Archives for February 2015

Clarendon College reports spring enrollment is down slightly following the 12th day of class last Wednesday, February 4, but contact hours, which determine CC’s state funding, were up slightly.

CC President Robert Riza said the strong economy in Gray County impacts the college’s Pampa Center with more students going into the workforce than pursuing education.

Contact hours for this semester were reported at 260,808, up two percent from spring 2014. Riza said Clarendon is one of seven community colleges across the state to experience growth in contact hours.

“The downturn in oil and gas didn’t happen strong enough or soon enough to impact our enrollment,” Riza said and noted that the college is also living with a declining population in its rural service area.

Total enrollment this spring is 1,070, which is down 4.4 percent compared to 1,119 at this point last year. The home campus reports the biggest enrollment with 321 students, up 9.9 percent from last spring. The Pampa Center has a headcount of 210, down from 317 last year.

The Childress Center reports 50 students, which is up from 44 last year; and the Amarillo Cosmetology Center has 55 students this spring compared to 33 last year.

“We have 75 commuters in Clarendon and the second highest dorm count in recent times,” Riza said.

The president said the increase in contact hours is the result of increased attention to career and technical training programs.

Riza said the college will launch its Industrial Technology Program in the second eight weeks of this semester, but those numbers won’t impact spring reporting to the state.

 

Clarendon’s main street will have one fewer businesses in a short time after Stavenhagen Video owner Bill Stavenhagen announced this week that he will soon be closing his doors.

The local RadioShack franchise was not among the 1,700 company-owned stores being shuttered by the electronics giant this year, but Stavenhagen said franchises like his may soon feel the impact of the national chain’s financial struggle.

“If they cut us [franchises] loose, we’ll have two problems,” Stavenhagen said. “We’ll lose name recognition, and we would have to find a new supplier or multiple suppliers.”

After 27 years, Stavenhagen says he has no complaints about his relationship with RadioShack. Instead, he says the Internet was ultimately the demise of his store with Netflix cutting into the video rental business and shoppers saving money online.

“The Internet killed us,” he said. “I never thought it would happen. At Christmas everyone goes online to beat the crowds. That hurts Amarillo stores, but it really hurts local businesses.”

Stavenhagen said some people may not realize how lucky they have been to have had a RadioShack in Clarendon for so long, but he also said he can’t blame people for wanting to save money.

Stavenhagen returned to Clarendon 34 years ago to lay carpet and to partner with his brother, Mac, in Stavenhagen Furniture before opening a RadioShack franchise on Kearney Street in 1988. He later merged his stored with the Clarendon Outpost for 9½ years before returning downtown.

He said he truly appreciates the customers he has through the years.

“It’s been a good run. I haven’t gotten rich, but I made a living for 34 years,” he said. “Clarendon is a nice place to raise a family, to live, and to retire. I want to thank my customers for their support over the years.”

Stavenhagen Video will hold a going out of business sale in the near future. After that, Stavenhagen says he plans to retire.

“It’s a new chapter in my life, and I’m kind of excited about it,” he said.

 

The District Court heard two pleas when it met in Clarendon on Monday, January 26.

District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Joseph Marvin Shadle was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A Misdemeanor offense of assault. Shadle pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Shadle, 34-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place January 8, 2014 by Donley County Deputy Sonny Marasco. Shadle was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 25, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Shadle was required to pay a fine of $2,000 fine to Donley County, $398 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Shadle violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Justin Lane Rose was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marihuana. Rose pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Rose, 26-year-old resident of Dallas, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place December 30, 2013 by DPS Trooper Max Honesto. Rose was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on November 13, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Rose was required to pay a fine of $3,000 fine to Donley County, $458 in court costs, $180 restitution, and successfully complete 200 hours of community service.

If Rose violates the term of his probation, he could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

 

Clarendon Chamber of Commerce officials reported Tuesday that tickets for this week’s Awards Banquet have sold out, and a full house is expected in the Bairfield Activity Center Thursday evening.

No tickets will be sold at the door for the event, which features a reception and silent auction at 6 p.m. followed by the banquet, entertainment, and awards at 7 p.m.

Several table sponsors will be competing to see who has the best decorations reflecting their business and featuring the Valentine’s banquet theme of “Clarendon: Sweetheart of the Panhandle.”

Dr. Don Newbury will be the headline entertainment, and the Chamber will honor three of Donley County’s top citizens with the Saints’ Roost Award and Man and Woman of the Year and also recognize outstanding youth from Clarendon and Hedley high schools.

Newbury, the former president of Western Texas College in Snyder and Howard Payne University in Brownwood, is an acclaimed speaker and noted writer with his column, The Idle American, appearing in about 150 Texas newspapers, including the Enterprise. He has addressed more than 250 annual Chamber of Commerce banquets across the United States and conducts seminars to stimulate community pride, and speaks for chamber boards at planning retreats.

Two hundred people are expected to attend Thursday’s banquet.

 

Two incumbents and one challenger have filed to run for offices with the City of Clarendon as sign-ups continue for spring elections.

Mayor Larry Hicks and Alderman Sandy Skelton have both signed on to run for office again, and they are joined by local radio personality Britton Hall running for alderman.

Of the five other local governments holding elections this year, only Clarendon ISD and the City of Howardwick reported any sign-ups as of Tuesday afternoon. Wayne Hardin is seeking re-election to the school board, and Mike Rowland is running for re-election as mayor of Howardwick.

Filing for ballot places began Wednesday, January 28, at the cities of Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick; the Clarendon and Hedley school districts; and the Donley County Hospital District.

The City of Clarendon has the mayor’s position and two seats on the Board of Aldermen up for election this year. Those jobs are two-year terms and are currently held by Mayor Hicks and Aldermen Skelton and Doug Kidd.

Howardwick has its mayor and two aldermen’s positions up for election for two-year terms. Those are now held by Mayor Rowland and Aldermen Jim Cockerham and Gail Leathers.

Two positions are up on the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees. The three-year terms of Hardin and Wes Hatley are expiring.

Hedley has three two-year positions up on its Board of Aldermen, seats that are currently held by Aldermen Tonya Metcalf, Kathy Spier, and Dusty Wilkinson.

Hedley ISD also has two there-year terms on its board available for election. Dana Bell’s term is up, and there is an open seat available that was formerly held by Mark Howard.

Three seats are up on the board of the Donley County Hospital District. Those two-year terms are currently held by Wayne Tubbs (Place One), Carey Wann (Place Two), and Melinda McAnear (Place 3).

All local boards are elected on an at-large system, although hospital board members do have to run for a specific place on the board. Applications and more information are available at each entity’s administrative office. Filing continues through February 27, 2015. This year’s elections will be held on May 9.