News

The Donley County Hospital District is looking for ways to cut costs as it begins work on its 2005-2006 budget and faces financial shortfall in this fiscal year.

But district officials say that the situation is not as bleak as it may first appear; and interim administrator Ron Wetzel and administrator-in-training Vicky Robertson agree that with board oversight and sound management, the overall financial status of the hospital district should improve.

“We can do it, but everybody is going to have to tighten their belts,” Robertson told a budget committee last Friday.

Medical Center Nursing Home will shed one fulltime LVN position and may cut some employee benefits, and the Associated Ambulance Authority may also cut some benefits. The hospital district operates both entities.

Three of four proposals for the nursing home call for cutting employee benefits but increase wages for all MCNH employees. One proposal calls for salary increases of three percent across the board; another calls for a $1-per-hour increase for LVNs, a 75 cents-per-hour increase for CNAs, three percent for all other employees; and a third calls for a $1-per-hour increase for LVNs, a 50 cents-per-hour increase for CNAs, three percent for all other employees, and decreases of $1,200 in the salaries for the assistant administrator and director of nurses.

That last option will put MCNH on a competitive level with other area nursing homes.

Robertson said no other nursing home positions could be cut and that eliminating the one LVN position would not affect the quality of care. Ambulance director Anita Aaron said her budget proposals would focus on cutting benefits.

“We’re being as frugal as we possibly can already; we’ve cut our budget the last three years,” Aaron told the Enterprise. “We’re going to do all that we can, and we’re all going to be okay.”

Hospital board members on the budget committee said the district has been operating at a loss for several years and has depleted its cash reserves, but they remained optimistic that the district could resolve its problems.

“I am convinced it is just a matter of working through this, and there is no reason to be negative,” said in-coming board member Bright Newhouse, who attended the committee meeting to get caught up on the situation.

Robertson this week said the district has approximately $98,000 in its cash management account, which doesn’t include the operating accounts of the nursing home and the ambulance service. Of that, some $93,000 is dedicated to a bond payment this September, which leaves the district with about $5,000.

The district’s ambulance service is reported to be operating in the black for this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2005. MCNH, on the other hand, is facing a budget shortfall that Robertson said could be $80,000.

At press time, a staff meeting was scheduled for May 24 in which board members were expected to outline for MCNH employees the financial condition of the home and discuss solutions.

A called meeting of the board will be held next Tuesday to adopt one of the budget proposals to deal with the shortfall.

Hospital district tax revenue pays for bonded indebtedness for the nursing home and the ambulance barn, provides funds for indigent health care, subsidizes the ambulance service, and makes up for any deficits in the nursing home budget.

AUSTIN – Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said last Friday that state sales tax revenue totaled $1.34 billion in April and said local governments will receive $455.7 million in May sales tax allocations, up 8.4 percent compared to May 2004.

Locally, the City of Clarendon collected a sales tax rebate of $27,978.73, a total 15.71 percent higher than the same period one year ago. Clarendon is now 4.07 percent ahead for sales tax rebates for the year to date.

Hedley and Howardwick both remain behind for the year and were both down again this month. Hedley’s rebate fell 3.56 percent to $522.16; and Howardwick dropped 1.66 percent to $803.04.

Statewide, Comptroller Strayhorn sent May sales tax allocations of $312.4 million to Texas cities, up 8.6 percent compared to May 2004. Calendar year-to-date, city sales tax allocations are up 7.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

May’s sales tax allocations to local governments represent March sales that were reported to the Comptroller in April by monthly tax filers, and January, February and March sales reported to the Comptroller in April by quarterly tax filers.

The City of Clarendon began advertising for bids this week for the 2005 proposed paving project.

Sealed bids will be opened and read aloud at City Hall on June 2 for 27,800 linear feet of two-course penetration paving and concrete curbs and gutters.

City engineer Michael Adams said the numbers correlate into an estimated 60 blocks of paving and roadways 30 feet wide inside the curbs. Depending on how hungry potential contractors are and on how quickly a winning bidder mobilizes, Adams said construction could begin three weeks after the bid is let.

Adams updated city aldermen on the paving project when the board held its regular meeting last Tuesday. Among the items discussed was the roadway at the intersection of Kearney St. and Wood Ave., which Adams said is not in the city’s right of way.

Board members agreed that the city should try to obtain easements for that intersection from the property owner but also said they would prefer to see that section of street eliminated from the program if it was going to cause any problems.

“The city does not want this to delay the program,” Mayor Tex Selvidge said.

