Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 158, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 7, 2007 Page: 1 of 14
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500
ir e
WEDNESDAY
March 7,2007
Vol. 158, No\2 -14 pgs
www.thecherokeean.com
Rusk, TX 75785
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper
* ami or mm ma
Rachel Hicks catches a pitch from Cami Curtis
while the Lady Eagles compete in the Tyler
tournament. Meanwhile, the Rusk Eagle Baseball
team kicks up dust in the Center tournament. How
are the teams doing heading into district play?
See pg. 1B
V
ltr
Ml
in
When you go to bed Saturday night, be sure to move
your clock forward one hour. The Rusk Volunteer
Fire Department suggests that you replace batteries
in smoke detectors when daylight savings time begins
and ends.
Lords of the Sting
The Alto
Yellowjackets
proudly show
off their state
championship rings
after receiving them
during lunch period
on Monday. See
related photos on
pg. 7A.
PHOTO: LELAND ACKER
V
INSIDE
Twister touches down
near Rusk
Last Thursday's storm brought
more than rain. A twister damaged
homes and ripped down trees near
the Bulah and Hudson Chapel
communities.
see pg. 6A for more
Cherokee County sales
tax rebates lag behind
statewide average
Based on sales tax rebates
from the State Comptroller's
office, the economy in Cherokee
County lagged behind the
statewide average during the
busy, holiday season..
For purchases made in
December and sales tax remit-
ted to Austin in January, the
Cherokee County average
is down 7.10 percent. For a
detailed report on sales tax
rebates in, including year-to-
date reports, see pg. 2A.
Weather Outlook
s:
THURSDAY
scattered t-storms
10% chance of rain
High: 73
Low: 52
OLDIES RADIO
KWRW - fvi and KTLU - AM
- -O-T-T-O
Trailer park court date
m postponed to April 3
City's suit claims travel trailers violate zoning ordinance
ational vehicles were located on property belonging
to the Bowdens on North Main Street, A fifth RY
was moved to the site, but it was recently moved
from the property.
The suit filed by the city asks that a permanent
injunction be issued against the Bowdens consistent
with the relief requested, a declaratory judgment
grant and the city be awarded costs and attorney's
fees.
Kevin Bowden, former Rusk city manager, is the
Please see TRAILER PARK, pg. 6A
Inspection
shows RSH
is in top tier
Joint Commission makes
unannounced, 3-day survey
By Gloria Jennings
Staff Writer
A continuance has been granted in the 2nd Judicial
District Court of Judge Dwight Phifer concerning a
suit filed by the city of Rusk against W.R. Bowden
and his son, Kevin Bowden.
The hearing scheduledfor 9 a.m. Wednesday, March
14, has been continued until A pr i I 3 because of a
scheduling conflict with one of the attorneys.
The city is represented by Eric Penn and the
Bowdens are represented by Steve Guy.
The city's suit was filed on Jan. 9 after four recre-
S.W-T-H-0-S-C-O-P-6
County
spelling bee
contestants
line up to
receive their
participation
ribbons
Spellers from
Alto, Rusk
and New
Summerfield
all competed.
Super spellers participate in spelling bee
By Leland Acker
Staff Writer
Success is spelled "e-u-l-o-g-y" for Paige
Penn of Rusk, who won the Dallas
Morning News/ESPN County
Spelling Bee at the Rusk High
School auditorium on Feb.
28. Paige correctly spelled
.{\'V
\-S
the word "stucco,'' then
"eulogy" to beat Gerald
Salzarulo of Alto in the
final round.
Paige will advance
to the regional spelling
bee in Dallas on March
17. The winner of that
spelhng bee will compete in
the national spelling bee in Wash-
ington, D.C. in May. The regional and national
spelhng bees will be televised.
Please see SPELLING BEE, pg. 6A
County spelling bee winners Gerald
Salzarulo of Alto and Paige Penn of
Rusk display theirtrophies. The county
spelling bee is open to public, private
and home-school students in Cherokee
County.
