The Llano News (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 31, 1985 Page: 1 of 24
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Mlcroplux INC
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Dallas ijjc 75245
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Split vote gives Tow
volunteers $5,000
DA gets budget approved without Mason County
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GOOD TURNOUT — Members of the Tow Volunteer Judge Bill Miller who voted In favor of the request. The
Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service made county wants VFD representatives to come up with an
a bid for financial assistance before the Llano County equitable system' for financial assistance to all
Commissioners and went home with $5,000 to purchase volunteer units In the county,
more equipment. The split vote was broken by County
V
The LLANO
NEWS
2 24*
Plus Tax
i Llano, Llano County, Texas 78643
Volume 94 No, 14
Thursday, January 31, 1985
Deer Capital of Texas
24 Pages in 2 Sections
LCRA, CRMWD try for
Stacy Dam compromise
.After years of legal battles,
k decisions and revisions by the
courts, the Lower Colorado River
Authority (LCRA) and the Colorado
River Municipal Water District
(CRMWD) are apparently ready to
sit down and work out some sort of
agreement on the proposed con-
struction of Stacy Dam.
Stacy Dam is to be built on the
Colorado River east of San Angelo
and is to provide water for a wide
area of west Texas. The LCRA and
others went to court to oppose the
construction and the Texas Supreme
Court ruled that because the rights
to almost all of the water in the
Colorado River had already been
granted there was not enough for
Stacy Dam without hurting the
holders of water rights downstream.
A revision was made by the court so
that both the LCRA and the CRMWD
could possibly negotiate for a
transfer of some of the water tights
so the dam could be constructed.
One of the objections to the original
plans for Stacy Dam was a lack of
provisions for releasing water down-
stream.
On the inside....
Kingsland Chronicle B-l
Life Style A-3
Editorial A-4
Sports ' A-6-8
Agri-Business AJ)
Classified B-6-9
On Thursday, January 24, LCRA
General Manager Elof Soderberg
was ‘‘authorized and directed by the
board of directors to negotiate a
prompt settlement of the Stacy
Litigation.”
"We have every reason to-believe
that a plan of settlement will be
worked out,” said Soderberg.
Apparently leading up to the
decision was a visit by Governor
Mark White and House Speaker Gib
Lewis who met with the directors and
askedjthem to settle differences with
supporters of Stacy Dam. There was
a question about getting lawmakers
to support legislation to help solve
the state’s- water problems if a
compromise” Wlild not be reached.
West Texas lawmakers indicated
there was little reason for them to
support any such legislation because
of the lack of success on the Stacy
Dam project.
The resolution drawn up by LCRA
directors reaffirmed their determin-
ation to “conclude a fair and just
resolution of the Stacy Dam contro-
versy and to contribute the knowl-
edge and experience of the authority
to the development, in the public
interest, of the water resources in
the state."
CRMWD General Manager Owen
iVie said the two organizations had
already discussed several things that
were agreeable to both parties. If an
agreement is reached, the CRMWD
must still get a legal water use
permit from the Texas Water
Commission but this is expected to
be a relatively simple matter once a
formal agreement has been reached
and the litigation is withdrawn.
Several west Texas cities are
looking toward use of water to be
stored in Stacy Dam to alleviate
water shortages. Downstream users
wanted to be sure they continue to
have enough water for agriculture,
recreational purposes and municipal
purposes.
A delegation of volunteer firemen
from Tow appeared before Llano
County Commissioners requesting
funds for the purchase of new
equipment and left all smiles as a
split vote was broken in favor of their
request. They went home with
$5,000 — the same amount recently
donated to the Kingsland VFD.
Leading the motion was commis-
sioner Pete Overstreet who had been
outspoken for several months claim-
ing that it wasn't fair for Horseshoe
Bay to receive $10,000 and Kings-.
land to receive $5,000 and none of
the Other volunteer fire departments
to receive anything, joining Over-
street in the surprise motion was Rex
King. Not voting for the motion were
commissioners Koss and Leonard
Grenwelge in the meeting which was
held last Friday morning.
”1 say give it to them now," said
Overstreet.
"I’ll second that," said King.
"I would like to see one or two
from each group get together and
decide on an equitable solution to the
problem." said Bauman. "Everyone
of you could use a thousand dollars."
Making the appeal for the group
was chief Eddie Maxwell.
"We are not just a firefighting
unit," Maxwell said. "We answer on
all emergencies from Tow all the way
down to Golden Beach and Green-
wood Acres."
Joining in the appeal was Charles
Kuhn whp listed the ages of the
firefighting equipment and conclud-
ing by saying, "We could sure use
the funds."
-. Judge Visits
The new 33rd District Judge,
Clayton Evans, met with commis-
sioners to start off the morning.
