Archives for June 2008

The sale of the Medical Center Nursing Home is on track and will be finalized either June 30 or July 1, according to Donley County Hospital Board Chairman Alan Fletcher.

Last month the board set a June 3 deadline for the buyer to agree to a new contract with a sale price of $1,108,500 after legal questions arose over the first contract of sale.

“I think this thing is done,” Fletcher told the Enterprise Monday. “The buyer’s excited, and he thinks he’s found a physical therapist.”

Community Care Management Services of Denton under the name of Clarendon Realty, LTD, agreed to all of the board’s new terms, Fletcher said. After the sale, the district will pay the buyer $108,500 for management services from December 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008.

As the fiscal year draws to a close this month, the board is figuring its next budget two ways – with the nursing home and without the nursing home.

Fletcher said the district has held off on holding budget hearings until the board knows which budget it needs to adopt.

“We’ll probably have a called meeting the second week of July to adopt the new budget that reflects just the ambulance service and the indigent care expenses and bonded indebtedness of the hospital district,” he said.

Since the new budget will not be in place at the start of the next fiscal year, the old budget will carry over, Fletcher said.

The Donley County Commissioners Court approved a fireworks ban Monday, June 9.

According to County Judge Jack Hall, this ban means that citizens cannot set off fireworks that are sky rockets with sticks or missiles with fins, but it does allow the use of small fireworks that are Class C explosives or large fireworks that shoot up in the air and don’t hit the ground.

Hall said that the ban will remain in effect for at least a month or until the Texas Forest Service decides that drought conditions do not still exist.

Failure to obey the ban will result in a Class C misdemeanor that is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.

City ordinance also prohibits the use of fireworks in the city limits.

“The reason we put this ban into effect is because of the dry condition of the county. We’re trying to make an effort to protect the property of the residents in Donley County,” Hall said.

This ban creates complications for Kathleen Yankie, who owns Yankie’s Firework Stand and has been selling fireworks for more than 25 years.

“It’s just like any other business. If you cut down what you sell, you don’t get very much business. We can still sell the smaller items though,” Yankie said.

Another fireworks stand that will be affected by the ban is owned by the Jesus Name Apostolic Church, which has relied on the sale of fireworks as their annual fundraiser for 17 years.

“I think they’re being more than fair with not banning all sales considering the dry conditions,” operator Beverly Burrow said.

“Last year, locals and out of towners alike were using caution and being respectful of the items that they were buying to keep it in control,” she said.

For rural residents like Jerry Gage, the ban seems like a reasonable approach to less trouble during July 4th activities.

“On two separate occasions, I’ve had to call the fire department to put out fires in my pasture due to people trying to hunt a place to shoot fireworks off on the 4th of July,” Gage said.

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce is considering holding a program like they did last year that will allow citizens to meet at Lake Greenbelt and set their fireworks off together. But Chamber Executive Director Judy Burlin said plans for that event have not been confirmed or finalized.

“I think that it’s a good deal to take your fireworks down to the lake and set them off at the same time. It’s way prettier that way,” Yankie said.

Do you know where your children are?

Not knowing the answer to that question could cost you $500 following last Tuesday’s approval of a curfew for minors by the City of Clarendon.

The board of aldermen voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 373 on its second reading. No one from the public was present to address the new law.

The curfew for persons under the age of 18 is set at 11 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday until 6 a.m. of the following day; and 12 a.m. (midnight) on any Saturday or Sunday until 6 a.m. of the following day. The new rules will become effective after publication requirements are met.

The curfew is effective inside the city limits and also includes the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport, which was the location of some vandalism earlier this year.

The ordinance allows exceptions for minors accompanied by their parent or guardian; minors in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel; minors out during curfew because of their job; minors involved in an emergency; minors in a variety of authorized school, church, or public activities, and minors exercising their First Amendment rights.

In other city business, aldermen also approved a sweeping new animal control ordinance, the majority of which is available on page eight of this edition.

The board approved two separate motions to spend money from the Motel Bed Tax fund to sponsor local events. The aldermen authorized to $3,000 for the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s efforts to promote the annual Saints’ Roost Celebration and Ranch Rodeo, and they approved sponsoring the Saints’ Roost Museum’s Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff in the amount of $5,000.

