Opinions

“May you live in interesting times” is how the old Chinese curse goes, and nothing better describes last week’s meeting of the Hedley School Board of Trustees than “interesting.”

Word had earlier in the day reached the Enterprise that Athletic Director Darrell Wallace had been “non-renewed” during the previous board meeting, but that in and of itself didn’t raise any red flags with us. Coaches are, after all, “non-renewed” all the time across Texas.

But then we asked for the minutes of the March meeting and learned they were “unavailable.” That got this newspaper’s interest, and it got the editor on the road for the next meeting.

Is Darrell Wallace a good man or a good coach? Never having met the man until last Tuesday, your humble editor can’t answer that question with any direct knowledge.

What this column can answer though is that the public and the press have a right to see the minutes of any of our local boards, and it doesn’t matter whether those minutes have been “approved” by said board or not. Once the board’s secretary puts pen to paper in taking the official minutes that becomes a public record subject to the Texas Public Information Act (also known as the Open Records Act).

The minutes were again asked for during the meeting, but our representative was not given those minutes. But more troubling than that was the attitude exhibited by some board members that the public and certainly the media was not entitled to know why Coach Wallace had been dismissed. Board member James Edwards Potts even went so far as to say that he didn’t “have much use for any of the Donley County media anyway.”

He’s entitled to his opinion, but we’re entitled to the minutes. And at press time, we still don’t have them.

We have, however, filed a formal Open Records request with the school, and we expect that they will be made available very soon.

The silly thing about the whole fiasco is that we don’t really expect to learn much from the minutes. All we wanted to know was the wording of the motion and the recorded vote of those in favor and against.

What we did learn came from the behavior of the board itself where there seems to be a pretty strong split between the trustees themselves and a lot of animosity from at least one board member toward the superintendent.

And of course there was also several very unhappy residents who voiced their support for their coach and their concern about the state of the board.

For a town like Hedley, the school is the community in a very real sense, and the trustees need to take heed that they are not there to serve just their own interests but the long-term interest of Hedley’s very identity.

Interesting times indeed.

The Way Forward, Part 6 

Information is power, and government works best when power is vested in the people. To that end, the Enterprise joins other newspapers across America in observing Sunshine Week March 10-16 as we continue to examine the way forward for Clarendon and Donley County.

Sunshine Week typically focuses on the public’s “right to know” with an emphasis on government transparency. But acquiring information is a two-way street. Yes, the information has to be available, but people must also engage themselves in the process and educate themselves about what is happening.

James Madison, the author of the US Constitution, said, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.”

The former president went on to say that a government of uninformed people “is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both.”

Is our government a farce or a tragedy in Washington, Austin, or even at City Hall, the school house, or the Courthouse? That’s all a matter of opinion. But if it is, then it is largely the fault of the people for not being more involved in a positive way.

This newspaper, like so many others across this great land, goes to great lengths to try to keep our local voters informed. We attend meetings when no one else bothers to. We pour over minutes of the meetings we miss, and we try to keep tabs on what our elected officials are doing. And then we tell you about it – whether it’s a new ordinance, a water system study, or a discussion about raising your school taxes.

Governments do their part, as well, while working with your local newspaper. Following the rules set down by law, they publish notice of their intent to purchase certain things, undertake certain projects, levy taxes and fees, and to engage in a number of activities. They post notice of their meetings at least three days in advance, and then they hold those meetings in an open session where members of the public are allowed to attend.

At appointed times, the governments must have elections. The newspaper reports on which positions are up, and the government calls for the election during an open meeting and then publishes notice of the election to be held.

Your newspaper serves a vital role in reporting to you the activities of your governments and publishing the notices of the governments while at the same time policing the governments to make sure they follow the rules.

But all of this is for naught if the people fail to participate in the process.

When people disregard the information in front of them and choose instead to trust gossip, hearsay, or social media chatter for their decision making, then we may well be on our way to the farce or tragedy of which Madison warned us.

The problem of course, as your humble editor told a dear friend recently, is that the truth is often boring. The “talk” is scandalous and therefore exciting. But the day-in and day-out activities of local governments are generally humdrum. The typical business of a resolution to name an investment officer or consideration of a bank depository bid is a major snooze fest. But that is part of the process. People complain, for example, about brown water coming out of their tap but then don’t show up when tax rates are discussed or budgets are adopted – the times when funds could actually be dedicated to the problem.

