Portland News (Portland, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 21, 1980 Page: 2 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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PAGE I
Thursday. Feb II. I MO
For Instance
MEMBER 1980
TA
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
H£’ * I
[MRW
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
ASSOCIATION
JftMKs r TRACY. «R ft RORERT W POOL. <R . Pub 11*
ARMOND ASHWOft
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JAMBi r TRACY.
JOHN H TRACY
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itchy Arum me
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S»l«i Adlimn*
PIOlK't TION ITAIY
pilm*H> Pm. Pat* Villarreal Mao Alvarr*. Data Audi#**.
Itaa Caaaa A Ion < MurpA; IHaua Hoaalet. Raul •
udtr Karla An
Karla
Published Every TV-
-Hay at T75
P- a -t Pc. i
Gnw, Taft, Tain
Texas 78374
Not, r Obituaries and p • try art urshed tr vhla pa par at tfta la pa I
i air of 10 ('aula pei a. tt A flat • ?>urge nf MOO ia mad* on card* of
iiunki ah.oh do uul rur #var liva ln.r» 'lot tea of daallia and funerala
pubtMftad ui In - - M new* volt. ratad a* oUUMrtM
sianUtn* of any ladlat-
duul or mr.itut! ■« pub hrd in l ar < olutnna will 0* cheerfully corracl
r«1 upon hem* brought to thr iltanllon of thr rdltoi We will aim
appreciate ihr gifting of an' ». .*• lit tha namaa of v tailor* tn your
home, or thr going of members «f vour family away lot a vmt ftuch
auntime will halp tncraanr Ut* vatu* of your local pa par
Thu nraiptpt u publighed Thuroday afternoon
effoitivr Jan 1, lfTt- dT J9 ;
i mmmtr M
the United * La lea
require* additional t'oelagc. may be made with the
! addrna change* to PoiUand New*. P O. lot ft.
year with
fet mailing the paper auiatde
■which u> moat ■
In Portland
This Week
THURSDAY, FEB. II
TOPS 638 7 pm First Presbytenan Church
Portland Singles Club 9pm Western Palms. 4449
Ayers. Corpus Christi
SUNDAY. FEB. 24
Portland Single* Club -7pm , Lands End apartments
social room
MONDAY. KEB. ZS
Hotary Club 12 noon, Community Center
Lions Club 7 p m ^hep's Chicken Shack
TUESDAY, FEt. 26
Volunteer fire de|xirtment - 7:30 pm. fire station
Masonic Ixidgc 7 In p m Masonic IxxJge building
WEDNESDAY. FEB 27
Kmarns < tub 12 noon. Shep's Chicken Shack
G-P chapter AAHP -6 M p m.. First Presbyterian
Church
Portland Sea Gulls Scjuare Dance Club — S p m.,
Community (filter
THURSDAY. FEB 28
Story Time 9 jo a rn Bell Public Library
TOPS MU 7pm. First Presbytenan Church
Jaycees 7 30 p in., t (immunity Center
Portland Sin, . cinii 9 pr Western Palms. 4449
Ayers, Corpus Christi
BELL PUBLIC I.IBKAKY HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9am to 6 pm.;
Wednesday 9am to 7 pm Friday — 9 am to 5 pm ;
Saturday — |0 a m to 2 p m
Portland’s
Past
14 YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK - I960
The play "A Midsummer
Night's Dream'' by
Shakespeare will be presented
by the Spollighters of G-P High
School
The third grade students of
Mrs. Doris Stark gave a sur-
prise birthday party for her
10 VICARS AGO
THIS WEEK -1970
Jerry Kiket and Doyle Green
will lx- ordained as deacons in
First Baptist Church
James I.. Taylor has taken a
peniut for a $16,400 duplex on
Denver Street.
3 YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK -1073
Top Girl Scout- cookie
salesman for the year are
Darla Murphy, I,eslic Jones,
M..L1
Trudy
Albers
Malek and Donha
Darla Murphy , (laughter of
Mr. and Mrs Donald Murphy.
