Mt. Vernon Optic-Herald (Mount Vernon, Tex.), Vol. 103, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 15, 1977 Page: 1 of 10
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FRANKLIN
COUNTY
55 Day*
without a
fatal traffic
ACCIDENT IN
neanng completion A distance
of 25 feet would separate the
buildings The area now used
by the Vo-Ag department would
Franklin County Sheriff Don
Qualls met with county com
missioneTs during their regular
meeting held Monday. Septem
tier 12, to discuss man power in
existing office building Most of
the space proposed in this area
would be utilized for record and
machine storage and filing
themselves after the Tigers
Following Mt Vernon s 17 15
win over the Brahmas last
year. Paul Pewitt completely
changed their offensive style
and patterned a new and more
effective one in tlie style of tb««
Tigers
The Brahmas have one main
advantage over Mt Vernon in
the upcoming game size The
Tigers are outweighed by an
proposed Clopton farm to
market road project
A recent investigation by the
Texas Highway Departments
District Office into the cost of
the project, as requested by the
Franklin County Commission
ers. uncovered an unexpected
their move but hope to
remodel the Interior and
possibly restore the front aS
it originally appeared before
moving.
51'fl
parking easier and help to
avoid unnecessary traffic con-
gestion
Refer To Diagram
of .School Complex Page*
Responsibility is pot oo
the shoulders of those who
can bear it.
William Feather
payment
Brothers
pany
V
K
iHt. Wnum
10 Page*—1 Section TW*day. wp< is, itn 15* Per Copy
$
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L
during the month of August
Approval was given the
'monthly reports ttf the county's
officers, which were presented
to the court
The transfer of SK7.fKL*> from
the Revenue Sharing Fund to
tlw permanent improvement
fund was approved The money
I
THE OLD First National
Bank Building is shown bore
a* it looked previons to its >
remodeling during the IMS*
Franklin Comity Library
has not announced plans for
11 I
nattgibbn
Area VI Young Farmer
VicePresident
The total proposed building
project would provide an
additional 15.uuu square fee1 of
neeiled space Sears projected
of
funds
by the
■I'
! ,
L t '
Old Bank Building
Donated To Library
from the Commissioners' Court
and a commitment of $1,192 and
inclusion in the annual budget
from the Mt Vernon City
Council This met the require
ments of $1 00 per capita and
application was made to
NETLS for an establishment
grant of $15,000 in April 1977
The Key Club then obtained
use of the former Williams
Insurance office from the First
National Bank in Mt Vernon
for use by the library and doors
were opened for donations in
March 1977 The library' was
formally opened for books to be
checked out on April 1. 1977
More space was needed and
the Key Club obtained use of
major departments compared
to the 1976 77 budget figures
include administration, $56.
671 up over $*1,916, street
department, $64,040 up from
, $55,787. fire department. $8,750
Bill Meek. Franklin County
Judge, and B F Ingram.
Commission of Precinct Three
in Franklin County, met with
the Franklin County Water
District's Board of Directors
Wednesday, September 7, to
request their support of the
Tigers Meet Brahmas
Head On Friday Night
Mt Vernon's Tiger varsity
will face Paul Pewitt's Brah
mas for their first home game
of the season Friday, Septem
tier Itl. beginning at 8 00 pm at
the new Tiger Stadium
Mt Vernon could tie facing
then own shadow on the
offense, except their shadows
are larger than they The
Brahmas run much the same
offensive pattern as Mt
Vernon, ami if they are good it
foreground The concrete
slab for the building can be
seen, center In the back
ground the short walls of the
sludge drying beds for the
plant can be seen. Rains
down from $11,320, police
department, $22,850 up over
$13,405; sanitation, $43,150 up
over $29,219 for tile 1976 77
fiscal year, water department.
