Archives for April 2013

A one-hour closed session shut out the public from witnessing the Clarendon Board of Aldermen’s deliberations on job descriptions and the city’s chain of command last Tuesday night, April 9.

Seventeen citizens were in attendance when the subject of city job descriptions came to the top of the board’s agenda. City Secretary Machiel Covey said the job descriptions were last updated in 2002 and that a lot had changed in 11 years.

Covey presented a draft of revised descriptions that she had worked on and told the board it was a “starting point” and that they could make whatever changes they liked. Alderman Debbie Roberts suggested the board should go in to executive session, but Mayor Larry Hicks and Covey both said they did not feel like that was necessary.

Roberts then said she had issues with several items but focused her attention on Covey’s position, particularly her roles as personnel officer, public investment officer, and emergency management coordinator.

“When did all this change?” Roberts asked.

Covey replied that some of her duties had been in place for a long period of time and others, such as emergency management coordinator, were duties she had volunteered for when no one else was doing them.

Alderman Roberts then said the emergency management coordinator had traditionally been done by whoever had held the position currently held by Public Works Director John Molder.

“It has always been one of the guys that did that,” Roberts said. “It has always been a man doing that job.”

Attention then turned to Covey’s role as personnel officer, which she said made sense because she does the payroll and that employees come to her when they have questions they can’t resolve through their supervisor. Covey said former city administrator Lambert Little had delegated that duty to her.

“But he didn’t have the authority to delegate his authority,” Alderman Abby Patten said.

Roberts agreed and said if employees have issues, they should bring them to the board.

Alderman Will Thompson said, in the absence of an administrator, that several things now fall to the mayor’s authority and reiterated his position that the council should not be involved in daily activities of the city.

Roberts then demanded an executive session, and the board adjourned to a second floor meeting room at City Hall amidst confusion among the citizens in attendance as to whether proper procedure was being followed.

When the board returned an hour later, Alderman Roberts said the city would keep the job descriptions “as they are,” and no action was taken on the subject. Further into the meeting when the city’s chain of command came up on the agenda, Mayor Hicks said that had also been “discussed upstairs” and that the city would just “follow policies.”

Also during the meeting, Roberts asked about the city administrator’s position.

“Where are we on that?” she asked.

“Given the budget, and the severance [with Little], there is no money for it,” Hicks said. “It’s something that as we get closer to the new budget year, we might start putting out feelers to see if there is any interest.”

Patten then asked if the board should reconsider the ordinance covering the administrator’s position, but Thompson said the ordinance “is not doing anything right now” and that is should be left alone.

Roberts and Patten also discussed employee raises, but Covey the city was locked in on its budget, and Thompson said the city should just “follow policy.”

The Clarendon College Ex-Students Association recognized one Distinguished Alumnus Award, and a CC legend was made an honorary alumnus when the 72nd CC Alumni Reunion was held last Saturday in the Bairfield Activity Center.

President Phil Shirley conferred an honor Associate’s Degree on former dean of students Tex Selvidge, and CC Judging Coach Johnny Treichel was named the college’s newest Distinguished Alumnus.

Leonard “Tex” Selvidge grew up in the 40s and 50s in Stinnett, where he excelled in sports but faced some childhood adversities and dropped out of high school. He was adopted into the Worsham Family, who, along with mentoring from Coach Foster, helped him to earn his diploma from Stinnett High School. He received a football scholarship to Ranger Junior College. After playing just one year, he received a scholarship to play football at Southwestern Oklahoma State University for the next four years, which changed his life. In 1958, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Social Studies and was hired as a coach at Spearman High School. He later coached at Hollis, Okla., before joining the Clarendon College family in 1965. He served several administrative positions, particularly Dean of Students, until his retirement in 1998.

Selvidge also served several terms as mayor of Clarendon and spent several years as the Donley County probation officer. Today, he continues to serve as a member of the CC Board of Regents.

Debra Eller Lamb, a graduate of the CC Class of 1982, praised Selvidge at the reunion and talked about what he taught her.

“I’ve learned it is ‘those small daily happenings’ that make life so spectacular, which is what Tex Selvidge has accomplished,” she said.

“Tex, you are an extraordinary man who has exemplified the term ‘pass it on’ or ‘pay it forward.’ We applaud you, for your dedication, personal sacrifices and the ‘thousands’ of contributions you have made towards the well-being and success of our youth. We love you, Tex.”

Several alumni and family members followed Lamb and also gave their praise or fond remembrances of Selvidge before Shirley was called on to confer his degree.

Selvidge told a few stories of his own but made it point to remind all CC alumni that they are part of one family and encouraged them to continue coming to college reunions.

