News

Based on the number of candidates for this year’s local elections, citizens are either very happy with the way things are, or they just don’t care.

With the passing of Monday’s deadline to file for office, none of the six local governments with open seats on their boards were reporting the possibility of contested races.

Officials at Clarendon’s City Hall said that all incumbents, Mayor Tex Selvidge and Aldermen Bobbie Kidd and Michael Tibbets, had signed up for reelection, and no one was challenging their reelections.

The City of Howardwick had even less interest as not even the incumbents filed for office. Mayor Nancy Davis had previously announced that she would not seek reelection due to her daughter’s ongoing battle with cancer, and Aldermen Marvin Elam and Bill Barton did not sign up to run for full terms in office. They are serving out the terms of former aldermen Mike Rowland and Dewey Linley respectively.

Howardwick City Secretary Dianna Knight said if no one signs up as a write-in candidate by next Monday’s deadline, all incumbents would be held over in office until appointments can be made to retain or replace them.

Hedley residents won’t be seeing any changes to their city’s board of aldermen. Incumbent Aldermen Bruce Howard, Pam Casteel, Tangela Copelin, and Ricki Baker all signed up to serve, and no one else did so. Howard, Casteel, and Copelin will receive full terms in office, and Baker will serve out the unexpired term of Terry Stevens to which she was appointed.

The Donley County Hospital District had three positions expiring on its Board of Directors, and incumbents will retain those seats. Don Thornberry (Place 1) and Alan Fletcher (Place 2) filed for re-election, and Melinda McAnear (Place 3) will now receive a full term on the board after finishing the term started by Andy Wheatly.

Administrative offices at Clarendon ISD were closed this week, but a school official reported last week that only incumbent trustees Weldon Sears and Lance Thornberry had filed to run for office.

Hedley ISD also had two trustee positions open this year, and now they have only two candidates. Anthony Knowles is seeking re-election, and Brannon Stephens will be joining the board. Long-time trustee Rhonda Shaw chose not to run again, and HISD Superintendent Bryan Hill said she had done a good job in office since 1997.

“We really appreciate the service that Rhonda gave to the Hedley school,” Hill said.

Local elections had been scheduled to be held Saturday, May 7, but boards with uncontested races will likely choose to cancel those elections.

TEMPLE – Bryan Daniel, USDA Rural Development State Director, announced this week that more than $85 million is available to assist rural Texans become homeowners through the Agency’s Guaranteed Rural Housing loan program.

“With mortgage interest rates continuing near their lowest levels in recent history, now is the time to stop paying rent and purchase your own home,” said Daniel. “Our Guaranteed Rural Housing loan program is the best option for eligible low and moderate-income applicants to move into a home without a down payment.”

In many cases most of the closing costs associated with purchasing the house can be financed into the loan. Loans can be made to purchase new or existing homes that meet Agency requirements. In addition to allowing a Maximum Loan to Value ratio of 102%, another very attractive feature of this loan program is that the borrower is not required to pay mortgage insurance.

Other zero down programs charge an up front mortgage insurance premium that is due at closing, with monthly mortgage thereafter. In comparison, the Guaranteed Rural Housing Program offers a significant savings to borrowers by charging a one-time only, two percent (2%) guarantee fee that is due at closing, and no monthly mortgage insurance. Typical savings for a family can range between $20.00 and $50.00 per month. A loan comparison calculator is available on our website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tx/loancomp.htm.

Without expensive mortgage insurance premiums, homebuyers can qualify for a “better” home, which could mean the additional bathroom or bedroom that they may desire. Also, homebuyers may include their two percent fee in the loan. This will have a minimal impact on their payments yet maximize any cash reserves they may have. They can put down $2,000 toward a home loan or keep their $2,000 and pay roughly $12 more per month.

USDA Rural Development housing programs target communities with populations of 10,000 or less and locations not closely associated with urban areas.

Private lenders make USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Loans. The loans have a 30-year term and a competitive fixed interest rate. Unlike other zero down loan programs, the Guaranteed Rural Housing Program does not have loan limits. The maximum loan is determined by the applicant’s income and repayment ability.

