Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 10, 1975 Page: 1 of 8
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The City & By The Sea 9
Palacios A Beacon
VOLUME 68-NUMBER 15 PALACIOS, TEXAS, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1975 _ EIGHT PAGES
Marijuana
found
police raid
ELI MAYFIELD of Palacios opened the annual meeting of
the Mid-Coast Water Development Association In Bay City
Saturday. Mayfield was re-elected secretary-treasurer of
the association and received a standing ovation for his work
during the past 21 years. In the foreground is Col. Don S.
McCoy.
GEORGE HARRISON, (left) new president of the Mid-Coast
Water Development Association, with Congressman John
Young and Col. McCoy.
Sharks’ midcoastal elects
dillo is
ditty
"Miss Palacios Arma-
'dillo,” the entry from the Pa-
lacios High School Band, re-
ceived first place in the beau-
ty contest at the annual Spring
Fling and Armadillo Derby
held in West Columbia Satur-
day, April 5. This is spon-
sored by the Columbia Band
Boosters as a fund raising
event.
“Sharky,” the racing ar-
madillo from Palacios placed
third. Sweeny High School
Band was first and West Col-
umbia High School was sec-
ond.
Trainers Allen Corporon,
Lindsey Bexley were respon-
sible for the training of the
racing entry. Lynn Johnson
was the beauty consultant.
The prizes won were a col-
lection of Sugar Dandy nail
polish, super eyelashes for a
seductive evening, cover-up
body cream, perfume to catch
that illusive Dillo about town,
and a fashionable bathing suit.
"Winning a first place in
any event the band enters is
always good news,” stated
Band Director Manuel Garza,
Jr.
Road job net
Highway construction con-
tracts let in March by the
Texas Highway. Department
include Bay City area work.
The work, supervised by Dis-
trict Engineer Omer F. Poor-
man, will be in Matagorda
County.
A contract was awarded to H.
D. Riddle Construction Co.,
Inc. of Dallas. Low bid was
$128,150.90.
The project, which will re-
quire an estimated 110 work-
ing days, will be under High-
way Department Engineer
Martin Brown of Bay City.
The contract is for grading,
structures, base and surfac-
ing on Farm to Market Road
459 at the Briar Creek bridge
and approaches, 1.2 miles
west of FM 1095.
,V .v.v.v.v.v.v.v.%nv.w.:.:.:.:.:.:.;.:.;.;
i Weather I
Progress made on area
water projects, group told
DATE MAX.MIN.PREC.
APRIL 1 74 51 .00
APRIL 2 83 50 .00
APRIL 3 66 39 .00
APRIL 4 69 48 .00
APRIL 5 71 56 tr.
APRIL 6 77 62 tr.
APRIL 7 78 64 tr.
Rainfall total for year 2.83.
George Harrison of Pala-
cios was elected president of
the Mid-Coast Water Develop-
ment Association at the or-
ganization's 21st annual meet-
ing at the Oasis Motor Hotel
In Palacios last Saturday.
Eli Mayfield of Palacios
was re-elected secretary-
treasurer, a post he has held
ever since the association was
formed.
Outgoing president Pat
Kelly recognized Mayfield’s
long years of work for Mid-
Coast, and the audience gave
the Palacios attorney a stand-
ing ovation.
The program Included a re-
port on projects of the Corps
of Engineers, Galveston Dis-
trict, by Col. Don S. McCoy,
and an address by U. S. Rep.
John Young.
The business proceedings
were interrupted briefly when
the chair in which Mayor Rich-
ard Gusman was sitting
slipped into a crack on the po-
dium and senthishonor crash-
ing to the floor.
After everyone discovered
the likable Gusman was unin-
jured the incident brought a
laugh from the audience and
the mayor recovered in good
spirits.
Of existing projects under
the Corps of Engineers,
McCoy said:
Three contracts for main-
tenance dredging on the main
stem of the Gulf Coast Wat-
erway have been completed
and so has maintenance dredg-
ing of the shallow-draft chan-
nel to Port Lavaca and the
36 x 200-foot Matagorda ship
channel.
The total cost was $2.7 mil-
lion for these.
A $467,000 contract for
maintenance dredging of the
15.5-mile Colorado River
Channel was awarded in March
and should be complete in Sep-
tember.
