Morgan Wheatly

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Construction is underway on a new Family Dollar store that is set to open in Clarendon in mid-April.

Property owner and developer Jim Gunn of Montgomery says the foundation of the 8,000-square-foot store will be completed this week with the parking lot to be done Saturday. Metal for the building in the 400 block of West Second Street (US 287) will be here next Thursday and be assembled in about five days.

Gunn built a similar Family Dollar store in Shamrock last year that is essentially the same as the store here, and he looked at Clarendon while working on that project.

Gunn develops properties and then leases them to Family Dollar, and he said several factors attracted him to Clarendon.

“You’ve got a junior college there which makes the economy more stable, and you’ve got a base population that we thought we could serve,” he said. “You’re just more stable than most communities.”

Gunn also credited local officials as being positives when considering Clarendon.

“The city was phenomenal with their help,” Gunn said. “Mr. Little (former city administrator) and the city secretary answered questions and were great to work with. I can honestly say if every city was that helpful, I would be building a lot more stores.”

Gunn said the helpfulness and attitude of city officials “makes a difference in swaying a company.”

The Family Dollar project took about nine months to get started, and Gunn said it took that long for planning and to get the financing in order.

The project represents an investment of about $750,000 in Clarendon, Gunn said.

The store, located just east of Lowe’s Family Center, will employ three to five people full-time when completed and will be open seven days a week.

AUSTIN – State Representative Ken King (R-Canadian) has been named a member of the newly created House Energy Caucus (HEC), a legislative caucus of the Texas House of Representatives, to focus on energy production and the issues facing adjacent communities.

“I’m tremendously honored to be named to the new House Energy Caucus,” said Representative King following the news. “Considering how rich and diverse my district is in energy resources, it’s important to be well versed on the issues in order to serve my district to the best of my ability.”

The HEC will provide educational opportunities and information on policy issues regarding traditional energy production such as oil, gas, and coal, as well as alternative energy including biomass, wind and solar power, and emerging technologies like clean coal/coal gasification.  In addition, the HEC will also identify, research, and build coalitions to help resolve social and infrastructure issues faced by areas of the state experiencing significant impacts from increased activity related to the energy industry.

“The Caucus will also help to educate its members on the impact to energy production of legislation addressing water, transportation and workforce development needs,” the HEC Chair State Representative Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) said addressing the members during the organizational meeting. “This state’s energy industry is revitalizing our state through innovative technologies and significant economic investment and I want to see that continue.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas is first in the nation in production of oil, natural gas, and wind energy.  Texas coal and lignite production is also a key supplier for energy demands.  As technological capability and demand has increased, the growth and expansion of these forms of energy production has affected all areas of the state.

“There are many complex challenges to engage with during the 83rd Session regarding energy policy,” King said. “Being a member of this caucus will give me the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and get to work on meeting these challenges head on and utilizing all of our energy resources to create a better Texas.”

The Clarendon College Meats and Livestock Judging teams have been busy on the road this month and have brought home several great finishes.

The Meats Judging team won the Southwest Invitational Meat Judging Contest January 11-12 in Lubbock by a 98 point margin.

As a team, Clarendon College scored 3,712 points for the first place finish, followed by Garden City Community College, 3,614 points; Tarleton State University; and Australia National Team.

Individually the freshmen took 4 of the top 6 spots. Cody Shannon, from Royse City, TX, placed first; Scotta Faulkenberry, from Stephenville, TX, placed second; Garrett Kroeger, from Amarillo, TX, placed fourth; and Morgan Boyer, from Wallisville, TX, placed sixth.

The Livestock Judging team traveled to Denver January 18 and 19 to compete in the National Western Stock Show. Clarendon College finished in 6th place out of 25 teams, the best finish the team has seen in 12 years at this contest.

Team members for the contest were sophomores Anne Indreland, Big Timber, MT; Kyle Metzger, Estancia, NM; Alisha Shurr, Central Point, OR; Derek Williamson, Blum, TX; and Jacey Bauer, Navasota, TX.

Traveling alternates who made a big contribution were sophomores Ashley Kanaman, from Campbell, TX; Ellen Bardwell, Edgewood, NM; Reagan Richter, San Antonio, TX; Ryan Dahl, Goodwell, OK; Brenna Reid, Morse, TX; Tabetha Wilson, Cypress, TX; and Kylie Owen, Clint, TX.

The top 10 teams were: Black Hawk East, 1st; Redlands, 2nd; Conners, 3rd; Butler, 4th; NEO, 5th; Clarendon, 6th; Casper, 7th; Lincoln-Land, 8th; Blinn, 9th; and Hutchinson, 10th.

The Meats Team also traveled to the National Western Stock Show in Denver January 20-21, and brought home a third place finish.

Members of the team include freshmen Garrett Kroeger, Amarillo, TX; Morgan Boyer, Wallisville, TX; Scotta Faulkenberry, Stephenville, TX; Cody Shannon, Royse City, TX; Laura Taggart, Temple, TX; Oscar Abrego, Houston, TX; Cristian Campuzano, Houston, TX; and Travis Metzger, Estancia, NM.

Former city administrator Lambert Little will receive a severance package worth more than $25,000 following action taken by the Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, January 8.

The board met in closed session with City Attorney James Shelton for about 30 minutes before reconvening in open session to approve paying Little six months of salary in the amount of $25,000 plus continuing his life and health insurance benefits for six months for an additional $2,192.76.

The motion, unanimously approved by Aldermen Tommy Hill, Will Thompson, Jesus Hernandez, and Abby Patten, also includes a provision requiring Little to sign a release preventing him from taking legal action against the city regarding his termination.

Little’s severance package is in accordance with his employment agreement, which was obtained by an open records request filed by The Clarendon Enterprise. The employment agreement was for a term from October 25, 2010, through October 25, 2013.

The severance package is in addition to the accrued sick leave and vacation time that aldermen approved paying Little at the time of his termination last month. According to information also obtained by the Enterprise, paying the sick leave and vacation time cost the city $6,609.80, which brings the total cost of dismissing Little to $33,802.56.

Twenty-four citizens attended last week’s meeting.

In other city business, aldermen appointed Debbie Roberts to fill the vacant seat of former Alderman Terry Noble. Roberts addressed the board during public comments and asked to be considered for the job. The board also asked Sandy Skelton, whose name had been put forward by a group of Clarendon businessmen last month, to make a few remarks. After a straw vote showing Aldermen Hill, Hernandez, and Patten in favor of Roberts and Alderman Thompson in favor of Skelton, Mayor Larry Hicks called for a motion and vote, and Roberts was unanimously appointed.

Public Works Director John Molder gave an update on city projects, including installation of an effluent meter at the waste water treatment facility and a water system study being conducted by KSA Engineers. Molder recommended killing a six-inch line northwest of the City Barn that goes under the railroad tracks and has been a constant source of leaks. The line is unnecessary and eliminating it would save a lot of headaches, he said.

Following up on Molder’s remarks, Mayor Hicks said the upcoming water and street improvement project that includes a section of Sixth Street will be modified so that a new four-inch water line is run down the alley between Sixth Street and Wood Avenue which has been a chronic source of dirty water.

City Secretary Machiel Covey updated the board on the codification of city ordinances, and the mayor also reminded the board of an upcoming Texas Municipal League meeting in Amarillo.