Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 39, Ed. 1 Monday, March 3, 1980 Page: 2 of 14
fourteen pages : ill. ; page 24 x 15 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:
2A -Burleson Star, Monday, March 3,1980
r
Editorials/Opinions
_Our own...and others'
Religious Guidelines
Reports that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commis-
sion (EEOC) is preparing guidelines for time off from the job
for “religious beliefs” suggest some grim prospects.
Proposed guidelines would make it necessary for employers
and unions to explore all avenues for “reasonable accomoda-
tion” after an employe requests time off on religious grounds.
Freedom of religion is guaranteed in this country.
Nonetheless, an employer has a right to know what he can ex-
pect from his workers.
Illness, injury and psychological trauma make any work
schedule uncertain as it is. These new guidelines, if im-
plemented, could create havoc.
Seeking Originality
It is charged frequently that modern education produces con-
formists rather than original thinkers. Seldom before have peo-
ple been so eager to provide opportunity for acquiring educa-
tion, and the money to pay for it, as they are today. Perhaps
seldom before has there been such indifference to the aims and
the product.
It is nonsense to conclude that if more money is spent, the
automatic result will be more educated people. This ignores the
facts of human nature and the varying distribution of gifts.
Since the beginning of the mechanized age we have been mov-
ing away from the Renaissance concept of man as an in-
dividual) As we move deeper into a computerized era the
refreshirtg delight of originality tends to become equated with
“eccentiricity,” a quality which is vastly disturbing in a confor-
mist environment.
If human experience has taught us anything, it is surely that
curiosity is the mainspring of experience and learning. A real
danger today is that our educational system, intent on
specialization and the attainment of tangible proofs of it, is
frustrating the natural curiosity and originality which have
always been, and must still be, the chief delight of youth.
One hears much too often that modern youth finds school a
boring routine without challenge. And so do many teachers,
though they would hesitate to express it too widely. Why?
The answer may lie in the fact that opportunities for the ex-
pression of orginality - which springs from natural intelligence
or the friction of ideas--are too limited. Perhaps a rigid cur-
riculum denies time and opportunity for the flowering of the in-
dividual mind.
Letters To
The Editor
To the Editors,
I am writing in reference to an article
which appeared in the Burleson Star in
the February 28,1980 Thursday edition.
Although I was not present at the date
and time in question, I have first-hand
knowledge of the situation. I spoke with
the people at the Star and have been in-
formed by them that the information
for the article was gathered from the
police report itself.
Although no names were mentioned,
the woman referenced in the article,
“Burleson Man ^Charged In Officer
Assault”, is of unquestionable reputa-
tion. During the arrest, the lady in
reference tried to assist the police in ap-
prehending the suspect. Her main con-
cern was the welfare of all individuals
and I feel that this needs to be brought
out because the police report left the
impression with the reader, that the
woman was trying to interfere with the
officer apprehending the suspect. I
realize that in a situation of this matter,
many things are misunderstood, but
this ^woman’s intentions were
misconstrued by the arresting officer.
1: appreciate the cooperation of the
Burleson Star in printing my letter. It is
important that we the citizens of
Burleson have a reputable and ser-
viceable police department with the in-
terest of the citizens at heart.
■ ■■.
Sincerely,
Florence Corbin
r. BURLESON STAR
I;* ^ ; (l’SPS-079780)
Second-Class Postage paid at
Burleson. Texas. 76028.
Wayne Hutson Editor & Publisher
James Moody Managing Editor
Chuck Hutson Advertising Mgr.
Subscription Price 19.25 Per Year
In Johnson and Tarrant Counties
Other areas of Texas, (12.25
Outside Texas, (13.50
The Burleson Star is an indepen-
dent newspaper published twice
weekly on Monday and Thursday In
the interest of Bprleson and adja-
cent areas by Burleson Publishing
Company, Inc., ;-il9 N. Burleson
Blvd. Burleson, Tx., 76028. Any er-
roneous reflection on any individual
or firm will be corrected if brought
to the attention of the editor. Ad-
dress all correspondence to the
Editor, Burleson Star, P.O. Box 383,
Burleson, Texas 76028.
POSTMASTER: Send'address
changes to Burleson Star, P.O. Box
383. Burleson, Texas 76028.
It
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
Mass Testing
Ninth grade students at Burleson High School spent most of the day Tuesday
taking a state-mandated test in the high school cafeteria. Fifth graders also
took the test which is to assess basic strengths in reading, writing and math.
