Archives for January 2014

Several personal possessions and a family dog was lost during a house fire on County Road W this week.
Clarendon Fire Chief Jeremy Powell said his department was paged to the fire Monday, January 27, at 10:41 a.m. and were on the scene by 10:55. The home which is owned by Jim Mitchell was being rented by Joel Layton.
Powell said a female and child were inside the residence when the home caught fire and were unable to suppress the fire and were forced to evacuate and call 911.
When firemen arrived, the stucco home was showing heavy smoke with one window showing fire. The initial attack was made through that window while an entry team entered through a door on the northeast corner of the home.
Aided by a thermal camera, the team quickly knocked down the fire and made a quick search of the home before exiting to allow for ventilation teams to clear the home of smoke.
Powell said firemen were able to retrieve some valuables for the family. No people were injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation at press time.
Thirteen firemen and seven unites were used on the fire.  The fire was under control within 10 minutes of firemen arriving on scene.
On a side note, this was the first structure fire in which the Clarendon VFD was able to utilize a new tool that they just received this month. The department purchased an Argus Thermal Imaging Camera which allows firemen to see in low visibility conditions. The camera can be used to locate victims in a home filled with smoke, locate the seat of fire in a smoke filled environment, or locate persons in the dark. The camera needs no light to see. The camera aided Clarendon firemen’s efforts to quickly control the fire on Monday.
Powell said the camera will be a huge asset to the department and will aid greatly in ability to save life and property.  The camera, which cost nearly $8,500, was purchased with funds donated to the department.

Security on the Courthouse Square will be getting an upgrade following the January 13 meeting of the Donley County Commissioners.
The commissioners’ court approved a $30,091.30 proposal from Texas Panhandle Cyber Medics to install what County Judge Jack Hall calls a “more modern” system of security for the Jail, Courthouse, and Courthouse Annex.
Hall said the project will put new cameras in the jail and district courtroom as well as new cameras on the courtyard. Some new cabling well also be done as part of the project, particularly in the Clerk’s Office in tandem with a project that installed new flooring in that office.
The judge was also pleased for the county to be able to accept the proposal from Cyber Medics, which is based in Clarendon.
“We like the idea of doing business right here in town,” Hall said.
Money for the project will come from the courthouse security fund.
In other county business, the court approved travel for required education classes for the judge and commissioners, the tax assessor-collector, and the treasurer.
Commissioners began working on a schedule of bonds for elected officials that would match the term of the bond to each official’s term of office. Hall said the bonds are different currently with some being for one or two years. The county intends to develop a plan to have four-year bonds that will align with the terms of each office.
Commissioners also considered a proposal to apply for state funds to repair roads damaged by the oil and gas industry, but turned the firm down due to the lack of such industry in Donley County

Filing is now open for those interested in serving on local boards as seven local governments prepare for May elections.
The Donley County Hospital Board, which oversees indigent care and the local ambulance service, has four positions up for election this year. The two-year terms are elected at-large in Donley County, but candidates must sign up for a specific place. Those seats are currently held by Jan Farris – Place 4, Jeannie Owens – Place 5, Mark C. White – Place 6, and Lori Howard – Place 7.
The Clarendon College District has three six-year terms available on the Board of Regents, and the positions are also elected at-large in Donley County. Those seats are held by Dr. John Howard, Dr. Bill Sansing, and Jack Moreman.
Clarendon ISD has two at-large positions available on the Board of Trustees for three-year terms, and Reneé Betts and Weldon Sears are the incumbents.
Hedley ISD also has two at-large positions on its Board of Trustees, and those are also three-year terms. Those seats are currently held by Karen Watt and Tonja Ruthardt.
Three seats on the Clarendon Board of Aldermen are up this spring. Those are two-year terms elected at-large in the city. Will Thompson is finishing one of those terms, and Beverly Burrow and Larry Jeffers hold the other two positions, having been elected to serve out unexpired terms in a special election last November.
The City of Hedley has three positions available on the May ballot. The two-year, at-large terms of Mayor Leon Ward and Aldermen Lonnie Roby and Carrie Butler are up this year.
In Howardwick, the terms of Gene Rogers, Cory Longan, and Robert Brewster on the Board of Aldermen are expiring. Those are two-year terms elected at-large.
Filing for these positions runs through February 28. Elections will be held May 10.