Too often our complacency spills over into election season to such an extent that most local governments call off their elections due to a lack of interest. Howardwick officials a month ago even raised the prospect that the city itself might be dissolved if participation did not pick up.

Fortunately, this year we have several competitive raises, and the people have some real choices to make. Voters in Clarendon and Howardwick and in the Clarendon and Hedley school districts have a responsibility to find out everything they can about the candidates on the ballots. Who are they, what do they want to do, and what is their motive for running? Do they have an ax to grind or do they have the city’s or school’s best interest at heart? Voters must answer those questions for themselves and then go to the ballot boxes armed with knowledge.

Candidates, too, need to educate themselves, attend the meetings of the boards for which they are running, find out how things really work, and be able to bring something constructive to the table if they are elected.

Representative government takes a lot of effort for it to work correctly. The system is participatory – you have to participate for it to work. You have to resolve to get involved, get informed, and get educated; and all of that takes time and energy. But when we all play our parts – when government operates openly, when the newspaper informs the public, and when voters pay attention – then things can move forward in a positive manner and our communities come out as winners.

The Way Forward, Part Five

“The City Beautiful.” That’s how this newspaper and its editor referred to Clarendon in the earliest years of the 20th century. Kearney Street was lined with trees, the Courthouse could be seen for miles, and an impressive Methodist Church and new college buildings were making this town one of the most attractive on “The Denver Road,” as the BNSF railway was then known.

Compared to many West Texas communities, Clarendon is still “The City Beautiful,” but there is certainly room for improvement as we continue our series promoting growth and progress.

Taking stock for moment, Clarendon appears to be an oasis coming in from the west. Travelers end their journey across the flat, “Staked Plains” just before entering Donley County and soon find themselves enjoying the Rolling Plains and what (during years of normal precipitation) was historically called the “Green Belt” of the Texas Panhandle. Their first site entering the city is Clarendon College sitting on its hill, a modern day acropolis befitting the moniker of “The Athens of the Panhandle.”

That beautiful campus, also visible coming from the north, is perhaps one of this city’s most well-known features and is recognized by many people from downstate who travel US 287 on their way to vacations in the Rocky Mountains. How marvelous would it be if our entire city was as clean, well kept, and memorable as Clarendon College is.

This is not to say we’re a dirty or trashy town, but surely we can all agree that there are areas that could use some attention. As the old Head & Shoulders commercial said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” We therefore need to make sure that the first impression any visitor has of Clarendon is good – no, make that great!

Much of this has to be done on an individual basis with each home owner, business owner, and vacant lot owner taking pride in their community and making sure what they have is clean and neat. Weed control and a good coat of paint go a long ways, but it’s important also to keep up with maintaining any structures. Preventive maintenance is much cheaper than major repairs or rehabilitation, and your neighbors will appreciate your efforts.

Too many times we have heard about folks who simply don’t keep up the exterior of their homes or businesses because they fear their tax appraisal will go up and it will cost them money. Is that just a terrible attitude or an excuse? Be an example to others and fix up your property, and everyone will benefit from a nicer community, including you.

City Hall has already taken steps to spruce up the town. The city code compliance officer and municipal judge are working with property owners to correct code violations and clean up properties. In the west part of the city, in a section originally called “Clarendon Heights,” an old homestead that was overgrown by trees and vegetation is now visible from the street for the first time in decades. Behind the scenes – literally – city workers have been cleaning and blading alleyways and doing other things to help improve our town. The Board of Aldermen and the city employees deserve our thanks for making these things happen.

Downtown, the most obvious improvement has been the work of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation to rehabilitate the Mulkey Theatre, but that’s not the only thing the CEDC has been doing. Since 2008, it has invested nearly $17,000 into 13 storefronts up and down Kearney Street with façade grants ranging from less than $100 up to $2,000. Next month the CEDC Board will consider revising and possibly expanding the façade grant program to do even more improvements.

But there are also other things we can do to help us reclaim our title of “The City Beautiful.” Organized clean up days, such as those held by the Chamber of Commerce in the late 1980s and early 1990s, would be an easy start. The city could bolster such an effort by reinstituting the free dumping that it used to hold one week each fall and spring. Yes, it may cost the city a little bit of revenue, but a cleaner city would certainly be worth it.

