Archives for February 2005

Conservation Security Program public meetings have been scheduled in the Upper Salt Fork Red Watershed to inform farmers and ranchers about the eligibility requirements and application process. 

The meetings will be held on Tuesday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Armstrong County Activity Center and on Thursday, March 3, at the Bairfield Activity Center at 10:00 a.m.

The Upper Salt Fork Red Watershed, located in portions of Donley, Armstrong, Carson, and Gray counties, has been selected as one of the 202 watersheds nationwide to participate in the the 2005 CSP signup, which will be announced in March pending publication of the final CSP rule in the Federal Register.

The Conservation Security Program is a stewardship program providing payments to producers who maintain and enhance their natural resources.  Only producers practicing the highest levels of conservation will be eligible to participate. A self-assessment must be completed by producers documenting their benchmark conservation level prior to visiting the NRCS office to apply for CSP.

CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation on private working lands. 

For information or to obtain a workbook, visit the Upper Salt Fork Red Watershed CSP website at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/program/csp or contact your NRCS office.

Person or persons unknown broke into the Hedley City Hall last Thursday and made off with an estimated $150 in cash.

An offense report filed with the Donley County Sheriff’s Department said Constable Mike Wallendorff was called to the scene of the crime at 7:45 a.m. February 27 and found the front door had been kicked in.

City Secretary Randy Shaw observed that the black steel insert was pulled out of the cash drawer. He thought about $150 was missing. Nothing else was disturbed.

Wallendorff reported that a delivery driver for the Amarillo Globe News spotted a white pickup parked at City Hall at about 3 p.m. but said the truck wasn’t there long. She could not recall what make or model it was.

Any one having any information about this crime is urged to call the sheriff’s office at 874-3533.

Ruth Robinson was named the recipient of the 2004 Saints’ Roost Award for lifetime achievement last Saturday during the annual banquet of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.

Terry Askew and Roy Monroe also received top honors as Woman of the Year and Man of the Year.

Robinson was awarded the chamber’s highest honor for her devotion to numerous local organizations and boards and her long tenure as the counselor for Clarendon College, a position she held for 18 years.

She has never met a stranger and is known for her helpfulness when friends are in need; and her husband, Joe, says that if someone has a hangnail, Robinson would bake them her 7-Up cake.

Robinson wants most to be remembered as someone who loves the Lord and her family, but she has also made an invaluable impact on the local community, serving as a past president and current member of the Saints’ Roost Museum Board, a member of the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, the Clarendon College Board of Regents, and the Donley County Historical Commission.

She is active in the Pathfinders Club, the Art Club, the Walk to Emmaus, and the United Methodist District for Higher Education.

 
2004 Woman of the Year

Terry Askew
 
The 2004 Woman of the Year was praised as a loving and caring individual, who is a leader among downtown merchants and a “super great mom.” Terry Askew grew up in Clarendon, attended local schools, and married in the First Christian Church. After the retirement of her father, Askew became the fourth generation of her family to manage one of Clarendon’s most productive shopping establishments, Saye’s.

Askew has served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for both of her sons and is currently the leader of her daughter’s Cadet Scout Troop. She will stay up as late as necessary to help her kids with their studies. She is a devoted Bronco Parent and FFA Booster and can be found working in concession stands and supporting her kids and their friends.

Askew works with the Donley County Horse Club and loves to watch children ride, rope, and run barrels and poles. During spring branding on the Flying A Ranch, she has her husband’s and other cowboys’ breakfast on the table by 5 a.m.

She is also known for serving the Les Beaux Arts Club, the Chamber of Commerce board, and the Clarendon Merchants Association.

 
2004 Man of the Year

Roy Monroe
 
The 2004 Man of the Year was hailed as a devoted member of the community who gives selflessly of his time and money with no expectation of return. Roy Monroe is neither a business owner nor a parent, but his love for Donley County is undeniable by his actions.

Monroe sets up a massive display of lights at his Howardwick home and has been largely responsible for the friendly annual decorating competition that city has developed, and he has helped with personal projects from roofing and remodeling to babysitting kids and animals.