A contract will be awarded
in 90 days for maintenance
dredging of the Intracoastal
Waterway between Freeport
and Cedar Lakes.
Minor repairs are planned
on the Colorado River locks,
the Brazos River floodgates
and the Victoria channel.
Removal of the Guadalupe
River log jam is underway.
Concerning authorized pro-
jects Colonel McCoy said sev-
eral projects are in the pre-
construction planning stage:
A navigation project on the
lower Colorado, relocation of,
the Intracoastal Waterway
along 17 miles of the channel
through Matagorda Bay, a har-
bor of refuge at Seadrift and
Peyton Creek flood control.
Colonel McCoy said hurri-
cane protection studies for
individual communities have
been abandoned because of
public opposition or lack of
local financing.
The engineering study on
enlarging the Matagorda ship
channel is in deferred status
because of lack of local sup -
port.
He said there are no funds
included for a study of en-
larging the Colorado River
channel to 12 x 125 feet.
Congressman Young prais-
ed the work of the associa-
tion.
"You are dedicated to water
development,” he said, "and
nothing is more important than
water development, especially
in 1975.”
Young recited some of the
work of the federal govern-
ment over the years in lloou'
control and navigation.
He said the 1973 flood in-
surance act "has lots of trou-
ble In it” because it permits
"reprisals and hardships on
established communities.”
Discussing navigation he
reminded the Mid-Coast
members of the revolution
going on in the world in ship-
ping where huge vessels are
handling vast cargoes.
He mentioned the offshore
port facilities being consid-
ered, but multi-purpose on-
shore ports are needed, he
said.
He praised the onshore Har-
bor Island project and said
the $300 million cost of the
project will be repaid by the
facility each year.
Among the resolutions ap-
nroved by members was one
supporting deep water io Cho-
colate Bay in Port Lavaca,
the dam and reservoir on
Coleto Creek for a CPL gen-
erating plant, the Palmetto
Dam project, SB472 for In-
tracoastal right-of-way and
an 80-foot depth for the Har-
bor Island project.
Norman Flaigg, represen-
tative of the U. S. Department
of Interior, said an extensive
study is underway to study the
problems and needs of the
lower Colorado River Basin.
Colorado basin work
subject of April hearings
Whether or not there should
be dams and other water re-
source projects developed on
the tributaries and the main
channel of the Colorado River
between Austin and the Gulf of
Mexico will be the subject of a
series of public meetings in
mid-April.
The meetings will be con-
ducted by the Bureau of Re-
clamation of the U. S. Depart-
ment of the Interior.
The Lower Colorado River
Authority in 1974 requested
the Bureau to study the Co-
lorado River to find the best
plan for managing the water
resources of the area below
the Highland Lakes for all
beneficial purposes.
With the sponsorship of Con-
gressmen J. J. ‘‘Jake’’ Pickle
and John Young and Senators
Lloyd Bentsen and John Tower,
the 93rd U.S.Congress autho-
rized the Bureau to conduct
the three-year study and to
make plans for feasible pro-
jects and provided the neces-
sary funds.
Entitled the “Colorado Coas-
tal plains Study”, it will in-
volve consideration of the
needs for flood control and wa-
ter supplies for municipal, ir-
rigation, industrial and re-
creational purposes, as well
as fish and wildlife conserva-
tion, siltation control and
other environmental con-
cerns.
Before any planning is star-
ted, public meetings will be
held by the Bureau in Bas-
trop, Fayette, Colorado,
Wharton and Matagorda
Counties.
Interested local citizens will
be given an opportunity to pre-
sent their ideas as to the needs
of the area and suggested so-
lutions, as well as a conti-
nuing opportunity to be a part
of the study and planning pro-
cess.
The dates, places and times
of these meetings will be an-
nounced by Norman G. Flaigg,
Bureau Planning Officer, Aus-
tin.
First basin hearing set
Two public meetings for the
purpose of discussing the Co-
lorado Coastal Plains Study
have been scheduled in Bay
City and Wharton by the Bu-
reau of Reclamation.
