News

Grant Haynes and Brock Hatley exhibited the top animals in the Beef Division at the annual Donley County Junior Livestock Show last Saturday, January 13, at the Donley County Activity Center.

Haynes showed the Grand Champion Steer, and Hatley had the Grand Champion Heifer.

Other top winners were Madison Smith and her Grand Champion Sheep; Izzy Craft with the Grand Champion Goat; Maloree Wann and her Grand Champion Barrow; and Koyt Tucek with the Grand Champion Gilt.

Reserve Champion honors when to Koyt Tucek, steers; Taylor Shaller, heifers; Shiann Cook, sheep; Chardy Craft, goats; Caton Grahn, gilts; and Payton Havens, barrows.

A total of 61 kids from the Donley County 4-H Club and local FFA chapters exhibited 105 animals during the show. Last year 69 young people showed 110 animals.

The livestock auction following the show generated an estimated $41,225 as of Tuesday morning, and that number will increase as donations continue to be received. The 2017 premium sale totaled about $41,525 at this point last year.

Showmanship awards this year went to Presley Smith – Junior Sheep, Madison Smith – Senior Sheep, Levi Gates – Junior Goat, Chardy Craft – Senior Goat, Harrison Howard – Junior Beef, Issac Dunham – Senior Beef, Harrison Howard – Junior Swine, and Payton Havens – Senior Swine. The Pee Wee Showmanship winners were Brance Bell – goats and Kreed Robinson – swine.

Complete results of the show are as follows:

Sheep – Madison Smith, Grand Champion; Shiann Cook, Reserve Champion; Presley Smith, third; and Shiann Cook, fourth.

Goats – Light Weight – Jayde Gribble, first; Grace McCurdy, second; and Riley Jantz, third and fourth.

Medium Weight – Chardy Craft, Reserve Champion; Kyler Bell, second; Whitney Williams, third; and Christopher Gonzales, fourth.

Heavy Weight – Izzy Craft, Grand Champion; Levi Gates, second; Laney Gates, third; and Madison Moore, fourth.

Heifers – Light Weight – Taylee Ehlert, first; and Kaitin Ehlert, second.

Heavy Weight – Brock Hatley, Grand Champion; and Taylor Shaller, Reserve Champion.

Steers – British Light Weight – Jaxan McAnear, Breed Champion; and Parker Haynes, second.

British Heavy Weight – Harrison Howard, Reserve Breed; Isaac Dunham, second; and Evelyn Mills, third.

American – Madison Smith, Breed Champion.

Cross Light Weight – Millie McAnear, first; Tristen Harper, second; Hannah Hommel, third; and Presley Smith, fourth.

Cross Medium Weight – Grant Haynes, first; and Parker Haynes, second.

Medium Heavy Weight – Grant Haynes, Grand Champion; Harrison Howard, second; Madison Smith, third; and Brock Hatley, fourth.

Cross Heavy Weight – Koyt Tucek, Reserve Champion; Kasen Hatley, second; and Koyt Tucek, third.

Gilts – Light Weight – Hannah Hommel, first; Tanner Burch, second; Ryan Ward, third; Bryce Williams, fourth; and Cole Franks, fifth.

Medium Weight – Koyt Champion, Grand Champion; Maloree Wann, second; Tristen Harper, third; Tyler Harper, fourth; and Mya Edwards, fifth.

Heavy Weight – Caton Grahn, Reserve Champion; Maloree Wann, second; and Hannah Hommel, third.

Barrows – White OPB – Mycah Woodard, Breed Champion; Emeri Robinson, Reserve Breed; and Emma Lambert, third.

Black OPB – Light Weight – Jodee Pigg, Reserve Breed; Hannah Hommel, second; Dalton Benson, third; Dalton Benson, fourth; and Steven Mills, fifth.

Black OPB – Heavy Weight – Shiann Cook, Breed Champion; Kinslee Hatley, second; Mya Edwards, third; Jayden Lambert, fourth; and Cody Flores, fifth.

Hamp – Light Weight – Caton Grahn, first; Hannah Hommel, second; Harrison Howard, third; and Kasen Hatley, fourth.

