Morgan Wheatly

The top animals in the Beef Division were exhibited by Grant Haynes and Lane Hinton during the annual Donley County Junior Livestock Show last Saturday, January 14, at the Donley County Activity Center.

Haynes showed the Grand Champion Steer, and Hinton had the Grand Champion Heifer.

Other top winners were Madison Smith and her Grand Champion Sheep; Chardy Craft with the Grand Champion Goat; Maloree Wann and her Grand Champion Gilt; and Harrison Howard with the Grand Champion Barrow.

Reserve Champion honors when to Koyt Tucek, steers; Taylee Ehlert, heifers; Shiann Cook, sheep; Izzy Craft, goats; Hannah Hommel, gilts; and Koyt Tucek, barrows.

A total of 69 kids from the Donley County 4-H Club and local FFA chapters exhibited 110 animals during the show. Last year 79 young people showed 135 animals.

The livestock auction following the show generated an estimated $41,525 as of Tuesday morning, and that number will increase as donations continue to be received. The 2016 premium sale totaled about $49,150 at this point last year.

Showmanship awards this year went to Madison Smith – Junior Sheep, Joseph Watson – Senior Sheep, Kyler Bell – Junior Goat, Christopher Gonzales – Senior Goat, Harrison Howard – Junior Beef, Makenzie Hinton – Senior Beef, Calder Havens – Junior Swine, and Hannah Hommel – Senior Swine. The Pee Wee Showmanship winners were Hudson Howard and Lexi Jantz.

Complete results of the show are as follows:

Sheep – Medium Weight – Shiann Cook, Reserve Champion; Joseph Watson, second; and McKay Shelp, third.

Heavy Weight – Madison Smith, Grand Champion; Presley Smith, second; Joseph Watson, third; and Shiann Cook, fourth.

Goats – Light Weight – Riley Jantz, first; Riley Wade, second; Christopher Gonzales, third; Riley Jantz, fourth; Kyler Bell, fifth; and Kyler Bell sixth.

Medium Weight – Jayde Gribble, first; Fayth Brassfield, second; Kynna Phillips, third; Reagan Wade, fourth; Madison Moore, fifth; and Whitney Williams, sixth.

Heavy Weight – Chardy Craft, Grand Champion; Izzy Craft, Reserve Champion; Laney Gates, third; and Levi Gates, fourth.

Gilts – Class 1 – Mya Edwards, first; Steven Mills, second; Christian Lucero, third; Shiann Cook, fourth; and Cole Franks, fifth.

Class 2 – Paul Yamez, first; Madilyn Benson, second; Mycah Woodard, third; Kai Floyd, fourth; Kasie Hinton, fifth; and Evelyn Mills, sixth.

Class 3 – Maloree Wann, Grand Champion; Hannah Hommel, Reserve Champion; Angel Olivas, third; Grant Haynes, fourth; and Bryce Williams, fifth.

Barrows – BOPB – Class One – Grayson Waldrop, Reserve Breed; Kasen Hatley, second; Emma Lambert, third; and Calder Havens, fourth.

Class Two – Hannah Hommel, Breed Champion; Emeri Robinson, second; Jaxan McAnear, third; and Colton Benson, fourth.

Barrows – WOPB – Class One – Misti Scott, first; Mycah Woodard, second; and Mya Edwards, third.

Class Two – Koyt Tucek, Breed Champion; and Jayden Lambert, Reserve Breed.

Barrows – Duroc – Class One – Maloree Wann, first; Dalton Benson, second; Millie McAnear, third; Kasen Hatley, fourth; and Darcy Grahn, fifth.

Class Two – Payton Havens, Breed Champion; Hannah Hommel, Reserve Breed; Brock Hatley, third; Tristen Harper, fourth; and Cutter Goodpasture, fifth.

Barrows – Hamp – Class One – Tyler Harper, Reserve Breed; Kennady Waldrop, second; Payton Hicks, third; Caton Grahn, fourth; and Collin Monroe, fifth.

Class Two – Harrison Howard, Grand Champion; Grayson Waldrop, second; Nathan Shadle, third; and Raylyn Shelton, fourth.

Barrows – Cross – Class 1 – Kylie Monroe, first; Kennady Waldrop, second; Payton Havens, third; and Tanner Burch, fourth.

Class 2 – Brock Hatley, first; Harrison Howard, second; Caylor Monroe, third; and Ida Thomasen, fourth.

Class 3 – Calder Havens, first; Tristen Harper, second; Bryce Grahn, third; Shiann Cook, fourth; and Millie McAnear, fifth.

Class 4 – Emeri Robinson, Reserve Breed; Jodee Pigg, second; Fayth Brassfield, third; Caton Grahn, fourth; and Payton Hicks, fifth.

Class 5 – Koyt Tucek, Reserve Champion; Tyler Harper, second; Ryan Ward, third; and Bryce Williams, fourth.

Steers – American – Madison Smith, Breed Champion; and Tristen Harper, Reserve Breed.

British – Light Weight – Grant Haynes, Grand Champion; Koyt Tucek, second; and Jaxan McAnear, third.

Heavy Weight – Harrison Howard, first; and Evelyn Mills, second.

Cross – Light Weight – Tyler Haper, first; and Presley Smith, second.

Medium Weight – Koyt Tucek, Reserve Champion; and Kasie Hinton, second.

Heavy Weight – Brock Hatley, Reserve Breed; Grant Haynes, second; and Harrison Howard, third.

Filing is now open for six local governments that are scheduled to hold elections this spring.

