Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 22, 1989 Page: 1 of 16
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BEST AVAILABLE COPY
Texas State Railroad
sourii.v^sr .iiur jpunusiirn, inc.
2¿01 anOCMHOLLOfl PLAZA DR.
SUITS 300
ARLINGTON TX 76006 "IV
U)crokecai?/ricrald
Established Feb. 27, 1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel -- Texas' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper
Historical Caddoan
Indian Mounds
Vol. 141 No. 20 - 12 Pages
Thursday, June 22, 1989
Rusk, Texas 75785 25cents
Maydelle ISD annexed to Rusk ISD at board meet
The Maydelle Independent School
District was annexed to the Rusk
School District Monday evening by
action of both the Maydelle and
Rusk school boards. Boundary lines
for the new Rusk ISD will be drawn
by the Cherokee County Com-
missioners Court next week. Final
approval of the Texas Education
Agency will be required and is ex-
pected.
The Board unanimously ap-
proved the annexation. Vote at the
Maydelle board showed board
members John Padgett, president,
and Martin Potts, Melba Darrow
and Travis Halbert voting for the
annexation. Board Member Sher-
man Ezell abstained from voting
because ownership of one acre,
donated by him to the school
several years ago, would revert
back to him. Absent from the
meeting were Board Members
Roger Graham and Harold
Gilmore.
Graham, his wife, Carol, and at-
torney Dan Childs attended the
Rusk meeting. The Rusk board met
at 5:15 p.m. and the Maydelle board
at 7 p.m.
Rusk Superintendent Tony
Murray outlined the course of ac-
tion by the board as prepared by
school attorney Wayne Haglund.
He said that the social,
economical and educational effects
of the students must be addressed.
In addressing the social aspect of
the issue, Murray said many of the
students in the Maydelle district
are already involved in social ac-
tivities with Rusk students. They
participate in the swimming pool,
Little League, Little Dribblers, soc-
car and other recreational
programs. Maydelle has had a
team in the Little League program
for some time and youngsters play
on the Rusk All Star team. A large
number of the students from
Maydelle already attend RuBk
schools. This will unite all of the
students from the district once
again. Last year some 69 students
transferring to Rusk. Almost 100
have asked for transfer for the 1989-
90 school year.
The Rusk school has various ex-
tra curriculum activities, as well as
extensive UIL and after school
functions. Because of its size, Rusk
provides more opportunity for UIL
participation, such as band.
Board Member David Murray
said "a lot of people from the
Maydelle district attend church
here. They shop here and do
business here."
It was noted that the Maydelle
School District comes up to the
Rusk City Limits.
The economical effect show that
the Rusk District will be eligible for
the state incentive aid. The aid is
figured as the difference between
state funding per student for
Maydelle and Rusk. Murray said
Maydelle receives some $600 more
per ADA student than Rusk
receives. The aid, which is believed
to be in the neighborhood of
1200,000, will be paid each year
around October for a period of 10
years. The money can only be used
-for payment of bond indebtedness
of the districts and for construction
or renovation of buildings.
Murray said he didn't have a clue
as to what the district tax rate for
next year will be. The incentive aid
cannot be used to fund operating
expenses. Currently tax rate at
Maydelle is 87 cents. The Rusk rate
is 99 cents. If Maydelle has
operated school another year, the
rate would have been around $1.50.
Students will be given the benefit of
transportation via school bus, lun-
ches and school materials will cost
about the same amount.
Students at Maydelle are located
nearer the Rusk schools than Rusk
students, who Uve on the eastern
portion of the district. A great deal
EXPANDED RUSK HIGH School cafeteria will be ready for the beginning of the 1989-90 school
school cafeteria expands the seating capacity to allow for closing of the high school campus. Work
this year and is expected to be completed prior to the opening of school Aug. 29.
year. The extension of the
began ori the building early
staff photo
of the students from Maydelle live
between Rusk and Maydelle.
Murray said the educational ef-
fect of the annexation is the most
important. The size of the district
has some effects on the students.
