Portland News (Portland, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 21, 1980 Page: 1 of 15
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Portland News and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Bell/Whittington Public Library.
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POR TLAND
20'
Dedicated To The Best Interests
Of Portland...
"Gem City Of The GulfI"
Portland Texas 78374, Thursday. February 21, 1980
Volume XI - Sixteen Pages - No. 8
NEWS
For Mayor
Tothill Won't Seek Re-Election
Mayor Charles E B. TothiU
said this week that he would not
seek another term as mayor ol
Portland
Tothill has been mayor since
1973 when he took office upon
the resignation of Bill Crow
who moved away from the city
at that time Tothill was mayor
pro tern at the time and had
been on the city council since
1968
MAYORCHARLES TOTHILL
Due to the nature of hLs work.
Tothill said he now was re-
quired to be away from the city
a considerable amount of the
imte. and that thus precluded
him from giving the necessary
time to the position
He said that being on the
council and being mayor of
Portland had been one of his
most enjoyable tunes
Mayor Pro Tern Bobby Whit
tington resigned his seat on the
city council earlier this month,
stating at that time that he
would run for mayor in the up-
coming city election to be held
Saturday, April &.
Council Member Alice
Chisholm was named Tuesday
night to hold the position of
mayor pro tern until after the
April election at which time the
new council will name their
mayor pro tern for the coming
year.
In addition to the mayor s
seat, two council positions are
expiring those of Chisholm and
Joe Burke; and the one-year
term created by the resignation
of Whttington will have to fill-
ed
FInal day for filing as a can-
didate for mayor or for the
council will be Tuesday, March
4. Application can be made
with the city secretary at city
hall.
Absentee balloting will begin
March 17. continue through
April I and can be accomplish-
ed at the city secretary 's office,
city hall
Voting place for Precinct 8
will be city hall, and voters of
Precinct 19 will vote at the fire
station.
Polls will be open from 7 a m,
to 7 p.in.
New CPL Rates
Now In Effect
CPL customers now are
receiving their fist bills under
new rates.
Different types of customers
will have a 6.9 per cent in-
crease. For commercial and
small industrial customers the
increase will average 18 per
cent. Municipal increases will
average 30 per cent
These increases were deter-
mined after the company was
authorized a $65 million in-
crease or 13 per cent based on
company revenues during the
12 months ending J une 30
The reason different types of
customers were assigned dif-
ferent increases was due to an
evaluation of the casts of serv-
ing customers, the risks
associated with each type, and
other considerations. The final
formula was the product of the
hearing held on CPL'S request.
Residential customers in
rural areas now pay the same
rate as those customers m
cities. Also, the luel cost adjust-
ment which applies to all
customers now is required to
rcilect tig; relative efficiency of
the voltage at which customers
are served
A part of the development of
the rales was price elasticity,
which simply means that a
slight reduction in usage ls ex-
pected because of higher rates
The rates will not change from
tune to time because of this.
They will stay the same level
charge per kilowatt hour, thus
if a customer reduces con-
sumption the bill will be less
The last rate increase
granted to CPL was three years
nuo. in 1977
Drama Department
To Present 'Shrew'
The Gregory-Portland High
School drama department will
present their Spring produc-
tion, "The Taming of the
Shrew ,” at 8 p.m. Friday and
Saturday. March 7 and 8, at the
high school auditorium
The '"Shrew" is the same ver-
sion that won the U.I.L. one-ad
play competition five years
ago, and will be in competition
again later in the year
This performance will not be
for competition
Cast members are Bill
Vowell, Sharon Beardsley,
Eugenio Files
For State
Senate Seat
Dr Marco Eugenio, a
successful neurosurgeon from
Corpus Christi. has filed on the
Republican ticket as a
candidate for the Slate Senate
from District 2b
Eugenio will be challenging
incumbent Carlos Truan for his
demo seat in the state
legislature
In announcing his candidacy
Eugenio says. "I am a
candidate for the Texas Senate
because we need repre-
sentation for all Texans in the
20th District We need a
senator with moral and
physical strength, with
discipline and objectivity and
with a reputation for tireless
pursuit of that which is just and
Jimmy Knelsch. Angie Martin,
Gary Simpson. DeDe Timmer-
man. Patrick Strain, James
Mullins. Charlelte Nolte, Jose
Farias. Todd Oliver, Scott Grif-
fin, Steve Griffith, Bobby
Wranosky and Steve Williams
Understudies are Brian
Sohroeller. Jim Bob Childress,
and Pat Love
Crew members are Julie
Whitney, student director;
Scott Taylor, lights; and Jack
Copeland, sound
TickeLs are 92 in advance of
92.30 at the door.
