Hedley beats Patton Springs
H’wick man hospitalized after shooting incident
A Howardwick man remained hospitalized Monday following a shooting incident last Wednesday, September 7.
Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said the man, whose name has not been released, will be facing a third degree felony charge of Deadly Conduct when he gets released from the hospital.
Blackburn said his office was called to Borger Street in Howardwick last Wednesday evening on a report that man possibly on drugs was hallucinating and shooting firearms in the direction of people’s residences.
When a deputy and the Department of Public Safety arrived, the man went inside his trailer house and fired several more rounds.
Sheriff Blackburn and two deputies entered the trailer armed with shotguns and a beanbag shotgun. The individual would not lay down his weapon, so he was shot with the bean bag gun, the sheriff said.
It was soon learned that he had been severely injured by the bean bag. The man was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital where he remained at press time.
Blackburn said the Texas Rangers are investigating the case at his request.
City sets new fiscal year sales tax record
The City of Clarendon set a record when Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar distributed monthly sales tax allocations to local governments last week.
City Administrator David Dockery said the September allocation pushed total sales tax revenues beyond the half a million dollars mark for the first time for a fiscal year, with receipts for fiscal year 2022 totaling more than $502,000.
The city’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. Sales taxes reports are reported by the comptroller by the calendar year.
September’s allocation for Clarendon was actually down 7.32 percent at $37,878.59. The city’s calendar year total for 2022 is still up 5.1 percent at $377,491.81.
Hedley was up for the month 20.09 percent at $700.80 but is 14.5 percent down for 2022 at $8,613.03.
Howardwick was up 5.68 percent for the month and is 6.39 up for the year at $15,673.10.
Statewide, the comptroller delivered $1.04 billion in local sales tax allocations for September, 13.1 percent more than in September 2021. These allocations are based on sales made in July by businesses that report tax monthly.
City asks for cars to be moved for street work
The City of Clarendon is asking residents’ cooperation as work gets underway next week on the 2022 seal coat program.
City Hall requests that all obstructions – including vehicles and trailers – be moved off streets set to be worked on next week. Officials say that if a vehicle or other object is still in the roadway when work begins, it will be removed by wrecker at the owner’s expense.
Streets scheduled for seal coat work include:
East Fourth Street from South Carhart to US 70 South; South Carhart from US 287 to East Browning; Clarendon Ave from South Bugbee past Collinson; South Allen Street from West Fifth to West Third; South Bugbee from West Eighth to West Sixth; South Taylor from West Third to West Sixth; South Ellerbe from West Third to West Sixth; and North Jefferson from West White to West Dyer.
This project will take one to two days to complete and will start Tuesday, September 20, at 8:00 a.m.
Broncos beat Booker
The Broncos put a great game plan together on the road last Friday and were able to defeat the Booker Kiowas 46-20.
The win was the first of the season for the Broncos, and they are currently one win and two losses.
Texas Tech recruit and senior Jmaury Davis had a stellar game with 317 total yards on 20 carries. Davis found the endzone five different times in the game. Lyric Smith carried 10 times for 87 yards and one touchdown. Credit goes to the Bronco line for opening up the Kiowa defense for the ball carriers.
Quarterback Harrison Howard had a good game from his position throwing for 21 yards on three out of six passes. Howard was able to throw a 12-yard strike to Mason Sims for six.
The Bronco defense played solid the entire game, and four players finished with double figure tackles. Anthony Ceniceros and Colton Benson had 11 tackles each, and Ceniceros added one quarterback sack to his stats. Jared Musick and Wilson Ward each grabbed 10 tackles and Ward had one fumble recovery.
“The kids played good against Booker,” head coach Clint Conkin said.
The Broncos hope to get another win as they travel to Smyer September 16. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Charles Lester Petty
Charles Lester Petty, 83, of Clarendon passed away Saturday, September 10, 2022.
Graveside services were held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Larry Capranica, officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Lester was born on September 6, 1939, in Dallas to Harley Ward and Joyce Mae Petty. He was a resident of Quail before moving to Hedley where he met and married the love of his life, Shirley Stone on October 23, 1958. They moved to Clarendon that same year where he began his career working for Harvie Price at Price’s Truck Stop. He went on to manage Kerr-McGee, then later bought and operated Petty’s Texaco. In his free time, he spent his days raising livestock with kids and grandkids for 4-H and FFA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; and one sister.
He is survived by his wife Shirley of 64 years; son, Dennis Petty and wife Ruth of Clarendon; daughter, Lacrecia Garza and husband David of Amarillo; three grandkids, Ryan Petty of Clarendon, Ashley Petty of Amarillo, and Chelsea Danner of Amarillo; one great granddaughter, Kendall Danner of Amarillo who was the apple of his eye; a sister, Pat Woodard of Memphis; and several nieces and nephews.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
DA on probation violation: ‘That didn’t take long’
One of the supporting characters from a 2021 “Thelma & Louise” style run from the law found himself back in front of the 100th Judicial District Court in Clarendon August 25.
Rueben Campos, 38, from Amarillo, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for the state jail felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the case for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.
“Well, that didn’t take long,” Inman said. “The defendant couldn’t even keep his nose clean for 90 days on probation, so bad for him but good for the rest of the community.
Campos was arrested on May 21, 2021, by Donley County Deputy Brian Stevens. Another man and two women were arrested the same day, with them women attempting run from the law in a stolen car before running it off into a ravine south of Clarendon.
Campos was originally placed on probation on July 21, 2021.
The State filed a motion asking the Court to adjudicate Campos’ probation on October 19, 2021, alleging five violations of probation.
At the hearing on August 25, Campos admitted violating his probation conditions, and Messer sentenced him to the 16-month prison term.
“This guy wasn’t even one of our local undesirables,” said Caudle. “He was an Amarillo criminal who drifted a little too far away from home to commit this crime. Maybe he will remember to not come back to Donley County when he gets out.”
Campos was also ordered to pay the remaining $2,500 fine and $305 in court costs.
Cub Scouts planning sign-ups
Owl Royalty
CC reports enrollment drop
Clarendon College reported lower fall enrollment this week as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to trickle through the institution.
Total headcount following the 12th class day last week was reported at 1,285, reflecting an 8.1 percent drop from 1,399 one year ago.
CC President Tex Buckhaults said about half of the loss in enrollment came in the college’s nursing program, which he said had a lower starting class two years ago that continues to get smaller as students move through the program. The other major enrollment drops were seen in different programs.
Buckhaults said last year’s numbers were higher than they might have been except for some student athletes who stayed enrolled at CC in different classes or certificate programs while they enjoyed a third year of eligibility resulting from COVID cutting short the 2020 seasons.
Some programs are experiencing growth, however, with the rodeo program “busting at the seams,” the president said.
CC has fewer students on its Clarendon campus this year, 288 down from 331 last fall, and on its Pampa Campus, 100 down from 150. The cosmetology center in Amarillo is stayed even at 66. Enrollment in Childress is 34, down just two from a year ago.
Dual credit classes increased slightly from 605 last year to 616 this fall.
The number of students taking courses through area correctional facilities was even at 81.
Distance education students – those taking classes strictly online – dropped from 130 to 100.
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