Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [124], No. 66, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 19, 1978 Page: 1 of 12
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Frank Maynard stopped by the Advertiser office Monday proudly display-
ing his winter crop of prize turnips. The 74-year-old Maynard said he raises
turnips (some measuring up to 19" in circumference) and a variety of vege-
tables in a small garden at his Bastrop County home off FM 696.
Photo by Clyde Griffin
At the regular meeting of
the light and water board,
the City Council for the City
of Smithville heard Utility
Manager Benjamin Wesson
say that the present
electrical code used by the
city is satisfactory as it
stands.
But when Smithville re-
ceives the recodified City
Code this spring, area
electricians will certainly
note a few minor changes
which will affect their
pocket books.
The old City Code
specifies most electrical
work in Smithville shall be
carried out under the
watchful eye of a person
qualified to purchase his
master electrician's license
from the City at a cost of
$500 bond.
It was Wesson's recom-
mendation to up the Master
electrician .bond' to $5,000.
The fee is $20 per thousand
dollars of bond; a master
electrician will pay $100 for
his license to operate in the
city of Smithville and
renewal fees, according to
Wesson's recommendation
will be $20.
The master electrician's
assistants, journeymen and
apprentices will also pay for
the privilege of working in
the trade; a $10 per year fee
will be charged journeymen
electricians, while ap-
prentices will pay $5 per
year w hen the new city code
is adopted.
Wesson also asked city
fathers for a $1.00 hike in the
minimum usuage fee for the
city's monthly water and
sewer fee.
When the recodified city
code is adopted, the nearly
50 percent of the residents of
Smithville who use the
minimum or less 4,000
gallons of water will be
paying $4.00 rather than
$3.00.
This "rate hike" only ups
the new code figure by 25
cents as action in an October
1977 meeting raised the
minimum fee by 75 cents to
help defray the increased
cost to the city of the
garbage service.
Wesson told board mem-
bers that the up by 25 cents
will help in the water
department, but, he added,
even with the $4.00 mini-
mum, Smithville will be
giving away water compared
to other Texas cities.
-C'rl' -
A
TEXAS' OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Established March 1, 1853
Bastrop (Texas) Advertiser, Thursday, january 19, 1978
Number 66
Survey shows jump
in bank deposits
by ('lyde (i riff in
Electricians
will pay more
In (he Mayor's report,
Mayor Lawrence Skelley
announced that he had
agreed that Smithville will
share case costs in an
organized court case dedi
cated to keeping LCRA's
requested rate increase at a
minimum.
The mayor noted that
Smithville participated in
similar action last year,
when this city and 30 others
along with six electric
cooperatives succeeded in
keeping the LCRA's rate
increase below their re-
quested figure.
Mayor Skelley said while
Smithville paid nearly $300
last year for the legal service
of Tom Howe, costs are
expected to be much lower
this year as the ground work
has already been laid.
Before adjourning from
the Monday city light water
board meeting. Manager
Wesson warned city fathers
he will ask them to consider
a $2.50 turn-on fee for lights
and water. Wesson said
many people either do noi
know how or just do not care
to do it themselves, adding
that $2.50 will pay for the
inconvenience to the city.
A recent survey con-
ducted in Bastrop County
concludes that bank deposits
here are up a startling 25
percent over bank figures
one year ago. and area
bankers are happy.
With only five banks
participating in the three
year study, at least one bank
in each major city was asked
to provide figures for
1975 1977 reflecting the
bank's growth in the two
categories of deposits and
loans. The figures also
reflect a general picture of
the economy in Elgin,
Bastrop and Smithville. The
constant growth of Bastrop
County is evidenced by this
'25 percent jump in the
economy, which reflects an
additional $7.25 million in
both time and demand
deposits.
Loan growth figures from
the five banks provide ample
evidence of a flourishing
economy, up by nearly 50
percent over a year ago; an
increase in dollars and cents
of 7.1 million over 1976
figures of 28.4 million.
In Bastrop, First National
Bank recorded total deposits
of $16,964,000.00 at the close
of business December 31,
1977. First National's year
end figure for total monies
loaned out was $9,229,000.
