WFAA - May 7 - 8, 1971 Part 2

0:00 - An analysis of how the Texas state tax bill came to pass cites factors such as the leadership of both Houses working together, the relative silence from constituents, and the desire to avoid the “agonizing conference committee procedure” by politicians who are exhausted by pressures related to the ongoing investigation of the Sharpstown Scandal which has involved several members of the Texas legislature; Rosser McDonald reporting. 1:39 - (May 7, 1971) After pleading guilty to theft charges and being sentenced to 3 years in prison, a 16-year-old attempted to escape through a hole in the ceiling of a bathroom in the Dallas County Courthouse – he crawled along air conditioning ducts for a short time until he was captured; a cameraman walks into the men's room and pans up to show the hole in the ceiling; brief shot of a jail cell (Silent). 2:06 - (May 7, 1971) Jerry Brownlee has been selected by Fort Worth Mayor R. M. “Sharkey” Stovall to head the Clean Water for Texas Committee and promote passage of Amendment 4, which would allow the sale of $100 million in state bonds, which, along with additional federal money, would be passed along to municipalities in the form of low-interest loans to be used for sewage treatment needs; Brownlee describes how this amendment will help solve several crises throughout the state; Jim Green reporting. 2:56 - Brief shot of a Humble service station (Silent). 2:59, 6:53 - (May 8, 1971) Over 5,000 Dallas high school students take part in the Walk for Development, a 30-mile march sponsored by the American Freedom from Hunger Foundation to raise money to fight hunger internationally; various shots of teens walking along Park Lane and crossing Thackery Street in the North Dallas neighborhood of Preston Hollow; a large group of teens is seen taking a break at a 7-Eleven-sponsored rest stop on the side of the road near Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (7611 Park Lane); a roadside report on the march from its halfway point describes the event; in an interview, a student on crutches named Craig explains why he’s participating and how much he will raise per mile; Jay Lewis reporting. 3:35 - (May 8, 1971) The Dallas Press Club’s 1971 Gridiron Show is held at the Fairmont Hotel, with the theme being “Jonsson City, the Eighth Wonder of the U.S.A.” in honor of former mayor J. Erik Jonsson; various shots of the festivities and of the attendees, including Mayor Wes Wise, former Dallas school superintendent W. T. White, H. Ross Perot, U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, U.S. Sen. John Tower (who is accompanied by his teenage daughter Marian Tower), and U.S. Rep. Jim Collins; additional shots of the stage and of a satirical paper, “The Griddle,” which boasts the headline “Wes Wise Plans Biggest Coup of 20th Century” (Silent). 4:29, 10:18 - (May 8, 1971) The second annual Dallas County Special Olympics – sponsored by the Dallas Association for Retarded Children and the Dallas County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center – are held in Ownby Stadium on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU); various highlights from the event are seen; WFAA anchorman Bob Gooding applauds in the stands (Silent); a report goes on to describe the event and the positive impact it has on its participants and the message it carries to the public; Jay Lewis reporting. 5:35 - (May 8, 1971) Gov. George Wallace of Alabama (who is considering another run for U.S. President) is in Dallas to attend a fundraising dinner held in his behalf; in a speech, Wallace says that desegregation efforts have made the public school system a “shambles” and criticizes the practice of school busing. 8:27 - A report on what might happen to the $2.2 million that Tarrant County has in its highway right-of-way purchase fund now that the state is assuming control of these purchase responsibilities; it has been suggested that the money could be transferred to the county’s general fund; in an interview, Tarrant County Judge Howard Green suggests that this money be used for long-term capital improvements; Jim Green reporting. 11:26 - (May 8, 1971) The Byron Nelson Golf Classic continues at the Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas; in an interview, golfer Charles Coody talks about his poor putting this round and the importance confidence plays in performance; he goes on to talk about his surprise in maintaining his lead and says that he feels he is hitting well overall, although he admits that his failure today was probably due to “underclubbing”; Verne Lundquist reporting. 14:11 - In an interview on a runway, Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes says that he will announce some major cutbacks in the state’s welfare programs and that without welfare reform, the state will not have an appropriations bill in 1971. 14:35 - (May 8, 1971) Firefighters battle a blaze at a vacant warehouse (1113 Hord St.) near downtown Dallas, a building once occupied by the Southland Bookcase Co. (Silent).