This Week

One of Clarendon’s leading citizens, Wesley Carroll Knorpp, died last Thursday, December 28, 2000, in Amarillo at the age of 92.

Mr. Knorpp was born on May 18, 1908, in Clarendon and was a lifetime resident of Donley County. He married Gertrude Dorris Parr on May 19, 1932, at Longbeach, California. She preceded him in death on May 11, 1994.

He was employed at the Donley County State Bank in Clarendon from 1928 until retiring in 1995 and was a bank officer.

Mr. Knorpp was a long-time member of the Clarendon Lions Club and the Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Clarendon.

He was one of the persons instrumental in the building and development of Lake Greenbelt, serving on the board of the Greenbelt Water Association, which became the Greenbelt Water Authority. He was president of the Greenbelt board for many years.

Cremation took place at Memorial Park Crematory in Amarillo on Friday, December 29, 2000. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., and Rector Funeral Home in Amarillo.

A unique memorial service was held Saturday, December 30, 2000, in Robertson Chapel of Memories with Dr. Buddy Hudson, family friend of Hurst, conducting.

“Got any good deals today?” Hudson asked, implementing a phrase that was a trademark of Mr. Knorpp. He used to ask that rather than say hello, friends recalled.

Friends and co-workers of Mr. Knorpp told stories of his life and praised him for his generosity, for being a man whose word was his bond, and for his warm heart wrapped by a gruff voice.

“He really wasn’t a big man,” said Hudson. “It just took all that skin to hold his big heart.”

Mr. Knorpp was credited with closing all of Clarendon’s banks on Saturdays. Prior to his influence, local banks stayed open until noon on Saturdays.

He was said to have considered his employees as his kids and provided them with insurance and retirement benefits.

“Carroll was my boss, and he was my friend,” said bank employee Mary Neal Risley.

Clarendon attorney William J. Lowe also counted Mr. Knorpp as a friend, saying he had given him one of his first jobs when he became a lawyer in the late 1940s. Lowe accompanied Mr. Knorpp on many trips to Childress for Greenbelt board meetings.

“I never saw Carroll get mad, and I never heard him say a bad word about anybody,” Lowe said.

There were no sermons, and no funeral songs were sung. The memorial service was rather a gathering of family, friends, and admirers who had come to say goodbye to a great man by praising the good things about him and his life.

Mr. Knorpp is survived by one daughter, Dorris Bliss Knorpp of Clarendon; one son, Wesley Parr Knorpp of Rowlett; three grandchildren, Niki Walker of South Lake, Laurie Shafield of Santa Barbara, California, and Michele Davis of Palestine; and ten great grandchildren including, Kesley, Logan, and Miranda Walker of South Lake.

The family respectfully requests that memorials be made to BSA Hospice, PO Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0950.

The commissioners’ court will decided what a restored Donley County Courthouse is going to look like next Monday.

 
County Commissioners will be deciding which style seating will be put in the district courtroom as part of a $2.9 million restoration of the 1890 building. The bench in front is one of the original fixtures. The theater seats behind it are some that were installed circa 1913. And the church pews in the background is the seating used today.

Enterprise Digital Photo.
 
Deliberations will focus on the orientation of courtroom. According to local recollections, the room was originally situated with the judge’s bench in the north. Physical evidence in the courtroom supports this theory, but for most of the building’s history the bench has been in the south.

Also at issue will be the seating in the courtroom. Last month, project architect Chris Hutson pulled some of the old wooden theatre seats from the courthouse attic. But this was not the original seating. He also found a bench, similar to a park bench with a folding seat. Records indicate that these original benches from the courtroom were sold to the Goldston School in 1912.

Hutson says going with the original benches may be cheaper since another courthouse project in the state is having similar benches recreated at the same time. However, the theatre style seats are more attractive, and many of them are in the attic.

When commissioners meet on Monday, they also will be determining what time period the building should be restored to as required by the Texas Historical Commission. Based on previous decisions, that date will be prior to 1914. Whether they shoot for 1913 or 1912 will be decided in large part on what seating is chosen for the courtroom.

Once the target date is set, decisions regarding paint colors, lighting fixtures, etc., will be made in accordance with that time period.

