The Nocona News (Nocona, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 22, 1988 Page: 2 of 18
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Page 2A, The Nocuna News, Thursday, December 22, 19XX
Sound off!
November revenues
board's holiday gift
a
Numbers giving
’mixed signals
about Nocona
Bill Watson
Montague
onto someone's land near a house
without knowing what or who is in the
vicinity is extremely dangerous. I feel
fortunate that my wife is still alive.
Velma Ruth Jones Nanez
P.S. — Merry Christmas and
wonderful New Year for Nocona.
school enrollment.
Since 1985, the total number of
electric meters in Nocona (all types)
has declined 4.6%. At the same time
the total number of natural gas con-
nections has sagged 3.9% and enroll-
ment in Nocona Public Schools has
held in the Montague County Jail on
$2,000 bonds pending the Tiling of
formal charges.
Bratcher declined to release addi-
tional information involving the bur-
glary or the charges pending a comple-
tion of the investigation.
Nocona officers were also trying to
locate a small, child's tricycle which
had been stolen from in front of the
Tammy Lawrance home Monday
night.
Nocona officers have charged one
local resident with burglary and have
more in custody for questioning.
Police Chief Bill Bratcher said
Tuesday night burglary of a building
charges were filed Sunday against Axel
Thygescn III. He was arraigned before
Justice of the Peace Bob Biter, who set
bond at $2,500.
Two more Nocona men were ap-
prehended Tuesday on felony warrants
issued by Judge Biter. They were being
Illegal coyote hunters
On Dec. 16,1988,at6p.m.my wife
was feeding hay to our cows in our
pasture approximately 150 feet from
our house and 250feet from the County
Road (Dye Mound Road) southeast of
Montague. As usual, our dog was in
the feeding area with the cows and my
wife.
My wife noticed a car stopped on
the County Road. The car backed up,
the doors opened, bright lights ap-
peared (apparently a spotlight), one
shot was fired in the area of my wife
and our dog. The dog was approxi-
mately 15 feet from my wife. My wife
yelled out, “Why arc you shooting?”
A voice said, “I'll get him this time.”
Our dog then circled within approxi-
mately 60 feet from the car. The next
shot hit our dog. Our dog crawled and
pulled itself about 50 feet toward my
wife before dying of shock and loss of
blood. The bullet entered the chest
area existing at the rear of the shoulder
tearing flesh and bone from a 6-inch
diameter area. The bullet, evidently a
hollow point designed for exploding
flesh, was fired from a high-powered
rifle. My wife called out our dog’s
name after hearing her yelp and then
whimper.
The men then got back into their
car, taking their time and drove off
slowly.
I assume that the men wanted to kill
our dog and weren’t concerned that
my wife was nearby or that they were
coyote hunting illegally from the
county road. The killing of our dog
may have been unintentional. In any
case, the killing was irresponsible and
inexcusable.
The firing of a high-powered rifle
The hospital staff had an enjoyable
Christmas present ready for the No-
cona Hospital Board Tuesday — a
profitable hospital.
Hospital Adm. Wanda Billings
noted that for the second month in a
row, the hospital “was in the black and
in the black for the (fiscal) year” as a
result of a solid patient load, growing
surgical usage and utilization of the
new delivery room.
“I don t know about you, but that’s
one of the best (financial reports) I’ve
seen in a long, long time,” Board Presi-
dent Acce Atkison told the group.
The hospital admitted 68 patients
during the month of November for an
average patient per day load of 8.5 —
this is up from the 2.43 patients per
day experienced in November 1987,
and the 1986 and 1985 marks of 8.30
and 4.53.
The district’s year-to-date patient
load is an average of 6.86 patients per
day, again up from 1987, 1986 and
1985 figures of 4.39, 6.59 and 5.00,
reoorted Mrs. Billings.
Board Member Ben Hill pointed
out that the average billing per patient
was also up.
“That’s a result of the increase
surgeries,” Mrs. Billings said.
There were 19 surgeries performed
at Nocona General during November,
11 emergency room admissions (about
normal), 2 newborns, 200 out-patient
diagnostics and 11 observations.
Dr. Paul Reynolds, who attended
the meeting, noted that surgeries in
December should be about 25 as Dr.
