Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 156, No. 52, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Page: 11 of 16
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City of Rusk
Cljerokeeai? Herald of Rusk, Texas - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - Page 3B
continued from pg. 1A
Voters will be asked to vote
on each change individually.
Once a new charter is approved
no changes can be made for
two years.
"You need to make sure you
are making the changes you
want," City Attorney Forrest
Phifer said.
In other matters, the council
approved the expenditure of
$7,500 to provide funds for a
taskforce officer through Octo-
ber. Sheriff James Campbell
was scheduled to ask the county
for another $7,500 to complete
the officer's salary. The task
force has lost its federal grant
that provides the salary for the
officer. District Attorney Elmer
Beckworth, Police Chief Ronnie
Miller and Assistant Chief Roy
Cavazoz appeared before the
council to ask for the funding.
Political entities involved in
the task force coverage area
include Anderson, Cherokee
and Houston counties, the
cities of Palestine and Rusk.
Jacksonville pulled out of the
task force several months
Glen Acker of Acker and Com-
pany Certified Pubhc Accoun-
tants, presented the results of
a city audit performed by his
company.
The council approved the
calling of an election for May
13. Three councilmembers will
be elected at that time to fill
positions for District 3 now held
by Don Jones; District 4 now
held by Donald Woodard; and
District 5 now held by Bobby
Thrash.
Mr. Jones and Mr. Woodard
have indicate d they will seek re -
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tax rolls.
August said he's starting
to notice neighbors are being
inspired to clean up, paint
and repair their own proper-
ties because of the new homes.
"This is their neighborhood,''
he said, and he thinks that his
contribution is only the begin-
ning. "Mine will be the vision
that kicks it off.''
August learned the ins and
outs of the construction busi-
ness from his father, who was
a Korean War veteran. "My
family knew masonry andknew
how to put things together,"
he said.
But it didn't take August long
to figure out where the money
was in the housing business:
money management. Inearher
years, the 50-year-old went
through the police academy
and did a stint as a deputy
constable, worked for a phone
company for 12 years and later
owned aproperty management
firm and a night club. At the
time of the savings and loan
debacle of 1986, August was
working for the Resolution
Trust Corporation.
Lessons learned earlier in
hfe led the August family to
begin their construction busi-
ness in 2001.
"When I first came to Rusk
a couple of years ago, the only
thing I knew about it was that
there is a mental hospital," he
said. When he packs his RV
andleaveshiswifeofalmost 30
years and his son, a high school
senior, behind in Houston, he
comes and spends four or five
days to check on construction.
He frequently uses local con-
tractors to help build the homes,
but will frequently bring in
crews hke sheet rockers from
Houston who will do their part
of the job in one or two days.
Most homes are not built on
spec. Buyers are pre-quahfied
and get to particípale in deci-
sions like choosing their floor
plan andpickingcolors. Homes
range from 1,700 square feet
to 2,400 square feet and cost
from $88,000 -$149,000. Based
on the floor plan, most homes
offer three or four bedrooms,
two baths and two car garages.
Many include j acuzzi bath tub s,
fireplaces and covered patios.
The August family discovered
Alto council
continued from pg. 1A
The council approved this
decision by a unanimous vote.
Mr. ( lemons also presented
forms for officials to sign to pay
$10,000 in fees to refinance
bonds for water and sewer
improvements. The fees were
included in the original bond
amount and the matter was also
unanimously approved.
The council approved funds
for Mr. Clemons to attend a city
manager s meeting in Freder-
icksburg March 1-3.
In another matter, the council
voted unanimously to approve
adding council member Ken-
neth Brethouwer to the city's
signature check signing card
at two banks.
"I think it is important so we
can pay bills if I am not here,"
Mayor Debbie White said.
Council member Monty Col-
lins suggested Brethouwer.
Currently two city officials
must sign a check for it to be
vahd.
Council members discussed
questions about disability
insurance and the current
carrier.
Police Chief Charles Barron
andMr. Clemonsexpressedcon-
cernswith the customer service
provided by Blue Cross Blue
Shield and Gilbert Baker.
Chief Barron said hd was
urged to sign documents he
had not read.
election. Mr. Thrash saidhe did
not intend to run again. Candi-
dates began filing Monday and
will continue to do so through
March 13.
A representative of the
Anderson-Cherokee County
Crisis Center presented a
report of services available
through that agency.
A racial profile report was
presented by the pohce depart-
ment.
