Archives for May 2007

Clarendon High School has announced the top two students in the graduating class of 2007 – Regan Lemley and Jake Miser.

With a grade point average of 98.68, Regan Lemley has been named the valedictorian at CHS.  She is the daughter of Joe and Rose Lemley.  During her high school career, Regan has been active in basketball, band, track, and UIL Academics. 

While involved in UIL Academics, Regan has advanced to state competition in Literary Criticism and has advanced to regional competition in Editorial Writing and Ready Writing. She has also been a member of the regional qualifying One Act Play for the past three years.

While participating in band, she has served as the color guard captain.  Regan was also a member of the CHS Science Bowl team.

Regan is a member of the National Honor Society, the French Club, and the Junior Historians.  While in the Junior Historians, Regan qualified for the state competition.  She has also served as senior class president.

While playing basketball for the Lady Broncos, Regan has been named to the all-district team, the Highland Park Tournament All-Star Team, was the winner of the Greenbelt Classic 3-point contest, and has been awarded the CHS Lady Bronco Fighting Heart Award.

Regan has been the recipient of many academic awards.  She has received the Pantex and Ascension Academy Award of Excellence in Math and Science; she has been named Academic All State in basketball, and she received the Lead America Innovation in Science Award. She is a member of the National Honor Roll, an alumni member of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine and Healthcare, and is an alumni member of the People to People Leadership Summit.  Regan has also been awarded numerous Honor C’s for academic excellence at CHS.

Regan Lemley will attend Southwestern University and begin her studies in Pre-Med.

Jake Miser has been named salutatorian at CHS with a grade point average of 98.03.  He is the son of Phillip and Laura Miser.

Jake has been named to the National Honor Society of which he is currently serving as president. He has been very involved in UIL Academics where he has advanced to state in Literary Criticism and Social Studies.  He has been awarded numerous Honor C’s throughout his high school career.

Jake has remained involved as a member of the Bronco Band, serving as drum major for two years.  He is currently serving as the vice-president of the Junior Historians and advanced to the state competition in group performance for the past two years.  Jake has also been a member of the National Society for High School Scholars for the past two years and has also been named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Jake has been very involved in school activities and organizations.  He has been a member of the French Club for 3 years, a member of a state qualifying solo and ensemble for 4 years, an all region band member for 2 years, a member of the state alternate One Act Play for 2 years, participated in fall theatre productions for two years, and has helped tutor during the Clarendon High School after school tutoring program.  Jake has also been a member of the Bronco basketball and track teams.  He has been a member of the annual staff and is currently serving as the editor. 

Jake has also participated in National History Day where he qualified for state competition two years, has been a member of the science bowl, and is a member of the local gifted and talented.  He has also been a member of the jazz band at Clarendon College. 

He has been named Most Studious and Most Likely to Succeed.  Jake has received numerous Honor C’s for his academic success at CHS.  Jake has also been named Clarendon Young Man of the Year by the Donley County Chamber of Commerce.

Jake Miser will attend Wayland and is undecided on a major.

The Class of 2007 will graduate during commencement exercises on Friday, May 25, 2007, in the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center Auditorium at 8 p.m.

Clarendon Mayor Mark White was elected by a wide margin to his own full term to lead the city Saturday, and two new faces will join the Board of Aldermen.

White defeated challenger Lauraine Paul by a margin of 169 to 35 in an election that was marked by a very low turnout.

Terry Noble and Ann Huey topped the field of four candidates running for aldermen. Noble received 124 votes, and Huey garnered 87. They were followed by Claude Debord with 83 and Bobby Woodard with 68.

Noble and Huey will replace Aldermen Michael Tibbets and Bobbie Kidd, neither of whom ran for reelection.

A total of 204 votes were cast in the mayor’s race, reflecting a turnout of 15.9 percent.

Also on Saturday, residents of the Hedley Independent School District cast ballots in a hotly contested race among nine candidates for four positions on the Board of Trustees.

James Edward Potts received the most support with 93 votes, and Abby O’Neal, the sole incumbent to be reelected, received 72 votes. Troy Monroe and Jim Lollar will also join the board with 71 and 66 votes respectively.

