The Alto Herald and The Wells News 'N Views (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 12, 1987 Page: 1 of 8
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Gmdy G. Singletary
Rt. 1, Box 16k
■1 to, Toxv.o 75925
The Alto Herald
8 Pages
Vol. 91, No. 40
««. The Wells News ’N Views
Thursday, February 12, 1987—Alto, Texas 75925
25*
Council conducts business
KRISTY HANEY peeps out at the camera during nap time at Alto
Head Start last Friday. Casey Hamilton took his nap time seriously.
On Monday, Casey was hospitalized in Lufkin as the result of
medication administered during dental treatment. staff photo
Alto City Council met in regular
monthly session Monday, Feb. 9,
1967 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in City
Hall. A scheduled appearance by
Elton Brimberry concerning the
proposed Sunset Christian Nursing
Home was cancelled due to the
unavailability of plans for the nur-
sing home. Those plans are in
Austin, but Mayor Douglas Brad-
ford said he expects to have them
by next Tuesday.
During a discussion of claims and
accounts, Councilwoman Dixie
Dolcater questioned an expediture
of $17 to Kilgore College for tuition
for two officers for “inservice
firearms.” Alto Police Chief Dewey
McSwain was present to explain
Commissioners to consider
certificates for jail financing
Cherokee County Commissioners
will meet at 10 a.m. Monday, March
9 to consider passage of an order
authorizing the issuance of cer-
tificates of obligation to finance the
construction of a new county jail.
Bob Day of Tyler, vice president
of Rauscher Pierce Refsnes Inc.
met with commissioners Monday
morning to discuss setting the
meeting. This action is part of the
legal procedure to authorize the
county commiRNionrrH court to noil
certificates of obligations totaling
up to $2.7 million for the construc-
tion of the new facility.
A delegation composed of Charles
Hassell, Corry Wallace, Lester
Hughes, Donald Clayton, Jim
Cromwell, Tom Haddock and
James Long asked that the com-
missioner construct the facility on
property at southeast corner of the
square in Rusk.
Following Day’s presentation and
that of the Rusk citizens, Gary
Adams, vice president of Creative
Envrionmental Concepts, Inc. of
Lufkin, jail planners discussed
plans for the next facility.
County Judge Emmett Whitehead
asked Adams to take a look at the
other property while he was in
town. Adams said he thinks the
property is just less than two acres.
“You could squeeze the jail in on
that, but the jail commission
recommends more,” he said. After
Whitehead asked about the cost of
demolition, Adams said “it is ex-
pensive." The cheapest route is to
put the buildings out for bids and
pay someone to tear them down.
“This is all time consuming,” he
said.
In another matter, com-
missioners approved a request to
the Justice Department to locate
Voting Box 27 at the Ponta Baptist
Church fellowship hall.
Tommy Murray and Barbara
Murray were named election judge
and alternate judge for voting box
IS, Jacksonville.
Sheriff Allen Horton was named
Emergency Management Coor-
dinator to replace resigning coor-
dinator Bobby Townley.
Sharon Harry of Tyler, a member
representative of the Cherokee-
Rusk-Smith Counties Community
Action Program, discussed ac-
tivities of that agency with com-
missioners. Ms. Harry said she was
there to present information and
was not asking for court action. She
reported that the executive com-
mittee of the agency had allegedly
met and fired Charles Coleman,
executive director .without the con-
sent of the board. Also, she said that
10 members of the board had
requested the deputy director to
call a board meeting. This, she said,
he has not done.
Irene Sanders was appointed as
acting director by former Cherokee
County Judge Robert McNatt, who
served as CAP board chairman, ac-
cording to the speaker Ms. Harry
alleges that McNatt has not
resigned his position, although hv is
no longer an elective official.
In another matter, notice was
made that Judge Whitehead and
Commissioner Robert Underwood
were appointed to the East Texas
Council of Governments board at
the last meeting.
Bids for the purchase of creosoted
lumber and timber piling,
corrugated galvanized metal pipe
or aluminum, reinforced concrete
pipe culverts, gasoline, diesel fuel,
motor oils and grease, asphalts oils
and emulsions, aggregate, prime
coat, rock asphalt and remix were
approved at the meeting.
Council votes meeting
on natural gas payment
Wells City Council members
voted to have another meeting with
the Alto City Council regarding
money owed it by the Alto Natural
Gas Co. The two bodies have been
negotiating concerning the fran-
chise held in Wells. Date and time
of the meeting will be set at a later
time.
An election has been called for
April 4 to fill three council positions.
The terms of James Seymore, Tom
Ed Doss and Rick Williamson are
expiring. Deadline for filing is
February 18 at the Wells City Hall.
Miss Texas State Railroad
pageant deadline announced
Plahs are underway for the 1966
Annual Miss Texas State Railroad
Scholarship Pageant in Rusk, ac-
cording to Lester Hughes, chair-
man of the event. The pageant has
been set for March 14 at the Rusk
Junior High School cafeteria.
