El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 45, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 26, 1981 Page: 1 of 32
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Leajder-N ews
SVOBODA 1885
CITIZEN 1900
VOLUME 97 NUMBER 45
El Campo, Texas. Wednesday, Aug 26, 1981
6 SECTIONS 72 PAGES
I.N PlMto b< Retort ('■•Im
bingo numbers called and auction sales made at
the event highlighted by a sumptuous beef and
sausage dinner.
Country Entertainment
W.A. "Fat” Roznosky of Ganado and his grand-
son Brian watch an aspiring “Nolan Ryan" at-
tempt to dunk a Hillje resident at the annual St.
Andrew’s Parish festival. Games were played.
Special
Grande
Section
Inside
U Urmm*m
Council Appoints
Acting PD Chief
By CHRIS BARBEE
El Campo City Council Monday
night authorized City Manager
John Lee to appoint an acting
police chief to replace Chief Jim
Hoffman, whose recent
resignation becomes effective
Sept 1. Lee asked Lt. Jim Elliott
to fill the position on a temporary
basis.
I.ee said the hiring of a per-
manent chief of police is nothing
the city has to rush into. The
important thing, according to
Lee, is to have someone in that
position on Sept. 1
Elliott, who said he has applied
for El Campos police chief
position, said only one personnel
change will be made until a
permanent chief is hired He said
an officer in the department will
be moved up, temporarily, to fill
his position as a criminal in-
vestigator to help Sgt. Robin
Taylor
"We are investigating about 90
cases a month, which is too much
for one man,” Elliott said.
Elliott came to El Campo as a
patrolman on May l, 1973 He was
promoted to sergeant Feb. 21,1975
and was promoted to lieutenant,
the second highest ranking officer
in the department, on May 14,
1980.
Elliott said he would like to be
police chief, but he said if he
doesn’t get it, he will work with
who the city hires. "I’m not going
anywhere. I like El Campo and
this is where I want to stay,” he
said.
Motel Project
In other business an ordinance
and resolution were approved by
City Council which serves as the
"first step of many” to be
followed by El Campo Inn-Vestors
Ltd. which is seeking funds to
(See COUNCIL, Page 2)
Preparations Finalised
For Busy Grande Day
Tax Increase Questioned
Board Adopts $7.7 Million Budget
By ROBERT CASTON
Taxpayers wanted to know
Monday night why the El Campo
Independent School District built
a room at the Hutchins
Elementary School two years ago
when funds are needed now to
repair aging roofs.
The comments were made at a
Board of Trustees special meeting
where the 1981 82 general
operating budget of $7.7 million
was officially adopted and the tax
rate of $1.07 per $100 valuation
was set.
Vice President Richard Manske
said he heard complaints from
persons who questioned the
construction of the $220,000 multi-
purpose room when campus roofs
are in such dire need of repair.
Retiring Business Manager
Lanier Hester said many of the
roofs, built in the 19**Vi, were 20
years old and had been ren-
novated to last another 10 years
but were now approaching
replacement.
"It gets to a point where you
can’t repair them anymore,” he
added.
Manske said he believes the
construction of the Hutchins
building was necessary because,
"If you get 30 days of bad weather
with no place to put the kids but in
the hall, it looks pretty grim.”
Seven percent of the 28 percent
tax increase is designated to
provide $245,000 ior capital im-
provements, specifically the
construction of a special
education facility.
The funds for rool repairs,
especially at the area vocational
center and the homemakers
building, will come out of regular
maintenance funds. The ad-
ministration had originally
proposed a 19 percent increase for
short stories
Get your pots and pans out —
the Mustang Creek Country Club
on Highway 59 will hold a Chili-
Cookoff Sept. 5 between 8 a.m.
and 8 p.m. There wi!l be live
musk during the cookoff and
performing at a dance Friday
night will be Jef and Valerie with
Rocky Hill taking the stage
Saturday afternoon.
The main attraction, of course,
will be the chili, cooked and
sampled during the day. Judging
will he at 2:39 p.m. using CAM
rales for taste, red color, con-
sistency. aroma and after-taste.
Trophies will be given to the top 10
If yon want to set up a
i or need information call 512-
771-2424 before deft. 2. Admission
la the cook-off Is $2 per person or
It per carload.
Events such as Jalapouo eating,
“ugly face’’ and chug-a-lag
wfll be hoM and asserted
wM be set up
The master chefs of Shearitb
Israel are gathering to present
their famous barbecue on 8uaday
at the synagogue grounds on the
Old Lane City Road in Wharton.
