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The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce met at the Mulkey Theatre for lunch November 10, 2022, to hold its annual membership meeting.
The membership report showed 93 active members, and a financial report was given, showing the Chamber in the black for the fiscal year, which ended September 30. The membership elected three members to the board of directors for full three-year terms. Bob Weiss and Ashlee Estlack were re-elected to the board, and Tessie Robinson was elected as a new board member.
Following the luncheon, the new board held a meeting to elect officers. Ashlee Estlack was elected president, and Sharlene Bordonaro was elected vice president. The board also appointed Courtney Monroe to fill an unexpired term on the board.
Plans were discussed for holiday promotions, and the board also started making plans for the annual Chamber banquet, which will be on February 16.
The Broncos’ final regular season game did not go as planned, but they were able to finish the season with only one district loss to Wellington 8-44 in the final game.
Claiming the runner-up spot, the Broncos will go into post-season play against the Gruver Greyhounds on Thursday, November 10, at Dick Biven’s Stadium in Amarillo. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., and tickets will be sold at the gate.
Despite the loss, the Broncos had a great regular season going 8-3 overall and 5-1 in district and look to go deep in the playoffs. Regrouping and refocusing will be the goals of the Bronco practices until game day. They will continue to do what they have done in their wins and play solid football.
Senior standout Jmaury Davis scored the Broncos’ lone touchdown and posted 22 yards on 12 carries.
The Skyrockets were able to contain Davis and keep him from his usual yardage and several other players had to step in. Lyric Smith filled in for injured quarterback Harrison Howard and carried the ball 16 times for 86 yards.
Wilson Ward went 32 yards on seven carries, and Mason Sims ran the ball twice for 11 yards.
Defensively, the Broncos never gave up, but struggled to stop Wellington’s offensive attack. Davis finished with 10 tackles, Josiah Hearn had seven, Sims posted six, and Jared Musick ended the game with five.
Donley County voters overwhelming favored Republican candidates Tuesday night with Democrats and Libertarians picking up only a small percentage of support.
All local races were unopposed, and the new voting system did not allow voters to mark those races. Those candidates were simply declared elected.
For Congress, US Rep. Ronny Jackson received 1,069 to the 112 received by Democratic challenger Kathleen Brown.
Gov. Greg Abbott was the clear favorite in Donley County over Democrat Beto O’Rourke, 1,084 to 97, with seven votes going to the Libertarian and four votes going to the Green Party candidate.
Donley voters also preferred Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, 1,051 to 114, over Democrat Mike Collier. The Libertarian picked up 17 local votes.
Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton garnered 1,047 votes to 110 for Democrat Rochelle Garza. Libertarian Shanna Steele received 22.
Comptroller Glenn Hegar had 1,069 votes to 103 for Democrat Janet Dudding and four votes for the Libertarian.
Dawn Buckingham got 1,047 to be Commissioner of the General Land Office to 111 for the Democrat Jay Kleberg and ten for the Green candidate.
Ag Commissioner Sid Miller had 1,054 votes to 115 for Democrat Susan Hays.
Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian had 1,044 votes compared to 98 for Democrat Luke Warford, 12 for the Libertarian, and 13 for the Green candidate.
Republicans Debra Lehrmann, Rebeca Huddle, and Evan Young all candidates for the Texas Supreme Court were preferred over their Democratic opponents by Donley County voters. Likewise, Republican candidates for the Court of Criminal Appeals carried the day in Donley County.
Altogether, 1,197 ballots were cast by Donley County voters. The number of registered voters was not available at press time.
Public education took centerstage when State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) addressed constituents at the Bairfield Activity Center last Wednesday, November 2.
King briefly discussed the new boundaries of his House District 88 before getting into what he would be the two biggest priorities of the Legislature when it convenes in January – balancing the state budget and funding public schools.
“There’s a $26 billion surplus, and everyone has an idea how to spend it,” King said.
Education takes up about 70 percent of the state budget, and King said school safety will be a top priority following the shooting in Uvalde earlier this year.
King sees three main factors with school safety – Hardening schools but with local control, mental health, and funding.
“I’m not for unfunded mandates,” King said. “If we’re going to tell you what you have to do, we need to provide the money for it.”
King also says the state needs to address truancy and believes truancy laws will be reinstated.
Schools will likely see their base funding allotments increase to help offset inflation, the representative said, virtual education, special education, and community college funding will all receive attention by the Legislature. Virtual education will become more important as the teacher shortage grows.
Moving to other issues, King said property tax reform needs to pay attention to appraisals.
“If you want true property tax reform, you have to appraise differently,” he said.
Beyond taxes, King sees the upcoming year as a “infrastructure session.”
“We ran the Republican gamut last time on social issues,” he said. “Now it’s time to do something for the state. Let’s fix things that need fixing.”
Rural broadband will be an important issue, King said, and the state can reap the rewards of using state funds to leverage federal money. Results will take time, but King likened it to planting a tree that provides shade in the future.