Hughes says girls and young
women between the ages of three
and 26 can pick up their entry forms
at the Rusk Chamber of Commerce
office. Deadline for entering is Feb.
10.
Competition will be offered for
the Tiny Miss, Little Miss, Junior
Miss, Teen Miss and Miss TSR
pageants.
Candidates for the Miss TSR will
be judged in four categories-swim
wear, talent, interview and formal
wear. The Miss Teen competition
will include everything except the
swim wear. All others will be
judged for talent and formal wear.
Scholarships will be awarded
winners in the Miss Texas State
Railroad competition. Also the win-
ner will have an opportunity to en-
ter the Miss Texas competition
later this summer in Fort Worth.
All winners will receive trophies
and titlea, according to Hughes.
Competition on March 14 begins
with the Tiny Miss, Little Miss and
Junior Miss at 2 p.m. The Teen Miss
and Miss TSR competition begins at
6 p.m.
Additional information is,
available at the Rusk Chamber of
Commerce office.
Deadline told
for candidacy
in ISD race
Last date for filing for a position
on the ballot for one of the two
positions coming vacant on the Alto
Independent School District Board
of Trustees is March 4,1967.
Applications may be made at the
ISD Superintendent’s office on Mill
Street between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m.
The only candidate to date for the
vacancies created by the expiration
of the terms of Sandy Holcomb and
Harold Parker is incumbent
Parker.
Pauline Chapmon was named
election judge.
Councilmen discussed a letter
from the State Highway Depar-
tment regarding the widening of
U.S. Highway 69 from the North
City Limits, Southeast to the East
City Limits. “The total par-
ticipating right-of-way cost is
estimated to be $232,000. This cost
will be shared on a 90-10 basis bet-
ween the State and the City."
Mayor Horace Johnson said he
would seek additional information
and the matter was tabled.
Chief of Police Terry Holman
gave the following report for the
month of January: one accident,
179 tickets, 33 warnings. 10 arrests,
29 calls and 2,183 miles.
Council voted to purchase new
tires for the police car.
Following an executive session,
payroll raises were tabled until a
later date.
that charge as a state-required cer-
tification on a rifle range. He went
on to say that in 1984 and 1985 he
took the course and prior council
approval was not needed.
Another payment questioned was
in the amount of $2,432 to the Texas
Employment Commission. Mayor
Bradford requested council’s ap-
proval to get a legal opinion on the
matter.
Lynn Montes, CPA with Axley
and Rode Accounting firm, was
present to review the 1985-86 city
audit. He explained briefly each
fund and how the money is obtained
and disbursed. He answered
questions from board members and
interested visitors. Councilman
Garwin Baugh made a motion to
publish the year-end balances of
each fund, one at a time. That
motion was seconded by Coun-
cilman Marshall Bynum and
unanimously agreed upon.
Ron Voss, representing Galaxy
Star Cablevision companies, ad-
dressed the board members and
audience to explain services his
company hopes to affect when the
sale of the cable company is
finalized. He stated that he expects
a sale date of March 31 and that his
company is in the process of ob
taming a toll-free number for Alto
citizens to use when trying to reach
the cable offices. He answered
questions concerning reception of a
channel on the cable. Questioned on
the possibility of a rate increase for
cable customers, Voss replied that
his company has “never raised
rates in our life, we adjust them.”
In tbe general laughter that
followed, Voss made his exit. Coun-
cil then voted to accept the new
cable company.
In a matter related to the con-
struction of the proposed new nur-
sing home, the mayor reminded
council members that an eight inch
sewer line and a six inch water line
needs to be laid to the site. On a
motion by Baugh, council voted to
construct the needed lines. Dolcater
voted against the motion because it
was not listed as such on the agen-
da. Following discussion, she
agreed to the construction with the
stipulation that the cost not exceed
$5,000; over that amount the project
would be put up for bids. Mayor
said that the construction would be
carried out with city workers and
equipment and the only major pur-
chase would be the pipe itself.
Bradford reminded council
members that the property tax was
lowered 10 percent overall last
year, in his plea to have the proper-
ty tax exemption increased from
One files in race
for Wells trustee
One person has signed up thus far
inthe Wells ISD trustee race. He is
incumbent Gene Carrier. The other
seat being vacated is that of Danny
Higginbotham
Persons desiring information on
filing for the two seats should con-
tact the superintendent's office.
v,d
-V
$3,000 to $5,000 for the disabled and
citizens over the age of 65 The
favorable vote was unanimous.
Council discussed purchase of a
new pickup truck for use by city
employees and trade in two older
trucks. Terry Black explained the
truck would be used for transpor-
ting tools and small equipment.
