This Week

A railroad crewman asked volunteers not to leave him behind as they worked diligently to save his life after the train he was on collided head-on with another last Tuesday.

The heroism of those local volunteers and officials has gained widespread attention and has local citizens giving thanks for the kind of people who live in Donley County.

“The firemen, lawmen, EMS, TxDOT employees, and citizens displayed extreme heroism as they worked to rescue the train wreck victims,” DPS Trooper Chad Simpson said.

Joe Neal Shadle, who drives a trash truck for the City of Clarendon, was one of the people early on the scene of the accident two miles west of Clarendon. He was stopped at the railroad crossing on FM 3257 as the eastbound coal train went by.

“I waved at those guys out of habit,” Shadle said.

Seconds later Shadle heard a “boom” and said the ground around him shook.

“I saw the ball of fire, and I knew there had to be people hurt.”

Shadle said he radioed the sheriff’s office and went to offer his assistance. He found other citizens on the scene and one railroad crewman – Bruce Patterson of Amarillo – trapped underneath a car.

“That man asked us not to leave him, and I said ‘We’re not gonna leave you,’” Shadle said.

Despite being surrounded by tons of coal, diesel fuel, and the burning wreckage of the locomotives, the volunteers rescued Patterson and carried him to safety.

“We got him out,” Shadle said. “It took a lot of people.”

One of those people was Dan Sawyer, who volunteers with the Associated Ambulance Authority. With others’ help, he dug Patterson free and said the ground was like trying to dig through concrete.

“I would dig and then crawl in the hole with a flashlight to try to see what position his leg was in,” Sawyer said. “After we got three feet under him, I could see his boot and knew which way to go.”

Sawyer said Mother Nature was a big help to the rescue effort. A light breeze from the northwest kept the smoke away from the rescuers, and rainfall earlier that week kept the fire from spreading from the engines. The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department also battled to keep the fire contained and away from the trapped man.

“We did what were trained to do, and our experience paid off,” Sawyer said.

Associated Ambulance Authority Director Belinda Montana and Shane Ashcraft were on the first ambulance to the scene. They could see the billowing smoke as they left the ambulance service’s facility on Hwy. 70, but nothing prepared them for what they saw on the scene.

“The initial shock was overwhelming, but after that we were okay,” Montana said. “In my eight years of experience, I have never seen anything like that, and I hope I never do again.”

She and Ashcraft found one of the railroad crewmen, who told them how many people were involved; then Jeff and Heather King directed them to Patterson’s location.

Ashcraft worked with the one crewman, preparing him for transport, as Montana joined in the effort to rescue Patterson.

“It went very, very well,” she said. “I never felt like our lives were in any danger until right at the end when [Department of Public Safety] Sgt. Richard Gribble became concerned and told us to hurry.”

Montana said Gribble was worried because diesel fuel was starting to stream into the area where they were located.

Among other volunteers who have been identified were Kyle Hill, Alan Fletcher, James Thomas, Mike Ritchie, Cal Thomas, Tommy Hill, Dee Thompson, and Jim Thorton. But there were other citizens and volunteers who helped, including unidentified truck drivers.

“You’ll never be able to name everyone who helped,” Shadle said. “I was just there, but there were others who helped and still others who were ready to relieve us.”

Donley County Attorney Pro Tem Kaye Messer filed charges on a Hereford man Tuesday for allegedly stealing the wallet of the engineer killed in last week’s train wreck.

Antonio Valle, Jr., age 36, faces a Class A misdemeanor for stealing the wallet of G.D. Shelby of Lubbock. Valle is employed by Messer Construction Co. (no relation to the county attorney), the company working to clean up the wreckage two miles west of Clarendon.

The Donley County Sheriff’s Department says two eyewitnesses saw Valle pick up Shelby’s wallet after his body was removed. The witnesses say they observed Valle put the wallet in his pocket and that he did not turn it over to a supervisor. The wallet contained $753.

The sheriff’s office was assisted in its investigation by Railroad Agent G.W. Lane.

Messer said she intends to do everything she can to convict Valle.

“I’ll prosecute this case to the fullest because it’s pretty disgusting,” she said.

If convicted, Valle could face a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.

District Judge David McCoy last month sentenced Todd Phillips of Clarendon to 16 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Institutional Division, according to information released by the district attorney’s office.

Phillips, age 31, was previously accorded felony probation on November 13, 2001, on charges of attempted murder.

“It is always unfortunate when someone does not take advantage of the second chance provided through an Order of Probation,” District Attorney Stuart Messer said. “When an individual does not fulfill his agreement with the court and the terms of his probation, there can be very serious consequences.

On May 23, Judge McCoy ruled that Phillips had failed to report as ordered and had failed to make his monthly payments for fines, fees, and court costs. McCoy also found that Phillips had committed the subsequent offense of forgery.

During the case, Messer presented evidence on behalf of the State of Texas, and Phillips was represented by defense attorney Lendon Ray.