Other candidates in Saturday’s Hedley school election were incumbent Jason Sargent 62, incumbent Rex Morris 52, Mary Jon Hicks 51, incumbent Marlee Sharp 48, and Kelly Patton 31.

Less than 15 percent of Donley County voters cast ballots in Saturday’s state constitutional amendment election. Those voters approved 272 to 97 of Proposition One, which dealt with extending last year’s school tax savings to elderly and disabled citizens whose taxes were previously frozen.

Recent rainfall has brought some “welcomed delays” as this year’s planting season gets underway for local farmers.

Fifty-year Cooperative Observator for the National Weather Service, Tommie Saye, has reported 10.98” of rain so far for this year compared to 5.41” to date one year ago.

Donley County farmer Bob White said the rainfall has been a benefit on this year’s crops.

“Mother Nature does a much better job watering than irrigation does, and farmers have not had to pull as much water from the underground aquifers as they did last year,” White said.

Although the rainfall has put a pause in some farmers’ planting season, White said. “It has been a welcomed delay.”

 The only time so far this year that White has had to start pivots to water was to cut in chemical to incorporate herbicides. This has saved a lot of money and resources in comparison with last year’s preparation for planting season.

Donley County Extension Agent Leonard Haynes agrees that the recent rainfall has brought several postponements to this year’s planting season.

“Farmers are having to wait for the ground to dry up before they are able to start planting,” Haynes said.

Even though Haynes said the setbacks have slowed down the planting process, he does believe there are several benefits from the recent rainfall.

“We have the soil moisture that we haven’t had in the past several years, and farmers are saving a lot on fuel cost by not having to run irrigation motors so early on in the year,” Haynes said.

In studies performed last year, Haynes said based on pumping cost per hour, it cost $2.85 to run a natural gas irrigation motor, and $6.85 per hour to run a diesel motor. It can take several days of constant running to irrigate an entire circle. These figures were based when natural gas was at $6 per CCF and diesel cost $2.30 per gallon.

“The benefits of the moisture definitely outweigh the downsides of the rain delays.”

Haynes said farmers should be done planting peanuts by June 1 and cotton no later than June 15.

Some of the crops being planted at this time include cotton, cane hay, sorghum silage, and a variety of peanuts.

The Clarendon Enterprise received six first place plaques in the Panhandle Press Association’s 2006 Better Newspaper Contest during the PPA’s 97th annual convention Saturday in Amarillo and tied with The Canadian Record for General Excellence honors.

The local paper also received the Ken Towery Community Service Award in the Division I category for weekly newspapers for coverage of last year’s wildfires and a campaign that raised money for the three local fire departments. The Enterprise has previously received the Towery Award in 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001, and 1999.

The tie for General Excellence was an unusual occurrence.

“We battle back and forth with Canadian every year for the top honors,” said publisher Roger Estlack. “Laurie Ezzell Brown and her staff in Canadian consistently produce one of the very best newspapers in the state. To be tied with them means we must be doing something right.”

The Enterprise received first place honors for Feature Photos by Roger Estlack and Kari Lindsey; Front Page Layout; Spot News Photos by Roger Estlack and Kari Lindsey; Best Advertising Initiative by Roger Estlack, Julie Funderberg, and Ashlee Estlack; Best Sports Writing by Sandy Anderberg; and Best Humorous Columns by Carrie Helms Tippen and Roger Estlack.

“Last year was a trying year for the Enterprise when we lost my Dad and our senior staff member Cheryl Johnson left for a new career,” Estlack said. “Our new staff – Ashlee, Julie, and Anndria (Kidd) – have really stepped up, and I’m very proud of them.”

The paper also received second place awards for Headline Writing, Feature Writing, News Writing, and Editorials. Third place plaques were also received in the categories of Spot News Photos and Society/Lifestyles. Helms also received an Honorable Mention for Serious Columns.

Attending this year’s convention and accepting the awards on the Enterprise’s behalf were publisher Roger Estlack, Office Director Ashlee Estlack, Classified Ad Manager Anndria Kidd, and Ben Estlack.

A Lelia Lake man was found guilty of Indecency with a Child last Wednesday and is facing an additional charge after he did not show up for the sentencing portion of his trial on Thursday.

