The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 103, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 14, 1978 Page: 1 of 19
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9
The Winkler County News
* Vol. 42 - No. 103
FIFTEEN CENTS
(Tax Included)
Kermit, Winkler County, Texas 79745
Thursday, September 14,1978
Animal Shelter Okayed
*34,386 Bid Accepted By Council
A $34,386 animal shelter
got a three to two go ahead
from the Kermit City Council
^.Tuesday night after about an
hour of bouncing around in
various forms.
The council had tabled the
$34,000 bid at a previous
meeting, and, after discussing
a revised, lower bid of
^ $26,986, voted to award the
- contract on the initial bid.
The bid was awarded to
Kermit Lumber and Builders
Supply on a motion by
Councilman Fred Pearson,
seconded by Councilman
Charles Wright. Councilman
Charles Shadowens joined to
help carry the proposal, with
Councilman Tommy Smith
and Councilman Leo
Connally voting against.
The animal shelter
Council Votes To Keep
U Tax On Utility Bills
' The possibility of lower utility bills for Kermit
residents flickered only briefly Tuesday night during the
regular session of the Kermit City Council.
The state sales tax on utility bills has been removed
by the legislature, and the city sales tax would be
dropped with it, unless the individual cities take action.
4^ However, the Kermit City Council voted unanimously
Tuesday night to keep the city sales tax on utility bills.
The action was recommended by City Mgr. Dennis
Woodard, and Councilman Tommy Smith made the
motion to keep the tax the/same. It was seconded by
Councilman Charles Wright and the council voted
unanimously for it.
discussion included details of
a revised bid which included
the city providing landfill,
plumbing, electrical and
heating and air conditioning
materials and some labor.
This revised bid of $26,986
was discussed at length, and
then Wright proposed a
maintenance shop and animal
shelter complex.
The desirability of a
central complex was kicked
around and Connally
proposed looking into sheet
metal buildings for possible
use.
The council eventually
made it back around to the
bid of $34,386, which was
the only bid received on the
animal shelter.
The animal shelter will be
cinder block construction and
will be 26 feet by 70 feet for
a total of 1,820 square feet.
City Mgr. Dennis Woodard
said the building will house
nens arranopri sn that paph
day’s captives can be
separated as well as having
separate pens for males and
females.
Mayor G. L. McGuire
questioned the need for a
facility containing 1,820
square feet.
The new animal shelter will
be constructed on Hwy. 302
near Standard Avenue.
In other business, the
council, with all present,
heard a brief report by Phil
Fay concerning a financial
statement requested by the
city.
Fay said city finances were
going smoothly and
anticipated no great problems
when he audited the fiscal
year as of Sept. 30.
The council approved bills
for payment totaling
$37,537.98 and heard a
report on the status of sewage
treatment plant fund request
and the container garbage
system.
Campbell Resigns
Hospital Post
The president of the Board of Control of
Winkler County Memorial Hospital resigned,
effective immediately, at the beginning of the
hospital board meeting Wednesday night.
Board President George Campbell opened the
meeting at 8 p.m. by saying that an urgent
matter had been brought to his attention and
should be taken up prior to the regular agenda
items.
Campbell said hospital Atty. Mike Fostel had
informed him Tuesday that a state law
concerning nepotism was being violated, and
that because of this he was resigning.
Campbell said he had been unaware of the
state nepotism law and that he resigned his
position on the Board of Control “effective
now.” He then got up and left the meeting.
During his statement, Campbell had high
praise for hospital employees and for the board.
He said the hospital had gone from a loss of
$260,000 a year to a $30,000 profit during his
tenure.
“We have made tremendous strides, in my
opinion,” he said.
Campbell’s daughter-in-law was employed by
the hospital 2Vi months ago in the records
department. He indicated it was more
important, in his opinion, for young persons to
have a chance at a future than for “an old man
like me” to sit on a board.
The board meeting was still in progress late
Wednesday night and a full report on the
meeting will be available in Monday’s issue of
The News.
