Morgan Wheatly

Like the Mayan calendar and other dire forecasts, the predicted doomsday in May for the City of Howardwick won’t be coming true after nine people signed up to run for elected office there.

With the mayor’s position vacant for more than a year and four terms either expiring or vacant, Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Hubbard and legal advisors had warned that the city government would be dissolved if citizens did not step up and run for office.

But after a town meeting last Tuesday, January 29, that was attended by more than 50 people, interest in public service has picked up to the degree that a competitive election will be held for every position on the ballot this spring.

For the vacant mayor’s seat, David P. Cafferata has signed up to run and so has former alderman Mike Rowland.

Three people have signed up to run for the two vacant full terms on the board of aldermen – William R. Jordan, Gail Leathers, and Jim Cockerham; and four people have signed up to run for the two unexpired terms on the board – Alderman Gene Rogers, Cory Longan, former mayor H.L. “Buster” Baird, and Sandy Sanders.

At last week’s town meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Hubbard outlined problems facing the city for those in attendance and made a plea for people to get involved.

“I don’t want to see our little city fold up,” Hubbard said.

Several residents agreed that a lack of communication and a lack of attendance by citizens at city meetings were largely to blame for the situation. Others also pointed to elected officials getting blamed for things beyond their control, and the city’s property tax rate being capped at 25 cents per $100 valuation (until the city’s population breaks 500) as being problems.

It was also noted that not every resident of the city was paying the monthly fee for trash service.

Stan Couch and Joe Hall separately put forth ideas for bringing more businesses and residents to Howardwick, including making property attractive to small commercial operations and developing incentives for retired military personnel to build homes on vacant lots.

Residents also took the opportunity to complain about some nuisance properties, and Hubbard said he has been working with the justice of the peace and the municipal judge in Clarendon to see what can be done about that.

Throughout the meeting, former city officials and longtime residents as well as newer residents encouraged each other to work together for the future of the city.

“It can be done,” longtime resident and former volunteer fireman Jim Cockerham said. “Don’t ever think that it can’t be.”

Enrollment is down for the spring semester at Clarendon College, but President Phil Shirley says plans are in place to recover from the loss.

Following the 12th class day last Wednesday, the college reported a total headcount of 1,120. That is a drop of 12.3 percent from the spring enrollment in 2012.

“We’re not happy with the drop,” Shirley said. “The biggest hit came from Pampa. They are going to work there instead of going to school.”

The CC Pampa Center’s enrollment dropped 84 students from spring 2012 to a headcount of 313 this semester. The home campus dropped 47 students to 298, but the Childress Center actually gained two students for an enrollment of 52. The remainder of CC’s enrollment is divided among distance education (online) classes and dual credit classes in area high schools.

Shirley said other factors have impacted CC’s numbers, including changes in the financial aid system that makes it harder for some students to get the assistance they need.

“We’re concerned, but we’re taking proactive measures to rectify this,” Shirley said.

CC is starting a new class of nurses with 21 students in Pampa, the college also hopes to soon be offering welding classes in the Neal and Clements Units in Amarillo, and Shirley said Clarendon has received permission from Amarillo College to offer a cosmetology program in that city that could draw as many as 70 students.

Enrollment this semester at area colleges was both up and down, according to an Amarillo Globe-News report. Amarillo College is down 3.3 percent, but Frank Phillips College reports being up 7.8 percent, and West Texas A&M University says it grew 1.8 percent.

After one week of filing candidates are being slow to emerge for most races for local offices.

With the exception of the City of Howardwick (see related article), three of the other five local governments had not had anyone sign up as of Tuesday morning. The Donley County Hospital District and the City of Clarendon did have some activity, however.

Incumbents Wayne Tubbs (Place 1) and Melinda McAnear (Place 3) have applied to run for re-election on the hospital board, which oversees emergency medical services and indigent care in the county. They are joined by a new comer, Carey Wann, who is seeking the Place 2 seat currently held by Bob Watson.

Mayor Larry Hicks has filed his application at Clarendon City Hall to seek re-election. In addition to his position, the city also has two aldermen’s positions up for election this year

Hedley has three positions open on its Board of Aldermen this year but had no candidates as of Tuesday.

Likewise, the three positions up this year on the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees had not attracted any candidates.

Hedley ISD was also still looking for candidates for its Board of Trustees where two terms are up this year.

All local offices are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must sign up for a specific place.

Sign up continues through March 1, 2013; and the elections will be held Saturday, May 11.

The Clarendon College basketball teams are making Monday, February 11, Cancer Awareness Night in the Dawg House.

Come out and support the teams as they taken on Western Texas College, and help the teams raise funds to benefit the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Foundation at the same time.

The women’s game starts at 5:45 p.m. with the men starting at 7:45 p.m.

“That night we ask you to wear pink and bring a donation to Harrington Cancer Foundation,” Lady Bulldog head coach Brad Vanden Boogaard said. “And to sweeten the deal and entice you to donate even more, myself and several others are putting our hair on the line.”

If the college community raises enough money, several coaches and administrators have stepped up and said they will shave their hair off during a public event on campus.

The levels that must be reached for each person are: women’s basketball coach Brad Vanden Boogaard – $500, Men’s Basketball coach Tony Starnes – $1,000, Dean of Students Tex Buckhaults – $1,500, Athletic Director John Green $2,000, and CC President Phil Shirley – $5,000.

Cash or check donations can be made anytime by dropping them off at the women’s basketball office in the Bulldog Gym or by contacting the women’s basketball office at 806-874-4834.

“We can pick donations up from anywhere if you call us,” Vanden Boogaard said.

This fundraiser will continue throughout the basketball season, and the teams hope to raise enough to meet their first goal of $500 by Monday night so that Coach Vanden Boogaard’s hair can be shaved during halftime of the men’s game.

Also, at the game February 11, fans will be able to purchase tickets for door prize drawings during the games.

Checks can be made out to Harrington Cancer Foundation.