10H Daniel Moore, celebrated
her 13th birthday with a
dumber party at her home
Barbara Murr. daughter of
Mr and Mrs. B. J. Murr, and a
sixth grade student, has won
tin- spelling competition at T.
M Clark Elementary School
1 YEAR AGO
THIS WEEK -1979
Becky Linn. 1), daughter of
md Mrs T. L linn, 113
Markham, and a sixth grader,
has won the East Cliff Elemen-
tary School spelling champion-
ship.
Susan Bos was named to the
15-3A All District swim team at
the district meet held in
Kingsville.
Portland Volunteer Fire
Department answered a fire
call to assist the Taft fire
department in fighting a blaze
there in the deserted former
home of Cage Hardware, a
historical landmark
from HISTORY’S SCRAPBOOK
DATES AND EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS
February ?l 1885 - After 37 years of construction th« Wash
mgton Monument is dedicated in the notion’s capital
Februory 2? 1819 In a treaty with Spain Florida is cedftd to
the United States
February 23 184- '*»• iir Zachary Taylor ond his Ameocon
suldiers defeat Gtnerol Sonic Ang at the Battle of Bueno Visto, Mex-
ico.
februory 24. 86fc Thi only unpeochment heortngs ever
mst«tu*ed against o Pri dent of the United States (previous to the
Nixon Watergate v ki' of the 1970'$) ore started by the House
of Representatives whe* • revives to impeach Resident Andrew
Johnson for high crimes of'd m sdemeorws."
Little Yellow Eyes Weren’t Blinking
— by pdl —
ONE OE the worst fogs to
splotch the area in some time
reduced driving visibility to
almost zero Knday afternoon
Anyone who went onto the
Causeway at the beginning of
the afternoon rush hour - about
4 JO p.m - surely noticed that
the flashing caution lights, put
in place to warn drivers of ex-
isting dangers, were not
flashing their little yellow eyes
Why not?
The result, a bunch of fender
benders and worse that cost the
motorists an untold amount in
repair bills, most paid for by in-
surance, true, but such ac-
celerated coats are the reason
for yet higher insurance rates,
nut ta mention the possibility of
injury or even worse
Not only should the warning
lights have been activated os
soon as the fog made its ap-
pearance. but when it thicken
ed to pea soup there should
have been police officers at the
entrances to the Causeway and
Harbor Bridge with flares and
whatever else would be
necessary to slow down the
leadfoots
Such precautions are needed,
because for some unknown
reason, drivers don't have the
initiative to drop their speed on
their own volition
And. it is only speed that pro-
duces the mishaps and the
chain reactions that result
therefrom
Traffic on both the Causeway
and the Harbor Bridge has in-
creased so rapidly over the
past few years that it has far
outdistanced the planning
thinking of the highway hierar-
chy. Until they catch up with
the problem and alloc ate it.
there are going to be many un-
safe times.
During such tunes it is only
going to be the efforts of the
Corpus Christi police traffic
control, working with Portland
officers at this end. that will
keep down the toll of death and
destruction.
This is of vital importance to
Portland residents and indeed
the residents of all on the north
shore of the bays who must
travel this route daily.
This is a tacky problem and
one which will raise its head
each and every time there is a
rash of accidents or a single
major mishap
More must be done to protect
the drivers and their
ua.-cs'-ngers during times of ad
Jid danger
More means immediately
THOSE WHO sei*c in
government with no pay. such
as our city elected officials,
deserve a great amount of
thanks for thleir dedication and
for their concent for their com-
munity
They have a great respon-
sibility, receive little thanks
and are subjected to continual
adverse criticism
Charles E B. Tothill has
served on the city council some
12 years, the last seven as
mayor He will not seek re-
election.
Hts tenure as councilman and
mayor has been a tune of ac-
celerated growth fer Portland,
which brings with it the many
touchy problems that have no
realunswers.
Tothill has served during this
peruxl unselfishly and always
with the interest of his com-
munity in his decisions.
