Archives for November 2014

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Mac Thornberry of Clarendon has been chosen to chair the House Armed Services Committee for the 114th Congress.  Thornberry is the first Texan – Republican or Democrat – ever selected to lead the Committee or its predecessors.

“I am grateful for the opportunity and also mindful of the responsibility it entails,” Thornberry said.  “The men and women who serve our nation in the military deserve the full support and backing of the Congress and of the country.  Providing that support will be my top priority.”

Thornberry was selected to serve as Chairman by the Steering Committee of the House Republican Conference.  The entire House Republican Conference ratified his selection this morning.

The Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), praised the Clarendon native for his work on national defense. “During his time in Congress, Mac has been instrumental in ensuring that our military personnel have the tools, authorities, and resources they need to keep America safe.  He has also worked to keep the Pentagon and others accountable for taxpayers’ money.  Mac is a respected voice, experienced lawmaker, and effective leader.  I look forward to working with him as the next Chairman of the Armed Services Committee.”

The Armed Services Committee has a responsibility to oversee the Pentagon, all military services, and all Department of Defense agencies.  Each year it writes a defense authorization bill, which authorizes military spending and sets the policies for the Pentagon to follow.

The outgoing Chairman, Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), said that the “Armed Services Committee will be in the most capable of hands with Chairman-select Thornberry, and so will our Armed Forces.”  He continued, “During my four years as Chairman, I’ve come to rely on Mac as a policy expert, a gifted communicator, a trusted confidant, and a friend. He has skillfully helped  our Committee as Vice-Chairman, and his national security smarts have earned the respect of both Congress and defense experts alike. But most importantly, Mac is a leader with a servant’s heart. His devotion and loyalty is, above all, to the men and women of our military.

Thornberry’s counterpart in the Senate is Senator John McCain of Arizona, who will chair the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“This opportunity is only possible because of the help and support I have received over the years from my family, employers and mentors, co-workers, my official and campaign staffs, and especially from the people of the 13th congressional District of Texas.  I am extremely grateful for the confidence they have shown in me and will do my best to live up to the responsibilities of this position on their behalf.”

Thornberry has deep experience in national security issues, having worked as a congressional staff member on defense issues and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department in the Reagan Administration.  He has served in Congress since 1995 and has been a member of the Armed Services Committee during his entire tenure.  He has also served on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence since 2004.

“Our country faces a wide array of serious national security challenges from the renewed aggression of major powers to terrorism and attacks in cyberspace.  Congress has an indispensable role to play in meeting those challenges, and the Committee will work to see that our country remains strong.”

Clarendon school trustees will meet this week to consider naming an interim superintendent as they prepare for the expected January departure of Superintendent Monty Hysinger.

The board plans to meet Thursday, November 20, in a called session at 7 p.m. The agenda includes possible action to hire an Interim Superintendent of Schools and consideration of Superintendent Search Services, Process, and Timelines.

Trustees met in regular session last Thursday, November 13, and listened to a presentation by Region 16 Education Service Center Executive Director John Bass, who discussed processes for hiring a superintendent.

Bass, a former superintendent himself, said he thinks this is a good time for Clarendon to search for a superintendent.

“I think you’ll get a lot of good applicants,” Bass said, noting CISD’s record of administrative stability, its testing scores, and its finances. “There are about 55 openings across the state right now.”

Bass reviewed the legal requirements for filling the school’s top job and discussed the pros and cons of different search methods.

Whatever method the school board chooses, CISD must name a finalist or finalists 21 days before the board acts to hire someone.

Trustee Reneé Mott asked Bass for clarification on that point.

“So we could name two or three finalists,” Mott asked.

Bass said the district can name more than one finalist but said that it is not often that a district names more than a “lone finalist.”

“[An applicant’s] star loses some of its luster at home when people find out they’re looking,” Bass said.

Most districts in Region 16 do the search themselves, Bass said. Consultants’ prices can vary with a search conducted by the Texas Association of School Boards costing in the neighborhood of $7,000 to $8,000.

“This is the biggest job that a school board does, hiring a superintendent,” he said.

The board then met in closed session with Bass for more than an hour to discuss names of possible interim candidates before returning to open session and adjourning.

The second annual Clarendon Christmas Bazaar is set to welcome more than 20 vendors to the Donley County Activity Center this Saturday, November 22.

The event, hosted by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, will open at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. with Santa Claus being on hand for photos from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The bazaar seeks to provide local shoppers with all the choices they need to find that perfect gift for everyone on their Christmas list with booths provided by a mixture of local and out of town businesses.

Drawings will be held throughout the day for door prizes and gift certificates.

Vendors this year include Matthew Ryan Photography, Every Nook & Cranny, Straight Off The Ranch, Ronna’s Creations, Henson’s, Morrow’s Wood Design, Alisha Early, The Clarendon Enterprise, Delightful Lil Treasures, The Cowgirl’s Home, Amanda’s Country Whims, Carolyn Butler, Cathy’s Cookin’, Mary Linn Bills & Becky Hillman, Joanna Jarvis, Jewelry-In-Candles, Campbell Online Marketing, Farm Girl Frosting, Scentsy, Theresa Dronzek Limu Products, and Debra Hubbord Fabric Crosses..

St. Mary’s Catholic Church will have a concession stand and will be serving throughout the day.

For an afternoon of family fun and shopping, visit the Clarendon Christmas Bazaar this Saturday.

Call Chamber Manager Bonnie Campbell at 806-205-3150 for more information on this or other Chamber activities. Or check out the Chamber website at www.ClarendonChamber.com or follow the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clarendonchamber.