This Week

Members of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department showed up en masse at City Hall last week to question the Board of Aldermen’s decision to cut funds for training firemen – a decision that was made a year ago.

Fire Chief Delbert Robertson said the city had cut approximately $1,500 for training and $300 for the department’s annual steak dinner and questioned why the cuts were made. Aldermen did not have a ready answer for that question.

The cuts were made in the 2000-2001 city budget and were not noticed by department officials until they received their last quarterly payment from the city. City Secretary Janice Barbee said City Hall sent a letter to the department last year notifying them of the cuts, but fire officials say they never received the letter.

According to records from the fire department, the City of Clarendon has paid $12,250 annually from 1993 to 2000. Total payments from the last fiscal year were $9,959.30.

“The city didn’t raise us in nearly 10 years, and now you’re going backwards,” Robertson said at last Tuesday night’s regular board meeting.

Of the current board members, only two aldermen and the mayor were present at the time of the cuts. Mayor Tex Selvidge said he couldn’t remember exactly what the reasoning was behind the cuts, but he thought it had something to do with the city perceiving the county as not paying its fair share of the department’s expenses.

 “Donley County is the damnedest place I’ve ever seen,” responded fireman Pat Robertson. “The county doesn’t want to do anything that might benefit the city, and the city doesn’t want to do anything that might help the county. But 85 percent of county residents live in the city!”

Department officials pointed out that the county pays more per year for fire protection. They also said while the number of fires may be higher outside the city, more water is used inside the city. Firefighters also said training for firemen has a direct financial impact on every city resident because it affects insurance rates.

Aldermen agreed to restore $1,555.96 to the fire department from the city’s improvement fund and asked that a representative meet with the board monthly to answer questions and improve communications.

At press time, it was unclear whether the $1,555.96, which makes up for the shortfall in the last fiscal year, had any bearing on the department’s budget for the 2001-2002 fiscal year. The current budget also does not provide funding for training.

In other city business last week, the board discussed street repairs and the possibility of a new paving program. Board consultant Colby Waters talked about rough cost estimates for different ways to fix the streets. The board agreed to have a financial advisor come to the city to discuss what the city can afford to do.

Librarian Carolyn Blackerby presented the final library policy manual for the aldermen’s signature. She also recommended Jerri Ann Shields be hired to work at the library. The aldermen approved her recommendation.

Ordinance 338, which sets dumping fees at the city’s new recycling center and prohibits scavenging, was discussed at length. Alderman Michael Tibbets said he had asked repeatedly at a previous meeting that his name not be in the minutes as having made the motion to adopt the ordinance. He moved to repeal Ordinance 338. Motion died for lack of second.

Mark White was appointed to fill the vacant alderman’s position of Smiley Johnson.

The annual Christmas party was discussed, and City Superintendent Jim Roberts reported on the recycling center and a shell of a house to be burned.

A Failure to Appear contract with the Municipal Court was discussed and accepted, and Colby Waters discussed licensing for plumbers. He is to get the rules and policy for the city.

Editor’s Note: Mrs. Hankins fourth grade class at Clarendon Elementary recently wrote about the things they are thankful for this holiday season. The words of these children point out the things that are really important in life, some of which we too often take for granted.

I am thankful that I have a family because they take care of me. I am grateful for freedom because if we didn’t have freedom we would be living on the streets. But I’m most thankful for God; he was the one who created this world. I am grateful for him because he sent his only son to die for our sins. I’m grateful that I can walk because if I couldn’t walk I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere. I am thankful for the United States.

Stephino Harkness

I am very thankful for my house because I would have to stay in a car and my clothes because I freeze and all the truck drivers they help us get food around the world to other people my church I go to and freedom because we would be bound by other people water Go If we didn’t have God we would not be here at all he gave us water food and all sorts of other stuff very thankful for my teacher Mrs. Hankins this world the rain the thunder the lightening. Very thankful for my mom and my dad and Jesus thankful for animals and grass to feed the animals why because they help you my arms my legs the sun the moon a bed.

