News

Residents of Howardwick are seeing signs of progress as community members work to address issues of safety and quality of life in the lakeside city.

Civic leaders have made strides in the last couple of months to improve fire protection capability, add more amenities to the City Park, and reduce crime.

After a legal issue shut down the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department, the city’s official department – the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department – has been working to get back up and running and attained that goal this month. The department is now ready to accept and respond to calls.

Fire Chief Brice Hawley says the CHVFD now has five members, including its secretary, with two more applications pending. The department held a “meet and greet” last month that was attended by about 100 people, Hawley said. That event raised about $1,900 in donations for the department even though it wasn’t meant to be a fundraiser.

The CHVFD is also working to improve its members’ training and will have members getting wildfire training in November.

On the north edge of the city, the new District Nine Volunteer Fire Department continues to organize with the goal of providing fire protection to the area north of Howardwick to Interstate 40 and east to Alanreed. Members of that department say they have received donations of gear and vehicles and are working toward raising money for a building to house their equipment.

The D9VFD, which will not operate inside the city, held a fundraiser dinner last month that was attended by more than 100 people and did very well.

Both fire departments are supported by auxiliary organizations – the Fire Flies for the CHVFD and the Fire Bees for the D9VFD.

Following some August break-ins in the community, Alderman Jerry Mulanax and City Secretary Sandra Childress first discussed the idea of forming a neighborhood watch organization. Mulanax then put the word out to some citizens via social media.

“They made it loud and clear they are not satisfied with the criminal element believing Howardwick is a place they can fly under the radar for their illegal deeds, or a place where squatters can take up residence unchallenged,” Mulanax said.

Without the involvement of the city, Mulanax now serves as the coordinator of a neighborhood watch group that has 36 participants and seven block captains, whose purpose is not just to reduce criminal activity.

“We intend to use this Neighborhood Watch Program to address those issues, help to heal old wounds to bring the city back together, and eventually use our combined force to make Howardwick the kind of City we all want to live in and a place we can be proud of by not only cleaning up these issues but also expanding our roles to include conducting civic improvement initiatives,” Mulanax said.
Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn has met with the group, and a Cpl. Jeb Hilton of the

Amarillo Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit met with the group last week. Blackburn offered advice and support for the group, and Hilton also provided training for what a neighborhood watch group should and should not do.

Mulanax says any Howardwick resident interested in helping as a block captain or a watcher can sign up at City Hall.

The city itself is also working to address concerns of its citizens in terms of zoning. A public hearing was held October 15 where residents discussed wanting to allow or expand areas of town where tiny homes, RVs, and mobile homes can be located, rethink the square footage requirements for homes in the city, update definitions of different types housing, restrict livestock in the city, and address issues regarding septic systems.

Childress says the citizens’ input will be taken into consideration for a re-writing of Chapter 12 of the city’s Code of Ordinances. City Hall hopes to have that work done by December.

The city also has a new playground to brag about at City Park, purchased by Mayor Tony Clemishire. The new equipment occupies a footprint of about 500 square feet, and is already getting used by local kids.

A traffic swap has been scheduled for the $8 million rehabilitation project on US 287 in Hedley, according to Childress Area TxDOT Engineer Matt Herbstritt. The swap is scheduled to take place by Friday, October 18.

“All traffic will be swapped to the south side of US 287 through Hedley on the new concrete surface,” said Hebstritt. This will allow the contractors to begin the rehabilitation phase on the north side of US 287.

The extensive project is enhancing the overall safety of the roadway by making improvements to the pavement structure, drainage and lighting. Access to oversize loads and extra-long vehicles will continue to be restricted until the project is complete.

Herbstritt encouraged motorists to take their time and use caution while traveling through the work zone in Hedley.

After 15 years, Dr. Richard Sheppard will end his local dentistry practice in Clarendon on October 28.

Sheppard, who opened his office here in 2004, will continue to keep his Booker office open, and Drs. Ed Vlosich and Spence Vlosich will open a new practice – Clarendon Dental Associates.

“I’ll be 70 in December, so I’m having to adjust to the realities of the calendar,” Sheppard said.

Sheppard says he’s enjoyed his time in Clarendon and particularly enjoyed the people he has gotten to work with.

“It’s been wonderful,” he said. “I’ve made some really long-lasting relationships.”

Sheppard told the Enterprise 15 years ago that building relationships with patients would be the key to a successful practice, and he now says he was right about that.

Sheppard also proudly points out that Jana White and Tiffanie Word have both been with his office since he started.

“I love them both,” he says.

Sheppard is grateful to have gotten to know Ed Vlosich and says he and his family will be improving the services offered here.

“He will upgrade some technology,” Sheppard said. “They also plan to be open two days a week here and patients can go to their Amarillo office for pain relief on other days, which something I could never offer.”

Sheppard will still be in Clarendon on the first Fridays of each month to finish some orthodontic cases.

“We won’t rush those cases,” he said.

Hedley residents are making preparations to host their 68th annual Cotton Festival on Friday and Saturday, October 11 and 12.

The Hedley Lioness Club will get things going Friday with a Chili & Stew Supper at 5 p.m. The club will also be selling chances on a quilt. The Lions Club Hoedown will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Hedley’s One Act Plan will host Bingo on Friday starting at 6 p.m. and Saturday starting at 10 a.m. in the Senior Citizens building. All proceeds support the high school’s One Act Play.
Saturday’s events begin with the Hedley Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfast from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., and the Rowe Cemetery Association will hold a bake sale.