We also need to think about targeted infrastructure improvements that would be specifically designed to be attractive to visitors as well as locals. A perfect example is the streets leading to and surrounding Broncho Stadium. Leaving US 287, you have to travel over one block of dirt on either Sims or Allen streets on your way to football games or to the gym, and then the paving on three sides of the stadium is deplorable.

Fortunately, last spring’s bond election approved replacing the paving in question. We just need to make sure that we don’t “poor boy” the paving by making the streets narrower than they currently are or by doing anything less than the best job possible.

The bond election did not, however, cover those single blocks of Sims and Allen that get people from the highway to the school; and looking around, we can all easily find other areas that desperately need improvement. Consider First Street from downtown to Lowe’s Family Center. There are places where the brick paving needs repair and two blocks of what used to be paving that frankly needs total replacement, and then there is dirt from Kearney going east by the recycling bins.

And then there is a need for sidewalks, improved pedestrian lighting, park improvements – such as a splash pad or a skate park or both, and more. Indeed, one has to wonder if Clarendon didn’t set its sights high enough last year with a $750,000 ten-year bond election. Perhaps we should have gone bigger.

Every little bit helps though, and we all have to do our part and resolve to get involved in 2013.

 The Way Forward, Part 4

A wise man once noted that, “It was never boom or bust in Clarendon. It was just always a struggle.” 

That tongue-in-cheek comment may sound a bit pessimistic to some, but in reality it actually reveals one of our community’s strengths, which has been a certain economic stability over the last century.

Not having been blessed with oil or gas wealth, Clarendon and Donley County hasn’t seen the wild swings of good times and bad times that some other communities have had. We have, instead, enjoyed a couple of assets that have bolstered our situation compared to other rural West Texas communities, namely Lake Greenbelt since 1968 and Clarendon College since 1898.

Barring the occurrence of a hundred-year flood, the lake’s future doesn’t look good right now, but Clarendon College remains the beacon on the hill that shines the way to progress and prosperity – both for its students and our community.

Enterprise columnist Fred Gray has taken to referring to CC as “The Pearl of the Panhandle,” but your humble editor still prefers the tried and true moniker “The Athens of the Panhandle,” reflecting its place in history as the Panhandle’s first college as well as its ongoing role of providing an education – and therefore a path to a better life – for local and area students.

Much has been said about the opportunities our dear college offers students, but we must also realize that Clarendon College is the number one economic development tool our city has. It is critical that the Board of Regents and administration recognize that they are not just caretakers of a college. In a very real sense they can have a greater impact on the future of this town than the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Corporation, or even the city council.

Consider this. Each fall, Clarendon College brings in about 300 students to live in our community for two semesters. In addition to enriching our town with cultural diversity and annual economic stimulus, this gives Clarendon an opportunity that most small cities could only dream about – prospective new citizens.

We probably all can think of someone who came to college here and either married a local person or returned here after going on to get their four-year degree. Each CC student from out of town is someone who potentially could settle down here… if they find the town to their liking and find an opportunity for employment here.

A constant influx of young people and young families is a tremendous asset to any community, particularly if those new citizens get a quality education while they are here.

The challenge for Clarendon College is growing enrollment on the home campus with an eye toward helping Clarendon and Donley County. The headcount for the last few semesters has been down after an extended period of growth. We trust that this is only a temporary reversal of fortune, and college officials are already making plans to get their numbers back up.

Plans to get CC back above total enrollment of 1,200 here and at its satellites in Pampa and Childress are great. We must look at growth everywhere, but it is also incumbent that we – alumni; taxpayers; and CC regents, administration, faculty, and staff – take a long look at what creative things can be done to boost enrollment on the home campus.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen an increased focus on athletics as the path to growth for the college, but each new sports team carries a cost of increased travel and other expenses. While we are certainly proud of our Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs, we must also focus on bringing more traditional students to College Hill. We need to expand our course offerings, particularly in the fine arts, and recruit a more diverse student body whose members are interested not only in sports, rodeo, and judging but also in music, art, drama, literature, and the sciences.

One limitation to growth is the lack of student housing, and this column has more than once called on the college to work with the city and other entities to find solutions to this. But the college could also take better advantage of the housing it does have by opening one dormitory for the summer months and offering more classes during those sessions. This would have the added benefit of keeping more students – and their economic impact – in Clarendon over the summer months, which is something that will be sorely needed if Lake Greenbelt continues to shrink.

