The Dublin Citizen (Dublin, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 13, 1997 Page: 1 of 14
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The Dublin
TEXAS I
t-
EL PASO, TX 79903
2/7/98
Volume 7, No. 24
State Capital
SU11
HIGHLIGHTS
ly LyaMI William ft Ed Martini
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
Citizen
Dublin, Texas 76446
Thursday, February 13,1997
AUSTIN — Texans under 21
caught with alcohol on their breath,
in their possession or merely
appear to have consumed alcohol,
would lose their driver’s license
under a bill approved by the Senate
Criminal Justice Committee last
week.
The legislation, sponsored by
Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, hits
underage drinkers where it hurts
most: it takes away their “wheels,”
the Dallas Morning News reported.
“What we’re trying to do is
send a message ... that we have
zero tolerance for drinking and
driving,” Wfest said.
In Texas during the past five
years, 1,330 alcohol-related traffic
deaths have involved drivers be-
tween the ages of 13 and 20. Half
of all traffic fatalities in that age
group are alcohol related, com-
pared with 36 percent nationally.
Texas law currently allows drivers
under age 21 to operate a motor ve-
hicle with a blood-alcohol level of
up to 0.07. A reading of 0.10 is
considered legally intoxicated.
Under West’s bill, even a trace of
alcohol would bring stiff penalties:
■ Minors stopped for driving
under the influence, depending
on first, second or third offense,
would face suspension of their
driver's license for 120 days to 180
days; a fine of $300 to $2,000; up
to 180 days in jail and from 20 to
40 days of community service.
■ Police would be allowed a
choice of either taking a minor who
is not driving, but in possession of
alcohol, to the police station for a
breath or blood test or issuing a
citation on the spot.
■ For those who were not driving
but have been consuming alcohol
or have misrepresented their age,
penalties would be similar to those
assessed to minors caught driving
under the influence.
Panel OKs Abortion Bill
A Senate committee last week
approved legislation which would
require doctors who perform abor-
tions to notify a parent or guardian
of a minor seeking an abortion.
Abortion opponents cheered the
approval of the parental notification
bill sponsored by Sen. Florence
Shapiro, R-PIano. They said its
early consideration in the legisla-
tive session could give the bill mo-
mentum as it moves to the full Sen-
ate.
“It gives us a boost," said
Bill Price, president of Tfexans
United for Life. “The pro-life
movement in this state has not
been successful in passing pro-life
legislation.
“This bill doesn’t ban abortion,
and the purpose is not to mandate
parent-child communication, but to
proclaim the right of parents to
know their daughter is in distress,”
Sen. Shapiro told committee mem-
bers.
A similar bill failed in the Senate
in 1995. But observers believe
the new Republican majority in
the Senate will assure passage.
The measure is expected face
stiff opposition in the House,
where Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-
Carrollton, is the sponsor.
■ Gov. Bush has proposed a $70
million reading initiative designed
to ensure that all Texas school
children can read by the third
grade. Last week, three democratic
legislators filed a bill that would
pump $200 million into public
school reading programs over two
years.
■ The state’s Permanent School
Fund sold $3.3 million worth of
stock in Seagram Co. after Sen.
Bill Ratliff, chairman of the Senate
Finance Committee, objected to the
“filth” on recordings marketed by
Seagram subsidiary MCA Inc.
Baylee Barrett fell in love with a cuddly critter while she was doing her Valentine's Day shopping at
Dublin Floral. But Mom didn't fall for that story about "look what followed me home." Baylee is the
daughter of Cindy and Dellmann Barrett of Dublin.
*
Sign-up underway
for Erath County
Day in Austin
Erath County Legislative Day in
Austin has been scheduled for
Monday, March 3.
Buses will transport area resi-
dents to Austin for the day, during
which State Senator David Sibley
and State Representative Allen
Place will be on hand, along with
their staff members, to discuss
items of interest.
Plans also call for an evening
reception with several state offi-
cials at the Doubletree Guest Quar-
ters Hotel.
, Buses will leave from the Tarle-
ton State University football sta-
dium at 6:30 a m. and will arrive
at the state capitol at 10 a.m. The
Erath County delegation will be
recognized in the House and Sen-
ate at 11:30 a m. and 1:30 p.m.
The evening reception will begin
at 5 p.m. Buses will depart for
Stephenville at 7:15 p.m., arriving
about 10:30 p.m.
Cost is $50 per person (or $25
excluding bus fare) which does not
include personal expenses such as
lodging and meals.
