Morgan Wheatly

Clarendon College begins its 118th fall session this week with plans to build on the successes it had in the last year.

Speaking at All College Day last Thursday morning, CC President Robert Riza talked about the positive outlook for the college and among employees there.

“We have made changes in the culture of this institution over the last 12 months,” Riza said.

Fall enrollment was still underway early this week, but the president pointed to a number of high points over the 2014-2015 school year, chief among those was CC being named by Schools.com as the number two community college in the state in terms of student success.

Dr. Riza also discussed Clarendon’s revolutionary approach to developmental education, which started last year in the math department led by Linda Rowland and Dr. Jeremy Sain. CC had a 39 percent pass rate for Tier One Developmental Math at a time when the national rate is three percent.

The program, which is now being implemented by the English department, has taken a system that got students to college level math over a period of 2½ years and accelerated it to 16 weeks.

CC’s first class to graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing, which results in an RN certification, boasted a 94 percent pass rate on the national exam, which is a pass rate 30 points higher than neighboring Amarillo College.

In addition, residence hall occupancy had its best year-end numbers in CC history at the end of spring 2015, reflecting more students staying for the full year than ever.

Riza emphasized the closeness of Clarendon College teachers, staff, and students in achieving success.

“We’re in a good spot, we’re at a good school, and we’ve got great people,” Riza told college employees. “Everybody here matters. You are all a piece of this family.”

Later in the day, CC Regents convened in regular session and approved a $9.3 million budget for fiscal year 2016, an increase of about $79,000 over the current budget. The board also approved keeping the ad valorem tax rate at $0.220802, which is just 1.5 percent more than the effective rate and will raise taxes on a $100,000 home by $1.58.

Riza said Clarendon was one of only 12 community colleges that did not see a decrease in funding by the Legislature this year. The approved budget reflects reduced revenues in some areas, but that loss is made up by about $350,000 in grant revenue. The budget funds some new faculty positions, Riza said, including three new nursing faculty positions to prepare for growth in that program.

Regents also gave approval to the policy manual, the personnel handbook, the student handbook, and the 2015-2016 college catalog and ratified the dismissal of a custodian in a Pampa.

 

The Sandell Drive-In is one of Clarendon’s treasures, but the true treasure is the family that owns and operates the theatre.

For 15 years, John Morrow and his family have selflessly given their summer Fridays and Saturdays so that local people can have some entertainment in their lives and local kids can have something to do.

Resurrecting the darkened theatre wasn’t easy. It took a lot of work on the Morrows’ behalf and also from teams of volunteers at the time. But for Morrow it was a passion and something he felt called to do.

It hasn’t been a money maker by any means. Drive-ins have struggled over the years nationwide, and a report from the Texas comptroller’s office a few years ago listed the Sandell as one of less than two dozen drive-in theatres still operating in the state. Morrow has poured a lot into the endeavor; and about the time it was starting to pay out, movie studios moved away from film and forced theatres to convert to digital projectors – a cost of tens of thousands of dollars.

Still, the Morrows have persevered and rolled with the obstacles that have come their way… bad weather, burglaries, and the occasional technical difficulty.

This weekend, the Sandell turns 60 years old, and John Morrow is planning a big celebration. But what could be a good opportunity for him to make money is being used instead to help another community project… the Mulkey Theatre.

The Sandell was built and opened by the late Gary Barnhill in 1955. He later purchased the 1946 Mulkey and operated the two as sister theatres for decades before closing both in the mid-1980s. In addition to his obvious love for the drive-in, Morrow has always taken a special interest in the ongoing revitalization of the downtown theatre from volunteering his time to offering professional advice to helping raise funds.

For the Sandell’s anniversary, Morrow is planning an Elvis Presley double feature – “Love Me Tender” and “Spinout.” The King of Rock & Roll has some interesting ties to the Sandell. Construction on the theatre is said to have started on Elvis’ birthday, January 8, in 1956. (Coincidentally, Morrow and the late Nell Barnhill also shared the King’s birthday.) And the pink and black color scheme of the Sandell was chosen because Barnhill’s daughters had a liking for Elvis’ pink and black Cadillac.

Admission will be free to the double feature, but a $6 donation to the Mulkey at the gate will be appreciated and get you entered in the drawing for door prizes between the movies. Morrow hopes for a big crowd and has invited the Pampa car club to come down for the evening. Gates will open at 5:30, and the show, of course, starts at dusk.

Morrow’s commitment to Clarendon is to be admired and appreciated. It is people like him and his family that makes this community something special. It would be a long list if we started enumerating all the people who give their time so that others may benefit. They don’t ask for accolades or rewards; they just want to do something nice, something that will make our community a better place to live.

What better way to show appreciation for their devotion than to make this fundraiser the biggest success it can be? So we call on all our readers and their friends and neighbors to come on out Saturday night as the Sandell closes its 2015 season and marks its 60th anniversary. Enjoy the vintage cars, eat one of the best hamburgers in town, grab a Coke and a popcorn, help Bring Back the Mulkey, and tell John and all the Morrow family “thank you.”

Meanwhile…

It’s that time of year again when the public has an open invitation to participate in their local governments.

August and September is when the county, cities, schools, and other local entities are required to hold public hearings on proposed tax rates and budgets. Clarendon College Regents held one of the first such hearings last Thursday, August 20; and Hedley School Trustees held a hearing Monday evening.

