Serving neighbors
Hernandez big winner downtown
Jenci Hernandez was the jackpot winner December 20 when the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce closed out its final night of Late Night Shopping for 2018.
Four lucky local shoppers were drawn as winners that night with the first three getting a chance to Spin the Wheel for their prizes.
Kim Fowler won $200 in Chamber Cash, Marietta Baird won a gift certificate to Cornell’s Country Store, and Terri Luna won a feed tub from Positive Feed.
Hernandez was the fourth name drawn and did get to spin but instead won all the remaining prizes on the wheel. Her total winnings in Chamber Cash, merchandise, and gift certificates totaled $1,193.
Also that evening, the Chamber announced the winner of its Selfie with an Elfie promotion. Elves were hidden at participating merchants and shoppers had to post their selfie pictures with the elves to be eligible for the drawing. Jake Murrillo was the winner and received a Savannah Askew Photography session valued at $200.
The Chamber appreciates everyone who supported our local merchants during the holiday season and also appreciates the businesses who participated in the Spin the Wheel, Late Nigh Shopping, and Selfie with an Elfie promotions.
Ann Hommel
Ann Hommel, 86, of Clarendon died on Thursday, December 27, 2018 in Amarillo.
Memorial services were held Monday, December 31, 2018 in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon. Private family burial was in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Ann was born November 5, 1932 in Quanah to George and Nonalie Thompson.
She married Chauncey Hommel on June 2, 1950 in Clarendon. She had been a resident of Clarendon most of her life. She was a member of the Red Hatters Club, Jaycettes, Library Club, and the Bridge Club where she loved to play Bridge. She loved to needlepoint and was involved in the Emmaus ministry. Ann was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on November 2, 2005; a son, William Kyle Hommel; and a brother, George Thompson.
Survivors include two sons, Gene Hommel and wife Kathy of Clarendon and Frank Hommel and wife DeeDee of Belize; two daughters, Cindy Reed of Austin and Cathy Holland and husband Dallas of Amarillo; 2 sisters, Betty LaGrone and Judy McCully both of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 11 step great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com.
Donald Gene Fulton
Donald Gene Fulton, 80, of Howardwick, passed away December 19, 2018, in Howardwick.
Services were held on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa, with Elder Don Watson and Elder Don Martin officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.
Mr. Fulton was born January 20, 1938, in Gray County to Lois and Euil Fulton. He was a 1956 graduate of Lefors High School and attended Odessa College. In 1956, Don enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve and served for five years. He married his high school sweetheart, Treva Marlene Still, on August 19, 1956 in Sayre, Oklahoma. They lived in the Texas Panhandle until 1962 when they moved to Andrews where their four children were reared, and then moved back to the Panhandle in 1990.
Don began his career in Perryton in 1960 with Phillips Petroleum and transferred to the Permian Basin, retiring in 1990. He enjoyed taking care of his cattle with his daughter Linda since his retirement. He loved his family and spending time with them and following his children and grandchildren to all their activities. He was a founding member and deacon of Old Paths Primitive Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald Gene Fulton, II; his parents; a brother, David Ray Fulton; and a sister, Lois Vivian Turner.
He is survived by his wife, Treva Fulton, of the home; four daughters, Linda Rowland and husband Mike of Howardwick, Karen Fulton of Stanton, Lesa Hardy and husband Warren of Andrews, and Lana Jackson and husband John of Amarillo; a sister, Patricia Curtis of Sunray; a brother, Billy Joe Fulton and wife Joy of Alanreed; 11 grandchildren, Brad Mills, Lisle Roland, Treva McKinney, Garrett Fulton, Tyler Fulton, Randal Greer, Pamela Reed, Jennifer Tatum, Rachel Jackson, John William Jackson and Jeff Jackson; 13 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Sign the online guest register at www.carmichael-whatley.com
James Allen Cox
James Allen Cox, 77, of Clarendon died on Friday, December 21, 2018 in Clarendon.
