Punkin’ paintin’
Texas voters to decide transportation funding
Proposition 1 on the November 4th ballot adds new funding for transportation – if approved by Texas voters.
The funds will come from oil and gas production taxes. These taxes now go to the Rainy Day Fund, officially known as the Economic Stabilization Fund.
The proposed amendment would re-direct half of the revenue from oil and gas production taxes to the State Highway Fund. Since the Rainy Day Fund usually receives 75 percent of the oil and gas production taxes, the Rainy Day Fund portion of the revenue would be lowered to 37.5 percent. The State Highway Fund would also receive 37.5 percent of the taxes.
While Proposition 1 would authorize a dedicated funding stream for transportation projects, it also would allow the Legislature to take necessary means to ensure that a minimum balance in the rainy day fund is available to respond to natural disasters and fiscal emergencies. HB 1, the amendment’s enabling legislation, calls for the appointment of acommittee of legislators to determine a sufficient balance for the Rainy Day Fund. If the Fund falls below that balance, no general revenue would be transferred to the State Highway Fund.
The Texas Department of Transportation estimates that it needs $4 billion for constructing and maintaining public, non-tolled roads, and $1 billion for new highways. Proposition 1 could be used only for constructing, maintaining, and acquiring rights of way for public roadways other than toll roads.
Elaine Wiant, President of the League of Women Voters of Texas says the measure isn’t enough.
“The need for more transportation funding is no longer in question, in fact, it is a crisis,” Wiant said. “The funds provided by Proposition 1 will not be sufficient to meet the transportation needs in Texas. Additional funds will be necessary, even if the voters approved Proposition 1.”
According to Sen. Robert Nichols, author of the bill which created Prop. 1, the state needs a solution to its transportation funding.
“As our population continues to increase, traffic rises and our highway system ages, it is important to ensure we have a continuous funding source to maintain our states highway system,” Nichols said. “Transportation is a core function of state government and has been substantially underfunded for more than the last decade.
“Proposition 1 will authorize annual deposits, generated by oil and gas production, to be constitutionally dedicated to the highway fund for construction and maintenance of the state’s non-tolled roads and bridges, without raising fees or taxes. I strongly endorse Proposition 1 as part of the overall transportation funding solution.”
Those in favor of the amendment think that the need is great and these funds would help with the $5 billion need for transportation. If Prop. 1 passes, an estimated $1.6 billion would go toward the current and future transportation needs. Furthermore, the Rainy Day Fund will be watched over by a committee to see that it maintains a sufficient balance.
Those opposed to the amendment think that it deprives the Rainy Day Fund of revenues that will be needed to respond to natural and fiscal emergencies. Other opponents think that it is an insufficient remedy, as Rainy Day Funds could be unstable and the funds produced are not enough.
Election will be Tuesday
Voters in Donley County and across Texas will head to the polls next Tuesday, November 4, to cast ballots in this year’s General Election.
Early voting by personal appearance continues this week through Friday, October 31, at the Donley County Courthouse Annex
Voters in three precincts will decided two races are of particular local interest this year.
Precinct 4 voters are deciding if they want to keep incumbent Republican Dan Sawyer as their county commissioner or if they would prefer Democratic challenger Ricky Rattan.
And voters in Precincts 1 & 2 can cast ballots for Republican Pam Mason to serve as their Justice of the Peace, or they can vote for the late Connie Havens.
The incumbent Democrat passed away September 16, but her name is still on the ballot. If Havens gets the most votes, county commissioners would have to appoint someone to that post after the election is canvassed.
Local candidates running unopposed include incumbents County Clerk Fay Vargas (D), County Treasurer Wanda Smith (R), and Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand (R) as well as John Howard (R) for County Judge and Daniel Ford (R) for Commissioner of Pct. 2.
Also of local interest, US Representative Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) is challenged by Democrat Mike Miner, Libertarian Emily Pivoda, and Green Party candidate Don Cook.
State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) faces opposition from Libertarian Kerry McKennon, and State Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) is joined on the ballot by Libertarian Steven Gibson.
Texans are also determining several statewide and area races, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and others as well as several judicial seats. Voters will also consider a state constitutional amendment regarding funding transportation improvements.
Check your voter registration card to determine your voting precinct. Polling on November 4 will be at the following locations: Precinct 101 – Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center, Precinct 102 – Howardwick City Hall, Precinct 201 – Donley County Courthouse, Precinct 301 – Assembly of God Fellowship Hall, Precinct 303 – Hedley First Baptist Church, and Precinct 401 – Clarendon Church of Christ Family Life Center.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. After the polls close, follow the Enterprise on Facebook for up to the minute election results at www.facebook.com/TheEnterprise. Election results will be posted Wednesday at ClarendonLive.com.