By Terrie Gonzalez
Managing Editor
An unannounced survey by the Joint Commission
reveals that Rusk State Hospital is in the top tier of
medical facilities in the nation.
Following a three - day in sp ection in January by four
surveyors, Rusk State Hospital received accolades and
a punch list of five minor issues to correct.
No other facihty has had less than 12 issues to
correct, beamed Ted Debbs, Rusk State Hospital
superintendent.
The good news arrived just in time for Dr. David
L. Lakey, commissioner of the Department of State
Health Services in Austin. He was about to present
testimony at the State Capitol, and he was able to
work the inspection results into his speech.
One of the inspectors told Mr. Debbs at the conclu-
sion of the survey that a small handful of facilities
stand out in the inspectors' minds for setting a high
standard. Rusk State Hospital is now added to the
short hst,
The items marked for correction are considered
Please see JOINT COMMISSION, pg. 6A
Friends group
struggles without
Rusk man recovers after being
shot in ankle at yler hospital
By Leland Acker
Staff Writer
A tragedy in Tyler Wednesday
touched home in Cherokee County
as Ronnie Norton, 60 of Alto, was
wounded in the ankle during a
shooting that occurred at East
Texas Medical Center in Tyler.
Richard Lynn White, 13 of Tyler,
allegedly went to ETMC to confront
his wife, Luecencha. Mr. White told
Tyler police after his arrest that his
wife was leaving him.
Mr. and Mrs. White were seen
arguing inside the hospital before
going out the front entrance. Once
outside, Mr. White allegedly took
a gun from the front of his pants
and fired at least five rounds at
his wife, said Don Martin, public
information officer at the Tyler
Police Department.
One of the rounds missed,
passed through the front entrance
and hit Mr. Norton in the ankle.
Mr. Norton, an employee at the
Cherokee County Appraisal Dis-
trict (CCAD), was at ETMC to visit
his wife who was a patient at the
hospital.
In a written statement, the
Norton family said, "Due to the
ongoing stress of the situation sur-
rounding both the illness of his wife
and the tragic event he witnessed
and was injured from, the family
wishesfor privacy at this time while
Mr. Norton recuperates."
The statement said Mr. Norton
is in good condition.
An employee at the CCAD told
the CherokeeanHeraldMr. Norton
was visiting his wife, Dottie, when
the shooting occurred.
The employee said due to the
number of phone calls from the
media, Mr. Norton's children had
the telephone and cell phone taken
from his and his wife's rooms,
Mr. Norton will be going to rehab
soon, the CCAD employee said.
Mrs. White was admitted to the
hospital and is reportedly in criti-
cal condition.
quorum to vote
By Leland Acker
Staff Writer
The uncertainty of the future of the Texas State
Railroad has taken its toll on its friends group as
there were not enough member s present to constitute
a quorum for the second consecutive month at their
regular meeting on Thursday.
The friends discussed the possibility of advertising
in the Kampgrounds of America (KOA) newsletter
which would be distributed at the Rusk location.
Discussion was made about the effects of such adver-
tising and whether the group did the right thing
in investigating the opportunity. Nonetheless, the
group was unable to make, a decision because there
was no quorum.
Charles Hassell said the Texas State Railroad
Operating Agency selected American Heritage as the
frontrunner of the companies that the state would
negotiate an agreement with to operate the train.
"We are continuing to obtain additional information
fromAmericanHeritage," Mr. Hassell said. "I suspect
in two or three weeks, Steve Presley and I will make
another trip to Austin."
Friends President Al Holmes said out of a possible
score of 425, American Heritage scored a 379.
"American Heritage was the only company that
gave an audited financial statement," he said. "I
Please see FRIENDS OF TSR, pg. 6A
CM K
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 158, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 7, 2007, newspaper, March 7, 2007; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152772/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.