Archives for July 2015

By Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune

For the first time in more than five years, Texas is not in a drought.

While less than three percent of the state remains “abnormally dry,” according to the latest US Drought Monitor report, drought has disappeared from every other part of Texas.

Just three months ago, more than 35 percent of the Lone Star State was in some form of drought – either moderate, severe, extreme or exceptional, depending on the location. A year ago, it was more than 60 percent.

Texas has been in varying degrees of drought since April 2010, according to the Texas Water Development Board.

The water planning agency called the drought disappearance “big news” Monday in its weekly drought report, but also offered a reminder that the national monitor “favors soil conditions” and that “reservoirs are still low in West, Far West, and South Texas.”

Those reservoirs serve as drinking water supplies for many small cities.

 

Work continues on the rehabilitation of the Mulkey Theatre following action taken by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation last Monday, July 13.

CEDC board members gave the go-ahead to Pioneer General Contractors to take further steps on Phase 3 interior work for a cost not to exceed $74,905. Half of the cost will be covered by money privately donated to the Mulkey Project and held by the Clarendon Community Fund. The remaining cost will be split between economic development sales tax funds and Hotel Occupancy Tax funds.

The approved scope of work includes electrical wiring to restore house lights and cove lights in the theatre, replacement of rear exit doors, construction of a platform for handicapped accessible seating at the rear of the auditorium, and extension of the theatre’s stage to eventually accommodate live performances and conferences.

The goal of the Mulkey project is to reopen the theatre as not only a movie house but also a conference center and performance hall to bring more activity to Clarendon’s downtown. The CEDC and the Chamber of Commerce are housed in the former barbershop at the front of the theatre, which has been remodeled to serve as Clarendon’s official Visitor Center.

Tax-deductible donations to the Mulkey project can be made to the Clarendon Community Fund, a unit of the Amarillo Area Foundation, at the Visitor Center or by mail at PO Box 826, Clarendon, TX 79226.

The former Chamberlain Motor Co. property in east Clarendon is expect to have new life and a new purpose when the Whistle-Stop Trades Days & Farmers Market opens this fall.

Kimberly Britten told the Enterprise this week that she plans to re-open the former car dealership as an indoor and outdoor marketplace that will be open the weekend before the second Monday of each month, starting with a grand opening in October.

The property has set idle for several years. Stanley Automotive closed its General Motors dealership at that location in 2009 and later operated a used car dealership for a short time before shuttering the facility.

Britten grew up in Amarillo but has a ranch near Clarendon. She currently lives in Dallas and said she is the process of moving back here.

“We plan to have lots of unique things with different vendors,” Britten said. “Home décor, arts and crafts, hunting supplies, boutique items, and fabulous food are just some of the things.”

Plans also call for a shaded beer garden with live music to be located at the back of the property.

“I hope it will be something that helps the entire community thrive,” Britten said.

Britten said she hopes the Whistle Stop will grow to have as many as 400 vendors.

The business is also renting the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association grounds for additional parking and for vendors who want to sell animals.

“I’m very excited and ready to get started,” Britten said.

Vendors or local producers interested in having space at the Whistle-Stop are asked to call 806-206-6815 or 806-206-6924 for more information.

 

The 100th District Court heard several pleas in Panhandle last Wednesday, July 8, including one Donley County case.

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

Jeffrey Glen Hewett was convicted for the third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated 3rd or more. Hewett pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the offense, but the sentence was probated for a period of three years.

Hewett, 44, from Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on March 12, 2015 by DPS Trooper Chad Simpson. Hewett was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 22, 2015.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Hewett was required to pay $573 in court costs, a $1,000 fine, $800 in restitution, successfully complete 200 hours of community service, and comply with all DWI requirements under Chapter 49, which includes an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he operates while on community supervision.

Ethan Tyler Searcy pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt and was sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the third degree felony offense of money laundering

On April 23, 2012, Searcy originally pleaded guilty to offense that occurred on February 15, 2012, in Carson County, when he was arrested by DPS Trooper Ben Dollar.

The State filed the motion to revoke on May 12, 2015, alleging seven violations of community supervision.

Searcy is also required to pay $295 in court costs to Carson County, a $500 fine, and $1,071 in restitution.

Elvira Estrada Sandoval was placed on probation for a period of ten years for the first degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Sandoval pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Sandoval, 43, from Searcy, AR, was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on March 7, 2015 by DPS Trooper Max Honesto. Sandoval pleaded to an information filed by the State on May 27, 2015.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Sandoval is required to pay a $5,000 fine to Carson County, $336 in court costs, $180.00 restitution, and successfully complete 400 hours of community service. If Sandoval violates probation, she could face up to 99 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Vanessa Sue Derrick was convicted for two, second degree felony offenses of burglary of a habitation, and was sentenced to seven years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for both cases.

Derrick, 32 from Wellington, was arrested by DPS Ranger Division Ricky “Bo” Brown, while he was conducting a joint investigation with the Collingsworth County Sheriff’s Office.

During the investigation, Derrick was also charged with, and pleaded guilty to, the state jail felony offense of credit card abuse. Derrick was sentenced to 20 months on this charge after her plea of guilty, with all three cases running concurrently with one another.

After the arrests, Derrick was later indicted by a Collingsworth County Grand Jury on April 17, 2015, for all three offenses. The two burglary offenses dates were October 6 and 23, 2014. The credit card abuse case was for the offense that took place on October 12, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Derrick is also required to pay a $1,128 in court costs to Collingsworth County.