In other courthouse project news, Hutson says his company, the Austin-based Volz & Associates, may be on the trail of the quarry where stones for the 1890 building were raised. A stonecutter in Colorado has led the architects to a quarry in Kansas – a quarry known to have sent large amounts of stone to Texas in the late 1880s and early 1890s. Hutson wants the stone tested to make sure it won’t have the same problems that currently plague the stones in the courthouse.

The county has also discovered a second hidden fireplace. The first had been found sealed up in the elevator shaft on the second floor, and this new one was in a corresponding place on the first floor. Hutson says plans are to take the fireplaces apart and use them to restore or rebuild other fireplaces in the building.

Officials say the courthouse project is on schedule, and the county is tentatively scheduled to advertise for bids on the abatement of asbestos and bat guano in a couple of weeks. Bids for construction are expected to be let in late March with construction slated to start in April.

A target date of April 22, 2002, has been set to complete the project.

State Rep. Warren Chisum will be in Clarendon Friday, January 5, 2001, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the CHS Auditorium.

The state legislator has planned 24 town hall meetings in early January to hear from the voters and to provide an overview of what to expect from the Texas Legislature.

“State government works best when the public participates,” Chisum said. “I intend to spend more time listening than talking.”

Chisum typically files several bills based on concerns brought to his attention at town hall meetings.

“Austin is pretty far from the Panhandle,” Chisum said. “I want to make sure people have the opportunity to tell their government what they expect right here at home.”

Chisum was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1988 and will report to Austin for his seventh term in 2001. He represents the 88th House District, which includes Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts, Sherman, and Wheeler counties.

The 2001 Donley County Junior Livestock Show will be held in Clarendon on Saturday, January 13.  The young people have worked hard to have their project animals ready.

Setup for the show will be Wednesday, January 10.  All parents and anyone else interested in helping setup for the show should come to the Clarendon Community Centeron Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.  setup includes constructing the pens and laying the carpet for the show ring.

Everyone is welcome to attend the show.  Any volunteer help is appreciated.

Clarendon got its white Christmas. The day after was white too, and so was the day after that.

Reports from the Donley County Sheriff’s Office put the total snowfall on December 25 and 26 at about 18 inches, making travel extremely hazardous and keeping deputies and reserve deputies busy with rescues.

“People call to ask about conditions and you tell them it’s dangerous and that travel is discouraged,” said dispatcher Vicki Burrell. “Then they will say, ‘Well, do you think I can make it?’”

Burrell said more than a hundred people had called the sheriff’s office inquiring about condition to either come through or leave Clarendon. Others got stranded and called for help.

Local deputies have been hauling people out in 4-wheel drive military surplus vehicles, and Burrell said stranded travelers have found refuge at the Church of Christ, the First United Methodist Church, Owens Bed & Breakfast, and the First Baptist Church’s Downtown Ministry Center. The VFW Hall was also made available, she said.

Local wrecking services were running, but Burrell said, “We could have used a lot more.”

Tuesday night alone saw six wrecks, she said.

Official measurements put the city’s snowfall at 12 to 15 inches, according to Tommie Saye, a cooperative observer for the National Weather Service.

Six inches fell on Christmas day and night, Saye said. Another six inches fell Tuesday.

“The snow blew and drifted, so you could easily say we had 15 inches in some places,” he said.

Total precipitation was 1.31 inches officially.

State and city crews stayed busy trying to keep major thoroughfares open, but travel was still strongly discouraged as of Wednesday afternoon.

As of press time, forecasters in Amarillo were predicting slightly warmer weather for Wednesday afternoon and Thursday with a chance for more snowfall on Saturday and Sunday.

Currently underway and lasting through mid March, the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District will be conducting its annual winter water level measurement program throughout the District. 

The following counties will have winter water level measurements taken from them: Armstrong, Carson, Donley, Gray, Hutchinson, Potter, Roberts, and Wheeler.

Winter water level measurement’s help not only the District, with vital data and information for their records, but it also helps out the general public, farmers, and ranchers.

Winter water level measurements are gathered by using an E-line or a steel tape down the casing of the well.  An E-line consists of a long measuring tape with a battery-powered circuit running through it.  The end of the E-line that is first placed in the hole purposely has a short in it.  When this short is submersed into water, a buzzer will sound on the reel relaying to the operator that it has found the water level. 