Warnock of Wichita Falls has begun
School enrollment and utility con-
nections have been on a steady 1-2%
per annum decline for the past five
years.
B ut one statistical category i s going
in the opposite direction this year —
performing some surgeries in Nocona
with the local medical staff handling
day-to-day patient care.
Reynolds told the board that he
hoped to utilize the services of area
surgeons — performing surgeries in
Nocona. “Those that Rusty and I can’t
do.”
Reynolds was complimentary of
the the visiting surgeon’s opinion of
the hospital staff and equipment.
“We all know why we are busy,
because we’ve doctors using the hos-
pital,” Hill commented.
In other action, the board adjourned
into executive session to discuss per-
sonnel in the respiratory therapy unit
and the medical staff.
A committee was appointed to
examin future professional staff needs
involving not only the respiratory
therapy unit but physical therapist and
other licensed staff.
Mrs. Billings was authorized to
employee some additional adminis-
trative and maintenance staff mem-
bers to handle the increased work load
at the hospital.
Upon returning to open session, the
Board “accepted with regrets,” Mrs.
Billings said, the resignation of for-
mcrChiefof Staff Dr. Pcrsakdi Vadha-
nasindhu from the medical staff.
“We didn’t know anything in time
to get it on the agenda,” she said. She
added the board did not di sc uss whether
or not to renew efforts to secure a
fourth physician for Nocona — again.
The administrator stressed that the late
hour of the resignation did not give the
board time to post it on the agenda for
discussion.
Dear Editor:
At this time of year most of us
become nostalgic. One of the nicest
and wannest memories I have is of a
snowy week preceding Christmas Eve
in Nocona sometime between 1945
and ’48 — I’m not sure of the year.
Christmas carols were played over a
loudspeaker which had been placed
quite high as they could be heard over
the entire town. I believe it came from
the boot factory and was probably the
brain-child of Miss Enid Justin, though
I’m not sure. The only thing I am sure
of is the effect it had on my family and
me. Now 40 or so years later it is still
one of my fondest memories. That
particular Christmas the moon was
full, everything was white with snow,
not a breeze was blowing, and the
beautiful carol, “Silent Night” wafted
across the town. We snuggled in bed
between warm blankets and quilts;
raised the shade and window so we
could sec the glistening snow and hear
the beautiful music.
I would like to rather belatedly thank
the person or persons responsible. It
was lovely at the time and years have
not dimmed it.
Police Blotter
TRACKS AND TRACINGS
| The good..the bad...and.-the ugly J
| By Tracy R. Mesler
In this the pre-Chrislmas week, it
has been a case of ’The Good ... The
Bad ... and the Ugly ...’ in Nocona.
‘The Good ...’ of course includes
such positive items as:
—The Texas Highway
Commission’s approval of the full
Red River Bridge project, including
all of the connecting roadways. The
batde’s not over, but the ’prize’ has
been clearly defined. Now the focus
shifts north of the Red River to the
Oklahoma Highway Commission.
—The good financial news out of
Nocona General Hospital, that a
lengthy trend of expenses exceeding
revenues is apparendy being
reversed, and will continue to do so
with the increase in patient load as a
direct result of a doubling of the
hospital’s medical staff and major
improvements in its ability to
provide expanded services through
the addition of trained staff, aids and
equipment.
—And word that the county’s
largest, and apparently strongest
financial institution will be able to
establish a branch office in Nocona
to service its many already existing
costumers. That will, in all likeli-
hood, also mean an expansion of
institutions tried not to step on each
other’s toes by staying in their own
backyard. Changes in bank laws,
plus the economic trials and tribula-
tions that have struck Texas financial
institutions have modified such
’gentlemen’s agreements.’
The bad news ... includes:
—A rash of burglaries at Lake
Nocona, complete with brazen
masked bandits who literally knock
on your door before breaking in to
rip you off. Law enforcement efforts
are intensifying in an effort to pul a
halt to the thefts.
—Continued business closings,
bank foreclosures and bankruptcies
that have stricken a significant
portion of Nocona’s retail commu-
nity.
—The decision of Dr. Vad and
his wife to relocate to a colder
climate, partially as a result of
professional conflicts within the
Nocona medical community. As
happens when any established
professional dies or moves, they will
leave behind a number of disap-
pointed and, in this case, disheart-
ened former patients and friends.
