Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 3, 1989 Page: 1 of 20
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Texas State Railroad
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Lljcrckccai?/Herald
Established Feb. 27, 1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel ~ Texas' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper
Historical Caddoan
Indian Mounds
Vol. 141, No. 26-14 Pages
Thursday, August 3, 1989
Rusk, Texas 75785 25cents
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RJS registration set
Rusk Junior High school will
register students on Aug. 8,9 and 10
(Tuesday, Wednesday and Thur-
sday). Registration hours will be
from 9 a.m. til 2 p.m. at the junior
higlt campus.
Registration is for former studen-
ts, as well as students new to the
district. New students should bring
immunization records, former
school records and copies of birth
certificate.
New students register
New students entering Rusk ISD
Elementary or Primary School for
fall 1969-90 will register Aug. 10 and
11. Both schools will be open from 8
a.m. until 3 p.m. on these days.
Parents are asked to bring their
child's immunization record and
report card from their previous
school year if entering grades 1-5.
Parents of kindergarten students
are asked to bring the child's im-
munization record and an official
copy of the child's birth certificate.
Athletes take physicals
Physicals will be given Wed-
nesday, August 9 at the Alto High
School Field House. All students
grades seven through 12, who plan
to participate in athletics for the
coming school year will need a
physical. According to Athletic
Director, Bobby McGallion, a $10
fee will be charged.
Time schedule IS as follows: High
School Boys, 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.;
Junior High Boys, 10 a.m. until 12
noon; and Girls lp.m.
AISD students register
Registration for AISD students in
grades 7-12 will be held August 24 in
the cafeteria. The following
schedule will be used: 8 a.m., 12
grade; 9 a.m., 11th grade; 10 a.m.,
10th grade and 11 a.m., ninth grade.
Eighth grade at 1 p.m. and seventh
grade at 2 p.m.
Any student that was not enrolled
in the AISD system during the '88-89
school year should contact the ap-
propriate campus for information
necessary to enroll. For further in-
formation call High School, 858-
3355, 7-12 grades and Elementary,
858-4300, K-6 grades.
Alto council
OKs land
transaction
During a special session, Monday
July 31, the Alto City Council ap-
proved a letter of resolution from
the City to Dan Ballard, realtor, in
the effect that the City has aban-
doned the easement on the property
located on the corner of San Marcos
and E. San Antonio. The Council
retained the right-of-way for main-
tenance of gas, sewer and water
lines only. A stated consideration of
$369 will be required from pur-
chaser of said property.
A one year contract was ap-
proved by the Council between the
City of Alto and Four Square Gas
Company, Inc.
The awarding of the bid for Solid
Waste services and the approval of
the engineering procurement
summary selection was tabled to
later meetings. The solid waste
services bid will be discussed with
possible action at 5:30 p.m., Mon-
day, Aug. 14. The Engineering
Procurement Summary selection
will be addressed again at the
meeting to be held tonight (Thur-
sday, Aug. 3).
The Budget Workshop that was
set up to follow this council meeting
was postponed until 8:30 p.m.,
Monday, Aug. 7, as discussion on
several of the items on the special
session took longer than an-
ticipated.
December 27 occupancy expected
TDC gives report
THE ACCIDENTAL PLUNGE of Verdie Deckard's car through the north wall of Whitehead Enterprises
late Friday looked like this! The situation caused some to speculate that we now offer drive-through-
window service! The bad news is property damage. The good news is that Verdie was only shaken
and bruised by the event. Strangely enough the antique mirror, seen leaning against books in the
lower right corner, did not even fall! -photo by marie whitehead
A 200-bed psychiatric hospital for
Texas Department of Corrections
inmates at Rusk is expected to be
ready for occupancy by Dec. 27, ac-
cording to Superintendent Joe
Collins. Collins says the building is
some 65 percent complete. Workers
are currently putting up the outside
finish, he says.
Prior to the moving inmate
patients to the facility, Collins says
he is planning an open house. Local
residents will be invited to come
and tour the facility.
The hospital will provide 200
private rooms for psychiatric
prisons. "We are going to make it
as nice as we can. It will be just like
a hospital. Families can come and
visit in the hospital area," he says.
Already the TDC Skyview Unit
houses 300 psychiatric patients.
Some 300 employees serve the
patient load on a one to one ratio.
"It's the treatment team that
decides who gets visits on the wards
and who doesn't," he says. Collins
says the staff runs the treatment
procedure. "They are the ones, who
make this thing work. What is best
for the patient is the best for us."
Collins says things are done dif-
ferent at Skyview than at other
prison units. This is a hospital and it
is different.
The new unit is being constructed
to allow for additions, he says.
"There is plenty of land at the site."
"This unit is unique. There is no
other like it in the United States.
