Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 150, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 10, 1999 Page: 1 of 16
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Texas' Oldest, Continuously Published Weekly Newspaper - Established Feb. 27, 1850 as the Cherokee Sentinel
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Rusk bands take
top honors at UIL
meet
see page 8B
Vol. 150, No. 16-16 Pages
Thursday, June 10,1999
Rusk, Texas 75785
25 cents
Commissioner calls RSH 6 A Jewel in Our Crown'
Texas Mental Health-Mental Retardation Com-
missioner Karen Hale called Rusk State Hospital
last week "a jewel in our crown" relating to "quality
good work and effort performed."
"It is a joy to all of us," she said when she visited the
hospital Thursday to participate in the annual vol-
unteer and employee awards luncheon. The event
was staged at the hospital park and was attended by
MHMR Board Member Jim Perkins, hospital em-
ployees, volunteers, families and local citizens.
"It is a high treat to be with you today. This is my
favorite part, of what I do," Ms. Hale told those
attending. "1 want to brag on Jim (Perkins). He does
what he does because he cares. He is one of you and
loves this facility and this community very much. 1
appreciate your work to Rusk State Hospital. Thank
you Judge (Bascom) Bentley, Mayor (Emmett) White-
head. Thank you for sharing your talents to help
people at Rusk State Hospital. 1 appreciate Buzz
(Superintendent Parrish) for the work you do and the
leadership team.
"During the past few months, I have spent much
more time in Austin and part of that time at the
capítol. Things that have happened during this ses-
sion were good. Rusk State Hospital is fortunate to
have Todd Staples on the appropriations committee.
You are well represented," she said.
The commissioner discussed the arena of New
Generation medication, "you should know they re-
ally work and can be made available. They make a
Pleasee see RUSK STATE HOSPITAL, page 7A
f
<■
Alan Parrish, right,
receives The Star
Award for the Gerald
Chapman National
Honor Society at
Rusk High School.
Making the
presentation are
MHMR Board
Member Jim Perkins
and MHMR
Commissioner Karen
Hale.
Staples
considers
Senate bid
State Representative Todd
Staples of Palestine, who is com-
pleting his third term in the Texas
House, said he is "leaning" toward
re-election, but is considering all
options that could include a race
for the State Senate position now
held by Drew Nixon of Carthage.
Sen. Nixon stated earlier last
year that he did not plan to seek
another term after his conviction
for propositioning an Austin pros-
titute, who was actually an Austin
Police Department vice officer. His
most recent remarks were that he
was seriously considering the pos-
sibility of seeking another term. •
Senate District 3 is composed of
17 counties from south Smith
Please see STAPLES, page 7A
Alto native
'just glad
to be alive'
■ Judge Cates
released after
tractor accident
J.E. Cates felt glad to be alive
after a bat-wing type pasture
mower collapsed, trapping him
against a barn. An Alto native, he
is the Conroe city judge and a
retired veterinarian.
Judge Cates was working at his
family's farm near Alto when the
incident occurred. He was attempt-
ing to lift the mower when an un-
restrained flap struck him in the
chest, pinning him to a barn. He
had been trapped for several min-
utes and had turned blue before he
was freed by his daughter and son-
in-law, both paramedics in Alto.
Please see JUDGE CATES, page 7A
Where Have All the Bees Gone?
By Shawn Wofford
Cherokeean/Herald writer
It began when Charlie Burfoot
of Rusk wondered, "Where have
all the bees gone?" The retired
electrical engineer found that
he was seeing fewer and fewer
of the apians necessary to polli-
nate the gardens in and around
his home. One thing led to
another and Mr. Burfoot ulti-
mately found a hobby that has
spanned more than 10 years.
He has been "api-happy" ever
since.
Beekeeping has become a
growing pastime for a number
of east Texans. Mr. Burfoot
estimates that the East Texas
Beekeepers Association has
nearly" doubled in size from an
average of 35 members in at-
tendance at their monthly meet-
ings to more than 65 in the last
two years.
Start up costs, including the
purchase of the "box," complete
with the frames on which the
bees will build their honey-
combs, can be bought for under
$100, with a three pound swarm
of bees (approximately 3,500
bees per pound) for between
$35-$40. With members of the
East Texas Beekeeping Asso-
ciation living all over the area,
persons interested in beekeep-
ing are sure to find plenty of
' < f -t
<
Charlie
Burfoot wears
no protective
clothing as he
checks the
progress of
his honey*
producing
bees.
support.
Mr. Burfoot currently manages
two hives and said that he expects
between six and seven gallons of
honey in good years. Honey is very
nutritious, with the darker honey
containing the most minerals.
Eating honey purchased locally can
even help minimize certain aller-
gies.
Besides providing pollination
and nutritious honey, another sur-
prising benefit are bee stings.
Called api-therapy, the bee-sting
fir* . V l>
therapy is thought to help suffer-
ers of arthritis, lupus and multiple
sclerosis as well as any medical
treatment available. Mr. Burfoot
said that in the last 18 months, the
Food and Drug Administration has
approved research to learn how
bees can play a part in helping
those afflicted with these and other
related diseases.
On the other hand, if bee stings
are something you are looking to
avoid, Mr. Burfoot offers a bee
removal service, featuring a
Charlie Burfoot, who is a retired electrician, became alarmed at
the declining population of honey bees in Cherokee County.
He began his apiary as a hobby to help insure flower
^
1984, when he was employed by
the Cherokee County Co-op. Fol-
lowing his retirement, the'couple
decided to make East Texas their
permanent home. Mr. Burfoot
likens the landscape to that of
his native Virginia, and said he
enjoys the people. "Everywhere
we go we find nice people."
