Morgan Wheatly

The City of Clarendon is exploring grant opportunities to fund up to $3.9 million in water system improvements following last Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

Grant funding for the project could pay for between 40 and 75 percent of the project, and work could be scaled back depending on the level of grant funds the city qualifies for.

The project, if funded and pursued, would include replacing the standpipe water storage on the east side of town, improving waterlines throughout the city, and installing water meters that can be read electronically, reducing errors and lost work time.

Aldermen last week approved advertising for engineering services on the project, which is the first step in pre-applying for the funds.

After determining what level of grant funds the city qualifies for, officials will determine what size project to pursue and options for funding the city’s match.

In other city business, aldermen continued to look at Clarendon’s sign ordinance and what changes they would like to make to it. The board will continue to look at this.

Aldermen also reviewed bids for the city’s health insurance coverage.

In light of rising premiums and given a bid with better benefits, the board elected to end its FirstCare coverage after nearly two decades and take out coverage through the Texas Municipal League.

In council comments, Alderman Sandy Skelton urged the city to expedite removal of the non-operational elevator on the front of City Hall, and Mayor Larry Hicks said he would see that was done. Workers have since removed the elevator.

Sales tax revenues dropped this month for all three Donley County municipalities when Texas Comptroller Susan Combs delivered her December allocations last week.

Clarendon’s revenues dropped 2.21 percent for the month to $31,455.18, bringing the city’s calendar year-to-date figure down 3.21 percent to $398,447.17.

Hedley’s sales tax check dropped 71.95 percent to $393.55. That city is now 7.42 percent down for 2014 at $7,037.24.

Howardwick’s allocation was also down, falling 44.18 percent compared to the same month one year ago at $787.23. The yearly total is down 23.37 percent at $13,317.05.

Statewide, Comptroller Combs said that state sales tax revenue for the month was $2.66 billion, up 10.7 percent compared to November 2013.

“The growth in sales tax collections was fueled by increased remittances from both business and consumer driven sectors,” Combs said. “The gains were led by oil and natural gas-related sectors, while collections from retail trade and restaurants also rose strongly.”

The sales tax figures represent October sales reported by monthly tax filers.

Clarendon College named 72 students to the President’s list for the Fall 2014 semester. Each achieved a grade point average of 4.0 while completing at least 12 credit hours.

CC also named 64 students to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2014 semester. Each student on the Dean’s List achieved a grade point average of between 3.6 and 3.99 while completing at least 12 credit hours. The students are listed by hometown.

The students are listed by hometown.

President’s List:

Elizabeth Hayes, Amarillo; Leah Nicole Lane, Amarillo; Whitney Michelle Lane, Amarillo; Korynna Elize Lara, Amarillo; Kathryn Michelle Rodriquez, Amarillo; Summer Henley, Amarillo: Heidy Judith Sanchez -Navarro, Canadian; Kaylan Nicole Green, Childress; Rebekah Jean Howard, Childress; Nicole Marie Oldham Childress; Sasha Elisabeth Jahay, Clarendon; Jacob Wayne Owens, Clarendon; Adam Remington Topper, Clarendon; Savannah Mariah Topper, Clarendon; Sabra Deann Barnett, Clovis, New Mexico; Jose Armando Flores, Friona; Alberto Sandoval Ft. Worth; Megan Lea Chambers, Gatesville; Paige D’Ann Chambers, Gatesville; Taos Ryan Anderson, Gruver; Camra Breshea Smith, Howardwick; Reid Morgan Davis, Hugoton, Kan.; Allison Paige Lafferty, Leander; Wesley Wright, Levelland; Virginia Gutierrez, Matador; April Dawn Ramsey, McLean; Christie D’ann Smith, Memphis; Reese A. Clark, Morse; Colt Wetterman, Mountainair, New Mexico; Jessica Humphrey, Okeechobee, Florida; Xenia Leann Andis, Pampa; Mario Armenta, Pampa; Lizeth Avalos, Pampa; Billye J. Baldwin, Pampa; Faith Bohl, Pampa; Samantha Jewel Carter, Pampa; Jesus A Chavez, Pampa; Skylar Don Estes, Pampa; Crystal Lewis, Pampa; Elizabeth McLatchy, Pampa; Margarita Mier, Pampa; Steven Ray Mitchell, Pampa; Brodie Shawn Peters, Pampa; Iriscel Quezada, Pampa; Brenda Kay Reed, Pampa; Abigail Salazar, Pampa; Andrew Manuel Santacruz, Pampa; Jesus Manuel Santacruz, Pampa; Kendall Snead, Pampa; Woodie G Sons, Pampa; Rachel D Swires, Pampa; Irvin Rivas Granillo Pampa ; Phillip Michael Detten, Panhandle; Marissa Jaidlynn Wilcox, Perryton; Isela Mariana Sandoval, Rice; Megan Kitch, Rollo, Kan.; Nicholas Kitch, Rollo, Kan.; Darian John Theil, San Antonio; Keisy Portorreal, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Juan Thomas Campusano, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Christopher Shaquille Perez-Alvarez, Toa Alta, Puerto Rico; Carly Carter, Wellington; Jeffrey Collins, Wellington; Cassidy Davis, Wellington; Sydney Jones, Wellington; Chloe O’Rear, Wellington; Samuel Reeves, Wellington; Erin Richardson, Wellington; Kelsey Warren, Wellington; Abby Nicole Bond, Wheeler; Cody Layne Howard, Wheeler; and Colby James Rahm, Yuma, Colo.

