Columns

AUSTIN — In the wake of the widely reported June 12 mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the Texas Department of Public Safety called on Texans to pay close attention to what’s happening in their own communities.

DPS Director Steven McCraw on June 17 said, “Amid today’s ever-present threat of terrorism and crime, we are reminded that members of the public can be law enforcement’s greatest resource.”

Moorman and Singleton crews began moving into Wills Point Wednesday afternoon to start closure on the Iron Bridge Dam.  Crews will start the closure on July 1, according to information from the Sabine Water Authority office in Point.

The first Goodwill Get-Together this year will be held Tuesday night, June 21, at Myrtle Springs school house at 7:30 o’clock. Benny Simpson, who is with the Texas Research Foundation at Renner, will give a short talk after the supper. The, get-together, is sponsored by the agriculture committee of the Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Myrtle Springs Parent-Teachers Association will prepare and serve the food. (See newspaper for complete article.)

Summer recreation baseball got underway Monday night with four teams seeing action this week. Boys reporting on the Little League No. 1 team are Steve Steadham, Richard Davis, Wayne Langford, Tim Provence, Tim Sockwell, Joe Dempsey, C.W. Wilson, Charles Curtis, Steve Roberts, Gerald Chandler, James Chitty, Kirk Evans, Rickey Liston, and Mike Smith. Managers, Curtis Lynn Ebarb, Ralph Liston and T.K. Provence Jr. (See newspaper for names of players on the other teams.)

AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 25 filed a lawsuit against the heads of the federal Department of Education, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Equal Opportunity Commission and other entities for issuing directives that would require public schools to open up restrooms and locker rooms to both sexes. 

Joining Texas in the lawsuit are the states of Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Plaintiffs also include a diverse coalition of top state officials and local school districts, including the Harrold (Texas) Independent School District.

The Wills Point Library opened as scheduled Wednesday, June 1, with Hugh Scott, 13-year-old-son of Mr. and Mrs. John Scott, checking out the first book. An excellent selection of books, are available to the reading public Dr. J.W. Bettis, president of the Library Association stated. The bookshelves hold more than 1,000 books on religion, fiction and reference. Office hours will be each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2 to 5 o’clock. Mrs. W.H. Wingo, Jr. is the librarian. The public is urged to attend the open house planned on Sunday afternoon, June 12.

Pay N Save Super Market in Wills Point has announced the inauguration of the issuance of S&H green stamps as a bonus to shoppers at their store located on the corner of James and Fourth.

Groundwork began this week on the new general marketing and manufacturing center to be constructed in Wills Point. Leslie M. James is the contractor. Plans call for the 115 x 275 foot structure to be brick backed up with lightweight concrete blocks. The building is to be located at the corner of High and Fifth Streets, facing south on High street. Completion date is set for sometime in October, Mr. James stated.

Preliminary and unofficial federal census returns released this week gave Wills Point a current population of 2,261. This represents an increase of 231 in the past ten years since the 1950 census count was given at 2030. The 1960 population given for Van Zandt County was 18,461, showing a big decline since the 1950 census. (See newspaper for complete article.)

There was a light turnout for the primary election held Saturday throughout Van Zandt County. Approximately 3,224 votes were cast. Van Zandt’s voting strength is approximately 3,855. Van Zandt county voting was consistent with voting throughout the state. Governor Price Daniel carried Van Zandt county 2,013 to his opponent Jack Cox’s 1,159. In the only contested county-wide race incumbent Sheriff J.W. Burnett polled 73 per cent of the votes to win re-election to a second term. Burnett carried 31 of the 32 boxes. His opponent John T. Trant of Van carried the Edgewood box.

The May 6, 1960, issue of the Wills Point Chronicle is not available on microfilm. This week additional items from the April 29, 1960 issue, is being substituted in lieu of the May 6, 1960, issue.

Denton. -Troy D. Roberts, teacher in the Wills Point Independent School District, has been awarded a grant for study in a summer institute for high school science and mathematics teachers at North Texas State College. He will be enrolled in the physics program, Dr. Robert C. Sherman, institute director, announced.

Coach Jerry Fausett and Douglass Lindsey attended a meeting in Canton Wednesday night to begin plans for a county-wide baseball league in connection with the summer recreation program.  Six teams were entered in the competition, one Pee Wee League team, two Little League teams, two Pony League teams and one Babe Ruth team. Play will get underway the first week of June and end the latter part of July.

A two-night short course on cotton will be held at the Wills Point high school auditorium Tuesday and Wednesday, April 26 and 27, beginning at 7:30 each night, according to an announcement made this week by Todd W. Berry, county agent. Major cotton insects identification, life history and control, and chemical control of weeds will be the major points discussed. The meetings are being sponsored by the county entomology committee and the agriculture committee of the Wills Point Chamber of Commerce. Members of the county entomology committee are: Forest Bailey of Grand Saline, Bill Pickens of Edgewood and Charles Curtis of Wills Point. Jack Lester is chairman of the agricultural committee of the chamber of commerce.