The only reward for the
dedication that goes into such a
task Is the thanks of the com-
munity for such service, and
the individual's own feeling
that he has done the best Job
possible
He has that thanks
ANOTHER TEST COMING UP
Vn
Country Crossroads
by Keith Guthrie
Barbecue, beer and a bunch
of folks inevitably lead to one
thing—talk of politics,
especially if the time of year is
right and particularly if it
happens to be a meeting of the
San Patricio County Civic
Association The hash last
week in Sinton was no
exception, with current politics
rampant, but tales of years
gone by getting just as many
laughs
One of my favorites that
takes in both barbecue and
politics involves an Aransas
Pass man who decided a bunch
of years ago to run for state
representative There were
several candidates in the race
and our friend stumped the
district handing out cards and
grew confident enough to feel
A
M
Highlights and Sidelights
byLYNDELL WILLIAMS
AUSTIN—like a Chrpsi-
ma» toy which is turned up-
side down hi the snow Makes
can float down in chaotic
fashion. State Capitol halls
huzzed last week with the
news that an FBI hrthers in-
vestigation (code name "Bri-
lah") touched the office ol
House Speaker Bill Clayton
Clayton was subpoenaed
Iasi week to appear before a
Houston grand jury lo testify
about whether he look a
bribe in return for helping an
undercover FBI informant
gain information about bid-
ding on the slate's emptovec
health insurance program
The Speaker, who has dc
nied taking a bribe won a
delay until mid-March
Clayton allegedly received
some hundred dollar hills in
his office on Nov. 8 from
Houston labor leader I G
Moore following a confer
ence which also involved
Joseph Hauser, an FBI in-
formant who idennticd him
sell as a Prudential Insurance
of America agent
All accounts of the meet-
ing report lhat the money
was offered as a "political
contribution" following a
brief discussion of insurance
Clayton has admitted he look
the money, hut not as a bribe
He also mamlains he has no!
provided any favors for the
money
Avoid Embarrassment
Clavton explained he took
the money lo avoid emhar
rawing Moore, his past po
litical supporter, in front o(
their guest Hauser Clayton
said he first laid the money
uncounted on his desk then
later gave it to his aide. Rusty
Kelley, for safekeeping until
it could be returned to
Moore Ketlev locked it in a
safe in his otlice where it re
mamed until Iasi week when
■I was turned over as evi-
dence to the grand jury.
Initial news reports gave
Ihc amount as $10,000, hut
when the safe was opened.
$5,000 was counted and
turned over lo authorities
Telephone logs in the
Speaker's Office were pre-
sented as record lhat Clayton
later tried unsuccessfully to
phone Moore, and Moore ap-
parently did not return the
Politiial Futures
The subpoena has upset
me normal turn ot events m
ihe I ejislaturc as Home
members consider Ihe politi-
cal future of their speaker
ll indictments arc returned
against Clayton, he may not
he ahlc lo keep the gavel for
ihc- Governor'* promised spe-
cial session in August He
might resign his office, or he
might fail to he re-elected
following a motion to declare
Ihc Speaker's chair vacant.
Already there arc a hand-
ful of Mate representatives
listed as possible successors
lo Clayton should he step
down or he toppled Irom his
three lerm reign Ian histori-
cal first I
F merging t ontrslanls
Clayton'* most clear-citt
opponent is Dallas liberal
John Bryant, who formally
announced Iwo weeks ago he
would challenge Clayton in
19X1 In ihe midst ot the
Bnlah Murry. Bryant is
scrambling to win more com-
mitments lo his candidacs in
time to challenge Clayton in
the special session
Hryant claims some 6(1
commitments (en route to 76
soles needed for a majority)
sure that he would make It into
the runoff Election night
brought the bitter news He not
only failed to make Ihe runoff,
but collected far less than one
hundred votes
"Damn,” he exploded, “I fed
barbecue to more kinfolks last
night than I got votes But he
wasn't a man to brood long
"Just think of the money I can
save on Christmas cards "
And then there was the Taft
man who got beaten so badly
for constable that he seriously
considered petitioning the new
constable for a permit to carry
a pistol. "A man with that few
friends needs protection "
I like one of Velma
Sherman's sage- comments
after she campaigned the
length and breadth of San
F’atriclo County many times in
her successful bid for the job of
county clerk years ago "When
they tell you 'he won't bite’,
then you better hunt cover ."