Editorial: Think about the effect of crosses, signs
The crosses and signs proclaiming Clarendon’s religiosity generate strong feelings among residents and travelers and even recently drew the attention of city officials. But the question remains as to what… if anything… should be done about them.
Alderman Sandy Skelton brought the subject up at the October 14 city meeting, but even he only sought a remedy for future signs and markers and did not propose doing anything about what already exists. That launched a discussion about a possible sign ordinance, which lead to the dusting off of the sign ordinance that has already been on the books for 19 years.
Interestingly, the biggest revelation at the meeting about the “end of the world” signs came from the man responsible for them. While the city ordinance requires a permit for signs and markers, Jim Griffin said he was told by former city administrator Lambert Little that he didn’t need a permit for what he was doing.
So basically, the city had an opportunity to have some modicum of regulation over the situation and didn’t do it. Now the chariots have left the coliseum, and there’s no rounding them back up.
The situation is, in part, an example of the city not properly enforcing the ordinances on its books. Why do we need all these rules and regulations? Well, in part, to keep Clarendon from looking like The New Apian Way, as Fred Gray described it last week.
Almost any eyesore in this town could be remedied by proper enforcement of the rules in place. But too often the city just looks at making new rules instead of enforcing the current ones.
A perfect example of this is the amendment passed this summer that changed the allowable weed and grass height from four feet (which does seem high) down to 18 inches. But then the city had lots of places where its own grass was over 18 inches. Maybe we should get all the properties under the four-foot level first.
As to the crosses and signs, Mr. Griffin told the city council that he sees himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and that it is his mission to make sure that every person coming through Clarendon gets witnessed to about Jesus.
The biggest problem with that is that not everyone wants to be the recipient of Mr. Griffin’s witnessing. Several travelers have even taken the time to write the Enterprise or the Chamber of Commerce to express their disgust, displeasure, or discomfort with the plethora of crosses and signs. This includes some Christians who feel the symbols are over the top.
Now in fairness, there are people who like the crosses and signs. An example is an email the Enterprise received this week and reprinted with the letters in this issue. However, it is probably safe to say that the people who are most excited about Mr. Griffin’s work and take the time to look him up and thank him or send us a comment are also probably people who are very devout and don’t need to be witnessed to. In other words, it’s preaching to the choir.
So what should be done about this issue? There probably isn’t much that can be done officially. Enforcement of the sign ordinance might have slowed the phenomenon or moved it back from the highway some, but it would not have prevented harsh messages like “9-11 Tragedy. Worse things to come!” Trying to stop that or remove it opens a whole can of constitutional questions about religious freedom, freedom of speech, and private property rights.
No, government rules are not the answer here. What Clarendon needs is for business and property owners to think about the cumulative effect these markers are having on our community as it is perceived by visitors. The cross or the sign in front of your business may be fine; but when it’s combined with dozens of others, it’s too much for some people.
As a businessman, I don’t care if you’re Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, atheist, or some worshipper of Greek gods. I just want you to come in and buy a subscription or place an ad for your garage sale. Likewise, I don’t care about the religiosity of passers-by. I just want them to stop for a bite to eat, pick up a gift at a local merchant, and possibly Stay All Night or Stay A Little Longer! And, if while you’re here, you are impressed with the good morals of our community and wish to receive some witnessing, feel free to attend one of our 18 (at last count) churches.
Goodwill is a valuable thing and one that is not easily regained once lost. Like the old shampoo commercial used to say, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.”
Literally thousands of dollars are spent each year from the city’s economic development corporation and hotel occupancy tax trying to make Clarendon a destination, an attractive place for visitors, a place you want to stop for a while, or place to relocate. Money and time are spent on marketing this community and putting our best foot forward. And then someone puts up four dozen sewer pipe crosses and starts freaking out the guests.
Thankfully, some of these signs and crosses have already come down. More need to. We want people to come here. We don’t need to give anyone an excuse to say they will never stop or shop our town.
Opinion: Obama makes Carter look good
President Obama’s foreign policy has been a disaster. Actually, his entire presidency has been a disaster. Perhaps the worst ever. Dubya is smiling and enjoying his art in Dallas, because President Obama has proven to be such a national disaster that it has taken much of the tarnish off of Dubya’s presidency. As our eastern neighbors say, Dubya is happy, happy, happy.
This is so, according to those in the know, because of his reliance upon loyalty over ability, when selecting staff and administration personnel to carry out his policies – which are usually ill conceived and fatally flawed. Take President Obama’s security team, for example. According to one former, high-ranking general, who was in a senior command position, “It’s a pathetically weak team.” Both the Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, and National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, are to be blamed for the ineptness of this administration.