Michael Hall

I am thankful for my friends so I will know someone who likes me. I’m thankful for my family so I know I have someone who loves and cares for me. I’m thankful for my school so I have a place to make friends, have fun, and learn. I am thankful for my little brother so I can have someone to take care and teach more things to. I’m thankful for my food so I can grow up and be who I want to be. I am thankful for my teacher so I can have someone to help me in school and help get good grades. I’m grateful for my house so I have a place to live and stay at. I’m grateful for living in the USA to be free and to be away from slavery. I’m thankful for God because in his word he is our father and he created us. I’m thankful for machines so I can visit relatives far away and talk to them. I am thankful for sports so I can learn how to play them and play them with family and friends.

Dylan Wright

I am grateful for my parents because they provide food and shelter for me. I am thankful for every thing that the president is trying to do for the United States of America because of the terrorist attack. I am thankful for the churches all around the world because they let people learn a lot about Jesus and about what he did for us when he died. I am grateful for all of the hospitals in the world because their there for all of the hurt and injured people in the world. I am thankful for freedom that the president of the  United States of America has given everyone and give us the rites to express our feelings and what we think, do, and say.

Brittany Sanchez

Today is November 6, 2001, and I telling you what I’m thankful for everything but this is only ¼ out of my thankness. I’m thankful for my friends they play, argue, fight, and sit with me. Next in second place comes my great and devoted country with great armies that will always win battles. A country that will always stick together like a family that gives me and my people the right to live free. And who comes in third the Lord himself who keeps me safe who watches me like I’m his son his only son. Fourth place goes to my family who celebrated when its my birthday. That takes care of me when I’m sick, got a fever. Fifth places goes to school the place  I’m always happy at where I get my education. Sixth goes to shelter a place where I feel safe when I feel like nothings going to happen to me. Seventh goes to food these things that makes me say all this stuff that makes me move that feed me and that lets me live. Eighth goes to my world that I keep clean. It smiles each time I pick up some trash mow its hair trim its cheeks keeps its air clean. Ninth goes to trucks they deliver our food make my family money (my dad drives one) they make us all love them. Without them America would not be America. All of you please read this. Feel how I feel  please!

Nick Tiedeman

I am thankful for being able to move around and do things by myself. If you couldn’t do those things it would be terrible. For an example who would get a glass of water for you when you’re alone or open a window? So that’s why I’m thankful for being able to move around. I am grateful for my family. If you didn’t have family who would be there to comfort you when you’re sad or unhappy? They make you feel proud of who you are. That’s why I’m thankful for my family. I also appreciate teachers. Who would teach interesting facts that will get a good job? I’m grateful for God. Without God where would we be today? God makes all living things. He made everything. Like the mountains, the rivers, the trees, the grass, the plants, etc. So that’s why I’m thankful for God.

Ty Tubbs

These are some things I’m thankful for and I couldn’t live without. I see on TV and even in real life people and kids who are disabled and who don’t have everything they need to live and I just want to cry. These are things I thank God for every chance I can.

One think I’m thankful for is to be able to talk, walk, and even to hear. I know somebody who has a son and he has some problems and he might not ever get to go to school and anything. Everytime I see him I really am thankful I’m a normal kid. One thing I also thank God for is my home sweet home. I read a book about a boy who lived in a park and didn’t have any food or nothing. It was a good book. I’m grateful to have a bed to sleep in and a roof over my head. I’m also glad I have different clothes I can wear each day. Some kids in other places have one pair of clothes they have to wear every single day. I also thank God for my friends and family. I would be nowhere without them. My family helps me through my problems and are always there for me, so do my friends. Another thing is freedom! I don’t know what I would do without freedom. Last but not least is God and Jesus! I wouldn’t even be here without those tow great, awesome, spectacular men. After all it did all start with them.

Lauren Shelton

I am thankful for our freedom and country and my family. I am grateful for my home I live in. I’m so thankful for my food I eat and my hair on my head my mom dad and my friends my ears that I hear out of and eyes that I see out of and my God to wash up and Jesus to praise and horses to ride and cows to rope.