Erath County Legislative Day
committee members arc seeking
financial sponsors at $250 and
$500 levels to help defray the
costs. For more information, con-
tact the Stephenville or Dublin.
Chamber of Commerce offices.
Applications due Friday
for Christmas in April
Deadline for applications for this year’s Christmas in April home
renovation project is Friday.
Applicants must be at least 65 years of age or disabled, own their
own home, have an annual income of $18,000 or less, and have cash
assets less than $10,000 for an individual or $20,000 for a couple.
After applications have beep submitted and verified, a committee of
Christmas in April volunteers will visit each home to determine what
physical repairs or renovations are needed and if they are within the
scope of the volunteer organization’s abilities.
Last year, more than 150 volunteers did major repairs on four local
homes at no cost to the recipient. All labor is voluntary and materials
are donated or purchased with donations.
This year’s work day has been scheduled for April 26 which
coincides with other Christmas in April projects in communities
throughout the United States. , .
Applications forms are available from the office of The Dublin
Citizen at 404 N. Patrick or Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 213 E.
Blackjack.
The CIA organization is also seeking volunteer workers. Organizers
point out that there is a place for everyone from carpenters, painters,
plumbers and electricians to babysitters, sandwich-makers and hedge
trimmers.
To volunteer, contact James "Red" Seigars at 445-3342 or David
Johnson at 445-3331.
TABC investigating liquor protests
By KAREN WRIGHT
Citizen Editor
The 9-1-1 emergency telephone
system, touted for its immediate
response, is actually resulting in
delays ranging from 30 seconds to
five minutes. City Superintendent
Ken Jumey told the Dublin City
Council Monday night.
“That can be a long time if
you’re waiting for an ambulance or
a policeman,” he said.
The solution, Jumey told the
council, is to make Dublin a
primary answering point - and
they agreed.
“We tout the 9-1-1 system as
immediate response but it isn’t
always. The 9-1-1 system in Dub-
lin is a rough deal,” Jumey told the
council. “We are experiencing de-
lays in getting the calls transferred
to us. Making Dublin a primary
answering point like those at the
sheriffs office and Stephenville
police department should stream-
line our response ability.”
"We already have a central dis-
patcher so all we need to do to get
the ball rolling is request our own
system.” he said.
That request would go to the
North Central Texas Council of
Governments (NCTCOG) and the
stale’s 9-1-1 Advisory Commis-
sion.
“There would be no additional
cost to local residents or the city
because we are already paying 50
cents a month on our telephone
bills for 9-1-1 service,” Jumey
said.
All 9-t-l calls currently go
through the primary answering
point at the sheriffs office. The
operator at that location requests
Tom Sturdivant with the Texas
Alcoholic Beverage Commission's
Granbury office, said his office is
investigating protests concerning
the application for a private club
license by two Dublin residents.
The application was filed by
Mike Woodlock and Stena Pete
Hatcher who own and operate
Woody's Barbecue at the 377
Trade Days north of Dublin.
Sturdivant did not predict how
long the investigation process will
take.
Area ministers are leading the
movement to block the license
approval.
Retirement reception to
honor Garvin Hendon
Garvin Hendon will be hon-
ored with a come-and-go recep-
tion from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday,
Feb. 27 at PAR Country Club.
Hendon is retiring after 37
years of federal services, 28 of
which have been with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers at
Proctor Lake where he served as
reservoir manager.
information from the caller which
identifies to which emergency re-
sponder the call should be trans-
ferred. The call then is transferred
to the appropriate police, fire or
ambulance service. When the call
is transferred to the secondary
answering point, such as the Dub-
lin dispatcher, the caller’s name
and location appear on a computer
monitor and are then printed out.
“In the best case scenario, there
is a minimum wait of 48 seconds
before that information appears on
the screen,” said Police Chief
David Johnson. “Sometimes it is
much longer than that. Sometimes
there arc also delays in the print-
ing. One day recently it was three
hours after the 9-1-1 call when it
finally printed out."
Sometimes it is actually faster
for a local resident to dial the
police dispatcher directly rather
than to go through 9-1-1, Johnson
said, but there are inherent prob-
lems in skirting the 9-1-1 system.
If a person seeking assistance
through 9-1-1 is able to communi-
cate, the relaying of information is
not a problem. “But if a person is
experiencing a medical problem
and his ability to communicate is
Sae COUNCIL page 4
Remains identified
as missing attorney
from Comanche
Skeletal remains found in a
wooded area near Lake Proctor
have been identified as Stephen
Franklin Davis of Comanche who
had been missing since May, 1996.
