Grant winners
Republicans to decide JP, commissioner races
Republican and Democratic voters will head to the polls in primary elections next Tuesday, March 1, to select their parties’ candidates for the general election this fall.
Early voting continues through this Friday, February 25, at the Donley County Courthouse Annex.
Voting on election day will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with balloting in the following locations by party:
Democrats – Precinct 303 will vote at the Hedley Lions Club, and all other county Democrats will vote at the Courthouse Annex.
Republicans – Precinct 303 will vote at the Hedley Baptist Church, and all other county Republicans will vote in the Commissioners’ Courtroom in the Donley County Courthouse. Due to ongoing repairs, those voting at the Courthouse must enter from the back door of the building on the Jefferson Street side of the square.
Voting registration cards have not gone out. If you have any question about which precinct you are in, contact either the Clerk’s Office at 806-874-3436 or the Tax Assessor’s office at 806-874-2193. All voters should bring a driver’s license or some form of ID with them.
The only locally contested races this year are on the Republican ballot. Running to be Justice of the Peace of Precincts 1 & 2 are Sarah Hatley, Connie Lane, and Kristen Taylor. Ashley Savage’s name is also on the ballot, but she told the Enterprise on February 1 that she had withdrawn as a candidate although the deadline to do so had already passed.
The other local competitive race on this year’s Republican ballot will be Precinct 4 Commissioner Dan Sawyer, who is being challenged by Brad Dalton.
Other local positions are uncontested, and those candidates are Judge John Howard, Treasurer Wanda Smith, Clerk Vicky Tunnell, Precinct 2 Commissioner Daniel Ford, and Precinct 3 & 4 Justice of the Peace Pat White.
Former Donley County deputy Randy Bond is also running for Constable of Precincts 3&4, a position that is currently vacant.
Candidates line up for city, school elections this spring
The City of Clarendon and Clarendon CISD will hold elections as the only two local governments to have contested races following the February 18 deadline to file for a place on the ballot.
Five other local governments will likely cancel their spring elections after only drawing enough candidates to fill the positions available or not having enough candidates at all.
Clarendon CISD incumbent Trustees Robin Ellis, Chuck Robertson, and Zack Robinson will be joined on the ballot by challenger Donny Howard as the four vie for three available seats.
The City of Clarendon also has four people running for three seats on the city council. Incumbent Aldermen John Lockhart, Larry Jeffers, and Eulaine McIntosh will be joined on the ballot by former alderman Tommy Hill.
Clarendon College had six positions available this year but only had four people sign up by Friday’s deadline. Incumbent Regents Jim Shelton, Lon Adams, and Chris Matthews all filed to keep their seats, and Shaun O’Keefe also filed for one of the available full six-year terms. Two other positions – a full term and a partial two-year term – remain open and could be filled by appointment.
Hedley Mayor Carrie Butler is unopposed for re-election. Incumbent Alderman Danny Russell also filed for re-election and will be joined on the board by Sandy Wilkinson.
A full slate of candidates filed for re-election in Howardwick without opposition. Incumbent Aldermen Mary Grady, Terry Barnes, and Del Essary will all serve new terms.
All incumbents on Donley County Hospital Board also filed for re-election without opposition, including Jan Farris – Place 4, Nikki Adams – Place 5, Mark C. White – Place 6, and Lori Howard – Place 7.
Hedley CISD incumbents Bruce Howard and Michael Metcalf both signed up with no opposition.
Elections for the City of Clarendon and Clarendon CISD are scheduled for Saturday, May 7.
CC spring enrollment up 4.46%
Clarendon College’s spring enrollment is up compared to a year ago as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are waning.
Following the census date on February 2 after the first 12 days of spring classes, CC is up 4.46 percent with a student headcount of 1,336 in all locations.
According to figures from CC Vice President of Academic Affairs Brad Vanden Boogaard, the Clarendon campus grew in student population by 23.6 percent from 233 a year ago to 288 this semester.
The CC Pampa Center grew 13.3 percent from 113 to 128, the Childress Center was up by three students with a headcount of 37, and the Amarillo Center was up by two with a total of 55.
Dual credit enrollment – students taking college credit classes through area high schools – fell 6.6 percent to 569, but Distance Education students – taking strictly online classes – was up from 141 to 143.
Classes taught in area corrections institutions grew overall, led by a 47.9 percent jump in enrollment at the Roach Unit, which has 71 students this semester compared to 48 one year ago.
Total contact hours for Clarendon College for the spring 2022 semester show an overall increase of 9.0 percent at 281,152compared to spring 2021.
