The Bastrop County Times (Smithville, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 11, 1977 Page: 2 of 14
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I HI HAS I KOI’ COI N I V I IMI S SMI I HV1I I I
11 XAS 78957
THURSDAY, AUGU-X l|, 1977
mions
:'Round The County ^ (^▼IEW^#III¥
By Jane Hunt
fPs
"Whai did you want to do this summer,
but so far, haven't had time for?"
Naked Truth
<1* tffettk
It seems Bastrop County is under the threat of a new
crime wave. Hot weather brings these hardened criminals
out of the woodwork, and they may frequently he found
congregating around lakes and streams, threatening the
very fabric of our society.
In an area where a l)W| conviction draws a $100 to $150
fine, these lawbreakers are frequently fined anywhere
from $100 to $200. County lawmen have been forced to
bring these thugs in and have often made them spend
a night in jail.
And for what? For skinnvdipping •• swimming in the
nude.
No one can deny that in many cases the swimmers have
been trespassing. And. in many eases, thev have risked
offending people who might happen to see them "in the
altogether.''
But it seems to me that in an area w here we fine drunken
drivers $50 to $150, $100 to $200 fee for swimming in the
huff is pretty stiff. A nude sw immer hardly seems a threat
« to life or property, unless the casual observer might die
of heart failure. II we're going to insist the bathing suit
stay on the swimmer, we might also ask that the punish
ment tit the crime.
Bastrop Merchant
Hospitalized
BASTROP Two women
were injured Sunday in
a 5 p.m. auto collision
at the intersection of Hwy.
05 and Chestnut Street.
Rosemary Ann Lope/,
17, ot 124 Valley view in
Smiths ille, was driving her
brown ‘73 Chevy two-door
northbound when the
crash occured, she was
taken to Bastrop Hospital
and released. She was
charged with failing to
yield from a stop sign
Susie (Mrs. Max)
Maxhcimer, owner of the
Hunter
Succumbs
To Injuries
Johnny Robert Hunter, 27,
a former resident of Bastrop,
died Sunday afternoon in
an auto-motorcvcle accident.
Police said he was driving
a motorcycle that collided
with a car as it made a left
turn in the 14(H) block of
Springdale Road in Austin.
Merle Norman store in
Bastrop, was a passenger
in the other ear. driven
by her husband. Mrs.
Maxhcimer was taken to
Bergstrom AFB Hospital
for treatment of muscle
and nerve injuries to her
back and neck. Mr.
Maxhcimer was not injured.
Jerry Hillyard, school
custodian--"i’d have liked
to take a vacation to
Oklahoma, but I did not
have time lor it."
Janice Johnson, secretary
--"I wanted to clean out
the house real good but I
have either been too hot,
or too tired."
Vince Peck, conduction
worker I wanted >0 take
a vacation."
Debbie Cook. studtm--
"I'd have liked to sp*nd
more time at home."
Resignation Explained
Sprouts
County DA
. .from Page
laries were many. First of all. he
attributed the rise to the recent
and continued growth of the county,
and secondly to the county's proximity
to Austin. Poverty was the third
reason.
"Bastrop County is a poor county,
and poverty by it very nature breeds
crime,'' he stated.
Pfeiffer's fourth reason for the crime
problem was the continual turn-
over of law enforcement personnel
within the county. "A great number
of the officers don’t stay working in
the county long enough to get a real
chance to know the criminal element.
For exnamnle. Smithville and Elgin
have had a great turnover in the past
ten years," said Pfeiffer. "Because
of this they do not get a chance to
establish within the community
contacts that will trust them enough
to help them w ith an investigation."
Other improvements Wei tier
would like to see are in the areas ol
evidence gathering and trial pre
paration. He stated that there has
been a lack of solid evidence gathering
coupled with insufficient trial pre-
paration in the past.
