Reporter-News Archives

Wednesday, April 15, 1998

Area News Roundup

Brownwood ISD passes on soft drink distributors' offers

BROWNWOOD -- The Brownwood school district decided Monday not to explore lucrative financial packages being offered to some school districts by soft drink distributors.

At their March meeting, trustees had discussed authorizing the school administration to request bids from soft drink vendors to provide exclusive service for the entire district, but a motion by trustee Dr. Evelyn Romig to instruct the staff not to request bids was tabled.

Monday night, the board took up Romig's motion again and, after brief discussion, voted 3-1 to approve it. Trustees Tim Wilson and Stanley Walker Jr. voted with Romig, while Roderick Jones was opposed.

Walker said even though some large figures -- as much as $250,000 -- have been discussed, he likened it to "election year candy" in politics: a big promise that quickly drops in subsequent years. He noted that even $250,000 is only about 1 percent of the school district's budget.

"I really don't believe it's in the district's best interest to enrich itself by 1 percent in this manner," Walker said. He added that clothing and shoe manufacturers are also "bombarding young people."

"Perhaps at school they ought to be exempt form it," he added.

ones said he believes the board "ought to look at it on paper, look and see what the bids would be ... see what it would bring in."

In other business, trustees agreed to lease historic R.F. Hardin School to United Neighbors Involved to Improve for 20 years with an option to purchase the building constructed in 1903. The non-profit UNITI will pay the district $400.50 per year, or a total of $8,010 -- the building's appraised value.

The building will be restored and maintained as a historic site, said Dr. Don Martin, BISD superintendent. The school district had been leasing the building to UNITI for $1 per year.

Trustees asked for a cost analysis for a plan extending the district's early retirement incentive program to employees who have worked 15 to 20 years.

Man injured in accident near Baird released

BAIRD -- A Weatherford man injured in a two-vehicle accident west of here on Monday was released after treatment at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

David Jason Ochs, 26, told investigators he ran into the back of a slow-moving pickup truck while he was tuning his radio. Three occupants of the pickup were not injured.

Interim superintendent hired at Baird

BAIRD -- Charlie Uselton of Gainesville was hired Monday as interim superintendent of the Baird school system.

Uselton will not only fill the vacancy of Steve Maikell on a temporary basis but also help Baird find a new superintendent.

Maikell recently resigned to take the superintendent's job at Sweetwater at the end of April.

Uselton is a retired superintendent who spent part of his 25-year career heading schools in Gainesville and Colorado City, school officials here said.

He will work at Baird during the week, returning home to Gainesville on weekends.

In other business, trustees made a rule interpretation of the school prom policy, saying a married student may bring a spouse to the dance.

Rules state that guests from another school cannot attend the Baird prom but married students have been allowed to bring spouses, Maikell said.

"If that rule was enforced to the letter, I couldn't bring my wife because she works at another school," Maikell said. Mrs. Maikell is a counselor at Abilene Cooper High School.

No interpretation was made on the definition of "date" as it pertains to guests invited to the prom. It was decided that next year's prom sponsors could tackle that issue and make recommendations to the board.

The board also authorized hiring an additional mathematics teacher and approved a tax exemption for the local housing authority.

Brown County commissioners to study jail expansion

BROWNWOOD -- Brown County commissioners commissioned an architectural study of the county jail for inevitable expansion Monday.

The study by BSA Design Group of Fort Worth will include three options for expansion, as required by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

One study will address the immediate requirements by the TCJS to expand the jail from 60-bed to 129-bed capacity by the year 2000. A second study will look at increasing the jail capacity to 140 beds, which would meet TCJS requests in 2010.

The third study will look at a completely new 144-bed facility.

Commissioner Steve Adams said the first two options might include raising the current facility because it is in a flood plain.

"A 144-bed facility might be our best bet," he said.

The study is expected to be completed in about 60 days at a cost of $9,000. BSA will prepare all bid specifications for the projects, and if they are chosen as architects, for every $1 million the county spends, BSA will deduct $2,000 from the cost of the study.

That would make the cost of the study $3,000 on a $3 million project.

Three charged with stealing mailboxes

BROWNWOOD -- Three men arrested Saturday after a chase by a Brown County deputy sheriff have been charged with stealing rural mailboxes.

Officer Chris Delgado said he recovered seven mailboxes -- still mounted to posts -- in a truck he pursued on county and farm roads in the area of Brown's Trail and FM 1849.

Charged were Juan Israel Perez, 19; Jessie Dale Shackelford, 17; and Nicholas Kyle McHan, 17.

Dublin audit report unfavorable

DUBLIN -- An accountant presented an unfavorable audit report to the Dublin City Council on Monday.

Council members said they could not comment because the audit was not listed on the posted agenda.

James Eddy Young of Boucher, Morgan and Young gave the report, which was for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1997. He highlighted three problem areas: continuity in employment in city hall; a competent, experienced city manager; and communications between city officials and city council members.

A special meeting was set for April 20 to discuss the audit.

he audit covers the period during which the city manager and longtime police chief were both terminated and subsequently sued the city.

Present City Manager Corrin McGrath was hired about two months ago.

Meanwhile, complaints arose on a proposed ordinance limiting recreational vehicles and trailers to a 30-day stay in the city limits without permits.

Protests came from the audience, prompting Mayor Katherine Prater to refer the proposal back to the parks and recreation committee.

Council member Red Seigar sought to have a panel of Dublin residents appointed to review the ordinance. No action was taken on his suggestion.

