Roger Estlack

Firefighters and emergency personnel were working diligently Tuesday to contain a wildfire that had consumed more than 11,000 acres in Armstrong and Donley counties in a battle that has already lasted two days.

By Wednesday morning, Texas A&M Forest Service Public Information Officer Clay Bales said the 294 Fire was 60% contained overall and the acreage total was 15,000.

The fire first started along the roadside of FM 294 north of Goodnight late Monday afternoon, April 2, according to Texas A&M Forest Service Public Information Officer Clay Bales.

“All the weather patterns and fuel patterns told us it could be a bad day yesterday,” Bales said Tuesday morning.

The 294 Fire moved north and east over several hours Monday evening as fire departments from Clarendon, Claude, McLean, and Skellytown were joined by Donley and Armstrong county personnel as well as the forest service. TFS single-engine aircraft from Amarillo made eight drops on the fire, and a fixed wing aircraft from Abilene made one drop.

Ten structures were threatened but none were lost Monday, and officials feared that I-40 might have to be shut down due to smoke impairing visibility.

By Tuesday morning, Bales reported that the fire was 70 percent contained and had burned about 6,500 acres.

“We felt like we pretty well had a line around it,” Bales said about 11:30 Tuesday morning, noting that a task force and aircraft were still monitoring hot spots.

But within just a few minutes, with winds picking up out of the north, the fire had reignited on its south side and was being driven toward US 287. Emergency personnel began diverting highway traffic between Clarendon and Claude. By noon, the fire had jumped US 287, and TFS reported three structures had been lost. Bales later said it was four structures, one of which was a home. Specific details of the structures were not available at press time.

High winds continued driving the fire toward rough terrain although it was initially slowed by farmland. Winds also hampered aircraft support from Amarillo, but the tanker plane was able to leave Abilene.

By 4 p.m., TFS reported it had six aircraft including three large air tankers – one from Abilene and two from Phoenix, two helicopters from Oklahoma, and ten dozers assisting local firemen. The fire was 50 percent contained when looking at the entire perimeter at that time.

Donations of Gatorade, peanut butter crackers, and candy bars with nuts were pouring into a staging station at the Associated Ambulance Authority to be delivered to those fighting the fire.

Tuesday afternoon, Bales said the state had two task forces on the ground assisting local crews with four more on the way. The fire had gotten into the canyon, and seven homes were still threatened.

Bales said Wednesday morning that four large air tankers (3000-gallons) and two heavy helicopters are planned to be used today to assist in gaining full containment. At that time, the fire activity remains on the south side in the canyon. Two TFS task forces are active on the south side, and one task force will be going north to check that perimeter as winds come from the south today.

Clarendon College will hold its annual Invitational Judging Contest this Saturday, April 7, and attendance is again expected to more than double the city’s population for the day.

The contest attracts more than 2,000 high school FFA students and 4-H students from around Texas and nearby states. As of Tuesday morning, college officials said there were about 2,200 contest registrations for the event.

The number of registrations doesn’t include the hundreds of parents and coaches who accompany the students to the contest. According to the 2010 US Census, Clarendon has a population of 2,026.

Johnny Treichel, Clarendon College livestock and meats judging coach, said the event is a big recruiting tool for the college.

“This is the only time each year the college has this many potential students on campus,” he said. “And we are pleased to have such positive support from the community year after year.”

Allsup’s plans to open its new store in Clarendon next Friday, April 13, after years of discussion and planning and months of construction.

With a floor plan of almost 5,000 square feet, the new store on US 287 at Sims Street will be about twice the size of the current store one block away at US 287 and Koogle.

Allsup’s has invested about $4 million into the project, which covers an estimated 115,900 square feet, more than one standard city block, in concrete and improvements. In addition to the 12 people currently employed by the store, Allsup’s has hired ten more people and is looking to hire about five more before the store opens.

Among the new amenities at the new site are 24 fueling dispensers for automobiles, which are covered by a canopy that extends to the store. The site also can accommodate truck traffic with ten diesel dispensers with DEF available at the diesel island.

An eight-foot metal fence is being constructed behind the store along Third Street to separate the site from Broncho Stadium. Allsup’s also paid to pave Sims Street with concrete adjacent to the new store, and the city replaced utility lines there before that paving was installed.

Inside the store, customers will find a bigger cold storage area for drinks and food, a larger drink station, and a bigger deli case. A new flat grill is being installed to prepare burgers, fajitas, toaster sandwiches, and other fare that will be a new offering for the Allsup’s brand.

The store will also have larger bathrooms and storage areas than the current building, a large walk-in freezer, and three ice machines.

A Grand Opening celebration will run from April 15 through April 21 with specials in the store all week. Give-aways during the grand opening will include a four-wheeler, a big screen television, and a stainless steel barbecue grill.

