Archives for May 2018

Bargain shoppers will be in for a treat during the 13th annual “Trash to Treasures” garage sale event that will be held in Clarendon and the surrounding area this Saturday, June 2.

A total of 31 individual garage sales are scheduled to be held. A complete description of each sale is printed on the official Treasure Map located on the last page of this week’s Enterprise.

From furniture to antiques to camping gear, this weekend’s sales will feature hundreds of treasures just waiting to be uncovered at bargain prices.

In addition to a plethora of garage sales, those visiting Clarendon this weekend will also have the benefit of visiting about 100 vendors at the Whistle-Stop Trade Days both Saturday and Sunday.

To fuel your hungry appetite while shopping, visit the First Assembly of God Youth Group’s concessions at the Country Bloomers’ parking lot or also visit the Whistle-Stop or other local establishments.

Trash to Treasures is promoted with advertising dollars in area communities; and many people from neighboring counties are expected attend. Shoppers are encouraged to patronize only participating sales listed on the official Treasure map.

Warm and sunny weather greeted patriots Monday morning as they gathered to pay their respects to those who gave their lives in the service to America.

A large first gathered at Rowe Cemetery near Hedley for a service hosted by the Adamson-Lane Post of the American Legion.

Members of the post conducted the ceremony, and Josh Talley performed a beautiful rendition of the national anthem.
County Judge John Howard, MD, was the keynote speaker for the morning. His remarks focused on the true meaning of Memorial, remembering those who give their lives in service, and included specific examples of American heroes from World War I, the Vietnam War, and four servicemen who died in a training exercise earlier this year.

Post member J.D. Skaggs was presented a special recognition for having served the American Legion for 60 years.
The Rowe service concluded in the traditional way with the roll call of 236 former service men and women buried in that location followed by the presentation of a memorial wreath and the playing of Taps.

Services then moved to the War Memorial in Clarendon where another large crowd enjoyed a program hosted by the Donley County Memorial VFW Post and VFW Auxiliary with the members of each of those organizations participating along with members of the Legion.

Cathy Marable sang the National Anthem along with two other patriotic songs, and the keynote address was delivered by Dick Bode, a native of Holland and a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, who spoke on the price of freedom and what it means to be an American by choice.

Following the Clarendon ceremony, a free meal was served at the local VFW Hall.

The Howardwick City Council held is first full business meeting with its new membership last Tuesday May 15 with Mayor Greta Byars’ comments taking up a large portion of the evening.

Aldermen approved minutes and city bills, before the mayor’s comments came up on the agenda.

Byars warned residents to watch out for rattlesnakes in the community and updated those in attendance about restitution being paid to the city by its former fire chief for “absconding” with city equipment.

The mayor also focused her attention on the chain of command in the city in terms of emergencies, noting that she herself is number one person to be contact. The comments stemmed, she said, from an incident about 9 p.m. last Friday when scanner traffic reportedly claimed the mayor had called for Howardwick to be evacuated while wildfires were being battled south of Goodnight and Ashtola.

Byars said she had never given any such order and promised to prosecute whoever had perpetrated the fraudulent report. Alderman Brice Hawley said he would like to get the scanner recordings from the dispatcher and hear the matter for himself.

Byars then turned her attention to the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department and an October 16, 2017, agreement with the department approved by the city council. The document outlines the city’s responsibilities to provide insurance, funding, utilities, and other things to the HVFD. It also outlines the department’s duties, but prohibits the city from exercising any control over the department or its membership.

“How many of you know that we have no control over the fire department?” Byars asked.
Alderman Doc Holladay said the agreement gives the fire department a “blank check” to do whatever it wants, Alderman Hawley emphasized that the firemen are volunteers, and Alderman Johnny Floyd said the city should look the agreement and talk to other communities of similar size.

The mayor also said the department’s members are not trained and not qualified to fight house fires. Alderman Hawley objected to that comment, saying that he himself was trained, and later in citizen comments, Coy Cooper said the HVFD has six members trained to fight house fires.

Byars also raised concerns about confusion over water conservation in which someone unrelated to the city had asked people to stop watering their yards, “pretending” to represent the city. Holladay said the water problem was due to a tripped breaker that resulted in Red River Water Authority’s tanks not filling.