Alderman Tommy Hill talked about the proposed roadway on Seventh Street and suggested it be shifted north because of some property owners’ concerns. But Aldermen Janice Knorpp and Bobbie Kidd disagreed.

“We can’t change things every time someone complains,” Kidd said. “If we do, we’ll be here for four years and still not get any paving.”

“Like hell,” the mayor responded. “We are going to get paving.”

In other city business, oathes of office were administered to Mayor Selvidge, Aldermen Kidd, Alderman Michael Tibbets, and Municipal Judge Jimmy Johnson. The judge reported that his office had collected about $48,000 in the last 12 months and returned some $12,000 to local businesses for collecting bad checks.

The board reappointed Alderman Mark White to serve as the city’s mayor pro-tem.

City Administrator Sean Pate reported that the federal Help America Vote Act does apply to municipalities and said the city would be required to have an electronic voting device for the next election. The mayor said the city would see about leasing one from the county or possibly contract with the county to conduct the city’s election.

The Donley County Sheriff’s Office is awaiting the results of an autopsy on an inmate who died in its custody as the Enterprise goes to press this week.

Chief Deputy Randy Bond said Joseph Linden Williams was arrested Sunday night at Clarendon’s Best Western hotel after he hung blankets out the window and tore up the room he was staying in. The Denver, Colo., man was acting erratically before being charged with disorderly conduct and booked into the Donley County Jail.

Bond said Williams, age 43, remained hyperactive all night. At 8:45 Monday morning, staff noticed he was unresponsive and called for medical assistance. EMS personnel with the Associated Ambulance Authority responded but were unable to revive the inmate.

Justice of the Peace Jimmy Johnson pronounced Williams dead at 9:17 a.m. and ordered an autopsy to be conducted at the Texas Tech University Medical Center in Lubbock on Tuesday morning.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn was in Lubbock for the autopsy, but final results of that procedure won’t be known for four to six weeks.

Bond said a Texas Ranger had investigated Williams’ death Monday and found no signs of foul play. Pending the autopsy results, officials say Williams appears to have died by natural causes.

The Clarendon College Horse Judging Team placed first out of the ten teams that participated in the Intercollegiate Horse Judging Spring Sweepstakes, sponsored by the American Paint Horse Association, Tuesday, April 26, in Fort Worth

Team members included Lacey Isbell of Hobbs, New Mexico; Caitlin Mize of Hempstead, Texas; Amy Northcutt of Hereford; Jonathan Spreng of Milliken, Colorado; and Elizabeth Voskamp of Thompson, Texas. These students were among the 46 competing contestants and placed in the top 10 in different categories such as halter, performance and reasons.

“I am very proud of these students,” said Leslie Stoker, Clarendon College horse judging coach.

“This team consisted of all freshmen, and they really stepped up. We’re looking forward to these students competing again next year as sophomores.”

Top five teams in the contest included Clarendon College, Black Hawk College (team A), NEO A&M, Morrisville State College and Black Hawk College (team B).

The Clarendon College horse judging program provides students with valuable skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, and working in a team atmosphere.

For more information, contact Leslie Stoker at 806-874-3571, ext. 145.

The Clarendon and Hedley school districts have named Shanna Shelton, Stephen Howard, Robert Shelton, and Allison Hill as the top students in Donley County for 2005.

With a grade average of 97.45, Shanna Shelton has been named the valedictorian at Clarendon High School.  She is the daughter of Stan and Melanie Shelton of Clarendon. 

During her high school career, Shanna was involved in cross country, basketball, softball, track, band, UIL Literary Criticism, UIL Mathematics, UIL Calculator Applications, Student Council, National Honor Society, Texas Association of Future Educators, and Spanish Club.

She has received the BWXT Pantex and Ascension Academy Award of Excellence in Math and Science, the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Award, US Naval Academy Scholastic Excellence Award, US Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award, and the Donley County Chamber of Commerce Young Woman of the Year Award.

Shanna volunteers her time with the Clarendon Little League as a coach and umpire and with the Clarendon Little Dribblers as a coach.  She is a member of the First Baptist Church.

Shanna will be attending West Texas A&M University in the fall.

Stephen Howard is the valedictorian at Hedley High School He is the son of Bruce and Gwynne Howard of Hedley.  He was a two-way starter in football the last three years and is a four-year letterman in basketball, starting at point guard the last three years.  He earned All-District and All-Region honors in both sports.  As a junior, he was named Hedley’s Male Athlete of the Year. This year he also qualified for the regional tennis meet in doubles and last year was part of the cross-country district championship team.

