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Morgan Wheatly

District court convicts local man of charges

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A Clarendon man was convicted when the 100th district court met in Clarendon last Friday, December 14.

The court heard one contested adjudication hearing took place which resulted in the conviction of William Michael Shults.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the case for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

William Michael Shults pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate. After the plea of true, a contested punishment hearing was held where Inman called two witnesses.

The State called Marci Mills and Mark White with the 100th Judicial District Community Supervision and Corrections Department.

White testified that Shults performed poorly while he was on probation. After all the punishment evidence was presented, Shults was convicted and sentenced to nine years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The maximum was ten years.

On February 22, 2011, the 34-year-old resident of Clarendon originally pleaded guilty to the third degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone that occurred on July 26, 2010, in Donley County.

The State filed the motion to revoke on November 9, 2012, alleging nine violations of community supervision.

Shults is also required to pay $443 in court costs to Donley County, $140 restitution, and a $3,000 fine.

Bulldog Cross Country coach qualifies for Boston Marathon

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Clarendon College Cross Country Coach Zack Leggett participated in the Dallas Marathon on Sunday, December 9, and finished 28th out of a field of 4,873 full marathon finishers.

Leggett ran the 26.2-mile event in 2:56:26, beating his personal goal of 3:00:00.

Leggett said he enjoyed running in a marathon of this size –over 25,000 participants in total.

“It took 8 city blocks for the starting line,” Leggett said. “It was a lot of fun to get to run with that many people.”

In preparation, Leggett said he runs 6 days a week and averages anywhere from 70 to 80 miles per week.

His motivation for running a marathon came after he graduated college and found himself at a weight of 260 pounds.

“I ran two years in college, but when I stopped that’s when I gained the weight,” he said. “I started getting back in shape and my goal was to finish a marathon.”

He met that goal last year when he ran the Dallas Marathon for the first time and finished with a time of 3:16:00. He bested that time by about 20 minutes this year.

This year’s finish qualifies Leggett to run in the Boston Marathon in 2014, and he plans to be there. He also wants to return to the Dallas Marathon next year and best his time once more.

“My goal for next year is 2:45:00,” he said.

In his division for men age 30-34, Leggett finished the Dallas Marathon in 8th place. The overall fastest time for all finishers in the full marathon was 02:19:38.

While he doesn’t require his cross country runners to train in the same way he does, he said he does have them run up to 15 miles a day and about 80 to 90 miles a week in order to compete in their 5 mile races.

“They do more of a speed workout than I do,” he said. “I have to conserve enough energy to finish the race, but still run at a marathon pace.”

Leggett is in his first year at Clarendon College and it will be exciting to see what his runners accomplish this spring.

“Not only does Zack talk the talk, but he walks the walk,” Clarendon College Athletic Director John Green said.

“I am very proud to have him as a coach at Clarendon College, and I look forward to seeing the Cross Country program improve under his leadership.”

Merchants’ prepare to give back next week

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Shopping at home next Friday, December 21, will benefit the community even more when several Clarendon merchants donate part of their sales to the Donley County Senior Citizens Center.

Fifteen local businesses have signed up for a special promotion to help raise funds for the senior citizens.

Clarendon merchants have always given money to charitable projects, but last year ten local businesses joined together and were able to raise $2,500 for the senior citizens.

“This is a chance to help those who have served our community for years,” said Terri Floyd at Every Nook & Cranny. “They’ve done their part for Clarendon, and now we can give back to them.”

This year Clarendon Chamber of Commerce President Bonnie Campbell helped coordinate the merchant’s effort and was able to increase the number of participants.

Other communities are not as fortunate to have such a good senior center as Clarendon has, and merchants hope people will participate in this endeavor.

Senior citizens centers are constantly in need of funds, but recent government regulations have put even more burden on these organizations. The government now requires that milk be included with each meal even if the client does not want the milk, she said.

Currently, the Donley County Senior Citizens Center prepares 130 meals per day, five days a week.

