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With the sign-up deadline coming up soon, it appears the City of Clarendon will be the only one out of six local governments that will be having an election this spring.
Clarendon had five people running for two positions Tuesday afternoon, while other local boards either only had enough candidates to fill the terms available or were still looking for candidates to sign up.
Clarendon has five positions available. Incumbent Aldermen Ashlee Estlack and Eulaine McIntosh are seeking re-election to two full terms and are being challenged by Jeremy Jeffers, Brittney Wolfe, and Richard Dzamko. As of Tuesday afternoon, no one had signed up to run for mayor or for either of the two unexpired terms that are also up on the council.
In Hedley, all three incumbent city aldermen have filed for re-election – Larry Ely, Tonya Gibson, and Jennifer Floyd.
Howardwick also has a full slate of candidates. Mayor Pro-tem Johnny Floyd has signed up to run for the vacant mayor’s position, while Alderman Jada Murray has filed to run again, and Matt Moore has also filed for the other available alderman’s position.
Incumbents Michael Metcalf and Bruce Howard have signed up for the two positions on the Hedley CISD Board, but only incumbent Robin Ellis has filed for the three positions on the Clarendon CISD Board.
The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has had two of three incumbents up this year running so far. Rose Lemley – Place One and Cindy Shelton – Place Three are seeking re-election. No one has signed up for Place Two as of Tuesday.
All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the board. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.
Filing continues through Friday, February 14. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Gary Lynn Essary, 71, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Amarillo.
He was born January 2, 1954, in Plainview to J.T. Essary and Patsy June (Gorman) Essary. Gary was raised in Plainview where he graduated from Plainview High School in 1972. Gary enjoyed a career in Municipal Water Treatment, working 10 years for the City of Plainview and 24 years for the City of Lubbock. Gary was an avid bowler for many years. Then after retiring to Howardwick he enjoyed camping, golf, family and friends.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Wilma Stephenson; and son-in-law, Mikey Cox.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Christy Essary of Howardwick; seven children, April Cox of Onalaska, Texas, Danny Essary (Jody) of Odessa, Texas, Dale Essary of Saginaw, Texas, Sean Palmore of Beeville, Texas, Fallon Palmore (Luis Rodriguez) of Dimmitt, Texas, Amber Palmore of Lubbock, Texas, and Brandy Judd (Kyle) of Howardwick, Texas; brother, Del Essary of Howardwick; seventeen grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
As per his wishes, no funeral will be held. A family gathering with close friends will be planned at a later date.
The family would like to thank the caring staff of NW Texas Hospital, The Craig Rehabilitation Center, and Gentiva Hospice.
It will be a full house Friday night when the Mulkey Theatre hosts Josh Weathers and his band for a night of great music.
Tickets sold quickly for the Fort Worth-based singer and songwriter, who has a large following in West Texas and the Panhandle.
Weathers has spent the last 15 years honing his craft of combining songs of hope with a high energy rock n’ soul live show. Weathers sings everything from country to pop to blues to classic rock as well as his own songs.
Weathers has performed everywhere from Hotel Turkey to President Donald Trump’s inauguration ball in 2017.
Since a video of him singing “I Will Always Love You” – the classic Dolly Parton hit – went viral a few years ago, it has expanded Josh’s reach to a national and global level. Many people have compared him to the likes of John Mellencamp, Springsteen or even Stevie Wonder, but his diehard fan base has found something incredibly unique about his ability to connect with an audience.
For those who have tickets, the doors and concessions will open at 6 p.m. The show will begin at 8 p.m. A cash bar service will be provided by REFZ Sports Bar & Grill, and the dance floor will be also open. No BYOB will be allowed at this performance.
The Mulkey will not have a regular movie this weekend and will be closed Saturday and Sunday. The theatre will re-open Friday, February 7, for its regular hours. See mulkeytheatre.com for listings.
One Donley County case was among three heard by the 100th Judicial District Court when it met in Childress County January 14.
District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Dale Rabe presiding.
Donny Lee Fair, 53, from Clarendon, was sentenced to 31 years in prison for the third-degree felony offense of failure to comply with sex offender registration enhanced to a first-degree felony, that occurred in Donley County on July 17, 2022.
Fair was originally placed on probation for the offense on December 14, 2023. On August 22, 2024, the State filed its motion requesting the Court to revoke Fair’s probation, alleging 19 violations of his conditions of probation.
Fair was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and $340 court costs.
Humberto Olascoaga, 44 from Childress, was placed on two years’ probation for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Olascoaga was arrested by Childress Police Officer Daniel Hill on September 30, 2024.
Olascoaga pleaded to an information filed by the State on December 12, 2024.
Olascoaga was also ordered to pay a $500 fine, $340 in court costs, $180 lab fee, and complete 100 hours of community service. If his probation is adjudicated, Olascoaga faces up to two years in prison.
Nia Tranise Moorer, 27 from Oakland, Calif., was placed on five years’ probation for the state jail felony offense of collision involving injury.
Moorer was arrested by Memphis Police Chief Rex Plant on February 8, 2024. Moorer was indicted by a Hall County Grand Jury on October 9, 2024.
Moorer was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $290 in court costs, and complete 100 hours of community service. If her probation is adjudicated, Moorer faces up to two years in prison.
Entering week two of the sign-up period, the cities of Clarendon and Hedley, along with the Donley County Hospital District, have had candidates step forward for the spring election period.
Incumbent Clarendon Aldermen Ashlee Estlack and Eulaine McIntosh and challengers Jeremy Jeffers and Brittney Wolfe have signed up for the two full terms expiring this year on city council. No candidates have signed up for mayor’s seat or the two partial terms on the council as of Monday morning.
In Hedley with three aldermen’s seats up this year, incumbent Jennifer Floyd has filed to run for re-election.
The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has had two of three incumbents up this year running so far. Rose Lemley – Place One and Cindy Shelton – Place Three are seeking re-election.
No change in Howardwick this week with Howardwick Alderman and Mayor Pro-tem Johnny Floyd has signed up to run for the vacant mayor’s position, while Alderman Jada Murray has filed to run again. Matt Moore has also filed for the other available alderman’s position.
Also no one has signed up for the three positions on the Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees or the two positions on the Hedley CISD Board as of Monday morning.
All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the board. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.
Filing continues through Friday, February 14. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 3, 2025.
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