The Mexia Daily News from Mexia, Texas • Page 1

Mexia Several progressive steps were taken Tuesday evening in City Hall a called meeting of the Mexia City Commission. Steps taken by commissioners included acceptance of an $82.160.55 bid toward obtaining utilities to the Industrial Park; endorsement of some revisions on the new Gibbs Memorial Library: and a unanimous vole, passing a notice of intention to authorize certificates of obligation, in connection with the EDA water projects. In the latter action, commissioners met headon the need of matching local financing to accentuate Ihe grant from the Economic Development Administration Takes another step on EDA water project toward providing a much-needed, large- scale water project improvements here. Bob Day of Tyler, who has done work as a financial advisor for the City and for the BiStone Municipal Water Supply District, attended the meeting and explained factors involved toward completing such a project. Day, who will be hired as a financial advisor (this step is required by law if the Attorney General is to approve a financial plan), is a former city com- missioner at Tyler.

Also, on hand to help explain various steps needed to accomplish the project was Pete Styner, Vice-president of Fowler and Grafe. of Dallas, hired by the City of Mexia as consulting engineers. It was pointed out that the certificates of obligation are not to exceed $225,000. In unanimous action accepting the low bid of James Main, for getting utilities to the Mexia tnrtiicMil Park, commissioners were told by City Manager Gerald Yarbrough that the remaining amount needed would be pledged from the ensuing quarter's revenue sharing funds. Eight bids on the utility project were opened Tuesday afternoon.

The firm awarded the bid is from Euless. Bids ranged to a high of SllR.ooo The Commission also unanimously approved a "construction change order" for the new Gibbs Memorial Library, at request of (he library's board of directors The needed additions amount to $5,032 and include installation of windows and exhaust fans; a revision of restrooms to nrcnnimodale wheelchair patients; and also granting of a 27-workday extension on the contract to general contractors Jones and Williams of Waco. The Waco firm requested the extension, due to a slowdown by ini'lemenl weather. In other aclion. the Council unanimously endotscd the cetUfflet with Limestone County, providing fof the afifiual -fife pact." the contract with the CdUftly provides payment of $50 to fof each trip outside the city limits by a ItfCal flffi truck.

However, the contract stipulates this amount is In County funds for this purpose are expended, then, it will be $1 per fire, the original intent for such contract, which has been in effect for several years, Is to relieve the City of nny liability when local firemen must leave the city limits to battle a blaze. tn final action, the Commission voted unanimously to pay $32,382.27 as paving invoices to Downing Brothers of Waco for ftirri'iil si reel work projects here. Payment comes from revenue sharing income Attending Ihe called session were Commissioners Hubert Harrison, W.L. Swell. Hubert Kralls.

Mayor Joe FoHson, James Stanford and Cecil Farrls. Serving The People Of The Bi- Stone Area Since 1872 VOLUME 75 NUMBER 25 MEXIA, TEXAS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1974 Member AP and NBA Id CENTS fi PAGES Automakers face conversion costs New Sears family Mr. and Mrs. Don Quinn have moved to Mexia at 508 East Bowie, and he has assumed duties as manager of Sears, succeeding Mrs. Jimmie Chandler, who is retiring.

Mrs. Quinn is the former Linda Wilkerson of The Quinns come here from Brownfield, where Don was Sears manager since 1971, when he began his career with the company. He was a member of the Brownfield Jaycees, while Mrs. Quinn was active in hospital auxiliary work. They are Baptists.

Don is a native of Corsicana, where his mother, Mrs. Pauline Quinn, still resides. He attended Corsicana Public Schools and was graduated from Navarro Junior College in 1970, after having served for three years in the Army. (Daily News Staff Photo by Bob Wright) city beat by Bob Wright ANSWER FILED IN Attorney Joe Schullz told city commissioners Tuesday night he has filed an answer in conjunction with the lawsuit brought by fired fireman Buddy FERGUSON. Buddy, in filing against the City of Mexia, sued for back pay he claims the City owes NOT 'RUNNING' Mayor Joe FORTSON, whose term expires this year on the City Commission, told me Tuesday night he will NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION.

Mayor Pro-Tern Jack FLOYD, the only other commissioner whose term expires, wasn't at the called session in City Hall; consequently, his comment "ain't" in this little THAT MAKES SENSI5 Manager Gerald YARBROUGH, who was ashed Tuesday night about a possible solution to some City problems, replied in what might turn out to be a classic in its day. The CM believes the answer lays in "additional income and less expense." Now, you think about that one. It would probably solve a barrel -o troubles WIIKBK IS UK? those of you who might have lost trocK of JPIW HOW. former coach and teacher Mexia High-Jene's principal ill Hubtard High DECISION TIME school trustees are not too far from a decision on selection of a new head football coach. The strong grapevine sez the field is narrowed to four-all apparently strong MORE ACCOLADES The bait for the bibs which were worn at the Chamber of Commerce banquet came from the Banquet Committee, and was -thrown" to Pick FLATT, who came up' with the end result we all liked; and which have drawn such favorable.comment and response from the great credit goes to Margie HAWKINS and her crew of talent which did all the decorations; and particularly, eye- catching were the mobiles of Mexia on the 'TRXAS OUT RACK 1 Leon HAJJJ, former Houston newspaper columnist, once visited us at The News.

