Morgan Wheatly

The City of Howardwick was recognized as a Firewise Community by the Texas Forest Service during a presentation on January 19.

The program gives local volunteers certified training in methods to prevent wildfires in communities, according to Heidi Phelps, a member of the Howardwick Firewise Committee and the Howardwick Fire Bees.

Phelps said Howardwick is one of only four communities in the Panhandle to receive this designation by the forest service.

Since 2002, The Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program has empowered neighbors to work together in reducing their wildfire risk. There are more than 1,300 recognized Firewise communities from across the nation, taking action and ownership in preparing and protecting their homes against the threat of wildfire.

Using a five-step process, communities develop an action plan that guides their residential risk reduction activities, while engaging and encouraging their neighbors to become active participants in building a safer place to live.

Steps to become a Firewise community include:

Obtain a wildfire risk assessment as a written document from your state forestry agency or fire department. Form a board or committee and create an action plan based on the assessment; Conduct a “Firewise Day” event; Invest a minimum of $2 per capita in local Firewise actions for the year; and Submit an application to the state forest service.

Noted inspirational and humorist speaker Matt Rush will be the headline entertainment when the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, February 9, at the Bairfield Activity Center.

The awards to be given will be the Saints’ Roost Award for a lifetime of service to the community and the Man and Woman of the Year, and Business of the Year in addition to recognitions for outstanding youth from Clarendon and Hedley.

Rush grew up in rural New Mexico and brings a common sense, “farm boy” logic to his speaking. From the time he was in the 8th grade he knew his life’s ambition was to help others become more than they ever thought possible. The Zig Ziglar Corporation recently recognized his talent and skill and invited him to become one of their first ever Platinum Level speakers

Rush has served as the former CEO of the New Mexico Farm Bureau and past president of the Ethos Leadership Group.  He has also previously served on the American Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agriculture Board of Directors and the Berean Children’s Home Board of Directors.

He has won state and national awards for his public speaking, Co-Authored several books on leadership and is authoring the upcoming book, The Power of an Inch.  He has been quoted in Bloomberg Business Weekly, NPR, PBS and ABC News.

Matt brings an energy, humor, and enthusiasm to his speaking that will leave you motivated and inspired. His message of encouragement will put a smile on your face and on your heart.

This year’s banquet theme is “Fiesta Clarendon.” The event starts at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction followed by the banquet, entertainment, and awards at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and must be purchased in advance at the Visitor Center.

Businesses are also invited to purchase blocks of tickets by sponsoring tables at the event. Table sponsors will get to decorate their tables to reflect their business and the theme of the banquet with a prize given for the best table decoration.

For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 874-2421.

The deadline is coming up next week for payments of local property taxes, according to the Donley Appraisal District.

All 2016 taxes are due by January 31, but a large percentage of taxpayers have already taken care of those obligations.

Chief Appraiser Paula Lowrie says 85 percent or more of the taxes for the three largest local entities have been collected as of Tuesday afternoon, and those numbers are running very close to this same period one year ago.

“Donley County is at 85 percent, and last year they were at 84 percent,” Lowrie said. “Clarendon ISD is at 87 percent. Last year they were 86 percent. Hedley ISD is at 88 percent, and last year they were also at 88 percent.”

Seventy-five percent of taxes have been collected for the City of Clarendon. Howardwick is also at 75 percent, and Hedley is at 68 percent.

Many taxpayers take advantages of discounts offered for early payments – three percent off in October, two percent off in November, and one percent in December.

“We collect about a third of the taxes due in October,” Lowrie said. “By the end of November we have about 50 percent of the taxes collected.”

Lowrie said several taxpayers will wait until the last the last day to pay next Tuesday. For those that don’t, penalties will start to be applied.

Payments made on February 1 through February 28 will incur penalty and interest of seven percent. The amount increases each month until the tax is paid.  Accounts unpaid on July 1 will incur a 20 percent collection penalty in addition to the regular penalty and interest of 18 percent. Texas state law prescribes the penalty and interest amounts.

Delinquent notices will be mailed in May to those who still owe 2016 tax at that time.  Partial payments will be accepted.

Taxes are payable to the Donley Appraisal District, PO Box 1220, Clarendon TX 79226. For more information, call 874-2744 or visit their website at donleycad.org.

Seven candidates have submitted applications for local offices in the first week of filing.

Filing began last Wednesday, January 18, and runs through Friday, February 17.

Britton Hall is the only candidate that is not currently holding an office. He has filed for a place on the ballot to run for one of two aldermen’s positions up this year in Clarendon. The mayor’s position is also up for election.

Howardwick has one incumbent, Alderman Eric Riddle, signed up so far with two board positions and the mayor’s seat up this year.

Hedley also has one incumbent, Alderman Kathy Spier, running for re-election. That city has three full terms up on its board as well as one unexpired term.

All three incumbents have filed for re-election on the Donley County Hospital District Board. Those officials are Wayne Tubbs – Place One, Jeff Robertson – Place Two, and Melinda McAnear – Place Three.

Hedley ISD has one candidate filed, and that was incumbent trustee Cindy Lambert. Three positions are available for election on that board this year.

Clarendon ISD has not had anyone sign up as of Tuesday afternoon with two board positions up for election this year.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the ballot.

