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Transmission line may bypass Donley County
A rare bird, fragile ecosystems, scenic landscapes, ancient fossil beds, and an outpouring of opposition may cause 15-miles of high-voltage electric transmission lines to be re-routed away from Donley County.
Cross Texas Transmission is seeking approval from state regulators to build the line from Childress County to Gray County. The company’s preferred route was through the northeastern part of Donley County, but the proposed final order filed August 16 with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) seeks approval of Route 314, which bypasses Donley County in favor of a path through Collingsworth County.
“All routes are still under consideration,” Cross Texas spokeswoman Julie Ramsey told the Enterprise. “But landowners along Route 314, who had previously filed to intervene in the case, are now in agreement not to go to court.”
Ramsey said the PUC will review all the proposed routes and has until October 29 to give final approval to a route, but she said Cross Texas expects regulatory approval earlier, perhaps by the end of September.
The 345 kV double circuit line will require a right-of-way between 160 and 200 feet wide and will include poles 125 feet high placed five to seven poles per mile, according to published reports.
Ramsey said the average cost of building the line is $1.5 million per mile, and a seven-page legal notice published in the Enterprise on May 6 showed the preferred route through Donley County being about 15 miles long, which would have required an investment of about $22.5 million. The total cost of the project from the Gray Substation near Lefors to the Tesla Substation in Childress County is expected to be $177.9 million.
“It certainly would have increased the tax base,” Ramsey said of the preferred route through Donley County. “But there were a lot of concerns about the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) and other environmental issues.”
The US Department of the Interior, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, and the Texas Panhandle Audubon Society all filed comments with the PUC during the public comment phase of the process raising concerns about the effect the line could have on LPC habitat, according to records available online.
Numerous citizens, including Jay O’Brien, Laphe LaRoe, and many, many others, expressed concerns to the PUC about the habitat of the Prairie Chicken as well as the effects on wetlands and other ecologically sensitive features. O’Brien, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and many others also raised concerns about several fossil sites on the original historic RO Ranch, which in the past has yielded specimens that caused a period of time 12.5 to 9 million years ago to be officially known as the Clarendonian age.
O’Brien, Kade Matthews, Turner Caldwell, and Jack Waller also commented to the PUC about the visual impact of the line and the effect its placement would have on ranching operations, with each of the property owners making suggestions of more acceptable routes, such as following county road or state highway rights of way.
The Texas & Southwest Cattle Raisers Association also filed a resolution encouraging the PUC to follow existing highway or electric transmission rights of way so that “the immense damage to productive and scenic agricultural and recreational property incurred by Texas landowners will be minimized.”
In reviewing more than 300 comments and filings, the Enterprise found only one in favor of the route through Donley County, and that was filed by the Donley County Commissioners’ Court.
Ramsey said landowners who are hoping to lease their property to a wind farm should not be discouraged if the Cross Texas line does not come nearby.
“Wind developers have to tie into a substation – not into a transmission line like this,” she said. “They will put wind towers where they find good, consistent wind and will run their own transmission lines to the substation.”
Thornberry sounds alarm on expanding federal government
US Representative Mac Thornberry visited with folks from his hometown and sounded the alarm on a wide range of issues during a Republican gathering at the Bairfield Activity Center last Thursday.
Thornberry was introduced by his former speech teacher from Clarendon High School, Jean Stavenhagen, before he introduced other local Republicans who will appear on the November ballot. He encouraged his fellow candidates to listen to the citizens because it makes you “a better candidate and better office holder.”
He said he and his wife, Sally, had been visiting businesses in the 13th Congressional District learning about their concerns and then launched into a list of “spending and manipulation” the federal government has taken since February 2009, including: an $860 billion stimulus bill, new regulations on banks and credit cards, Cash For Clunkers, new hate crime legislation about sexual orientation, the health care bill, and the abolition of private student loans among others.
“The national debt is now $13.3 trillion and has gone up 25 percent since February 2009,” Thornberry said. “Your share is $119,914.”