Norman G. Flaigg, Planning
Officer for the Bureau’s Aus-
tin Planning Office, announced
that the meeting in Bay City
will be held in the Service Cen-
ter Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.,
April 14, 1975, while the meet-
ing at Wharton is scheduled
at 7:30 p.m., April 15, 1975,
in the District Court Room.
The Colorado Coastal Plains
Study is an investigation of the
problems and needs of the
Colorado River Basin below
Austin and the consideration of
alternative plans to meet and
solve those problems and
needs.
Compilation of the environ-
mental impacts of the alterna-
tive plans will be a part of the
study.
An early morning raid Sun-
day by deputy sheriff H. J.
Ryan and Palacios police of-
ficers resulted In the con-
fiscation of eight pounds of
marijuana and the arrest of
two people at a Palacios res-
idence.
The people charged after the
arrests at 410 Sixth Street
gave their names as Louis
Gotlco Solis, 33, and Sylvia
Rodriguez Solis, 20.
Charges of possession of
marijuana and possession of
dangerous drugs were filed
before justice of the peace
Kirk Richardson of precinct
4.
Taking part in the arrests
and booking were Patrolman
Edward Wilson, Benny DeLeon
and Mike Maxey and Police
Chief Jim Wilson of Palacios.
The same Louis Gotlco So-
lis and Robert Perez, 20; Joe
Perez, 46; and Lupe Rojas,
30, had been arrested about
24 hours earlier on an ex-
tension of Twelfth Street and
charged with possession of
marijuana.
They all posted bonds of
$500 set by Justice D, B.
Hito Hinton of precinct 1.
The arrest on Sixth Street
netted 107 bags of processed
marijuana having a street val-
ue of about $10 per bag.
Ray Garza wins
city council race
R„ J. (Ray) Garza was the
successful candidate in the
only contested race in the City
election Saturday. A total of
268 votes were cast.
Returns show Garza polled
162 votes for the Place 5
seat on the council, being
vacated by Joe Janak, to 104
votes for Vernon A. Bates,Sr.
Unopposed incumbents re-
turned to office were: Place
1 ( 1 year term) Ivan Naj-
var with 221 votes; Place 3,
Johnnie L. Heard, 237 votes;
Place 4, Kenneth Smith, 227
votes.
These four were sworn in at
Monday night’s meeting of the
city council.
Blood
drive
to start
The Auxiliary of Wagner
General Hospital in Palacios
is sponsoring a blood drive
on Thursday, April 10.
Technicians from the Gulf
Coast Regional Blood Center
will be drawing blood from
2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Wag-
ner General.
Donors may elect to join
the Blood Assurance Pro-
gram which will Insure the
blood needs of their family
for one year or may donate
to replace blood used in the
past by their friends or mem-
bers of their family.
Potential donors are en-
couraged to call the hospital
at 972-2511 for an appoint-
ment or additional infor-
mation.
DAN R. TUCKER, JR., Executive Vice-President, Bob Roy,
Assistant Cashier, of The City State Bank of Palacios,
. proudly display the buckle, donated by the bank, which will
be awarded at the up-coming MatagordaCounty Youth Rodeo-
April 11-12-13. Hopeful contestants eyeing the buckle are
Lamar and Kenneth Kay of Collegeport.
Sharks capture
111L victories
Flaigg said that Bureau re-
presentatives will explain the
nature and scope of the study
but that the primary purpose
of the meetings is to secure
participation and ideas from
the public. “We want the study
to reflect the views and sen-
timents of the citizens of the
lower basin,” he said.
AH interested individuals are
urged to attend and parti-
cipate.
Friday, April 4th the Pala-
cios Sharks attended the Dis-
trict 26AA Literary Meet at
Wharton County Junior
College.
The Sharks took several big
bites and are advancing se-
veral students to the Regional
Meet in Kingsville April 18
and 19th.
SUpt. George Holst served as
Director General for the meet,
working in conjunction with
Robert Clark and Mrs. Pine of
WCJC.
Representing Palacios were:
Debate: Rickey Ramsey and
Billy Wayne Parker, 3rd
place; Regina Deadrick and
Richard Buentello.
Informative Speaking, Jill
Gwin.
Persuasive Speaking, Lynn
Mayfield.
Poetry Interpretation: Mike
Buentello, Betty Ann Kana,
Vietia Crow.
