This Week

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court will decide Friday whether to seek additional state funds for the restoration of the 1890 Courthouse.

But first, commissioners say they want to know where the county stands on the current project. A 90-percent estimate of projected cost of the restoration is expected to be delivered here by the architects the middle of this week. The estimate will shed some light on whether the local project is still within its original $2.9 million budget.

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is accepting requests for small supplemental funding grants for counties that have already been awarded construction grants under the Texas Courthouse Preservation Project. To get in on the additional funding, the county must file a one-page application with the THC on Friday.

Two recent discoveries may increase the cost of restoring the courthouse to its original state.

During demolition work in the district courtroom, the county uncovered the remnants of a large fireplace in the south end of the room. Ghost images can still be seen of the cast iron mantle and tile hearth. Recreating this fireplace, however, may cost approximately $10,000.

Another discovery was made by Enterprise publisher Roger Estlack, who found a small picture of the courthouse in a 1914 Clarendon College yearbook. The photograph shows a masonry gable on the south side of the building. All other early photos of the courthouse were taken from the north or east elevations, making this element unknown during the master planning stage of the project. To recreate this element and truly make the building appear as it originally did could cost as much as an additional $77,000. The brick and stone masonry accounts for the bulk of this cost.

Supplemental funding from the THC would be on the same 85/15 matching scale as the original grant. If the county were to apply and be approved for $87,000, the county would have to put up $13,050 to match the state funds.

If an application is made, officials say they feel they would have a very good chance at getting the state money due to Donley County’s unique courthouse.

County officials also say they believe future state funding for courthouse projects is uncertain.

In other courthouse project news, commissioners voted in a called session Monday to hold an auction on Saturday, April 28, 2001, to sell salvaged material and equipment from the building. Items to be sold will include the radiators, plywood and lumber, boiler parts and chemicals, a large safe, and antique plumbing fixtures.

The commissioners also discussed the annual July Fourth celebration, which is usually held on the courthouse square. The grounds won’t be available this year due to the construction project, and the celebration will likely be moved to City Park. Commissioners agreed to ask the Chamber of Commerce to route the parade so that it runs at least one block away from the square.

Meanwhile in the courthouse, workers continue the abatement process this week. Sun City Analytical’s operation manager Hector Diaz says the abatement company is now focusing on removal of bat guano from the courthouse attic. They are also busy cleaning the guano off the old theatre-style chairs, which were stored in the attic.

To learn more about the restoration of the Donley County Courthouse, click here.

Two of six local governments will be holding elections this spring.

Only the City of Clarendon and the Hedley Independent School District were able to attract enough candidates to have contested races.

In Clarendon, Carl Draper, Bill Holden, Bob Watson, Jim Wright, and incumbent Michael Tibbets are running for the two open spaces on the Board of Aldermen. Mayor Tex Selvidge is running unopposed for re-election.

Two incumbents, Jan Farris and Carole Ward, are seeking re-election to the HISD Board of Trustees. Mark Montgomery and Jason Sargent have also thrown their hats into the ring. The top three vote getters will be elected.

Elections will be held Saturday, May 5, 2001. Early voting by personal appearance will be April 18 – May 1, 2001.

The cities of Howardwick and Hedley, the Donley County Hospital District, and the Clarendon school system are expected to take steps in the next few weeks to cancel their elections as all candidates are running unopposed.

Billy F. Woods will be Howardwick’s next mayor. Dewey Linley and incumbent Mike Rowland will be on the Board of Aldermen.

Jim Lollar, Abby O’Neal, and incumbent Bruce Howard will take places with the Hedley Aldermen.

Clarendon ISD incumbent trustees Reneé Betts, James Shelton, and Marvin Thompson will each serve another three-year term.

Hospital Board members Nelson Christie, David Strange, and Don Thornberry are also returning to their positions.

A local group hoping to revitalize the North Ward Park will have an organizational meeting next week.

Anyone interested in helping or providing input with this project is urged to come to the meeting Monday, April 2, at 7 p.m. at the True Church of God in Christ.

