Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [124], No. 68, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 26, 1978 Page: 3 of 12
twelve pages : ill. ; page 24 x 18 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Thursday, January 2t , 1978, I Ml HAM HOP AUVI RIISI R, Page 1
EDITORIAL
Splitting
Hairs
By Clyde Griffin
for
Applause for the Concerned Citizens
Batter Education (CCBE) in Bastrop.
In case you are not aware, this group, as
the citizens' advocate, has finally forced
Bastrop Independent School District Trustees
to face the fact that Bastrop High School stu-
dents are being dropped from their class roles
even now because of the out-dated dress
code which the school officials are adhering
to so faithfully.
We are all aware of the stories about too
many male ex-students whose hair would not
measure up to the rigid standards of the
school dress code as it is written and interpret-
ed today. As far as we can see, the length
of the hair has absolutely nothing to do with
personal hygiene, safety (unless specified in
vocational training courses), decency or ap-
propriateness to the learning experience.
Yet, we need to consider the history of our
dress code before we choose sides in this mat-
ter, folks.
There was no dress code until the late 1960's,
when the nation's youth erupted in sometimes
violent bursts of rebellion. Styles and morals
were radically changed almost overnight
and it was on the parents' requests and urgings
that a dress code was first introduced at Bas-
trop High.
PTA meetings were flooded with talk of
formulating a dress code; parents were literally
begging the aid of the school trustees to help
control the appearance of their children. And
the board devised a dress code which has
been modified from time to time since its
almost forced inception in the late 1960's.
This matter should not have been introduced
into the limelight of the public eye; it probably
should not have come up at all. But it did. And
now the entire county will be watching to see
what steps are taken to rectify our pitiful
state of affairs.
At the last school board meeting it was stated
by the school principal that the dress code, as
it presently is written has caused problems.
It was stated by ex-students directly affected
by the dress code that it has caused problems.
It was stated by a handfull of angry parents
01 ex-students that the dress code has caused
problems.
What more proof is needed to show a change
is due, NOW?
And yet, we question the idea that a commit-
tee of school board members, teachers, par-
ents and some CCBE members is necessary to
change a dress code, or to determine future
efforts. I feel that the board of trustees, being
selected by the public to represent them and to
act in their best interest OUGHT to be able
to carry out these functions alone.
Apparently, some folks feel differently.
The CCBE has stated it is not their intention
to be "head hunters". It would seem that this
group IS stimulating public interest in the bus-
iness of the school, as there are now a goodly
number of citizens interested enough to join
the organization in attending school board
meetings.
A wise board of trustees could make good
use of a group of positive-thinking district
residents who are offering to help, and who are
doing so the best way they know how. What,
then is the answer? New school board mem-
bers who want to take an active part in govern-
ing the school in the best interest of the parents
and, of course, in the best interest of the stu-
dents, or to allow a 50-member school board?
If we allow the dillution of authority of the
seven-member school board we might just as
well dissolve this elected body altogether and
hold public hearings and general elections to
establish the district's guidelines and policies
and to control the business of the district.
'Not much doubt, is there.
"The Fellowship of Enjoyment"
"Welcome to the Church in the Wyldwood"
Wyldwood Baptist Church
A Mission of Hyde Park Baptist Church
HIGHWAY 71
Sunday School 9:45 a. m.
Morning Worship 11 :00 a. m.
Evening Worship 7:00 p.m.
Mid-Week Service
Wednesday 7:30 p. m.
Nursery Open At All Services
Charles Justis, Jr., Pastor
Editorial
Landfill needed, but where?
Four Elginites air their plight-
for an alternative dumping ground
Dear Editor:
We, the Klgin community,
have a landfill problem. The
dump is full! Another site is
needed! The residents of
Cedar Hills recognize these
facts and want to cooperate
with all parties involved
toward finding a mutually
acceptable solution.
A recent editorial in the
Elgin Courier said "A frank
exchange between the coun
ty and Cedar Hills residents
could have cleared the air."
