Morgan Wheatly

A US Army recruiter from Amarillo and a Clarendon College student were the top men’s and women’s finishers of the fifth annual Chance Mark Jones Roar ‘N Run 5K last Saturday, April 8, at Clarendon College.

Sgt. Jose Acevedo, age 36, was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 24:12, giving him the best overall time, the best men’s time, and best time for those ages 30-39.

Eighteen-year-old Mia Castaneda, a CC freshman from Hereford, ran the race in 24 minutes, 44 seconds, finishing before all other women and winning the 11-19 age group.

The race sponsored by the Clarendon Lions Club in conjunction with National Child Abuse Awareness Month, drew 113 registrations and had more than 60 actual runners and walkers the day of the event as well as dozens of spectators, supporters, and workers.

The annual 5K is held to raise awareness of child abuse and to honor the life of four-year-old Chance Mark Jones, who died in 2011.

Complete results of this year’s race are as follows: Top Men’s Time – Jose Acevedo 24:12; Top Women’s Time – Mia Castaneda 24:44; 10 and under – 1st Jaxan McAnear 28:22, 2nd Cayson Burcham, 3rd Kutter O’Keefe; Ages 11-19 – 1st Castaneda, 2nd Hannah Fansler, 3rd Joshua Dunn; Ages 20-29 – 1st Jerese Leal 35:15, 2nd Rochelle Fangman, 3rd Shelly Fangman; Ages 30-39 – 1st Acevedo, 2nd Erica McAnear, 3rd Sara Burcham; Ages 40-49 – 1st Daniel Burcham 34:26, 2nd Kathy Goodwin, 3rd Scarlet Estlack; Ages 50-59 – 1st Silvia Zaiontz 30:06, 2nd P.J. O’Keefe, 3rd Nancy Kidd; Ages 60-69 – 1st Martha Smith 43:27, 2nd Eyvonne Carter, 3rd Diane Skelton; and Ages 70+ – 1st Barbara Bowen 35:41, 2nd Sandy Skelton, 3rd Donna Massey.

Proceeds from the annual Chance Mark Jones Roar ‘N Run support the charitable community activities of the Clarendon Lions Club, including eyeglasses for local school kids, Christmas food baskets for local families, continued park improvements, scholarships, and hosting the area office of The Bridge – Children’s Advocacy Center.

The Donley Appraisal District is reminding local business owners are two important filing dates coming up in the next several days for rendering personal property and claiming an exemption for automobiles.

The deadline for filing Business Personal Property Renditions is April 15. However, since the 15th falls on the weekend, the renditions will be accepted on April 17.

If the business owner is unable to file the rendition by the deadline, a written request for an extension of the deadline until May 15, 2017, has to be filed with the appraisal district by the April 15 deadline.  Failure to file a rendition by the deadline will result in a 10 percent penalty on the current year’s taxes.

A rendition is a list of the taxable inventory, furniture and fixtures, machinery, equipment and other property owned or managed as of Jan. 1 of each year. The appraisal district may use the information to set property values.

Rendition allows property owners to record their opinion of their property’s value and ensures the appraisal district notifies them before changing its recorded value. Exempt property, such as church property and equipment used for farming, is not subject to rendition.

Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar also reminds owners whose property was damaged by storm, flood or fire last year that they may file a special decreased-value report that could lower their final tax bills for 2017. Property owners have until April 17 to file the decreased-value report, which indicates their property’s condition on Jan. 1, 2017.

Rendition forms and decreased-value report forms are available from county appraisal district offices statewide, and can be downloaded from the Comptroller’s property tax forms web page.

The appraisal district also reminds businesses that the deadline for filing for the Multi-Use Exemption for automobiles is May 1, 2017.  In order to qualify for the exemption, you have to own a business and use your vehicle for both business and personal use.  Vehicles that are driven to and from your job do not qualify.  You must reapply for the exemption even if you received the exemption for the past year.   The forms for this exemption are available at the Donley Appraisal District office located at 304 S. Kearney in Clarendon.

The 2017 Donley County Health Fair will be held this Thursday, April 13, from 8:30 to 12:30 in the Bairfield Activity Center at Clarendon College.

Northwest Health Care System will be paying for the processing of tests for cholesterol- LDL/HDL and triglycerides but you must provide your mailing address and must be fasting for accurate results. The paramedics of Donley County Hospital District will be drawing the blood for these tests.

Free medical testing will be available in the following areas: blood pressure, pulse, oxygen, glucose/blood sugar, balance, glaucoma, cholesterol- LDL/HDL, STD’s and PSA’s. Additional services and information may be available at the fair.

Health fairs are excellent ways to offer screenings for some health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. Catching them early can help reduce the risks for costly complications.

Both diabetes and high blood pressure can go undetected for up to ten years. Health fairs can also raise awareness of issues like preventing heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even skin cancer.

Preventing or delaying the onset of chronic health problems can produce significant savings for many insured employee groups. Thanks to all the generous sponsors, these services will be offered at no cost to the public.

The fair is being sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Clarendon Family Medical Center, Donley Hospital District, Northwest Health Care System , Pilgrim Bank, Clarendon College, Donley County Memorial VFW Post #7782 Ladies Auxiliary and Mike’s Pharmacy. Donations are still being accepted at the Donley County Extension Office to help with the expense and keeping it a free event for the attendees.

For more information about the 2016 Health Fair please contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at 874-2141.

One local case was heard when the district court met in Childress last Monday, April 3. District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Lionel Ray Harris, 54, from Quanah, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to 16 months in the State Jail Division of TDCJ for the state jail felony offense of theft.

On January 12, 2015, Harris originally pleaded to the charges from the December 15, 2014 offense in Donley County.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on October 24, 2016, alleging four violations of community supervision. Harris is also required to pay a $2,500 fine, $488 in court costs to Donley County, and $750 restitution.

Sherod Semone Garrett was placed on probation for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

Garrett, 23, pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.Garrett, from Dallas, was arrested in Hall County for the offense that took place on March 22, 2017 by Memphis Police Chief Chris Jolly.  Garrett pleaded guilty to an information filed by the State on March 31, 2017.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Garrett is required to pay a fine of $4,000 to Hall County, $381 in court costs, $180 restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If Garrett violates probation, he could face up to one year in the Hall County Jail.

Terry Lynn Duty was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of 5 years for the offense of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Duty, 46, from Childress, was arrested in Childress County for the offense that took place on February 3, 2016 by an investigation led by the Childress Police Department. Duty was indicted by a Childress County Grand Jury on June 21, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Duty is required to pay $363 in court costs, a $5,000 fine, $180 restitution, and successfully complete 300 hours of community service.

Think your local library is just a place to pick up a book? Think again. Burton Memorial Library offers many services to members of the community.

During National Library Week, April 9-15, take time to visit Burton Memorial located in downtown Clarendon and get familiar with its services.

The library is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 26,139 books to choose from along with 1,248 movies, and 324 audio books, all of which can be checked out for free.

Nine computers are available for public use, and a meeting room is available for a nominal fee. Used books are also for sale.

The library hosts an annual summer reading program for kids, and the Friends of the Library meet every second Wednesday.

Burton Memorial also host several important community services, including serving as a CheckFree pay station for most utilities, credit cards, television providers, cell phones, and other vendors.

WIC is available the second Monday of each month, and a state immunization clinic is also held monthly.

Free legal advice is also available via computer at the library.

For more information, call Burton Memorial Library at 806-874-3685.