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Shop Small and support local businesses Saturday, November 30, in Clarendon with a great line up of fun, sales, and activities.
Visit local merchants all day in celebration of Small Business Saturday. Then starting at 4 p.m., enjoy the fun and festivities in downtown Clarendon, featuring Santa at the Donley County Courthouse at 5 p.m. and the Courthouse Lighing Ceremony at 6 p.m. followed by food trucks, music, games, a scavenger hunt, and more More details coming soon.
Donley County voters turned out in large numbers to support Republican candidates and narrowly turned down a Hedley school tax increase during the general election last Tuesday, November 5.
Hedley ISD voters said “no” to a proposed 12-cent increase in the school’s tax rate during the Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE). School officials said the higher tax would have helped pay for higher salaries, security upgrades, and other expenses to help deal with dwindling state funds, according to school officials. HISD voters struck down the proposal 108-135.
With more than 74 percent of registered voters participating, Donley County heavily supported Republican candidates up and down the ballot favoring former president Donald Trump (R) over Vice President Kamala Harris (D), 1,492 to 174 with Libertarian Chase Oliver and the Green Party’s Jill Stein picking up eight and nine votes respectively.
US Sen. Ted Cruz (R) did not have as much as support locally but still overwhelmed Democrat Colin Allred, 1,442 to 191 with Libertarian Ted Brown getting 25.
US Rep. Ronny Jackson and State Rep. Ken King were both unopposed and received 1,445 and 1,483 respectively.
Local unopposed candidates received the following votes, Donley County Attorney Landon Lambert 1,447, Sheriff Butch Blackburn 1,487, Tax Assessor-Collector Kristy Christopher 1,483, Pct. 1 Commissioner Del Essary 377, Pct. 3 Commissioner Greg Wootten 374, and Pct. 3&4 Constable Randy Bond 624.
Hedley ISD voters said “no” to a proposed 12-cent increase in the school’s tax rate Tuesday.
The HISD Voter Approved Tax Ratifciation Election (VATRE) would have increased taxes to pay for higher salaries, security upgrades, and other expenses to help deal with dwindling state funds, according to school officials. Voters narrowly rejected the proposal with 108 FOR the measure to 135 AGAINST it.
In other general election news, Donley County votes turned out in large numbers to support Republican candidates up and down the ballot, including large margins for former president Donald Trump and US Senator Ted Cruz. All local offices were unopposed.
Detailed election results will be published in next week’s Enterprise.
American Legion Adamson Lane Post 287 members will place American Flags on the graves of 250 Veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. The flags will be placed on the graves on Friday November 8, 2024, at 9:00 AM. This is in honor of departed veterans who have served in this country’s military.
Flags will be placed at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon on Wednesday, November 6, by the Clarendon Lions Club and Scouts of Troops 433 and 4433.
On Monday, November 11, at 10:00 a.m., the Adamson Lane Post will hold its annual Veterans Day service at the Hedley Lions Club building. This program will be conducted by members of the American Legion and will include the raising of the colors, the National Anthem, Pledge to the Flag, and the ceremony honoring the missing in action and prisoners of War still unaccounted for.
The key address will be given by Tex Buckhaults, President of Clarendon College. The program will be concluded with the playing of taps.
Donley and Hall county unemployment rates fell slightly in September but remained higher than the overall Panhandle Workforce Development Area.
Sixty-three people were looking for work in Donley County down from 70 in August. The number of people employed also fell from 1,396 to 1,384 and the workforce shrank from 1,466 to 1,447.
In September 2023, Donley County’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent.
In Hall County, the unemployment rate dropped from 5.9 percent in August to 5.5 percent in September.
Sixty people were looking for work in Hall County, down from 65 the previous year. The number of employed people was 1,026, down from 1,039; and the Hall County workforce also shrank from 1,104 to 1,086.
Amarillo and the Panhandle WDA maintain low unemployment rates compared to the state, even with slight increases in September 2024. Labor force participation continues to grow, giving employers access to a stable talent pool.
Amarillo saw a slight drop to 3.0 percent in September 2024, down from 3.3 percent the previous month, remaining well below the Texas average of 4.1 percent.
The city’s labor force grew from 105,096 in September 2023 to 107,451 in September 2024. Employment also increased, from 101,797 to 104,243, signaling continued economic strength.
The unemployment rate in the Panhandle Workforce Development Area (WDA) experienced a modest decrease in unemployment to 3.3 percent in September 2024, down from 3.5 percent the previous month.
The WDA’s labor force grew from 213,235 in September 2023 to 216,778 in September 2024, with employment rising from 206,650 to 209,910.
While the WDA’s unemployment rate remains favorable, ongoing labor force growth provides regional businesses with opportunities to fill positions.
The Clarendon Lions Club held its 102nd anniversary Charter Banquet last Tuesday, October 29, and presented awards during the evening.
Boss Lion Richard Green announced Lion Ted Shaller as the Lion of the Year for his service to the club and his work with sponsoring blood drives through Coffee Memorial Blood Center. Lion Ted could not attend last Tuesday and was presented his award this week.
Lion David Dockery was recognized by the club with a plaque honoring his term of service as club president from 2023-2024 and all the service that happened under his leadership.
Lauren Ceniceros was formally crowned as the club’s Sweetheart for the current year.
District Governor Chris Rogers delivered the keynote address highlighting the service the Clarendon Lions Club has provided for the community and said he holds the Clarendon club up as an example to other Lions Clubs in the Panhandle. He especially praised the club for its successes in partnering with other community organizations during the presidencies of Lions Landon Lambert, David Dockery, and Richard Green.
