History Center Press Clippings ... Local events from the pages of The Free Press

A Public Service of The History Center

ONE YEAR AGO

Legal notice is posted at the McClure Cemetery advising consideration of petition to close the road connecting the cemetery to Hwy. 103. Landowners petitioned the Angelina County Commissioners Court to close the road due to incidents of trespassing and vandalism to the cemetery.

Jack Carlton, governor of the Texas/Oklahoma Kiwanis, is honored with a banquet at Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin.

The East Texas Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America conducts meeting in the Long Chapel CME Church in Lufkin in preparation for its annual anniversary celebration planned for January 14.

Sarah Wilkerson, daughter of Gentry and Brandy Wilkerson, turns 1 year old. Grandparents are Reidel and Wanda Wilkerson and Ronnie and Linda Frankens.

Lufkin Wal-Mart Supercenter donates $1,000 Neighborhood Heroes grant to the Diboll Police Department.

The Diboll ISD board of trustees is completing interviews in preparation for selecting a new superintendent to succeed retiring superintendent Bobby Baker.

During this past Fall semester 302 students make the dean's list at Angelina College. Some local students include: Angel Moore, Erica Padilla and Jennifer Bennefield, all from Diboll; Huntington students include Brittany Buckner, Elizabeth Holland and Dennis Fleming; and Lufkin students include Erin Bryan, Gizel Hernandez and Fidel Castro.

Republican State Comptroller Carole Strayhorn makes her intentions to challenge Gov. Rick Perry for position of governor and has opted to run as independent.

Diboll Police Officer Jason Burrous presents toys for Christmas to area residents as part of the Police Department's annual toy drive.

Diboll Lumberjack basketball team defeat the Palestine Westwood Panthers 74-52 in District 21-3A opener.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Dr. Patricia McKenzie, dean of instructions at Angelina College in Lufkin, is elected chairperson of the board of directors of Memorial Health System of East Texas.

U.S. Congressman Jim Turner hosts conference titled “Homeland Security-Preparing for the Challenges Ahead” at the Temple Auditorium on the campus of Angelina College in Lufkin.

U.S. House of Representatives pass defense bill, PATRIOT missile production will continue at Lockheed plant in Lufkin.

Diboll Boys & Girls Club hosts its first annual “Girls Night Out” at its Diboll facility. The drug-free event consists of indoor games, movies, door prizes and food.

The Center for Sight breaks ground on a $1 million medical office building project in Livingston.

Fred Jacobs, vice president of the Lt. Nathan Gann Chapter of the Texas Society of the Sons of the Confederacy presents $2,500 to Kurth Memorial Library Genealogy Room. The money will be used to pay for 1930 Federal Census for Texas.

The Lufkin District Business and Professional Women Federation conducts Holy Ghost rally at West End Church of God in Christ in Lufkin. Featured speaker at the event is Joanne Quinnine, president of the federation.

Burke Center Essential Services Mental Retardation Service Coordinator sponsors toy and food drive throughout the East Texas region.

Team members earning all-district honors from the Diboll Ladyjacks volleyball squad are honored at the Diboll High School All-Sports Banquet. Those recognized are Alisha Fowler, Tiffany Stribbling, Erica and Elizabeth Padilla, Ashley Freeman, Lauren Campbell, Temeshia Miller and Vanessa Suarez.

Diboll Junior High cheerleaders place fifth in the nation at the National Cheerleaders Association Senior and Junior High School National Championship held in Dallas. Squad members include Samantha Johnson, Rachel Bowman, Alyssa Tamez, Wilson Whitley, Ashley and Amber Bearden, Kacie Capps, Cassie Gay, Shelby Ferguson, Chaney Wyatt and sponsor Donna James.

TEN YEARS AGO

The T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library in Diboll offers Internet access to general website.

650 Angelina County fifth-graders participate in graduation ceremonies from the Drug Resistance Education (DARE) Program. Special guest at the DARE graduation is Larkin Parker, Miss Teen Texas.

