The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 53, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 1, 1998 Page: 2 of 6
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Page 2 - The Odem-Edroy Times
Thursday, January 1,1998
Democrats Holding Fast
Texas House Speaker James E.
Pete Laney said last week that
despite the shrinking number of
Democratic officeholders, the
Democratic majority in the House is
likely to remain in place.
Laney told the Associated Press
he had collected enough pledges
from current House members in
both parties to remain speaker even
if Republicans keep their seats and
add eight others for a 76-74 majori-
ty-
They predicted last time it was
going to turn and it didn't and I
don't think anything has changed,"
Laney told the A. P. Laney, D-Hale
Center, has served in the House for
24 years, and has been elected
speaker three times.
Key Democratic House members
who are not seeking re-election
include Mark Stiles of Beaumont,
chairman ‘ of the Calendars
Committee; Allen Place of
Gatesville, chairman of the
Criminal Jurisprudence Committee;
Allen Hightower of Huntsville,
chairman of the corrections com-
mittee; Hugo Berlanga of Corpus
Christi, chairman of the Public
Health Committee; and Keith
Oakley of Terrel, chairman of the
Public Safety committee. As chair-
man of the Calendars committee,
Stiles scheduled hearings for legisla-
tive bills. He had the power to put
bills on the back burner or the fast
track.
Susan Weddington, chairwoman
of the Republican Party of Texas
said Stiles' retirement was a "huge
blow to the Democratic establish-
ment of Texas."
Mattox to Announce for AG
Democrat Jim Mattox of Austin
said he will file as a candidate for
Texas attorney general - seeking to
return to the office he held from
Texas Capitol Highlights
Lyndell Williams and Ed Sterling
1983 to 1991.
Since then, Mattox, 54, has lost
in Democratic primaries for two
statewide offices. In 1990, Ann
Richards beat Mattox in a runoff for
governor and in 1994, Dallas busi-
nessman Richard Fisher beat him in
a runoff for U.S. Senate.
"Both friend and foe alike have
agreed that I was a decisive admin-
istrator. Everyone always knew
where I stood," Mattox told the
Austin American-Statesman. "Our
office issued thousands of legal
opinions. Few were challenged and
even fewer were overturned. I
attracted the highest quality of per-
sonnel in the office."
In the 1998 Democratic primary,
Mattox will face Court of Criminal
Appeals Justice Morris Overstreet of
Amarillo and Gene Kelly, a
Universal City lawyer.
Liability Rates Reduced
The state insurance commission
last week lowered automobile liabil-
ity insurance rates for high-risk dri-
vers in the Texas Automobile
Insurance Plan. The association,
known as TAIPA, insures drivers
who have been turned down for
coverage in the standard market.
Insurance Commissioner Elton
Bomer said the reduction - an aver-
age of 3.9 percent - is similar to that
recommended by administrative
law judges who heard testimony
concerning the rate. TAIPA had
requested a 22 percent increase.
The association assigns drivers to
various insurance companies, which
can charge rates set by the insur-
ance commissioner.
About three-fourths of the drivers
assigned to TAIPA carry only
mandatory liability coverage.
The new insurance rates take
effect March 1.
More Gun Licensees Charged
Statistics compiled by the Texas
Department of Public Safety show
that criminal charges filed against
Texans with concealed handgun
permits rose sharply in 1997.
Last week The Dallas Morning
News reported felony and misde-
meanor cases involving permit
holders rose from 431 in 1996 to 666
so far in 1997 - a 54.5 percent
increase.
Despite the statistics, state Sen.
Jerry Patterson, R-Pasadena, the
chief author of the right-to-carry
law, said, "The preponderance of
the evidence suggests that a vast
majority of permit holders act
responsibly."
Patterson pointed out that no
Texas permit holder has been con-
victed of a homicide since the law
took effect Jan. 1, 1996.
According to DPS statistics, the
number of permit holders increased
from 114,500 in 1996 to 161,702
through mid-December, a 41.2 per-
cent increase.
Fewer than 1 percent of Texans
have concealed handgun permits.
So far, the state has revoked 377 per-
mits.
Other Capitol Highlights
• • The number of nonfatal work-
related injuries and illnesses fell to a
historic low for the state in 1996,
according to the Texas Workers'
Compensation Commission. The
agency said the rate fell to 6.3 inci-
dents per 100 full-time workers in
1996, down from a rate of 7.2 per
100 ion 1995.
• • Cattle and calves on feed for
slaughter markets in Texas feedlots
with capacity of 1,000 head or
more totaled a record 2.94 million
head on Dec. 1 up 11 percent from
a year ago, according to a report by
the Texas Agriculture Statistics
Service.
Looking Back
From The Files Of The Odem-Edroy Times
TEN YEARS AGO -
1987
The First State Bank of Odem
hosted its annual Christmas Open
House Friday with punch and
cookies served in the lobby.
