Archives for October 2010

Donley County voters will head to the polls next Tuesday to decide three local races and make their voices heard regarding several state positions.

In the only county-wide contested race, County/District Clerk Fay Vargas is facing a challenge from Janette Cox Wagner.  Vargas is running on the Democratic ticket, and Wagner is on the Republican ticket.

Voters in Precincts 3&4 will choose a new Justice of the Peace to replace the retiring Ann Kennedy. Democrat Colleen Owens will face Republican Denise Bertrand for that office.
Precinct 4 voters will also select a new commissioner to take the seat occupied by the retiring Bob Trout. Dan Sawyer is running for that office as a Republican, and Brad Dalton is running as a Democrat.

Other local officials are running without opposition, including County Judge Jack Hall, County Treasurer Wanda Smith, Precinct 1&2 Justice of the Peace Connie Havens, and Precinct 2 Commissioner Donnie Hall.

Precinct 3&4 voters also have an unopposed write-in candidate for the constable’s job in that part of the county. Doug Wright is seeking that currently vacant position.

Also of local interest, Clarendon native and United States Congressman Mac Thornberry (R) is being challenged by Libertarian John T. Burwell, Jr., and independent candidate Keith Dyer.

Voters will also cast ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state comptroller, and several other offices.

A sample ballot for local voters is printed on page six of this week’s Enterprise.

Early voting continues through this Friday, October 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays in the Donley County Clerk’s office in the Courthouse Annex.

Polling next Tuesday will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters should check their voter’s registration card to find out which of the following is their polling place:

Precinct 101 – Bairfield Activity Center – Clarendon College.

Precinct 102 – Howardwick City Hall.

Precinct 201 – County Courthouse.

Precinct 301 – Assembly of God Fellowship Hall.

Precinct 303 – Hedley Lions Club.

Precinct 401 – Family Life Center – Clarendon Church of Christ.

Local election results will be posted Tuesday night on www.ClarendonLive.com.

The First United Methodist Church of Clarendon is inviting the public to attend a 100th anniversary celebration next weekend, November 6-7.

Established in 1888, the church started out at the southeast corner of Fourth and Kearney Streets, but the congregation quickly outgrew that wood frame building. So in 1910, the present building was erected at the corner of Fifth and Jefferson.

That same year, the building, which still serves the church today, was the birthplace of the present Northwest Texas and Central Texas annual Methodist Conferences.

To commemorate the opening of this beautiful structure and the organization of the two conferences, the First United Methodist Church will hold a celebration Saturday and Sunday, November 6 and 7.

The Saturday program will feature Dr. Tom Fuller, General Evangelist for the United Methodist Church, who will discuss the influence of John Wesley and how his teachings apply to Christianity today. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. and also will include a selection of music that will span the generations since 1910.

Sunday service on November 6 will begin at 9:45 a.m., and former pastors have been invited to attend and participate. Conference representatives will also be on hand as the church building is rededicated and a special message is brought by Dr. David Murrah, the author of “Are We Yet Alive?”: The Centennial History of the Northwest Texas Conference.

Following the service, a meal will be served in the Fellowship Hall.

The 100th District Court heard three pleas resulting in convictions when it met in Clarendon October 7. 

District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

A total of $9,000 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on October 7.  In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $1,128 in court costs.
Bradley Ray Southerland pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant and was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Southerland, a 36-year-old Wellington resident, was originally indicted by the Collingsworth County Grand Jury on February 22, 2010.

On March 5, 2010, Southerland pleaded guilty to the second degree felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that occurred on November 7, 2009, in Collingsworth County. 

The 100th Judicial District Community Supervision Department forwarded a violation report to the District Attorney’s office on September 2, 2010.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on September 16, 2010, alleging four violations of community supervision.

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is defined as a 3g offense in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, requiring Southerland to complete at least 50 percent of the sentence before becoming parole eligible, according to Inman.

Southerland pleaded true to all violations contained in the State’s motion and was sentenced to ten years in the TDCJ.  Southerland is also required to pay $376 in court costs to Collingsworth County, and a $5,000 fine.

Jeffrey Neil Henson pleaded to two third degree felonies resulting in two, eight-year convictions.

