Archives for October 2014

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Dept. and Clarendon Firebelles hosted their annual Open House and Fire Prevention Poster Contest at the Fire Hall last Saturday, October 11.

Firemen cooked hot dogs for those in attendance, and kids got to ride on two of the department’s trucks, including the 1927 Seagraves. Demonstrations were given in proper fire extinguisher use, kitchen safety, and how to test smoke detectors.

A total of 189 kids from Pre-K through fifth grade entered the contest. Results were as follows:

PreK, Head Start, and PPCD – Hudson Howard, first; Camrie Shadle, second; and Corinne Quinlin, third.

Kindergarten and First Grade – Zane Cruse, first; Alexis Medrano, second; and David Jackson, Jr., third.

Second and Third Grades – Chelsea Wright, first; Anthony Cineceros, second; and Wyatt Lewis, third.

Fourth and Fifth Grades – Samantha Wright, first; Darcy Grahn, second; and Josiah Howard, first.

The Donley County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Howardwick woman with a gunshot wound today.

Authorities received a call of a gunshot wound in Howardwick at 425 Janny after 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 8. Upon arrival, Sheriff Butch Blackburn found the body of Karla Bartek in the front yard of the home with one gunshot wound to the head.

It has not yet determined if the case is a suicide or a homicide.

Blackburn said the death is under investigation, and an autopsy has been ordered for tomorrow. Authorities are also waiting for the results of forensics on the case.

The Texas Rangers are assisting with the investigation, the sheriff said.

The Wild West will come to life next Monday, October 13, when a mounted shooting competition will be held at the Clarendon College Livestock & Equine Center. The event is free to the public.

The Columbus Day event will be sponsored by the Texas Panhandle Mounted Shooters, the local chapter of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA), as they host the first annual Warm Up To Worlds competition.

On display will be some of the country’s top horses and high point cowboys and cowgirls compete against each other in a non-stop, high-speed, action riding and shooting contest as they warm up for the CMSA Tony Lama World Championship held in Amarillo beginning October 15 at the Amarillo National Center.

At least five of the top ranked cowboys and cowgirls including Donley County’s, Ethan Wilkinson and the current 2014 Wrangler Patriot Overall High Points leader, Lisa Jean DeGeare will be performing for you.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting is a combination of rodeo, barrel racing, and a Wild West show where the rider shoots single-action .45 caliber revolvers and rifles at balloons from a galloping horse and is scored on accuracy and speed. It has the fast action of barrel racing with a Wild West flare.

Organizers say this is the fastest growing equine sport in the nation and is fun for all ages.

Riders use especially loaded blank cartridges that break a balloon at a distance of about 15 feet. Penalties are assessed for each missed target, not following the procedures, or dropping a gun. The action is non-stop, with a rider racing through the course about every 60 seconds.

Come on out and witness the Old West come to life through the sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting. First shot is at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 13, at the CC Livestock & Equine Center.

For more information on Texas Panhandle Mounted Shooters contact Stephanie Wilkinson at 806-930-1252 or visit online at https://txpms.wordpress.com/.

For a list of future events and rules go to www.cmsaevents.com.

Hedley’s 63rd annual Cotton Festival will be held this weekend, beginning Friday, October 10, with a Chili & Stew Supper at 5:30 p.m. for $6 per bowl at the Lioness Club.

Bring your own chairs and blanket for good old fashioned country music played on the street by Pat Chesser and others. Bingo will be running at the Senior Citizens from 6 to 10 p.m., and a bouncy house and games will also be running from 6 to 9 p.m.

Anthony Knowles will be the Master of Ceremonies Saturday, October 11, as several local musicians perform, including Danny Mullins, Johnny Woodard, and Pat Chesser.

The high school One Act Play will host BINGO in the Senior Citizens building from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and the Hedley Senior Citizens will serve hamburgers and corn dogs along with dill pickles and candied apples from 10:00 to 5:00.

The bouncy house and games for the kids, popcorn, and cotton candy will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Lioness Club’s free Quilt Show. Everyone bring your quilts to show off.

The Lions Club will serve catered barbecue at 11:30 a.m. with three types of meet; sliced, chopped and sausage for $12 a plate.

The Little Princesses will be crowned at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Kiddie Parade at 1:15 and the full Parade at 2:00. If you want in the parade, be at the school at 1:00 with a card telling who you are and what you represent. Grand Parade Marshall is Patsy Spier, Director of the Hedley Senior Citizens.

