The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 3, 1974 Page: 1 of 6
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Mathis Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Mathis Public Library.
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Court Extends Septic Tank
Registration Until ’75
X
15
c l
The Commissioners Court in
its regular meeting Thursday,
ettended the registration of
cmnty septic tank systems
fiom January 1, 1974 to
January 1, 1975.
In other business, the Court:
r -amended the 1973-1974
budget as per schedule of the
County Auditor’s office;
-accepted the resignation of
Jack Edwards of the San
Patricio County Drainage
District, subject to receiving
his letter of resignation;
-accepted the resignation of
Sam Ruegg, Assistant County
Agent, effective January 31,
1974;
-appointed Mrs. Vernice
Eakin to the County Library
System;
-purchased one link-belt
speeder dragline from Bado
Equipment Company of
Houston;
-purchased a tractor from
Girard Machinery and Supply
Company.
Meeting On Crop Contracting
To BeHeldln Sinton Friday
Within a few months most
aiea farmers will have to
decide whether or not to
emtract their 1974 grain and
cetton crops, and they can get
stand advice Friday afternoon.
D. P. Pawlik, County Ex-
tension Agent for San Patricio
ard Aransas counties, an-
nounced that a three-hour
edicational meeting on crop or
foiward contracting will be
hed at Sinton, starting at 1:30
p.n., in the County
Hememaking Building at the
Fjirgrounds in Sinton.
The meeting is sponsored by
tbs San Patricio County Farm
B-ireau, Sinton Young Far-
rrers, and the Cotton and Grain
Sorghum Sub-Committees of
tie County Extension Office.
Pawlik stated in a press
release that a big question on
the minds of many producers,
ard that “the final decision will
have to be made solely by the
producer. Another question
that comes to mind may be
what constitutes a legal en-
forceable. contract for
agricultural crops.”
Forward contracting of
crops is a financial tool, a
marketing tool and a
fm
DR. WILLIAM E. BLACK
.. .tospeak at meeting
management tool that removes
some of the uncertainty from
farming. But, prior to making
any commitments it is im-
portant that all concerned
become thoroughly
knowledgeable of all aspects of
contracting.
For those who are in need of
more knowledge of crop
contracting, an educational
meeting has been planned by
the three sponsoring groups to
thoroughly discuss this sub-
ject. The discussion leader will
be Dr. William E. Black,
Economist-Marketing and
Policy, Texas A&M University.
Dr. Black has had many years
of field experience and is well
qualified to speak on this
subject.
In his presentation of crop or
forward contracting, Dr. Black
will cover what it is, how is it
done, contract terms, contract
performance, why is it done,
and steps in contracting. He
will also discuss contracting
with your own cooperative
(marketing agreements) and
will discuss such things as to
what is it, why is it done, the
provisions, the benefits derived
by the producer, and
precautions and their use.
All aspects of crop con-
tracting will be covered for the
sole purpose of better in-
forming our producers on this
subject should they decide to
contract.
This educational meeting is
open to everyone and it is the
hope of the three sponsoring
groups that you will attend.
| (The iWwUus jNeros I
x :>
50 Years Of Service To Mathis And Surrounding Area
| VOLUME LI MATHIS, TEXAS, 78368, JANUARY 3. 1974 SIX PAGES—NO. 1 |
1973-The Year That Was
A Review Of The 1st Six Months
The Year 1973 was an event-
ful one in Mathis, as it was
everywhere. The weather,
farm crops, and the actions of
the city council and school
board occupied much of the
front page space in the Mathis
News. Some of the highlights
during the first six months of
the year are listed in the
paragraphs below:
Jan. 4-County Judge Percy
Hartman issued a statement
outlining what San Patricio
County has done in regard to
controlling pollution of the
waters of Lake Corpus Christi,
and policing the area. He said a
regulation pertaining to in-
stallation of septic systems,
etc., had been written and*
passed by the Commissioners
Court. This was in response to
Corpus Christi’s concern, and
its plan to annex all of the area
from Calallen to Wesley Seale
Dam.
Glenn Dorris reported the
sale of Mathis Gin to Lynn
Gillespie of Stamford.
Jan. 11 - Young Farmers
were to hold a farm equipment
Save Money On City Tax—
Homeowners 65
Sign For Exemption
Now is the time for Mathis
homeowners who are 65 years
of age or older to sign up for a
tax exemption from $3,000 of
assessed valuation on their
homesteads.