CC also needs to develop new technical programs that are based here in Clarendon. A truck driving program or a hospitality training program might be good additions. We’ve tried offering programs – such as wind energy and nursing – in Clarendon and Pampa and then shake our heads when the program migrates to a larger population center. If a program is in demand and it is offered only in Clarendon, students will come to Clarendon. We have seen this historically, and it is still true.

More students eventually means the need for more faculty members, and that means more good paying jobs for other potential new citizens. And in all of this, we must work hard to find ways to include our students and new instructors in our community, to cater to their needs, and attract them to our merchants.

The growth of Clarendon College must be paramount as we resolve to get involved in 2013.

If you have any doubt that great things can happen in Clarendon, just look around this week.

In addition to the continuing work on the Mulkey Theatre, construction has gotten a quick start on a new business on US 287 – Family Dollar – that represents a $750,000 investment in our community, a new fitness center is getting closer to reality, and another new business is taking shape south of Every Nook & Cranny downtown.

Clarendon is a place of promise and opportunity, and this column continues the look forward that we began two weeks ago. Our focus this week is on our heritage, and the point that our history can be an important element of our future.

There is no better example of tapping into our rich heritage than the annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff, which brings people flocking to our town each September. It is hosted by the Saints’ Roost Museum, the board of which knows full well the value of history, and it does an excellent job of promoting a local gem – the museum – while celebrating a local legend – Col. Goodnight.

Another big draw is the 1890 Donley County Courthouse that was restored in 2003 at a cost of $4.2 million (most of which was state money). There were some critics at the time, but now the courthouse is perhaps our community’s most treasured landmark, attracting visitors from far and near on a weekly basis. We are home to the Jewel of the Plains – the Panhandle’s oldest operating courthouse – and we are proud of it.

Heritage tourism is a big business. There are many people out there that like to tour old courthouses and museums and learn more about our regional, state, and national history. Recent survey information from the Texas Historical Commission states that tourists who visit historical sites spend an average of $340 more in a community than other visitors.

We have a lot to offer these travelers now, but that is one asset that could easily be expanded. I like to call it the “low hanging fruit.” It is right there for easy pickings if we just use a bit of creativity.

Very easily we could develop self-guided – or guided – tours of historic landmarks throughout Clarendon. A simple brochure could walk visitors to our historic buildings and businesses and take them to some of the Texas Panhandle’s most historic churches and homes.

But with a little coordination, that could even be a bigger draw. Perhaps a combined effort could be joined between the county, the county historical commission, and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation to research and apply for one historical marker every year for the next few years. We have many “firsts” or “oldest” that aren’t properly recognized right now. The area’s oldest African American church (St. Stephen’s Baptist) and the first Masonic lodge in the Panhandle come to mind right away. Clarendon College deserves its own marker, and there are other historic sites, buildings, and homes that might qualify under the right circumstances. The rock walls at City Park and around Broncho Stadium are also unique to our community.

The city, county, and other entities could be persuaded to develop tax abatements favorable to historic preservation or efforts to restore historic structures. There are at least three buildings on Kearney Street that were built in the 1890s. What treasures those might make! Turn of the century homes are dotted all across our city, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could encourage restoring these places the way the late Zell SoRelle did the S.W. Lowe house back in the 1980s?

We might consider creation of a designated historic district and offer incentives to invest in those properties or perhaps there are other ways to capitalize on the structures that our forefathers built.

We can also do more to tap our local history and expand our museum to tell a broader story of Donley County beyond just the cowboy and ranch aspect. Perhaps we could work with the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum and others around the country to develop a paleontology wing to the museum that would feature the three-toed horses, mammoths, and other extinct creatures that have been found here from the Clarendonian Stage of geologic history.

More could be done to feature the Native American heritage of this area. The Quanah Parker Trail is a fine thing to be on and will be a nice addition, but we also need to talk in our museum about the Indian village that once existed near Greenbelt Lake.

And we can’t forget that history doesn’t just stop. It is ongoing, and we need to support our museum in such a manner that it can include the accomplishments of more recent events. Shouldn’t Kenny King be featured in the museum somewhere? What about our native son in Congress?

As the oldest thriving town in the Panhandle, we have no shortage of history, the depths of which we can plumb for our future. Just stop and look around. We’re surrounded by potential and stories that are waiting to be told, and buildings and jewels that are waiting to be polished.

As we resolve to get involved in 2013, let’s make the past part of our future and make some new history to make our kids and grandkids proud.