This a therapeutic unit and we
have no calls. We are doing tnings
that have never been done and
correctional officers are considered
a part of the treatment staff.
"Very seldom is force used when
dealing with prisoners. If an in-
cident occurs, the officer steps back
to talk with the prisoner, then calls
for a nurse. Verbal intervention is
the key to our success. I am proud
of my staff. A lot of them are for-
mer Rusk State Hospital em-
ployees. They have certainly made
good hands. All Skyview employees
are good people. They are the ones,
who make Skyview look good.''
Collins says the opening of the
new hospital is just five months
away. Plans are to begin working
toward getting the new staff on
board, he notes.
And the wall came tumbling down! Requirements set for Poly-Cycle
Injunction issued
By: MARIE WHITEHEAD
Some situations are just no
laughing matter. But when the
seriousness and near-hysteria have
passed, a sense of humor can save
the day.
"She said, 'Whoa,' but her foot
said, 'go.' " That's a laughable ex-
planation for the plight of our dear
neighbor Verdie Deckard, who
lives next to Whitehead Enter-
prises.
Late Friday afternoon, Verdie
went outside to move her car just a
few feet up in the yard. This was to
get out from under the trees and
roosting birds, into an open space.
Something happened. She thinks
the accelerator stuck. Whatever
happened, in the twinkling of an eye
she had shot like race driver, A.J.
Foyt, into the side of our building.
Her car came to rest with its front
tires and engine protruding into my
office!
Verdie was bruised and shaken
by the experience, but not seriously
hurt. For that, we are extremely
thankful. The speedy efforts of the
fire department, city police and
rescue units are a compliment to
the community of Rusk. For their
prompt attention and assistance we
are most grateful.
After the vehicle was removed
and Verdie carried to the emergen-
cy room, clean up was undertaken.
Appreciation goes to Emmett
Holcomb for putting his clothes on
and coming down to let us buy
boarding material to close the
gaping hole in the wall.
It was the kind of a freak accident
that usually happens only in some
person's imagination...and gets
translated into a movie plot. Weird.
Wild. Lots of adjectives used.
And lots of good natured teasing
went on. Some suggested that
recent editorials have been a bit too
strong. Others suggested that we
were hard pressed for news. And
still others said we were trying to
start up a new business-a parking
lotl
Well, the humor and laughter
helped to ease the tension. We're
even grateful for that! No one
seriously injured. I had closed up
my desk and gone about an hour
earlier. Verdie is going to be o.k. It
didn't result in a fire. (That was a
very real possibility in many minds
during the first moments!)
A big mess, yes. And what did we
learn from this? Be alert to the
chance for any change I And try to
be prepared with a reservoir of
patience and an abundance of
humor laced with an attitude of
gratitude!
TSR looks toward fall
ADDIE REDD, a student at Wells
Elementary School, recently
received the Student of the Mon-
th award. Addie will be a second
grader when school resumes this
year. staff photo
After one of the mildest summers
on records, weatherwise, the Texas
State Railroad Historical Park is
moving rapidly toward the fall
season, according to Supt. Curtis
Pruett.
Less than a month remains
before school bells again begin
ringing, and that also means the
end of the summer season for the
ancient steam trains.
Pruett noted that the summer
schedule ends on Sunday, Aug. 27,
but that a busy fall still lies ahead
for the railroad. "Although we have
had some shrinkage in ridership as
a result of having to convert to the
shorter, 15-mile trip," he commen-
ted, "passengers have reacted
favorable to the revised schedule."
Birmingham facility continues
to serve elderly persons' meals
Birmingham Health Center is
continuing to serve meals to elderly
persons living in the area. After the
Elderly Nutrition Program closed
temporarily because of lack of fun-
ds, No vis White, administrator of
the home volunteered to assume the
serving of meals until additional
money is appropriated.
Mrs. White says the nursing home
serves approximately 30 persons
each day and has been delivering
some 30 other meals. However,
Meals on Wheels assumed the home
deliveries Tuesday.
Serving begins at 11 a.m. and
must be completed by noon. Mrs.
White says special entertainment is
provided, just like it was at the
Elderly Nutrition Site.
The program is expected to
be refunded in the fall. In the mean-
time, the Rusk Ministerial Alliance
is coordinating fund raising to
assist with the cost of providing the
noon meal for the Rusk area elderly
citizens. Bank accounts have been
set up at both banks and con-
tributions can be deposited there.
Cherokee County Judge Emmett
Whitehead has been busy trying to
get federal funding to re-open the
nutrition site before fall.
Until that time the Birmingham
Health Center is expected to con-
tinue to offer the service to Rusk
area senior citizens. Jacksonville
nursing homes are providing the
service to senior citizens living in
the northern portion of the county.
