This Week

Everyone was a winner when the results of local primary balloting were totaled last Tuesday night… but then no one had an opponent either.

Turnout was light as 260 Donley County citizens voted in the Democratic Primary and 190 voted in the Republican Primary. The combined total represented less than 18 percent of local registered voters.

In Democratic polling, incumbent County Judge Jack Hall captured 226 votes or 86.9 percent of the votes cast, incumbent County/District Clerk Fay Vargas received 218 votes or 83.8 percent, and county treasurer candidate Vicki L. Sloan received 162 votes or 62.3 percent. Incumbent Precinct 4 Commissioner Bobby G. “Bob” Trout received 42 votes, and incumbent Precinct 3&4 Justice of the Peace Ann Kennedy got 114.

Jean Taylor was handily re-elected as Democratic County Chair with 202 votes. Trey Chamberlain, Wanda Seap, Jimmy Swinney, and Willard Skelton each received one write-in vote.

On the GOP ticket, county judge candidate Jimmy Thompson received 101 votes or 53.2 percent of votes cast, county/district clerk candidate Vicki Knowles got 130 votes or 68.4 percent, and incumbent County Treasurer Becky Jackson received 146 votes or 76.8 percent. Incumbent Precinct 2 Commissioner Donnie Hall received 58 votes, and Precinct 4 commissioner candidate Wayne I. Riggs received 25 votes. Incumbent Precinct 1&2 Justice of the Peace Jimmy B. Johnson received 79 votes.

Rogers Hester will serve as Republican County Chair again, getting 135 votes. Helen Land, Mary Douglas, Barbara Helms, Democratic County Commissioner Buster Shields, and “Someone Else” each received one write-in vote.

Local Republicans approved of the non-binding ballot question calling for protecting the right to pray in public by a margin of 113 to 44.

Winning candidates of local primaries will face off this fall in the November General Election.

Democrats across the state will return to the polls April 9 to decide a runoff election between Ron Kirk and Victor Morales for the US Senate candidacy. Early voting will be held April 1-5.

Of seven local governments set to hold elections this year, the City of Howardwick was the only one to have a contested race as of Tuesday morning.

With only one day left to sign up, the remaining six governments were reporting very little interest from local citizens.

Filing for candidacy closed Wednesday, March 20.

In Howardwick, four people had thrown their hats into the ring to run for three positions on the Board of Aldermen. Sam Grider, Donald Holladay, Bobby Murdock, and incumbent Vernon Byars had filed to run.

The three vacant positions on the Clarendon Board of Aldermen have drawn two candidates – Tommy Hill and incumbent Mac Stavenhagen.

In the City of Hedley, incumbent Mayor Janie Hill and incumbent Aldermen James Lee Potts and Leon Ward had signed up for re-election but had drawn no opponents.

Incumbent board members at the Donley County Hospital District had signed up for re-election. The candidates are as follows: Place 4, Jerry May; Place 5, Carolyn Moffett; Place 6, Onita Thomas; and Place 7, Jim Douglas.

Clarendon Consolidated Independent School District had two trustees running for re-election this year. Weldon Sears and Lance Thornberry are unopposed.

The Clarendon College District had one person signed up for one of three open seats on the Board of Regents. Mary Douglas in the only candidate so far.

Incumbents Rhonda Shaw and Anthony Knowles were the sole candidates for two trustee positions in the Hedley Consolidated Independent School District.

A filing listing of candidates will appear on our website www. ClarendonOnline.com later this week and will also be included in next week’s Enterprise.

Election day is set for Saturday, May 4, 2002.

Community organizers met last Tuesday to begin making plans for the annual Saints’ Roost Celebration on July 4, 5, and 6.

For the first time in several years, the main activities will be held on July Fourth, which falls on Thursday this year. The Craft Fair, the Old Settlers Reunion, and the Parade will all be held on July Fourth.

Official word was not available at press time, but members of the Al Morrah Shrine said they would probably hold their annual barbecue the same day as the parade.

A change for this year calls for merging the kiddie parade back into the regular parade instead of holding it on a different day.

Details are still being worked out, but the plan calls for the kids to join the lead of the parade for approximately one block downtown then pull off to the side where they can watch the rest of the parade. This prevents Kearney Street from being blocked off for two days and hopefully will provide a larger crowd to see the kids on their bikes and tricycles.

On Friday, July 5, the Downtown Ministry Center will host a Depression Luncheon, and a stick horse rodeo is also being discussed for that day.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, July 6.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association is planning to hold a 30-man bull riding contest, a wild mare race, and a calf scramble on July 4th. The Ranch Rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday nights with dances to follow both nights.

The City of Clarendon donated $5,000 to the restoration of the Donley County Courthouse when city aldermen met last Tuesday, March 12.

County Judge Jack Hall and Donley County Historical Commission Chairman Jean Stavenhagen addressed the city and asked for support.

Hall presented a history of the 1890 building, describing it as a center for everything that has gone on in Clarendon and the county for over 100 years.

Stavenhagen addressed the ongoing fundraiser to finish the project and said the community had been good to support it.

“We have had very good verbal support,” she said, “but now we need money.”

Aldermen voted to take the money from the Motel Bed Tax fund, which is set aside for projects that promote tourism and advertise the community.

