Durant Weekly News and Bryan County Democrat (Durant, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 38, Ed. 1 Friday, August 24, 1956 Page: 2 of 8
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Duranf Weekly New Durant Oklahoma
Friday August 24 1956
'oast Guard
oat To Patrol
ake Texoma
Water Iwd Issno©
g Two
Tr — 3
U S CoHm Guard patrol boat
I noon enforce boating safety
lake Texoma R A McDerby
anient of the Lake Texoma A s-
lation reported this week
vl ( Derby said the New Orleans
nst Guard district will send a
at and crew not later than La-
i Day to perform the same du-
s on the lake that the highway
trol does on the highways
'Every boat on the lake more
in 16 feet long Is supposed to
registered" be said "R'ght
w there are thousands of bouts
this lake and not more than 10
r ecnt are registered Every boat
rupposed to carry a life prescr-
r for each person on the boat
w observe that rule When the
ast (iuard unit gets here they
II patrol and police the lake for
e safety of those using the wa-
rs "The Lake Texoma Association
s been trying for a long time to
t the Coast Cuard to come in
d now that they have been as-
red jurisdiction we feel that Tex-
na will be safer for everyone
ncerned”
The Const Guard McDerby said j
tild be able to boaid any boat 1
t moored or tied up They will
it have the authority to go into
nt houses or into boats tied up
it can exercise control over any
at going out on the lake
"It is purely a safety measure
prevent loss of life” McDerby
I mtinued "many times boats get
at run out of gas or have motor
ouble and drift for hours The
last Guard can be alerted when
party does not return when ex-
icted and can go hunt for the
I at Some people will resent the
resence of the ‘police boat’ just as
ey do the highway patrol but
ose who enjoy boating and fish
g will be glad they are there”
Three signs have been placed on
I ich state side of the lake by the
I exoma Association to push the
ae and to try to make boat own
s more safety conscious "One life
st is one too many and we hope
see a Coast Guard unit stop a
rge percentage of the drownings”
lack Taylor
Gets Top
ndian Job
Jack L Taylor Durant has been
Ippointed chief of the per capita
Iistribution section of the Atusko-
ce area office of the US Bu-
rau of Indian Affairs
I He began h i 8 new duties
londay He heads the section
esponsible for processing per
fcipita payments to enrollees o f
lie Five Civilized Tribes and Qua-
iv Indians located in Oklahoma
nd their heirs in fulfillment of
i-rms of contracts bttwen the U
I Government and such tribes and
I wards by the Indian Claims com-
liission as authorized by various
lets of congress
The Five Civilized tribes Include
lie Cherokee Choctaw Chickasaw
leminole and Creek Indians Per
lapita payments to each of the
1 bove tribes are based upon spe-
lfic congressional acts
The new position is a civil ser-
ice one
A native of Arkansas Mr Tay-
I ir has lived in Durant since 1913
lie has been prominent in Repub-
lican circles in Bryan county and
Jecently was re-elected third dis-
Irict chairman of the GOP He
vill resign the position
Mr Taylor also has been pro-
luinent in American Legion work
having held local district and sta-
I e offices He is active in the
l-’irst Methodist church
Mr Taylor does not plan t o
Inove to Muskogee at least for the
ime being
vVesley Church
fouth Week
Begins Today
“Love the Qustions and Live
j ne Answers” will be the general
I heme for Youth Activities Week
vhich opens at the Wesley Metho-
list church in Durant with a ser-
non tonight at 7:30
Rev Robert Dotson pastor of
bo Bokchito and Bennington Me-
I hodist churches will be guest
I peaker for the week His subject
or tonight will be: “What’s In It
I for Me?”
Activiites throughout the week
leginning Monday will begin at
1:30 pm Monday night’s subject
vill be “Hey There! Where You
join’?’’ Tuesday night’s
subject
Christ
vill be “Say Who's This
lilyway?”