A complete list of merchants participating in next Friday’s fundraiser is not yet ready, but so far the businesses include: Every Nook & Cranny, Stavenhagen Video, Mike’s Pharmacy, Country Bloomers & Gifts, Henson’s, Ronna’s Creations, Clarendon Outpost, Straight Off The Ranch, The Clarendon Enterprise, Lowe’s Family Center, J&W Lumber, Campbell Online Marketing, McKinney Motor Company, Wishes Quilting & Fabrics, and Floyd’s Automotive Supply. Look in next week’s Enterprise for more information.

District court hears pleas in three cases

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Three pleas took place resulting in two convictions and one deferred adjudication when the 100th District Court met in Clarendon on Thursday, December 6, 2012.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

A total of $6,500 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on December 6. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $1,296 in court costs and $2,140 restitution.

Richard Wayne Hyatt, Jr., pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Community Supervision. Kindle was convicted and sentenced to 16 months in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On January 25, 2010, the 26-year-old resident of Amarillo originally pleaded guilty to the state jail felony offense of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger that occurred on May 23, 2009, in Donley County.

The State filed the motion to revoke on October 2, 2012, alleging nine violations of community supervision.

Hyatt is also required to pay $558 in court costs to Donley County and a $2,500 fine.

Randy Lee Carr was convicted of the second degree felony offense of arson. Carr was convicted and sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Carr, 41-year-old resident of Tyler, was arrested on May 20, 2012, by Carson County Sheriff’s Deputy J.C. Blackburn and pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on December 5, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Carr was required to pay $295 in court costs to Carson County.

Dealonie Whitehurst was placed on probation for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Whitehurst pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Whitehurst, 31-year-old resident of Sacramento, Calif., was arrested in Donley County by Deputy Vincent Marasco for the offense that took place October 30, 2012. Whitehurst pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on November 29, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Whitehurst is required to pay a $4,000 fine to Donley County, $140 restitution, pay $443 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service. If Whitehurst violates probation, he could face up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ.

Three other cases with Donley County connections were resolved when the court met in Memphis on December 5 and Childress on December 3.

In Memphis, Tiffany Norris was placed on probation for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Norris pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Norris, 22-year-old resident of Reno, NV, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place October 30, 2012, and pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on November 29, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Norris is required to pay a $4,000 fine to Donley County, pay $443 in court costs, $140 restitution, and complete 200 hours of community service. If Norris violates probation, she could face up to 10 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ.

In Childress, Chase Jefferie Wilson pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate. Wilson was convicted and sentenced to four years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On November 9, 2009, Wilson, 23-year-old resident of Childress, originally pleaded guilty to the third degree felony offense of places weapons prohibited that occurred on September 25, 2009, in Donley County.

The State filed the motion to adjudicate on October 26, 2012, alleging five violations of community supervision.

Wilson is also required to pay $340 in court costs to Donley County and a $3,000 fine

Also in Childress, Lovie James was placed on probation for a period of four years for the second degree felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. James pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

James, 31-year-old resident of Sacramento, CA, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place October 30, 2012 and pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on November 29, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, James is required to pay a $4,000 fine to Donley County, $140 restitution, pay $443 in court costs, and complete 200 hours of community service. If James violates probation, he could face up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ.

Editorial: Let’s set a new tone for our city

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For better or worse, the City of Clarendon was the talk of the town again last week. But this time it was not so much for the Board of Aldermen. This time it was breakdowns in our public waterworks.

A contractor damaged a waterline last Tuesday evening and, without going into all the gory details, the repair was fixed in a prompt and professional matter. The loss of pressure, however, meant that City Administrator Lambert Little had to follow proper procedure and issue a Boil Water Notice, something that was a bit of an inconvenience for folks until Thursday afternoon… but not as much of an inconvenience as having no water at all would have been.

Roger Estlack, Editor

There was a bit of hoopla over the boiling of the water, but for the most part people just went along and made the best of it.

Then over the weekend there were a couple of other water line breaks that affected people’s service and were repaired by our dedicated city workers. Those seemed to elicit more chatter from armchair experts who took to social media to criticize not just the speed of the repairs but also city government in general and the city’s sale of groundwater to Greenbelt Water Authority in particular. All of this over a couple of leaks that were repaired by guys working in cold, wet holes in the ground.

Perhaps it’s time we all learned something from those guys.

