Archives for December 2008

AUSTIN-The Texas Department of Transportation and Santa Claus have some advice for Texas motorists: drive sober this holiday season and avoid a stiff fine, losing your driver’s license, jail time, and a lump of coal in your stocking.

Santa and his reindeer are teaming up with TXDOT and several other partners to encourage holiday revelers to designate a driver if their holiday celebrations involve alcohol.

From now through January 4, TxDOT is offering designated drivers a special gift this holiday season: free drink cards redeemable for a free soda or coffee at participating Diamond Shamrock and Valero Corner Stores.

The offer is being made thanks to Valero Corner Stores through a network of Texas employers. More than 5,000 employers across the state are invited to order a Safe Office Party Toolkit from TxDOT, including the free drink cards, break room posters, and other resources that promote sober driving.

“Even a little holiday cheer can impair your driving. That’s why TxDOT is urging you to designate a sober driver if you’re going to be celebrating or simply celebrate without alcohol if you’re going to be driving,” said Carlos Lopez, TxDOT’s traffic operations director. “Just a little bit of planning can prevent traffic crashers and ensure a safe and happy new year for everyone.”

This marks the eleventh year of TxDOT’s holiday public education campaign, which uses whimsical holiday characters to deliver a responsible driving message. This year, the campaign also expands to cyberspace. Consumers can find out more about Santa and his reindeer friends and download holiday-themed desktop backgrounds and a special ringtone at www.myspace.com/SantaInTexas.

Santa’s other helpers in the DWI-prevention campaign include the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Texas Municipal Police Association.

Though the percentage of alcohol-related fatalities in the state has decreased over the past few years, Texas continues to lead the nation when it comes to alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

Penalties for a first-time DWI offense include driver’s license suspension for up to one year, a fine of up to $2000, and up to six months in jail.

COLLEGE STATION – It may be the season to be jolly, but be extra careful when buckling children up in the car over the holidays, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Beginning with Thanksgiving and lasting through the New Year, people drive more, stress more and face more hazardous road conditions due to weather. These factors can lead to more accidents and more injuries, said Bev Kellner, AgriLife Extension passenger safety specialist.

Ironically, however, it’s not the long, holiday drives that put child passengers at the most risk, Kellner said.

“Most people, when they take the long trip to grandmother’s for the holidays, are careful to buckle up their children properly,” she said. “But when they’re just hopping around town, the tendency is not to worry.”

In reality, when it comes to car accidents, it’s the short trip that is the most dangerous. According to a 2008 Partners for Child Passenger Safety Fact and Trend Report, 60 percent of car crashes involving injuries take place within 10 minutes of home; 84 percent occur within 20 minutes of home, Kellner said.

An increased risk of alcohol-related crashes is also associated with the holiday season, she said.

“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2001-2005 an average of 36 fatalities occurred per day on America’s roadways as a result of crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. During Christmas the rate is 45 per day and over the New Year’s holiday the rate jumps to 54 per day,” Kellner said.

Drunk driving accounts for about 31 percent of all fatal crashes annually, she said. The rate goes to 41 percent during New Year’s.

A large part of Kellner’s duties at AgriLife Extension is to train people to properly install child safety seats. From September 1999 through December 2008 AgriLife Extension’s Passenger Safety Project has conducted 29 classes and trained 569 participants as nationally certified child passenger safety technicians, she said.

Nationally, it’s estimated that five child occupants under 14 years of age died and 548 were injured each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2007, Kellner said.

“The best gift parents can give their children is safety,” Kellner said. “No matter what time of year, child safety seats when used and installed correctly continue to offer the best protection to children in vehicle crashes. According to Safe Kids USA, children restrained in child safety seats have an 80 percent lower risk of fatal injury than those who are unrestrained.”

Unfortunately, most child safety seats are installed or used incorrectly, she said. The AgriLife Extension Passenger Safety Project, which Kellner manages, found a 99 percent rate of misuse in the more than 10,600 child safety seat inspections they have done since 1999.

Kellner said many of the misuse problems could be rectified by following simple guidelines:

– Keep children rear-facing as long as possible to the maximum weight and height limit of their seat.