"Who's a Chicken — Me?” will be
ho Wednesday subject Thursdav's
vill be "Why Don’t ‘Cha?” The
losing talk Friday night will oe
n “Christ And Then What"
A snack-supper will be held at
he church Monday night A hobo
neme will be carried out for a
nx supper Tuesday night when
iris will bring boxes and boys
vill buy them Young people will
o to the lake lor a Dicnic and
iwimming party Wednesday nignt
V Hawaiian motif will be carried
rut in Thursday nights decorations
dedication service is scheduled
'or Friday
Rev A W Robinson jr pastor
f the church is in general charge
'I arrangements
Youth Activities Week ended at
ho l-'irsl Methodist climvli mill 1
ledioation service Friday night
t followed a Swedish smorgas-1
oard banquet which earned out a j ohm man of th
Northern Lights" Ihcmc and fea- I piogram
-li-f-d real Swedish do-lics Kcv : ( m
511 Oden guest speaker spoke on
Dedicating Our Talents to Christ"
'moved to Carlsbad Alienist 16 At -s 1
n his final message which
ci-ii a communion service
pie
Li :h I- ''U 0
mi - :
L '
I "
t - -
fcfV"
jji Ii 11 " ji if nr t Inn-ifr i ' -irt i- Hfc li i in I -'I"- - X X - 'I i - -- ® '
GOOD PROGRESS— Here is the partially completed classroom section of the new half
million dollar Durant high school building The auditorium and cafeteria section will be
built to the left of this section
J
New School Building To Be
Ready For Second Semester
Durant's half million dollar high too students at tables at one time
school annex will be ready for There will also be an arts and
occupancy at the start of the sec- craft room under the auditorium
ond 1956-57 semester Hal Malone
president of the board of educa-
tion announced today
Construction is up t o or possibly
ahead of schedule as P G Troop
and Son of McAlester general con-
tractor moves the breik walls
on the classroom section toward
completion Mr Malone said
The foundation has been poured
for the section which will provide
the auditorium and cafeteria and
th steel work for this section Will
be raised in this section this week
The annex which will be con-
nected with the oi iginal vocation-
al and physical education building
by a breezeway will provide for
15 classrooms a science labora-
toiy typing and commercial lab-
oratory a library with a seating
capacity of 125 a suite of offices
for the principal two offices for
sudent counsellors a vault and
the auditorium seating 800 and
arranged so that a balconv seat-
ing of 200 can be installed later
The cafeteria will accommodate
Howard B -Me'lon
Melton Goes
To Carlsbad
As Supervisor
Howard B Melton son of Mrs
Daisy Melton 210 West Plum and
son-in-law of Mrs W E Dodson
603 North 13 has been named dir-
ector of instruction in the Carlsbad
N Mex city schools
He has been serving as princi-
pal of the Country Estates Elem-
entary school in Midwest City lar-
gest elementary school m Okla
A holder of master of education
degrees m both elemental y and
secondary education Mi Melton
has earned 135 hours of ciedit to-
ward his doctor of education de-
gree and lacks only his disserta-
tion to complete requirements for
the high honor from the University
of Oklahoma at Norman He holds
a bachelor of science degree from
OU
Mr Melton began his career in
sei-ondaiy education in 1937 as a
social studies teacher and coa h at
Atwood high school From 1942-1915
lie served in the U S Navy Up-
on his dischaigp from the service
he served as an elemental y princi-
pal in Tishomingo schools He has
been in elememary woi k in Mid
west City since 1948 In addition to
his public school duties he has
been affiliated with OU in the
Gaining of practice teacheis
A member of the Methodist
church Mr Melton has served us
chairman of the official board in
the Midwest City church He also
has been a member of the finance
committee a teacher and super-
intendent of the church school
H e is active in local and state
education organizations Commu-
ity activities in which he partici-
pated in Midwest City included :
Commissioner of Boy Scours of
Xoicrca Mjaomc lodge no-inlM-t
member of the YMCA board and
ou'a i ci 1 1 a' iu
I
lo liuih in CciI-ImI
Mepon mi1
x -
with the two sections 'attached by a breezeway
(Staff Photo)
stage and a fust aid and nuise
department
The building will be a near