Aldermen approved requests by Librarian Jerri Shields to set guidelines limiting children to 1½ hours on the computers and raising copy prices to 25¢ for black and white and 50¢ for color.

Cherry McCume addressed the board regarding electronic signs and showed an example of an amber LED sign. She wanted the board’s okay before trying to sell the signs. The board said it would review the sign ordinance and get back to her.

Jim Philley said he would like the city to reinstate the one free dump per month policy. White said the city had ended that policy as a means to help the sanitation department break even, and he noted that no one had showed up to oppose the measure when it was being discussed.

Philley himself admitted he wasn’t a frequent dumper, noting that he had dumped once in the last three years, but said he thought it was a benefit for the citizens.

Philley also addressed the board regarding the personal property tax on vehicles. He suggested raising the ad valorem rate and cutting expenses as ways to offset the $33,000 abolishing the tax would cost.

Alderman Kyle Davis said he felt the personal property tax was important because it meant more people were taxpayers, and Davis said he himself was a renter and wouldn’t pay local taxes directly if it wasn’t for the personal property tax.

Carl Draper, a citizen in attendance, said he thought dropping the personal property tax and raising the ad valorem rate would be unfair to young taxpayers since senior citizens have had their taxes frozen.

The mayor thanked Philley for coming.

COLLEGE STATION – Just when the summer heats up and a fresh tomato sliced on a plate whets the palate, consumers are being urged to consider the source.

Reports this week of Salmonella linked to tomatoes making people in several states ill are causing food specialists to warn about consumption.

“People are concerned about where they can purchase fresh tomatoes that are OK to eat and how to use those that are in the markets,” said Dr. Al Wagner Jr., Texas AgriLife Extension Service food processing specialist. Wagner said tomatoes from farmers markets, cherry tomatoes, those with the stems attached or home-grown should be fine, provided they are washed before eating.

“What happens is that Salmonella is usually on the surface, so a regular wash will get it off and you’re good to go,” Wagner said. “But if Salmonella gets into the wash water at a packing plant, and certain conditions of temperature of the fruit and water are met, then the Salmonella can actually enter into the tomato through the end where the stem had been – or any place the fruit has been punctured.”

Wagner said the large, stemless tomatoes and Roma tomatoes that have been suspected in this outbreak can still be used if they are cooked first.

The cause of this Salmonella outbreak is not known at this time, but consumers should follow proper washing and handling procedures. If in doubt, cook it or throw it out, he said.

“Wash water has to remain properly chlorinated and at the proper temperature,” Wagner added

Bruce Ferguson, Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Donley County, today announced farmer and rancher candidate nominations begin June 15 for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees.  The nomination period continues through August 1, 2008.  Elections take place this fall.

“I encourage all producers to participate in the county committee election process by nominating candidates by the August 1 deadline,” said Ferguson.  “We are counting on as much participation as possible because county committees are an important link between the agriculture community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

“We have seen a trend in recent years of increased nominations of minority and women producers, and we hope that trend will continue.”

Between 2003 and 2006, the number of minority and women farmers and ranchers nominated as candidates to FSA county committees nationwide increased 35 percent.  Additionally, the number of African American producers nominated as candidates tripled during the same period.

To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election, and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.

Producers may also nominate themselves, and organizations representing minority and women can nominate candidates.  To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A.  The form and other valuable information about FSA county committee elections are available online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on News & Events, then County Committee Elections.  Nomination forms for the 2008 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on August 1, 2008.

FSA county committee members make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs, and other important agricultural issues.  Committee members serve three-year terms.  Nationwide, there are more than 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees.  Committees consist of three to five members who are elected by eligible local producers.

FSA will mail ballots to producers beginning November 3.  The voted ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by December 1. 

Newly elected committee members and alternates take office January 1, 2009.

For more information on FSA County Committee nominations, contact the Donley County office at 806-874-3561.

The first wreck occurred around 1:49 p.m. when Garrett Carlton, age 33, from Wilvburton, Okla., was driving a pickup eastbound on US 287, towing a camping trailer.