He has helped in every way from pouring concrete for a local church to building a float for the Clarendon High School cheerleaders, and he currently serves on the boards of the Saints’ Roost Museum and the Chamber of Commerce. He promotes Clarendon by helping with the parade each July, the annual Greenbelt Kid Fish, the Museum Christmas Party, and the Col. Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff, and many other events.

Other awards presented at Saturday’s banquet included the Pioneer Man and Woman of the Year and the Young Men and Women of the Year.

A.R. Henson was named the Pioneer Man of the Year for 2004.  Henson grew up in Donley County, attended local schools, and served in the Air Force during World War II. He established the A.R. Henson Tire Company in March 1946, a business known today as Henson’s, your bolts to diamonds store. He has served the community as a member of the school board, the Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Al Morrah Shrine Club, the Eastern Star, and the American Cancer Society. In addition to holding offices and receiving awards from these organizations, the Chamber of Commerce previously named Henson the 1987 Man of the Year and the 2000 Saints’ Roost Award Winner.

The Pioneer Woman of the Year was Frances Skelton, who has spent her life in Clarendon. She was employed by former County Agent Flip Breedlove as a secretary and later sold candy for the O.D. Skelton Candy Co. during World War II. After the war she began serving as an election clerk, which she still does. She and her husband organized the Fellowship Sunday School Class at the Methodist Church, and they have been active in many capacities in the church. She was a charter member of the Clarendon Country Club, is an active golfer, and is a three-time past president of the Ladies Golf Association. She is also an avid bridge and poker player. Skelton loves Clarendon and says she sometimes wonders why anybody wouldn’t like to spend the rest of their lives in Clarendon.

The Young Woman of the Year from Clarendon High School was Shanna Shelton.  She has received many honors and awards, including the BWXT Pantex  & Ascension Academy Award of Excellence in math, the President’s Education Award Program’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award, and the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Award. She has also been active in the CHS Student Council’s Adopt-A-Highway program and helps coach softball during the summer. She plans to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in math or science at West Texas A&M University.

Branson Carter was named to Young Man of the Year from Clarendon High School. He is an active member of Boy Scout Troop 433, where he has earned the rank of Eagle and is an assistant scoutmaster and a member of the Order of the Arrow, a camper’s honor fraternity. He has been the drum major for the Bronco Band for two years and has advanced to the state solo/ensemble competition for the last four years. He has been a member of the All Region Concert Band and the All Region Symphonic Band. In his spare time, Carter has donated hours as a camp counselor for learning disabled and cancer-stricken children. He plans to attend Oklahoma State University, where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in fire protection and safety engineering, specializing in advanced fire systems modeling, design, and safety analysis for nuclear and high explosives operations.

The Young Woman of the Year from Hedley High School is Allison Hill. She has been received numerous awards and honors during her high school career. She has been a regional qualifier in tennis for three years and was the District FFA Talent Show champion. As a member of the Hedley Lady Owls basketball team, she has assisted the team to four district championships, the regional tournament in 2002, the state tournament in 2003, and an area qualifier in 2004. Her community service includes participation in the Christmas Angels Project, the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, and decorating for the Hedley High School Ex-Students Celebration. She produced a video for the Community Veterans Celebration and has touched lives through singing and caroling for elders and residents of the nursing home. She plans to attend Clarendon College and West Texas A&M and major in computer design.

Stephen Howard was named the Young Man of the Year from Hedley High School. He has been a server at the Hedley Senior Citizens Banquet and has blessed many lives at the nursing home through singing with the Hedley High School Choir. He has been the three-time district Number Sense champion, two-time regional champion in Financial Math and Analysis, and two-time state qualifier in UIL academics. He has also been a two-time regional qualifier in cross country and a member of the All Region basketball and football teams. He plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in biochemistry.

The featured speaker for the evening was Sam Cartwright of the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, who spoke about cooperation within a community. Will Thompson with the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation also spoke about the benefits of shopping at home.

Katie Askew provided musical entertainment.

Tessie Robinson succeeds Greg Henry as chamber president. Incoming chamber directors are Gene Hommel, Tommy Hill, Hillary McAnear, Jewel Houston, Jim Shelton, and Rhonda Shaw. Outgoing members are Eddy Eads, Roy Monroe, Ruth Robinson, Cherie Floyd, and Mark C. White.