The point should made that
Cedar Hills pressed unsuc-
cessfully for such commun-
ication with the county, state
and federal officials prior to
the request for a rehearing.
The proposed county landfill
has become a major issue in
this county and has caused
citizens to reluctantly take
actions to protect individuals
rights and investments.
In the interest of public
enlightment we want to
present a set of questions as
food for thought:
1. Why is the City of Elgin
the only city in the county
that has no long range
landfill capabilities?
2. Why was the Elgin
Landfill closed to residents
outside the City Limits
without responsible Public
Notice, discussion and/or
opportunity for previous
users to find alternatives?
3. Why are problems in
Elgin allowed to become
critical before any action is
taken? Example: Landfill,
Hospital? Is it apathy on the
part of the public or city
officials?
4. Why hasn't Elgin
investigated temporary
alternatives to the landfill
problem until the current
crisis is resolved? Cedar
Hills was forced into finding
an alternative solution.
5. Why have city and
county officials chosen to
sacrifice the future growth
of one of the largest and
most progressive develop-
ments in the sparsely
populated County of Bas-
trop? Cedar Hills currently
has 35 homes, over 75
residents and some 90
property owners.
6. Why do individual
citizens have to call the
county's attention to an
erroneous engineering re-
port and then have to suffer
the expense of legal counsel
to protect themselves and
assure due process of Local,
State and Federal regula-
tion?
7. Why hasn't the county
taken legal action against
the engineering firm that
provided the erroneous
report that caused the
present landfill crisis? To our
knowledge this approximate
ly $8,300 expense has not
been paid and should be
recoverable through legal
action.
8. Why was $3,500 spent
on the entrance site for the
proposed landfill AFTER
documented notification of
intentions to have the first
application revoked? This
can only In- the responsibili
ty of the public servants who
elected to continue the work.
9. Why has a previous
editorial in the Elgin Courier
arbitrarily judged that there
are no health or safety
hazards involved with the
proposed landfill when, in
fact, an environmental as
sessment by the l!.S. Army,
Corps of Engineers, ac-
knowledges numerous
hazards that can only be
mitigated by "exemplary
operation.?"
10. Can "exemplary opera
tion" of the proposed
landfill be expected in view
of the follow injj:
A.) According to the
Corps of Engineer's Environ
mental Assessment, none of
the five landfills in Bastrop
County are "being operated
in compliance with state
regulations."
B.) Bastrop is one of the
poorest counties in the state.
C-.) County officials and a
V
I1HPW fI
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
of Bastrop
CORNER FARM St WATER
WELCOME
Charles A Young, Pastor
.... 9:45
.... 10:55
' 6:30
Sunday School ...
Morning Worship
Church Training
Lverring Worship
Wed nesday F.vening Service
7:30
7:30
m.
m.
m.
m.
m
The
Consumer
Alert
AUSTIN—One problem
that hits both retail business
and the consumer in the
pocketbook is the crime of
shoplifting.
AccordinR to the Texas
Crime Prevention Institute,
the latest statistics show that
businesses lose $4 billion a
year to shoplifters. The
Institute also points out that
mass merchandisini? stores
are the most frequent victims
of shoplifting, and that one out
of every 10 customers is a
shoplifter. Unfortunately,
only one out of every 35
shoplifters is arrested.
As a result of this
tremendous loss suffered by
businesses, the individual
consumer ends up paying
three to 15 percent more for
many Roods. This "crime tax"
is the cost that is passed on to
consumers by stores for money
lost directly due to shoplifters
and money lost indirectly due
to expensive security
measures that must be
instituted to combat them.
Law enforcement experts
and attorneys in our
Consumer Protection Division
say there are seven categories
of shoplifters, including:
1. Amateurs who steal
impulsively, usually taking
food, clothes, and cosmetics.
2. Kleptomaniacs, compulsive
shoplifters who contribute to
less than 1 percent of all
shoplifting. 3. Jureriiles—
Many experts believe the
majority of youths steal to gain
status among their friends.
