Archives for June 2005

The Clarendon Enterprise received one first place plaque and came in second for a Sweepstakes Award Saturday during the Texas Press Association’s 126th annual summer convention in Las Colinas.

The local paper was awarded first place in Division 9 (Small Medium Weeklies) in Page Design and showed strength in most other categories by garnering one second-, three third-, and two fourth-place honors.

Columns by Carrie Helms and Roger Estlack were awarded second and third place certificates respectively. Enterprise Advertisements placed third, local Sports Photos placed third, and the paper placed fourth in Editorials and General Excellence.

The Leonard Graphic was the top paper in Division 9 of the contest, which was judged by the New York Press Association.

Attending the convention and accepting the awards on behalf of the Enterprise were Roger and Ashlee Estlack.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) submitted a statement last week into the Congressional Record to honor Clarendon resident, Jiggs Mann. Mr. Mann is the 2005 recipient of the prestigious “Rancher of the Year” award presented by Cowboy Roundup, USA.

The following is the statement as submitted by Thornberry:

Statement of Congressman Mac Thornberry Honoring Jiggs Mann

Mr. Speaker,

Our nation includes many traditions and cultures which have influenced our history and our national character. In my area, none is stronger than ranching.

Cowboy Roundup, USA, is an organization dedicated to preserving the Ranching Heritage of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle. It works to educate the public, “in the spirit of our ranching ancestry and the lifestyle of the great American Cowboy.”

Each year at the Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas, which this organization sponsors, an individual is named as “Rancher of the Year,” to recognize a lifetime of accomplishment. This year’s recipient is W.C. “Jiggs” Mann, from my home county, Donley County, Texas.

In thinking about ranchers, the stereotype characters from movies, books, songs, and stories will come to mind for many people. But I think that they would be more impressed to meet the real thing. Jiggs Mann is the real thing.

Jiggs began working on the JA ranch as a schoolboy during the summers of World War II. He rode with the chuck wagon all summer as it moved from pasture to pasture on Texas’ second largest ranch, sleeping on the ground and eating by campfire. After returning from serving his country in Korea in 1953, Jiggs went to work at the JA again and served as foreman of the ranch from 1959 until 1969. He leased part of the ranch, running his own cattle, and now runs cattle on his own property in Donley County.

More than his decades of experience with land and cattle, Jiggs Mann was honored because of his character and integrity and because he is a shining example of what a rancher is and should be.

A rancher, like others who make their living off of the land, is a risk taker. His whole year’s work can be wiped out by weather, disease, or a tumble in the market.

A rancher is independent and does not look for – or feel entitled to – a hand-out from government or anyone else, but he will drop whatever he is doing, even at considerable sacrifice, to help out a neighbor.

He is honest and straight talking; he has no need to beat-around-the-bush. Mother Nature and the demands of making a living off the land do not allow it for one thing, but more importantly, he comes from a background where a man’s word is still his honor. He tells it as he sees it. The strength of what he says is found not so much in the words used but in his integrity.

He works hard – incredibly hard – from sun up until sun down and understands the value of a job well done, whether measured by the depth of his corner post or the number of hay bales stacked in the field. While some of the tools he uses have changed over the years, like steel post drivers or pick-ups with round bale haulers mounted on the back, others have not changed at all, like a good horse. He realizes that some things, however simple they may seem on the surface, will forever stand the test of time, and it is in those things that he puts his faith.

A rancher has to respect nature and all of God’s creation or he will not last long. From taking care of the land, which may have been in the family for generations, to helping a cow give birth, or nursing a new calf with a bottle, he understands the give and take that this life demands and the sacrifices necessary to maintain those things we cherish most, our families and our heritage.

These are some of the qualities which this award recognizes. Jiggs Mann is not the only person I know with these qualities, but he is the “best of the breed.” It is appropriate to honor him, and through him, this important part of our national character.

A Donley County farmer and rancher died Friday when the pickup he was driving was hit by a tractor-trailer rig.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Simpson said Robert Pittman, age 81, died at the scene 3.5 miles west of Clarendon on US 287 despite efforts by at least four motorists to save him.

Pittman’s Chevy pickup was traveling westbound in the outside lane of 287 in front of the tractor-trailer driven by Darie Monday of Tulsa, Okla., when Pittman’s vehicle was struck from behind. The pickup slid sideways and flipped over, coming to rest on its wheels in the north ditch and catching on fire.

An investigation is ongoing, but Simpson said speed did not seem to be a factor in the accident.

No citations or charges have been issued, but the case will be presented to the Donley County Grand Jury.

Pittman was a resident of Amarillo at the time of the accident but had had ties to Donley County since 1925.

Funeral services were held for Pittman in Clarendon Tuesday.

The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation committed an additional $100,000 to the city’s 2005 street paving project Monday, a move that gives the city the resources it needs to fully fund the project.

