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Voters will celebrate Texas Independence Day next Tuesday by heading to the polls and casting ballots in party primaries.
Polling places for the Democratic Primary are as follows: Precinct 101 – Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center, Precinct 102 – Howardwick City Hall, Precinct 201 – Donley County Courthouse Judge’s Office, Precinct 301 & 302 – Hedley Lions Club, and Precinct 401 – Burton Memorial Library.
Republican polling places are: Precinct 101 – Clarendon College Bairfield Activity, Precinct 102 – Howardwick City Hall, Precinct 201 Donley County Courthouse Commissioners Courtroom, Precinct 301 – Assembly of God Fellowship Hall, Precinct 303 – Hedley Senior Citizens Center, and Precinct 401 – Church of Christ Family Life Center.
Early voting for both parties continues at the County Clerk’s office in the Courthouse Annex through this Friday.  As of Tuesday morning, 96 Republicans had cast early ballots, and 23 Democrats had voted.
Local Democrats have one contested race on their ballot. Colleen Owens and Doug Wright are vying for the party’s nomination for Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace.
Donley County Republicans have two contested races on their ballot this year. Incumbent Donnie Hall is being challenged by Mitchell Martin for the nomination to run for County Commissioner of Precinct 2.
Three men – Joe Hall, Dan Sawyer, and Bill Spier – are seeking the Republican nomination to run for County Commissioner of Precinct 4.
Other candidates on the Republican ballot include Denise Bertrand for Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace, Janette Gail Wagner Cox for County/District Clerk, and incumbent Wanda Smith for County Treasurer.  Tom Stauder also appears on the Republican ballot to continue as party chairman.
Balloting next Tuesday will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check your voter’s registration card to see what precinct you should vote in.

The sign-up period continues for citizens who might wish to serve as candidates for any of seven local boards holding elections this May.
The filing deadline for these offices is March 8, 2010; and the elections will be held May 8.
The City of Clarendon will hold an election to choose the three aldermen for two-year terms, and the City of Howardwick will also elect three aldermen for two-year terms.
The City of Hedley will choose a mayor and four aldermen. The mayor and two aldermen positions are full two-year terms. Two other positions are unexpired terms.
Three positions on the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees are up this year. Those seats are three-year terms.
Two full terms and one unexpired term are up on the Hedley ISD Board of Trustees. The full terms are for three years, and the unexpired term has one year remaining.
The Clarendon College Board of Regents has three seats up for election this year. Those positions are six-year terms.
The Donley County Hospital District will select four two-year positions on its board, Places 4, 5, 6, and 7. All local offices are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must sign up for a specific place.

County receives $82K for non-profit groups

Donley County Commissioners will soon decided what to do with almost $82,000 that until recently was just chilling in a bank account somewhere.

Becky Fuller, who is the director of the 100th Judicial District Adult Probation Department, presented a check to the county in the amount of $81,958.72 last Monday.
The money presented represents one-fifth of the donations collected prior to March 2008 through the 100th Judicial District Community Service Program from participants in lieu of performing community service hours. County Judge Jack Hall said the money had been being deposited for about 15 years without being distributed.

Qualified participants “could buy one of hour of community supervision time for $4,” Hall said. The option is only available to participants who are employed full-time and are current on their court-ordered fees.
Money collected since March 2008 has been donated quarterly to qualifying food programs in the 100th Judicial District, but the commissioners’ court will decide what to do with the more than $81,000 they received last week.

“We’ll be looking at that at our next regular meeting on March 8,” Hall said. “The only requirement is that it has to go to a non-profit organization that is not religiously affiliated.”

The five counties which make up the 100th Judicial District – Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Donley and Hall – each received an equal portion of the collections

County Judge Jack Hall and Commissioners Bob Trout, Mark White, Don Hall, and Andy Wheatley with Becky Fuller, CSCD Director.

Early voting began Tuesday for this year’s Republican and Democratic primary elections and will continue through Friday, February 26.

