Morgan Wheatly

Clarendon’s sales tax revenue continues to grow in 2015 according figures released last week by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

The city’s sales tax allocation for February was $41,751.96, which is up 4.79 percent from the same period one year ago. For the calendar year-to-date, Clarendon is now at $71,390.21, an increase of 5.79 from this point in 2014.

The sales tax figures represent December sales reported by monthly tax filers as well as October, November and December sales by businesses that report tax quarterly.

Hedley saw an increase as well with an allocation this month of $996.06, up 9.33 percent from $911.01 last February. That city is now 1.12 percent ahead for the year at $1,234.04.

Howardwick’s revenue dropped 29.11 percent for the month to $1,051.77 and is now down for the year 17.84 percent at $1,886.78.

Hegar said statewide sales tax revenue in January was $2.56 billion, up 11.2 percent compared to January 2014.

“The growth in sales tax revenues was led by business spending,” Hegar said. “Receipts from the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors were up sharply. In spite of the recent decline in crude oil prices, tax receipts from the oil and natural gas mining sector also grew strongly.

“This allocation marks the 58th consecutive month of year-over-year growth and is indicative of a dynamic and diverse economy that continues to generate business investment and spending in Texas,” Hegar added. “My office will continue to carefully monitor the impact that lower oil prices will have on our state’s economy, but these sales tax allocation numbers are an encouraging sign of continued strength.”

Jack King was named the Interim Director of Tourism and Economic Development by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation last week.

The CEDC Board met in called session Monday, February 9, and interviewed King before voting to approve his appointment. King’s first day on the job was Monday, February 16, and says he sees several positives for Clarendon.

“The location is great as far as the Panhandle is concerned being on the way to Amarillo from Dallas and Ft. Worth,” King said. “We also have friendly folks, the college, and the lake. These are some strengths that towns would kill for, and we have them.”

King brings 24 years of banking experience from around the Texas Panhandle to the job as well as his experience as the president of Chambers of Commerce in Dalhart, Borger, and Post. He also helped organize the Borger Economic Development Corporation.

Prior to going into banking, King spent 15 years as a school teacher. He has been a member of the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club for many years and has served as the Lions Club District Governor and the president of the Texas Lions Camp.

King and his wife, former Potter County district attorney Rebecca King, purchased a ranch northeast of Clarendon in 1997 and now spend most of their time residing and working in Donley County.

“We have enjoyed being a part of the town immensely,” he said.

King’s first priorities are learning more about what his new job calls for and gathering feedback from people in the community.

“I want people to share their experiences and their dreams, and I’m interested in what industries they would accept here,” King said.

King shares an office with the Chamber of Commerce Manager Bonnie Campbell inside the Clarendon Visitor Center at the Mulkey Theatre and will serve as an advisor to the Chamber.

Clarendon Cub Scout Pack 437 recognized the achievements of local boys during its annual Blue & Gold Celebration Monday night at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

Cubmaster Roger Estlack presented the Pack’s charter certificate to Pastor Kirk Watson and thanked the church for its continued support of Cub Scouting.

Cubs who sold popcorn for the Pack last fall were recognized with a patch, and Ben Estlack and Mason Allred were recognized as the top sellers in the Pack.

Den 1 Cub Scouts Damien Jaramillo, Kayden Cummings, and Nathan Estlack were recognized for receiving their Archery belt loops and the following Webelos activity pins: Forestry, Geology, and Outdoorsman.

Den 2 Cub Scouts Steven Mills, Jacob Murillo, and Patrick Monds advanced in rank to Bear, received a Gold Arrow Point for electives completed beyond the Bear rank, and also received their pins and belt loops for Computers. Den 2 members also displayed projects they had completed, including handmade toolboxes, model airplanes, and electrical projects.

Den 3 Cub Scouts Aiden Jaramillo, Jaythan Green, Daniel Estlack, Kayden Early, Aiden Word, Mason Allred, Henry Bivens, and Robert Powell all advanced in rank to Wolf and received a Gold Arrow Point representing electives completed beyond the rank of Wolf. Additionally, Green, Estlack, Estlack, Early, Word, Allred, Bivens, and Powell received their Collecting belt loops. Green, Estlack, Estlack, Early, Allred, Bivens, and Powell received their Basketball belt loops; and Bivens also received his Snow Skiing and Bicycling belt loops. Powell received his Bobcat badge.

Den 4 Cub Scouts Kaendan Moffett, Haughton Bivens, Asher Cason, and Mason Green were recognized for receiving their Tiger rank. Bivens also received belt loops for Snow Skiiing and Bicycling.

