News

A Donley County Jury sentenced a Memphis man to 20 years in prison last week for escaping while under arrest for a Hall County driving while intoxicated charge.

Joe Perez Martinez, Jr., appeared in Judge David McCoy’s District Court on July 30, and the jury returned its guilty verdict after just 15 minutes of deliberation.

The jury reconvened on July 31 and heard evidence of two prior felony convictions out of Hall County and four prior misdemeanor convictions. The jury levied the maximum sentence which included assessing a fine of $10,000 against the defendant.

“This was an example of an individual who had been to prison, had two prior felonies, several misdemeanors, and was only 28 years old,” said District Attorney Stuart Messer.

“The jury sent a very clear message that there comes a time when there are no more breaks to be had. The jurors in this case returned a just verdict that was designed to protect the community from someone who had shown he was going to drink and drive no matter what.”

Volunteers in the second annual Relay for Life last week raised more than $17,276 to fight cancer.

Twelve teams participated in the event, which was held August 1-2 at the Clarendon College track.

Grumpy’s Gang from the Donley County Hospital District was the most successful team, raising $3,122.44 during the event.

Second place went to the team from Clarendon College, which raised $1,402.32; and in third place was the Patriot Dawgs from Herring National Bank with $1,331.02.

Other teams included the Senior Crusaders from the Donley County Senior Citizens Center, workers from the local USDA offices, the Lone Star Steppers, the Clarendon Family Medical Center, Howard’s Hoehands, the BBQ Babes, the Bunco Angels, and the Church of Christ teams One and Two.

The Clarendon Family Medical Center won first place for the Most Creative Campsite, and Howard’s Hoehands were second. 

The title of Most Patriotic Campsite went to the local USDA offices, and second place went to the HNB Patriot Dawgs.

Local cancer survivors had the honor of taking the first lap around the track, and teams then kept at least one member on the track from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

This year’s total was about $2,000 below last year’s, but it was still a very impressive amount.

Funds raised from this event will support the American Cancer Society’s programs to provide services to Donley county cancer patients, to continue education and risk reduction programs in schools and businesses, and to fund valuable cancer research.

Emergency medical personnel in Donley County were kept on their toes this past weekend as a steady stream of life-threatening calls came in.

Associated Ambulance Authority Director Anita Aaron said the first call came in shortly after 8 a.m. on Saturday, and she didn’t get home until 2 a.m. the next day.

“It was the busiest weekend this year,” Aaron said. “There was no time to eat or rest and no time to even fuel up the ambulances in two cases.”

During the two-day period, the ambulance service responded to 13 calls and transported 12 patients to facilities in Amarillo.

Three times the service ran out of ambulances, and first responder personnel went out on calls in personal vehicles to treat patients until one of the three ambulances could become available.

“I’m so proud of all our people,” Aaron said. “Our emergency personnel are first rate, and they really stepped up to the plate.”

Calls ranged from a car wreck to a skiing accident to an accidental shooting to respiratory problems. Most of the calls were very critical patients, and Aaron was happy to report that there were no fatalities this weekend.

The Associated Ambulance Authority, which operates under the Donley County Hospital District, has four full time medical personnel, two part time paramedics, and 25 volunteers from the community. The levels of participation and qualifications are much higher than other towns of similar size.

“I want the community to know just what a jewel we have in our paid and volunteer service,” Aaron said. “This is a good, good service, and every one worked really well together with the guys from the [Donley County] Sheriff’s Office, the [Greenbelt] Lake Patrol, and [Clarendon Volunteer] Fire Department.”

Aaron also commended the Claude EMS, which assisted the local service this weekend.

“They’re having trouble staffing their service, but they put together a team to help us.”

On top of responding to the emergency calls this weekend, the Associated Ambulance Authority also gave a hand to Gray County’s service, which had been scheduled to teach a bandaging and splinting course to thirty-five 4-H members at the Bar H Dude Ranch on Saturday. Gray County had to cancel, and local personnel filled in.

“The very nature of our people is to do these things because they want to help people,” Aaron said. “Most of these people don’t get paid, but they love Clarendon and Donley County and want everyone to be safe and cared for.”

