Archives for November 2001

Both sides in the Swinney v. Donley County case argued summary judgment positions before District Judge David McCoy here last week, but as of this Tuesday morning there was still no decision in the matter.

County Attorney Pro-tem Kaye Messer said she still feels confident about the county’s position and said Judge McCoy told participants he would rule fairly quickly.

At issue is whether county commissioners set an unreasonable salary for former constable Jimmy Swinney, who ran last year as a write-in candidate for a position which had been vacant more than 30 years. Swinney took office in January, filed suit against the county in June, and then resigned in September when he failed to become licensed as a state peace officer.

Meanwhile, Donley County commissioners began advertising last week to seek applicants for the vacant position. No final decision has been made on whether to replace Swinney or leave the office vacant. Messer said the county retained the right to reject any or all applicants for the job.

Tickets are on sale now for the annual Saints’ Roost Museum Benefit Christmas Party to be held Saturday, December 1, at the Clarendon Community Center.

Cost is $50 per couple and each ticket has the chance to win $5,000. You need not be present to win.

Serving starts at 7:30 p.m., and the party goes on until 12:30 a.m. Live music will provided by the “Coming On” band from Oklahoma.

Get your ticket today at Henson’s by calling 806-874-3517 or come by the Enterprise office.

Boll weevils, reeling from the effective eradication program Texas farmers have been waging in the nation’s largest cotton state, have new reason to fear.  The US Senate passed HR 2330, the Agriculture Appropriations Act which includes $25 million for boll weevil eradication efforts in Texas.

“Texas cotton growers have led the fight against the boll weevil,” Sen. Phil Gramm said. “Now they will have the tools to finish off this pest.”

In an effort to assist farmers in their battle against their crop-destroying pest, Gramm introduced the Boll Weevil Eradication Equity Act last year which authorized the federal cost share contribution to the states and producers fighting the infestation.  This year’s funding will continue those efforts.

“Our cotton producers have and will save tens of thousands of dollars in pesticide and other preventative measures, keeping more money in the checkbooks of Texas families. I am grateful for this funding, especially for Senator Hutchison’s hard work on securing it,” he said.

Eradication efforts throughout the state have led to increased production and a dramatic reduction of the chemicals required to protect the state’s cotton crop.  The higher yields, environmental benefits, and lower workloads are welcome results.

“Growers want cotton they can market,” Gramm said, “not a government bailout for a destroyed crop.”

The House of Representatives passed HR 2330 on November 13.  It now goes to the White House for the President’s signature.

Small crowds attended veterans programs in Hedley and Clarendon last weekend as America marked its first Veterans Day during a time of war in a generation.

The first service was held Saturday, November 10, at the Rowe Cemetery near Hedley with the Adamson Lane Post 287 of the American Legion in charge. Twenty-five people attended.

Raymond Hopper and M.O. Weatherly laid a wreath on the cemetery’s war memorial, the colors were posted, and Barbara Collins sang the national anthem.

Post Commander Jack Moreman spoke of the historical significance of the holiday, formerly known as Armistice Day, and related it to modern events.

“We’ve avoided war on this continent for over 100 years,” he said. “Then right before our eyes we saw what happened on September 11.”

Moreman said when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, it took several months before the United States took action.

“Now, in two months, we’ve made somebody pay a price.”

The War on Terror will not be over quickly, the commander said; and he urged Americans to learn the virtue of patience.

The commander said he and VFW Quartermaster Bill Holden had spoken to students at Clarendon High School last week and were impressed because for the first time the kids were very attentive.

“I think they realize now they are not bulletproof,” he said.

Saturday’s ceremony was the first Veterans Day service to be held at the Rowe Cemetery.

On Sunday, November 11, approximately 30 people attended services at the Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square with the Donley County Post 7782 in charge.

“It was difficult to plan this program this year because it fell on Sunday,” VFW Quartermaster Bill Holden said. “I’m just so happy that so many people turned out.”

Jim Cockerham addressed the crowd and shared something he had written to some friends of his.

“Let us cherish the good memories of our past and honor those who have gone before,” he said. “Let us also honor those who follow the same path we took, for we, of all people, know the trials they face.

“Let us show our appreciation and support [for these young people], for we know how lonely it is to be away from those we love and those things we are familiar with. Let us stand tall and be forever proud of who we are: Americans, Patriots, Warriors, and Brothers.”

The program was closed with the usual VFW ceremony of honoring fallen comrades, followed by those in attendance placing flags near the names of friends or loved ones in the stone walkway.

Shopping at home for the holidays is easy and affordable as local banks have again teamed up to provide 0% interest “Christmas Cash” loans this year.

Interested parties must make application for a loan up to $3,000 with any of the participating banks.  Once a Christmas Cash loan has been approved, the borrower will be issued specially printed Christmas Cash Dollars, which may be spent like US currency toward new purchases of products and services (excluding Lottery tickets, gasoline, and tobacco products) at all of the participating businesses.  Businesses display posters indicating they are participants of the promotion. 

There will be no exchange of U.S. currency to make change.  For example, if someone purchases items valued at $72.95 and gives the merchant $80.00 in Christmas Cash, the merchant can give them $7.05 in-store credit.  The customer may also pay $70.00 in Christmas Cash and the remaining $2.95 in U. S. currency. 

Christmas Cash Dollars are available in three denominations: $10, $20, and $50.  There are two signature lines, the same as there are on traveler’s checks. 

The borrower’s signature is placed on the signature line before they leave the bank, and then they must sign on the endorsement line when they spend the “Cash.” 

