Archives for April 2002

All deferred items have been added back into the Donley County Courthouse Restoration project thanks to numerous donations. Now officials say the county has an opportunity to begin putting items back in the job that were originally deleted from the contract.

The opportunity has been made possible by a challenge grant that will match new contributions dollar for dollar up to a total of $50,000.

“We’re extremely grateful for all the donations we’ve received thus far,” Donley County Historical Commission Chair Jean Stavenhagen said. “With this challenge grant, any new donations will be doubled. A $100 donation will become $200, and a $1,000 donation will become $2,000. Your money will go twice as far to finish the project and restore the Donley County Courthouse as the Jewel of the Plains.”

If this new grant challenge is met, decorative metal roof ornaments and the replacement of deteriorating exterior stonework will be put back into the project

Some of the formerly deferred items which have been reinstated thanks to successful fundraising include sanding and refinishing wood floors, carpet for offices, refinishing stairs, restoring and refinishing doors and transoms, repairing the tile floor in the main corridor, painting, and metal doors in the basement.

Major funding for the restoration project was obtained in 2000 through the Texas Historical Commission (THC), but for the past six months, Donley County Commissioners have been struggling to find a way to fully fund the restoration the 1890 Donley County Courthouse after the lowest bid exceeded the estimate prepared by the architect by nearly $1 million.

In order to bring the cost down, Commissioners reduced the scope of the project and then deferred other work until April 15, 2002. Thanks to the generous contributions of individuals, businesses, and organizations, county commissioners met in a called session last Monday and added the deferred work back into the construction.

Those interested in supporting this historic restoration are asked to contact Jean Stavenhagen at (806) 874-3905. Donations of any size may be sent to the Donley County Courthouse Preservation Fund, PO Box 825, Clarendon, TX 79226.

In other courthouse project news, interior work on the Donley County Courthouse is coming along rapidly, Phoenix I project manager Stephen Dodge said at a construction conference last Friday.

Fifty percent of the trim work and 75 to 80 percent of the rough-in has been done on the first floor. Most of the trim has been finished on the second floor and is ready for plaster. Mechanical work continues in the basement and on the third floor.

Plastering is nearly complete on second floor rooms east of the courtroom, and the courtroom itself should get a third coat of plaster this week.

Paint and stain colors will be chosen soon. Architects with Volz & Associates were here Friday to gather paint chip samples. They will do a microscopic analysis to attempt to deduce the original colors used in the building.

Woodwork used in the courthouse has finally been positively identified. It is a Colorado white pine trim with California redwood panels. Project officials agreed the California redwood is rarely found in Texas courthouses, and head carpentry subcontractor Richard Oberhaus believes the original builders were heavily influenced by their work in Colorado.

Architect John Volz says the Donley courthouse will be one of the most beautiful his firm as worked on because of the woodwork in the building.

Trenches for utilities are expected to be dug in the next two weeks, and AEP set new transformers for the building on Monday.

Subcontractors are currently working to resolve sizing problems with HVAC floor grilles and recessed electric fixtures on the first floor.

The Texas Historical Commission has disallowed the use of ceiling fans in the district courtroom since they were not original. The architects believe the air-conditioning system should provide sufficient airflow.

One area where the project in danger of falling behind schedule is the masonry work as contractors continue to look for a replacement brick. Acme brick in Tulsa, Okla., was reported to be the only manufacturer interested in the job. That company purchased new forms to make the right size brick.

The color of the new bricks is close, but the bricks have a sheen to them. Volz is looking into a new European micro-abrasion technique that might age the brick slightly to remove the sheen.

Repairs on masonry behind the metal cornices is on hold awaiting a report from a structural engineer. Water damage of the last century has loosened some of the facing brick and contributed to the deterioration of the backing brick.

By Jean Stavenhagen, Donley County Historical Commission

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has recently recognized the Jericho Cemetery in the northern part of Donley County as a significant part of Texas history by awarding it a Historic Texas Cemetery Medallion and an Official Texas Historical Marker.

The Jericho Cemetery has received these designations through an application process that documents the history and significance of the burial ground.

A dedication ceremony to commemorate the placing of the marker and the unveiling of the medallion will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 27, at the Jericho Cemetery which is located 16 miles north of Clarendon on State Highway 70, and one mile west on Country Road B.

The ceremony will consist of the presentation of the flags, a reading of the Cemetery history, speakers from four pioneer families, and the official unveiling of the medallion.

“The designations are tools that will increase public awareness of these important cultural resources,” said Larry Oaks, executive director of the THC. “Awareness and education are among the best ways to guarantee the preservation of a cemetery.”

The distinctive medallion is a recognized symbol of preservation efforts and is placed at the entrance to the Jericho Cemetery.  The historical marker helps provide an awareness of the fascinating history of Donley County. It is located by the side of Highway 70 near the road to the old Jericho community.