Dalton Layton

 The first I’m thankful for is God making us, if God never made we wouldn’t be here right now. The second thing I’m thankful for is our freedom if Thomas Jefferson and the other United States leaders didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence we wouldn’t get our freedom from the British. I’m also grateful for my dad fighting in World War 3. I’m grateful for my mom passing her citizens test she had to do a citizens test because she wasn’t’ born in this country. My mom lived in Laos. I’m grateful for the house I live in because it protects us from storms. I’m grateful for living in the United States because Laos had a war with Vietnam. I’m grateful for learning at school because than we wouldn’t know how to use letters and numbers. I’m grateful for the clothes I wear if we don’t have any clothes we would be cold. I’m thankful for the food I eat because we didn’t  have any food we couldn’t survive. I’m thankful for the water I drink, water is more important than food and we need to depend more on water than food and that’s what I’m thankful for.

Tony Sisomsouk

I am thankful for my mom and dad because if I didn’t have parents I wouldn’t be in school. I would be dead because when I was a baby I would of starved. I am also thankful for my clothes so when it is cold I will be warm and when it’s hot I will have something to play in water with. I thankful for the town I live I because I wouldn’t have as great of people anywhere else. I am grateful for my house because without it I would be beat up from storms and dogs and cats. I am grateful that I can see, walk, and hear. If I couldn’t I would be bad paralyzed. I am thankful for my friends because I wouldn’t have any one to share things with. I am thankful for church because I wouldn’t know right from wrong. I am grateful for my food because without food I would starve to death. But most of all I am thankful for the Lord because without him I wouldn’t have all these things to be grateful for.

Mariah Benavidez

I am thankful for living in the USA and to be free. I am glad to be able to walk, talk, and move. I am glad to have a brother and sister to protect me. I am thankful for having clean clothes to wear. I am obliged to have a mom and dad to give me a home to live in close to where I am indebted to having a school to go to learn.

Jamie Murphy

I believe we should all be thankful for what God has given us and for all the things he had blessed our mighty nation with. Since September 11, our nation has made some enemies of other races. But since then we have come together as a nation and we will fight back against terrorism as President Bush has said for many times in the past two months. We all pretty much have the same blessings but there is one we’ve all had our mind on which is our freedom.. We all took our freedoms for granted such as our freedom of speech, our freedom of religion, our freedom to vote which some adults take for granted. This is something to think about if everyone voted for presidency the election would not have been so close and we might not have George W. Bush to guide us through this war of hatred in which we are caught up in. President Bush asked us to pray for this nation in which we live. Our founding fathers who established the constitution of the USA they knew that the freedoms of our country someday might be tried and we might lose them, but they never knew we would have George W. Bush to guide us. So I recommend that we all should think long and hard about of freedoms and rights that we have had since we won the Revolutionary War in which we won our precious, precious freedom which we take for granted even us kids. We never thought about our freedoms. I will think about mine, but will you think about yours? So let this be a reminder to all of us. Just think about our freedom. So let us preserve our freedom for the future generations like the class of 2010.

Nelson Devin

I am thankful for my parents because without them I would not be here today and some boys and girls don’t have moms and dads to kiss and hug and care for them. So I’m thankful that my parents give me kisses and hug and care for me. I am also grateful for having the beautiful sounds of earth like the songs of the bluejay, having wind chimes blowing in the wind, and all the other great sounds of earth. I appreciate seeing all the things and colors on earth. Being able to see is wonderful like at Halloween you get to see all the silly costumes and seeing the deep blue sea, sea gooles, and other sea creatures that there is. I’m obliged with being able to walk. Some people don’t have legs so they can’t walk or run, dancing so I’m grateful I can walk, run, and dance. I’m also thankful for my house. It may not be the biggest in the world but at least I got a roof over my head. Some people live on the streets and in a cardboard box. That’s why I’m thankful for my house. I’m grateful for my freedom. Some places your drove to believe in a god and don’t get to vote for who they wanted to be their leaders. I’m thankful for education. Without education you could not get a well paying job. I’m also grateful for church if we did not have a church we would not know who God is.