The weekend was also busy for Donley County fire fighters with the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department battling a blaze in the northeast part of the county and the Clarendon department fighting fires on the JA Ranch.

“They were all grass fires caused by lighting,” said Clarendon Fire Chief Delbert Robertson. “It was a very busy weekend.”

Approximately two dozen Clarendon firemen battled three fires on the JA and one near FM 1260 on Sunday. One of the JA fires re-ignited Monday,

Robertson said he estimated between one and one-half of a section was burned.

Hedley, Groom, and Memphis firefighters assisted Clarendon with the weekend blazes.

The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) Board agreed to commit $20,000 per year to the city’s Master Paving Plan during a called meeting Tuesday.

The figure represents approximately ten percent of the cost of the bond payments the city would face if local voters approve the $2.5 million in Certificates of Obligation necessary to implement the plan when they go to the polls September 13.

“We’ve all heard the complaints about the streets,” said CEDC Vice President Will Thompson. “We’ve heard it from locals, and we’ve heard it from visitors who say, ‘You have a nice town, but…’”

Thompson said that the CEDC vote doesn’t take any money away from the city budget and that the money, which is funded by the CEDC’s half-cent sales tax, will only add to the city’s ability to fund the project.

“Regardless of how the city vote turns out, we think it [the street paving] is important,” he said. “It will make the city look more attractive and will encourage visitors to see more of our city and its historic homes. Anything we can do to pull more people off the highway is positive.”

The CEDC decision represented the first step in what board members see as a move away from helping individual businesses to doing more community development projects to benefit everyone.

“We felt like it would make more sense if we could benefit all rather than a few,” Thompson said. “We think that’s the best way to spend the taxpayer’s money.”

Officials at City Hall reacted positively to Tuesday’s decision, saying the CEDC’s use of sales tax revenue to support the project would ease the burden on local taxpayers.

“It will represent a savings to the citizens of Clarendon,” said City Administrator Sean Pate. “If we didn’t have this help, then taxes and sewer and water rates would have to go up more.”

Pate said without the CEDC funding, ad valorem rates, for example, would have to go up 18 cents per $100 valuation instead of the proposed 15 cents. He also said the use of sales tax helps spread the load for funding the paving project.

“Everybody is going to help pay for this – property owners, renters, and even people from out of town who shop our stores,” he said.

Pate said even though some areas of the city would not be paved under the program, future growth and economic development of the city as a whole depends on the success of the paving program and on community support.

“The big picture is the streets are a building block for the future success of this municipality,” he said. “The streets now are a detriment to our community.”

“Everything to come is based on the foundation which is the street program,” Pate said. “It goes to the attractiveness and the overall appeal of our town. It takes every part and everybody working together.”

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen is seeking more information following a presentation on a federal flood management program.

Weldon Sears with the local NRCS office described the program during last Tuesday’s regular city meeting. If Clarendon qualifies, federal funds could be obtained to build or work on flood control structures which could benefit city property owners.

Any project would have to show a direct agricultural related benefit, and federal funding would cover 75 to 90 percent of the project cost with the remainder coming from the city.

Sears said there is a long waiting list for communities to be approved for these funds, but the first step is for his agency to conduct a feasibility study to see if Clarendon qualifies.

Mayor Tex Selvidge asked Sears to check on the cost to the city of the feasibility – if there is any – and report back to the city.

In other business, the GreenLight Gas franchise contract was discussed, and aldermen voted to change the agreement so the city receives its franchise fees quarterly rather than annually.

Bids were reviewed for the paving to be done in southeast Clarendon under the NRCS emergency disaster grant. The city accepted the low bid of $245,537.25 from J. Lee Milligan.

Members of the Friends of the Library addressed the board concerning the resignation of Carolyn Blackerby and expressed their view that Blackerby had done an outstanding job. Mayor Selvidge expressed his regret over the situation.

“Our decision was not to not pay her more money but to wait until October 1 when the budget starts,” Selvidge said. “We’re not just jumping with joy here.”

The board voted 4-0-1 to accept Blackerby’s resignation with regret. Alderman Tommy Hill abstained.