Not all of these are positive and not
all are negative.
Rusk still qualifies as a small
district as it has less than 1,600
students. Last year, the district had
1,543 students However, being a
larger district than Maydelle,
provides for a greater course of-
fering. Students can take foreign
languages, have laboratory scien-
ce, excelerated and honors courses
as well as participate in gifted and
talented classes, English as a
Second Language. These courses
vocational courses and other elec-
tives are expensive.
Districts such as Rusk can offer
more levels of courses in secondary
school. Higher math courses are of-
fered every year. Rusk school
libraries are satisfactory. "I feel
we are able to secure teachers with
proper qualification in teaching
fields. It is very difficult to find
teachers with multi-certifications,"
Superintendent Murray said.
Murray said he was "proud of the
district's performance on the
•See MISD, Pg. 2
Commissioners meet to re-draw
Maydelle ISD boundary lines
Cherokee County Commissioners
\ m n Monday morning to re-draw
cite ooundary lines in Cherokee
County for the Maydelle ISD. Vote
was 5-0 with all members of the
court voting for the action.
The Anderson County portion of
the Maydelle School district was
detached from the Maydelle
District and attached to the Slocum
School District last week.
The request for the com-
missioners action was made by
Wayne Haglund, counsel for the
Rusk ISD. Haglund had been
requested by the attorney for the
Maydelle ISD, who had to be in
Tyler Monday morning.
Haglund askec^ that the com-
missioners court ratify the action of
the Maydelle and Slocum School
Boards.
Action concerning distribution of
the debt of the Maydelle District
was delayed until a future meeting.
Janet Gates, employee in Judge
Emmett Whitehead's office, was
designated as the person with the
overall responsibility for claiming
State Legalization Impact
Assistance Grant (SLIAG) Funds.
The funds are to be re-
imbursement for Indigent Health
Care expenditures for legalized
aliens.
♦See COMMISSIONERS, P. 2
Nikki has 10th surgery
JUSTICES FOR THE 12TH COURT OF APPEALS were in Cherokee County to hear cases in the 2nd
Judicial District Courtroom at Rusk. From left are Justice Paul S. Colley of Henderson County, Chief
Justice J. W. Summers of Rusk and Justice Bill Bass of Tyler, formerly of Martins Mill. Justice Sum-
mers says this is a historical event for Cherokee County since it is the first time a State Appealate
Court has held court in the county. -staff photo
Swift responds to criticism
Recent widespread publicity
from critics of his service to
Cherokee County prompted State
Rep. Dick Swift to issue a statement
late last week. In a four page, seven
point summation he denied the
recent allegations.
He suggested that if the Cherokee
County Commissioners were so in-
terested in saving taxpayers'
dollars, they reduce their salaries
to his level...or better yet, let the
people set their pay as his is.
He denied that a new District
Court was created to benefit his
brother-in-law because the Gover-
nor could appoint a judge for the
position who would then stand for
election.
He stated that the largest group
of opponents to the new court were
the ding dealers, burglars, rapists,
murderers and other serious
criminal offenders who are out on
bail awaiting trial and committing
other crimes.
Rep. Swift said that his office had
never been contacted, either at
Austin or his district office, by
Commissioner Bob Gregg concer-
ning flood damage.
He recalled his efforts to file a bill
mandating more prison beds in
Cherokee County.
He pointed out in reference to
prisoners receiving medical treat-
ment at a Palestine hospital that
none of the health care providers of
Cherokee County had solicited his
assistance in making application of
TDC business.
Rep. Swift said that his staff had
been instructed to arrange a
meeting with each of the county
commissioners in the near future.
He and Commissioners Gregg
met June 15 for a discussion which
both termed later as beneficial and
leading to better communication.
Jail opening
set June 30
The new Cherokee County Jail
will officially be open with
ceremonies at 3 p.m. June 30.
Congressman Jim Chapman will be
on hand to participate in opening
ceremonies, according to County
Judge Emmett Whitehead.
