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Archives for March 2018

Court gives local man six years

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A Clarendon man was sentenced to six years in prison when the district court met here last Tuesday, March 13.
District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Harley Caudle, prosecuted the case for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Alan Dwayne Harper was convicted for the third degree felony offense of unlawful restraint and was sentenced to six years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ.

Harper, 61 from Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County by Deputy Mike Spier on February 10, 2017.

Harper was originally placed on community supervision on June 19, 2017, receiving four years deferred adjudication. The State filed its motion to adjudicate on November 13, 2017, alleging five violations of his community supervision.
Harper pleaded not true to the State’s allegations and a contested hearing was heard by Messer. After all the evidence was presented, Messer found two violations of Harper’s community supervision and finally convicted and sentenced him for the felony offense.

Harper is also required to pay a $1,000 fine and $488 in court costs.

The District Court also issued sentences when it heard five pleas, including one local case, when it met in Clarendon February 27.

Monica Anne Cook pled guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for a period of six years for the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

Cook, 37 from Pampa, was arrested in Donley County by DPS Trooper Kelly Hill on November 25, 2017. Cook pleaded guilty to an information filed on February 26, 2018.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Cook is required to pay $458 in court costs, $180 drug lab restitution, a $6,000 fine, and successfully complete 300 hours of community service. If Cook violates probation, she could face up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Federico Caracoza of Oklahoma City pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of possession of marijuana.

Krystal Brittna Miller of Estelline pleaded guilty and was placed on probation for a period of two years for the misdemeanor offense of assault family violence.

Raul Albreu Wagner of Miami, Fla., pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for four years for the third degree felony offense of possession of marijuana.

Veronica Chavez Leyva of Oklahoma City pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of possession of marijuana.

Sandell to feature local couple in free event

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Free admission and family fun are in store this Saturday at the Sandell Drive-In where a Texas-sized double feature at will include Howardwick’s Dusty and Nikki Green up on the big screen.

The first showing will be the world premiere of a special episode of the Green’s PBS series Two for the Road, focusing on their adventures in the Big Bend country.

“We just can’t tell you how proud and excited we are to premiere our first ever Texas episode right here at home, and especially on the big screen at the Sandell,” Dusty Green said. “The episode itself features our first-ever trip down to the Big Bend area, and it all just came together beautifully. It’s going to look amazing up on that screen. And we really think folks will enjoy it.”

Gates will open at 6:00 p.m., and admission is free. Upon entry, each person will receive a ticket, which will be for special door prizes and giveaways featuring items from the Sandell, Two for the Road, Panhandle PBS, and Create TV.

Before the sun goes down, those attending can enjoy live music by local perfomer Jesse Lincycomb, and a dance floor will be available for anybody who feels like cuttin’ a rug. Other activities include an inflatable bounce house/slide for the kids and washer pitching.

The concession stand will be open selling food and drink, including the famous Sandell burgers and homemade chili, and Big Bend Brewing Company is providing a limited amount of their beer for grownups to sample.

The show itself will begin just after sundown (about 8:00 p.m.) with “Two for the Road: Texas,” and will be followed soon after by “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”

“We’re so thankful for the opportunity, and for the incredible amount of support and interest we’ve received from folks around the Panhandle – but especially here in Clarendon and Howardwick and Donley County,: Nikki Green said. “Everyone’s been wonderful! And we sure hope to have a big turnout Saturday night. It’s going to be a great night and a lot of fun for the whole family.”

Sunday accident claims one life

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A one-vehicle accident resulted in the death of a child Sunday near Hedley on US 287.

Texas Department of Public Safety representative Cindy Barkley said the accident occurred at approximately 2:44 p.m. when Amanda Moore, 35 of Amarillo, was driving a 2007 GMC Yukon, towing a 1996 Komfort travel trailer west on US 287, approximately two miles east of Hedley.