Cremation & Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
James was born on December 14, 1941 in Sikeston, MO to Harold and Grace Virginia Lee Cox. He worked as a pipeliner for the 798 Union from 1956 to 1990. He moved to Clarendon in 1971 and attended the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pampa.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include two daughters Colleena Leonard and husband Chris of Azle, TX and Jennifer Sullivan and husband Tom of Lake Worth, TX; one son Tim Cox and wife Brenda of Florida; one brother Ricky Cox and wife Sandy of Clarendon, TX; 7 grandchildren Logann Rhodes and husband Rowdee of Azle, TX, Dustin Tolleson and wife Zoe of Colorado Springs, CO, Timothy and Jacob Kaplon both of Lakeworth, TX, Alexandria, MeKenna, and Chandler Cox all of Florida.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Donald Gene Fulton
Donald Gene Fulton, 80, of Howardwick, passed away December 19, 2018, in Howardwick.
Services were held Saturday, December 22, 2018, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa, with Elder Don Watson and Elder Don Martin officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.
Mr. Fulton was born January 20, 1938, in Gray County to Lois and Euil Fulton. He was a 1956 graduate of Lefors High School and attended Odessa College. In 1956, Don enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve and served for five years. He married his high school sweetheart, Treva Marlene Still, on August 19, 1956, in Sayre, Oklahoma. They lived in the Texas Panhandle until 1962 when they moved to Andrews where their four children were reared, and then moved back to the Panhandle in 1990.
Don began his career in Perryton in 1960 with Phillips Petroleum and transferred to the Permian Basin, retiring in 1990. He enjoyed taking care of his cattle with his daughter Linda since his retirement. He loved his family and spending time with them and following his children and grandchildren to all their activities. He was a founding member and deacon of Old Paths Primitive Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald Gene Fulton, II; his parents; a brother, David Ray Fulton; and a sister, Lois Vivian Turner.
Survivors include his wife, Treva Fulton, of the home; four daughters, Linda Rowland and husband Mike of Howardwick, Karen Fulton of Stanton, Lesa Hardy and husband Warren of Andrews, and Lana Jackson and husband John of Amarillo; a sister, Patricia Curtis of Sunray; a brother, Billy Joe Fulton and wife Joy of Alanreed; 11 grandchildren, Brad Mills, Lisle Roland, Treva McKinney, Garrett Fulton, Tyler Fulton, Randal Greer, Pamela Reed, Jennifer Tatum, Rachel Jackson, John William Jackson and Jeff Jackson; 13 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Sign the online guest register at www.carmichael-whatley.com
Judy Goodner Newton
Judy Goodner Newton, 73, of Howardwick died on Monday, December 24, 2018 in Amarillo.
Memorial Services will be held on Friday, December 28, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon.
Cremation & Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Judy was born October 23, 1945, in Tulsa, Okla., to Monte Christo Goodner and Jessie Meryl (Wigington) Goodner. She had been a longtime resident of Howardwick. She was an avid reader, enjoyed golf, playing cards, and crocheting. She made amazing biscuits and cookies.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Julie Papa; one brother; two sisters; a granddaughter, Jennifer; and Forrest Newton.
Survivors include her daughter, Denise Newton and partner Francine Bradley of Ringwood, New Jersey; a step son, Duston Newton and wife Crystal of Dallas; 6 grandchildren; and 6 great grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be sent to the Clarendon Country Club.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
City’s USDA project continues
City Hall reports that Phase 1 of Clarendon’s USDA-funded water infrastructure project will continue this week along Collinson, McLean, and 3rd streets with work in those areas expected to last approximately two weeks as the contractors finish laying new main, disinfection of the new line, making tie ins to the existing system, installing new service lines to meters, and repairing pavement.
The contractor will be working on the west side of Bugbee Avenue beginning on January 2, and city officials recommend this area be avoided as Bugbee will have to be closed temporarily to excavate the street to make connection. The road closure will be from the intersection of W. Third and S. Bugbee to the intersection of W. Fifth and S. Bugbee Street.
Phase 2 of the project will be along S. Jackson, from the new water tower on Browning Boulevard to E. Fourth Street, and that work expected begin January 14. Residents can expect temporary road closures along Jackson Street during this process.
The City expresses its appreciation to everyone for their patience dealing with this inconvenient process.
