Deck the streets
Archives for November 2015
Jobs available at wind farm site
Several new jobs are now available related to the construction of Donley County’s first wind farm, and those seeking such employment are encouraged to apply this week.
Blattner Energy will hold a job fair this Thursday, November 19, in Pampa for general laborers as well as heavy equipment operators interested in working on the 112-turbine project. The fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pampa Chamber of Commerce office at 200 N. Ballard.
Interested workers who are unable to attend the job fair are encouraged to complete an online application at blattnerenergy.com or call 1-888-356-2307 to request an application.
Dallas Security & Alarm is also looking for employees to provide security for the project during construction. Four to five security officers are needed, and that work is expected to last about seven months. Potential security officers must have a clear criminal background; must work nights, holidays, and weekends; must have a valid driver’s license; and must be at least 23 years old.
Dallas Security & Alarm is willing to train security officers, and an operations manager is planning on conducting interviews Friday, November 20, and Saturday, November 21. Those interested should call 469-458-2033 or email mike@dallassecurityalarm.com.
The Salt Fork I Wind Farm will consist of 112 two-Megawatt turbines near Interstate 40 in northwestern Donley and southwestern Gray counties. Ninety-five of the turbines will be in Donley County, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
Grumpy’s can pursue alcohol permit
Beer and wine sales are on the horizon for Grumpy’s Pizza in Clarendon after City Hall discovered last week that the restaurant actually is in compliance with the local alcohol ordinance.
For more than a year, the city has held that Grumpy’s is too close to the Agapé Christian Church to be able to sell alcoholic beverages, but a third approach to the City Council last week resulted in a new measurement that has opened the door for the restaurant to receive a permit.
“We’ve lost revenue for the city and for us,” said Grumpy’s co-owner Calvin Holland, “but that’s water under the bridge now. It turns out they never even had to make a decision.”
City ordinance prohibits establishments selling alcohol within 300 feet of a church, and the pizza restaurant and the church are on opposite sides of Faker Street at the intersection of Second Street. When the city measured the distance between the front doors of the two locations last year, the restaurant came up about eight feet too close to the church.
That led the restaurant’s owners with two options – move their front door or ask the city for a variance. They made variance requests at two city meetings last September, but both times resulted in no action by the city council. Then at last week’s council meeting on November 12, Holland was again on the agenda to request a variance.
Discussion at the meeting showed little support for a variance but no opposition to Holland’s suggestion that restaurant might move its front door further east. He then requested the city re-measure.
“We have a new city manager, and he was really helpful,” Holland’s wife, Leanne, said. “He investigated and made sure everything was done right.”
City Administrator David Dockery said he discovered that last year the city measured from what the church considers its main entrance – a double door facing Faker Street and Grumpy’s – and that following the state’s measuring guidelines from there, the distance does come about eight feet short.
However, Dockery also discovered that the state requires measurements be made from “front door to front door” and the “front door” is defined by a property’s address. In case of the Agapé Christian Church, its address is actually 712 E. Second and a door facing US 287.
“That measurement is 335 feet,” Dockery said.
Grumpy’s now is moving ahead with its alcohol permit application with no need for a variance. A required 90-day posting in the restaurant’s window that has already been up for about 30 days, which means if all goes well, beer and wine could be on the menu there by the end of January.
“We’re excited,” Leanne Holland said. “We feel like we’ve lost customers. People want beer and wine with Italian food and pizza. I’m just glad he [Dockery] took the time to do things right.”
Opinion: A Memorable Veterans Day at Arlington
This began when Mr. Jack Moreman and County Judge Dr. John Howard asked me if I would be at the Veterans Day service at the College. When I told them I would be in Washington, DC, Dr. Howard commented, “they do a pretty good program there.”
If you have a “Bucket List” – a list of things to do before kicking “the bucket” – going to Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day needs to be on it. I do not have a list at this time. However, when I do I will include it on mine – then I will cross it off. I did not stay for the laying of the wreath by the President. When U.S. Secret Service officers were becoming obvious to see I went back to the hotel and prepared for my meetings.
When I got off the Metro at the Arlington National Cemetery Station I took the escalator to the street level, and the view is spectacular. The drive is six lanes wide and ends at the Women’s Memorial. Behind it on the hill is the Arlington House, the former house of Confederate General Robert E Lee.
I just stood there and took it all in. I noticed several others as well, simply in awe of where we were. Another thing that actually surprised me was the number of visitors to the Cemetery and the lack of noise. This holy place was quiet. Kids weren’t running around like little banshees, people’s conversations were very reserved if they occurred at all.
The shuttle driving us to the Tomb of the Unknown was quiet, you could tell many were former soldiers and were struggling to maintain their composure. A young mother and her young baby were carrying flowers out of the shuttle. I did not ask her why she was there; it was none of my business.
As I walked to the Tomb of the Unknown, it was very emotional as I saw many of the more than 400,000 markers for active duty, veterans, spouses and others that are buried on the 624 acres. I thought of my grandfather, H.B. Riza, who as a 22-year-old Army Air Corp pilot flew B-17s from England to Germany 35 times. Or my uncle USAF Col (Ret.) Brad Riza who saw action in Vietnam and I wonder how many of his friends are buried there or are memorialized on a wall not far from where I was.
The Changing of the Guard Ceremony occurs at the top of the hour. I will not go into the intricacies of the ceremony as I could not do it justice. The relief commander marches out to the Tomb of the Unknown, salutes it, and then turns to the visitors, introduces himself, declares himself a member of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment and explains what you are about to see, and requests that you remain silent and standing. It is a ceremony that is as precise as anything you’ve ever seen before, performed that exact way every hour of every day, no matter the weather. The weapon of the sentinel is always on the shoulder nearest the visitors, to signify they stand to protect the Tomb from any threat.
Most that know me will tell you I am not an emotional person, and because I was by myself on Veterans Day, that reputation will continue. If you have any opportunity at all to visit this sacred site, please do. You will be deeply moved by it.
In the next week or so, I will write about what I was actually doing in Washington, DC. No Clarendon College budget dollars were spent on this trip.
Dr. Robert Riza is the President of Clarendon College.
Hug a vet
Up in smoke
Drive time
You’re a Hero
Retired Teachers to meet Monday night
The Donley County Retired School Personnel Assocation will meet Monday, November 23, at 6 p.m. in the Church of Christ Family Life Center.
All retirees who are not yet members of the assocation are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The program will be presented by Treasure Brasher, District XVI Chairman for Member Benefits, who will discuss benefits that are available to retirees and also discuss future concerns that the State Legislature will have on benefits.
Members are asked to bring refreshments to be available and shared by all attendees.
Extension holds Ag Literacy Program
Approximately 200 area fifth graders were in Clarendon last Friday, November 13, for an Ag Literacy Day program at the Donley County Activity Center.
Students were exposed to many different aspects of agriculture to learn how our food and fiber is produced by farmers and ranchers.
The annual event alternates between Clarendon and Memphis each year and attracts students from schools in Clarendon, Hedley, Memphis, Silverton, Valley, and Claude.
Extension agents for each county with a school represented at the event were present and helped with the programs along with local producers. Each student attending Ag Literacy Day received a t-shirt and meal with a Blizzard provided by program sponsors.
Activities included programs on soil erosion, hay farming, cotton ginning, wildlife, peanut production, and other agriculture related topics.
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