Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 19, 1963 Page: 1 of 10
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VOLUME LVI NUMBER 51
PALACIOS, MATAGORDA COUNTY, TEXAS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1963
10c Per CoDy
TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY—The children
of Mr. and Mrs.. M. D. Whitley will honor their parents
with an Open House in celebration of their Golden Wed-
ding Anniversary, Sunday, December 22, from 2 to 5 in
the afternoon at their parents' home in Palacios. Invita-
tions to friends are being extended through the press.
Council Gets Auditor's
Report, Road Opened
It is now possible for those de-
siring to take a drive around the
* <)ayshore to do so, ps the barri-
cades at the Baptist Encampment
Grounds were taken down Tuesday
morning.
The barricades were taken down
by Lester Morton, public works di-
rector of the; city, after receiving
authorization from the city council
at Monday night's meeting. The
council issued the order following
legal consultation.
The road is now being patrolled
by both county and city police,
and County Commissioner George
' • Harrison states the county could
top the drive.
For years Palacios citizens have
^resented these barricades as this
rdrive along the bay front is one
of the prettiest in this area and
gives one a beautiful view of the
bay.
The council also discussed the
yRollowing report received from Roy
L. Pope & Spillers Company, Cer-
tified Public Accountants, address-
ed to Mayor Marvin L. Curtis, as
given; i
|^,"You will recall that you asked
me to sum up the findings contain-
ed within our recent audit for the
[four years ended June 30, 1963 in
as uncomplicated a fashion as is
possible.
"This is a reasonable request,
Ifor certainly citizens want to know
of their community's problems—
and of its opportunities. At the
same time, how does the auditor
g fk about the problem of telling
people that 'They've got a lot of
catching up to do.'
"If I had to state the problem in
one sentence—that's the only one
that comes to mind. Of course I
<Jin't have to use just one sentence,
and it really wouldn't be fair to af-
front people without a very, very
good excuse—and that is to get
their attention to something that
Said help them materially.
"You see, the root of Palacios'
problem is that it has grown in
population within the last five
years by some 36 percent and suf-
feNjd a destructive and disruptive
hurricane during the same period.
Even so, the operating expense for
the Ciity government increased by
no more than is usual for a Texas
city in this process—sixty-five per-
"Ttnd here is part of the prob-
lem—and part of the 'catching up'
we have to do. An increase of 36
percent in people means at least a
65 percent increase in cost of op-
eration. Why?
"There are a lot of reasons. You
can't serve additional people by
just adding a few hundred feet of
water and sewer pipe—you have to
jncrease water production, distribu-
tion and service facilities—sewer
mains, disposal plants and service
connections. This costs too much
money to do the job out of day-to-
day revenue so we issue bonds. The
principal and interest on these are
added costs—but this is not all.
We need more people to run the
I larger plant—more trucks and
equipment.
"So its just a fact of life that a
65 percent increase in cost of gov-
ernment over the past five years
for a 36 percent increase in popu-
lation was really quite reasonable,
it could have been more except for
good management by City officials.
"Palacios has a very heavy dis-
advantage in comparison with some
other Texas cities of comparable
size and resources in one respect.
This is the heavy interest cost it
has to pay on its bonds. Just like
any business man, investors who
buy a city's bonds find out all
about a city's past record—and if
there are question marks in that
record the city's bonds are called
'speculative risks'. Then the only
people who will buy are those who
will take more chances than the
average investor, but they demand
more interest.
"Palacios has a problem with
that past record, and here it is:
"1. The City has never defaulted
on its Waterworks and Sewer Sys-
tem Revenue Bonds.
"2. It has not defaulted on its
General Obligation (Tax) Bonds
since a refunding in 1938 which in-
volved a reduction in the interest
rate.
"3. It has not defaulted on its
Seawall Bonds since' a refunding in
1949 which was made necessary by
failure to receive a remission of
taxes levied for State general rev-
enue purposes. (This fault lies
wholly with the State.)
"4. The City is now in default on
its Quick Freezing and Cold Stor-
age First Mortgage Revenue Bonds.
"Let's face it—the record is cer-
tainly not very good—but a great
many other Texa® cities have had
(See "REPORT," Page 10)
Channel's First Ship To Dock
* * * ♦ + * * * * * * * * * * * * * * + * * * ********
Bond Elected C. of C. President
SANTA TO ARRIVE FRIDAY AT 4 P. M
Lions To Assist In
Distribution; Will
Arrive By Plane
BOBBY W. WIIITTINGTON
Union Christmas Services Planned By
Local Churches Tuesday, Wednesday
^Union Christmas services have
been set by the First Presbyterian,
First Methodist and St. John's
Episcopal churches.
#n Christmas Eve, two services
yml be held at St. John's, one at
7:30 p.m. and the other at 11 p.m.