Erika Edwards

I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am for the things I have but here is a little bit. A is for American and how happy I am to live in, a free country. B is for buddies. This world would be without friends. C is for critters. I love animals. D is dads who can teach you a boatload. E is for the easy life waiting just around the bin. F is for foul ups because nobody is perfect. G is for God’s love that is all always protecting us from danger. H is for home sweet home to go to when it rains. I is for island paradise for when we need a vacation. J is for my best friend Jordan. He’s a real friend. K is for Kansas the wheat state. L is for the Mothers love that makes me warm. M is for my mama that I love with all my heart. N is for nursing homes to take care of us when we get old. O is for opinions which should be heard out. P is for phone calls that we can make to our friends. Q is for quarter games tat let us have fun. R is for rollerblades that I love to skate with. S is for sorryness that we love to hear. T is for tennis that can let us taste sweet victory. U is for undo so we can fix our mistakes. V is for the velocity tat our energy has. W is for the wows and wohs when we show off to our friends. X is for the x box contest I am trying to win. Y is for you because your special in your own way. Z is for zippie speed should always be proud. No , I know your thinking that’s all he’s thankful for but this is only a spec of what I am thankful for! I think we should be thankful right down to the hangnail on our thumb so we won’t end up a loser with any friends.

A.J. Horton

I am thankful for my mom because if I had no mom then who would feed me, wash my clothes. Who would give me shelter? Who would take me in a car? I am thankful for my sisters and my big sister who stands up for me. Who would skate with me and skate board with me and play with me. And my baby sister who wrestles and who plays with me. And my dad. My dad is the best. He would take me hunting and target practicing and horse riding to the feedyard and feeding the horses and help calf roping. And my great grandpappy. He rides bikes with me. He rides the three wheeler and dirt bike and go-cart and the four weeley and mule and the forty-five miles per hour go-cart. I am grateful to live in Clarendon. My favorite thing in school is my forth grade teacher Mrs. Hankins. She is sweet and charming and does all kinds of cool stuff. I am thankful to live in the United States because we have freedom. And united we will stand against Afghanistan. We will always be united. Like I said united we stand! God bless America.

Hadley Jones

These are some of the things I am thankful for. I am thankful for my home so when it rains I will have some place to go and it is warm. Also shoes so I can keep my feet clean. Shirts to be protected from bad things. Paints to be protected from bad things. Mom and Dad because they help me in everything I need and protected me. My sister and brother for when I need then and to play with them. Ears, eyes, arms, legs, and able to talk. I an thankful for because I need them to get through life without getting hurt. Freedom to be on this planet and to be free from bad things. Friends also because when my brother and sister can not play. I can play with them and to talk to. Food so I can have strength to do things and not get tired. Water to so when I am thirsty I can get a drink and more on. Last but not least God and Jesus if it was not for them we would not be hear talking right now. These are the things I am thankful for.

Ryan Hill

I am going to tell you what I am thankful for.

The first thing I am going to tell is, that I am thankful for the Lord, that gave me all these things to be thankful for. He was the one that created all of the earth.

I am thankful for my parents who protect me with their life. They save me from danger, that I could really get hurt form. My parents tell me right from wrong. They help me get through some hard times. 

My school it is so wonderful. I am so, so, so thankful for my school. My school is the one that has the teachers, that teach me everything I need to know in my life. They are teaching me some things that they learned back when they were my age. Some of the people that work at the school are not only teachers. Some are cooks. I am so grateful for the cooks that provide food for lunch for us.

I am grateful for the freedom that we have. I am glad that I can get up in the morning and step outside not feeling so scared. For our freedom we can go anywhere in the world without getting stopped. I am thankful for freedom so I don’t have to be a slave and carry big bags full of heavy rocks.

I am grateful for food and water that we have. Without these things we would probably die. They say if you don’t drink about four cups of water a day you may get sick. That’s why everybody should drink water. About food you can go without food about a month, I think longer. I am thankful for my church that I go to. The church helps me know about the Lord! The church tells us about the bible and tell why we have a bible. I am grateful for my house. Without my house I would be sick, from this cold weather we have at night. Another thing that I’m thankful for my community that I live in. All the people are so friendly in my community. They help keep our community clean. They are so helpful. I am thankful for the police officers, that help keep our community safe. My community pulls together to make our community a better place to live. My community is then a beautiful place to live. I am grateful for where I am in the United States of America. I live in Clarendon, Texas. Clarendon is a great place to live.