We'll never forget Leon, whose dry wit and humor one can really never forget. Hale motors through the state, doing offbeat sort of features and picking up tidbits from and there. Hale's latest contribution to the literary scene is Ms book, "Tests Out BBCK'." Ji's all about outhouses, and their fading away from the slate scene, mostly where there is no plumbing, etc. says the outhouses are "significant cultural symbols," By MARTIN HIRSCHMAN Associated Press Writer DETROIT AP The big three auto makers are spending millions of dollars to meet American demands for small, easy- on-the-gas cars, and that money could come out of the consumer's pocketbook. The economy car buyer could be faced with a bigger price lag.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are converting a total of five plants from big car to small car production and increasing the capacity of many small car assembly lines. "We're moving as fast as we humanly can," says Ford President Lee lacocca. "We'll make 350,000 more smaller cars Ihis year than last, and we're converting our plants at enormous facing one hell of a crisis." lacocca says it's costing Ford $75 million to convert each of two plants, in Wayne, and Chicago to smaller car assembly. General Motors and Chrysler declined comment on their conversion costs, bul GM Chairman Richard Gerstenberg has said conversion is a big'piece'of FM's $1.3 billion capilal expenditure program for 1974. lacocca said Ford would be ready to turn out two million small cars in its 1975 model run about 80 per cent of ils lotal production.

Ford's Muslang 11 was the only small car introduced in the 1974 model year. Chrysler, which converled ils Neward, assembly plant to compact production Ihis month, says small cars now make up 56 per cent of its capacity. General Motors, Iraditional leader in the big car field and hardest hit by layoffs due to slumping big car sales, is converting one planl lo inlermediate models and another lo compacls this monlh. In 1973, GM had 23 per cenl of its produclion in small car lines. Spokesmen would make no estimale on 1974 figures.

Aulo prices have already been boosted Iwice during Ihe 1974 model year. The firsl came during the lale summer slarlup of 1974 model production when, with Cost of Living Council approval, GM boosted prices, an average of $97, Ford $136, Chrysler $87 and American Motors $54. said thai increase was to cover the cost of government-ordered Fair and a litlle warmer Ihrough Thursday. Low lonight about 40. High Thursday near 72.

Mexia Lions hear about 'America' and 'Rehab' problems which are overlooked can sometimes cause complete failure because one didn't take the time to solve it." These were a few words of Buddy Stewart's Voice of Democracy speech which he gave at the Mexia Lions Club's weekly luncheon-meeting held Tuesday at Ray's Steakhouse. -Confusion-USA," the title of Buddy's speech, a first-place winner in a contest sponsored by the local Velerans of Foreign War, deals mainly with the confusion which is confronting America today, He continued to say that some "small things sometimes play an important role in the success of businesses and projects." "Business is like a factory where a small machine called an excitor, plays a large role in the operation of large generators. Sometimes the main generators become "lazy" and must have a boost to keep them going. In business, you have a type of excitor, whether it be in the form of the payroll, the interest, or perhaps the Technique of the job," he continued, Buddy also stated that "leadership is the most important factor in and the future depends upon decisions." Hubert Austin of Mexja, counselor of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, also gave a brief talk on the state program- which helps the handicapped receive special training and helps them to find jobs. Austin began by saying that "when the department was first started, there was one director and one secretary, and our yearly expendilure budgel was set at $12,000.

Now there are 3,000 employes in the state and Ihe budgel is set at $30,000,000." The local department is working with Mexia, Fairfield, Teague, Coolidge, Wortham, and Groesbeck high schools and are setting up programs which help the handicapped receive extra and proper training and placement on a job. The clients are sent to physicians for evalualion and are then talked to by the department. "Beforea person can receive this special training and care," Austin continued, "he must be physically or mentally handicapped, and the illness must constitute a vocational handicap. He must also have a reasonable expectation of being employed." Austin closed by saying "since the department is working locally now with the handicapped, it opens new programs and new opportunities for those who need special attention and training." Guests for the Lions luncheon-meeting were Wilna Lucas, the January Club sweetheart; and Bert Harrison, son of the club's Bert Harrison. MORNING STOCKS 50 All Rich 95 4 up Coca Cola up cluPont 159 up Exxon up 2'a; Gen Blec 6m up Penney 73 up ''V, Safeway 40 up safety features and optional equipmenl made standard.

