Roger Estlack

The 2018 Pioneer Edition of The Donley County Leader is being published this week by the Enterprise and focuses on some key historic events.

The edition coincides with the 50th anniversary of the opening of Greenbelt Lake, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the modern Clarendon College campus, and the 100th anniversary of a celebration here marking the end of the First World War.

Other interesting articles feature St. Mary’ s Catholic Church, chicken thievery, and 19th century school violence.

Read all about it by purchasing a digital edition here.

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.

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.

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.

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.