The poultry judging competition at the Clarendon College Invitational Judging Contest drew 143 participants this year. Enterprise Photo / Russell Estlack
Archives for March 2010
Hedley advances to Area
The cast of Hedley’s One Act Play “Rest in Peace.” Enterprise Photo / Kari Lindsey
Track star
Hedley 7th grader Rebecca Burghart-Butler runs the 100m at the Miami track meet March 26.
Woman hospitalized after blaze
A Clarendon woman was hospitalized for smoke inhalation after an early morning fire broke out in her home Monday, March 29.
The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at 6:05 a.m. to the home of Judy and Orsbain Perkins, located at 706 E. Second; and Donley County Deputy Sonny Morasco was first on the scene and helped get the residents to safety.
Judy Perkins and her sister, Ruby Hearn, were transported by to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo by Associated Ambulance Authority, where Hearn was treated and released. Mrs. Perkins was later flown to University Medical Center in Lubbock, and the family was hopeful she would be released Tuesday. Mr. Perkins was not injured.
First Assistant Chief Jeremy Powell said when firefighters arrived on the scene, fire was coming out of all windows and doors on the north side of the residence.
“The living area of the home was fully engulfed and beginning to vent through the roof of the residence,” Powell reported. “The kitchen area located in the center of the residence was involved with fire and heavy smoke.”
Powell said the bedroom area south of the kitchen was not involved with the fire but did receive heavy heat and smoke damage.
The fire was quickly brought under control, and firemen remained on scene until after 8 a.m. The residence sustained heavy fire and smoke damage.
CVFD responded to the blaze within seven minutes, and a total of 23 firemen and seven units responded.
City Fire Marshal Kelly Hill said late Tuesday that he and the state fire marshal’s office had investigated the fire, and Hill said the origin of the fire appears to have been in the living room and appears to have been electrical.
A fund for the Perkins has been established at the Donley County State Bank.
Both eastbound lanes of US 287 were closed for more than one hour while fire units occupied them during the fire. Some local residents may have temporarily been out of power as AEP/SWEPCO interrupted power to the residence for the firemen’s safety.
CVFD recognized the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, TxDOT, the Associated Ambulance Authority, and Anndria Newhouse with the Clarendon Firebelles for their assistance during this case. They also acknowledged George Hall and the Donley County VFW Post for serving a late breakfast to the firemen.
The city’s firemen have been very busy the last few days. Also on Monday, the department was called to the Clarendon Dairy Queen to investigate the smell of smoke, responded to a grass fire which got into a pile of lumber next to a workshop at Jim Shadle’s residence west of the city, and was dispatched to a residence on Collinson Street reporting the smell of natural gas.
Previously on March 26, the department responded to a residence in the area of 4th and Jackson where a discarded cigarette caught a trash can on fire; and on March 28, Clarendon and Hedley units responded to a grass fire call on the LOL Ranch on FM 2471 that was started by wind damage to a power pole.
City to consider interim administrator
The Clarendon Board of Aldermen will meet in called session this Thursday, April 1, to discuss an interim appointment for the office vacated when City Administrator John Webb’s job was terminated last week.
According to the agenda posted Monday, the aldermen will meet in closed session for consultation with their attorney and to discuss personnel issues – specifically the appointment, employment, and duties of an interim city administrator/city secretary – and then reconvene in open session to take action.
The board terminated Webb’s employment last Tuesday night, March 23, in a called session for what Mayor Chris Ford called “a lack of confidence in (Webb’s) ability to perform the duties of city administrator.”
Alderman Will Thompson told the Enterprise that the board voted 3-2 to remove Webb. Thompson said he and Alderman Ann Huey voted against the measure and that Aldermen Larry Hicks, Tommy Hill, and Kyle Davis voted for the removal.
Mayor Ford said the board’s decision was effective immediately and that Webb was given an opportunity to resign prior to the board’s action, which was taken after the aldermen met in closed session for an hour and 45 minutes.
The mayor said he met last Wednesday morning with all city employees to inform them of the decision.
Webb has served as Clarendon’s city administrator since October 2008. He did not have a contract with the city, Ford said.
A call to Webb’s residence in Borger was not returned before press time Tuesday.
Contest attracts big crowd
More than 2,000 FFA and 4-H students were in Clarendon last Saturday, March 27, for the 29th annual Clarendon College Judging Contest.