To find the USDA office that serves your area or to obtain a list of participating lenders, please call USDA Rural Development Housing Programs at (254) 742-9770, or visit our website at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/tx/

Clarendon’s newest hotel is under new ownership this week after being open less than one year.

Steve Hall and his family have purchased the Best Western American Inn from Jimmy Sindah and his partners, and Hall says he likes everything about his new property.

“I looked at it for 20 minutes before I decided to buy it,” Hall said. “I had been looking at Clarendon as a potential site to build a hotel for some time, and now I’ve got a new one without the hassle of building it.”

Hall, his father Gerald, and his brother Mike have a combined 50 years of experience after opening and running the Best Western Country Inn in Vega since 1963.

Hall closed the deal with Sindah last Thursday and said he’s looking forward to moving to Clarendon.

“I really want to work with the community,” Hall said. “We want to provide the kind of hospitality that will make Clarendon proud.”

Hall says rates at the 50-room hotel will remain about the same, but he does intend to expand the continental breakfast and eventually change the name of the hotel to something more reflective of the local area.

“American Inn is a pretty common name,” he said.

Sindah, meanwhile, has also sold the local Western Skies Motel and is reported to be pursuing a new venture in the Waco area, building a new hotel in Hewitt.

The Western Skies’ new owner, G. Patel, says he took over on February 15 and doesn’t plan on making any major changes to the establishment.

“Jimmy made lots of improvements, so we’re going to keep it just the way it is,” Patel said.

The Donley County Hospital District Board last week voted to begin searching for an interim administrator and made plans to fill the job permanently with someone who is already a top official at the Medical Center Nursing Home.

The district administrator’s job became vacant February 22 when Alan Graham resigned following a February 21 called meeting in which the board asked him to step down or face termination.

Meeting again in called session Saturday, the board approved a motion to accept applications for the position of interim administrator until March 9, 2005, and also agreed to pay the tuition for MCNH Director of Nurses Vicky Robertson to get her nursing home administrator’s license.

“Vicky is very interested in getting licensed,” board member Onita Thomas said. “She only needs five courses and a 1,000-hour internship under a licensed administrator.”

Robertson, who had previously resigned as director of nurses to pursue another job, said she would rescind her resignation and stay in her current position. She said her classes would start in May and would take a maximum of one and one-half years to complete.

She also said the hospital district’s paying for someone to get licensed in this manner was not unprecedented.

“This has been done before when Peggy Cockerham was an LVN, and they sent her to school to become an RN so she could become Director of Nurses,” Robertson said.

Board members and Robertson both agreed to have something put in writing that would commit her to working for the hospital district or giving the district first right of refusal after she graduates.

The City of Clarendon will issue $800,000 in tax notes to help finance a $1.1 million paving project following last Wednesday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

Vince Vialle of First Southwest Company presented a debt service schedule to the board and said all three local banks had agreed to each take a third of the notes at interest rate of 4.15 percent for seven years – slightly higher than the 3.75 percent the city had hoped to get.

“The overall difference will be about $13,000 over the life of the notes,” he said.

Vialle discussed options for bidding out the debt service, which would take at least two weeks and could generate a lower – or possibly higher – interest rate. But the board remained focused on getting financed for a project that could be completed this year.

“I don’t think we have the time,” Mayor Tex Selvidge said. “I think we need to bite the bullet and do it.”

Alderman Michael Tibbets said he thought the city should go with the local banks, and Alderman Tommy Hill made the motion to accept the 2005 bond series and authorize the mayor to sign the placement agreement with First Southwest. The motion carried unanimously.

Vialle said the city could have the money in hand by the end of March if all goes smoothly. The first annual payment would be due next February.

City engineer Che Shadle said his firm expected to finish shooting elevations last week and would immediately get to work on plans for the estimated 50-block project. Those plans should be finished by the first of April, and the city would put the project out for bids at that time.

In other city business, Alderman Janice Knorpp gave the final report on the renovations at the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport. The project was finished under budget, and the city will receive a refund in the amount of $11,626.71. Knorpp recommended that money be put in a certificate of deposit marked Airport Maintenance Account and used strictly for future maintenance on the airport. The board congratulated Knorpp on a job well done.

