Swing!
Commissioners appoint Hatley as new JP
Donley County Commissioners appointed Sarah Hatley as the new Justice of the Peace for Precincts 1&2 during a called meeting last Tuesday, May 31.
Hatley sealed her party’s nomination to be the Republican candidate for the JP position a week earlier. With no Democratic opponent in the November General Election, Hatley is the de facto winner of the office. The JP’s position has been vacant since former judge Pam Mason resigned late last year.
Precinct 3&4 JP Pat White had been covering the duties of the vacant position before commissioners decided last week to go ahead and appoint Hatley so she can get started in her new position.
Hatley and Precinct 4 Commissioner Dan Sawyer won their election bids when Donley County Republicans cast ballots Tuesday, May 24.
In a run-off election, Hatley beat Connie Lane, 107-87, to be her party’s candidate for Justice of the Peace in Precincts 1&2. Hatley and Lane had been the top vote earners in a four-woman race for the position in the March 1 primary.
In Precinct 4, Sawyer defeated challenger Brad Dalton 58-43 in a re-vote of the March 1 primary.
Voter registration irregularities cast doubt on the original election with both men ultimately agreeing that a new election was in order and the district court agreed.
Sawyer also faces no opponent in the November election.
Museum, Chamber plan event June 16
The Saints’ Roost Museum will hold its Member Appreciation Day in conjunction with the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly Shop Donley County drawing on Thursday, June 16, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served, and door prizes will be given away for those in attendance.
The Chamber’s $500 Shop Donley County giveaway awards Chamber Cash to a lucky winner who shopped in one of the participating merchants each quarter. You do not have to be present to win, and you can sign-up at any of the participating merchants.
Shop Donley merchants currently includes: Cornell’s Country Store, Outpost Pharmacy, Henson’s, Every Nook & Cranny, A Fine Feathered Nest, Loaded Nutrition / Ramblin’ Ranch, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, J&W Lumber, Mike’s Pharmacy, Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack, Speed’s Tire Unlimited, and the Whistle-Stop.
Health costs, community surveys to be county discussions
Donley County Commissioners will be talking about health insurance and a possible way to get more grant funds for local communities when they hold their regular meeting next Monday.
County Judge John Howard says the county’s health insurance has gone up $93,000 in the last seven years, and commissioners are facing another 5.9 percent increase in premiums in the new budget, which takes effect in October. Some counties have seen increases of 14 percent, he said.
On Monday, June 13, commissioners will be looking at the amount of money county employees are expected to pay for their insurance as they try to balance the needs of the employees with the needs of the taxpayers.
Commissioners will also be talking about conducting community surveys to boost the ability for the county to apply for certain grants.
Howard said the American Community Survey currently reports that 42 percent of Donley County households are of low to moderate income. The survey is a figure that HUD gives to the US Department of Agriculture, which in turns uses it as a litmus test for Community Development Block Grants – either in scoring grants or sometimes whether a community can even apply for a grant.
The judge says local officials believe that the number of low to moderate income households in the county is significantly higher than the American Community Survey reports. Communities do, however, have the option of conducting their own survey. The City of Howardwick has done just that and opened the door to some CBDG funds, Howard said.
In the county’s case, the focus would be on securing a grant for the Donley County Hospital District to replace three aging ambulances. The district alone can’t apply for the grant in question. The county could apply for the grant funds, but only if 51 percent or more households are classified as low to moderate income.
On Monday, commissioners will discuss working with city officials in Clarendon and Hedley to get volunteers to conduct local surveys, the judge said.
“It makes a difference if someone from the federal government comes to your door or if it’s someone local who can explain how completing a survey can help the county,” Howard said.
If the effort is successful, the county could apply for up to $750,000 for the hospital district to buy three new ambulances, and the match from the hospital district would only be $7,500.
Howard said the survey data collected locally would be good for five years, allowing local cities and the county more eligibility for other grant opportunities during that time.
CJH Cheerleaders win award
Hedley NHS induction
Danny Eugene Gaines
Danny Eugene Gaines, 52, of Clarendon died Sunday, June 5, 2022, in Amarillo.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Jeff Riles, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Danny was born August 14, 1969, in Memphis to Alton and Billie Ruth Wilson Gaines. He was a lifelong resident of Clarendon where he was a graduate of Clarendon High School and worked for the City of Clarendon. Danny’s hobbies included going to the lake for camping and fishing, going to rodeos, horses, yard work and gardening. He married Angie Collins on December 30, 2004, in Armstrong County. He was a friend to many and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers, Richard and Benjamin Gaines.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Angie Gaines of Clarendon; two sons, Marquis McGuire and Robert “Squeaky” McGuire both of Clarendon; a daughter, Kendall Frost of Claude; four brothers, Alton Gaines of Clarendon, Johnnie Gaines of Amarillo, Randy Gaines of Amarillo, and Brent Gaines of Clarendon; his sister, Glenda Wilson of Clarendon; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
The family request memorials be sent to American Heart Association or Citizens Cemetery Association in Clarendon.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Peggy Sue Shults
Peggy Sue Shults, 64, of Gruver died Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in Gruver. Graveside services was held on Friday, June 3, 2022, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Peggy was born March 5, 1958, in Amarillo to James Haskell and Doyce Myrne Swearingen. She married Danny Lynn Shults on June 7, 1979, in Clarendon. Peggy had been a resident of Gruver since 1982 where she worked as a waitress for 11 years at El Vaquero and was a great housewife. Her hobbies included puzzles, every shape and size, and collected and pieced over 500 puzzles.
She also loved sitting on her porch at her house watching nature and her animals. She deeply loved her kids, grandkids, and her husband. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Gruver.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Danny Shults of Gruver; her son, Caleb Shults of Gruver; her daughter, Leah Crum of Spearman; her brother, Terry Swearingen of Amarillo; her sister, Penny McAnear of Clarendon; four grandchildren, Yancy, Shilah, Aidin, and Eastin; and several nieces and nephews.
The family request memorials be sent to the American Heart Association.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Joyce Marie Philley
Joyce Marie Philley went home to be with the Lord Monday, May 30, 2022, in Vernon, Texas.
There will be a private service at a later date.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Joyce was born September 25, 1938, to Luther and Clarice Hall in Clarendon, Texas.
She married Jim Philley in San Jon, New Mexico, December 25, 1985. He preceded her in
death November 25, 2017. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Clarendon, Texas.
Joyce is survived by her son Ricky Mills of Clarendon; two daughters, Janis Walker of Vernon and Karen Maddox and husband Herman of Vernon. She is also survived by granddaughters, Nasha Gibson, Kalee Massey, Jana Kay Walker, Erin Mills and Shayla Mills and one grandson, Adam Maddox. She is also survived by four great grandsons and two great granddaughters. Her brother Ronnie Hall and wife Brenda of Amarillo also survive her.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls Texas.
Countywide garage sale event this Saturday, June 4
Bargain shoppers will be in for a treat during the 17th annual “Trash to Treasures” garage sale event that will be held in Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick this Saturday, June 4.
A total of 23 individual garage sales are scheduled to be held as of Wednesday morning. A complete description of each sale is available here.
From furniture to antiques, this weekend’s sales will feature hundreds of treasures just waiting to be uncovered at bargain prices. Sales generally start at 8 a.m. and run throughout the day.
“Trash to Treasures” is being promoted with advertising dollars in area communities thanks to the support of the official sales depicted on the maps. Many people from neighboring counties are expected attend this year’s sales.
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