This Week

Donley County finally received significant relief from a long dry period last week as rains quenched the area’s thirst, but the welcome moisture was not without consequences.

Official measurements in Clarendon totaled 2.59 inches from Thursday through Sunday morning. Greenbelt Lake’s level came up by six inches following the rain. The precipitation brought the year to date total in Clarendon to 21.91 inches.

Hail on Thursday damaged 300 to 400 acres of crops near the Armstrong County line, according to County Extension Agent Leon Church. Some damage was also reported near Lelia Lake and Hedley.

Cotton was the hardest crop hit, Church said. Some hay and watermelons were also hailed on, but the agent thought most crops will still go to harvest. Hail in Clarendon mostly knocked leaves from the trees.

Winds at Clarendon ISD knocked over the top two-thirds of one of the light poles at Bronco Stadium about 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The steel pole snapped electric lines and disrupted power in the city for half an hour.

CISD Superintendent Monty Hysinger said school officials had heard the pole on the southwest side of the stadium squeaking earlier, and one employee discovered weakened welds on the structure. The school had called in local welder Wondell Luttrell to make repairs, and he was on the scene, preparing to go to work on the pole when the rain started.

The pole fell on top of the south wall of the stadium but did not damage the historic rock wall. At presstime, school officials said a crane was scheduled to set the pole back up Tuesday.

Electric service was also briefly disrupted last Thursday when cross arms snapped on a transmission line near Jericho about 4 p.m., according to Steve Teichelman AEP-West Texas Utilities Supervisor of Distribution Services in Childress.

Power was again cut about 7:30 p.m. when a second set of cross arms broke on an AEP-WTU transmission line outside of Memphis. At 8:20 p.m. the Donley County Sheriff’s Office recorded lights out in Memphis, Hedley, Lelia Lake, Clarendon, Howardwick, and Jericho.

Teichelman said crews were brought in from Childress and Shamrock to make repairs. Electric service was restored at 12:33 a.m. Friday. Approximately 2,000 customers were affected by the outages, AEP-WTU spokesman Linda Caton said.

The cause of the broken cross arms was wind and weathering, Teichelman said. Two service poles were also replaced later near Lelia Lake.

Following the storm on Thursday, Amarillo media reported a tornado had been sighted near Clarendon. Sheriff Butch Blackburn disputes that and says the storm did produce down draft winds that may have looked like a tornado, but local authorities spotted no rotation in the storm.

Despite the moisture, a countywide burn ban remains in effect.

Donley County Commissioners answered criticism of their proposed 2001-2002 budget Monday.

During a called meeting, members of the commissioners’ court emphasized that the current budget is “proposed” and is not yet final.

County Judge Jack Hall expressed his belief that the person who told County Agent Leon Church at a community function that his budget had been cut should come forward. Hall said he felt like that person had spoken out of turn since the budget had not been finalized.

“My name’s in the paper; that guy’s name ought to be in the paper too,” the judge said.

Commissioner Donnie Hall expressed concern that the public had been given the impression that it was a member of the commissioners’ court who had put the word on the street regarding budget cuts. The proposed budget was put together during a series of open meetings, but commissioners agreed that none of them ever went out into town to discuss the matter.

Commissioners will take up the budget again during a hearing Thursday in the Courthouse Annex.

In other county business, the court approved preparing an application for funding to assist homeowners in Donley County with repairing damage from flooding in May.

Four homeowners had sought assistance under the program, but only two qualified. A grant for $19,200 on one home and $17,200 on another will make those repairs through the 2001 Home Disaster Relief Program.

The Panhandle Regional Planning Commission is assisting with this program.

Clarendon aldermen approved the concept of remodeling the Burton Memorial Library during a called meeting last Monday, August 20.

Architect Tim White of Amarillo discussed the proposed project at the library. The plan calls for renovating storage space, dead space, and an unused bathroom to create an enlarged meeting area at the rear of the building.

The project is expected to cost about $50,000 and will be paid for from money donated to the library by the estate of Mary Stocking McConnell.

An earlier plan to remodel the unfinished second floor of the library has been discarded due to concerns about accessibility and additional operating costs.

The current plan will make slight modifications to the existing stairwell to prevent heating and cooling from being lost into the upper floor.

Aldermen also approved White as the architect for the project.

The policy and procedure manual for the library was also discussed. Librarian Carolyn Blackerby and Alderman Smiley Johnson were appointed to work together on the manual and report back at the next board meeting.

In other city business, the board met in executive session and afterward reassigned City Clerk Linda Smith to the position of assistant city secretary in training with a salary increase.

The proposed budget for 2001-2002 was reviewed and changes made. The board approved a motion to set pay raises for city employees at two, three, and four percent based on a job evaluation chart.

Jean Stavenhagen, Donley County Historical Commission

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has recognized the Rowe Cemetery in Hedley as a significant part of Texas history by awarding it an Official Texas Historical Marker.

The designation honors Rowe Cemetery as an important and educational part of local history.

A dedication ceremony to commemorate the event will be  at 10 a.m. on September 8 at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. The ceremony will consist of the presentation of the flags by the American Legion, songs by the Hedley School Choir, a short reading of the history of Rowe Cemetery, followed by a reading of the marker inscription and the official unveiling.

“It is vital that as we move forward, we do not forget our past.  The Texas Historical Marker will provide an awareness in the community and the county of our fascinating history,” said County Judge Jack Hall.

A subject qualifies for a marker if two basic criteria are met: historical significance and age.

“The Official Texas Historical Marker program helps bring attention to community treasures and the importance of their preservation,” said Larry Oaks, executive director of the THC. 

“Awareness and education are among the best ways to guarantee the preservation of our state’s history. This designation is a tool that will increase public awareness of important cultural resources,” Oaks said.

The THC reviews more than 200 marker applications each year.

The public in cordially invited to attend the dedication. Some seating will be provided, but everyone is encouraged to bring a chair.

The first annual Panhandle Fall Art Roundup, a Western and wildlife juried fine art show, will be held November 3-4 at the Bairfield Building at Clarendon College.

The show will coincide with the opening of deer season to accommodate the many out of town and out of state hunters who are avid collectors.

The Donley County Tourism Council is announcing and organizing the event.

The show is open to Panhandle resident artists looking to promote and sell their art. The show is limited to wildlife and Western art in most medias – oil, acrylic, watercolor, and sculpture.

The roundup will be juried with cash prizes for Best of Show, First Place Wildlife, and First Place Western. In addition, numerous prize purchases are guaranteed.

 A well-known Fort Worth judge with full art credentials is going to choose the award winners on Saturday, November 3. A reservation only reception at the historic Lowe House will follow. Nationally recognized artist James Ivey Edwards and local activist Weldon Sears will co-chair the event.

Accredited artists and sponsors have been personally contacted. 

“The Panhandle Fall Art Roundup offers area artists a forum to display their talent,” said project chairman Edwards. This show provides an outlet for talented artists and a wonderful free art exhibit for art lovers alike.

The Donley County Tourism Council encourages artists to contact Dee Dee Autry at 806-874-3889 or Carolina Selvidge at 806-874-2670. Space is limited so it is recommended to contact the council soon for further information.