Hamp – Heavy Weight – Maloree Wann, Grand Champion; Koyt Tucek, Reserve Breed; Calder Havens, third; and Caylor Monroe, fourth.

Duroc – Light Weight – Darcy Grahn, first; Brock Hatley, second; Mycah Woodard, third; Paula Carrera, fourth; and Kasie Hinton, fifth.

Duroc – Heavy Weight – Tyler Harper, Breed Champion; Maloree Wann, Reserve Breed; and Koyt Tucek, third.

Cross – Light Weight – Isaac Dunham, first; Nathan Shadle, second; Jodee Pigg, third; Bryce Williams, fourth; and Collin Monroe, fifth.

Cross – Medium Weight – Payton Havens, Reserve Breed; Harrison Howard, second; Calder Havens, third; Isaac Dunham, fourth; and Brock Hatley, fifth.

Cross – Heavy Weight – Payton Havens, Reserve Champion; Tyler Harper, second; Emeri Robinson, third; Alex Gray, fourth; and Hayden Alston, fifth.

Classes are set to begin January 16 in the CDL program at the Clarendon College Pampa Center in Pampa.

The cost of the 8-week program is $3,000. Because this is a noncredit course, traditional federal aid is not available. Career Training loans are available through Sallie Mae, Certification for Education Loans are available through Education Credit Union, and a payment plan is available through the College.

For more information, contact Program Director Ken Carlile at 806-874-3809 or fill out the online contact form at www.ClarendonCollege.edu/CDL.

The CDL program will focus on basic driving skills, material handling equipment, basic maneuvers such as backing, docking, and handling; and safety measures. Students will be taught to drive on various terrains, including city and country roads, and practice driving during both day and night time frames.

Instruction will include time in the classroom, CC’s new CDL simulator, and on-the-road in the college’s recently acquired semi-truck.

The Howardwick City Council met December 12 amid continuing divisions within the community regarding the governance of the city.

Business owner Jack Moreman spoke first on the agenda regarding action taken by the City Council in November 2014 which changed Howardwick from a Type B municipality to a Type A municipality. Moreman said the city had classified his Rolling Plains Compost Ag Compost as a manufacturer when he doesn’t really manufacture anything. He also said if he were actually manufacturing compost it would lead to regulations from the state and federal government.

“I wish you had come to me,” Moreman said. “I’ve tried to be a good neighbor.”

Moreman’s comments led Alderman Doc Holladay to then move to repeal the 2014 resolution, which among other things allowed the city to raise its ad valorem tax rate above 25 cents per $100 valuation. Holladay’s motion also included refunding tax revenues resulting from the Type A status to the citizens.

Alderman Eric Riddle pointed out that such an action was not on that meeting’s agenda, and Alderman Robert Brewster asked for more time to consider the matter and to visit with Moreman as well as former code enforcement officer Will Jordan, prompting outbursts from citizens at the meeting. No action was taken.

Later in the meeting, Mayor Greta Byars read a letter from Alderman Shelly Williamson, resigning her position citing harassment and discrimination by the community against her and her children.

The council took action to accept sealed bids on a Jeep owned by the city, which is no longer needed.

Personalities clashed again over the fire department’s access to City Hall. Mayor Byars said she had been told the fire department did not need access lock codes were changed after she became mayor. Riddle said the fire department uses the meeting room and bathroom of the building. The council voted to let the fire department access the meeting room and restroom.

Resident Susie Langford spoke concerning Ordinance 109, which was approved by a 4-1 vote of the council during a special meeting on November 21 with Alderman Holladay opposed.

The ordinance outlines the roles, responsibilities, and authority of the council, the mayor, and the city secretary. It was proposed by Riddle, who said he drafted it from information in state law and handbooks from the Texas Municpal League. The mayor and others said the ordinance would limit Byars’ authority. An audio file of the November 21 meeting obtained by the Enterprise records the meeting as being punctuated by loud outbursts from citizens and culminating with Mayor Byars refusing to sign the ordinance after its passage calling it “tyrannical or harsh … dictatorial, capricious or volatile, unstable, and unpredictable.”

