Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 55, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 5, 1998 Page: 1 of 56
fifty six pages : ill. ; page 25 x 14 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:
„ Southwest mcroeublishlng «"««
Polk < Coep
ENTERPRISE
Volume 116 Number 55
hi Livingston ISD
The Dominant News and Advertising Source in Polk County
Cafeteria prices rise
LIVINGSTON - New cafeteria
prices will be in effect when Liv-
ingston ISD students return for
classes next month.
Prices were approved during a
special-called meeting of the school
board Thursday morning, with the
action coming on the heels of a
budget amendment last month to
cover an end-of-the-year shortfall in
the food service budget.
Breakfast prices will increase
from last year’s 45 cents to 50 cents
for students and from 75 cents to $1
for adults. The breakfast price for
visitors will rise from 75 cents to
$1.25.
Lunch prices for students will in-
crease from $1 to $1.25 at the pri-
mary and elementary schools, from
$1.10 to $1.25 at the intemtediate
and junior high schools, and from
$1.15 to $1.50 at the high school.
Adult lunches at all campuses will
rise in price from $1.75 to $2 md
visitor lunches will rise from $2.25
to $2.50.
Rates for reduced-price lunches
In Goodrich ISD
are set by the government and will
remain unchanged at 30 cents for
breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.
Work on the elementary and in-
termediate school parking lots is
slated to complete by Aug. IS.
The board approved a maximum
bid price of $258,500 for the work,
which includes parking for 63 cars
and time handicapped spaces at the
intermediate school and for 94 cars
and four handicapped spaces at the
elementary school
With the maximum price and
completion date locked in by the
board, the district's construction
manager is negotiating with two
local construction firms to perfonn
the work.
In other business, the board ap-
proved the 1998-99 employee hand-
book, which includes a fundraising
calendar, teacher appraisal schedule
and list of certified appraisers.
Superintendent Janet Morris re-
ported that the district is continuing
to work with the city regarding
See LISD pg. 2A
u
GOODRICH - With the deadline
having passed for applying for the
superintendency vacancy in die
Goodrich Independent School Dis-
trict, steps are underway to narrow
He search.
The board will meet in an execu-
tive session in a special called
meeting Thursday to review the
applications and narrow the candi-
date list to five.
During its regular meeting June
25, the board accepted the following
resignations following an executive
session: Llewellyn Blackburn, prin-
cipal; Katherine White, counselor,
Cheryl Fox, first grade teacher,
Carmen Anderson, Spanish and
instructional aide; and Marie
Weems, librarian.
The board approved the employ-
ment of Nicolasa Sarmiento, Span-
ish/ESL teacher, Bryan Baronet, ag
pacher, and Sean Summers, middle
school science and ag teacher.
The board also approved the em-
ployment of Scotty Komacki,
maintenance; Rose Shrader, instruc-
tional aide; and Barbara Swanner,
library aide.
In preparations for the upcoming
1998-99 school year, the board ap-
proved the toucher appraisal calen-
dar. studcnt/atkletic insurance and a
contract for 'library services with
Region VI Education Service Cen-
ter.
The board improved a $222.90 tax
refund for W.L. and C.S. Turner for
the 1997 tax year.
Although repairs to the audito-
rium ceiling are still pending, the
roof replacement project on the
upper elementary, middle school
and auditorium are almost com-
plete.
The board also learned that the
summer food program was discon-
tinued after a week due to lack of
participation.
In other business, the board
moved the July meeting from July
16 to July 23 and approved the
minutes and financial reports.
SNTEmUI mOTO >Y OOKDON UIAMON
HOUSE DESTROYED -- Crime scene tape rings the scene of a fire that destroyed this weekend
residence in River Lake Estates early Friday. The Goodrich Volunteer Fire Department was noti-
fied of the fire at 3:14 am after a neighbor reported that the house seemed to erupt in flame, ac-
cording to Goodrich VFD Chief Kenneth Hambrick. The house, a frame house on suits, was
unoccupied. "The house was completely burned to the stilts when we arrived," Hambnck said,
adding that he was on the scene within eight minutes of the call. "Our main concern was to keep
the fire from spreading." The GVFD remained on the scene until about 7 a.m. Polk County
sheriffs deputies also responded and the state fire marshal's office will investigate to determine
the fire's cause.
UPS 437-340 Price: SO cent*
Rodeo starts
this Tuesday
LIVINGSTON - A tool of 240
contestants from all over the state,
and a few from out-of-state, have
signed up to compete in this year's
Polk County Youth Rodeo, to be
held July 7-11 at Barney Wiggins
Memorial Paric Arena.
This marks the 38th year for the
event
Performances begin at 7 p.m.
each weeknight and 6 p.m. on Sat-
urday.
A two-hone trailer will be given
away, six all-around belt buckles
will be awarded to die all-around
winners in each age group, and 30
event buckles will be awarded.
The Polk County Youth Rodeo
Association is adding $5,000 in
added money, which will be divided
and given to the top winners in
each event
Each night's performance will in-
clude two events especially for local
children: a calf scramble and
"mutton bustin'" {sheep riding).
The calf scramble is for local
youngster age 10 and under, with
competitions divided into two age
groups, 6 and under and 7-10.
Those interested in the "mutton
bustin'" may sign up each night of
the rodeo.
Another event for the local
youngsters is straightaway barrel
See RODEO pg. 2A
SHECo CEO addresses 'change in the industry'
By EMILY BANKS
Enterprise reporter
LIVINGSTON - “There is
change in the industry,” H.E.
Striedel said, regarding proposed
deregulation of the electric utility
industry.
