Morgan Wheatly

Last Friday night, Lavelle’s Coffee Shop, located on Kearney Street, just across from the library, held an open house to introduce a new gathering place – a quaint coffee shop and bistro-style eating establishment – where folks can come together for a great meal and a wonderful cup of coffee (with tea and other drinks for the non-coffee drinkers), in a warm, comfortable environment.

Michelle Hall, the proprietor, has always wanted to be of service to others. She came by this virtue mainly by helping her mother, Rose Smith, a natural entrepreneur of many successful businesses. As a young girl Michelle spent hours working for her mother, polishing her entrepreneur skills, and developing the burning desire to be of service to others. Michelle is continuing a long held family tradition of serving others.

One of her primary reasons for opening LaVelle’s Coffee Shop was to provide a pleasant meeting place for the folks of Clarendon, offering a great atmosphere, excellent food, superior coffee, and exemplary service. She envisioned a warm place for people to meet over good coffee, good food, and good conversation. She has done that. She has created a unique dining experience for folks in Clarendon.

The name “LaVelle’s” comes from a long-established family tradition, dating back to her family’s origins in the old country of Germany. According to Michelle, the name “LaVelle” was taken as part of the name of the first-born in each new generation of the family. Michelle wanted to honor her family and pay homage to those who have gone before.

Michelle’s vision for LaVelle’s is to provide a place where folks of all ages can get together for good wholesome, family style fun and food. She wants to do something special for the people of Clarendon, and designed the concept of LaVelle’s to meet a community need that has been unmet, a place where we can come together to socialize, enjoy good food and beverages, while enjoying various activities.

LaVelle’s has a pool table that can be rented for $5 an hour. Additionally, she has many books available for reading while enjoying your coffee, along with a wide-ranging menu of breakfast and lunch dishes, including creative sandwiches, soups, and kids’ meals. There is also space available for playing games like chess, penté, and whatever board games we choose to bring along with us.

LaVelle’s Coffee Shop, a little hole in the wall place, is managed by Becky Rattan, and staffed by an energetic, well-trained group of mostly young people, each sporting bright smiles and warm dispositions.

At Friday’s sneak peak, a surprisingly large number of people (well over a hundred) gathered for a sampling of the fare offered. Alyss Simpson’s favorite menu items were the turkey and bacon sandwich and the great cup of soup. Her 10-year-old sister, Malerie Simpson, preferred the soup and chips. Actually, the entire Simpson family, including my new neighbor and long-time friend Helen, seemed to enjoy the food in a warm and relaxed environment. Samantha Wright, a precocious eight-year-old, and horse lover (she has three – Cabbage, Cisco, and Boo) waxed poetic while outfitted in her Clarendon Enterprise tee-ball tee shirt, saying that she thinks that LaVelle’s is very pretty and looks like a good place to eat.

The home-made bread pudding was a huge favorite with everyone who tried it. Other tasty pastries are available for those with a sweet tooth. All items are priced very reasonably.

Seriously, LaVelle’s Coffee Shop has a delicious menu. Michelle and her staff have done a wonderful job of creating a place where we can gather to enjoy each other’s company, good food, and good beverages.

Give LaVelle’s Coffee Shop a visit. Who knows, we may end up in a chess match or penté match while enjoying excellent fare.

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Clarendon College President Phil Shirley announced April 18 that he will step down at the end of 2013, wrapping up a 40-year career in higher education.

Shirley made his retirement plan public at the close of Thursday’s meeting of the CC Board of Regents, and another longtime college employee, Darlene Spier, also submitted her retirement to the board.

“I can’t praise the board enough, especially Chairman John Howard, who accepted everything I recommended,” the president said. “I’m indebted to their support, and my memories of Clarendon College will be nothing but sweet and endearing.”

The president also praised the staff, faculty, and administration for their support of him and of the ideas he said they had collectively embraced.

“There is no one on this campus that I do not hold in the highest regard,” he said.

Shirley has served as CC’s president since January 2011. His career began with six years in teaching before he went into college administration 34 years ago. He served as CC’s Dean of Instruction from 1986 to 1990 and later served as the president of Southeast Arkansas College in Pine Bluff, Ark., for 11 years before returning to Clarendon.

His retirement comes at a time when Clarendon College is embarking on new ventures and developing new programs that will expand the college’s offerings in the area – particularly Amarillo – and ultimately boost the economy of Donley County through growth at the home campus.

“It is difficult to leave at a time when Clarendon is experiencing rare opportunities and achievements,” Shirley said. “We’re planting the seeds for someone else to reap, and I’m content with that. I am confident that Clarendon College will continue to be led by people of the highest integrity and moral character.”

Shirley will rejoin his family in Arkansas when he steps down, but he will continue to have fond feelings for Clarendon and said he was honored to end his career at CC.

