Stephenville Empire-Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 108, No. 264, Ed. 1 Monday, June 27, 1977 Page: 1 of 8
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tribune
Vol 10K, No.‘264
Monday, June 27, 1977
Stephenville, Texas. 76401
1 Pages
One Section
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U.S. trade
FA
!
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the Commerce Department reported
today.
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Jail fire kills 42 in Tennessee
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Postal service takes holiday
Gilbert issues statement
in an effort to clear up some confusion
on the recent Stephen
le School board
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added at Central Elementary.
Estimates run as high as 2,000 years worth
Museum gets addition
Can shale gas fill our fuel needs?
$ 1
Devonian and Mississippian shale deposits of the UNITED States
E-T wins award
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Cleanup successful
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That there is at least some the rock Another is to force
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gas available is not doubted water into a drillhole and split through the short term energy
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"Various plans had been considered by
the board, but because of the time element
and failure to receive a school finance bill,
the plan which would cause the least
amount of move and involve moving the
fewest students will be initiated for the
OPTIMIST FISHING RODEO WINNERS-Winners Id the annual Stephenville Optimist
Club fishing rodeo are shown with their prizes Saturday following the contest at
Country Club lake. From left to right (top row): Dean Keith and Karen Savage;
(middle) Mike Collier and Ron Presley; and (bottom) Ben Bradberry and Jason
Westbrook. Winners in the 4-8 age group were, biggest fish; Jason Westbrook; smallest
fish, Ben Bradberry; most fish, Dean Keith. Winners in the 9-14 age group were:
biggest fish, Karen Savage; smallest fish, Ron Presley; and most fish, Mike Collier.
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busing plan for the elementary schools,
superintendent Ben Gilbert released the
following statement Saturday:
The dozen persons who volunteered their
tine and services.Saturday made the work
day at the Stephenville Historical House
Museum a success
While some volu nteersc leaned the floor s
d The Chapel on the Boque and waxed the -
church pews, oth er s hauled, clea ned, and
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Stephenuille Empire
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Total exports in the first five months of
the year were valued at $49.8 billion, while
imports were at a ecord levri of $59.6
U llion. — :------*
if the January-M$y pace of imports
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The shale has been mined to
some extent for more than 50
years As many aS 700,000
wells have been drilled in the
Devonian deposits, and a few
of them still profit after
decades of operation Present-
ly, about 75 per cent of Ken-
tucky's gas production is
thanks to the shale field
And yet, though it’s there,
the Devonian gas has been
mostly ignored The reason is
that it is difficult to extract in
great quantities Large corn
panies would rather explore in.
soft sandstone than in hard
shale DeWitt Langford says
many drillers have for years
bored through the shale to get
to easier gas deposits un-
derneath .
Occasionally there are gaps
in the shale which do house
easily recoverable gas More
often the gas is embedded in
cracks and crevices and yields
only to wells that cut across
the sources and collect the
bounty in dribs and drabs And
too. great amounts of gas
simply cling to the rock and
thus may never be commer-
cially available
Currently, there are three
ways to get the gas One is by
~ tapping natural fractures in
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lake If 60 years of Devonian
shale is available a third of it
is still 20 years if 21.500 vears
of gas exists overall a small
part would see the nation
through many centuries
God doesn t promise it all
. explains DeWitt Langford
we re only entitled to .what
we eed
TOMTIEDE
imports of foreign oil and coffee helped cut teas in purchasing power to Americans and months of 1 976. .
the t is trade deficit in May toll 2 htlliun. can result in reduced employment and On the export side, the Commerce
die lowest monthly deficit so far this year, production at home. , Department said there were increases in
Although the May report on oil imports foreign sales of machinery and trans-
was encouraging, the tmtal value of portation equipment, crude materials, continues for the entire year, total imports
imports of $17.8 billion so far thia year chemicals, beverages, tobacco and would be 1143 billion for the 12-monthpe-
represents a $5.5 billion increase over the manufactured goods. ' nod, a 19 per cent increase over 1978. ‘
------------------------------ J__________________________
Members of the museum board, which
sponsored the work day, have labeled it
"successful and
me-ee-de=tts-aas--=-==---txaia- : --7;"
drops
But even though the May figure was less
than half the record monthly deficit of 12 6
billion in April, the nation's over-all trade
deficit for the first five months of 1977 was
still at a record of nearly 19 8 billion.
The deficit also marked the 12tH
consecutive month in which imports
" exceeded exports.
The improvement in the May trade
Joe Holt bought his share from
Ulpian’s daughter, Mrs. Frey. In 1955,
Tom Bridges purchased the share of
the store as Joe Holt was in poor
health. And for the first time in 83
years, the name Holt was absent from
Erath pharmacy operations.
