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Chamber to give away $500

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The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce will hold its next Business After Hours and its first Totally Locally $500 drawing of 2020 at Cornell’s Country Store next Thursday, March 12.

The come-and-go event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will provide Chamber members and prospective members an opportunity to learn more about what’s happening in the local business community. Refreshments will be served. The first ten attendees of the After Hours will receive a free Mulkey movie pass.

In addition to learning more about what’s happening at Cornell’s, one of the highlights of the March After Hours will be the Chamber’s Totally Locally drawing. Shoppers can sign up for the drawing at 12 local businesses, and one lucky person will win $500 in Clarendon Cash at the After Hours. A list of participating businesses and more information is on the ad in this week’s Enterprise.

Clarendon firemen respond to two house fires

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After two house fires last week, Clarendon Fire Chief Jeremy Powell is urging all homeowners to install smoke alarms.

Powell said in both cases last week there were no smoke alarms in the house.

Clarendon firemen respond to a call last Thursday evening. Enterprise Photo

“Smoke alarms save lives,” Powell said. “If someone can’t afford a smoke alarm, please contact either the fire department or the Red Cross, and we can get that taken care of.”

A family on South Carhart Street was lucky to have woken up when a fire started in their house at about 3:40 a.m. last Monday, February 17.
Powell said the blaze was connected to a window heat pump in the home where either the electrical cord shorted out or the machine itself somehow malfunctioned.

“It was all wired correctly,” he said. “We’re not sure what went wrong.”

Fortunately, a deputy and a volunteer fireman got to the scene quickly and knocked down the biggest part of the blaze before the fire department arrived, Powell said.

Later last week on Thursday, another home fire was reported after 7 p.m. in the 800 block of East Fourth. Powell said the residents there earlier in the day had cleaned out a wood stove or fireplace and left the ash bucket in the house.

“The ash bucket got hot and ignited something,” Powell said.

No one was home in that case, but a family dog did perish.
Powell said both homes can be repaired and there were no injuries in either case.

Peanut growers hold annual meeting

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The Panhandle Peanut Growers Association held their annual meeting at the Quail Community Center on Tuesday, February 25.

PPGA President Michael Newhouse with outgoing board member Kelly Horton. Enterprise Photo

Peanut broker George Lovatt was the keynote speaker, discussing market demand and industry outlook. Lovatt said demand for US peanuts is growing slowly on the global market but said China continues to be an unreliable market.

Lovatt repeated that peanut growers are “in the cotton business” and pointed that the outlook for peanuts often depends on the outlook for cotton. Trends show that the number of cotton acreage is decreasing, particularly in the southeast, and that typically leads to an increase in peanut acres, he said.

There is also some pressure in the market to convert more acres to high oleic peanuts but that is only among certain companies. High oleic peanuts contain a higher amount of oleic fatty, the so-called “good” fat that is better for human health.

PPGA President Michael Newhouse said most of the peanuts grown in this region are already varieties that are high oleic. Newhouse said certain food industry companies like high oleic peanuts because they have a better shelf life.

The group also heard from Bob Whitney, a peanut specialist with the Texas Peanut Producers Board, who said 2019 saw a higher price and slight increase in peanut acres over 2018.

Peanut growers took advantage of good contract prices while seeing cotton prices drop to new lows, Whitney reported.

Republican 13th Congressional District candidate Josh Winegarner and District Attorney Luke Inman both addressed the group with just seven days to go before the primary election.

The PPGA recognized outgoing board member Kelly Horton for his 29 years of service, and Mary Ruth White was recognized on her birthday for her support of the development of the PPGA.

Chamber honors Ashcraft with top award

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The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce recognized Valorie Ashcraft with the 2019 Saints’ Roost Award for her lifetime of service and commitment to the community during the annual Chamber Awards Banquet last Thursday, February 13.

Clarendon Chamber of Commerce honorees last Thursday were Man of the Decade Roger Estlack, Clarendon Young Woman of the Year Mattee Johnson, Woman of the Year Jenny McIntosh, Clarendon Young Man of the Year Trent Smith, Saints’ Roost Award winner Valorie Ashcraft, Hedley Young Man of the Year Collin Monroe, Man of the Year Morris Crump, Hedley Young Woman of the Year Perla Carreon, and Business of the Year Best Western Plus Red River Inn owner Steve Hall. Enterprise Photo / Ashlee Estlack

Man of the Year honors went to Morris Crump, and Jenny McIntosh was named the Woman of the Year. Best Western Plus Red River Inn was named the Business of the Year, and Roger Estlack was named the Man of the Decade.

