Racing the clock
Train wins clash with truck
A semi-truck carrying an oversized load for Moved By Love, LLC, was moved by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train Saturday afternoon, June 30.
The Department of Public Safety said the truck driver, Cedric Lynn Hornbuckle of Houston, was southbound on FM 1260 following another oversized load, carrying coils of large pipe, when the first truck came to US 287. The first truck stopped at the highway; and although the railroad signals began flashing, the drivers thought they could both get onto the highway. The first truck could not move quick enough, and the crossing arms came down on the second truck. Hornbuckle escaped, and no injuries occurred.
The railroad crossing remained closed for repairs until Tuesday.
Hornbuckle was issued an citation for disregarding a railroad crossing.
Rural college board taps CC president
Clarendon College President Dr. Robert Riza has been appointed to the Commission on Small and Rural Colleges at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).
“Obviously it is an honor to be chosen to serve on this commission,” Riza said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues from around the country.”
CC serves Donley, Gray, Childress, Armstrong, Briscoe, Hall, Collingsworth, and Wheeler counties in the eastern Texas Panhandle, and has dual credit partnerships with Miami ISD in Roberts County and Panhandle, White Deer, and Groom ISDs in Carson County. The college, which has four campuses (Clarendon, Pampa, Childress and Amarillo) has more than a $44.5 million impact on the region.
While CC is a small community college, its size is an advantage in terms of student success.
“Being one of the smallest schools in Texas isn’t an issue, we don’t use our size as an excuse but as motivation to achieve great things,” Riza said.
Walter G. Bumphus, Ph.D., president and CEO of the AACC, wrote in a letter to Dr. Riza, “We are sure that your insights and leadership will significantly contribute to the Board’s decision-making process and its ability to serve the interests of all AACC member institutions.”
This appointment is a three-year term, and Riza will serve through June 2021.
Hazel Irene Guy
Hazel Irene Guy, 95, of Clarendon died Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in Amarillo.
Services were held on Thursday, June 28, 2018, in First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood, officiating. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Hazel was born November 11, 1922, in Cook County, Texas to Robert and Rosa Rudd Bingham. She married Troy Edward Guy on January 14, 1950, in Clovis, New Mexico. She had been a resident of Clarendon since 1934 where she was a deputy county clerk of 42 ½ years. She volunteered for over 20 years at the Donley County Senior Citizens and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, Robert W. Bingham; her sister, Juanita Phelps and two infant sisters; her step son, Troy Joe Guy and wife Addie Lou.
Survivors include a nephew, Charles Vaughn of San Antonio; a great nephew, Stephen Vaughn of Austin; 2 step grandson, Ricky Guy of Amarillo and Rodney Guy of Memphis; and her friend/caretaker, Derlene Gray of Clarendon.
The family request memorials be sent to First Baptist Church in Clarendon or Donley County Senior Citizens.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
141st Celebration starts July 4
Make your plans to enjoy the 141st annual Saints’ Roost Celebration on July 4, 6, and 7 in Clarendon.
The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will open the festivities with a July Fourth Junior Rodeo, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the COEA Arena.
The celebration gets under full steam on Friday, July 6, with merchant sales and the annual Depression Luncheon at the Downtown Ministry Center from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The cost for the beans and cornbread meal is 25 cents. That night, the COEA Ranch Rodeo opens at 7:30 at the COEA Arena followed by a dance at 9 p.m. featuring the music of Giovannie & the Hired Guns.
The big day will be Saturday, July 7, beginning with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths are $25 each and should be reserved through the Donley County 4H by calling 806-874-2141.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Old Settlers Reunion and the Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade also begin at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Parade will line up and register at 8:30 at Keith Floyd’s shop at Third and Sully. Ed Montana will provide music and serve as master of ceremonies on the square.
Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. on Sixth Street north of Prospect Park. At 10:00, the parade will then take its usual route – north on Kearney to Third Street, west on Third to Sully, south in front of the Courthouse, and then wind back to the ball parks.
The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $200 available for the best float, $100 for the best car or truck entry, $100 for the best animal or riding unit, $100 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $100 for the best “other” entry.
From those first place winners, judges will select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $250. Pre-registration is required for entrants to be judged for the prize money, and entry forms are due in the Visitor Center by 5 p.m. on July 5. Entry forms are available at the Visitor Center.