“At a minimum, keep children rear-facing until at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds,” Kellner said.

Children who are under 40 pounds should ride restrained in a five-point harness.

Children who are 4 years old, over 40 pounds and under 4 feet, 9 inches tall should ride in booster seats.

Children who are over 40 pounds and at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall can usually fit in vehicle lap/shoulder belts.

Though following the guidelines will go a long way in making holiday travel safer for children, ideally parents should contact a local certified child passenger safety technician for a free inspection, Kellner said.

To locate a technician, visit http://buckleup.tamu.edu or contact an AgriLife Extension office, one of which is located in nearly every county in Texas. Contact information for AgriLife Extension offices can be found at offices at http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/county/.

The next National Child Passenger Safety Techncian Training will be held in La Grange, March 31-April 3, Kellner said.

“If you are interested in becoming a technician, you should contact Myrna Hill at 979-862-4658 or mrhill@ag.tamu.edu,” she said.

AUSTIN — Donley County’s unemployment rate dipped less than one percent in November.

The local jobless rate fell from 4.2 percent in October of this year to 4.1 percent last month, according to seasonally unadjusted data from the Texas Workforce Commission.

The number of people employed in Donley County rose from 1,812 to 1,828 as the number of people in the labor pool grew from 1,891 to 1,906.

The number of people looking for work went down by one from 79 to 78.

One year ago at this time, the county’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent with 74 people looking for work.

Statewide, Texas’ seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment grew by 7,300 jobs in November. Texas employers now have added 221,200 jobs in the past 12 months, for an annual job growth rate of 2.1 percent. The United States recorded 1.9 million job losses during the same period, for a negative annual job growth rate of -1.4 percent.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.7 percent in November, up from 5.6 percent in October and 4.2 percent in November 2007. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed to 6.7 percent in November, up from 6.5 percent in October and 4.7 percent a year ago.

“Despite a slight increase in the unemployment rate statewide, the falling unemployment rates in Southeast Texas reflect that those adversely affected by the impact of Hurricane Ike are getting back to work,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Tom Pauken. “While Texas is holding our own compared to the national trends, we continue to feel the impact of the U.S. and international economic downturn.”

The Midland MSA experienced the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.3 percent (not seasonally adjusted). The Odessa MSA was second at 3.9 percent, followed by the Amarillo MSA at 4.0 percent.

Leisure and Hospitality gained 4,300 positions in November, for an industry gain of 38,000 jobs in the past year. Education and Health Services grew by 2,100 jobs this month, adding 31,700 jobs in the past 12 months.

“The Texas unemployment rate climbed slightly to 5.7 percent this month, so we know many Texans are searching for work, despite reported job growth,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “Workforce centers across the state are ready to assist Texas workers with employment services such as résumé preparation, as well as with WorkInTexas.com, TWC’s online job-matching system.”

Natural Resources and Mining employment increased for the 14th consecutive month, adding 1,900 jobs in November, with 17,400 positions added over the year. The industry’s annual job growth rate is now at 8.2 percent.

“Our Texas employers still are adding jobs and continue to outperform the United States over the year,” said TWC Commissioner Andres Alcantar. “Although we recorded a slight rise in the unemployment rate in November, it is encouraging that a number of industries have been able to sustain job growth throughout the year.”

AUSTIN — Donley County’s unemployment rate dipped less than one percent in November.

The local jobless rate fell from 4.2 percent in October of this year to 4.1 percent last month, according to seasonally unadjusted data from the Texas Workforce Commission.

The number of people employed in Donley County rose from 1,812 to 1,828 as the number of people in the labor pool grew from 1,891 to 1,906.

The number of people looking for work went down by one from 79 to 78.

One year ago at this time, the county’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent with 74 people looking for work.

Statewide, Texas’ seasonally adjusted nonagricultural employment grew by 7,300 jobs in November. Texas employers now have added 221,200 jobs in the past 12 months, for an annual job growth rate of 2.1 percent. The United States recorded 1.9 million job losses during the same period, for a negative annual job growth rate of -1.4 percent.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.7 percent in November, up from 5.6 percent in October and 4.2 percent in November 2007. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed to 6.7 percent in November, up from 6.5 percent in October and 4.7 percent a year ago.