The Saints’ Roost Award is the highest honor given annually by the Chamber to recognize a lifetime of volunteering and community service.

Ashcraft was recognized for her many years of service as a member and officer of the Saints’ Roost Museum Board, where she works tirelessly for the annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff and annual Museum Christmas Party; and her service to Clarendon High School and the First Baptist Church as a pianist. She has from a young age played the church piano and organ and provided accompaniment for numerous graduations, weddings, memorials, and pianos. CHS students have also relied on her accompaniment in UIL Vocal events. As a member of the Courthouse Lighting Committee, she helps decorate the courthouse square for the holidays, and many youth have been blessed by her volunteer work through the Mustard Seed, Unashamed Youth, and Clarendon College ministries.

The Man of the Year for 2019 is Morris Crump, who made his living in agriculture from pulling cotton by hand to hauling hay to shoeing horses to ranch work. Last year, Crump took on the part time job of caring for Clarendon’s Prospect Park, but he went far beyond his 30-hour work schedule, going by on his days off and weekends to make sure trash and tree limbs or anything that might hurt children were picked up. He put rocks in buckets, so the lawnmower wouldn’t throw them, and children even started helping him with caring for the park. Throughout the summer heat, he enjoyed working to make the park a safe and pretty place for everyone to enjoy.

Jenny McIntosh was named the Woman of the Year for 2019 for her community involvement. In addition to her work as a part time junior high teacher and fitness coach, she leads a children’s Move-and-Groove class that meets every other week at the library. On Wednesday evenings, she leads a class in the Mustard Seed Ministry, and on Fridays she started a moms’ group for mothers of toddlers that meets twice a month.

The Chamber of Commerce named Best Western Plus Red River Inn as its Business of the Year. Hotel owner Steve Hall provides Clarendon with a beautiful location for folks attending family reunions and special events as well as a great overnight stop for travelers. His employees strive to make each guest feel important, and Hall leads by example, having grown up in the hotel business. Hall serves on with the Lions Club and on the Clarendon Economic Development Board. Every day, hotel employees refer guests to local businesses for a wide range of services and encourage them to visit local tourist attractions, and the hotel makes its own significant contribution through property taxes, payroll, and the collection of Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT), which are used to promote tourism to our community. The Red River Inn collects 87 percent of the city’s HOT funds, which have been used to help Bring Back the Mulkey as well as fund events such as the chuckwagon cookoff, the Saints’ Roost Celebration, the arts festival and many others.

This year the Chamber also presented a unique award, naming Roger Estlack as its Man of the Decade for 2010-2019 for going above and beyond for the Chamber and the community. Estlack worked for more than 15 years on the Mulkey Theatre project, helping to secure funding, at times overseeing construction, and now volunteering with his family to help operate the theatre. As a member of the Clarendon Economic Development Board he was integral in developing façade grants, securing funding for quality of life projects, and supporting local tourism and historic preservation initiatives. Estlack is the immediate past president of the Chamber and led the way to reorganize the Chamber, which had a rebirth and growth during his time on the board. He is a past Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge, is secretary of the Lions Club, is a member of the Al Morrah Shrine Club, and is the Cubmaster of Pack 437. He and his two children are the fourth and fifth generations of their family to cover the news at The Clarendon Enterprise, which has won regional, state, and national awards for its work to expose corruption, help right wrongs, fight for improvements, and keep a finger on the pulse of the community. He has served as the past president of the Panhandle Press Association and West Texas Press Association and is currently the PPA secretary and a member of the Texas Press Association board.

The Chamber also recognized outstanding youth from Clarendon and Hedley.

The Young Man of the Year from Clarendon is Trenton Smith. Trent is an Eagle Scout, president of the Student Council, secretary of the Senior Class, a member of the National Honor Society, a UIL regional qualifier in Math, and a member of the First United Methodist Church. He enjoys helping around the school and community and is a member of the SHAC committee, has helped clean the highway and cemetery and decorate the courthouse for Christmas. He’s also helped with the veterans, the school board, the chuckwagon cookoff, and canned food drives. He plans to graduate from Clarendon College with an Associate’s Degree in May before he graduates from high school and he intends to pursue a mechanical engineering degree from West Texas A&M University.