Christmas Cash must be spent at the participating merchants by December 31, 2001.  Unspent Christmas Cash may be applied toward your 0% loan at the bank through January 7, 2001. 

This cash may not be used as a regular monthly loan payment.  It can only be applied toward the principal amount due at the end of the Christmas Cash note. 

Christmas Cash notes are paid back in ten equal monthly installments.  After January 5, 2001, Christmas Cash becomes worthless. 

It’s amazing the variety of products Christmas Cash can purchase.  Some of the items purchased in years past include: replacement windows, vehicle repairs, groceries, furniture, entertainment equipment, cook-tops, dry cleaning for summer bedrolls, catered goodies, Christmas dinner, car stereos, special gift items, centerpieces, clothing, and much more. 

The Donley County State Bank, The Herring National Bank, and Community Bank will buy Christmas Cash from participating merchants at a rate of 95¢ for every $1.00.  Participating businesses are “interested in keeping your business here in Clarendon.”

This year’s participating merchants are: Accustom Scent Candles, Alexander’s Diner, Amigo’s Mexican Restauranté, B&R Thriftway, Chamberlain Motor Co., The Clarendon Enterprise, Clarendon Outpost, Cornell’s Country Store, Clarendon Veterinary Hospital, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Duckwall’s, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, Eads Furniture & Appliance, Every Nook & Cranny, Floyd’s Motor Co. & Body Shop, Greenbelt Cleaners, Guys & Dolls Salon, Henson’s, The Hitchin’ Post, J&W Lumber, Janie’s Beauty Shop, Mike’s Pharmacy, Kidd Texaco & Clarendon Auto Supply, Naturally Texas T’s, McKinney Motor Co., Poor Boy’s Antiques, Saye’s, The Shop, Thompson Upholstery, and White’s Feed & Seed.

This is the seventh year banks have participated in the Christmas Cash program. The idea of 0% loans up to $3,000 began in 1995 through the cooperation of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, the Clarendon Merchants Association, and local banks.

Work continues on the restoration of the 1890 Donley County Courthouse following a pre-construction conference hosted by the project contractor.

Dale Sellers, president and CEO of Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction, Ltd., addressed sub-contractors and county officials Monday and gave an overview of the project.

Phoenix officials are looking to hire local people to help with the project and are encouraging their sub-contractors to do the same. Craftsmen may call Phoenix at 214/902-0011 or contact any of the subcontractors to apply to work on the project.

Hiring local help should insure that some of the money of the $3 million project gets pumped into the local economy. Phoenix had lunch catered by a local restaurant Monday prior to the conference.

Most of the subcontractors are from the Panhandle area, and Sellers said all of them are reputable, financially sound companies capable of carrying out the work. Electrical work is being done by Cherry Electric, Inc., of Childress, Scottco Mechanical Contractor, Inc., of Amarillo will handle the plumbing as well as the heating and air-conditioning work, and Richard Obenhaus of Lubbock is the carpentry subcontractor.

Dee Brown, Inc., of Garland will handle the new masonry work, particularly on the tower’s third story. Sellers said Dee Brown is one of the best stoneworking firms in the business and has been responsible for stonework on high-rises in Dallas.

The general contractor will handle other specialties, such as concrete restoration, paintings and finishings, and ornamental metals.

Phoenix 1 is currently involved in nine courthouse projects around the state; and Sellers said that although his company has a 12-month contract, he expects the Donley job to be completed in eight to nine months.

Safety and communication between the general and sub-contractors were the focus of Monday’s meeting. Sellers emphasized a team effort to complete the project quickly and economically.

Phoenix has a safety rating 70 percent better than the industry average. Safety meetings for employees will be held weekly. Drug and alcohol use will not be tolerated, and food and drink will not be allowed in the building to prevent damaging surfaces undergoing restoration. Smoking will be prohibited in the building.

The courthouse will be swept down daily to keep the building as clean and as safe as possible.

Phoenix employees will work eight days on for 10-hour days and then have six days off.

Items to be accomplished right away on the courthouse include removal of the remaining windows next week. Footings will be poured for the new tower this week.

Republican state senate candidate Craig Estes won the most votes in last week’s special election, but he will still face a runoff election next month because he did not receive more than 50 percent of the ballots cast.

Estes received 16,864 votes district-wide or 47.2 percent – more than twice the total of his nearest competitor, Democrat Greg Underwood, who garnered 8,286 votes or 23.2 percent.

In canvassing local returns Monday by the Donley County Commissioners’ Court, Estes picked up another 17 votes, bringing his county total to 153.

A date for the December runoff between Estes and Underwood was not set as of press time Tuesday. The winner will fill the vacant seat of the late Sen. Tom Haywood.

AUSTIN – Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander announced last week that she has sent $291.9 million in local sales tax revenue to Texas cities and counties.

November allocations are up 3.6 percent compared to November 2000. The allocations represent sales taxes collected in September by monthly filers and in July, August and September by quarterly filers.

Clarendon’s rebate of $27,477.78 is up more than 20 percent from the same period last year, and Hedley saw an increase of more than 10 percent to $919.24. Howardwick was down 21.5 percent to $1,095.15.

“These local sales tax figures confirm, even more strongly, what our state sales tax figures showed last week. The September 11 terrorist attacks reduced sales tax collections for a few days, but we bounced back,” Comptroller Rylander said.

Of the 20 Texas cities that receive the greatest amount of sales tax revenue, only six saw declines: Dallas, Austin, El Paso, Irving, Amarillo, and Round Rock.