The contest is the largest event in Clarendon each year, more than doubling the population each time the contestants come to town and is a significant boost on the economy. It draws participants from across Texas as well as from Oklahoma and New Mexico.
This year the total number of entrants was 2,247. That number does not include coaches, parents, and family members that also attend and visit Clarendon for the day
Several local 4H and FFA members did well at the CC contest. In Livestock Judging, the Donley County 4-H Senior Team of Jacob Pigg, Jayson Pigg, John Pigg, and J.D. Baxter placed sixth.
The Junior Team One of Tres Hommel, Brittney McAnear, Kati Adams, and Jake Owens placed eighth. Tres Hommel was 13th high individual out of 109 contestants.
The Junior Team Two of Blaine Ellis, Jake Hewett, and Kelsey McAnear finished in a three-way tie for 16th place.
The 4-H Horse Judging Senior Team of Chris Shults, Cheyenne Kosechata, and Cedar Stevenson placed sixth; the Junior Team One of Sam Spillers, Kade Hunsaker, and Alysse Simpson placed 12th; and the Junior Team Two of Brandalyn Ellis, Jessica Lowrie, Shelby Musick, and Kolt Stevenson placed seventh.
The Clarendon High School FFA Livestock Team of Jacob Pigg, Jayson Pigg, and John Pigg placed 18th at the CC contest.
Local teams also participated in contests at Texas Tech on March 25 and West Texas A&M on March 26.
The FFA Livestock Team placed 39th of 143 teams at Texas Tech; and the team placed sixth at WT with Jayson Pigg as 17th high individual. FFA Horse Team of Brady Clark and Chris Shults also did well at WT.
The 4-H Horse Senior Team of Chris Shults, Cedar Stevenson, Brady Clark, and Cheyenne Kosechata placed fifth at WT; the Junior Team One placed ninth; and the Junior Team Two placed eighth. Kosechata was fifth high individual in Halter Horse, and Spillers was fourth high individual in Performance Horse and tenth high overall.
The 4-H Horse teams will compete in the District Contest at WT on April 9, and the 4-H Livestock Team will be at the District I contest at WT on April 16.
Hot check couple enters guilty pleas
A Memphis man and woman suspected of passing at least 30 bad checks to merchants in Clarendon pled guilty when the district court met in Panhandle last Thursday, March 25.
Darrell Smith was placed on probation for a period of six years for the third degree felony offense of engaging in organized criminal activity. Smith was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of six years.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Mr. Smith is required to pay a $500 fine to Donley County, $3,885.95 in restitution, $473 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service.
Aimee Smith was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of engaging in organized criminal activity. Mrs. Smith pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication.
Both Smiths were arrested in Donley County for offenses which occurred on March 12, 2010. The State filed its complaints and information on March 25, 2010.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Mrs. Smith is required to pay a $500 fine to Donley County and is also required to pay $3,885.95 in restitution and $473 in court costs. If Mrs. Smith violates probation, she could face up to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Also in Panhandle last Thursday, 10 other pleas took place which resulted in five convictions and 5 other deferred adjudications.
Luke Inman, the 100th Judicial District Attorney, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.
A total of $41,500 in fines were assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on March 25, 2010. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $4,188 in court costs and $4,725.95 in restitution.
Michael Ambrose Early was convicted and sentenced to six years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Early pleaded true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Defendant.
Early originally pleaded guilty to the offense on March 16, 2009. On that date, Early pleaded to a 3rd degree felony possession of marihuana that occurred on November 21, 2008.
On February 2, 2010, the State filed a motion to revoke the defendant’s guilty which Early pleaded true to all of the State’s allegations. In addition to being sentenced to six years, Early is also required to pay a $7,000 fine to Carson County, and $313 in court costs.
Jared Trent Viner was convicted and sentenced to four and a half years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Viner pleaded true to some of the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Defendant which was filed on October 7, 2009.
Viner was convicted originally on June 1, 2009 for the offense which took place on February 2, 2009. Viner received five years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, probated for five years.
In addition to being sentenced to four and a half years, Viner is also required to pay a $2,000 fine to Carson County and pay $313 in court costs.
Jose A. Mora was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana. Mora pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for possession of marihuana. He was arrested in Carson County on October 16, 2009. The State filed a complaint and information against Mora on January 4, 2010.
“The complaint and information filed in this case, and numerous other cases across the district, are the charging instruments that begin felony prosecution,” said Inman. “These charging instruments help expedite the felony prosecution process, while reducing the amount of time and energy our office and law enforcement expends if we are able to resolve the case before it is presented to the grand jury.”