Commissioners had held back on
paying for transcripts which had
been billed the county. Joining in the
discussion was court reporter Virgil
Martin who explained that he had to
make an original and two copies and
the county is required to pay for
indigent claims. '
VITA program
offered at Library
VITA HVoMMser Income Tax
Assistance) will begin its program on
Wednesday February 6 at the Llano
County Library. Volunteers will be at
the library from 1 to 4 p.m. each
Wednesday through April 10.
This program is designed to
provide free tax assistance at
community locations to individuals
who cannot afford professional help.
Volunteers assist people with simple
tax returns, particularly low income,
elderly and handicapped taxpayers.
Veterans benefits — what are you
entitled to but not getting? AMVETS
— American Veterans of World
War II, Korea and Vietnam. — is
bringing complete, up-to-date in-
formation about VA benefits to help
all veterans, and their dependents,
in the Llano area.
On February- 6, the AMVETS
Mobile Outreach Office — a 34 foot
Southwind motor.home — will be at
the Llano National Bank, located at
1000 Ford Street. The hours are from
0 a.m. to 5 p.m.
AMVETS National Service Officers,
with VA accreditation, are traveling
•r
throughout Texas helping its
1,732,000 veterans, and their de-
pendents, and offering information
ancFclaims assistance on such topics
as compensation for service-con-
nected disabilities, VA pension,
outpatient medical treatment, VA
hospital case, burial benefits, educa-
tion. Gl home loan guaranty, survi-
vor benefits, and more.
For information about your bene-
fits. stop by the Llano National Bank
in Llano on February 6, or contact
your AMVETS National Service
Officer, Boh Olson, 1400 North
Valiev Mills Road, Waco, Texas
76799, or call 817-757-68%.
>:
From detective to Judge
It's quite a change from Houston to Lake Buchanan
BUCHANAN DAM — Who was
the first female detective to work in a
homicide division in the United
1 States? —j——-----
t>)o, it is not a question you will
find in "Trivial Pursuit,’' but you
£an find the answer at Buchanan
Dam where a Justice of the Peace
• conducts court in what is known as
Justice Precinct 7.
. ‘ Technically her name is Lillie
Stephenson but almost everyone
calls her “Lanny” and one thing she
Wlives in is showing proper respect
for a court of law. If you are in the ,
habit of wearing a hat and have to
stop in her office near the ‘Y* (Texas
;29 and Hwy 261) you had better
remember to take it off when ih her
* office and receiving judgement. If a
court trial is necessary, she will be
wearing the traditional black robe,
one given to her by a Houston Judge
when he learned that she was
ieleceted Justice of the Peace back in
1979.
’’j."It's a point of respect, for the
court,’* Stephenson said. “I think it
4s a very good thing to haVe in any
Courtroom." - . , *'
!' Judge Lanny Stephenson began her
taw enforcement career in 1952 when
■she was sworn in as an officer in
Houston. Her first assignment was
working in a jail which lasted about a
week and a half after which she was
transferred to the juvenile division.
It was a position she held a Jittle over
eight years.
“There was an announcement on
the board that detective tests were
coming up and 1 decided to try for
the job." Lanny recalled. "I passed
the test and it just happened that
there was an opening in homicide
and I got the job on a trial basis.
Some thought it was only a man’s job
_—»_■
Weather
JANUARY
1-._. & ' —’
"" -----,
DAY MAX
MIN
, RAIN
24 47
35
.00
25 65
36 -
.00
26 • 75
35
.00
27 52
35
.00
28 71
37
.00
29 56
38
.00
30 60
43
, .00
Rain this week ■
.00
This month
UK)
1985 rain to date
*
1.10
1984 l-month total
2.30
but I had worked, with homicide in
Juvenile cases."
That trial basis lasted some 12
years and she participated in some of
the renowned cases in the Houston
ajcq, such as the Dr. John Hill case,
“Murder for Hire", the Joseph
Shelby case that involved poison
candy and many others too numer-
ous to mention.
When asked what were some of
the most unusual cases she just
laughed and said. • "You couldn't
print them even if 1 told you."
Judge Stephenson moved to Lake
Buchanan in 1973 and got the job as
JP in 1979. Opening her docket book
she read off the number 7,251.
That’s right. ThqJ is the number of
cases she has processed since 19J9
and the number continues to grow.
“There are some very good mo-
jnents with the job," Judge Ste-
phenson says. "It's always a plea-
sure to perform a wedding and what
is realty nice is to get a letter from
someone who says ‘thank you' even
when they had to pay a fine."
There is no comparison between
Houston and Buchanan Dam. It's all
the difference in the world, the
friendliness of the people and the
concern they have for .others,
according to Judge Stephenson.
"Tlje problem is that we don't
have anything in the budget for it,"
said Judge Bill Miller.