fireproof as it is possible to make
a building Mr Malone said
Improvements include a parking
lot north of the building The new
building is brick masonry match-
ing the piesent building
The building is being construct-
ed under supei vision of Harold
Flood Ardmoie architect whose
i epresentative Doiwood Thomas
is on-the-job inspector
Garland Godfrey is preparing
a list of furniture and equipment
needed for the new budding which
will be submitted to the board of
education at its next meeting
and a request for bids from dis-
tributois will be adveitised i n
September At least eight furni-
tuie and equipment dealers are
expected to submit bids and most
of them will take advantage of an
invitation to display their stocks
here before bids- are opened and
contracts made Mr Godfrey said
More Tack
Trouble
At Excel
Some more tacks and nails of
varied sizes mysteriously appeared
in the road leading to the Excel
Body Corporation plant late Thurs
day
Deputy Sheriff T J Grider said
he and Troopers O O Campbell
and BUI Squires of the state high-
way patrol swept up “a good big
handful" of tacks and nails which
obviously had been planted in the
road Some of them had been plac-
ed sharp end up in the tar be-
tween the slpbs of pavement
The deputy sheriff said at least
one man had had a flat after
picking up one of the nails in his
tire Mr Grider said the collec-
tion included canvas tacks loofing
tacks staples and exght-penny nails
Officeis got the call about the
tacks and nails about 6:30 pm
They remained at the scene until
about 8 pm No arrests were made
Mr Glider said the tacks were
placed in the road just across the
railroad track after you turn off
the main highway
It was the second time Excel
has had tack troubles since union
workers went on strike against the
company the latter part of July
Soon after the "work stoppage"
some officials of the company re-
ported finding tacks and nails in
their driveways Some workers who
continued to report to the plant al-
so found tacks m their driveways
At a hearing held in district could
heie to determine whether or not
a peimanent injunction should be
granted against the union attorney
for the union reported that some of
their members had found tacks
and nails in their driveways too
Merchants Are
Offered Booths
At County Fair
The booth space for Merchant
exhibtis at the B’ yan County Free
Fair is being taken veiy rapidly
and business lomcins who are in
forested in seeming booh space
should conlai t the County Agent’s
Oflice phone 41 as soon as possi
bie if thev are mtei esled in ob
taming a booth at the Bryan coun-
ty Free Fair this year
'these booths aie located in the
old NYA building which is known
as the Women's exhibit buildin
These booths arv in size from
seven feet by six feet to eight feet
and ten ini hes bv six feet
Business concei ns who have al-
ieadv leserved booth space for
the inside exhib'U aie: Steger
Lumber Company Harrison Radio
& Appliance Leonard Floial Com-
nanv Sear's Feed and Seed Store
St ine's Butane Din ant Drug Com-
pany Durant Feed and Seed Store
Ellis Apphan-e Jordan Supply
Company Durant Lumber Com-
panv The inside booths rent for $5 00
which covets the cost of providing
a night watchman during the
entire time of the fair and to help
ii'- foi Iho eleitiiii'v used in on- I
ne tioii with the booths
'J -o ’ 1 h s H'f fr in
pl dMnu anl autonvrtu'p j
-le leu ia1 ai-so be obtained b
oil! ( i i- il i uni 1 in i
u c
II
j
e 4
' 4
Trees Fall
Victims To
Severe Drouth
if you've noticed many trees suf-
feimg looking sick or dying a-
round your yard or farm associate
county agent Elmer Wright has the
answer It's from the lack of deep
soil moisture
"We can blame three factors for
losing trees around the state ” he
sud "The deep soil moisture shor-
tage has been accumulating for
seveial ycais Second borers bark
beetles and hundreds of other in-
sects are attracted by weak trees
"Third we must blame ourselves’
he added "Poor soil preparation
poor maintenance methods and
many root constrictors such a s
drives walks curbins and compac-
ted soil keep the trees and plants
from getting what little moisture is
available”
Now is the time he recommends
observing plants adapted to this
area’s particular growing con-
