Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 31, 1977 Page: 2 of 14
fourteen pages : ill. ; page 20 x 13 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Section A. ft«r 2.
.Bastrop Advertiser. March 31, 1977.
Musings
It 's A Matter of t act
Troy Hickman
Carter
A Political Miracle
Feedback from citizens coming in
It't almost unbelievable
what a different* one man is
making in the spirit of the
greatest country on earth.
And he i only a peanut
farmer from Georgia! In
office just a little over two
month* now.
The country seems to be
doing a complete face about.
Before Ford took the oath,
we were in the deep dumps.
Jerry Harted u up the path
to higher ground. But his
short time in office and hia
own peraonal limitations left
the job unfinished.
We were in a let down. We
trusted no one in govern-
ment, because for the
moment it aeemed that no
one was worth trusting. A
part of the mood was fact,
such as Vietnam, Watergate,
and Niaon. Another part waa
mental gloom. There have
always been some good men
in government, but for the
time we couldn't see them as
good
Carter seems to be
weaving his spell a tittle
thicker over us and the rest
of the world with every day
thai passes. How is he doing
It?
First, by just being
himself. There is little put-on
about him. He stands
straight, moves directly on.
and speaks what'a on his
mind.
He comes across, in other
words, with good vibrations.
You trust him. He in a real
human being. Convincingly
ao. His wife is the same sort
She comes across as a decent,
gracious Southern lady.
The most disarming thing
about Carter is hia honesty.
We are just not used to so
much of it, and we don't know
how to take it. He promised
in his campaign that he would
keep things out in the open.
He has. For his trouble he has
been called a blabber mouth,
and a water muddier. It has
been said thai his off the cuff
sayings about foreign rela
tlons arc embarrassing the
State Department negotia
tor*.
Well, if so. then so be it!
Things there need a little
shaking up. Maybe the
notoriously slow-moving
negotiators will speed up a
little, to catch up with
Jimmy That might be good.
Moat of us plain folk feel
better with more of our
governmental affairs out in
the open, where we can see
them We have been bowing
loo long before Ihe altar of
secrecy in things which affect
our fortunes and lives, A
little fresh atr for a change
feels good. It's reassuring.
In the two months and a
few days of his adminiatra
lion. Carter has already done
more than some Presidents
do in a four-year term. Plenty
of other things are in the pot
cooking, and as soon as the
Congress can prod itself to
work on them, some of these
will be put on the table.
So far as I know. Carter
has not violated single
promise made in his camp
aign. He has had to modify a
few, but only to get on with
the main job. When he tried
to put a lid on the pork barrel
which contained the dams in
the western states, he hit a
real live nerve. The Presi-
dent ia never the whole
government. He proposes,
but the Congress disposes;
and politics is said to be the
art of the possible. He is only
a man, and will make some
errors. The honeymoon won't
last forever.
Finally. President Carter is
a compassionate mart. He can
feel with the rest of us. He
really wants to know what
we think and need. He is at
his best in the give-and-take
of one-to-one dialogue with
private citiiens. He has
already had more input from
citizens outside Washington
than most Presidents get in a
lifetime.
On the other hand, he is no
patsy. He means what he
says, and says what h«*
means. He is not the kind to
be pushed around. He can
bend when he needs to bend,
and he can stand when he
needs to stand.
The profound change of
national moot!, which began
with the Ford administration
and now continues so
hopefully under Carter, is
nothing short of a miracle.
Le those of us who pray,
pray that it may continue.
Disabled American Veterans,
Chapter 207 elected officers
The Disabled American
Veterans, Chapter 207,
Smith ville. elected its officers
at its last meeting.
Elected were: Paul E.
Schneider, commander; I^e
Hoy Blnkely. senior vice;
Carroll Burnes, first vice;
Ralph Bratcher. second vice;
Aurther Chapman, sergeant
at arms.
The chapter meets every
third Thursday of each
month. Interested Veterans
may contact Paul Schneider,
321 3445 or Joseph (Boots)
Carsidona. 237 2208 for more
information and membership.
i lyy v ^
'' I was' Oldest Weekly Newspaper''
l.H AND ..ml BI TTY PANNI I 1 I'UBl ISII1 KS
II I AND H I'ANNHl IDITOR
BI TTY PANNl 1 I MANAtilNC I* 1)1 TOR
BOH ST ANDI! I R l IRCUl A VION MANACi R
SHIRll Y HI I SI Oi l 1(1 MANAOl R
NANCY YOUNG - TYIM SI IT INO I AYOUT
III RBI R! JASTHR TYPI SI TTING
RI ID«5HARI SI API- IMIOTOOR U'HI R
□
MEMBER 1977 ASSOCIATION
Several conversations ibis
past week made me reflect on
the two years plus that I have
been in Ihis office In trying
to evaluate what has been
acrompiished and things that
have not been done that
should have been. It's good
for all of us to "look
backward" and evaluate the
job we have done every once
in awhile.