Dean’s List:

Henry Nighswonger, Alva, Okla.; Austin Wayne Flynt, Alva, Okla.; Jaci Dayne Black, Amarillo; Melisa Bowman, Amarillo; Emily Kay Espino, Amarillo; Kiayra Tracean Greer, Amarillo; Leigh Ann Hickmott, Amarillo; Cheyenne Kincanon, Amarillo; Tabitha Marie Kincanon, Amarillo; Brieanne Meza, Amarillo; Amber Dawn Miller, Amarillo; Jason Seth Paulk, Amarillo; Erica Pimentel, Amarillo; Bettima Schuster-Wilkins, Amarillo; Briana Geniva Gardner, Amarillo; Kiondranae D. Johnson, Amarillo ; Rachel Janet Heide, Apple Valley, Calif.; Johnny Lee Rochell, Austin; Cassidy Lee Brumaghin, , Colo.; Pamela A. Ezzell, Borger; Amanda D. Schaeffer, Clarendon; John Cagle Pigg, Clarendon; Heather Dawn Bruce, Clarendon; McKayla A. King, Clarendon; Hayden Shelton Bach, Cleburne; Brayden Alan Hawkins, Cleburne; Zachary Daniel Kenney, Dalhart; Key-Aila I. Wafer, Denton; Blake Stowers, Friona; Michal Robertson Garden Plain, Kan.; Belinda Scott, Groom; Austin James Adams, Hedley; Elizabeth Kay Ross, Hollis, Okla.; Megan Heather English, Howardwick; Brian Tyler McBee, Lefors; Reed Anna Papay, Meade, Kan.; Leslie Ivy, Memphis; Aunna Mae Muirhead, Moore, Okla.; Shannon E. Reeves, Munday; Courtney Ann Wingate, Myakka City, Florida; Sara Rachelle Koepp, New Braunfels; Brandon M. Hillier, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada; Bryan Alberto Calderon, Pampa; Steve Moses Rodriguez, Pampa; Alejandro Salazar Pampa; Kitzi D Weller, Pampa; Joseph A Wilson, Pampa; Megan Napier, Pampa; Melissa Gaye Watson, Pampa; Matthew Bryan Bowen, Pampa; Allison Nicole Leigh, Pampa; William Pulliam, Pampa, Verona Shook, Pampa; April Mechelle Martinez, Pampa; Makenna R. Etie, Petersburg; Penny Rosslyn Holdren, Snyder; Kenna M. Faulkenberry, Stephenville; Amy Hernandez, Tulia; Evonne Zuniga-Hernandez, Tulia; Kacey Bell, Wellington; John Eric Morton, Wellington; Haley Neeley, Wellington; Gerardo Ortiz, Wellington; and Kobie Vaughn Jordan, Winters.