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen voted four to one last Tuesday to delay implementation of a new livestock ordinance so they can consider a nuisance ordinance to take its place.

As in the previous two meetings, aldermen were faced with criticism of Ordinance #340, which was passed in April.

“If you’re concerned about health and safety, you need to look at the health issues of the junk cars and junk houses rather than just the livestock in town,” Bill Barnes told the board.

Other citizens questioned the city’s new guidelines wanting to know the origins of space requirements in the new law.

“Where did the 1,000 square feet (per head) come from?” Steve Lewis asked. “Horses all over the United States are kept in 12×12 stalls.”

Lewis, who has been involved in two court cases with the city over the previous animal ordinance, also complained that in both those cases no one from the city has ever gotten his side of the story. He said he thinks the new law singles some people out because it exempts the veterinary hospital, and he also said he didn’t think he could get a permit under the new law.

“I could be denied a permit just because somebody doesn’t like me,” he said.

Alderman Janice Knorpp asked opponents of the ordinance to offer suggestions for solutions. Lewis asked to have the Texas Department of Health to do inspections in the city. Former sheriff Jimmy Thompson urged the city to pass a nuisance ordinance to replace the livestock ordinance.

Alderman Mark White asked just what the main objection to the ordinance is.

“Is it the permit? Is it the fee? Is it the space requirement? Just what is the problem?” he asked.

To which one citizen replied, “The whole thing.”

Only one citizen, Jeanie Johnson, spoke at length in favor of the livestock ordinance, saying that it is needed and asking what good any ordinance is if the city won’t stand by this one.

The board asked City Attorney James Shelton to draft a nuisance ordinance to take its place and voted four to one to delay implementation of the livestock ordinance for 30 days. Alderman Bob Watson voted against the measure.

Ordinance #340 requires landowners to obtain a $20 land license and a $10 per head permit in order to keep livestock in the city limits and also prescribes space requirements and other rules for keeping livestock in the city. It would have become enforceable on June 17, 2002.

Also last Tuesday, the city began contract negotiations with engineer Gene Barber for the proposed street improvement project. Barber touted his 50-plus-year record of working with cities in the Panhandle, working on street projects, and a current pavement rehabilitation program with Westgate Mall in Amarillo.

“You’re going to get my experience and not some whippersnapper cutting his teeth on your project,” Barber said.

Aldermen Knorpp peppered Barber with questions regarding past projects, current projects, insurance, and the size of this workforce. Alderman Tommy Hill also questioned Barber, and Alderman Michael Tibbets moved to table the contract negotiations until a called meeting on June 6. The motion carried.

In other business, City Superintendent Jim Roberts reported that the city has been approved for a $350,000 grant for improvements related to last year’s flooding. The grant from the Texas Office for Rural Community Affairs will complement another grant already received from the US Department of Agriculture for the same projects. The work should get underway this summer.

Mayor Tex Selvidge reported that the state had finally approved plans for the Saints’ Roost Museum to renovate the old Ft. Worth & Denver Depot, which is now located on the museum grounds. Bids are now being taken on the job. The city is the sponsoring agent for the museum for its grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.

Officials with Classic Cable approached the city seeking a new franchise agreement for ten years. Aldermen instead requested a five-year contract and said they want a provision for local churches to have public access to the cable system. Classic officials also said they plan to add more channels to the local lineup and that cable subscription rates will likely increase.

The aldermen approved a request from the Clarendon Little League to pay for electricity at McClelland Field and Hart-Moore Field this summer.

Mark C. White asked the board to consider a shooting range at the municipal airport. He said the Donley County Sheriff’s Office would like to help construct an improved range, and he proposed a 25-foot wide area south of the aircraft hangers with a 12-foot earthen berm for safety. The sheriff’s office would furnish the pipe and cable, dig the holes to stand the pipe, and stretch the cable for the targets. The city would do the dirt work. The aldermen approved the proposal.

Special from The Groom News

Father Neal Dee told approximately 200 Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church parishioners in Groom last Thursday night that he was resigning his priesthood and moving to Amarillo immediately.

Dee presided over the Groom church as well as St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarendon.

Monsignor Harold Waldo, vicar for clergy for the Diocese of Amarillo, was at the meeting to explain the process of replacing Father Dee with a priest in Groom and Clarendon. He said Father José of India will be in Groom this week to say Mass and that a new priest will hopefully be appointed for Groom and Clarendon by mid-July.

Dee’s resignation came about by a 15-year-old allegation of wrongdoing before he came to the Amarillo Diocese.

“The new charter passed by the Catholic Bishops in Dallas a few weeks ago made the resignation necessary,” said Monsignor Waldo, who was taking the place of Bishop Yanta.

Tears flowed by many of Dee’s supporters as they listened and asked questions of Waldo and Dee.

Waldo explained that Bishop Yanta said based on the new charter, the diocese, in cooperation with a local review board, is in the process of implementing the new policy on sexually abusive priests.