"I will have more time to spend
in these areas," continued Pfeiffer,
"because I will be dealing with onlv
those crimes committed within the
county as opposed to the whole 21st
District. I hope to work closely with
the other law enforcement agencies
til tile gathering ol evidence. B\
putting more ol my time and effort in
the actual interviewing of witnesses
etc., a stronger case can be put to-
gether. IIk ultimate outcome of a
case is left to the jury, and vou can’t
expect them or a judge to convict oti
a weak case It is lor this reason
that I plan to take a larger role in the
gathering ot evidence in all cases
presented to my office."
In concluding the interivew Pfeiffer
said. T hope to see that each case
is prosecuted expeditiously to insure
swill and sure justice."
SMIIHVII I I -Smithvillc's recently
resigned C hief of Police Lee J. Doming
told the I IMI S that his resignation
was prompted by his being excluded
from the "hiring and firing of police
department personel." Alleged
indecision ot the council and the mayor
in problem areas was also cited by
Denting as a reason for his re-
signation.
In his letter of resignation, pre-
sented to the mayor on August 1,
Doming said, "During the adjourn
Isic| C its Council meeting, July 18,
1477 you called an executive session
to discuss personnel shortages in my
department. There were two ap-
plicants to be considered to fill this
shortage. I was not allowed to be at
this session so as to answer questions
concerning the applicants. There-
fore the matter was tabled for further
study. "On July 2(>, 1977, one of the
applicants came to me and said he
had been hired as an officer trainee
at three dollars an hour, a wage given
to certified officers. Again, I was
not consulted.
"From this I can only conclude,
that as Chief of Police, I have no
authority who is hired within my
department. Without this authority,
I can not assume the responsibility
ill 'this office. Therefore I' feel it
an advantage to you, the city, and
myself, that I resign as Chief of Police
at this time.
In answer to the allegations in
the letter. Smithville Mayor Lawrence
Skelley. told the TIMES, "Mr.
Deming should know that no one
conies to an executive session unless
lie is asked to attend by the governing
body in order to respond to specific
questions. In the incident of July 18,
the council had no questions to ask
Mr. Doming."
In response to Deming's allegation
that he (Doming) had no power to
hire and lire within his department
the Mayor said. "He is absolutely
right, he does not have that power.
The city ordinances place that power
in the hands of the Mayor and the city
council. We have to lean heavily
letters To The Editor
Viewpoints expressed in "Letter to the Editor" are solely those of the writer, lo make
this space available to as many w riters as possible, short and to-the-point letters are given
preference. We reserve the right to condense or reject any letter All letters submitted to
this column must have a valid signature to be considered for publication. However, the
letter w riter may stipulate that his signature not appear in the paper.
(' UStOTTH’T Protests baths a day. How is a homemaker to take
care ot laundry, canning, and other house-
Dear Editor: hold duties? 1 shall tell you- THEY CAN'T!
As a stockholder in the Aqua Water The water is always turned off when it is
Supple Corporation, I would like to express needed.
our disgust and disappointment in this We pav an atrocious amount ol money for
water system. I his is the poorest excuse ''Uch small usage and cannot afford lo have
for a water system we have ever seen.
In the first place, we never get a straight
answer or the same answer twice as lo the
problems and or cause of our off again-on
again water. We do not know who to
believe, as we have been told so many
stories. And. today, again, we have no
water at all. All we are told is that people
are using too much water.
There is no excuse for a water system
to confront such a problem. If they do not
have enough water, why do they continue
to hook up new customers? How can this
be? We have not had any water to use
since the beginning of the summer! Just
how much water can be used w hen you only
get a dribble every JO minutes and then you
are cut off for an entire day at a time.
This is becoming a public health hazard.
Not only is this bad when you cannot Hush
commodes but also an inconvenience for
families with voting children and babies.
I hen there are people w ho have had sugcry
and upon doctor's orders must take four
Commissioners Look
To Future Growth
a yard if we want one. All we use is for
our household uses. For the amount of
money we pay. we certainly should have
better service.
Perhaps we should pay for our water
in the way we receive it, in "Little
Dribbles"! I certainly would not re-
commend anyone becoming involved with
this system if they have any other
alternative.
I seriouslv doubt that this letter will do
anv good hui everytime I go to use the
water, the angrier I get and after a summer
ot having to put up with this, people arc
really getting fed up. I am going to send
copies of this letter to every possible person
or commission until we start getting some
results.
