Archives for July 2010

In December of 2009, Jason Roark, a professional outfitter who films his hunts for ESPN2 was in town.

Roark was providing a free hunt for Ken Bowen, a veteran, who had sustained third-degree burns during an explosion while stationed in Afghanistan. Over fifty percent of Bowen’s body had been burned and he spent nine months recovering in the hospital.

As soon as Bowen was released, Roark was contacted by the Riverbreaks Ranch about taking Bowen on a hunt.

While the hunt took place on the ranch they also filmed around Donley County, including City Hall during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Roark had this to say about their trip to Donley County, “Judy Berlin, the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce and the Clarendon VFW went above and beyond for this guy. They really rolled out the red carpet for Ken. We only gave them about a week’s notice in advance and we were extremely impressed with everything they had planned and how they treated Ken”.

“Grateful Nation” will air July 31, at 7 a.m. on ESPN2.

For more information contact Judy Berlin at 806-874-2421.

The City of Hedley hired and lost a new city secretary in less than a week as officials there continue the search for Randy Shaw’s successor.

The Board of Aldermen met in a called session Tuesday, July 20, and hired Bill Farris to replace Shaw, who is leaving the city July 31 after 19 years. Farris began work the next day, but City Hall reports that he quit two days later on Friday.

“I guess it was more than he could handle or expected,” Mayor Dusty Wilkinson told the Enterprise.

Hedley Aldermen are scheduled to meet this Thursday night, July 29, at 7 p.m. for the purpose of hiring someone. Wilkinson said it is very important a decision be made and that someone is hired who has a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

“Randy’s last day is Friday,” the mayor said. “We have to have someone who can drive the trash truck on Monday.”
Wilkinson said if no one is hired this week, the city will make arrangements to make sure the trash is picked up.
Hedley does have two new employees this week. Holly McCleskey and Jason Conatser began work this week as the incoming city clerk and maintenance worker. They will replace Rhonda Shaw and Roger Hager, who are following Randy Shaw’s exit.

A single-vehicle accident in Collingsworth County claimed the life of a local man Friday afternoon.

Sean P. Campbell, a 22-year-old ranch hand from Clarendon, died at the scene of the accident, according Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Daniel Hawthorne.

Campbell was westbound on FM 1056 at 3:18 p.m. eight miles west of Wellington approaching FM 1547 and was entering a curve in a 2000 Chevrolet pickup when he crossed the center line and left the roadway. The DPS said Campbell overcorrected, which caused the pickup to roll, partially ejecting the driver. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

Collingsworth County Justice of the Peace Jo Rita Henard pronounced Campbell dead at 3:59.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Church of the Nazarene in Clarendon. Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Citizens Cemetery.

Survivors include his mother LaDonna Campbell of Farmers Branch, his father and step-mother Ed and Marsha Campbell of Wellington; grandparents Barbara Hewett of Clarendon, and Jack and Dana Campbell of Farmington, NM.; aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Clarendon College RFO Program.

After less than a week on the job, Hedley’s incoming city secretary has called it quits. Bill Farris was hired last Tuesday and went to work Wednesday to succeed Randy Shaw, who is leaving the city July 31. But City Hall says Farris quit Friday after the job turned out to be more than he could handle.

The Hedley Board of Aldermen hired new staff members during a called meeting Tuesday night, July 20.

Mayor Dusty Wilkinson tells the Enterprise that Bill Farris will succeed Randy Shaw as City Secretary, and Leah McCleskey and Jason Conatser will be the city’s new clerk and maintenance worker.

Farris began work Wednesday, Wilkinson said. McCleskey and Conatser will begin next Monday.

A Donley County jury convicted Michael Randall of the second degree felony offense of sexual assault of a child last Thursday, July 15, and sentenced him to 13 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Randall, a 22-year-old Clarendon resident, was arrested for the offense of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a sexual assault on May 29, 2009.  The Donley County Sheriff’s Office earlier that day had received a report that a man had forced his way into an apartment on Rosenfield Street and assaulted a 15-year-old girl.

Randall was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 22, 2009, for three different felony counts that occurred on May 29, 2009. 

The trial began last Tuesday morning with jury selection taking most of the day.  At four o’clock, District Attorney Luke Inman presented the opening for the State to the 12-member jury of Donley County residents.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the State called its first witness, the victim to the sexual assault, which had occurred on the last day of school for Clarendon ISD in 2009.

“It takes great courage to get up before your attacker, your family, members of the court and 12 complete strangers and tell them all about the horrific events that you  just want to forget,” said Inman.  “Our victim is a courageous young person and made this guilty conviction possible.”

After the victim testified on Tuesday afternoon, the court recessed. 

On Wednesday morning, the State continued its case by calling five more witnesses.  State’s witnesses included Virginia Young, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Sheriff Charles “Butch” Blackburn and Chief Deputy Randy Bond. 

The Donley County Jury deliberated on Thursday morning before returning their verdict of guilty to the lesser included offense of sexual assault of a child. 

“Like always, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office did an excellent investigation and provided this office with all the information to proceed in this very serious trial.”  Inman said.  “Sheriff Blackburn and his deputies, along with the SANE nurses in Amarillo, place high importance on offenses involving children and they cannot be commended enough for the outstanding work they all do.”

Sheriff Blackburn commended Inman’s efforts to convict Randall.

“I appreciate the hard work the DA’s office put into this case,” Blackburn said. “He worked closely with us, and the end result was we sent a rapist to prison.”

Randall was also assessed a $3,000 fine by the Donley County Jury. Randall has four felony counts still pending in District Court. This trial was continued two previous times due to the defendant’s requests.