Archives for January 2001

A state constitutional amendment could allow counties to abolish constable positions with a local vote, according to State Rep. Warren Chisum.

Speaking during a public forum at the Clarendon High School Auditorium, the Pampa Republican said he currently has letters from six counties in his district that wish to abolish constables.

The Texas Constitution sets up the office of constable, and historically, an amendment is required every time a county wishes to permanently abolish the office in that county.

“I don’t like the idea of the whole state voting on what you need here in Donley County,” Chisum said in response to a question by local Commissioner Buster Shields.

Chisum, who serves on the County Affairs Committee, thinks a better way would be for local counties to have the option of adding or deleting constable positions through a local referendum.

Such a proposal is likely to be introduced this year and has the support of the Texas Association of Counties, he said.

Randall County has recently faced legal difficulties regarding a salary for a constable that was considered unneeded. Locally, Jimmy Swinney last year filed as a write-in candidate for constable of Precincts 1&2 – a position that had been vacant for nearly 30 years. He was elected with 52 votes and has requested an annual salary of about $17,000.

Education was also a topic during the forum. Chisum said he believed something will be done to provide teachers a state health plan. Such a plan could cost between $2 billion and $6 billion and might be paid for by tapping a $5 billion surplus in the teacher retirement fund.

The representative also said there is some push in some parts of the state to change the school start date but said he supports leaving the start date up to local districts.

A growing state and redistricting in the wake of the 2000 census will also be issues before the Legislature. A growing population means Texas will pick up two additional seats in the United States Congress. It also means that 20 to 25 counties will have to be added to Chisum’s largely rural district to add 20,000 people its total. He said the district will likely grow to the south and east.

Chisum said the state budget will exceed $100 billion for the first time this biennium, and this Legislature is expected to get along very well since there are only 11 new members in the house and two new members in the senate.

“I don’t see any critical issues that we can’t handle,” he said.

County commissioners voted Monday to restore the old theater style seats in the 1890 Donley County Courthouse as part of a $2.9 million renovation of the building. 153 of the seats are stored in the attic while only one of the original courtroom benches (foreground) remains.

Enterprise Digital Photo
 
When the Donley County Courthouse Restoration is complete in 2002, it should look a lot like 1913 following decisions made by the commissioners’ court Monday.

The court voted unanimously to salvage and refurbish theater seats currently in storage in the courthouse attic – seats which haven’t been used for approximately 20 years.

The seats were first installed in the courtroom in 1912 or 1913 after the original bench seats were sold to the Goldston School for $1.75 each. Today, 153 of the seats are stored in the attic, neglected, largely forgotten, and covered in bat guano.

To go back to the 1890 Courthouse’s original seating, new benches would have to be manufactured for the building.

“It just seems like the proper thing would be to use what we have,” said County Judge Jack Hall, acknowledging that the theater seats are part of the courthouse’s history. The theatre seats also have “a lot more character.”

The wooden seats and backs on the theater chairs will all be restored or replaced.

The court also voted to reorient the courtroom with the judge’s bench situated in an alcove on the north side of the room. Currently, the bench is at the south end, but local recollections and physical evidence point to its originally being situated in the north.

“You just look at the room and the ceiling and all, and it just looks like [the north end] is where it belongs,” said Commissioner Donnie Hall.

Judge Hall said the current bench is very nice, but it is not original and was going to have to be rebuilt anyway.

Commissioners also discussed the fate of two large trees on the north side of the building. The trees are destroying the sidewalk near the building, and leaves from branches overhanging the roof are clogging the gutters, causing water to damage the interior of the courthouse.

Also, the trees – both elms – are obscuring the view of the building, and commissioners agreed that it didn’t make much sense to restore the building if it couldn’t be seen.

The court voted to remove the trees, which Judge Hall said he understands came up volunteer and were not planted under special circumstances. Commissioner Hall suggested that local organizations might be asked to donate trees for memorials once the restoration project is complete.

In other courthouse news, the court voted to advertise for bids next week for the abatement of lead paint, asbestos, and bat guano. The bids will be opened on February 12, 2001, and a contract will be awarded after consultant Luis Acuña of Sun City Analytical, Inc., in El Paso has reviewed the bids. The abatement work should take about two weeks.

“If we’re able to keep this timetable, construction work will follow on the heels of the abatement,” said John Kiehl of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission.

April 22, 2002, has been set as a target date for completion of the $2.9 million restoration project.

The annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held next Saturday, January 20, 2001, at the Bairfield Activity Center on the Clarendon College campus.

Festivities will begin with a silent auction at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner at 7 p.m.

This year’s theme will be “Denim & Lace,” and dress is casual. Entertainment will be provided by comedian/magician Lyndy Phillips, and Clarendon’s own Dan Hall will inspire those attending with his music.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from any board member or by calling the chamber office at 874-2421.

Leon Church, County Agent

The Donley County Junior Livestock Show will be held on Saturday, January 13. 

Seventy-three Donley County young people will be exhibiting their Beef, Sheep and Swine projects beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Clarendon Community Center (located north of Chamberlain Motor Company). 

At 7:00 p.m. the annual Premium Sale will be held.  This sale is the highlight of the 4-H and FFA member’s year in raising this livestock. 

During the past year these young people have spent many hours and considerable money feeding, caring for, and training their animals.

The show and sale give them an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and be rewarded for their hard work.

Many of these young people will be taking their projects on to the major Livestock Shows in Fort Worth, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, and San Angelo. 

Everyone is encouraged to come out to the show and sale and support these young people who are learning great lessons in life.  They learn hard work, responsibility, record keeping, and sportsmanship. 

If you would like to support the junior livestock show and sale in a financial way, give the extension office a call at (806) 874-2141 and details on how this can be done will be given.

Show organizers held a Setup Day Wednesday, January 10. All parents, grandparents, or interested individuals were invited to come out to the Community Building to help setup the facility to make ready for the livestock show.

AUSTIN – The University Interscholastic League (UIL) is proud to announce that Todd Baker is a winner of the UIL-Southwestern Bell Sponsor Excellence Award.

Baker was one of 16 winners selected by a panel of judges in the areas of music, athletics, and academics from almost 100 nominations submitted by school principals and superintendents across the state.

Baker has been a sponsor of the marching band, concert band, and solo and ensemble for ten years.  During his seven years at Clarendon, the band program has grown three-fold to include over half the student population at Clarendon High School. 

Under his direction, the Bronco Band placed third at the 1999 UIL Area Marching Band Contest and has received numerous Sweepstakes trophies and Superior ratings at UIL competitions.

Baker’s success can be attributed to his philosophy that “every student grows, the program grows, and more success is achieved as a result of winning the competition in our band hall – not by beating other bands.”

The award, now in its tenth year, was created to identify and recognize outstanding sponsors who enable students to develop and refine their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible within the educational system.

“The benefits of interscholastic competition and student performance are only possible through the hard work and dedication of sponsors, coaches, and directors like these,” said UIL Director Bill Farney.  “On behalf of the UIL, I commend these outstanding educators.”

Each winner will receive $1,000 and a symbolic keepsake from Southwestern Bell in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the pursuit of educational excellence through interscholastic competition.  Southwestern Bell joins the UIL in its efforts to strengthen and promote the role of extracurricular activities in Texas.  The quality of the Sponsor Excellence Award, along with all other UIL programs, is enhanced through the continued support of Southwestern Bell.