“I think you’re going to see billions of dollars to bring broadband infrastructure to places like Donley County, but it’s a ten-year plan,” King said. “Does it solve your immediate need? No, but we have to start somewhere.”
Answering questions about public education and community college funding, King gave his support to local authorities and also advocates giving support to teachers.
“We can’t let the inmates run the asylum,” he said
He also said he believes teachers who carry weapons should receive a significant stipend and also should have required continuing education not just on using that weapon but for mental health issues related to possibly using that weapon against a student.
PAMPA – Since 2004, churches across the country have showed their commitment to supporting the most vulnerable populations in their communities through Stand Sunday—a globally recognized day of prayer for children and families involved in foster care. This year, CASA of the High Plains is joining alongside them.
“It takes a community to care for children, and that’s what these places of worship are – a community,” said Alissha Jefferis, executive director of CASA of the High Plains. “Our hope is to inform all the diverse faith organizations in our area on ways they can make a difference for the children in foster care in Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts and Wheeler Counties.
There are 183 children in the child welfare system from the communities we serve. Children come into foster care when their families are in crisis, and are sometimes placed in foster homes far away from everyone and everything they know and love. Through no fault of their own, they face the risk of negative outcomes like homelessness, substance use and incarceration.
“Every one of these children, whatever their current circumstances, deserves every possible chance to succeed in life,” said Jefferis.
In addition to praying for these children and their families on Stand Sunday, Jefferis explained that faith organizations can make a difference by partnering with CASA of the High Plains and encouraging members to become CASA volunteers.
CASA volunteers are everyday citizens from the community who are screened and trained, and appointed by a judge to advocate for these children’s best interests. Volunteers are designated to serve one child or sibling group and evaluate their well-being by getting to know them and speaking with any and all relevant contacts in their lives, including their parents, foster parents, family of origin, teachers, therapists and more. Their first priority is reunifying the child with their parents, whenever safe and possible. When this is not an option, they advocate for the child to live with other family members or a loving adoptive family. Whatever the case, they provide a consistent presence for the child throughout their time in foster care, and ensure they’re connected with a lifetime network of support that will help them succeed.
While Stand Sunday is sponsored by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), CASA of the High Plains encourages all people and groups to get involved in supporting these children and families.
“Whether you’re religious or not, and whether you practice prayer or not, we hope you will think of children in foster care on Stand Sunday,” Jefferis said. “We also hope you’ll consider ways you can support these children and their families, like becoming a CASA volunteer.”
To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.casahp.org
Donley County residents have several opportunities to honor America’s veterans this week.
Clarendon Elmentary School will hold its Veterans Day program at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Bronco Gym. All veterans and the community are invited to honor those who have served the nation.
Clarendon College along with American Legion Adamson Lane Post 287 will have a Veterans Day program at 7:00 p.m. at the Clarendon College Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center on November 10, 2022.
The program will honor all those that have served in this nation’s military.
Prior to the program, Post members will place American Flags on the graves of 248 Veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. The flags will be placed on the graves on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. and remain until Saturday morning.
This is in honor of departed veterans who have served in this country’s military.
On Friday, November 11, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., Hedley’s Adamson-Lane Post 287 of The American Legion will hold its annual Veterans Day service at the Rowe Cemetery. In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Hedley Lions Den.
This program will be conducted by members of the American Legion and will include the raising of the colors, the National Anthem, Pledge to the Flag and the ceremony honoring the Missing in Action and Prisoners of War still unaccounted for.
The key address will be given by State District Judge Stuart Messer. The program will be concluded with the laying of the memorial wreath and the playing of taps.
Four people died in a two-vehicle accident west of Clarendon on US 287 last Friday morning, November 4.
According to Department of Public Safety Sgt. Cindy Barkley, a 2016 Ford Explorer driven by 25-year-old Andre Arango-Lopez of Spring, Texas, was eastbound going the wrong way in the westbound lane on US 287. Coming westbound on US 287, 42-year-old Abdul Mirzada of Tracy, Calif., was driving a 2012 Freightliner truck tractor semi-trailer when he observed the Explorer approaching.
Mirzada attempted to avoid the collision by veering left but was unsuccessful as both vehicles collided head-on in the inside lane.
Arango-Lopez, along with his three passengers – Fredy Mateo-Lopez, Uriel Lopez Y Lopez, Kenis Lopez-Martinez, all aged 19 and all of Guatemala – were pronounced deceased on scene by Armstrong County Justice of the Peace Jana Lemons.
Mirzada was not injured in the accident. Everyone involved were wearing their seatbelts.
Traffic was backed up on US 287 for several hours as the passing lanes were closed in both directions.
An Open Enrollment Event will be held this Thursday, November 10, at the Burton Memorial Library for those needing help signing up for health benefits.
The event will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is hosted by Panhandle Community Services.
Certified healthcare navigators will be on site to help uninsured individuals and their families get affordable health insurance coverage through the marketplace, Medicaid, and CHIP.
Premium tax credits are available to help pay monthly premiums.
For more information, call 806-342-6176.
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