News

A split Clarendon City Council voted 2-1 to approve a bid on tax delinquent property during the regular city meeting last Thursday, August 27.
At issue is a 1999 Oakwood mobile home, owned by Nancy Shapiro and Bryan Leeper, located on the north side of the city. Back taxes on the trailer house total $24,236.95 for all local entities, including $5,157.31 for the city alone. With fines and fees, the total owed on the structure is $25,362.46.
The Donley Appraisal District solicited bids to settle the back taxes and has submitted the lone bid to local entities for their acceptance, with the city being the first to act.
The lone bid was for $100 and was from Leeper’s son, Tim Leeper, prompting further questions from the city council, which ultimately approved the bid. Aldermen Sandy Skelton and John Lockhart voted in favor of accepting the bid. Alderman Doug Kidd voted in opposition. Aldermen Beverly Burrow and Larry Jeffers were absent.
Chief Appraiser Paula Lowrie said this week that the appraisal district has been trying to address the back taxes on the mobile home for a long time. The appraisal district’s attorneys made several attempts over the years to collect taxes dating back to 2003 from Shapiro, but they were unsuccessful in serving her.
The home sits on land owned by Bryan Leeper, and Lowrie said it was only recently that his name was added to the mobile home. She said there is nothing wrong with Tim Leeper bidding on the property since he owes no back taxes.
Lowrie said the mobile home was put up in a sheriff’s sale last December but received no bids, making it the property of the local taxing entities. She said Bryan Leeper now wants it off his land said the district has advertised unsuccessfully trying to sell the home.
“We would be out thousands of dollars to move it ourselves,” Lowrie said.
In other city business last Thursday, the council voted to submit a preliminary environmental report and assessment to the US Department of Agriculture to determine the city’s eligibility for grant and/or loan funds for water system improvements.
Aldermen voted in favor of engaging the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to develop master parks plan for the city at no charge. The plan is a necessary step if the city wishes to consider applying for grant funds from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department next year. The master plan is expected to be finished in January or February.
The board also reviewed the proposed city budget. A budget hearing will be held September 24.
Aldermen submitted names in nomination for a steering committee to guide efforts of meeting a $500,000 challenge grant for the purpose of a water recreation facility in the city. Formal appointment of the committee will come next week.
Dockery also reported progress on possible grant funds through the Texas Department of Transportation to add a fuel facility at the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport. Early estimates are that the project would cost about $48,703 with the city putting in about $12,000. The local funds would come from an airport CD, which holds money left from a previous grant that can only be spent on the airport.

The Enterprise has confirmed that the owner of the Community Care Center of Clarendon nursing home closed the facility here yesterday, August 25.

The 60-bed facility was purchased by Royce Freeborn in 2006, and the home had 19 residents when it closed. Facility administrator Susan Hodges said 17 residents were relocated Tuesday and the final two residents are expected to be moved today.

“I’m just devastated along with the employees,” Hodges said. “These residents were like family members. It has been extremely difficult on everyone.”

Community Care Center employed about 40 full-time and four part-time employees, Hodges said

Hodges said the closure was the voluntary decision of Freeborn.

The Sandell Drive-In will mark its 60th anniversary this Saturday, August 29, with an Elvis Presley double-feature to benefit the Mulkey Theatre.

“Love Me Tender” will be screened at dusk followed by “Spinout,” and admission will be free but a $6 donation for the Bring Back the Mulkey project will be requested at the gate. The donation will also put you in the drawing for door prizes between features.

The Sandell began as dream of Gary and Nell Barnhill, who had met at a Dalhart theatre. They married, moved to Turkey, Texas, and were raising two young girls – Sandra and Adele – when they purchased the land in Clarendon where the drive-in now sits on.

The Barnhill’s are believed to have begun construction on the drive-in on January 8, 1955, a date which was coincidental in several ways. Mrs. Barhill, Elvis Presley, and present day Sandell owner John Morrow were all born on January 8.

At the age of 20, Elvis Presley was taking the nation by storm with his Rock & Roll music. Sandra and Adele Barnhill were among his fans and his pink and black Cadillac inspired the color scheme that still adorns the Sandell to this day.

“Love Me Tender” was Elvis’ first film in 1956, the first of 31 Hollywood motion pictures that starred the King of Rock & Roll.

The Sandell’s construction was completed by August 1955, and the drive-in opened the weekend before Labor Day weekend that year. The screen tower construction required 20 holes, hand-dug, two to three feet in diameter, 14 feet deep, and filled with steel and concrete for the foundation.