Collin Monroe is the Young Man of the Year from Hedley and has been very active in many athletic and UIL events. He has participated in basketball, football, tennis, and golf and received the Fighting Heart Award for football in 2018. He also runs cross country and track and has qualified for regional in both sports. As a UIL participant in several events, he has advanced to the regional level three years in a row. He is a member of the NHS and volunteers with multiple organizations. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

Mattee Johnson is the Young Woman of the Year from Clarendon. She has been active in basketball, golf, cross country, track, cheerleading, student council, UIL Number Sense, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Community Service Class. She was the 2018 homecoming queen, sophomore and junior class treasurer, senior class president, Lions Club Sweetheart, a member of NHS, and an honor student in several classes. She seeks to serve the Lord in all she does, and she plans to attend Hardin Simmons University to study Pre-Dental.

Perla Carreon was the Young Woman of the Year from Hedley and has also been very active in sports, student government, and other organizations. She has participated in cheerleading and basketball, is the NHS president and class president. She has been in One Act Play and competed in UIL Calculator Applications, Math, and Accounting. She has worked in community service activities and has received the Hedley High School Teachers’ Honor and Effort Award for two years. She was the 2019 HHS homecoming queen and has completed 27 hours of dual credit classes. She will attend Clarendon College in the fall to pursue a career in nursing.

This year’s Chamber banquet followed a “Sweetheart of the Panhandle” theme and was catered by Great Western Dining. Approximately 170 people attended the event, which was held in the Bairfield Activity Center.
Attendance was down slightly from last year when 200 people attended.
Western romance author Jodi Thomas, who has ties to Clarendon through research she did her for some of her novels. She spoke on pursuing her dream to be an author and said her motto is “Triumph comes through perseverance.”

Gift Box pull winners were Phyllis Cockerham, Doug Kidd, Derlene Gray, and Jowelene Weiss.

Tables were sponsored by the City of Clarendon, Clarendon College, The Clarendon Enterprise, the Donley County Senior Citizens, Herring Bank, Phelps Plumbing, Pilgrim Bank, Saints’ Roost Museum, and Shelton & Shelton Law Offices. Thomas selected the Clarendon College table as having the best table decorations reflecting the banquet’s Valentine’s theme.

This year’s corporate sponsors of the Chamber Awards Banqeut were Best Western Red River Inn, Broken Road Junior, The Clarendon Enterprise, Greenbelt Electric Coop., GreenLight Gas, Lowe’s Family Center, and Pioneer General Contractors.

Local sales taxes surge in February

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Local sales tax revenues posted strong gains this month bolstered by Christmas sales.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar distributed $45,914.54 to the City of Clarendon for its February allocation, a 15.57 percent increase over the same period in 2019. The city’s calendar year-to-date figure is now 6.06 percent ahead at $75,435.35.

Hedley was up 40.07 percent at $1,479.97 for February and up 38.58 percent for the year-to-date at $1,974.52.
Howardwick’s allocation of $1,607.54 was a 31.37 percent gain, bringing that city’s year-to-date total up 31.37 percent at $2,916.96.

Statewide, Hegar distributed $1.04 billion in local sales tax allocations for February, 9.4 percent more than in February 2019.

These allocations are based on sales made in December by businesses that report tax monthly; October, November and December sales by quarterly filers; and 2019 sales by businesses that report tax annually.

Christmas shopping that typically occurs in November was shifted into December due to the relatively late date of Thanksgiving 2019, helping make this month’s allocations substantially higher than in previous months, a trend that is not expected to continue.

CC, CCISD, H’wick to hold spring elections

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The Clarendon College District will join the Clarendon Consolidated Independent School District, and the City of Howardwick in holding elections this spring after additional candidates filed to run last week.

With three seats available on the CC Board of Regents, voters have six candidates to choose from on the ballot. Incumbents Darlene Spier and Carey Wann are joined in the race by Guy Ellis, Chris Matthews, Jim Shelton, and Debbie Thompson. One seat on the board is currently vacant following the November resignation of Bill Sansing.

Howardwick also has six people running for three city council seats. Terms of Aldermen Mary Grady and Marietta Baird are seeking re-election, and challengers are Shelly Chavira, Terry Barnes, Jeremy Kindle, and Jada Murray. Alderman Johnny Hubbard did not file for re-election.

Clarendon CISD’s Board of Trustees has two positions available this year. Incumbent Reneé Mott has filed for re-election, and Kyle Davis and Chrisi Tucek are also running. Trustee Weldon Sears is not running for another term.

Filing closed last Friday, February 14, with four other local governments lacking enough candidates to warrant elections. The City of Clarendon, the Donley County Hospital District, the City of Hedley, and the Hedley Consolidated Independent School District are all expected to cancel their May elections.

At the City of Clarendon, Aldermen John Lockhart, Larry Jeffers, and Eulaine McIntosh all filed for re-election and drew no opposition.