We do not mind paying for our water,
but we do mind paying for something and
not having it to use. We have had enough.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry F Painter, Jr.
Rt. 1 Box JbJA (River Oaks Bastrop County)
C edar Creek. I exas 78(ii2
Z%T * ©it ,lla9lr-"H
‘ U nilntii
(iiuu's
"or, F Third 1
Smiths tile 1
I..M M S.IHNUII
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VOL, 86 NO. 32
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NEWS EDITOR
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III! COUNTY At Monday's com-
missioners court meeting, the com-
missioners took what could well be
a positive sic, ward understanding
potential problems lacing the counts
in the future, flic action taken was
the acceptance ot a $8.(>(>(> grant
offered by the Texas Department of
Community Affairs.
I he grant, which will cost thi
county $4,JJ4 in matching fund is
ior assistance in the development
of a comprehensive planning and
management program.
The program will include an area
use study and plan, mapping and
impact of development. It is also
to include an on going program lor
county-wide planning and manage
ment. a housing plan, and an en
vironmcntal assessment,
It was under the urging of County
Judge Jack Gricscnbcck that ap
plication had been made for the grant.
Except for Commissioner Burns,
who said "I don't know how much
good it will do," the feeling of the
court was summed up by Com-
missioner Alexander when he said,
"We will never know if this $4,000
expenditure will give us any return...
Due to the fact that we are faced with
tremendous growth. I believe this
si udv w ill be of some help. ”
In other business brought before
the court, the commissioners:
•heard Commissioner Burns of Pet.
2 state that he would drag a road
in the Salem area to help alleviate*
the hardship to me poor road
conditions are placing on families
in the area. Burns said that he would
drag the road the next time he was
in the area, but that he would not do
so on a regular basis, because to do
so would put the county in the position
of having to accept the road as a
county road.
•accepted the plat for section II
of the K.C. Estates subdivision owned
In Oscar Cassel and Floyd Kelley.
I he section which was accepted is
made up of 41 lots which are located
off Highway 21 approximation three
miles out of Bastrop,
•signed a consortium agreement
with the Department of I abor. thereby
agreeing to participate in the ll)7H
CL I A program.
•voted to grant Sheriff Hoskins
permission to seek a part-time
deputy to help out on Saturdays and
Sundavs. and to seek a tanitor to main
tain the jail facility. Hoskins was
asked to seek out people that would
qualify under the (I IA program.
Also in the motion. Hoskins was
given permission to hire a temporary
employee to give the jail a "good
cleaning." Hoskins is to report to
the court at its next meeting con-
cerning his search for qualified people
to fill the positions in questions.
•agreed, at no cost to the county,
to enter into a contract with SWTU
lot the purpose ol conducting a county
personnel study. The end result
ol tlu study will be a personnel
manual that will set down the county’s
personnel policies. The court is not
to be obligated to accept or adopt the
policies set forth in the annual.
Funding.
.from Page I
both environmental and engineering
studies, which would take months
to complete." Patterson went on to
say. "We'd probably be looking at
1979 monies if we began now,"
For the purpose ot establishing
what area residents are actually using
the north community park, Patterson
will conduct a "headcount" and report
at tin next regular meeting. Blanche
Robinson agreed to attend the next
meeting lo make further plans.
Councilman Btiba Johnson re-
marked that the dog catcher was not
effective and should be permitted
to trepass on private property to
apprehend dogs without tags. A
motion made to that effect passed
unanimously.
Steve (Juitta. Combined Com-
munity Action director, asked the
council to consider revenue sharing
funds ol $J,()()() for social services
in Elgin.
(Juitta reminded them that there
is no agency in the county that pro-
vides transportation services to senior
citizens in rural areas and it is greatly
needed and used.
Under Title VII a nutrition program
is ottered as well as counseling for
tlu senior citizens of our county.
(Junta asked the governing body to
consider these services when public
hearings on revenue sharing come up.
