The Tulia Herald (Tulia, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 25, 1991 Page: 1 of 56
fifty six pages : ill. ; page 23 x 16 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.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:
Varid0I \ Drive
El Paso, TX
799*03
Agreement Believed Near For Harris Inmates
S wisher Detention Center Could Open By Mid-July
Signing of a contract calling for Harris
County inmates to be incarcerated in the
Swisher County Adult Detention Facility could
be only days away, Swisher County Judge Jay
Johnson indicated early this week. The earliest
possible date for a called Commissioners Court
session to finalize the pact appears to be Friday
or next Monday.
"When the Pricor agreement is signed, well
be ready to sign the Harris County contract,"
Judge Johnson predicted.
During a called Commissioners Court ses-
sion last Wednesday, Judge Johnson was au-
thorized to ink a proposed amendment with
Pricor, the Tennessee-based company which
will operate the new jail, "to indemnify Swisher
County from any financial responsibility con-
cerning transportation or medical services for
inmates that might be required by a contract
with Harris County."
This amendment, which could become a let-
ter of agreement, will be signed "only after
approval by the county attorney and outside
counsel."
Although "outside counsel" is presently ne-
gotiating the Swisher County agreement with
Pricor, no complications are expected.
Hubert McCullough, chairman of the Pricor
board, told the Commissioenrs Court last Wed-
nesday that his firm understood those responsi-
bilities and was willing to accept them.
"It's simply a matter of getting it on paper in
legal form," Judge Johnson told this newspaper.
HARRIS OKAYS CONTRACT
Harris County Commissioners Court met at
10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss—and undoubtedly
approve, but no official word was available at
press time—contracts with Swisher, Falls and
Angelina counties for detention of prisoners in
those counties, one source outside this county
said. These contracts "will be identical except
for the name of the county."
Once approved and signed, the Swisher-
Harris contract would be forwarded by Harris
County Judge Jon Lindsay to Judge Johnson.
The contract will pay the Swisher facility
$39.75 per prisoner per day.
Another source said Harris County is also
expected to sign agreements with other counties
which constructed jails or prisons with revenue
bonds to house its prisoners. Hayes and Webb
are believed to be among these counties.
Pat Graham, president of N-Group Securi-
ties, Inc., anticipates 400 "start-up" inmates in
the Swisher facility, he told the county officials
at the meeting last week.
N-Group Securities is the Houston firm
which sold bonds to build the six identical, 500-
bed prisons in Swisher and five other counties in
various regions of this state.
MID-JULY’ OPENING
DATE PREDICTED
Steve Norris, president of Pricor, predicted to
local officials "the bottom line" is the facility
located at the extreme western edge of Tulia
along State Highway 86 should be ready to
receive prisoners by "mid-July."
Norris told the county fathers that officials of
his firm likely would be in Swisher County
"within the next three or four weeks" for inter-
viewing, screening and hiring of employees.
After that process, some of the new employ-
ees would be required to attend a three-week
training and certification period.
H. Laws McCullough III, director of Investor
Relations/Communications and son of the board
chairman, told The Herald in phone conversa-
tions early this week that the signed contracts
"are the thing we’ve been waiting on to get us
rolling."
He added, "I would imagine we would be
within 120 days of taking inmates in Swisher
County." That timing would make the opening
about a month later than Norris had anticipated.
Laws McCullough said employees would
need "five to six weeks of training." Two of
those weeks would be with the Texas Commis-
sion on Law Enforcement Officers for certifica-
tion. Pricor on-site training would involve
"three to four weeks."
Graham told the Commissioners Court that he
and associates continue to negotiate with the
State of Texas for Texas Department of Correc-
tions' inmates to be housed in the facilities with
which they are associated.
In addition to the Commissioners Court—
Judge Johnson; Commissioners F. L. McGa-
vock, A. G. House, Harvey Foster and W. C.
Weatherred and Clerk Pat Wesley—officials
present for the called meeting were McCullough
and Norris of Pricor; Graham of N-Group Secu-
rities; V. H. Harman Jr., Bill Daniel and C. W.
Reeves, directors of the Swisher County, Texas,
Jail Facilities Financing Corp., a non-profit
corporation established to own the detention
center, and Sheriff Paul Scarborough. Several
citizens were also present.
