Archives for December 2009

Clarendon Merchants are set to make some people very merry this Christmas when they give away $2,000 in prizes this Saturday afternoon.

The giveaway is part of the Clarendon Gold promotion, and for several weeks now shoppers have been registering at participating merchants.
Merchants will draw two names Saturday and each will win $1,000 in gift certificates and merchant bucks that can be spent locally.

Other activities for the day include a barbecue hosted by the Bar H Dude Ranch in the old JAMZ building from 11:30 to 2:00; Santa Claus will be at the Burton Library from 11:30 to 3:00; and the drawing will be held at 2:45.
Clarendon merchants are interested in your business, and they encourage everyone to save the hassle of the big city by shopping here first.

Holiday shopping at home is easy and affordable again as all three local banks have teamed up to provide zero-percent interest “Christmas Cash” loans for the 15th year. As in the past, anyone can make application for a loan up to $3,000 interest free with Pilgrim Bank, the Donley County State Bank, or Herring Bank.

Twenty-three local businesses are participating in the Christmas Cash program this year, and most of those are also participating in the Clarendon Gold program.
The annual program has proven popular with many consumers and is seen as way to encourage folks to shop at home.

Once a Christmas Cash loan has been approved, the borrower will be issued Christmas Cash Dollars, which may be spent like US currency toward new purchases at all of the participating businesses.

Christmas Cash must be spent by December 31, 2009.
Participating Christmas Cash merchants this year are: Stavenhagen Video, Every Nook & Cranny, Henson’s, Osburn Appliance, Clarendon Outpost, Mike’s Pharmacy, Country Bloomers, Clarendon Veterinary Hospital, Bronco Burger, Cornell’s Country Store, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, J&W Lumber, The Clarendon Enterprise, Nuttin’ Fancy Café, KEFH Radio, Bar H Dude Ranch, the Hitchin’ Post, Lowe’s Family Center, Lowe’s Ace Hardware, JoBob’s Piccadilly Pizza, Saye’s, McKinney Motor Co., and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.

The Christmas Cash program began in 1995 through the cooperation of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, the Clarendon Merchants Association, and local banks.

Local candidates continue to throw their hats in the ring this week for next year’s general election.

Dan Sawyer has become the third Republican to file for the Pct. 4 Commissioner’s position. He joins Joe Hall and Bill Spier in the quest to succeed Commissioner Bob Trout, who is not seeking re-election.

Doug Wright has filed as a Democrat for the Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace office and will face Colleen Owens in that party’s primary as they vie to follow in Ann Kennedy footsteps. Kennedy is also not seeking re-election.

Also new this week, County Judge Jack Hall has filed for re-election as a Democrat, County Clerk Fay Vargas is seeking another term in office on the Democratic ticket, and Treasurer Wanda Smith is running again as a Republican.

Candidates previously announced include Pct. 2 Commissioner Donnie Hall running for re-election on the Republican ticket, and Congressman Mac Thornberry of Clarendon, who is also a Republican.

Also up for election in 2010 is the position of justice of the peace in Precincts 1&2, which is currently held by Connie Havens.

Filing takes place in the county clerk’s office in the Donley County Courthouse Annex and continues through January 4, 2010. Those seeking public office will be required to pay a $750 filing fee or can present a petition to waive the fee.

The primary elections will be held March 2, citizens are reminded to register to vote in the motor vehicle office in the Courthouse Annex if they have not done so.

AUSTIN – With the holiday season kicking into high gear, reminders from the Texas Department of Transportation to celebrate responsibly are popping up in convenience stores, restaurants and even on mirrors above bathroom sinks at bars and night clubs.

“We know Texans like to celebrate the holidays in a big way,” said Carol Rawson, TxDOT Traffic Operations Director. “That’s why we’re making a special effort to reach motorists with don’t drink and drive reminders at locations where alcohol is served or purchased. We want everyone to be safe this holiday season.”

TxDOT is behind a host of new outreach efforts designed to remind holiday revelers not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking and find a sober ride home or call a cab. Santa’s reindeer will adorn bar coasters, bathroom mirror decals, street posters and interactive digital jukebox advertisements to remind patrons to find a sober ride home if they’ve been drinking.

Perhaps the most unexpected of these efforts involves reindeer antlers, which will be placed on bathroom mirrors in bars and restaurants across Texas. When a patron glances in the mirror above the bathroom sink, they will see their own head adorned with reindeer antlers. Adjacent to the antlers will be a decal that reads:

“Don’t drive if you’re tipsy, buzzed or Blitzen. Call a cab or get a sober ride home.”

Partners in this year’s DWI-prevention campaign include the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, Texas Package Store Association, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Texas Municipal Police Association.

Through support and participation from many citizens, the City of Clarendon received the PEP (Partners for Environmental Progress) Recycling Award in the region for the second year in a row.

