Ben Estlack

August brings public notices to Texans as local governments begin to figure their budgets and tax rates for the coming fiscal year.

This week’s Enterprise includes notices from the Donley County Hospital District, which will set its tax rate on August 20 at 6 p.m.; the City of Hedley, which will have a budget hearing on August 22 at 6:30 p.m.; Hedley CISD, which will consider its budget and proposed tax rate on August 19 at 6:00 p.m.; and the City of Clarendon, which will hold a hearing on its proposed budget on August 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Public notices last week announced that the Claredon College District will hold budget and tax rate hearings on August 15 starting at 5:30 p.m. and the City of Howardwick, which will hold a hearing on its budget and tax rate on August 13 at 6 p.m.

The public’s involvement is encouraged at these meetings.

Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Inc. celebrates its 40th anniversary with a look back at its storied legacy and optimism for the innovation that drives its future.

“Initially, Golden Spread was comprised of 11 Member Cooperatives, and over time, membership grew to include 16 Members providing electric service to a rural territory that includes 24 percent of Texas’ land and portions of Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado,” said Kari Hollandsworth, President and CEO of Golden Spread. “Those Members joined with a true cooperative spirit, realizing the benefits of being an integral partner with other cooperatives.”

Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, which services rural Donley County, is a member of Golden Spread.

“Our Members came together so they could meet the financial and operational challenges involved in delivering cost-effective, competitive and reliable power to their end users,” said Hollandsworth, who was named CEO in 2020 and was preceded by Bob Bryant from 1984 to 2008 and Mark Schwirtz from 2008 to 2020.

Strategic Board decisions in 1995 led to the construction of Mustang Station near Denver City, Texas, to manage peak load needs. Mustang Station not only fulfilled its initial role but also became a reliable year-round power source for Golden Spread Members.

The early 2010s marked a pivotal era, as the Golden Spread Board charted a transformative course from primarily purchasing power to directly sourcing its own power supply.

The journey to deliver competitive energy solutions yielded significant milestones in 2011 when Antelope Elk Energy Center (AEEC) at Abernathy, Texas, and Golden Spread Panhandle Wind Ranch, a renewable energy source near Wildorado, Texas, each achieved commercial operation. In 2016, AEEC cleared all the regulatory hurdles to connect the facility to two grids, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and Southwest Power Pool.

These achievements redefined Golden Spread’s operations, increasing its generation capacity and growing its workforce.

“This past year has been particularly outstanding for Golden Spread,” Hollandsworth said. “We achieved record sales, benefited from low natural gas prices and enjoyed strong profits from consumers outside of our membership.”

“We set a new peak usage record of 1,840 MW. This peak surpasses our previous record in 2019 and underscores the continuing growth within our territory. This success translates into direct benefits for our Members, as the value of their investment continues to grow,” she said.

Golden Spread is a devoted corporate citizen, proud to be located in Amarillo and to serve its Members’ rural communities. Among many other charitable activities in its vast territory, Golden Spread has given generous college scholarships since 1991.

This year’s scholarship recipients are Brazos Beck, Lyntegar Electric Cooperative; Maximus Dumbauld, North Plains Electric Cooperative; Julianna Ferrel, Lighthouse Electric Cooperative; Sawyer Francis, Swisher Electric Cooperative; Sage Gaillard, Rita Blanca Electric Cooperative; Paige Luning, South Plains Electric Cooperative; Kamryn Meiwes, Bailey County Electric Cooperative; Taylor Neal, South Plains Electric Cooperative; Meredith Sanning, Golden Spread Electric Cooperative; and Mason Snowden, Concho Valley Electric Cooperative.

“The scholarship initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to support education in the region and encourage the next generation,” Hollandsworth said.

“Golden Spread’s future lies in keeping innovation and collaboration at the core of our solutions to meeting Members’ needs,” she said. “Innovative approaches will be important as we address new developments throughout the territory, including regulatory changes and expected load growth from additional data centers and other mega-consumers such as hydrogen-producing facilities. We continue to adapt and find creative solutions as our Members and industry landscape grow and evolve.”

“Like our peers in the electric industry, we’ve faced trials from severe weather, shifts in demand and supply due to new technologies, and evolving regulatory and market landscapes,” Hollandsworth said. “We are proud to have met four decades of challenges with cooperative strength. This legacy prepares Golden Spread for many more years of success, growth and shared values.”

A former Clarendon animal control officer was jailed Monday on a charge of Cruelty to Animals after a puppy was reportedly killed by her last week.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said 29-year-old Alexandra Armbrust turned herself in July 29 after a warrant for her arrest was issued that morning.