“It is important that as we look toward the future, we do not forget our past,” said Jean Stavenhagen of the Donley County Historical Commission. “Preserving cemeteries will provide valuable historical information for those who follow.”

The public is cordially invited to attend the dedication. Some seating will be provided, but everyone is encouraged to bring a chair.

Mutt Graham was crowned as the new Turkey King last Saturday as the culmination of the second annual Donley County Turkey Strut Festival.

Graham was the quietest candidate of the Turkey election’s short two-year history. Controversy never touched him, and, while others engaged in campaign shenanigans, Graham silently rose head and wings above the rest.

No one was more surprised by the result than the king himself.

“I didn’t even know I was a candidate until a couple of days ago,” His Highness said. “I thought I’d have to lie, cheat, or steal to really win.”

Deposed king Roger Estlack crowned Graham and said Graham was the first honest candidate in turkey election history.

Graham’s total vote tally was $83.10, and he beat his nearest opponent, Nancy Davis, by a margin of $11.55.

Other also-rans were James Ivey Edwards with $17.11, Larry Hicks with $16.77, and Bright Newhouse with $10.61. Other minor candidates never broke the ten-dollar mark. In all, $244.39 was collected in the jars of the 12 candidates. The proceeds benefit the Donley County Tourism Council.

In other turkey news, the majority of the Strut Festival was simply a soggy mess as cold, drizzling rain canceled most of the outdoor activities.

The Turkey Cook-off was one event that did go on. The Chamber of Commerce team took the top price. They were followed by Doc Bryant’s Muleskinners of Amarillo in second place and Ace No. 8 Bed & Breakfast in third.

Cherie Floyd won the $300 shopping spree during the raffle, and Kathleen Yankie’s name was drawn for both the second and third place drawings – an antique turkey platter and a frozen turkey from B&R Thriftway.

Katie Millborn was the Grand Champion winner of the Kids Strut & Gobble Contest.

More than 100 kids entered the Coloring Contest. Winners were: Kindergarten – Zachary Cornell, first; Jacy Hill, second; and Audra Thomas, third. First Grade – Lydia Howard, first; Cole Ward, second; and Hailey Echols, third. Second Grade – Katie Millborn, first; Justine Moore, second; and Jordan Luna, third. Third Grade – Savannah Jo Thackeray, first; Kelsey Floyd, second; and Katterina Johnson, third.

In order to offset some of the losses of the festival, the wooden turkeys will keep moving around until early May. To place your order, contact Dee Dee Autry at 874-3889.

A joint effort between 11 Texas Panhandle-South Plains newspapers is opening new avenues for advertisers to reach both buyers and sellers throughout the region.

With this inaugural issue, the West Texas Country Trader is being distributed to thousands of readers in a region stretching from the Top of Texas to south of Lubbock.

Committed to the slogan: “Soaring high above the rest in value, convenience, and wide area coverage,” the weekly West Texas Country Trader will be inserted into member newspapers as well as be available for pickup free-of-charge in racks at selected locations throughout the region.

This publication will include local news and features from each of the communities it serves while providing a powerful new advertising vehicle for both classified and retail customers at very competitive rates.

To advertise in the West Texas Country Trader, contact any of the participating community newspapers: Abernathy Weekly Review, Borger News Herald, Canyon News, Castro County News (Dimmitt), Clarendon Enterprise, Crosby County Reporter-Examiner (Crosbyton), Eagle Press (Fritch), Idalou Beacon, Morton Tribune, Plainview Daily Herald, and Sudan Beacon-News.

Publisher Rollie Hyde of The Plainview Daily Herald – one of the cooperating newspapers in this new publication – explained the attractiveness of this new product.

“The coverage of the West Texas Country Trader will stretch about 140 miles north and south and almost that far east and west,” Hyde said. “That is a tremendous amount of readership area – from north of Amarillo to south of Lubbock – for an advertiser to reach through a very cost-effective publication.”

Interested businesses can get the reach of regional publication but still deal with their local newspaper representatives.

“Any interested business in Donley County or adjacent counties can contact our staff,” Enterprise publisher Roger Estlack said. “All the local sales, design work, and billing is done through our office and by people local advertisers have come to trust.”

Initially, more than 25,000 copies of the West Texas Country Trader will be printed each Tuesday for distribution throughout the region as a part of the Enterprise and its associated newspapers. For information, call our office at 806/874-2259 and ask about the West Texas Country Trader.

Any Clarendon residents keeping livestock in the city have just 60 days to “head ‘em up and move ‘em out” or risk violating a new municipal ordinance.

Ordinance 340, passed at last Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting, requires citizens and firms in the city limits to have licenses for their property and permits for their livestock. Violators could face a $500 per day fine, and the livestock could be impounded and sold to the highest bidder at public auction.