At least 15 applicants have already applied to be the next superintendent of the Clarendon Consolidated Independent School District, according to information presented a public forum Monday night.

Sixteen people attended the meeting intended to gather public feedback in the school’s search for a new superintendent. The audience included six school employees, one school board member, five parents of kids in school, and two students.

Interim Superintendent John Lemons conducted the meeting and discussed web-based surveys of school employees and the public that are being conducted to gather input on what the district should look for in its next superintendent.

The simple four question survey was criticized for not giving people an opportunity for other comments or to list areas that the districted needed to improve upon. CISD Technology/Network Director Michael Keough then added a “comment” section to the survey, and Lemons invited comments from the audience about areas of improvement.

Audience feedback included concerns about discipline at the school, the amount of homework in the elementary grades, an over emphasis on the Accelerated Reader program, pushing technology over other school needs, and the need for better responsiveness to parents and community members.

Lemons encouraged people to take the survey at www.clarendonisd.net to let the board know their feelings, and school officials said a separate “other comments” survey would be set up for school employees who had already completed the four-question survey.

One school employee said he thought the district should just try to clone outgoing superintendent Monty Hysinger, and one parent countered that Hysinger was “a good money man… and that’s all I’m going to say.”

Lemons bragged on the reputation that Clarendon has for its history of good superintendents – Jeff Walker, Phil Barefield, and Hysinger – as well as its tradition of excellence and good community support. A 30-plus year employee of the district, however, said she had seen parts of the school go down in that time.

Comments were also made from the public encouraging the school to maintain its positive working relationship with Clarendon College and being critical of spending priorities at the school.

Lemons said a new superintendent would want to be visible and open and bring new ideas on discipline. He also said that Clarendon doesn’t need a “change agent” but rather someone who would tweak and maintain the school’s strengths.

Lemons said he knew of 15 to 18 applicants already for the job, which is being advertised statewide and heavily promoted in Regions 16 and 17 (the Panhandle and South Plains). The deadline for applications is December 19, and those will be reviewed by the board on December 29.

The interview process in January will be done in secret, Lemons said, and the district will only be naming a lone finalist for the job.

Christmastime activities continue this week with Late Night Shopping and the second annual Chili Challenge at the Crossties Ministry Center on Friday night.

In a move from the traditional Thursday schedule, Late Night Shopping this year is being held on Fridays at downtown merchants and will continue every week until Christmas.

The “Great Bowls of Fire” Chili Challenge returns for its second year this Friday, December 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Crossties Ministry Center and hosted by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.

Steve & Jesse will provide musical entertainment as businesses and organizations go up against one another for bragging rights and their chance at the 2014 title of Champion Chili Team.

The cost is $25 per team. The winners will be selected on a “people’s choice” basis, and admission is $5 per person.

Challenge details and entry forms are available from Bonnie Campbell at the Clarendon Visitor Center inside the Mulkey Theatre.

Holiday shopping is easy and affordable with a Christmas Cash loan from the Donley County State Bank and enjoy interest free shopping at a dozen participating establishments.

The program, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, allows anyone to make application for a loan of up to $3,000 interest free with the Donley County State Bank. Once a loan has been approved, the borrower will be issued Christmas Cash Dollars, which may be spent like US currency toward new purchases at all of the participating businesses. Christmas Cash must be spent by December 31, 2014.

As of Tuesday morning, participating Christmas Cash merchants this year are: Cornell’s Country Store, J&W Lumber, Osburn Appliance, Country Bloomers, Ronna’s Creations, Stavenhagen Video, Henson’s, Every Nook & Cranny, Straight Off The Ranch, The Clarendon Enterprise, Mike’s Pharmacy, Lowe’s Family Center & Ace Hardware.

Support your hometown merchants this holiday season and keep your money working for you in your community. Local merchants support local charities and schools.