Roger Estlack

The 18th annual Area I, National FFA Organization Leadership Conference will be held on the campus of Clarendon College, June 19-21.

Attending the conference will be outstanding young men and women who serve as State FFA Officers, Area FFA Officers and District Presidents.

Some of the activities for FFA members during the conference will include leadership activities, as well as planning activities for the Texas State Convention.  Agricultural education teachers will also be conducting their 2000-2001 planning session.

The Texas Area I region covers from the top of the Panhandle and south to Lubbock.

For more information, contact Jerry Hawkins at (806) 874-3571.

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court formally accepted a state grant to restore the courthouse Tuesday morning.

The court approved a resolution in a called meeting authorizing Judge Jack Hall to execute the advance funding agreement to facilitate the county’s participation in the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.

The court also unanimously approved granting a preservation easement on the courthouse to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The easement would prevent the county from making substantial changes to the appearance of the building for 50 years unless approved by the THC.

Jerry Woodard, president of the local Herring National Bank, addressed the court to discuss options for financing the courthouse project. Woodard was complimentary of the court’s efforts.

“I would like to commend the Commissioners’ Court and Judge Hall for the work they’ve done in getting this grant,” he said. “It is going to be a benefit to our community.”

The court took no action on financing, but Judge Hall said the county would like to do as much of the financing as possible locally.

John Kiehl, regional services director of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, reviewed the proposed architectural services agreement submitted by Volz & Associates, Inc., with the court.

No action was taken on the agreement, and the matter will be discussed further in another called meeting of the court this Friday. Financing options will also be discussed.

Last month the state awarded the county a $2.9 million grant to completely restore the 1890 Courthouse. The county must match 15 percent of those funds.

The THC is administering the grant program and reportedly is pushing for the courthouse projects around the state to get underway as soon as possible.

“THC wants to have something tangible to show the Legislature when it asks for more money to fund other projects next year,” Kiehl said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Guidelines put in place by the THC call for the county to have its plan in place for financing the matching funds as well as having approved an agreement with an architect by June 12, 2000.

The next regular meeting of the Commissioners’ Court will be Monday morning.

Despite rainy weather, the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association (COEA) reported a good turnout for the Ranch Rodeo held over the weekend.

Overall winner of the event was the Crockett Ranch team composed of Brock Crockett, Kenny Chambers, Jeffrey Burkes, Will Shaw, and Greg Stephens.

The Darrell Wines Ranch came in second. Team members were Darrell Wines, Hoho Pettit, Kyle Everson, and Bobby Pauspky. The JA Ranch team of Billy Hollowell, Rhett Cauble, Randall Gates, Andrew Bivins, and Niña Bivins came in third. Fourth place went to the High Card Ranch team made up of Morris Crump, Randy Crump, Larry Crump, Ray Crump, Jerry Hodge, and Chris Halsell.

Lonnie Brown was named the Top Hand at the rodeo, and Danny Bennett had the Top Horse. Chris Halsell won the Bronc Riding contest for the High Card Ranch.

The JA Ranch won the Wild Cow Milking, and the Darrell Wines Ranch came out on top in Team Doctoring. The Crockett Ranch won both the Team Penning and Calf Branding categories.
Lon Davis won the drawing for the spurs.

COEA spokesperson Theresa Shelton said the rain caused Friday night’s performance to be moved to Sunday, but she said there were no complaints about that.

By Jackie Boyd

The City of Hedley has received a grant for water system improvement. The grant of $247,695 was made available through the Texas Community Development Program.

The goal of the project is to remove the old lines and replace them with new and even larger lines in some areas.

According to Randy Shaw, Hed-ley City Secretary, some of the lines currently being used have been there since 1927 and are in major need of replacement.

“Our biggest concern right now is to get rid of the lead seals and lead lines that are currently being used,” said Shaw.

Some of the main lines are a cast-iron pipe with a lead seal connecting them, and most of the service lines to houses are lead lines as well. There are also some problems with leakage in the lines.

Approximately 1,350 feet of four inch PVC pipe, 7,900 feet of six inch PVC pipe, 1,080 feet of eight inch pipe, and 3,100 feet of three-quarter inch service tubing will be replaced.
In addition to the replacement of the lines, three new fire hydrants will be added. Shaw said a major advantage to adding the fire hydrants will be the improvement of Hedley’s fire fighting abilities.

The project is slated to start in the spring of 2001 and will last approximately three months. The work will include most sections of town with 115 residents benefiting.

Shaw hopes the improvements made to the lines will improve water quality and service to the customers.

In a press release, Senator Phil Gramm expressed his enthusiasm about towns in Texas receiving Community Development Block Grants.

“I am pleased that some of the tax dollars sent by Texans to Washington are being returned to benefit area citizens by financing improvements to the areas where we work and live every day,” Gramm said.

“My strong commitment is to assure a fair return to Texas taxpayers on the money we pay in federal taxes,” the senator said.

The Community Development Block Grant program, one of HUD’s largest, is designed to assist communities in carrying out a wide range of development activities aimed at neighborhood revitalization, economic development and improved community facilities and services.

Gramm is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which has authority over the CDBG program.

This year was one of the largest Memorial Day weekends at Greenbelt Lake.

The permit booths sold 6,000 daily permits with 1,000 boat permits, and the Lakeside Marina also sold approximately 2,000 permits.

This is the biggest Memorial Day I can remember in a while, said Bobbie Kidd of Greenbelt Water Authority.