The travel trailer began to sway back and forth behind the Tahoe; and when Moore applied the brakes, she lost control.
The Tahoe and the travel trailer rolled over multiple times, ejecting an unrestrained 11-year-old-male child, who died on scene.

Moore and two other passengers – a 16-year-old-female and a 12-year-old-male – all received minor injuries. They were wearing seatbelts.

Barkley said the road conditions were dry and there were no other vehicles involved. The crash is still under investigation.

Competing in bi-district

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The Clarendon High School UIL One Act Play performance of “Elephant Man” was preparing for the bi-district competition in Wellington this Wednesday, March 21, as the Enterprise went to press. The troupe advanced following their district performance at Wellington’s Ritz Theatre on March 7. Clarendon’s Philip Monds was named to the district Best Actor, Tate Parker was All-Star Cast, Harley Jauregui was Honorable Mention All-Star Cast, and the Outstanding Technical Crew members were Clarendon’s Grayson Burch, Harm Drenth, and Christian Wooten. Courtesy Photo / CHS

Editorial: Keeping the sun shining on officials

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“Open government is good government” is the message of Sunshine Week, March 11-17; and while it is proper to pause to r

eflect on that concept annually, the fight for transparency is not one that is limited to seven days each year.

If you asked the average citizen, he or she would probably agree that open government is a good thing and that people should have a right to know what their government is doing. Unfortunately, a shadow is being cast on openness at all levels as those in power now find it fashionable to demonize the people whose job it is to keep government accountable.

This can be seen starting at the highest levels of our government where the president and his administration have taken the traditionally adversarial relationship with the media to new levels and routinely dismiss any unfavorable reporting as “fake news.”

Whether by design or as an unintentional consequence, the United States government is becoming increasingly less open about its business. According to an Associated Press analysis released just this week, “The federal government censored, withheld, or said it couldn’t find records sought by citizens, journalists and others more often last [fiscal] year than at any point in the past decade.”

Closer to home just last month, a representative of the Texas Attorney General’s Office made it seem okay to delay releasing information as a way to punish reporters. The Dalllas Morning News reported that the AG’s communications director, Marc Rylander, said during an open meetings/open records training session, “Communications guys love it when reporters make a request and you all wait until the 23rd hour of the 10th day to send it back to them.” A moderator at the training tried to pull Rylander back in line saying, “Don’t do that. Right? Right?” To which Rylander responded, “Depends on who the reporter is,” and later said, “It’s gotten so bad in newspapers especially that I almost got to the point that I avoid the newspaper people at all costs because newspapers have fired or had to let go all of their good journalists. … They peddle their rags on Groupon. … I mean, it’s a joke.”

It is bad enough that our state and federal officials have such a negative personal view of the press that they let it influence how they conduct their public duties. But the attitude is also becoming more prevalent at the local level as well. Just less than a year ago, one local board member, who was being grilled on open meetings issues by your editor, retorted, “What business is it of yours anyway?”

And sometimes citizens themselves don’t value the job “the media” does when reporting the news. Such was the case last month when the Enterprise came under attack after an illegal meeting was shut down by the sheriff and a small group of attendees began accusing the paper of not printing “the truth” – or at least their version of it.

There is, of course, an adversarial relationship between the press and those in positions of authority. Your editor has at times been at odds with different local officials to the point of even being lectured or ridiculed in public meetings by county commissioners, city aldermen, and school board members.

It happened again just last month when a public official took the opportunity to use the “other business” agenda item to critique our reporting on a previous meeting. It’s not always fun being in the reporter’s shoes, but it typically means you’re doing your job when a public official squeals for having been called out for his actions.

This newspaper, like so many others across Texas and across America, will not back down in the face of bullying, whether it comes from the White House, the state capitol, or a local official or citizen.

