Archives for May 2015

Clarendon College added an estimated $44.5 million to the economy of Donley County and seven neighboring counties that make up the CC service area in fiscal year 2013, according to a new study.
Those figures were presented by CC President Robert Riza to the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation Board at its regular meeting Monday evening.
The study conducted by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) was paid for by the college and the CEDC and looked at several factors including the college’s payroll, purchasing, student spending, and alumni earnings as well as the investment of the taxpayers. The CC service area includes Donley, Gray, Childress, Hall, Collingsworth, Briscoe, Wheeler, and Motley counties.
The 78-page reports finds that CC had $6.5 million in direct spending during the study period, which included $5.6 million in payroll for 121 full-time and part-time employees. Much of that figure was spent in the service area to purchase groceries, clothing, and other household goods and services.
EMSI calculated that college students spent more than $472,000 in the service area. Most of that student spending would have been in Clarendon and Pampa.
Clarendon College alumni had an economic impact of $37.5 million.
“These numbers are conservative,” Riza told the CEDC. “We know Donley County drives the college, and a lot of our students stay here.”
Twenty-three percent of CC students originate from outside the region with some of those relocating to the service area. Those students likely would not have come to the region if not for the college, the study says.
In fiscal year 2013, state and local taxpayers contributed $3.2 million to Clarendon College, of that $430,621.02 came from ad valorem taxes levied in Donley County.  Every tax dollar invested in CC yields $6.80 in benefits to society, for an average annual return on investment of 17.6 percent.
EMSI says a student who invests $1 in education at Clarendon College will see $5.80 in higher future income for a return of 20.3 percent.
The study further found that Texas receives $312.4 million in added state income over the course of students’ working lives and realizes $4.6 million in social savings from educated students due to “reduced crime, lower unemployment, and increased health and well-being.”
The CC operating spending is the equivalent of 140 jobs for the area, the impact of student spending is the equivalent of 17 jobs, and the alumni impact is the equivalent of 893 jobs.
Overall CC and its students and alumni support the equivalent of 1,050 jobs.

More than 200 kids will put their cowboy skills to the test this weekend when the Junior Rodeo Cowboys Association hosts a spring competition at the Clarendon College Livestock & Equine Center on Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10.
JRCA officials say kids ranging in ages from three to 19 are registered for more than 1,100 runs over the two-day period. Events will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, and admission is $5.
Scheduled events including barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, tie down roping, team roping, ribbon roping, bull riding, bronc riding, and mutton busting.
JRCA is a non-profit organization serving the rodeo interests of youth from across the Texas Panhandle, Northwest Texas, and Western Oklahoma. Organized in 1998, the JRCA has enjoyed steady growth and now boasts about 300 members.
Members compete in traditional rodeo events in six different age groups for both girls and boys with regular season rodeos plus the two performance finals.
Members of the JRCA come from Lubbock on the southwest to Oklahoma City on the northeast and from Vernon on the southeast to the Oklahoma Panhandle on the northwest.
This weekend’s event is sponsored by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation with Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds, and Clarendon Chamber of Commerce officials are preparing welcome bags encouraging rodeo attendees to support Chamber members.
For more information, visit www.jrcarodeo.com.

Voters in Clarendon and Howardwick will go to the polls Saturday for city elections.
Early voting ended Tuesday and turnout was light in both cities.  Approximately 80 citizens had voted in Clarendon by late afternoon May 5, and only eight early ballots had been cast in Howardwick shortly after noon that same day.
The only competitive race this spring is in Clarendon where three candidates are vying for two seats on the city council. Incumbent Aldermen Sandy Skelton and Doug Kidd are joined on the ballot by challenger Britton Hall.
Mayor Larry Hicks is also on the city ballot but has no opponent.
The mayor and aldermen all serve two-year terms. City voting this Saturday, May 9, will take place at the Donley County Courthouse Annex from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
While no other local taxing entity is having a competitive election this year to choose local officials, the City of Howardwick is holding an election to renew a local sales tax option in that city.
The measure would renew a one-quarter percent sales tax for street improvements. Howardwick City Hall says the tax doesn’t raise much money but is needed for street repairs.
Voting in Howardwick will also be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Howardwick City Hall there, and Mayor Mike Rowland and Alderman Gail Leathers along with alderman candidate Brenda Hampton also are unopposed on the ballot.
Election results will be posted Saturday night on ClarendonLive.com

Clarendon Cub Scout Pack 437 closed its scouting year last Thursday, April 30, with a Pinewood Derby and awards ceremony at the First United Methodist Church.
Fourteen boys participated in the derby which races homemade cars on a slopped track. Nathan Estlack had the fastest car in Den 1 and was the

overall pack champion this year, Jacob Murillo was first place in Den 2, Ben Estlack, was first place in Den 3, and Haughton Bivens was fastest in Den 4. Three of the four dens spent the last two months earning their Texas Badge, an award that is received after learning about Texas history and culture. Those receiving the Texas Badge were Nathan Estlack, Kayden Cummings, Jacob Murrillo, Patrick Monds (not present), Steven Mills, Ben Estlack, Dan Estlack, Mason Allred, Kayden Early, Jaythan Green, Aiden Word (not present), Robert Powell, and Henry Bivens.
In addition, Dens 1, 2, and 4 received the following awards:
Den 4: Haughton Bivens – Collecting belt loop, Citizenship belt loop; Kaendan Moffett – Collecting belt loop, Citizenship belt loop; Mason Green- Collecting belt loop, Citizenship belt loop; and Asher Cason – Citizenship belt loop.
Den 2: Steven Mills – Computers, Astronomy, Geography, weather, reading, pet care, chess (pins and belt loops), Texas, No Trace Left Behind; Jacob Murrillo – Computers, Astronomy, Geography, weather, reading, pet care, chess (pins and belt loops), No Trace Left Behind; and Patrick Monds – Computers, Astronomy, Geography, weather, chess (pins and belt loops), and No Trace Left Behind.
Den 4: Nathan Estlack – bicycling.
Local Cub Scouts will take a break for summer baseball and attend Cub Scout day camp in July. Den meetings and sign-ups for new Scouts will resume in the fall.

AMARILLO – U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) has been named the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Texas State Council 2014 Legislator of the Year. Thornberry was presented the award today by members of the VVA North Plains Chapter 404.

“Congressman Thornberry’s district is home to hundreds of thousands of veterans and active duty personnel from each branch of the military,” said Charles Morris, VVA chapter 404 president. “His office assists thousands of veterans with coordination of their benefits, inquiries with federal agencies and record requests. Additionally, he focuses much of his legislative efforts on providing for the national defense of our nation.”
The group praised Thornberry for his efforts as vice-chairman of the House Armed Services Committee to protect TRICARE from proposed cuts; stop military pay raise reductions; establish a military compensation commission; and reject commissary cuts. Thornberry now serves as the chairman of the committee. He played a major role in expanding access to State Veterans’ Homes to parents whose children died while serving in the military. He also sponsored and co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation that help retired and active duty military and their families.
“Meeting our commitments to our veterans is essential,” Thornberry said. “These men and women have put their lives on the line to keep our country safe. They deserve our very best in return.”
The VVA is the nation’s only congressionally chartered veteran’s service organization. It is dedicated to the needs of Vietnam veterans and their families. VVA’s founding principle is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”