The climate is so nice, in the summer, and the winter. Summer and winter are the best seasons, then the others. What I like the best is the winter. In the winter it gets really snowy in the winter. You get to wrap up in blankets with your loving family, that really loves you. The other thing why I like the winter, is because you get to go to the courthouse and sing Christmas carols with your community.

I am so thankful for Jesus. I am thankful for Jesus because he died for us, on the cross to forgive us of our sins. I am also thankful for Jesus’s Mom and Dad who gave birth to Jesus. Jesus’s mom and dads name is Joseph and Mary who had to find shelter to have the baby. These things are who or what I am thankful for.

These are the things I will remember for the rest of my life.

Caitlyn Christopher

Both sides in the Swinney v. Donley County case argued summary judgment positions before District Judge David McCoy here last week, but as of this Tuesday morning there was still no decision in the matter.

County Attorney Pro-tem Kaye Messer said she still feels confident about the county’s position and said Judge McCoy told participants he would rule fairly quickly.

At issue is whether county commissioners set an unreasonable salary for former constable Jimmy Swinney, who ran last year as a write-in candidate for a position which had been vacant more than 30 years. Swinney took office in January, filed suit against the county in June, and then resigned in September when he failed to become licensed as a state peace officer.

Meanwhile, Donley County commissioners began advertising last week to seek applicants for the vacant position. No final decision has been made on whether to replace Swinney or leave the office vacant. Messer said the county retained the right to reject any or all applicants for the job.

Tickets are on sale now for the annual Saints’ Roost Museum Benefit Christmas Party to be held Saturday, December 1, at the Clarendon Community Center.

Cost is $50 per couple and each ticket has the chance to win $5,000. You need not be present to win.

Serving starts at 7:30 p.m., and the party goes on until 12:30 a.m. Live music will provided by the “Coming On” band from Oklahoma.

Get your ticket today at Henson’s by calling 806-874-3517 or come by the Enterprise office.

Boll weevils, reeling from the effective eradication program Texas farmers have been waging in the nation’s largest cotton state, have new reason to fear.  The US Senate passed HR 2330, the Agriculture Appropriations Act which includes $25 million for boll weevil eradication efforts in Texas.

“Texas cotton growers have led the fight against the boll weevil,” Sen. Phil Gramm said. “Now they will have the tools to finish off this pest.”

In an effort to assist farmers in their battle against their crop-destroying pest, Gramm introduced the Boll Weevil Eradication Equity Act last year which authorized the federal cost share contribution to the states and producers fighting the infestation.  This year’s funding will continue those efforts.

“Our cotton producers have and will save tens of thousands of dollars in pesticide and other preventative measures, keeping more money in the checkbooks of Texas families. I am grateful for this funding, especially for Senator Hutchison’s hard work on securing it,” he said.

Eradication efforts throughout the state have led to increased production and a dramatic reduction of the chemicals required to protect the state’s cotton crop.  The higher yields, environmental benefits, and lower workloads are welcome results.

“Growers want cotton they can market,” Gramm said, “not a government bailout for a destroyed crop.”

The House of Representatives passed HR 2330 on November 13.  It now goes to the White House for the President’s signature.

Small crowds attended veterans programs in Hedley and Clarendon last weekend as America marked its first Veterans Day during a time of war in a generation.

The first service was held Saturday, November 10, at the Rowe Cemetery near Hedley with the Adamson Lane Post 287 of the American Legion in charge. Twenty-five people attended.

Raymond Hopper and M.O. Weatherly laid a wreath on the cemetery’s war memorial, the colors were posted, and Barbara Collins sang the national anthem.

Post Commander Jack Moreman spoke of the historical significance of the holiday, formerly known as Armistice Day, and related it to modern events.

“We’ve avoided war on this continent for over 100 years,” he said. “Then right before our eyes we saw what happened on September 11.”

Moreman said when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, it took several months before the United States took action.

“Now, in two months, we’ve made somebody pay a price.”

The War on Terror will not be over quickly, the commander said; and he urged Americans to learn the virtue of patience.