The Rev. Richard E. Sitone will
My Nrighbors
icy're spoiling that kidl"
preach and the Rev. Das Kelley
Barnett will celebrate Holy Com-
munion at both services.
On Christmas Day at the Pres-
byterian Church, Rev. Stone will
conduct a Vespers Service at 5:30
p.m. Vespers will follow the "Nine
Lessons and Carols" service of the
Church of Scotland.
At the Christmas Eve services a
children's choir will sing at 7:30
p.m. and a high school and college
choir at 11 p.m. Mrs. Henry Lawson
will be organist at the 7:30 p.m.
Service and Miss Marion Wilson,
organist at 11 p.m. Russell Feather,
Carl Lawgon and David Kelley
Barnett will be alcolytes.
Decorations of St. John's for the
Christmas season are under the
directions of Mrs. John Crawford
and Mrs. Das Kelley Barnett. Serv-
ing with them are Miss Ann Lee
Petersen, Mrs. Hugh Buffaloe, Mrs.
C. G. Jeffers, also Frank Gayle of
Blessing and Thomas Holsworth of
Collegeport.
Friday, December 20, will be a
big day for Palacios youth of all
ages as that is the day that jovial
man from the North Pole, Santa
Claus, is coming to Palacios to
visit the little tots—and for the
youngsters in school that is their
final day of classes for this year.
Santa Claus sent word Monday
that he would be in Palacios Friday
around 4 in the afternoon and as
he has many more towns to visit
his time here will be limited, there-
fore he would like for the mem-
bers of the Lions Club to help him ; . ... , .
distribute the candy in order that | Bobby AV. Vr KlttlfigtOII
he can talk to as many of the little
boys and girls as he possibly can
during his visit here.
Weather permitting, Santa plans
to arrive by airplane, he will be
met at the airport by one of the
fire tracks. He will be driven
around the square and up to the
East Side Elementary School (the
old Shark football field) where he
will visit with the children and
treat each with a bag of candy.
When classes are dismissed Fri-
day, students and teachers of the
Palacios School system begin a
long holiday as classes will not be
Iresumed until January 6, 1964.
Many plan to go home for the holi-
days or to visit relatives or friends
in other places, wherever you go
or what ever you do, be careful,
have a Merry Christmas, and we'll
be seeing you next year.
To Enter Race For
State Representative
Bobby W. Whittington of Edna
this week announced his intentions
to run for the Texas Legislature
from the 32nd DiaijrVet, compris-
ing Matagorda and Jackson coun-
ties.
Whittington, a native son of
Jackson County is 30 years of age
and is married to the former Lois
Crolley, whose parents reside in
Edna.
After three years in Edna as a
deputy sheriff, he enrolled in the
University of Texas where he is
currently working his way through
school.
Whittington said he would issue
his formal announcement shortly
after the first of the year.
Four New Drillsiles Staked In County
Keeks Oil Drilling Activity Buzzing
By BOB WILKINSON
Associate Member American Assn.
of Petroleum Landmen
Four new drillsites werei added
last week to Matagorda County's
beehive of drilling activity at
year's end:
1. Monsanto Chemical Com-
pany's No. 1 Ruth Brown, North-
east Bay City, projected to 11,500
feet.
2. Oil & Gas Property Manage-
ment's No. 1 R. E. (Bob) Terry,
Southeast Blessing, projected to
9,500 feet.
3. Tenneco Oil Company's No. 1
Louise Steele, Southwest Duncan
Slough, projected to 11,000 feet.
4. Either American Petrofina
(formerly Cosden) or a farm-out
is under way on the Migon Doman
lease southwest of Bay City.
Late drill reports, field-by-field,
area-by-area:
Pledger—'Humble Oil & Refin-
ing Company's No. 6 T. L. Smith
Jr. has been logged. Total depth is
6,2:13 feet.
West Ashby—Coastal States Gas
Producing Company's and Superior
Oil Company's No. 1 Ike Laughlin
(s digging below 10,000 feet . . .
Coastal States' 1-A Ike Laughlin
was last reported testing.
Lucky (Southwest Bay City)—
W. C. Dunlap's No. 1 Pauline Ilueb-
ner is drilling ahead.
Pheasant—The Bickham Drilling
Company is contractor for the
Atlantic Refining Company's No.
1 Dr. B. C. Berger, which is getting
under way. . . Texaco's No. 10 H.
H. Thomas has been finaled as a
dual oiler and No. 11 is a new
drillsite.
South Pheasant —• Union Texas
Petroleum Corporation has com-
pleted No. 2 Lottie A. Martin Unit
for a gasser from ptrforations at
9,326-36 feet, registering a shut-
in tubing pressure of 2,690 pounds.
. . . Superior Oil Company's No. 1
II. H. Sisson is a location.
Tidehaven — Socony Mobil Oil
Company's No. 4 Live Oak Farms
is or about down.