Thornberry said Congress will not even try to pass a budget this year for the first since 1974.
“It’s no wonder people are frustrated, disgusted, and angry,” he said. “I’ve never seen so many people concerned with what’s going on, and that is the most hopeful thing that can happen because the strength of our country and our economy is in the people.”
The congressman also said he did not think the country could survive another two years of Nancy Pelosi and Democratic control without being “changed permanently for the worse.”
In response to a question from the Enterprise, Thornberry said House Republicans will be putting forth a positive agenda similar to the 1994 Contract with America that will likely focus on controlling spending, government reform, health care, and job creation.
Resident Newt Scott asked the congressman why he voted against the 2008 TARP bill and then voted for it. To which Thornberry said the bill was changed in the Senate to increase the amount bank deposits are guaranteed for and included a promise of buying mortgaged based assets with the first half of the money, but then the treasury secretary under President Bush did not do what he said he would.
Scott said he had looked at websites, such as govtrack.us and opensecrets.org, to prepare for Thursday’s meeting. “You are one of the cleanest legislators on there,” he said.
In response to other citizen’s questions on various issues, Thornberry said the First Amendment guarantees the right to lobby the government (petition for the redress of grievances); said the federal government will have to raise taxes or cut spending to fund Social Security in the future; said he favored some alternative to the “monstrosity” of the current tax code; and said he hoped it would not take a “terrible event” before the federal government takes border security issues seriously.
In closing, the congressman also encouraged his constituents to personally write, call, or e-mail his office and let him know their concerns to help him serve the district better.
HISD holds line on tax rate
A public hearing for the Hedley Independent School District lasted for nearly an hour Monday night as school trustees debated the need to raise the tax rate by one penny.
Enterprise publisher Roger Estlack, the only member of the public at the meeting, asked some basic questions about the school’s proposed 2010-2011 budget, which Superintendent Eric Hough said totaled $1.679 million compared to $1.767 million for the current budget.
“It’s about a five percent decrease, and we’ve decreased almost everything, particularly payroll,” Hough said.
The overall budget was projected to have a $17,643 surplus, but that included revenue from a proposed increase in the debt portion of the school’s tax rate from $0.06 to $0.07 per $100 valuation.
“If we leave the tax rate the same, we will be about $9,000 short in making our bond payment and will have to take that money from our fund balance,” Hough said.
Trustee Tonja Ruthardt expressed concern about raising the tax rate.
“I think these little old people in Hedley are about taxed out,” she said.
“I understand that it’s tough economically, but it’s tough for the school, too,” Hough said, noting that people over the age of 65 can have their taxes frozen.
Trustee Lana Ritchie said she felt the community had voted for the bond issue several years ago and would understand the need to pay for it, but Trustee James Edward Potts raised concerns about the current economy and said that a tax increase would offend some of the district’s largest taxpayers to the extent that they might not donate to school fundraisers.
“I’d rather have to raise it two cents next year than one cent this year,” Potts said.
After the board closed its public hearing and moved into an open session, Ritchie moved to set the tax rate at $1.11 per $100 valuation with $1.04 for maintenance and operations and a debt rate of $0.07. Her motion died for lack of a second.
Ruthardt then moved to maintain the current tax rate of $1.10 with $1.04 for maintenance and operations and a debt rate of $0.06. She, Potts, Karen Watt, and Bonnie Brown voted for the measure; and Ritchie and Ted Wright abstained.
In other school business, the board approved the 2010-2011 budget and authorized amendments to the 2009-2010 budget. Trustees also gave approval to a human sexuality education program, “The Truth Straight Up,” that is free to the school and which parents will be given the option to allow their kids to attend.
In his superintendent’s report, Hough said Hedley’s enrollment stands at about 130 students and he said $8,500 had been raised from two private donors for a new basketball scoreboard.