The jail will be open to the public
from 3 to 6 p.m. June 30 and from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. July 1.
Chapman will present a U.S. Flag
that has flown over the national
capitol at the opening ceremonies.
State Senator Bill Haley has alread-
y given the county a Texas flag for
the jail.
Wells councilmen
meet to approve
grant application
Wells city councilmen met in
special session Monday night to ap-
prove a resolution for a grant ap-
plication to help the city remedy its
sewer plant problems.
Jimmy Griffith, with Everett
Griffith, Jr. and Associates, Lufkin,
is working with the city on ob-
taining a grant to help bear some of
the financial burden in updating the
sewer facility.
Three other items on the agenda
for the special meeting were tabled.
By : SUSAN PATE
Nikki Pate came through her 10th
surgery Friday, June 16, just fine.
The plastic surgeon, when talking
with Nikki's parents after the
surgery said that the live graft had
done surprisingly well, and that he
was thrilled with the outcome. He
also said that they had still not got-
ten rid of all the infection in the
bone, but that they would continue
fighting it with antibiotics, and he
felt that eventually they could com-
pletely kill it out.
Nikki's left leg is, however, a dif-
ferent story. Vascular damage was
so great, that blood flow from the
leg, through the ankle, to the foot is
greatly inhibited. Also, the ankle
was so badly cut and broken, that
healing is coming about very
slowly, and further surgery will be
needed in the future. This left leg
and foot that was so badly broken
and cut has mended back together
but is badly bowed and crooked. No
projection has been made at this
time as to what further steps must
be taken to correct the lack of blood
flow to the foot, or to correct the
creoked growth of the leg. We do not
know at this time when Nikki will be
allowed to come home again.
Nikki's parents are staying in the
Ronald McDonald House there in
Dallas. By coincidence, Donna,
Nikki's mother, met Mystie Issacks
parents who are also staying there.
Mystie is the young lady from Alto
who recently underwent a liver
transplant. Mystie is reportedly
doing phenominally well.
Reunion set
The Rusk High School Class of
1969 will hold their 20th year
reunion Saturday, July 1 at Rusk.
A family picnic will be held from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rusk Lions
Club Swimming Pool. Teachers are
invited to attend this activity and
visit with the former students.
A dance is planned for 7 p.m.
Saturday at the Jacksonville Coun-
try Club. Class members who have
not responded and members of
other classes who would like to at-
tend can register by contacting
Susan Holcomb Richey in Jackson-
ville at 214/586-3120.
RSH gets accreditation
Rusk State Hospital has been
notified by the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare
Organization (JCAHO) that it has
been awarded accreditation for
three years. Allen C. Chittenden,
M.D., hospital superintendent, said,
"We are very pleased with the sur-
vey results." He expressed his ap-
preciation to Rusk State Hospital
staff for their excellent preparation
for the survey.
Accreditation means that Rusk
State Hospital voluntarily sought to
be measured by the JCAHO
National Standards. The ac-
creditation program assists
facilities in pursuing high quality
health care through education,
evaluation and consultation. The on
site evaluation of Rusk State
Hospital was completed in
February, 1989. Three year ac-
creditation is the highest status
award by the JCAHO.
The Joint Commission on Ac-
creditation of Healthcare
Organization is a private, non-profit
organization created by and com-
posed of health care professionals.
i i I I .:
■ an «¡i
CONSTRUCTION OF A new psychiatric hospital for TDC inmates is underway on a 26-acre site donated by the Rusk Industrial
Foundation. The new structure ib g< ímk jp adjacent to the TDC Skyview Unit. Actual construction began around the first of the
year with Don Hill of Tyler as contractor. Brown and Root of Houston is overseeing the project. Dirt work at the site was com-
pleted in mid-summer, 1988. The 200-bed, $7.2 million facility is expected to open around Dec. 27, as the contract called for
a 365 day completion time. staff photo
•-? 'V
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Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 22, 1989, newspaper, June 22, 1989; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151909/m1/1/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.