DPS Trooper Chad Simpson said high winds blew Carlton’s light weight trailer to the north, and it started whipping back and forth. Carlton lost control of the vehicle, and it slid sideways into the south ditch and rolled over along with the camper trailer.

No citations were issued, and Carlton experienced no injuries.

The second wreck happened around 3:56 just over the Armstrong County line. Richard Keesee, age 54, of Bushland, was driving a truck/tractor semi trailer westbound on US 287, pulling an empty trailer.

Simpson said strong winds blew the trailer to the north, and Keesee lost control and jackknifed his vehicle. The jackknifed vehicle slid into the center median, where it came to rest.

Keesee also was not injured, and did not receive a citation.

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce will be meeting this Thursday to finalize plans for the 131st annual Saints’ Roost Celebration, which is now just three weeks away.

Most of the event calendar is pretty well in place for the celebration on July 2-5, said Chamber Executive Director Judy Burlin.

A ten-team junior rodeo will kick things off this year for kids 16 and under on Wednesday, July 2, at the COEA Arena. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Action begins ginning up downtown on Thursday, July 3, with the Merchants’ Western Days Street Sales all day and a Depression Lunch beginning at 11 a.m. That night the fun continues at the rodeo arena at 7:30 with a 20-head bronc ride.

Also on July 3, a blood drive will be held at Stanley Chevrolet, and participants will receive a free American flag T-shirt. Hot dogs and drinks will also be available.

The biggest day of the celebration will be Friday, July 4, with the Country Craft Fair and Senior Citizens Bake Sale beginning at 10 a.m. on the Courthouse Square. The Old Settlers Reunion starts at 10:30, and the Al Morrah Shrine Club’s Annual BBQ begins at 11 a.m. and continues until the food runs out.

The Kids’ Bicycle Parade begins at 1 p.m. followed by the annual Western Parade at 2 p.m. The Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo will follow the parade.

To sign up for the parades, contact the Chamber office at 874-2421. For booth space at the Country Craft Fair, contact the Donley County Extension Office.

The annual COEA Ranch Rodeo will open at 7:30 Friday night with 20 teams competing and an outdoor dance to follow. The rodeo follows the same schedule Saturday night.

During the day Saturday, downtown merchants will have their street sales going again; and concessions, wagon rides, and other games will be available downtown.

Henson’s famous annual Turtle Race will be held at 3 p.m. at Third and Kearney. Turtles can be registered for the race now.

Henson’s is also accepting entries for its second annual Turtle Art Contest now through Thursday, July 3.

More information will be printed as soon as it becomes available. Contact Judy Burlin at the Chamber office if your organization is having an event during the celebration.

Bargain shoppers will be in for a treat during the third annual “Trash to Treasures” garage sale event to be held in Clarendon and nearby communities this Saturday, June 14.

Thirty-eight individual garage sales are scheduled to be held. A complete description of each sale is printed in this week’s Big E Classifieds, and a map of the sales is on the last page of this week’s Enterprise.

From badminton sets to bowling balls, this weekend’s sales will feature hundreds of treasures just waiting to be uncovered at bargain prices.

“We hope to attract several people from out of town to shop at the sales and to patronize our local businesses,” Enterprise publisher Roger Estlack said. “We’re also happy to see some non-profit organizations taking advantage of the opportunity that ‘Trash to Treasures’ presents.”

 “Trash To Treasures” began in 2006 and was the idea of Ashlee Estlack of The Clarendon Enterprise and Chriss Clifford of A Fine Feathered Nest. The sale was intended to be strictly a “citywide” event in Clarendon, but demand that first year led the Enterprise and A Fine Feathered Nest to expand the event to other communities in Donley County.

This year’s event includes sales in Howardwick, Hedley, and Lelia Lake.

The number of sales being held in Howardwick this year may mean changes for next year’s event.

“If we see another year with a large number of sales in Howardwick, we will probably start publishing a separate map for that community,” Estlack said. “I’d love to see us get 35 or more garage sales in Clarendon and about a dozen in Howardwick.”

 “Trash to Treasures” is being promoted in several area newspapers and with airtime on KEFH and KLSR radio; and many people from neighboring counties attend.