Tuesday Final
Day To Vote
Absentee!
The Tuun Herald ®
* * * COVERING SWISHER COUNTY LIKE THE SUNSHINE
* * ❖
VOL. 83, NO. 17
TWO SECTIONS
THE TULIA (Swisher County) HERALD
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1991
STATE QUALIFIERS — Four members of the Hornet Band have quali-
fied for state by earning ’T (one) ratings In the Class I high school
category at district UIL Solo and Ensemble Contests. Amanda Saldana
(left) qualified with a clarinet solo. A flute trio Includes Marie Wright,
Kristy Crosby and Jeanette Alvarado (L-R beyond Miss Saldana).
—Staff Photo
School Finance Bill Mixed Blessing
Property-Poor' Swisher Districts Expected To Receive Additional State Revenue
Although media reports indicate the new share-
the-wealth school finance bill will be an economic
boon to "property-poor" schools such as the three
Swisher districts, T ulia S uperintendent Mike Vinyard
secs it as a mixed blessing. He admits "several factors
concern me about this bill."
Vinyard says "Well gain some money, but I don't
know how much."
Alluding to impact models—computer printouts
from the state — which indicate projected revenue
gains or losses, the head Tulia school administrator
says, "It has been reported we would gain as much as
$900,000 but that assumes some growth in average
daily attendance (ADA) and it assumes that the tax rates
and collection rates will remain at least as high as they
are now."
One media report showed Tulia Independent
School District pocketing an extra $974,041 and raising
its average student allotment from an estimated $5,000
per student to $5,672.
"I have no feel at this time for what the local tax
rate might be. If you get a large amount of state funds,
the first reaction would be to lower local taxes by the
same amount." This would not be possible because
"there would be cost increases for the same programs
we now offer due to built-in-salary increases and
inflation factors.
"You’ve got to maintain a certain tax rate level to
maximize state funds. It's a tradeoff; all local boards
will have to make decisions" about tax rates and
desired levels of state and local reserve.
COUNTY EDUCATION
DISTRICTS FORMED
The new legislation establishes, 188 county edu-
cation districts, "most of which are single-county
districts." The Swisher County district includes Happy,
Kress and Tulia schools.
Multi-county education districts "include at least
one county that has a wealthy school district." The
theory is that excess above 72 cents (tax rate) would
go to the poor school districts.
With all three schools in this county property-
poor districts, "any funds needed to meet minimum
standards would be made up by state funds."
"I'm not sure anyone understands this (finance bill)
well enough to predict what will happen in any given
situation, the Tulia superintendent adds.
FUNDING NOT IN PLACE
Vinyard admits "the biggest concdm I have is that
this bill must be funded by the Legislature. If it is not
funded, then state funds will be prorated down to the
dollars available.
"We will not know the funds available until
summer because the Legislature will delay adopting a
Continued on Page Two
THS Tracksters Going For The Gold.
• •
Michael Smith and five Lady Hornets
traveled to Austin last May to partici-
pate in the state track meet. This time
around, Smith would like to take some
fellow Hornets along.
Tulia High athletes will not only be
attempting Friday and Saturday to qual-
ify for state but they also believe both
male and female squads are legitimate
contenders for the Region I team cham-
pionships.
PINTO BEAN MEETING—Indi-
viduals interested in pinto bean pro-
duction are invited to a meeting at 8
p.m. this Thursday, April 25, in the
Steak house.
Top two finishers in individual events
and relays at the regional trials at
Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium will have their
tickets punched for the trip to Austin on
May 9-11.
Coach Richard Chapman s Hornets
will carry a bus full of athletes to
Odessa, qualifying in 13 of 16 events.
They plan to leave "about noon" Thurs-
day.
The Lady Hornets of Coach Dale
Morris are sending athletes to regional
competition in 10 events.
BETTER TIMES
Coach Morris points out that the 400
meter and 800 meter relays and Nikki
Altman in the 100 meter hurdles all
Continued on Page Six
Appreciation Dinner For Firemen,
Lawmen Friday At Highland
"We appreciate you" will be the message sent out Friday night
as residents of Mackenzie Addition and other Tulia citizens fete
local volunteer firemen and peace officers, along with their
families, with a dinner In the Highland Elemenetary School
Cafetorlum.
