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A Donley County Salary Grievance Committee more than tripled the salary of Precinct 3&4 Constable Randy Bond when it met last Thursday, August 10, rejecting the $1,236 figure set by the Commissioners’ Court and calling for a new annual salary of $3,804.

The unanimous decision of the nine-member committee is binding on the commissioners’ court. A less than unanimous decision would have meant the commissioners only had to “consider” the committee’s decision.

Bond ran unopposed for the vacant constable’s office as a Republican in March of 2022, had no opponent in last year’s general election in November, and took office in January.

County Judge John Howard stated during the committee meeting that the constable’s salary had been reduced in fiscal year 2022 following former constable Doug Wright’s resignation in February of 2021. Howard said Bond knew what the salary was when he ran for the office.

Bond filed legal action against the Donley County Commissioners’ Court seeking a “reasonable salary” for his office in March 2023 but dropped his action in April.

Bond told the committee last week that he was seeking a reasonable salary.

“All I need is a salary that’s reasonable to run this office,” he said.

In a letter to the county, Bond sought a salary of $45,000, which is the same as a Donley County Sheriff’s Deputy.
County Clerk Vickie Tunnell asked Bond during the meeting why he needed a full deputy’s salary when the constable only covers half the county.

“I deserve a deputy’s salary,” Bond said. “How am I expected to do my job?”

During the meeting, Howard asked Bond why he had quit as the county’s chief deputy if he wanted a deputy’s salary. Bond replied that he had stepped away from law enforcement after working a double murder in Howardwick.

During the course of the committee meeting, it was discussed that while Bond’s salary is only $1,236 per year, he still receives health insurance through the county as a county official. However, county employees have to pay about $200 per month of the insurance premium, effectively wiping out his salary and resulting in Bond having to write a check back to the county to cover the insurance.

After consulting with County Treasurer Wanda Smith, the committee unanimously approved a motion by County Tax Assessor Kristy Christopher to set Bond’s salary at $3,804 plus related taxes and retirement costs.

Members of the committee were Judge John Howard, Sheriff Butch Blackburn, County Attorney Landon Lambert, County Clerk Vickie Tunnell, County Treasurer Wanda Smith, County Tax Assessor Kristy Christopher, and members of the public Natrona Barton, Pauline McAfee, Jimmy Hampton, and Melissa Hatley.

Four Clarendon College employees were recognized with the Texans Caring for Texans Award last Thursday, August 3, at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

Scarlet Estlack, Larry Wiginton, James Gordon, and Bruno Castel were all recognized for their efforts to help students both inside and outside the classroom.

Texans Caring for Texans awards were established in 1996 by the late State Rep. David Swinford to honor state employees for professional excellence in service to their communities and to Texas. Last week’s ceremony recognized Panhandle region employees of state services and higher education institutions.

Estlack has served for 21 years as a biology instructor and both students and the community can count on her for guidance on anything related to CC. She’s involved in several community events and invites students to get involved also. Her passion for students is never more evident than when she’s cheering on her students in extracurricular activities, and she’s always first in line to congratulate them.

Larry Wiginton began working in 1995 as a chemistry instructor and returned in 2021 after retiring in 2013. He was recognized for the extra time he’s willing to spend with students after class or in labs. In addition to giving back to the community, he likes spending time outside the classroom in the cafeteria to get to know students and enjoy their company.

James Gordon came to CC in 2012 and helps run the Learning Resource Center and is an ESL instructor. He goes out of his way to assist international students and helps all students find the resources they need to be successful. He can also be found outside the classroom reciting poetry and using his jump shot to raise money for student organizations.

Bruno Castel is a Spanish and ESL teacher and dorm director since 2016. He works with numerous international students and makes their transition to the college campus more successful. As students leave CC, they stay in touch with Bruno and use him as a mentor for life.

Also during last week’s ceremony, Don Nicholson of the Texas Department of State Health Services gave a tribute to his friend, the late Rep. Swinford, for starting the awards. Lubbock Regional DPS Director Joe Longway delivered the keynote address about heroes who serve in state agencies across Texas from DPS troopers to staff members of other agencies.

As the honorees were recognized, they were greeted by Longway, State Rep. John Smithee, WTAMU President Walter Wendler, State Rep. Ken King, and State Sen. Charles Perry.

Four members of the Donley County 4-H Archery team competed recently in the State Games contest held in San Antonio.

Fayde Turner, Senior Division Barebow, was 3rd place Clout and 5th place 3-D.

Ronan Howard, Intermediate Division NASP, was 1st place Clout, Modified 600 and Field; and 3rd place 3-D and Wand. Howard was also the Overall NASP Intermediate Runner-up.

Kutter O’Keefe, Intermediate Division NASP, was 2nd place 3-D, 4th place Field and Modified 600, and 5th place Clout.

Emma Howard, Junior Division NASP, was 1st place Wand, 2nd place Field, 3rd place Clout, and 1st place Team Rally.

The Donley County Courthouse Annex has an entirely new look inside following a renovation completed Monday.

Judge John Howard said the county spent about $50,000 with local designers and contractors A Fine Feathered Nest to update the space.

“The work returns the space to the architect’s original design with updated finishes,” Howard said. “I think it is more functional and more attractive.”

The project took about two weeks to complete and focused on the clerk and tax assessor offices as well as the main hallway in the building.

Asbestos in the original floor tile was abated and new flooring installed, new ceiling tiles were installed, and the space was painted throughout.

The biggest changes, however, came with the removal of a partition put up in front of the clerk’s office and the re-opening of the customer service wall of the tax assessor’s office. The result is a space that is more open, more accommodating, and more accessible, officials say. New countertops also make the space look even more attractive.

Visitors to the clerk’s office now are not trapped in a tight space between the counter and a partition, and folks renewing their vehicle tags or registering to vote at the tax assessor’s office can now be easily waited on two at a time since the long counter and service window is now fully restored to its original design.

While a roll down gate had continued to be used at the clerk’s office. The gate of the tax assessor’s office service window was sealed in the ceiling but still fully functional once the wall was removed.

Judge Howard said county officials are now considering what might be done to exterior of the 1970s annex building to make it look more complimentary of the 1890 Courthouse.

Clarendon’s Downtown Revitalization Project continued this week, moving to the east side of Kearney Street and the removal of trees in front of Herring Bank.

Taking down the shade trees has sparked some comments from residents, but it was necessary to protect the new sidewalks being installed and to give way to the light fixtures that will come with the project.

Jacob Fangman, who is Clarendon’s mayor and the head of the local Herring Bank, said the trees were causing problems with the existing sidewalks. The trees’ roots have lifted and cracked the sidewalks. One section of sidewalk had been raised about 2½ inches and the gutter was starting to lift out of the street in one spot.

“People have been tripping because of them,” Fangman said. “I’ve had at least two people tell me they’ve fallen because of the damage.”

Herring Bank planted the trees and installed the existing sidewalk in 1998, but Fangman said the way the trees were planted near the bank made that section of the sidewalk not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Fangman said if the city had not gotten the grant to install new sidewalks, the bank would have had to do it for their customers. New sidewalks would have ultimately been likewise damaged if the trees were not removed.