March 22, 1934

OLDEST MASON IN TEXAS LIVES HERE;

NOW 96 YEARS OLD

J.C. Anderson of Fairfield reached his 96th birthday, Tuesday. Mr. Anderson moved to Fairfield in 1862.

He is one of the last survivors of the Civil War living in Freestone County, and besides being probably the oldest citizen of Freestone, he is probably the oldest Mason in Texas, having been a member of the fraternity for 75 years.

Mr. Anderson's many friends will regret to know that the years are bearing heavy upon him, and he is quite feeble.

ENTERTAIN FRIENDS

WITH SLUMBER

PARTY

Kirven, Mar. 22-- Margery Goolsby entertained a number of her girlfriends with a slumber part Friday night,

Dancing and games occupied the attention of the quests throughout the evening. At a late hour sandwiches, cake, hot chocolate and coffee were served.

The following girls remained through the night: Juanita Spurgeon, Janiruth Franklin, Edwena Shumate, Rubye Sheffield, Dorothy McLelland, Dorace Mayo, Letha May Freeman, Evelyn Richardson, Ernestine Mayo and the hostess. Everyone reported a lovely time.

TILER MURDER CASE

CONTINUED

GROESBECK

The trial of Olen Tiler for murder, on a change of venue from Freestone County, was called in district court at Groesbeck.

After selecting a jury had started, the case was continued on the plea of illness of defendant.

Tiler is charged with the Chance boys for killing Dudley Williams near Fairfield.

March 19, 1959 JOE LEE KIRGAN, RECORDER'S EDITOR

MGR., DIES

TUESDAY Joe Lee Kirgan, manager and editor of The Fairfield Recorder died at his home in Fairfield at 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Although in failing health for some weeks, Joe Lee's death was unexpected and came as a shock to his family and many friends.

He was in the newspaper office Monday morning and spent the afternoon collecting ads and visiting friends in town.

L. WILLIS RESIGNS

FROM COACH'S POST

Leland Willis, head coach at Fairfield high school, has resigned to accept the principalship of the Fairfield Elementary Junior High School, effective at the end of May.

Willis has coached Fairfield High School teams for five years. He coached at Walnut Springs High School and at Frenship High School in Lubbock before coming to Fairfield.

He also served as head coach and athletic director at Henderson County Junior College, Athens, for three years.

The Board of Trustee for Fairfield Schools have named Dean Madison, a former Fairfield High School assistant coach to the head coach position.

FAIRFIELD BAND

MEMBERS ENTER

REGIONAL CONTEST

Saturday, March 14, was a big day for hundreds of band students in Region III. It was the day for annual Interscholastic League solo and ensemble contests.

This year, the contest was held at Temple High School in Temple.

The entries from the Fairfield High School Band directed by Delores Darrow, consisted of two solos and a brass quintet.

Don Thornton played a trombone solo, "The Blue Bells of Scotland," and Jimmy Anderson played a brass solo, "Romance and Scherzo."

The quintet composed of Barbara West on the French horn, Weldon Sawyer, Jr., trumpet, Loyd Scott on the cornet, Billy Daniel on the baritone and Don Thornton on the trombone, played "Scherzo."

March 22, 1984 'ANTIOCH CEMETERY

COOKBOOK' READY

Last year people concerned with the welfare of Antioch Cemetery at Luna started working toward the publication of a cookbook.

The sale of the "Antioch Cemetery Cookbook" is a means of raising money for the upkeep of the cemetery.

The cookbooks are completed and ready for distribution at $5 each.

IN FAIRFIELD MARCH 29 CIRCUS

IS COMING

Ford Bros. Circus is coming to Fairfield on Thurs. March 29 with internationally known circus superstars presented in a widely varied program of almost two hours duration. The circus will erect the huge canvas tent at Fairgrounds and show times are scheduled for 7 p.m. under the sponsorship of Jaycees.

To make this remarkable program possible, a large number of skilled accomplished performers and trained animals have been recruited from throughout the circus world.

In one display the Ford Bros. lovely circus starlets perform aerial acrobatics on the Spanish web in perfect harmony while the sensational trapeze star, Miss Christa from Czechoslovakia, performs a heart-stopping routine high above the center ring. PROJECT WEIGH-IN

SATURDAY FOR

STEERS

The Freestone County Fair Livestock Committee will weigh the 4-H and FFA steer projects on Saturday, March 31 at the Utley & Sons Stockyards, 2 miles south of Fairfield on Hwy. 75

Weighing of calves will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude no later than noon.

Calves must meet the established weigh-in rule of a minimum of 400 pounds and the maximum of 800 pounds to be eligible to show in the 1984 Freestone County Fair.

March 18, 1999 VEHICLES STOLEN

FROM FAIRFIELD

DEALERSHIP

In a crime that almost mirrored one a week earlier in Mexia, thieves broke into Fairfield Ford- Mercury Inc. on Sunday and stole five vehicles from the dealership lot.

A week earlier, thieves broke into Centex GMC and also stole five vehicles.

The major difference in the two thefts is that the one in Fairfield was committed during daylight hours and the incident in Mexia occurred at night.

The police chief reports that his department has increased patrols of the dealership, and others in the Fairfield, since the Mexia theft and maintained an almost constant presence at night.

Taken at Fairfield Ford were two new Ford Expeditions, a new Ford Mustang, a used Ford Mustang and a used Ford Explorer.

Descriptions and identification numbers for the five vehicles have been provided to police.

The value of the vehicles taken from Fairfield is estimated at $118,491. The Mexia theft was estimated at $150,00.

One of the vehicles stolen in Mexia, howerver , was found abandoned on a rural road in McLennan county.

ROTARY GIVES

$10,000 TO

BEAUTIFICATION

A $10,000 pledge from the Fairfield Rotary Club is the first monetary support received for a city beautification project launched by club members.

Headed by Fairfield business owner and Rotary Club member, Monte Cole, the project is to landscape and install welcome signs at the four exits into town off I-45, at the east city limits and at the intersection of U.S. 84 and FM 27, and U.S. 84 and FM 488.

The group has met with Texas Department of Transportation representatives, who are interested in helping with the project so long as the signs are maintained.

GUIDELINES SET FOR

ABATEMENT POLICY

Representatives of taxing entities in Freestone county met recently to develop criteria for granting tax abatements, writing a set of guidelines that encourage business growth but do not adversely affect community services.

Simply, abatements will be considered for major industrial or business facilities, determined by the value of capital investment of jobs created.

Tax abatement exempts business or industry from paying property taxes on improvements to the property, but does not remove the original property from tax rolls.

The guidelines call for a minimum capital investment of $3 million, or creation of a minimum of 20 full-time jobs to be considered

for tax abatement. Fairfield city council approved the abatement guidelines laste week and Freestone county commissioners gave their okay on Monday,

Other taxin entities which have approved the measeure, or are preparing to vote on the guidelines, are Fairfield, Teague, Wortham and Dew School Districts, the cities of Teague and Wortham, and Fairfield and Trague hospital districts.