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Mora is required to pay a $3,000 fine to Carson County, and is also required to pay $140 in restitution, $327 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service. If Mora violates probation, he could face up to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
John Lewis King, Jr. was placed on probation for a period of four years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana. King pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for possession of marihuana.
King was arrested in Carson County on January 5, 2010. The State filed its complaint and information on March 10, 2010, charging King with the third degree felony offense.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, King is required to pay a $4,500 fine to Carson County, and is also required to pay $140 in restitution, $327 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service. If King violates probation, he could face up to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Stephanie Marie Gerhardt and her husband, Craig Allen Doan, were placed on probation for a period of ten years for the first degree felony offense of possession of controlled substance and the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana. Gerhardt and Doan both pleaded guilty for the offenses that took place on January 18 and were placed on deferred adjudication for both offenses.
Gerhardt and Doan pleaded guilty to a complaint and information filed by the State on March 10, 2010.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, both defendants were required to pay a fine of $7,000 fine to Carson County, and are also required to pay $140 in restitution and $654 in court costs and each must complete 400 hours of community service. If either Gerhardt or Doan violates probation, they could each face up to 99 years or life in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Jose Amador Sanchez-Miranda and Veronica Vindiola Estrada were placed on probation for a period of ten years for the second degree felony offense of possession of marihuana. Both Sanchez-Miranda and Estrada were convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of ten years.
Both Estrada and Sanchez-Miranda were arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on March 21, 2019. Both defendants pleaded guilty to a complaint and information filed by the State on March 25, 2010.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, both defendants are required to pay a $5,000 fine to Carson County, $140 in restitution, $327 in court costs, and 200 hours of community service.
CHS Broncos take down Indians
Thirteen huge runs in the second proved to be the inning that sealed Quanah’s fate as the Broncos blasted them 19-0 in five innings Monday night on the road with Troy Chambless was on the mound. The Broncos went to 5-1 overall and perfect in District play at 3-0.
The Broncos jumped out to an early advantage in the first inning when they scored three unanswered runs. But they shocked their opponent in the second inning when they crossed home plate thirteen times. They added another two runs in the fourth and fifth.
“We played a really good all around game,” coach Brad Elam said. “Stephino McCampbell and Johnny Gaines both made outstanding defensive plays and Brayden Phillips threw out another base stealer. He has thrown out all four that have tried (to steal a base).”
On the offensive side, the Broncos were unstoppable.
“Troy Chambless and Bradley Watson pitched giving up only three hits and three walks,” Elam said.
He also noted that Phillips and Watson was on base four times and scored three runs while Gaines had a big day at the plate going five for five with two doubles and two homeruns. He also scored four runs and drove in eight runs. David Roberts reached base all five times at bat, which included a double and two bases for getting hit by a pitch. Brady Miller scored two runs and Chambless reached base all five times with three of those coming from walks.
On Friday, the Broncos added another mark in the win column with a 4-1 dusting of the Memphis Cyclones. Johnny Gaines was on the mound and threw five good innings while striking out eight hitters and allowing only one unearned run. Troy Chambless relieved Gaines and close the door in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Broncos played hard and knew the importance of the outcome.
“We knew going into the game it was going to be a tough one, but we passed our first big test,” Elam said. “We jumped on the board first scoring three runs in the fourth inning.”
Watson got things going with a solid single to center field and was able to advance to third on a bad throw from the pitcher. Gaines would eventually knock him in and he scored on a close play at the plate. Gaines earned the next score and David Roberts scored on a Brady Miller single.
“Memphis was able to get a run back in the next inning, but Brayden Phillips was able to drive home Justin Shillings for the fourth run in the bottom of the fifth,” Elam said. “We were able to score just enough runs to win. Our pitching was good again and (our) defense made plays.”
4-H winners named
The District One 4-H Clothing and Textiles competition was held in Clarendon on March 27, 2010. Shown here are Cire Jauregui-3rd place Buying division; Kameron Shields-1st, 2nd,4th, and 8th places Arts and Crafts division; Hannah Hommel-1st place Construction division; MaRae Hall-1st place Embellishment division and 3rd place Fashion Design; and (front) Harley Jauregui-1st place Accessory Design. Courtesy Photo / Nicole Beames
Chop, chop
Workers cut the old water tower apart after knocking it down Wednesday.
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