All incumbents at the City of Hedley have filed to run. Mayor Carrie Butler and Aldermen Dustin Shatswell and Danny Russell are all unopposed.

At the Donley County Hospital District, all four incumbent members of the Board of Directors filed for re-election without challenge. Those directors are Jan Farris – Place 4, Nikki Adams – Place 5, Mark C. White – Place 6, and Lori Howard – Place 7.

The Hedley ISD Board of Trustees will actually have to appoint someone to fill out its board. With three seats up this year, incumbents Troy Monroe and Cindy Lambert will return to their seats, but incumbent Susan Cosby did not file.

Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 2, 2020.

Jackson says he can make things happen in Congress

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Ronny Jackson

Influence and the ability to make things happen separate Ronny Jackson from the other 14 people seeking the Republican nomination in the 13th Texas Congressional District race, according to the candidate.

Jackson, who retired as a Navy Rear Admiral in December, told the Enterprise Tuesday morning that his experience as a White House physician and as a senior advisor to President Donald Trump make him the best candidate to succeed Clarendon’s Mac Thornberry in Congress.

“Mac Thornberry has a huge voice in Washington,” Jackson said. “The day he leaves, that voice for the 13th District is zero, and we’ll have a freshman congressman with no influence. I’m the exception. I have influence. I just left the White House. I know every cabinet secretary and have all their home and cell numbers. If I call, they are going to answer, and I’ll be the only freshman congressman who can walk into the Oval Office and get the president to stop what he’s doing and listen to me.”

Jackson was born and raised in Levelland as the son of an electrician and a homemaker. He worked sacking groceries and in the oil field to put himself through South Plains College. While at Texas A&M University in Galveston, he got a job at the University of Texas medical branch there working in pathology, which spurred his interest in a career in medicine.

Utilizing a military program to help him pay for his medical degree, Jackson ended up as a deep sea diver with the Navy and was assigned as a physician to various diving units before becoming board certified as an emergency room doctor and then getting stationed in Iraq. In 2006, he was nominated for and received a position as the junior physician out of six doctors to serve in the White House under President George W. Bush.

“I’m still close to President and Laura Bush to this day, and in fact, he was the very first person to contribute to my campaign,” Jackson said.

What was originally supposed to be a three-year assignment turned into an almost 14-year career on the White House medical team under Presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump with increasing levels of responsibility and influence, culminating as a senior advisor in the Trump administration.

“I became very close to President Trump and spent a lot of time with him at the beginning and end of every day,” Jackson said, noting that the two discussed many different issues, particularly health care and veterans’ issues.

The president even nominated Jackson to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, but he then got a dose of politics that left a bad taste in his mouth.

“There were a lot of false accusations leaked to the press that the liberal press just ran with,” he said. “It was distracting for the veterans, and veterans shouldn’t be a political football, so I withdrew my nomination.”

At that point, Jackson said he was just really ready to retire and leave the “sewer” that is Washington, DC, and get back to Texas. But as he thought about it and as Thornberry announced his retirement from Congress, Jackson realized he still had something to offer in a way of service to his country.

“I think have an opportunity for the district,” Jackson said. “Trump is going to be re-elected, and I feel like I have an obligation to continue to serve. We have a lot of vulnerable industries in the district that the Democrats may target – agriculture, oil and gas, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, Sheppard Air Force Base. Those things need to be protected.”

Jackson admits that he’s not originally from the 13th District. But he says he grew up just 40 miles from the district line and spent most of his life in the district, playing sports, hunting, and having family in the Panhandle. When he got ready to pick his own place to live after 26 years of the military choosing for him, he chose Amarillo.

“Oil and cotton were what surrounded us when I was growing up,” he said. “I understand the issues here. I’m always going to be three things: a veteran, a physician, and a small town boy from Texas.”

Jackson said on the issues there isn’t much difference between the 15 people running for the Republican nomination. The question for the voters, he said, is what do the candidates bring to the table?

“Do you just want someone from Amarillo? Or do you want someone who is still from this area and can make things happen?” he said.

Thornberry throws his support to Winegarner

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Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) announced his support Monday for Josh Winegarner to succeed him in representing the 13th Texas congressional district.

Thornberry, who announced in September that he would retire at the end of his current term, had not previously shown support for any one of the 15 candidates seeking the Republican nomination for his position.

“When I announced that I would not seek reelection to Congress, I said that I would not try to pick my successor,” Thornberry said. “While I have talked to a number of potential candidates to answer their questions, I have never asked anyone to run or encouraged anyone to run for Congress. It is a deeply personal decision that each person must make on his or her own.”

