News

Any Clarendon residents keeping livestock in the city have just 60 days to “head ‘em up and move ‘em out” or risk violating a new municipal ordinance.

Ordinance 340, passed at last Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting, requires citizens and firms in the city limits to have licenses for their property and permits for their livestock. Violators could face a $500 per day fine, and the livestock could be impounded and sold to the highest bidder at public auction.

Mayor Pro-tem Mac Stavenhagen said the aldermen began considering a new ordinance last year after the city engaged in a second court battle to enforce existing regulations. In recent years, one court case has been left in legal limbo; and another, which the city won, is on appeal.

“This will start us off with a clean slate,” Stavenhagen said. “It eliminates all previous [animal] ordinances. The city and the city attorney feel it should be easier to enforce.”

Stavenhagen said the city took action out of concerns for public health hazards related to flies and waste runoff that accompany livestock kept in pens.

According to the new law, cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, buffaloes, and other domestic farm animals are banned from the city unless certain criteria are met. Individuals wishing to keep livestock in the city must obtain a land-use license, which costs $20 per year, and a permit for each animal at a cost of $10 per year per head.

In seeking a permit, a person must provide such information as a legal description of the property and an itemized listing of all residences, businesses, or other buildings located within 300 feet of any part of the property for which the license is desired.

No livestock shall be kept in a pen or other enclosure of less than 1,000 square feet for each head of livestock, the ordinance says. And every pen or enclosure must be kept clean and sanitary and cannot be a source of flies or odors offensive to city residents.

No swine, hogs, or pigs can be kept in the city.

Licenses and permits can be revoked any time if the property or livestock constitute a nuisance or are out of compliance with the ordinance or state health regulations.

Veterinary hospitals and clinics are exempted from the ordinance.

For more information or to file for a license and permit, contact City Hall at 874-3438.

Family Net will be returning to Clarendon’s channel line up, a Classic Cable official said this week, but airing local churches and the fate of the local community channel remains uncertain.

“We’re going to bring Family Net back on Channel 8,” Classic’s Barry Harbison said. “If the [Baptist] church wants to work out an agreement with Family Net, that’s up to them.”

The signal for Family Net will come from Classic’s head-in at their receivers on West Fifth Street rather than coming from the church’s receiver.

Mayor Tex Selvidge contacted Classic officials following a heated discussion at last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

“I told them if Family Net wasn’t back on the air by May 1, they would lose 300 customers,” said Selvidge, who was told the channel would be back on the air by May.

But the director of First Baptist’s television ministry says there is no sense in taking so long to get Family Net back on the air.

“It just took them two hours to take it off the air,” said Jean Ledbetter. “All they have to do is flip a switch and shut up.”

The First Baptist Church of Clarendon had operated Channel 8 free of charge for 10 years, airing their church services and Family Net, a Christian channel. The church also aired Methodist and Calvary Baptist services for $300 per year each. But four weeks ago, Classic pulled the plug on Channel 8 and Channel 11, which was run by the local radio station, seeking $25 per hour from local churches and $200 per month from the radio station.

Harbison said Classic is willing to work with other local churches to air their services for $25 per week. Getting the community channel – Channel 11 – back on the air is another matter.

“I can tell you this – it won’t be aired free of charge by a business selling advertising on it,” he said.

But Patrick Robertson, owner of Alliance Broadcast Communications, which operates KEFH-FM, told city aldermen last week he thought it was interesting that Classic, coming through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is telling his station and local churches how to run their businesses.

“Obviously, [Classic’s] understanding of business practices and manner of doing business has been much less than successful,” Robertson said.

Alliance has operated Channel 11 since 1994 and has borne all the expense for the equipment related to that channel, Robertson said. He estimates his company operates Channel 11 at an average loss of $239.33 per month or a total loss of $21,300 over the last 89 months.

Robertson also told the board that his company is working to bring a satellite provider into town.

“Our goal is to have 50 percent or more of Classic customer’s off their system by the end of the year,” he said.