Prose Reading: Linda Hunt,
3rd place; Rhonda Sparks.
Newswriting; James Wil-
liams, Susan Mosier.
Feature Writing: Rossanna
Deadrick, 1st place; Virginia
Parsley, 3rd place.
Editorial Writing: Walter
Hamlin, 3rd place: Alien Cor-
poron.
Headline Writing: Beverly
Hartsfield, 1st place, Lee Wil-
son.
Ready Writing: Ronnie John-
son, 4th place; Aaron Loff,
Kathy Morales.
Typewriting: Janet Rocken-
baugh, Teresa Gallien, Kim
Sparks, Cindy Smith.
Shorthand: Yolanda Estreuo,
1st place; Patricia DeLeon,
5th place.
Number Sense: Charles
Tresselt, Aaron Loff.
Science: G. W. Franzen, 2nd
place: Ronnie Johnson,
Charles Tresselt.
Spelling: Janet Rockenbaugh,
1st place; Rossanna Deadrick,
2nd place; G. W. Franzen,
5th place.
Advancing to Regional will be
Rickey Ramsey, Billy Wayne
Parker, Linda Hunt, Rossanna
Deadrick, Virginia Parsley,
Walter Hamlin, Beverly
Hartsfield, Yolanda Estrello
and G. W. Franzen.
There are several district
events coming up: Boys’Ten-
nis, Boys’ Golf, Boys’ and
Girls’ Track.
*! ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT APPROVED
Nuclear project clears another hurdle
The Nuclear Regulatory
Commission has issued the
Final Environmental State-
ment on the proposed South
Texas Project nuclear plant,
concluding that construction
of the plant will not cause
undue harm to the environ-
ment.
The statement outlines
NRC’s evaluation of the en-
vironmental effects of con-
struction and operation of the
proposed two unit nuclear gen-
erating station to be located
in Matagorda County between
Bay City and Palacios.
Four utilities are planning
to build and operate the plant
as a joint project. The four,
Houston Lighting & Power,
Central Power and LlghtCom-
pany, City Public Service of
San Antonio, and the City of
Austin, supply electricity to
most of South Texas.
In the statement. NRC says
after weighing the environ-
mental, economic, technical
and other benefits of the plant
against environmental and
other costs, and considering
available alternatives, the
action called for under the
National Environmental Pol-
icy Act of 1969 is issuance
of eonstructionpermitsforthe
plant.
The final statement was re-
leased following issuance of
the Draft Environmental
Statement in November, 1974,
and review of that document
by various Federal, state and
local agencies and individuals.
Among the specific require-
ments of the Final Environ-
mental Statement, NRC dir-
ects the utilities to conduct
two studies relating to Little
Robbins Slough, which drains
a portion of the site. A cool-
ing reservoir to be construct-
ed for the plant will occupy
about 27% of the slough water-
shed, which feeds water into a
marsh south of Little Robbins
Slough. NRC will require the
project members to conduct i
a study to assess the value
of the slough as a marine
nursery area.
NRC also will require a
study to determine whether
additional water should be di-
verted from the Colorado Ri-
ver into Little Robbins Slough
to minimize Impact on the
marsh complex. Project
members plan to build a canal
around the west side of the
cooling lake to carry water
from the upper part of Little
Robbins Slough, north of the
plant site, into the slough
south of the site.
other requirements indi-
cated by NRC included:
- A study program will
be implemented to assess po-
tential significance of loss of
marine life from operation of
the plant’s cooling water
makeup system. Water will
be drawn into the cooling lake
from the Colorado River.
- The project shall take
necessary mitigating actions
to avoid unnecessary adverse
environmental Impacts dur-
ing construction of the plant.
- The applicants shall eval-
uate environmental impacts
of any changes in construct-
ion Dlans and submit lnforma-
V.
- If unexpected harmful ef-
fects are detected during con-
struction of the plant, project
members shall take action to
eliminate or reduce the harm-
ful effects.'
An environmental public
hearing to assess suitability
of the STP site and the en-
vironmental impact of the
plant is tentatively planned
for Bay City in late April.
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Dismukes, Mary V. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 15, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 10, 1975, newspaper, April 10, 1975; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth726497/m1/1/?rotate=270: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.