In other business, McGrath proposed a new plan for billing water customers. Some customers have said the 3,000-gallon minimum for usage was too high.

The proposal was turned over to the water-sewer committee for further study.

On another matter, the council agreed to the implementation of a new billing system for utility customers. The cost is $3,980 with training costs estimated at $1,000.

Also, the Wallace Group presented a $160,038 change order for construction of a new sewer line behind the junior high and high school campus. McGrath recommended the council do further study of the project.

Two arrested on drug charges

EASTLAND -- Two people have been arrested and jailed in Eastland on drug related charges.

Cheresse Sharp, 26, of Eastland, was arrested Monday and charged with possession of a controlled substance. She remains in jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond.

Janes Veneable, 30, of Gordon, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains jailed on $1,000 bond.

Sheriff's officers received a tip about drug usage and were en route to the rural residence when they stopped a vehicle leaving the house in question. Veneable and Gordon were inside the vehicle and were arrested, said Deputy Ron Vander Roost.

Ranger adopts new budget

RANGER -- City councilors have approved a $2.7 million budget for the 1998-99 fiscal year. The figure exceeds the current budget by nearly $1.5 million, resulting from the city's $1.6 million loan for the new sewer plant.

Councilors also approved five percent salary increases for city employees and 10 percent increases for fire and ambulance employees.

The budget projects a $95,000 surplus.

Councilors also approved a plan to re-open the swimming pool by leasing the pool to John Stockdale for $1. Stockdale said repairs should cost $15,000. The city has agreed to pay for pool supplies and utilities.

In other business, councilors retained the firm of Rylander-Clay and Opitz to conduct the 1998-99 audit.

Chief Claud Arnold reported the municipal judge had collected nearly $50,000 in fines since January with about $78,000 still outstanding.

Plans for 20 more beds at new jail continue

BALLINGER -- Runnels County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to direct Wiginton Hooker and Jeffry, architects from Dallas, to draw up plans for a proposed 20-bed addition to the county's new jail facility.

The proposed addition would increase the new jail's bed capacity to 85, said County Judge Marilyn Egan.

If approved, the new addition would be paid for with a $250,000 grant recently awarded to the county from the U.S. Marshal Service.

In exchange for the grant money, Runnels County would eventually house federal prisoners in the $2.4 million facility being built just west of Ballinger near U.S. 67. The expected completion date is December.

In other business related to the new jail, commissioners learned that electrical, plumbing, central air and heating experts are coordinating their work with the setting of masonry block at the jail site on Hickory Hill Drive.

Commissioners also agreed to purchase a building owned by Herman West and John Conn for $38,000. The building, a former Safeway grocery near downtown, will be remodeled to house offices of the county adult and juvenile probation departments.

Egan said the time frame for the remodeling has not been established, however, she anticipates that some of the county's probationers will assist in the project.

Commissioners also approved a $10,500 yearly contract between the county and the City of Ballinger for the volunteer fire department to provide firefighting services.

Ivan ranch house viewed as polling box

BRECKENRIDGE -- Stephens County Commissioners discussed Monday the possibility of repairing the old Hailey Ranch House in Ivan for use as an election box.

The building currently used as a polling place is no longer suitable.

The ranch house owner has indicated he would provide the labor if the county would buy the materials. No immediate action was taken.

Ivan is in northeast Stephens County. The ranch house was built in 1886.

In other business, commissioners:

-- Named C.H. Herring Jr. to the Stephens County Child Welfare Board.

-- Approved official bonds and oaths for several county employees.

-- Authorized an EMS contract with the Texas Department of Health.

-- OK'd crossing county roads for a gas line and water line in Precinct 3.

Early voting opens today in Stephenville

STEPHENVILLE -- Early voting begins today on a $2.7 million city street bond election, along with races for the City Council and school board.

The $2.7 million is proposed to develop Frey Street and Wolfe Nursery Road to provide full access from FM 988, West Washington Street and the existing West Frey Street.

The street improvements are, in part, to provide adequate access to a new junior high school that will be built on Frey.

Early voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday at the Erath County Courthouse.

Early accepts $105,000 Internet bid

EARLY -- The Early school board voted Monday to accept a bid by Brownwood Computer Innovations for Internet service.

Four proposals were presented and trustees accepted BCI's bid of $105,128 to "set up" the district.

Other bids were by Communications Etc., San Angelo; Technology Management Partners, Early; and Southwest Computer Systems, Plano.

Superintendent John King said he expects the work will be paid for by a $100,000 state grant.

"We hope to be up and running with the system by the start of school next year," King said.

Fire burns tons of hay

BLACKWELL -- About 70,000 pounds of hay went up in smoke over six hours, starting about 10 a.m. Monday, in the northeast corner of this town.

Will Lenoir of the Blackwell Volunteer Fire Department said teams of 12 men each, operating three trucks, worked until 4 p.m. to contain the fire.

"We finally got help form the county with heavy equipment, and just started burying the rolls, which weighed around 3,500 pounds each," said Lenoir.

He said the fire apparently was ignited by a defective wheel on the truck hauling the hay, after it stopped in Blackwell. The trailer axles were lost, but some of the truck was saved. Dense smoke from the fire moved northeast throughout the middle of the day, hampering visibility on several roads in the area.

Lenoir said the hay belonged to Rancher W.A. Hickman, whose monetary loss was still being figured late Monday.