City Administrator Sean Pate discussed hiring contract labor to read water meters. The move would free up city workers to spend more time working on preparing streets and utilities for the upcoming paving project. The board asked him to present figures on the idea at the next meeting.

Mayor Selvidge asked the board to consider taking $250 from the Motel Bed Tax to help pay for sand and clay at the new softball field. The board approved his request.

Conservation Security Program public meetings have been scheduled in the Upper Salt Fork Red Watershed to inform farmers and ranchers about the eligibility requirements and application process. 

The meetings will be held on Tuesday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Armstrong County Activity Center and on Thursday, March 3, at the Bairfield Activity Center at 10:00 a.m.

The Upper Salt Fork Red Watershed, located in portions of Donley, Armstrong, Carson, and Gray counties, has been selected as one of the 202 watersheds nationwide to participate in the the 2005 CSP signup, which will be announced in March pending publication of the final CSP rule in the Federal Register.

The Conservation Security Program is a stewardship program providing payments to producers who maintain and enhance their natural resources.  Only producers practicing the highest levels of conservation will be eligible to participate. A self-assessment must be completed by producers documenting their benchmark conservation level prior to visiting the NRCS office to apply for CSP.

CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation on private working lands. 

For information or to obtain a workbook, visit the Upper Salt Fork Red Watershed CSP website at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/program/csp or contact your NRCS office.

Person or persons unknown broke into the Hedley City Hall last Thursday and made off with an estimated $150 in cash.

An offense report filed with the Donley County Sheriff’s Department said Constable Mike Wallendorff was called to the scene of the crime at 7:45 a.m. February 27 and found the front door had been kicked in.

City Secretary Randy Shaw observed that the black steel insert was pulled out of the cash drawer. He thought about $150 was missing. Nothing else was disturbed.

Wallendorff reported that a delivery driver for the Amarillo Globe News spotted a white pickup parked at City Hall at about 3 p.m. but said the truck wasn’t there long. She could not recall what make or model it was.

Any one having any information about this crime is urged to call the sheriff’s office at 874-3533.

Ruth Robinson was named the recipient of the 2004 Saints’ Roost Award for lifetime achievement last Saturday during the annual banquet of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.

Terry Askew and Roy Monroe also received top honors as Woman of the Year and Man of the Year.

Robinson was awarded the chamber’s highest honor for her devotion to numerous local organizations and boards and her long tenure as the counselor for Clarendon College, a position she held for 18 years.

She has never met a stranger and is known for her helpfulness when friends are in need; and her husband, Joe, says that if someone has a hangnail, Robinson would bake them her 7-Up cake.

Robinson wants most to be remembered as someone who loves the Lord and her family, but she has also made an invaluable impact on the local community, serving as a past president and current member of the Saints’ Roost Museum Board, a member of the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, the Clarendon College Board of Regents, and the Donley County Historical Commission.

She is active in the Pathfinders Club, the Art Club, the Walk to Emmaus, and the United Methodist District for Higher Education.

 
2004 Woman of the Year

Terry Askew
 
The 2004 Woman of the Year was praised as a loving and caring individual, who is a leader among downtown merchants and a “super great mom.” Terry Askew grew up in Clarendon, attended local schools, and married in the First Christian Church. After the retirement of her father, Askew became the fourth generation of her family to manage one of Clarendon’s most productive shopping establishments, Saye’s.

Askew has served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for both of her sons and is currently the leader of her daughter’s Cadet Scout Troop. She will stay up as late as necessary to help her kids with their studies. She is a devoted Bronco Parent and FFA Booster and can be found working in concession stands and supporting her kids and their friends.

Askew works with the Donley County Horse Club and loves to watch children ride, rope, and run barrels and poles. During spring branding on the Flying A Ranch, she has her husband’s and other cowboys’ breakfast on the table by 5 a.m.

She is also known for serving the Les Beaux Arts Club, the Chamber of Commerce board, and the Clarendon Merchants Association.