Heidi Phelps later said in citizen comments that Fire Chief Will Jordan had told her that Red River’s Walt Rice had told him that the water tanks were almost empty and asked Jordan not fill up the fire trucks until the tanks recovered.

“He said he wished there were a way to get people to stop watering their yards long enough to fill up tanks,” Phelps said. “So Steve and I went around and did that.”

Citizens and city officials put forth ideas on how to better communicate important city information, such has having an electronic message board at City Hall.

Citizens’ public comments also included questions about whether the city can install its own water wells, the planning and zoning commission, and appreciating area firefighters. Coy Cooper also raised questions about Alderman Holladay’s son working for the city, the need for the mayor to read the employee job descriptions outlined in Ordinance 109, and accessibility issues with City Hall under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

In actual city business listed on the agenda, aldermen approved the audit for fiscal year 2017, accepted bids on tax delinquent properties as presented by the Donley Appraisal District, selected Gordon Maddox as the city’s new auditor, and discussed auditing the city books from the beginning of the current fiscal year October 1, 2017, through March.

The council voted in favor of setting City Hall’s office hours as Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with June through August hours being 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A motion to purchase new Quickbooks software was approved, discussions were held about improvements to the community building with motions being approved for work not to exceed $500 and to let Sandra Childress do the work.

The sign-up period for Clarendon’s 13th annual “Trash To Treasures” garage sale event closes this Friday, May 25, at 5 p.m.

A wide participation is expected again for this year’s sale, which is slated for Saturday, June 2. Garage sales in Hedley, Howardwick, and the surrounding area are also welcome to sign up for the big day.

Residents who wish to participate in this year’s “Trash To Treasures” are asked to come by the Enterprise before 5 p.m. on Friday, May 26, to sign up for the promotion, which costs $25. The sign-up fee covers the cost of area advertising, and more people participating means more advertising can be done, resulting in better attendance.

The City of Clarendon requires all garage sales to be permitted. For more information, call 874-2259 or come by the Enterprise office at 105 S. Kearney.

The sixth annual Mulkey Block Party will light up the night in Clarendon this Saturday, May 26, from 6 to 10 p.m.

The 100 block of Kearney Street will be closed starting Saturday morning as work begins to set up the stage and other amenities for the party.

The evening will be a night of dancing, kids’ games, and food and vendor booths in a fun-filled atmosphere to help celebrate continued renovations of the 1946 Mulkey Theater.

The party begins at 6 p.m. as local singer Jesse Lincycomb takes the stage to provide the opening live music before Amarillo’s “A-Town Rockers” comes on at 7 p.m.

There is no charge to enter the block party. Kids movies will be showing in the theatre throughout the evening, and popcorn and other concessions will be available in the Mulkey. People are encouraged to bring their own lawn or camp chairs for use either inside watching movies or outside to enjoy the live music.

The Whistle-Stop Trade Days along with the Chamber of Commerce and the Bronco Cheerleaders will provide a large bounce house for kids to enjoy.

This year’s block party is BYOB, and no glass containers will be allowed. Food booths will offer a variety of delicious treats, and local vendors will also have items for sale. The Herring Bank car and motorcycle show will be held again on the bank’s parking lot, and all year models are welcome.

For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.

A Hedley man lost his life Saturday afternoon, during a one-vehicle accident on County Road.

The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the accident, which occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m. when a 17-year-old-male of Hedley was driving a 2018 Polaris RZR 100 all-terrain vehicle (ATV) west on CR-T, approximately four and a half miles northeast of Hedley.

According to DPS Sgt. Cindy Barkley, the 17-year-old veered left towards the edge of the roadway which was a raised embankment. When the ATV made contact with the raised embankment, the ATV rolled over and ejected the passenger, identified as 21-year-old-Zachary Chapman, of Hedley. The driver remained in the ATV.

Chapman was pronounced dead on scene by Donley County Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand.

The 17-year-old driver was transported to North West Texas Hospital with serious injuries.

Neither occupant of the ATV were secured by safety belts. The road conditions were dry and no other vehicles were involved.

DPS officials say the crash remains under investigation.

Services for Chapman were set for Thursday, May 24, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with burial to follow in Rowe Cemetery near Hedley.