Hedley ex-students will reunite at 3:00 p.m. at the school. The public is invited to the gym at 3:30 for a “geriatric free throw contest” and a half court “geriatric basketball game.” EMTs will be on the ready. There will be a $12 catered dinner for the Ex-Students at 7:00. Reservations are required.

All drawings will be at the Lions Club at 6 p.m., including the Lioness Club Queen size Quilt with 2 pillow shams; the American Legion (two prizes on one ticket) handmade metal yard swing and a tailgate BBQ grill; the Fire Department’s large and heavy Cajun cooking pot; and the Hedley Senior Citizens’ 12ga. Benelli Vinci shotgun with case and a hundred dollar bill for ammo.

Also, at 6:00 there will be a Baked Goods Auction to benefit the school Tennis Courts.

Folks owning property in Donley County began receiving statements for ad valorem taxes Saturday after the Donley Appraisal District put approximately 5,000 envelopes in the mail.

Chief Appraiser Paula Lowrie said she and her two staff members stuffed all the envelopes themselves and said the statements cover about 10,000 parcels of land.

“We could hire a company to stuff them, but it’s just about as quick to do it ourselves,” Lowrie said.

The combined statements cover taxes owed in Donley County, the Donley County Hospital District (which provides emergency medical services and indigent care), the Clarendon College District, the Clarendon and Hedley school districts, the Panhandle Groundwater District, and the cities of Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick.

Taken as a whole, the entire tax levy this year is $4,485,422.

Bills are due upon receipt and will become delinquent after February 2, 2015. Discounts are available for those who pay their taxes before January 1, 2015, as follows: three percent off in October, two percent off in November, and one percent off in December.

Owners of multiple accounts are responsible for ensuring they have reconciled all of their properties with all of their bills prior to making payment. Owners of multiple properties often have different names on the accounts. Some accounts may be in a company name, a trust or in various forms of a name (such as J. Smith, John Smith, and Jonathan Smith etc.). Some owners have differing mailing addresses as well.

In short, the collectors do not own the property, are not responsible for the tax or to determine how much a person decides to pay. During this phase the collectors receive and post payments and issue receipts upon request. If a person requires assistance in this area they should come to the Appraisal District office early (October-November) in this phase.

If you own property in Donley County and have not received your bill by mid-October, please contact the Donley County Appraisal District’s collections department to verify your account information and avoid possible delinquency.

If you did not receive your bill, you are still liable for the taxes. Each year on January 1, a tax lien attaches to all property subject to taxes to secure payment of the tax. The lien exists in favor of the taxing unit(s) having authority to tax the property until the taxes are paid.

The property tax code places the personal liability for the property tax on the owner of the property on January 1. Further, non-receipt does not affect the validity of the tax. Essentially, if you own property in Texas that is subject to taxation, make sure you are aware of the tax bill amount and the deadline to pay on time.

The District accepts cash, personal check, money orders and cashier’s checks. A person can also pay their property taxes online at our website www.donleycad.org. If paying by check, simply detach the stub and mail it with your payment to the address indicated on the stub. If you would like a receipt, please provide a postage paid self-addressed envelope with your payment.

For more information, contact the Donley Appraisal District at 806-874-2744.

The 100th District Court heard three pleas when it met in Clarendon on Thursday, September 25.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Jody Don Leffew was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in the State Jail Division of TDCJ for the state jail felony offense of forgery.

Leffew, 44-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested on March 25, 2014, 2014 for the offense that took place September 16, 2013 in Donley County.

Leffew plead to an information filed by the State on September 25, 2014. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Leffew is required to pay $488 in and court costs and $935.62 restitution.

Also on September 25, Ricky Paul Salgado pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt and was sentenced to eight years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of assault against a family member.

On March 27, 2014, Salgado originally pleaded guilty to offense that occurred on May 4, 2013, in Collingsworth County.

The State filed the motion on September 17, 2014, alleging eight violations of community supervision.

Salgado is also required to pay $376 in court costs to Collingsworth County and a $1,000 fine.

Jessica Silva Rivas was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana. Rivas pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Rivas, 23-year-old resident of Windsor, Calif., was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place January 28, 2014 by Danny Dawson. Rivas plead to an information filed by the State on March 24, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Rivas is required to pay a $500 fine to Carson County, $336 in court costs, $1,596.50 restitution, and successfully complete 200 hours of community service. If Rivas violates probation, he could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

In addition to being placed on probation, Rivas’ plea of guilty subjects her to her country of origin, which is Mexico.