December 20 final night of Late Night Shopping
Three more lucky spinners took home prizes from the Wheel during Late Night Shopping last Thursday, December 6, and more cash and prizes will be up for grabs next week.
Jill Chambless won prizes from the Donley County State Bank and Julie Woodard, Elizabeth Zongker won a basket from Monroe’s Peach Ranch, and Neil Koetting won $100 from Speed’s Tire Unlimited.
The final Late Night Shopping for 2018 will be held Thursday, December 20, where those who have been shopping local merchants will have another shot at $400 in Clarendon Cash as well as other prizes. Three people will be chosen to spin, and they must be present. Participating merchants continue giving tickets for a chance to spin the Wheel with purchases of $25 or more and those tickets already given out since November 19 remain in the hopper.
After the third winner spins, a four name will be drawn next Thursday night and that lucky person will take home all the remaining prizes on the Wheel.
Merchants giving out Wheel tickets include Buckin’ Bean, Cornell’s Country Store, Floyd’s Automotive, Every Nook & Cranny, Turquois & Rust, Henson’s, Speed’s Tire Unlimited, Clarendon Outpost, Country Bloomers, Mike’s Pharmacy, JD SteakOut, Signs Plus, and Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack,
Nine local merchants are also participating in the Selfie with an Elfie promotion. Elves have been hidden at Buckin’ Bean, Floyd’s Automotive, Every Nook & Cranny, Turquois & Rust, Henson’s, Clarendon Outpost, Country Bloomers, Mike’s Pharmacy, and Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack. Customers who find the Elf can take their selfie with it and then post it to facebook.com/ClarendonChamber with the hashtag #ClarendonElf to have a chance to win a photo session by Savannah Askew worth $200. The Selfie with the Elfie winner will be named December 20 during Late Night Shopping.
According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.
Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.
City may end taxation of personal property
The long-hated personal property tax may be abolished next month by the City of Clarendon.
City Administrator David Dockery said the issue arose during a discussion of redirecting sales tax revenue at the regular city council meeting last Thursday, December 13.
Aldermen were considering asking voters to redirect what is technically called “the additional sales and use tax,” a half-cent sales tax that goes towards property tax rate reduction. If the voters okayed the measure, the council would abolish the personal property tax, which taxes cars, boats, recreational vehicles, and other such property.
But Dockery said as the aldermen looked at the big picture of the city’s revenue, there developed a sense that they would rather just abolish the personal property tax regardless of the results of a ballot initiative.
“It will be on our first agenda in January to eliminate the personal property tax,” Dockery said.
The personal property tax generates about $51,000 per year for the city, but Dockery says he believes the city can absorb that loss of income if sales tax revenues continue to rise. The city set a record for sales tax revenues in 2018.
If aldermen do vote to kill the tax next month, the action would not go into effect until the 2020 tax year since the tax has already been levied and partially collected for 2019.
The aldermen did approve ballot language on the sales tax question. City voters will be asked in May whether they favor or oppose “The abolishment of the additional sales and use tax in the City of Clarendon and the reallocation of the sales and use tax at the rate of one-fourth of one percent to general revenue and one-fourth of one percent to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets.”
The additional sales and use tax currently has the effect of reducing the city’s ad valorem property tax rate by about 20 cents per $100 valuation. If that sales and use tax was redirected, Dockery says it would dedicate about $50,000 per year to street maintenance and about $50,000 to general revenue.
Regardless of the ballot results, the city’s ad valorem tax rate is going to drop for 2020 as the city pays off indebtedness in 2019. Dockery projects that with the current debt component removed from the tax rate and if voters approve redirecting the additional sales and use tax, the city’s overall ad valorem rate could go down by about 8.6 cents.
Dockery also cautions that there are a lot of factors involved in calculating the ad valorem rate – such as property appraisals, exemptions, etc. – that make it difficult to predict.
In other city business, voted to raise the radio tower lease fee from $117.50 to $230 per month and revised the tower lease agreement.
Change orders to the USDA water infrastructure project totaling about $4,675 were approved.
A resolution to allow city employees to serve on the boards of non-profit organizations without having to take unpaid time off was approved.
Aldermen voted to appoint Eulaine McIntosh to the vacant seat of former alderman Beverly Burrow.
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