This Week

Donley County will borrow an additional $350,000 to finish the restoration of the 1890 courthouse and to make critical repairs not called for in the original scope of work.

County officials are looking to refinance and extend the tax notes already taken out for the project. They believe it will be possible to obtain the new funds without significantly increasing the county’s annual tax note payments by stretching out the indebtedness period and taking advantage of interest rates which are lower now than in 2000.

The additional funds became necessary after workers discovered severely deteriorated bricks behind the cornice of the building this spring. The bricks, which are supposed to hold the anchors for the roof joists, are so badly deteriorated they are falling out. In certain areas, workers have not removed the rain gutter because that is all that is holding the bricks in place.

Dale Sellers of Phoenix I Restoration says decades of water damage have eroded the bricks.

“I’d say this has been going on for 60 to 70 years at least,” Sellers said. “It also looks like the bricks in this part of the building were not of the same quality as the rest of the structure.”

Project officials have also speculated that supervision in the later stages of the original construction was not as close as it should have been. Bricks used behind the cornice were the same as the softer bricks used on the interior of the courthouse rather than the harder, more durable bricks used on the exterior.

The master plan for the restoration called for bricks behind the cornice to be tuck-pointed where necessary. With that area fully exposed, the project managers and architects realized the work would be much more extensive.

“We’ll have to go in and take out all three courses of brick 18 inches down and completely rebuild those areas,” Sellers said. “The work will have to be done in 10- to 20-foot stretches, and the roof will have to shorn up while the work is done.”

Project officials have said that currently a good updraft would lift the roof off the courthouse because the anchors are not connected solidly into the walls.

County officials, project managers, and the architects have been struggling with how to handle the problem for months. The county had to finally take action as the situation threatened to bring the project to a standstill. Interior work cannot be finished until the roof is completed, and the roof cannot be completed until the masonry work is done.

The added work will take approximately six weeks to complete, and the overall completion of the project has been pushed back to December.

“I think December 14 is a very reasonable date,” Sellers said. “It would be great to be finished for the holidays.”

The Commissioners’ Court voted unanimously Monday to authorize County Judge Jack Hall to begin the process of a new tax notes issuance to pay for the additional work. Commissioner Don Hall was absent due to health reasons.

“We hate this,” said Commissioner Buster Shields. “But there’s no choice. This has to be done.”

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has reportedly kept $2 million of the money appropriated by the Legislature for courthouse restoration in a contingency fund. Representatives of Donley County are making a request for some of those funds to pay for the new indebtedness.

But grand administrator John Kiehl told the court this week that the THC is only going to allow $200,000 of its contingency fund to be awarded to counties in situations similar to Donley’s. The county is making a request for 75 percent of that money, but it is not known how much if any will be awarded locally.

The court also approved Change Order No. 5 for the project during Monday’s meeting, which authorizes Phoenix to begin the work on the deteriorated masonry as well as authorizing six other necessary changes to the project.

The City of Clarendon will allow free dumping for city residents this Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14, as part of a Citywide Clean Up Campaign.

During the clean up, city residents can dump as much as they need to at the recycling center on Front Street. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

“Hopefully this will become a regular thing,” said Mayor Pro-tem Mark White. “We are planning to have one clean up in the fall and one in the spring each year.”

White said residents who have no way of hauling their junk should contact City Hall ahead of time. On Friday only, city crews will be available to assist those who cannot haul of their stuff on their own.

In order to take advantage of the free dumping privilege, city residents need to bring a water bill with them to the recycling center.

City officials are eager for residents to take advantage of the clean up day.

“This weekend, I hope, is the beginning of beautifying the City of Clarendon,” Alderman Janice Knorpp said.

White said the city is also taking other steps to encourage the removal of junk vehicles around town and is looking at other projects to help improve the appearance of the town.

The Board of Aldermen approved the plan for the clean up last month in anticipation of the homecoming events and the museum’s Chuckwagon cookoff, both of which are scheduled for later this month.

A CHS Homecoming Reunion is scheduled for Friday, September 27, for all CHS ex-students and teachers.

A pep rally on Friday will kick things off.  It will be held at the High School Gym.  The time has not yet been announced.  There will be a Mexican Pile On Supper at the school cafeteria beginning at 5:00 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door for $5.50.

All classes will meet in front of the old gym at 6:00 p.m. and walk to Bronco Stadium to watch the Broncos’ game against Nazareth.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Immediately following the game, everyone is invited to the Community Center located at the Rodeo Grounds for visiting.  There is a $5 registration fee. 

On Saturday, classmates are invited to the Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff at the Saints’ Roost Museum.  Tickets are $10 per person and available at Henson’s.  Cowboy Church will be held on Sunday beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the museum.

