Morgan Wheatly

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.

 

The old Neece House at 602 Bugbee Avenue is no longer in imminent danger of condemnation after the Clarendon City Council reviewed progress at the property last week.

During the council’s regular meeting July 9, aldermen recessed from City Hall to visit the property and see for themselves what work had been done.

City Administrator David Dockery said this week that the city council felt property owner Linda Lewis had met her obligations for Phase One code compliance issues. Mrs. Lewis now embarks on Phase Two of compliance issues, which involves a three-year rehabilitation of the property.

When aldermen resumed their meeting at City Hall, the council approved a $30,500 task order with KSA Engineers for engineering services to improve drainage on Third Street, including design, topographical and boundary surveys, and bid and project administration.

The council approved a request from the Clarendon Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels program and authorized $2,000 for that program.

The council also approved engaging Foster & Lambert to conduct the city’s 2014-2015 annual audit.

In his administrator’s report, Dockery said Christi Sims had been hired as a part-time office assistant at City Hall, he reviewed the proposed budget for fiscal year 2016, and he continued discussion on a demolition plan, focusing on efforts to open a Type 4 pit at the former city landfill for possible use in disposing demolished structures.

 

Taxable sales in Clarendon have shown little growth this calendar year according to figures released by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar last week.

The city’s July sales tax allocation dropped 7.64 percent from the same period one year ago with a monthly payment to the city of $28,027.09. Last month, Clarendon was up 8.57 percent for a June allocation of $34,897.06.

The July allocation sales tax figures represent monthly sales made in May by businesses that report tax quarterly.

In the first seven months of 2015, Clarendon has seen three months of positive allocations and four months of allocations that fell below 2014 numbers.

For the year-to-date, the city is almost even with last year with total sales tax revenues of $222,143.71, down 0.67 percent.

Hedley and Howardwick are also behind 2014 figures.

Hedley’s July allocation of $181.07 is 26.5 below the same period last year, and that city is now 15.87 percent down for the year-to-date at $3,476.75.

Howardwick’s allocation rose 22.44 percent for the month of July with a figure of $1,161.02, but that city is also behind for the year at $7,553.61, down 3.17 percent.

Statewide the comptroller said state sales tax revenue in June was $2.2 billion, down 1.4 percent compared to June 2014.

This marks the first decline in state sales tax revenue following 62 consecutive months of growth.