No action was taken concern-
ing the appointment of a per son
to execute the conveyance of the
Atoy Recreational Vehicle Park
(KO A Park). This action will be
taken prior to any sale or lease
of the properly
An invoice was approved for
payment to Affiliated Survey-
ors Inc. for $2,575 for surveying
the 20 acres from the Cannon
property on U.S. Highway 84
W.
The council approved the
expenditure of $7,000- $8,000 to
determinewhatiscausing sand
to be in water from Well No. 3
on U.S. Highway 69 S.
Attending the meeting were
Mayor McCarty; Councilmem-
bers Ross, Session, Jones,
WoodardandThrash; City Man-
ager Kevin Bowden: and City
Secretary Fran Wendeborn.
Donald Foreman (left) chats with home builder Gregory August Sr. of First National Homes.
Mr. Foreman has lived in his new home for approximately four months. Four more new
homes will be started this month.
PHOTO: ROBERT GONZALEZ
Dream
continued from pg. 1A
good would come of the gift.
First National Homes was
the only bidder on the property
and picked up a bargain at
$25,500. The lots are scattered
around a neighborhood known
as the Dickerson 1st Addition.
In recent years, most Rusk
citizens callit simply "the addi-
tion," whichis alarge, primarily
black neighborhood, bounded
by Loop 343 and Martin Luther
King Street.
Maps and plats hang on the
wall in the model home/sales
office at 210 Center St. in Rusk
and yellow highlighters mark
the lots available for potential
buyers to consider.
Among their first customers
wasDonaldForeman, aretired
military bachelor who wanted
to move back home to be able
to care for his aging mother,
Elizabeth Rivers. He seems to
have a permanent smile fixed
on his face when he talks about
his new home, complete with
«•crnmic tile floors and carpet
that he got to select. "This is
excellent and well overdue,"
he said of the rehabilitation
that is transforming his old
neighborhood.
Both men credit Rusk City
Councilman Water Session and
his wife, Maxine, for helping rid
the neighborhood of drug deal-
ers and setting the backdrop
for a revitalization project hke
the one spear-headed by the
August family.
The early friendship between
August and Mr. Foreman
helped First National Homes
double the initial Rusk invest-
ment.
"Foreman told me, 'Why don't
you cut the timber off this
land, " August recalled. They
netted $55,000 from the sale
of timber and helped get the
housing project off to a sohd
start. Not bad for a $25,500
investment.
First National's completed
projects in Rusk include six on
Gerome Court, two on Center
Street, one in the Shady Grove
Community and one at Pine Hill
near Lake Stryker.
As 2006 begins four more
energy-efficient homes will
be started within the next 30
days, which means four more
new families with improved
property will be added to the
a niche in Rusk by catering to
primarily African Americans,
many who have blemishes
on their credit score. In the
Houston market^ Hispanics
represent another lucrative
niche.
"Everything has changed
in the housing market," said
August. "The credit score
determines the interest rate."
His daughter-in-law. Angel,
specializes in helping people
clean up their records and
qualify for a loan that requires
httle or no money down through
various lending options.
"It's a slow process, but if
you work with them, you'll get
there, he said.
He is just starting to work
with United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture, which
he says offers some attractive
opportunities.
Two cell phones ring almost
constantly as August fields calls
from a job foreman, his wife and
a building supply company. His
Watch reminds him that the day
is drawing short, and he still
has a lot left to do.
Rusk Mayor Suzann McCar ty
is thrilled with the new homes.
"I am very proud to see new
construction taking place,"
she said. "With the city's new
street paving, this is making
an impressive addition to our
community"
"In the beginning, there were
"nay-sayers," said August. "I
have a photo of the original
seven investors on this project
that Maxine Session took. It's
framed in my office."
One by one, the investors
pulled out until only August
and his family were left.
"We made a promise," he said.
And in his Muslim faith, his
word is important.
As each investor quit, August
chew a black "X" through their
face in the picture asa reminder
to himself about keeping his
Word and staying the course.
His reward comes at the title
company when he closes on the
house and hands the keys to the
new homeowner,
"The look on their face is
priceless."
Each sale makes it possible for
August to build another house
and fulfill another family's
dream of home ownership.
"I can't do business with the
man. That's why I suggested
the other company when we
talked to them earlier," Mr.
Clemons said.
Mr. Clemons said he would
check with another Blue Cross
Blue Shield agent and also
gather prices from different
carriers.
Attending the meeting were
council members Walker, Col-
lins, Brethouwer and Mayor
White.
Absent from the meeting was
council member Blake Bailey.
The council will meet at 6 p. m.
Thursday in their next regular
meeting.
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 156, No. 52, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 15, 2006, newspaper, February 15, 2006; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152718/m1/11/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.