The park was established with the generous donations of playground equipment from the City of Clarendon and the public school system, and Mrs. L.B. Matheson generously allowed the community to use the land.

Improvements have been made to the park by various volunteer organizations over the last few years, but more extensive work needs to be done if it is to be a fun, safe place for the community to enjoy.

Several church and civic organizations have expressed interest in working on the park, and Monday’s meeting will be used to organize and evaluate what needs to be done. It is hoped that a committee or task force will be formed which not only will oversee the initial phase of improvements but also the continued care and long-term improvements that will need to be done.

Organizers hope this might be the beginning of a community-wide effort to provide fun, safe, family-oriented places for local children to play.

To help in any way or for more details, contact Alton Gaines or Jay Gage.

He was a man who loved his community, and in return, the community loved him. Last week, the community had to say goodbye.

Homer Morrison “Flip” Breedlove died Friday, March 23, 2001, in Clarendon. He was 91.

Mr. Breedlove was born April 18, 1909, in Smithville, Texas. He was a graduate of Texas A&M and was a three-year letterman on the Aggie football squad. After college, he moved to Clarendon in 1935 and married Dorothy Lois Phelps here on January 21, 1947.

Mr. Breedlove’s lifelong service to this community began as soon as he moved here and became the County Agent of Donley County, a position he filled for 31 years. He spoke of his days with the Extension Service in a 1999 interview with Mary Beth Nelson for the Enterprise.

“One of the most important things to me was my work with farmers, supplying new information and helping them develop new and better farming methods. My 4H club work with the boys was real important to me, too.”

Nelson wrote that Mr. Breedlove also extended his talents and interests to the area of champion livestock and that among his numerous memorabilia of past activities, some of his most treasured are many pictures of boys with whom he worked and the grand champion animals they raised.

World War II interrupted Mr. Breedlove’s county agent service, and he served approximately 2½ years in the 140 Tank Destroyer Division of the United States Army in Virginia

Following his retirement from the Extension Service, Mr. Breedlove was the Agricultural Representative at the Farmers State Bank for ten years and was associated with the Southwest Life Insurance Company for several years before his retirement.

He was a longtime and beloved member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Breedlove was in charge of the July Fourth barbecue held on the courthouse lawn. He served several terms as Clarendon’s mayor from 1970 to 1977.

In a 1972 article in The Clarendon Press, the late Boo Lowe wrote: “Flip has more friends than most anyone because of a quality that is an intricate part of his personality. He has considered everyone he has ever met to be his friend. Longtime friends say they have never heard Flip say a bad word against anyone.”

In 1999, Mr. Breedlove was named the Pioneer Man of the Year by the Clarendon-Donley County Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Breedlove was preceded in death by a son, “Little Flip,” and a brother, Robert L. Breedlove. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Breedlove of Clarendon; two sons, H. Mack Breedlove and wife, Jeanette, of Austin and Mike McCleskey and wife, Judy, of Mount Pleasant; three grandchildren, Mark Breedlove, Lisa Davis, and Brandon McCleskey; and a great grandchild, Dallas Davis.

Cremation was under the direction of Memorial Park Crematory in Amarillo. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Memorial services for Mr. Breedlove were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 25, 2001, in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. James Ivey Edwards officiating.

The service was marked by upbeat singing by the congregation because, as Rev. Edwards said, “Flip hated ‘draggy’ music.” In a salute to Mr. Breedlove’s passion for his university, “The Spirit of Aggieland” and “The Aggie War Hymn” were played at the conclusion of the service.

“Flip Breedlove,” Mrs. Lowe wrote, “brings to mind a quotation from Fuller – ‘The real difference between men is energy. A strong will, a settled purpose, an invincible determination can accomplish almost anything; and in this lies the distinction between great men and little men.”

Surely, Flip Breedlove was a great man.

In memory of his commitment and love of Texas A&M University, a memorial scholarship will be established.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Flip Breedlove Scholarship Fund, c/o Herring National Bank, PO Box 947, Clarendon, Texas 79226, or make a donation to your favorite charity in his name.

The money jar of Turkey King candidate Vic Jeter disappeared over the weekend, forcing the popular banker into second place and plunging the election process into further controversy.