The fate of Allsup’s current facility has not been determined, officials said will be removed within one year of its closing, but a decision on what to do with the property has not been made at this time.

School safety and security will be the topic of a public hearing at Clarendon CISD next Monday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in the Administration & Technology Building

The hearing comes after parents’ comments at the March 26 board meeting addressed school security and their concerns about additional steps they thought the district should consider taking, including arming school personnel.
School officials could not respond to comments made in open forum, and discussion on the security agenda item was held in closed session.

Superintendent Mike Norrell said Monday’s hearing will be held at the opening of the school board’s regular meeting and will allow for those in attendance to provide feedback and have discussion about security with school officials and trustees.

“Our highest priority is to do the best we can to protect our students,” Norrell said. “We continue to welcome parent feedback and my door is always open to discuss concerns.”

Security has been a priority of Clarendon CISD for a long time, but shootings at schools in other parts of the nation have heightened awareness of the issue for educators and parents. Many school districts in Texas, including Hedley ISD, have gone as far as approving certain school personnel to carry or have access to firearms.

“That has been part of the discussion in the past,” Norrell said. “Everything is up for discussion, and we’re already taking steps to improve our security, some of which will be in place within two weeks.”

Chancy Cruise, Jackie Bell, Corey Gaither, Zack Robinson, and Michael Newhouse addressed the school board’s last meeting. Some of the men mentioned arming personnel as an option, and all of them urged the school to take steps to improve security.

Clarendon CISD conducts a security audit every three years, but an additional audit was scheduled for this week outside of the usual schedule. Norrell said an employee with the Amarillo Police Department will conduct a comprehensive review of the school’s facilities, policies, and procedures.

The superintendent said the findings of that report will be available for the board by the April meeting, but he also said security vulnerabilities as well as some specific school security measures are not public information.

Norrell said Clarendon conducts drills for active shoot or intruder situations throughout the year, which are evaluated, and then issues arising from those drills are addressed.

Two years ago, CCISD implemented the CopSync system, which provides immediate access and alerts law enforcement to an emergency. Each teacher has access to the system. The school also has a network of cameras and expanded that network this year. The school also uses a StopIt notification system to report offenses like bullying or other suspicions, Norrell said.

Within the last two months, Norrell said the school improved its ability to communicate internally with its phone systems.

“Additionally, our local DPS officers make routine visits to our campus and walk the grounds and halls,” Norrell said, noting that the DPS office is two blocks away and that the sheriff’s office has an “impressive” response time.

“There are changes coming to the access of our buildings that will be different and perhaps less convenient,” Norrell said. “Our campus, like many other older campuses throughout the state and nation, was built to be open. We have tried to create a welcoming environment to our students, their parents and grandparents, and our community. Unfortunately, our society is changing, and we must adapt.”

Norrell concedes that it is impossible to protect children and staff from everything, and he says scenarios can be endless. But he also says it is important for the school to stay vigilant.

“I believe there is a trust between the school and our parents that is renewed every morning they drop off their kids, put them on a bus, or send them on their way to school,” Norrell said. “We don’t take that trust for granted; and while we are not perfect, we will do our best to protect our kids.”

Donley County officials had a clear message for the City of Howardwick during a town hall there last Wednesday, March 28: “Keep your city.”

Judge John Howard presided over what was actually a called session of the Donley County Commissioners’ Court with Commissioners Dan Sawyer and Mark White in attendance along with about 50 Howardwick residents and seven of the nine candidates running for city council.

“I hope that we leave this meeting tonight with a better understanding of what it would mean if you abolish your municipality,” Howard said in opening the meeting.

The possibility of dissolving the entity of City of Howardwick, or unincorporating, has been talked about for at least two months among some residents after in-fighting on the city council and among residents led to the resignations of three aldermen in February, effectively paralyzing the city for a brief time.

Howard discussed current city services that would not be available from the county if the city was to be dissolved.
The county will not collect trash at Howardwick, but residents would be able to use the county’s dump near the Clarendon airport when it is open. The county would not provide fire protection, although residents could establish an emergency services district; and the county would not necessarily take care of the roads in Howardwick.

“You would have to apply to have roads included in the county road system,” Howard said, noting that the could would not accept neighborhood roads and that they county has not equipment to maintain paved roads.

The judge reminded residents that, as a city, Howardwick can apply for grants through the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, and he encouraged them to do just that.

During a question and answer session, it was discussed that codes and zoning would go away if the city were dissolved but that a neighborhood association could develop rules. City property would be sold off, and Howardwick residents would have no control over utilities, such as water service, without a city government.

