The Gatesville Messenger and Star-Forum from Gatesville, Texas • Page 1

ciit Uok 1H Saturday, April 28, 2007 TOT ESOMGE TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION No. 106 No. 69 8c STAR-FORUM ISSN No. 0894-4954 16 Pages "Because Every Thing-Is Importan To Someone I apanese sword subj eet of serutiny What's Where County Lifestyles ...7 Obituaries. .9 10 TV Listings ...15 School in 1942." For years, the sword hung in the city manager's office.

Former City Manager Bob Stevens had an expert from Dallas appraise the sword and it was determined the sword 7 Gatesyille officials are seeking to authenticate a Japanese sword given to the city in the 1940s before making a decision on what to do with the weapon. At Tuesday's council meeting. City Manager Roger Mumby said the "Empire" sword was presented to the city in 1946 by the commander of Fort Hood, Major General A.D. Bruce. A letter from Bruce dated March 1,1 946 from Sapporo, Japan, said the sword was being presented to the citizens of Gatesville in "deep appreciation of the great assistance rendered in holding Jhe first course of instruction of the Tank Destroyer was authentic and worth a considerable sum of money.

Based on that appraisal, Stevens removed the sword and had it stored in the city safe. Mumby noted there is no written record of the appraisal and the person Please see SWORD, P. 5 Japanese Hi's The Weather Report Date Hi La Prcc. April 23 73 66 April 24 77 70 April 25 74 60 Precip This 1.50" Precip.ThisYr.: 21.25" Temperature readings are taken at 7 am. each day for the previous 24-hour period.

Weather information provided by Nathan Cooper, official weather observer for the National Weather Service. Early voting to get underway Monday sword will be appraised, then decision will be made on whether to return It to Japan or keep it for display locally. Early voting starts Monday for the state constitutional amendment election, as well as two local School board elections. Only the Gatesville and Evant school districts have contested races in local elections this year. The cities of Gatesville, Evant and Oglesby, along with the Oglesby ISD were able to cancel their elections.

Because of a quirk in the new election laws, Jonesboro ISD will wait until November for their next school board election. Gatesville ISD has five candidates vying for the two terms on this year's ballot, while Evant ISD has 10 can didates for three positions. The state constitutional amendment election deals with senior and disabled homeowners who were left out of the property tax reduction granted last year to all other homeowners. If voters approve the proposal on May 12, seniors and disabled homeowners will be included in the tax reduction. During a special legislative session in 2006, lawmakers voted for a one-third reduction in school property taxes.

However, the legislation did not include homeowners 65 years and Please see VOTING, P. 5 Gatesville Unit passes inspection Messenger Online Poll "In light of the Virginia Tech tragedy, do you believe Congress should enact more stringent or less stringent gun control laws?" More stringent: 33.3 Less stringent: 19.4 No new laws are needed: 47.2 The new question is: "How much ter do you get up on the weekends vs. weekdays?" To cast your vote, visit 77ie Gatesville Messenger on the World Wide Web at www.gatesvillemessenger.com. Results will be published in Saturday issues of The Gatesville Messenger, along with a new poll question. Call, write or e-mail your question to The Messenger.

Some may have thought an older unit with multiple satellites, such as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Gatesville Unit, could never pass the strict scrutiny of an American Correctional Association (ACA) inspection. The employees of the Gatesville Unit silenced those skeptics this week when they aced the ACA standards. "Each one of us, each pointed out. "The areas of non-compliance were central office issues that they can't do anything about," John Lempke, of New York, who led the inspection team, said he quickly found the unit excelled in the areas of quality of life and hygiene issues. He also pointed to the pride and professionalism of the staff.

"The first thing I noticed was the hygiene," Lempke told one of you, each division all worked together to make this happen," Senior Warden Becky Adams told staff members who gathered Wednesday morning to hear the outbriefing from the team of inspectors. "It took a lot of hard the staff. "It's an old place, but it's a clean place. The second thing I noticed was the uniform appearance. You looked He also stated the areas of non-compliance he found dealt with is r- "This is the best prepared audit I have ever James Bailey Inspection officer sues such as the number of showers, the size of cells and other issues over which the staff had no control.

Superintendent James Bailey, of Louisiana, covered key control, which is another primary area of the inspection. "I found everything to be kosher and up-to-date," Bailey commented. Please see UNIT, P. 5 work, and nobody gave less than 110 percent." Of the 62 mandatory standards that applied, the unit earned a score of 100 percent. Out of 435 non-mandatory standards, the inspectors found only 12 areas of non-compliance for a score of 97.2 percent.

'They (the Gatesville Unit) got 100 percent of everything they were capable of getting," TDCJ Regional Director Gilbert Cappuzano quickly ACA audit held The Gatesville Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice this week passed the American Correctional Association (ACA) audit. The local unit joins about 60 TDCJ that have received the ACA accreditation. Among those attending the outbriefing Wednesday were, TDCJ Regional Director Gilbert Cappuzano, seated, front, left; and Linda Woodman, second from left, who was the first warden at the unit. 60 years later, graduate says thanks Jonesboro grad's trust closed out, given to athletic department A I A if mitted to the Jonesboro athletic department in memory of Cloyce Box. Box was born in Hamilton and attended Jonesboro High School, where he had a much-acclaimed high school athletic career with his twin brother, Boyce.

Upon graduating from high school, both Cloyce and Boyce attended West Texas State University (now known as West Texas University)) on a scholarship to flay basketball, but they proceeded to earn four college letters in football, baseball, basketball and track. Box's college education was interrupted by World War II when he spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a lieutenant in China. Upon graduation, Box was drafted as a quarterback by the Washington Please see GRADUATE, P. 5 The Jonesboro High School athletic department became the beneficiary this week of a trust fund established by the late Cloyce Kennedy Box, a former JHS athlete and professional football player.

School officials were contacted last week by a son of Box, Tom Box, who was among the trustees for the CB Trust that was being terminated in accordance with New York state law. Upon termination of the trust, the remaining balance of $3,000 was sent to the Jonesboro athletic department. His family reported Jonesboro had always meant many special things to Box, a 1942 graduate of the school. While his life was greatly impacted by athletics, he always understood and stressed the importance of education and a disciplined and passionate appreciation of learning. Trustees for the CB Trust unanimously agreed that the balance be re CLOYCE BOX Coryell 7.) 'Community Church IVo Arc Trudt 225 N.

Hwy. 36 Bypass, Gatesville 865-2218 Fax: 865-2210 C5S-2210 Walter Pat Davidson, Pastors Everyone Invited Meeting at Gatesville Junior High Auditorium.