In UIL Academic Competition, Howard won four straight District Number Sense titles and qualified for the state Number Sense contest both his sophomore and senior years.  In Science competition, he won the district Chemistry championship for the past three years, was overall Science district champion this year, and won the Regional Science Championship and Chemistry section of the regional test this year as well.  He qualified for the State UIL Academic Meet in Math recently, becoming only the second Hedley student to qualify for the state in three events. 

He was also a member of the One Act Play cast last year and the OAP crew this year.  He qualified the past two years for the state BPA contest in Financial Math and Analysis. 

Stephen was named valedictorian this year with a cumulative GPA of 3.847.  He will attend Texas Tech University to major in biochemistry.

Robert Shelton has been named salutatorian at CHS with a grade point average of 96.19.  He is the son of Myles and Gail Shelton of Clarendon.

During his high school career, Robert was involved in Bronco Band where he was Drum Major for two years; French Club; National Honor Society; UIL One Act Play where he was a regional qualifier for two years and an area qualifier for two years; UIL Persuasive Speaking; and UIL Regional Qualifier Lincoln Douglas Debate.

He has received the rank of Eagle Scout and the National Youth Leadership Forum Achievement Award. He was a State Qualifying Soloist (Band-Euphonium) for three years and received awards in the UIL One-Act play including five All-Star Cast awards, one honorable mention, and two Best Actor awards.

He will attend Baylor University in the fall, and he has received the President’s Scholarship.

Hedley’s salutatorian is Allison Hill, the daughter of Bryan and Debbie Hill of Hedley.  She has attended Hedley High School all four years of high school.  She participated in basketball all four years and qualified for regional tennis three years.  She ran on the cross-country team as a sophomore and has been part of the One Act Play for two years.

She has also been a member of the Hedley High School Choir for three years.  She was inducted into the National Honor Society her sophomore year and has been the vice president the past two years.  She also participated in the area FFA talent show after winning the district division.

Allison was named salutatorian this year with a cumulative GPA of 3.791.  She will attend Clarendon College.

Local farmers and ranchers could miss out on payments from a lucrative government conservation program if they don’t sign up before the May 27 deadline.

The Conservation Security Program (CSP), which is administered by the USDA-NRCS, rewards topnotch conservation farmers and ranchers who already act as model conservationists.  It also pays qualified producers to do further environmental enhancements, such as additional conservation treatments, and evaluations.

Weldon Sears with the local NRCS office told the Enterprise last week that incentive payments to landowners could be from $5,000 to $45,000 per year for conservation that most people are already doing. 

But of the 750 landowners eligible in Donley County, none had applied for the program as of last week. Sears said the deadline is fast approaching; and once it closes, the program will not return to Donley County for eight to ten years.

CSP is a three-tiered program with different requirements for each tier.  All CSP producers, regardless of the tier at which they participate, must ultimately address minimum treatment criteria for soil quality and water quality. 

Techniques to achieve these soil and water criteria will vary depending on your ranch’s slope, climate, soil texture, and other characteristics.  Typically, sound resource management will include activities such as those shown below and will result in fertile soil with valuable organic matter that is protected from erosion.  Additionally, pesticides and nutrients will be managed to help keep surface and groundwater clean to protect human and environmental health. 

Producers who may be eligible for CSP do all of the following: Use a grazing plan allowing for periods of rest; Keep records of livestock/grazing production; Maintain a proper forage/livestock balance; Have adequate water and proper water distribution; Manage livestock access to water; Actively control weeds and invasive plant species; Monitor rangeland health; and are willing to pursue additional conservation enhancements.

 For more information and to find out if you qualify, contact the NRCS at 806-874-3561 ext. 3 or come by 321 S. Sully in Clarendon.

Clarendon Aldermen were solicited to help build a new show barn for the youth of Donley County during their regular meeting last Tuesday, but they took no action on the request.

Speaking for the Donley County Junior Livestock Association, Larry Gray said the group would like to have a new building either 50’ x 100’ or 60’ x 120’ to house the annual stock show and sale as well as other events throughout the year.

Gray said the association had hoped to use Clarendon College’s Livestock and Equine Center but said that building, which has only two walls, is unsuitable for a stock show in January. He also said the LEC lacks bathrooms and does not have enough electrical outlets to accommodate the show.

Currently, the show is held at the Clarendon Community Center, but Gray said that facility is too small to hold the show. He also said people are having to eat in shifts at the barbecue before the sale each year because the facility cannot accommodate the large crowd.

