years
with the county.
Someone turned in a note saying
the Plainview Community Center
Inc. will have its annual meeting
Monday. Jan. 9 at 7:3ll p.m.
Sirens have been going off all
over Wharton County the past
Wharton County Veterans
Service Officer Marvin Henry will
be in his office for consultation
each Tuesday and Wednesday
during January. The office is
located at 116 W. Burleson in
Wharton.
START A
BART-TIME
CAREER.
Learn a valuable skill which
will turn into a gi.td pari time
y>h in the Army Rovrnr Ir
takrv juvt i>rw weekend a mneith
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namingl You ean earn over
$1 liV your tiru year Army Re
serve ikill naming could even
prepare you kw a related civil
um mb Call your Army Reverie
repeeventanve in the Yellow
Pages under Recruiting
mBRSSSSfu.
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Residential & Commercial
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A
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Can Help
ll'o our butinrti to know all
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think wr may have VO my aurpr-vinu aniwrrt
See: Bryce Sonford. local Representative
COLORADO COUNTY FEDERAL
SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATION AGENCY
tOUAt HOUStWC
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WEEKLY
RADIO PROGRAM
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January 7
Stages Of A Woman's life
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Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 82, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 4, 1984, newspaper, January 4, 1984; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1017822/m1/3/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Wharton County Library.