City officials said many local
citizens failed to take ad-
vantage of the new exemption
last year, when the law went
into effect. The City Council
recently approved an or-
dinance, making the tax
exemption permanent.
Super Bowl Ticket
Drawing Saturday
50 YEARS SERVICE as an oil distributor was completed
January I by Johnnie Wagnon of Mathis. Forty-nine of those
yfears were with the Gulf Oil Corporation, and the past year,
s(nce the closing of the Gulf warehouse here, he has serviced
customers for the Exxon Company.
Resolution Honors
Tate L. T. Porter
A drawing will be held
Saturday at 12 noon during the
Mathis Young Farmers bar-
becue at the High School
football field parking lot for
two tickets to the Super Bowl
pro game in Houston Sunday,
Jan. 13.
The Mathis Rotary Club has
been selling raffle tickets for
the football event for several
weeks n&v, and will continue to
WEATHER REPORT
The South Texas Onion
Committee has issued a
resolution as a tribute to the
memory of one of its members,
L. T. Porter, who died
December 10.
The resolution states that
Porter had served on the onion
industry in South Texas,
devoting considerable time and
energy to the betterment of the
industry, and was “a man
esteemed by his friends and
associates and respected by
all, who through his years of
See PORTER, Page 6
Date
High
Low
Rain
Dec. 24
78
60
.00
25
62
48
.00
26
75
35
.00
27
69
36
.00
28
84
41
.00
29
82
49
.00
30
88
47
.00
offer the chances at $1 each
until drawing time. Persons
who wish to make a donation to
the club’s community service
fund are urged to do so with
any Rotarian. A1 Pietsch is
club president.
The winner of the drawing
will receive two tickets to §ee
the Minnesota Vikings play the
Miami Dolphins.
Following the drawing, the
Young Farmers Farm E-
quipment Auction will start at 1
p.m.
The exemption is also
allowed by the county and local
school district, but each
homestead owner must sign up
with each agency between Jan.
1, and April 30 each year to be
eligible. The place to sign for
reduced taxes on city property
is at the Mathis City Hall.
Tax Collector Henry Franco
pointed out that probably many
people don’t know the great
saving in taxes which can be
realized by signing up for the
exemption.
Franco said, that as an
example, a home which is
valued at $10,000, when
assessed at 70 percent of its
value would be taxable for
$7,000. Persons over 65 years of
age are then allowed to deduct
$3,000 from that valuation,
leaving only $4,000 of taxable
property. When the $3,000
exempt amount is multiplied
by $1.90, the tax rate, the
savings amounts to $57 to the
taxpayer.
For persons finding it more
difficult each month to make
ends meet, this savings should
be an attractive feature. The
example of a $57 savings ap-
plies only to the city tax. Ad-
ditional savings await those
who sign up at the county and
school tax offices, if they are
qualified.
auction Saturday. Icy weather
conditions were being experi-
enced in the area.
Jan. 18-The School Board
voted to uphold the marriage
policy which prohibits its
married students frorfi par-
ticipating in athletics. . . .A
$10,000 scholarship program
was set up through the wJll of a
Mathis teacher who died in a
car accident.
Jan. 25--The Mathis Fire
Dept, had been called out for 37
fires during the past two
weeks. Most were grass fires,
with suspicion that arsonists
were responsible. . .Two
Vietnamese men spent two
weeks at the Bee County Co-op
in Tynan studying farm
methods in the area.
Feb. 1-Many Mathis youths
win County A&H Show prizes.
Kim Hennig was a double
winner, taking top honors in
the market steer competition. .
.The Mathis ISD was tem-
porarily enjoined from barring
married students from taking
part in school sports by U.S.
District Judge Owen Cox.
Feb. 8-The new County
Building in Mathis was open
for business, and auto license
plates were on sale. . .The new
low-rent housing project was
completed and awaiting HUD
approval. . .The school board
voted to appeal the federal
court’s married student order.
Feb. 15--Mathis received a
rare snowfall Friday,
measuring IV2 inches. The
occasion was especially
enjoyed by the children. . .Two
candidates, Ramiro Paiz, and
Maggie Paiz Rivera filed for
city council positions, the
election set for April 7. . .Three
Mathis Pirates signed for
football scholarships: Ronnie
Crenshaw, Steve Huddleston,
and Jimmy Porter.