Cakes by the sHce or whole will be
available. Tickets are $4 each.
Serving Is from 11:30 a.m. until
1:39 p.m. and take-borne serving
is from II a.m. until I p.m.
Attention 18-year-olds!
Effective Tuesday, Sept. 1 you
will no longer be able to purchase
or drink alcoholic beverages. The
state legislature moved the legal
drinking age to It So you have
until midnight on Aug. 31 to
legally indulge.
The American Legion swim-
ming pool, which is leased during
the sammer months by the city,
wIB close to the pubtk after
regular hours Friay. A swimming
exhibition wHl be held Saturday
during El Campo Grande for the
final pool activity of the summer.
general operating expenditures.
Former Board member John
Gann, Tres-Palacios, who noted
the multi-purpose room was built
with surpluS funds, questioned the
need for such a large tax increase,
reportedly the highest since the
District consolidated.
"A tax raise makes it hard on
the person with a fixed income
and the farmer, he never knows
how much money he's going to
make,” Gann commented.
But Hester replied that the
budget has always been "a little
short” of operating funds and
should have at least one month's
expenditures in surplus
Districts Compared
Lawrence Dorotik, I>akeview
Addition, asked why other
districts had smaller increases
and Business Manager Don
Mathews reported his office
received an anonymous letter
with a newspaper article about a
proposed 19 percent cut in
Palacios school taxes
Mathews noted, however, that
the nuclear power plant in the
Palacios area had contributed to
the decrease and officials contend
it is difficult to compare districts
adequately, even with property
assessed at the 100 percent rate
now required.
"We have a real good
reputation for not spending more
per student than other school
districts,” Manske said
According to a Texas Research
League Benchmark report, the
enrichment per student from local
taxes for the 198081 year in El
Campo was $686 compared to
$1,682 at Boling. $1,202 at East
Bernard. $932 at Wharton and $991
at IxHiise
Board President Walter Ely
thanked the 20 persons attending
the meeting and said the Trustees
didn’t like the raise in the tax ievy
but. "We swore we would ha ve the
best school for the community and
this is the best wav we know how
to do it"
Amended And Adopted
The Trustees passed an
amended 1960-81 general
operating budget of $6 6 million.
$100,000 more than what was
appropriated to pay for increases
in transportation and utility costs.
The new 1961-82 budget is about
$78,000 higher than the figure
introduced at a workshop meeting
last month. It reflects the tax
increase for construction added
on by the Board and downward
adjustments in salary increases
as officials had budgeted above
what the hikes were after the
state foundation amounts were
released.
The $1.07 rate per 100 percent
valuation consists of $1 for the
general operating budget and 7
cents for the interest and sinking
fund
The 1960-81 athletic budget was
amended to $53,060, a decrease of
some $5,000 that what was
budgeted. However, the new
budget is $61,765 in anticipation of
lower gate receipts and higher
equipment costa.
Organizers of the Fourth Annual Grande Day report all is ready for
the culmination of months of planning and toil Saturday.
The schedule for festivities (see special “Salute To The Vet” section
Inside) have been released and the day's main event, the State Accor-
dion Championship, will be held as planned after overcoming an ap-
parent lack of interest.
Janice Cox, contest chairwoman, said 10 contestants have entered in
the showdown to be held at 12:30 p.m.
A private brunch for musicians and judges will be held at the
American Legion Women’s Auxiliary building Refreshments will be
donated by H.E.B. and Frnka’s Market
The extended deadline for entering is Thursday at 5 p.m and those
interested can call Cox at 543-7941 or mail in the entry form to 1509
Michael St. Accordionists can also enter Saturday.
The Sports Shack sold the trophies to the Chamber for “a generous
discount” Harlan Hobbs, manager, reported. The cash prizes this year
were increased by the sponsoring First National Bank
Grande Chairman Josh McCown said crews have been preparing the
grounds th; week and does not anticipate any setbacks - unless it
rains,
However, Hobbs indicated it would take a major storm to actually
cancel the activities.
"I get the feeling, there's an undercurrent, that this will probably be
the best Grande.” the manager reported.
There Are
4 Days
Left Until
An Early Start
LS HmU k« Haherl ( mUm
They might not think mi. but SI Philip'* School students had the honor
Monday of bring (hr first bunch of pupils to return to those pencils and
books. Students in this first grade class get acquainted with a march
around the room under the direction of Sister Silserius and Mrs. Francis
Litanee.
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Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 45, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 26, 1981, newspaper, August 26, 1981; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth987143/m1/1/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Wharton County Library.