Po'itics, in sparsely
populated Goliad County, was
a personal thing—you knew
every voter by his first name
My Dad was county
commissioner in Berclair for
20 odd years, and in one
election was running against
two opponents Everyone
always gathered on the front
porch of the school house
where (he voting lock place to
wait for the results Charlie
Diehel brought the results out
and announced that Pop had
received 75 votes and his two
opponents a total of 77 Pop was
elated, but someone figured
quickly that he didn't have a
majority and told him
“Butch, they have two more
votes than you do; there will
have to be a runotf '
"No way," Pop countered
cheerfully "There are nine
absentee ballots ,n Goliad and I
know that , voted for me That
will give me 81 to the others
HO"
What bothered Pop was when
the absentee votes were
counted, seven of the nine were
hts instead of the six that he
had banked on. "I just can't
figure out who the other person
who voted for me was..."
Young Johnny Miller
probably had the most
intriguing comment of the
evening last week in Sinton
"For the first time that I can
remember. Dad iJudge John
Miller'. Josephine (his wife'
and myself are all supporting
the same candidate." Knowing
the politically-activc Miller
family, that usually hacks four
different candidates, this was
quite something About that
time, Senator Bill Patman •
arrived on the sceen and it was
obvious who they were
hacking
Milton Boatwright, mayor of
Mathis for a long period
several years ago. was
speculating on his 41 plus years
as a mail carrier, and allowed
as how: “I give serious
consideration to retiring every
morning about 5:30 am, but
by afternoun I’m ready to
make another round.”
As Milton was talking about
retiring, Wayne Hitt walked up
and interjected "Just for the
record; I’m not ready to
retire •
Kay Harris, couqty auditor,
who has been involved in all'
county affairs for the past 20
years had some unsettling
comments A lot of the fan
has gone out of iny job Too
many people want too much
money that we don't Jiave...”
And as the crowd started
breaking up. Jack McWhorter
was seen taking care of closing
up Barbecues don’t just
happen In a way I guess
politics and barbecues have a
lot in common both take a lot
of work, but also are a lot of
fun
Weekly Portfolio M Letter To The Editor
_ _ __ jJ We. in America, have the priviledge to practice tl
by Max Hottell
Account f.urcutter Bochr Hahrt Stuart. 4 Sh'eldt Inc
l „
The market has an up look to
it this morning, but we don't
know how long it will last A
technical snapback lifted the
DJIA by three points and
breadth figures showed a slight
plurality of gainers over losers
After three straight down
sessions, the market is entitled
to a bounce but we believe that
the decline still has a way to go
The huge January advance
calls for a correction at least to
the 850 860 level of the DJIA,
and we note that the
speculative excesses,
especially in the American
Stock Exchange have not been
wrung out yet The decline in
volume below 40 million shares
yesterday, suggests lhat the
institutional investor is now on
the sidelines and will probably
look for lower prices before
committing his funds once
again The bond market
enjoyed a bit of a reprieve this
morning also, following two
days of horrendous declines
However, the bounce seems to
be lechnica! in nature, and the
feeling is Lhat prices will
probably head lower as the day
wears on The price of gold
finally got Ms come uppance.
falling to $696 In London
today, down $46 from
yesterdays close The dollar,
however, is doing well helped
by higher U. S interest rates
On the economic front, the
sluggish figures on housing
starts and personal income in
January attest to the transits
nal phase where business is
hanging in there but is not
particularly robust Time
Magazine's board of
economists calls it the hesitant
recession the unwillingness of
Die economy lo follow the
dictates of the economists
could be attributable to a
federal budge! that is far more
expansionary than is
consistent with anti-inflation
policy, and a consumer gripped
by inflation psychology
As to the market, we expect
that the technical bounce will
run Its course today, and that
the downtrend will resume
shortly
Bookshelf
‘Provenance’ — Intrigue Of International Art
BY LYRA SPARKS
In "Provenance" Hhe word
means beginnings: the author.