Mayor Pro-tem Mac Stavenhagen said the aldermen began considering a new ordinance last year after the city engaged in a second court battle to enforce existing regulations. In recent years, one court case has been left in legal limbo; and another, which the city won, is on appeal.

“This will start us off with a clean slate,” Stavenhagen said. “It eliminates all previous [animal] ordinances. The city and the city attorney feel it should be easier to enforce.”

Stavenhagen said the city took action out of concerns for public health hazards related to flies and waste runoff that accompany livestock kept in pens.

According to the new law, cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, buffaloes, and other domestic farm animals are banned from the city unless certain criteria are met. Individuals wishing to keep livestock in the city must obtain a land-use license, which costs $20 per year, and a permit for each animal at a cost of $10 per year per head.

In seeking a permit, a person must provide such information as a legal description of the property and an itemized listing of all residences, businesses, or other buildings located within 300 feet of any part of the property for which the license is desired.

No livestock shall be kept in a pen or other enclosure of less than 1,000 square feet for each head of livestock, the ordinance says. And every pen or enclosure must be kept clean and sanitary and cannot be a source of flies or odors offensive to city residents.

No swine, hogs, or pigs can be kept in the city.

Licenses and permits can be revoked any time if the property or livestock constitute a nuisance or are out of compliance with the ordinance or state health regulations.

Veterinary hospitals and clinics are exempted from the ordinance.

For more information or to file for a license and permit, contact City Hall at 874-3438.

Family Net will be returning to Clarendon’s channel line up, a Classic Cable official said this week, but airing local churches and the fate of the local community channel remains uncertain.

“We’re going to bring Family Net back on Channel 8,” Classic’s Barry Harbison said. “If the [Baptist] church wants to work out an agreement with Family Net, that’s up to them.”

The signal for Family Net will come from Classic’s head-in at their receivers on West Fifth Street rather than coming from the church’s receiver.

Mayor Tex Selvidge contacted Classic officials following a heated discussion at last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

“I told them if Family Net wasn’t back on the air by May 1, they would lose 300 customers,” said Selvidge, who was told the channel would be back on the air by May.

But the director of First Baptist’s television ministry says there is no sense in taking so long to get Family Net back on the air.

“It just took them two hours to take it off the air,” said Jean Ledbetter. “All they have to do is flip a switch and shut up.”

The First Baptist Church of Clarendon had operated Channel 8 free of charge for 10 years, airing their church services and Family Net, a Christian channel. The church also aired Methodist and Calvary Baptist services for $300 per year each. But four weeks ago, Classic pulled the plug on Channel 8 and Channel 11, which was run by the local radio station, seeking $25 per hour from local churches and $200 per month from the radio station.

Harbison said Classic is willing to work with other local churches to air their services for $25 per week. Getting the community channel – Channel 11 – back on the air is another matter.

“I can tell you this – it won’t be aired free of charge by a business selling advertising on it,” he said.

But Patrick Robertson, owner of Alliance Broadcast Communications, which operates KEFH-FM, told city aldermen last week he thought it was interesting that Classic, coming through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is telling his station and local churches how to run their businesses.

“Obviously, [Classic’s] understanding of business practices and manner of doing business has been much less than successful,” Robertson said.

Alliance has operated Channel 11 since 1994 and has borne all the expense for the equipment related to that channel, Robertson said. He estimates his company operates Channel 11 at an average loss of $239.33 per month or a total loss of $21,300 over the last 89 months.

Robertson also told the board that his company is working to bring a satellite provider into town.

“Our goal is to have 50 percent or more of Classic customer’s off their system by the end of the year,” he said.

City officials, meanwhile, are looking into the status of Classic’s franchise agreement with the city and whether franchise fees have been paid properly. And some city aldermen have also expressed interest in seeing if another cable company would like to come to Clarendon.

Two men were in Donley County Jail this week as a result of indictments on drug charges.

Josh Kirby, age 28, and Randy Tolbert, age 33, were both arrested and served with indictments for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a first-degree felony.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said other drug cases have been made in Donley County and are awaiting lab results.

“Drug dealers beware. We’re going to come knocking,” Blackburn said.

Kirby, who was arrested on April 13, was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for having a second-degree amount of methamphetamine.

Kirby was arraigned for the first-degree felony on April 14 by County Judge Jack Hall with bond set at $50,000. He was again arraigned by Judge Hall on Monday for the second-degree charge, and bond was set at $25,000

Tolbert was arrested and arraigned on April 10. His bond was set by Judge Hall at $50,000.

Both Tolbert and Kirby are alleged to have delivered methamphetamines to an undercover narcotics officer who has been working with the Donley County Sheriff’s Office for several months.

“I want to applaud the good relationship we have with the DPS narcotics agents who are willing to come here and help us,” Blackburn said.

The case in question was made in November of last year, but Blackburn said it is taking the DPS lab in Amarillo at least 90 days to get results back.

“They’ve got one chemist for the whole Panhandle,” the sheriff said.