Archives for April 2015

Clarendon’s Gavin Word and Jennifer McIntosh were the top men’s and women’s finishers of the third annual Chance Mark Jones Roar ‘N Run 5K last Saturday, April 11, at Clarendon College.

The race sponsored by the Clarendon Lions Club in conjunction with National Child Abuse Awareness Month, drew nearly 200 registration with 117 actual runners and walkers as well as dozens of spectators, supporters and workers.

Word, finishing in 21 minutes and two seconds, had the best overall time, best men’s time, and best time for those 19 and under. McIntosh ran the race in 25 minutes and 16 seconds, coming in first among all women and second in the 30-39 age group.

The annual 5K is held to raise awareness of child abuse and to honor the life of four-year-old Chance Mark Jones. The longest distance traveled to this year’s 5K belonged to Tony Dale and Hadley Dale visiting Clarendon from Australia.

Complete results are as follows: Top Men’s Time, Gavin Word; Top Women’s Time, Jennifer McIntosh; 19 and under – 1st Gavin Word, 2nd Clay Ward, 3rd Tanner Burch; Ages 20-29 – 1st Morgan Wheatly, 2nd Haley Koepke, 3rd Cassidy Burton; Ages 30-39 – 1st Tony Dale, 2nd Jennifer McIntosh, 3rd Erica McAnear; Ages 40-49 – 1st Michael Metcalf, 2nd Shannon Ward, 3rd Jennifer Pigg; Ages 50-59 – 1st Tim Sharp, 2nd Sylvia Zaiontz, 3rd Robin McGonigal; Ages 60-69 – 1st Bob Baxter, 2nd Nancy Baxter, 3rd Martha Smith; Ages 70+ – 1st Phyllis O’Keefe, and 2nd Larry Capranica.

Donations and sponsorships for this year’s race are still being calculated. Proceeds will support the charitable community activities of the Clarendon Lions Club.

 

A weeklong citywide clean-up has been scheduled for May 11-16, 2015, following last week’s city meeting.

The city council endorsed a clean-up plan put together by City Administrator David Dockery and Aldermen Beverly Burrow and Doug Kidd.

During the clean-up, city residents will be charged half the usual price of disposal fees at the convenience center on Front Street, and city workers will be available to pick up large items curbside for senior citizens and disabled residents.

Dockery told aldermen the cost of the clean-up to the city in terms of hauling extra trash to the Memphis landfill is expected to be between $3,000 and $4,000.

The city is also requesting volunteers from the community to help residents who do not have the means to haul off debris.

The convenience center will be open during the clean-up from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11, through Friday, May 15, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

Items accepted at the convenience center are garbage, debris, tires, and yard waste. Items not accepted are shingles, construction waste, electronics, paint, and batteries. Half price rates during the clean-up will be as follows: pickup load – $3, 16-foot trailer – $10, larger trailers – $20 and up, tires up to 20″ – $1.50 each, tires bigger than 20″ – $4, ag tires – $15 and up, and appliances with Freon – $7.50.

A copy of citizens’ water bills will be requested at the time of dumping to show residency.

In other city business, continued their discussion of pursing USDA funding opportunities for water system improvements, and aldermen will consider authorizing the engineering study necessary to start that application at a future meeting. City officials reported Nathan Jaramillo will be contracted for $1,469.52 to make the repairs to City Hall where an external elevator had been attached. And aldermen listened to a fifth and final presentation on digital water meters.

 

Three pleas took place when the District Court met in Clarendon Monday, April 13.

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

Frank Wesley Carson was placed on probation for the second degree felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for a period of five years.

Carson, 61-year-old resident of Clarendon, was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury after being arrested on May 18, 2014, by Donley County Deputy Vincent “Sonny” Marasco.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Carson was required to pay a fine of $2,000 to Donley County and $398 in court costs. If Carson violates probation, he faces up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Carson was also placed on probation for the third degree felony offense of retaliation for a period of five years.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Carson was required to pay $488 in court costs. If Carson violates probation, he faces up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Kylie Rayne Sharpe was placed on probation for the Class B misdemeanor offense of electronic transmission or certain visual material depicting a minor for a period of 180 days.

Sharpe, 17-year-old resident of Memphis, was arrested on October 30, 2014, for the 3rd degree felony offense of possession of child pornography by Memphis Police Chief Chris Jolly and the State filed an information on April 10, 2015.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Sharpe was required to pay a fine of $2,000 to Hall County, $381 in court costs, and successfully complete 50 hours of community service. If Sharpe violates probation, she faces up to 180 days in the Hall County Jail.

 

More than 35 booths will be set up at the 2015 Donley County Health Fair this Thursday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Bairfield Activity Center at Clarendon College.

Northwest Health Care System will be paying for the processing of tests for cholesterol- LDL/HDL and triglycerides but you must provide your mailing address and must be fasting for accurate results. The paramedics of Donley County Hospital District will be drawing the blood for these tests. Free medical testing will be available in the following areas: blood pressure, pulse, oxygen, glucose/blood sugar, balance, glaucoma, cholesterol- LDL/HDL, STDs and PSAs. A new service this year will be a thyroid test.

Additional booths at the health fair will be hosted by Accolade Home Care, AdvoCare, Alcom/Lifeline, Amarillo Breast Health Coalition, Amerigroup, Area Agency on Aging, BritKare Home Medical, BSA Outpatient Nutrition Clinic, Clarendon Family Medical Center, Clinic for Family Wellness, Coffee Memorial Blood Center, Community Care Center of Clarendon, DARS, FirstCare Health Plans, Haven Health, High Plains Food Bank, Hospice Care of the Southwest, LifeStar, Lions Eye Bank of District 2-T1, Memphis Convalescent Center, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, Outreach Health Services/WIC, Palo Duro Nursing Home and Rehab, Panhandle Community Services, Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, Panhandle Independent Living Center, Pavilion at Northwest Texas Healthcare System, Professional Case Management, Roadrunner HomeCare, Shepard’s Crook Home Health, Texas Dept. of State Health Services /Tobacco Education & Cessation, TTUHSC Breast Health Center of Excellence, Thrive by Le-vel, Tralee Crisis Center, DSHS/Children with Special Health Care Needs, and Texas Dept. of State Health Services/ Immunizations.

Health fairs are excellent ways to offer screenings for some health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. Catching them early can help reduce the risks for costly complications. Both diabetes and high blood pressure can go undetected for up to ten years. Health fairs can also raise awareness of issues like preventing heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even skin cancer. Preventing or delaying the onset of chronic health problems can produce significant savings for many insured employee groups. Thanks to all the generous sponsors, these services will be offered at no cost to the public.

The fair is being sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Clarendon Family Medical Center, Northwest Health Care System, Mike’s Pharmacy, Pilgrim Bank, Clarendon College, Donley County Memorial VFW Post #7782 Ladies Auxiliary and Roadrunner Home Care. Donations are still being accepted at the Extension Office to help with the expense and keeping it a free event for the attendees.

For more information about the 2015 Health Fair, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at 874-2141.