News

Clarendon and Hedley sales taxes dropped while Howardwick saw an increase when Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar delivered March allocations to local governments last week.

Clarendon’s revenue dropped 3.97 percent compared to this time last year with an allocation of $33,018.04. The city is still ahead 1.19 percent for the year-to-date collections at $123,270.08.

Hedley dropped 0.73 percent to $725.88 for the month but is running 24.58 percent ahead for the year at $3,381.55.

Howardwick posted a gain of 24.57 percent with an allocation of $1,890.87 and is now 18.95 percent ahead for the year-to-date at $5,901.81.

Statewide Hegar delivered $1 billion in local sales tax allocations for March, 9.9 percent more than in March 2022.

These allocations are based on sales made in January by businesses that report tax monthly.

A $350,000 award for street improvements in Howardwick is moving forward this week as city officials met Tuesday night to authorize the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to administer the grant.
City Secretary Sandy Childress said the Community Development Block Grant is exciting for the people of Howardwick and comes after a lot of hard work for the last three years.

“It just a good, positive thing for the City of Howardwick and the people here,” she said.

The success of the city’s grant application hinged on Howardwick changing the how its level of low to moderate income household were reported. The 2010 US Census over-reported the income level of the community, so city officials surveyed residents personally and discovered that more than 70 percent of households were of low to moderate incomes.

“We always got beat in the past based on the points system,” Childress said of previous attempts to get grant funds.

CDBG grant funds are based on need, and part of how a city shows need is demonstrating that its residents are of low to moderate income. The City of Clarendon is currently trying to survey local households for the same reason – to improve the chances of getting more grant funds.

Starting in August 2020, Howardwick surveyed its households and found 70.56 percent were at low to moderate incomes. It also proved the 2010 Census has over-reported the city’s population.

With that new information in hand, the city began working on the grant application in April 2021 and finally received approval in February.

“It was like a feeling that we’ve done really good,” Childress said of the news the grant was approved. “Mayor Tony Clemishire was super proud for the city and its residents because his whole focus is on cleaning up, better water, and general improvements for the city.”

The grant funds will be used to totally rebuild the city’s main road, Rick Husband Blvd. from about Porter Drive all the way to City Hall. Rick Husband is maintained from about Porter to Highway 70 by Greenbelt Water Authority.

Childress said when the work begins it may inconvenience some people, but the city will try to set up alternative routes where possible.

The city will provide matching funds of $17,500 for the project, and Childress says they are working on future grant applications.

The city also has used about $50,000 in COVID-relief funds to purchase a dozer and a dump truck to help work on other roads.

Childress is also still working on a petition drive to reverse a water rate increase from Red River Water Authority. Childress said residents have until March 31 to sign the petition and she encourages residents to come to City Hall to sign.

Additional candidates for the Hedley City Council were announced last week after the Enterprise went to press.

Mayor Carrie Butler said two candidates had left their applications in a city drop box and the paperwork was not discovered until after the filing deadline. With the addition of those two new candidates, there are now six people running for three full terms on the council.

Aldermen Trisha Chambless, Alicia Hanes, and Jennifer Floyd are seeking re-election. Christine Coyle was previously announced as a challenger, and now Calvin Holland and Tanya White Gibson will also appear on the ballot.

Butler also said a special election will be held alongside May’s regular election to fill two unexpired terms – those are seats belonging to Sandy Wilkinson, who resigned several months ago, and Danny Russell, whose resignation is scheduled to be voted on at the next regular Hedley city council meeting March 9.

Butler said the council last month appointed Clayton Beagle to Wilkinson’s seat and that he will be a candidate in the special election.

Seventeen Clarendon High School students competed in the Canadian academic practice meet February 11.

Adriana Araujo placed sixth in Prose Interpretation. Avery Halsey and Cate Word placed fifth and sixth respectively in Copy Editing. Millie McAnear tied for fifth in Ready Writing while Davin Mays wrote his way to a third-place finish in Feature Writing.

Cutter Seay rounded out the day with a silver medal in Informative Speaking.
Clarendon will compete at the district meet at Clarendon College on March 22.

Clarendon College has been selected to participate in a new statewide economic mobility grant due to CC’s outstanding accomplishments and dedication to student success.

The Talent Strong Texas Pathways is a $16 million five-year statewide economic mobility grant administered by the Texas Success Center is designed to increase the number of credentialed Texans prepared for high-demand careers that offer a living wage.

CC President Tex Buckhaults said Clarendon College is excited and honored to be a part of the Texas Pathways Grant.

The state’s higher education strategic plan, “Building a Talent Strong Texas,” targets expanding the attainment of valuable postsecondary credentials. The intent is to increase employment opportunities and income for individuals while creating a deeper talent pool for employers.

“Texas higher education has unique responsibilities and roles to play in what comes next, to expand opportunities for all Texans and ensure our economic competitiveness on a global scale,” said Harrison Keller, Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. “Now is the time to seize the vast, Texas-sized opportunities before us to achieve impact at scale and to dedicate ourselves to building a talent strong Texas.”

The Texas Success Center, working with the state’s community colleges, is supporting the scaling of inclusive talent pathways directing students through collaboratively designed programs beginning with short-term credentials and early workplace learning.

“Texas is very fortunate to have a set of funding partners willing to invest in the important work of the community colleges,” said Dr. Cynthia Ferrell, Vice President of the Texas Success Center. “We are very impressed by the college’s commitment to design and implement talent pathways. We are excited to work with Clarendon College as they continue to partner with local business and education leaders to provide valuable workforce and education opportunities.”

A fund has been established at the Donley County State Bank to receive donations to help the family of Coy Cooper as he battles cancer.

Plans are also in place for a Bake Sale to be held March 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Burton Memorial Library with the proceeds going to help the Cooper family.

Coffee Memorial Blood Center will have a community blood drive next Tuesday, March 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hedley High School.

The Bloodmobile will be there, and appointments can be scheduled by calling 877-340-8777 or by visiting obi.org.

The City of Clarendon is looking for a few good people to fill several positions.

The Clarendon Aquatic Center is just a few weeks away from opening for the 2023 season, but City Administrator David Dockery says more employees are needed before the Memorial Day weekend opening.

Applications are being accepted at City Hall for the position of pool manager and for several lifeguard jobs.

“We need at least four or five more lifeguards,” Dockery said Tuesday.
Anyone ages 16 and older can apply for a lifeguard position, and they must take training to become certified.

City Hall also was informed Monday that its final candidate for the city administrator’s position had withdrawn his name from consideration.

Fred Ventresco, Town Administrator at Pine Tops, North Carolina, had told the city council he was applying in other locations during a virtual interview held on February 2. After the council released the other two final candidates from the search two weeks ago, Ventresco was scheduled to travel to Clarendon this week to tour the town and meet with officials in person.

Dockery said the city assumes Ventresco accepted a position elsewhere.

The council will meet this Thursday evening for its regular meeting and discuss the next steps in finding a successor for Dockery, who announced a year ago his intention to retire this April. Dockery will now stay on the job for a while longer.