ditions Heat the usual lack of
moistuie pest ravages and vaca-
tion time neglect expose landscape
plantings to severe tests of surviv-
al City Street
Department
Gets Bargain
Durant's street department feels
like it really got a bargain Mon-
day night City councilmen hold
ing their regular semi-monthly ses
sion bought the street depart
ment a power grader for $6000
The city’s old grader which is
between 17 and 20 years old was
traded in on the new one The
city was allowed $1000 credit for
it leaving only $5000 to pay for
the new one That amount will be
paid $2000 cash and $150 per
month
If the new grader were brand
new itAwould cost $17000 or $18-
000 Actually it's a used one but
it appears to be as good as new
street Commissioner Beal Nix has
been using it on trial the past two
weeks He’s very pleased with it
and considers it the bargain of
the year
The purchase was made from
the Bert Smith Road Machinery
company of Enid Cecil Adams
Shawnee representative of the
company appeared before the
council
In other actions Monday night
the council :
(1) Confirmed the appointments
of Jesse Lambert and Thomas
White as captains in the city po-
lice department at salaries o f
$21500 a month effective Septem-
ber 1
(2l Approved a $1000 bond for
Dee Anderson as police judge
(3) Heard a request from Mis
Lela Mdnerney 1023 West Main
that the alley back of her proper-
ty be opened up She said an alley
would permit water to drain off
Now she says during wet sea-
sons water stands in her back
yard and that she can't even use
natural gas back there The street
and alley committee composed of
Deri ell Bishop as chairman Ar-
thur Alexander Lynn Dupree and
A L Jackson was appointed to
study her problem and make rec-
ommendations to the council
(41 Instructed Street Commis-
sioner Beal Nix to co-operate with
the state highway department in
repairing South 7
( 5 1 Discussed whether or not
stop lights should be re-installed
at the intersection of West Main
and South 9
(6) Heard a recommendation
from a committee composed of
Jack Ridgway A L Jackson and
Call Simpson that the council hold
up on the proposed extension of
the city's great whiteway (light-
ing system I further west on Alain
and south on Ninth to the city
limits The committee’s recom-
mendation was based on the fact
that the city has a shortage of
funds and can't afford it All agreed
it would be nice but would cost
about $800 a month
(7) Approved budgets of $81879-
00 for the water department and
$44707 90 for the sanitation depart-
ment for the coming year
Charged
A ciiaipe of removing mort-1
ouiitv ! ouiTu' duct jWEn Cottrell' 1
iie'is charged "with taking to Tex-
u i’iri p lc pi 1 up ini 1 Inch!
M C Ea-ttr hud a mortgage1
Local Woman
Doing Well
After Collision
Both Mrs J T Gatlin of 1421
West Mlssissipni and her mother
Mrs Maggie I’ittman who weie
tnjuied in a head-on auto collision
four miles north of Denison on
Highway 73 Monday afteinoon
were doing fairly well a f t e I
spending a restful night" the Ma-
reported r
ho8P‘‘aI tn Denl"on
j Gauln driver of
one car
involved In the collision was re-
leased from the Denison hospital
after being given emergency treat-
ment for cuts and bruises
Mrs Gatlin suffered a shattered
pelvis lacerations about her foie-
liead right arm and hand and
bituses and abrasions on other
parts of her body Her mother
Mrs Pittman suffered multiple
rib fractures lacerations on her
forehead right hand and right
leg and severe bruises
V R Wilday of Denison dn-
ver of the other vehicle was
treated for lacerations of the nose
and right elbow and hand severe
abrasions over the body and a
sprained left ankle His injuries
were described as painful but not
serious
Two Taverns
Near Durant
Are Closed
County Attorney Wallace W Ga-
tes Friday filed petitions in dis-
trict court asking that the Moon-
light and Tom Tom beer taverns
located on US 69-75 south of Du-
rant just at the edge of the city
limits be closed
He charged that both taverns
have been violating state laws
and are “public nuisances”
Mack Welbom was listed as op-
erator of the Moonlight tavern and
R L Coker as operator of the
Tom Tom
The county attorney listed the
following as “specific acts and
things done in and around ihe
taverns and premises" which he