Feb. 22-City Council Ap-
proves Revenue Sharing
Budget for $93,864. . . The
School Board set an election for
April 7. . .Kiwanis Pancake
Supper set for Friday.
Mar. 1 - Mathis schools were
to have a holiday Friday. The
Pirate basketball tear 1 was to
play in the state semi-finals in
Austin. . .The county and
school had approved $3,000 tax
ft
City Resumes Regular
Garbage Collections
The American Legion An-
nual Christmas Party held
Sunday, Dec. 23, was a success,
according to Legion
spokesman, Henry Franco,
with about 1,800 children
present.
Santa Claus was able to be
present, despite the energy
crisis, and arrived on the scene
riding on a fire truck. A bag
containing a toy, apple,
orange, candy, and bubble gum
was given to each child at-
tending.
The following is a list of
The City of Mathis is going
back to its regular garbage
pickup schedule this week,
alter a few weeks of collecting
only once a week from
residences.
A city official said after
being short on gasoline to run
its tnicks, the city has received
a new supply and now can
resume the old schedule of
twice weekly collections.
The City Council conducted
an emergency meeting
December 28 to discuss a
broken water well (No. 8). The
well was out of operation. Two
others are still operating, but a
city spokesman said that at
least two must be working at
all times in order to fill the
city’s needs.
The Council agreed to have
the non-functioning well fixed.
Local driller B. T. Sikes has
offered to check the well to
determine the exact trouble,
which was unknown early this
week.
In another matter, the
council tabled action on repairs
to the crawler-loader which
operates at the sanitary land-
fill, until officials can talk to
the company representative
which leases the machine to
the city.
Traffic Light, Gas Short
Fires Up, Daylight Later
The past week has been a
quiet one in the Mathis area,
according to local lawmen.
Justice of the Peace E. L.
Ridenour said things have been
pretty quiet in his department,
and DPS Officer Jerry Byrd
said there has not been much
traffic on the highways.
Probably the main reason
there has been little traffic is
the gasoline crisis, or the fear
of it. Many stations have been
closed at various times during
the New Year holidays, some
having run out of fuel.
Several grass fires and one
hay stack fire were reported
last week, keeping firemen on
the run.
Sunday, Jan. 6, is the first
day of the new winter Daylight
Savings Time. Everyone will
have to move their clocks
forward one hour, making it
dark that much longer every
morning for most folks, and
giving them an extra hour in
the afternoon after school or
work, before darkness falls
again.
The idea of the Congress was
to save energy, but doubts have
been expressed by many in this
area as to its advantage for
South Texas. It will give you an
extra hour to be cold in the
early morning darkness, or to
light the fire.
SIGN OF THE TIMES. This message indicates the energy
crisis has hit close to home in Mathis, as well as in other parts
of the country. The station displaying the sign is one of
several here that are limiting gasoline sales to customers.
businesses and individuals who
made the Community
Christmas Party possible:
Villarreal’s Food Market,
Sutherland Store, Evelyn’s,
Mathis Laundry, Mathis Feed
& Seed, Vidaurri Pool Hall.
Mathis Pool Hall, Tynan Food
Store, Felisiana Sambrano,
City Auto Parts.
Allen’s Stop & Shop, V.F.W.,
Villalon Ins. Agency, Jimson’s
Dept. Store, Henry’s Liquor
Store, Munozs’s Dairy Mart,
Coronado Flower Shop, Hope’s
Beauty Salon, Ranch Motel,
John C’s Cafe, M. E. Moses,
The Petal Shop, CP&L, Mar-
tinez Bros., Exxon Co. USA,
Western True Value, Percy A.
Hartman, County Judge,
Sandia State Bank.
City Lumber Co., Dickerson
Ins., Sears Roebuck & Co.,
Cantu’s Cleaners, La
Estrelleta
Mathis Builders Supply,
Western Auto-Bill Janak, Big 6,
Eat With Dot, D&W Feed &
Seed, Padron’s Grocery,
Mathis Drive Inn Cafe.
Ventura Martinez, Eliseo
Martinez, Balyeat Exxon
Service Station, Hub Phar-
macy, San Patricio Clinic, Ed
Hicks, Henry P. Knolle Farms,
Fink’s Garage, Holleman’s
Cash Store, Galvan’s Drive Inn
Grocery, Engler Bros., Mathis
Reynolds Sales.