Donley County Republicans have two contested races on their ballot this year. Incumbent Donnie Hall is being challenged by Mitchell Martin for the nomination to run for County Commissioner of Precinct 2. Hall announced early this week that, despite rumors to the contrary, he has not withdrawn from the race and is still a candidate.
Three men – Joe Hall, Dan Sawyer, and Bill Spier – are seeking the Republican nomination to run for County Commissioner of Precinct 4.

Other candidates on the Republican ballot include Denise Bertrand for Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace, Janette Gail Wagner Cox for County/District Clerk, and incumbent Wanda Smith for County Treasurer. Tom Stauder also appears on the Republican ballot to continue as party chairman.

Local Democrats have one contested race on their ballot. Colleen Owens and Doug Wright are vying for the party’s nomination for Pct. 3&4 Justice of the Peace.
Other candidates on the Democratic ballot include Brad Dalton for County Commissioner of Precinct 4, incumbent Jack Hall for County Judge, incumbent Fay Vargas for County/District Clerk, and incumbent Connie Havens for Pct. 1&2. Jean Taylor is also on the ballot to continue as her party’s chair.

Early voting by personal appearance for both parties is being held in the Donley County Courthouse Annex.
The Primary Election Day will be Tuesday, March 2.

Seven local boards seeking candidates

The sign-up period continues for citizens who might wish to serve as candidates for any of seven local boards that will be holding elections this May.

The filing deadline for these offices is March 8, 2010; and information can be obtained from the administrative offices of the respective entities. The elections will be held Saturday, May 8.

The City of Clarendon will hold an election to choose the three aldermen for two-year terms.

The City of Howardwick will also elect three aldermen. These officers each serve two-year terms.

The City of Hedley will choose a mayor and four aldermen. The mayor and two aldermen positions are for full two-year terms. Two other aldermen positions are unexpired terms.

Three positions on the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees are up this year. Those seats are three-year terms.

Two full terms and one unexpired term are up for election this year on the Hedley ISD Board of Trustees. The full terms are for three years, and the unexpired term has one year remaining.

The Clarendon College Board of Regents has three seats up for election this year. Those positions are six-year terms.

The Donley County Hospital District will select four two-year positions on its board, Places 4, 5, 6, and 7.
All local offices are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must sign up for a specific place.

District court hands down several sentences

The 100th Judicial Court returned four convictions and four deferred adjudications after hearing eight pleas last Friday in Clarendon.

District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

A total of $13,750 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on February 12 In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $2,807 in court costs and $14,252 in restitution.

Randy Joe Ganaway pleaded guilty to a state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 months in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Ganaway was arrested on November 17, 2009 for possession of methamphetamine, less than one gram. Ganway pleaded guilty to the State’s complaint and information which was filed on February 10. 2010.

Ganaway was also required to pay a $1,000 fine to Childress County and $327 in court costs.

Sean Michael Gravelle was placed on probation for a period of four years for the state jail felony offense of theft. Gravelle was convicted and sentenced to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of four years.

Gravelle was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on February 1, 2010. Gravelle pleaded guilty to the State’s complaint and information which was filed on February 11, 2010. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Gravell is required to pay a $2,000 fine to Carson County, $312 in court costs, and must also successfully attend and complete the SAFPF program, a nine-month rehabilitation program.

Danny Rae Nations was placed on probation for a period of five years for the third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated, 3rd or more. Nations was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of five years.
Nations was arrested in Hall County for the offense that took place on February 6, 2009. Nations was later indicted by the Hall County Grand Jury on September 16, 2009.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Nations is required to pay a $3,000 fine to Hall County, $376 in court costs, $140 restitution and must comply with all the requirements of conviction under Texas Penal Code 49.04.

Tom Longan pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for a period of three years for the delivery of a controlled substance.

Longan was arrested in Donley County on January 13, 2010, for the state jail felony offense of delivery of hydrocodone. Longan pleaded guilty to a complaint and information filed by the State for the offense on February 11, 2010.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Longan is required to pay a $500 fine to Donley County, court costs of $443, $140 in restitution and successfully complete 100 hours of community service.

