Paint across the sky
Archives for April 2011
Floral carpet
CHS wins sweepstakes award
Greenbelt nears Stage 3 drought level
Conserve where you can and pray for rain. That’s the message this week from Greenbelt Municipal & Industrial Water Authority, which is giving notice that it is in Stage 2 of its drought contingency plan and is nearing Stage 3.
The plan in both stages seeks to reduce consumption of water, but Greenbelt General Manager Bobbie Kidd says the real concern is weather.
“The problem is not usage. It’s pure lack of rainfall and this hot, dry wind,” Kidd said.
Greenbelt says the reservoir looses a huge amount of water – almost equal to what is consumed – to simple evaporation, which is worse in hot, windy weather.
Usage meanwhile is falling due to a declining population in the member cities that Greenbelt serves, Kidd said.
That doesn’t mean people should not conserve water wherever they can, because, as Kidd points out, “Every bit helps.”
Greenbelt Lake has been in Stage 2 for three years, although it did come out of it briefly last year when wet weather brought the lake level up five feet. Now the lake is just barely one foot above the Stage 3 level.
On Monday, the lake depth was at 52.07 feet. Stage 3 kicks in when the lake falls to 51 feet, and the plan calls for the authority to reduce the levels in municipal storage tanks, which Kidd said reduces water pressure and therefore reduces usage. Greenbelt’s board would decide whether to implement that rule though.
“It may not come to that,” Kidd said. “The lake’s not changing real fast, and if we can catch some rain, the lake will come up fast.”
For now the biggest concern is that lower lake levels will impact recreation at Greenbelt, which
has two boat ramps open. Kidd says those ramps probably can’t be extended any further.
“That could impact money in [Clarendon] if recreation suffers,” Kidd said, but he noted that forecasts are calling for a cooler, wetter summer later this year. But until the weather pattern changes, Kidd advises, “Don’t waste any.”
District court hears nine pleas from five counties
The 100th District Court heard nine pleas in cases from all five counties in the district when it met in Clarendon on Monday, April 11.
The pleas resulted in four convictions and five deferred adjudications in Clarendon. Out of the four convictions, three defendants were sent to the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
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 $20,250 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on April 11. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $3,422 in court costs and $4,445.95 restitution.
Catherine Brooke Ingram was convicted and sentenced to ten years in TDCJ. Ingram, 35-year-old resident of Amarillo, was sentenced for the second felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.
Ingram was arrested for the offense that took place on March 2, 2011in Hall County by Sheriff Wiginton and Tiedemann after Wiginton conducted a routine traffic stop on the vehicle Ingram was travelling in. Ingram pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on April 8, 2011.
“The law enforcement agencies in Hall County are working hard to take drug traffickers away from their community,” said Inman. “They make good cases and this plea is the direct result of their efforts.”
In addition to the sentence, Ingram is also required to pay $376 in court costs to Hall County, $140 restitution, and a $1,000 fine.
Lynda Soyla Ceballos was convicted and sentenced to four years in the TDCJ. Ceballos, 24-year-old resident of Wellington, was sentenced for the third felony offense of failure to appear.
Ceballos was arrested for the offense that took place on January 25, 2011in Collingsworth County and pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on April 8, 2011.
In addition to the sentence, Ceballos is also required to pay $376 in court costs to Collingsworth County and a $1,000 fine.
Gillene Olivas was placed on probation for a period of ten years for the first degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Olivas was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of ten years.
Olivas, 23-yearold resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, was arrested in Carson County on March 5, 2011, and pleaded guilty to a complaint and information filed by the State on April 8, 2011.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Olivas is required to pay a $5,000 fine to Carson County, and
is also required to pay $330 in court costs, $140 restitution, and complete 400 hours of community service.
Rex Hazelwood Marshall IV was placed on probation for a period of two years for the second degree felony offense of aggravated assault. Marshall IV pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication.
Marshall, was arrested in Donley County on September 14, 2009. Marshall was later indicated by a Donley County Grand Jury on October 27, 2010.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Marshall is required to pay a $250 fine to Donley County, $473 in court costs, and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If Marshall violates probation, he could face up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.
Ricco Ruben Granadoz was placed on probation for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of burglary of a habitation. Granadoz pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.