DG Rogers also helped recognize Lions Ashlee Estlack for her 15 years of service to Lionism and Lion Chuck Robertson for his service over the past 20 years.
The club also received and approved and application from our newest Lion, Benjamin Estlack.
Those attending this year’s banquet were District Governor Chris Rogers of Lake Tanglewood; Boss Lion Richard Green and Lion Mary Green; Lion David Dockery and wife, Diana; Lions Roger Estlack and Ashlee Estlack and their daughter, Ella; Lion Benjamin Estlack, Lion Landon “L Jefe” Lambert; Lion Brian Barboza; Lions Scarlet and Russell Estlack; Lion Emma Roys; Lion Anndria Newhouse and husband, Michael with their sons Matthew and Monroe; Sweetheart Lauren Ceniceros with her parents, Dena and Gumaro; Lion Brian Barbosa; Lion Chuck Robertson and Laura Shortnacy; Lion Machiel Covey and husband, J.B.; Lion Chanel Silva and husband, Craig; Lion Larry Capranica and wife, Karen; Lion Eric Gehman and daughter, Rita; and Lion Chris Reuter and wife, Courtney.
In June of this year, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced that it selected PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC (PXD) as the new management and operating (M&O) entity for the Pantex Plant. PXD consists of BWXT Technical Services Group, Fluor Federal Services, SOC, and the Texas A&M University System.
The contract transition is now complete, and as of November 1, 2024, PXD assumed the responsibilities of managing and operating the Pantex site. The contract includes a transition period, which started in mid-July 2024, and a five-year base period with three five-year options, for a total contract period of up to 20 years, if all options are exercised. The estimated value of the contract is $1.5 billion annually.
“We’re very excited and proud to be at Pantex and to be working with the NNSA,” said Dr. Kelly Beierschmitt, PXD President and General Manager. “Pantex and Pantexans have a reputation for getting the job done. PXD will maintain that reputation and incorporate innovation opportunities where possible,” he added. “It’s an honor to work with the patriots that drive this mission.”
Jason Armstrong, NNSA Pantex Field Office Manager shared those sentiments also.
“The NNSA Pantex Field Office is looking forward to working alongside our M&O partner and will continue to enable and execute the Pantex mission and make sure it’s done compliantly and safely, never forgetting the overall importance of delivering for our national security mission.”
Voters in Donley County and across the United States will go to polls next Tuesday, November 5, to decide national, state, and local elections.
In addition to voting for president and one of Texas’ US Senate seats, local voters will be casting ballots on several state offices with contested races, and voters in the Hedley school district will decide the fate of a proposed 12-cent tax increase.
Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn, County Attorney Landon Lambert, County Tax Assessor-Collector Kristy Christopher, and Pct. 3&4 Constable Randy Bond are the only local positions on the ballot and are all unopposed. Likewise, US Rep. Ronny Jackson and State Rep. Ken King, both of whom represent Donley County, are unopposed.
Local balloting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday with all local voters except Precinct Box 303 voting at the Donley County Courthouse in Clarendon. Box 303 will vote at the Hedley First Baptist Church.
Many people have taken advantage of early voting this year. County officials said late Tuesday that 1,060 people had already cast ballots early. Early voting by personal appearance continues at the Donley County Courthouse Annex each weekday this week through Friday, November 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Enterprise will have local election results next Tuesday night on ClarendonLive.com and Facebook.com/TheEnterprise. Election returns will also be printed in the November 14 edition of the paper.
A computer programing error last week led to several residents being presented with an opportunity to vote on the Hedley ISD Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) even though they did not live in the Hedley school district.
Donley County Clerk Vicky Tunnell said the error was discovered after a voter called the Donley Appraisal District to ask about being taxed by Hedley ISD when they don’t live in the district. Chief Appraiser Paula Lowrie then alerted Tunnell to the problem.
Hedley Superintendent Tracey Bell said the clerk and the Texas Secretary of State’s office worked together to solve the problem, and she has complete confidence in the tax election as it moves forward through early voting this week and on election day next Tuesday, November 5.
Tunnell said the error mistakenly put the HISD tax question on all the ballots for voters in Precinct Box 301, but she said it was easy to fix since only about four HISD voters actually live in Precinct 301.
“The system just won’t count the Hedley tax issue on those ballots where it was not supposed to be,” Tunnell said.
A Hall County man who eluded capture for three weeks after reportedly shooting the Memphis police chief is in jail this week after he was arrested in Fort Worth on Friday, October 25.
Seth Altman, age 33, was returned to Memphis on Tuesday and was being held in the Hall County Jail with bond set at $1 million.
Hall County Sheriff Tom Heck tonight released the following statement about Altman’s capture:
“On October 25, 2024, at approximately 5:03 p.m. the Hall County Sheriff’s Office received a hit confirmation request from the Fort Worth Police Department for Seth Altman. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the warrant for a charge of attempted capital murder of a peace officer. Seth Altman was taken into custody without incident by the Fort Worth Police Department.”
Altman was held in the Tarrant County Jail until he was transported to Memphis this week.
Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said authorities were called about Altman’s location in Fort Worth after someone there recognized him from a wanted poster.
Altman is reported to have shot Police Chief Rex Plant on the night of October 3 and had been on the run since that time with some evidence that he crossed over into Donley County at one point while avoiding authorities.
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