Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 149, No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 31, 1998 Page: 1 of 14
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99/03/10 697 COMPHW
SOUTHWEST MICROPUBLISHING
2627 E YANDELL DR
EL PASO TX 79903-3743
Cberobeeai>/Herald
Tax Time!
Business is brisk
for county
tax collectors
set ,jage 8
Thursday, December 31, 1998
Rusk, Texas 75785
25 cents
Vol. 149, No. 45-14 Pages
Year ends with prospects for growth
By Gloria Jennings
Cherokeean/Herald
The year 1998 is leaving us with hopes of
new beginnings for all. The announcement
of the sale of the Thomas J. Rusk Hotel
and prospects of a new motel for the city came
late in the year. Local leaders are optimistic of
their economic impact. Sonic, Church's Fried
Chicken and the construction of a new Taco Bell
have added to the business climate and city's
sales tax revenue.
The summer drought was extremely hard for
area ranchers and food producers. Kansas
ranchers came twice with truck loads of round
and square hay bales. But, there was no relief
for those whose peach and berry crops failed. As
fall came, Cherokee County pecan trees were
bare causing considerable loss of revenue .
Resignations, retirements and new faces
seemed to be of interest to local citizens. City
Manager Mike Murray resigned to work for a
Baptist school in Germany. Mary Daly was
appointed to fill his position. RHS Principal
Dean Evans resigned to become superintendent
at Gary. Former Assistant Principal Ricky
Hassell was named to replace him. Brenda
Copley, acting ETMC Rusk administrator was
appointed to that post.
January
U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm announced the appoint-
ment of John David Cunningham of Rusk for
admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West
Point, N. Y. He joined three other Ruskites as
students at the military academy. They are Jimmy
Geishaker, Jubert Chavez and Nathan Parrish.
The Rev. Noy Pruitt assumed the pastorate at
Rusk First United Methodist Church effective Jan.
8. He replaced the Rev. Everett McCollum, who
was assigned as pastor of the Trinity United
Methodist Church.
Three Rusk High School students were named to
the All State 3A band. They are Christy Michaels
and Sam Scallon, B-flat clarinets; and Ian Chan-
dler, tuba.
Jack White was honored by Rusk Volunteer
Firemen as the Fireman of the Year at the annual
banquet on Jan. 12.
East Texas Medical Center Tyler was named in
the Top 100 list of U.S. Hospitals.
The Morris Hassell Alumni Center at Lon
Morris College opened Jan. 24. This historic home
at the corner of Devereux and Tilley Streets was
once the home of Dr. and Mrs. C.E. Peeples,
president of Lon Morris College from 1935-73 and
Zula and Arch Pearson
Please see 1999, page 3
Ribbon cutting festivities were held Jan. 30 at the new facilities of the First Church on the Hill (Rusk
First United Pentecostal Church). Leading the congregation for the past 33 years have been the Rev.
T.E. and Qlendale, senior pastor. Pastoral duties are now shared by their son and daughter-in-law,
the Rev. Jan and Susan Pate. Attending the dedication and ribbon cutting were members of the Rusk
Chamber of Commerce, the City Council, other community leaders and members of the church.
Newspaper
alleges police
cover-up
■ Mental patients'
privacy at issue
A mental patient's right to privacy vs.
the public's right to know collided this
week with a Cherokee County newspaper's
investigative report.
The Jacksonville Daily Progress in its
Sunday edition accused the Rusk Police
Department ofcoveringup possible felony
crimes on the Rusk State Hospital cam-
pus . Rusk Police Chief Larry Robertson
disputes those claims, and cites an Attor-
ney General's opinion which concludes
that his department acted appropriately.
The story stemmed from a death at
Rusk State Hospital last August. Police
reports indicate two patients had a con-
frontation, and one knocked the other
down. The man hit his head on a concrete
step and suffered a severe concussion. He
was taken to ETMC in Tyler, but died a
week later.
According to Rusk Police Chief
Robertson, the Jacksonville newspaper's
reporter came into his office and demanded
the names of the patients involved. When
he denied her request, she hit the desk
and said she would get the names. Sev-
eral in city hall reported hearing the out-
burst.
State law forbids furnishing names of
mental patients to the media. In spite of
this privacy law, the Jacksonville paper
went inside the state cemetery and took a
Please see RSH PATIENT, page 13
,
'
apt
i
Amber and Aaron Low will celebrate their 14th birthday on New Year's
Day. Although they are twins, they don't look a bit alike. Amber has fair
complexion, blue eyes and blond hair, while Aaron has dark complexion,
dark hair and eyes. They are active in the UMYF at A. Frank Smith United
Methodist Church and in the FFA. Amber is a cheerleader and plays
basketball and Aaron plays football. They are the children of Randy and
Paula Low. They have a younger brother, Lance, 9.