DR MARCO EUGENIO
equitable for all people
"I am a conservative,
committed to fiscal
_See EUGENIO, Page 16
First Baptist
SPEECH WINNERS: That* students were members of a teem that placed second
sweepstakes in Et Campo this past weekend They are trom left DeeDee Timmerman,
James Knetsch, Jeannine Kemper. Steve Williams, Jose Farias and Scott Griffin.
Against 24 Schools
Speech, Drama Students
2nd In El Campo Tourney
Competing with 24 schooLs
from all over South Texas, the
G-P speech and drama depart-
ment placed second place
sweepstakes in a tournament
held last week in El Campo
Katy nosed them out of first
place by 13 points
Trophy winners were as
follows Angie Martin and Kim
Morris, first in duet acting;
Usa Freberg, first, dramatic
interpretation; Scott Griffin,
first, novice extemporaneous
speaking; James Knetsch, se-
cond, novice extemporaneous
speaking; Steve Williams, se-
cond, dramatic interpretation;
Angie Martin, iMCond, prose in-
terpretation; Angie Martin,
third, poetry interpretation;
Angie Martin was named also
as the best interpreter of the
tournament Kim Morris plac-
ed third in dramatic interpreta-
tion.
The reader's theater group
consisted of Kristi Theiedc,
Julie Whitney, Jose Farias.
Kim Bridgcr and Dee Dee Tim-
merman. They placed third.
Finalists were Robin
Wrenosky. Pat Love, Charlotte
Nolte, Julie Whitney, James
Mullins, Leslie Younger. Todd
Oliver, Hobby Wranosky. Steve
Griffith and Tracy Maynier.
Semi-finalists were: Sharon
Beardsley, John Janssen, Mark
Bowlin, Gary Simpson, Kristi
Thiedeand Dan Hall.
Parker To Be Guest Speaker
Dr Bobby Parker, president
of the University of Mary-
Hardin Baylor at Belton, will
be guest speaker at morning
worship services of First
Baptist Church, Sunday, Feb
24
"The New Edition,” a group
of seven Mary Hardin Baylor
students, will also sing at the
two services scheduled for 9 30
and 10 50 a m
The University of Mary
Hardin Baylor is one of eight
colleges and universities
supported by the Baptist
General Convention of Texas
It is often referred to as Texas
oldest college, founded in IMS.
and newest university having
been elevated to university
status in 1978
Parker, who is a graduate of
Sam Houston State College and
Baylor University has served
as president of the institution
since 1971
In addition to presentations
in the regular morning worship
services, the New Edition will
present a full uftemoon concert
beginning at 2 pm
The general public is
Solicit For Rope-A-Thon
Youngsters currently are
obtaining sponsorships for
their participation in the Jump
Rope-A-Thon for Heart to be
held from 8 30 a m to 12 noon
Saturday. March 8, in the G-
PHS gym
The event is sponsored by the
American Heart Association
and the G-PIIS Paramedical
Club
Jump Rope^A Thon is a team
event A team of six jumpers
will take turns jumping rope
for a maximum of three hours
Each team member will secure
See ROPE-A-THON, Page 16
encouraged to attend but the
program will have special help
for older youth confronted with
the decision of attending
college
"We feel very fortunate to
have someone of Dr Parker's
stature with us He is an
outstanding speaker and one of
our very finest Christian
college educators Having the
New Edition is an extra plus,"
states First Baptist Pastor H
E Savage Jr
Savage represents Kirat
Baptist Church and the Corpus
Christi area on the board of
trustees at the University of
Mary Hardin Baylor
Cable TV Work
To Begin March 1
Several business owners
were in attendance at city
council meeting Tuesday night
to complain of unfair treatment
involving the city's opposition
to signs they had displayed on
their business property
The primary argument
brought forth was that alleged-
ly they were not receiving fair
and impartial consideration
They noted they had paid fines,
in instances, and removed
signs while similar signs were
allowed to be display ed at other
business locations
A city staff member said that
those businesses that had
erected signs w ithout obtaining
a permit from the city ' w hu h is
required by city ordinance I
were the first to be contacted
about violations He said that
other cases were still being pro-
cessed and filing of additional
violations were anticipated
Jeff Carey told the council
that he thought certain
businesses were being singled
out, that seven businesses had
been filed on for improper
signs.
Aurora Gonzales said slic had
received notice of violation in
the mail and had paid a 353.30
fine She said that she had
spent 9450 to have signs taken
down and that there were
similar signs still evident in the
city
The business spokesman said
that their main concern was
that all business
establishments were hot lieing
given the same consideration.