Patrick Robertson addressed the board concerning a letter received by his father, Delbert Robertson, about property needing to be cleaned up north of the Fire Hall. Robertson said his father had asked for more than ten days to clean up the property but had been denied by the city administrator. He said the junk vehicles on the property belong to the city. He said his father provides two buildings for the fire department’s use at no charge and provides other services to the city at no charge.

Robertson said no one disagrees with the effort to clean up the city, but he said his father deserved better treatment than to receive court documents and said the administrator had handled the situation poorly.

“You’ve got a big problem in this city, and he’s sitting at the end of that table,” Robertson said, pointing to City Administrator Sean Pate.

Mayor Selvidge defended Pate saying Robertson’s problem wasn’t Pate, it was the ordinance which prescribes ten days to comply. Alderman Bobbie Kidd also defended Pate and said he was doing just what he was supposed to do.

Several county offices were relocated over the weekend to take advantage of the renovated 1890 Donley County Courthouse.

The county judge’s offices, treasurer’s office, and the Commissioners’ Courtroom are now located on the first floor of the Courthouse. The county attorney’s office and the adult probation office are located on the second floor. District court returned this week to the courtroom on the second floor.

The district attorney’s offices have been moved to the former judge’s quarters in the Courthouse Annex, and the crime victims’ coordinator, which is a branch of the D.A.’s office, has moved into the office in the Annex formerly occupied by the treasurer.

As Texans gear up for the annual Tax Free Holiday school-shopping spree, local merchants are cutting prices and rolling out the red carpet for local buyers.

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has announced that the annual Sales Tax Holiday is coming up August 1-3.

“I love the Sales Tax Holiday. It’s the one time when hard-working Texas families get to keep more of their dollars in their pockets for their families’ priorities.” Comptroller Strayhorn said. “During the Sales Tax Holiday, most clothes and shoes priced under $100 are exempt from state and local sales taxes.”

For the fifth year, small businesses have the opportunity to give people in the community an extra incentive to shop close to home.

“We are busy preparing for the holiday by posting signs and handing out brochures telling customers what will be on sale,” Linda Gray of Duckwall’s said.  “We will be holding a storewide sale throughout the holiday.”

According to local merchants, the community has responded well in the past.

“It’s always surprised me how well the community has responded,” Terry Askew of Sayes said.  “They all come out to shop and take advantage of the savings.”

Businesses are currently making plans in anticipation of the holiday.

“We plan to have a storewide sale with everything marked down 10 to 50%,” Askew said.

For a good price on quality clothes, these hometown businesses prove consumers may not have to go far from home.

“We have lots of new fall merchandise for back to school,” Markeeta Howard of Every Nook and Cranny said. “In addition to the tax break, all of our summer items will be 50% off.”

Cornell’s Country Store is also conducting a sale and has lots of clothing that fall in the tax free category.

Examples of items that can be purchased tax-free August 1-3 include kids’ clothes and school uniforms, adults’ clothes and work uniforms, shoes, tennis shoes, sleepwear and underclothes for the entire family as long as the items are priced under $100 each.

Items that cannot be purchased tax-free include handbags, wallets, accessories, athletic shoes and sports apparel that are not normally street wear, backpacks, and school supplies.

For more information about the Sales Tax Holiday, including a list of tax-exempt and non-exempt items, visit the Comptroller’s Web site at http://www.window.state.tx.us.

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen this week called for a special election to be held September 13 for the purpose of issuing $2.5 million in certificate of obligation bonds.

City leaders took the action in a called session Monday after receiving a petition signed by 122 citizens last week, which stopped the issuance without voter approval.

The election will coincide with the state constitutional amendment election on the same day. Early voting will start on August 27.

Financial advisor Vince Viaille with First Southwest Company and city officials will begin this week to put together fact sheets about the paving program and the proposed bonds in order to better inform the public.

“I want to see us put fact sheets in the Enterprise every week in August,” said Mayor Tex Selvidge.

Viaille said his company has used a figure of 4.75 percent in his calculations for Clarendon. Interest rates are at historic lows, but Viaille said he is starting to see what he thinks is an upward trend in rates.

If approved by voters, the bonds would be used to pave and install curbs and gutters on approximately 152 blocks as mapped out in a Master Paving Plan, which was formally adopted during last Tuesday’s regular city meeting. The map is printed as a public service on the last page of this week’s Enterprise.