Also this year, the Chamber and Cornell’s Country Store will hold the second annual “Show Us Your Boots” contest as part of the parade. One grand prize winner will get a $100 Cornell’s gift card, and one second place winner will get $50 in Chamber Cash. More information is available on the entry form at the Visitor Center.
The Al Morrah Shrine Club barbecue will follow the parade at about 11 a.m. Tickets are $12 each and will be available at the Visitor Center and the Enterprise.
The Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo will follow the barbecue. Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m. The Henson’s Turtle Race will then take place at 2 p.m. And the Ranch Rodeo will close out the day at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. with the dance to follow with Luke Koepke & The Indian Creek Band providing the music.
For more information about the celebration, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.
CC Regents receive OMA training
The Clarendon College Board of Regents received tailored Open Meetings Act training during a called meeting last Wednesday, June 20.
Attorney Chase M. Hales of the Sprouse Shrader Smith law firm in Amarillo conducted the training, which lasted more than 45 minutes and covered a wide range of topics on 32 PowerPoint slides with a special emphasis on issues pertinent to the college.
Hales started with the importance of agendas for public meetings being posted 72 hours before a meeting and the need for those agendas to be specific.
“The whole point is to let the public know what the meeting is about in case they have an interest in what’s being discussed,” Hales said.
The attorney also discussed such topics as public comment, the proper way to conduct a meeting, the requirements for minutes and recordkeeping, and what he termed “very narrow purpose” and “very limited scope” of meeting in executive session, noting that executive sessions are not authorized simply to prevent disclosure of unfavorable information.
“The entire purpose of the Open Meetings Act is to expose the activities of our government – warts and all,” Hales said.
The training session also covered the limited reasons for holding an emergency meeting, special issues facing committees and subcommittees, issues involving technology, conduct of board members outside of meetings, and the proper role of the board interacting with employees.
Hales warned board members that not following the Open Meetings Act can lead to civil and criminal penalties and not following the decorum in interacting with employees can lead to lawsuits alleging violations of employment laws.
In other college business, regents approved a bid on tax delinquent property at Howardwick; approved a letter of engagement with the college auditors for the year ending August 31, 2018; approved the policy manual, student handbook, personnel handbook, and catalog for the upcoming academic year; and ratified the resignation of Vice President of Academic Affairs and the employment of Donna Smith as a librarian.
In his president’s report, Dr. Robert Riza said headcount was up for the May mini session and the Summer I session. He also said the college had received its final letter from the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools/Commission on Colleges closing out its decennial review of CC with no follow up report required.
Riza also reported on his attendance, along with Regent Edwin Campbell, at the Texas Community College Trustees Association meeting earlier this month. Mr. Campbell encouraged all his fellow board members to attend the TCCTA meeting.
“I thought I knew a lot about being on this board, but I didn’t know anything,” Campbell said. “I’m taken aback at the responsibility we have as regents.”
The CC Board of Regents also met in Pampa last Thursday for their regular June meeting. There Dr. Riza recognized the contributions to CC of Gray County Judge Richard Peet upon his upcoming retirement. Judge Peet taught for the CC Pampa Center from 1979 until 1994 when he became judge. Riza called him a friend and advocate for the college.
“I enjoy education and teaching youth,” Peet said. “I think Clarendon College is a tremendous asset to Pampa, and I appreciate your efforts to continue that.”
Riza also thanked the Pampa Foundation, which has contributed almost $200,000 to support CC programs since 2016 for nursing technology and dual credit assistance for Gray County students.
The president thanked Pampa ISD Superintendent Tanya Larkin for her cooperation and the relationship the school district has with the college.
New cheerleaders
Bobby Wayne Smith
Bobby Wayne Smith, 79, of Amarillo, Texas died Monday, June 18, 2018, in Amarillo.
Services were held on Saturday, June 23 2018, in First Baptist Church, Clarendon, Texas with Elder Jeff Riles, Jr. and Elder Roy Williams, officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Bobby Wayne was born on March 12, 1939, in Gilmar, Texas to B.W. and Beatrice Jones Smith. He lived most of his life in Amarillo where he owned his own roofing company. He was a member of the True Church of God in Christ in Clarendon. Bobby enjoyed fishing and hunting rabbits.
Bobby was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 50+ years Cora Bell; a brother Billy Joe Smith; two sisters; Patricia Ann Smith and Joann Brown; and a grandson David Wayne Fields.