The steel tape is used in much the same way.  The tape is first covered with a blue or yellow chalk for four to five feet.  This end is then inserted into the casing.  The operator must know what the previous depth was, in order to put the right amount of tape into the well.  The tape is then pulled back out of the well.  The operator then finds the area where the chalk has been washed off the steel tape.  From this reading, the operator can than calculate the water level.

The benefits that come from gathering this data includes that the PGWD will be able to make saturated thickness maps that are useful in locating the amount of water under the ground in a particular place. 

Many farmers and ranchers use these maps to locate the best places to drill irrigation wells or windmills.  Other maps prepared from this data are water level and depletion maps.  The water level maps tell where the present water level is located.  The depletion maps tell how many feet the water table has risen or fallen in the last year. 

The depletion maps used to determine the amount of depletion are the same maps used for those landowners who are eligible for depletion allowance on their income tax returns.

The PGWD has been measuring water levels on many different wells throughout the District.  On some wells, as much as 40 years worth of data has been collected.  The main goal is to be able to provide useful and accurate information to farmers, ranchers, and anyone who may have a question about water in our area. 

If you see a red pickup on the road with groundwater district decals on the door, don’t worry.  They are just doing their job the best they can, so they will be able to provide the people of the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District with the best information they can collect.

For answers to your questions or for more information, call 1-800-320-3536.

Dr. John Howard, Clarendon Family Medical Center

The flu season is upon us, and we can expect cases to start appearing in the Panhandle shortly.  I hope everyone has had an opportunity to get a flu shot.  If you haven’t, it is still not too late.                         

The Texas Department of Health recommends the vaccine for persons in whom influenza can be particularly devastating, specifically: persons age 65 and older, those of any age with chronic medical conditions including heart, lung, and metabolic problems (like diabetes), children on long term aspirin therapy, and women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season.  Contrary to popular belief, the flu shot does not make you sick (the virus in the vaccine has been inactivated). Some people will get a local reaction at the site of injection, some will even get fever or muscle aches, but you will not get the flu. You should not get the vaccine if you are allergic to eggs.

Influenza is caused by a virus.  The virus changes every year causing epidemics.  About 20,000 die each year in the U.S. due to flu.  In some years many more will succumb because of major changes in the virus.  In 1918 the “Spanish Flu” killed 500,000 in the U.S. and 20 million worldwide.  Last year was about average, but you may recall reports of the hospitals in Amarillo being full because of flu patients.

Influenza virus is spread by coughing and sneezing which contaminates air, hands, and environmental surfaces.  Incubation of the virus takes 1-4 days.  The attack rate (the number of people exposed who will get the disease) is 15-40%.  Infected individuals will shed the virus for about a week.

Flu usually starts with an abrupt onset of fever.  The fever lasts 3-5 days and is usually higher in the evening.  Children may run higher fevers, up to 104.  Cough is an early symptom.  Usually dry and hacking, it progresses by the third day to produce a thick, wet sputum, worsening over the next 4-7 days and lasting up to two weeks.  Headaches, muscle aches, sore throat and congestion round out the typical constellation of flu symptoms.

Because influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help.  Antibiotics are useful, however, for complications such as bacterial infections which may occur in some people.  Treatment with specific antiviral medication can help if started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

This year we will be testing for influenza in the clinic.  The test involves a throat swab, and it takes about 20 minutes to run.  Because we are testing for flu, we will be participating in the National Flu Surveillance Network.  This will help us to track influenza outbreaks and enable us to target our treatments. 

If you think you may have contracted the flu and want to try antiviral treatment, you must begin early, within 48 hours for best results.  If you have chronic medical problems and did not get the vaccine, you should see your doctor early. 

If you want to treat your symptoms yourself, there are some excellent over the counter products which your pharmacist will be glad to tell you about.  Avoid aspirin products, especially in children. Get rest and be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Watch out for complications: fever more than 4-5 days, fever which returns after being gone for 1-2 days, yellow-green or bloody mucus, confusion, seizures, wheezing, difficulty breathing, prolonged headache, or anything your instincts tell you to be concerned about. 

I hope we will have a mild flu season this year and that all will have a safe and happy holiday season with a prosperous and healthy new year.

