Morgan Wheatly

By Roger Estlack & Tara Allred, Clarendon Enterprise

If actions speak louder than words, then the actions of the women at Howardwick Baptist Church speak volumes about Christian love and compassion as well as the power of prayer.

The ladies, who want no personal recognition, learn through the church about individuals who have special needs, are facing problems, or are battling illnesses. Then someone volunteers to knit a prayer blanket or afghan for that person in need.

Pastor Dave Stout says that over the years more than 300 of these afghans have been prepared for people in need… people like former Howardwick mayor Nancy Davis as she continues her personal battle with cancer and cannot express her thanks enough for what she’s been given

“You can lay there at night and just feel every prayer,” Davis said.

Perhaps that’s because not only is the blanket an expression of love, but it is also a symbol of prayer. As part of this quiet ministry, the woman making the afghan says a prayer for the intended recipient at the end of each crocheted row before starting the next one.

A supply of yarn is kept at the church for the ladies, and donations of yarn are always welcome, Stout says.

The pastor says he doesn’t know just when the ministry started, but he knows that afghans from the women of Howardwick have been shipped all over the United States and to some foreign countries.

For more information or to donate yarn to the ministry, contact Pastor Dave Stout at 231-8344.

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Donley County Commissioner Dan Sawyer was re-elected by Precinct 4 voters last week in the only real contested local race of the November 4 General Election.

The Republican incumbent defeated his Democratic challenger, Rick Rattan, by a margin of 133 to 89.

Precinct 1 and 2 voters formally elected Republican Pam Johnston Mason to succeed the late Democratic incumbent, Connie Havens, for justice of the peace, 420 to 85. Havens passed away in September, but her name remained on the ballot.

A total of 947 total ballots were cast in last week’s election, and several unopposed local races were before the voters, including County Judge-elect (R), County Clerk Fay Vargas (D), County Treasurer Wanda Smith (R), Pct. 2 Commissioner-elect Daniel Ford (R), and Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand (R).

Clarendon native Mac Thornberry was easily re-elected to his District 13 seat in the United States House of Representatives. Local voters preferred Thornberry by a wide margin over his Democratic, Libertarian, and Green Party opponents. The congressman received 87.14 percent of the home vote with Mike Minter (D) getting 9.86 percent, Emily Pivoda (L) getting 2.25 percent, and Don Cook (G) getting 0.75 percent.

State Sen. Kel Seliger (R) and State Rep. Ken King (R) were also easily re-elected to their seats with each getting more than 90 percent of the local vote.

Donley County joined most of the rest of Texas in preferring Republican Greg Abbott as the state’s next governor with 802 votes compared to 119 for Democrat Wendy Davis, 17 for Libertarian Kathie Glass, and three for the Green Party’s Brandon Parmer.

Local voters helped re-elect US Senator John Cornyn with 800 votes compared to 94 for David Alameel (D), 23 for Rebecca Paddock (L), eight for Emily “Spicybrown” Sanchez, and one write-in vote.

Republican Dan Patrick will be the state’s next lieutenant governor thanks in part to 795 votes he picked up locally compared to 102 for Leticia Van de Putte (D), 26 for Robert Butler (L), and three for Chandrakantha Courtney (G).

Republican candidates were the choice all the way down the ballot in contested statewide and area races. In fact, 358 Donley County voters marked straight Republican ballots.

Donley County Commissioners are expected to canvass the election this week. New terms begin January 1.

Clarendon High School sent seven participants to the Texas Tech “Fall Fandango” Math/Science academic meet last Saturday, and their accomplishments have their UIL coaches encouraged.

In a very large meet involving schools from 1A to 4A, all seven students placed, two medaled, and both the Number Sense and Science teams placed in the top five at the meet.

The best thing about the results was that no seniors were involved for Clarendon. Six sophomores and one junior competed in their respective events, and all placed in the top ten among competing students.

In Number Sense Cire Jauregui placed 5th, Riley Shadle 6th, and Chance Lockhart 7th. Jauregui also placed 8th in Mathematics. In the Science contest, Hannah Howard placed 2nd, Chesson Sims 3rd, Riley Shadle 4th, Chance Lockhart 6th, Aubry Powell 8th, and Steven Johnson 9th.

The next meet for all UIL academic contestants will be in January when Clarendon competes in Stinnett at the annual West Texas Invitational.

Garage sales in the city limits will now require a permit following the meeting of the Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, October 28.

City officials began looking at garage sales after complaints about a “perpetual garage sale” being held on US 287 last month. That sale, being operated by Lynn Floyd, has since been resolved, but city leaders wanted rules in place to prevent future problems.

In drafting Ordinance 439, aldermen rejected requiring any fees to be collected for a permit and also struck requirements that would have limited the hours of operation of a garage sale.

Alderman Larry Jeffers said he saw enforcement issues with a permit.

City Secretary Machiel Covey said the state comptroller’s office limits the number of garage sales per address to two per year, and sales may not exceed three days.

The city ordinance covers all sales entitled “garage sale,” “lawn sale,” “attic sale,” “rummage sale,” “flea market sale,” or “any similar casual sale of tangible personal property, not associated with a commercial business properly licensed to do business in the City which is advertised by any means whereby the public at large is or can be made aware of the garage sale.”

The free permit from City Hall is obtained by filling out an application stating the name of the person who is having the sale, the address of such person, the location of the sale, and the dates of the sale. A copy of the permit shall be posted in a conspicuous place during the time and at the place where the sale is being held.

Sale items must be removed from the yard, lot, driveway, or other location in view of the public no later than 24 hours after the garage sale ends.

Violators can face a fine of up to $50.