He is survived by two daughters; Myrna Cook and husband George of Corsicana and Louise Fields of Amarillo; three brothers, Curtis Smith and wife Annie of Forney, B.W. Smith Jr. of Amarillo, and Archie Smith and wife Vanessa of Dallas; sisters Doris Gardner of Clarendon and Essie Jean McCampbell of Clarendon; two grandchildren, Tia Cook of Corsicana and Vonda Granthan and husband Dwayne of Amarillo; five great grandchildren, Landen, Landan Jr., Germinah, Kawii, Charlye and Kazeen, a special friend Debra Harper of Lawton, Oklahoma and a host of nephews, nieces, family and friends.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Editorial: Others should follow CC’s lead on training
Clarendon College and its attorney Chase Hales deserve recognition for the Open Meetings Act training presented at last week’s meeting of the Board of Regents. It was very well done and should be emulated by other local governments, specifically Howardwick.
Too often, elected officials are just pointed in the direction of the online training available, which is good but frequently forgotten. It satisfies the legal requirement that board members have to be trained, but it doesn’t leave the lasting impression that is necessary to keep officials out of trouble.
By contrast, CC’s newest regent – Tommy Waldrop – along with fellow his fellow board members, most of whom have been regents for many years, got the benefit of training specifically suited to their positions complete with scenarios that their unique roles face.
Hales obviously spent a lot of time planning his presentation, which included 32 detailed slides with specifics of all kinds. And yet, as detailed as it was, Hales also kept it simple. Don’t talk about it if it’s not on the agenda. Executive sessions have narrow, specific purposes and limited scope. Stick to the agenda. Subcommittees are subject to the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act. Stick to the agenda. Board members shouldn’t engage staff other than the president. And last but not least, stick to the agenda.
Astute readers probably picked up on a theme in that paragraph. Basically, Hales warned board members that a meeting is not the time to discuss whatever is bothering them or whatever comes up as a flight of fancy during a meeting. The public, the attorney emphasized, has a right to know what’s going to be discussed prior to the meeting in case they want to be there for that discussion.
Some boards have no trouble with that concept. Other entities, like the City of Howardwick for example, have to yet to completely grasp the idea. Howardwick would benefit greatly from having some personal training, and it would be good not just for the city council but for the citizens themselves.
While things have improved somewhat at Howardwick’s meetings (the sheriff hasn’t had to be there in a while), there is still room for improvement. Agenda items are sometimes vague, which leads to discussion that can’t be anticipated by the public or the council. Action has been taken on some items that wasn’t authorized by the agenda. And worst of all, the audience has become almost fully participating members of the discussion.
Hales’ training for the college board reinforced what is generally understood at local government meetings. “‘Public comment’ is sufficient to hear the public but not to discuss business with the public,” Hales wrote on one of his slides.
That’s an important first point. A second point would be that the public needs to generally keep quiet and let the board deliberate on its own. At Howardwick, there is usually enough difference of opinion on a subject by those elected officials to sufficiently debate any issue without ten or 15 citizens interjecting their thoughts or outrage on the matter.
If Howardwick citizens really want to give their elected representatives a chance to improve their community, then letting them do their job might be a good place to start.
Hales hit all the right notes in his presentation, and other local governments would be well served to engage a qualified person to refresh them on the rules. Laws and the rulings of the attorney general change from year to year, which makes it important to stay abreast of where the boundaries are for what is and isn’t okay.
Clarendon College is to be commended for taking a positive step to make sure things are done the right way. CC Board Chairman Lon Adams also deserves special recognition for attending an open meetings / open records workshop hosted by the Panhandle Press Association earlier this year.
The actions taken by local governments are the public’s business – your business. The Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act are designed to make sure the public – you – have every opportunity to know what your governments are doing, and it is encouraging when local boards take that obligation seriously.
And furthermore…
Chase Hales also zeroed in on something that is the pet peeve of every journalist and champion of open government – the Executive Session.
The topics that can be discussed behind closed doors are limited, he said. He listed the very specific reasons a board can meet in closed session – Real Property Deliberations (if deliberation in open session would have a detrimental effect on the entity’s position); Personnel Matters (related to specific employees or specific positions of current employees); Consultations with an Attorney; specific Economic Development issues; and specific Security issues.
The attorney said boards need to be very specific on their agenda about going into closed session, especially in terms of personnel.
The public’s business, as much as possible, should be conducted in public. If a board is going into executive session frequently, they might do well to step back and make sure they are conducting themselves as openly they should.