Granadoz, 18 from Wellington, was arrested in Collingsworth County for the offense that took place on December 2, 2010. Granadoz was later indicated by a Collingsworth County Grand Jury on February 10, 2011.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Granadoz is required to pay a $1,500 fine to Collingsworth County, $376 in court costs, and successfully complete 300 hours of community service.
Joe Anthony Arreloa was placed on probation for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of burglary of a habitation. Arreloa pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication.
Arreloa, 25 from Wellington, was arrested in Collingsworth County for the offense that took place on December 2, 2010. Arreloa was later indicated by a Collingsworth County Grand Jury on February 10, 2011.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Arreloa is required to pay a $1,500 fine to Collingsworth County, $376 in court costs, successfully complete 300 hours of community service, and attend drug rehab.
Darryl Anthony Smith pleaded true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Community Supervision of Defendant. Smith was convicted and sentenced to five years in TDCJ.
On March 25, 2010, Smith originally pleaded guilty to the third degree felony offense of engaging in organized criminal activity that occurred on March 12, 2010 in Donley County.
The State filed the motion to revoke on October 20, 2010, alleging one violation of community supervision.
Smith pleaded true to the violation contained in the State’s motion and was sentenced to five years in the TDCJ. Smith is also required to pay $443 in court costs to Donley County, a $500.00 fine and $3,885.95 restitution.
Amber Suzanne Noonan was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Noonan pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.
Noonan, 21-year-old resident of Whittier, CA, was arrested in Childress County on March 17, 2011 by DPS Trooper Riley Barham and pleaded guilty to a complaint and information filed by the State on April 8, 2011.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Noonan is required to pay a $1,500 fine to Childress County, and is also required to pay $376 in court costs, $140 restitution, and complete 200 hours of community service.
Donnie Lynn Schilling was placed on probation for a period of eight years for the first degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Schilling pleaded guilty for the offense that took place on November 10, 2010 and was placed on deferred adjudication.
Schilling, 39-year-old resident of Mentor, Ohio, pleaded guilty to a complaint and information filed by the State on February 1, 2011.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Schilling was required to pay an upfront fine of $8,000 to Carson County, $140 restitution, $296 in court costs, and he must successfully complete 400 hours of community service.
H’wick to vote on sales tax hike
Early voting by personal appearance begins Monday for four local governments, including the City of Howardwick, where citizens will decide raising that city’s sales tax rate to fund street maintenance.
Howardwick Mayor Del Essary is the only candidate on his city’s ballot – although incumbent Gene Rogers is a write-in candidate for one of two vacant seats on the board of aldermen – but the mayor hopes his citizens will turn out to the polls and vote for a quarter-cent sales tax to help fix up the streets.
“The tax won’t be enough for us to pave streets or top any streets, but it will help us maintain what we have,” Essary told the Enterprise. “I figure it will generate about $3,350 per year.”
Essary said he has only heard positive comments about the tax proposal from people in Howardwick, which would bring the total local and state sales tax in the city to 7.5 percent.
“People realize that it’s not going to be just us paying the tax, but then it’s not just us driving on the streets either,” the mayor said.
Texas cities can levy a maximum sales tax of two percent, but Howardwick only collects one percent right now. The law allows a city to levy one-quarter of one percent for maintenance of streets.
“It amounts to one penny for every $4 spent in our town,” Essary said. “It will certainly help us buy materials and maybe help with an annual payment on better machinery.”
Other local entities having elections this year are the City of Clarendon, Clarendon ISD, and the City of Hedley.
Clarendon Mayor Larry Hicks has filed to run for his office again, and three candidates are running for the two open aldermen’s positions – incumbent Janice Knorpp and former aldermen Tommy Hill and Terry Noble.
Clarendon ISD has three candidates for two trustees’ positions up this year. Incumbent Weldon Sears is seeking re-election, and Che Shadle and former board member Renee Betts are also candidates.
The City of Hedley has four candidates for its three alderman positions – incumbents Tonya Metcalf, Travis Ruthardt, and David Wells and challenger Michelle Copelin.
Positions on city boards of aldermen and the hospital board are two-year terms, and school board terms are for three years. All positions are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must sign up for a specific place.
