This Week

Precinct 3&4 Constable Randy Bond has filed legal action against the Donley County Commissioners’ Court seeking a “reasonable salary” for his office.

Commissioners Mark White, Daniel Ford, Neil Koetting, and Dan Sawyer along with County Judge John Howard were all served Monday during the regular commissioners’ court meeting following a petition for a writ of mandamus that was filed with the clerk’s office on March 27.

“Randy Bond believes he has not gotten a fair shake, so he’s sued the judge and the commissioners individually in their official capacities,” County Attorney Landon Lambert said.

Lambert has agreed to represent the defendants through his private law firm. A county attorney is not obligated to get involved in disputes between elected officials, Lambert said, and the same goes for attorneys through the Texas Association of Counties.

“We will defend the county’s actions vigorously, and we hope eventually all parties can come together and deal with this respectfully,” Lambert said.

According to the suit, the Precinct 3&4 constable previously earned “roughly $22,000” but the latest budget puts that salary at “roughly $2,000.” Bond is asking the district court to require the county to set a reasonable salary.

The constable’s job became vacant when former constable Doug Wright resigned in January 2021. Commissioners took no action to fill the vacancy, and Bond ran for the office and was elected in November 2022. He then took the oath of office in January to fill the remaining two years of Wright’s term.

This is not the first time Donley County has faced a legal challenge to a constable’s salary. Jimmy Swinney sued the county in 2001 after he ran for the Precinct 1&2 Constable’s position in 2000, becoming the first person to hold that office since 1978. Swinney later resigned, and the county formally closed that office in 2003.

A Howardwick man is facing charges after breaking into an AirBnB and threating guests with a hammer early Monday.

Jeramy Kindle, age 42, is charged with Burglary of a Habitation with intent to commit Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said.

The sheriff said Kindle broke into the AirBnB located on Ten Bears Trail in Howardwick and came at a Jacksboro couple staying there with a hammer. One of the guests began recording video with her cellphone, and the other grabbed a rifle and held Kindle at bay until authorities could arrive, Blackburn said.

As the deputy arrived, the subject fled on foot. Sheriff Blackburn arrived on the scene, and the lawmen soon found the man in a nearby residence. He was taken into custody and booked into the Donley County Jail.

Kindle was arraigned Tuesday by Justice of the Peace Pat White with on charges of Burglary of a Habitation and Aggravated Assault with total bond set at $40,000.

He was still in jail at press time.

Hall and Donley County AgriLife Extension offices will be hosting a Beef Conference next Monday, April 17, in the Kathy Fowler Agency Building in Memphis at 123 S 6th St.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Speakers and topics include: Jason Smith and Considerations for Restocking the Cow Herd; Tim Steffens and Drought Management and Structuring the Business to be Resilient; Dede Jones and Cattle Market and Farm Bill Updates; National Weather Service – Weather Outlook; and USDA/NRCS/FSA Program Updates.

At noon lunch sponsored by Capital Farm Credit at 12:30.
Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by April 14 to the Hall County Extension Office at (806) 259-3015 or the Donley County Office at (806)-874-2141. The cost is $10 per person at the door.

A combination of above-normal temperatures, low humidity, dry fuel and strong winds set the stage for extreme fire conditions across large portions of the state early this week.

As the Enterprise went to press Tuesday, conditions capable of producing large fires were expected across the Western Plains, including the Panhandle region.

On Tuesday, extreme fire weather was forecast in the Texas Panhandle with relative humidity values in the single digits and 40 mph sustained winds with gusts exceeding 60 mph.

“We have critically dry fuels, complex terrain and higher temperatures in the forecast for that area,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “These are prime fire conditions, and we’ve staged personnel and equipment in the area to facilitate an immediate response to requests for assistance.”

The conditions could lead to a dangerous fire weather phenomena known as a Southern Plains Wildfire Outbreak, or SPWO. Wildfires that ignite during SPWO events exhibit extreme fire behavior and rapid growth and are difficult to control.

Since 2005, SPWO fires have accounted for three percent of reported wildfires but nearly half of the acres burned.

Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize wildfire resources to support local officials in preparation for wildfire potential in the Panhandle, Southern Plains, Permian Basin and West Texas. Texas A&M Forest Service staged three Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) strike teams comprised of approximately 50 firefighters and 15 fire engines, seven single engine air tankers, two air attack platforms and heavy equipment such as bulldozers.

On Friday, Governor Abbott called for an additional TIFMAS strike team of 15 firefighters and five fire engines for wildfire response.

For current fire conditions, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/CurrentSituation/.

The Broncos stomped the Wellington Skyrockets 10-1 at home last week behind the pitching of Easton Frausto and Tyler Harper.

It was Frausto who earned the win in six innings with nine strikeouts. He allowed only two hits and Wellington’s only run of the game during his time on the mound. Harper came up in relief to throw one inning and posted two strikeouts.

Offensively, not only were the Broncos’ bats hot with 11 total team hits, their base running was unstoppable with 16 stolen bases. Frausto racked up four, while Jared Musick and Lyric Smith posted three each. Harrison Howard and Wilson Ward had two each, and Mason Sims and Harper helped with one apiece. The Broncos posted one run in the first, second, third, and fifth and marked three runs in the fourth and sixth. Their last at-bat was not needed.

Despite allowing the Claude Mustangs four runs, the Broncos won big at 18-4 in Claude March 31. Three runs were scored in the first inning off of Smith’s double in his opening turn at the plate. Strong hitting in the first inning gave the Broncos a big lead and set the pace for the following innings. Harper, Musick, Sims, Frausto, and Howard came through with heavy-duty bats in the game that resulted in 11 hits. The Broncos also used their speed to record 11 stolen bases. The third was the only inning the Broncos did not make a change on the scoreboard.

Howard was on the mound for two innings and only allowed one hit and two runs while striking out three. Harper came in for the next two innings and allowed four hits, two runs, and two strike-outs. Levi Gates took over in the fifth and posted two hits and one strike-out.

The Broncos will play Naz at home on April 6 at 4:00 p.m. and the Broncos will travel to Shamrock April 11.

A Clarendon woman is facing a third-degree felony charge for injury to a child following a grand jury indictment on March 21.

Taylor Danielle Schwertner, age 26, was arrested and booked into the Donley County Jail last Thursday, March 30, after she turned herself in on a warrant. She was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Sarah Hatley with bond set at $10,000.

Schwertner posted bond and was released Friday evening, according to Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn.

“It’s sad, but we work this type of case fairly often, at least once a year,” the sheriff said.
Blackburn said his office began investigating this case September 18 and finished and turned it over the district attorney’s office in early October.