$80,501) and sewer with $29,321
compared to the combined
water and sewer total project
ion for 1976 77 of $99 531
Extra expenditures include
funds for higher utilities caused
with the start of the sewage
treatment facilities Estimates
place a six month operational
expense incurred by the plant
al $3,950
Councilmen authorized the
advertisement for bids to
supply a long bed pickup, a
short tied economy pickup, and
a front end loader for the citv as
provided in the 1977 78 budget
Other large expenditures plan of parking, fans can make
heavy expense in the second
segment of the proposed
roadway from FM 115 south
west for 24 miles
It was discovered that five
pipelines will have to be
crossed by the second segment
of the road, instead of the two
that were originally known of
by the commissioners These
five pipelines could add $47,000
to the costs of right-of way for
the project if done now
however, this cost could grow
due to inflation to $55 000 to
$6i).ooo by the time construction
would actually take place two
or three years in the future
The five pipelines in question
and the estimated cost in the
crossing of each follows
Scurlock Oil Company <a
former Gulf line), 8". $9,000
Texoma 30 ". $30,000, Amen
can Petrofma. 10". $3,000.
Mt Vernon and Franklin
County residents should re-
strict their parking from the
visitors parking are*, which to
located on the west side of the
average ol 15 pounds per man
on the line
()ftensive linemen such as 230
pound Randy Clayton, 240
pound David Thomas, and 230
pound Kent Huddleston will teat
the Tiger defense tf the
Brahmas arc successful in
tearing a hole in the Mt Vernon
defense, the speed of running
back Janies Hood, split end
Danny Stlgers, and tight end
David Evans will gather
is because they havezpattcrned yardage
Brahma* Clayton. Thomas
and Huddleston will also be
found tn the defensive lint,
along with 185 pound Kent
Thigpen, and 185 pound Curtis
Johnson
A total of 19 seniors are
playing for the Brahmas as
they return from a 2-7-1 season
in 1976 The Paul Pewitt team,
picked fourth in their i*AA
district, also have experience
with eight offensive and nine
defensive lettermen returning
Ml Vernon hopes to out
maneuver the Brahmas Coach
Tom Ramsey stated that extra
emphasis had tieen put on work
outs with the Tiger kicking
team during their week off,
with laith position and person
nel changes being made in the
kicking lineup
Earl Monroe, starting safety
for the Tiger*, will be out moat
of the season following surgery
for appendicitis last Week Jeff
Fuller, end and defensive
halfback, will be out for an
unknown amount of time after
eye surgery for the removal of
ulcer* David Carrell, still
suffering from a broken index
finger, will remain out of his
starting center spot, but
continues to play as defensive
line back
Correct Parking
At New Stadium
h Requested
Walter Sears, superintendent
of the Mt Vernon Independent
School District, this week
requested that persons Bitend
ing sll home football games
follow the parking arrange
ments planned by the school
He noted that by following this
$113,764 lift station, force main
and sewer line project along
Highway 37 south and across
I 30 Approximately $52,774 has
already been paid by the city on
the project Fojir Corners Joint
Venture, which is sharing in the
cost of the project will pay
$13,915 in 1977 78, and has
already made payments lota 11
ing $21085
Expenditures of $174,493 are
projected as the city's expend
Nee BUDGET Page 4
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r ;
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manager Shirley Lykins, to
write to the companies tn
question to urge them to bear
the expenses incurred in the
road's crossing of their lines on
behalf of the Franklin County
Water District
In other action taken by the
board, authorization was given
for the payment of $1,808 07 in
bills, which were presented for
payment during the month of
August Approval was given in
the reading of the minute* of
the last meeting
A release of Vendor s I Jen on
lot 20 in East Park was
approved by the board to John
T Stone
The board reviewed an
income expenditure budget
comparison report for the first
eight month period of 1977 The
reports showed that the district
is operating at 5 percent over
the budget for the period
The Board of Directors of the
First National Bank of Mount
Vernon voted in its August
board meeting to donate the old
bank building at Main and
Kaufman for use as a library
for the people of Mount Vernon
and Franklin County
The old bank building was
constructed of brick and
concrete-masonry in 1912 and
represents one of the soundest
structures in Franklin County
The Bank vacated the old
building and moved into its new
facility in 1965
The tile flooring and marble
counters within the building
are still *intact The lobby
ceiling is inlaid with an ornate
design crafted by transitory
artisans. It is felt that the use of
this historic building as a
library will not only insure the
continuing civic and cultrqal
growth of Franklin County, but
will also aid in the revitali
zation of the Mount Vernon
square
The Bank also announced
that the North East Texas
Opportunities. Inc offices have
been moved from the old bank
building to a more functional
office space at 110 Houston
Street on the east side of the
square.
