Archives for May 2001

Clarendon College will receive a nine percent increase in funding under a bill passed by the 77th Legislature last weekend.

State Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) notified CC President Myles Shelton last week that state funding for the two-year college will be increased from $2.12 million to $2.31 million for the next two years – a net increase of $386,000.

Senate Bill 1 passed both houses of the legislature over the weekend, and Gov. Rick Perry is expected to sign it following a review by the comptroller’s office.

Shelton said the legislature took note of the needs of small rural community colleges this biennium and gave them the same percentage increase as larger community colleges.

“There was a feeling across the state that if the community colleges didn’t get some help, tuition was going to go up significantly,” Shelton said. “This increase keeps access to the two-year colleges affordable.”

Much of the new funding will help pay for the expenses of operating the college.

“We know there is an increased cost of doing business,” Shelton said. “We see it from the price of gas to the cost of photocopiers. We also want to look at enhancing existing programs and starting new programs.”

Shelton said salaries are another area the college needs to look at in order to retain qualified staff and faculty.

CC Board of Regents Chairman Mike Butts said the increased funding is good news for CC.

“We’re going to be able to address a lot of issues that we haven’t been able to,” he said. “The cost of energy is a major issue as much as our judging teams and athletic teams travel and as much as our instructors travel to other campuses. Salaries are also an issue.”

Butts also said the new funding is good news for the local economy because much of it will be spent in Clarendon and Donley County as well as the college’s service area.

Clarendon has experienced growth during the last school year. Enrollment for the 2000-2001 year was up about 12 percent.

The enrollment increase follows the opening of a new CC Pampa Center this past year and an effort by the college to improve programs on the home campus. The 12 percent gain was reported to be evenly split between the CC home campus and its satellite in Pampa.

Shelton says Rep. Chisum is largely responsible for this year’s increase.

“I give a lot of credit to Warren Chisum for going to bat for us,” Shelton said. “He also had a lot of help down there [in Austin].”

Clarendon College remains an affordable education choice. Shelton said a student at CC can expect to pay $500 to $600 for tuition and fees where they might pay $1,500 to $2,000 at state senior college.

The Saints’ Roost Museum is announcing a new series of educational programs, which will be conducted at the museum during this summer.

The programs, “Summer Saturday Museum Mornings,” will kick off this weekend, June 2, at 10:30 a.m. and will feature Bobbie Floyd of Clarendon, who will discuss Aladdin Kerosene Lamps.

On June 9, Ike O’Neal will give a live demonstration of Shoeing Horses on the museum grounds, and Jim Douglas will utilize the museum computers for a program about the Korean War on June 16.

The museum’s front porch will be the roosting place for Mary Neal Risley and Verna Teague to share their Birding expertise on June 23, and Chuck Senter will be on the lawn tying up the month on June 30 with a Roping demonstration.

The Summer Saturday Museum Morning programs are being coordinated by museum board member Jo Shaller. Each program will start at 10:30 a.m., and admission is free to inquiring minds of all ages.

The Saints’ Roost Museum is located just off SH 70 at 610 E. Harrington on the grounds of the old Adair Hospital.

WASHINGTON, DC – US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) voted Saturday for the largest tax cut in 20 years. The bill passed the House of Representatives 240-154.

The plan, which has since been passed by the Senate and signed by President Bush, calls for a reduction in income tax rates, a reduction in the so-called marriage penalty, a doubling of the child tax credit, and the phase out of the death tax.

“Today in America people send more of their paycheck off to the government than at any other time since World War II,” Thornberry said. “It is only right that we cut their taxes. This bill will do that.”

The tax cut will provide across the board relief by replacing the five current tax brackets with four lower brackets. The marriage penalty will be reduced, and the per-child tax credit will be doubled from $500 to $1,000 with a retroactive increase to $600 to January 2001.

The death tax will be phased out over the next ten years.

A lump-sum refund of $300 for single taxpayers, $500 for single parents, and $600 for married taxpayers will also be provided this year.

“Some people see this bill as the culmination of what the president campaigned on and what a lot of us have been pushing for over the past several years,” Thornberry said. “I view it differently. I see this bill as the first step in giving people their money back and [as] something that will help lay the foundation for future tax relief in the next few years.”

The local congressman said he believes the capital gains tax should be reduced since more Americans are now investing in the stock market. He also says he hopes to see a repeal of the tax on Social Security benefits and the four-cent tax on fuel, both of which were passed in 1993.

“Both of these taxes were passed to help get rid of the budget deficit. Well, the deficit’s gone, but these two taxes are still here. We should get rid of them. I’m hopeful that in the coming months, we’ll be able to look at these and other areas where taxes can be reduced.”

The honored dead of Donley County and of the nation were remembered this past weekend as local residents held Memorial Day ceremonies.

Citizens Cemetery and Rowe Cemetery were decorated with American flags and Confederate flags where appropriate.

The first official service of the weekend was held Saturday morning in the Rowe Cemetery near Hedley by the Adamson/Lane Post of the American Legion.