said made them "public nuisances”
(4) Beer is sold and delivered to
minors and minors are permitted
to drink beer and become drunk
inside the buildings and on the
surrounding premises
(2) The taverns are kept open
at all hours of the night and dur-
ing the late hours young boys
and girls of early teen ages are
permitted to linger and loiter
there engaging in dancing ming-
ling with people who are drunk
and becoming drunk themselves
(3) Adult persons are permitted
to become drunk engage in fight-
ing and personal difficulties with
each other and numerous other
acts of misconduct which disturb
the peace
(4) Drunks and intoxicated per-
sons are allowed to be in and
loiter in 'and around the taverns
(5) Prohibition laws are viola-
ted (6 Gambling laws are violated:
(7) Laws regarding closing hours
are violated
(81 The taverns are located with-
in 1000 feet of the city limits
(9) They are located on High-
ways 69-75 in which there is a
constant stream of traffic in both
directions and intoxicated persons
drive in and out from the high-
way to the taverns creating traf-
fic nazards
In addition the county attorney
charged that a dance hall is op-
erated in connection with the
Moonlight in violation of s t a t e I
laws I
District Judge Sam Sullivan gran-
ted a temporary injunction clo
sing the two taverns A final har-
ing on whether or not the tav-
erns should be permanently closed
is set for 9 am Monday August
27 before Judge Sullivan
K'
f t
£M -
ready FOR TRIP— Members of Durant Batteries A and B of the 391st AAA Army re-
:erve above as then waited with their baggage to board a bus Sunday for the trip to 1
North Fort Hood Texas for two weeks intensive training Seated front center are First'
Lit - nl J i m riuly a itl i tj i u o daughters Clifif Ll'iibcih Aunc wlo came doin to
see him off
BU £
ss©iraftnalls' lPrp®s©dl
Bishop
Fairview
Plans New
Building
Durant's Fail view Biptist church
is beginning another building pro-
e t by fnth Its pastor R e v
(Ai! it'll Hooper leported Saturday
The piesent building Is clear of
debt The church has no other
indebtedness except for a few
church bonds and there is money
In the treasury to caie for that
as soon as the people can be con-
tacted The piesent structure was built
and paid for In less than five years
The church's membership in the
beginning amounted to shout 125
It has mote than doubled
The church voted some time t
go to build ai education unit
Pluns are being drawn up fur
sli'dv now
"It is hoped that we can keep
m step with the growing commii-
nnj” Rev Hooper said "If we
aie to do this we must build to
take caie of our rapid growth It
is the hope and praver of the
people of our church that we can
build a two-story department build- and directly he's elected” the
ing to take care of most of the councilman explained "I've got a
Sunday s-hool classes There are
nine departments with 18 classes”
Heads of the committees are
John Butler general building chair-
man Charle Chambers building
man Charles Chambers building
Chambers finance committee
Outstanding
Players Named
In City Loop
Mike McDougal of the Pony
League Elks and A J Smith of
ihe Little League Lions received
their respective loop's outstand-
ing player awards Friday night be-
tween games at Little League Park
George Morrow president of the
league acted as master of cere-
monies and Mayor Charles F Ful-
ler made the presentations The
awards were Cardinal autograph-
ed balls donated by Ed F Davis
The recipients were selected on
the basis of citizenship and ability
McDougal was the Elks’ team-
sparking catcher whose big bat
helped send the Elks to both the
fiist and second round champion-
ships Even in the heat of battle
during a close game Alike never
forgot his politeness Which u n-
doubtedly aided in the judges’ de-
cision Besides his courteous man-
ner the youngbackstop possesses
the necesnry ability for the honor
and in a prospect for legion ball
next year
Smith has been with the Lions'
junior team for two years play-
ing shortstop this past season af-
ter performing at the keystone spot
Like AIcDougal Smith’s even tem-
per coupled with outstanding abil-
ity earned him the award
J I Davis Honored
By Continental Oil
J T Davis Durant district