“Despite a slight increase in the unemployment rate statewide, the falling unemployment rates in Southeast Texas reflect that those adversely affected by the impact of Hurricane Ike are getting back to work,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Tom Pauken. “While Texas is holding our own compared to the national trends, we continue to feel the impact of the U.S. and international economic downturn.”

The Midland MSA experienced the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.3 percent (not seasonally adjusted). The Odessa MSA was second at 3.9 percent, followed by the Amarillo MSA at 4.0 percent.

Leisure and Hospitality gained 4,300 positions in November, for an industry gain of 38,000 jobs in the past year. Education and Health Services grew by 2,100 jobs this month, adding 31,700 jobs in the past 12 months.

“The Texas unemployment rate climbed slightly to 5.7 percent this month, so we know many Texans are searching for work, despite reported job growth,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “Workforce centers across the state are ready to assist Texas workers with employment services such as résumé preparation, as well as with WorkInTexas.com, TWC’s online job-matching system.”

Natural Resources and Mining employment increased for the 14th consecutive month, adding 1,900 jobs in November, with 17,400 positions added over the year. The industry’s annual job growth rate is now at 8.2 percent.

“Our Texas employers still are adding jobs and continue to outperform the United States over the year,” said TWC Commissioner Andres Alcantar. “Although we recorded a slight rise in the unemployment rate in November, it is encouraging that a number of industries have been able to sustain job growth throughout the year.”

It was all going their way and all that was left was to wait for the buzzer, but the Highland Park Hornets had another plan in mind in the championship game of the annual Greenbelt Classic Tournament.

The Hornets edged out the Broncos by four points at 58-54 Saturday night at the Bronco Gymnasium.

The Broncos cleared the way in the first three quarters of play for the eventual victory, but gave way to the Hornets in the fourth quarter. Turnovers plagued the home team and Highland Park capitalized heavily on them to take over the lead with just seconds left in the game. The Hornets scored 25 points to only 11 for the Broncos to get the win.

“I didn’t think we played our very best,” coach Clint Coley said. “We know we can play better. It was our second tournament in a row with only a couple of days in between, and maybe it would be a good time for a break. I thought Highland Park played well to get the win. We played several close games in the tournament, and we found a way to win, but we came up short in the end.”

Scoring: Johnny Gaines 13, Danzel Wilson 12, Stephino McCampbell 7, Jadon Thornton 6, Alton Gaines 4, Derrick Shelton 4, Tré Brown 4, Jesus Hernandez 2, and Aaron Gordon 2.

Earlier in the tournament, the Broncos easily got by River Road 53-45 in the first round, but they had a little more trouble with White Deer in the second round. The Bucks were persistent in the fight, but the Broncos outplayed and outlasted them and won by two at 46-44.

The Broncos came from behind in the River Road game in the first half to take over the lead in the third quarter. A big-scoring final period helped the Broncos seal the win over the Wildcats.

Scoring: White Deer: A. Gaines 16, J. Gaines 14, Shelton 5, Wilson 4, Brown 3, Gordon 2, and McCampbell 2. River Road: A. Gaines 15, Wilson 12, J. Gaines 10, Shelton 5, Brown 4, McCampbell 4, Hernandez 2, and Thornton 1.

The Broncos will participate in the Caprock Tournament in Lubbock December 29-31. According to Coley, this tournament has been around better than 50 years.

“This is a really good tournament,” Coley said. “It is sponsored by AmBucks and all the proceeds go to special needs children for any equipment they might need. There will be 32 boys and 32 girls teams in the tourney. It will give us a chance to play bigger schools, which we have really been doing all season.

“We will play Friona in the first round; and if we win, we will play Midland Greenwood, which is a 3A school, in the second round,” Coley said. “We are playing good competition and bigger schools, and we know that will help us in the end.”

The Broncos will travel to Childress December 19 in their last regular season game before the break. Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m.