Robertson to lead state funeral group
GALVESTON – Third-generation funeral director Chuck Robertson of Clarendon was elected to head the Texas Funeral Directors Association during their 132nd Annual Convention in Galveston last week.
Robertson is the president and CEO of Robertson Funeral Directors with offices in Clarendon, Claude, McLean, Memphis, Shamrock, and Wheeler.
Founded in 1886, TFDA is the largest professional organization of funeral service professionals in Texas and the largest National Funeral Directors Association affiliate association of funeral directors in the country.
Robertson is not only the youngest director to be elected TFDA president but also is only the sixth resident of the Texas Panhandle to head the association in its 132-year history.
A 2003 graduate of Clarendon High School, Robertson is the son of the late Patrick Robertson and his wife Vicky and the grandson of the late Delbert and Patsy Robertson, all of Clarendon. When his birth mother, Edie, passed away, Chuck was only two, thus he grew up, living with his grandparents at the family’s funeral home.
“I’ve grown up with funeral service always in my life,” Robertson said.
His first job at the funeral home was helping his grandfather dig graves (a job that continued until six years ago). “I learned at an early age to play quietly during funeral services, and if I needed something when my grandparents or dad was on the phone, to whisper,” he recalled.
In his presidential acceptance speech, he remembered his grandparents and his father, thanking them for instilling the values and the compassion needed to counsel families after the loss of a loved one. He also thanked his mother Vicky and his wife Amanda for their support of his personal and professional goals as well as his journey to the TFDA presidency.
“Shortly after we married, my wife and I were talking about our individual goals as well as our goals as a couple and a family,” Robertson remembered. “Among my goals was the opportunity to, someday, lead TFDA. In achieving this goal, my wife has been my cheerleader, my rock, and my best friend and advisor.”
Originally a mass communications major in college, the new TFDA president and his cousin Cameron decided to change their majors to funeral service and enrolled in the mortuary science associate degree program at Amarillo College.
“My grandfather wanted me to be a funeral director all along,” he said, “but my dad told me to follow my dreams. Since making my decision that day in 2003, I’ve never looked back, never regretted my decision and, to this day, feel privileged to serve the families of the Panhandle during this very difficult – probably the worst – time in their lives.
Robertson and his cousin earned their professional licenses in August 2005.
Like his father and grandfather, Chuck Robertson has been a member of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department since 2003, where he currently serves the rank of Captain/EMT and Secretary/Treasurer. He also is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and is a member and certified firefighter through the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association and as an EMT, is with the Associated Ambulance Authority/Clarendon EMS (since October 2004) and with the Shamrock Emergency Medical Service since 2015. His wife Amanda also has been an EMT with North Wheeler County since 2005.
Robertson enters the office of TFDA President with humility but also with a sense of pride.
“My grandfather, with my grandmother by his side, served our community as a funeral director for more than 60 years. My father, also a funeral director, was a commissioner on the Texas Funeral Service Commission, appointed by Gov. Rick Perry.”
Robertson is the current president of the Citizens Cemetery Association in Clarendon, served as the President of the Panhandle Funeral Directors Association from 2010-2012 and served on the board of directors for Panhandle Funeral Directors Association from 2008-2013 and came back on the board in 2015-2016. He also served on the Texas Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors from 2009-2012. Chuck is currently President for Texas Funeral Directors Association for 2018-2019 year. In 2016-2017 he served as Secretary/Treasurer, 2017-2018 he served as President-Elect of TFDA. He is also a lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice where he achieved his Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) certification in September 2008.
Robertson also is a member of the Clarendon and Memphis Lions clubs and has served as Past President for Clarendon. He is also a member of the Shamrock Rotary Club where he served as Past President and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Chuck is currently serving his second term on the Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees. Prior to being elected to the school board, he served on the CISD District Improvement Committee for four years. Chuck was awarded by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce for the 2009 Man of the Year.
“As the third generation of funeral directors in my family, I am responsible for carrying on this legacy of sacred trust as I serve the families of the Texas Panhandle.
“I look forward to additionally contributing to our state association of professionals, building its reputation in Texas as an outstanding and highly-valued group of servant leaders who not only serve their communities in times of personal loss but also are first responders in times of man-made disasters, such as the explosion that destroyed half of the city of West, Texas, as well as natural disasters, like the recent storms and flooding brought ashore by Hurricane Harvey.”
Robertson and his wife Amanda live in Clarendon with his son Jaxon and their dog Duke.
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