"As times changed and medicine
progressed with the introduction of
antibiotics and such, drugs are
dispensed’ now (counted out Into
plastic containers with childproof'
tops) rather than compounded’ from
the Doctor's individual prescription,
and so the once-standard equipment,
the delicate apothecary scales for
grams and grains, the mortar and
pestle for grinding and mixing, the
marble slab with calibrated edge to
facilitate measuring out individual
doses of powders to be folded into
fourth and one section of fifth grade be jail's drunk tank On Saturday and placed in
moved from Chamberlin to Central the padded cell because he had stuffed up a
Elementary School in order to provide toilet and caused a flood, authorites said,
space for additional first and second grade State law requires that juveniles be segre-
at Chamberlin. A third grade would be gated from adult prisoners, and officials
most helpful".
coal, he put gas. I say that if
we start looking here in Ken-
tucky. we ll be awash with
natural gas."
Theology aside, there is
growing scientific opinion that
supports DeWitt Langford’s
view No less a body than ‘he
U.S Energy Research and
Development Administration
(ERDA) suggests that Ken-
tucky and 12 other Ap-
palachian states are floating
on enough untapped gas to
supply the nation's needs for
perhaps 60 years >
Experts say the gas is
secured in 160.000 square
miles of Devonian shale The
shale is a dense, clastic for-
mation created 350 million
years ago when Appalachia
was under sea water The
rock deposit now stretches
from Western New York to
central Alabama, and ranges
in thickness from a few feet to
nearly two miles
As to its lode, no one is cer-
tain But ERDA believes
there may be more natural
gas in the shale than presently
exists in all other known U S
reserves (216 trillion cubic
feet) Some researchers think
the shale contains up to 1,200
trillion cubic feet (tef) of gas.
which if,consumed could meet
America's current demand
until the year 2040
By Tom Tiede
LEXINGON, Ky -
(NEA) — Energy shortage?
DeWitt Langford believes
there is merely a shortage of
, faith He is a longtime fuel ex-
plorer who insists that God,
"the Great Geologist," was no
dummy “He made plenty of
the stuff. All He asks is that
we look for it The thing is, we
have to start looking in
different places "
Langford, 74, looked for oil
in Texas and Oklahoma for
more than a half century Now
he is looking for natural gas in
Kentucky Many say he's
crazy, that Kentucky is a coal
state, but Langford isn't
listening "Where God put
WASHINGTON (AP) — A big drop in from sale of its goods abroad. It means a value of imports during the same five
I I
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"ev
ed
3 4 *4 a.
laid bricks forming a patio in the Carriage ,
House shed. Bricks had been dumped on
museum grounds following the razing of
the building where the Empire-Tribune
offices once we re lo cated, corner- of
Wasington and Columbia
This patio shed will be used for serving
refreshments’during the dedication of the
-Carmack Log Cabin 6 p.m. Sunday, July 3.
- 'Trash from the restoration of the
Chapel, which was Stephenville’s bicen- ,
tennial project, was cleared from the side.
d the building, andlanter ns were installed
in one of the rooms of. the Carriage House.
Also started during the work session was
the building of shelves in the storage attic
d the Carriage House
report resulted from a 4 per cent increase .
in exports to a 1977 high of nearly 110.4 biL ung prison inmate suspected of setting,
lion, while imports declined 8 per cent to his foam rubber-padded cell afire and
just over $11.6 billion, unleashing toxic fumes that asphyxiated visiting period.
The Commerce Department said the 42 persons, 34 of them.inmates trapped in
drop in imports was due largely to a $625 their locked cells.
million dkeeecline in foreign oil imports Attempts to rescue the victims were
and a $144 million drop in coffee from hampered when a deputy sheriff carrying
abroad ~ . keys to the Maury County Jail's 12 cells
The total cost of oil imports in May was collided with fleeing visitors Sunday
$3.1 billion, the lowest monthly total this afternoon. He dropped the keys on the floor
year. and was unable to find them for about 12
The reduction in the trade deficit was minutes, officials said
certain to be welcome news to the Carter One husband and wife, who both were
.administration, since the rising level of prisoners, died in the fire.along with his
trade deficits had become a major visiting parents and sister. In ahother
kzememzpsmdednmmemeimmeemepnsmgemanenammngma
The U.S. Postal Service will operate
on "a normal holiday schedule on
Monday, July 4, in observance of
Independence Day according to
Stephenville postmaster Glenn Wil-
hams. ----- > • - -- — ,.