The commander said he and VFW Quartermaster Bill Holden had spoken to students at Clarendon High School last week and were impressed because for the first time the kids were very attentive.

“I think they realize now they are not bulletproof,” he said.

Saturday’s ceremony was the first Veterans Day service to be held at the Rowe Cemetery.

On Sunday, November 11, approximately 30 people attended services at the Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square with the Donley County Post 7782 in charge.

“It was difficult to plan this program this year because it fell on Sunday,” VFW Quartermaster Bill Holden said. “I’m just so happy that so many people turned out.”

Jim Cockerham addressed the crowd and shared something he had written to some friends of his.

“Let us cherish the good memories of our past and honor those who have gone before,” he said. “Let us also honor those who follow the same path we took, for we, of all people, know the trials they face.

“Let us show our appreciation and support [for these young people], for we know how lonely it is to be away from those we love and those things we are familiar with. Let us stand tall and be forever proud of who we are: Americans, Patriots, Warriors, and Brothers.”

The program was closed with the usual VFW ceremony of honoring fallen comrades, followed by those in attendance placing flags near the names of friends or loved ones in the stone walkway.

Shopping at home for the holidays is easy and affordable as local banks have again teamed up to provide 0% interest “Christmas Cash” loans this year.

Interested parties must make application for a loan up to $3,000 with any of the participating banks.  Once a Christmas Cash loan has been approved, the borrower will be issued specially printed Christmas Cash Dollars, which may be spent like US currency toward new purchases of products and services (excluding Lottery tickets, gasoline, and tobacco products) at all of the participating businesses.  Businesses display posters indicating they are participants of the promotion. 

There will be no exchange of U.S. currency to make change.  For example, if someone purchases items valued at $72.95 and gives the merchant $80.00 in Christmas Cash, the merchant can give them $7.05 in-store credit.  The customer may also pay $70.00 in Christmas Cash and the remaining $2.95 in U. S. currency. 

Christmas Cash Dollars are available in three denominations: $10, $20, and $50.  There are two signature lines, the same as there are on traveler’s checks. 

The borrower’s signature is placed on the signature line before they leave the bank, and then they must sign on the endorsement line when they spend the “Cash.” 

Christmas Cash must be spent at the participating merchants by December 31, 2001.  Unspent Christmas Cash may be applied toward your 0% loan at the bank through January 7, 2001. 

This cash may not be used as a regular monthly loan payment.  It can only be applied toward the principal amount due at the end of the Christmas Cash note. 

Christmas Cash notes are paid back in ten equal monthly installments.  After January 5, 2001, Christmas Cash becomes worthless. 

It’s amazing the variety of products Christmas Cash can purchase.  Some of the items purchased in years past include: replacement windows, vehicle repairs, groceries, furniture, entertainment equipment, cook-tops, dry cleaning for summer bedrolls, catered goodies, Christmas dinner, car stereos, special gift items, centerpieces, clothing, and much more. 

The Donley County State Bank, The Herring National Bank, and Community Bank will buy Christmas Cash from participating merchants at a rate of 95¢ for every $1.00.  Participating businesses are “interested in keeping your business here in Clarendon.”

This year’s participating merchants are: Accustom Scent Candles, Alexander’s Diner, Amigo’s Mexican Restauranté, B&R Thriftway, Chamberlain Motor Co., The Clarendon Enterprise, Clarendon Outpost, Cornell’s Country Store, Clarendon Veterinary Hospital, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Duckwall’s, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, Eads Furniture & Appliance, Every Nook & Cranny, Floyd’s Motor Co. & Body Shop, Greenbelt Cleaners, Guys & Dolls Salon, Henson’s, The Hitchin’ Post, J&W Lumber, Janie’s Beauty Shop, Mike’s Pharmacy, Kidd Texaco & Clarendon Auto Supply, Naturally Texas T’s, McKinney Motor Co., Poor Boy’s Antiques, Saye’s, The Shop, Thompson Upholstery, and White’s Feed & Seed.

This is the seventh year banks have participated in the Christmas Cash program. The idea of 0% loans up to $3,000 began in 1995 through the cooperation of the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, the Clarendon Merchants Association, and local banks.