Pawhuska Daily Journal-Capital (Pawhuska, Okla.), Vol. 64, No. 69, Ed. 1 Friday, April 6, 1973 Page: 1 of 6
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IRS. MASSENBAUH
OKLA. HISTORICAL soc.
OKLAHOMA Cr y ,
OKGA. 73105
DAILY JOURNAL-CAPITAL
Volume 64 - No. 69
Published Evenings, Tuesday through Friday and Sunday Mornings
Friday, April 6, 1973
Daily 10' per copy. Sunday 15* per copy
At Cleveland
OEA officia is
enter school
controvers y
Another old timer falls
Wrecking crews knocked down another
Main Street landmark late Thursday. A 3-
story native stone building, long empty in the
200 block, fell as part of the downtown urban
renewal project. The city's first stone
building, the former Delarue house, is at the
right of the demolished structure. It will
remain standing. It was built by the Osage
Tribe and was first occupied by Sid Delarue, a
native Swiss, who was hired by the Osages as
Blacksmith for the tribe. Later the house was
the home of the Osage Chief Agency Clerk,
now called the administrative officer. The
house is now occupied by Mrs. Virgie Stewart.
The demolished building at one time served
as the Pawhuska post office The city's first
postmaster, father of present City Coun-
cilman Joe McGuire, held office in the
building. (JC Photo.)
Councilman McGuire
sees need for tax hike
Joe McGuire, councilman from Ward 1 in
Pawhuska, voiced his approval of the
proposal to raise the city sales tax in
Pawhuska from one to two cents today by
pointing out the danger of losing the city’s
efficient and loyal employes.”
We all know that we have a lot of taxes to
pay right now," McGuire said, "and they are
a real burden. However, we must consider the
alternative. Our primary need is to keep
efficient and loyal employes.
Joe McGuire
Councilman, Ward 1
ska
"They have not had a raise since the $50
blanket raise they received almost five years
ago when the first 1-cent sales tax was voted
and the cost of living goes up every week.
About 70 per cent of the present sales tax goes
to pay for the 5-year-old pay raise city em-
ployes received and we estimate that a
similar amount of the proposed additional
sales tax would go for another pay increase.
“A second need to keep in mind," McGuire
stated. "Is that our streets are in need of
major repairs due to the very wet and cold
winter. Other maintenance,such as sidewalks
and curbing, is also necessary.
“I am sure,” he contined, “that our citizens
have a great deal of pride in our city and we
would like to maintain it at least as well as we
have been doing in the past. Many visitors
comment on the well kept flowers along the
highways entering Pawhuska and we
probably have more visitors than any other
town of the size of Pawhuska.
“Among the events which draw visitors are
the International Roundup Club Cavalcade,
the Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping, the
Cattlemen’s Convention and the National
Finals Steer Roping. Other attractions are the
fact that Pawhuska is the site of the first Boy
Scout Troop in America, the Osage Agency
and Museum and the Osage Histroical
Society’s Museum.
South wind warms
the city; showers
forecast for Sat.
Southerly winds picked up speed in around
Pawhuska today, bringing in warmer air
under clear skies.
Pawhuska’s 67 degree temperature
recorded at noon today verified the warming
report after an overnight low of 42 degrees.
According to the UPI weather bureau, a
cold front is expected to reach extreme north-
western Oklahoma tonight and move slowly
through the state into the county tonight.
A student boycott, reportedly inspired by
dismissal of the Cleveland Junior High School
principal, Jerry Minihan, former PHS coach,
High School Bob Brown and the school’s
athletic director, was studied by officials of
PHS student
elected to
OIPA office
Brady Jones, a junior student at Pawhuska
High School has been elected state vice-
president of the Oklahoma Interscholastic
Press Association. Another PHS junior, Jack
Borgen, has been named winner of an OIPA
workshop scholarship.
Jones was elected Thursday during the
OIPA state convention in Norman.
Don Donaldson, PHS journalism instructor,
attended the convention with the students and
reportedly was the “campaign manager” for
Jones.
It was reported Donaldson was in-
strumental in gaining support for Jones from
other schools during a “fiery” campaign.
According to the report Pawhuska was
allowed only one voting delegate and support
of other schools was necessary for Jones
election.
Borgen was awarded his scholarship based
on his qualifications submitted in a ap-
plication for the award. He competed with
journalism students applying throughout the
state. The workshop will be scheduled during
the summer months.
Jones, as an elected officer, will also attend
the workshop with fees paid
the North Central Accredition Association
and the Oklahoma Education Association in
Cleveland Thursday
J.D. Giddens, state chairman of the ac-
crediting association and Guss , Piguet, in-
structional field coordinator, spent several
hours in a closed-door session with the
Cleveland school board.
The officials met with the board to seek an
end to a student boycott that began in the
Cleveland school system Monday.
“We re simply here to find out what the
problem or situation is," Giddens said He
added that a report would be made today to
state Superintendent Leslie Fisher.
Normal absenteeism in the school system
averages about 70 out of 1,178 students This
week a reported 400 to 500 sutdents have been
staying out of classes each at the elementary,
junior and senior high schools.
And OEA representative spent Thursday
evening with the Cleveland Classroom
Teachers Association, The teachers
See No. (2) On Page 6
Steele baby dies;
graveside rites set.
Velma Chastity Chantal Steele, 27-day-old
baby daughter of Rita Steele 320%2 Osage,
died unexpectedly Thursday.