A total of $400 in Christmas Cash will be available during Late Night Shopping in Downtown Clarendon this Thursday.

Wanda Youngblood landed on a $200 Chamber of Commerce spot on the wheel last week. That spot drops back to $100 this week, and the second cash spot, which belongs to the Downtown Merchants Association and has yet to be claimed, increases to $300.

Other lucky wheel winners last week were Buster Gray (second week in a row), Jennifer Pigg, Terri Ford, and Jeanie Johnson. They took home prizes from Cornell’s Country Store, Clarendon Veterinary Hospital, White’s Feed & Seed, and Stavenhagen Video respectively.

Another lucky winner was Debra Hill. She one a $500 Herring Bank debit card from the Clarendon Firebelles.

Several merchants on Kearney Street will be staying open until 8 p.m. again this Thursday as Late Night Shopping closes out for 2008. In addition to the Christmas Cash prizes, several local merchants will have prizes on the wheel.

Five lucky winners will be drawn throughout the night; and if no one hits the big money, the merchants will keep drawing until someone wins the cash. You must be 18 years old to register, but no purchase is necessary.

Santa Claus will be wandering the stores again this week, and entertainment is also being planned for the evening.

Holiday shopping at home is easy and affordable with all three local banks again teaming up to provide zero-percent interest “Christmas Cash” loans this year.

For the 14th year, anyone can make application for a loan up to $3,000 interest free with Pilgrim Bank, the Donley County State Bank, or Herring Bank.

Participating Christmas Cash merchants this year are: Clarendon Auto Sales, Clarendon Outpost, Clarendon Veterinary Hospital, Cornell’s Country Store, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, Henson’s, J&W Lumber Supply, McKinney Motor Co., Mike’s Pharmacy, Saye’s, Stavenhagen Video, Lowe’s Family Center, Every Nook & Cranny, The Clarendon Enterprise, Clarendon Steakhouse, Sonic Drive-In, Lowe’s Ace Hardware, Bronco Burger, Nuttin’ Fancy Café, The Hitchin’ Post, Brandie’s Mane Place, and White’s Feed & Seed.

Check the pages of this week’s Enterprise for local sales.

The City of Clarendon is looking at amending water and sewer rates as it continues to grapple with a troubled financial situation.

Mayor Chris Ford said this week that he sees no alternative but to approve the rate amendment sought by City Administrator John Webb that would increase the cost for those who consume the most water.

“I think we will pass it when we meet in January,” Ford said. “I don’t see how we can do anything else. We cannot operate at a deficit.”

Ford said the city has already made cuts where it can but that “$500 here and $1,000 over there” will not solve the city’s problem but adjusting the rates will.

“We’re just going to have to take a hickey for the next couple of years, and then we’ll be in better shape,” the mayor said.

At issue is the more than $132,000 the city had to take out of reserves to meet payroll and expenses this past summer coupled with its obligation to provide an estimated $150,000 in the next few months to match a grant to replace the 1920s era water tower on the west side of town.

During last week’s city meeting, Webb reviewed his proposal to amend water rates. Currently, residential accounts pay a base rate of $22.40 for up to 5,000 gallons, $2.12 per additional thousand gallons up to 10,000, and $2.32 per thousand gallons over 10,000. Commercial accounts pay a base rate of $26.18 plus the same usage fees.

Webb’s proposal would maintain the base rates but reduce the 5,000-gallon minimum to 2,000 gallons and set a usage rate of $2.25 per thousand gallons over the minimum.

Webb said leaving the rates unchanged would leave the city with a projected $106,698.65 deficit by the end of the fiscal year next September. The proposed rate amendment would produce a surplus of $55,301.35.

The administrator told the Board of Aldermen that the city is currently losing money every month and that the city’s reserves have been dangerously depleted.

“If we have a natural disaster, I’m not sure we could even buy water for the residents,” Webb said. “We really should have six months of reserves, but that would require $647,000.”

City officials are also dealing with another problem that was discovered this fall. Some commercial accounts were being charged at a significantly lower rate than they should have. The result was that when they were brought up to the correct rate, many businesses saw their city bills increase by about $20 per month.