Diboll Cub Scout Jeremy Williams representing Diboll Troop 128 donates numerous Christmas toys to Margie Harrell of the Diboll Housing Authority for distribution to needy families in the community.

The Nations Bank Autumn Club holds their annual Christmas party with crowd over 250 attending. Their theme is “A Beary Merry Christmas.”

Lufkin radio station KWSP, Lufkin Mall and Stewart Regional Blood Center conducts blood drive in the Lufkin Room of the Lufkin Mall.

Children from Katherine Sage Temple Day Care Center in Diboll entertain the folks at Fair Acres Center with holiday music and songs.

Mrs. Agnes Arnold of Diboll celebrate 100th birthday with over 125 friends and relatives gathered at the old home place on Box factory Road. Granddaughters Ruth Arnold Loftin and Phyllis Arnold Capps hosted the festivities.

Angelina County Pct.5 Reserve Deputy Constable Orlando Ordaz stops vehicle on U.S. 59 for traffic violation and makes arrest and confiscates 60 pounds of marijuana.

Diboll Lumberjacks split a pair of games in the Rush Classic Basketball Tournament. The Jacks defeat west Rusk 59-56 but loses to Tatum 77-50 making their season record6-6.

Angelina County commissioners approve request from Pct.1 Commissioner Clayton Richardson to purchase the property on which the Pct. Barn is located. The barn is owned by the county but the land is leased from Champion the last 20 years. The purchased price is 2.69 acres for $2535.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Lufkin Industries conducts their 11th annual blood drive which nets a total of 658 pints.

Lufkinite J.M. (Slim) Askins designs and builds new high tech snake catcher. Askins states '' they are good for picking up pecans and litter too.”

Southland Paper Mills Foundation contributes grants totaling $544,000 to Kurth Memorial Library ($200,000), Museum of East Texas ($150,000), Pineywoods Foundation ($144,000) and Texas Forestry Museum ($50,000).

Receiving promotions at Champion International Corporation are: Emily Martin to cost clerk in accounting; Pam Jernigan to accounts receivable; and Elizabeth Jenkins to accounting assistant.

Ann Rotchstein, business teacher at Diboll High School, is selected as District VII Business Teacher of the Years for 1986.

Charlene Stevens, director of Food Service for Hudson ISD retires after 32 years of commercial and institutional management.

Colin Hurley and Jennifer Austin of Diboll are the winners of the Diboll State Bank's “World Largest Christmas Stocking” as part of its holiday celebration.

Robert Cannon, president of Texas Foundries announces the shareholders of the company overwhelmingly approve the sale of the company to an employee group.

Television listings for Wednesday night twenty years ago:

Highway to Heaven; Matt Houston; Nashville Now; Dynasty; St. Elsewhere; You Can Be A Star; Hotel; Wheel of Fortune; Gimme A Break; and The Price Is Right.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Jack C. Sweeny is named Product Sales Manager for Particleboard and Plywood for Temple Industries Division.

Richard Downs, Technical Assistant for Advanced Systems at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, speaks at the Diboll Rotary Club and Diboll High School.

The Timothy McKeithen's from Nashville, Tennessee, conducts gospel singing at the Diboll United Pentecostal Church.

Hudson Lions Club President Wayne Halsell presents Hudson school librarian Jill Mason with check for $385. The money will be used to bind some of the 100 volumes at the Hudson library.

Mrs. Clara Weeks and Mrs. Zelma Durdin retire as checkers at Brookshire Brothers Supermarket in Diboll.

Texas Association of Basketball Coaches ranks the Diboll Lumberjacks in tenth place among the state's Class 2-A schools. Members of Coach John McGilvra's squad include: Ronnie Johnson, Neil McGilvra, John Fenley, Elton Adair, Larry Williams, Artie Hall, Steven Cade, Ricky Johnson, Gandy Stubblefield, Tommy (Chet) Alexander, Johnny Lewis and Richard Crager.

State Representative Buddy Temple states that education and the Texas farm to market road program are his top priority consideration this legislative term.

Hundreds of photos from the company newspaper, the BUZZSAW, forerunner of the Free Press, are found stored in the old box factory building.