The Canyon News from Canyon, Texas • Page 2

Shandy Robinson is not as intercHted in Siinta hm is the he wan handing out during his viwit to the Randall County Courthouse Monday afternoon. Shandv is the daughter of Mr. and Vanee Robinson. visit Hail) was arranged by Canyon Chamber of ommeree. City may be sued in death of child here this summer A lawsuit over the death this summer of an 8-year--old hoy may be against the ity within the next iM) days.

Attorney for the city Elton Cox has received notice of intent to file suit from an Austin law firm, as required in the city charter. The possible suit stems from the traffic death here 1 11 of Jason Jones, who was visiting his grandpar ents in Canyon. The boy was struck at the intersection of 28th and 8th Avenue while riding his bicycle. No charges were placed against the driver, Ina Kennedy, 59. although the case was reviewed by the district attorney, who declined to prosecute, said Canyon chief of police Jesse McMullen.

The city, as well as the driver, is involved in the suit because of a Texas Supreme Court ruling against Midland earlier this year that makes cities liable for damages if unsafe conditions are present at intersections, said Cox. In response to that ruling, Canyon passed an ordinance restricting shrubbery, fencing or any other barriers that would limit visibility at intersections. A total of 29 intersections were found to have obstructed vision and McMullen sent letters to the property owners asking them to remove the barriers. "All 29 complied," he said. McMullen said police officers would continue to check intersections and would be particularly watchful next spring when shrubbery begins to grow.

The intersection where the boy was killed would not have complied with ordinance, McMullen said Grass and weeds were about waist high, he said. By LAURIE TKLFAIR This is a Christmas story about hope and happiness and the rediscovery of family. not very complicated this week and Ruth McClain drove to Lamont, Calif, to spend Christmas with Mrs. brother and his family. the sort of thing that happens all the time.

Except that this is the first Christmas since the early 1940s, when they were both teenagers, that the brother and sister have spent together. In fact, until 1975, they did not even know each whereabouts. The two were born in Switzerland, according to her adoption papers, said Mrs. McClain, although they were raised in California. She has not been able to locate a birth certificate and has only her adoption papers and a notarized statement from a priest in Ferndalethat she attended church there during certain years to attest to her age or any of the other vital information in her background.

As far as she knows, she and her brother, Walter Brunner, are the only members of their family left. Brunner left the home in the early said Mrs. McClain, when she was about .4. He returned to Switzerland and was there during World War II, she said. Mrs.

McClain grew up, went to work and eventually came to the Panhandle. She kept up attempts to find her brother, however, and was in contact with members of a Swiss club near her home that her family attended during her childhood. Several years ago, she began driving a truck and was in a serious accident in Oklahoma. Her brother, who had returned to California, heard that she had been killed. He wrote to Oklahoma for a copy of the death certificate, she said.

but. of course, there was none. Meanwhile, a friend of Mrs. id anta oof WRONG SIZE? WRONG COLOR? WRONG STYLE? I id eil GLADLY CORRECT THE MISTAKE! If Santa goofed on your Christmas gift, bring it to Anthony's! We ll exchange it for another item of equivalent value. And it doesn't even have to be from an Anthony store.

We ll exchange your gift, NO MATTER STORE IT CAME FROM, as long as it is similar to Anthony merchandise. Friday only, if merchandise is not from an Anthony store. Of course we are always glad to exchange merchandise anytime! PALO DURO VILLAGE CANYON, TEX. 79015 MatMrCard 9-7 PH. 655-4171 located Brunner, That was in 1975.

Brunner and his wife and daughter came to Canyon within days of first talking to his sister by telephone and the two families have kept in close contact since then. talk every week or two and visited out there and come here," said Mrs. McClain, who, since finding her brother has been widowed and remarried. In addition to visiting her family, the McClains will spend time in California with sisters and nephew and will stop over in Arizona for more family visits. Before they left for California, they spent an early Christmas here with other family.

She continues close contact, she said, with the family of her former husband. But other family really never takes the place of own, she agreed, and it will be nice to spend a Christmas after so many years with her own family. going to have a good Christmas," she said. all part of the hope and anticipation and family warmth that help make Christmas a very special season. PUC decision may or may not increase electric rate for consumers Ratepayers may up paying more for electricity as a result of a Public Ctilities Commission decision last week.

