Morgan Wheatly

Several personal possessions and a family dog was lost during a house fire on County Road W this week.
Clarendon Fire Chief Jeremy Powell said his department was paged to the fire Monday, January 27, at 10:41 a.m. and were on the scene by 10:55. The home which is owned by Jim Mitchell was being rented by Joel Layton.
Powell said a female and child were inside the residence when the home caught fire and were unable to suppress the fire and were forced to evacuate and call 911.
When firemen arrived, the stucco home was showing heavy smoke with one window showing fire. The initial attack was made through that window while an entry team entered through a door on the northeast corner of the home.
Aided by a thermal camera, the team quickly knocked down the fire and made a quick search of the home before exiting to allow for ventilation teams to clear the home of smoke.
Powell said firemen were able to retrieve some valuables for the family. No people were injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation at press time.
Thirteen firemen and seven unites were used on the fire.  The fire was under control within 10 minutes of firemen arriving on scene.
On a side note, this was the first structure fire in which the Clarendon VFD was able to utilize a new tool that they just received this month. The department purchased an Argus Thermal Imaging Camera which allows firemen to see in low visibility conditions. The camera can be used to locate victims in a home filled with smoke, locate the seat of fire in a smoke filled environment, or locate persons in the dark. The camera needs no light to see. The camera aided Clarendon firemen’s efforts to quickly control the fire on Monday.
Powell said the camera will be a huge asset to the department and will aid greatly in ability to save life and property.  The camera, which cost nearly $8,500, was purchased with funds donated to the department.

Security on the Courthouse Square will be getting an upgrade following the January 13 meeting of the Donley County Commissioners.
The commissioners’ court approved a $30,091.30 proposal from Texas Panhandle Cyber Medics to install what County Judge Jack Hall calls a “more modern” system of security for the Jail, Courthouse, and Courthouse Annex.
Hall said the project will put new cameras in the jail and district courtroom as well as new cameras on the courtyard. Some new cabling well also be done as part of the project, particularly in the Clerk’s Office in tandem with a project that installed new flooring in that office.
The judge was also pleased for the county to be able to accept the proposal from Cyber Medics, which is based in Clarendon.
“We like the idea of doing business right here in town,” Hall said.
Money for the project will come from the courthouse security fund.
In other county business, the court approved travel for required education classes for the judge and commissioners, the tax assessor-collector, and the treasurer.
Commissioners began working on a schedule of bonds for elected officials that would match the term of the bond to each official’s term of office. Hall said the bonds are different currently with some being for one or two years. The county intends to develop a plan to have four-year bonds that will align with the terms of each office.
Commissioners also considered a proposal to apply for state funds to repair roads damaged by the oil and gas industry, but turned the firm down due to the lack of such industry in Donley County

Filing is now open for those interested in serving on local boards as seven local governments prepare for May elections.
The Donley County Hospital Board, which oversees indigent care and the local ambulance service, has four positions up for election this year. The two-year terms are elected at-large in Donley County, but candidates must sign up for a specific place. Those seats are currently held by Jan Farris – Place 4, Jeannie Owens – Place 5, Mark C. White – Place 6, and Lori Howard – Place 7.
The Clarendon College District has three six-year terms available on the Board of Regents, and the positions are also elected at-large in Donley County. Those seats are held by Dr. John Howard, Dr. Bill Sansing, and Jack Moreman.
Clarendon ISD has two at-large positions available on the Board of Trustees for three-year terms, and Reneé Betts and Weldon Sears are the incumbents.
Hedley ISD also has two at-large positions on its Board of Trustees, and those are also three-year terms. Those seats are currently held by Karen Watt and Tonja Ruthardt.
Three seats on the Clarendon Board of Aldermen are up this spring. Those are two-year terms elected at-large in the city. Will Thompson is finishing one of those terms, and Beverly Burrow and Larry Jeffers hold the other two positions, having been elected to serve out unexpired terms in a special election last November.
The City of Hedley has three positions available on the May ballot. The two-year, at-large terms of Mayor Leon Ward and Aldermen Lonnie Roby and Carrie Butler are up this year.
In Howardwick, the terms of Gene Rogers, Cory Longan, and Robert Brewster on the Board of Aldermen are expiring. Those are two-year terms elected at-large.
Filing for these positions runs through February 28. Elections will be held May 10.

The Donley Appraisal District is reminding those who have not paid their 2013 taxes that those taxes are due today, January 30.
Statements were mailed two weeks ago to taxpayers still owing 2013 taxes. Taxes not paid on or before January 31 will incur penalty and interest of 7 percent if paid in February. The amount increases each month thereafter until the tax is paid. Accounts unpaid on July 1 will incur an additional 20 percent collection penalty in addition to the regular penalty and interest of 18 percent. Texas state law prescribes the penalty and interest amounts.
Delinquent notices will be mailed in May to those who still owe 2013 tax at that time. Partial payments will be accepted.
Taxes are payable to the Donley Appraisal District, PO Box 1220, Clarendon TX 79226.