Howardwick and Hedley voters can cast ballots at their respective city halls. Ballots for the City of Clarendon and Clarendon ISD can be cast at the Donley County Clerk’s Office in the Courthouse Annex.
Early balloting continues through May 10. Election Day will be Saturday, May 14, 2011.
Lady Broncos move into post-season
The Lady Broncos slid past West Texas High at 9-7 at home Tuesday afternoon.
After a slow first half, the ladies came alive and put together three innings of three runs each to earn the advantage.
WT struck first with two runs in the third, but were scoreless in the fourth. The Lady Broncos then took control of the game gaining the upper hand and was able to ride the momentum to the end.
“It was a good game,” head coach Gary Jack said.
Jack cited Emily Clark as hitting two doubles and a triple in the game and noted that Audrey Shelton had some big hits. Also mentioned for their good offensive play were Trevela Dronzek and Erin Moore.
On Friday, the ladies took on McLean at home and were defeated 1-5. The loss put the Lady Broncos second in District play behind McLean. The ladies slammed four hits against the Lady Tigers’ pitcher but struggled to open up the game.
“We played a good defensive game overall,” Jack said. “But we made an error in the third inning that allowed them to score three runs.”
Danielle Ford (13-5) was on the mound and Audrey Shelton was behind the plate.
“We threw eleven strike outs, and they only struck us out seven times.”
The Lady Broncos are 7-2 in district play and earned the right to post-season play. They will play Lockney this Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30. Friday’s game will be at 5:30 p.m. in Clarendon. Saturday’s game will be at noon in Lockney, and game three, if needed, will be 30 minutes after Saturday’s game.
Rebecca Sue King
Rebecca Sue King, 70, of Fritch, passed away, Monday, April 25, 2011.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00a.m., Thursday, April 28, 2011, at the First Christian Church in Fritch. Burial will follow at Clarendon. Mrs. King will lie in state at Brown’s Chapel in Fritch on Wednesday, April 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Rebecca Sue Shields King was born Sunday, December 8, 1940, in Clovis, New Mexico to Henry and Susie Walls Shields. She married A.K. King on September 28, 1956, in Clarendon. She was a nurse.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Mark King and Kevin Bourque of Houston and Denny King and wife Cindy of San Diego, CA; one daughter, Patti DeLoach and husband David of Fort Worth; one brother, Henry Hester Sheilds of Clarendon; one sister, Patty Joyce Lemons of Clarendon; and two grandchildren, Adam King and Erika DeLoach.
The family requests memorials be to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Send personal condolences to www.brownfuneraldirectors.net.
David Leon “Bud” Schaffer
David Leon “Bud” Schaffer, 75, died Monday, April 25, 2011, in Pampa.
Services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, in the First United Methodist Church in Groom with Rev. Weldon Rives, Pastor, officiating. Interment was held at Jericho Cemetery in Jericho. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Bud was born in Pampa on February 18, 1936, to Curtis and Oma Schaffer. Bud graduated from Groom High School in 1955, graduated from Clarendon College in 1957, and served in the Texas Army National Guard.
He lived in Gray County throughout his life other than time spent in the National Guard. He married Evelyn Hermesmeyer on February 4, 1978, in Pampa.
Bud worked at Celanese for 38 years while ranching and farming. For many years, he served as a Trustee at the First United Methodist Church in Groom, President of the Jericho
Cemetery Association and as President of the Clarendon College Ex-Students Association and was designated as a Distinguished Alumni.
Bud lived a full and wonderful life.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Schaffer of Jericho; eight sons, Donnie Schaffer of Dallas, Tony Schaffer and wife Sheila of Austin, Jerry Schaffer and wife Kelly of Jericho, James Kuehler and wife Sue of Amarillo, Keith Kuehler of Austin, David Kuehler and wife Kenney of Dallas, George Kuehler of Huffman, and Dale Kuehler and wife Tammy of Jericho; his younger sister, Marlene Morgan and husband Morris of Pampa; twenty-three grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at the Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 26, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to one of Bud’s favorite organizations: Jericho Cemetery at Box 1356, Pampa, Tx 79066, First United Methodist Church of Groom at Box 489, Groom, Tx 79039, or City of Groom Ambulance Service at Box 217, Groom, Tx 79039.
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