sales manager for Continental Oil
Company received an unexpected
honor Afonday night when he was
called to Oklahoma City by com-
pany officials
With H E Collison Oklahoma
district manager presiding Mr
Davis was' honor guest at a sur-
prise dinner in the Biltmore hotel
and was presented a diamond
studded pin in recognition for his
30 consecutive years’ service with
Conoco
in addition he was presented a
safety award for 30 years service
with the company without an acci-
dent Twenty-five other company offi-
cials and employes and their wives
were other guests at the party 1
'r'wrMwwr - ”
t ' r y j' Yyi - w ±
cv-r-’ '
-It M'l e L
I g I
i
' t
v u
-a
Iiui ant city councilinen Monday
night pondeied what to do about
tile city's water problem Council-
men Derrell Bishop enthusiastical-
ly proposed that a $30278500 bond
issue for a modified water pro-
gram be submitted to the people
for a vote HhII of the bonds would
be financed by an ad valorem tax
and the other half by water revo-
nue Mr Bishop said he fell such a
bond issue would pass but other
Councilmen sadly commented they
could see no signs that Durant citi-
zens have changed their minds on
the matter They feel that the
same people who are ready for
another bond vote are those who
voted “yes” on the issue which
was rejected by a fair-sized mar-
gin August 7
But Mr Bishop feels that "we
aU learn by our mistakes”
"It's Just like the politician who
runs for office gets beat comes
back and runs again and again
feeling people will vote for water
bunds now"
Twice in two years the city
council has offered bond issue
proposals for water improvements
to voters and both times they have
been defeated In the last vote
August 7 a proposed $300000 bond
issue to be financed by proper-
ty tax was defeated 665 to 508
A $285000 bond issue to be finan-
ced by revenue from the water
department was turned down 739
'Show Boat' To
Close 1956 Musicals
DALLAS "Show Boat” has
moored to the State Fair Musi-
cals for its third visit and will
remain through September 2 to
bring to a close the 1956 season
of musicals
The 1956 Alagnolia of the ever-
popular Jerome Kern musical is
Miss Shirley Jones She has come
to the’ musicals at the heighth of
her Hollywood stardom As Rave-
nal the handsome river gambler Is
William Tabbert who for five
y:ars thrilled Broadway audiences
as Lt Cable in “South Pacific”
The role of Joe is entrusted to
the magnificent baritone voice of
Lawrence Winters
Capt Andy and his wife are
portrayed by Stanley Carlson and
Margaret Hamilton and a new
sultry beauty Betty Colby is be-
ing introduced in the role of Julie
Audience and critic acclaimed
have greeted the 1956 State Fair
Alnsicals’ “Show Boat” for its
stellar cast breathtaking sets by
Peter Wolf and the ever-thrilling
Kern songs such as "Only Alake
Believe” "Ole Alan River” "Can’t
Help Lovin’ That Alan” and “You
Are Love”
J A Small Resigns
As Cily Salesman
J A Small 303 College Boule-
I yard today announced his resig-
nation as salesman for Hale-Hal-sell
Grocery Company after 30
years as salesman for the local
firm and other wholesale grocery
companies
He has been associated with
Hale-Halsell since 1935 when with
his family he moved here from
Elk City to educate two sons
Jack and Art at Southeastern Sta-
te college
“My plans are to have a good
time and enjoy life but I will
not be idle" Mr Small said
"Mis Small and I will do some
traveling and do some things we
have always wanted to do
' ? r’ 1
v-S1-- -J
-t ' '1
( -
r j i w
v A -tZT v
--‘r-ify-'hr-rii rfiiiarrwrriibAt ifrnrr
(Staff Photo)
Feels Voters
Approve Plan
to 533
Air Bishop's suggestion that
the bond issue cover only the Im-
provements which are absolutely
essential was bused on figures
compiled by R C Dobe Durant
professional engineer
Here are the proposed improve-
ments and their estimated costs:
Install one high head diesel en-
gine driven pump foundation and
piping $18 00000
Move repair and Install chemi-
cal feeders and 12 inch orifice me-
ter and move chlorinators $750-
building and necessary piping
00
Install four new filters Including
$4780000
Rebuild re-equip and modernize
two of the old filters $1530000
Install 20-inch flow line between
settling basin and filter house
$85300
Dismantle two old filters and