Also, the president has more czars than Russia had in its entire history. Furthermore, our czars have proven to be even more inept that the Russian czars, excepting Putin, who continues to toy with Obama much like a Siberian tiger toys with a red deer before consuming it. It concerns me greatly that Putin’s intelligence is vastly superior to Obama’s so-called intellectual capabilities. He may be a fine talker, writer, and consensus builder, but he is no match for the Russian in matters of international relations. Putin also has better pecks. Obama has pretty much done nothing to stop Putin in the Crimean, Ukraine, and central Europe.
It’s no great secret that Putin is doing his best to rebuild the old Soviet Union, step-by-step. What are Europe and American doing about it? We seem to be more interested in installing another czar; this one is Vice-President Biden’s former chief of staff. He is our new Ebola czar, and probably knows very little about Ebola, except for a river located somewhere in dark Africa, known as the Ebola River – where the original Ebola outbreak first erupted back in the early ‘70s. Actually, the virus was named after the Ebola River.
Heck, even the Arabs, who have not been known to possess brilliant minds in the last 1500 years or so, are eating his lunch in the arena called the Middle East. Sure, most of the Arab leaders are sneaky and sly, but few of them possess the intelligence needed to successfully deal with those evil Islamic terrorists types. I’m shocked that we don’t have a Muslim czar – someone to help us understand exactly why everyone always goes out of their way to reinforce the notion that Islam is actually a very peaceful religion, except for the notable exceptions that have the nasty habit of beheading, hanging, and stoning infidels.
The Koran is full of verses and chapters (serahs) that advocate extreme violence and a gruesome death for those who don’t believe as they should. Other than the many examples of genocide written about in the Old Testament, the Christian faith generally doesn’t advocate slaughtering unbelievers – at least since the Crusades of yore ended. Of course, most Christians rightly put greater emphasis on the writings of the New Testament, which advocates a kinder, gentler attitude towards unbelievers. Surely, we need an Islamic czar to help us muddle through the many different Islamic State types who seem to be growing exponentially.
A broad consensus is emerging across the ideological spectrum about the war against the Islamic State: President Obama’s strategy to ‘degrade and eventually destroy’ the terrorist entity is unworkable,” the Washington Post wrote in an editorial on Sunday. The most that can be achieved with the paltry military means Obama has supplied so far is some sort of suppression, but the Post editors said that won’t work because “the infection of the Islamic State is spreading. Militant groups around the Middle East and Levant are rallying to its cause, volunteers continue to rush to Syria, and popular support for it is dangerously obvious in countries such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.”
We have an important election coming up. Hopefully, the Republican Party will be able to take over the Senate as well as the House. If this happens, perhaps they will be able to prove that they can govern effectively and a Republican president can then be elected in another two years. Of course, if the Republicans cannot effectively govern, being more interested in prosecuting the Democrats rather than working with them to solve our many problems, then we will really be in a pickle.
It is doubtful that the United States has ever had a worse president. President Obama even makes the bumbling administration of Jimmy Carter look Reganesque. The president has proven without a doubt that he cannot govern, think strategically, or effectively communicate with the people.
His presidency has also been the most opaque of any previous administration; including the administration of Nixon, who was the king of opaqueness. Obama has filed criminal charges and taken other federal action against more reporters – for more dubious reasons than all the previous presidents combined. This president has not been a friend of the press, preferring to suppress accurate reporting.
If we can survive the next two years without too much self-inflicted damage to our great land, then perhaps we will have a chance to elect a government that can actually work across the aisle and get something positive done. If not, I hate to think about the plethora of troubles heading our way.
President Obama, Susan Rice, and Chuck Hagel are not up to the task of effectively defining and executing a cogent foreign policy. Seldom has any previous president faced so many serious international problems at the same time. Unfortunately, they have proven that they are incapable of projecting American power abroad.
This president has selected his people based primarily upon their personal loyalty to him. That is why his administration is so bankrupt in talent and ability.
Lady Bulldogs sweep FPC in three straight matches
By Fred Gray
The Clarendon College volleyball team won three of four of their matches, with one home game left in the season. They will host the first place team in their conference, Odessa College, this coming Saturday, October 1.
On the 18th of October, the Lady Bulldogs swept Lamar Community College in three straight matches (25-16, 25-16, 25-16), then swept Frank
Phillips College in three straight matches (25-16, 25-22, 28-26), before falling to New Mexico Military Institute (14-25, 19-25, 24-26). Even though they lost in straight matches, they continually grew stronger during the matches.
