The Career Women’s Civic Club heard a program presented by Susan Vierkant, reading specialist with Jacksonville Middle School.

She told of a tutorial-computer program called “Scholastic Reading 180,” presently being used for the students that have not advanced from the fifth to the sixth grade.

This is an expandable program. The student’s parents are involved by a meeting to introduce the program and steps needed to advance the process of learning.

Phonics is a big part of the program and can be expanded to writing.

A workbook is presented to each student for completion as they advance in learning.



J’ville Lions get reports on civic groups

Jacksonville Lions Club President Dr. Steven Linkholder welcomed two guest speakers at the club’s Aug. 26 noon luncheon meeting.

Fran Daniel, executive director of HOPE Inc., presented a report on her agency’s annual actives for helping the needy in the Jacksonville area.

She also discussed the growing number of needy in the area and the increasing need for the organization’s services.

Brett Brewer, president of the United Fund of Cherokee County 2008-09, discussed the annual fall campaign, which has a goal of $115,000 this year.

Daniel and Brewer recognized the increasing economic strain on the less fortunate people of the Jacksonville area and encouraged the Lions to give generously to support the United Fund agencies.



Xi Kappas plan upcoming year

On Aug. 19, Xi Kappa Sorority met at Jana Bateman’s house.

The meeting was called to order by President Elisa Burke. They discussed many upcoming event for the new year and shared some fun ideas for socials.

The presentation was given by Jan Tennison and it gave information about how to massage pressure points on your body to relax and relieve stress and how your birth sign will affect your personality.

The group ate chicken spaghetti and the closing ritual was performed.



Sen. Nichols speaks to Rusk Lions Club

Rusk Lions Club President Jeff Johnson asked Lion Dan West to give invocation, Lion Jim Cromwell for the pledges and Lion Jim Richings to lead singing.

Special guests were Connie Brown, Mayor Angela Raiborn, Robbin Bell, Bob Francis,

Don and Lyn Sawers, Josie Schoolcraft and Boots Burfoot.

Speaker was Senator Robert Nichols. He spoke of his grandfather being a Methodist minister in Rusk in the late 1940s, and he discovered when he was elected to the Texas Senate that it had been 104 years since a senator had been elected from Cherokee County, and he was James I. Perkins from Rusk.

Senator Nichols said it always seemed like the three main issues in Legislation were education, transportation and water. This was even true as far back as 1911. Of course health and human services and labor were also important issues.

Education and how to fund it is the most important issue.

Nichols has served on the Transportation Committee for almost 11 years, and spoke on growth of Texas and its affect on transportation, road repair, building new roads and toll roads for larger cities. He has spent a great deal of time on the upkeep of country roads.

He said he spent so much time on transportation until he actually had a nightmare and dreamed he was a muffler and when he awoke he was exhausted.

He was very glad to say that Texas had one of the very best transportation systems in the world, but because of the huge growth of our state our road usage has increased between 300 and 400 percent during the last 30 years.

Roads only last at most about 40 years and the great bulk of our road system was built during the 1950s and 1960s. The roads are beginning to wear out and it takes funds from registration, gas taxes, drivers licenses, federal aid, etc., to keep them up. The high prices of gasoline has cut down on gallons used and therefore cut down on tax funds for roads.

One key element is toll roads, but people didn’t like them at first, but now the larger urban areas appreciate them as they allow traffic to move faster, thus helping to eliminate traffic jams.

The major portion of Sen. Nichols’ program was on transportation.



Good Sam earns KRB award for August

The recently-formed Keep Rusk Beautiful organization proudly presents its monthly Award to Good Samaritan in Rusk and its president, Kay “Baby” Epperson.

Through the year, Kay and her volunteers have cleaned, painted, and vastly improved the appearance of the building and property.

Keep Rusk Beautiful, under the guidance of Chairman Teresa Langley, is working with Rusk to raise public awareness on ways to improve the appearance of Rusk.

The Pride Award will be presented each month to a different business or residence which helps to enhance the beauty of Rusk.