You have a right to know what’s going on with your government, and we’re here to champion that right. That’s what Sunshine Week is about. As we have stated before, the biggest defender of that right is not breitbart.com or World Net Daily. It is the traditional media – the often vilified “press” – that people love to hate. The big boys will hold the president’s feet to the fire – and even help bring him down if necessary, while the Enterprise and thousands of other hometown newspapers across this land will continue to shine the light on city councils, school boards, college boards, and county commissions.

Together we’ll fight in state legislatures and in Congress to keep government practices open so that you can see what your elected representatives are doing and find out what they are up to… even when they don’t want you to know.

Taking flight

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Hedley High School’s Jayden Lambert and Clarendon High School’s Brooke Duncan race in the 300m hurdles during the Groom Relays last weekend in Groom. Lambert took first place in the race, and Duncan placed fifth. Enterprise Photo / Kari Lindsey

Welding sculptor to visit Herd Wear store

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Donley County and area residents will have an opportunity to meet a Texas artist and participate in a unique project this Spring Break weekend.

Texas artist and rancher Terry Jones will be on site at the Herd Wear Retail Store on US Hwy 287 in Goodnight Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18.

Terry Jones’ welded wrench buffalo sculpture is a fixture at the Herd Wear Retail Store at Goodnight. The artist will be visiting the store this weekend. Courtesy Photo

Jones created the fabulous and famous 300-pound welded wrench bison statue on display at the store, and he will be discussing the Herd Wear Retail Store’s upcoming 12-foot tall Charles Goodnight statue that he has been working on for the past six months and will take another six months to complete.

The Goodnight statue will include donated objects that Texas Panhandle families want to include to honor their Panhandle heritage.

“Goodnight did not build the Panhandle on his own,” says Herd Wear Store owner and bison rancher Cecil Miskin. “We want this monument to represent as many of the pioneer families out here as want to participate.”
Local residents can bring something from their family’s history – an old tool, farm implement, car part, etc. –anything metal that Jones can weld into the base of the statue.

“We’ll engrave the family name and make it a part of this art work for all those traveling US 287 to enjoy and recognize that the ‘Panhandle Spirit,’ the cooperation and success that comes with working together, has been here since the beginning,” Miskin said.

Jones loves using old busted guns, spurs, badges, household items, and almost anything metal.
The beauty of Jones’ work is that as you back away from the statue, suddenly, the pieces disappear and only the animal shows up. That is because Jones studies the musculature of his subjects as a whole and captures the essence of his subjects

Terry Jones

Metal donations will be accepted for the next three months at the Herd Wear Retail Store seven days a week.

“Come by and let us learn more about your family’s part in the history of the Texas Panhandle,” Miskin said.

Jones will also bring several of his current works – especially his horse creations – that will be on display and for sale over the weekend.

The Herd Wear Retail Store is located at 2000 US Hwy 287 in Goodnight, next to the entrance of the Charles Goodnight Historical Center.

Low turnout marks 2018 primary

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County Commissioner Daniel Ford and Precinct 3 & 4 Justice of the Peace candidate Pat White were the big local winners last Tuesday, March 6, when local voters went to the polls.

Turnout was markedly low with less than one-third of registered voters bothering to participate in the process. A total of 675 voted out of 2,199 who were registered, a turnout of 30.7 percent. Republicans cast 672 local votes, and 37 Democrats voted in their party’s primary.

In the Republican Primary, Ford was challenged for his Precinct 2 seat by Randy Bond, but was he retained his party’s nomination, 128-113.

Justice Denise Bertrand was challenged for her position in Precincts 3&4 and lost the nomination to White, 161-119. Bertrand’s second term ends at the end of this calendar year.

Neither Ford nor White are facing any Democratic opposition in the November General Election.

Donley County Republicans rejected weeks of negative campaigning against State Sen. Kel Seliger and State Rep. Ken King, giving them solid local wins of 64 and 59 percent respectively. Seliger and King also both received a majority of votes throughout their districts and avoided the specter of a runoff election. Seliger is unchallenged in November, but King will face Democrat Ezekiel Barron.

