Morgan Wheatly

City Hall has signed five applications for alcohol sales permits following last Tuesday’s passage of an alcohol ordinance by the Board of Aldermen.

Mayor Pro-tem Will Thompson presided in the absence of Mayor Larry Hicks as Ordinance 426 was unanimously approved by the board after questions over distances and measuring were addressed with the city attorney.

The law allows for alcohol sales along US 287 within the city, along State Hwy. 70 from US 287 to the north city limit, and in the Central Business District. Sales are prohibited within 300 feet of the main house of worship of a church, a public or private school, and licensed daycare or child care facilities. Variances may be applied for.

Most measurements will be done from front door to front door in straight lines along street fronts, but measurements from schools will be done in a straight line from property line to property line.

Discussion at the meeting centered on whether Allsup’s convenience store would be able to sell alcohol given its proximity to Clarendon ISD property, but Alderman Larry Jeffers said he had measured a straight line from the corner of Bronco Stadium to the back corner of Allsup’s property and found it to be more than 300 feet.

The ordinance also prohibits individuals from possessing or consuming alcohol on the grounds of any public park or ball field or on any property owned by Clarendon ISD.

By the Friday afternoon, the following businesses had received the city secretary’s signature to submit there applications to the state: Lowe’s Pay & Save, CEFCO for both its local convenience stores, Allsup’s, and Bar H BBQ & More. State officials have said it ordinarily takes about 40 days for an application to receive approval once submitted.

In other business last week, aldermen approved a grant application seeking 36 three-yard Dumpsters that would be made available for grass clippings and yard waste; accepted a bid to re-roof the Burton Memorial Library from Sims Roofing; updated city job descriptions; heard a report on Hotel Occupancy Fund expenditures from Economic Development & Tourism Director Chandra Eggemeyer; and discussed with sanitation department head Joe Shadle the need for purchasing a new trash truck.

Aldermen also discussed proposed street improvements, expressing their dislike for doing “rollover” curbs and their desire not to narrow streets. Board members expressed concerns about having city crews doing the base work for the project, wondering if the city really had the time or the equipment to do the job. Aldermen said they want the street improvements to be “done right the first time” with Alderman Jeffers noting, “Just to say we’ve done it is a disservice to the citizens.”

The Hedley Independent School District is the first local government to draw a full slate of candidates for this spring as sign-ups for seven boards continues.

Incumbent Ted Wright and challengers Troy Monroe and Michelle McCann have signed up to run for three positions on the HISD Board of Trustees. The other two posts are currently held by Karen Watt and Tonja Ruthardt.

The Donley County Hospital Board has four positions up for election this year. Those seats are currently held by Jan Farris – Place 4, Jeannie Owens – Place 5, Mark C. White – Place 6, and Lori Howard – Place 7. White and Howard have both signed up to run again.

Clarendon College has three seats available on the Board of Regents, and the positions are held by Dr. John Howard, Dr. Bill Sansing, and Jack Moreman. Howard and Moreman have signed up.

Alderman Beverly Burrow is seeking a full term on the Clarendon city board. Two other terms up this year are held by Aldermen Will Thompson and Larry Jeffers.

H.L. Baird is running for the city board in Howardwick where three positions are open. Those seats are currently held by Gene Rogers, Cory Longan, and Robert Brewster.

The City of Hedley has three positions available on the May ballot. The terms of Mayor Leon Ward and Aldermen Lonnie Roby and Carrie Butler are up this year. No information was available Tuesday afternoon as to whether anyone had signed up for these seats.

Filing for local positions runs through February 28. Elections will be held May 10.

Spring enrollment at Clar-endon College was essentially flat following the 12th day of class last Wednesday.

CC President Robert Riza said he was glad to be flat based on early numbers he’s seen from other Texas community colleges.

“We are off by four students,” Riza said, a decline of less than one percent.

Total enrollment at CC was sitting at 1,119 compared to 1,123 for the spring of 2013. The home campus in Clarendon was down six to 292, the Pampa Center was up 12 to 317, and the Childress Center was down eight to 44. The distance education student count was 94, and dual credit students numbered 317.

The new cosmetology center in Amarillo added 33 students to the spring count. Riza said CC will open another enrollment in Amarillo this month, but those numbers will not count for spring enrollment.

“There was nothing surprising in these numbers,” he said. “I will be looking forward to the fall and look to increase numbers moving ahead.”

Riza plans to meet with area school superintendents to help school districts meet the requirements of House Bill 5, which changes graduation plans and will require more collaboration between school districts and colleges. Riza said this should result in wider dual credit options and more concurrent enrollment classes.

“We will work with the high schools to offer whatever we can,” Riza said. “As a parent I know the benefit of dual credit classes.”

Four pleas took place when the 100th Judicial District Court met in Clarendon on Monday, January 27, 2014.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

A total of $14,000 in fines were assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on January 27. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $1,895 in court costs and $1,845.30 in restitution.

Rickey Lewis Row, a 55-year-old resident of Clarendon, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate. After the plea of true, a contested punishment hearing was held and Row was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On September 3, 2009, Row originally pleaded guilty to the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance that occurred on July 29, 2009, in Donley County.

The State filed the motion to adjudicate on October 31, 2013, alleging seven violations of community supervision.

Row pleaded true to the some of the violations contained in the State’s motion. Inman called one witness, Mark White with the 100th Judicial District Community Supervisions and Corrections Department, who testified that Row had been given many opportunities for his drug and alcohol abuse.

“This Defendant was afforded many opportunities by the probation department to get clean and off drugs and alcohol,” said Inman. “Unfortunately for him, he could not abstain from the drugs and alcohol and that is what resulted in him receiving the maximum punishment today.”

After hearing all the evidence, the court sentenced Row to ten years. Row is also required to pay $465 in court costs to Donley County, a $6,000 fine, and $140 in restitution.

Dealonie Whitehurst, a 32-year-old resident of Sacramento, CA, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was convicted and sentenced to eight years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On December 6, 2012, Whitehurst originally pleaded guilty to the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance that occurred on October 30, 2012, in Donley County.

The State filed the motion to adjudicate on October 2, 2013, alleging four violations of community supervision.

Whitehurst pleaded true to the violations contained in the State’s motion and was sentenced to eight years. Whitehurst is also required to pay $443 in court costs to Donley County, a $4,000 fine, and $1,705.30 in restitution.

Jeffrey Lynn Franklin was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of criminal attempt of sexual assault. Franklin pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Franklin, 43-year-old resident of Grand Prairie, Texas, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place October 7, 2013 by Donley County Deputy Vincent Marasco. Franklin was indicted by a Donley County grand jury on November 12, 2013.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Franklin is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Donley County, $599 in court costs, and complete 100 hours of community service. If Franklin violates probation, he could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Jonathan Mark Yankie was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of assault family violence. Yankie pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Yankie, 30-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place June 22, 2013 by Marasco. Yankie was indicted by a Donley County grand jury on November 12, 2013.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Yankie is required to pay a $3,000 fine to Donley County, $388 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service. If Yankie violates probation, he could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.