Archives for April 2006

Jobless claims in Donley County fell slightly in February and March bringing the local unemployment rate to 4.9, then 4.7 percent, which is down from 5.0 percent in January.

The seasonally non-adjusted data for March from the Texas Workforce Commission shows 1,683 people employed locally out of a potential work force of 1,766.

The number of people out of work in Donley County fell from 92 in January to 86 in February and to 83 in March, but the size of the workforce also shrank by 61 people in February and by five people in March.

The local unemployment rate is now slightly below the statewide rate of 5.0 percent.

Seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment in Texas increased by 23,200 jobs in March and a total of 279,400 jobs over the last 12 months. The annual growth rate for total nonagricultural employment has remained positive for the past two years and stands at 2.9 percent.

Decreasing unemployment rates over the year were widespread, with nearly all Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in Texas experiencing a decline from March 2005 through March 2006.

“Job growth continues to signal the health of the Texas labor market, as all major industries have added jobs over the last year,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chair Diane Rath. “Texas employers have now added jobs for 31of the last 32 months and a total of 580,000 jobs since July 2003.”

Total Nonagricultural Employment in Texas experienced significant growth in March 2006. Annual growth remained constant at 2.9 percent. Job gains were equally spread throughout the industry groups, with only minimal decreases seen in Manufacturing, Leisure & Hospitality, and Other Services. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities led the way, with a gain of 5,200, followed by Professional & Business Services adding 4,700.

“Employment in Texas stands at an all-time high, 9,923,700 jobs, and is growing at a healthy rate of 2.9 percent,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ron Lehman. “Sustained job growth speaks well for Texas employers and the Texas economy.”

Employment in Construction gained 3,900 jobs in March, signifying 10 consecutive months of job growth. As a result, the annual growth rate edged upward to 5.8 percent, representing a gain of 32,100 jobs since March 2005.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities employment expanded for the third consecutive month, with a gain of 5,200 jobs in March 2006. Larger than usual gains throughout 2005 and 2006 contributed to an annual growth rate of 2.7 percent for March 2006.

“Employment is up, unemployment is down, and that’s good news for Texas workers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “More than 14,000 Texans found jobs last month, and well over a quarter of a million have found work since March 2005.”

Initial claims for unemployment compensation in March were 54,012, down 22.9 percent from March 2005 and 33.0 percent since March 2004.

The Donley County Hospital District Board met with a full agenda in regular session April 18 in the Conference Room of the Medical Center Nursing Home.

The board reviewed and approved budget amendments for the Medical Center Nursing Home and Associated Ambulance Authority.

Administrator Vicky Robertson reported the MCNH census at 53 residents with one resident in the hospital.

Holly Eads gave the indigent care report and said three six-month reviews had been completed with benefits continued in those cases. Two new applications were processed, one was approved, and one was denied. She also said the district had been reimbursed $461.92 for client who is now on SSI.

Robertson reported that a long-term care training for Medicare billing will be held at MCNH at a cost of $1,400 per day for two days. This in-house training will allow for more people to have access to the training and will be more cost effective than the out of state workshop previously approved.

The directors discussed and considered bylaws for the board and voted to rescind any and all previous bylaws and govern the board under rules established by the district’s enabling legislation.

That legislation provides that members can only serve as president or vice president of the board for one year.

Robertson reported that Charles Locklear had inspected the roof of the nursing home and said it could be repaired and that a new roof was not needed. The board voted to get bids for this work to be done.

Robertson also reported that a concrete pad had been poured for the Dumpsters and that a storage unit had been delivered to the nursing home.

The nursing home has begun receiving increased funding from Medicaid retroactive to January 1, 2006, and continuing through August. Approximately $19,000 has been received to date. Board president Alan Fletcher said the nursing home needs a cash reserve of $112,000, which would represent four months of expenses based on a census of 46 residents. A $28,000 reserve is needed for the ambulance service.

The expenses related to family nights at the nursing home were discussed, and the board voted to discontinue the practice.

Fletcher reported that the ambulance service is not being covered by volunteers and a study is being conducted regarding the feasibility of a volunteer staff vs. a paid staff.

Board members Fletcher, Melinda McAnear, and Carolyn Moffett agreed to serve on the 2006-2007 budget committee. A preliminary budget will be presented at the May board meeting.

During open floor discussion, there were no comments.

The Clarendon College Ex-Students Association bestowed its Distinguished Alumnus Award on two former students during the 68th annual Alumni Reunion last Saturday in the Bairfield Activity Center.

