Archives for November 2015

The district court met in Memphis last Monday, November 2, and heard 22 pleas, including one case of local interest.

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

Brandi Nicole Blanco was placed on probation for a period of four years for the state jail felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Blanco pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Blanco, 30 from Kerrville, was arrested in Hall County for the offense that took place on September 21, 2014 by DPS Trooper Daniel Hawthorne. Blanco pleaded to an information filed by the State on October 30, 2015.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Blanco is required to pay $381 in court costs to Hall County. If Blanco violates probation, she could face up to two years in the State Jail Division of the TDCJ.

Blanco was also placed on probation for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of burglary of a habitation. Blanco pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Blanco was arrested on September 21, 2015 for this offense which was being investigated by Donley County Chief Deputy Randy Bond. Blanco pleaded to an information filed by the State on October 30, 2015.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Blanco is required to pay a $1,000 to Donley County, $488 in court costs, $80 in restitution and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If Blanco violates probation, she could face up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

The Clarendon Lions Club celebrated its 93rd anniversary last Tuesday, November 10, at its annual Charter Banquet in the Lions Hall.

District Governor Mike Milligan was the honored guest for the evening, delivering remarks about the upcoming centennial of Lions International in 2017 and presenting awards to local members for their many years of service.

Lion Steve Hall was recognized for being a member for ten years, and Lion Roger Estlack received his 20-year chevron. Also recognized but not present was Lion Paul Bivens, who has been a member for 40 years.

Sweetheart Kendra Davis was formally presented with her sash and crown, and Lion Larry Capranica received his Past President plaque and name badge. Capranica then presented the Lion of the Year Award to Boss Lion Jacob Fangman for his volunteer efforts on behalf of the club and the community.

Attending this year’s banquet were: DG Mike Milligan and Lion Beverly Milligan, Boss Lion Fangman, Sweetheart Kendra Davis and Blaine Ellis, Lion Roger Estlack, Lion Russell Estlack, Lion Scarlet Estlack, PDG Jack King and Rebecca King, Lion Chuck Robertson and Amanda Robertson, Lion Mike Norrell and Leslie Norrell, Lion Jerry Woodard and Nelda Woodard, Lion John Howard and Lori Howard, Lion Larry Capranica and Karen Capranica, Lion Steve, and Lion Don Smith.

Clarendon College is taking part in National Apprenticeship Week by announcing three enhanced career pathways and encouraging local business and industry to consider taking part in apprenticeship programs.

The first ever National Apprenticeship Week is designed to promote apprenticeship opportunities and recognize the impact they have in workforce training, and community colleges play a large role in combating the lack of qualified workers in the local workforce.
“Apprenticeships are an excellent way for students to pursue a sustainable career,” CC President Dr. Robert Riza said. “These partnerships help meet the needs of the community, the local economy and individual students through supervised, practical work experience.”
Clarendon College has worked with local stakeholders to enhance three comprehensive career pathways in Healthcare, Welding Technology, and Industrial Maintenance to include opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, or other external leaning experiences.

“These pathway programs will help to further combat the skills gap by allowing students to experience first-hand the ‘real-job skills’ needed to be successful in their chosen field,” CC Associate Dean of Career, Technical and Continuing Ed. David Hall said.

External learning experiences are beneficial to employers by providing better trained employees, facilitating recruitment and retention, and encouraging the employer to become influential in the education process.

Anyone interested in more information on the program pathways or in developing apprenticeship partnerships with Clarendon College is encouraged to call David Hall at 806-665-8801.

Nov. 2-8 is the inaugural National Apprenticeship Week, designated by the U.S. Department of Labor and President Barack Obama. The week is intended for colleges, companies, workers, students and economic development leaders to learn about and promote apprenticeships.

Students can now earn three years of a bachelor’s degree in Health Science at Clarendon College and finish the fourth year online through Texas Tech University.

CC and the Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) School of Health Professions announced last week the new agreement for the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.

The degree is designed for people who have already earned certificates to work in health care and want to pursue a bachelor’s degree while staying close to home, CC President Robert Riza said.

“This provides an opportunity for our residents to advance their degrees and their careers and not have to move,” Dr. Riza said. “They can advance to management or to upper level leadership roles in their professions. They just have to dedicate themselves to getting it done.”

TTUHSC launched a new “3+1” B.S. degree program in the fall 2014, and partnered with Clarendon College earlier this month.

“Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is the leading health care education provider in West Texas, and we are pleased to be a partner in this,” Riza said.

The Health Sciences Program is an on-line B.S. degree that prepares the student to enter management and leadership positions within healthcare organizations.

With a “3+1” format, students in the chosen fields already have certificates allowing them to work and CC will provide 42 hours of the common core. TTUHSC will provide 30 hours of senior level health sciences management course work.

“This partnership is outstanding for us, but also provides a great opportunity for our residents working in healthcare fields,” Riza said.