Waldo further stated that the diocese will disclose a priest departure if he is removed because of the new policy and indicated there is a strong possibility that more priests will be leaving.

Emergency personnel carry a train crewmember to a waiting ambulance following a head-on collision near Clarendon which killed one person.

Enterprise Digital Photo
 
Gayln Shelby, age 61, of Lubbock was killed Tuesday morning when two Burlington Northern-Santa Fe trains collided west of Clarendon, according to the Department of Public Safety.

Bruce Patterson, 57; Rodney Torres, 34; and Ronald Gordon, 51; were also injured in the accident, according to DPS Trooper Chad Simpson. All three men were from Amarillo, and they, along with Shelby, were members of the train crews.

The accident happened when an eastbound coal train collided head-on with a westbound freight train shortly before 9 a.m. A manifest of the freight train was not available at press time.

Local emergency crews worked to free one member of the train crew. The three survivors were transported to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo.

 “I’m constantly amazed at the ability of our local firemen and EMS,” said DPS Trooper Chad Simpson. “They really work together.”  

All four men jumped from the train just before impact, Simpson said.

Fire departments from surrounding towns rushed to the scene to assist local firefighters in containing the blaze. Firemen kept the train engines doused with water in an effort to calm flames fueled by diesel. Chemical foam was brought in from Pampa, Canyon, and Abilene to help extinguish the fire.

The fire appeared to be contained to engines. A plume of black smoke could be seen for more than 20 miles away, and US 287 was reduced to two lanes with westbound traffic being moved to one of the eastbound lanes.

Officials on the scene said they did not know what had happened to cause two trains to be on one track.

Clarendon CISD has been awarded $50,000 from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) Board.

A portion of the grant funds will be used to provide the high school with staff development for teachers to integrate technology into curriculum, school officials say.

“We are excited about receiving this grant award for our teachers and ultimately for the students they instruct,” said Marva Thomas, Project Director for the grant.  “This additional funding will help our district meet the needs of our teachers and students in the 21st century.”

This non-competitive TIF grant focuses on supporting teacher training so that Texas teachers become skilled in using technology and integrating technology into all phases of their lessons. 

Clarendon CISD allocated 20 percent of the awarded funds to offer staff development in technology.  The TIF grant will assist the district in meeting the Texas Education Agency requirement that schools provide Technology Application courses.  

The remaining funds will be budgeted for continued staff development for all high school teachers, 21 new computers for HS 305 lab, 2 data projectors, and a wireless WAN system to connect FLC and AEP/ISS with the district infrastructure.

Not only will the teachers gain an advantage from this training and funding, but also the students will be the ultimate beneficiaries.  Students will be offered a curriculum that has technology integrated within it, making the technology an integral learning tool in preparing for the digital era.

In addition, training will be offered by Clarendon College personnel in the new computer lab (HS305) at night or on weekends for parents and community members.  Three different classes, seven hours each, one on each of the following subjects: multimedia equipment, Internet, and basic computer skills, would be offered for up to twenty people a class. A nominal fee of five dollars would be charged to the participant to cover miscellaneous expenses.  Dates and times for these classes will be decided and advertised later in the summer.

Since its creation by the 74th Legislature in 1995, TIF has awarded approximately $1 billion in grants to its four constituent groups public schools, libraries, institutions of higher education, and public, not-for-profit healthcare facilities.

“The Telecommunications Infra-structure Fund Board is making investments in Texas’ teachers and students that will pay dividends for years to come,” said Blair Fitzsimmons, TIF Board Chair.  “In reaching 500 school districts, this grant will reach thousands of teachers who will be trained to use and integrate technology into the curriculum.  In the past, TIF primarily funded high-speed Internet access, hardware, and software.  Although funds are still used today for equipment upgrades, TIF’s focus today is on training people so that the technology is relevant to their needs.”

The Donley County Sheriff’s Department arrested three local people on drug charges last Tuesday, May 21.

Melissa Ann Kopp, 26; Peter Brandon McManus, 26; and Johnny Lee Blackwell, 32, were each charged with Possession of Marijuana in misdemeanor amounts, according to Sheriff Butch Blackburn.

Officers acted on a tip from a confidential informant and obtained a warrant for the residence at 303 Ellerbe Street, where they found the individuals with the controlled substance. All three pled guilty and were given probation and fined, the sheriff said.

Also last Tuesday, the Randall County Sheriff’s Department arrested 29-year-old Dave Perry in Canyon as a result of an indictment by the Donley County Grand Jury.

Perry was charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a state jail felony. Sheriff Blackburn said Perry previously lived in Clarendon and had sold methamphetamines to an undercover Department of Public Safety narcotics agent.

Perry is currently out on bond.

Blackburn also says his office has cleared up a Hedley burglary which occurred last summer.

Mike Glover, 36, and Mark Glover, 30, were indicted for the August 2001 burglary of Moffitt Hardware. The younger Glover was in the Donley County Jail at press time.