construct concrete floor over
them $25000
Install 16-inch flow line between
Durant and Armstrong $20285000
Install 8-inch water main t o
sprve west part of Durant $11-
23500 All these improvements total
$297 03500 An estimated $5750 00
would be required for bond attor-
ney and election expense That
would make the total bond issue
amount to $30278500
$2 Increase In Taxes
The $150000 ad valorem tax
bond would mean an inciease of
about $2 in pioperty tax per $1-
000 valuation per year The $150-
000 water revenue bond would me-
an an increase of 27 cents or 28
cents in water bills per meter per
month based on 3100 meters
In Monday night's discussion
Councilman M L Banks again
suggested that the $30278500 bond
issue be financed strictly by ad
valorem tax
"We've had mixed ballots turned
down twice" Mr Banks pointed
out "Why not give the people a
straight ad valorem tax proposi-
tion this time The simpler we
make it the more chance it has
for being approved”
H C (Boots) Fortenberry wa-
terworks superintendent described
the proposed $30278500 as the ve-
ry least that "we can get by on”
A total of $58500000 was proposed
for waterworks improvements in
the August 7 vote It would have
provided improvements which
would have greatly reduced insur-
ance rates in Durant
Among those doubting that a
bond issue would carry if put to
a vote to the people now was
Councilman Lynn Dupree
"All of us know we need water”
he said "Isn’t it foolish to call
another election without the assur-
ance it will pass” He too favors
a straight ad valorem tax bond
with "I have enough faith in this
one that I'll turn in my resigna-
tion as a councilman if it doesn't
pass”
Petition Is Suggested
Councilman Jack Ridgway sug-
gested that at least 100 prominent
business and professional men sub-
mit a petition asking the council
to call an election on the proposed
$302 78500 issue or another o I
their'choice He suggested that the
petitioners agree to support the
proposal with their time money
for advertising speakers etc to
help put it over
"If we get such a petition I’d
certainly feel like calling an elec-
tion” he said
Someone else suggested that the
council wait to hear from the
group which openly opposed the
'ast bond issue James Batchelor
spokesman for the group has an-
nounced that it will come up with
a proposal for the council
Afayor Charles F Fuller em-
phasized that he and the council
have always welcomed proposals
and have urged that interested cit-
izens meet with them to discuss
the problem
"Anytime any groups of good
people have come to us with pro-
positions we have never failed
to listen to them and to give their
proposals careful consideration”
he explained indicating that he
would welcome suggestions from
opponents as well as pioponents
Councilman Dupree added that
he felt proposals should be pre-
sented directly to the council
"Let them appear at our meetings
and discuss these things with us”
he suggested
Fire Chief Sounds Warning
Fire Chief Preston Greeson war-
ned the councilmen that "Some-
thing has to be done about the
water situation"
'I can’t give the people of Du-
rant proper protection when our
water pressure gets down to 26
pounds” he said He emphasized
that 45-pound pressure at least is
needed Now the water pressure
stays below the 45-pound mark
'rom about 12 noon to about mid-
night each day
Councilmen admitted they may
have to ration water for the rest
if the summer It’s a frustrating
situation Since water revenue lar-
gely finances the entire city gov-
ernment every cent of revenue
possible is needed Yet council-
men acknowledge the fact that it
'sn’t fair for some people in town
to be watering their lawns when
others are unable to get water for
household use Ralmiiing may be
out jnin effe-'t tie next coun-
cil nieeUug
Air rjuheior group s ex-
pected to make its proposal for a
bond issue program at the next
council meeting September Z
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Durant Weekly News and Bryan County Democrat (Durant, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 38, Ed. 1 Friday, August 24, 1956, newspaper, August 24, 1956; Durant, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2334212/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.