 
2004 Man of the Year

Roy Monroe
 
The 2004 Man of the Year was hailed as a devoted member of the community who gives selflessly of his time and money with no expectation of return. Roy Monroe is neither a business owner nor a parent, but his love for Donley County is undeniable by his actions.

Monroe sets up a massive display of lights at his Howardwick home and has been largely responsible for the friendly annual decorating competition that city has developed, and he has helped with personal projects from roofing and remodeling to babysitting kids and animals.

He has helped in every way from pouring concrete for a local church to building a float for the Clarendon High School cheerleaders, and he currently serves on the boards of the Saints’ Roost Museum and the Chamber of Commerce. He promotes Clarendon by helping with the parade each July, the annual Greenbelt Kid Fish, the Museum Christmas Party, and the Col. Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff, and many other events.

Other awards presented at Saturday’s banquet included the Pioneer Man and Woman of the Year and the Young Men and Women of the Year.

A.R. Henson was named the Pioneer Man of the Year for 2004.  Henson grew up in Donley County, attended local schools, and served in the Air Force during World War II. He established the A.R. Henson Tire Company in March 1946, a business known today as Henson’s, your bolts to diamonds store. He has served the community as a member of the school board, the Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Al Morrah Shrine Club, the Eastern Star, and the American Cancer Society. In addition to holding offices and receiving awards from these organizations, the Chamber of Commerce previously named Henson the 1987 Man of the Year and the 2000 Saints’ Roost Award Winner.

The Pioneer Woman of the Year was Frances Skelton, who has spent her life in Clarendon. She was employed by former County Agent Flip Breedlove as a secretary and later sold candy for the O.D. Skelton Candy Co. during World War II. After the war she began serving as an election clerk, which she still does. She and her husband organized the Fellowship Sunday School Class at the Methodist Church, and they have been active in many capacities in the church. She was a charter member of the Clarendon Country Club, is an active golfer, and is a three-time past president of the Ladies Golf Association. She is also an avid bridge and poker player. Skelton loves Clarendon and says she sometimes wonders why anybody wouldn’t like to spend the rest of their lives in Clarendon.

The Young Woman of the Year from Clarendon High School was Shanna Shelton.  She has received many honors and awards, including the BWXT Pantex  & Ascension Academy Award of Excellence in math, the President’s Education Award Program’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award, and the Daughters of the American Revolution American History Award. She has also been active in the CHS Student Council’s Adopt-A-Highway program and helps coach softball during the summer. She plans to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in math or science at West Texas A&M University.

Branson Carter was named to Young Man of the Year from Clarendon High School. He is an active member of Boy Scout Troop 433, where he has earned the rank of Eagle and is an assistant scoutmaster and a member of the Order of the Arrow, a camper’s honor fraternity. He has been the drum major for the Bronco Band for two years and has advanced to the state solo/ensemble competition for the last four years. He has been a member of the All Region Concert Band and the All Region Symphonic Band. In his spare time, Carter has donated hours as a camp counselor for learning disabled and cancer-stricken children. He plans to attend Oklahoma State University, where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in fire protection and safety engineering, specializing in advanced fire systems modeling, design, and safety analysis for nuclear and high explosives operations.

The Young Woman of the Year from Hedley High School is Allison Hill. She has been received numerous awards and honors during her high school career. She has been a regional qualifier in tennis for three years and was the District FFA Talent Show champion. As a member of the Hedley Lady Owls basketball team, she has assisted the team to four district championships, the regional tournament in 2002, the state tournament in 2003, and an area qualifier in 2004. Her community service includes participation in the Christmas Angels Project, the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, and decorating for the Hedley High School Ex-Students Celebration. She produced a video for the Community Veterans Celebration and has touched lives through singing and caroling for elders and residents of the nursing home. She plans to attend Clarendon College and West Texas A&M and major in computer design.

Stephen Howard was named the Young Man of the Year from Hedley High School. He has been a server at the Hedley Senior Citizens Banquet and has blessed many lives at the nursing home through singing with the Hedley High School Choir. He has been the three-time district Number Sense champion, two-time regional champion in Financial Math and Analysis, and two-time state qualifier in UIL academics. He has also been a two-time regional qualifier in cross country and a member of the All Region basketball and football teams. He plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in biochemistry.

