Archives for March 2006

Donley County’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly in January to 5.0 percent after settling at 3.5 percent in December.

The seasonally non-adjusted data from the Texas Workforce Commission shows 1,740 employed locally out of a potential work force of 1,832.

The number of people out of work in Donley County rose from 66 in December to 92 in January, which is almost identical to the same period one year ago when 93 people were looking for work, but not as high as two years ago when 111 were unemployed.

The local unemployment rate now matches the statewide rate at 5.0 percent, which actually indicates a decrease in statewide unemployment, which was 5.2 percent in December and 5.5 percent one year ago.

Seasonally Adjusted Nonagricultural Employment in Texas grew by 13,200 jobs in January, the 16th consecutive month of job growth. Seven of eleven industry sectors reported job growth over the month. Employment increased by 269,600 positions over the year, for an annual growth rate of 2.8 percent.

Initial claims for unemployment compensation for January were down 20.1 percent over the last 12 months, and down 32.0 percent, compared to initial claims for unemployment compensation in January 2004.

“The addition of jobs by Texas employers, as well as the declining unemployment rate, is great news for the labor market,” said TWC Chair Diane Rath. “These positive trends underscore the economic growth we are experiencing across the state.”

In the Service Providing Sector, Professional & Business Services added 4,200 jobs in January and 67,000 jobs since January 2005, representing an annual growth rate of 6.0 percent. Employment in Trade, Transportation & Utilities rose by 4,000 jobs in January, for an increase of 47,300 jobs since January 2005.

Education & Health Services employment rose by 2,800 jobs, adding 40,500 jobs over the year. Financial Activities employment increased by 1,900 jobs in January, more than double its December gain of 800 jobs.

“Texas employers have added nearly 270,000 jobs in the last year, demonstrating increased confidence in the strength of the marketplace,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ron Lehman. “I’m encouraged by growth in both service providing and goods producing sectors, including large year over year gains in Professional & Business Services and Construction.”

In the Goods Producing Sector, Construction added 1,500 jobs for the month and 29,000 jobs for the year, marking an annual growth rate of 5.2 percent. Natural Resources & Mining employment rose by 12,800 jobs over the year, for an annual growth rate of 8.1 percent.

“The number of employed Texans has grown to 10.8 million workers, and the unemployment rate continues to go down,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton.

“Texas’ abundant, skilled workforce is one of the strongest factors in attracting and retaining business in our state.”

The Donley County Hospital Board met in regular session March 21 in the Conference Room of the Medical Center Nursing Home.

Holly Eads certified the candidates for this year’s board election as being unopposed, and the board approved a resolution declaring Onita Thomas, Carolyn Moffett, Gene Hommel, and Bright Newhouse as duly reelected.

Board Chairman Alan Fletcher discussed the “Time for a Change” advertisement printed in the March 16 edition of The Clarendon Enterprise, which in part calls for a petition to abolish the hospital district tax.

Members of the board agreed that many people are uninformed about the function of the hospital district, noting the number of people employed by the district, the presence of the nursing home and the ambulance service, and the necessity to pay for indigent care.

“I don’t think these people have any idea what the tax does,” director Onita Thomas said.

Fellow director Melinda McAnear agreed with Thomas.

“I think it’s the name, and that’s been a problem since the hospital closed,” McAnear said.

Administrator Vicky Robertson reviewed petition requirements and procedures with the board.

Fletcher and other board members said they intended to attend the taxpayers’ meeting called for in the advertisement in order to answer questions about the tax. The board also voted to purchase an ad of equal size explaining the function of the hospital district.

In other district business, Eads gave the indigent care report and said one inmate application had been approved, two six-months reviews had been completed and benefits continued, and three applications were pending requested information. Reimbursements of $160.75 had been received.

Robertson reviewed the monthly budget for the Medical Center Nursing Home and said the facility’s census was 53 that day. She also reported on the costs and attendance related to family nights for the residents, and this item will be placed on the April board agenda.

Henry Stephens of Valor Telecom reviewed proposals by his company for a new telephone system for the hospital district that would expand and replace the current system, which has been experiencing problems. The board will review the proposals before the next meeting.

Robertson also discussed other potential capital improvements for the board to consider in making long-range plans for the facility.

The board approved sending Robertson and Eads to an out-of-state workshop on Medicare billing since MCNH anticipates admitting its first Medicare patient in the near future.

Associated Ambulance Authority Director Anita Aaron reported 46 calls serving 47 patients during the month of February. She also reported five fire department stand-by calls.

Fletcher reported that he and Newhouse had worked out with Clarendon College how EMT classes could be accredited by the college, and the board approved that agreement.

Aaron reported that Debra Hill had written a grant to purchase another Evac-U-Splint at a cost of $1,500, which will be covered entirely by the grant. 

Aaron also reported that the she will be conducting an advanced level EMT-Intermediate class in Childress.

The local population will more than double this weekend when the 25th annual Clarendon College Invitational Judging Contest is held on Saturday.

The contest regularly attracts more than 2,000 high school FFA students and 4-H students from Texas and nearby states, but some officials say attendance at this year’s contest may approach 3,000.

CC President Myles Shelton reported to the Clarendon Lions Club Tuesday afternoon that pre-registrations had already surpassed 1,700 and that figure was strictly FFA students and did not include 4-H members, sponsors, and parents as well as friends and other relatives.

According to the 2000 US Census, Clarendon has a population of 1,974.

Past contests have had huge impacts on the local economy, and more attendees at this year’s contest will certainly increase that effect. Restaurants are typically packed for the event to the point of actually having to turn people away, and this year will likely be equally successful.