Riza also said the partnership with Texas Tech is natural because TTUHSC already works closely with hospitals in Pampa and Childress where many of Clarendon’s certificate holders are working.

The B.S. Health Sciences aims to advance the skillset of the practicing clinician so that the graduate of the post-professional program can assume additional roles or responsibilities within the profession. Examples are Certified Radiology Technologists, Registered Respiratory Therapists and Paramedics.

The program courses are conveniently offered through the use of distance education. The curriculum structure will follow a non-traditional format, which allows for completion of degree requirements at a pace set by the ability and availability of the student.

The Clarendon Economic Development Corp. gave final approval to an agreement with Texas Tech University to assist with downtown master planning Monday night.

Work on the project is expected to begin this week, and locals can expect to see Tech personnel taking pictures and performing laser scans of buildings along Kearney and Sully streets between First and Fourth Streets over the next few days.

The $17,004 agreement with the TTU College of Architecture and Dr. Elizabeth Louden will include laser scanning of selected blocks in the central business district to obtain detailed measurements.

Tech students will then prepare drawings and posters depicting what a rehabilitated and revitalized downtown would look like based partly on historic photos from before 1930. That work is expected to be completed in phases by August 2016.

During that time, the CEDC will be revamping its Façade Grant Program guidelines to provide incentives for property owners to rehabilitate their buildings in keeping with plans put forth by Texas Tech.

Veterans who have served America’s armed forces will be honored next Tuesday, November 10, and Wednesday, November 11, during several local activities in connection with Veterans Day.

Clarendon Elementary students will hold a special music program at 12:15 p.m. next Tuesday, November 10, in the Bronco Gym.

A veterans service will also be held Tuesday night at the Clarendon College Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center beginning at 7:00. Donley County Judge and US Navy Capt. John Howard will be the speaker for the evening.

The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion at Hedley, will have its annual Veterans Day Service on Wednesday, November 11, at 10 a.m. at Rowe Cemetery west of Hedley with Jack Moreman speaking. The ceremony will take place at the American Legion Veterans Memorial located at the north gate of the cemetery, where more than 230 veterans are buried.

The Post will place American flags on each veteran’s grave to honor each and every veteran prior to the service.

The program will be a patriotic event to honor all veterans, living or deceased. There will be a special event to honor those that are still prisoners of war, still interned in a foreign country, or those that are still declared missing in action. The public is invited to attend this special event.

In the event of adverse weather, the ceremony will move to the Hedley Lions Club building on Main Street in Hedley.

Following the Legion service, Hedley Public School will also recognize veterans at the school.

Also on Wednesday, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Donley County Memorial Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold a service at 11 a.m. at the Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square. The service will include a small presentation by the Auxiliary and will be followed by free sodas, chips, and chili dogs. The service will move to the VFW Hall in case of bad weather.

Clarendon College’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program has achieved one of the top 10 pass rates in Texas, according to data released last week by the Texas Board of Nursing.

With a pass rate of 93.75 percent on the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, Clarendon ranked #9 in Texas and was one of only 17 of the state’s 69 ADN programs to achieve at least a 90 percent pass rate.

“This is a direct reflection on the work and dedication of our program’s faculty and our students,” CC President Robert Riza said.

Sixteen students graduated from CC’s first ADN class this May, and 15 went on to pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

“This achievement is a clear reflection of the hard work and dedication of our students coupled with the delivery of thorough, well planned curriculum by a phenomenal faculty,” said CC Associate Dean of Career, Technical and Continuing Ed. David Hall.

In addition to the licensing, these students also earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing, which requires general education course work in addition to nursing courses.

“I am very proud of the success of our students in this new program,” said CC Executive VP of Academic & Student Affairs Tex Buckhaults. “This level of success indicates the confluence of three necessary ingredients: highly motivated students, dedicated and caring faculty and a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum.”

“We would like first to thank the Board and Administration of Clarendon College for their support – without which we could not be successful,” said CC ADN Program Director Cathryn Bailey. “Our faculty are invested in the students’ and the program’s success.”

In addition to a top-of-the-line SIM laboratory and Health Science Support Center available to students, CC is preparing students for the NCLEX-RN by utilizing an educational adaptive quizzing program that is tailored to each student.

The Texas Board of Nurses (BON) governs the practice of the Professional Nurse, also known as Registered Nurse (RN), as well as all other nursing programs in the State. The annual NCLEX examination pass rate for each professional nursing education program is determined by the percentage of first time test-takers who pass the examination during the examination year. Successful nursing programs must maintain an 80 percent pass-rate for first-time NCLEX-RN candidates each year.

The ADN Program at CC includes start dates for bridge students, who currently hold Vocational Nursing licenses, and also those who are new to the healthcare field.

For more information, contact ADN Program Director Cathryn E. Bailey at 806-660-2014.