Despite adverse conditions, our public works department jumped in – literally – and did what had to be done to get things fixed. They did it because it is their jobs, and it’s what they do. Public Works Director John Molder’s crew seems to be a hardworking bunch of guys, and they clearly demonstrated that he has trained the well enough, they can get the job done without him looking over their shoulders. (Molder was on medical leave when all this static was going on.)

Molder’s men – like other city employees from the top down – don’t need microscopic oversight from the board of aldermen and they certainly don’t need second guessing from folks on Facebook who don’t have a clue what challenges they are facing in the field. They need support – from the board and from the citizens.

As we close out this year, it is a good time to put aside the bitterness that seems to permeate our community and focus on what we can do to support the men in the trenches who make this city work and what steps can be taken to move Clarendon forward.

The Board of Aldermen has an excellent opportunity to set that tone Thursday night, December 13, when they will meet in a re-scheduled regular meeting. They have a vacancy to fill with the resignation of Alderman Terry Noble, and that will be as good a time as any to begin unifying our community, which they can do with careful consideration of who they choose to appoint.

From there it is a matter of learning to all work together, to respect each other, and move forward… together. The members of our Board of Aldermen have it within themselves to do what is in the best interests of the city and to put aside any hard feelings or personal agendas.

And as citizens we must all do that as well. There are problems to be fixed if Clarendon is to be prosperous. Aging waterlines need to be replaced, other infrastructure issues must be addressed, and hardworking employees deserve respect, fair treatment, and wages commensurate with the value of their positions to this city.

All of that costs money, and we need to be willing to pony up some of it when it’s time to set the budget next fall. We have to invest in this city to make it prosper. But first we need to invest some faith in each other and learn to get along.

City crews battle water line breaks

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Quick action by city employees repaired a broken water line last Tuesday, December 4, but a loss of pressure during the repair resulted in a “Boil Water Notice” being issued temporarily for Clarendon residents.

A contractor rehabilitating a city water well site struck a six-inch line while digging a slush pit just before 5 p.m., and the City of Clarendon Public Works Department responded immediately by notifying employees that they were needed, arranging for the necessary equipment and parts and making the necessary “line locate” call to DIG-TESS (Texas Excavation Safety System), the organization which locates all underground utilities before excavations start.

City workers Jeff McKee (white shirt), Coby Broughton (obscured by water), and Brandon Moody work to repair a ruptured line Tuesday evening, December 4. Courtesy Photo / City of Clarendon

 City officials said the pipe was so damaged that removal and replacement of a section of the line was necessary. Because the city’s water system has only a few isolation valves, fire hydrants in the area had to be opened to relieve the water pressure. When pressure was reduced, the excavation around the damaged pipe could be pumped out and the repair completed.

City Hall initially said repairs would take most of the night, but city workers fixed the line by about 7:30 p.m.

“I commend these City employees for the skill and courage they exhibited in completing this difficult repair in such a short time,” said City Administrator Lambert Little. “Public Works Director John Molder, this department’s most seasoned veteran, was out on leave. Nathan Jaramillo was the Supervisor-in-Charge, and I think it took a lot of guts to tackle this project. Training and experience paid off. He and the rest of the crew turned what could have been a real disaster into what I believe to be one of our finest hours.”

Little also noted that Greenbelt Water Authority assisted by lending manpower and equipment and said city employees from other departments volunteered and were on standby, ready to help if needed.

“Teamwork like this is inspirational,” Little said.

The Boil Water Notice was issued Tuesday night because of how low the pressure dropped across town. Little said the precautionary measure is mandated by the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). While a loss of pressure does not necessarily mean the water has been contaminated, it does mean that pathogens may be able to enter the piped-water system and thus be carried to consumers.

As the water pressure was restored, city crews flushed fire hydrants across town to remove air and to circulate as much freshly-treated water as possible. By Wednesday at noon, city personnel had taken water samples from across town and sent them to a laboratory in Amarillo for testing.

“The City of Clarendon takes Boil Water Notices very seriously,” Little said. “We understand what an enormous inconvenience such notices cause, not just for citizens in their day-to-day activities but for local businesses as well. Restaurants and convenience stores rely on our water for their ice and drink machines and for restrooms that their customers need and expect. The schools and the College, the nursing home and clinic, the hotels—all rely on our water system. We will issue Boil Water Notices only to preserve customer health and safety.”