In one year, the city’s community recycling program diverted 388,878 pounds of trash, which is 197 pounds per citizen.

“When we were contacted by Elizabeth True at PRPC with the congratulations that we had won the award again, I was very excited,” said John Web, City Administrator. “Citizens of Clarendon, who are taking their time to recycle, are doing a good job of keeping Clarendon green.”

Since the initiation of the recycling program in 1998, many additions have been made. Webb said that the program is continuing to improve over time.

“We owe it to Joe Neal Shadle (who is the supervisor over recycling and sanitation) and his employees, who are very conscientious of keeping the city clean,” Webb said.

One difference that the recycling employees are making in the community is trimming trees.

“We’ve been trimming overgrowth in the alleys, and I’m hoping that citizens have seen a difference in the alleys that we’ve been cleaning up,” Webb said.

The City of Dalhart was awarded the PEP Composting Award for diverting the most wood and yard waste from the landfill.

According to Webb, Clarendon was not too far behind their statistics of four million pounds of grass, leaves, and yard waste.

“Hopefully in 2010 we are looking to possibly expand, and we’re going to start talking about getting a big wood chipper,” Webb said. “We want to improve our composting program because even with the composting that we’re doing right now, we’re pretty close to what Dalhart got.”

Webb would like to express his appreciation to all who took part in making this achievement possible.

“As I’ve said many times in the past, the recycling employees go the extra yard and they’re receiving recognition for their efforts, and I think that’s great,” Webb said. “And our big thanks goes out to all the citizens of Clarendon who are taking their time to recycle.”

Candidates are beginning to line up for the primaries leading up to next year’s general election.

US Rep. Mac Thornberry of Clarendon announced Monday that he has filed to run for re-election in the 13th Congressional District of Texas. He will be on the Republican ticket.

Joe Hall and Bill Spier have both signed up as Republican candidates for the Precinct 4 Donley County Commissioner’s seat currently held by Bob Trout. Officials at the Donley County Clerk’s Office said Trout does not plan to run for re-election.

Republican Donnie Hall has filed to run for re-election to his Precinct 2 Commissioner’s position.

Precinct 3&4 Justice of the Peace Ann Kennedy announced this week that she will retire at the end of her current term, and Colleen Owens has announced her candidacy as a Democrat for that position.

Other local offices up for election in 2010 include county judge, county treasurer, county clerk, and justice of the peace in Precincts 1&2.

Filing takes place in the county clerk’s office in the Donley County Courthouse Annex and continues through January 4, 2010. Those seeking public office will be required to pay a $750 filing fee or can present a petition to waive the fee.

The primary elections will be held March 2, citizens are reminded to register to vote in the motor vehicle office in the Courthouse Annex if they have not done so.

 AMARILLO – Irrigation of crops directly contributes more than $1.6 billion a year and 16,650 jobs to the economy of the Amarillo region, according to a study released Wednesday at the Texas Commodity Symposium.
“Irrigation is clearly a major source of fuel for the region’s economic engine,” said Dr. Darren Hudson who conducted the study and holds the Larry Combest Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness at Texas Tech University.

Approximately two-thirds of the total economic impact, more than $1 billion per year, comes from irrigation of corn. Irrigation of wheat ($343 million), cotton ($165 million) and sorghum ($36 million) account for the other one third.

“While $1.6 billion of economic impact is directly attributable to the production of crops from irrigation, we can conservatively estimate that as that money moves through the local economy it generates an additional $2.5 billion per year of indirect economic activity,” Dr. Hudson said. “And we know there are other positive impacts we haven’t measured such as the amount added to the tax base that supports schools and public services.”

Approximately 1.4 million acres in the 26 county region were irrigated in 2008. Dr. Hudson said without irrigation, farmers would have to convert to dry land production of sorghum, wheat and cotton which would produce dramatically lower crop yields.

“Dry land farming of those 1.4 million acres would produce only about one-fourth of the economic activity that we currently see from irrigation and about 12,000 fewer jobs,” Dr. Hudson said.

“This illustrates that everyone who lives and works in the Amarillo region benefits from the use of water to irrigate crops and why everyone has an economic stake in ensuring that water continues to be available for irrigation as far into the future as possible,” he said.

“Great strides have already been made in irrigation technology and farming practices to significantly reduce water usage and in the next few years, new crop varieties should become available that will increase yields using even less water.

“This should serve as a unifying call to action to support programs that provide technical assistance and cost-sharing that farmers need to implement conservation measures that maximize the economic benefits from every gallon of water used for irrigation,” Dr. Hudson said.

The district court recently delivered sentences in two Donley County cases.

In Wellington on Tuesday, November 24, 2009, the court heard two pleas which resulted in two convictions against Travis Ray Smith.

Smith was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after pleaing true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant. Smith is required to pay $598 in court costs to Donley County and $7,500 in restitution.