Webb’s proposal calls for rolling the commercial sewer base rate from $36 down to $25 and instituting a consumption rate based on average water consumption in January, February, and March.

The administrator said the new rates would be based on usage and said there would be no more “special” accounts.

“Bigger consumption users ought to pick up most of the tab,” Webb said. “We’re also getting back to being consistent, and I think that’s what we want.”

Aldermen disagreed about approving the amended rates, although most agreed they may have no choice.

“The people are going to be mad,” Alderman Terry Noble said. “I’m sure not happy with it. We had board members (in the past) sitting  on this board that should have caught some of this and didn’t. We can’t do anything about the past though.”

Aldermen Ann Huey and Tommy Hill expressed concerns about changing the rates so soon after raising base rates this fall. Alderman Kyle Davis also said he had heard a lot of complaints from businesses about their rates and could not vote for the amendment.

Hill said he wanted the board to have a workshop to look at all revenue and expenses, but Noble said the city had already done that in budget workshops this summer.

Huey said she didn’t like the idea of raising rates but understood it may be the city’s only option.

“You’re saying this plan is the only way to get us out of the red?” she asked Webb.

“Yes,” he replied.

Webb also said he hoped the base rates could be reduced next fall when the city is back in the black.

The board voted 3-1 to table the issue until the January 13 meeting. Alderman Noble opposed.

In other city business, the board formally appointed Alderman Chris Ford to succeed Mark White as Mayor, tapped Alderman Ann Huey as the city’s new Mayor Pro-tem, and named Will Thompson to fill the remainder of Ford’s term as alderman.

The city also re-appointed two members of the Clarendon Economic Development Corp. Board – Bill Stavenhagen and Roger Estlack, and selected two aldermen to serve on the CEDC Board. Aldermen Ann Huey and Terry Noble will take the seats formerly held by Janice Knorpp and Mark White

A total of $400 in Christmas Cash will be available during Late Night Shopping in Downtown Clarendon this Thursday.

The pot doubled after four lucky shoppers took a turn at the wheel for their share of $200 last week, but no one landed on either of the $100 jackpot spots.

Buster Gray, Annette Haygood, Kristin White, and Trina Wright spun the wheel and took home prizes from Clarendon Steakhouse, Lowe’s Family Center, Clarendon Auto Supply, and Sonic Drive-In.

Several merchants on Kearney Street will be staying open until 8:00 p.m. for your holiday shopping convenience, and prizes from several local businesses will be on the wheel in addition to the jackpot money. The Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association are each providing $100 in Christmas Cash each Thursday between now and Christmas.

Five lucky winners will be drawn throughout the night; and if no one hits the big money, the pots roll over and will continue to do so until the final night of Late Night Shopping on December 18 when someone will win the money. You must be 18 years old to register, but no purchase is necessary.

A new event for this week’s Late Night Shopping will be the Chili Challenge Cookoff for adults and kids.

After Monday’s sign-up deadline, adult teams will compete at the Burton Memorial Library; and youth teams will be at the Girl Scout office. The public is invited to enjoy chili from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at either location. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door for $1.00. You cannot purchase tickets from youth or adult participants. One ticket gets you a three-ounce taste of chili. Crackers and water/tea are served with taste of chili. Three tickets get you a bowl of chili. Crackers, water or tea, and a piece of dessert are included with a bowl of chili.

Entertainment will be Mrs. Boone’s fourth and fifth grade kids will entertain with Christmas music, and Santa Claus will be making appearances around the downtown merchants.

Refreshments this week will be in the Downtown Ministry Center.

Holiday shopping at home is easy and affordable with all three local banks again teaming up to provide zero-percent interest “Christmas Cash” loans this year. For the 14th year, anyone can make application for a loan up to $3,000 interest free with Community Bank, the Donley County State Bank, or Herring Bank.

Your local merchants support your local schools, youth groups, and charitable organizations. Support the businesses who support your community by shopping at home this holiday season, and watch for their Christmas specials in the pages of the Enterprise.

Late Night Shopping will conclude next Thursday, December 18, when Santa, the wheel, more live entertainment, and more refreshments will be back.