Frank McDonald, dips into the
mafia like activities of the
world of international art
dealers as they attend
auctions, try to outbid and
outmaneuver each other in
buying famous paintings,
works ol old masters
The background of the bexjk
goes hack to World War II
when the Nazi agents for
Goring and Hitler tried to
obtain, by theft mainly,
collections of art dealers In
France and other places from
predominantly Jewish
operators
The firm of Rostand had
been started by Aaron
Kostand. who, because of an
unfortunate accident
' connected with anti-Semitism
before the turn of the century I
was prevented from pursuing a
career as an artist — a career
for which his teacher judged
him to have a special talent
Today it is operated — the
firm, that is by Aaron's son,
Andre, who regards art as a
commodity by which to make
money
During the War, Paul IFrach
was warned that his name was
listed on a Gestapo paper ot
suspected subversives, so he
concealed his collection of
impressionistic paintings in the
false front of a truck and
attempted lo flee the city of
Paris He was caught and
tortured by the Nazis < his wife
was Jewish i and soon after this
Jewish collections from all
over France were seized.
In 1979, Andre Rostand tries
to regain one of his father's
favorite paintings at an
auction Rival dealers are
conspiring against him and he
sets up a devious plan to outwit
them, especially the leader
' Incidentally the plan
succeeds i He retains Alex
Drach, supposedly the son of
Paul, and hus wife, Naomi
1 Drach:
The author has written a
powerful and sweeping novel
The threads of the plot are
cleverly woven as he takes us
back In time to catch some
background, then weaves
together Ihe relationship of the
characters in the present He
holds our interest, keeps us in
perpetual suspense, until the
final denouement in the
catacombs of Rome
This is the story of how big
money gradually enters and
corrupts the trade of art
dealers — international ones,
that la — and of how the art of
painting lhat began as a
reflection of the highest
aspirations of the human spirit
ends by evoking its lowest
McDonald rrveali a fas! paced
and sophisticated world that is
larger and richer than life The
book reveals a part of life you
probably never imagined
We, in America have the priviledge to practice the
system of free enterprise We may, through our own efforts
and initiative, become as successful financially as we wish.
In this system there is always an element that tries to
better themselves at the expense of those who are trying to
practice the free enterprise system
(xK-ally, we have seen the effects of such a person who is
trying to stifle the progress of small businesses, and
businesses operated from private homes Some people are
unaware of city laws governing these are on the hooks, until a
"law abiding" citizen complains
____________See LETTER, Page 14
Band Box
by
Lily Krout
And they're off the magazine sales have begun Band
people are now out on the streets and ready to sell some
magazines Bui of course, magazines are not the only thing
they are selling We are also trying to sell records or tapes If
you do not want a magazine, then why don't you buy a record
of your favorite musical performer Or if you don't want to
make a decision on which one to buy, then why don't you buy
both You would then have the opportunity to sit back and
enjoy your magazine while you are listening to your favorite
music Sounds like a good deal, right? A magazine also
makes a good Christmas present for someone close to you I
know it is a little early for Christmas hut It's the thought that
counts
l.ast week junior tenor saxophone player. Roy Hinojosa,
participated in the All-State Band convention This
convention was held in San Antonio After trying oul for the
placemen! of the bands, Roy succeeded In making second
chair in the firxt hand This means that he is now the second
liest tenor saxophone player in Ihe entire state of Texas That
in itself is an accomplishment Roy practiced extremely hard
during the summer and also the school year He has devoted
a greal deal of time in working the tryout music to total
perfection and being named second liest in the state is truly
worthwhile Congi.itulatinns, Roy. wo *M^|y proud
l
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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/m1/2/?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.