The framework required two semi-truck loads of steel, weighing 97 tons and bolted to the steel in the concrete. The frame was then covered with bolted on 2×6 boards and the screen side completely sheeted with 1x lumber, overlaid with 4’ x 8’ sheets of a material like concrete board. The screen is 70 feet wide and 35 feet high. The tower is 50 feet high, and the screen starts 15 feet above the ground.

The cinderblock concession area remains pretty much like it was in 1955 with the exception of new steel security doors, new digital projection equipment, and an FM transmitter to make the operation of the drive-in a modern experience.

The Sandell has since the very beginning been famous for its wonderful burgers and is now also famous for its homemade chili.

The Barnhills operated the drive-in continuously until 1984. The Sandell then sat vacant for 18 years before John Morrow and his family reopened it in 2002. At the peak, Texas had 532 drive-ins. After the Sandell re-opened, there were 16 still operating.

Morrow is looking for a big crowd this weekend, and he hopes everyone will come enjoy the movies and help raise funds for the Mulkey project. A vintage car club in Pampa has been invited to the 60th anniversary celebration, and Morrow says the gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for folks. Elvis music will be playing while folks enjoy the car club’s vintage autos, reminisce, and enjoy the refreshments of the concession stand.

To learn more about the Sandell Drive-In, visit www.sandelldrivein.com.

 

Clarendon College begins its 118th fall session this week with plans to build on the successes it had in the last year.

Speaking at All College Day last Thursday morning, CC President Robert Riza talked about the positive outlook for the college and among employees there.

“We have made changes in the culture of this institution over the last 12 months,” Riza said.

Fall enrollment was still underway early this week, but the president pointed to a number of high points over the 2014-2015 school year, chief among those was CC being named by Schools.com as the number two community college in the state in terms of student success.

Dr. Riza also discussed Clarendon’s revolutionary approach to developmental education, which started last year in the math department led by Linda Rowland and Dr. Jeremy Sain. CC had a 39 percent pass rate for Tier One Developmental Math at a time when the national rate is three percent.

The program, which is now being implemented by the English department, has taken a system that got students to college level math over a period of 2½ years and accelerated it to 16 weeks.

CC’s first class to graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing, which results in an RN certification, boasted a 94 percent pass rate on the national exam, which is a pass rate 30 points higher than neighboring Amarillo College.

In addition, residence hall occupancy had its best year-end numbers in CC history at the end of spring 2015, reflecting more students staying for the full year than ever.

Riza emphasized the closeness of Clarendon College teachers, staff, and students in achieving success.

“We’re in a good spot, we’re at a good school, and we’ve got great people,” Riza told college employees. “Everybody here matters. You are all a piece of this family.”

Later in the day, CC Regents convened in regular session and approved a $9.3 million budget for fiscal year 2016, an increase of about $79,000 over the current budget. The board also approved keeping the ad valorem tax rate at $0.220802, which is just 1.5 percent more than the effective rate and will raise taxes on a $100,000 home by $1.58.

Riza said Clarendon was one of only 12 community colleges that did not see a decrease in funding by the Legislature this year. The approved budget reflects reduced revenues in some areas, but that loss is made up by about $350,000 in grant revenue. The budget funds some new faculty positions, Riza said, including three new nursing faculty positions to prepare for growth in that program.

Regents also gave approval to the policy manual, the personnel handbook, the student handbook, and the 2015-2016 college catalog and ratified the dismissal of a custodian in a Pampa.

 

The Sandell Drive-In is one of Clarendon’s treasures, but the true treasure is the family that owns and operates the theatre.

For 15 years, John Morrow and his family have selflessly given their summer Fridays and Saturdays so that local people can have some entertainment in their lives and local kids can have something to do.

Resurrecting the darkened theatre wasn’t easy. It took a lot of work on the Morrows’ behalf and also from teams of volunteers at the time. But for Morrow it was a passion and something he felt called to do.

It hasn’t been a money maker by any means. Drive-ins have struggled over the years nationwide, and a report from the Texas comptroller’s office a few years ago listed the Sandell as one of less than two dozen drive-in theatres still operating in the state. Morrow has poured a lot into the endeavor; and about the time it was starting to pay out, movie studios moved away from film and forced theatres to convert to digital projectors – a cost of tens of thousands of dollars.

Still, the Morrows have persevered and rolled with the obstacles that have come their way… bad weather, burglaries, and the occasional technical difficulty.