City officials, meanwhile, are looking into the status of Classic’s franchise agreement with the city and whether franchise fees have been paid properly. And some city aldermen have also expressed interest in seeing if another cable company would like to come to Clarendon.

Two men were in Donley County Jail this week as a result of indictments on drug charges.

Josh Kirby, age 28, and Randy Tolbert, age 33, were both arrested and served with indictments for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a first-degree felony.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said other drug cases have been made in Donley County and are awaiting lab results.

“Drug dealers beware. We’re going to come knocking,” Blackburn said.

Kirby, who was arrested on April 13, was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for having a second-degree amount of methamphetamine.

Kirby was arraigned for the first-degree felony on April 14 by County Judge Jack Hall with bond set at $50,000. He was again arraigned by Judge Hall on Monday for the second-degree charge, and bond was set at $25,000

Tolbert was arrested and arraigned on April 10. His bond was set by Judge Hall at $50,000.

Both Tolbert and Kirby are alleged to have delivered methamphetamines to an undercover narcotics officer who has been working with the Donley County Sheriff’s Office for several months.

“I want to applaud the good relationship we have with the DPS narcotics agents who are willing to come here and help us,” Blackburn said.

The case in question was made in November of last year, but Blackburn said it is taking the DPS lab in Amarillo at least 90 days to get results back.

“They’ve got one chemist for the whole Panhandle,” the sheriff said.

The time has come again for foolishness and family fun as Clarendon hosts the second annual Donley County Spring Turkey Strut Festival this weekend.

Activities begin Saturday morning at 10:00 with the Arts & Crafts show at the Lions Hall and the Rebekah Lodge. Live entertainment will be held on Kearney Street, and a Kids Carnival will be set up east of the Post Office.

A Cakewalk is also planned downtown.

The Turkey Cook-Off begins at noon east of the Post Office. Five dollars buys samples from all the entrants and a chance to vote for the best dish. KEFH-FM will begin a live remote broadcast from downtown at 3 p.m.

Bird and wildlife viewings will be held throughout the day at Finch Ranch, Coyote Ridge, and James Pinkney Rodgers Bird Sanctuary. Signups for these tours will be at the Lions Hall. Also, bird and wildlife seminars will be held through the day on the Lions Hall lawn.

The long-awaited crowning of the Donley County Turkey King will be at 5 p.m., followed by the Turkey Mattress Race, Cook-Off Trophies, a raffle drawing for $300 to any local merchant, and the Kids Strut & Gobble Contest.

At press time, Chamber officials said mattress race entries had been received from Floyd’s Automotive, Floyd’s Motor Company, the Commissioners’ Court, and the Clarendon College R.O. guys.

Also on Saturday night, KLSR-FM will provide music for a street dance until 10 p.m. The station asks that you call ahead of time if you have special songs you’d like to hear at the dance. The number is 259-3511.

Sunday morning begins with a Cowboy Church Service and breakfast at the Bitter Creek Ranch. And the craft fair continues that afternoon until 5:00.

By Carrie Helms, Clarendon Enterprise

Both the Clarendon Bronco and Colt Bands brought home Sweepstakes trophies from the U.I.L District Band competition last week in Boys Ranch.

High school bands receive Sweepstakes by earning superior ratings in all three areas of competition: marching contest in the fall and concert and sight-reading contests in the spring. 

“We didn’t win sweepstakes last year because of minor setback in marching,” band director Todd Baker said, “but this year the band is back where it should be.”

Junior high bands compete in concert and sight-reading and earned superior ratings from all six judges.

“The Colt band had a great day and represented the school well,” Baker said.

Both bands have achieved this honor in the past and hope to continue the tradition of excellence.

“Every year we play harder and more complicated music, and each year we do it a little better,” Baker said. “I believe this was our best effort yet.”

The Bronco Band performed “March Juno,” “Prospect,” and “Declaration Overture.” The Colt band played “Brandy Station March,” “Chester,” and “American Folk Tune Adventure.”