A catered barbecue meal Is to be served soon after the
function begins at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to the barbecue dinner, some local citizens have
made cash contributions to Tulia Volunteer Fire Department for
additional equipment.
Tulia FmHA Office Accepting
Emergency Loan Applications
Applications for emergency farm loans for losses caused by drought and
excessive heat, which occurred between May 1,1990, and Dec .31,1990, are being
accepted at the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) office located in Tulia,
FmHA County Supervisor Larry C. Jones said.
Swisher County is one of eight in Texas recently named by Secretary of
Agriculture Clayton Yeutter as eligible for loans to cover part of actual production
losses resulting from the drought and excessive heaL
Jones said farmers may be eligible for loans of up to 80 percent of their actual
losses or the operating loan needed to continue in business or $500,000, whichever
is less. For farmers unable to obtain credit from private commercial lenders, the
interest is 4.5 pcrcenL
"As a general rule, a farmer must have suffered at least a 30 percent loss of
production to be eligible for an FmHA emergency loan," Jones said. Farmers
participating in the PIK or Federal Crop Insurance will have to figure in proceeds
from those programs in determining their loss.
"Applications for loans under this emergency designation will be accepted
Continued on Page Two
Rl MOR MILL AGAIN
WORKING OVERTIME
The rumor mill works overtime on
occasion. That has been the situation
during the past couple of weeks when
lawmen have been the subject.
An anonymous caller last Thursday
wondered why this newspaper did not
have an article about the arrest of a
certain officer. "Everybody in town
knows about it," the caller said.
The previous day we were told that
four peace officers were being held.
It has been one of those situations
where you pick out the rumor you like
best and go with it, if you happen to like
gossip. Another version will happen by
any time if you tire of the last one.
Although most of the talk apparently
has centered around two individuals,
some stories have said there are more.
This newspaper has talked in the past
10 days or so with persons in authority
Continued on Page Two
65 Children Physically Abused
Attention Focused During 'Prevention Month'
Child abuse is one tragic but real part of today’s society that many
individuals refuse to believe is a problem in this rural, Bible belt area.
However, Children’s Protective Services' "abuse and neglect referrals" list
for 1990 in Swisher County shows 65 children fall into the "physical abuse"
category. These youngsters hail from 30 different families.
"Nationally, there has been a two and a half times increase in child abuse
and neglect reports since 1975," points out Pat Garrison, Texas Department of
Human Resources' Child Protective Services specialist for Swisher and Briscoe
counties since Jan. 1, 1990. She believes similar numbers are true locally and
in the state, although no drastic changes have occurred in the past two years.
A major reason for the drastic increase in reports is that abused and
troubled youngsters remained basically "hidden children" no more than 10
years ago. Public awareness has caused officials to be alerted about a greater
percentage of child maltreatment situations.
Of the 65 physical abuse cases in this county last year, 11 were reported
by relatives and 7 by "friends." Authorities were alerted about the other 47 by
the following sources: anonymous. Department of Human Services (DHS),
medical, law enforcement, neighbor, other social agencies and schools.
’COMES IN CYCLES'
"Some situations come in cycles," says Mrs. Garrison, who has performed
two recent interviews for the police department on alleged juvenile sexual
abuse victims.
"Before that, we had not had a sexual abuse case in a while."
Thirteen sexual abuse referrals appeared on the '90 list for this county.
According to the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health,over400,000 Texas
children were reported as being at risk of being abused, neglected or both.
"While child abuse is not restricted to any particular group, it is seen more
frequently in families where parents are troubled by alcoholism, drug abuse,
marital strife, low self-esteem and joblessness," according to the Hogg Foun-
dation. "Given the significant number of Texas families living below the
poverty level, the probability of child abuse and neglect is likely to increase
over the next decade."
Mrs. Garrison agrees that abuse knows no racial, economic nor social
boundaries.
Illiteracy, however, could be a factor.
"At least it seems that illiteracy is involved," she acknowledges.
She also points out that while not all abused children abuse others as
adults, "most abuse cases involve adults who were themselves abused as
children."
It is not uncommon to have several generations of child abuse documented
Continued on Page Four
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.
Reynolds, Jim. The Tulia Herald (Tulia, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 25, 1991, newspaper, April 25, 1991; Tulia, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth507553/m1/1/: accessed June 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Swisher County Library.