Elderly citizens living at Alto can
benefit from the feeding program
being conducted at Carriage Park
Nursing Home. This program is
being coordinated by Hilltop Bap-
tist Church. Inquiries can be direc-
ted to the church or the nursing
home.
Almost 30,000 persons have rid-
den the steam trains this season,
the superintendent reported.
' 'Despite the shortened trip because
of damage to four bridges last
spring, most passengers have ex-
pressed delight with the 15-mile
ride," he revealed. "They have in-
dicated that the short trip has whet-
ted their appetite for a return next
season."
As a result of the more than 10-
inch rain that fell here in late Mar-
ch, four bridges near the Rusk
Depot were put out of commission.
"Thus, we had to change plans
completely," observed Pruett. "In-
stead of the 50-mile roundtrips, we
converted to a 15-mile trip with all
trains running only from the
Palestine Depot."
Track damage already has been
repaired, according to the superin-
tendent. However, he said work on
the damaged bridges is awaiting
the awarding of contracts. Bids will
be open in early August and work
should begin in early fall.
See *TSR p. 14
Alto baseball teams
attend tournament
at Huntington
The Alto Dixie Major All Stars,
boys from 10 to 12 years of age, tied
for third in the district tournament
held July 8-14 at Huntington. They
competed against eight teams in a
double elimination tourney. A very
tough Central team went un-
defeated, taking first place.
The Alto All-Stars also competed
in a Jacksonville Baseball
Association tournament July 1 and
2 taking third place behind two
Jacksonville teams. During this
tournament Alto defeated teams
from Rusk, Palestine and Jackson-
ville.
Cherokee County District Judge
Morris Hassell issued a temporary
injunction July 27 against Poly-
Cycle Industries Battery Recycling
Plant at Tecula, located within one-
half mile of the proposed Lake
Eastex, which requires Poly-Cycle
to immediately stop using surface
impoundments, stop storing spent
batteries more than 24 hours and
stop storage of most processed
materials before the completion of
processing.
The temporary injunction also
requires Poly-Cycle to dewater and
fill with clean materials an existing
surface impoundment within seven
days.
Within 45 days, Poly-Cycle is
required to stop discharge of in-
dustrial waste; stop use of illegal
tanks; submit a facility closure
plan to the Texas Water Com-
mission to include remedial actions
necessary to remove soils con-
taminated by discharges of hazar-
dous wastes, closure of hazardous
waste management units, an
itemized cost estimate, and finan-
cial assurance; and, submit to the
Texas Water Commission and En-
vironmental Protection Agency an
application for a permit to
discharge wastes.
Within 180 days, Poly-Cycle is
required to submit to the Texas
Water Commission an application
for permit to store, process, or
dispose of industrial solid waste, in-
cluding hazardous wastes.
Should Poly-Cycle not meet the
terms of the Temporary Injunction,
Judge Hassell could cite them for
Contempt of Court.
The Angelina and Neches River
Authority has been concerned about
the effect of Poly-Cycle Industries
at Tecula on the proposed Lake
Eastex Project.
Participants in the Lake Eastex
Project include the nine cities of
Arp, Henderson, Jacksonville,
Lufkin, Nacogdoches, New London,
Overton, Rusk and Troup; the
eleven Water Supply Corporations
of Angelina, Blackjack, Craft-
Turney, Jackson, New Summer-
field, Redland, Reklaw, Star Moun-
tain, Walnut Grove, Woodlawn and
Wright City; as well as Cherokee
County, Leo F. Childs and Temple-
Inland Forest Products Cor-
poration.
The Board of Directors of the
Angelina and Neches River
Authority include Steve Lilly,
president, Nacogdoches; Joe E.
Rich, Sr., vice-president, Lufkin;
Joyce Swearingen, secretary-
treasurer, Nacogdoches; Salah
Craig, secretary pro tem, Hender-
son; Carl Messec, director, Hen-
derson; George F. Middlebrook III,
director, Nacogdoches; Lila
Rehkop, director, Athens; Paul R.
Riehle, director, Lufkin; and
Walter R. Volz, director, Jackson-
ville.
.
'".IF. 'ÍÉJ'tfT ' *VTB
&W(mm
THE DIXIE MAJOR ALL STARS represented Alto at the District
Tournament July 8 through 14 in Huntington. Team members
pictured from left, front row, are Adrian Blakemore, Tony Hale,
Chris Hooper, Travis Jones, Jeffrey Duplichain and Josh Glaze.
David Heredia, Wes Penn, Ham Coleman, Antonio Mitchell,
Clinton Richardson, Cuco Heredia and Kern Green are from
left in back row. Coaches for the boys was from left, r - Penn,
Greg Duplichain and Ricky Richards.
photo by betty duplichain
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Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 3, 1989, newspaper, August 3, 1989; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151915/m1/1/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.