The Boil Water Notice was rescinded Thursday afternoon when test results came back showing no contamination.

City workers were called on again to work afterhours this weekend to when other leaks developed in the city’s aging water system – one in a residential area in the south central part of town and another on a cast iron line that runs under the railroad northwest of the City Barn. Crews worked much of Saturday on the first leak and then were back on the job Sunday to fix the line near the railroad.

“I’ll say over and over again how much the City appreciated the cooperation and understanding of our customers,” Little said. “And I’ll say again how proud I am of the Public Works Department.”

Opinion: Dear Santa, All I want this year is…

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One of the things that I love about the Christmas season is reading the letters our children send to Santa Claus, beseeching him to bring them some of the things of their hearts’ desires. They profess that they’ve been good, perhaps even innocently embellishing some of their good behaviors. Their letters are true gems of our community and should be forever cherished.

Fred Gray.

In the spirit of their letters, I, too, have decided that I need to send Santa a letter and implore him to bring me a few of the things that I long for. Like the children, I have been a good boy – mostly. I must confess that I enjoy kicking up a little dust on occasion and may have inadvertently created some minor mischief – mostly among Republicans and tea party types. All in all, I feel my behavior has been good enough to warrant writing a letter to Santa, asking for my heart’s desires (which will, at the very least, assuaging some issues that create angst in my spirit).

 

Dear Santa:

This Christmas I would like the following items or reasonable substitutes if they aren’t made in China:

1. New water pipes. Santa, in the best of times my water is a light brown, like weak tea. In the worst of times (which happens all too frequently) icky particulate matter and small boulders come cascading out of my faucets. I don’t think this is healthy for people to drink and bath in. Besides it leaves a ring around our bottoms, instead of the bottoms of the tubs. It’s embarrassing when house guests run a tub full of water for a nice, soaking hot bath, and their bath water looks like it came straight out of the lake – which is unfair to the lake water because it is mostly pristine, spring fed, and clear.

2. A new GOP. The one we have now has grown to represent “Grumpy Old People.” I want the Republican Party of Lincoln, TR, Dwight David, and Ronnie – maybe with a little Dubya thrown in for seasoning. Good grief, the Republicans have became deaf, churlish, and mean spirited, as illustrated by their spokesmen, El Rushbo (large in body, small in mind), Hannity (may have inhaled too many paint fumes in his previous career), O’Reilly (the “Oh really” factor?), and Grover (the lesser). In the past, the Republican Party was the party of giants. Now, it’s mostly the party of intellectual gnats – people who whore themselves out to greedy hucksters like Grover Norquest, and others who clearly choose to push ideology over leadership and statesmanship.

3. A new U.S. Congress. The one we have is broken. Actually, it’s worse than broken; it’s dysfunctional – which is dangerous to Americans and the American way of life. Gone is doing what is right for the country. Not gone is doing what is right for whomever is paying the most. Wanna guess who that is? Try Wall Street, big defense contractors, greedy magnates, big oil, and General Electric types – American companies who don’t pay any taxes whatsoever, and spend American dollars in other countries, buying cheap foreign labor. Our Congress is inept, unethical, and pathetic.

4. A new city council. We have four aldermen remaining since Terry Noble up and moved out of town – for love, of all things, and a bright future with his new bride. Good for him, and I wish him and his new bride the very best. Thankfully Will Thompson remains on the council, and is one of the true gentlemen in our town, and bright to boot. Maybe the new city alderman could have some of Will’s characteristics: things like intelligence, courtesy, and emotional stability. We desperately need another good alderman – or two or three.

5. A new governor of Texas. Here we have the grandest of all states, and it’s headed-up by one of the densest and most dumbfounding men I’ve ever known. Governor Rick is big, strapping, handsome in a manly way, and would make a mighty fine figurehead ornament for the ship of state. Unfortunately, we don’t have a ship and what you see is pretty much all you get. Bless his heart, he must have been standing behind the door when the Creator was passing out brains. I cringe every time he sneezes, fearing that his head will surely implode. A new governor along the lines of Sam Houston, Ann Richards, or even another Dubya would be just fine.