Armbrust was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Sarah Hatley with bond set at $10,000 for the third-degree felony. She was released on bond Monday.

Blackburn said according to his office’s investigation, the puppy was picked up last week by Armbrust and given to a local family. The sheriff said the puppy’s owners went to City Hall on July 25 and paid a fee to get their pet back. At that time, Armbrust allegedly returned to the family to whom she had given the puppy, shot the animal in the head, put it in a trash bag, and returned to City Hall to give it to the owners.

The sheriff said the family who had received the puppy from Armbrust also arrived at City Hall to report what had happened, and a sheriff’s deputy had to be called to calm the situation. The sheriff’s office began taking statements that day and continued the next day.

City Administrator Brian Barboza said Armbrust was fired Friday afternoon, July 26, following the incident on Thursday. He says the puppy, described on social media posts as a four-month-old chihuahua, was picked up July 23 and a picture of it was placed on the front of City Hall in accordance with city policy.

Barboza said he believed originally the dog had been put down Thursday morning because Armbrust had asked him that morning if it was okay to put down a dog because she wasn’t going to have time to take it to Pampa to be euthanized. But when the owners arrived at City Hall Thursday afternoon, he said Armbrust told different stories about whether the dog’s remains were in Pampa or Memphis.

When Armbrust was sent to get the dog, sometime before 2:30, Barboza said she apparently went to the home she had given the puppy to, shot it, and returned to City Hall. He said the family followed Armbrust back to City Hall and said she had shot the dog in front of their kids.

Barboza tells the Enterprise that city rules require a dog without identification to be held for three days before it can be euthanized on the fourth day.

“Her actions do not reflect was this city is about,” Barboza said.
Armbrust went to work for the city in mid-April and had just completed her basic animal control training and was scheduled to take euthanasia training this week.

Blackburn said the charge against Armbrust has a penalty of two to ten years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

The Clarendon CISD Trustees extended the contract of Superintendent Jarod Bellar during their regular meeting July 16 and continued to fill out the faculty roster for the coming school year.

The board met behind closed doors before returning to open session and taking action on personnel matters.

Bellar’s performance was evaluated, and trustees voted to extend his contract by one year through June 30, 2028.

Trustees also voted to accept Bellar’s recommendations to offer contracts of employment to Kathy Duniven, Rebecca Diggs, and Isaac Semans for the coming school year.

Bellar told the Enterprise Tuesday the school has just one spot remaining – a junior high special education position – in order to have a full staff for the coming year.

Classes begin August 14 at Clarendon CISD.

In other business, Bellar reported on the school’s roofing project, the status of the Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant, and the Lone Star Cup results.

The board voted to approve the Johnson and Sheldon, PLLC engagement letter to conduct the annual financial report.

Trustees also adopted resolutions authorizing certain individuals to possess firearms under Board Policy as discussed. More information on that will be reported in a future issue.

The sixth annual Howardwick Hoedown will be held this Saturday, July 20, in McMorries Memorial Park, and it looks like Mother Nature is going to keep things cool this year.

With temperatures in the 80s and chance of rain, it will be a great day to be outside to enjoy fun, food, and good company.

City Secretary and Hoedown organizer Sandy Childress says fundraised during this year’s event will go to the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department.

“Everyone come on out and have a great time,” Childress said. “It’s going to be a very special time.”

Food will be served starting at 11 a.m. and continue until it runs out, and dancing and music will continue throughout the day. Lunch will be $10 per person – hot dogs and hamburgers, chips, drink, and a cookie.

A pair of Coleman gas-powered Mini Bikes and a 5×8 trailer to haul them will be the big raffle prize for the day, and you don’t have to be present to win. Childress says a few tickets are still available and can be purchase by calling 806-874-2222. Only 350 tickets are being sold, and the cost is $20 each or six for $100.

A live on-site raffle with more than 40 prizes will also be going on all day for those present with winners every hour.

The third annual Corn Hole Tournament hosted by the Clarendon Lions Club is currently full of team and will be offering cash prizes as well as the chance for team with the best name to win custom cups. The first place team wins $600. Second place will get $350, and third place earns $150. Corn Hole teams will start warming up from 10 to 11 a.m. Call City Hall at 806-874-2222 for more information.

Other activities include the third annual putting contest, and a slip-n-slide will be available for kids.

Childress also says there will be 17 vendor booths at this year’s Hoedown, which is the most ever.

Those attending the Hoedown should plan to bring their own seating and their own umbrellas or other shading if they desire.

Hoedown activities will wind down at 4 p.m.