For more information, call Janie Finch, René Betts, Paulette Kidd, Valorie Ashcraft, or Pat White.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs recognized Panhandle Community Services (PCS) with the largest merit award over 52 other agencies. 

PCS received $12,180.00 for outstanding performance in transiting families out of poverty.

The Executive Directors Conference held in San Antonio recognized community action agencies for addressing Federal Welfare Reform mandates.  PCS competed with 52 agencies that compete for awards.  The state of Texas awarded $98,365.00 to 24 agencies.

Johnny Raymond – Executive Director, Phyllis Cook – Deputy Director, and Paulette Flores – Administrative Assistant received the award on behalf of PCS.

“This award is truly appreciated on behalf of  our 13 centers,” Raymond stated.  “It illustrates what Community Action Agencies accomplish.  They truly help people and change lives.”

Robbie Hill, local Center Coordinator, and her staff received recognition for their contribution to the success of the recognition.

The local staff helps clients with housing and Families in Training in four counties along with  medical and local transportation which includes transporting children to school.  They also have out of town medical transportation to surrounding towns. 

Clarendon PCS oversees the energy program in Donley, Hall, Briscoe, and Armstrong counties.  They have the weatherization program that helps make homes more energy efficient.  They also oversee a food pantry for those who are in need of emergency help with groceries for their families. 

They also have intake and referral services; and they try to keep the names and numbers of agencies that can provide assistance.

The local staff includes Robbie Hill, Lori Mays, Linda Horton, Peggy Soneth, and Mac Smith.

The appearance of the General Motors dealership now known as Suna AutoMall is changing, and new owner Mark Suna says he’s even more excited than when he took over two weeks ago.

The change is readily apparent when a customer walks in the front door of what was Chamberlain Motor Company. The showroom is full with 22 vehicles on the floor, and product literature is within easy reach and eyeshot near the entrance. This week Suna had five televisions delivered and plans to have them installed in the dealership’s main lobby.

“We have one for each GM division line, and each will be running commercials for that line from the 50s, 60s, and 70s to the millennium,” Suna said. “We also will run competitor’s commercials to show how the GM product is far superior.”

New canopies and signs will be installed at the dealership in four to six weeks. Inventory is arriving daily, and General Motors has agreed to supply Suna with 150 new vehicles.

Suna says his goal is to help Clarendon grow, and to that end, he has seven new employees moving to town. The dealership is also looking to hire college students to fill part time positions at the switchboard, in sales, and staffing the CellularOne desk.

“No one is being replaced,” Suna said. “The biggest asset I inherited was the employees. That’s what set Chamberlain’s and now Suna AutoMall apart from the rest.”

Suna said so far only one employee had left the business since the change of ownership occurred and that was the employee’s own choosing.

Suna says he has great respect for former owner Trey Chamberlain and his family, and he hopes to run the dealership the way they wanted it to be.

“My hat is off to Mr. Chamberlain for the way he took care of his employees,” Suna said.

Those employees are now looking to Suna for leadership.

“He’s going to be a great leader,” said Glenn Dale Hearn, who has been with the dealership for 24 years. “He came down personally twice and talked to us as a gentleman. He’s been straight with us.”

Other employees say they are already seeing positive changes.

“There is more action here and more traffic,” said salesman Russell Simpson. “Everyone is in better spirits.”

“Something is going on here, and I’m receiving a lot of positive feedback from customers,” said salesman Jody Dixon, who has been calling past clients and telling them about the new ownership.

Suna says he has a hands-on management style and works with his staff to serve the customers.  He says his staff has “all the makings of an orchestra” and likens his role to that of a conductor.

“Every one of these guys is important to me. They see me with them, and I’m the last one to leave.”

Suna says he’s still amazed at the warmth the local people have shown although some still ask him why he chose to move here from Dallas.

“I came here because I wanted to,” he said. “I saw a community looking to grow.

“The Panhandle still has the pioneering spirit to embrace new businesses and opportunities. I think people who live in the Dallas area are missing out.”

Two separate ceremonies will be held in Clarendon next Wednesday, September 11, in connection with the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America last year.

The Donley County Memorial Post 7782 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold a remembrance ceremony at the flag pole in front of the VFW Post Home at 7:48 a.m. – the exact time American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Activities will include lowering the flag to half-staff at 8 a.m., a remembrance speech from Post 7782, and a moment of silence. All members of the public are invited to attend.

Later that afternoon, a reception will be held at the Bairfield Activity Center to honor those who serve and protect the citizens of Donley County. The reception begins at 5 p.m. with a program at 5:30.

District Judge David McCoy will deliver a patriotic address at 7 p.m.

Local citizens are urged to come out and show your support for the personnel of the Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick fire departments; the Clarendon EMS, the Donley County Sheriff’s Department, the Greenbelt Lake Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.