Broncos win ‘Best of the West’ tournament
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Wildfire burns 300+ acres
- Clarendon fireman Ryan Hill sprays a hot spot last Thursday as part of the effort to extinguish a blaze north of Hedley off FM 2944. Enterprise Photo / Kari Lindsey
A wildfire north of Hedley consumed more than 300 acres last Thursday and Saturday, highlighting the need for caution as drought conditions continue.
Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Powell said people need to be extremely careful and also said last week’s blaze threatened three structures – two barns and one house.
The fire began after 5 p.m. last Thursday, May 19, near FM 2944 and State Hwy. 203, and Powell said wind knocking a power line into tree limbs is believed to have started the blaze.
Hedley and Clarendon volunteer firemen worked until after midnight to get the blaze under control but not before it burned about 40 acres.
The fire re-ignited Saturday before noon and was brought back under control at about 2:30, but it caught fire again about 4 p.m. and jumped FM 2944 and burned northeast toward County Road 32.
Hedley fireman Leon Ward said the wind blew the fire through thick brush making it hard to get to with fire trucks and other equipment.
Assistance was called in from neighboring fire departments as well as from state and federal resources, and the fire was extinguished after 11 p.m.
The following fire departments helped with the fire on Saturday: Hedley, Clarendon, Briscoe, Wellington, Kelton, Allison, Wheeler, Mobeetie, and Samnorwood.
Also helping were Donley County maintainers and the US and Texas forest services. Air tankers and a helicoper were brought in to assist the local effort, Powell said.
Local services planned to honor America’s war heroes
A Civil War veteran will be recognized in one of three services planned in Donley County in observance of Memorial Day next Monday.
The late Peru Hardy Benson, who is buried in Clarendon’s Citizens Cemetery, will be honored by the Plemons-Shelby Camp 464 of The Sons of the Confederate Veterans, dressed in authentic uniforms and arms, with a memorial ceremony. The activity will take place at the Benson gravesite in Citzens’ Cemetery at noon. The public is invited to attend. Please bring your own chairs.
Benson was a Prisoner of War who spent two years in Yankee prisons and was among a group of Confederates who became known as the “Immortal Six Hundred” because of the number who survived deliberate starvation, exposure to freezing weather, lack of sanitation, lack of medical care, physical abuse by the guards, and imprisonment in the line of fire. Following the war, Benson settled in Hall County where he died on October 14, 1906. His family still owns some of property he settled near Brice, and his grandson, C.L. Benson, lives in Clarendon.
Earlier on Monday, two services will be held in honor of Memorial Day at 10 a.m. – one in Clarendon and one at Rowe Cemetery near Hedley.
The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion in Hedley will hold its annual Memorial Day services at the Rowe Cemetery Monday morning, May 30, 2011 at 10 a.m.
The post members will place American flags on the graves of 225 veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery. The flags will remain there through Monday in honor of those departed comrades that have served this country.
The program will be conducted by members of the American Legion. The Memorial Day address will be entitled “Preserving the Memory of the Fallen.”
The program will include the ceremony honoring the Missing In Action and the Prisoners Of War, still unaccounted for. The post adjutant will read the roll call of the 225 veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery.
The program will be concluded with the laying of the memorial wreath and the playing of taps.
The Donley County Memorial Post of the VFW 782 will also hold a memorial service at the
Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square at 10 a.m.
Clarendon sales tax revenue up nearly 7 percent
Sales tax revenue continues to climb for the City of Clarendon according to figures released by the state comptroller’s office.
Clarendon received an allocation of $33,908.49 this month, up 6.98 percent from the same period one year ago.
The city is now 12.59 percent ahead for the calendar year-to-date with sales tax revenue of $143,201.99 compared to $127,182.88 last year.
City Hall said higher fuel prices and increased car sales are likely the cause of the higher sales tax figures.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said statewide sales tax revenue in April was $1.87 billion, up 11.4 percent compared to April 2010.
“This is the 13th straight month in which state sales tax revenue has increased,” Combs said.
“Business spending in sectors such as the oil and gas industry helped boost sales tax collections. Tax revenue from retail spending also showed growth.”
Howardwick’s sales tax revenue is also up slightly this month with an allocation of $670.38, up 3.08 percent from the same period last year. That city is up 4.6 percent for the year-to-date at $4,941.81.
Hedley was down 4.14 percent with a May allocation of $894.64 and is down 2.44 percent for the year so far at $3,102.90.
Across the state, Combs distributed $600.1 million in local sales tax allocations on Friday, May 13, up 5.8 percent compared to May 2010. Combs sent May sales tax allocations of $403.4 million to Texas cities, up 4.7 percent compared to May 2010. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are up 6.2 percent compared to the same period last year.
The sales tax allocations to local governments represent March sales reported by monthly tax filers and January, February and March sales reported by quarterly tax filers.
The next sales tax payment will be June 10.
Hedley names top graduates
Hedley High School has announced Reid Copelin and Kaylee Shields as the top students for the Class of 2011.