An estimated 200 people attended the banquet, up from 180 last year.  This year’s banquet was sponsored by Lowe’s, Clarendon College, Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Robertson Funeral Directors, Crow Hollow Feed Yard, GreenLight Gas, Suna AutoMall, and Don Stone Signs.

The Donley County Hospital Board delivered an ultimatum to district administrator Alan Graham during a special meeting Monday night, calling for him to step down immediately or face termination.

The unanimous decision came after the board met with its attorney, James Shelton, in closed session for half an hour.

Graham formally resigned Tuesday morning, board president Don Thornberry said.

 “The board decided we needed a change,” Thornberry said. “Alan Graham has done a good job, and he is part of a team that has brought a lot of respect to the hospital district and Medical Center Nursing Home.”

Thornberry refused to state publicly any reason for the board’s decision.

 “This is just going to be better for Alan and better for the hospital district,” he said.

Assistant Administrator Holly Eads has taken charge of the district’s administrative duties, and she said the board will hold another called meeting this Saturday at noon to determine the district’s next steps.

“We will begin advertising for an interim administrator,” Eads said. “We have to have an interim in place within 30 days.”

Monday’s action followed a regular meeting on February 14 in which the board met with all MCNH department heads regarding policies and procedures for ordering and documenting incoming supplies. The board then met in closed session for over an hour with Eads and afterward voted to close credit card accounts at Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Sam’s, and Home Depot and appointed Eads to be in charge of purchasing and receiving for the nursing home.

District officials refused to say whether or not last week’s actions were directly related to the action taken against Graham this week.

“We just needed to improve our procedures,” Eads said.

Graham said he was surprised by the board’s decision and does not know what prompted it, but he said he is staying upbeat.

“I look at it as an opportunity,” he said. “I’ve still got a lot of things I want to accomplish in my life.”

“I think the board and I have worked well together, and I think the people of Donley County should be proud of the facilities and the level of health care they have here.”

AUSTIN – Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn last week reported that state sales tax collections rose for the 17th consecutive month in January. The state collected $1.39 billion in sales tax revenue, up 6.1 percent compared to January 2004.

But the report wasn’t good news for three Donley County cities where collections are down this year.

The City of Clarendon’s sales tax rebate dropped 8.19 percent from this time last year to $25,414.25. Howardwick was down 29.3 percent to $798.44, and Hedley fell 11.6 percent to $557.97.

Statewide, Strayhorn returned $502.8 million in local sales tax to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 5.2 percent compared to sales tax distributions to local governments in February 2004.

“These numbers indicate that Texas’ recovering economy had a positive impact on holiday season sales,” Strayhorn said.

January state sales tax collections and February’s local sales tax allocations primarily represent sales made in December but also include some earlier sales by businesses that report sales tax to the state comptroller’s office on a quarterly or annual basis.
Hedley plans banquet for area senior citizens

Hedley School and the First Baptist Church of Hedley will host the annual Senior Citizens’ Honor Banquet Thursday, February 24, at the First Baptist Fellowship Hall.

All senior citizens from Donley, Hall, and Collingsworth Counties are welcome to attend.  There is no charge for the evening.

The meal will include brisket, green bean casserole, baked potato, dinner rolls, and dessert.  There will be door prizes given away, and the Hedley Choirs will sing for the evening’s entertainment.

No RSVP is necessary.  Senior citizens are encouraged to come and have a great evening in their honor.

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen last week set the goal of paving as many as 50 city blocks in a $1.1 million project that could be accomplished this year.

“This is a workable plan that we can all live with,” Alderman Michael Tibbets said during the February 8 meeting.

The plan would take money the city has on hand in its improvement fund, borrow an additional $800,000 through tax anticipation notes, and pay the project off in seven years utilizing only fee increases that have already been enacted by the board.

Between 40 and 50 blocks would be paved and curbed, and several already-paved streets would be receive seal coats to prevent them from deteriorating.

Aldermen reacted with joy as they settled on a plan after months of discussions.

“How about that?” Mayor Tex Selvidge said. “We made a decision!”