A Donley County Jury convicted Gabriel M. Callis on a charge that he had inappropriate sexual contact with a child under the age of 17 with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of himself. The incident happened on New Year’s Day during a sleepover.

The jury also found Callis not guilty of a second count of the same charge.

Jurors heard testimony of two prior assaults the defendant had committed, but Callis had no prior history of sex offenses, District Attorney Stuart Messer said.

Callis missed his 8 a.m. court time Thursday for the sentencing phase of his trial, according to Sheriff Butch Blackburn.

The dispatcher at the sheriff’s office logged a call at 7:57 a.m. that a man in Lelia Lake was threatening suicide. Deputies Randy Bond, Mike Spier, and Kelly Hill responded to the call and found Callis wielding a knife and threatening to harm himself, Blackburn said.

“Chief Deputy Randy Bond was able to talk him out of doing anything,” the sheriff said.

At the courthouse, District Judge David McCoy ordered Blackburn to arrest Callis and place him in the Donley County Jail on a charge of Failure to Appear.

Messer said the jurors were kept unaware of Callis’ suicide threat and his arrest so as not to prejudice their decision in the case before them.

While the defendant was in custody, the jury determined that Callis receive a sentence of five years confinement probated to eight years probation and a fine of $10,000 probated to $5,000.

“If he violates his probation, a judge could sentence him up to five years in prison,” Messer said.

The district attorney also said Callis will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

“I appreciate the hard work of the sheriff’s office and the jurors in this case,” Messer said.

Callis was arraigned Thursday by County Judge Jack Hall for the Failure to Appear Charge and was released Friday on $20,000 bond.

“Failure to Appear is a third degree felony, and that charge will now have to go through the court process,” Blackburn said.

Messer’s office said a third degree felony could carry a sentence of two to ten years.

Voters will head to the polls this Saturday, May 12, to cast ballots in local elections and in a state constitutional amendment election.

Clarendon voters will be choosing a mayor and two aldermen. Lauraine Paul is challenging Mayor Mark White to be the city’s chief executive; and Claude Debord, Ann Huey, Terry Noble, and Bobby Woodard are vying for two open positions on the Board of Aldermen.

City ballots can be cast at the Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center, the Donley County Courthouse, the Clarendon Community Center, or the Burton Memorial Library.

Voters in the Hedley school district will have several candidates to choose from with nine people competing for four on the Board of Trustees. Incumbents Rex Morris, Abby O’Neal, Jason Sargent, and Marlee Sharp are being challenged by Mary Jon Hicks, James Lollar, Troy Monroe, Kelly Patton, and James Edward Potts.

Ballots in the Hedley school election can be cast only at the Hedley Lions Club building.

In addition to local races, all voters in Donley County can participate in the state constitutional amendment election to cast ballots for or against Proposition One, which would “provide for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for public school purposes on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect any reduction in the rate of those taxes for the 2006 and 2007 tax years.”

Polling places for the state constitutional amendment election are as follows: Precinct 101 – Bairfield Activity Center, Precinct 102 – Howardwick City Hall, Precinct 201 – Donley County Courthouse, Precinct 301 – Clarendon Community Center, Precinct 303 – Hedley Lions Club, and Precinct 401 – Burton Memorial Library.

Polls will be open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Longtime Justice of the Peace Jimmy Johnson retired effective last Friday but will continue as City of Clarendon Municipal Judge.

Johnson held the office of Justice of the Peace for Precincts 1 & 2 for fourteen years before stepping down last week citing health concerns and stress as the cause for the decision.

“There are several reasons,” he said.  “I’m 66, I’ve had some heart problems, and then there’s the stress factor.”

Johnson will continue his part time job as municipal judge from his new office at 116 S. Kearney.

“This is part time, and it gives me more free time with my family.”

As municipal judge Johnson handles Class C misdemeanors that occur within the city limits of Clarendon.

“I see traffic and public intoxication violations, bad checks, failure to attend school, and other Class C misdemeanors,” he said.

Johnson took the job of municipal judge in 1999 and since then has been able to collect a lot of money for local businesses who’ve received hot checks.

The County is currently soliciting applications to replace Johnson as JP.