Copelin is the son of Ernie and Tangela Copelin and has a grade point average of 96.596. He played football, basketball, cross country, tennis, track, and golf during his time at HHS. Reid qualified for regionals in tennis and track his junior and senior years.
He was also first team all region basketball his junior year. He was very active in the FFA showing pigs, placing in several major shows. He was also president of the National Honor Society, and he competed in UIL science, qualifying for state his sophomore year.
Copelin was named the Donley County Young Man of the Year by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce. He plans to attend WTAMU and major in biology.
Shields is daughter of Keenan and Sandra Shields and has a grade point average of 92.319. She played basketball for four years at HHS. During that time, she was awarded All-District her sophomore year and All-Region her junior year. She was also named Offensive M.V.P. She played tennis for three years and advanced to Regionals her junior and senior year. She advanced to regionals in cross country three years out of the four she ran
Shields is vice president of her senior class and also of NHS. During her senior year, she was named the Hedley Lions Club Sweetheart and was also the Donley County Young Woman of the Year. She plans on attending Clarendon College to major in Dentistry.
Copelin and Shields will be recognized during commencement services at Hedley on Friday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Hedley ISD has also named Kati Adams and Madalyn Verstuyft as the school’s eighth grade valedictorian and salutatorian. Adams has an average of 97.167, and Verstuyft’s average is 95.75. The girls will be recognized during a service at the school on June 2 at 6 p.m.
Last month, Clarendon High School named Dominique Brady and Maegan Hysinger as its valedictorian and salutatorian for 2011. CHS commencement will be this Friday, May 27, at the Clarendon College Harned Sisters Fine Arts Auditorium at 8 p.m.
Legislature sends mixed smoke signals
The 2011 session of the Texas Legislature is shaping up to be an example of what is good and bad about the state Republican Party as the GOP supermajority advances its agenda in Austin.
Many things could have and should have been expected – cuts to social programs, a bill that tries to discourage abortions, a possible increase in the speed limit, new restrictions on the use of eminent domain to take private property for public use.
But then there is the current issue winding its way through the legislative sausage maker – a state ban on smoking in public places. The ban has been placed as a house amendment to a senate spending bill (SB 1811) and passed earlier this week, 73-66. It still has some hoops to jump through to become law though.
Proponents of the bill say banning smoking in bars and restaurants would save $31
million in Medicaid costs over the next two years. Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Lake Dallas) has been working on this issue for several years, and now, with the state in a budget crunch, she may have found an opening to push it through.
Americans for Prosperity State Director Peggy Venable said the following in a statement about the proposed ban: “Where does government stop regulating our behavior? One legislator said if we were truly focused on health, we should outlaw tobacco but because we count on over $1 billion in sales tax revenue to the state from the sale of tobacco, we do not consider a prohibition.”
Amen, sister!
Whether I allow smoking in my place of business is no one’s business but mine. I may lose customers, but that’s also my business. Likewise, if a restaurant allows smoking in its establishment, I can choose to go or not go based on the quality of their food, my concern for my health (ha ha ha), and how good their margaritas are among other factors. But it is certainly no business of the government – local, state, or federal – whether smoking is allowed in the establishment. As Venable notes, “No one holds a gun to your head and forces you to a pool hall or bar which allows smoking. It’s a choice.”
Where does this stop if we allow the state to infringe on private property rights and ban smoking? We see what’s going on in the national arena. Food is the new tobacco; obesity is the new cancer. The busybodies who were so adamant about going after the tobacco companies 15 years ago have now turned their sights to fast food companies and more recently have begun rattling their sabers about salt content in food, and they are employing the same tactics. First, they wag their fingers about marketing to – all together now – “the children,” and then they start running off at the mouth about how much government spends on smoking- or fat-related illnesses through Medicaid.
Will this Crownover gal next want to send Ronald McDonald and the Morton Salt girl to the marketing junkyard, or will she just try to ban salt shakers on restaurant tables as a method of saving Medicaid dollars?
If the GOP is truly about individual responsibility and protection of property rights, then its members need to step up right now and tell Crownover and her friends to butt out of other people’s business.
This nannyism has gone too far at both the state and federal levels, and the Party of Perry needs to drive a stake through this beast’s heart ASAP.
Meanwhile…
It’s that time of year again… time to clean out the garage and turn all that excess stuff into cash in your pocket. The sixth annual Trash To Treasures Citywide Garage Sale will be Saturday, June 4, and the more people who get involved the bigger success everyone will have.
The cost to get your garage sale listed in the Trash to Treasures event is just $20, and that gets you a 50-word classified, a spot on the garage sale map, yard signs, price stickers, and, most of all, regional advertising. We advertise Trash to Treasures in area newspapers, including Amarillo, and on radio in order to bring in folks from out of town.
The more sales we have, the more advertising we can do, and the better results everyone will have.
So get with your friends and family and clean out your closets, garages, basements, storage buildings, etc. Nearly everybody could stand to get rid of some “junk,” and everybody could certainly use some extra “green” this spring. Come on down to the Enterprise and get signed up by this Friday at 5 p.m. or call us at 874-2259 or 662-4689.