The Donley Appraisal District is reminding those who have not paid their 2013 taxes that those taxes are due today, January 30.
Statements were mailed two weeks ago to taxpayers still owing 2013 taxes. Taxes not paid on or before January 31 will incur penalty and interest of 7 percent if paid in February. The amount increases each month thereafter until the tax is paid. Accounts unpaid on July 1 will incur an additional 20 percent collection penalty in addition to the regular penalty and interest of 18 percent. Texas state law prescribes the penalty and interest amounts.
Delinquent notices will be mailed in May to those who still owe 2013 tax at that time. Partial payments will be accepted.
Taxes are payable to the Donley Appraisal District, PO Box 1220, Clarendon TX 79226.

The High Plains Food Bank will be offering
application assistance on Monday, February 3, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. – to 2:00 p.m. at the Clarendon Housing Authority at 103 E. 4th Street.
Application assistance will be given to those interested in applying for food stamps, TANF, CHIP/Children’s Medicaid, Adult Medicaid & Women’s Health Care, and Long Term Care.
Bring a copy of the following information to Apply:
• Social security cards, ID and or birth certificates for everyone in household
• Proof of all income: Social Security, Last (4) Stubs, ect..
• Receipt for rent or lease agreement or mortgage payment
• Most recent telephone, electricity, gas, water, insurance premium, medical bills, and prescriptions
• Proof of resources, such as checking or savings account statement or passbook, life insurance policies, tax statements for real estate.
• Immunization Records (TANF and Children’s Medicaid only)

Clarendon College held commencement ceremonies for the fall 2013 graduating class on Friday, December 6, with 51 students honored.
A total of 10 students were awarded associate degrees and 41 students were awarded certificates of completion.
The Fall 2013 graduates are listed below by hometown.
Brittany Ann Balay, Amarillo, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Betsy Beltran, Amarillo, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Joel Anthony Britten, Amarillo, Associate of Applied Science, RFO; Natalie M. Moreno, Amarillo, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Margie Sanchez, Amarillo, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Lionel Benavides III, Childress, Associate of Applied Science, Wind; Alison Lynn Britten, Childress, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Stormy Burrows, Childress, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Michelle Garcia, Childress, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Chelsey Ann Garno, Childress, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Destiny Marie Dann, Childress, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Tabitha LeAndra Noelle Pena, Childress, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Meagan Leianna Weaver, Childress, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Kelsey Blake Mullins, Clarendon, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Tamra Renee Burnam, Hedley, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Neva Marie Corely, McLean, Associate of Science; Samantha Renee House, Memphis, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Monica Miller, Memphis, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Dana Michelle Waller, Memphis, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Sally Frawner, Paducah, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Angie A. Holly, Paducah, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Emily Lauren Barrett, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Theresa Daniels, Pampa, Associate of Science; Kimberly Darnell, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Kristen Doyetes, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Chad Epperson, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Welding; Meganne Briar Fraser, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Susette Stubbs Howard, Pampa, Associate of Science; Pamela R. Mathis, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Erika Mauricio, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Karen McGahen, Pampa, Associate of Science; Kendra Marie Ruth Myers, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Kayla Lynn Parker, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Ashlee Nicole Patton, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Brenda Reed, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Bryan Roberts, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Verona Ballard Shook, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Cassie Nicole Solis, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Jessica L. Gutierrez, Pampa, Associate of Science; Elena Leigh Mercado-Valdez, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; Shaley Lanae Smith, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Tiffany Thomas, Pampa, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Judy Janean Whitten, Pampa, Associate of Science; Shanna Segura Smith, Panhandle, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Alex Stephens, Panhandle, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Chancy Dowd, Quitaque, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Kelly Ann Lowery, Vega, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Shayla Villalon, Wellington, Certificate of Completion, Vocational Nursing; Delta Hartwig, White Deer, Associate of Science; Kenley R’Nae Loveless, White Deer, Certificate of Completion, Cosmetology; and Bridgett Parks, White Deer, Associate of Science.