This Week

An independent auditor said Monday that records in the county treasurer’s offices are accurate and are in keeping with accepted accounting principles.

Gordon D. Maddox of Memphis conducted a special audit of Treasurer Becky Jackson at the instruction of the commissioners’ court after allegations of misconduct surfaced regarding her salary. Jackson requested the audit herself.

In Monday’s regular session of the court, Maddox said Jackson had contacted him three weeks ago regarding payments for travel expenses and salary, saying her office was under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Rangers.

Maddox said he was also called by County Tax Assessor/Collector Wilma Lindley, who also asked about the same subject and said she was concerned about possible “improprieties” in the treasurer’s office. Maddox said Lindley told him she had reported her concerns to the sheriff’s department.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn confirmed Monday that an investigation of the treasurer’s office is ongoing but declined to comment until its completion.

According to the audit, Jackson’s 2000-01 salary was $19,095.62, payable in 1/24th increments twice a month. Jackson also had a budget of $900 for travel and meetings, which was divided into a $600 auto allowance and a $300 reimbursable travel allowance. The auto allowance was paid in $25 increments each pay period for “non-accountable travel.”

The audit states: “The computer system posts both the salary and the auto allowance to ‘Salary,’ thereby overstating the actual paid salary by $600, which is the non-accountable travel. Therefore, during November 2000, rather than reclassifying the $50 per month travel from ‘Salary’ to ‘Travel’ on a monthly basis, the Treasurer made a total entry of $600 from ‘Salary’ to ‘Travel’ for the total year. This was made for logistic purposes and simplification.”

Maddox said the auto allowance was added to Jackson’s salary by the computer because that $600 is subject to income and payroll taxation.

Following the auditor’s report, Jackson said she felt she was due a public apology from whoever made the false accusations.

Commissioners accepted Maddox’s report and directed copies to be sent to the sheriff’s department and Texas Ranger Gary Henderson.

In other county business, the court nominated Donnie Hall and Buster Shields to the Appraisal District Board and heard from Calvin Cleaver of Ashtola regarding flooding on his property. The court also re-appointed Jacquetta Owens as the election judge of Box 301 at the Clarendon Community Center.

Donley County Commissioners accepted the resignation of Precinct 1&2 Constable Jimmy Swinney during their Monday meeting, but they now face a new decision about the position – fill it or leave it vacant.

County Attorney Pro-tem Kaye Messer addressed the issue and said commissioners are under no legal obligation to fill the vacancy, although not doing so would open the possibility that Swinney would remain constable.

A “hold over” clause in state law provides that an otherwise qualified person continues to stay in office until their successor takes over, Messer said. But she advised the commissioners’ court the chance of Swinney holding on to his office would be slim since he is, by law, not qualified to hold the office.

Statue requires constables to become licensed peace officers within 270 days of taking office. If they don’t become certified, they forfeit their office. Swinney turned in his letter of resignation last week after he failed the state exam to become certified within the allotted time.

Messer told the court that if Swinney tried to perform the duties of constable now, he would be impersonating a peace officer.

“I don’t think his attorney is going to advise him to break the law,” Messer said.

Commissioners also are looking ahead and must try to anticipate the will of Texas voters in 2002. A proposed state constitutional amendment on the general election ballot next year, if approved, would allow counties to declare a constable’s position dormant if it has been vacant for seven years or more.

Messer told the court the language in the amendment provides for a constable being unqualified for office. Since the Precinct 1&2 Constable was a vacant position from 1969 until this year and since Swinney did not become qualified, Donley County would have “much more” than the required seven years, she said.

But if commissioners now fill the vacancy, it would have to be with a certified officer, and that would restart the clock, she said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) voted Friday for a new farm bill designed to strengthen the safety net for American agriculture producers while continuing to give them flexibility to plant what they want to plant.

“This relief has clearly been needed,” Thornberry said. “But we need to get to a point where it doesn’t take an emergency to keep a farmer afloat.”

The measure, HR 2646, The Farm Security Act of 2001, passed the House by a vote of 291 to 120. Among its provisions are:

Commodity Programs – Maintains maximum planning flexibility while providing counter-cyclical protection to help farmers weather adverse market conditions. Retains fixed-decoupled payments, as well as the marketing loan program. Provides producers with the option to update base acreage.

Conservation – Devotes over $16 billion over 10 years to conservation programs. Reauthorizes the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through 2011 with a 39.5 million-acre enrollment cap. Reauthorizes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through 2011 at $1.2 billion annual program level, with livestock producers receiving 50% of annual funding.

Rural Development – Provides $50 million in funding for the Value Added Grants Program to provide grants for start-up farmer-owned value added processing facilities.

