Previous Cherokeean Herald owners donate former newspaper building to city

RUSK – Former Cherokeean Herald owners Robert and Terri Gonzalez have donated to the City of Rusk the 140 N. Main St. building that once housed the family’s newspaper operation, three radio stations and other enterprises.

City leaders voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the donation of the 3,804-square-foot building. According to online information, the building includes 1,200 square feet of warehouse space and once housed the newspaper office and printing press, along with three radio stations.

Mrs. Gonzalez’s parents – Emmett and Marie Whitehead – purchased the paper in 1950, and for more than seven decades, The Cherokeean operated at the North Main address; in 2019, the newspaper moved its present operations to 595 N. Main St., near U.S. Highway 69.

Rusk City Manager Amanda Hill said closing on the property will take four to six weeks, then contrac-tors will evaluate the building to provide work estimates to the city.

“The plan is to move the police department there, but everything is subject to change,” Hill said. “But that is the vision we see: To remodel it into a police station.”

The property was listed at $99,5000.

Also, during the Aug. 17 meeting, council members adopted an amendment to the city’s building code that focuses on “very specific codes,” such as fire and residential codes, that impact building renovations and new buildings only, Hill said. The 2018 version of the code goes into effect on Sept. 1.

City leaders also amended an ordinance related to the regulation of pool halls and game rooms that fall under the ordinance, allowing alcohol to be served at these sites, provided that food also is served and TABC regulations are observed, she said, adding the types of alcoholic beverages served depends upon the kind of license a facility holds. The ordinance became effective immediately.

Action on an ordinance regarding “tiny homes” was tabled for a future meeting.

Councilman Martin Holsome was not present at the meeting.