County Agent Leonard Haynes agreed with Gray.

“We do not have any where near the facilities that other counties do for their youth,” Haynes said.

Gray said the association was looking at acquiring a piece of property on SH 70 South and said they were planning to explore the possibility of getting a grant to pay for the facility, which would also be designed to include offices for the county Extension service.

Alderman Michael Tibbets encouraged Gray to pursue grants and said the association could count on the city’s support. He also thought the city should take the lead on the project.

“We should just build a new city hall in conjunction with the livestock association,” he said.

But Mayor Tex Selvidge disagreed and said, “I think City Hall needs to stay more in the center of town.”

In other city business, Roger Estlack spoke on behalf of the Clarendon Economic Development Board and reported that Chris Clifford and Theresa Shelton were willing to donate the design services of their business, A Fine Feathered Nest, to put together a proposal to refurbish City Hall.

The project would concentrate on sealing the building where it is leaking, replacing the now closed windows on the second floor with either operational or non-operational windows, and painting the building. The goal is to enhance the appearance of the building and make downtown more appealing.

“The city and the EDC can’t really expect other people to fix up their properties when City Hall looks like it does,” Estlack said.

As project manager, Clifford and Shelton would put together a bid package for the work; and once a cost is determined, CEDC funds could be used to pay for the refurbishing.

Estlack said the economic development board has also talked about using the City Hall project as a springboard to launch other downtown revitalization work that might be partially paid for with small grants from the CEDC.

The board approved allowing A Fine Feathered Nest to proceed with the pro bono preparations to prepare estimates for repairs to City Hall.

The board discussed nominating a member to the Appraisal Board and voted to nominate Alderman Bobbie Kidd.

City Secretary Linda Smith spoke about creating a pooled cash account, which had been recommended by the city’s auditing firm. The board decided to implement this at the beginning of the next fiscal year.

City Administrator Sean Pate reported that the city’s CDBG grant application will go to Austin for final consideration soon. He said final word should be received by May 19.

Alderman Tibbets said he felt the city would not be getting any more grants until they found an individual to work those applications instead of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission.

“My perception was that some of the council went with [PRPC] because we liked Colby [Waters],” Tibbets said referring to the city’s former board advisor. “Politically we don’t have much power in the Panhandle, and I don’t think we’re going to get any thing with the [PRPC]. We need an individual.”

Alderman Mark White disagreed and said he was “through” with the individual who had previously written grants for the city and thought PRPC could do a better job.

“How can an individual do more than 15 people who do this for a living?” White asked.

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court last week voted in favor of consolidating selected voting boxes in response to the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).

Meeting in a called session on Friday, the court consolidated Box 103 at Martin Baptist Church with Box 101 at the Bairfield Activity Center, merged Box 302 at Lelia Lake with Box 301 at the Clarendon Community Center, and combined Box 402 at the McClellan House in the northern part of the county with Box 401 in Clarendon.

Commissioners decided to keep Boxes 102 and 303 in Howardwick and Hedley respectively. County Judge Jack Hall said the court’s action was based partly on voter turnout.

The consolidations, which still have to be approved by the United States Department of Justice, bring the total number of polling places in Donley County to six. This represents a reduction from nine polling places and should mean a significant savings to the county, which is under a HAVA mandate to provide a Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) machine in each polling place.

DREs are expected to cost about $5,500 each in addition to the cost of maintenance, software, and training. One company had proposed setting up DREs for the county for $96,000 plus a $6,000 per year maintenance contract.

County officials originally had been told that they would receive $30,000 in federal aid to help pay for the machines, and local taxpayers would have to bear the remainder of the cost.

But last Thursday, one state official told Judge Hall that Donley County is slated to get much more money.

“We spoke with Dan Glotzer with the Secretary of State’s office, and he said we’re to receive $105,000,” Hall said.

According to Glotzer, the county would get $35,000 to help pay for the machines and $70,000 for training. But the judge quickly noted that the county does not have that news in writing and said Glotzer did not know when the money would be dispersed, where the money is now, or what process the county had to follow to get the money.

“We’re real hopeful that the state comes through with the money,” Hall said. “We hope things progress in such a way that we can get it all done and have no indebtedness. But we don’t have the money in hand yet.”

Hall said state official have told him that Donley County is in line with what most counties around the state are doing, consolidating polling places to save money on DREs. He said a few counties are ignoring HAVA and hoping that “it just goes away,” but he said its better for Donley County to be prepared when the HAVA mandate takes effect January 1, 2006.