A member of the Class of 1993, Triechel was a member of one of the winningest livestock judging teams in Clarendon College history under Jerry Hawkins and his photo hangs in the Judging Hall of Fame in the Bairfield Activity Center. After graduating from CC, he went on to attend West Texas A&M, Tarleton State University, and the University of Arizona. Before returning to CC as an instructor and livestock judging coach in 2003, he served as an instructor at both Tarleton and Arizona.

Triechel served as president of the Junior College Livestock Judging Coaches Association in 2006 and was named Clarendon College Employee of the Year in 2009. He has not only filled those shoes of his mentor but has also carved his own piece of history at Clarendon College. He organizes the FFA and 4H Judging Contest that doubles the population in town each spring and hosts an annual FFA leadership camp each summer. He has made the livestock judging program his own with continued success and in addition to all of his professional accomplishments he is known as a stand-up guy who is a straight talker and whose word is his bond.

In addition to honoring Selvidge and Triechel, the Association presented a Golden Diplomas to graduates celebrating their 50th class anniversaries and recognized the Classes of 1962, 1963, 1987, and 1988.

Earlier in the day, alumni spent time reminiscing with each other and former faculty and staff of the college. Association members expressed an interest in returning to an annual reunion schedule next year and possibly going to a fall reunion, which will be considered by the Association board.

Clarendon’s Audrey Shelton and Ryan Hill were the top finishers of the first Chance Mark Jones Memorial 5K Walk/Run last Saturday morning.

The first annual event had more than 220 people actually registered, 203 total participants braved the chilly morning and finished the course, and about 71 people actually ran the race.

The Clarendon Lions Club hosted the event during Child Abuse Awareness Month in conjunction with the Donley County Child Welfare Board and with gracious help from Community Fellowship Church.

The event was held to raise awareness of child abuse and to honor the life of four-year-old Chance Mark Jones, who died on January 5, 2011, more than two weeks of abuse. Proceeds from the event will go toward a playground equipment project.

Complete results are as follows: Top Women’s Time, Audrey Shelton – Clarendon 20:42; Top Men’s Time, Ryan Hill – Clarendon 20:54; 19 and under – 1st: Colt Wood – Clarendon – 21:57, 2nd: Nathan Richardson – Paducah 26:54, and 3rd: Trevela Dronzek – Clarendon 28:14; Ages 20-29 – 1st: Shanna Shelton – Clarendon 23:07, 2nd: Brenna Buker – Clarendon 27:03, and 3rd: Jill Cornell – Clarendon -27:58; Ages 30-39 – Daniel Burcham Clarendon -22:44, Debra Richardson – Paducah 23:58, and Peter Clark – Amarillo – 25:01; Ages 40-49 –Jake Scott – Amarillo – 23:01, Michael Thompson -Clarendon 29:55, and Phillip Herrera – Amarillo 30:04; Ages 50-59 – Tim Sharp – Clarendon – 24:03; Silvia Zaintoz – Shamrock 32:02; and Gwen Sharp – Clarendon – 36:56; and Ages 60-69 – Ronald Morris – Sunray – 29:54 and Gary Campbell – Clarendon – 52:58.

Doug Lowe received the 2012 Saints’ Roost Award for his service to the community during the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce’s awards ceremony last Thursday, April 11.

Woman of the Year recognition went to Bonnie Campbell, and Gary Campbell was named the Man of the Year for 2012.

Lowe has served on the Clarendon College Board of Regents and as a Sunday school teacher at the First United Methodist Church. He is an avid Bronco and Bulldog supporter and attends as many games as he can. He supports the community much more than anyone knows from Girl Scout cookies to scholarship donations, and he gives of his time from his heart.

Bonnie Campbell serves as the Chamber president and has been professional and efficient in promoting the city. She has helped revive the Chamber and get it back in the black and going strong. She was recognized for her abilities in meeting people, working with merchants, and coordinating events, and she is a woman dedicated to her family, church, and community.

Gary Campbell has spent countless hours working with the City of Clarendon and Greenbelt Water Authority in meetings and working with engineers to help secure a future water supply for local citizens. He has also given of his time to help set up and maintain the Chamber website.

Carol Braddock was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for making herself available to help with fundraisers of all kinds. She helps with the VA, the fire department fundraiser, many church events, and has always been helpful to the Chamber. She has also helped with many activities at the Donley County Activity Center.

C.W. “Dude” Cornell was honored as the Pioneer of the Year. He continues to own and operate Cornell’s Service after more than 60 years in business, and he served for many years as a Donley County Commissioner. Many people can recall working for Dude Cornell as their first job.

About 45 people attended this year’s awards ceremony at the Bairfield Activity Center. Awards for the 2011 year were not presented as the Chamber was reorganizing last year.