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Archives for November 2014
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Clarendon sales tax revenue increases
Clarendon’s sales tax revenue this month posted its first positive growth over 2013 since the March allocation from Texas Comptroller Susan Combs’ office.
The city showed increased sales tax receipts the first three months of 2014 until April, at which time monthly figures had to compete with numbers from 2013 when an influx of pipeline workers drove sales to unusually high levels.
The November allocation reported last week shows Clarendon receiving $42,786.39 this month, up 12.35 percent over the same period in 2013. Looking at the two-year record, the city’s allocation this period is up 25.7 percent compared to November 2012 when revenue was $34,037.
Clarendon’s year-to-date figure is still off 3.29 percent at $366,991.99 compared to 2013, but the city is up 18.98 percent compared to this same point in 2012 when the total was $308,446.79.
Hedley is up 1.58 percent this month at $848.92 and is also up 5.84 percent for the year-to-date at $6,673.69.
Howardwick dropped 13.84 percent for November at $1,237.37, and down for the year 21.53 percent at $12,529.82.
Across the state, Combs said that sales tax revenue in October was $2.41 billion, up 12.9 percent compared to October 2013.
“Strong growth in sales tax receipts was apparent across all major economic sectors,” Combs said.
The sales tax figures represent September sales reported by monthly tax filers and July, August and September sales reported by quarterly filers.
Howardwick church provides comfort of prayer through handmade blankets
By Roger Estlack & Tara Allred, Clarendon Enterprise
If actions speak louder than words, then the actions of the women at Howardwick Baptist Church speak volumes about Christian love and compassion as well as the power of prayer.
The ladies, who want no personal recognition, learn through the church about individuals who have special needs, are facing problems, or are battling illnesses. Then someone volunteers to knit a prayer blanket or afghan for that person in need.
Pastor Dave Stout says that over the years more than 300 of these afghans have been prepared for people in need… people like former Howardwick mayor Nancy Davis as she continues her personal battle with cancer and cannot express her thanks enough for what she’s been given
“You can lay there at night and just feel every prayer,” Davis said.
Perhaps that’s because not only is the blanket an expression of love, but it is also a symbol of prayer. As part of this quiet ministry, the woman making the afghan says a prayer for the intended recipient at the end of each crocheted row before starting the next one.
A supply of yarn is kept at the church for the ladies, and donations of yarn are always welcome, Stout says.
The pastor says he doesn’t know just when the ministry started, but he knows that afghans from the women of Howardwick have been shipped all over the United States and to some foreign countries.
For more information or to donate yarn to the ministry, contact Pastor Dave Stout at 231-8344.
Sawyer defeats Rattan in race for Pct. 4 commissioner
By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise
Donley County Commissioner Dan Sawyer was re-elected by Precinct 4 voters last week in the only real contested local race of the November 4 General Election.
The Republican incumbent defeated his Democratic challenger, Rick Rattan, by a margin of 133 to 89.
Precinct 1 and 2 voters formally elected Republican Pam Johnston Mason to succeed the late Democratic incumbent, Connie Havens, for justice of the peace, 420 to 85. Havens passed away in September, but her name remained on the ballot.
A total of 947 total ballots were cast in last week’s election, and several unopposed local races were before the voters, including County Judge-elect (R), County Clerk Fay Vargas (D), County Treasurer Wanda Smith (R), Pct. 2 Commissioner-elect Daniel Ford (R), and Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand (R).
Clarendon native Mac Thornberry was easily re-elected to his District 13 seat in the United States House of Representatives. Local voters preferred Thornberry by a wide margin over his Democratic, Libertarian, and Green Party opponents. The congressman received 87.14 percent of the home vote with Mike Minter (D) getting 9.86 percent, Emily Pivoda (L) getting 2.25 percent, and Don Cook (G) getting 0.75 percent.
State Sen. Kel Seliger (R) and State Rep. Ken King (R) were also easily re-elected to their seats with each getting more than 90 percent of the local vote.