“I think it’s important to remember that this bill alone is not all that we need to do. We also need to level the playing field in trade and foreign markets. We’ve also got to continue to push for lower taxes and less regulations, which all too often stand in the way of a producer getting ahead.”

The bill must now be voted on in the Senate.

Richard F. Finch, a 1952 graduate of Clarendon High School, was recently inducted into the New Mexico Museum of Space History for his contributions to the US Space program during the years from 1961 through 1997.

Richard made his first significant contribution to space exploration in 1964 when he designed and patented a pressurization test set for General Electric Company and the Gemini Astronauts program at Vandenberg AFB in California and Cap Canaveral in Florida.  The patented test set is still in use today for space flight radio guidance.

Richard also has a patent for crash-protection air bags for both private and commercial aircraft.  Richard also worked at White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico during the mid and late 1960s testing chaff dispensing sounding rockets, and he traveled to Hawaii, Johnson Island, and Kwajalein Island to do further testing. 

He also worked for New Mexico State University Physical Science Lab as data collection engineer for aircraft seat ejection tests, B-52 carpet bombing tests, and moon landing tests during the late 1960s.

Richard also made a significant mark in the aviation industry during the 1970s and 1980s when he worked as a consultant and design engineer for several aircraft companies including Ted Smith Aerostar, Piper Aircraft, Fairchild Aircraft, SAAB-Scania Aircraft, Pan Am, Lockheed Space Operations, and Traco Aviation.  As an engineer consultant, he traveled all over the USA and to New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Hawaii, Switzerland, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and to Mexico.  Richard was the certified manager for the SAAB 340 commuter airliner in Sweden in 1982-1983.  In 1997, he was asked to write the metal welding repair section for the FAA Repair Manual that is used by aircraft mechanics worldwide.  The Federal Aviation Administration gave Richard a commendation plaque for that work.

The most interesting and important consulting work done by Mr. Finch was during 1984-1999 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida where he was doing operations analysis for NASA through Pan Am on the space shuttle.  Richard was the engineer in charge of return to flight improvements for emergency egress (escape) after the space shuttle Challenger explosion.  In this position, Richard was responsible for meeting with the astronauts on a daily and weekly basis to get their inputs on safety improvements for returning the space shuttle program to flight status.  The results of his engineering efforts were tested in a full dress rehearsal practice run on May 2, 1988, with over twenty astronauts participating.  As a result of his work on the return to flight project, NASA recommended Richard for the NASA Excellence Award, and ten of the space shuttle astronauts signed a thank you plaque and presented it to Richard.  The plaque is now on display at the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, NM.

Richard has also been a writer and a publisher of automotive, welding, and aircraft books for over 26 years and is currently the number one selling author for HP Books Automotive Division of Penguin-Putnam Books of New York City and is on the best sellers list for Motorbooks International, Osceola, WI, the largest automotive and aircraft book company in the world.  Richard’s book, Welder’s Handbook, has sold nearly one million copies and is available in Home Depot Stores and through all internet booksellers such as Amazon.com.  Richard continues to write, publish, and do aviation consulting work worldwide.

Richard attended Clarendon College for two semesters, Abilene Christian College for three semesters, New Mexico State University for one semester, California Polytechnic University for ten years, Allan Hancock College for three years, and the now-defunct University of Beverly Hills for two years.  Richard has AA, AS, BS, and MS degrees and a California College Level Teaching Credential.  He also holds five commercial pilot’s licenses including flight instructor, multi-engine, and instrument pilot’s ratings.

Richard and his wife, Gayle, now live in the sleepy little village of Tularosa, New Mexico.  Richard is the oldest son of former Clarendon residents Richard H. Finch and Travis Finch, who are now deceased.  Richard’s middle brother, Roger Finch, and his wife Carol Finch, now operate the Finch Farm between Clarendon and Lelia Lake.  Roger is employed by Maverick Ranch – a Denver based meat company.  Richard’s only sister, Beth Finch Johnson, is an English teacher in Columbia, South Carolina, and his younger brother, Philip Finch, is a college professor and a respiratory therapist in Medford, Oregon.

Clarendon’s home owned and home operated restaurants will be donating ten percent of their total intake on October 11, 2001, to the Window of Hope organization.

Window of Hope was founded to support the families of the restaurant workers of Windows to the World restaurant, which was located in the World Trade Center when it collapsed on September 11, 2001.  There were 76 to 79 employees that worked in the restaurant.

Clarendon restaurants participating are Alexander’s Diner, Amigo’s Mexican Restaurant, Brent’s Cookin’, Downtown Diner, JAMZ, Outpost Deli, and “Sam Hill” Pit BBQ.

