Archives for October 2008

Texas drivers are asked to drive safely around areas where children are likely to gather this Halloween. And trick-or-treaters are asked to make sure they behave safely as well.

“We’re expecting more children and adults to be out on Halloween this year because it falls on a Friday. Slow down and watch for pedestrians. If you’re planning to attend a Halloween party, please designate a sober driver,” said Col. Stan Clark, interim director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“Pedestrians should make sure to look both ways before crossing a street, and they should choose costumes that will be easy for drivers to see,” Clark said.

According to a press release from the Texas Department of Transportation, the CDC found that the number of deaths among young pedestrians (ages 5-14) is four times higher on Halloween evening than any other evening of the year. Data from the USDOT shows that:

Fatal collisions between motor vehicles and young pedestrians (under 15 years of age) happen most frequently between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. – prime trick-or-treating time.

Eighty-four percent of deaths among young pedestrians occurred at non-intersection locations (indicating children are most likely to dart and dash from mid-block into the street).

Halloween is also one of the year’s most dangerous holidays on the road due to alcohol-related crashes caused by those who drink and drive after parties and festivities. Two-thirds of all highway fatalities at Halloween are alcohol-related. Don’t even think about getting behind the wheel if you’re impaired.

Don’t use a cell phone while driving through neighborhoods. A single distraction could lead to a tragedy.

Stay below the speed limit.

Pay attention to what’s happening on sidewalks and roadways. Watch for children darting across streets, especially between parked cars.

Be extra alert when pulling in and out of driveways.

Do not assume children can see you or are paying attention. You need to take that responsibility.

Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway. They could be dropping off children.

A two-vehicle collision claimed the life of a Clarendon man Saturday morning in Lelia Lake.

Herman Mooring, age 87, was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Connie Havens after his brown 1994 GMC half-ton pick up was struck by a semi-truck, according to Department of Public Safety Trooper Chris Ward.

Mooring was southbound on Denver Street shortly after 11 a.m. and came to complete stop at the intersection with US 287, witnesses told authorities.

“They said he sat there for a minute and then pulled out like he was going to cross the highway,” Ward said.

A maroon Peterbilt truck was eastbound on US 287 and struck Mooring’s pickup squarely in the passenger side door. The pickup came to rest facing north and blocking the westbound lanes of US 287. Mooring was not wearing a safety belt and was ejected from the vehicle, Ward said.

“He was very likely killed on impact,” Ward said.

The Peterbilt came to rest blocking the eastbound lanes, and traffic was blocked on the highway from about an hour, according to a dispatcher’s report from the Donley County Sheriff’s Office.

The driver of the Peterbilt, 35-year-old Ken Smith of Comanche, Okla., was not injured.

Ward said the DPS was prepareing to do a speed analysis as of Monday morning, but his judgment was that Smith was “probably doing pretty close to the 55 mph speed limit.”

Assisting with the accident in addition to the DPS and the sheriff’s office were the Texas Department of Transportation, the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, and the Associated Ambulance Authority.

Services were held Monday for Mooring, who lived in Donley County much of his life and formerly owned Mooring Bait & Tackle at Greenbelt Lake.

Voters in Donley County and across the nation will go to the polls next Tuesday, November 4, to cast ballots in this year’s General Election.

In addition to voting for presidential electors, local citizens in two precincts will decide contested races for the office of county commissioner.

In Precinct 1, incumbent Democrat Commissioner Ernest Johnston is being challenged by Clarendon Mayor Mark White, a Republican; and Precinct 3 incumbent Republican Commissioner Andy Wheatly is being opposed by Democrat Henry Stephens.

Early voting, which began last Monday, is already drawing a big turnout in Donley County, according to County Clerk Fay Vargas.

As of Tuesday morning, 511 people had already cast their ballots with 50 of those being mail-in ballots.

Vargas said the last time early voting saw this kind of turn out was in 2000 when the county had a hotly contested election for sheriff.

This year’s close presidential election is drawing many people to the polls, but Vargas said some folks have given other reasons for voting early.

“We’ve had several tell us that they are afraid they might be out of town or even be dead on Election Day,” she said.

 In fact, one voter who cast her ballot early has already died, Vargas said.

Most local races are unopposed this year. Two incumbent county officers – Sheriff Butch Blackburn (D) and Precinct 1&2 Justice of the Peace Connie Havens (D) – have no opponents.

Linda Crump (R) is unchallenged in her bid to become the next County Tax Assessor/Collector. Incumbent Wilma Lindley is retiring at the end of her current term.

County Attorney Landon Lambert has filed as a write-in candidate to keep his current post and is the only declared candidate for that office.

Another race of local interest is that of US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R) of Clarendon challenged by Roger Waun (D) for the 13th Congressional District seat. State Rep. Warren Chisum (R), District Judge Stuart Messer (R), and District Attorney Luke Inman (D) are also running unopposed for their offices.

Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade reminds all voters to bring their voter registration certificate with them to their proper polling place to expedite the voter check-in process; however, if their registration certificate is unavailable, the voter will still be allowed to vote with a valid I.D.

