Roger Estlack

Texas voters will head to the polls next Tuesday, November 5, to decide the fate of ten proposed amendments to the state constitution.

Early voting on those measures, which are detailed in an article on page eight of this week’s issue, continues through this Friday, November 1.

Polling on election day will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
Precinct 101 – Bairfield Activity Center; Precinct 102 – Howardwick City Hall, Precinct 201 – Donley County Courthouse, Precinct 301 – Assembly of God Fellowship Hall, Precinct 303 – Hedley First Baptist Church, and Precinct 401 – Church of Christ Family Life Center.

Check your voter’s registration card to determine which polling place is appropriate for you.

Two Donley County cross-country runners are state bound following the regional meet in Lubbock Monday.

Clarendon’s Kenny Overstreet and Hedley’s Jordan Upton will compete in the Class 2A and Class 1A divisions respectively at the state meet.
A CHS senior runner Overstreet gave a great effort at the regional meet to earn the right, once again, to compete at the State level. Overstreet ran the 5000m race in a time of 17:12.40 and finished fifth in a field of 143 runners for Class 2A. Panhandle’s Elijah Brown won the meet in a time of 16:37.80.
Hedley junior Upton came in tenth with a time of 18:22.10 in the Class 1A division. Other Owls running in Lubbock included Collin Monroe 19:30.50, Tyler Harper 20:15.90, Joshua Booth 20:19.40, and Elijah Booth 22:56.50.
“The boys team did an amazing job of pushing themselves and were able to bring their team into the 10th spot at Regionals out of 20 teams,” Hedley coach Kim Harper said. “Out of 138 runners, individual places for the boys were Jordan Upton, 10th; Collin Monroe, 26th; Tyler Harper, 53rd; Joshua Booth, 54th; and Elijah Booth, 102nd.”

Two Lady Owls also ran at the regional meet among 170 runners. Avery Sawyer finished 12th with a time of 13:46.80, and Cara Lambert was 17th with a time of 13:53.20.
“It was heartbreaking for us as they were only two and seven spots away from advancing to state,” Harper said, “but they’re young and still have a couple more years to strive for that goal.”
Harper said Hedley’s runners all made their families and their school proud and they look forward to cheering Upton on in the state meet.
Madi Smith competed for the Lady Broncos and finished 39th with a time of 13:31.10 for the two-mile course. Team members Makenna Shadle and Aliyah Weatherton finished 90th and 99th with times of 14:28.90 and 14:34.90.
Also for Clarendon, Kira Weatherton ran 135th at 15:25.10 and Finley Cunningham was 146th with a finishing time of 15:43.90. Aubrey Jaramillo was 150th at 15:54.10 and Aleyah Weatherton finished in a time of 16:17.40 for 158th place.
The State Cross-Country Meet will be held November 9 in Round Rock at the Old Settlers Park.

The Donley County Health Fair will be held this Thursday, October 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Bairfield Activity Center at Clarendon College.

This event is free, and everyone is encouraged to attend. The health fair is being sponsored this year by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Clarendon College, Clarendon Family Medical Center, Donley County Hospital District, Mike’s Pharmacy, and Northwest Health Care System.

Free medical testing or screening will be available for many things including blood pressure, oxygen, glucose/blood sugar, balance, glaucoma, retina, PSA, colon cancer, as well as flu shots. These will be provided free of charge if you don’t have medical insurance. If you do have insurance, bring your card with you so that it can be filed with them. Remember to come fasting if you wish to have your blood drawn for the health screenings through the medical center.

Health fairs are excellent ways to offer screenings for some health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure, catching them early and thereby reducing the risks for costly complications. Both of these diseases can go undetected for up to ten years. Health fairs can also raise awareness of other health issues like preventing heat exhaustion and/or stroke, different cancers and many others.