In other city business, the board discussed the dumping fees at the Three Feathers Recycling Center. The committee of Aldermen Mac Stavenhagen and Mark White proposed allowing citizens to use three paid water stubs to dump one trailer load of trash. The board approved the motion with Alderman Billy Jack Land voting against the measure.

The taxation of travel trailers in the city limits was discussed. Alderman Bob Watson moved to exempt such property, but his motion died for lack of a second. Other board members felt that it would be unfair to tax cars, leased vehicles, and boats but then exempt travel trailers.

The budget was amended to appropriate funds for the CDBG Water System grant and to raise the Fire Marshall’s salary.

Alice Davis was appointed to serve as presiding judge of the upcoming May municipal election. Linda Smith will serve as early voting clerk, and LeAnn Marcum will be deputy clerk.

A fine from the TNRCC related to arson at the recycling center last year was discussed. The board voted to spend the $1,250 on a supplemental environmental project rather than send the money to Austin. Board consultant Colby Waters will look into different projects and present those options to the city.

Resolutions were passed pursuant to the city’s participation in development grants.

Librarian Carolyn Blackerby asked permission to hire a temporary employee to fill in as needed. The board approved this request.

City Superintendent Jim Roberts reported equipment problems and said the city will need to look at replacing a trash truck before long.

The Howardwick Board of Aldermen met in regular session March 12.

The taxation of travel trailers was discussed. Paula Lowry and Neva Spier of the Donley County Appraisal District explained the issue to the board, which voted to exempt travel trailers in Howardwick.

All Howardwick residents with travel trailers will have to apply for an exemption with the appraisal district every year. The forms are available at Howardwick City Hall or the appraisal district office. Exemptions for 2002 need to be filed before April 30. Individuals who fail to file for the exemption will be taxed.

Fire Chief Joe Zeyen reported his department is applying for a FEMA grant to purchase new radios for the trucks and the personnel.

Dorothy Arnold and Peggy Cockerham were named judge and alternate judge for the May municipal election. Winnie Permenter was appointed as election clerk.

Alderman Nancy Davis reported the city is looking for a grant to purchase a new weather warning siren.

By Carrie Helms, Clarendon Enterprise

Clarendon and Hedley school districts stand to lose almost half a million dollars in state funding if appeals to the state Comptroller’s office are not successful.

Each year the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts conducts a study to estimate the total taxable value of all property within each school district to determine how several billion dollars in school aid is to be distributed.

This year, the state’s property valuation and the Donley County Appraisal District’s valuation differ by over $2,781,000 in the Hedley district and almost $10,600,000 in the Clarendon district.

“When the Comptroller determines from its study that Clarendon CISD’s taxable value is higher than the local values, it causes the district to receive less funding from the Texas Education Agency,” Clarendon’s Superintendent Monty Hysinger said.

The difference would mean the loss of approximately $400,000 in Clarendon and $100,000 in Hedley not only for the 2002-03 school year, but also for 2003-04.

 “According to the state, property values are much higher because of the utilities,” Hedley Superintendent Bryan Hill said. “They think we should be getting more money from those companies, so the state doesn’t have to give it to us.”

Both districts have filed an appeal with the Comptroller’s Office to try to prove that the state’s estimate is in error and the districts should be assigned its local estimate.

“This problem is not unique to us,” Hill said. “We are being represented by a man who works specifically with this kind of issue. He says it’s been happening all over the state for years.”

 Paula Lowrie of the Donley County Appraisal District said that if the appeals are unsuccessful, both schools are within their rights to file suit against the state.

“We believe our values are correct,” Lowrie said. “Both schools have successfully appealed in the past, and the state adjusted to our estimate.  We feel that means our values are right.”

Fundraising efforts for the Donley County Courthouse restoration received a boost last week when the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) pledged $15,000 to the project.

The CEDC board unanimously approved the funds at their regular meeting last Tuesday. County Judge Jack Hall and Donley County Historical Commission Chairman Jean Stavenhagen discussed the project, and board members were given a tour of the work going on inside the building.

The funds will be split up with $7,500 being contributed now and another $7,500 to be given in October.

Stavenhagen hopes the CEDC’s donation will spur other people and organizations to contribute.

“It really may open the door to other people realizing the project does have community support,” she said. “It’s the biggest donation we’ve had so far, and it’s important that it came from a local source. It really will give us a boost.”

CEDC President Bob Watson was impressed with the work.

“The woodwork is going to be beautiful, and it will be something Donley County can be proud of,” Watson said. “We’d like to encourage everyone to support this project.”

The CEDC board believes the restored courthouse will be an economic asset to the town and will boost heritage tourism.

“It will definitely improve economic development in Clarendon by being a tourist attraction,” he said. “There’s a tremendous number of people who travel to look at historical places, and Clarendon and Donley County both have a lot to offer.”

The CEDC’s contribution nearly doubled the funds donated to the project. Other contributions as of Monday afternoon totaled $16,649 with citizens, organizations, businesses  giving anywhere from $5 to $2,000.

The local historical commission is trying to raise $400,000 to complete the courthouse restoration and reinstate work that had to be deleted due to budget constraints. The commission hopes to raise $75,000 locally and solicit the remainder from foundations.

Those wishing to help with this project may send a donation to Donley County Courthouse Preservation Fund, PO Box 825, Clarendon, TX 79226