Donley County joined most of the rest of Texas in preferring Republican Greg Abbott as the state’s next governor with 802 votes compared to 119 for Democrat Wendy Davis, 17 for Libertarian Kathie Glass, and three for the Green Party’s Brandon Parmer.
Local voters helped re-elect US Senator John Cornyn with 800 votes compared to 94 for David Alameel (D), 23 for Rebecca Paddock (L), eight for Emily “Spicybrown” Sanchez, and one write-in vote.
Republican Dan Patrick will be the state’s next lieutenant governor thanks in part to 795 votes he picked up locally compared to 102 for Leticia Van de Putte (D), 26 for Robert Butler (L), and three for Chandrakantha Courtney (G).
Republican candidates were the choice all the way down the ballot in contested statewide and area races. In fact, 358 Donley County voters marked straight Republican ballots.
Donley County Commissioners are expected to canvass the election this week. New terms begin January 1.
Editorial: CISD should include public in super hunt
A good many local residents were surprised by the recent news that Clarendon ISD Superintendent Monty Hysinger had been named as the lone finalist for the top job at Dumas ISD. The Amarillo Globe-News posted that news online Wednesday night, October 29, and the Enterprise followed the next morning on ClarendonLive.com.
No one begrudges Mr. Hysinger what is certainly a step up to a larger school with no doubt better pay and benefits that CISD can afford. Some observers, your editor included, had wondered if Mr. Hysinger might make a move soon given that he’s had a long tenure here – almost 16 years – and his youngest child is about to graduate from Clarendon High School.
The announcement in the middle of the school year was a bit of a surprise however; and the veil of secrecy employed by the Dumas Board of Trustees, while a common tactic across the state, is a method we hope the Clarendon school board will not follow.
In the search for a new superintendent, Texas law requires school districts to name finalists at least 21 days before a final vote to hire someone. Encouraged by the all-wise Texas Association of School Boards, many school districts keep their superintendent candidates hidden from public view by naming just one finalist, who then not surprisingly gets hired 21 days later.
Compare this to the process used by Clarendon College when selecting a president. In the hiring of former presidents Myles Shelton and Phil Shirley and current president Robert Riza, the Board of Regents appointed a committee of citizens and board members to wade through dozens of applications. The committee narrowed that field to three to five candidates, each of whom were brought in for a public reception and interview before being privately interviewed in closed session by the full board. Later, the board met again to make its final decision.
The college’s process demonstrates the importance of community interaction necessary for a successful college president. It also shows a healthy respect for the input from citizens and taxpayers in choosing the person who will lead one of the community’s largest groups of employees and a cornerstone of our economy.
Surely the superintendent of Clarendon ISD is on the same level of importance to our community as our college president. He or she will hold great influence of the livelihoods of dozens of citizens and – more importantly – chart the course of the education system that will mold the young minds that are the future of this city. You, as a parent and/or taxpayer, have a high stake and interest in who the Board of Trustees will chose to succeed Monty Hysinger, and every member of our school board has a duty to conduct school business as openly as possible… regardless of the prevailing veil of secrecy in our state.
We will soon know how our trustees will handle this situation. The board is scheduled to meet tonight (November 13) and three agenda items are directly related to the expected January departure of Mr. Hysinger. In his monthly report, the superintendent will discuss setting a called meeting to name an interim superintendent; and then later, the Executive Director of the Region 16 Education Service Center, John Bass, will discuss the superintendent search process and the naming of an interim superintendent. Mr. Bass’ comments are listed under “Personnel,” which often means a board will discuss that topic in closed session, away from the eyes and ears of the public.
We hope the CISD board bucks the state norm and sets a high bar for public involvement. Clarendon College has successfully done that, and it’s not unheard of for a Texas school to do it. The Beaumont Enterprise on Monday said many residents of Beaumont ISD want their board to follow the lead of the Austin Independent School District, which will narrow its own list of superintendent finalists next month and then “hold a public forum at which the community is invited to question the finalists.”