The ugly... includes:
—The continued battle between
through mounting attorneys fees,
was ignored. Instead the city re-
voided its contract with the Jaycecs
concerning operation of the Nocona
Rodeo Grounds. That will apparently
set the stage for a February 2nd trial
in 97th District Court. This latest
twist of events may, and then again
may not, effect the pre-trial postur-
ing the two parties have taken. In
any case the continued black-eye for
this community’s ’leadership’ seems
to only darken with age rather than
disappear.
—And the conviction of Onie
Wayne Grooms for the Aug. 2
vehicular homicide of a 4-ycar-old
boy who was simply playing inside
his house — until Grooms’ car
backed through the wall. The ’ugly’
part is not that Grooms got the
maximum sentence in the case. The
’ugly’ part is the Texas Legislature,
in years gone by, saw fit to cut
drunks a little slack when it came
time to stand accountable for their
errors as irresponsible drivers.
Rather than facing maximum
penalties of 10 years and $5,000
fine, drunk driving killers should
have to face penalties in the range
that other, cold sober killers, face.
drooped 5.2%.
But while there are 2.0% less elec-
trical connections this time last year
and 2.2% less natural gas connections,
there arc 2.4% more school children.
“We’ve been on a steady decline
since 1978,” said Dickie Cox, local
managed for Lone Star Gas. “If it
wasn’t for the 11 conversions from
all-electric homes this year, it would
be even more.
Texas-New Mexico Power Co.
Manager David Hudson notes his firm
has experienced the same range of
decline over the past five years: l.,8%,
0.9% and 2.0% from one year to the
next.
Nocona actually had the same
number of students enrolled for the
first week of December 1986anditdid
for the first week of December 1985,
763. That plummeted 7.4% to 706 the
first week of December 1987 before
rebounding 2.4% to 723 this year.
“Maybe they arc all living out in
the rural areas,” Hudson hypothesized.
In any case one the numbers econo-
mists look at to determine whether a
community is growing or shrinking is
actually growing slightly.
are sold each year in the U.S.
especially glad to know and serve you!
Snow’s Marina
Jerry, Norma, Clint, Dale & Cristi
c
<T»
McNabb Feed Store
Teddy, Kelly and Employees
First National Bank of Bowie’s
lending policies to customers from
the northern half of the county. In
’the good old days’ the financial
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the Nocona City Council and the
Nocona Jaycees. An attempt at a
settlement, which would have ended
the drain on city and club coffers
Hopefully 1989 will see more of
the ‘good’ and less of the ‘bad’ and
most definitely less of the ’ugly*
events on this community’s hori-
zons.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Publication No. USPS 391-660
Tracy R. Metier —Publisher-Editor
Linda L. Mesler — Publisher-Editor
The Noam News is not responsible for
copy errors, typographical errors or any
unintentional errors that may occur in
advertising other than to correct it in the
next issue after it is brought to their at-
tention. First insertion of all tpes of
advertising is proof of publication, and
all adjustments will be made in reference
to the first appearance only.
Postmaster: Send address corrections to
The Noam News, P. O. Box 539.
Nocona. Texas 76255. Published Thurs-
day of each week at 507 E. Willow
Street, Nocona. Texas. Second class
postage paid at Nocona. Texas.
In Montague County
Adjacent County...
In State............
Out of State........
SI 1.75
$17.75
$20.75
$19.50
An erroneous reflection upon
character, standing or reputation of any
individual, firm or corporation which *
may occur in the columns of The Noam
News will be corrected upon being
brought to the attention of the publisher.
The publisher reserves the right to
refuse any or all material or advertising
deemed to be detrimental to the paper
and the community.
Established June 6, 1906
Nocona, Texas
Member of
Texas Press Association
North k East Texas Press
West Texas Press Association
w
Nncnna News
Merry Christmas to all from
R-B’8 FOOD STORE
Ray & Catherine White Buck & Robin White
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Mesler, Tracy R. & Mesler, Linda L. The Nocona News (Nocona, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 22, 1988, newspaper, December 22, 1988; Nocona, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1209608/m1/2/: accessed June 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Friends of the Nocona Public Library.