Archives for May 2007

The Clarendon College Board of Regents approved higher room and board rates during their regular meeting last Thursday, April 26.

Room and board rates for students living in CC residence hall have not increased since 2003; but since that time, the college’s electric bills have gone up 23.7 percent, and natural gas has increased 67.8 percent, President Myles Shelton said.

The board approved raising all room rates by $75 per semester. Food charges will increase $50 per semester due to higher costs in the college’s contract with Great Western Dining.

In other college business, regents approved hiring Debra Kuhl as the new dean of instruction to start in July.

Wendy Pachas-Bauza was hired as the new enrollment services counselor at Pampa, and Rusty Kennedy will return as the women’s basketball coach.

Regents accepted the resignation of Doak Elledge as an RFO instructor and approved a sabbatical for the 2007-2008 academic year for instructor Michael Tibbets.

The board approved contract renewals for 2007-2008 for the following instructors: Jennifer Black, Charla Crump, Gene Denney, Pam Denney, Russell Estlack, Scarlet Estlack, Cynthia Ewing, Skip Frazier, Jan Haynes, Bill Huey, Jack McCarty, Melissa McCoy, Kent Miller, Jimidene Murphey, Phyliss Norton, Darryl Perryman, Jonea Rima, Carolyn Smith, Chad Smith, Tony Starnes, Peggy Stewart, Robert Taylor, Johnny Treichel, Laban Tubbs, Frank Vance, Matt Vanderburg, Larry Wiginton, and Ken Wilson.

A contract extension through December 2007 was also approved for Lydia Menke.

Bids on surplus vehicles were opened, and two were accepted. The others were rejected for being below fair market value.

A lease agreement was approved off the state bid board for a new Canon copier to be supplied by Danka.

Bids on delinquent tax property were approved as presented by the Donley County Appraisal District.

The board discussed the renovation of the gym floor and approved a motion to bring in a third party to inspect the floor before making the final payment on the work.

The assailant, the dorm room rape, and the entire story given to authorities last month by a Clarendon College student was all a complete fabrication, according to Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn.

The 18-year-old accuser had claimed that on the afternoon of Sunday, April 15, a man dressed in dark clothing and wearing gloves and a ski mask had entered her room in Knorpp Hall, brandished a gun, and forced her to have sex before fleeing.

“We were somewhat leery from the start due to a lack of physical evidence from the rape exam,” Blackburn said. “And also, the description of the assailant was something you’d see on TV at night.”

Still the sheriff’s office gave its full attention to the alleged attack, devoting three officers to working on it eight hours a day for a week, Blackburn said.

Last week, the sheriff turned the accuser’s written account of the attack over to former Carson County sheriff and handwriting analyst Loren Brand, who determined that the young woman was lying in her report. An analyst with the Texas Rangers made the same determination.

Blackburn and Texas Ranger Alvin Smit traveled to the accuser’s home in Brownfield last Friday to interview the student again.

“She gave a full retraction and told us (the story) was totally false,” the sheriff said.

Blackburn said a full report of the case will be given to the District Attorney’s office to determine whether charges should be filed against the student.

“I can tell you my office will not pursue charges in this case,” Blackburn said.

In a prepared statement, Clarendon College officials said, “…anytime a student reports an incident of this nature on campus it will be taken seriously.  If there is any good to come out this situation it is a heightened and renewed commitment to the safety of our students and to a safe learning environment at Clarendon College.”

The statement went on to thank the sheriff and his office for “their tireless efforts in working to resolve this matter” and members of the community who offered to help CC students over the last two weeks.

Blackburn also thinks some good can come from the case.

“It’s brought up issues that needed to be addressed at the college, such as security at the dorms, and I hope the college will follow through with plans to tighten security,” the sheriff said. “It scared a lot of people. It could happen here just like in any big city, but luckily this time it didn’t happen.”

CC President Myles Shelton told the Enterprise Monday morning that the college will continue to review its safety and security procedures, and that any changes would hopefully be in place by the start of the fall semester.

A native of Pennsylvania, Paul has family roots in Clarendon through four generations. She graduated from General McLane High School in Edinboro, Penn., and earned a degree in psychology from Edinboro University. Since then, she’s gotten her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Phoenix and is pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership.

The candidate moved here in 2003 and currently works for Clarendon College as an Education Instructor. She sat down Tuesday morning with the Enterprise to talk about her view of the city and what needs to be done to give it more “pizzazz.”

ENTERPRISE: What prompted you to run for mayor?

PAUL: One of the classes I’m taking put the idea in my head about initiating change, and I see a lot of potential for the town. Then recently a high school student talked to me about wanting to leave town – not just leave home but leave town. I noticed then that we don’t offer a lot for our youth. I can’t imagine having your roots here and not wanting to stay here. There’s a lot we can offer. It’s just a matter of tapping that potential. One of the ideas I have to just get us out of the survival mode and to encourage people to make this a better place. Let’s bring the life and the zing back to what Clarendon should be.

ENTERPRISE: In the four years that you’ve lived here, can you point to some accomplishments that the city has made?

PAUL: It’s not that things haven’t happened. They’ve got the streets done on the west side of town, and things are moving. They’ve got grants that they’re working on. But people don’t seem to want to call and complain because results aren’t fast enough. When people call, they are almost hassled sometimes instead of getting a responsive answer. The result is that people don’t call.

ENTERPRISE: So the city needs to work on being more responsive and receptive when people call?

PAUL: Yes. And we need to educate individuals about the steps it takes to make things happen.

ENTERPRISE: You mentioned grants. The city is working on a downtown revitalization grant and a grant for the park. What do you think of those?

PAUL: I think they can do better. I understand one of those we have a $33,000 match for. I think we can get 100 percent money. I don’t know all of the city finances yet. If you need to buy a new trash truck, you may need that $33,000 for that. The projects definitely need to be done though.

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

PAUL: I go both ways. There is no state tax; and since there is none, you have to bring that money in from somewhere. But you’re getting taxed on everything; and when the tax on your vehicles adds up to more than the tax on your property, you scratch your head. The personal property tax pays for so much. I think a lot of people are upset because we’re one of the only counties that collect it, and I think it’s upsetting when people move their vehicles around to avoid the tax.

ENTERPRISE: Is there a way that you as mayor could lessen the burden of that tax?

PAUL: Again, educating individuals to know where the tax is going. Teach people the trickle down effect if you freeze taxes on senior citizens. The money comes from somewhere. I would be curious to see where the money goes. It’s all about informing and educating the people.

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?

PAUL: I teeter-totter on that one. People just don’t understand what their taxes are going for. I agree with getting people to pay their taxes though.

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

PAUL: A beautiful town. Change does not happen overnight or in a month. It takes a long time. Some things can happen quickly – educating the public, for example. But I see more individuals here and more movement forward. I can see more of the town preserved and more excitement and pizzazz.

ENTERPRISE: Why should the people of Clarendon vote for you over your opponent?

PAUL: For the idea of change and moving forward. Mark White has a lot of great ideas and has done a good job. But you need to be proactive. It’s the idea of bringing fresh ideas to the city.

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

PAUL: Don’t vote for an individual and their vision. Vote for the person you think will take care of your concerns and will make the decisions you care about.

Next week: A conversation with Mayor Mark White and profiles of the candidates for Clarendon aldermen.