Mayor Charles Tothill said
that the city discriminates
against no one He said that the
city has no intent to harm any
business, and that if the current
city ordinance on signs is not
workable, a review should be
made and adjustments be
made to the ordinance to be fair
for the business ronununity of
the city and foi all i .sclents
The sign ordinance will lie an
item on the agenda for the
March 4 meeting of the council
Upon recommendation oi Coun-
cil Member Alice Chisholm, a
asked to work with the city's
planning and zoning board, and
with the city council to review
the sign ordinance to make the
necessary changes which
possibly could alleviate much
of the controversary presently
being expressed
Cable Television
Charles I .asitcr of Stacey
( onuiiunn atoms Corporation
told the city council Tuesday
night that construction for the
cable television system for
ALICE CHISHOLM
Portland would get under way
March 1. and that the entire
building of the system would
lake about 10 to 20 weeks
He said that some homes
MILTON WALTON
NfriBM rip Tied irttn the
and ready to receive cable
television programming 20
days after construction begins
Additional homes would be tied
in as the construction pro-
gresses. he explained.
Upon the request of Tothill,
l-asiter said his firm would
keep the city staff apprised of
progress on construction.
1-a.st ter said that delay in
beginning construction i the
system originally was to have
been completed by Feb. 15)
was because of the necessity of
having to go from an overhead
l on poles i system to one which
will be completely
underground
This brought considerable
additional cost, according to
lasiter, required redesign, ad-
ditional funding and more
materia Is for the project
Two-thirds of the necessary
cable has now been delivered to
Portland, he said, and con-
tracts have been finalized for 22
program suppliers
The work span for con-
struction will be determined by
the availability of material,
iasiter noted
Appointments
Norma Lockhart, former city
secretary and now the city's
lax assessor-collector, was
named by the council to be ac-
ting city manager until a
replacement could be found for
Pete Gildon who resigned the
position last week to go into
another business
Tothill said that it could
possibly take as long as three
months to locate a new city
manager. He noted that the last
time the city went through the
process more than 70 ap-
plicants had to be evaluated
Gildon's resignation was
reluctantly accepted" by the
council at Tuesday night's
meeting
Milton Walton, who has been
acting city attorney since early
last summer, was appointed ci-
ty attorney. He replaces
Bryant Ficken.
Appointed to the board of
equalization were Mike Fhnn,
Jean Chilcoat, Aurora Gon-
zales, and alternates Frank
lovvorn, Virginia Kippstein
and Paul Deegan
Other Business
In other business, the coun-
cil:
—Presented a certificate of
appreciation to Jessie Clayton
who is leaving city employment
after many years of service.
See CABLE TV, Page 16
Jessie Clayton Tuesday night was presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the city of
Portland by Mayor Charles Tothill. Mrs. Clayton is leaving the city staff after almost 14
years ol service. She worked in the water department. In bookkeeping and most recently In
the tax department Mrs. Clayton and her husband. Raymond, will move to Menard With no
special plans, the said, "I just hope to retire." The Claytons have two children, one is
married and away from home and another it completing East Texas State University this
year. (NEWS photo)
Dan s Drive In Held Up
Dan’s Drive In on the
Highway 181 frontage road was
held up Tuesday nighl by a
man armed with a knife and
who got away with about 3200
in cash, according to Detective
Sergeant Erich Bauch
Dolores Brooks, a clerk, was
alone in the store about 11 p.m
when a man with a stocking
over his head entered the
establishment through the side
door
He demanded money and
that the register be opened
Mrs Brooks was made to lav
on the floor while the man took
the money She said she was
told "don't get up or I will kill
you ”
When Mrs Brooks heard the
man leave through Hie door,
she got up and pushed the
alarm
Bauch said that an
Investigation was continuing
The drive in was robbed in
April 1978 with the person
committing the robbery later
being caught in Corpus Christi
Arrests Made
Warrants have been obtained
for the arrest of Frank Garcia
Jr and Arturo H Trevino for
the alleged burglary of a
vehicle on Maple which also
involved two guns being taken
Two juveniles were arrested
this week for shoplifting
During the week, there were
Gregory Portland High
School drama department
jiurchused a color video system
from (he profits made at this
year's Follies production
This major purchase
continues the tradition of the
drama group of using profits
from their productions to
purchuse equipment for the
auditorium, and speech and
drama classes
The record attendance at
E'ollies this year made possible
seven minor traffic accidents,
three ambulance runs, four
breakins reported, one bur-
glary. two fights, 12 humane
call Two prowlers reported,
three thefts, two acts of
vandalism and four arrests
made three for being drunk in
public and one for driving
while intoxicated
the attainment of the expensive
equipment which includes a
color camera, color video
recorder, monitor, carrying
case, tripod and power
adaptor
'Fhe color video system will
be used with the black and
white video items purchased
(our year ago by the drama
department, in a new class in
TV production which may be
offered at the high school next
year
Follies' Profits
Buys I ideo System
i
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Leveen, Paul D. Portland News (Portland, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 21, 1980, newspaper, February 21, 1980; Taft, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth871965/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bell/Whittington Public Library.