Representatives from cities throughout the tri-state region gathered Thursday afternoon in Amarillo to support a campaign designed to show Panhandle area residents how they can stand up for America after the September 11 terrorist attack on New York and Washington.

Judy Burlin, representing the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, and Carol Hinton, representing KEFH-FM, along with mayors and other chamber of commerce representatives gathered at Westgate Mall to show support for a promotional campaign entitled “Buy at Home, Support America Now.”

Local businesses can pick up a “Buy at Home” poster courtesy of the Amarillo Globe News at The Clarendon Enterprise office.

The campaign, launched on Friday, is designed to show Panhandle residents how they can step up and support America at a time when the country’s confidence and economy have been jolted by the September 11 terrorist attacks, said Amarillo Mayor Trent Sisemore.

“A considerable amount of what happens or doesn’t happen in the economy is directly related to perception,” said Sisemore. “When people are unsure of the future, it affects their spending habits.

“While we know that confidence has been shaken, we know that Americans everywhere are searching for ways they can stand up for our country. One of the best ways to support our country right now is to spend some money with your local merchants.

“If we don’t spend money we’d normally spend, we actually are allowing the terrorists to succeed on the economic front. That hurts, rather than helps our country. This campaign is designed to promote spending with our hometown businesses as a way to invest in America to keep our economy strong.

“Why should we allow economic terrorism to occur if we can do something about it?”

The campaign will begin to show up soon throughout the region’s media, said Amarillo Chamber of Commerce President Gary Molberg.

“Look for TV, radio, newspapers, and outdoors to support this campaign in a lot of ways,” said Molberg. “This campaign is designed to affect the way we feel about ourselves and show people there is something they can do to support our country.

“We know that business activity has been down since the September 11 attacks, but we also know that people everywhere, especially this area, want badly to do something to show their support for our country.

The “Buy at Home, Support America Now” campaign is expected to continue for months, according to Amarillo media representatives.

Health agencies began moving into the Donley County Hospital District’s new Community Services Building this week, and all agencies should be in place by month’s end.

Most of the work is finished on the building with the exception of a few odds and ends, said district administrator Alan Graham. The district met its target move-in date of October 1.

Offices for the Texas Department of Human Services began moving into the facility Monday, and Panhandle Rehabilitation Specialists are expected to move in over the weekend. Offices for the state health department will move in mid-month.

The new facility is located south of the nursing home at Five Medical Center Drive.

Work continues on the parking lot for the new building, and Graham says it should be finished this week.

Also on the Medical Center Campus, the slab has been poured for the new ambulance building and steel for that structure should arrive this week. Footings have been poured for Dr. John Howard’s new clinic, and plumbers are working there now.

Graham said the district plans to hold an open house for the Community Services Building some time next month.

The news of the death of Hedley’s Cotton Festival has been greatly exaggerated – sort of.

Rumors have been going around Donley County that the festival’s Golden Anniversary next Friday and Saturday, October 12-13, will mark the end of the annual celebration. And while some Hedley folks admit to wanting the festival to die a dignified death, some organizers are not ready to quit.

“We haven’t given up the ship yet,” said Bill Carson, who runs Moffitt Hardware and is a member of the Hedley Lions Club. “You hate to see something like this end.”

The Cotton Festival traditionally was run by the Lions, Carson said, but they turned the sponsorship over to the Hedley Homemakers last year when it became too expensive to operate. This year a community effort is underway to put on the celebration one more time with the cooperation of the Homemakers, the Lions, and the Lioness Club.

The festival, like many other small town celebrations, is facing one overriding problem – decreasing attendance.

“A lot of the people that used to come back used to live here, and they’re all getting older and can’t get out,” Carson said.

Classes from Hedley High School previously used the festival to raise money for senior trips. But with this year’s demise of the HHS senior trip, Carson says some of the interest has been lost in the Cotton Festival.

It’s also difficult to get a carnival to come to a small town; and when they do, all that money leaves town, he said. Building floats for the parade also takes a lot of energy.

Carson calls the queen contest a “big headache” and says if the festival continues, it will probably be without the queen contest.

Nevertheless, organizers are hoping for a big celebration for this year’s 50th anniversary. All former Cotton Queens have been invited back, and as of Tuesday morning Carson said 20 had confirmed they will be coming.

“I think we’re gonna have a good one,” Carson said, “and that’s what it will take to spur interest in it again.”

The schedule for the 50th Cotton Festival begins next Friday night with the Hedley Lioness Club chili and stew supper at the Lioness Building beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Tickets for a handmade quilt to be given away on Saturday will be sold at the supper.

The Hedley football team will play Happy at 7:00 p.m. at the Hedley Football Field.  The Hedley FFA will sponsor Bingo in the Senior Citizens Center on Main Street from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00  p.m. on Friday night.  A black out game will be played for a handmade quilt.