Eight Persons Indicted
By 109th Grand Jury
■4, Candida in
Kermit attorney George Finley and his wife, Wilma, are
shown greeting Texas Attorney General John Hill during a
“John Hill: Right for Texas” reception in Austin last
Wednesday night. Hill, the Democratic nominee for Governor
of Texas, hosted the reception at the Austin Civic Center.
More than 3,500 persons attended the event. Other Winkler
County residents on hand to voice support for Hill in his bid
for the governorship were Mr. and Mrs. Bill Beckham and Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Barton of Wink.
(Staff Photo)
Trustees Approve Renovations
BY MARTHA BREWER recommendations resulted in
Approval of additional only one official action. The
renovations at East Primary board voted unanimously to
% School, a review of school tax terminate the contract of
' assessment proposals and a School Tax Attorney Jack
discussion and consequent Hart of Midland,
disapproval of run-offs for Unanimous approval was
trustee elections highlighted given to reimburse Shirley
the Tuesday night meeting of Smith, contractor, for ceiling
the KISD Board of Directors, insulation costing $7,200
4, A half-hour Executive which was not included on
• Session at the onset of the the original cost estimate of
meeting concerning personnel the East Primary renovation
New Pastor Named
♦For Church Of God
Kermit’s Church of God at
436 South Olive has a new
pastor.
James A. Poff and his
family are new residents of
the city and he has assumed
duties as pastor of the Church
of God.
work. concurred with the request.
Approval was also given to Trustees gave final
Architect Larry Donham’s approval to board policies
recommendation that Smith concerning bilingual
be allowed to replace outside education. Approval was also
doors to East Primary School given to find acceptance of
as an additional renovation Section A of the Basic
project at a cost of $25,800. District Foundations’ account
Donham also requested of board policies,
that the Kermit Independent The board then discussed
School Board president sign Section B concerning the
together with the architect policy for election of board
and contractor, a certificate members. Trustee Gerald
of substantial completion of Speed made a motion to
renovation of the East approve run-offs in races
Primary project. This was where one of several
necessary so that the school candidates does not receive a
may officially occupy the majority of votes. Elmo Glass
building. The board (See TRUSTEES, Page 12)
Eight persons were
indicted by the 109th District
Court Grand Jury Monday
and no bills were returned in
cases.
Indicted on charges of
possession of marijuana, third
degree felony, were Stanley
Eugene Stone, Bonnie Jean
Stone, Gary Wayne Sommers
and Michael Eugene Tremble.
Following indictment,
Stanley and Bonnie Stone
entered guilty pleas before
109th District Judge Ken G.
Spencer and received a
ir£C-yeiU:-picbated:.sentence^
Tremble and Sommers
remained in Winkler County
jail Wednesday after having
bonds set at $3,000.
Paul Hillard Posey was
indicted for burglary, a
second degree felony, and
entered a guilty plea after
indictment. He was sentenced
to two years in prison.
Grand jurors also indicted
Darrell Duane Farley and
Ervin Wilbur Sims on theft
charges. and escape charges,
both third degree felonies.
They are still at large after
escaping from Winkler
County jail on Friday,
September 1.
Ronald Claude Alexander
was indicted on a theft
charge, third degree felony,
and is free on $5,000 bond.
District Attorney Glen
Two Sustain
Knife Wounds
Two Kermit residents
sustained knife wounds in an
incident late Tuesday in an
apartment complex in the
100 block of South Cedar.
Stella Peeples Fleetwood,
19, and Vernon Overcash, 32,
were both admitted to
Memorial Hospital around
midnight Tuesday following
the incident.
Mrs. Fleetwood was in
serious condition from knife
wounds and Overcash
sustained knife wounds and
gunshot wounds.
Kermit police department
investigators said they were
Williamson, in a document
filed in the district clerk’s
office, indicated no bills were
returned by the grand jury in
several cases.
Two of these cases
involved public officials. No
indictments were returned
after investigation into
alleged violation of the Texas
Open Meetings law.
Questioned in the case were
Winkler County Hospital
Board of Control members
George Campbell, Bob Pierce,
Sherwood Edwards, James
Waddell, L. V. Hill and
Danny Skaggs along with
County Commissioners
Weldon Wright and Leon
Nutt.