“Applications will be accepted until May 23 at 5 p.m.,” Donley County Judge Jack Hall said.

Until someone is selected to fill the position, Ann Kennedy, Justice of the Peace for Precincts 3 & 4, is covering the duties of that office.

To qualify for the position you must have resided continuously in the state of Texas for 12 months and be a resident of Precinct 1 or 2 for the preceding six months.

Applications can be picked up in Judge Hall’s office.

Clarendon Mayor Mark White has been at the city’s helm for less than a year and is seeking his first full term in that position.

White grew up in Clarendon and graduated from Clarendon High School in 1981 before attending Clarendon College and West Texas State University. In 1983, he took a position with the family business, Wallace Monument Co.; and today, he and his sister are co-owners of the business.

City leaders picked White to fill a vacant position on the Board of Aldermen in 2001. He soon was tapped as the city’s Mayor Pro-tem and then succeeded Mayor Tex Selvidge when he stepped down last May. White visited with the Enterprise last week to discuss the accomplishments the city has made and the things he would like to see happen if he’s reelected.

ENTERPRISE: What would you say are the main accomplishments Clarendon has achieved since you joined the Board of Aldermen?

WHITE: I think the main accomplishment has been the street project. Another has been getting the [Best Western] hotel here.

ENTERPRISE: What good has come from the street project?

WHITE: The main benefits have been water control along with beautification of that part of town. Travelers don’t have to go down rub-boarded roads anymore. Another thing is dust control. You know, used to we would have to dust at home once a week, and now it’s not so bad. It was coming off those streets.

ENTERPRISE: A lot of people were against the street project. What would you say to them?

You have to keep up with the times if you’re going to grow and prosper. I think that was a step toward beautifying the town. It cost a lot of money, but I feel like it was money well spent.

ENTERPRISE: Maintenance of the streets is always an issue. What can be done in that area?

WHITE: We are trying to find a street sweeper that we can afford, and our summer help will be shoveling and sweeping rocks and dirt out of the gutters. We hope to seal coat a certain number of streets every year on a five-year rotation, and that work will go to bid this August.

ENTERPRISE: The personal property tax has been the subject of a lot of debate lately. What are your personal thoughts about that issue?

WHITE: I don’t like the personal property tax; but I feel like if we don’t have it, the ad valorem rate would have to go up. I think there needs to be a cap on taxing vehicles. Anything over 10 years doesn’t need to be taxed.

ENTERPRISE: So is that something you would push for if you are re-elected?

WHITE: Sure.

ENTERPRISE: In the last few years, there has been some discussion at City Hall about publishing the list of who owes delinquent taxes. What are your feelings on this?

WHITE: I think the Donley Appraisal District has done a lot better job recently of collecting delinquent taxes; and if a list is going to be published, it ought to be up to the appraisal district.

ENTERPRISE: What are your goals if you’re re-elected?

WHITE: I want to see the downtown area beautified with new sidewalks and ADA ramps. We’ve got a grant to install a water pressure system in the west side of town. The pressure in that area is extremely low and could be a potential health issue, and I want to see that project finished. Also, our water tower is deteriorating and needs to be replaced.

ENTERPRISE: What’s wrong with the water tower?

WHITE: It was built in the 1920s, and we’ve had to weld up some places where it’s seeping. We’ve applied for a grant to replace it and should know something in the near future.

ENTERPRISE: Any other goals?

WHITE: I just want to see Clarendon continue to grow and thrive. We have a lot going for a town our size, and I want to see it continue to be that way. We’ve applied for a parks grant to get some new picnic tables and playground equipment – merry-go-rounds and swings – for the park. It would also plant wildflowers in the terraces at the park.

ENTERPRISE: As you look into the future at Clarendon 10 or 15 years down the road, what do you see?

WHITE: I hope it’s a lot cleaner and nicer. Hopefully, we’ll have more paved streets, more sidewalks, and maybe another new hotel to bring more people to town. I’d also like to have an activity center for our youth.

ENTERPRISE: What would be your final message to the voters?

WHITE: I would just encourage them to use their vote. I’d appreciate their support, and I will do the best I can to serve the taxpayers.