District-wide results will be returned May 1. Star Staffoto.
Fifth, Ninth Graders Take State
Mandated Skill Tests Last Week
★ Transit
Continued From Page 1
commuter service Is provided to and
from the city, the council will more
than likely receive the resolution
favorably. Such a system, many
believe, could be the difference bet-
ween continued growth or decline in
suburban cities such as Burleson with
the fuel crisis becoming progressively
more severe.
The enabling legislation for the
Authority was passed in August, 1979
Similar plans are already in operation
in both San Antonio and Houston.
A report on the systems in both those
two cities is one of six items on the
agenda at Thursday’s board meeting.
BESIDES THE OBVIOUS
possibilities for the LSTA such as bus
service (or possibly, van service to
Burleson if a full sized bus couldn't
be filled), other things under considera-
tion include intersection im-
provements, bus stop improvements,
signalization improvements and
preferential bus lanes.
Another possibility would be a
regional system of emergency am-
bulance service.
“There’s no question but that there’s
some need (for such a transportation
system in the area)” commented Sowa,
adding that Burleson would probably
get whatever would be economically
feasible and this would more than likely
be in the category of bus service.
The money paid into the program will
stay as close to home as possible, he
said, but noted that “If you’re going to
get into this thing (area-wide transpor
tation system), you have to do it with a
regional attitude.”
Indecent
Exposure
Complaints
Burleson police are preparing one
misdemeanor case of indecent ex-
posure against a 21-year-old man and
attempting to determine if there is a
link in any other recent cases.
Five indecent exposure violations
have been reported in recent weeks and
police believe a man they arrested on a
municipal court warrant was involved
in at least one of the cases.
The man was released on a (400 bond.
Police believe the cases they have in-
vestigated so far are misdemeanors
punishable by a maximum (200 fine.
The most recent cases of indecent ex-
posure were reported to police within a
24-minute span Tuesday evening. One
violation was reported at 6:16 p.m. at
Burleson Plaza Shopping Center and
another at 6:38 p.m. near the intersec-
tion of Renfro and Thomas.
Police say the offenses have involved
exposure in view of adult women by a
male.
Police ask that anyone with informa-
tion about an indecent exposure case
contact them.
Fifth and ninth graders in the
Burleson schools completed a battery
of tests in the three basic skills last
week as part of a statewide testing pro-
gram mandated by the last session of
the Texas Legislature.
Aimed at improving basic education
programs in the public schools, the
Texas Assessment of Basic Skills
(TABS) test will be administered by
every school district in the state
sometime between Feb 25 and March
12.
Ninth graders took the tests last
Tuesday in the high school cafeteria
and the elementary students were
tested over a three-day period last
week. Test results will be back Mav 1.
said Bob Spurting, assistant superinten-
dent for curriculum for the BISD. Those
district-wide results will be announced
by Spurlin at a school board meeting
after that date.
Test results will be summarized by
campus and district to help improve in-
struction at local schools, said Spurlin.
Individual results will be available only
to student, parent or guardian and
school personnel directly involved with
the instruction of the student, he added.
Ninth graders who do not pass the
test will have subsequent opportunities
to retake the test every year. Third
graders will also be added to the list of
students taking the test beginning with
the next school year.
By comparing test scores with other
districts over the state, the results will
provide information on mastery or non-
mastery of learning objectives con-
sidered essential for students to
achieve, said Spurlin. Special emphasis
can then be placed on areas of
weaknesses.
The assessment program was man-
dated by Senate Bill 350 passed by the
66th Texas Legislature and is an-
ticipated to have a major impact on
schools in the state. The tests are
financed by the state and are ad-
ministered without cost to the local
district.
Students who may have a physical or
mental impairment or learning
disability that prevents mastery of any
particular skill or skills will be exemp-
ted from that portion of the test.
Indictment
Is Returned
In Murder
The Fort Worth man arrested in con-
nection with the murder of a 29-year-old
Crowley woman was indicted last week
on the charge of murder by Tarrant
County Grand Jurors.
Named in the indictment was Ronnie
Lee, 22, of 2133 S. Jennings in Fort
Worth.
He was arreted by Crowley police
and charged a few days after Connie
Reagor Rope/, 29, was found strangled
to death on the couch in the living room
of her home at 221 Eller St., in Crowley
on Jan. 4 of this year._
★ Folks
Continued From Page 1
the number of people requesting ap-
plications at the new county sub-
courthouse.