The featured speaker for the evening was Sam Cartwright of the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, who spoke about cooperation within a community. Will Thompson with the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation also spoke about the benefits of shopping at home.

Katie Askew provided musical entertainment.

Tessie Robinson succeeds Greg Henry as chamber president. Incoming chamber directors are Gene Hommel, Tommy Hill, Hillary McAnear, Jewel Houston, Jim Shelton, and Rhonda Shaw. Outgoing members are Eddy Eads, Roy Monroe, Ruth Robinson, Cherie Floyd, and Mark C. White.

An estimated 200 people attended the banquet, up from 180 last year.  This year’s banquet was sponsored by Lowe’s, Clarendon College, Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Robertson Funeral Directors, Crow Hollow Feed Yard, GreenLight Gas, Suna AutoMall, and Don Stone Signs.

The Donley County Hospital Board delivered an ultimatum to district administrator Alan Graham during a special meeting Monday night, calling for him to step down immediately or face termination.

The unanimous decision came after the board met with its attorney, James Shelton, in closed session for half an hour.

Graham formally resigned Tuesday morning, board president Don Thornberry said.

 “The board decided we needed a change,” Thornberry said. “Alan Graham has done a good job, and he is part of a team that has brought a lot of respect to the hospital district and Medical Center Nursing Home.”

Thornberry refused to state publicly any reason for the board’s decision.

 “This is just going to be better for Alan and better for the hospital district,” he said.

Assistant Administrator Holly Eads has taken charge of the district’s administrative duties, and she said the board will hold another called meeting this Saturday at noon to determine the district’s next steps.

“We will begin advertising for an interim administrator,” Eads said. “We have to have an interim in place within 30 days.”

Monday’s action followed a regular meeting on February 14 in which the board met with all MCNH department heads regarding policies and procedures for ordering and documenting incoming supplies. The board then met in closed session for over an hour with Eads and afterward voted to close credit card accounts at Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Sam’s, and Home Depot and appointed Eads to be in charge of purchasing and receiving for the nursing home.

District officials refused to say whether or not last week’s actions were directly related to the action taken against Graham this week.

“We just needed to improve our procedures,” Eads said.

Graham said he was surprised by the board’s decision and does not know what prompted it, but he said he is staying upbeat.

“I look at it as an opportunity,” he said. “I’ve still got a lot of things I want to accomplish in my life.”

“I think the board and I have worked well together, and I think the people of Donley County should be proud of the facilities and the level of health care they have here.”

AUSTIN – Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn last week reported that state sales tax collections rose for the 17th consecutive month in January. The state collected $1.39 billion in sales tax revenue, up 6.1 percent compared to January 2004.

But the report wasn’t good news for three Donley County cities where collections are down this year.

The City of Clarendon’s sales tax rebate dropped 8.19 percent from this time last year to $25,414.25. Howardwick was down 29.3 percent to $798.44, and Hedley fell 11.6 percent to $557.97.

Statewide, Strayhorn returned $502.8 million in local sales tax to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 5.2 percent compared to sales tax distributions to local governments in February 2004.

“These numbers indicate that Texas’ recovering economy had a positive impact on holiday season sales,” Strayhorn said.

January state sales tax collections and February’s local sales tax allocations primarily represent sales made in December but also include some earlier sales by businesses that report sales tax to the state comptroller’s office on a quarterly or annual basis.
Hedley plans banquet for area senior citizens

Hedley School and the First Baptist Church of Hedley will host the annual Senior Citizens’ Honor Banquet Thursday, February 24, at the First Baptist Fellowship Hall.

All senior citizens from Donley, Hall, and Collingsworth Counties are welcome to attend.  There is no charge for the evening.

The meal will include brisket, green bean casserole, baked potato, dinner rolls, and dessert.  There will be door prizes given away, and the Hedley Choirs will sing for the evening’s entertainment.

No RSVP is necessary.  Senior citizens are encouraged to come and have a great evening in their honor.