Local elections this year are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 6, 2017.

Five Donley County cases were among 37 pleas heard with the District Court met Thursday, December 1, 2016, in Childress.

District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

Daniel Cecilio Ramos was convicted for the third degree felony offense of escape and sentenced to four years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ.

Ramos, 28 from Spring, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on August 20, 2016, by Donley County Deputy Sonny Marasco. Ramos was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on October 3, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Ramos is required to pay $488 in court costs.

Jeffrey Lynn Franklin, 46 from Grand Prairie, pleaded true to allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate and was sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of criminal attempt of sexual assault.

On January 27, 2014 Franklin originally pleaded to the charges from the October 7, 2013 offense in Donley County.  The State filed the motion to adjudicate on September 29, 2016, alleging 11 violations of community supervision.

Franklin is also required to pay $599 in court costs to Donley County and a $1,000 fine.

Crystal Lily Estrada was placed on probation for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.  Estrada pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Estrada, 21 from Colorado Springs, Colo., was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on January 11, 2016, by DPS Trooper Justin Dillman. Estrada pleaded to an information filed by the State on July 28, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Estrada is required to pay $458 in court costs, $180 drug lab restitution, a $2,500 fine, successfully complete 100 hours of community service, and a $500 probation transfer fee. If Estrada violates probation, she could face up to two years in the State Jail Division of the TDCJ.

Sean Patrick McIntire was placed on probation for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance.  McIntire pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

McIntire, 29 from Lone Oak, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on November 17, 2016, by DPS Trooper Justin Dillman. McIntire pleaded to an information filed by the State.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, McIntire is required to pay $458 in court costs, $180 drug lab restitution, a $2,500 fine, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service.

If McIntire violates probation, he could face up to two years in the State Jail Division of the TDCJ.

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

Vique, 29 from Freeport, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on July 21, 2016, by DPS Trooper Justin Dillman. Vique pleaded to an information filed by the State on October 21, 2016.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Vique is required to pay a $4,000 fine, $458 in court costs, $180 drug lab restitution, and successfully complete 300 hours of community service.

If Vique violates probation, she could face up to 20 years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Hedley Elementary and Junior High  students traveled to White Deer recently to compete in UIL events and performed well in several contests.

Below are the individual and team results:

Fourth Grade: Number Sense Team, 1st place- Mills, Waldrop, Valles; and Spelling Team, 1st place- Waldrop, Mills, Valles.

Fifth Grade: Number Sense Team, 1st place- Clark, Mills, Middleton; and Spelling Team, 3rd place- Middleton, Mills, Shipp.

Sixth Grade: Chess Puzzle Team, 1st place- Booth, Hinton, Clark.

Seventh Grade: Dictionary Skills Team, 2nd place- Waldrop, Barbee, Booth.

Eighth Grade: Spelling Team, 2nd place- Dresner, Lockeby, Mestas; Listening Team, 3rd place- Dresner, Upton, Carreon; and Chess Puzzle Team, 1st place- Fish, Upton, Carreon.

Second Grade Individuals: E. Ritchie, Storytelling, 2nd place.

Fourth Grade Individuals: J. Valles – Oral Reading, 1st place, Spelling, 4th place; K. Waldrop – Oral Reading, 2nd place, Number Sense, 2nd place, Spelling, 2nd place, Ready Writing, 5th place; E. Mills – Oral Readying, 3rd place, Number Sense, 1st place, Ready Writing, 1st place.

Fifth Grade Individuals: A. McAlister, Oral Reading, 4th place; A. Hicks, Maps Graphs and Charts, 5th place; D. Middleton – Maps Graphs and Charts, 6th place, Number Sense, 2nd place; G. Waldrop, Social Studies, 1st place; S. Mills, Number Sense, 3rd place; H. Shipp, Spelling, 6th place.

Sixth Grade Individuals: T. Harper – Dictionary Skills, 6th place, Social Studies, 5th place, Editorial Writing, 2nd place; H. Wilson, Listening, 4th place; L. Hinton – Impromptu, 6th place, Chess Puzzle, 1st place; J. Booth, Chess Puzzle, 1st place; M. Clark, Chess Puzzle, 4th place.

Seventh Grade Individuals: G. Waldrop – Dictionary Skills, 5th place, Maps Graphs and Charts, 2nd place, Social Studies, 7th place, Number Sense, 1st place, Chess Puzzle, 4th place, Editorial Writing, 5th place; M. Barbee, Editorial Writing, 4th place; E. Booth, Editorial Writing, 6th place.

Eight Grade Individuals: C. Lambert, Oral Reading, 3rd place; J. Fish – Oral Reading, 5th place, Impromptu Speaking, 2nd place, Chess Puzzle, 4th place; C. Thornton – Oral Reading, 6th place, Impromptu Speaking 3rd place; K. Lockeby, Number Sense, 3rd place; A. Dresner – Spelling, 3rd place, Listening, 6th place, Ready Writing, 3rd place; J. Fish – Oral Reading, 5th place, Impromptu Speaking, 2nd place, Chess Puzzle, 4th place; E. Carreon, Chess Puzzle, 3rd place; J. Upton, Chess Puzzle, 4th place; Z. Wells, Editorial Writing, 6th place.