Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 160, No. 52, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Page: 1 of 16
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thecherokeean
O Vol. 160 ■ No. 52 ■ 16 pgs.
3 ID
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper
WEDNESDAY
February 17, 2010
Rusk, Texas ■ 50 cents
CODY GLENN COMES HOME TO RUSK
RUSK ELEMENTARY WINS 2ND IN UIL COMPETITION
RUSK
Rusk enters into tax
abatement agreement
By Gloria Jennings
Staff Writer
The Rusk City Council entered
into a five-year tax abatement
agreement Thursday evening
with Alto Nursing Center Inc.
doing business as The Arbors.;
A new ¡¡Msmillion nur sing facil-
ity is expected to be constructed
in Rusk on Loop 348 near
Crockett Street; The facility will
be constructed on 6.99 acres in
the A. Martin survey, located at
1884 Loop 343.
The Arbors will bring 85-90
new jobs to Rusk. Plans for
completion of the 110-bed
nursing home is expected to be
in six to eight months. Steve
Winfield, owner said Thursday
evening, "We expect to open in
August."
The tax abatement will be
100 percent the first two years;
W percent the third year; 50
percent the fourth year; and 25
percent the fifth year.
The city will recoup the loss
of taxes by receiving additional
water and sewer revenue for
Services to the nursing home.
Prior to approval of the tax
See RUSK COUNCIL, pg. 6A
COUNTY
Tilley found guilty of murder
By Gloria Jennings
Staff Writer
A guilty verdict was returned at approximately
5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the capital murder
trial of Stanley (Frog) Tilley Sr., 16. of Jacksonville.
The trial was held in the 369th district court of Judge
Bascom Bentley III.
Mr. Tilley is charged with the capital murder and
robbery of Toliver Thirkill, 29, of Tyler on Oct. 12,
2008. District Attorney Elmer Beckworth did not
ask for the death penalty, therefore a life sentence
without parole was automatic.
Jury selection was Feb. 8. Testimony continued
until the jury began its deliberations four days later
around 2:10 p.m. Thursday.
Mr. Thirkill's body was discovered lying in the
middle of CR 3411 near the IviHough Monument.
See TILLEY, pg. 6A
Attorney Sten M. Langsjoen, front right, and an assistant
check evidence presented in the capital murder trial of
Stanley (Frog) Tilley Sr., left.
^CIS/04,
1010
cherokee county
STATE REPRESENTATIVE D1ST 11
U Chuck Hopson*, Republican
□ Dr. Michael Banks, Repub-
lican
COUNTY JUDGE
U Chris Davis*, Republican
□ James Morris, Republican
COMMISSIONER, PCT. 2
□ Steven Norton, Republican
□ Kevin Pierce*, Republican
□ Steve York, Republican
"JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. T~
□ Russell Ellis, Republican
□ Tony Johnson, Republican
DISTRICT CLERK
□ Janet Gates*, Republican
□ Sue Terry Schulze, Repub-
lican
The Democratic and Republican
primaries will be held March 2. Early
voting is 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Feb. 16-26
at the following locations:
• ALTO: A. Frank Smith Methodist
Church, 103 Cooper St., (936)
858-4347
• RUSK: Cherokee County
Courthouse basement, (903) 683-
2350
•JACKSONVILLE: Senior Citizens
Center, 300 S. Bolton, (903) 586-
1696
* denotes incumbent
Pd political adv. by the candidates above
If you are a political candidate seek-
ing office and would like to have
your name added to the Cherokeean
Herald's political calendar, stop by
our office at 190 N. Main St. in Rusk
or call (903) 683-2257.
Ask for information about Classic
Hits Radio - 97.7 FM political cal-
endar as well as Channel 9, public
access on Rusk cable system.
Weather Outlook
v V
Jl
"ft*
THURSDAY
sunny
0% chance of rain
High: 61
Low:
41
CLASSIC HITS RADIO
KWRW - FM and KTLU-AM
Proposed
budget cuts
include state
Welcome to
RUSK STATE HOSPITAL
Our patients are the reason we are here.
Take care of them
Deliver.