Early voting continues in the Donley County Clerk’s office inside the Courthouse Annex through Friday, October 31, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Election Day will be Tuesday, November 4, at the following locations: Box 101 – Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center; Box 102 – Howardwick City Hall; Box 201 – Donley County Courthouse; Box 301 – Assembly of God Fellowship Hall; Box 303 – Hedley Lions Club; and Box 401 – Clarendon Church of Christ Family Life Center.

Check your voter’s registration card to see which location you must vote at. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Early voting by personal appearance got underway Monday for the 2008 General Election.

Most local races are unopposed, but Donley County voters in two precincts will decide contested races for the office of county commissioner.

In Precinct 1, incumbent Ernest Johnston (D) is being challenged by Clarendon Mayor Mark White (R); and Precinct 3 incumbent Commissioner Andy Wheatly (R) is being opposed by Henry Stephens (D).

Two incumbent county officers – Sheriff Butch Blackburn (D) and Precinct 1&2 Justice of the Peace Connie Havens (D) – are running unopposed.

Linda Crump (R) is unchallenged in her bid to become the next County Tax Assessor/Collector. Incumbent Wilma Lindley is retiring at the end of her current term.

County Attorney Landon Lambert has filed as a write-in candidate to keep his current post and is the only declared candidate for that office.

Another race of local interest is that of US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R) of Clarendon challenged by Roger Waun (D) for the 13th Congressional District seat.

State Rep. Warren Chisum (R), District Judge Stuart Messer (R), and District Attorney Luke Inman (D) are all running unopposed for their offices.

Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade is urging voters to get out and cast their ballots early.

“I encourage voters to take advantage of the convenience afforded by the early voting period,” said Andrade. “By voting early you can avoid the long lines we expect to see on Election Day.”

Andrade also reminds voters to bring their voter registration certificate with them to the polls to expedite the voter check-in process; however, if their registration certificate is unavailable, the voter will still be allowed to vote with a valid I.D.

Early voting continues in the Donley County Clerk’s office inside the Courthouse Annex through Friday, October 31.

The General Election Day will be Tuesday, November 4.

A new city administrator will be on the job at Clarendon’s City Hall next Monday morning.

John Webb accepted the position Tuesday morning and is coming to Clarendon from the City of Borger where he retired after serving there as municipal judge and as assistant police chief.

“I’m really looking forward to being in Clarendon,” Webb said. “I’m looking forward to citizens coming in, and I want to hear their views.”

Webb has 28 years of experience with the City of Borger and recently completed 26 months of service in Afghanistan with the US Army. His military service was the subject of an October 16 article in the Amarillo Globe-News, which described how he helped establish the criminal intelligence section of the Afghan police force.

Webb holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and has four grown kids, and his wife’s name is Debbie.

The new administrator says his initial goals for Clarendon will be to bring the city into compliance with government and labor codes and to make the community safer for all citizens.

“Let’s make Clarendon the best it can be,” he said.

The city administrator’s position has been vacant since 2005 following Sean Pate’s resignation. The Board of Aldermen hired interim administrator Phyllis Jeffers three months ago to deal with a financial crisis at City Hall and began the search for a new fulltime administrator shortly thereafter.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed being here,” Jeffers told the Enterprise. “I think the board has done an excellent job selecting the new administrator.”

Webb also thinks highly of Jeffers.

“She has done an tremendous job in a short time,” Webb said.

The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation closed a $20,000 deal last week to purchase the historic Mulkey Theatre.

CEDC President Stephen Hall signed papers last Tuesday, and City Attorney James Shelton confirmed this week that all the necessary paperwork has been filed to transfer ownership of the theatre.

“This project is in keeping with the goal of the CEDC to beautify downtown,” Hall said. “We hope to once again make it a jewel of Kearney Street.”

The CEDC Board has been working for several years to acquire the theatre and made its $20,000 offer in July after hiring an engineer to inspect the building. The engineer concluded that the Mulkey “is in reasonably good structural condition and appears (to be) a good candidate for refurbishment.”

CEDC Secretary Roger Estlack said a few things need to be addressed immediately concerning the building.

“The first priority is to get a new roof on the theatre and make sure the building is properly secured,” he said. “We’ve also got to look at some drainage issues in the alley, which are causing some settlement in the foundation back there.”

After those first issues are dealt with, the CEDC will turn its attention to the front of the building. Decisions about the interior of the building and possible uses for the theatre are far in the future at this point, Estlack said.

“We’ll be looking closely at what has been done with the Ritz in Wellington and the Morley in Borger as we move forward,” Estlack said. “This project is going to take a long time.”

In July, the CEDC set up a $100,000 community fund with the Amarillo Area Foundation for the purpose of acquiring and rehabilitating the Mulkey. Half the fund came from the CEDC’s half-cent sales tax revenue, and that money was matched dollar for dollar by the Foundation. The board also plans to pursue other grants and donations in the months to come.

The Mulkey Theatre was built in 1946 and operated as a motion picture theatre until the early 1980s.