Other action by the council:
•( (immunity park member Bettv
I v tin Myer wifi coordinate with Marvin
Patterson and the New Century Club
to designate a location for the log
cabin.
•Kivvanis member Ross Meredith
asked the city to help in a city clean-
up by providing a garbage truck and
driver. this will he negotiated
between the Kiwanis and Marvin
Patterson.
Court
Passes
Budget
on our department heads in these
matters and give due consideration
to their recommendations but the
final decision is ours."
In reference to the new officer
mentioned in Deming's letter, Skelley
said that officer came highly re-
commended by Deming. "As a matter
of face," said Skelley, "Deming
was the one who instigated this man,
I never saw him before in my life
until Deming brought him to my
office..."
"This man,” continued Skelley,
"was hired on an observatory basis
with the understanding if things
work out he would be hired on the
15th of this month. Also under the
agreement the man would receive
$3 an hour upon receipt of his
certification."
In an interview with the TIMES,
Deming went on to express his dis-
satisfaction with what he felt to e
the mayor's and the council’s in-
ability to take action on Smithville’s
dog problem.
"It's been very depressing,” said
Deming, "to receive dog calls and not
be able to do anything about them."
Deming explained that the city's
present dog ordinance does not give
the police the power needed to control
the dog problem, and that a new
ordinance researched and drawn
up by himself had not as yet been
considered by the council. He also
pointed out that the plans for the
proposed dog pound have been
completed for some time, and that
no effort to start construction has
been made.
"Three months ago.” said Deming,
"the council voted to do something
about the city's dog problem, and
still nothing has been done."
When asked by the TIMES why
the pound had not been constructed
Skelley explained that the cost of
the pound had proven to be $475
above the original cstiment of $1,000,
but that the city hoped to have the
problems worked out soon.
"The dog problem," said the
mavor, "In# seemed to alleviate
itself. I have not had a dog call
in about two months and from what
I can tell from the daily police reports,
they haven't been getting too many
cither."
Deming concluded his statement
to the TIMES by saying, “I've enjoyed
serving the people of Smithville,
but without the authority of the office
I could not assume the responsibility
of the office.”
THE COUNTY-Monday afternoon
the commissioners' court of Bastrop
County voted unanimously to put
their stamp of approval on the pro-
posed budget for 1978. The only
significant change in the proposed
budget of $1,515,031 was a transfer
of the commissioners’ wages from the
respective road and bridge funds to
the salary fund. The controversial
wage increase for county employees
stayed in the budget as originally
set forth.
The budget shows the sheriff’s
department receiving $119,803 for
wages and transportation, plus an
additional $15,000 for other various
expenses.
Pet. l’s road and bridge fund
has been budgeted at $89,483; Pet.
2 at $101,683; Pet. 3 at $87,755; and
Pet. 4 w^j set at $88,083. None of
these figures reflects expected
revenue sharing money that will
be divided among the road and
bridge funds as it is received through
out the year.
The last page of the budget shows
that the county is estimating $145,346
in additional income via revenue
sharing.
THE
RECORD
H> Paul M Prentiss **
I suppose my readers are awaiting an attempt at a tunny
column about the trials and tribulations of racing down
(thank the Lord it was down) the Colorado River in a
canoe w ith one's wife.
I'm afraid I must disappoint them, for it is hard to be
funny while typing with blistered hands and spasmatic
neck muscles that sting with pain as the vibration of the
typewriter keys send waves up the arms.
Hut I will pass on to the general public some valuable
information picked up by myself as I observed other
competitors in the first annual Bastrop Homecoming
canoe race.
1) DPS Johnny Whitlcv is much easier to pull away
from on the river than he is on the highway.
2) When the spirit strikes them, our new DA Neal Pfeiffer
and Alcoholic Beverage Commission Officer Bert Lively
can paddle like two revenuers lookin' for a hot still.
31 II you don't know what you arc doing simply paddle
like all hilly you know what and let your wife steer the
canoe.
I
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Prentiss, Paul M. The Bastrop County Times (Smithville, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 11, 1977, newspaper, August 11, 1977; Smithville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth870099/m1/2/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Smithville Public Library.