Later that afternoon, the Lady Bulldogs rolled over Seminole State College after losing the first match 17-25. They took the next three matches 25-21, 25-21, 25-14.
The Lady Bulldogs travel to Snyder Wednesday, October 29 for a match against Western Texas before returning home for their final match against conference leader Odessa College.
There is a substantial difference between high school sports and college sports, actually a huge difference in skill, speed, athleticism, and team play. Our high school volleyball players and other athletes will learn a lot if they choose to watch this weekend’s match. The Lady Bulldogs are peaking at the right time and are a pleasure to watch. Everyone is encouraged to attend the game, Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., and watch volleyball played at the highest level in our area.
Clarendon rocks district cross-country meet
Clarendon High School and Junior High School made a great showing in the District 2-2A cross-country meet held in Shamrock Monday, October 20.
The Bronco varsity won an undisputable District Championship led by Bryce Grahn and Colt Wood. Grahn won the championship for the 5k in a time of 17:52 and Wood ran second at 19:45.
Lady Bronco runner Allyson Grahn claimed a championship as well by topping the 3k field in a time of 12:09. The Lady Bronco team finished third.
Both teams will be participating in the Regional Cross Country Meet to be held October 31 in Lubbock at Mae Simmons Park.
Final results: Varsity Broncos: Grahn 1st 17:52; Colt Wood 2ns 19:45; Steven Johnson 5th 20:38; Caleb Cobb 9th 21:18; Lee Buckhaults 12th 22:18; Josh Cobb 15th 23:18; Keandre Cortez 19th 25:40.
Lady Broncos: Grahn 1st 12:09; Abby Johnson 8th 13:03; Skyler White 22nd 15:10; Sarah Williams 23rd 15:18; Brooke Martin 24th 15:32; Whitney LaRoe 26th 16:30.
Jr. High Colts: Team District Champions: Gavin Word 2nd 12:14; Preston Elam 3rd 12:27; Noab Elam 4th 13:04; Caton Grahn 5th 13:09; Isaac Dunham 6th 13:17; Tanner Burch 9th 14:42; Chris Bruce 11th 16.00; Chad Voyles 13th 18:54; Brandon Santos also ran.
Jr. High Lady Colts: Kira Weatherton 10th 15:16; Mattee Johnson 12th 15:36; Brandalyn Ellis 13th 15:40; Darcie Hunsaker 24th 17:40; Braylee Shields 26th 17:44.
Broncos fight hard in district loss to Crosbyton
By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Broncos have fought battle after battle and Friday night was no different for the young squad.
After playing top ten-ranked Crosbyton very tough, the Broncos were in a good spot through the final quarter when the Chiefs broke the game open. A pass interference call in the end zone that went against us and a dropped pass for six points were crucial to the momentum for the Broncos. The final was 26-43.
The Broncos struck first when senior workhorse Charles Mason teamed up with quarterback Bryce Hatley on a 53-yard pass for six points. After Zack LaRoe added the bonus, the Broncos were up by seven. Crosbyton answered back with two scores. But right before half, Mason made good on a two-yard run and Jonathon Taylor added the extra point to tie the score at 14-14.
In the third quarter the Broncos held their opponent to only one score, but Crosbyton opened it up and put up 10 more points than the Broncos in the fourth period. Junior Ceniceros grabbed a 15-yard pass from LaRoe for six and Cedrick McCampbell scored on a five-yard pass.
Head coach Gary Jack was proud of the kids’ effort in the game.
“The kids played a good solid game,” Jack said. “We went into halftime tied with a really good undefeated team. I have to give our coaching staff and kids a lot of credit. We are getting better.”
Defensively, Jack thought the kids gave a great effort.
“We had several kids have good games and played very solid. Nick Shadle came in and had 11 tackles on defense and played his best game of the season.”
Jack also noted that Keandre Cortez had 12 tackles, Clay Koetting had 9, Caleb Cobb had 11, and Montana Hysinger played solid once again. Taylor, Taylon Knorpp, McCampbell, and Hatley had good defensive games.
Offensively, the Broncos struggled on the ground, but put up 204 yards passing.
“Our offense moved the ball well for us,” Jack said. “We had a few mistakes, but they fought hard.”
The Broncos are still looking to the play offs and according to Jack they still have a chance.
“We are in the same position as we were last year,” Jack said. “We have two games left and we have to win to have a chance. We will gear up for Ralls this week. I like our chances and we will keep working hard.”
The Broncos will take on Ralls at home in Bronco Stadium Friday, October 31, at 7:00 p.m.
Fishin’ buddies
Friendly mix up
Reader Comments