Council discussed the need for a
larger truck and agreed to get
specifications for several types of
truck. Purchase of the truck will be
advertised in the newspaper for
bids when specifications are agree
upon.
Baugh opened discussion of the
condition of the city ambulance
with the words. ‘‘We got a worn out
Wells ISD meet
slated Feb. 19
Members of the Wells l.S.D plan
to meet with members of the com-
munity next Thursday night,
February 19, at 7:30 o’clock in the
school auditorium.
Superintendent Michael Moehler
said he and members of the school
board would be available to answer
questions pertaining to the
operation of the school.
“Adults living in the Wells ISD
are invited to bring their
questions,’’ according to the
superintendent
ambulance.” Following discussion
with Bobby Germany, ambulance
driver, council agreed to have
Bradford contact Louise Harbor on
the amount of funds collected in the
ambulance fund drive begun last
summer.
Member Dolcater read from
minutes of the council meeting in-
March of 1986 when a reserve police
force was created for Alto. She
questioned expenditures for
liability insurance for the reserve
officers. She then made a motion
which passed unanimously to get
the facts and figures on the in-
surance costs. Joe Rocka, local
business owner, spoke in favor of
the reserve officers and cited an in-
stance this past weekend in which
reserve officer Mike Hooper alerted
local firms of the possibility of an
armed fugitive in the area At
present Mike Hooper and Dottie
McSwain are the only reserve of-
ficers in Alto. Another officer
recently left to join the county
sheriff's department.
Bradford spoke on behalf of a
local property owner who is having
a problem with large trucks making
a turn and cutting across his lawn
Terry Black, city maintenance
head, agreed to handle the matter
In final action, council agreed not
to raise the rate for natural gas
char ged to customers of the city gas
company
Following an executive session,
Bradford said no action w >s taken,
no votes were made
Alto Class Favorites
to be presented at PTA
Class Favorites will be presented
to the audience at the Alto School
PTA meeting Thursday, Feb. 12 at 6
p.m. in the cafetorium. Favorites
have been selected in each class
from kindergarten to the sixth
grade Girls will be given corsages
and the boys boutonnieres by the
PTA
Mason's Kindergarten: Jeremy
Jackson, Kristi Jones
Kawlinson’s Kindergarten:
Daniel White and Melissa Haseloff
Hick’s Kindergarten: Brandon
Barron, and Shlinda Germany
Anita Holcomb, 1st, Paula
Wallace and Steven Kahla
West-lst, Samantha Kesinger and
Albert Landa
Cromwell-lst, Lisa Hicks and
Justin Scott.
Trice-ist, David Heredia and
Cassidy Selman
Haffner-2nd, Patrick Pope and
Sharunda Casel
Kerrie Jones-2nd, Jason WTiite
and Leah Linneman.
A. Holland-2nd, Kelly Pearman
and Josh Lindsey.
French-3rd, Amanda Dixon and
Josh Glaze
Kesinger-3rd, Jodie Davis and
Cuco Heredia
Pearman's-3rd, Kelly Stewart
and Timothy Kennedy
Hendrick’s-4th, Carla Rogers and
Travis Jones.
Skinner‘s-4th. Wes Penn and Holli
Bass.
/
V*T
RONNIE TYER works on repairs to a broken half-inch water line In the parking area between Busy Bee and
Ian Antonio Street. -staff photo
Hall-5th, Ellen Pearman and
Kevin Pegues.
Jerrie Holland‘&-5th, Eric Penn
and Susan Walley.
Martin's-6th, Leah White and
Drew Wallace.
Roger's-6th, Emily Johnson and
Heath Landrum
ISD Board
will meet
Thursday
Alto Independent benooi District
Board of Education will meet in
regular monthly session at 7:30
p.m. Thursday, Feb 12 in the high
school library.
On the agenda for consideration
is a second reading on the policy
concerning use of charter buses in
the future, a discussion on the use
of the gymnasium, approval of
local policy on immunizations; set a
date for canvass of votes, approval
of additional honors classes; and
approval of a gifted and talented
program for 1967-88.
Also for discussion is changing
the local discipline policy. A
discussion is set for a report from
Knowles and Associates
Wells Homecoming
Association to meet
Weils Homecoming Association
meets next Thursday night,
February 19, at 7 o'clock at the high
ichool.
President C. W. Williams said
hat chairmen of the various ac-
ivities should have a report ready
Wells library board
selects new chairman
The board of directors of Rube
Sessions Memorial Library, Wells,
has been named. Chairman is
Michael Moehler and secretary-
treasurer is Gene Carrier.
Other members are Bonnie War-
ner, David Hopper, Pat Jordan,
Barbara Harris and Hazel Polk.
V
I
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The Alto Herald and The Wells News 'N Views (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 12, 1987, newspaper, February 12, 1987; Alto, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1146368/m1/1/: accessed July 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Stella Hill Memorial Library.