Clarendon’s hometown congressman, Rep. Mac Thornberry was unchallenged on the Republican ticket and will face Democratic challenger Greg Sagan this fall.

In statewide offices, US Sen. Ted Cruz picked up more than 84 percent of local GOP support and easily won the party nomination statewide. He faces Beto O’Rourke this fall.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott saw similar local support and won statewide. Democrats Lupe Valdez and Andrew White will be in a runoff for their party’s nomination. Local Democrats were split on the governor question with seven liking Valdez, seven preferring Grady Yarbrough, and six voting for White.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had a tougher time locally but still picked up a majority, 65 percent, of Donley Republicans and carried the state easier. His Republican challenger Scott Midler has since endorsed the Democratic primary winner Mike Collier, who was the local Democrats’ choice.

Majorities of local voters in both primaries approved of the non-binding propositions put forward by their parties.
Going into the General Election, only one local race will be challenged. County/District Clerk Fay Vargas is running for re-election on the Democratic ticket and will face Republican Bobby Woodard in November.

A Scouting Legend

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The late Tommie Saye was honored for his lifetime of service by the Golden Spread Council of the Boy Scouts of America during a Friends of Scouting luncheon, which featured remarks by local Eagle Scout Chuck Robertson. Family members of the former local scoutmaster attending the luncheon were Conner Askew, Danny Askew, Lucy Saye, Terry Askew, Dalton Askew, Caleb Askew, and Savannah Askew. Enterprise photo /Roger Estlack

Tyler “Blake” Frye

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Tyler “Blake” Frye died Monday, March 5, 2018, at his residence in Flower Mound, Texas.

Services were held on Monday, March 12, at 11:00 a.m. in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with the Rev. Lance Wood and Eddy Helms officiating. Burial was in Rowe Cemetery, Hedley, with military honors.

Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Blake Frye

Blake was born March 25,1986 in Amarillo to Linda and Gerald Frye. He joined two older sisters, Tara and Jamie.

Blake was joyful, curious, and industrious as a baby, child, teenager and adult. He never met a stranger, possessing the gift of gab his Papa, T.E. Naylor predisposed him to have. He became a successful student, graduating in 2004 from Clarendon High School, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Political Science from Texas Tech University and then a Master’s of Business. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Army through the ROTC Program. He received an honorable discharge from the military and entered into the business of wind and solar energy beginning in 2008-2010. He became a trusted developer in his chosen field while learning and performing all aspects of this exciting and challenging job. His family used to marvel at his ability to maintain the rigors of three to four companies while building his own company.

He attempted to bring this innovative source of power to Donley County but did not have the required amount of landowners to approve the project on their ranch or farmland. He was disappointed yet he pushed forward with a project in Kansas, known as the Bloom Project. He was so proud when the grand opening became a reality in August of 2017 attended by the Kansas lieutenant governor and four state representatives. They were proud of the Texas Panhandle “Kid,” they called him, who brought their community such an important economic project. At the time of his death, Blake was working in multiple states to bring more successful wind and solar projects to various communities.

By far the most important part of Blake’s life was his family. His lovely soulmate, Lauren, his beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Natalie, and the latest addition to his family, a handsome little son they named Jett, who will be a year old three days before his dad’s birthday.

Blake is survived by Lauren, Natalie and Jett of the home; his mother, Linda Naylor Lewis and his stepdad, Jerry of Pampa; his sister, Tara Jackson and husband Steve of Ft Worth; his nephew, Ryan, whom he called brother, and wife Amy of Sunnyvale; two nieces Madison and Ava Jackson; a great niece, Sadie; his Mimie, Faye Naylor, and step grandmother Joyce Holley of Boerne; and numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles and family he dearly loved.

Blake was preceded in death by his dad, Gerry Frye; his sister, Jamie just nine months ago; his Papa, T.E.Naylor; grandparents Babe and Gene Frye; and his Uncle Tex Naylor.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com.

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