Roger Estlack

An old Chuckwagon has found a new home at the Saints’ Roost Museum thanks to the generosity of a Groom resident.

Johnny Brumley donated the 1906 wagon built by the Bain Wagon Co. after it had been in his possession for about 15 years.

“When I got it, it was faded with dried out wood,” he recalled. “I just started from scratch and went to sanding.”

Brumley said he has restored about 25 Chuck wagons and worked on 50 wagons of other types, but this wagon was just for his family’s personal use. He built the Chuckbox for it himself, and never entered it into any competitions.

About four years ago, Brumley said he was approached by a Museum board member at Clarendon’s annual Chuckwagon Cookoff who said the Museum hoped to acquire a wagon for display and asked Brumley to be on the lookout for one that might be available.

“I did look but didn’t find anything,” Brumley said. “Then I got my son and daughter together and asked if they wanted the family wagon. They were not going to use it and agreed that it should go to Clarendon.”
Brumley said he has a soft place in his heart for Donley County.

“Clarendon College was good to me,” he said. “It gave me a scholarship, some books, and two years of education. And also I finished high school at Hedley.”

Saints’ Roost Museum President Derlene Gray said the wagon will be temporarily housed in the 1887 Clarendon Depot on the Museum grounds and said the board has committed to building a new facility to permanently house the wagon.

“We are so thrilled and honored to accept Mr. Brumley’s donation,” Gray said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a treasure for our community and all of Donley County. We look forward to planning a permanent home for this wagon, and we are so appreciative for all the support that allows our Museum to continue to grow.”

WHITE DEER – Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) Board of Directors passed and adopted proposed rule changes during their meeting held on December 20, 2018.

There were many District constituents in attendance at the hearing, expressing both support and opposition for the proposed rules. District Staff and Board Members recognized and addressed those who had reservations against the new rules. In a vote of four in favor and one against, the rule changes passed and are now in effect.

Here are the major changes:

• Operating Permits will be required on all production wells, new or existing, producing more than 17.5 gallons per minute and are 2-inches or greater in pipe diameter. Operating Permits must be applied for by December 31, 2019 and must be granted before any production takes place in 2020. The District is currently taking appointments and walk-ins to begin the Operating Permit process.

• Meters are required on all wells, new or existing, producing more than 35 gallons per minute. Meters may also be installed at the center pivot sprinkler, drip irrigation system or central collection point, as long as all production is captured. PGCD currently has a 50/50 cost-share program in place for wells that have not been required to install meters in the past. The cost-share program will be available through September 30, 2019.

• It is important to note, the Maximum Allowable Volume of one acre-foot per contiguous acre per year, that has been in place since 2004, will remain the same. The Maximum Allowable Rate of 2,880 GPM/section or 4.5 GPM/acre will remain the same, as well as Spacing Rules for new wells.
While the new rules are already in effect, compliance enforcement regarding Operating Permits and metering does not go into effect until December 31, 2019, giving operators and the District all of 2019 to grant Operating Permits and make any necessary changes for compliance. January 1, 2020 marks the starting date of the 3-year rolling average, which will be used to ensure compliance on the one acre-foot allowable.

To view a copy of the new rules, visit www.pgcd.us. If you have any questions, call the District Office at 806-883-2501.

The Donley County Community Fund has announced the recipients of its 2018 grant cycle and the results of the GivingTuesday fundraising campaign.

The Hedley Volunteer Fire Department and the Donley County VFW Memorial Post are each receiving $500 in grants from the DCCF. The fire department will use the funds to help replace tires on fire trucks, and the VFW will use the money for needed improvements to the VFW Hall in Clarendon.

Donley County residents responded in a big way to November’s GivingTuesday promotion, contributing $6,060 to the community fund. Those donations made between November 19 and November 27 were eligible for a matching formula which generated an additional $2,015.52 from the Amarillo Area Foundation, making the increase to the local fund a total of $8,075.52.

DCCF Chairman Jacob Fangman expressed his appreciation for those who contributed to the fundraiser and was encouraged by the response.

“I feel the community is starting to see the benefit and impact of the DCCF,” Fangman. “Thank you to everyone who continue to support the fund. The DCCF hopes to continue to make a positive impact in the lives of Donley County citizens.”

The purpose of the Donley County Community Fund is to build an endowment that will benefit local non-profit organizations well into the future. Since 2016, the DCCF has contributed $4,000 to local non-profits and built an endowment fund that now exceeds $25,000. Grant applications for the 2019 cycle will be available this fall.

The fund is overseen by a local board consisting of Fangman along with Shauna Herbert, Sherol Johnston, Diane Skelton, and Roger Estlack.

Tax deductible contributions to the fund can be made anytime at Donley County Community Fund, PO Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226.

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.