Insurance agent Cameron Word discussed insurance rates, which he said could go up without a city fire department.
The issue of mowing was also raised. Howardwick’s city government mows vacant lots in the city for fire protection and to earn revenue, and that activity would stop if the city were dissolved.

Several residents in attendance said they were for keeping the municipality. City alderman candidate Kay Dye was the main person with favorable comments about unincorporating. She said unicorporating would stop political fighting, which “has turned our city upside down.”

Dye said she has lived in several unincorporated places which were able to have roads and other amenities.

“Being unicorporated isn’t all bad,” she said.

Other residents discussed fears that a travel trailer could be moved next to a $100,000 home if not for municipal rules and what might happen to home values if the city were dissolved.

Judge Howard briefly discussed the steps to unincorporate the city, which he said would require a petition of two-thirds of the voters to call an election.

“I think you would lose a lot by not being a city,” Howard said. “I would encourage you to do what you can to improve your community.”

Commissioner Dan Sawyer echoed Howard’s comments and spoke in favor of residents keeping the city’s status.

“We don’t want to lose this municipality,” Sawyer said. “We’re asking for y’all to get a good city council. … Follow the Open Meetings Act, discuss it, vote on it, and let it go.”

Sawyer also addressed concerns about properties that need to be cleaned up by warning, “If you unincorporate, you’re going to have more of a junk yard than you already have.”

“Open your minds and think for the future,” Sawyer said.

Judge Howard closed the meeting by reminding those in attendance, “Howardwick could be as good as you want it to be.”

Mayor Greta Byars was noticeably absent from the meeting. City Secretary Sandra Childress told the Enterprise afterwards that she had asked Byars not to come out of a concern that her attendance would constitute a meeting of the city council, for which no agenda had been posted.

Childress also said another town hall will be held before the May 5 city election so residents can meet the candidates running for city council.

A half a million dollars from the State of Texas last week has put Clarendon’s proposed water recreation project within striking distance of being fully funded.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department gave final approval last Thursday to a $500,000 grant for the pool project. The city’s application was ranked fifth out of 36 in its category, and Clarendon was the only community in the Panhandle that was funded in that category.

Mayor Sandy Skelton attended the TPWD board meeting in Austin and thanked the department for its support of the city’s $2.086 million project. Now, he’s looking for more support within the community.

“We’ve done really well, and we now have more than 85 percent of the funds needed for this project,” Skelton said. “We need some more citizens to step up at this point.”

One final grant application for $150,000 is pending with a determination expected next month. If that application is successful, the project will be $155,000 short of being fully funded.

TPWD officials will be in Clarendon on April 30 to review grant requirements and visit the project site.

The project began in 2015 when an anonymous donor offered the city $500,000 for a water recreation facility if the community could match those funds. Since that time, $280,420 has been raised or pledged privately, including a $100,000 gift from the Charles & Thelma Bairfield Foundation; and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation boosted the project with $525,000.

Total funds pledged or available now totals $1,780,420.

Skelton says the city’s water recreation steering committee will meet soon to discuss ways to raise the remaining funds for the project.

“Donations of any size are appreciated and needed,” Skelton said. “Whether its $1,000, $100, or $50, we need as many people as possible to support this project and finish out the fundraising.”

City Administrator David Dockery said a public pool facility for Clarendon could happen quickly if fundraising is finalized soon.

“We would set a target completion date in the summer of 2019,” he said.

Those interested in donating to the pool project are asked to call Dockery at City Hall at 874-3438 or send donations to the city at PO Box 1089, Clarendon, TX 79226.

A theft at a Clarendon restaurant landed two people in jail Sunday after a chase and manhunt.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said Grumpy’s Pizza was robbed about 4 p.m. March 25 when a tall, slender Hispanic-looking male with tattoos entered the establishment, forced open the cash drawer, took the money, and fled in a waiting vehicle driven by a white female.

An employee and customers gave officers a good description of the man and the vehicle as well as the tag number of the car.

Department of Public Safety Troopers later located the vehicle and stopped it near the eastbound rest area on US 287 near Giles. The male suspect then fled on foot into the pasture south of the highway.

Blackburn said his department was assisted in the ensuing manhunt by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Police Department, Gray County Sheriff’s Office, the DPS helicopter and troopers, dogs from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and Andy Wheatly’s helicopter service.

A caller later reported the subject on their front porch asking for assistance at a residence two miles west of Memphis. The subject then ran east along the railroad. Sheriff Blackburn and Donley County Deputy Miranda Betts arrived within minutes, located the man in an abandoned travel trailer, and placed him under arrest.

Blackburn said the man, whose true identity had still not been determined at press time, is charged with Class B Misdemeanor Theft, Evading, Burglary of a Habitation, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The driver was also being held in the Donley County Jail this week on charges of Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance.