Morgan Wheatly

Dr. John Howard formally stepped down from his position as head of the Clarendon College Board of Regents last Thursday, November 18.

Howard presided over most of the meeting before reading his letter of resignation from the board. State law prohibits county officers from holding two elected offices, and Howard will be sworn in as the Donley County Judge on January 1, 2015.

Regents named former CC employee Darlene Spier to fill Howard’s position on the board.

Regent Jerry Woodard was elevated by the board from vice chairman to take over as chairman, and he was presented with a special gavel by Howard. Spier was elected as the board’s vice chairman.

In other college business, the board approved changes to the CC personnel handbook, financial investment policy, and semester credit hours policy.

A lease on the college’s Carson County farmland was also approved for three years.

CC President Robert Riza updated the board on a power survey being conducted for the college by Trane and said the school had signed an agreement with Texas Tech University to allow first year CC students to enroll at Tech and access Tech advisors.

Ashlee Estlack revealed the Clarendon College’s new website design to the board and gave a brief overview of its benefits and features, including more faculty-driven content and more user-friendliness for students who are using tablets and smart phones more than computers.

In personnel, the board ratified the hiring of Mona Hennessey, Health Science Service Center Coordinator; Dustin Hennessey, Student Success Coach; and Tashell Kingston, Financial Aid Assistant, and acknowledged the reassignment of Jana Oliver as Cosmetology Program Director.

A condemned house got a brief reprieve from the Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, November 18, after the property owner said she would address code issues.

Linda Lewis presented plans and estimates to the board to demolish two dangerous outbuildings on her property at Sixth and Bugbee and promised she would secure the house at that address. Dangerous exterior balconies on the house will also be removed, she said.

Lewis said family health issues had caused her to neglect the property, but she also said she hopes to renovate the old house and operate a bed and breakfast after she retires in three to five years.

Aldermen expressed their concern that the house might fall back out of compliance after the outbuildings come down, but Lewis agreed to periodic inspections by the city’s code enforcement officer.

The board voted to lift its previous condemnation order and give Lewis six months to carry out her plan of removing the outbuildings and balconies and securing the home.

In other city business, aldermen approved Ordinance 440, authorizing the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce to administer the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax funds. The CEDC will oversee 75 percent of the funds, and the Chamber will administer the remaining 25 percent. The board also approved a quarterly report on HOT fund usage from the CEDC.

The board listened to a presentation from city engineer Clayton Scales and approved making a pre-application for USDA funds for water system improvements of up to $3 million. The pre-application process determines what percentage of grant funds the city might be eligible for but does not obligate the city to the project. The project, if approved, would construct a new standpipe on the east side of town and install new waterlines in that area.

The board voted to return the city librarian’s job description to full time status. Aldermen then met in closed session to discuss the positions of city administrator and city secretary, but took no action following the closed session.

Former Bushland superintendent John Lemons will take the helm of the Clarendon Independent School District on an interim basis when Monty Hysinger leaves for Dumas in January.

CISD Trustees hired Lemons last Thursday, November 20, after meeting with him in closed session for about an hour.

Lemons will also assist the district with its search for a new superintendent for a fee of $4,000. Hysinger is leaving the position after 16 years.

Lemons said he will work with Hysinger to get the job posted and suggested a closing date of December 19 for accepting applications. The interim superintendent will then review the applications over the holidays, and the board will plan a December 29 meeting to review applications also.

The district would then start the interview process during the first week of January, according to Lemons.

Hysinger told the Enterprise that the district plans to have a public forum on Monday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m. to take feedback on what residents what to see in the next school superintendent.

CISD is also conducting online surveys of employees and residents ahead of the public forum to help guide the selection process. That survey is available on the school’s homepage at www.clarendonisd.net.

In other school business, CISD Trustees approved an application to request a Maximum Class Size Exception Waiver from the state. In the last couple of weeks, both Kindergarten classes have taken new students and now have enrollments of 23 students each, which is one student over the maximum class size of 22.

Pleas were heard in five local cases when the 100th District Court met in Clarendon on Monday, November 10.

District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Paul Alexander Rodgers was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of assault family violence. Rodgers pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Rodgers, 53-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place May 9, 2014 by Chief Deputy Randy Bond. Rodgers was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on August 6, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Rodgers was required to pay a fine of $1,000 to Donley County, $398 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Rodgers violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Michael John Herman was placed on probation for a period of one year for the Class A misdemeanor offense of deadly conduct. Herman pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Herman, 57-year-old resident of Fort Worth, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place March 11, 2014, by Donley County Deputy Jay Logan. Herman was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on April 1, 2014

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Herman was required to pay an upfront fine of $1,000 to Donley County upfront and $488 in court costs. If Herman violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Gary Dale English was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of theft. English pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

English, 57-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place May 17, 2014, by Donley County Deputy Sonny Marasco. English was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on August 6, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, English was required to pay a fine of $250 to Donley County, $398 in court costs, $100.00 restitution, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If English violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Justin Blade Barker was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of criminal trespass. Barker pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Barker, 24-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place April 8, 2014, by Bond. Barker was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 25, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Barker was required to pay a fine of $1,000 to Donley County, $398 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Barker violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Andrew Martin Keen was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of assault family violence. Keen pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Keen, 31-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place April 16, 2014, by Bond. Keen was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 25, 2014.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Keen was required to pay a fine of $500 to Donley County, $398 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service. If Keen violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Donley County Jail.