This weekend, the Sandell turns 60 years old, and John Morrow is planning a big celebration. But what could be a good opportunity for him to make money is being used instead to help another community project… the Mulkey Theatre.

The Sandell was built and opened by the late Gary Barnhill in 1955. He later purchased the 1946 Mulkey and operated the two as sister theatres for decades before closing both in the mid-1980s. In addition to his obvious love for the drive-in, Morrow has always taken a special interest in the ongoing revitalization of the downtown theatre from volunteering his time to offering professional advice to helping raise funds.

For the Sandell’s anniversary, Morrow is planning an Elvis Presley double feature – “Love Me Tender” and “Spinout.” The King of Rock & Roll has some interesting ties to the Sandell. Construction on the theatre is said to have started on Elvis’ birthday, January 8, in 1956. (Coincidentally, Morrow and the late Nell Barnhill also shared the King’s birthday.) And the pink and black color scheme of the Sandell was chosen because Barnhill’s daughters had a liking for Elvis’ pink and black Cadillac.

Admission will be free to the double feature, but a $6 donation to the Mulkey at the gate will be appreciated and get you entered in the drawing for door prizes between the movies. Morrow hopes for a big crowd and has invited the Pampa car club to come down for the evening. Gates will open at 5:30, and the show, of course, starts at dusk.

Morrow’s commitment to Clarendon is to be admired and appreciated. It is people like him and his family that makes this community something special. It would be a long list if we started enumerating all the people who give their time so that others may benefit. They don’t ask for accolades or rewards; they just want to do something nice, something that will make our community a better place to live.

What better way to show appreciation for their devotion than to make this fundraiser the biggest success it can be? So we call on all our readers and their friends and neighbors to come on out Saturday night as the Sandell closes its 2015 season and marks its 60th anniversary. Enjoy the vintage cars, eat one of the best hamburgers in town, grab a Coke and a popcorn, help Bring Back the Mulkey, and tell John and all the Morrow family “thank you.”

Meanwhile…

It’s that time of year again when the public has an open invitation to participate in their local governments.

August and September is when the county, cities, schools, and other local entities are required to hold public hearings on proposed tax rates and budgets. Clarendon College Regents held one of the first such hearings last Thursday, August 20; and Hedley School Trustees held a hearing Monday evening.

Taxes are often a source of conversation, as well as people wondering “just what they do with all that money” at the city, county, or wherever. Your local newspaper helps answer those questions, and public notices in the paper lets you know when and where hearings will be held and exactly what tax rate your local boards are considering adopting.

To be fully informed requires you to be engaged. Follow the news; pay attention to legal notices from your local governments; and then if you’re really interested, go to the hearings and ask questions. If you do none of those things, then chances are you probably don’t know what you’re talking about when you complain about your taxes or local boards.

Upcoming hearings include a budget and tax hearing at 7:30 Friday morning at Clarendon ISD; tax rate hearings for Donley County on September 4 at 9 a.m. and September 8 at 10:30 a.m.; a budget hearing for the Donley County Appraisal District on September 8 at 7 p.m.; a tax rate hearing for the City of Hedley at 7 p.m. on September 10; and the county budget hearing at 9 a.m. on September 14.

 

An anonymous benefactor wants Clarendon to have a water recreation facility and has put up $500,000 to challenge the community to make it happen.

Alderman Sandy Skelton announced the big news during the regular meeting of the Clarendon City Council last Thursday, August 13. Skelton said he had been approached by the benefactor in July and that he and City Administrator David Dockery immediately began looking into the opportunity.

“This is all very preliminary,” Skelton said. “We could be looking at anything from a really nice swimming pool to a water park like Wellington has or something in between.”

What the final project looks like will depend entirely on the success of fundraising and the support of community. City officials have learned that the price tag for water recreation projects can range from $1.5 million for a pool and a few amenities to $3.4 million for a water park like the new one in Wellington with slides, diving pools, splash pads, a swimming area, and covered picnic pavilions.

Clarendon Aldermen were enthusiastic about the prospect of a water park or pool as something many people have wanted for many years.

Reaction on social media validated the public’s interest in the project. The Enterprise broke the news on Facebook and Twitter when Skelton made his announcement Thursday night. The post had reached more than 1,000 people by the time the meeting adjourned 45 minutes later. By Tuesday morning, it had reached more than 3,700 people and had received almost 900 clicks.