Smith originally pleaded guilty on February 16, 2007 in Donley County to the second degree felony of burglary of a habitation and received ten years deferred adjudication and had to participate and successfully complete the SAFP program.

Travis Ray Smith also was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the offense of possession of a controlled substance, a second degree felony. Smith is required to pay $313 in court costs to Carson County.

A total of $911 in court costs was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on November 24 against Smith. In addition to the court costs, Smith was required to pay a total of $7,500 in restitution.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Dan Mike Bird presiding by assignment.

In Panhandle, on Thursday, December 3, 2009, Mark Pascal Shearer pleaded guilty to a Class A Misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated and was convicted and sentenced to one year in the Donley County Jail, but the sentence was probated for a period of two years.

Shearer was arrested in Donley County on June 3, 2006 for the offense of Driving While Intoxicated. Shearer was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on November 12, 2007. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Shearer is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Donley County, $515 in court costs.

Luke Inman prosecuted the case with the Honorable Judge Richard Dambold presiding by assignment.

More than 298 people were fed during the second annual Donley County Thanksgiving Dinner last Thursday. The Thanksgiving dinner was a huge success.
Opportunities for both sit in and take out were provided so that everyone could have a warm Thanksgiving meal, and Steve Carter and Ted Shaller provided transportation for those who needed a ride and delivered numerous meals. Food was also delivered to individuals both at home and at work by Bob Weiss.

Leftover food was donated to Faith City Mission in Amarillo.

Organizers credit the love and prayers of those who supported the meal with making it possible. And they specifically credited the following individuals: Pat Ritchie, Monty Hysinger, Mary Shields, Bob and Jolene Weiss, Steve and Janet Carter, Kathy and Gene Hommel, Laura Hommel, Joe Neal and Ranelle Shadle, Hoppy and Rita Eason, Guy and Robin Ellis, Carl and Christy Cox, Bobby and Anessa Woodard, Audrey Jones, MaryLynn Manning, Regina Knorpp, Troy and Katherine Monroe, Bobby Ellebrook, Dusty Abbott, Lori Mays, Helen, Misty, and Ted Graham, Gigi and Jerome Martinez, Jason and Carol Musick, Pam Mason, Jeff Hewett, Jim Griffin, Linda Benson, Tammy Owens, Sue Burrows, Mickey Grady, Linda Crump, and numerous anonymous helpers.
Organizational support came from Clarendon CISD, The Clarendon Enterprise, Saints’ Roost Cowboy Church, Knorpp Insurance Agency, Bronco Burger, JoBob’s Piccadilly Pizza, Panhandle Community Services, Hedley and Clarendon Senior Citizen Centers, Monroe Peach Ranch, and Allsups.

Financial support was provided by Primitive Baptist Church, Donley County Gin, First United Methodist Men, Lowe’s Family Center, Joe and Ruth Robinson, Sharon Thomas, Earl Shields, Beatrice Kramer, Newt and Linda Scott, and numerous anonymous donors.

Organizers say if you missed this year’s Thanksgiving feast, be sure to attend next year.

Authorities are on the lookout this week for a man suspected of breaking into the First Baptist Church in Clarendon Sunday night.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said church members had been decorating for Christmas and left the building between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. Pastor Lance Wood then returned to his church office about 11 p.m.; and when he turned on the light, he discovered a man standing in his office. Wood quickly exited the building and called the sheriff’s office.

Law enforcement personnel arrived quickly and searched the church and the area but could not find anyone, and nothing was found to be missing.

Blackburn said the suspect is described as a black male in his early 20s with pigment splotches on his face.
Anyone who has information or who might have seen something is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 874-3533.

Vandals hit CHS

The sheriff’s office was also busy this week after vandalism was discovered at Clarendon High School Monday morning.

Blackburn was said a 16-year-old juvenile will face charges this week for spray painting graffiti inside the Clarendon High School Auditorium.

The subject, who attends CHS, was turned over to authorities by Principal Larry Jeffers.

“Mr. Jeffers really did the legwork on this case,” Blackburn said.

Two other subjects from Canyon are believed to be involved with the case and will also be in court this Thursday.

Farm Service Agency county committee election ballots must be turned in to the local FSA office by next Monday, December 7, 2009.

“The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies, because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs,” said local FSA Executive Director Bruce Ferguson. “I urge all eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by voting in this year’s elections.”

Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on disaster and conservation payments, establishment of allotments and yields, producer appeals, employing FSA county executive directors and other local issues. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, can also vote. Agricultural producers in each country submitted candidate names during the nomination period held last summer.

Eligible voters who have not received ballots can obtain ballots at their local USDA Service Center. December 7, 2009, is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 7. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office January 1, 2010.

Close to 8,000 FSA county committee members meet monthly at more than 2,300 FSA offices nationwide.

Each committee consists of three to five members who serve three-year terms. Approximately one-third of county committee seats are up for election annually.
For more information, visit: http://www.fsa.usda.gov.