The Key Club of Mt Vernon
is responsible for getting the
library project underway for
Mt. Vernon and Franklin
County as they adopted it as
one of their projects for 1976
They met with Mrs Lum,
librarian in Mt Pleasant, who
advised them to contact the
Northeast Texas Library Sys-
tem (NETLS) to look into the
possibility of getting an
establishment grant
NETLS was contacted and
Mrs Elizabeth Crabbe, of that
organization, met with the Key
Club in November of 1976 and
informed them of eligibility
requirements in NETLS
It was at this time the club
voted to make the library as
their project A committee was
appointed to meet with the
Commissioners’ Court and the
Mt Vernon City Council so that
the library could be included in
their budgets
They received a commitment
of $4,000 for the first year and
inclusion in the yearly budget
be converted to classrooms
needed for high school use
Tbe third proposed expans
ion would be in the main
hiring of John T Hearn, as a
deputy for the Franklin County
Sheriff's Department effective
September 1 His salary is
funded through the CETA
program
Authorization was given lor
the payment of outstanding
accounts filed for payment
Gibbs Elected
Area Young
Farmer Officer
Nat Gibb*, president of the
Mt Vernon Saltillo Young
Farmer organization, was
elected vice president ol the
Area VI Young Farmer
Association during the meeting
held al Quitman High School
Thursday. September 8
-Gibbs, a former Dallas
businessman moved to Frank
Im County near Saltillo, and I*
currently involved in ranching
Nee GIBBS Page 4
the building formerly occupied ' 2
by Merle Norman Cosmetic
Studio from the bank for use as
a work room The number of
books continued to increase and
shelving had to also be added in
this area
The estabhshement grant
was approved and the library
received $17,545 in June 1977 to
be used for books, equipment
and supplies The library also
received a grant in the amount
of $16,000 through N E T
Opportunities to be used for
salaries and the library now
employs a librarian, assistant
librarian and two aides There
is also a possibility that the
library will also receive a grant
to employ a senior citizen in the
near future
The library now has approxi
mately 11,000 volumes and has
received tremendous response
and support from the common
ity. the Commissioners Court,
City Council and libraries in
neighboring communities
Circulation is between 900
and 1,000 volumes monthly and the department and food costs
249 library cards have been
issued, several of which are
family cards The library
continues to receive approxi-
mately 100 books per week in
donations
Now that the bank has given
them the old bank building and
considerable remodeling is
needed to make it suitable for
use as a library, the library is
in need of donations or a
considerable grant for this
purpose before they can move
into the much needed expanded
quarters
i
.....
r . 1
have delayed progress
*oniewhal. however ran
olrui tioa I* bark underway
in the $1 million project
i Staff Photo >.