Election judge Linda Gray said Jeter’s jar was secure when she left Duckwall’s at 5 p.m. on Friday, but it was stolen over the weekend. A new jar will be glued to a big rock and ready to receive votes by Wednesday of this week, she said. In the meantime, voters who wish to support Jeter can give their money directly to the store’s clerks.

Recent high jinks by the Jeter campaign have aroused suspicion that the candidate himself may be a culprit. Last week, Jeter was reported to have threatened to steal the jar.

“I think he might have been involved,” Gray said. “I know he was in the store this weekend, and he did tell me that some boys were wanting to steal [the jar] for him.”

Jeter’s feathers appeared ruffled by the accusations, and he flatly denied any wrongdoing.

“I haven’t seen it, I didn’t take it, and I don’t know who did,” he said. “No one has contacted me claiming responsibility.”

Jeter vowed to find the real jar-nappers and said the jar wasn’t “really stolen.” Denying any knowledge of who took it, he promised the jar would be returned after the election is over and that the money would be returned to the turkey coffers even if he has to pay it himself.

While proclaiming his innocence, Jeter seems to know a lot more than he lets on. The former front-strutter tried to deflect attention from himself to – of all people – the Girl Scouts. He said a local Girl Scout troop had said they would take the jar under the auspices of going door to door with it to collect votes. Once they had the jar, Jeter claims the scouts were going to ask him for $50 to make it “disappear.”

While he seems to have the support of popular opinion, Jeter said he doesn’t really want to be the King Turkey.

“The crown needs to go to a local dignitary,” he said. “Whoever is the king should be someone who will carry the title with great honor, and that ain’t me.”

Jeter brushed off comparisons to H. Ross Perot’s bid for the presidency. In 1992, Perot told CNN’s Larry King he would only run if the people wanted him to.

“This [election] isn’t about what the people want,” Jeter said. “It’s about who has the most money. I represent the poor, the weak, the old, and the decrepit.”

Gray, however, said there was no reason for anyone to believe anything Jeter said.

“I really think he should be hauled in for questioning,” she said.

Neither Gray nor Jeter think any of the other 11 king candidates were involved in the jar’s disappearance. But Gray did say the turkey race has made a lot people do things they wouldn’t ever do otherwise.

“You look at people like [County Judge Jack] Hall, [insurance salesman Walt] Knorpp, and [car dealer Trey] Chamberlain. I think any one of them would really want to march down Kearney Street as the king of the festival,” Gray said.

Regardless of the voting method, the fact remains that Mayor Tex Selvidge is now the leading candidate with $31.62 as the election enters its sixth week. Jeter is in second place with $26.60, and other minor candidates continue to trade places.

One Duckwall’s clerk claims she saw a woman put $5 in Jeter’s jar before it was stolen. If that’s true, Jeter would be within 2¢ of Selvidge. It’s possible that if all the votes were counted, Jeter would be ahead.

Meanwhile in other Turkey Strut Festival news, County Commissioner Ernest Johnston sent a wooden turkey to Clarendon College’s Joel Zehr last week. City Librarian Carolyn Blackerby claims Zehr hauled the turkey to the library where he threatened it with bodily harm if it ever came back to roost in his yard.

“He said he would make sure the turkey wouldn’t be seen again,” Blackerby said.

Also, local resident Vernon Watkins had his picture taken with a turkey in his yard last week. The photo was published in the Amarillo Sunday News-Globe, and Watkins has reportedly been dragging the picture all over town, showing it to everyone he meets.

Anyone can have a turkey put in someone’s yard for a birthday, anniversary, or gag gift for a $5 donation to the Tourism Council. Call Carolyn Blackerby at the Burton Library at 874-3685 for your order and delivery.

The election for Donley County’s King Turkey continues, and pictures of all 12 turkey candidates are on money jars at Duckwall’s. The winner will be the turkey with the most money at the end of the contest.

The king will be crowned during the Turkey Strut Festival on April 21-22.

Money raised goes to the Donley County Tourism Council to help promote our fair county. Vote early and vote often.