A no bill was also returned
concerning Sheriff Bill Adams
and a bribery offense
investigation which allegedly
stemmed from a discussion
between the sheriff and a jury
panel member.
A no bill was returned in
the case of Marshall Ross
Powell, charged with
possession of marijuana.
Members of the grand jury
were Mike T. Fierro, Roy
Hodges, Howard McKay,
Bobby Zane Egger, Catherine
Robinson, Maxine Glander,
D. L. Tomson, Steve Everest,
(See EIGHT, Page 12)
KISS YOUR BABY’ PROCLAMATION
Mayor Gerald McGuire signs a proclamation declaring the week of Sept. 18 as Cystic
Fibrosis “Kiss Your Baby” week in Kermit. Mrs. Judd (Renita) Finney is chairman for the
community’s fund raising campaign. Cystic Fibrosis is a leading genetic killer of children
and a crippling and debilitating lung disease requiring early diagnosis and treatment
essential to preventing lung damage and lengthing the lives of thousands of American
youngsters. The CF Foundation recommends that parents learn the signs of the
lung-damaging diseases. They suggest that parents can help discover Cystic Fibrosis by
kissing their children to detect the symptom of a salty taste to the skin that often denotes
the presence of this disease. Volunteers for a house-to-house campaign are asked to contact
Mrs. Finney at 586-3225 or to attend a brief training session at the Finney home, 414 S.
Ash, at 7 .p.m. tonight, Sept. 14. (Staff Photo)
Two New Jailers Hired
ii . . 1in c +.ri Two new jailers have department. as jailers,
called to 110 South Cedar the Winkler County Sheriff Bill Adams said Mrs. Jaquez has lived in
about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Sheriff’s Department, Lucretia Jaquez and Oscar Winkler County four years
replacing two who left the Alvarado have been employed and has no previous law
enforcement experience. She
No charges had been filed
late Wednesday and the
investigation into the case
was continuing.
Commissioners Okay
Maintenance Of Road
JAMES A. POFF
Members of Winkler Judge E. C. Locklear was request from Sheriff W. E.
County Commissioners present but did not vote. (Bill) Adams for the
A native of Virginia, he Court, meeting in regular Kermit City Manager installation of security lights
moved to Kermit from Arp, session Monday morning, Dennis Woodard appeared on the east side of the
near Tyler. ‘ Rev. Poff voted to continue to maintain before the court and asked courthouse. Adams said
attended school in West the Frying Pan Ranch Road, that the county ratify an estimated cost of the
Voting to continue to agreement with the City of installation was $101.55.
maintain the road from Texas Kermit to fund the Kermit The court took the
Highway 302 to the New Volunteer Fire Department sheriffs request under
Mexico state line were Retirement System, advisement. The bond of
Commissioners D. Leon Nutt, Following his presentation, Assistant County Attorney
Christine Ross andC.-Weldon the agreement was ratified. Ernest R. (Judd) Finney was
Wright. Commissioner Henry in other action Monday
Jones was absent. County morning, the court heard a See COMMISSIONERS, Page 12)
Virginia. His wife, Barbara, is
a native of Kentucky. They
have a daughter, Mary
Elizabeth, 7.
Rev. Poff was in the U. S.
Army for eight years, serving
in missile systems in both
Europe and Asia.
OSCAR ALVARADO
LUCRETIA JAQUEZ
and her1 husband, Joe, have
one son.
Alvarado goes ^ to the
Winkler County Sheriffs
office from a humane officer
post with the Kermit Police
Department. He also has
worked for the City of
Kermit in other positions.
Sheriff Adams said the new
woman jailer makes his
department in compliance
with state regulations
requiring a female jailer when
female prisoners are involved.
Ther sheriff said the new
jailers replaced Mack West Jr.
and Johnny Porter, who are
no longer with the
department. He said another
jailer, Dick Horner, has given
his resignation effected next
week. Homer will go to work
for a local firm.
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Brewer, Bert. The Winkler County News (Kermit, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 103, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 14, 1978, newspaper, September 14, 1978; Kermit, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1025022/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Winkler County Library.