Speaking on December 14, Langford asked for Ordinance 109 to be “tabled” until citizens can vote on it. She also requested that copies of future ordinances be given to citizens in attendance so they can ask questions and make comments.

Langford called on the council, mayor, and secretary to give up grudges and said that Howardwick has been a great place but things have “turned to crap” with friends against friends.

Byars said she has not had a chance to be much of a mayor and claimed Ordinance 109 was not ‘passed’ because “Eric forgot something, and it is not an ordinance yet.”

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce is now seeking nominations for its annual community awards banquet.
Honorees will be announced during the banquet, which is scheduled for Thursday, February 8.

Nominations are being sought for Man of the Year and Woman of the Year – two individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community in the last year, and the Saints’ Roost Award – honoring an individual for a lifetime of service to the community.

Written nominations should specify what award the person is being nominated for and a brief paragraph stating the reason for the nomination. The nominations should be no more than one page in length.

Nominations can be mailed to the Chamber of Commerce at PO Box 986, Clarendon, TX 79226, or delivered to the Clarendon Visitor Center inside the Mulkey Theatre at 110 S. Kearney. If the center is closed, nominations may be left in the mailbox on the light pole in front of the office.

Nominations must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018.

A Clarendon man remains in the Donley County Jail this week on charges related to an October home burglary.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn says 37-year-old Herman L. “Taz” Jackson III was arrested December 17 for the second degree felony of Burglary of a Habitation related to a crime committed on October 24.

Jackson is also facing an unrelated Class C Misdemeanor charge for Assault. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Pam Mason with bond set on the felony charge at $20,000 and on the misdemeanor at $2,000.

Blackburn said Jackson is also being held on a $5,000 bond for a warrant out of Briscoe County for a state jail felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Donley County voters will have three local contested races to decide in the 2018 elections.

Filing closed Monday, December 11, with challengers declared for the offices of County/District Clerk, Precinct 3&4 Justice of the Peace, and Precinct 2 Commissioner.

Clerk Fay Vargas is seeking reelection on the Democratic ticket, and Bobby Woodard is also running for that office as a Republican. Precinct 3&4 Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand is running again and will face Pat White in the Republican Primary. In Precinct 2, Commissioner Daniel Ford is running for re-election and is being challenged by Donley County Chief Deputy Randy Bond. That race will also be decided in the Republican primary.

The following county officials have filed for re-election but do not have any opposition: County Judge John Howard, Treasurer Wanda Smith, Precinct 1&2 Justice of the Peace Pam Mason, and Precinct 4 Commissioner Dan Sawyer.

Next year’s primary elections will be held on March 6. The General Election will be held November 6.

The Donley County Commissioners Court enacted a burn ban during their regular meeting Monday, December 11.

No outdoor burning is allowed on a day of a forecasted Fire Weather Watch or a Red Flag Warning issued from the National Weather Service in Amarillo.

Under Donley County’s Burn Ban conditions, anyone engaging in outdoor burning must contact the Donley County Sheriff’s office prior to ignition and give the dispatcher a burn location, a contact phone number, and approximate burn time. The persons engaging in outdoor burning needs to be present on the site of the burn until the burn is completed.
Anyone engaging in any form of outdoor burning is asked to burn with extreme caution at all times.

Forecasters can issue the watch or warning for all or selected portions within a fire weather zone. The Red Flag event is verified when the weather and fuel conditions listed below are met simultaneously for any three hours or more during the period.

The following weather and fuel conditions must be forecast to occur or already occurring before issuing a Fire Weather Watch and/or Red Flag Warning: Minimum relative humidities equal to or less than 15 percent; 20 foot winds of 20 mph or higher and/or gusts to 35 mph or higher; and an NFDRS adjective fire danger rating of “high” or higher.
For information, log onto www.srh.noaa.gov/ama/.  The burn ban will stay in effect for the next 90 days.

In other county business Monday, the commissioners court renewed the county’s tax abatement guidelines for a two-year period; approved a resolution regarding the Donley County Jail commissary account; and reappointed Jerry Woodard to the Panhandle Regional Finance Corporation Board for a three-year term.