Clarendon Cub Scouts Damien Jaramillo, Aiden Jaramillo, Robert Powell, Henry Bivens, Haughton Bivens, Nathan Estlack, Daniel Estlack, Ben Estlack, and Steven Mills also attended the Golden Spread Council’s BB Gun Shoot-Out February 7 in Amarillo. Cubs received gun safety lessons and were scored in school grade divisions in three different shooting positions. All boys received either their BB belt loop or pin.

Of all the second graders participating in the daylong event from across the Council, Pack 437’s Daniel Estlack placed first and Ben Estlack placed third.

Four Clarendon College athletes were honored Monday night as All-Conference, All-Region and All-American athletes for the fall 2014 semester.

Isela Sandoval of Ennis earned All-Conference and All-Region in Cross Country. At regionals she finished 9th out 37 runners with a time of 20 minutes, 14 seconds. At nationals she finished 63rd out of 274 runners with a time of 19 minutes 42 seconds.

Walker Loyd of Stephenville represented Clarendon College in the Half Marathon National Meet. He finished 18th out of 48 runners with a time of one hour 17 minutes 1 second earning him the All-American Half Marathon honor.

Weronika Wiezik, a 6’1 outside hitter from Szcyrk-Silesia, Poland, started in all 125 sets for the 2015 season. She finished 2nd in the conference with 3.89 kills per set and totaled 20+ kills 8 times. In addition, she scored a season best of 22 kills in three different matches and finished 4th in the conference with 47 service Aces. She scored a season high of 6 aces verses Midland College.

Megan Chambers, a 5’5 Libero from Gatesville, started in all 125 sets for the 2015 season. She finished 2nd in the conference with 494 total digs and totaled 20+ digs 8 times. Her season best of 27 digs was against Seminole State Junior College and she finished 2nd in the conference with 62 service Aces. Megan scored a season high of 8 aces verses Lamar Community College.

CC President Robert Riza presented these honors during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Frank Phillips College Monday night at Clarendon College.

Clarendon College reports spring enrollment is down slightly following the 12th day of class last Wednesday, February 4, but contact hours, which determine CC’s state funding, were up slightly.

CC President Robert Riza said the strong economy in Gray County impacts the college’s Pampa Center with more students going into the workforce than pursuing education.

Contact hours for this semester were reported at 260,808, up two percent from spring 2014. Riza said Clarendon is one of seven community colleges across the state to experience growth in contact hours.

“The downturn in oil and gas didn’t happen strong enough or soon enough to impact our enrollment,” Riza said and noted that the college is also living with a declining population in its rural service area.

Total enrollment this spring is 1,070, which is down 4.4 percent compared to 1,119 at this point last year. The home campus reports the biggest enrollment with 321 students, up 9.9 percent from last spring. The Pampa Center has a headcount of 210, down from 317 last year.

The Childress Center reports 50 students, which is up from 44 last year; and the Amarillo Cosmetology Center has 55 students this spring compared to 33 last year.

“We have 75 commuters in Clarendon and the second highest dorm count in recent times,” Riza said.

The president said the increase in contact hours is the result of increased attention to career and technical training programs.

Riza said the college will launch its Industrial Technology Program in the second eight weeks of this semester, but those numbers won’t impact spring reporting to the state.

Clarendon’s main street will have one fewer businesses in a short time after Stavenhagen Video owner Bill Stavenhagen announced this week that he will soon be closing his doors.

The local RadioShack franchise was not among the 1,700 company-owned stores being shuttered by the electronics giant this year, but Stavenhagen said franchises like his may soon feel the impact of the national chain’s financial struggle.

“If they cut us [franchises] loose, we’ll have two problems,” Stavenhagen said. “We’ll lose name recognition, and we would have to find a new supplier or multiple suppliers.”

After 27 years, Stavenhagen says he has no complaints about his relationship with RadioShack. Instead, he says the Internet was ultimately the demise of his store with Netflix cutting into the video rental business and shoppers saving money online.

“The Internet killed us,” he said. “I never thought it would happen. At Christmas everyone goes online to beat the crowds. That hurts Amarillo stores, but it really hurts local businesses.”

Stavenhagen said some people may not realize how lucky they have been to have had a RadioShack in Clarendon for so long, but he also said he can’t blame people for wanting to save money.

Stavenhagen returned to Clarendon 34 years ago to lay carpet and to partner with his brother, Mac, in Stavenhagen Furniture before opening a RadioShack franchise on Kearney Street in 1988. He later merged his stored with the Clarendon Outpost for 9½ years before returning downtown.

He said he truly appreciates the customers he has through the years.

“It’s been a good run. I haven’t gotten rich, but I made a living for 34 years,” he said. “Clarendon is a nice place to raise a family, to live, and to retire. I want to thank my customers for their support over the years.”

Stavenhagen Video will hold a going out of business sale in the near future. After that, Stavenhagen says he plans to retire.

“It’s a new chapter in my life, and I’m kind of excited about it,” he said.