Austin attorney Broadus Spivey and the late Hazel Cole Brandon were each recognized for professional and personal achievements, civic responsibility, and continuing support of Clarendon College.

Spivey, a 1956 graduate of Clarendon College, was born in Hall County, and attended schools in Lakeview, Friendship, Memphis, and Goodnight before coming to Clarendon High School where he graduated in 1954. He married Ruth Ann King, and the couple moved to Austin, where Spivey graduated from the UT School of Law in 1962.

Spivey practiced law in Lubbock for ten years and then returned to Austin, where he has practiced law as a civil trial lawyer in all kinds of civil litigation and is now a partner in the firm of Spivey & Grigg, LLP. He was president of the Texas State Bar in 2001-2002.

Brandon was born in 1910 in Van Zandt County, Texas, and came from Cuerero, New Mexico, to Donley County in 1922.  She married James Richard Brandon on March 17, 1936, in Clarendon.

From the time she was a little girl, Hazel always wanted to be a teacher. Her goal was out of reach, however, because of her family’s finances. They could afford some of the costs but not all of them. Dean R.E. Drennan encouraged her to enroll in Clarendon College, and he and President H.T. Burton helped find ways for her education to be paid for. Her one year at Clarendon College gave her the start she needed to pursue her dream, and she never forgot that.

“Clarendon College was her hero,” her sister, Jimmie Matheson, said Saturday.

She was a school teacher for 33 years before retiring in 1974. Hazel was a member of the Texas State Retired Teachers Association.  She was also a member of the Clarendon Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #6 and had held various offices within that organization.

Before her death in 1998, Brandon was a faithful alumna, and she attended the annual alumni reunion regularly; and each year she quietly made some donation to the college, which had given her so much. Her award was accepted by her sister.

Other activities this weekend were the recognition of and presentation of Golden Diplomas to members of the Class of 1956; recognition of current outstanding CC students; and remarks on the current thoughts about higher education by CC President Myles Shelton.

Speakers for the evening included Jimmy Blackerby of the Class of 1966 and Broadus Spivey. Both men spoke of Clarendon College’s influence on their lives and the need for ex-students to support the college.

Blackerby discussed the life of a young man who attended the school 40 years ago, and the success that young man found in life after he attended Clarendon College – a life that included graduating from the University of Texas, an honored military career, success in business, and finding the love of his life. He then revealed that young man to be himself and said that his perspective had changed over the years.

“When you get closer to that point in your life where there are fewer days ahead than there are behind, the measuring stick you use for being successful changes,” he said. “You find that it’s not how much money you have or how many boards you sit on or how many honors you’ve received, but rather it’s how well you’ve served your family, your community, your country, and your God.”

Spivey talked about the characters he had known growing up in and around Donley County and of how the lessons he learned at Clarendon College followed him through life. In all his travels as an attorney, he said he frequently comes across others who either were from Clarendon or had attended Clarendon College.

Spivey also talked about his love for the college and the people who have worked there.

“These halls today are not the same halls that we walked, but they are just as hallowed,” he said. “They are not hallowed halls because of the brick or mortar or light fixtures, but because of the people who make up Clarendon College.”

An estimated 190 alumni, students, parents, and faculty attended this year’s banquet.

Ex-Student officers elected for the coming year during the Saturday business meeting include President Bud Schaffer, Vice President Chris Clifford, Secretary Hazel Guy, and directors Genella Eads, Neva Spier, and Mary Neil Risley. Also serving on the board are directors Frankie Henson and Shirley Bulman and immediate past president Jewel Houston.

AUSTIN – Local cities continue to enjoy higher sales tax receipts according to information released Friday by Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

Clarendon’s rebate for March was up 10.4 percent for a total of $18,859.54, and the city’s year-to-date figure is up 9.86 percent compared to the same period last year.

The City of Hedley’s rebate was $531.72, which is up from $377.51 last March and reflects a 40.84 percent increase. That city’s year-to-date figure is more than 76 percent ahead of last year.

Howardwick also was showing growth with a $876.56 rebate that was 9.66 percent ahead of the same period last year and a year-to-date total running 4.3 percent ahead.

The state itself received $1.36 billion in sales tax revenue in March, a 13.2 percent increase compared to March 2005.

Comptroller Strayhorn sent April sales tax allocations of $249.3 million to Texas cities, up 17.8 percent compared to April 2005.  Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are running 15.5 percent higher than last year. 

State sales tax revenue for March, and April payments made to local governments today, represent sales that occurred in February.