The cities of Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick; the Clarendon and Hedley school district; and the Donley County Hospital District all have board positions available this year.

In Clarendon, the two-year terms of Mayor Sandy Skelton and Aldermen Doug Kidd and Nathan Floyd are up.

Hedley has of its five aldermen up for election this year. The full two-year terms of Aldermen Carrie Butler, Tonya Metcalf, and Kathy Spier are up, and a one-year unexpired term is also up this year. Alderman Guy Watt is currently in that position formerly held by Dusty Wilkinson.

Howardwick Mayor Mike Rowland and Aldermen Gail Leathers and Eric Riddle are also at the end of two-year terms.

Clarendon ISD Trustees serve three years, and the terms of Weldon Sears and Reneé Mott are expiring this year.

Hedley ISD has three full three-year terms up this year. One of those seats is currently vacant, and the other two are held by Troy Monroe and Cindy Lambert.

The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has three two-year terms up this year. Those are currently held by Wayne Tubbs – Place One, Jeff Robertson – Place Two, and Melinda McAnear – Place Three.

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

Filing began Wednesday, January 18, and runs through Friday, February 17. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 6, 2017.

Action by the Clarendon City Council last week aims to cover future monetary losses from sewer backups like those incurred by a local couple last year.

A downpour on August 29 caused the city’s sewer line to back up inside the Third Street home of B.J. and Jennie Owens. The couple’s homeowner’s insurance denied their claim, and the city’s insurance also denied a claim touting the city’s sovereign immunity in the case.

In light of those damages, City Administrator David Dockery introduced a Supplemental Sewage Backup Coverage through the city’s insurer during the regular council meeting on January 12.

“This only covers instances where the city’s line or main causes a problem,” Dockery said. “It also won’t cover a 25-year or greater flood event.”

The coverage would provide up to $25,000 for damages per occurrence with a $250 deductible at an annual cost of $811 for the city, Dockery said.

Although the new insurance won’t help the Owens, aldermen felt that the policy would be a good benefit to have going forward to help protect citizens in the future. The vote to adopt the coverage was unanimous.

“This is taxpayers’ dollars being used to directly protect the taxpayers,” Dockery said.

The council set February 13 as the date for a public hearing of the new Building Standards Commission to take comments on the Mays property at 512. S. Sully.

Aldermen also voted to renew the city’s curfew ordinance for minors for another three years.

Clarendon College faculty reported for the 2017 spring semester last Thursday, and CC President Robert Riza welcomed them with an address that looked at past accomplishments but focused on the need to stay relevant in today’s environment.

With students returning to campus this week, Dr. Riza quickly ran through the top headlines of 2016, which saw Clarendon College students excelling and the college itself establishing new partnerships and programs to help students succeed. The college also honored its alumni and its heritage in the last year, but the president was only looking to the past to bring focus on the future.

“We have to maintain relevance,” Riza said. “What worked 20, 15, or 10 years ago, won’t work today or three years from now.”

The president put forth several interesting facts about Clarendon College from 1997 compared to CC today to show how the institution has grown and changed.

In 1997, Clarendon employed 24 full time faculty members compared to more than 40 today. Spring enrollment has grown from 790 twenty years ago to 1,252. Back then there were no dual credit classes, although CC did teach a few college classes in area high schools. Today, 513 high school students are enrolled in dual credit courses.

The college’s budget in 1997 was $3.3 million and 60 percent of that was state funded. Today, CC has a budget of $9.3 million and only receives about 35 percent of those funds from the state.

Although community colleges teach about 70 percent of the state’s freshmen and sophomores, two-year schools have lost a lot of influence the in the state Capitol where the late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock was one of their staunch supporters, Riza said.

“Sen. Kel Seliger is a friend of ours, and he understands what we do,” the president said but noted that many new Legislators don’t understand the importance of community colleges.

“Our students are very successful,” Riza said of Clarendon College. “Ninety-four percent of dual credit students pass their classes. Eighty-four percent go on to college, and 38 percent finish bachelor’s degrees within four years.

“We (community colleges) are the best expense of state dollars,” Riza said.

The president reminded the faculty and staff about their purpose and the impact they have on students’ lives.

“Our students need our best every day that they are here,” he said.

The afternoon session of All College Day was focused on a new state law that will allow Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders to be able to carry their weapons on public college campuses beginning this fall

Riza reminded those in attendance that the law only applies to licensed concealed carriers and that openly carrying on the campus is still a felony. There will also be rules in place that will limit where even concealed weapons can be carried.

For instance, no weapons will be permitted in the Childress Center or in college classrooms at the Childress Regional Medical Center as those facilities are not owned by the college. No weapons will be allowed in college dormitories, and there may even be restrictions in the classroom buildings because other laws prohibit weapons where UIL events are held.

“We’re still working on setting the designated areas,” Riza said. “The law takes effect August 1, 2017.”

The Clarendon College Livestock and Meats Judging Teams have been winning on the road during the semester break.

The livestock team were named the Reserve Champions of the Arizona National in Phoenix and placed 11th out of 25 teams at the National Western in Denver, Colo.

The meats team was the High Point Team at the Southern Plains Invitational in Lubbock and then won the Championship at the National Western by more than 100 points.

Meats team members placing in Denver were Mario Alverez, High Individual; Britt Dixon, 4th; Austin Trent, 5th, and Sherri Halstead, 6th. Alternates were Abram Chaparro, 4th; Wilse Corliss, 6th; and Dylan Avant, 10th. Mackenley Ebner is also on the team.