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Growing the pride
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The Clarendon Enterprise - Spreading the word since 1878.
Clarendon College has received a grant of $670,423 to expand distance learning opportunities, according to information from CC and the USDA.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday a significant expansion of access to health care and educational services for millions of rural Americans nationwide. This announcement continues to move forward President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda by prioritizing economic growth in rural America and investing in the middle class.
The money for Clarendon College will be used to purchase state-of-the-art video communication systems to be located on the main campus in Clarendon, as well as branch locations in Childress, Pampa, and Shamrock.
The college will use these systems to allow instructors on one campus to teach classes at other rural sites that lack the faculty for those subjects. Specifically, expanding the availability of nursing courses and in the delivery of ranch and feedlot operations courses will address workforce needs in the Texas Panhandle and benefit approximately 29,000 residents.
“The college is excited to use the grant funds to enhance learning for current and future students,” CC President Tex Buckhaults said.
The grant will allow CC to work with other schools in the region, other counties, states, and even globally. Specific plans include expanding educational opportunities to provide students with core courses, electives, dual credit courses, and advanced placement. The college also aims to use the grant to improve academic achievement and expand opportunities for dual credit and college readiness and to provide a community resource for the facilitation of workforce development, job training, community meetings, continuing education, and professional development.
Enhancements on the Clarendon campus will include a digital screen and new sound system in the Bairfield Activity Center and improvements in the Courson Ranch Operations Center and in the CC video conference room in the Instructional Center, Buckhaults told the Enterprise.
“For too long, the ‘digital divide’ has left too many people living in rural communities behind: unable to compete in the global economy and unable to access the services and resources that all Americans need,” Vilsack said. “As we build back better than we were before, the actions I am announcing today will go a long way toward ensuring that people who live or work in rural areas are able to tap into the benefits of broadband, including access to specialized health care, educational opportunities and the global marketplace. Rural people, businesses and communities must have affordable, reliable, high-speed internet so they can fully participate in modern society and the modern economy.”
Clarendon is hosting a fun-filled day of trick-or-treating, games, food, movies, and more this Saturday, October 30.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the 200 block of Kearney St. , the Chamber of Commerce is organizing merchants and vendors with trick-or-treating, shopping, food trucks, and a vendor fair. Burton Memorial Library will also be announcing the winner of their scarecrow contest.
Coffee Memorial Blood Center will hold a blood drive from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mulkey.
The Chamber will hold a Carnival, Cake Walk, Sensory Room, and free activities from 3 to 7 p.m. at 118 S. Kearney.
The First United Methodist Church will host its annual trunk-or-treat in front of the church from 5 to 7 p.m. Kids can also get treats downtown starting at 5:30 p.m. when the Mulkey Theatre will be hosting a Trunk or Treat along with a Costume Contest and concessions out in front of the theatre. There will be prizes for best costumes and best decorated vehicle.
Saturday in Howardwick, at 7 p.m. there will be a trunk-or-treat and announcement of the AR15 raffle at McMorries Memorial Park.
The Mulkey Theatre will also have a free movie at 7:30 p.m., The Addams Family 2, sponsored by Robertson Funeral Directors.
The Donley County Health Fair will be held Thursday, October 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center.
Eighteen booths will be featured at this year’s health fair with retina screenings and oral health care, along with many more services available to the area communities. The health fair features free COVID vaccinations, flu shots, and blood screenings (fasting) for PSA, A1C, Lipids, Glucose, and more.
Additionally, Coffee Memorial will be on hand Thursday to host a community blood drive at the Bairfield Activity Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The health fair is sponsored by the Donley County AgriLife Extension, Donley County Hospital District, Clarendon College, Clarendon Family Medical Center, and Mike’s Pharmacy.
For more information, call the Extension Office at 806-874-2141.
Texas voters will head to the polls Tuesday, November 2, to decide the fate of eight proposed amendments to the state constitution.
Early voting continues this week through Friday. Early votes can be cast at the Courthouse Annex.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Tuesday for the General Election. Voters must bring their voter’s registration card and their driver’s license or similar ID with them. Check your registration card for your voting precinct.
Polling locations are Precinct Box 101 – Bairfield Activity Center, Clarendon College; Precinct Box 102 – Howardwick City Hall; Precinct Box 201 – Donley County Courthouse, Clarendon; Precinct Box 301 – Fellowship Hall, Assembly of God Church, Clarendon; Precinct Box 303 – First Baptist Church, Hedley; and Precinct Box 401 – Family Life Center, Church of Christ Church, Clarendon.
By Andrew Zhang, The Texas Tribune
Texas voters can soon weigh in on potential changes to the state’s Constitution regarding religious services, eligibility requirements for judges, county infrastructure and more.
Election day is November 2, and early voting lasts until October 29.
The proposed additions to the Texas Constitution were passed as bills during this year’s legislative session, and a majority of voters in the state must approve each amendment before it can be officially added to the Constitution. In 2017, Texas voters approved all seven amendments on the ballot; in 2019, voters greenlighted nine out of 10 proposed changes.