The PUC declined to adopt a rule that would put franchise taxes now included in the base rate into a separate charge on bills, said Don Butler. Austin attorney who argued against the rule for the Texas Municipal League. But the PUC also refused to adopt a rule that would specify that the taxes would be included in the base rate. better. I guess, than adopting a bad rule," said Butler.

least we have the opportunity to fight about it. But we see much point in the rule in the first place, so not much comfort in getting a stay of execution when we guilty in the Two arrested after alarm at local firm Randall County Sheriffs Department reported having arrested two men at a Sundown Lane firm early this week. Officers said two youths were nabbed at Amarillo Gear Company about 3:30 Monday morning. Making the arrests were Roger Short and Gary Strick land. The young men arrested were identified by officers as William Allen Fay, 17 years old, and Richard Wayne Steen, 18.

both of Amarillo. Justice of the Peace Phil Woodall set bond for Fay at $7,500 and at $3,000 for Steen. Both remained in jail at mid-week in lieu of bond. Chief Randall County Deputy Reedy McDonald said officers learned of the break-in when a burglary alarm was touched off. They were on the scene in about 5 minutes, he reported.

He said one man was taken into custody as he was leaving the place and the other inside the building. A man caught leaving Stevenson Motor Company here in the early morning hours about three weeks ago is now under indictment for burglary. More folks make gifts this year To alleviate the pain on inflation-squeezed pocketbooks, many Canyon folks turned to making gifts for this Christmas season. At least this is what some Canyon merchants claim. Mary Parker of Fifth Avenue said people seemed to be making more gifts than ever and they started making them earlier.

Knitting garments for Christmas regained popularity. sold a lot of yarn to people who were making sweaters, other garments and Parker said. She said the style was returning to wool knitted garments, and the quality knitted wool garments could fall in the $200 price range. are wanting to learn to knit because they can make many items for one third of the Parker said. According to Parker, kits for Christmas stockings were the leading items sold.

She said people were also making many needlepoint items such as pictures and pillows. "Some people bought 15 kits at a time, and many were giving the kits for Parker said. first place." Butler said that the decision to include the taxes in the base rate or not would be made on a case by case basis. If the PUC allows utilities to separate the taxes from the base rate, and does not require a reduction in the base rate to equal the amount of tax. consumers will pay more.

In a separate hearing Friday in district court. Butler began arguments on a utility case involving the city of Ft. Worth and Texas Utilities that may influence the appeal that Canyon has waiting to be heard. The Friday case delved into the transactions between parent company and affiliated subsidiaries. Canyon's appeal of a 1977 Southwestern Public Service rate increase also deals with financial transactions between SPS and its affiliate, TUCO, Inc.

Arguments will continue Dec. 29. Butler said that the Canyon appeal will not be heard until after the Ft. Worth case is tried. Offices are closing for holiday break The state, county, and federal offices in Canyon will be closed certain days during the holiday period.

The Courthouse will close at noon Wednesday. It will be closed Thursday, Friday and Jan. 1. The City of Canyon offices will be closed Thursday Friday, and Jan. 1.

There will be trash pick-up Friday. The post office will be closed Thursday and Jan.l. No mail will be delivered either day. Banks in Canyon will be closed Thursday, Friday and Jan. 1.

The nativity has been created for a lawn in residential section this holiday. Snowmen displayed in the main window of Southwestern Public Service at 1310 Fourth Avenue. A pair of carolers herald the season in a local flowerbed. Dead animals aren't dogs, say police The skinned carcasses of three animals found behind a Canyon apartment complex are probably those of wild animals, according to Canyon police. Police got a tip from an anonymous caller Monday who said that the bodies of three skinned dogs were in the alley behind Ponderosa Apartments.

The animals, minus heads and pelts, appear to be a coyote and two foxes, said police chief Jesse McMullen. can sell just about any kind of pelt nowf McMullen said. McMullen said police have asked Humane Society president and investigator Gene Vaughn Morrison to help identify the animals. McMullen said later the animals had been identified as one coyote and two rac- Page 2 The Canyon News Thursday. December 25, 1980 A Christmas story Family reunited for holiday coons..