Columns

The fourth annual Firemen’s Halloween Carnival will be staged downtown Monday night, October 30, and the chili supper will be held at the school cafeteria. Tickets went on sale last week, and may be purchased from firemen, Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce directors. Carnival activities will begin in the section marked off downtown on Fourth Street from Commerce to James Street around 6 o’clock. Booths to be set up will be balloon dart throw, fun house, baseball throw, fishing booth, and fire truck rides.

Wills Point Tigers face their toughest foe tonight when they journey to Brownsboro to take on the undefeated Bears. Game time is 7:45 o’clock. Probable starters for the Tigers are Jack Lybrand, quarter-back; James McFarland, full back; Donnie Davis and Sammy Gunter, halfbacks; Johnny Hargrove, left end; Bobby Pirtle, left tackle; Bobby King, left guard; Bobby Bridwell, center; Tommy Russell, right guard; Butch Marlow, right tackle; and Jerry Hallman, right end.

Well, we’ve made it through the fiscal year but not in really good shape. Road and Bridge (R&B) is in good shape but the general fund is suffering a little.

The county tax revenue for fiscal year 2017-‘18 with the 2017 rate of .585847 is projected to increase by $999,952.

This increase is just under the 8 percent that would trigger the rollback process. Of the $999,952, $145,076 will go to debt service and $159,820 will go to the special R&B tax.

This leaves $695,056 going to maintenance and operation. Of that, approximately 20 percent goes to R&B. This puts approximately $556,044 going to the general fund.

The only problem is the general fund expenses for fiscal year 2017-‘18 are projected to increase by $630,044. That puts the general fund $74,000 short.

Friday, October 20, 1961

Homecoming has been set for Wills Point high school for Saturday night, Oct. 31. All students, ex-students, and students from Edgewood are cordially invited to the reception following the Wills Point-Edgewood football game. During the half time activities, the football sweetheart, chosen by members of the football squad, will be crowned. Runners-up will also be recognized. The reception will be held in the gymnasium following the game. Dancing to records and games are planned for the reception. Committees have been named by the student council, which is sponsoring the homecoming activities. Cathie Mullin, head cheerleader, serves as chairman of the welcoming committee.

Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Flint are observing their golden wedding anniversary with open house at their home Sunday, October 22. Friends and relatives are invited to call at their home on Highway 64 Sunday afternoon from two to five o’clock.

Friday, October 13, 1961

The Wills Point-Edgewood football game, which has been set for Saturday, October 21, instead of Friday night as previously scheduled has been designated as the homecoming game for Wills Point High School. It will also be Edgewood’s homecoming game. A football sweetheart will be chosen by members of the football squad and will be crowned at the half-time ceremonies. Runners-up for sweetheart will also be recognized.

H.M. Hooks, superintendent of the Wills Point Schools has announced that classes will not be held Tuesday Oct. 17. School will be dismissed the entire day for East Texas Day at the State Fair of Texas. Miss Gleith James will represent Wills Point in the activities at the Cotton Bowl that night and other events planned for the queens in the East Texas area. She will be, escorted by Jimmy Carter.

Friday, Oct. 6, 1961

According to a story published in the Friday, Sept. 29, issue of the Terrell Daily Tribune, District Judge A.A. Dawson has submitted his resignation to Gov. Price Daniel. Judge Dawson told the Tribune he had been attempting to resign for several months. He is eligible to retire on half of his annual salary of $12,000 per year. The district judge said his asthma had become worse since he returned to Canton from El Paso where he had been staying for several weeks. He was reported in route to Arizona today.

Remember when President Obama said that passage of the Affordable Care Act would save middle class families $2,500 a year on their health insurance premiums? Obama claimed much of that savings would come from taxing so-called “Cadillac Plans” that gave the rich “overly generous” benefits, and using that windfall to help fund Obamacare.
Well, as we’ve seen, premiums have skyrocketed around the country, only nominally more people are insured, and it has become clear that “Cadillac Plan” is a misnomer and aren’t only the purview of the rich and generously insured. The same middle-class Americans Obama claimed the ACA would help are the very people who will end up being hit by the 40 percent tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage.

The Wills Point Home Economics Department held its installation service on September 19 with the parents of the girls invited. The following officers were installed: Sarah Flowers, president; Linda Vaughn, first vice president; Lynn Ezell, second vice-president; Molly Lu Castleberry, third vice-president; Molly Mayfield, fourth vice-president; Louise Gilbert, public relations; Sue Goode, secretary; Sue Bronson, treasurer; Kay Dawson, sergeant at-arms; Linda Sherwood, parliamentarian; Gail Hodge, student council representative; and Linda Langston, historian. (See newspaper for complete article.)

An open football date tonight will give Coach Buster Johnson the extra time he needs to re-group the forces and re-build the Tiger eleven, he feels.

The Wills Point Tigers will open their gridiron season tonight at the local stadium against a strong Mineola eleven. This will be their first test of combat under their new head coach, Buster Johnson. According to the lineup, the Tigers have the weight advantage. Wills Point line averages 181 pounds per man to the Yellowjackets 163, and 156 in the backfield.

Leading the ranks of the Tiger Band tonight and throughout the year will be five pretty young ladies who serve as majorettes. They are Molly Mayfield, Johnice Cotten, Gleith James, drum major; Elaine Malone, and Donna Deen. (See newspaper for picture.)

The recent news coverage of the unfortunate racial unrest in Charlottesville, Virgina has been as plenteous as it has been sad. The news footage serves as a disturbing, even painful reminder of the hate some people harbor in their hearts. Hate and violence does not net positive or useful outcomes, yet, it remains a driving force among those who will not challenge their faulty beliefs. Despite how ugly this behavior has been, it's good to remember that hate is a learned behavior. At the same time, love and acceptance are learned behaviors. Schools are increasingly diverse racially, culturally and spiritually. Students, parents, faculty and community members with all kinds of beliefs will come and go every day. As educators, we have the ability to influence, even change faulty thinking some people may hold.

It’s that time already. Summer breaks seem to be shorter than ever although the number of days off has not changed. It’s back to school season which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. The time has come to prepare for the inevitable return to school. If we start right now, we can have our students back on school schedules and ready for the first day of school. The following suggestions can be helpful as Summer Breaks wind down.

Bedtime