There are no state elected seats on the ballot this November.
Under each proposition, we have included the recommendations from Progress Texas, the Texas Freedom Caucus and the editorial boards of some major Texas newspapers: Austin American-Statesman, The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth-Star Telegram, San Antonio Express-News (Propositions 1-4, 5-8) and Houston Chronicle (only endorsed for Propositions 2 and 3). Progress Texas is a progressive media organization, and the Freedom Caucus is a conservative advocacy group in the Texas House of Representatives.
Here’s the breakdown of each proposed amendment.
Proposition 1: rodeo raffles
Proposition 1 would allow charitable raffles at rodeo events. Unauthorized raffles can be considered illegal gambling under Texas law.
In 2015, voters approved a rule to allow charitable raffles at professional sports games. The resulting change created fundraising opportunities for education, cancer research and youth programs, according to an amendment analysis.
The constitutional amendment on the ballot this November would extend that permission to rodeo events by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
For: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, Progress Texas, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board
Against: Texas Freedom Caucus
Proposition 2: tax financing for county infrastructure
This amendment would authorize counties to issue bonds or notes to raise funds for transportation infrastructure in underdeveloped areas. Already, cities and towns have the authority to fund projects with this financing method.
Counties would repay these bonds by pledging increased property tax revenues, but these funds cannot be used for construction, maintenance or acquisition of toll roads.
For: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, Houston Chronicle Editorial Board, Progress Texas, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board
Against: Texas Freedom Caucus
Proposition 3: restrictions on religious services
If approved, Proposition 3 would ban the state from prohibiting or limiting religious services, including those in churches and other places of worship.
The move stems from conflicts over churches that closed during the early months of the pandemic in 2020. Some local officials extended stay-at-home orders to include places of worship, requiring them to limit attendance or make services virtual — a trend Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans pushed back on.
But critics of the proposal worry the change could prevent the government from acting to protect people in future emergencies, such as evacuations and public health emergencies.
For: The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Texas Freedom Caucus
Against: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, Houston Chronicle Editorial Board, Progress Texas, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board
Proposition 4: state judge eligibility
Proposition 4 would require candidates to have 10 years of experience practicing law in Texas to be eligible for election to the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals or a Texas court of appeals. Currently, the law requires 10 years of experience but allows for out-of-state experience.
Additionally, candidates running to be a district judge would need eight years of law practice or judicial experience in a Texas court, up from the current requirement of four years.
Proponents of the change argue it could create a higher-quality judiciary, but opponents say the proposed requirements could reduce voter choice and diversity within the candidate pool. In Texas, judges are elected by popular vote.
For: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board
Against: Progress Texas
Neutral: Texas Freedom Caucus
Proposition 5: judicial misconduct process
Proposition 5 would allow the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to have oversight of candidates running for judicial seats by accepting complaints or reports, conducting investigations and reprimanding them. The commission, an independent agency created by the state Constitution, already has these powers over current judicial officeholders.
For: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, Texas Freedom Caucus
Against: Progress Texas
Proposition 6: essential caregiver designation
This amendment would allow residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to designate one essential caregiver who cannot be denied in-person visitation rights. If the proposition passes, the Legislature would create further guidelines for these caregivers.
Like Proposition 3, Proposition 6 also comes as a response to pandemic-era restrictions. Nursing homes, which were hit particularly hard by COVID-19, saw extended visitation restrictions that prevented residents from seeing family and friends for months.
For: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, Progress Texas, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, Texas Freedom Caucus
Proposition 7: property tax exemptions for bereaved families
Proposition 7 would put a limit on school district property taxes incurred by the surviving spouse of a person with disabilities older than 65 who has died. The surviving spouse must be at least 55 years old at the partner’s time of death and still live in the home.
The amendment is necessary to update the Constitution in accordance with the tax code, which was modified in the 2019 legislative session to include this change. If approved, individuals eligible for these tax breaks could receive refunds on collections in 2020 and 2021.
The resolution could reduce school district property tax revenue and increase state funding in accordance with Texas public school funding formulas, according to analysis of the amendment. However, the exact cost of the change cannot be estimated because the number of surviving spouses is unknown.
For: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, Progress Texas, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, Texas Freedom Caucus
Proposition 8: property tax exemptions for military families
Proposition 8 would expand eligibility for residential homestead tax exemptions to include spouses of military members killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.
Currently, the exemption is extended to spouses of military members killed in action. The new eligibility would include people killed in accidental vehicle crashes or non-hostile events.
This exemption would apply to fewer than 10 people per year, according to analysis of the amendment.
For: Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board, The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board, Progress Texas, San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, Texas Freedom Caucus
The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/15/texas-constitution-amendment-election/
AUSTIN—Today, State Senator Kel Seliger announced he will not seek re-election.