Thornberry still fighting a good fight
“The opposite of pro is con; That fact is clearly seen; If progress means move forward; Then what does Congress mean?” — Nipsey Russell
That’s an old joke that has been told many different ways, but it still has a ring of truth that is hard to deny. The problems with the imperial Congress in Washington were outlined last week pretty clearly by Clarendon’s native son, US Rep. Mac Thornberry, as he gave multiple examples of counter-productive measures the Legislative Branch has taken in the last year and a half.
Under the Democratic leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and with the cooperation of the Obama administration, Congress has enacted several laws that have eroded personal and financial freedoms for all Americans and have taken this nation deeper into debt and further away from its founding principles. Their laws, passed without regard to Constitutional merit or authority, have been crafted literally in backroom deals with little or no input from the minority.
That minority includes people like Thornberry. While there is plenty of blame to be shared by Republicans for the mess that this nation finds itself in, Congressman Thornberry has been fairly consistent in following a philosophy of limited government and fiscal restraint.
This column has not always agreed 100 percent with Thornberry, but we can say with certainty that if the House of Representatives were composed of 250 Mac Thornberries, 50 Ron Pauls, 50 Blue Dog Democrats, 50 so-called moderates, and mixed-bag of 35 liberal wackos (just for entertainment), then America would be in pretty good shape.
But such is not the case right now. Instead, Thornberry and his party (not all of whom are equally conservative) find themselves 20 votes down right out of the chute on any particular issue. It has got to be discouraging, and one wonders how a man doesn’t give in from time to time.
Take health care for example, the Democrats would have probably done anything to get one Republican to turn and vote for that bill. We probably could have had a nice new overpass in downtown Clarendon or an impressive Nancy Pelosi wing for political dinosaurs at the Saints’ Roost Museum if only Mac had played his cards right like some Democrats did. But instead he’s a man of principle and a man of his word – just like most folks from where he grew up.
Hopefully, the November elections will turn this country around and put the brakes on the socialist lurch America has taken. If that happens, Thornberry will have new allies and will have the seniority to help guide our nation back onto the right path. But if it doesn’t, I am sure that Thornberry will continue his tireless battle against the forces on the left.
Either way, Donley County should be proud of the job Thornberry is doing, and everyone should take the time to let him know that.
Meanwhile…
President Barack Obama is concerned about the economy and was reported to be “hard at work” this week with his economic team. The game plan they came out of the White House locker room with is the same one they have been using – Blame Republicans.
The administration slammed Senate Republicans for blocking a small business lending bill, which Obama said is preventing economic growth and Republican leaders said is preventing tax increases.
Speaking as a small business owner and on behalf of other small businesses, Mr. President, I don’t need a loan right now. What I need is some certainty and consistency.
I need to know absolutely what your health care bill is going to do to my health insurance premiums. (Yes, I know they are going to skyrocket. Thank you, sir. But I need to know by how much exactly.)
I need to know what my income tax rate is going to be come April 15 if you don’t extend President Bush’s tax cuts. (Yes, I know you want to raise taxes on the rich. But exactly who is rich? Anyone not on welfare?)
I need to know what you’re going to do about Social Security and the fact that it is paying out more than it’s taking in. Are you going to raise my payroll taxes?
And most of all, Mr. President, how the hell do you propose we get out of this $13 trillion hole you have helped put us in? Is there a plan for that? Or do we all need to start learning to speak Chinese so we can communicate with our country’s new landlords?
I understand you inherited a mess, but you’ve just made it worse from my stand point.
So I need you to quit pointing fingers at other people and other parties, man up, and show some leadership and do it in a manner consistent with the principles that made this country great – Personal Freedom, Economic Liberty, and Individual Responsibility. Can you do that for me instead of taking a vacation to the Gulf of Mexico every damn weekend?
If you’ll take care of all that, I’ll take care of growing my business. In fact, I think I’ll take care of my business regardless of what you do.
Dean Arnold
Dean Arnold, 77, died Friday, August 27, 2010, in Clarendon.