00. Deposits are up 25
percent over First Nationals
1976 deposit figure of
$12,390,000and by more than
33 percent over 1975 totals.
The loan figures are not
quite as impressive as
deposit figures, but it is
interesting to note First
National had total Com
mercial loans of $4,723,000,
installment loans totaling
$1,843,000. and loans for real
estate totaling $2,663,000 at
the close of business
December 31,1977.
Citizens Bank of Bastrop
President Steve Rivers
expects prosperity in the
future, he told the AD-
VERTISER.
Rivers said, "I see a bright
future for the area. How can
we go wrong when the
cancer research center locat-
ing here and the prison unit
(Bastrop Youth Center)."
The new Citizens Bank head
said he expects more than
150 new families to move
into the area as a result of
the prison facility and the
University of Texas Systems
Cancer Research Center
divisions at Buesher . State
Park and at Camp Swift.
Rivers also sited the area's
proximity to Austin as a
major factor in anticipating
our growth.
He summed the conversa-
tion with the following
statement:
Boats ablaze
"I expect outstanding
growth here, and I sincerely
believe everyone in business
here will do far better in
1978."
Citizens Bank recorded
total deposits, demand and
time, of $8,719,000 at the
close of business December
31, 1977. The 1977 figure is
up considerably from the
1976 total of' $8,114,000.
Deposits totaled $7,339,000
in 15175.
Total loans by the Citizens
Bank of Bastrop at the end of
1977 topped $5 million.
In Smithville, First State
Bank closed out 1977 with
total demand deposits of
$5,579,901.07. This figure
tops the 1976 total of
$5,165,375.04 and is up by
$1 million from the 1975
total.
I/Kins from First State
Bank at the close of 1977
totaled $4,292,113.00 - up
over a million dollars from
1976. Between 1975 and
1976, Smithville's First State
Bank's loans increased only
about $225,000.
First State Bank Pres
ident Weldon Mays told the
ADVERTISR of the county's
future, "1 see nothing but
growth in Bastrop County."
Mays said he feels
strongly that Smithville and
Bastrop County will continue
to grow by leaps and he sites
the State's project of
widening and improving
State Highway 71 "will make
it grow even faster!"
Mays said he would like to
see light industry move into
the area. "We need a plant or
two some clean industries
who employ 50-or-so work
ers." Mays suggested that
the Highway 71 improve-
ment project and the
county's proximity, not only
to Austin, but also to
Houston, will help make the
area appealing to industry.
In Elgin, President Ray
Arbuckle of Elgin Savings
and Loan Association hail
much praise for the ap
parently stimulated eco-
nomy of the area.
"I think our economy in
this location is going to
remain strong," Arbuckle to
the ADVERTISER. The
Elgin Savings and Loan
Association figures at the
close of business December
31. 1977 showed nearly a
$2 -million increase in
deposits over the previous
year end figures.
Arbuckle added. "I see a
slowdown in savings growth,
but. 1 believe we'll see a
spiraling demand for
mortgage loans in our area,
even if it's Austin's over-
flow,"
Although the savings and
loan president spoke of a
slowdown in savings growth,
his loan totals for 1977
reflect ample growth. With
almost $6 million loaned out
at the closing of 1977, tin-
figure reflects a $2 million
gain from the 1976 figure,
and a little more over 1975
figures.
Arbuckle concluded the
interview in summation, "All
in all we're quite pleased
with 1977 and we think
1978 w ill lie even belter.
Elgin Bank of Texas
representative Don Harvick
turned in a 1977 year end
total deposit figure (not
including public funds) of
over $11 million. This figure
is only slightly higher than
that banks 1976 total
deposits, and the figures for
1975.
Although tin- bank logger
a year end total of over $6
1/2 million in loans, in this
category, too only little
growth was noted during I he
three year survey period.
/
r
Fairy dust
Ten members of Cub Scout Den 4 of Bastrop visited Bastrop Pizza Hut
on Monday. Under the watchful eyes of Den Mother Terri Clark and Pizza
Hut hostess Melba Beck, the boys tried their hand at pizza making.