for the county jail A* a result
commissioners approved an
increase in prisoner food
allowances
Quails noted that for some
time the county had allowed
$2 00 per day to feed each
prisoner This amount is not
enough to pay for tbe coat of one
complete meal from a restau
rant He pointed out that new
federal jail standards require
that prisoners be fed three
meals per day The balance of
the cost of feeding the
prisoners, an average of six per
day. has tieen absorbed by
Sheriff Qualls
Commissioners authorized a
doubling of the amount allowed
daily for each prisoner s meals
to $4 00
Qualls also noted several
other improvements required
in the local jail facility in order
to tiring the jail up to standards
set forth by the federal
government, including the
addition of bunks to the
facilities, floor drains in each
cell, a padded cell for prisoners
with mental problem* and the
need for a full tune jailer
Jailer and dispatcher Jerry
Elmore, yvho is working for the
Sheriff's Department under the
CETA program will no longer
be urvier the program after
September The Sheriff re
quested that the county p*k
him up as a full time county
employee as of August I
The member* of the ommis
stoners court took the request*
under advisement until)t* next
meeting on September 26
In other action taken by the
court approval wa* given a
plat of the Tall Tree East
development, located east of
F M 2723 near Lake Cypres*
Springs The approval wa*
given with the reservsn«i that
it did not indicate the county »
acceptance of dedication of the
roads reflected in the plat
Approval was given for the
little league baseball field east
of the main school complex,
ami just south of the existing
field Bid* will be solicited for
the placement of carpeting in
the foyer and aisle ol the
•i.ihtonum. principal* offices
instrument room* of the
band hall
Approval was given for the
advertisement of bids for the
p<ncliAM> uf t| hand inatru
ments for use by tmth junior
, high .in * high school student*
Those instruments to be
purchased are primarily bra**
instruments
Tlw trustees authorized the
assignment of Unda Talley and
Vvonne Scott as tennis coaches
for the year
Approval given for the
continuation of the school a* an
East Texas Study Council
member, and authorized the
district to join the Texas
Association of Community
Schools
The payment of outstanding
debts in the amount of
$138,244 74 wa* approved
an average cost of per
square foot to complete ftie
entire project approximately
one half million ilollars
According to Seat* the
building project as proposed
could be completed through i
tax bond maue. which could be
retired in from five to 10 year*
time without raising taxes
above the present rate of $1 2U
per $100 valuation He noted
that some surplus would be
twill up following the done of
the present fiscal year
The tx»ard took the matter
utxier advisement, and in
strut ted Sears to provide llietn
with more information con
cerntiig the proposal
In action taken by the lioard.
approval "was given for the
requesting of bids for the
school's purchase of 19 tvpe
writers, which will replace the
manual typewriters remaining
in the business class depart
ment of high school Blds an*
also to tie called for in the
construction of the 200 x200
Expansion Proposal Presented To MVISD Trustees
A Classroom and office
building expansion project was
proposed and presented to
members of the Mt Vernon
Independent School District's
Board of Trustees during their
meeting Monday evening.
September 12 The proposal
was presented by Walter
Sears, superintendent for the
district, and Louis Gomardt,
architect for the school on the
almost completed dressing
rodm facilities and classroom
Sears pointed out that the
continuing increase in the
number of children in the
school system, especially in the
elementary school In 1975-76 in
graded K through five enroll
ment was 359, 1976-77 the
number was 405, and in 1977 78
the figure has jumped to 429 < an
increase of 60 in three years)
"We are fast outgrowing our
accommodations." he stated,
and projected that proposed
classroom additions would
need to be ready for occupancy
no later than September of 1980
The proposed expansion in
the elementary division of the
school calls for the addition of
five classrooms, 4,000 square
feet of space Present plans call
for this addition to be made
onto the north end of the
existing elementary class-
rooms
Also proposed is a complete
new vocational building The
proposed new vocational facili-
ty containing 9,000 to 10,000
square feet of space, would
include three large classroom
areas, restrooms, office space,
shower facilities and an extra
large shop area The additional
space would allow the addition
of another vocational teacher
and the expansion of the
department to offer either a
buildings and trades class or
class on farm mechanics, as
well as those already offered.
The suggested site of this
facility is just south of the field
house and dressing rooms now
projected in the adopted budget
include provision* for an
assistant policeman for the city
and acqusition of a replace
ment car for the department
In general expenditures
$4,300 was projected to cover
costs incurred in the rwvalua-
tion study being made this
year
Capital expenditure* for
1977-78 include $25,990 for the ____
stadium entrance Thu parting
lot, which can accommodate
4<)i) vehicles, can ba entered
from Highway 37. It to to ba
used by visiting fans, viaitore'
)>and and pep squad buses, and
the local law enforcement and
ambulance agrociea
Parking area along the
Ixxilevard leading to the main
school building* and in paved
parking lots on both the north
and south of the main school
complex and accommodate M0
PARKING Pegs ‘
BRIt'K for the coOstrertion
of the walls ol the central
office and laboratory at the
ML Vernon sewage treat-
ment plant no* under
construction sits in the
Breath Of Life
Campaign
To Begin
Citizens of Mt Vernon will be
taking to the streets in mass
September 19 through 23 as
volunteer marchers for the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's
1977 Breath of Life Campaign
Marching door-to-door, the
volunteers will be asking for
contributions to help children
who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis'
and other lung damaging
diseases
Mrs Edward Joyce, who is
1977 Breath of Life Chairman in
Mt Vernon, noted that the
campaign serves a dual
purpose “It raises vital funds
and also promotes public
education on lung-damaging
diseases "
“If you knew what I know
about cystic fibrosis and lung
damaging diseases in children,
you'd do anything to help A
serious health problem in the
United States today, lung
damaging diseases afflict mil-
lions of youngsters and take a
higher toll of lives than any
other disease except cancer
These children need our
support to keep breathing and
to live longer, more normal
lives "
Because early diagnosis and
prompt initiation of treatment
are important, all parents
should know the signs of cystic
fibrosis and other lung damag
ing diseases in children
Signs of lung^iamaging dis-
eases are recurrent wheezing,
persistent coughing with ex-
cessive mucus, pneumonia
more than once, excessive
appetite but poor weight gain,
and clubbing (enlargement of
the fingertips) !