If Longan violates his probation, he could be sentenced up to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Richard Calvert pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of theft.

Calvert was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on November 23, 2009. Calvert was later indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on January 13, 2010.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Calvert is required to pay a $250 fine to Donley County, court costs of $443, $1,832 in restitution and successfully complete 100 hours of community service.

If Calvert violates his probation, he could be sentenced up to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Nicholas Adam Davis pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of possession of marihuana.
Davis was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on November 11, 2009. Davis was later indicted by the Carson County Grand Jury on January 4, 2010.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Davis is required to pay a $4,000 fine to Carson County, $327 in court costs, $140.00 in restitution and successfully complete 100 hours of community service.

If Davis violates his probation, he could be sentenced up to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Carlos Refugio Cervantes-Perez pleaded guilty and was placed on probation for a period of three years for the state jail felony offense of money laundering. Cervantes was convicted and sentenced to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but the sentence was probated for a period of three years.

Cervantes was arrested in Carson County for the offense that took place on February 6, 2010. Cervantes pleaded guilty to a complaint and information filed by the State on February 11, 2010.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Cervantes is required to pay a $2,000 fine to Carson County, $267 in court costs, and successfully complete 100 hours of community service.

Cervantes also agreed to the forfeiture of $16,000.00 and a 2001 Chevrolet Pickup that was seized by the State on February 7, 2010. Pursuant to this seizure, 70% of the forfeited money will be turned over to the Texas Department of Public Safety, with the remaining 30% to be awarded to the District Attorney’s Office to be used for local law enforcement.

Bryan Keith McCrary pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for a period of five years for the state jail felony offense of theft.

“Our goal in theft cases is to make the victim as whole as possible,” said Inman. “The defendant’s plea of guilty is the first step in making that happen.”

McCrary was indicted by the Childress County Grand Jury on September 17, 2009 for the offense that took place on November 1, 2008.

McCrary was scheduled for a jury trial in Childress on February 17. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the jury trial was cancelled and McCrary is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Childress County, $312 in court costs, $12,000 in restitution and successfully complete 100 hours of community service.

If McCrary violates probation, he could get up to two years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Filing opened Monday for candidates wishing to seek a position on any of seven local boards during this spring’s elections.

The City of Clarendon will hold an election to choose the three aldermen for two-year terms. Those positions are currently held by Aldermen Tommy Hill, Kyle Davis, and Will Thompson.

The City of Howardwick will also elect three aldermen for the positions currently held by Rod Donaldson, Tanis McMorries, and LeeAnn Cook. These officers each serve two-year terms.

Hedley’s election will choose a mayor and four aldermen. Those seats are now held by Mayor Bruce Howard, Leon Ward, Tonya Metcalf, Travis Thomas, and Lonnie Roby. Alderman Ward has already signed up for re-election.
Three positions on the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees are up this year. Those seats are currently held by Robin Ellis, Jim Shelton, and Marvin Thompson and are three-year terms.

Two full terms and one unexpired term are up for election this year on the Hedley ISD Board of Trustees. The full terms of James Edward Potts and Troy Monroe are expiring, and voters will choose a successor for the unexpired term of Karen Watt, which has one year remaining.

The Clarendon College Board of Regents has three seats up for election this year. Those positions are six-year terms and are currently held by Charles Deyhle, Ruth Robinson, and Susie Shields. All three incumbents have signed up for re-election, and Jerry Gage has also signed up for the election.

The Donley County Hospital District will select three two-year positions on its board, now held by Greg Collins (Place 4), Jeannie Owens (Place 5), Mark C. White (Place 6), and Lori Howard (Place 7).

All local offices are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must sign up for a specific place.

Sign up continues through March 8, 2010; and the elections will be held Saturday, May 8.