Last year at this time, CC reported a total headcount of 1,279, which was down from 1,441 in spring 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The college’s highest spring enrollment was 1,477 in 2019.
Euna Eutiva “Tiva” Boyett Jackson
Euna Eutiva “Tiva” Boyett Jackson, of Howardwick passed away February 17, 2022.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 25, 2022, with Rev. Lance Wood officiating at First Baptist Church in Clarendon, Texas. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
She was born September 1934 to Roy and Euna Meeks in Waurika, Oklahoma. She graduated from Amarillo High School May 1951.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father; sisters, Jo Austin and Lou Lynch; brother, Jimmy Meeks and husband, Lee Jackson.
She is survived by two sons, Bobby Boyett and wife Jane and Tim Boyett; her step son, Gary Jackson and wife Debbie; step daughter, Trisha Horton and husband Craig; six grandkids; and 4 great grandkids.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be sent to Donley County Senior Citizens in Clarendon.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Patsy Earline Havens
Patsy Earline Havens, 75, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 18, 2022, in Liberal, KS after a long battle with kidney disease. Patsy was the first child born to Freddie Lawrence Hutson and Ollie Ruth (Fowler) on January 2, 1947 in Borger, Texas. She attended schools in Lelia Lake and Clarendon and lived most of her life in Donley County.
Patsy married the love of her life, Milton Lee Havens, on June 5, 1964, in Clarendon. They were married just short of 42 years before Milton passed away in May of 2005. Three children were born of this union: Preston, Regina, and John.
Patsy loved working alongside Milton in their lawn care business. She had an avid love and knowledge for flowers and old cars. She could identify any older car you would pass on the highway. Patsy worked as a waitress at various restaurants in Clarendon. She was involved in the Red Hat Society and the Rebekah Lodge in her later years, and enjoyed many friendships through those clubs.
Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Ruth Hutson, her husband Milton, brother Jimmy Hutson, brother-in-law Gus Havens, sisters-in-law Connie Havens and Lois Hutson, and great-grandson, Rip Maverick Gaillard.
Patsy is survived by her children, Preston Havens of Clarendon, Regina Gaillard and husband Steve, of Texhoma, OK, and John Havens and wife Brandi of Clarendon. She had 7 grandchildren: Amanda Stephan, Lane Gaillard (Corrine), Will Gaillard, Shayla Gaillard, Payton Havens, Calder Havens, and Addison Havens, and brother Shorty Hutson, brother in law Bob Havens and sister in law Lois Havens, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon on Monday, February 21.
Memorials may be made to Donley County Senior Citizen Center, 115 E. 114th St, Clarendon, TX 79226.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Pucker up!
Local GOP candidates speak to voters
Candidates for Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner gathered at the Bairfield Activity Center last Thursday, February 10, to state their positions and ask voters for support.
The forum was hosted by the Donley County Republican Party. All local candidates on this year’s primary ballot are Republicans.
GOP County Chairman Bill Word welcomed a crowd of about 40 people on a busy Thursday night.
“It is wonderful to see this level of interest in our election,” Word said.
Word said the party is in a “war against complacency” as voters may be tempted to stay home, but he urged voters to be active and said that a study showed if rural Texas could increase its voter turnout from its current 35 percent to 40 percent, it could overwhelm liberal urban voters.
He also urged local Republicans to consider signing up to be precinct chairs so that the local party can get more involved in state politics.
Candidates for the job of Precinct 1&2 Justice of the Peace took the stage next as Republican voters consider their choice for replacing Judge Pam Mason, who resigned in December.
Sarah Hatley talked about her roots in the community and service on several boards including the Donley County Child Welfare Board. She said she is running for the JP office because she believes the proper administration of the office is a vital part of county government.
“This role must be performed with the utmost care and dedication to fairness, and I believe I have the skills and abilities to fulfill that position,” Hatley said. “I will be fair, honest, and firm as the justice of the peace.”
Hatley, who has had a career in education for ten years, said her profession is not the same as it was when she started and said the opportunity to run for JP would let her make a change while still serving the community where she grew up and has chosen to raise her family.
Connie Lane, who is also running for JP, issued a call for younger people to get more involved in elections and said she has been getting people to sign up to vote. She is a 20-year resident of the county and raised her kids here and said that she worked closely with veterans’ affairs to get services for veterans while working with her late husband at Lane’s Plumbing & Electric.
As a licensed nurse who graduated from Clarendon College, Lane also said that her first career choice was not what it was when she began and that she seeks to serve in a new way.