The high school judges were complementary of the band directors, the soloists, and the band.  One judge wrote in his comments, “Money well spent on a fine band program.  Be proud and keep it up!”  Another wrote, “Some of the best clarinet tone quality I have heard in 2 days! What a fine, well-rehearsed band!”

Editor’s Note: Sarah Depew, Kelsea Hoeltzel, and Regan Lemley each contributed to this report.

By Carrie Helms, Clarendon Enterprise

The $187,000 improvement project at Sandy Beach that has been three years in the making is nearing completion.

Greenbelt Water Authority received its third grant since 1997 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department through the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to build and improve facilities on Sandy Beach.

“We can apply for grants every other year,” said Bobbie Kidd, General Manager of Greenbelt Water Authority. “This is the same grant that helped us do the Boat Routes in 1995 and work on Kincaid Park.”

The Commission requires that all projects be completed within three years of receiving the grant. That time limit expired March 15.

“We have received an extension, but everything must be complete before August. We should be done well before that deadline.”

The construction includes walking trails, RV campsites, covered picnic tables and grills, a gazebo, and even an amphitheater.

 “The project is now 71 percent complete,” Kidd said. “The only projects still undone are the volleyball court and playground area, and those shouldn’t take long.”

Once the Sandy Beach project is completed, the plant must update its Master Plan, but the next projects on the agenda are High Bluff and the plant itself, he said.

“We won’t be starting another project for a year or two, but we want to make Greenbelt Lake a safe and enjoyable place for everyone, especially for kids and families.”

The Panhandle Press Association awarded top honors to The Clarendon Enterprise during its 92nd annual convention Saturday in Amarillo.

The Enterprise received the General Excellence award in the 2001 PPA Better Newspaper Contest in the Division I category. The Canadian Record placed second, and the Quanah Tribune-Chief was third.

The contest was judged by members of the Gulf Coast Press Association.

“The PPA contest keeps us on our toes as friendly rivals try to best one another each year,” said publisher Roger Estlack. “This was a good year for us, but we couldn’t do it without our dedicated staff and the support of our readers and advertisers.”

The local paper received first place plaques for News Writing, Best Editorials, Best Humorous Columns (Christi Ross), and Front Page Layouts; second place plaques for Headline Writing and Society/Lifestyles page; and third place awards for Advertising Initiative and Feature Photos. The Enterprise also was given Honorable Mentions for Sports Writing and Best Serious Columns (Cynthia Hall).

Judges said Enterprise news stories were well written and held reader interest. Local editorials were also called well written with lots of detail backing up valid points.

Christi Ross had judges laughing out loud with articles about dying her hair (or trying to), a less than thoughtful gift from her sister, and a relative’s “silicone twins.”

The Enterprise’s front page layout was called “outstanding,” and the society page was praised for its range of articles, effective design, and good writing.

“The society page is a group effort,” Estlack said. “We rely on our regular columnists – Cynthia Hall, Gail Shelton, and Peggy Watt – as well as our guest columnists to put it all together.”

The Enterprise also brought home the Ken Towery Community Service Award for its coverage of the 2001 Donley County Turkey Strut and the humorous events of the Turkey King election.

The Towery Award is named after former Floydada publisher Ken Towery, a man who was devoted to community journalism during his career. Each year the PPA Board of Directors selects two recipients of the award, one in the weekly division and another in the semi-weekly/daily division. The winner receives a plaque and a $250 cash award.

The Enterprise also received the Towery Award in 2001 and in 1999. Clarendon’s paper last received the General Excellence award in 2000.

Also during this year’s convention, the Enterprise’s Carrie Helms was selected as one of three young ladies to receive PPA Scholarships. The $500 award will be matched with an additional $500 from the Texas Press Association.

In other PPA news, three journalists were inducted into the PPA Hall of Fame. Those honored were the late Buford Davenport of the Abernathy Weekly Review; W.H. “Hop” Graham of the Lovington Daily Leader, the Farwell State Line Tribune, the Stratford Star, and The Bovina Blade; and Tom Higley of the Childress Index, the Sayer Journal, and the Holis News. Higley also served in the early 1970s as the manager of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.