At 11:00 a.m., the Lions Club will host a catered BBQ dinner, and the Senior Citizens will be serving hamburgers.

The Community Parade will be held at 2 p.m. and a dance will begin at 8 p.m.

Drawings for the festival will include a Rocker raffled by the Rowe Cemetery Association, a Henry Lever Action raffled by the Hedley Senior Citizens, the Lioness Club quilt, and outdoor furniture from the American Legion.

Other activities planned this year include a bounce house, chicken poop bingo, vendor booths, and a tractor and car show.

The City of Clarendon in conjunction with the Texas Communities Group, LLC, will begin placing “For Sale” signs on available trust properties within the city in the coming days.

A press release from City Hall says this project is a part of the clean-up effort spearheaded by the City of Clarendon and other participating taxing entities.

Trust properties are lots and tracts of land which have been foreclosed upon to collect a tax lien due the local governmental entities, the City of Clarendon, Donley County, Clarendon ISD, Donley County Hospital District, the Clarendon College District, and the Panhandle Ground Water Conservation District. These properties were put up for auction and went unsold at the tax sale. The properties are then “struck-off” to the entities.

The placement of the signs on available property will identify the properties available for purchase. There will also be catalogs disbursed within the community.

Anyone over 18 years old can submit a bid for a property. However, a successful bidder cannot owe delinquent taxes on other property in the county, owe an unpaid fine or fee to the city and/or county, and/or own other property in the city/county that is subject to existing penalties for codes enforcement.

Those interested may place a bid online at www.texascg.com or can simply go to the City of Clarendon and submit a bid, which is the price you would consider paying for the property you wish to buy. Should you meet the requirements listed above and your bid is sufficient and accepted by all entities, the property will be deeded to you upon receipt of the payment of your bid amount and fees to cover the cost of the deed and recording fees, which are minimal.

Texas Communities Group recalls the saying that one person’s trash may be another person’s treasure. This is certainly the case with Trust Property, the press release says. If you are interested in a property, there certainly is value to you. Maybe the property is next door and you can expand your yard or build a garage. Perhaps a property with a structure can be rehabbed into a profitable rent house. Never underestimate the power of an entrepreneurial mind.

Citizens are urged to notice the signs, look through the catalog, or go online and scroll through the properties.

The process to purchase these Trust Properties is simple; just submit the winning bid. The paperwork and recording is done for you. Returning property back to the tax rolls is one purpose of this effort.

Allsup’s Convenience Stores is being purchased by Yesway, according to reports Tuesday afternoon.

A Yesway press release said the Iowa-based company has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Allsup’s, which is based in Clovis, New Mexico, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

The manager of the Clarendon Allsup’s location was unavailable for comment at press time.

“Allsup’s founders, Lonnie and Barbara Allsup, were true pioneers, innovators, and visionaries of convenience store retailing,” said Thomas Nicholas Trkla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yesway. “They were the first to offer customers hot, cooked foods, self-serve gasoline sales, and 24-hour service. We could not be more pleased to be joining forces with such a strong, beloved company and talented team of employees.”

Trkla said Yesway looks forward to building on the Allsup’s heritage and plans to keep products customers are used to “including – without question – the world-famous Allsup’s Burrito.”

The Eastern New Mexico News in Clovis obtained a copy of a letter sent to Allsup’s employees, which said the stores will continue to operate under the Allsup’s name.

“It has not been a secret that we have been exploring a potential transaction over the past year or longer,” the News reported the letter saying. “Our top priority was to find a partner for this transaction that would be a good fit for our company, a responsible steward of the wonderful company that you and our family have built over the past 63 years.”

The News also said the letter states that longtime VP of Finance Barbara Allsup will retire, while Mark Allsup will stay on board in a management and advisory role to ensure a smooth transition.

“We are very excited to have selected Yesway as the acquirer of our company and the future custodian of our brand and legacy,” President Mark Allsup said in the Yesway release. “We chose Yesway as a partner because their values are truly aligned with ours. They share our commitment to support the local communities we serve, our unwavering pledge to our customers to provide them with a terrific shopping experience, and our dedication to the success and wellbeing of our employees.”

“Mark was very deliberate and selective in choosing a buyer for our company and we believe he has made an excellent choice in Yesway,” Barbara Allsup said in the release. “Lonnie and I opened our first store in Roswell, New Mexico in 1956 and have operated as a private, family-owned business eversince. We have always cared deeply about maintaining strong family commitments, having honest, hard-working employees, and partnering with helpful service providers, vendors and other professionals in the communities we serve. We believe that our legacy is in very good hands with Yesway.”

BW Gas & Convenience Holdings, LLC d/b/a Yesway is headquartered in Des Moines, IA and Abilene, TX. Yesway appears at #6 on the Convenience Store News “2019 Top 20 Growth Chains” list, is currently ranked #43 on the “CSP Top 202 Chains” list, was named a “2017 Chain to Watch” by Convenience Store Decisions, and was awarded a Bronze for Loyalty & Advocacy in the 2018 Loyalty360 Customer Experience Awards. Over the past three and a half years, Yesway has acquired over 150 conveniences stores located in Iowa, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Yesway plans to assemble a portfolio comprising more than 500 convenience stores in selected regions of the United States over the next several years. www.yesway.com.