A Clarendon couple remained hospitalized Tuesday following a one-vehicle accident on US 287 last Friday.
Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Simpson said Bob Kidd, age 80, and Joan Kidd, age 74, were traveling eastbound in a 2005 white Chevrolet minivan when their vehicle went into the center median and struck a drainage cover at a crossover about 3:15 p.m.

The vehicle became airborne, and flew completely over the crossover. It landed in the median and rolled approximately one and one-half times, coming to rest on its top.

Simpson said it appeared Mr. Kidd fell asleep while driving. Speed is not being considered as a factor in the accident.

Several “good Samaritans” stopped to help the couple, Simpson said. Emergency services led in removing Mr. Kidd from the vehicle, and citizens and emergency personnel assisted Mrs. Kidd getting out. Both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Mr. Kidd was airlifted to Amarillo by LifeStar, and Mrs. Kidd was transported by the Associated Ambulance Authority. Both were still being treated at Northwest Texas Hospital at press time.

Agencies responding to this accident were the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, the DPS, Associated Ambulance Authority, and the Texas Department of Transportation.

New Lottery Scam Fraudulently Claims to Be From Better Business Bureau

Better Business Bureau warns that a new scam is fraudulently using the organization’s name in order to steal tens of thousands of dollars from victims who are led to believe they have won a lottery. So far, one victim has lost $80,000 to scammers posing as BBB employees.

Several individuals have reported to BBB that they were contacted over the phone or via e-mail by someone claiming they were with the Better Business Bureau. They were told that they had won a lottery and that, in order to receive the prize, they must first wire money back to the scammers. In some cases, the scammers used the names of real BBB employees—directing victims to legitimate bios and profiles on BBB’s Web site—in order to bolster their ruse.

“Many people are struggling in the current economy and when someone tells you that you’ve won millions in a lottery, it can seem like the answer you’ve been waiting for,” said Janna Kiehl, BBB CEO. “Every year, thousands of people contact BBB about a suspicious lottery, many lose big; a few others are wise consumers who never fall for the scam.”

Better Business Bureau reminds consumers that the organization does not run a lottery nor award prizes to consumers. Anyone who receives a call, letter or e-mail about winning the lottery should consult the following checklist in order to avoid falling victim to a lottery scam:
Check out the story. Always confirm the facts directly with the organization the representative claims to be from—whether it’s Better Business Bureau or any other organization. Use contact information that you found on your own from the organization’s Web site; don’t rely on phone numbers or Web links provided by the representative. Scammers often pretend to be from legitimate businesses or non-profits and a quick call directly to the organization can help set the record straight.

Never pay money to get money. Lottery scammers make their money by convincing victims that they have to pay money up front—to cover such costs as taxes or fees—in order to receive their winnings. Because it is extremely difficult for the victim to track or retrieve money sent via wire transfer, scammers will often use this as their payment method of choice.

Don’t fall for the phony check. Scammers will often send a check in the mail to the victim with the instructions that—in order to receive the full prize—he or she must deposit the check and wire back a portion of the funds to cover fees or taxes. The money is then taken out of the victim’s account and he or she is out the funds sent to the scammer. Don’t fall for this false sense of security, the check is fake and will eventually be returned.

If you have been contacted by someone posing as a Better Business Bureau employee, contact the BBB at 379-6222 or info@txpanhandle.bbb.org and report the incident.

TEMPLE – Texas agricultural landowners interested in participating in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) need to apply by March 5, 2010, if they have not already done so to be eligible for the next round of funding, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“Although EQIP is a continuous sign-up program, some producers may not have signed up yet,” said Don Gohmert, NRCS state conservationist for Texas. “We will rank all eligible applications received by the end of the ranking period on March 5 for 2010 funding.”
EQIP promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. Through EQIP, farmers and ranchers receive financial and technical assistance to help install conservation practices and to implement management systems that promote conservation.

Financial assistance is on a cost-shared basis with the producer.

To sign up for EQIP or to get more information, contact the NRCS office at 321 S. Sully in Clarendon or call 806-874-3561 ext. 3.
You can also get information about Texas NRCS programs at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.