The paper quotes Austin ISD board president Vincent Torres as saying, “We’re hoping by giving them an opportunity at the end here to weigh in on who we have narrowed the field down to we’ll at least have some indication of how well they will be received and supported by the community.”
It all comes down to government transparency. The public has a right to know who is being considered to run our school. We are depending on the school board to include the public in the process and conduct this search in the light of day. We don’t need the names of every applicant, but we deserve to know who the top candidates (plural) are for the job.
Broncos playoff bid falls short
By Sandy Anderberg
The Broncos knew they had to give it their all and hope that was enough to have a chance at post-season play as they wrapped up their 2014 football season. They played Memphis as tough as they could but suffered a season-ending loss at 12-17. According to head coach Gary Jack, the Broncos gave it their all and played hard.
“All the breaks in the game went against us,” Jack said. “We made mistakes. It was like we were trying too hard.”
The Broncos dropped several passes that they do not normally drop and that killed a lot of the Broncos’ drives. “The dropped passes hurt us,” Jack said. “And we couldn’t get anything going. Our offense moved the ball but made a couple of mistakes. Our youth showed just a little.”
Defensively, the Broncos played a solid game, according to Jack.
“Nick Shadle had a great game and had 18 tackles,” Jack said.
Clay Koetting had 13 tackles, Keandre Cortez had nine tackles, Charles Mason had eight tackles and recovered a fumble, Bryce Hatley also recovered a fumble and had six tackles, Caleb Cobb had a sack and eight tackles, Taylon Knorpp had nine tackles and a sack, and Montana Hysinger had eight tackles.
“I am proud of the guys,” Jack said. “It was a tough non-district schedule and we started the season out at 0-5. That took a lot out of us. But I want to give them credit. They never quit and they kept fighting. We will move on and work harder next year.”
Young students show promise for CHS
Clarendon High School sent seven participants to the Texas Tech “Fall Fandango” Math/Science academic meet last Saturday, and their accomplishments have their UIL coaches encouraged.
In a very large meet involving schools from 1A to 4A, all seven students placed, two medaled, and both the Number Sense and Science teams placed in the top five at the meet.
The best thing about the results was that no seniors were involved for Clarendon. Six sophomores and one junior competed in their respective events, and all placed in the top ten among competing students.
In Number Sense Cire Jauregui placed 5th, Riley Shadle 6th, and Chance Lockhart 7th. Jauregui also placed 8th in Mathematics. In the Science contest, Hannah Howard placed 2nd, Chesson Sims 3rd, Riley Shadle 4th, Chance Lockhart 6th, Aubry Powell 8th, and Steven Johnson 9th.
The next meet for all UIL academic contestants will be in January when Clarendon competes in Stinnett at the annual West Texas Invitational.
Joel Wayne Layton
Joel Wayne Layton, age 44, passed away on November 9, 2014.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church with Bro. George Price and John Hall officiating. Burial will follow in Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Joel was born on November 20, 1969, in Wheatland, Wyoming to Charles Wayne and Sandra Joy (Cox) Layton. He was a hard worker, and had been employed with West Texas Gas for 20 years.
Joel graduated from Memphis High School in 1989 where he was given the Peacemaker Award. A fun-loving and jovial person, he was known by many as a big, gentle giant. He was a happy and kind person, and a dependable friend and brother who was always there when needed.
A Christian man, he would do anything for anybody, and was often referred to as a “cowboy with angel wings.” He loved roping and playing golf, but most of all loved his family. He was a loving father and brother, and could not have been a better son for his parents. Joel will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Chuck and Penny Layton and Pick and LaQueta Cox.
He is survived by his parents, Sandra and Ronald Hatcher and Charlie and Diana Layton; two daughters, Leigh Ann Layton and Blayne Layton; one son, Dalton Layton; one sister, Lauron Johnson and husband, Landon; and numerous special cousins, extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tom Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 161, Guthrie, TX 79236 or to your favorite charity.
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