American Legion Ladies
Auxiliary, Cub Scouts, Mathis
Volunteer Fire Dept., Mathis
Police Dept., and San Patricio
County Sheriff’s Office.
homestead tax exemptions..
.A special 50th Anniversary
Supplement was in the Mathis
News this date.
Mar. 8-The Mathis Rescue
Team moved to new quarters
at 214 Front St. the old Gulf
warehouse.. .Top hands for the
Western Day April 6 were Nita
Hinojosa and Abel Aguilar.
Mar. 15--A large crowd at-
tended a hearing on Neigh-
borhood Service Center. It was
feared the center would be
closed due to a cutoff of OEO
funds. . . .Mengers and Hicks
filed for the School Board race.
Six candidates will vie for
three City Council posts.
Mar. 22~The School Board
approved new teacher con-
tracts. . .Galvan withdrew
from city race. . .A lack of
Venetian blinds delayed the
opening of the housing project.
Mar. 29-Mathis Rescue
Team had returned after going
to Burnet to assist that city in
recovering from a very
destructive tornado. . . .Rural
sewage regulations in the
county become effective April
1____Kim Hennig was named to
the all-state second team in 2A
basketball.
moving into the new low-rent
housing, after blinds had
finally been installed. . . .Two
top honor grads were named:
Debbie Steinmeyer and Dawn
Winsauer.
May 17-Escaped County
prisoner Wayne Welsch drowns
See REVIEW, Page 6
PERCY A. HARTMAN
... County Judge
April 5-Dan Gandy resigned CoWltX Tud&e
: Mathis h^ad pnar»h will V
Announces
Election Bid
American Legion Community
Christmas Party Was Success
as Mathis head coach, will
move to Angleton. . . .Local
P.O. employees wearing new
uniforms.
April 12--Cavazos, Rivera,
Paiz win council posts;
Standlea, Mahoney lose. 661
votes were cast in the mayor’s
race, with Cavazos winning
with an 85-vote margin. Hicks
and Mengers were elected to
the School Board uncontested..
. .Onion harvest was bringing
unprecedented high prices.
April 19-The annual Western
Day Parade was held Friday
during a light rain. Peter
Rabbit handed out candy eggs
to the smaller children. New
city council and school board
members were installed.
April 26-Mrs. J. J. Baker
was named “Mathis Out-
standing Citizen of the Year”
■by the Rotary Club. . . .Seniors
returned from trip to
Washington, D.C., which was
termed a successful venture.
May 3-A large crowd at-
tended the Mathis Culture
Fair, and Mrs. Baker was
presented the Outstanding
Citizen award. . . .Margie
Garcia was appointed interim
city secretary city secretary,
following the firing of J. R.
Villarreal by the council.
May 10-Gene Walkoviak was
hired as the new Mathis head
coach. . . .Families were
Percy A. Hartman,
authorized us to place his name
officially in the announced
candidates column seeking re-
election to the office of County
Judge of San Patricio County.
In announcing his candidacy,
Hartman stated that he sin-
cerely solicited the support of
the voters in this county in the
Democratic Primary in 1974. If
elected he promises to continue
to fulfill the office of County
Judge with the same im-
partiality and fairness as he
has in the past, and will always
be a full-time judge for all of
the people all of the time. He
stated he has no outside in-
terests and has no reason to
have any distraction from the
important and far-reaching
problems that come before the
office of the county judge and
the commissioner’s court.
He indicated that his philos-
ophy has always been “it is not
what the office can do for me,
but rather, what I might do for
the office and render a more
perfect service”. This policy he
pledges to continue all the days
he may be privileged to serve
in public office.
See JUDGE, Page 6
ANOTHER Sign which carried an unwelcome message to
motorists appeared on several pumps during the long New
Year’s weekend. The sign was displayed Monday, and the
station was closed, most likely due to the lack of gasoline.
Several stations ran out of regular gas, but had premium for
awhile, and then sold out of that. Some reports indicate that if
gasoline does become more readily available, it will be at a
much higher price, perhaps as much as 10 cents per gallon
more. Most regular gasoline is already selling for more than
40 cents.
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Davis, Wilburn. The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 3, 1974, newspaper, January 3, 1974; Mathis, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1053032/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Mathis Public Library.