They usually take such things
as records, recreational goods,
cosmetics, or clothes. 4.
Narcotic addicts, who steal
items that can be sold to
by John L. Hill
Attorney General
support a habit, and who are
considered by law enforce-
ment officers to be the most
dangerous shoplifters if
caught in the process of
stealing. 5. Vagrants—
persons who normally shoplift
such things as tobacco, food
alcohol, or clothes. 6.
Pro/ens ionak A professional
shoplifter steals only
expensive items "to order" or
for resale by a "fence." While
professional shoplifters are
responsible for only 20 percent
of thefts, 80 percent of store
losses are attributed to them
7. Store employes--According
to a 197l> survey conducted by
the Institute, as much as 40
percent of all store employes
may steal from employers.
To put a stop to losses from
shoplifting, our Consumer
Protection Division attorneys
and law enforcement officials
recommend several ways to
guard against shoplifters:
-Store employes should be
adequately trained insecurity
measures that can prevent or
discourage shoplifters. They
should be instructed to be alert
and observant, since employes
constitute business' first line
of defense
Business jiersons should
report incidences of shop-
lifting to police immediately.
Customers who observe
persons shoplifting should
report them to store personnel,
and should remember that any
unre|X)rtred cases may only
encourage the shoplifter to
continue such actions. Our
lawyers point out that
shoplifters cost not only a store
but all of its customers, a great
deal of money.
For assistance with
consumer complaints, contact
our Attorney General's
Consumer Protection Division
in Austin, Dallas, Houston,
San Antonio, Lubbock, El
Paso, or McAllen.
previous editorial in the
Elgin Courier have admitted
that the county cannot "pay
crews to police and clean the
roadways."
D.) Some Bastrop County
precinct and city officials
have expressed doubt as to
the practicality of the
proposed site because of its
non central location and
possible unequal distribution
of county shared revenues.
We present these ques
tions for your consideration.
These are the questions that
have prompted our recent
actions and current views.
We would hope that the
apathetic views of some an-
no! shared by all and would
solicit cooperation of all
parties in finding a solution
to the problem. If the
shove it down their
throat attitude of some
continues, we have no
recourse but to carry the
problem into t he courts.
We plan to submit
additional articles express
ingour views and presenting
possible alternatives to the
current crisis.
Terry Murphy. Jimmie
Moore, Michale Keeling
Robert Hancock
If you want more service
from your checking account.. ♦
THINK BANCLUB
A Friendly C hurch With A Hearty Welcome
Our BANCLUB is a complete banking package for special customers like you.
When you become a BANCLUB member, you automatically expect more . . .
and you get it. For only $3.00 a month, our BANCLUB offers unlimited check
writing with no minimum balance, all your personalized checks, $10,000 acci-
dental death insurance, CheCash™—nationwide check-cashing privilege at
any of 3,600 BANCLUB bank locations nationwide, travel savings, special
discounts on rental cars and motels, and many other extras outlined in the
BANCLUB magazine.
Become a privileged bank customer, join our BANCLUB.
UNCIUB
=h
321-2561
FIRST
■NATIONAL BANK
r-OF BASTROP
First National is FIRST to offer this service to its customers!
Cijc
Texas' Oldest Weekly Newspaper
Since 1853
Published Monday and Thursday at the Bastrop Advertiser office,
1006 Main Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602. Second Class Postage paid
at the Bastrop, Texas Post Office 7H602.
Leland and Betty Pannell - Publishers
t eland R. Panned - I ditor
Clyde (jriffin News f ditor
Sharon Sthomaker • Assoc News I ditor
Shirley Reese - Office Manager
|ini lisdale Produdmn Manager
I ua Meuth Advertising Sales
Don (<rrgorv Staff Reporter
kathy («rf||ory *'■ I ayout
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Pannell, Leland R. Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [124], No. 68, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 26, 1978, newspaper, January 26, 1978; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth334980/m1/3/: accessed June 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.