Danny Dunlap son of Mr. and
Mrs. Danny Dunlap was honored
with a 10th birthday party in
Sinton with his grandmother
Maria Nino of Odem as a guest.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cantu are
proud to announce the birth of a
son, Matthew Frank Cantu, Friday,
December 11, 1987.
Recently appointed as Tax
Assessor Collector, Polly Nelson is
announcing her candidacy to
retain that position.
Recently inducted into the
International Thespian Society
were OHS students, Roxanne
Luna, Manny Lunoff, JoAnna
Perez, Domingo Longoria, Tammie
Trevino and Mike York.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Candela
Jr. are proud to announce the
birth of their son, Robert Candela
III, December 17, 1987.
Attorney Sheryll Dempsey has
filed for the position of County
Attorney, a position now held by
David Aken.
The Odem Edroy ISD board of
trustees discussed plans for a
new cafetorium at the regular
meeting and approved the
employment of John Preston
Ingram as business manager.
Manuel Lunoff IV of Odem
was a recent visitor of U. S
Representative Kika De la Garza al
the U.S. House of Representatives
in Washington, D. C.
Alan B. Livingston and Margie
P. Silva, both of Odem, have been
seleced for the national Dean's
List. Livingston attends Texas A &
I and Silva attends Del Mar.
Odem High School received
word this week that Odem-Edroy
ISD is the winner of the Z-95
attendance contest, receiving free
tickets to an Expose Concert.
Students of the OST Cluster
School presented The Twelve Days
of Christmas: Texas Style Monday
evening. Participants were Brent
Demmer, Elemencio Alaniz, Vickie
Stephenson, Adam Hayden,
Matthew Hayden, Barbara
Schlinke, Presciliano Zavala, Sara
Gadway, Ninfa Salinas, Phillip
Davis, Manuela Voorhees, Leo
Hinojosa, Mary McWhorter, Janie
DeLeon, Marie Gomez and Rochelle
Bell.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
-1977
Vandals broke off several
small oak trees and uprooted
others at Evergreen Cemetery
according to Leon Mertz, president
of the cemetery association.
Constable Ramiro Herrera is
conducting an investigation.
Four more sections of the
concrete fence being placed across
the front of Bethel Cemetery have
been sold said a member of the
fence committee. Purchasing the
last few days were Mrs. Jessie
Hanshaw Odem of Mrs. George
Sandars of Pearland, Mrs. Hilda
Baccus of Louisiana and Mr. and
Mrs. Dallas Dubose of Ingleside.
County Judge Percy Hartman
said Wednesday that Constable
Earl Echols Precinct 6, Ingleside
has turned in his resignation.
Mrs. Ralph McFadden of
Canada found it unseasonably
warm even for Douth Texas when
she visited here with Mr. and
Mrs. A. N. Thompson Jr. and
family.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Maddox of
Flat Rock 111 have returned to
spend the winter months with
their niece and family, Mr. and
Mrs. J. L. Bain. They have spent
more than 20 consecutive winters
in Texas and they said they left
Illinois at just the right time this
year.
Burglars struck two more
rural homes Saturday this time
hitting east of Taft and in the
White Point area near Portland.
Taken were tv sets, field glasses,
radios, appliances, jewelry and
other items of value.
Hunt Construction of Corpus
Christi submitted the low bid for
renovation of the school cafeteria
at the OEISD meeting last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sanzone
returned to their home in
Cincinatti, Ohio Saturday atfer
visiting her mother, Mrs. E. J.
Heuermann and attending to
business while here.
State Of The Region
Juliet K. Wenger
Coastal Bend Council Of Governments
Infrastructures of towns and cities reflect the stage of technology
reached at the time they were built. This means many communities face
replacement or expansion of wastewater plants, water distribution systems
and streets at much the same time. As years have passed since the capital
investments were first made, money for such improvements has become
much more difficult to acquire.
Some of the systems were built originally with grants or loans from the
Economic Development Administration. Now some city administrators are
turning back to the EDA for assistance. Not only are older systems costly but
they require frequent repairs and some are inefficient in operation. They
can also limit the growth of a community which is competing for new busi-
ness and industry that can move in only if existing utilities can support
them.
Beeville is one of these cities. It is seeking a $1,500,000 public works
grant, proffering a $475,000 local match. The Council of Governments
recently endorsed the applicant and amended its overall economic devel-
opment regional plan to include the project.
The City of Beeville has much in common with other Coastal Bend
Communities but has some distinct factors. The closing of a Naval Base
there created job loss for a highly qualified work force. In diversifying the
economy to offset the job loss, the city succeeded in attracting a prison
which was built on what had been the base.
Beeville mayor Ford Patton told the COG's Executive Board that jobs cre-
ated by the prison do not require the skills that had existed among workers
on the Naval base. Intensive recruiting is underway for new business and
industries that could use those abilities.
One of the barriers to achieving goals is that the prison required all of
the existing wastewater treatment plant capacity. The city upgraded the
plant to accommodate the system. Now, the plant has passed 75 percent of
capacity. Patton explained that the state requires a municipality to begin
planning for more capacity at that percentage point. A further requirement
is that a new facility must be under construction when the capacity reach-
es 90 percent.