“I love the people of Clarendon,” he said. “They are of such high character that it is hard to compare with any other group. I love the college and it is a great honor to retire here.”

Shirley says he will spend his retirement serving as an interim president when needed around the country and has been offered a job with “Building the Dream,” a grant-funded project which helps colleges re-tool their curriculums to focus on student success.

“I will not sit down in a rocking chair and piddle away the days, but rather I will put my 40-years’ experience to use to benefit other colleges.”

Shirley’s retirement becomes effective December 31, 2013; but before he steps down, another key college employee will leave CC.

Darlene Spier, who has served as the Assistant to the President for the last six presidents of CC, announced to the board that she will retire effective August 31, 2013.

“It has been a blessing and an honor for me to serve Clarendon College for 33 years,” she said.

Shirley said Spier made it possible for him to do his job.

“Darlene has been my right-hand person, a confidant, an inspiration, a historian, and the most knowledgeable person about Clarendon College who exists,” he said. “She has been an outstanding employee.”

 By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Early voting by personal appearance begins Monday, April 29, for four local governments holding elections this spring.

Balloting for the City of Clarendon and Clarendon ISD will be at the Donley County Courthouse Annex. Howardwick residents can vote at the City Hall there, and early voting for the Hedley ISD Board of Trustees will be at the school office.

In all 24 candidates are seeking elected offices this spring.

Clarendon Mayor Larry Hicks is being challenged by Alderman Tommy Hill, and four people are running for two positions on the board. Alderman Debbie Roberts, who was appointed in December, is seeking a full term, and she is joined by former alderman Janice Knorpp, Sandy Skelton, and Trevor Leeper.

Clarendon ISD has four candidates for three positions on the Board of Trustees. Current school board members Robin Ellis and Jim Shelton are seeking re-election and challengers Linda Rowland and Chuck Robertson are also running.

Six candidates seek two positions on the HISD Board. Incumbents Bonnie Brown and James E. Potts are being challenged by Michele McCann, Kevin Smith, Aaron Harper, and Lana Ritchie.

The City of Howardwick leads the candidate count at eight with David P. Cafferata and former alderman Mike Rowland running for mayor; William R. Jordan, Gail Leathers, and Jim Cockerham running for two vacant full terms on the Board of Aldermen; and Alderman Gene Rogers, Cory Longan, former mayor H.L. “Buster” Baird, and Sandy Sanders vying for two unexpired terms.

Early voting by personal appearance runs through May 7. Election Day will be Saturday, May 11.

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Hedley school board president Ted Wright was removed from his leadership position last week when trustees voted to reorganize the board ahead of this spring’s elections.

The decision came during a called meeting of the Hedley ISD board on Tuesday, April 16. Trustee Karen Watt said she didn’t believe the board was getting sufficient communication and moved to reorganize the board with Bonnie Brown as president. Watt, Tonja Ruthardt, James Potts, and Dana Bell voted in favor of the motion, Mark Howard opposed the measure, and Brown and Wright abstained.

Boards usually reorganize after an election, and sources tell the Enterprise it is unusual for such a move to take place unless the board make up has changed, such as board officer dying or resigning.

The change of leadership followed a vote last month in which Watt, Ruthardt, Potts, and Brown voted against the superintendent’s recommendation to renew the contract of Athletic Director Darrell Wallace. That prompted concerned citizens on both sides to address the board on April 2, and last week two citizens again addressed the issue. Linda Naylor spoke in support of the board’s decision on Wallace, and Troy Monroe spoke against it.

Both Wallace and his wife, teacher Suzanne Wallace, submitted their resignations at last Tuesday.

The board met in closed session to discuss the contract of Superintendent Bill Sanders, but no action was taken after the closed session. Relations between Sanders and some board members appeared strained as the meeting progressed.

The board voted to table the District Improvement Plan because they felt it did not included changes requested at the March 19 meeting. The board also noted changes requested had not been made to the District Needs Assessment.

Watt asked several questions about the district’s Compensatory Education Plan, and Sanders said, “We can’t nitpick this all day long.”

Watt turned her attention to certain salaries she felt should be included in the report, but Sanders said those figures didn’t belong in that particular report.

“Are you refusing to show us that information?” Watt asked. “No, ma’am,” Sanders replied and said he just wasn’t going to report it there.

The board then also tabled a review of documentation of UIL concussion recognition training because some board members felt information was missing.

In discussing the district’s fund balance, Watt noted that HISD ended FY 2009 with $390,000 and that, after budget cuts and a loss of enrollment, the district ended FY 2012 with $722,218. This was done without a tax increase, and she wanted people to be aware of it because she had heard rumors that the Hedley school would have to close next year.

“This doesn’t mean we’re safe forever,” she said, “but we’re alright.”