Caution is needed, however, to be
sure you put your voter precinct
number on the application.
If you don't, it will be sent back to
you, we’ve learned, and you’ll have to
do it all over again.
Watch for a description of the boun-
daries of area voting precincts in a
future edition of The Star. Meanwhile,
if you have a question on your precinct
number (voting box) call the court-
house.
Another reminder: If you live in Tar
rant County (a good number of homes
within the city limits of Burleson are
actually outside Johnson County) you
must register there, no matter whether
you are eligible to vote in city and
school elections.
The city and school are not concerned
about county lines, but you must vote in
the county where you live in party
primaries or state and federal elec-
tions.
Beverly Stockton, daytime dispat-
cher for the Burleson police depart
ment, was named the city’s employee
of the month.
She has lived in Burleson 15 years and
worked for the city, 10. She has worked
dispatching shifts and trains all new
dispatchers.
Her husband Tom is a policeman in
Midlothian.
AND NEXT DOOR to the police sta-
tion over at city hall, they’re a little red-
faced about an error in the annual pro-
gress report recently mailed out to
residents of the city.
The number for the Johnson County
Sheriff’s Dept, is incorrect. It should be
295-8911. Dial the listed number-as
many people have, we're told-and
you'll get the Burleson Veterinarian
Supply.
Library Back In State System
The Burleson Public Library is back
in the Texas State Library after being
on probation for a year, but may even-
tually have to choose between state af-
filiation and county money.
And that choice is not as odd as the
strange Circumstances that resulted in
the year of probation.
Two years ago both the Cleburne
Public Library and the Burleson Public
Library received a small annual con-
tribution from Johnson County. That
posed no particular problem, from a
state library system standpoint.
To be in the system, libraries have to
meet certain criteria based on the
population they serve. With both
Cleburne and Burleson receiving coun-
ty money, each library was assigned-
for state library system purposes-a
segment of the county’s population.
Both met the requirements for inclu-
sion into the system.
Then Cleburne decided that since
almost half of its library’s users did not
live in the city, the county should make
more than a token contribution to the
library budget. When that request was
refused, the library in that city rejected
the county money and initiated a (5 an-
nual family fee for non-city residents to
use the city library.
How did that affect Burleson?
Well, since Burleson was the only
library to receive any funding from
Johnson County, the entire population
of the county -excluding the city limits
of Cleburne-was charged to the
Burleson Library. For the (2,000 con-
tribution that Burleson received from
the county, the library had to meet the
criteria of the library serving 40,000
persons.
That meant, according to Librarian
Sandy Babb, that Burleson was ex-
pected to have 25,000 volumes, a budget
of (1.80 per capita, a librarian with a
master’s degree and an operating
schedule of at least 40 hours per week.
Only the requirement of the number of
hours open was met by the library So
Burleson was ousted from the state
system last year.
This year, the library has designated
the county contribution to its building
fund~a technicality that allows them
not to count the county money in its
operating budget. With only Burleson
ana the surrounding area listed as the
area that is served, the library once
again meets requirements for the
system.
Since the new library is now com-
plete, county funds cannot be put into a
special category next year, though, and
would have to be included in the budget
for ongoing^expenses. That would put
Burleson right back in the same spot as
last year if the county funds are ac-
cepted.
That leaves the city with the option of
asking the county for more funding to
bring about compliance with state stan-
dards (a doubtful course since Cleburne
has already been through that) or re-
jecting county money altogether.
There apparently is little or no senti-
ment among councilmen to charge a fee
for library use by non-city residents.
Being included in the library system
means that a library can borrow books,
films and other materials from other
libraries around the state and are also
eligible for any federal funding that
may become available.
★ City Council continued From Page I
ty right of ways. This mainly involves
utility companies making road cuts
kpross city streets. The ordinance
would require a permit, require that
repairs be made to city specifications
and put maintenance responsibility on
the utilities in the event of “Sinking” of
the repairs.
be resolved on the final plat of Lot 2,
Block 2 of the Village Addition, where
the restaurant is planned. Coun-
cil members went ahead and approved
that final plat, though, so as not to delay
the start of construction until after the
next council meeting.
Once that minor problem is resolved,
the mayor will sign the final plat and a
building permit can be issued, possibly
as soon as today.