Services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, August 30, 2010, in First Baptist Church in Howardwick with Rev. Dave Stout, Pastor, officiating. Interment was at 4 p.m. in Palo Duro Cemetery in Wildorado. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Dean was born September 20, 1932, in Holdenville, Oklahoma to Grady M. and Lena M. Roberts Arnold. He married Kathleen Sluder on November 21, 1962, in Amarillo. She preceded him in death on September 18, 1987. He then married Dorothy Lee Bradley on August 21, 1990 in McAlester, Oklahoma. He had been employed by Oldham County as County Maintenance prior to his retirement. He had been a resident of Howardwick for the past 17 years and had served two terms on the Howardwick City Council. He raised bird dogs and loved gardening. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Howardwick.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Kathleen on September 18, 1987; three brothers; and a sister.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Arnold of Howardwick; five sons, Bobby Arnold and wife Angie of Wildorado, Norvell Arnold and wife Jeannie of Amarillo, Wayne Morris and wife Debbie of Fritch, Earnest Morris of Lubbock, and Brian Johnson and wife Gwen of Ringwood, Oklahoma; two daughters, Becky King of Amarillo, and Peggy Arnold and husband Michael of Grass Valley, California; a brother, Bob Fletcher of Holdenville, OK; a sister, Alma Dominic of McAlester, OK; 15 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren with one on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family request memorials be sent to the First Baptist Church in Howardwick or Odyssey Hospice.
Winnie Samples Permenter
Winnie Samples Permenter, 75, died Wednesday, August 25, 2010, in Howardwick.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 28, 2010, in the Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Dave Stout officiating. Interment was held at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Mrs. Permenter was born on July 2, 1935, in Justiceburg, Garza County, Texas, to Rufus and Lillie Alexander Samples. She married Jerry Permenter on January 9, 1954 in Snyder. She had been a resident of Howardwick the past 10 years, moving from Amarillo. She worked at Amarillo High and Austin Middle School for 22 years. Winnie taught Sunday school for many years in Amarillo, Denver City, Levelland, and in Howardwick. She was a faithful member of the Howardwick Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Robert E. Samples; and her sister, Helen Samples Gentry.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry Permenter; three sons, Robert “Bob” Permenter, Jerry D. Permenter, and Jon Permenter all of Amarillo; her daughter, Pamela Permenter Gist of Brandon, Fl; two sisters, Joan Samples Bartow, and Violet Samples Parker both of Kalamazoo, Michigan; nine grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
The family requests that memorials be to ones favorite charity.
Mary Lou Glass
Mary Lou Glass, 76, died Wednesday, August 25, 2010, in Amarillo.
Services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 28, 2010, in the First United Methodist Church in McLean with Rev. Dave Stout, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Howardwick, officiating Interment followed at Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of McLean.
Mrs. Glass was born November 19, 1933, in Norman, Okla., to Roy Virgil and Eva Geraldine Roysden Miller. She had been a resident of McLean since 1956. She married James Dale Glass on August 17, 1958, at Friona. She was a home economics teacher most of her life having taught at Pampa, O’Donnel, McLean, Alanreed, Lakeview, and then at the Jordan Unit in Pampa before her retirement. She was a member of the Pioneer Study Club, Beta Sigma Phi, Singing Women of Texas [SWOT], several area bridge clubs, and was a volunteer with the Loaves and Fishes Ministry in McLean. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Howardwick.
She was preceded in death by her husband on July 30, 2009.
Survivors include five daughters, Maridale Glass Morgan and husband Steve of Plano, Sherry Kay Glass Kramer and husband Marvin of Skellytown, Jamie Lou Glass of Fort Worth, Terri Gaye Glass Luna of Clarendon, Angela Ruth Glass Burrus and husband Roddy of Dumas; one son, John David Glass of Dallas; three sisters, Linda Miller Tims and husband Clyde of Sunray, Donna Miller Mears and husband Sam of Friona, Jan Miller of Los Alamos, New Mexico; 10 grandchildren; and was expecting the birth of her first great grandchild very soon.
The family suggests that memorials be to the Loaves and Fishes Ministry in McLean or the First Baptist Church in Howardwick.
Senior spirit
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