Best Western American Inn owner Steve Hall says his establishment is already booked solid for the weekend.

In fact, the annual judging contest is the single biggest event to attract visitors from out of county for one day than any other annual event. By comparison, the July 4th Saints’ Roost Celebration barbecue annually attracts about 1,000 people, and the Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff records between 1,000 and 1,500 visitors each September. Both of those events, however, have hundreds of local residents in attendance. The greatest number of people at the judging contest will come from outside of Donley County.

In addition to helping local merchants, the event also presents a great opportunity for CC to showcase its campus, faculty, and programs for prospective students. Johnny Treichel, Clarendon College livestock and meats judging coach, said the event is the biggest recruiting tool for the college.

“This is the only time each year the college has this many potential students on campus,” he said. “And we are pleased to have such positive support from the community.”

While always supportive of the judging contest, several local organizations have actually stepped up to help sponsor and financially contribute to the event this year. Those groups include the Lions Club, the City of Clarendon, the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation, the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce and the Best Western American Inn.

The push is underway across Texas to get Richard “Kinky” Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn on the November ballot as independent candidates for governor.

Friedman and Strayhorn must each gather 45,540 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries this year, and they must have those signatures submitted to the Secretary of State’s office by May 11, 2006.

Clarendon attorney Jerry Courtney is heading the Friedman petition drive in Donley County, but no one has reported a Strayhorn petition being circulated locally. Voters can sign only one petition.

For more information about Friedman’s petition, contact Courtney at work at 874-3535, at home at 874-2626, or on his cell phone at 679-8652.

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen turned down a proposal to purchase a swimming pool during their regular meeting last Tuesday.

Western Skies Motel owner G. Patel had offered to sell the swimming pool west of his establishment to the city for $35,000; but the mayor, the board, and other city officials all had concerns about the deal and the cost to turn Patel’s private pool into one for public use.

Patel had earlier said his pool was hard to manage and monitor since it was out of sight from his front desk and said he hoped to build a new pool in front of the motel that would be more visible to travelers.

Alderman Janice Knorpp said last Tuesday that the city would have to hire a lifeguard and a qualified person to maintain the pool and its equipment. Alderman Bobbie Kidd noted that the city would have to build a parking lot for the pool, which is located between the motel and the Dollar General, and he said, “I’m not real crazy about the location.”

Other items of concern for the city included the need to build a taller privacy fence and gate, the cost of insurance, and the absence of changing rooms and showers.

City Superintendent Jim Roberts told the board he thought it would take at least as much to fix the pool for the city’s purposes as it would to buy the pool.

In other city business, the board approved the submission of a Texas Community Development STEP Grant in the amount of $306,585 for a new high-capacity water pump system for the west side of Clarendon and for ten new fire hydrants.

Life Scout LaDez Captain presented his proposed project for his Eagle Scout rank. Captain asked the city to supply paint and supplies to fix up the North Ward Park equipment, and he said he would like to see the basketball court at the park enlarged with new goals installed. The board directed the city superintendent to provide Captain with the paint, brushes, and other items to fix up the park equipment and asked Captain to return with figures for the cost of concrete and goals.

City engineer Che Shadle discussed the ongoing street project. He said the contractor is making progress and predicted the curbing would be finished soon. He said the asphalt season will begin on April 15.

During the city superintendent’s report, Mayor Tex Selvidge inquired if the city has an evacuation plan. Roberts said one is in place under the jurisdiction of the county.

The Texas motto of “friendship” has come to life following last week’s wildfires as numerous organizations have mobilized to assist those affected by the disaster.

Starting close to home, the Donley County State Bank is accepting donations on behalf of Amarillo National Bank to help defray the living expenses of three Howardwick firemen who were badly injured during the I-40 fire.

Also to help those injured firemen, the Silverton Fire Department is planning an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast this Saturday, March 25, at the showbarn in Silverton. The breakfast will be served from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and the cost is $5 per person with the proceeds going to the Howardwick firemen.

Community Bank in Clarendon is also seeking help for the Howardwick Fire Department by establishing a fund for donations to replace the fire truck that was lost in that same accident.

This Thursday, March 23, the Texas Cooperative Extension, along with USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency, will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. in the Clarendon Church of Christ Family Life Center to help producers mitigate losses encountered due to the recent wildfires in the Panhandle and develop strategies for the future.

The Amarillo Area Foundation has established an emergency relief fund to assist individuals and families following the fires. The “Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund” plans to work directly with organizations that are providing services for basic necessities. The fund was established with an initial $50,000 donation from the Foundation. The fund also provides a direct way for others to assist through gifts to the fund.

All donations are tax deductible and may be sent to the Amarillo Area Foundation, c/o Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund, 801 S. Fillmore, Suite 700, Amarillo, Texas 79101. Organizations requesting funds should send a letter with the amount and purpose to the attention of Angela Lust at the Amarillo Area Foundation. 

In addition, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association have established the “Cattlemen’s Disaster Relief Fund” at the Amarillo Area Foundation to assist cattlemen with disaster relief. Contributions to this fund may also be made to the Amarillo Area Foundation, c/o Cattlemen’s Disaster Relief Fund. For information, contact Jim Allison at 806-376-4521.

The Texas Farm Bureau is asking members in other parts of the state to step forward. The Bureau is accepting donations of hay, fence posts and wire, personal items, and monetary contributions for families affected by wildfires. Contact the Gray-Roberts county office at 665-8451 to help.

Donations can also be made to the Red Cross by calling 800-297-2270.

Readers and advertisers of The Clarendon Enterprise also did their part this week by participating in the full-page ad on the last page of this edition. Proceeds from that advertisement will be divided among the three local fire departments.