Blessing—Oil & Gas Property
(See "OIL NEWS," Page 7)
Other Officers Are
Elected; Eight New
Directors Named
At the meeting of the Palacios
Chamber of Commerce held Tues-
day night, December 10, a report
on the election of new directors
was given and those elected duly
installed for a two year term.
They were Herman Bond, Irvin
Petersen, Patricia G. Raplee, Eli
Mayfield, Norman Runyon, C. H.
Chatham, J. C. Richards and Don
Lewis. j
They will serve with hold-over
directors: Jack Partain, Jimmy
Shearer, Dick Gullett, Fred Huitt,
M. M. Brooking, George Harrison,
and S. W. Wilson.
/ Election of officers for 1964 was
held and Herman Bond was elected
President; Dick Gullett, First Vice-
President; Don Lewis, Second Vice-
President; John C. (Red) Rich-
ards, Treasurer; and Mrs. Mabel
Hazen, Secretary.
Retiring J?resident, Fred Huitt,
thanked the chamber of commercc
directors for their cooperation and
congratulated the new officers on
their election and wished them
much success in their new term
beginning in January of 1964.
Beacon Out Early
Next Two Weeks
I
Christmas Day 1964 falls on
Wednesday, our regular press day,
therefore in order that we too can
observe the day and you still re- Riders Association, Sheriff Cole is
J. B. (JACK) COLE
Sheriff J. B. (Jack) Cole
Makes Statement In
Seeking Re-Election
J. B. (Jack) Cole has authorized
the Beacon to make public his can-
didacy for re-election to the office
of County Sheriff, subject to the
May 2 Primary.
Serving as Sheriff of Matagorda
County since January 1, 1951, he
was the youngest man ever to be
elected sheriff.
Sheriff Cole, who will complete
his 14th year in office with this
term, said, "if re-elected he would
continue to keep Matagorda County
free of all organized crime and
vice by upholding the laws of the
State of Texas and the county".
A member of the Palacios Trail
ceive your Beacon on your regu-
lar day, the Beacon will go to press
Tuesday afternoon, December 24.
Merchants wishing to extend
Christmas greetings to their cus-
tomers, and those having news or
club meetings to report are urged
to cooperate with us by getting
your copy in early.
Rice-Cotton Voters
Favor Quotas In
Last Week's Election
Matagorda County eligible rice
and cotton producers on December
10th voted 128 in favor and 39 op-
posed to rice quotas and 98 in favor
and 5B opposed to cotton quotas.
Palacios area rice farmers voted
8 for, and 10 against; Blessing area
farmers voted 14 for, 2 against,
and the Tin-Top area, voted 18 for,
15 against.
Palacios area cotton farmers
voted 4 for, 7 against; Blessing
area voted 32 for, 30 against, and
the Tin-Top area voted 8 for, 10
against.
At least two-thirds of the pro-
ducers voting nationally must favor
quotas before they become effec-
tive.
Mexico won its iiidependence
from Spain in 1822.
Christmas Cantata to Be
Presented Sunday, 7 P.M.
a staunch supporter of the annual
Matagorda County Livestock Ex-
position and Rodeo, Bay City Lions
Club's Rice Festival and the Youth
Rodeo. He is active in many civic
organizations and serves as fi-
nance chairman of the Girl Scouts.
Cole, his wife Loyce and two
grandsons, Lee and Randy, reside
at 1600 Fifth Street, Bay City.
"If re-elected, "I will continue
to devote my best efforts to the
conduct of the sheriff's office and
his office stands ready to assist
everyone in a most efficient, court-
eous and polite manner", he added.
CORRECTION
The cost to hook up to the Pa-
lacios Television Cable is still
$16.95 and not $15.95 as erroneously
advertised in their ad on page 8.
See their ad for an important mes-
sage.
Several of the Palacios merchants
will remain open a little longer on
Bauxite Shipment
Expected To Arrive
At Alcoa Thursday
Any day now—probably Decem-
ber 19—a ship loaded with bauxite-
from Jamaica or the Dominicam
Republic will sail into the new
Matagorda Ship Channel and tia
up ait Alcoa's Point. Comfort docks,
according to a letter Eli Mayfield,
secretary of the Texas Mid-Coast
Water Development Association,
.received from Tom F. Anderson,
Alcoa's Operations Manager.
No ceremony is planned for this
first arrival because timing is un-
certain. The formal dedication of"
the ship channel will be held next
spring but the crew of this first
ship must surely have some of the
same feelings others had when
their vessels were first to reach a>
new port.
This first ship, more than 5001
feet in length, will loom large on.
the horizon, but she will be only
two thirds the length of those, to-
come next year when the channel
is dredged to a full 36 feet from,
end to end.