Now in the past we have had a few folks who have had sales but who chose not to participate in T2T. That is unfair to those who have helped pay for promoting the event. Trash To Treasures, like so many things in Clarendon and Donley County, works best when we all work together.
Thank you to those who are working and organizing your sales, and let’s look forward to a great success next weekend.
Margaret Ann Pettit
Margaret Ann Pettit, 84, died Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Amarillo.
Services were held Friday, May 20, 2011, in Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Rev. Anthony Knowles, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Estelline, officiating. Interment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Order of the Eastern Star Rites by Clarendon Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #6. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Margaret was born January 29, 1927, in Taylor, Texas, the eldest of four children born to the late Albert Emil & Maude Edna Tate Carlson. Margaret is also well known as Me Maw of Clarendon, Donley County. She married Clarence Irving “Peck“ Pettit on April 23, 1949, in Round Rock. Mrs. Pettit worked for Bell Telephone Company in Amarillo for many years. Margaret served as a Cub Scout leader for three years and Girl Scout leader for six years in Amarillo.
They retired and moved to Howardwick in 1980 where they continued to rear their granddaughter, Larinda Pettit Brown and were very active in both the Howardwick and Clarendon communities. She was a member of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon. Both Peck and Margaret served on the Board of Directors of the Panhandle Ski Club in the 1950s.
She served three years as Alderman and three years as Mayor of Howardwick. She was a very active member of the Rebekah Lodge beginning in 1983 having served as Noble Grand five times and held many, many offices. She was a member of Clarendon Order of the Eastern Star Chapter # 6 since 1985 and served in many offices including Worthy Matron four years and Worthy Patron with Peck two years and two years with Billy Powell. She also served on the Donley County Appraisal District Review Board for nine years.
Margaret was awarded Donley County Pioneer Woman of the Year by the Clarendon/Donley County Chamber of Commerce in 2007. In January 2010 after suffering a massive stroke and heart attack, Mrs. Pettit resided in Amarillo with her son and daughter in law, since that time. She was truly loved by all and will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on June 23, 2005; two brothers; and a sister.
Survivors include her son, Larry Albert Pettit and wife Phyllis of Amarillo; her three grandchildren, Larinda Pettit Brown of Clarendon, Timothy Pettit of Tyler, and Marteka Pettit of Clovis, New Mexico; five great-grandchildren, Audrey Jones, Hadley Jones, Shaydee Brown, Erin Pettit, and Emma Pettit.
The family suggest memorials be to a favorite charity.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com.
Billy Morgan Salmon, Jr.
Billy Morgan Salmon, Jr., 80, died Sunday, May 22, 2011, in Lakeview.
Services were held Tuesday, May 24, in the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Leonard Holt, officiating. Interment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, in Memphis.
Mr. Salmon was born on November 25, 1930, in Ely, Texas to Estelline Smith and Billy Morgan Salmon, Sr. He was a US Army veteran serving in the Korean War. He married Martha Pearl Davenport on December 25, 1950 in Lakeview. She preceded him in death on February 17, 1993. He later met his soul mate, Doris Salmon. He had been a lifetime resident of Hall County. He was a Baptist. He loved fishing, hunting, and also enjoyed going to casino’s with friends. He was a man among men. He always believed that when you gave your word to anyone, that you should keep it, and he always did.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his soul mate, Doris of Lakeview; he had no children, but he loved all of Doris‘s children, grandkids, and great grandchildren, and was good to all of them. In turn they all loved him.
The family request memorials be to the Citizens Cemetery Association or a favorite charity.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com.
Amanda Sue Strange
Amanda Sue Strange, 70, died Sunday, May 22, 2011, in Amarillo.
Services were held Thursday, May 26, in First Baptist Church in Claude with Rev. Delbert Serratt & Rev. Jim Brown, officiating. A Private Family Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon prior to services. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Armstrong Chapel of Claude.
Sue was born June 3, 1940, in Childress, Texas, to W.M. and Norma Lorance Corgill. She married Charles Dwain “Bud” Strange on February 3, 1962, in Tulia. She had been a resident of Claude since 1968 and was an active and devoted member of the First Baptist Church in Claude. Her life centered around family. She nurtured and guided them with faith and love. She adored and cherished her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, W.L. Corgill; and a sister, Louise
Hood.
Survivors include her husband, Bud of Claude; a son, Bryan Strange of Amarillo; two daughters, Karen Latta and husband Tommy of Amarillo and Connie Wood and husband Lance of Clarendon; three grandchildren, Courtney, Cody and Colt Wood; three brothers, Ray Corgill of Tulsa, OK, Eugene Corgill and wife Sharon of Midland, Jerry Corgill and wife Mary of Levelland; twenty nieces and nephews and many extended family and friends.
The family suggest memorials be to the Olivia‘s Angels c/o BSA Hospice in Amarillo or First Baptist Church in Claude.
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