I have never been for
growth without responsive-
ness. Nor have I been for "the
status quo" in any operation.
The thing that has always
been my drive is the desire of
the people playing the bills.
Not the desire of Up service,
but the real desire that is
indicated by actions.
My Daddy always told me.
"Son. as you go through life
playing the game, either play
like a champion or don't play
at all!"
He didn't say to win all the
time, nor did he say play by
yourownruSes.-.bultogive it
your best.
There are times that my
best have been inadequate.
There have been times when
my best was a loser. These
will happen again and again,
and I will never be
completely satisfied with the
job being done by me, but
let's reflect together and
score the past two plus years.
Some of you will remember
the Questions ire handed out
when I arrived on the scene
in effort to learn what the
people wanted. I review this
constantly to keep abreast of
the measured activity of you,
the people.
We passed out 900
questionaires and received
142 back for a percentage of
almost 16 per cent which we
accepted as a fair return. On
the first question of what was
the most important thing
needing to be done in
Bastrop...Clean the city up
led the list with 31 votes.
Next with 15 was the
improvement of the streets
and n w Industry received 11
votes.
Well, we have cleaned and
cleaned and cleaned...to little
avail. We can see some
improvement, but not much.
We have worked on the
streets and are still working
on them and even though a
lot of folks are out of the mud
for the first time, we still
have a lot of work to do on
the streets. And there has
been no new industry
announced.
The next question was
what Bastrop's biggest pro-
blem was at that time, and 29
citizens said apathy and the
lack of planning...11 said dogs
and unsightly buildings...so
x we rate nil in this situation.
We stilt have apathy, lack of
planning, dogs and unsightly
buildings.
Question number three
was what the City Council
should consider as important
Here we might rate a little
better. You judge it. 36 said
improved drainage through
out the City. 31 said city wide
clean up, 18 said blocked
view at interesections, 15
said construction of side-
walks and curbs and develop
ment of recreational areas. 13
said elimination of junk
vehicles, 12 said control of
loose animals snd on and on
down u. anprovetnent of
Texas
Royal Woodcraft
"Serving Austin Interior Designers"
announces
the availabiltv of its services to the
Bastrop Area.
Antique Restoration
Lacquer, Varnish, A Oil
Finishing.
(No Vat Stripping)
Custom Service
<Sr Cabinets
Design A Construction
Formica Installation
Tom Clark (owner-operator) 512-321-3213
'Personal Service & Old World Craltsmannhip'
traffic in downtown ar<* and
better looking buildings.
We did some drainage
work and will continue with
the program as money is
made available. The city does
not reflect the dean up effort
we have exerted, but we
worked on it. Some of the
blind intersections have
disappeared and others will
in the near future. The City
Council approved a deal that
only a few took advantage of
in the construction of curbs
and sidewalks. The animals
still roam, and the traffic is
still bad in downtown. Maybe
we haven't scored very well
here after all.
The citizens said that the
following City Services need
ed improvement as follows:
19 said maintenance of
streets, garbage and trash
pick up...17 said maintenance
of ditches and rights of way
and improvement of police
patroling...!5 said no im-
provements were neces-
sary... 14 said water quality,
storage and linss, new
businesses and control of
traffic, and on and on down to
better meter reading.
The maintenance of the
streets is about the same.
Garbage and trash oickuD has
improved somewhat. The
ditches and rights of way
maintenance is about the
same. Police patroling has
improved some. Water qua-
lity, storage facilities and line
are somewhat improved.
New businesses we have no
control over, but traffic
control has been some better.
Barbecue
and dance
to be held
A barbecue and dance at
the Circle D Party Barn on
Saturday, April 2 will be
sponsored by the Bastrop
County CB Club as a sort of
'hail! Farewell!' to the men of
the Gallant Crew. Remin-
iscent of the days of old Camp
Swift and the USO here in
Bastrop, the party is open to
any one who wishs to
participate by bringing a
covered dish and as generous
a donation as they desire.
The CBClubwill provide
barbecue and hopes that the
donations will defray the
expenses of the party and
leave enough funds to buy
coffee for t heir Memorial Day
Safety Coffee Break. There
will be a drawing for a CB
radio and Solar Hot Rod
antenna.
Music will be provided by
Lenne Ray and the Country
Golden.
The Bastrop County CB
Club invites everyone to help
send the men of the Gallant
Crew back to their home
bases with warm memories of
Bastrop and its people.
but some of you refuse to
slow down even after paying
several tickets....and the
meter reading is still done by
the same people. I don't know
where we are with this
question.