The arrival of this ship will begin
a new chapter in the story of a.
historic bay which explorers finit
looked on more than 400 years ago-
For the mid coast of Texas it will'
begin an era of world trade. For
Alcoa it will mark the elimination
of a costly procedure of transfer-
ring the bauxite from ships to
barges before this vital raw ma-
terial could be brought into the
plant.
Library To Observe
Holidays By Closing
The library will be closed DeCi
24 and 25, also Dec. 31 and Jan. I_
Had you thought of a gift to the
library this Christmas? Gifts to the*
Palacios Library are tax deduc-
tible.
How about a library membership
as a Christmas gift? It is a bar-
gain—Adults, $1.00 yearly; child-
ren under 16, 50c yearly.
Jr.-Sr. High Schools
Christmas Program
Palacios High and Junior High
Schools will hold a joint Christ-
mas program Friday morning when
the Speech and Drama Department
under the direction of Miss Gloria
Walters will present two plays,
and both the Jr. and Sr. Choirs*
Saturday, Monday and Tuesday I under direction of Kermit Gideon
nights to assist you in your Christ- will present several musical num-
nias shopping. bers.
H. S. Speech And Drama Classes To
Present Three One-Act Plays Thursday
The First Methodist Church of
Palacios will present the Chancel
Choir in a Christmas cantata,
"Sing, Oh Ye Heavens" by Helen
Jun Marth at 7 p.m. Sunday, De-
cember 22. The choir will be under
the direction of Kermit S. Gideon Richard Gullett.
"Hail Thou Blessed", chorus and
alto solo, Mrs. Richard Gullett, and
tenor solo, Frank Stewart.
"Mary Was Troubled", chorus.
"Thou Hast Found Favor With
God", chorus and alto solo, Mrs.
and Mrs. Lowell Johnson will be
the accompanist.
The Rev. John Berkley announces
the program for the cantata as
follows, and cordially invites the
public to attend.
Introduction, Mrs. Lowell John-
son at the organ.
"My Soul Doth Magnify", chorus.
"And There Went Ouit a Decree",
bass solo, Donald Neeley.
"Joseph Went Unto Bethlehem,"
chorus.
"There Was No Room for Him",
chorus.
"Sleep Thou, My Son", alto solo,
Mrs. Donald Hyett.
"And There Were No Shepherd
Abiding", chorus.
"Fear Not," tenor solo, Frank
Stewart.
"Glory to God in the Highest,"
chorus and soprano solo, Mrs.
Milam Simons.
"Let Us Go Into Bethlehem,"
chorus.
"Then From the Hill Tops,"
chorus.
"Sing, Oh Ye Heavens," chorus.
"Joy To The World," chorus and
soprano solo, Mrs. Milam Simons.
Benediction, Rev. John Berkley
JH
The speech and drama classes of
Palacios High School will present
three one-act Christmas plays ait
the high school gymnasium, Thurs-
day, December 19, at 7:30, under
the direction of Miss Gloria Walter.
The plays to be presented are
"Missle of Redemption," "Ever on
Christmas Eve" and "Gernldine and
the White Robe".
"Geraldine and the White Robe"
stars Yvonne Wilson, Sara Prindle,
Jan Oglesby, Joyce Scruggs, Rob-
bie Shelton. John Jackson, Johnny
Sanford, Clifford Wright, Joe Dan
Huffman, Raymond Morgan, Kay
Koerber and Carla Barrett.
"Ever on Christmas Eve" stars
Ginger Shearer, Joan Allen, Helen
Boiling, Shirley Linville, Patsy
Shimek.
"Missle of Redemption" includes
John Jackson, Kay Koerber, Shir-
ley Linville, Raymond Morgan, Jan
Oglesby, Sara Prindle, Rita Rogers,
Molly Sanchez, Johnny Sanford*
Joyce Scruggs, Ginger Shearer,
Robbie Shelton, Patsy Shimek,
Yvonne Wilson, Clifford Wright,
Nat Adkins, Jodie Anthis, Barbara
Harvey, Larry Hill, Joan Kovar,
Helen Lawson, Donald Neeley,
Nancy Oldham, Mary Helen San-
ders, Brad Tanner, Linda Wells,
Joan Allen, Carla Barrett, Helen
Boiling, James Gibson, and Joe
Dan Huffman.
The Weather
Date
Max. Mill.
Pr«c.
Dec. 11
77° 41*
0.02
Dec. 12
40° 35°
0.16
Dec. 13
43° 38°
1.18
Dec. 14
45° 36°
0.15
Dec. 15
43° 40°
0.00
Dec. 16
\60" 37°
0.05
Dec. 17
58° 41°
0.00
Total rainfall for year 26.71
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Dismukes, Jesse V. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 19, 1963, newspaper, December 19, 1963; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth411621/m1/1/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.