6. A decent Republican Party presidential candidate. I realize that the president has not yet held his inauguration, but it may take awhile to find someone other than Governor Christy. Why is it so difficult to find a decent candidate? Because in order to win the election one has to survive the Republican primaries, which means a walk on the wild and crazy right side of the Party. Then, after being certified as a right-wing wacko (required to survive the various state primaries), the aforementioned candidate must then immediately tack to the center if s/he hopes to win the national election. This is nigh impossible to do. The Republican far right must lose influence if the Party is to survive as a relevant political force in the future.

Thank you, Santa. I hope you will bring me one or all of the items on my list. If for some reason you are unable to bring me what I’ve ask for, please bring me a four year supply of fine American whiskey; something like Wild Turkey or Jack Daniels Black. It could help me to keep a healthy attitude while the country goes to hell in a hand basket.

I love you, Santa.

Freddy Gray,

Clarendon, Texas

CC students give back during the holidays

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They say it is better to give than receive, and that rang true for student athletes at Clarendon College this past week who have been busy off the court giving back to the community that supports them.

The Lady Bulldog Volleyball team spent last Tuesday shopping for Christmas presents for local children in foster care.

Members of the Lady Bulldog Volleyball team last Tuesday shopping for Christmas presents for local children in foster care. Courtesy Photo

The gifts were purchased with money raised by the Donley County Child Welfare Board’s annual “Kash for Kids” fundraiser each Fourth of July. The board currently serves 14 children in care from Donley County.

“The team volunteered to help us shop this year, and we truly appreciated them,” Ann Huey, Donley County Child Welfare Board president said. “These are kids giving back to other kids and that is so important.”

The team will meet this week to wrap the gifts which will then be delivered to children in care in time for Christmas morning.

“Our board works each year to make sure these kids are taken care of and have a wonderful Christmas, and we couldn’t do it without the generosity of those who support our fundraiser each summer and these students who are so generous to volunteer,” Huey said.

As the semester comes to a close, the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog basketball teams also pitched in to help those in need by canvassing Clarendon Sunday afternoon for their annual food drive. The players and coaches went door to door Sunday to collect items to help restock the food pantry at Clarendon First Baptist Church before the holidays, and the town showed their support in a big way – over 500 cans of food were collected.

“Thank you to the community for your generosity in helping us with a good cause,” Bulldog Head Coach Tony Starnes said.

A newcomer at Clarendon College was also appreciative of the outpouring of support for the food drive.

“I’m new to town and I am really impressed with the caring and giving people in this community,” Lady Bulldog Head Coach Brad Vanden Boogaard said.

The basketball teams will return to the Dawg House in January.The Lady Bulldogs take on Frank Phillips at home at 5:45 p.m. with the Bulldogs following against Frank at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 7.

Tyler Ryon White

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Tyler Ryon White, 18, of Amarillo died Tuesday, December 4, 2012.

Services were at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 8, in Paramount Baptist Church with Dr. Gil Lain, the Rev. Harold Elliott and Dr. Rolf Habersang officiating. Burial was at a later date in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Tyler was born April 13, 1994, in El Paso. He was born with special needs. But as he grew up, against all odds, he was the only one who did not know he was a special needs child. Tyler had a special ministry all his own. His happiness was infectious, his smile touched every heart. Every person who was lucky enough to know Tyler will never forget his happiness and his spirit. Tyler liked to watch bull-riding, loved to attend school, but his passion in life was watching his Texas Rangers play. Without a doubt, he will be searching Heaven for a stadium and a bat.

Tyler Ryon White

 The family would like to thank the Baptist-St. Anthony’s Hospice team, the BSA nursing and respiratory teams and the many caregivers which have taken care of Tyler for so many years. To Dr. Habersang and his team, thanks for the knowledge and perseverance. Thanks to all the educators and many friends. All of you have been a blessing.

Survivors include his mother, Terri Carroll and husband Wade; his father, Ryan White; his brothers and sisters, Nathan Estes of Amarillo, Ashton Estes and Alec Estes of Idalou, McKenzie Carroll and McKayla Carroll, both of Amarillo, and Hope White of Grady; his grandparents, Darrell and Wilma Leffew of Clarendon, Elmer and Kay White of Grady, N.M., and Audrey Carroll of Avoca, Iowa; and many aunts, uncles and cousins who loved him very much.

The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice/Olivia’s Angels, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105.

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