No residential, business or rural
delivery, will be provided. No window
service will be provided. Lockbox and
caller service is dependent on-local
customs and conditions, but generally
-is limited to distribution to main post
office boxes. Special delivery sendee
including delivery or perishables and
holiday collection service will be
provided as usual.
the rock laterally for miles
The third is to drill, then stuff
the chamber with as much as
10,000 pounds of nitroglycerin
that shatters the rock to
create a collection cistern
However, each method has
some degree of a common dis-
advantage That is no method
can yet proqjKe wells that
deliver enough gas to interest
large exploration operations
Hence, the government has
gotten into the act. ERDA is
now budgeting $16 million an
nually to study the shale
potential and to encourage its
eventual utilization
.Such utilization may be
critically needed, say the
federal researchers Natural
gas provides America with su-
per cent of its fuel needs
Moreover it is a critical ele
ment in (he manufacture of
more than 3 500 products
from crayons to liquid fer
tihzer-— and thus provides
salaries or commodities for ,
nearly every American
So it is that those involved in
the ERDA study are
enthusiastic, about gas ex
ploration and not just as it
regards Devonian shake.
Agefcy researchers believe
clean natural gas, not dirty
coal may yet see the nation.
targe"ka=c==e-
Trailblazers pick queen
__________________- ' - • /
The 15th annual Erath County Trail- Mrs. Jessie Tackett.
blazers Rodeo finished Saturday night Jana Richardson, daughter of Dr. and
with the crowning of the 1977 sweetheart, Mrs. Swan Richardwon, received the 1977
little miss, and beau prior to the final little miss crown from outgoing title-
events. holder Lori Noland, daughter of Mr. and
Janet Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mrs. James Noland.
Eddie Johnson was crowned as the 1977 Joey Staude was honored as 1977 beau.
Trailblazer sweetheart by outgoing sweet- Outgoing beau for the Trailblazers was
heart, Cheryl Tackett, daughter of Dr. and Rode White.
say they will bring arson charges againsadgarette." time of the fire. Of the 22 who got out alive,
young prison inmate suspected of setting Eight of the 42 victims were visitors 19 were flown by helicopers to two
leaving at the end of Sunday's «»4>eaF;''lii)ep||a^ 60 miles north
of Columbia, officials said.
Authorities said 18 other persons,
including two firemen, were treated for
injuries at local hospitals.
Gov Ray Dlanton, who flew over the fire
in a helicopter, said, "We knoirtt has to be
one of the greatest tragedies we've ever
had in Tennessee."
Blanton promised an investigation.
"When you have 42 persons dead within a
few minutes," he said, "you need to know
why they were lost."
Authorities said rhe bunting foam bber -
in the padded cell spewed heavy smoke ad
toxic fumes, including carbon monoxide
and possibly some cy anide gas, through an
air duct system, setting off panic among
the inmates and visitors.
The fleeing visitors collided with Deputy
Sheriff Jerry Dickey, causing him to drop
keys to the cells. Dickey had to grope on
the floor through the smoke for the keys,
said Deputy Sheriff Howard Blake.
presently only two sections. There is Should some parents who live in the
available classroom space to accomodate Chamberlin attendance area choose to
the added sections. By moving two send their fourth and fifth graders to
sections from Chamberlin, two rooms Central, this will be acceptable."
would be made available for an additional Gilbert also released the board's motion
section of first and second grades. regarding the issue:
and Southwestern Wholesale Drug special papers, as well as many of the
Companies and a native of Erath elixirs, specifics and tinctures have
county, purchased an interest in the disappeared from the department,”
Cross and with his brother Joe, who wrote Mrs. Frey.
moved his family from Bluff Dale, too Members of the museum board
, over managerial duties. U G. Jolt accepted with appreciation the sign.
also owned three other drug stores, As one member said, "Wouldn’t it be
, including one in the center of the great if we could get merchants in
North side of the square. Stephenville to clean up the attics and
Torn Bridges, Bob Fulcher, and store rooms of their businesses? No
' Koma Cherry were pharmacists at telling what we could add to the —
the Cross, and Tennie Hawk handled museum-signs, machines, old mer- .;
. the soda fountain duties. A number of ' chandise, old mannequins-things
romances were sparked at the booths that would trace the town's history as
and around the iron-framed Coca well as reflect the times. " _
Cola chairs and tables Merchants who de havesueh-items -
In the late twenties, a small cafe in to donate to the museum may contact
the rear of the drug store was • a rr .iber of the acquisition/
" replaced by a larger one. The small comn tee. On the committee
safe was moved to the curb, a sign "A Mrs. William B. Martin, Lisa
Safe Place to Trade” painted on it, Whitacre, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Young,
and for years that safe was the Albert Owen Cragwall, Boone Brown,
\ symbol of the Cross. - Mrs. Jack Heath, and Mrs. Paul
e For' years, on election nights, Good.
GALVESTON-The Stephenville
Empire-Tribune won second place in
the editorial category in diVision II of
the 1977 Texas Newspaper Contest
this weekend..
There were 22 newspapers entered
in the division II contests for feature
story, appearance, column writing,
news picture, news writing, and
editorial writing. Division II is for
daily newspapers of less than 8,000
circulation.