Out of the 142 citizens
marking the questionaire the
city ordinances and codes
were voted on as follows:
Dog Tag Law 129 yes, 5
no. 8 no opinion;
Traffic Control - 129 yes,
2 no, 11 no opinion;
Tree Trimming - 124 yes, 5
no, 13 no opinion:
Safety Codes - 119 yes, 2
no, 21 no opinion;
Building Codes --114 yes, 3
no, 25 no opinion;
Litter Control - 135 yes, 3
no, 25 no opinion;
So it's easy to see what was
wanted by the people...and
we have no excuses...but
there is a difference in voting
for something and helping to
get it done. There is a matter
of fact that I need once again
to remind yo of -- you, the
people, control community
development.
The dog problem is still
critical and only you who own
the animals can be at fault
and blamed for the problem.
The traffic control has been
improved and only if you who
drive vehicles decide to
cooperate entirely will it get
better.
We are currently trimming
trees and we are receiving
less flack than ever before
because you have realized
that unless we get the limbs
from the wires it could cost
you money.
The safety codes are still
being fought as are the
building codes and we have
constant flack about these
even from those in the
business...who insist that
they want to see matters
improved and then curse us
at the bars.
Litter control has improv-
ed but there are those who
still toss it on the ground and
4augh about it.
So, unless you, the people,
really want it to happen. It
will not happen. Maybe it's
time each of us played the
game like a champion.
We are fencing the water
facilities on the hill and this
Ascension
Catholic
Church plans
spring festival
Ascension Catholic Church,
Bastrop, Texas made plans
for their annual Spring
Festival, to be held on
Sunday, May 1, 1977 on the
church grounds.
On Tuesday, March 29,
1977 the parishioners of
Ascension Church and Rev-
erend Edward J. Dokupil,
Pastor, met to go over
various ideas. More informa
tion will follow.
A MERLE NORMAN COSMETIC STUDIO
MRS. SUSIE MAXHIMER
Jewelry - Gifts - Cosmetics
913 MAIN ST. 321-5*01
40-tf
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
of Bastrop
CORNER FARM A WATER
W F. L f. O M E
Charles A
Sunday School
Mot mug Worship
C hutch Training
(verting VI nrship
VArdnt sday I >IAM| - arvHtt
A f * hutfh ^ <(h A H*
Young, Pastor
. , , . 945 a
10:55 a
m
m
6 )0 p m
7 10 p in
7 H) j,
WL'i
in
Ml!**
By W W. "Bill" Cox
will eliminate the possibility
of damage from vehicles,
especially during Homecom
ing. We regret the elimina-
tion of parking places for the
crowd, but must protect the
area in which we have
invested over $250,000 of
your money during the past
years. We plan to clean the
area adjacent to the fence
and may eliminate some of
the unnecessary shrubs and
brush which will improve the
place considerably.
The System is in service
and working adequately at
the present time, but needs
one or two small adjustments
there in to make it right.
There are in the mill. We only
need to tie in the citizens on
Lot Pine Avenue and those
East of the Storage Tanks to
have it all functioning
properly.
We have finally gotten the
area for parking behind City
Hall ready for paving and this
is one project that I thought
would never materialize. We
are still getting streets
throughout the City ready for
paving in the summer and
will be taking bids on them
soon.
The shoulders and rights of
way throughout the city are
being improved and the
parking areas in front of
homes are getting better
treatment due to the use of a
different type of gravel. It
costs twice as much money
but the maintenance is less
expensive in the number of
times we have to go back to
the same job, so maybe it will
all balance out in the end.
We have had some
inquiries into the Housing
Rehabilitation Activity plan-
ned in our HUD Program, so
maybe when we get the funds
we will be able to move ahead
in good time. I am listing
names and addresses to give
to the Board when the time is
right and the screening
process will begin. I urge all
homeowners who are in-
terested in the program to
contact me and get on the
list.
Saturday, April 2nd, is
Election Day. The city
Emergency Number for the
weekend will be 321-5383.
1
J J* " Jake
Pickle
^ The Bastrop Chamber of Commerce featured J.J.
"Jake" Pickle as speaker at their banquet Friday
night before a crowd of about 200. He predicted
a real energy crisis in Central Texas concerning not
only the price, but availability at any price.
Photo by Reid Sharp
■=■#=" —"==—=—
vomiM
<p iwe,r
I quit farming. Now I have time AND
money.
—*
A. Retirement is a good thing if you are ready
for it financially. Start buying Certificates
of Deposit now from The Citizens State Bank.
B. Spare time can sometimes cost you money.
Be sure you know exactly where you are
spending your money by opening a checking
account at The Citizens State Bank. Your
bank statement will show you how and where
it was spent.
MEMBER OF FDIC
&
se>
HfcWf BSE
of
Mi,
liaMrop
WA'iTWOP Tt X Ab 7Ut>Qj
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Pannell, Leland R. Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 31, 1977, newspaper, March 31, 1977; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth395204/m1/2/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.