The baby was born March 10, 1973.
Survivors include the mother of the home
and maternal grandparents, Mr and Mrs.
George Steele of Lonaconing, Md.
Gravesides services are scheduled Mon-
day, April 9 at 10 a.m. in the Pawhuska city
cemetery under direction of Johnson Funeral
Home.
In Brief
POLICE COURT—Only one entry was made
on the Pawhuska Police Court docket
today. James Milton, 47. Pawhuska,
charged with public drunk, was fined $18
and $2 costs.
NEW BUSINESS:Pawhuska’s newest
business. Spot Bargain, 523 Kihekah,
opened it’s doors for the first time Thur-
sday, according to the store manager.
Jewel Stimnitt of Fairfax. The store will
be open three days each week, Thursday,
See No. (3) On Page 6
“These visitors spend money in
Pawhuska,” McGuire pointed out, and the
sales tax from their purchases will benefit the
city, thus making it probably one of the
lightest taxes for local residents we could
assess.”
McGuire added that the state is considering
limiting sales taxes in the state to four cents
on the dollar. “If this should happen,” he
predicted, “they would immediately pass an
additional one-cent sales tax and we would be
prohibited from voting any city tax in the
future.
“I believe it is to the best interest of the city
of Pawhuska to vote ‘yes’ next Tuesday,” he
concluded.
ax:*:-”
Opened today
• Sherwood Construction Co. at a cost of $298,616,
The old and the new span Salt Creek just north Trap Elimination Program. It was only 20 feet said R.A. Ward, Director of the Oklahoma
of Fairfax on SH 18 The new structure was built wide and had a 16 ton load limit. The new bridge Department of Highways. It new bridge was
under Phase I of Governor David Hall's Death boasts a 42 ft. 9 inch width and was built by opened to traffic today.
Pawhuskans will decide
Possible legis lation behin
By Mary Roberson
The Pawhuska city council said in an-
nouncing its resolution for a vote to levy a
one-cent raise in the city sales tax, that the
move was an effort to “beat" the state
legislature to this source of income.
This theory is not mere speculation,
according to Bill Moyer, program
director of the Oklahoma Municipal
League. Moyer said in a telephone
interview Thursday that "Municipal
officials are fearful that the state is
contemplating an increase in the state
sales tax."
Moyer said “there is a strong chance
that the State Legislature will have the
need to seek additional monies and the
sales tax is the most accessable source of
revenue.”
Pending Court Decision
Moyer based his statement on pending
court decisions concerning the ad valorum
tax equalization for school districts. He
said a court decision pending in Alabama
could create a financial problem for the
legislature in the area of education.
His specilation that there is a
"strong chance" Oklahoma legislators
may have to seek a new source of
revenue apparently has substance.
A legislative measure, HB1128, passed
by the State House of Representatives and
pending in the State Senate Revenue and
Taxation committee adds fire to the
speculation.
The measure places a limitation of four
cents that can be levied in sales tax “by
the state or any political sub division (a
municipality)”. The measure has received
support of the house and some politicians
are predicting similiar support will be
given in the senate. The house vote, on
February 14 according to Osage County
Representative Bill Kennedy, was 56-42 in
favor of the bill. Kennedy voted against the
limitation.
Tax Margin
If the legislative measure wins ap-
proval-and there is speculation that the
legislature may consider the issue later
this year in special session-it will freeze
the city’s ability to levy sales taxes.
The proposed bill will allow a one-cent
margin between the city tax and a state
levied tax, with a maximum of four cents.
Cities that now, as Pawhuska, which
have a one-cent tax, will be barred, by the
new law, from voting any additional sales
taxes.
Cities, wishing to have an additional
sales tax levy over one cent, will have to
vote such levies prior to the passage of the
request on sales
margin bill if the legislative bill passes
the possibility of passing sales taxes
locally, in excess of one cent, would be
eliminated.
The proposed legislation will give the
state "first claim" and an almost iron-clad
hold on revenue which is generated in each
individual community It will, in actuality,
deny the city the right to use community
generated taxes.
If the additional one-cent tax is voted
here Tuesday, it will give Pawhuska the
revenue generated in Pawhuska rather
than all but "earmarking” the tax for state
government in the future.
Twenty eight towns in Oklahoma
have voted two cent city sales taxes in
two separate votes, according to the
Oklahoma Tax Commission. These
city's sales tax of two cents coupled
tax boost
with the state sales tax of two percent
puts these cities within the proposed
4-cent tax limit. They would not be
affected by an increase of a state
sales tax if the state legislature
approves the pending legislation and
chooses to vote a state tax raise
These cities will collect four-cents for
sales tax and be reimbursed half of it, or 2
per cent. Cities who have approved only a
one-cent city sales tax will collect the four-
cent tax but reimbursed only one percent.
If Pawhuskans reject Tuesday’s tax issue,
Pawhuska will fall in the last category.
Considering all the speculation, it
seems there is a strong possibility that
residents of Oklahoma cities are going
to be paying a 4-cent sales tax on every
dollar they spend, in the near future,
See No. (1) On Page 6
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Spencer, Frank. Pawhuska Daily Journal-Capital (Pawhuska, Okla.), Vol. 64, No. 69, Ed. 1 Friday, April 6, 1973, newspaper, April 6, 1973; Pawhuska, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2283108/m1/1/: accessed August 15, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.