Judge Evans replied that the
county does ndt have any way of
knowing how much it will be saying.
"It comes out of the general fund of
the county. You never know, you
may get a rash of these and then go
for months without ever getting
any." The bills were subsequently
approved.
Road Declaration
Dewey Baker appeared before the
commissioners in behalf of Ray-
Smith to request that a pasture road-
be declared not a county road and
that it be so stated in court minutes.
The vote was-unanimous in favor of
the request.
District Attorney
Approved the budget request of
33rd District Attorney Sam Oatman
removing the contingency that all
five counties approve the budget.
Mhson County, wfhich would have a
share of the cost amounty to about
$3,000. had /turned down the budget
request. .
"I am going to have to work with
them." Oatman said. "The other
counties (Blanco. Burnet and San
Saba) said they would go along with
-the budget without Mason." i
The vote was unanimous.
Other business
Appointed the members of the
Historical Committee. They are
Sarah Franklin. Phyllis Almond.
Mary Fay Wallace, Mabel Osbourn,
Kathleen Horsak, Billie McMullen.
The vote was unanimous.
Dehied a request for a $2 a day
increase for a trapper's pay. The cost
of a trapper is split between the
4'ountv and Hill Country Livestock
Raiser Association and has been
,515 a day: The request will be
considered in preparation of the next
budget.
Approved the purchase of a
storage cabinet for the Adult Proba-
tion Office. "
Ranchers Savings get
new owner, manager
JOHNSON CITY — Ranchers’
Savings Association of Johnson City.
Texas, with.branch offices in Horse-
shoe Bay, was purchased by William
S. Cochran III. of Houston, it was
announced recently. The sale was
final on January 15. 1985.
Thy elected board of directors are
William S. Chochran III, chairman of
the board: Totis Onsiforou. vice
president; Steve Van Hauen, Jr.,
vice president; Joel L. Duncan, vice
president; David J. Willis, corporate
secretary and legal counsel.
The home office, located in
Johnson City, will be managed' bv
Joe! L. Duncan, formerly of Llano.
Home office employees are Mrs.
Alycc M. Duncan, assistant vice
president; Mrs. Pat Althaus. assi«-
tant secretary; Earle V. Guthrie,
head of loan servicing, and Mrs.
Marta Duarte, head teller.
1 .
The Horseshoe Bay branch em-
ployees are: Mrs. Diorah Owens,
assistant vice president; Mrs. Lan-
dra Kay Huffman and Mrs Rebecca
I Eubanks.-tellers.
The immediate aim of Ranchers'
Savings Association is to aggres-
sively and efficiently service Johnson
C its Horseshoe Bay and the sur-
rounding areas '•
,...'^We will be offering the highest
yield on deposit accounts and the
most competitive rates on all types of
loans (personal, auto. boat, home
improvement, commercial. con-
struction. development and home
financing)," said a representative of
the association. We at Radchers'
Savings Association would like to
unite afivone With present or future
financial needs to come in and allow
our trained staff to be of service to
you."
X
<, -;v
AMVETS mobile office
visits Llano Wednesday
MORE BOOKS — Which books will Llano schools be using? Elementary
Principal Charles Lindsay, textbook custodian, shows off just a few of the
hooks the LISD Textbook committee will be revlewlngtln the coming weeks.
The committee selection will then be ordered and the new books will arrive
for classroom instruction beginning with the 1985-86 school term, j
«* «t*
In the courtroom she,enjoys jury
trials the most. — b
“It is a lot different from the usual
routine," Judge Stephenson savs.
IScc DETECTIVE Page A-8|
Two injured as
busses collide
A Llano school bus unloading
school students on Highway 29 cast
of Llano at Indian Springs was *
rear-ended by a school bus from
Brady late Tuesday afternoon.
Department of Public Safety
Trooper, Bill Shipp, was informed of
the accident about three hours later
when the driver of the Llano bus
reported to Llano Memorial Hospital
, for observation. A sixth grader from
Llano was taken to a doctor for a
bump on the back of the neck and
v head.
The Brady bus was on its way to a
basketball game in Burnet when the
• incident took place. According tq
reports the Brady bus driver could
not stop/ because of faulty brakes.
After cHccking the vehicles for
damage, which was reported as
slight, both buses continued on their
routes. ,
tl
/
JUSTICE AT BUCHANAN - Justice of the Peace Lanny Stephenson wanes •
very special robe which was presented to her by a Houston judge when he
learned of her new job at Buchanan Dam, The pare might be a little slewer
than at Houston where she earned the privilege of being the first female
detective la a homocide division, but there is plenty to do here lat law "
enforcement.
•______IS. ' . v. f
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Buckner, Walter L. The Llano News (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 31, 1985, newspaper, January 31, 1985; Llano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1177905/m1/1/: accessed June 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Llano County Public Library.