At 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, the Hedley Little League Association will serve breakfast at the Hedley Lions Den.  Baked goods will be sold from 9:00 a.m. to noon at City Hall with all proceeds going to the upkeep of Rowe Cemetery.

The Hedley Fire Department Antique Tractor Show will get underway at 10:00 a.m. with sign-up at City Hall.  The judging will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Also getting started at 10:00 a.m. is the Bingo at the Senior Citizens with the Senior Citizens serving the food.  The HHS Math and Science Team will have activities for the kids on Main Street.  Crafters and vendors will show their wares on Main Street during the day on Saturday.  All crafters and vendors are welcome, and there is no charge.

The Hedley Lions Club will begin serving barbecue at the Lions Den starting at 11:30 a.m.

The Kiddie Parade starts things off in the afternoon.  Sponsored by the HHS National Honor Society, the Kiddie Parade begins on 1:00 on Main Street.

The Grand Parade, sponsored by the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department, begins at 2:00 with line-up beginning at 1:00 at the school.  The 50 years of Queens sponsored by the Hedley Lioness Club will be in the parade.

All former students, teachers, and other personnel from Hedley High School are invited to attend the Hedley Ex-Student Reunion at 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Fellowship Hall.  Anyone connected with the Hedley Schools is invited to attend and enjoy the visiting and refreshments.  For more information about the reunion, contact Mary Farris.

The Queen Coronation rounds out the festival on Saturday night beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium.  The coronation is sponsored by the Hedley Homemakers Club.  A drawing for bale of cotton, valued at $500, will be drawn for during the coronation.  The announcement of the 50 years of queens will be made at the event.

Donley County Constable Jimmy Swinney turned in his letter of resignation Monday morning, but his legal battle with the county continues at press time.

The Precinct 1&2 constable’s resignation follows a called session of the commissioners’ court last Friday, September 28, in which both county constables were asked to show evidence of their being issued permanent peace officer licenses from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Constable Mike Wallendorff of Precincts 3&4 presented his license. Swinney did not. The county was later notified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement that Swinney had failed his Basic Peace Officer Examination on September 28.

According to the county attorney’s office, Swinney did take and pass five on-line continuing education law enforcement courses. But those courses do not qualify Swinney, who is a former policeman, to reactivate his peace officer’s license.

By state statue, a constable must be licensed within 270 days of taking office or he forfeits his office and is subject to removal. That deadline expired last Thursday.

Following the commissioners’ meeting Friday, County Attorney Pro-Tem Kaye Messer filed papers with the district court to begin the legal procedure to remove Swinney from office. That action was still pending with the court Monday afternoon, although it may be rendered moot following the constable’s resignation.

Swinney ran as a write-in candidate last November and was elected to an office that had been vacant since 1969. He took office January 1, 2001, and filed a lawsuit against the county in June over his $3,170 annual salary and seeking back pay, interest, attorney fees, and punitive damages.

That lawsuit continues, Messer said, but will now be limited to the nine months Swinney was in office. She plans to seek a summary judgment to dismiss the case from District Judge David McCoy next month.

“I still feel comfortable with the county’s position,” Messer said.

Donley County Constable Jimmy Swinney turned in his letter of resignation Monday morning, but his legal battle with the county continues at press time.

The Precinct 1&2 constable’s resignation follows a called session of the commissioners’ court last Friday, September 28, in which both county constables were asked to show evidence of their being issued permanent peace officer licenses from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Constable Mike Wallendorff of Precincts 3&4 presented his license. Swinney did not. The county was later notified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement that Swinney had failed his Basic Peace Officer Examination on September 28.

According to the county attorney’s office, Swinney did take and pass five on-line continuing education law enforcement courses. But those courses do not qualify Swinney, who is a former policeman, to reactivate his peace officer’s license.

By state statue, a constable must be licensed within 270 days of taking office or he forfeits his office and is subject to removal. That deadline expired last Thursday.

Following the commissioners’ meeting Friday, County Attorney Pro-Tem Kaye Messer filed papers with the district court to begin the legal procedure to remove Swinney from office. That action was still pending with the court Monday afternoon, although it may be rendered moot following the constable’s resignation.

Swinney ran as a write-in candidate last November and was elected to an office that had been vacant since 1969. He took office January 1, 2001, and filed a lawsuit against the county in June over his $3,170 annual salary and seeking back pay, interest, attorney fees, and punitive damages.

That lawsuit continues, Messer said, but will now be limited to the nine months Swinney was in office. She plans to seek a summary judgment to dismiss the case from District Judge David McCoy next month.

“I still feel comfortable with the county’s position,” Messer said.