“Anyone running for Justice of the Peace should be held to the highest code of ethics,” Lane said, and she promised to apply the rule of law without prejudice.
Kristen Taylor discussed her family and said she talked with former JP Pam Mason before deciding to run for office. She knew after that talk that she wanted to be the Justice of the Peace.
“I learned what the job is about and knew that I could do it,” she said.
Taylor called the office the “court closest to the people” and said that she and her husband own a small business. She said she works every day to set an example for her boys about honesty and integrity.
“I will do my best to uphold the office,” Taylor said. “I will be firm, fair, and unbiased.”
Ashlee Savage previously announced her candidacy for the JP of Precinct 1&2. She told the Enterprise on February 1 that she had withdrawn from the election. Her name still appears on the ballot, but she was not mentioned at the candidates’ forum.
Candidates for Precinct 4 County Commissioner were the next to speak.
Challenger Brad Dalton said that the purpose of government at any level is to serve the people. Following a career as a lineman for Southwestern Public Service, he retired to land near Alanreed that was settled by his family at the turn of the 20th century.
“I know about hard work and believe that if a person has a job, they should do that job,” Dalton said. “I will listen and use funds wisely for the best use of the county.”
Incumbent Commissioner Dan Sawyer said his roots in the county go back to 1874 with his great-grandfather serving as one of the early commissioners. He pointed out that Donley County is the fifth poorest county out of 254 in the state due to a lack of mineral and oil wealth, but he said that the county has built a positive fund balance without raising taxes while still taking care of county business in the eleven years he has been in office.
He pointed to improvements like the new JP office in Precinct 3&4, the maintenance and care of the 1890 Courthouse, and his role in negotiating wind energy developments along with other accomplishments during his tenure.
Sawyer was also proud of an outreach the county did this school year by inviting students to participate in commissioners’ court to learn more about local government.
Donley County Judge John Howard was the evening’s final speaker as he discussed the progress the county has made with the efficient use of funds, while still keeping taxes low.
Lady Broncos advance to Area
The Clarendon Lady Broncos clinched the Bi-District Championship Monday night with a 32-26 win over Stratford in Amarillo.
The win moves the Ladies to the Area Championship game, which will be held this Friday, February 18, against Bovina.
The game will be played at Canyon High School at 7:30 p.m. Details of the bi-district game and the area game will be printed in next week’s issue.
The Lady Broncos had little problems getting the win over Memphis at home last Tuesday night. In total control of the game, the ladies earned a 59-33 win.
Clarendon jumped on the Cyclones early and took a 33-10 lead into the locker room. Finley Cunningham put in nine points in the second quarter to help seal the win early in the game. Memphis struggled to put shots away and points on the board, while the Lady Broncos took advantage of turnovers and missed shots. Makenna Shadle turned up the heat in the final eight minutes and added six points in the win.
Cunningham led the way with 17 points that included five three-pointers. Shadle ended the game with 13 and Madie Smith helped with 10. Hayden Elam and Graci Smith put eight each and Courtlyn Conkin had two.
Grett Betts
Grett Betts, 58, of Clarendon died Friday, February 11, 2022, in Clarendon.
Services were held on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon. Graveside services with Masonic Rites followed at Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Grett was born October 28, 1963, in Hereford. He graduated from High School in Vega in 1982 and graduated from Clarendon College with an Associate’s in General Studies in 1984. Grett retired from the State of Texas in 2014 after 23 years of service. Grett worked for the City of Clarendon as the Animal Control / Code Enforcement Officer and saved several hundred dogs from euthanasia by working with PAWS in Pampa and local volunteers and fosters.
Grett married Miranda J. Holt from Quanah on August 12, 2015, in Hedley. They have four dogs, Murphy, Andy, Romeo and Lucious. (Andy and Romeo were two of his rescues from the city.)
Grett was also a Master Mason and Khiva Shriner for over 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his father: Horace “Butch” Betts; grandmother: Viola Betts; and grandfather: Horace “Pappy” Betts
He is survived by his wife,Miranda J. Betts (Holt) from Quanah; mother, Jerry Jane Betts; sisters, Dania Farah, Sheryl Neddermeyer; son, Will Betts; daughter, Brandi Wann; grandchildren, Maloree Wann, Hunter Wann, Mac Wann, and Raleigh Wann; nieces and nephews, Matthew Farah, Ashton Farah, Josh Neddermeyer, Hailey Neddermeyer, Landon Neddermeyer, Hannah Neddermeyer, and Marie Talinde.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
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