Other signs peculiar to cystic
Fibrosis are a salty taste to the
skin, nasal polyps and per-
sistent, bulky diarrhea
'The most senous of all lung
damaging diseases in children
is cystic Fibrosis, a leading
genetic killer in children
Affecting one in every 1.600
children born in the United
States, cystic fibrosis Is
inherited and has no known
cure ,
Although the disease is
presently incurable, advances
in treatment have considerably
lengthened the life span and
increased the quality of life for
children suffering from CF.
administration office Thia
phase would be the smallest
expansion 500 square feet. U>
go both north and »outh of ttw
Water District Board Asked To Support Road Project
Delhi Gas, $3,000. Texas
Utilities, $2,000
Completion of the entire
project would link F M 115
from just south of the bridge
acrosa latke Cypress Springs
with Highway 37 near Wylie
Methodist Church, and shtiuld
help the growth and develop
ment on the south side of laike
Cypress Springs, which is
behind that of the rest of the
area
Judge Meek stated that the
court plans to contact each of
the companies in an effort to
get them to bear the expense of
their ow n line The court is also
seeking help and support from
the highway department, water
district's board of directors,
and any other organization that
might help
The directory pledged their
support of the project, and
authorized the district s office
Ml \ rrniMi franklin I <wnl* Trxs*
Council Approvesl977-78 Budget
The Mt Vernon "City
Fathers" approved a 1977 78
budget of $382,601 an increase
of $59,359 over the 1976 77 figure
of $323,242 in expenditures The
approval came following a
budget hearing on the matter
Tuesday. September 13
Revenues reflected in th«-
budget total $396,041. compared
to the 1976 77 total of $325,310 a
$71,731 increase
The largest revenue increase
reflected in the new year's
budget was indicated in the
water and sewer fund An
increase of $49,462 is predicted
from water revenue. $151,462.
compared to $l<r2,(XX) projected
for the current fiscal ytoir
Another large reverlie in
crease is projected in the
General Fund from sanitation
Revenues from this source is
expected • to reach $54,000 a
$12,000 increase from $42,000
projected in the 1976 77 budget
Ad valorem taxes account for
another large portion of the
city * revenue’with $55,000
being projected for the coming
year A suprisingly small
increase was reflected in the
budget for ad valorem taxes.
$2,662, over the $52,662 for the
197677 budget
The council voted to maintain
the existing tax rate of $1 10 per
$100 valuation which is tiased
on 50 percent of the assessed
value
Revenue sharing fund* in the •
amount of $25.859 js expected in
1977 78. a slight increase over
1978-77 budget figures of
$24,800
Although revenue inc reased
in the area of water and sewer
funds so have expenditure
projections
Expenditures in each of the
i - In
Commissioners Up Food Allowance For Jail
complete* the transfer
$200,000 in revenue
designated for use
hospital
A bill of $79,738 61 was
preMmli-d and approvisl for
from tile Hardin
Construction Com
VLcT'oflln Center
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Bass, James T. Mt. Vernon Optic-Herald (Mount Vernon, Tex.), Vol. 103, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 15, 1977, newspaper, September 15, 1977; Mount Vernon, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1295594/m1/1/: accessed June 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Franklin County Library.