“After thoughtful consideration and with the reassurance of my family, including my new very
vocal granddaughter, I have decided not to be a candidate for re-election to the Texas Senate. From my first campaign in 1989 to today, I have felt overwhelmingly proud to serve the
Panhandle, South Plains, and the Permian Basin.”
Seliger is most known for his unwavering support of local control, public education, higher
education, sexual assault awareness and prevention, and battling human trafficking. He authored hundreds of pieces of legislation, most notably, Senate Bill 463, creating Individual Graduation Committees and Senate Bill 150, providing capital construction projects at every higher education institution in the state. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in the reworking of highstakes testing regimens in public schools. He also authored the first bill requiring ethical disclosure of dark money in political campaigns in the nation.
“It has been a great honor to represent the people, schools, and businesses of Senate District 31
for the past 17 years in the Texas Legislature. The opportunity to serve as Chairman of the
Senate Higher Education Committee and Senate Select Committee on Redistricting, as well a
longtime member of the Finance and Education Committees, allowed me to be impactful in areas of great importance to me and the entire state.”
“I am no less dedicated to the fundamental principles of smaller government, local control, and
real fiscal conservatism as I was when I first ran for the Texas Senate. I will continue to serve
the great constituents of Senate District 31 for the remainder of my term. I am forever grateful
for my family, supporters, staff, and those who have worked on my behalf since 2004. Thank
you for placing your trust in me as your Texas State Senator.”
The City of Clarendon ended fiscal year 2021 in very good financial position in addition to completing major improvement projects, according to information presented at the October 14 City Council meeting.
Mayor Sandy Skelton, in discussing the year-end financial reports, noted that the city finished the fiscal year more than $420,000 in the black, and City Administrator David Dockery reported that sales tax collections came in at an all-time high, totaling $477,790.77, up 12.92 percent from $416,043 at the end of fiscal year 2020.
Dockery said if the sales tax collection trend continues, the city will bring in more than $500,000 in sales taxes in the next fiscal year.
Skelton said city leaders intend to use part of the city’s gains to fund further street improvements.
The mayor noted that the city had managed to finish the year in a strong position even with big projects – such as the completion of the new aquatic center, the completion of the USDA water infrastructure improvement projects, and resurfacing several blocks of streets – thanks to the hard work of the city staff, department heads, and the administrator.
The USDA project also was completed with approximately $250,000 left in those allotted funds, and city engineers are working to develop a plan to use those remaining funds to replace additional cast iron water lines that are as much as 80 years old. During last week’s meeting, the council approved a supplemental agreement with KSA Engineers to perform that design work.
The city also has approximately $220,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan (COVID-relief) that it can use for certain infrastructure improvements, and city leaders are considering the best way to utilize that money.
In other city business, city aldermen were informed during the Code Enforcement Report that the house at 602 S. Bugbee, which has been a problem property for more than seven years, has been purchased and the new owners have plans to repair the home.
The council approved a request by Larry Hicks to abandon parts of Allen Street and the alley between Fifth and Sixth streets at Allen after a buyer’s survey revealed improvements were in the city’s right-of-way. The council also required that the abandoned areas be resurveyed and added to the property deed.
Aldermen also approved the annual contract for property tax collection with the Donley Appraisal District and adopted the annual resolution designating The Clarendon Enterprise as the city’s official newspaper of general circulation.
The council considered and approved the annual budgets of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund budget of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.
The FY 2022 city fund investment policy was approved, and the city administrator and city secretary were named as the city’s fund investment officers.
Aldermen approved a request to close a portion of Kearney Street for a block party at the Mulkey Theatre on November 6.
Dockery also updated the board on warranty work that is needed at the aquatic center and his discussions with the general contractor to see that the work is done in a timely fashion in order for the center to open on time next season.
The Donley County Community Fund is taking applications for grant applications.
If your organization is a 501(c)3 non profit, government entity, or a school, you are encouraged to apply. You can request funds for special projects or any need your organization might have up to $1,000.
Applications are available at the Clarendon Visitor Center or from Jacob Fangman at Herring Bank or online at https://bit.ly/3FTOTC6.
Applications are due by November 22, 2021.
A slow but steady decline continues to be the trend among COVID-19 cases in Donley County.
The Clarendon Family Medical Center reported Tuesday that it is monitoring 10 active cases this week, down from 13 last Tuesday.
Six new cases of the disease were confirmed by the clinic in the last week. There have now been 513 confirmed cases at the clinic since the pandemic began.
Local health officials continue to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccination rates continue to improve slowly among Donley County residents.
The Texas Tribune reports this week that 33.5 percent of Donley County residents are fully vaccinated. That represents a total of 1,092 people, up from 1,065 two weeks ago. The Tribune says 1,293 local residents, or 39.7 percent, have received the first of two vaccination shots.
The Moderna vaccine is available at no charge at the local clinic for everyone ages 18 and up. The Pfizer vaccine is available in Amarillo for kids ages 12 and over.
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