There will also be many informational booths such as hospice care, home health, wound care, Alzheimer’s, parent and other caregiver support as well as LifeStar and many others.
Participants in this year’s Donley County Health Fair will include the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Alliance Health Services, Amerigroup, the Area Agency on Aging, B-Boomers & Beyond, BSA Harrington Cancer Center, BSA Harrington Advanced Imaging, BSA Hospice of the Southwest, Caring Senior Service, Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, COHS Uniting Parents, Clarendon Family Medical Center, FirstCare Health Plans, Haven Health Clinics, High Plains Food Bank, LIFESTAR, Lions Eye Bank, Memphis Convalescent Center, MS Society, Northwest Wound Care, Palo Duro Nursing Home, Pampa Regional Medical Center, Panhandle Community Services, Region 16 ESC Head Start, Road Runner Home Care, South Plains Community Action/ WIC, Southwest Retina, Superior Health Plan, Texas A&M Extension/ BLT, Texas Home Health, Texas Tech CPRIT/ Get F.I.T., Texas Workforce Solutions, and Tralee Crisis Center.

For more information about the health fair please contact Donley County AgriLife Extension at 874-2141.

Residents of Howardwick are seeing signs of progress as community members work to address issues of safety and quality of life in the lakeside city.

Civic leaders have made strides in the last couple of months to improve fire protection capability, add more amenities to the City Park, and reduce crime.

After a legal issue shut down the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department, the city’s official department – the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department – has been working to get back up and running and attained that goal this month. The department is now ready to accept and respond to calls.

Fire Chief Brice Hawley says the CHVFD now has five members, including its secretary, with two more applications pending. The department held a “meet and greet” last month that was attended by about 100 people, Hawley said. That event raised about $1,900 in donations for the department even though it wasn’t meant to be a fundraiser.

The CHVFD is also working to improve its members’ training and will have members getting wildfire training in November.

On the north edge of the city, the new District Nine Volunteer Fire Department continues to organize with the goal of providing fire protection to the area north of Howardwick to Interstate 40 and east to Alanreed. Members of that department say they have received donations of gear and vehicles and are working toward raising money for a building to house their equipment.

The D9VFD, which will not operate inside the city, held a fundraiser dinner last month that was attended by more than 100 people and did very well.

Both fire departments are supported by auxiliary organizations – the Fire Flies for the CHVFD and the Fire Bees for the D9VFD.

Following some August break-ins in the community, Alderman Jerry Mulanax and City Secretary Sandra Childress first discussed the idea of forming a neighborhood watch organization. Mulanax then put the word out to some citizens via social media.

“They made it loud and clear they are not satisfied with the criminal element believing Howardwick is a place they can fly under the radar for their illegal deeds, or a place where squatters can take up residence unchallenged,” Mulanax said.

Without the involvement of the city, Mulanax now serves as the coordinator of a neighborhood watch group that has 36 participants and seven block captains, whose purpose is not just to reduce criminal activity.

“We intend to use this Neighborhood Watch Program to address those issues, help to heal old wounds to bring the city back together, and eventually use our combined force to make Howardwick the kind of City we all want to live in and a place we can be proud of by not only cleaning up these issues but also expanding our roles to include conducting civic improvement initiatives,” Mulanax said.
Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn has met with the group, and a Cpl. Jeb Hilton of the

Amarillo Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit met with the group last week. Blackburn offered advice and support for the group, and Hilton also provided training for what a neighborhood watch group should and should not do.

Mulanax says any Howardwick resident interested in helping as a block captain or a watcher can sign up at City Hall.

The city itself is also working to address concerns of its citizens in terms of zoning. A public hearing was held October 15 where residents discussed wanting to allow or expand areas of town where tiny homes, RVs, and mobile homes can be located, rethink the square footage requirements for homes in the city, update definitions of different types housing, restrict livestock in the city, and address issues regarding septic systems.

Childress says the citizens’ input will be taken into consideration for a re-writing of Chapter 12 of the city’s Code of Ordinances. City Hall hopes to have that work done by December.

The city also has a new playground to brag about at City Park, purchased by Mayor Tony Clemishire. The new equipment occupies a footprint of about 500 square feet, and is already getting used by local kids.