State sales tax holiday scheduled Aug. 15-17
      Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced that the 10th annual sales tax holiday will take place Aug. 15-17. During the weekend, most clothing and shoes priced below $100 can be purchased tax free. The tax break applies to children's and adults' apparel.
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City needs addresses
      The City of Rusk has made a request for help from the local citizens. Persons who have not already contacted the city with new 911 addresses are asked to do so. The post office sent a letter stating they will only forward mail for a period of time.
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Property tax values increase again this year
BY GLORIA JENNINGS
      The 2008 Cherokee County property values have increased over values reported for last year, said Lee Flowers, chief appraiser. "The biggest movement is in Wells ISD," said Lee Flowers, chief appraiser for CCAD. The tax base there increased 50 percent due to the expansion in production of natural gas.
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Review board hears 67 tax complaints
BY GLORIA JENNINGS
      The Cherokee County Appraisal District's review board are continuing to hear complaints from area taxpayers. Complaints concerning 67 pieces of property will be heard Aug. 13 said Lee Flowers, chief appraiser. The Appraisal Review Board (ARB) has received 1,699 protests from disheartened property owners.
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Scrap metal sale will net rail authority up to $500,000
Board hears update on special runs, events slated for fall, winter
BY MARIE WHITEHEAD
      A surplus inventory sale at the Texas State Railroad will likely gross at least $389,000 and possibly as much as $500,000. The Texas State Railroad Authority spent three hours hearing reports regarding the operation of the Texas State Railroad July 30 and reviewed seven bids for the surplus material.
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TxDOT moves 1 step closer to widening Hwy. 69 through Wells
BY QUINTEN BOYD
      The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has implemented plans to improve U.S. Highway 69 within Wells. The project would call for improvements on the highway from two miles north of Farm-to-Market Road 1247 south to 0.9 mile south of FM 1247, at the Cherokee-Angelina county line.
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U.S. Highway 69 construction is back on track
Thumbs up
     k Dirt is piled onto exposed roadway as construction crews from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) continue work on Highway 69 in Rusk. In addition to base repair and resurfacing work, an underground drainage system is being installed.
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$20 million budget discussed
CHEROKEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT
BY GLORIA JENNINGS
      Cherokee County Commissioners met all day Monday to discuss a proposed county budget of almost $20 million. Plans are to finance the budget with a 58 cent tax rate, which is lower than the 61 cent rate for 2007-08. Voices became somewhat loud as commissioners discussed each line item of the proposed budget.
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