The plan, designed by Che Shadle of OJD Engineering, Inc., focuses on controlling runoff water.

The proposed project consists of crowning the streets, laying down two-course penetration paving, and installing curbs and gutters (defined in green on the map). The plan calls for six-inch curbs and two-foot gutters on both sides of the streets. The streets will be 31 feet wide measuring from the backs of the curbs.

The curb and gutter system serves two purposes. First, it controls and directs runoff water. Second, it protects the edge of the paving from deterioration, thereby extending the life of the paving.

On the west side of town, the project is focused on an area bounded by Third Street on the north, Cottage Street on the west, Eighth Street on the south, and connecting to Bugbee Avenue on the east. Existing paving between Bugbee Avenue and Koogle Street would be repaired and strengthened where necessary.

In the central part of town, the Master Plan focuses on an area connecting to Koogle on the west and connecting to Second Street (US 287) on the north and bounded by Eighth Street on the south and Kearney Street on the east. No work will be done to alter the brick streets.

The plan continues on the east side of town, connecting to Kearney Street and encompassing the thoroughfares bounded by Fifth Street on the north, Jackson Street on the east, Cooke Street on the south, and Gorst Street on the west.  Due to the amount of traffic on Carhart Street in that section of town, the plan calls for paving its entire length from Browning Boulevard to Second Street.

The east side section of the plan ties into a ten-block area that will be paved and curbed under emergency disaster grants through the NRCS and ORCA.

“This is the Master Plan for what we can do with $2.5 million,” Shadle said last week. “If the bids come in low, we can do more. If the bids come in high, we’ll do less; but once we hit that $2.5 million, we stop.”

District Judge David McCoy sentenced Max Rippetoe of Clarendon to five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division last Monday.

Rippetoe came before the court on a motion to revoke probation filed by District Attorney Stuart Messer. 

Rippetoe was placed on felony probation for five years on May 20, 2002, for the felony charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He violated his probation after only four days and was to enter into a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division Boot Camp.

He got out of boot camp and again violated terms of his probation to get him once again before McCoy, who gave the maximum sentence of five years confinement by the TDCJ.

“Chances are given, but the 100th District Community Supervision, Corrections Department, and the Donley County Sheriff’s Department keep an eye out,” Messer said. “When a probationer messes up, these offices are ready to see the defendant brought to justice.”

The Donley County Courthouse resumed its role as an official place of county business Monday when the commissioners’ court held a special session there.

“This is a very historic day for our county,” said Judge Jack Hall in opening the meeting. “Perhaps another commissioners’ court met on a day like this one 112 years ago when they opened this building.”

The sound of hammers and other carpenters’ tools were heard throughout the meeting as construction workers continued putting the finishing touches on the restoration of the courthouse.

“We certainly want to thank everyone responsible for making this a reality,” Hall said. “We appreciate our architects, our contractors, [project administrator] John Kiehl, and especially the taxpayers of Donley County.”

The first item of business in the Commissioners Courtroom was considering bids for work on two bridges on the JA Ranch Road.

The court approved a recommendation by engineer Che Shadle to reject the bids for the proposed work on the approaches to the bridges over Troublesome Creek and Mulberry Creek. The project will be re-bid with the work on the road surface eliminated in order to reduce the cost of the job. Bids will be opened at the August 11 meeting.

Commissioners discussed buying furniture for the county treasurer and the judge’s secretary in preparation for moving their offices from the courthouse annex to the courthouse. The court approved a proposal for furniture from Elliott/Russell in Amarillo and, in the same motion, approved a proposal from Memphis Glass to place a protective tempered glass top on the antique table in the Commissioners Courtroom.

The court approved a monthly lease agreement with Lanier Copier to provide a photocopier in the courthouse and continued negotiations with Valor Telecom and NTS Communications to provide a telephone system for the courthouse.

August 4, 2003, was set as a special session to review budget requests with county officeholders.

The court approved Commissioner Ernest Johnston’s attendance at an upcoming state health department conference on bioterrorism.

Commissioners also authorized sending letters to the cities of Clarendon and Howardwick stating that only trash from the unincorporated areas of the county would be accepted in the county roll-off box.