Alto Council hires
municipal judge
I Jewel Ray Jones
appointed to open
council sear
Alto's City Council met at 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14 to consider two vacant
positions.
Mayor Sandra Wallace called the coun-
cil into executive session to consider the
appointment of a person to fill the part-
time position of Municipal Court Judge
and the unexpired term of Councilman
Britt Smith.
Following the executive session, the
council voted to hire Samuel Patrick
Threadgill as municipal judge with a
$276.93 bi-weekly salary.
This is a part-time position with no
benefits other than vacation time after a
one-year period. There will be a 60 day
probation period.
Councilwoman Kathleen Cornelison
made a motion to appoint Jewel Ray Jones
to fill the unexpired term of Britt Smith.
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Also by unanimous vote of council mem-
bers, Monty Collins was named as one of
the nominees to be considered to fill the
unexpired term of Lewie Byers, a CCAD
Board member.
In other matters, a motion by Council-
man Griffith to accept the resolution to
"Purchase Tax Resale Property" passed
by unanimous vote.
The property is Block 4, Lot 3, City of
Alto which consists of 3.400 acres with
2.400 of those acres being within the City
limits of Alto.
A cash sum of $1,800 will be paid by J
Floyd Worley for Alto ISD and will be
distributed pursuant to Chgpter34 of tho
Texas Property Code.
A former city employee, Keith Fairchild,
met with the council to discuss a person-
nel complaint.
By unanimous vote, the council mem-
bers agreed to pay Mr. Fairchild $315 for
31 and one half hours comp time.
Mayor Wallace reported that some
progress has been made on the I&I prob-
lem.
Kim Bradshaw, Tommie Woodard and
Troy Stephenson, part-time workers hired
at $8.50, have been patching leaks in
manholes which resulted in a decrease of
flow from the last rain. Councilman Terry
Black requested that creek gravel or hot
mix be ordered to fill in chug holes in city
streets.
By unanimous vote, the council in-
creased Jay Huffty's hours to 32 hours a
week.
Mr. Huffty waived his rights to the ben-
efits of insurance and retirement.
Chief Dennis Blair gave the monthly
report for the Alto Police Department.
Accounts Payable for December, min-
utes for the regular meeting held Nov. 9
and special meeting held Nov. 17 were
approved by the council members.
Members present for the meeting were
Mayor Sandra Wallace, Kathleen
Cornelison, Kyle Griffith, Ganvin Baugh,
Terry Black and City Administrator Carol
Rozell.
Safety Tips
Fireworks are great fun. Here
is some information to help your
celebration be a safe one.
• .. ' -'V'. :
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la
lire that all
i of item, manufacturer's
(for
I fireworks do
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Fireworks safety
prevents injuries
H-1?$
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The Christmas holiday for 1998
has come and gone and now it is
time to move into the new year.
Many people both young and old
eryoy welcoming in the new year
the traditional way with fireworks.
Fireworks can be a fun and excit-
ing way to celebrate; however, it is
extremely important that they be
used properly.
Local firework stands provide
popular "consumer" fireworks
which include roman candles, sky
rockets, firecrackers, sparklers
and several other novelties. Forty
states, including Texas, plus the
District of Columbia allow all or
some type of "consumer" fireworks.
Ten states including Arizona, Con-
necticut, Delaware, Georgia, Mas-
sachusetts, Minnesota, New Jer-
sey, New York, Rhode Island and
Vermont have banned all "con-
sumer" fireworks due to safety is-
sues.
However, federal safety regula-
tions, combined with an increased
consumer awareness, are making
holidays that include fireworks
safer than ever. Persons using
fireworks must remember that
they are not toys. Fireworks com-
plying with the strict regulations
enacted by the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission in
1976 function primarily by burn-
ing to produce motion and visible
or audible effects. Fireworks can
cause burn injuries and ignite
clothing, if used improperly.
Even fireworks perceived as safe
can cause painful injuries. Spar-
klers which are often given to chil-
dren, burn at 1800 degrees Fahr-
Please see FIREWORKS, page 13
t
I
f,
Even the cold wind and icy roads last week couldn't deter some local citizens from making a trip
to their local fireworks stand. New Year's Eve should bring even larger crowde. Stand owners
are anticipating good weather and a large increase of sales this holiday weekend. Wes Penn,
left, assists Brand! McKinney, right, as she makes her selection.
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 149, No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 31, 1998, newspaper, December 31, 1998; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152405/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.