“Let’s all get on the table and go ‘Yea! Yea! Yea!’” Alderman Janice Knorpp said.

Issuance of the tax notes would be handled by the Lubbock based First Southwest Company whose vice president, Vince Viaille, attended Tuesday’s meeting and presented the aldermen with a proposed debt schedule.

“Tax notes have no publication procedures to follow, and there’s no petition procedures,” Viaille said. “I propose that we go to local banks to issue the notes at 3.5 percent interest or less, and there would be a cost of issuance in the amount of $15,000 to $20,000.”

Viaille said tax notes in the amount of $800,000 could be repaid in seven years with an annual debt service of approximately $132,000.

City officials reacted positively to Viaille’s presentation.

“I think this is the best possible plan we’re going to come up with,” Mayor Tex Selvidge said.

Aldermen directed Viaille to return to the board’s February 22 meeting and bring with him all the necessary forms the city would need to start the process of issuing tax notes. 

The board reviewed maps with city engineer Che Shadle and prioritized streets to be paved. Shadle will work up a plan that fits within the allocated budget.

In other city business, Mayor Selvidge ordered an election to be held May 7 for the purpose of electing a mayor and two aldermen. City Secretary Linda Smith will serve as election clerk, and City Clerk LeAnn Marcum will be deputy clerk.

The second and final reading was held for Ordinance 354, which amends the Livestock Ordinance to cover poultry. Master bantam exhibitor Allen Estlack addressed the board and lodged a complaint about the $20 annual fee the ordinance imposes.

“We will, of course, comply with the ordinance, but I wonder what I’m getting for my $20,” Estlack said, noting that the state inspects his chickens for diseases annually for free.

Alderman Tibbets said the city had to have equal protection for all types of livestock owners, and Estlack said he thinks the ordinance is overkill.

“It was overkill on the horses, too,” Tibbets said, “but I don’t want to reopen that can of worms.”

“The alternative is that no one can have any animals in the city limits,” Alderman Knorpp said.

The board approved Ordinance 354.

Aldermen also approved a motion designating that money raised from the three-cent per $100 valuation tax increase passed last year will be used for street improvements. This had been the intention of the board at the time, but they had never formally voted on the matter.

Donley County is looking for a new treasurer after commissioners accepted the resignation of Rebecca Jackson during their regular session Monday.

County Judge Jack Hall said Jackson was taking a position as a top accountant for Cactus Feeders in Canyon.

“She’s leaving for three main reasons,” Hall said. “She doubles her salary, gets full health insurance for her and her husband, and in six years will be vested in their retirement plan.”

The county began advertising this week for applicants to be considered for the remainder of Jackson’s term, which expires in 2006. Hall said the treasurer’s job is a big one and one that Jackson did well.

“Becky Jackson is a very competent person, and she has done an excellent job as treasurer of Donley County.”

Jackson was appointed in 1997 after the resignation of Wanda Smith. She was elected to a full term in 1998 and reelected in 2002. Her resignation becomes effective February 25.

Hall said the commissioners’ court hopes to make an appointment during a called session on March 1.

Jackson could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.

In other county business, commissioners heard from Martin Smith of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) regarding plans to replace the bridge over Buck Creek on County Road 28 in two years. Donley County will provide a ten percent in-kind match for the project.

Commissioners also heard from Sandra Hatcher of TxDOT, who discussed the state’s plans to replace the Hwy. 70 bridge over the Salt Fork of Red River below the Greenbelt Dam some time in the next three years. The bridge will be widened and the curves approaching the bridge will be straightened, Hall said. The county will offer assistance in acquiring easements.

The court approved the audit for the fiscal year 2003-2004 as presented by Gordon Maddox.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn reported on a movement in Austin to require county jails to have to persons on duty at all times.

The Donley County Jail just keeps one person on staff, and the sheriff will go to Austin to try to keep it that way.

Commissioners approved Justice Ann Kennedy’s request to install an AMA•TechTel wireless Internet connection in her office and also approved Justice Jimmy Johnson’s request to purchase a new photocopier.

The court considered and approved plans to install a sidewalk from the Courthouse to the Jail and to install up lighting for the north and east faces of the Courthouse.