Meeting in a called session, the CEDC board voted unanimously to approve the additional funds. Mayor Tex Selvidge thanked the CEDC.

“When [the CEDC] was voted in, one of the things that was to be done was streets.” Selvidge said. “It speaks highly of this board to see them join with the city. They are progressive and want to see the city improve.”

Monday’s vote is in addition to $20,000 pledged to street improvements in fiscal year 2003-2004 and $30,000 already pledged this year.

The CEDC board also intends to provide $30,000 each year – approximately half its annual revenue – to help the city pay the indebtedness on the new streets.

The CEDC is funded by a half-cent sales tax approved by city voters in 1995.

The 2005 paving project is moving forward after Clarendon Aldermen voted 2-1 to accept a $974,485 proposal from B&B Solvent last Tuesday.

City Administrator Sean Pate this week said a contract for the job will be presented to the aldermen for their final approval June 28. B&B, which is a division of Jordan Paving, has expressed to city officials that it will be ready to mobilize early next month.

“It’ll be a good thing for Clarendon,” Pate said.

Aldermen Janice Knorpp and Bobbie Kidd voted for the proposal last week. Alderman Michael Tibbets was absent, and Alderman Mark White was presiding as mayor pro-tem. Alderman Tommy Hill voted against the measure.

“What do you not like about this, Tommy?” Kidd asked.

“I don’t like the price,” Hill said.

“Nobody does,” Kidd replied; and Knorpp added, “If we don’t do this now, the next bid will be more.”

Mayor Pro-tem White said he appreciated the contractor working with the city.

B&B presented two proposals based on its $1.3 million low bid previously accepted by the city. Proposal #1 was priced at $974,485.15 and eliminated planned paving on Fourth and Seventh Streets east of Koogle Street; and Proposal #2 was priced at $905,870.15 and eliminated the work east of Koogle as well as eliminating parts of McLean and Third streets north of Fifth Street.

Aldermen said they preferred the first proposal because it tied the project together and was part of the overall plan to control waterflow. Kidd also pointed out that the city was already paying for the engineering work on McLean and Third streets whether it was part of the project or not.

The project as it stands now includes the following streets: Third Street from Collinson to McLean, Fourth Street from Collinson to McLean, Sixth Street from Cottage to Koogle, Seventh Street from the western city limit to Koogle, Eighth Street from Leroy to Bugbee Avenue, Leroy Street from Fifth to Eighth, Johns Street from Sixth to approximately one-half block past Eighth, Collinson Street from Clarendon Avenue to Eighth Street, McLean Street from Clarendon Avenue to Eighth, and Bond Street from Sixth to Eighth.

The city had $833,759 available from tax revenue notes and economic development money to pay for the project. The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation will contribute $100,000 to the project, and the balance will be paid for from the city’s improvement fund.

Before last week’s issue of The Clarendon Enterprise could even hit the newsstands or be delivered to the post office, Enterprise-D subscribers had their digital newspaper in their e-mail boxes, and their response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Chuck Speed in Amarillo was one of the first to cancel his old fashioned print subscription in favor of the new newspaper; and before noon last Wednesday he had already read enough to send this e-mail:

“You all have done a very good job of the new digital Enterprise issue. I think this is definitely the way to go. I recommend it for anyone with access to a computer.”

Other Enterprise-D subscribers agree. Dr. Robert E. Hanes in Oklahoma City says he likes the digital version and votes for depriving the postal service of the revenue. Rebekah Turner in Virginia Beach, Virginia, says she loves the new version and says she can print out the good editorials so that her husband can read them and therefore they are both happy.

Doyce Graham in Clemson, South Carolina, calls Enterprise-D a great idea, Bob Gray in Denton says he loves his digital subscription, and Carrie Helms in Abilene writes: “Totally digital, man! This is the 21st century.”

Enterprise-D carries all the same stories, pictures, and ads as the print edition, and subscriptions cost only $9.95 per year. Print subscribers can add the digital edition to their subscription for just $5. To sign up, visit www.ClarendonOnline.com/subscribe.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn is reminding citizens that warning sirens mean “take cover” and do not mean “go outside and watch the clouds” after severe weather threatened Clarendon last Thursday.

“I would like for citizens of Donley County to please heed the warnings and take cover for their safety,” Blackburn said.

Several long whistles signify a tornado warning, and a continuous blast means danger is eminent.

Emergency officials blew sirens in Clarendon repeatedly when a rotating storm cloud passed over the city. A funnel formed as the cloud passed the northeast edge of city, and a tornado touched down in the countryside.

Blackburn said there had been no reports of damage from the tornado. Emergency crews were back out again Saturday as a slow moving cloud produced funnel clouds, high wind, hail, and heavy rain near Wayside in Armstrong County.

“We had lots of cooperation from the fire departments in Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick,” Blackburn said. “There are people out there giving their time and leaving their families for the safety of others, and they aren’t getting paid for it like we are.”