The second place editorial was
written by Empire-Tribune editor
Skip Nichols.
The awards were given at the Texas
Press Association's summer conven-
tion in Galveston.
the rest room, he notified Mrs. Frey,
whose father had owned the drug
store Tor years.
The Freys delivered the sign and a
typewritten history of the drug store
to the museum Friday.
Early in the century, the building
was occupied by the J.W. Smith Drug
Company. In 1906 the firm became
the R.E. Cox Drug and Jewelry Co.,
and eight years later, Cox sold the
store to wan Richardson and Senator
Carl Harding, and for a short time
Austin Hart was druggist and part
owner.
' ‘ Known as The Red Cross Drug
Store, the firm shortened its name
during World War I to avoid
confusion.
In 1927 Ulpian Holt, West Texas
representative for the H.W. Williams
crisis, all told they say the
US may have 50 000 tef of
gas enough for 2.500 years
Actually some ERDA peo-
ple believe the amount of
natural gas. under global soil
(or water) is inexhaustible
One ranking administrator at
ERDA s West Virginia
research center says he has
seen figures which indicate
that "as much as a trillion
million cubic feel of gas ”, is
now waiting for harvest,
beneath the planet's’crust
ERDA says that almost all
of this gas is ’in places where
people aren't looking Such as
in U S "tight sand", fields, as
in coalseams throughout the
world Also ERDA adds
there"are enormous quantities
of natural gas dissolved in
water both on and offshore a
source that to date hasn't
yielded a single BTU in
anyone s home
ERDA experts are quick to
point out that not all the gas is
recoverable Technology is
sufficient now to retrieve
merely a fraction of it In the
case of Devonian shale lor
example ERDA project
director William Overby savs
perhaps only one third of the
•trapped gas is recoverable:
others say perhaps onlv 5-10
per cent
slill even a piece of an____
ocean can 'be an enormous
said the padded cell was the only other ,
facility available.
Chief Deputy Bob Farmer said Zinmer
was pulled from the jail's padded cell. “Me
and another officer drug him out,”
Farmer said. “He said he set it”
The sheriff said today that while Zinmer
was in the padded cell just before the fire
COLUMBIA, Tenn (AP) - Authorities broke out, "one of thhe visitors gave hima There were 56 inmates in the jail at the
A recent addition to the Stephen- Stephenville residents jammed the
ville Historical House Museum will street between the Cross and- the
tap memories of many Cross Timbers court house to look at a giant sized
' Basin residents. The sign that for blackboard on which election results
years lighted the way to The Cross were posted. Jess Douglas, an
Drug Store on the east side of the employee of the drug store for years,
square was presented by Mr. and recorded the figures on the board.
Mrs. Joe Bell Frey and is in the The results were phoned to the Cross
Carriage House, 535 E. Washington. from precincts throughout the county.
When C.O. McMillan began Swan Richardson sold his interest
remodeling the building for his law in the Cross to Tom Bridges in 1942.
office recently and found the sign in Ten years later, when U.G. Holt died.
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D1-3 TX 75235
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potential trouble spot in the nation’s family tragedy, a prisoner and five
economic outlook. relatives died
A trade deficit means more dollars are “AH the victims had got down on the
leaving the country to pay for foreign floor as far as they could, laying down to
goods.than the United States is earning get some air " one official said. “It
seemed tike most of the victims were
lifeless."
Dist. Atty. Gen. Robert H. Gay said he
planned to charge Andy Zinmer, 16, with
arson. Gay said he would ask to have
Zinmer tried as an adult.
"Due to the fact that the 65th Legislature Zinmer was taken to a Nashville hospital
did not pass a school finance bill, no major and reported in critical condition,
changes will be made at this time. In the suffering from burns and smoke in
event the Legislature passes , an halation
advantagous finance bill in the special Authorities in Waukesha, Wis, said
... ________ .________________session, an attempt will be made to records show Zinmer, formerly of
“In action taken at the June meeting of 1977-78 school year. A plan to split improve the pupil-teacher ratio at the .^iperior, Wis was reported missing from
the official board, it was proposed that one campuses was favored by many. This elementary levels congruent with present Lad Lake Inc., a residential treatment
of the three existing sections of fourth and would have involved moving approximate- school board policies. center in Doussman, Wis., for emotionally
fifth grades at Chamberlin be moved to ly 520 students, whereas the presen plan disturbed teenagers.
Central Elementary where there are will effect approximately 65 to 70 students. "It is suggested that one section of Zinmer had been removed from the
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Nichols, Skip. Stephenville Empire-Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 108, No. 264, Ed. 1 Monday, June 27, 1977, newspaper, June 27, 1977; Stephenville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1501002/m1/1/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dublin Public Library.