Follow-up
Make sure they are treated with dignity and respect
Jho Frnrlr'/oa 'Vww1 nf BW wmilrl Mr o
Nurses, Security ¿ Steno
MoOGIM^of SF (aMl©0
-Hi? iBaaB i
the
Friday
snowfall
was accompa-
nied by chilling
news from Austin: a
projected multi-billion dol-
lar budget shortfall is prompting
the governor, lieutenant governor
and speaker of the house to ask state
agencies to tighten their belts in anticipa-
tion of the 2011 legislative session.
The second larg-
est state agency with
48,000 employees and a $25
billion budget, Health and Hu-
man Services Commission (III ISO is
being asked to cut $300 million by Aug.
31 — with a possibility of more cuts and pink
slips to follow.
Approximately $28 million could come from
state hospitals.
A public hearing in Austin last Thursday
sought public comments on IIIISO's rec-
ommendations, which includes Rusk State
Hospital (liS11).
Proposed budget-saving measures at
Cherokee County's state mental hospital
include the moth-balling of an entire unit,
which serves $0 patients and employs 90.
The anticipated cost savings would be $10-11
million over a two-year period. Statewide,
Inside:
see
commentary,
pg. 2A
GOT) ink slips could be
issued before the end
of the fiscal year Aug.
31 with more to follow
in 2011.
Cuts are pi a lined at
three; other state hos-
pitals: Terrell, San Antonio and North
Texas.
IIIISC and other state agencies had a
Monday deadline to submit the proposed
budget cuts and public comments to the
Legislative Budget Board (LBB), which
includes Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David
Dewhurst, and House Speaker Joe Straus.
Prior to the 5 p. m. Friday deadline for III ISC
comments, at least 25 e-mails from Rusk
were submitted.
See RUSK STATE HOSPITAL, pg. 6A
ALTO SCHOOL BOARD
Building on success: AISD
plans new construction
Board discusses marquee, plans for new
scoreboard at Jacket Stadium
'0 4879 12768
By Quinten Boyd
Staff Writer
During February's monthly meet-
ing, the Alto School Board made it
known that the new Alto Elementary
building was just the first of sev-
eral planned construction projects
on campus.
Trustees discussed the recently
finished ILI) screen marquee, as well
as constructing a new scoreboard at
Jacket Stadium, during Mondays
meeting.
Board members complimented the
new LED marquee, recently com-
pleted andplacedon U.S. Highway69,
near the entrance to what will become
the Mean Sting Parkway.
"We're still working out a couple
of bugs, but it's looking really good,'
said Alto ISD superintendent Dr. Ray
DeSpain.
The marquee presents text, ani-
mation and graphics in full color,
with the option to use scanned or
mailed pictures. The information on
the marquee is programmed from a
school computer controlled by a USB
port key and only individuals with
access can change the information
that appears.
"We were able to get information
See AISD BOARD, pg. 6A
SNOW DAY
Cherokee County citizens
deal with snow last week
By Quinten Boyd
Staff Writer
When Punxsutawney Phil saw
his shadow two weeks ago, it was
supposed to signify six more weeks
of winter.
The residents of Cherokee County
weren't expecting those six weeks to
be packed into two days.
The snowstorm that blew through
most of Texas last Thursday and
Friday was more than a little out
of the ordinary for Texans and for
residents of Cherokee County. In
Dallas, 14,4 inches of snow fell, giv-
ing the city almost as much snow as
Toronto for the winter season. At one
point, all 50 states were believed to
have received snowfall.
All five school districts in Cherokee
County — Rusk, Alto, Jacksonville,
Wells and New Summerfiekl — can-
celled classes on Friday, allowing
students to enjoy the snow day. All
county offices were closed Friday, as
well, giving many an impromptu four-
day weekend, thanks to Presidents'
Day on Monday.
In addition, last Friday's start
times for Rusk's varsity boys game
at Central and Jacksonville's boys'
game against Lindale were moved up
to avoid the threat of icy roads.
While the snow has melted and
sunny skies have dominated re-
cent days, the snowstorm from last
week caused problems for schools
and sport s. but thankfully, no real
problems for the Cherokee County
Sheriffs Office and the Rusk Police
See SNOW DAY, pg. 6A
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 160, No. 52, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 17, 2010, newspaper, February 17, 2010; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152926/m1/1/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.