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Two CHS seniors earn college degrees

May 20, 2020 by Roger Estlack Leave a Comment

By Elizabeth Zongker

Harmond Drenth and Trenton Smith, members of the Clarendon High School Class of 2020, received their Associate’s in Science degrees from Clarendon College on May 8, meaning these gentlemen graduated from college before high school.

Clarendon High School seniors Harmond Drenth and Trenton Smith hold their CHS mortar boards while wearing Clarendon College graduation gowns. The young men are the top graduates of the CHS Class of 2020 and are the first Clarendon seniors to earn their associate’s degrees from Clarendon College before graduating from high school. Courtesy Photo / Elizabeth Zongker

The majority of their college work was completed for free thanks to the Dual Credit Peak Scholarship, which is an agreement between Clarendon College and Clarendon CISD.

Harmond and Trenton made history by being the first CHS students to complete their high school and associate requirements at the same time.

Harmond and Trenton began this college course work while on CISD campus back in the Fall of 2018. Harmond completed 62 hours at CC and plans on attending Baylor University in the fall with a major in Computer Science.

Harmond said his degree at Clarendon College will allow him to directly go to upper level course work when he arrives in Waco in August.

“My most challenge course in college so far has to be Interpersonal Communication,” Harm said.

Trenton worked hard during the school year and summer terms to graduate from Clarendon College with a total of 77 hours. Trent plans to attend WTAMU and obtain his degree in Business Management.

“By completing my associates degree, I feel a sense of being stress free heading into WTAMU,” Trenton stated.
Like Harmond, Trenton found a certain college class, Elementary Statistics, to be hard.

unControlled burn

May 20, 2020 by Roger Estlack Leave a Comment

Hedley volunteer fireman Erin Copelin sprays water from a truck Sunday afternoon after a controlled burn on Johnson Street got out of control. Hedley Fire Chief Neil Koetting said the department arrived quickly with three trucks and got the situation taken care with no damage to any structures. Koetting said the department’s ability to respond quickly with good equipment is thanks to the many donors who support their efforts. Enterprise Photo / Kari Lindsey

End of school

May 13, 2020 by Roger Estlack Leave a Comment

Clarendon fourth grade teacher B.J. Owens hands Bruce Campbell his belongings as students finished up the 2019-2020 school year Tuesday morning, getting their personal things from school and turning in final assignments. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Extension helping answer CARES Act questions

May 13, 2020 by Roger Estlack Leave a Comment

AgriLife Extension Agent Leonard Haynes told Donley County Commissioners Monday that his office can serve as a liaison for information as local governments and businesses try to take advantage of the CARES Act.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, approved by the federal government in March, provides a wide range of relief measures, and Haynes said the state has tasked the AgriLife Extension Service to help implement those programs for local governments.

County Agent Leonard Haynes addresses the Donley County Commissioners Court Monday about how his office can help local governments and businesses learn more about the CARES Act. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Speaking at the county’s regular meeting, Haynes said he has sent information to city and school officials in the county and said he would be contacting the hospital district as well.

According to Gov. Greg Abbott, the CARES Act provides $5.06 billion in funding available to local governments in Texas. The US Department of Treasury sent more than $3.2 billion of those funds to six cities and 12 counties with a population greater than 500,000. The balance of $1.85 billion will be available to other cities and counties throughout the state for reimbursement of direct expenses incurred by cities and counties due to COVID-19.

“It looks like most of this will go to emergency management, such as our sheriff’s office and EMS,” Haynes said.
The extension agent said he had already been through a training on an overview of the CARES Act and that now AgriLife was beginning to focus on the details of the act. Haynes was scheduled Monday to be trained on the parts of the act that would affect ag producers. He said the act is a something that won’t be understood overnight and that more trainings would be coming in the future.

“I want to you to feel comfortable, if you have questions, to contact me as a liaison,” Haynes told county officials. “We have a team at Texas A&M that will get us answers. I probably won’t know the answer, but our team will get answers within 72 hours.”

Haynes encouraged local officials to sign up for updates and online educational resources. He also said that in addition to help for local governments and ag producers, there are resources in the act that help small businesses as well.
For more information about the Extension service’s CARES Act resources, contact the extension office at 874-2141.

In other matters before the commissioners court Monday, the county approved purchasing a new motor grader for Precinct 3 at a cost of $307,318 to be financed over five years; took no action on purchasing a new lawnmower for the courthouse lawn; approved 14 tax deeds for properties at Howardwick; extended for 90 days the disaster declaration related to the COVID-19 outbreak; tour the former Hall Bookkeeping office and discussed possible renovations to use the building for the adult probation office; and directed the county attorney to draft a policy for landowners who want to work on county roads.