Photo by Clyde Griffin
Second man captured
on burglary charges
Hru<e Martin, driver of thin trat tor-trailer rig, was hauling a thipment
of fifot-rgla** boat* for uvrrwiii shipping Irom the port of Houston Martin
(old the Advertiser a faulty brake apparently ignited a rear tire and the bla/r
*a* out of iontrol in thorl order- ?he inrirlenl wa ep«r1 d at III a wi Mwi
dak ttatlruu V ulunlrt i I Ire Department respottiled to lite i aM-
l')-i.tii |l| 11*1 f n mi
A stake-out by the
Organized Crime Division of
Travis County Sheriffs
Department led to the arrest
of Charles Chester Polvado,
38, of Austin, the second
man to be arrested in
connection with numerous
area burglaries.
By last Wednesday after
noon, both Charles and his
brother, George Edward
Polvado were being held in
Williamson County jail.
Officers agree that the
arrests cleared up what they
term a "small but well-or-
ganized crime ring," one
which dates back to August,
1977 and involves Bastrop,
Williamson and Travis Coun
ties at least.
Charles Polvado was tak
en into custody about 11:30
p.m. Tuesday, January 10.
He is now out on a $5,000.
bond and will face charges of
theft by appropriation.
His brother, George Pol
vado. wa* arrested Wednes
day in Bastrop and taken to
Williamson < ounty jail. He is
nttiiliruig held there under a
110,000. bond for charges of
|M*M< ion of firearm* by a
rodvm ted felon.
Williamson County btier
III. flcpttly Juii ISoulwetl
n-ported at lea t logrtren
hurglan*'* in Willi# iM*t«fi
( utMll, hum lit li it it* 11 hi
others in Travis are being with additional charges charged with burglary and
cleared since the arrests. against the two already one other for theft by
The Deputy said further captured. He expects two appropriation as the case
arrests are expected, along more persons will be progresses.
Smithville sets salary
for building official
th
Smithville city fathers set
salary and outlined the
daily schedule for that city's
new Building Official.
Earl Hambrick will re
ceive a salary of $200 per
month for his inspection
services, and fees collected
by the new office will be
used to help pay his monthly
salary.
Approval of the new city
official's salary came after
the City Aldermen were
convened in executive ses
sion during their adjourned
meeting Monday night at
City Hall.
Hambrick will put in four
j ri >!«>. frem R.(Ki
until 12 noon Monday
through Friday and he will
maintain all hi* own paper
record*, permit*,
tiiHif
am
work, (tie*
lee*, etc
It wii
lUmbrini
rettia IMI
in lit
t i> dentil-I I
lie pawl till
mm *mi io
retroactive from January 1.
In other action, the city
voted unanimously to in
crease the cost of grave sites
in their cemetery to $50 each
for residents of Smithville
and $100 each for non res
idents. The new prices will
pertain to all plats in Block
Four of Oak Hill and to all
blocks opened in the future.
The $25 price tag will
remain in effect for grave
sites in Blocks One. Two and
Three until the three are
closed out.
The city council agreed to
iriforce the existing regula
lion requiring that all
grnvi-flinker IH- gr iiHii ievri
iii Block Four ami all block*
opening in the future,
Hie fee for the grave
opening ami dosing at
rui-d to tlUO pel II rave
li "in 17ft
City lather* voted In
at'irjii ifw lM<i of $66ti Ml
"• , . H ' I
one year ground lease on the
city's airport West of town
on Highway 71.
In the evening's final
action, the Smithville Alder
men agreed to help the
volunteer fire department
start and maintain a savings
account to construct a
pension for retired firemen.
Alderman Vacek started
the $]<X)0 |R-r year ball
rolling stating, "It's just not
feasible for the city to
participate in the State'K
pension plan."
Vacek explained the fire
detriment anticipates no
major expenditures for
approximately seven ><*r
and kuggefcled th.it the local
volunteer department would
try to match tin city's
annual donation of timm
A* I" plallied, till lllleleal
lioiii (In ite-vtlj I're.iieit
iiuiigt> jiii hi hi * it! IM
p<'#*1 rij to ih* iit^g n iiini
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Pannell, Leland R. Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [124], No. 66, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 19, 1978, newspaper, January 19, 1978; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth335072/m1/1/: accessed July 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.