The second boost came Dec. 10 when the auto industry was freed of price controls in return for an average $150 wholesale price increase, Chrysler, Ford and General motors upped the price on compacts by $150 and posted smaller 'increases for suddenly hard to sell big cars. While Chrysler declined such a promise, GM and Ford pledged not to raise prices agian "unless forced by unforseen major economic events." The costs involved in converting production to meel the demand for smaller cars would seem to fil that criteria. Newsprint costs showing hikes VANCOUVER. B.C.

lAP) An increase of $23.50 a ton in the price of 30-pound standard newsprint for the western region of North America has been announced by MacMillan Hloedcl. The company, Canada's largest forest products firm, said Tuesday that the price effective March 1 will be $209 a ton for customers in Ihe British Columbia Island, $211 a ton for the British Columbia interior and Alberta and $213.50 a ton in the western United Slates. The current prices, ranging from $815.50 to $190 have been in effect since Sept. 1, when Macmillan Blodel increased prices $10 a ton. A company spokesman said, "Recent very sharp increases in the cosl of energy and raw malerials made il necessary to increase the price of newsprint by some 12 per cent at this time." He said oil costs had tripled and there had been significant increases in the cosl of chemicals, equipmenl and machinery and in maintenance cosls.

Two places to be filled in April 2 Mexia election Mexia city commissioners Tuesday night passed an ordinance, setting Tuesday, April 2 for an election to fill 1 and 2 on the City. Council. Action was unanimous in passage of the ordinance for the election, which is to be conducted in the National Guard armory. Places 1 and 2, currently held by Mayor Joe Forlson Und Mayor Pro- Tern Jack Floyd, are bolh for three- year lerms of office. March 1 is the final.day for-filing for'the Absentee voting opens March 12 and closes on March 29.

Election judge, the assislanl judge and election clerks will be selected laler. I Two sentenced in shooting of Mexia police officer; Berry is also sentenced Guilty pleas of several defendants were heard Tuesday in Judge Clarence Ferguson's 77th District Court at Groesbeck. Odell Hargrow Hill was assessed a 25- year sentence for an assault on Mexia Police Officer Mike Bell, which took place on Highway 14 inside the Mexia city limits, on Nov. 12,1973. Hil.l was also given a five- year senlence for Ihe atlempled burglary of a firm at Groesbeck on the same date.

Robert Wayne Johnson, also involved in the assault on Officer Bell, was assessed a five-year sentence. Johnson was shown not to have been involved in the actual shooting and had fled Ihe scene prior to the time of Ihe shooting. He was also assessed a five-year sentence for his participation in the attempted burglary at Groesbeck. Bell has since returned to his duties with the Mexia Police Department after a stay in Providence Hospital at Waco, during which lime his life hung in Ihe balance. He has lost sight in his right eye.

Roberl James Berry, who led Mexia police on a chase of several days' duration before he turned himself in to Ihe local aulhorilies, was given a 10-year sentence for the armed robbery of Mrs, Marie Jones of Mexia. This look place on Nov. 26, 1973. Berry was also given a 10-year sentence for felony theft of Mrs. Jones.

One.ad- ditional case against Berry is pending, due to technicality in evidence that was presented, according to Limestone County Atlorney Don Caldwell, who presented the cases for Ihe Slate againsl all three defendants. All three are expected to be transferred to Huntsville Ihis week. Judge Ferguson had appointed Joe Cannon to represent all three men, prior to Iheir Irials before the Court. Newspapers praised for involvement in local communities HOUSTON (AP) A San, Antonio publisher said today newspapers, to a subslanlial degree, have thrived as a sales medium because of being involved and motivating participants in building local communities. institutions in the private sector, including our many and varied competitors, have so directly addressed themselves to the improvement and forward movement of the local community," said Frank Bennack publisher of the San Antonio Light.

Bennack was the keynote speaker at the 112th sales conference of International Newspaper Advertising Executives. -It follows that in times when business, conditions are spectacularly good, as well as when commerce flows, somewhat more reluctantly, there -are economic, social, environmental educational and cultural tasks to he done at the local level," nack said. are uniquely committed to, and responsible for, ac'compUshing them, because we bring objectives and people together through our news columns and editorial pages, and because we take an added giant step as we deploy talent and leadership in everything from the chamber of commerce to the United Way." Bennack said the commitment 9f newspapers to community building will not lessen. "What newspapers everywhere do is turn the wheels, of business while turning over in print and in the flesh, their unique talents and influence to the accomplishment of the objectives of the people they serve," he said. "Nobody dws that as well." Verse 4 Day Bphesians let everyone of you in p.irtii?«lir 19 leys his wile even as himself! and to wife see that she revertnss her husband..