The general manager/chief execu-
tive officer of Sam Houston Elec-
tric Cooperative (SHECo) -- one of
80 electric cooperatives in the state
- addressed the quarterly member-
ship meeting of the Polk County
Chamber of Commerce June 23.
Stating that the Legislature
"almost passed” a bill last session
that would deregulate the industry,
Striedel said it was "killed” due to
lack of time and the fact that some
did not think the residential users
were getting "a fair shake.”
However, a proposed deregulation
plan has been set in motion by the
Public Utility Commission of
Texas that could possibly result in
customer choice, lower bills and
more competition, Striedel said,
likening it to the deregulated tele-
phone, airline and natural gas indus-
tries.
Many electric utilities currently
combine the generation, transmis-
sion and local distribution of power
into one company, Striedel said.
After restructuring, or deregula-
tion, these three major segments of
the industry will be separated, or
“unbundled,” and treated as separate
businesses, he said, adding that the
result will be that where there is
deregulation, the generation or
power supply side will be open to
competition, allowing consumers
to choose their power supplier.
Striedel said electric bills cur-
rently reflect the cost of energy
times the number of kilowatt hours
used, plus a customer chaige and
sales tax for the total bill.
Following deregulation, electric
bills will be itemized by transmis-
See ELECTRIC pg. 9A
City manager 'not as optimistic1
By EMILY BANKS
Enterprise reporter
LIVINGSTON - “The climate
has changed. I'm not as optimistic
about deregulation as everybody
else - as currently proposed,” Liv-
ingston City Manager Sam Gordon
said. “A lot of issues have to be
answered.
Gordon was referring to one of
the most recent issues being batted
around - the proposed deregulation
of the electric utility industry.
“A lot of states are talking about
deregulation locally and the state is
trying to forestall the feds,” Gordon
For holiday weekend
said.
“Deregulation hasn’t happened in
Texas yet, and it may not,” he said,
adding, “If it passed next year, it
could be five years, at earliest,
probably 2002.”
Citing the Federal EnAgy Regu-
latory Commission Act of 1996, a
federal order that requires coopera-
tives to unbundle, Gordon said, “It
opened up access to transmission
lines.”
Referring to the proposed deregu-
lation bill that was before the Leg-
islature last year, Gordon said, “Tbe
cooperatives backed out at the last
minute because the wording was
not right
“It's received a lot of negative re- *
sponse from a lot of parties during
the public hearings,” Gordon added.
However, whether deregulation
becomes a reality or not, one thing
locals may be seeing in the near
future is a competition between the
City of Livingston and Sam Hous-
ton Electric Cooperative (SHECo).
The possible competition would be
the result of a 2,500-foot dual-
certification zone that was estab-
lished in 1975, Gordon said.
Regarding the dual-certification
See CITY pg. 9A
Fire precautions offered
ENTERPRISE'CIIOTO »V CORDON LtlARRON
HELPING OUT - Trusties from the Polk County Jail clean up around Heritage House, one of
several areas they help maintain. Polk County Sheriff Billy Ray Nelson said the inmates mow
over 47 acres every two weeks, with push mowers, and help maintain areas such as the On-
alaska VFD, courthouse, subcourthouses and solid waste collection sites.
LIVINGSTON - Fire, law en-
forcement and emergency officials
throughout the state are bracing for
outbreaks of new wildfires associ-
ated with the Fourth of July holiday
weekend.
PQlk County continues to be un-
der a bum ban, as well as a ban on
aerial fireworks.
The Goodrich Volunteer Fire De-
partment responded to three grass
fires this week on Old 35 that were
deliberately set, according to Fire
Chief Kenneth Hambrick.
Livingston Fire Chief Corky Co-
chran said grass fires have been
“very limited in our response area.
“It’s been extremely quiet and I
attribute that to the restraint of the
property-owners and folks using
good judgment, which we greatly
appreciate,” he said.
Cochran emphasized, however,
that intermittent showers and new
green growth will not alleviate the
matter, but that the bum ban will
continue to be in effect until lifted
by officials.
“Unless this weekend’s celebrants
use extra caution, the potential is
great for even more fire starts this
weekend,” Tom Millwee, state co-
ordinator of the Texas Division of
Emergency Management, said, as
he urged people to take extra pre-
cautions with activities that may
include outdoor cooking or fire-
works.
For the first time in history, al-
most two-thirds of the counties in
Texas (158) have outdoor bum bans
in effect
Five new fires were reported to
state officials July 1. To date, over
3,800 wildfires have burned almost
225,000 acres statewide.
While an approaching tropical
disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico
brings the possibility of much-
needed rainfall for parts of Texas,
the long-term forecast calls for con-
tinued dry conditions that will keep
fire dangers high.
Fire officials are urging people to
remember that the passage of the
Fourth of July holiday and the lim-
ited rainfall does not signal the end
of the fire threat.
“As long as hot, dry and windy
conditions prevail, so will the fire
threat,” Mark Stanford, of the Texas
Forest Service, said.
Resources are being staged at
various locatkjps around the state,
ready to respond to fires. Resources
See FIREWORKS pg. 2A
City to accept
new complex
LIVINGSTON - Over a year af-
ter ground was broken for a new
city hall/police station complex,
the Livingston City Council will
meet in special session Monday to
consider accepting the building as
"substantially complete."
Acceptance will clear the way for
city employees to begin moving
into the new municipal complex
and an auction, slated for July 25,
of remaining items in the old city
hall and police station in prepara-
tion for demolition.
Monday's meeting will begin at 5
p.m. in Livingston City Hall.
i
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.
White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 55, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 5, 1998, newspaper, July 5, 1998; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth798194/m1/1/: accessed July 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.