Taxes are often a source of conversation, as well as people wondering “just what they do with all that money” at the city, county, or wherever. Your local newspaper helps answer those questions, and public notices in the paper lets you know when and where hearings will be held and exactly what tax rate your local boards are considering adopting.

To be fully informed requires you to be engaged. Follow the news; pay attention to legal notices from your local governments; and then if you’re really interested, go to the hearings and ask questions. If you do none of those things, then chances are you probably don’t know what you’re talking about when you complain about your taxes or local boards.

Upcoming hearings include a budget and tax hearing at 7:30 Friday morning at Clarendon ISD; tax rate hearings for Donley County on September 4 at 9 a.m. and September 8 at 10:30 a.m.; a budget hearing for the Donley County Appraisal District on September 8 at 7 p.m.; a tax rate hearing for the City of Hedley at 7 p.m. on September 10; and the county budget hearing at 9 a.m. on September 14.

 

The Clarendon City Council approved a 14 percent increase in sanitation rates during its regular meeting last Thursday, August 13.

Mayor Larry Hicks said the city had been struggling to keep up with expenses in the sanitation department for several years.

City officials said the increase will raise about $36,000 for the department and stave off having to use other revenues to support the trash service. The rate increase will also include a new $40 set out and pick up fee for delivering and retrieving Dumpsters that aren’t part of a regular service.

Alderman Doug Kidd asked if it would be cost effective to contract sanitation services, and City Administrator David Dockery said he would be happy to look into that. Dockery noted that the city has built up an enormous amount of capital equipment in the sanitation department that would be hard to rebuild if it was ever done away with.

The board voted unanimously to approve the 14 percent rate increase. Aldermen Larry Jeffers and John Lockhart were absent.

Aldermen also listened to proposals from engineer Clayton Scales to solve drainage issues on West Third Street. The board voted to pursue an option that will lay 10 feet of blacktop behind the north and south rollover curbs in order to armor those areas and carry storm water better. The work is expected to cost about $117,000 and will be paid for from reserve funds.

Will Jordan of Texas Panhandle Cyber Medics presented a proposal for contracted code enforcement services. The city currently pays Jordan $500 per month, and he is seeking twice that amount in the new contract.

City officials discussed needing better reporting, and Jordan said he’s losing money under the current contract. Former alderman Bob Watson said he was interested in the job. No action was taken on the contract.

Aldermen considered abandoning one block of Fourth Street west of Collinson Street, which has never been opened. Neighbors Larry Gray and Kenny Black asked for the street to be abandoned, and citizen Roger Estlack spoke in open comments against the request, asking the council to think about future development. Gray said his house was for sale and closing the street would benefit future owners. The council approved the request with the property owners to split the legal costs and the city to maintain a 20-foot utility easement and right of access.

In his administrator’s report, Dockery said the permitting process for a demolition landfill was continuing, and he said the Clarendon EDC will be working with Texas Tech University to develop a master plan for downtown development.

 

The City of Howardwick expanded its boundaries with a vote of the Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, August 11.

The Saints Roost Section was annexed by the city, Mayor Mike Rowland said.

The mayor said health and safety were primary concerns in taking this action, and he said residents living in that area will receive benefits from being part of the incorporated area of the city.

“Our concern is the grass out there is four feet tall in some places,” Rowland said. “If there were a fire, it would endanger Howardwick.”

The Saints Roost Section 1 and 2 was originally intended to be part of the city, Rowland said of the area that is bounded by Hwy 70 on the east, Rick Husband Blvd. on the south, and the existing city limits on the west. It encompasses about 0.8 square miles and is already platted with streets and has the same water system as the city.

City Secretary Tammy Jordan said one person – an unregistered voter living in the Saints Roost section – objected to the annexation at last week’s meeting. She said the city has logged two complaints about the action concerning taxation and livestock.

“They can keep their animals; I don’t care,” said Rowland. “And their taxes will go up, but its 25 cents per $100 valuation.”

Rowland said the city will provide road maintenance in the Saints Roost section and will also provide mowing services. All residents of Howardwick are required to keep their lots mowed, or the city will mow the lots and bill the owner.

Rowland said residents in Saints Roost already enjoy some city benefits – the availability of trash disposal, the availability of postal boxes at City Hall, and the protection of the city’s fire department.

Jordan said in addition to addressing safety issues, the officials intend to provide an alternate access road into the city itself from Hwy. 70 through Saints Roost. Currently access is mainly through Rick Husband Blvd.

Rowland said finalizing annexation at this point only requires filing the proper paperwork with the state.

 

State Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) will be in Clarendon on September 8 as part of his annual tour of Senate District 31, conducting town hall meetings across the Panhandle, South Plains, and Permian Basin to discuss the activities of the 84th Legislature.

“I look forward to reporting to the people in my district because their input was important to the work we did last session,” said Seliger.

Over the next several months, Senator Seliger will make stops in each county in District 31 to talk with constituents about the critical issues facing their communities and our state.

Senator Seliger is Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and also serves on the Senate Finance, Education, Natural Resources and Economic Development, and Business and Commerce Committees.

The town hall schedule begins next week and will come through Clarendon on Tuesday, September 8, with a public meeting from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center.

Other area meetings that same day include an 11 a.m. meeting in Memphis and a 2 p.m. meeting in Wellington.