The system that city officials foresees to meet future needs would cost an
estimated $9 million. The proposal in the application is to reach that level
by stages with about a $4 million price tag on the first phase.
Such figures loom large to administrators across the region who want to
plan for the future or who, like Beeville, are confronted with state water
quality requirements that leave them few options.
^ THEY SAY— >
WHATEVER YOU'RE
OOIN'ON
► NEW YEARS 4
IS WHAT YOU'LL 1
BE OOIN'ALL-
YEAR LONG... A
r so, ^
IN CASE
THEY'RE RIGHT
v -SIGH! >
(uhioI ami
Jottings
We are halfway through a
wonderful two weeks at my house.
The Florida relatives arrived
the Saturday before Christmas
and we have been eating ever
since!
Last Tuesday I left work at
noon and went to my daughter's
house where all my children and
grandchildren, plus my brother
and sister-in-law were waiting
with lunch and birthday gifts.
On Christmas Day it was the
usual suspects for dinner, plus
the children's uncle, two aunts,
and later in the day, my cousin
and his wife from Bay City and
their son and family from Corpus
Christi. It's too bad so few people
call the newspaper or write in
about their relatives visiting from
out-of-town and telling their
neighbors what activities they
enjoyed. I'm just using this space
to make an unusually long "local"
item.
I'm pleasantly surprised at
my reaction and behavior having
these grown children and their
children around me day and night
for so long.
We get along as well as most
other families who aren't together
very much. I watch them
watching each other and their
childrens' behavior. I bite my
tongue and turn the other way
when I see what I perceive to be
irritation or disapproval or each
other's parenting skills and
methods.
We're together too seldom to
let petty annoyances interfere.
And I'm sure they are petty
and all these kids will grow up to
be pretty fair people and citizens.
They sure are cute and smart
now!
Saturday we went to Corpus
Christi to have lunch and stroll
around the downtown area. The
weather was cold and crisp and
we visited the shops in peace,
away from the madding crowds at
the malls and other shopping
areas.
At 6 p.m. we met the rest of
the families at a loud, crowded
restaurant on the "food strip" and
waited about 15 minutes for a
table for eight. I sat and drank in
the beauty of having all these
people with me, as I did Sunday
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morning at church services. Now I
actually know what it means to
have your heart "swell."
The children are 7, 5, 3, 9
months and 3 months. The only
one I was not around when he was
a wee babe is the 3-year-old and he
is wonderful! He and I had a
"movie night" Friday while his
parents and older brother went
out. We popped corn, watched
movies and read stories until he
fell asleep. I think I like him.
They went to Mexico today
and when they return we have an
appointment for a group photo
and we'll do the New Year's Eve
and "one-of-the-sons and the son-
in-law birthday thing," then
everyone will watch the ball game,
eat and rest on Jan. 1. Then
everyone will go home and I'll be
left with pleasant memories and
more pictures than I can frame.
—jsl—
By the way, I received some
books as gifts: inspirational, self-
Johnnie Sue Littleton
help, novels, books of essays and
short stories, and a Bible with a
carrying case.
I didn't go to any of the after-
Christmas sales this year. Too
tired, too confusing and too broke.
However we did go lots of places
where Christmas merchandise is
50% off the regular price.
One antique store had sales
all over the store that read "Pre-
Christmas Sale 25% OFF
Christmas merchandise." Can't
figure if. they forgot what side of
Christmas it is, or if they were
old signs no one had removed.
I didn't envy the younger
shoppers their 6:20 a.m.
departure from the house. I did
however envy their ability to do
so.
I hope your holidays have been
as rich and full as mine.
Thank you very much for your
thoughtfulness in letting me know
you read and enjoy these Jottings.
Happy New Year!!!
'J® Keeping an eye on Texas
Texans average 76 birthdays
Texans gained four years in average life expectancy from 1970
to 1995. Texas men lived to an average of 68 years in 1970, but
25 years later, saw an average of 73 birthdays. Women usually
outlived men, with an average of 76 birthdays in 1970 and 80 in
1995.
A M „ C &
\ \
Hj
70/95 70 ’95 70’95 70’95 70’95 70’95 70’95 70’95 / \ )
■—Texas1 1— White —1 1— African —1 *- Hispanic W U:v
averageJ~n r.........,---------.American -.A; i
‘ J /txv ...... ' ' '
( B>5J
v„AAA...::x.y A—' ^
■I Male El Female
S°anriCy?' J°hn SharP'Jexas Comptroller of Public Aco»^’
995 Te*as Vital Statistics, Texas Department of H
!
iSililliil
TWje ©imn-Ctirop Times;
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The Odem-Edroy Times (Odem, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 53, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 1, 1998, newspaper, January 1, 1998; Sinton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1044796/m1/2/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Odem Public Library.