The congressman went on to say that he believes there are several good candidates who are running to serve but that others seem to be running for their own agenda.

“With 15 candidates in the race for the Republican nomination, many people have asked me to express my views publicly about which candidate I believe would do the best job,” Thornberry said. “Like all voters, Sally and I must choose which of the candidates we want to represent us in Congress. We are looking primarily for two qualities, an attitude of true service and effectiveness in representing our district. We see only one candidate who is both running for the right reasons and can also be effective from day one. Sally and I have each decided that we will be voting for Josh Winegarner in the Republican Primary.”

As reasons for his support, Thornberry pointed to Winegarner having been born and raised in the district and worked in the district for 14 years, Winegarner’s experience working for Senators Phil Gramm and John Cornyn and directing government affairs for the Texas Cattle Feeders.

“I continue to believe that anyone who has never lived in the district, never voted in the district, never worked in the district cannot adequately represent the district,” Thornberry said. “Those candidates who have just moved here should try living here awhile, volunteering in the community, getting to know the people of our area, and then perhaps running for office.”

“I trust the voters to make their own decision for the best interests of the district and of the nation,” Thornberry said. “I encourage everyone to take time to study the candidates, including their backgrounds and their positions on issues, and to apply some good, old-fashioned common sense in carrying out this important responsibility of voting.”

Early voting starts Feb. 18 in primaries

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Early voting opens next Tuesday, February 18, to determine the Democrats and Republicans who will advance to the General Election in November.

Voters can cast early ballots by personal appearance at the Donley County Courthouse Annex through Friday, February 28. Election Day will be Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
Three races of local interest are the Precinct 3 Commissioner’s position, the 100th Judicial District Attorney’s race, and a more than a dozen people seeking to succeed Clarendon’s Mac Thornberry to represent the 13th Texas Congressional District.

Donley County Commissioner Andy Wheatly is seeking re-election to his Precinct 3 seat and faces a challenge in the Republican Primary from Neil Koetting.

District Attorney Luke Inman also has an opponent this year from fellow Republican Bryan Denham.

Fifteen Republicans and three Democrats want to take over for Congressman Thornberry, who is retiring at the end of his current term. Seeking the Republican nomination are – in order of their appearance on the ballot – Monique Worthy, Chris Ekstrom, Matt McArthur, Catherine “I Swear” Carr, Jamie Culley, Ronny Jackson, Lee Harvey, Jason Foglesong, Josh Winegarner, Richard Herman, Elaine Hayes, Diane Knowlton, Asusena Reséndiz, Mark Neese, and Vance Snider II. On the Democratic ballot, Greg Sagan, Timothy W. Gassaway, and Gus Trujillo are seeking their party’s nomination.

Candidates face Feb. 14 deadline to sign up

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With less than a week left for candidates to file, only two local governments have drawn enough interest to have contested elections this spring.

Citizens wishing to serve on one of seven local board have only until Friday, February 14, to sign up at the appropriate administrative offices.

As of Monday, the Clarendon Consolidated Independent School District and the City of Howardwick have enough candidates to warrant having elections.

School board incumbent Reneé Mott has filed for re-election to the school board and will be joined on the ballot by challengers Kyle Davis and Chrisi Tucek. There are two seats up this year on the Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees. The other incumbent, Weldon Sears, has not filed for re-election as of Monday.

Howardwick has five people running for three seats. Terms of Aldermen Mary Grady, Johnny Hubbard, and Marietta Baird are expiring. Grady and Baird are seeking re-election and will be joined on the ballot by challengers Jeremy Kindle, Terry Barnes, and Jada Murra.

At the City of Clarendon, Aldermen John Lockhart, Larry Jeffers, and Eulaine McIntosh have all filed for re-election and have drawn no opposition.

Likewise, at the Donley County Hospital District, all four incumbent members of the Board of Directors have filed for re-election without challenge. Those directors are Jan Farris – Place 4, Nikki Adams – Place 5, Mark C. White – Place 6, and Lori Howard – Place 7.

The Hedley ISD Board of Trustees has two incumbents seeking to return to the board. Troy Monroe and Cindy Lambert are running, but Susan Cosby has not yet filed, and there have been no challengers.

Clarendon College has three positions up on the Board of Regents this year, one of which is currently vacant. Regents Darlene Spier and Carey Wann have both filed for their positions, and Guy Ellis has also filed to run for the college board.

All incumbents at the City of Hedley have filed to run. Mayor Carrie Butler and Aldermen Dustin Shatswell and Danny Russell are all unopposed.

Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 2, 2020.

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