Archives for May 2015

Clarendon’s sales tax revenue dropped for the third straight month when Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar released April allocations last week.

City sales tax figures slid 7.24 percent compared to one year ago, coming in at $36,571.80 compared to $39,429.81 for the same period one year ago.

The calendar year-to-date total has now slipped 1.20 percent to $159,219.56.

Howardwick’s sales tax revenue also continued sliding, falling 13.53 percent for the month to $1,118.01 and down 6.78 percent for the year at $5,480.43.

Hedley was up 20.56 percent this month with an allocation of $1,011.22 compared to $838.71 last year, but that city is still behind 15.64 percent for the year at $3,016.81.

A look at surrounding communities show a mixed bag of sales tax income figures for this month with Wellington down 13.13 percent, Childress up 12.56 percent, Memphis up 8.33 percent, Claude down 5.75 percent, and Shamrock down 10.21 percent. Amarillo was up 5.51 percent, and Pampa was down 13.63 percent.

Statewide, Hegar said sales tax revenue was $2.3 billion, up 1.1 percent compared to April 2014.

“As we predicted in January, state revenues have grown at a moderate pace. April is the second consecutive month of relatively slow growth in sales tax revenue, and I remain cautiously optimistic about our economic progress,” Hegar said. “Growth in total sales tax revenues collected this month was muted by the significant slowdown in the oil and gas mining sector; however, collections from other major economic sectors – including retail and wholesale trade, restaurants, construction, and manufacturing – continued to grow. This marks the 61st consecutive month of growth in sales tax collections.”

The sales tax figures represent monthly sales made in March as well as January, February and March sales by businesses that report tax quarterly.

Kati Adams and Kortney Burton have been named the Hedley High School valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2015.

Both girls will be recognized during commencement exercises at the HHS Gymnasium on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m.

Adams as a high school average of 98.761 and is the daughter of Lon and Nicki Adams. She has been very active in FFA, showing pigs and steers, and judging livestock. She has been Hedley FFA Chapter president, class president, and the president of the NHS.

Kati has also been a member of the basketball team where she received all-district honors all four years, ran cross country and advanced to regionals her junior and senior years, and played tennis where she advanced to regionals four years in a row and advanced to state her senior year.

Kati will attend Clarendon College where she will be a member of the livestock judging team and will major in agribusiness.

Burton has an average of 98.375 and is the daughter of Blain and Tanya Burton. She has attended Hedley ISD since the second grade. She has held the Treasurer position of her class for one year and Vice President for three years. She has held the Secretary position of the National Honor Society for one year and the Vice President position for two years.

Kortney was active in basketball all four years of high school, where she received all district honors, and tennis for one year. She is ranked second in her graduating class. She was Hedley’s Homecoming Queen in 2014 and Lions Club Sweetheart in 2014. She was named Young Woman of the Year from Hedley High School in 2014 by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.

Kortney and her service dog, CorKey, will be attending Clarendon College starting in the fall of 2015 and will pursue a degree in business.

Hedley Junior High’s top students this year are Kasie Hinton with a 93.812 grade average and McKay Shelp with an average of 92.187. They will be recognized during Hedley’s eighth grade graduation next Friday at 9 a.m.

Donley County Commissioners discussed upcoming improvements and activities on the Courthouse Square when they met in regular session Monday, May 11.

The Courthouse Lighting Committee reported that the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation had approved a request to provide $5,000 for electrical improvements and additional lighting for the holiday season. Most of that money will go towards adding new outlets to the backs of floodlights on the courthouse lawn that can be used for Christmas lights, July Fourth booths, and other activities.

Judge John Howard said the county will also be purchasing banners promoting the 125th anniversary of the Courthouse and patriotic bunting for the Courthouse arches. New brochures have also been printed for the Courthouse anniversary.

Howard also said the county is pursuing getting a historical marker for the old horse trough on the south side of the square near the Courthouse Annex. The exact age of the trough isn’t known at this time, but it is believed to be one of the only – if not the only – horse troughs on a courthouse square in the state.

In other county business Monday, commissioners approved Deputy County Clerk LaVerne Pinion’s attendance at a state conference, discussed using GovDeals for online auction services for surplus equipment, and approved upgrading the Microsoft Office software on county computers.

The court also renewed the county’s property insurance through the Texas Association of Counties and considered but took no action on adding a paid LifeStar membership as a county employee benefit.

Dr. Matt Halsey was named as the county Rabies Control Authority.

Booth space reservations and car show entries are still being taken for the third annual Mulkey Block Party scheduled for Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 23.

This year’s Herring Bank Car Show has been expanded to include motorcycles, and entry fees are $20 per vehicle. Entry forms are available online at the Chamber or Clarendon EDC websites and at the Clarendon Visitor Center.

Booth space for activities, food, or vendors is $50 each on a first come, first served basis. Forms for booth spaces are also available online or at the Visitor Center.

“Insufficient Funds” will be back on stage to entertain for the evening. Steve Hall and Jesse Lincycomb, both of Howardwick, will provide the opening musical entertainment starting about 6 p.m., and a live auction benefiting the Mulkey Theatre Project will also be held.

Entertainment activities for kids are being lined up as well, and steps are being taken to again show cartoons for the kids in the theatre itself.

Orders for commemorative t-shirts are now being taken for 2015 Block Party. Pre-orders are $15 per shirt and can be filled out at the Visitor Center or The Clarendon Enterprise. Pre-orders must be turned in by this Friday at 5 p.m. T-shirt prices will go up to $20 the day of the event, and only a limited number will be available.

For more information on the third annual Mulkey Block Party, to rent booth space, or to sign on as a sponsor, contact the Clarendon Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.