Leon J. Church, County Agent

The Donley County Ag Producers Roundtable session will be held again this year. 

The  first of these sessions will be held on Wednesday, January 3.  Dr. Brent Bean, Agronomist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in Amarillo, will speak on Alternative Crops. This is a very timely topic, where we will discuss such crops and their potential as soybeans, sunflowers, sorghum, and others. The breakfast roundtable will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Mary’s Country Kitchen.  This is a no host breakfast meeting.

Other roundtable sessions will be held on January 18 with Dr. Randy Boman speaking on Cotton Production and the final session on February 20 with Leon New, TAEX Irrigation Specialist, speaking on Irrigation Management.

All area producers are welcome to attend these sessions.  Following each session the presenters will be available to discuss any interests or concerns the producers may have.

For further information contact the Extension Office at 874-2141.

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Exit level tests will be offered this spring at Clarendon High School.

Any qualified individuals who are no longer enrolled in a Texas public school and who wish to register to retake the TAAS (or TEAMS) tests may pick up a registration packet from the Counselor’s office located in the Clarendon Junior High at 822 W. Fifth.

The testing schedule will be as follows: TAAS Writing – February 20, 2001; TAAS Math – February 21, 2001; TAAS Reading – February 22, 2001; TEAMS Math – February 21, 2001; and TEAMS English – February 22, 2001.

Since completed registration forms must be received by the testing center in Austin by January 19, 2001, any qualified individual wanting to take the tests must pick up a registration form as soon as possible. For more information, contact the CCISD Counselor’s office at 874-3241.

The 2000/2001 CHS Sophomores will take the Exit Level TAAS tests for the first time in February. They do not have to register. Since Clarendon High School had a 100% passing rate on all three tests last year, there are currently no juniors or seniors who will have to retest.

The 2000/2001 year will be the next to the last year that the Exit Level TAAS will be administered to high school sophomores in Clarendon and across the state. Beginning in 2003, the state will implement a new assessment program, TAAS 2, which will cause major changes at the Exit Level in 2004. Students will test their junior year instead of their sophomore year and will have to pass four tests instead of three.

The English Language Arts test includes essential knowledge and skills in English 3 and will include both reading and writing. The new TAAS 2 math test will assess knowledge and skills in both Algebra 1 and geometry. The social studies test includes but is not limited to early American and U.S. History. The science test includes biology and integrated chemistry and physics.

These upcoming changes were discussed with parents of Clarendon Junior High students in a meeting on November 30.

Parents who have questions about the new assessment program can contact John Taylor at the CCISD Counselor’s office.

Clarendon College instructor and longtime Donley County 4-H program supporter, Jerry Hawkins received the Texas Agricultural Extension Service Panhandle District’s ‘Friend of Extension’ award.

Hawkins’ was recognized during ceremonies held recently at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Amarillo.  He was cited for his contributions and leadership as a 4-H volunteer and resource for youth throughout the region.

A career educator and mentor to area public school and college students — Hawkins began teaching at Clarendon College in 1968.  He developed the ranch management curriculum for CC’s current ranch and feedlot operations program in 1973.

Hawkins’ tenure as coach of the CC livestock judging teams began in 1974. He started and now supervises the school’s horse and meat judging teams.  His teams consistently win at state and national competitions.

“He is an ever-present mentor and resource person for area youth involved in 4-H, FFA and college level organizations,” said Dr. Bob Robinson, Extension’s district director for agricultural programs. 

According to Extension county agricultural agent Leon Church, Hawkins received the Donley County Friend of 4H award in 1993 for his involvement at the local, district, and state levels.

“He also sponsors leadership conferences for FFA members and officers each year.  Jerry has worked closely with our county 4-H livestock judging teams, coaching and then accompanying them to district and state contests,” said Church.

Jerry and Glenda Hawkins, a teacher in Clarendon Public Schools, are the parents of two grown sons.  Dean is a researcher and instructor in animal science at New Mexico State University, and Doug is a beef cattle specialist with Purina.  Hawkins and his sons are also Gold Star 4-H award recipients.

“This family has played a significant role in youth education and development in the Panhandle,” said Donna Brauchi, Extension’s district director for family and consumer sciences.