A Bonanza Restaurant is planned on
that location, which is immediately
south of McDonald's on IH 35W in Tar-
rant County. '
A second revised plat and extension
of a boulevard in the Forest Ridge Addi-
tion were both major topics of discus-
sion for the council, but neither will
delay development of that sub-division,
located just off the Old Alvarado Hwy.
WHAT IS HOLDING UP develop-
ment there, from the city’s standpoint
at least, is a lift station in the sewer
system that has not yet been given city
approval.
There were some concern about a seg-
ment of Parkridge Boul. that was not
paved through a drainage easement at
one end of the sub-division, but the
council decided not to require pave-
ment there until the adjacent property
is developed.
In other action Thursday night, the
council
-Appointed five new members to the
library board. They are Fay Mercer,
Danny L. Dunn, Frank Norwood, Mina
Stanford and Blair Lybbert. They join
previously appointed members Nancy
Jones and Dora Ussery.
-Approved a resolution designating
the Burleson Public Library as a Com-
munity Library (see separate story).
-PASSED ON FIR8T reading an or-
dinance dealing with construction in ci-
-Sent back to the electrical board on
ordinance that would have revised the
rates charged by the city for electrical
permits and inspections.
-Approved on final reading an or-
dinance changing the name of Meadow
Lane in the Cliffs Addition to Meander-
ing Lane. There is another Meadow
Lane in the Burleson postal delivery
area, according to Councilman Bill
Johnson, who is also the postmaster.
The council also agreed to submit all
new street names to the post office for
review before approval of future plats.
-Approved on final reading an or-
dinance increasing the fee for a zoning
change request and providing for the
placement of a sign on the affected pro-
perty to inform the public that a change
was being sought.
-Discussed, in the pre-council ses-
sion, employee personnel policies.
-Renewed a hospitalization in-
surance contract with Blue Cross-Blue
Shield Insurance Co.
-BYPA8SED A REQUEST for a
mileage rate increase from Mobile Life
Support. Mike Shelton, manager of the
ambulance company, asked for the
deferment at this time, telling the
mayor that it would be resubmitted at a
later time.
-Approved two routine budget
amendments plus purchase requisi-
tions and checks.
-Met in a closed, executive session
dealing with personnel.
Pre-School Screening
Fre-school screening for all children who are five years of age or older
by Sept. 1, 1980 and who will be entering public school for the first time
will be conducted later this month by the Burleson Independent School
District
Every five year old child living in the Burleson School District should
participate in the screening, said Marion Maxey, supervisor of Burleson
Special Education. Parents are urged to call for an appointment to help
avoid long waiting lines.
All appointments must be made by March 21, she said.
Parents will need to bring with them an official birth certificate from
the Bureau of Vital Statistics (the hospital certificate is not acceptable),
and a complete immunization record, including oral polio, DPT, rubeola,
rubella and mumps. The immunization record must be signed by a physi-
cian
Also included in the screening will be children who are entering the first
grade but who have not attended public kindergarten.
Appointments should be made at the elementary the child will be atten-
ding. Parents can call Nola Dunn, 295-5261, Mound, 295-8191; Frazier,
295-1178; or Norwood, 295-5276.
Screening will be conducted in the gym at Nola Dunn on Monday,
March 24; in the Mound gym on Tuesday, March 25; in the Frazier gym
on Wednesday March 26; and in the Norwood all purpose area on Thurs-
day and Friday, March 27 and 28.
At Chamber Luncheon
Choir To Perform
Entertainment at the March
Membership Luncheon of the Burleson
Area Chamber of Commerce will be
provided by a group from the Burleson
High School Choir under the direction
of Jim Crocker.
The luncheon will be held tomorrow
(Tuesday), March 4, at the First United
Methodist Church. Reservations can be
made by calling 295-6121.
Crocker is in his first year as director
of the BHS choir but has been teaching
for the past eight years. He has directed
many musical productions in that time,
including the recent “You’re a Good
Man, Charlie Brown” at BHS.
He also recently formed a choral
group known as the “Showstoppers”
which will be performing at the lun-
cheon.
The choir director was born in
Clebeland, Miss, and attended college
at Delta State University, the Universi-
ty of Southern Mississippi and
Mississippi State. He holds both
bachelor’s and master’s degrees and
has also done advanced study in
theatre.
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.
Hutson, Wayne & Moody, James. Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 39, Ed. 1 Monday, March 3, 1980, newspaper, March 3, 1980; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth761209/m1/2/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Burleson Public Library.