Governor Rick Perry this week announced grants totaling $553,217 to help local law enforcement agencies in 94 Texas cities and counties purchase equipment, including more than $9,000 for the Donley County Sheriff’s Department.

The grants, awarded through by the Criminal Justice Division (CJD) of the Governor’s Office, are funded through the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant of the US Department of Justice.

“These grants make it possible for smaller communities in Texas to provide peace officers with the latest technology,” Perry said. “By providing access to essential equipment, law enforcement efforts are strengthened, and safety is bolstered for Texans in every part of our state.”

The one-time grants for up to $10,000 may be used to purchase equipment related to law enforcement or public safety functions, such as bulletproof vests, radios, video systems, or mobile data units for patrol vehicles.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his department will use the money to buy four new light bars and five new radios for patrol vehicles. The grant totals $9,415, and the county will provide a match of $1,043.

Donley is one of only three Panhandle counties receiving the grants. The others are Hemphill and Randall.

Each year, CJD provides more than $130 million in grants to help Texans at the forefront of the fight against crime. CJD funds a variety of programs for juvenile justice, crime prevention, and victim services grants.

Early voting by personal appearance begins April 17 for three local boards.

Citizens of the City of Clarendon can cast early ballots for three aldermen at City Hall. Those running are Tommy Hill, Janice Knorpp, Mac Stavenhagen (i), and Mark White (i). Billy Jack Land (i) is running as a write-in candidate.

Howardwick citizens will also select three aldermen and can choose from Vernon Byars (i), Sam Grider, Donald Holladay, or Bobby Murdock. Balloting is at the Howardwick City Hall.

Citizens of Donley County can vote for three positions on the Clarendon College Board of Regents. Those running are Jimmy Blackerby, Mary Douglas, Sherol Johnston, Jack A. Moreman (i), and Bill Sansing (i). Early votes may be cast at the CC Administration Building.

Early voting continues through April 30, 2002. The election will be held May 4.

Mutt Graham has claimed the lead to be Donley County’s 2002 Turkey King as the election enters week three, but another candidate is pecking at his feet.

Graham has overtaken former front-strutter Rev. James Edwards by a margin of $18.41 to $13.34.

The real surprise this week, however, has been Howardwick Alderman Nancy Davis’ sleeper candidacy. After being at and near the bottom of the flock for weeks, Davis vaulted into second place this week with a groundswell of support. With little more than four bits to her name a week ago, Davis’ jar at Duckwall’s has swollen to a total of $14.48.

Edwards is now at third place with Larry Hicks trailing way behind at $7. Larry Jeffers and Joel Zehr round out the top six with $6.45 and $6.32 each.

The other candidates haven’t taken flight, but in an election where money talks, anything can and often does happen, analysts say.

No major controversies were brewing this week. Bright Newhouse’s stolen jar has been replaced, but his candidacy may have been fatally injured. His total this week is a paltry $3.50.

Election judge Linda Gray says her people hide Newhouse’s jar every time they see former candidate and suspected jar-napper Vic Jeter coming. Some analysts say hiding Newhouse’s jar may be hurting him in the polling.

In other turkey news, one of the rare wooden Salt Fork Turkeys, Samuel J. Featherbottom (known as Uncle Sam to his friends and war buddies), was granted asylum last week at the Donley County VFW Post, according to Quartermaster Bill Holden. Sam reportedly enjoyed several rounds of free beer and pretzels before taking flight.

Other red, white, and blue turkeys are also out and about. Recipients of the patriotic turkeys have to pay $5 to have them removed from their yards and can pay another $5 to move it to someone else’s yard. Anyone can have a turkey put in someone’s yard for a birthday, anniversary, or gag gift for a $5 donation.

All proceeds benefit the Donley County Tourism Council.

For more information about the Donley County Turkey Strut or to place your order, contact Dee Dee Autry at 874-3889 or Carolyn Blackerby at the Burton Library at 874-3685.

The second annual Turkey Strut will be April 19-21.