Archives for January 2007

In 1899, the first Catholic school in the Panhandle was established in Clarendon by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.  St. Mary’s Academy was closed  in 1911 due to an outbreak of typhoid fever. The Academy was moved to Amarillo where it continues today.

This Friday, January 12, Bishop John W. Yanta will lead a delegation from Amarillo and Pampa to recognize 108 years of Catholic education in the Panhandle. This event will be held at the refurbished St Mary’s church with includes the historic Altar refinished by Chriss Clifford and Theresa Shelton of Clarendon.

Bishop Yanta will begin the morning with Mass at 11 a.m. and will review the history and successes of the Catholic education system in the Panhandle of Texas.

Lunch will be served. The public is invited.

Those students not yet registered for the Spring 2007 semester at Clarendon College will have several opportunities to do so next week.

Registration in Clarendon will be held on Monday, January 15, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an evening registration will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.  Registration will be held in the Bairfield Activity Center.

The Clarendon College-Pampa Center at 1601 Kentucky in Pampa will hold registration on Friday, January 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  and on Monday, January 15, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Evening registration will be from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Registration at the Clarendon College-Childress Center, located at 1902 Ave. G NW Suite 1A in Childress, is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10.

Classes and late registration begin Tuesday, January 16.  The last day to register is January 25.

For a list of class offerings visit www.clarendoncollege.edu and click “Spring 2007 Class Schedule.”

For more information, call 874-3571 or 1-800-687-9737.

The Donley County Junior Livestock Show is upon us once again.

4-H and FFA members all over the county are gearing up for the 2007 Donley County Junior Livestock Show to be held this Saturday, January 13, 2007.

The show will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the Lamb and Goat show followed by the, Steer, Beef Heifer and Swine shows.

A premium auction will be held following the buyers’ appreciation dinner at 6 p.m. The premium auction is a way of helping youth to recover some of their expenses involved in purchasing and feeding their animal.

Raising a livestock project not only teaches youth about hard work, but it also increases their learning skills of leadership, responsibility, finance, nutrition management, and good sportsmanship. The Jr. Livestock Show Board would like to invite the public to come and support these youth at the show and premium auction.

Those who would also like to make a contribution to the auction may contact Livestock Show Chairman Larry Gray at 874-2095 or Leonard Haynes 874-2141 prior to the show. You can also make a contribution at the sale.

Donley County Commissioners began advertising for the position of Constable in Precincts 3&4 following their regular meeting Monday.

Former constable Mike Wallendorff resigned his position last month, telling the court that he wanted a change in occupation. He had held the job since his election in 2000.

County Judge Jack Hall said there is no timetable to fill the position.

Applicants for the job must have been a resident of either Precinct 3 or Precinct 4 for at least six months to qualify, and applications can be picked up in the judge’s office and must be returned by noon on February 12.

In other county business Monday, the court appointed Neil Koetting to the Donley County Child Welfare Board.

Commissioners approved a contract with Business Service Group to evaluate utilities and voted to purchase an external hard drive for backups in the clerk’s office.

Members of the local historical commission were reappointed, and bonds for elected officials were approved.

The policy manual was revised regarding insurance for part time employees

The court approved new signs for the county Dumpsters.

The court considered but did not act on a request to support fuel, electric, and advertising costs for the Junior Livestock Association.

The court also considered but did not act on repairs for the roof of the county jail.

Commissioners approved a computer contract for the county treasurer’s office and authorized the transfer of funds for a courthouse note payment.

The court approved a proposal for $1,610 from 4C Electric to install lights and electricity in storage units for the clerk’s office.

The employment of Carla Davidson as part time help in the clerk’s office was approved, and the attendance of commissioners at a continuing education course was approved also.

AUSTIN – Donley County’s unemployment rate remained steady at 3.6 percent in November after ticking up slightly in October, according to information released this week by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Seasonally non-adjusted data from TWC showed 1,747 people employed out of a workforce of 1,812. October’s data had 1,766 employed out of a workforce of 1,832.

The actual number of people looking for work in November was 65, which is down 67 in September.

Statewide seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment in Texas grew by 16,400 jobs from October to November as Texas employers continue adding jobs. Over the last 12 months, the Texas economy grew by 204,300 jobs, with an over-the-year growth rate of 2.1 percent.

Texas employers now have added jobs for 26 consecutive months. November’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent from last month’s 4.8 percent and from 5.3 percent in November 2005.

“Job growth has steadily increased for more than two years, which indicates a robust Texas labor market,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chair Diane Rath. “With broad-based job gains posted again this month, the state’s annual growth rate of 2.1 percent continues to significantly outpace the U.S. rate of 1.3 percent.”

Consumers can look forward to steady retail beef prices in 2007 as beef demand levels out and cattlemen continue to produce adequate supplies of beef. 

“Retail beef prices averaged $3.98 per pound in 2006, down 10¢ from the $4.08 we saw in 2005,” said Jim Gill, market director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) in Amarillo.

Speaking at the annual TCFA Year-End News Conference in December, Gill said strong beef demand has supported higher beef prices for several years. 

“But presently, beef demand seems to be leveling out; and it is likely that 2007’s retail beef price will show very little change from this year.”

For cattle feeders, the prediction is much the same – 2007 fed cattle prices should trade in a range similar to the price range seen in 2006.  Gill’s outlook for fed cattle prices: $78 to $86 in the first quarter; $82 to $88 in the second quarter; $84 to $90 in the third quarter; and $86 to $94 in the fourth quarter.

“Fed cattle prices during 2006 averaged near $86 per cwt. with a range from $78 to $98 during the year,” he said.  Fed cattle prices were pressured by record-setting slaughter weights combined with higher-than-expected cow slaughter due to the extended drought.  Slaughter weights in 2007 will likely trend lower in response to higher feed costs, he said.

Those higher feed costs will be driven by high corn costs as ethanol demand continues to fuel the grain complex.

“Since mid-September, corn prices have increased more than $1.10 per bushel on the futures market,” Gill said. 

The increase is driving cost of gain higher in feedyards, Gill said; and if any winter weather develops in the next several months, cost of gain could go higher yet. 

Looking down the road, Gill says feeder cattle supplies will continue to tighten over the next several years as ranchers retain heifers.  “The cow herd expansion that started several years ago has slowed or even stopped this year due to the drought,” Gill said. 

While that will put a bullish foundation under feeder cattle prices, pressure will continue to come from higher corn prices. 

In fact, cow-calf and stocker operators have seen feeder cattle prices come under pressure the past few months due to escalating corn costs, Gill said.