Henson pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Community Supervision and was convicted and sentenced to eight years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On March 8, 2010, Henson originally pleaded guilty to the third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated 3rd or more that occurred on September 19, 2009, in Hall County. 

The State filed the motion to revoke on September 1, 2010, alleging five violations of community supervision after receiving the violation report on August 19, 2010.

One of those violations was for another DWI offense while on probation that occurred on July 15, 2010.  Henson pleaded guilty to the complaint and information filed by Inman on October 6, 2010 for the additional third degree felony offense.

Henson pleaded true to all violations contained in the State’s motion and was sentenced to eight years in the TDCJ, along with pleading guilty to the new DWI offense.  Henson is required to pay $752 in court costs to Hall County, and a $4,000 fine.

On October 18, the court met in Panhandle and heard 13 pleas, resulting in eight convictions and five deferred adjudications. 

Inman, assisted by Scott Sherwood, prosecuted the cases with Judge Messer presiding.

A total of $43,500 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on October 18, $9,500 of which was paid in full to the Carson County Clerk’s Office on that date.  In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $4,321 in court costs and $840 in restitution.

Christopher Lee Allred pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant and was convicted and sentenced to two, 10-year sentences in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Marlon Dwayne Taylor was convicted of the Class A Misdemeanor offense of possession of marijuana.  Taylor was convicted and sentenced to one day in the Carson County Jail. 

Jesse Joseph Godinez Jr. was placed on probation for a period of four years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.  Godinez pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Shane Allen Nowka was placed on probation for a period of two years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.  Nowka pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Luis Alfonso Ruiz Vega was placed on probation for a period of five years for the state jail felony offense of money laundering.  Vega was convicted and sentenced to two years in the State Jail Division of the TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of five years. 

Bilal Jamal Woodard was placed on probation for a period of two years for the second degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.  Woodard was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of two years. 

Kimberly Michelle Newman was placed on probation for a period of three years for the second degree felony offense of possession of certain chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.  Newman pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the second degree felony offense.

Zachary Wade Skinner was placed on probation for a period of five years for the second degree felony offense of possession of certain chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance.  Skinner pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the second degree felony offense.

Joseph Ben Willis was convicted of the Class A Misdemeanor offense of assault.  Willis was convicted and sentenced to six months in the Carson County Jail, but the sentence was probated for a period of one year. 

Tyrone Woods Campbell was convicted of the Class A Misdemeanor offense of possession of marihuana.  Campbell was convicted and sentenced to one day in the Carson County Jail. 

Iris Ramona Douglas was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.  Douglas pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Donnell Lamarris Spanks was placed on probation for a period of five years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana.  Spanks was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of five years.

CANYON – Horses and cowboys have a long history in the Panhandle Plains, from the earliest Spanish explorers and wild herds to the cowboys and working horses of today.  The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum presents an exhibit, Not Just for Show: Working Saddles from the Permanent Collection, and an event Wild Horses in the West, honoring both.

On Thursday, November 11, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., in the Hazlewood Lecture Hall, wild horse experts will discuss where wild horses came from, how they are surviving today and their influence on the land and people.

Following the program, PPHM will host a reception and gallery talk for “Not Just for Show: Working Saddles from the Permanent Collection.”

For information or to RSVP call  (806) 651-2233.

Clarendon College is winding up the search for its next president this week as finalists make visits to the campus and meet the public.

Dr. Steven Hilterbran of Baton Rouge Community College in Louisiana and Dr. Gary Stretcher of Lamar State College in Port Arthur were here earlier this week.

Two candidates will be on campus October 28 for interviews and receptions. Dr. David Smith, President of Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, Georgia, will be in an open forum at 11 a.m. in the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center; and Dr. Phil E. Shirley, President of Southeast Arkansas College in Pine Bluff, Ark., and former CC dean of instruction, will meet the public at the Bairfield Activity Center at 9 a.m.

Dr. Roger Stacy, Immediate Past President of Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Okla., will close the week on Friday with a reception at the BAC at 11 a.m.

The CC Board of Regents will meet in called session next Thursday, November 4, to name the next president.