The remains were discovered
Feb. 6 in an area which had been
burned by grass fires.
The body was transferred to Fort
Worth for an autopsy.
Davis, who was born Oct. 10,
1957 in Dublin, had practiced law
until he resigned his law license in
1989. At the time of his disappear-
ance, he was a clerk at Golden
Peanut.
Memorial services are set for 2
p.m. Saturday in Hall & Sons
Funeral Home of Comanche. Me- ,
mortal gifts may be made to the
Comanche High School library.
4, . ’
Leap of Faith:
Community responds in big way
to Historical Society's plunge
By KAREN WRIGHT
Citizen Editor
Motivated by vision (or na-
ivete), eight people - the bulk of
the Dublin Historical Society
membership - voted last May to
buy a building for a new museum.
At that time, the society's paid
membership stood at one dozen
and its bank account was about
$2,000. Its historic buildings were
in desperate need of repair and
there was no specific plan to deal
with any of those problems.
One member recalls walking
into the proppsed new museum
site shortly after the vote was
taken to purchase it, looking
around at the vast expanse of
space and feeling the first hint of
panic.
Now, just nine months later, the
old Dublin Progress building has
had a major facelift, the member-
ship of the organization has
grown to more than 470 and
donations of funds, labor and
materials have astounded the
group.
While most of the original
members are amazed at the
growth of the organization and the
commitment of its members,
Mary Yantis, Dublin Historical
Society president, says she has
Part II:
Dublin Historical Society
works hard, grows fast,
looks ahead
Decision makers. Mary Yantis,
third at left, presided at a recent
meeting of the Historical Society
directors. Others, from left, are
Steve Hightower, Willard Mann,
Dick Yantis, Charles Crabtree,
Ken Jurney, Hazel Williams,
James Smith, Theresa Mulloy
and Betty Hightower. Not visible
or not present are Gayle Crouch,
Betty Culpepper, Bobbie Nichols,
Ike Wade, Billie Martin, Karen
Wright.
always believed the revitalization
was achievable.
The historical society was orga-
nized in the early 1970s and its
founders were instrumental in de-t
veloping the Lyon Museum and
the Miller grist mill, the reloca-
tion of the Barbee cabin to Wright
Historical' Park and securing his-
torical markers throughout the
community.
But by the mid 1980s, the
membership had dropped off and
the historic buildings were open
only on rare occasions because of
limited volunteer manpower. The
flat roof of the Lyon Museum had
been repaired and repaired again
without much success and many
items in the museum's collection
had been stored to prevent dam-
age from the leaky roof.
The society turnaround began
with the arrival of Mary and Dick
Yantis. former Dublin residents
who retired from their careers in
Arlington to return to their former
home.
Mary immediately began look-
ing for ways to boost the society
and renew its enthusiasm for his-
torical preservation.
When owners Joyce and Larry
(■riggers put a $25,000 price tag
on the old. Progress building,
which had most recently housed
an antique store, the handful of
blindly optimistic society mem-
bers voted to purchase the build-
ing. acknowledging that at that
point they were only following a
dream because there was no plan
in place to finance such a pur-
chase.
With the announcement of their
intention, however, the Knights of
Pythias I .odge came forward with
an offer. If the society could
generate $20,000 in 90 days, the
KP Lodge would donate the re-
maining $5,000 toward the pur-
chase. It was just the push that
was needed and a plan began to
take shape.
The Yantises joined forces with
longtime historical society mem-
ber Willard Mann to solicit dona-
tions from families whose Dublin
heritage made them particularly
interested in the area's historic
preservation.
Each of the people on the list
was visited in person by the trio.
Just a few days into the effort.
Mann was shaking his head in
amazement at the positive re-
sponse.
“When Mary got through with
her pitch, people started writing
checks,” Mann said. “It was the
most amazing show of support
I’ve ever seen.” .
Mary said, “Dick and 1 would
never have attempted the personal
solicitations without Willard’s
help and encouragement. We are
relatively unknown in town, but
Willard's respected reputation for
integrity and community service
See HISTORICAL page 10
Delays in 9-1-1 systeni
concern city fathers
Council wants to make Dublin
primary answering point
t
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Wright, Karen. The Dublin Citizen (Dublin, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 13, 1997, newspaper, February 13, 1997; Dublin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth762404/m1/1/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dublin Public Library.