An impressive Roll Call was held for 192 veterans buried at Rowe with surviving family members answering “Here” for departed loved ones. Legionnaire Jack Moreman said his post will make the Roll Call an annual tradition.

On Monday, a small crowd gathered at Citizens Cemetery as Girl Scouts posted the colors, and the Hedley Choir sang patriotic songs. A poem was read, and “Taps” was played.

Approximately 480 veterans are buried in Citizens Cemetery. Still others are buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery and the Jericho Cemetery

The crowd then moved to the Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square for a brief ceremony by the VFW Post.

Following the services, attendees placed American flags beside the names of loved ones in the sidewalk of the memorial.

Clarendon High School conferred diplomas on 54 students during graduation ceremonies held at the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Auditorium last Friday, May 25.

Josh Williams delivered the invocation for the ceremony, and Jared Hartman delivered the salutatory address. The Class Song, “Graduation,” was sung by Catrina Burrow. Nickless Devin gave the valedictory address.

Both Devin and Hartman were presented with awards for being the top two graduates of the Class of 2001.

CHS Principal Larry Jeffers announced scholarship winners in the class. The estimated value of all scholarships awarded to CHS graduates this year was placed at more than $200,000.

Jeffers presented awards to two outstanding members of the class. Sam Holton was named the recipient of the Fighting Heart Award, and Elizabeth Simmons received both the Best Girl Athlete and the Knorpp Cup award. Simmons was also recognized as the top female student in the class.

Clarendon Superintendent of Schools Monty Hysinger presented the diplomas, and the senior class led the audience in the singing of the “Alma Mater.” The benediction was given by Chris Johnsen.

Serving as the Honor Guard for this year’s commencement were Kelley Lemley, Clarie Rodriguez, Brian Thompson, and Greg Wootten. Ushers were Carrie Helms, Megan Roberts, Jeremy Ray, and Cody Watson.

Class sponsors this year were Diane Chamberlain, Lyndal R. Gillen, Kim Petrie, Dee Ann Sears, and Roger Hoeltzel.

Events for the Memorial Day weekend are shaping up with Donley County residents making preparations to honor America’s fallen soldiers.

Local Girl Scouts and members of the Adamson/Lane Post 287 of the American Legion will meet this Friday at 1 p.m. to place flags on the soldiers’ graves at Rowe Cemetery. On Saturday, Donley County Memorial Post 7782 of the VFW will be joining forces with Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops to decorate Citizens Cemetery. The flags will remain on the graves until 5 p.m. next Monday.

The first ceremony for this Memorial Day will be Saturday at the Rowe Cemetery near Hedley. The American Legion will begin that service at 10 a.m. The Girl Scouts will also participate in that ceremony.

On Monday, members of the Clarendon Lions Club will be setting out flags downtown. Later, services will be conducted at Citizens Cemetery beginning at 9:45 a.m.  The VFW will be participating, and members of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are expected to attend. The Hedley Choir will be performing as well.

Following the cemetery service, the attendees will travel to the Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square where the VFW will conduct their usual service at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend these ceremonies and exercise their patriotism this Memorial Day.

Eighty-eight Clarendon High School athletes, cheerleaders, and managers were honored last Friday night during the annual All Sports Banquet in the Bairfield Activity Center.

“Reflections” was the theme of the event, which featured a PowerPoint slideshow of CHS students from the 2000-2001 sports seasons.

Senior Nathan Floyd was the recipient of the Clyde Wilson Fighting Heart Award, and senior Shannon Cooper was honored with the Lady Broncos Fighting Heart Award.

The Outstanding Bronco for 2000-2001 was senior Josh Williams. Senior Geri Butler took home the award for the Outstanding Lady Bronco.

Other individuals recognized included senior Colt Floyd (Football Offensive Player of the Year), senior Nickless Devin (Football Defensive Player of the Year), junior Kelley Lemley (Girls Basketball Offensive Player of the Year), Geri Butler (Girls Basketball Defensive Player of the Year), senior Sam Holton (Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year), Josh Williams (Boys Basketball Offensive Player of the year and Boys Track Athlete of the Year), junior April Bryley (Girls Track Athlete of the Year), junior Jeremy Ray (Baseball Defensive MVP), and sophomore Todd Hoeltzel (Baseball Offensive MVP).

Sophomore James Williams received a special award, which will be placed in the CHS trophy case. Williams set a school record in the shot put this season, throwing 57’ 3½” at the regional meet.

Williams had previously broken the school record at the regional qualifiers’ meet with a throw of 55’5”. That was good enough to break Mickey McGuire’s CHS record of 54’11¾” set in 1970.

Athletic Director and head football coach Roger Hoeltzel was recognized for his commitment to the Broncos, and Kelley Lemley gave a tearful farewell to Lady Bronco Coach Steve Schmidt, who will be moving to Pampa.

Jeremy Ray, Brian Thompson and Kelley Lemley served as Masters of Ceremonies during the banquet.

This year’s event was sponsored by the Bronco Parents with Sandy Anderberg serving as president and Terri Floyd serving as secretary/treasurer.