Dockery suggested a steering committee be appointed very soon to guide the project and help with fundraising. The council agreed that Skelton would represent the city on the committee, and aldermen will bring committee nominations to their next meeting on August 27.

Dockery says the committee will be charged with looking at all aspects of the project, including the location of the facility, the size of the facility, and the cost to build and operate the facility.

An early site possibility for the committee to consider is due east of the Post Office at Fourth and Kearney, where the city already owns property which is connected to Prospect Park by a sidewalk and lighting.

Dockery also presented more information during Monday’s meeting of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) and reiterated that benefactor is challenging the community.

“Nothing about this is set in stone,” Dockery said. “The benefactor is looking to see how much Clarendon will help itself.”

CEDC members also expressed enthusiastic support for the project.

“I think it would be great and a drawing card for Clarendon,” CEDC President Terri Floyd said of the water project. “It would bring business to our town.”

Floyd said she would like to see the community rally in support of the project.

“A lot of good things are happening in Clarendon,” Floyd said Tuesday. “We’re seeing a lot of progress, and we hope to see everyone get on board and make this a community effort.”

CEDC board member Alderman Doug Kidd was also strongly in favor of the project and said targeting young families should be the key.

“You have to think about the younger ones,” Kidd said at Monday’s meeting. “Splash pads and things like that are where it’s at.”

Last Wednesday, Skelton and Dockery, along with Interim Director of Tourism & Economic Development Jack King, and CEDC member Roger Estlack, toured the new Wellington Aquatics Venue and met with city officials there, gathering information on construction costs, operating procedures, and economic benefits of that project.

Dockery’s research also indicates that projects are more likely to be self-sustaining if they include more amenities than just a pool.

Dockery has been in contact with other cities that have water recreation facilities, and he told the CEDC that each city had its own challenges in building their facilities but all agreed they were huge benefits to their communities and had helped grow their economies.

Communities also report aquatics projects had enhanced property values and benefit other types of development.

Wellington, which has just had its aquatics center open since June 12 and closed for the season on Sunday, August 16, reported that it has had about 14,000 visitors in that short time with 70 percent of them coming from out of town.

Albany reports 80 percent of the users of its facility come from out of town.

Dockery says keeping the public informed will be a top priority as this project moves forward, and updates will likely be given at every regular city council meeting.

“We have to build trust and confidence that once we begin this initiative, we will complete it,” he said. “We need to show community interest and community backing.”

To make a donation or pledge your organization’s or business’ support for this project, contact David Dockery at City Hall at 806-874-3438.

 

The Clarendon City Council approved a 14 percent increase in sanitation rates during its regular meeting last Thursday, August 13.

Mayor Larry Hicks said the city had been struggling to keep up with expenses in the sanitation department for several years.

City officials said the increase will raise about $36,000 for the department and stave off having to use other revenues to support the trash service. The rate increase will also include a new $40 set out and pick up fee for delivering and retrieving Dumpsters that aren’t part of a regular service.

Alderman Doug Kidd asked if it would be cost effective to contract sanitation services, and City Administrator David Dockery said he would be happy to look into that. Dockery noted that the city has built up an enormous amount of capital equipment in the sanitation department that would be hard to rebuild if it was ever done away with.

The board voted unanimously to approve the 14 percent rate increase. Aldermen Larry Jeffers and John Lockhart were absent.

Aldermen also listened to proposals from engineer Clayton Scales to solve drainage issues on West Third Street. The board voted to pursue an option that will lay 10 feet of blacktop behind the north and south rollover curbs in order to armor those areas and carry storm water better. The work is expected to cost about $117,000 and will be paid for from reserve funds.

Will Jordan of Texas Panhandle Cyber Medics presented a proposal for contracted code enforcement services. The city currently pays Jordan $500 per month, and he is seeking twice that amount in the new contract.

City officials discussed needing better reporting, and Jordan said he’s losing money under the current contract. Former alderman Bob Watson said he was interested in the job. No action was taken on the contract.

Aldermen considered abandoning one block of Fourth Street west of Collinson Street, which has never been opened. Neighbors Larry Gray and Kenny Black asked for the street to be abandoned, and citizen Roger Estlack spoke in open comments against the request, asking the council to think about future development. Gray said his house was for sale and closing the street would benefit future owners. The council approved the request with the property owners to split the legal costs and the city to maintain a 20-foot utility easement and right of access.

In his administrator’s report, Dockery said the permitting process for a demolition landfill was continuing, and he said the Clarendon EDC will be working with Texas Tech University to develop a master plan for downtown development.