For more information about
beekepping or bee removal, the
East Texas Beekeepers Associa-
tion can be reached at (903) 592-
2888.
on.
«<. .■ ■.k . * •
> ? -v' . • •• • ,f ./ At
vacuum machine he helped de-
velop.
"It can be quite a job," he said of
bee extraction, but offered help for
those who find themselves in dan-
ger of attack. "Run in a zig zag
pattern to avoid leaving a scent
trail," he advised, "and spray the
swarm with water, as well as wash
yourself." Mr. Burfoot added that
bees can only travel about 12 miles
an hour.
Mr. Burfoot and his wife, Boots
have lived in the Rusk area since
ETMC CEO named THA Chairman-elect
Elmer Ellis, president/CEO of
the East Texas Medical Center
Regional Healthcare System will
be installed on June 15 as Chair-
man-elect for the 1999-2000
Board of Trustees for the Texas
Hospital Association.
Then, in June of 2000, he will
then automatically succeed Dr.
Ron Anderson of Parkland Hos-
pital and Hospital System as
chairman of this prestigious
board.
Since joining the ETMC Regional
Healthcare System in 1968, Mr.
Ellis has held numerous positions
of leadership with THA, including
his current service as a member of
the Board of Trustees.
In addition, he is a fellow of the
American College of Healthcare
Executives (ACHE), serving on its
Regent's Advisory Council and
Membership Committee.
He was awarded the ACHE Se-
nior Level Healthcare Executive
Award in 1997 for outstanding
achievements in healthcare man-
agement.
Founded in 1930, THA is the
Austin-based association repre-
senting the interests of its 600
institutional members at both the
state and federal levels.
Its mission is to provide leader-
ship in advocacy, information and
education to enable hospitals and
health systems to deliver supe-
rior, cost effective care which en-
hances individuals and their com-
munities.
Mr. Ellis has served as a vi-
sionary in the development of
integrated healthcare delivery
systems, with ETMC receiving
both state and national atten-
tion.
His appointment as Chair-
man-elect for THA only furthers
the reputation of the ETMC
System and his personal lead-
ership abilities, said Henry M.
Bell Jr., chairman of the ETMC
Board.
42 vintage street lamps
will be placed on square
■ 1999 Fair on
Boxcars, BBQ and The Bridge
the Square
declared a success
Main Street's downtown side-
walk and lighting project will shift
to high gear in the next few days
according to Martha Neely, man-
ager. During the Rusk Industrial
Foundation board of directors
meeting June 4 she explained a
planned delay. "We wanted to host
the annual Fair on the Square
before re-arranging the side-
walks," she said.
A total of 42 antique style street
lights have been ordered for in-
stallation around the square and
150 inscribed pavers. "Main Street
is thriving," she said. "We are so
grateful to all of you."
Her report of the recent Fair
indicated there were 85 craftsmen
and 16 food vendors. She expressed
gratitude for the overall success of
the event.
PresidentJoe Terrell presided
at the noon luncheon in Main
Street Crossing on the Square.
School Superintendent Tony
Murray said, "My big news is that
school is out for a few weeks." He
stated that right now everyone is
trying to figure out what the legis-
lature did "for us and to us." He
also reported plans for the usual
end of year clean-up and restora-
tions for the next school year. "We
expect a slight increase in enroll-
ment," he stated.
Summer plans call for added
seating capacity at Eagle Stadium,
hopefully completed by next year's
graduation. Many at the recent
exercises for 129 grads had to
stand.
Mayor Emmett Whitehead re-
ported negotiations with the sewer
contractor whose work didn't stand
up. He said that the repair bill is
around $13,000. He noted a grant
Please see RIF, page 7A
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1 - LMHMtiffe...
X <* • ■ «,llj t * |3 4"
"ill Hfcitj
New Skyvlew/Hodge Warden Pam Williams and Assistant Warden Charles Bell were among
those enjoying festivities at the Texas State Railroad during Boxcars, BBQ & The Bridge
festivities Thursday. Pictured back are a number of Rusk volunteers Involved In the event. See
related photos on page 1B
City of Rusk
gets $208,000
housing grant
Rusk has been awarded another
federal grant.
Mayor Emmett Whitehead re-
ceived notification from Joe B.
Mann, program manager for the
Texas Department of Housing and
Community Affairs in Austin that
Rusk was awarded $208,000.
A total of $200,000 will be spent
in project funds and $8,000 will be
used in administrative funds.
"We have not yet received a writ-
ten agreement, but expect to re-
ceive it in the very near future,"
said Mayor Whitehead.
The grant is designated for low-
income homeowners to help them
with repairs and renovations.
I Council considers pay
raise at Thursday meeting
A pay raise for city employees,
consideration of financial assis-
tance to the Rusk Lions Club's
operation of the swimming pool, a
resolution accepting the comple-
tion of water improvements on U.S.
Highway 69 N. through the Texas
Water Develfepmfent Board and
the possible sale of surplus city
land will highlight the 5 p.m.
Thursday Rusk City Council meet-
ing slated at city hall.
Other items on the agenda in-
clude hearing from representatives
of the chamber of commerce and
downtown merchants regarding
schedule for trash pickup. The
council will also hear from citizens
in District 2 concerning Conley
Park and code violations. Another
item of interest will be a discus-
sion of upkeep of the Rusk cem-
eteries. An executive session is
scheduled to discuss with the city's
attorney possible litigation at the
wastewater treatment plant.
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 150, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 10, 1999, newspaper, June 10, 1999; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152428/m1/1/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.