Roger Estlack

The time is now for citizens to sign up for positions on any one of seven local boards that are scheduled to have elections this spring.

Sign-ups began Monday for the cities of Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick; the Clarendon and Hedley school districts; the Clarendon College District, and the Donley County Hospital District.

The Clarendon College District already had the most candidates at press time with all three of its incumbents signing up for reelection. Jerry Woodard, Delbert Robertson, and Doug Lowe are all seeking to serve another six-year term on the Board of Regents.

A fourth position on the college board, the unexpired term belonging to the late Charles Deyhle, Sr., will also be on this spring’s ballot. Former college dean Tex Selvidge has been appointed to fill that spot until May, but he has not yet taken the oath of office. Four years are remaining on that term.

The Donley County Hospital District has four two-year terms expiring on its Board of Directors this year. Those seats are currently held by Jan Farris (Place 4), Jeannie Owens (Place 5), Mark C. White (Place 6), and Laurie Howard (Place 7).

The City of Clarendon has three two-year terms on the Board of Aldermen up for election this year. Incumbents are Ann Huey (serving the unexpired term of Kyle Davis), Jesus Hernandez (serving the unexpired term of Jeremy Powell), and Will Thompson.

The City of Howardwick has on its ballot the one-year unexpired term of former mayor Del Essary and three aldermen’s positions that are currently held by Tanis McMorries, Johnny Hubbard, and Tim Gallagher. Aldermen serve two years.

The City of Hedley has the two-year terms of Mayor Dusty Wilkinson and Aldermen Leon Ward and Lonnie Roby up for election this year.  Roby has already signed up to run again.

Clarendon ISD has three positions on the ballot for its Board of Trustees this year, including two full three-year terms now held by Wayne Hardin and Wes Hatley and the one year unexpired term of the late Marvin Thompson, which is currenlty held by Richard Gribble.

Hedley ISD has two three-year terms on its Board of Trustees on this year’s ballot. Those seats are held by Lana Ritchie and Bobby Lindsey, who is filling the term originally held by Shelby Shipp.

Sign-up for local offices continues through March 5.  Election Day will be Saturday, May 12.

Clarendon College officials are pointing to a silver lining in the cloud of this semester’s enrollment report.

Enrollment is down 171 students this spring when compared to last year, but college funding is based on contact hours, which is the time students actually spend in classrooms. Contact hours this spring are up 1.7 percent over this past fall.

“We thought we would be down, and we are in headcount,” CC President Phil Shirley said. “But we’re up in contact hours, and that’s how we are funded. Anytime we have a better basis for funding, that is good for the college.”

Total enrollment settled at 1,277 following the 12th class day last Wednesday. That’s down from the spring 2011 enrollment of 1,448 and enrollment of 1,357 in spring 2010, but above the enrollment of 1,150 in spring 2009.

Shirley says three factors have negatively impacted the college’s enrollment – a new state vaccination requirement, the loss of a prison education program, and possibly an improving economy.

This semester saw the implementation of a Texas requirement that students meeting certain criteria obtain a bacterial meningitis vaccine prior to attending classes.

“The cost is $125 for that shot, and some students simply cannot afford it,” Shirley said. “There is also a shortage of the vaccine. This has probably caused a one to two percent loss of enrollment for us.”

Dean of Students Tex Buckhaults said CC took a proactive approach to the bacterial meningitis requirement in the fall, which likely helped prevent a larger decrease in enrollment this spring.

The state’s elimination of its prison education system cut students out of the college’s enrollment staring this past fall and resulted in the loss of 147 students this semester.  These courses were offered through the prison education system at the Roach and Jordan units of TDCJ in Childress and Pampa.

“Our enrollment last spring included the students from the TDCJ, and we are still working to recover those students,” Buckhaults said.

Other area colleges are also experiencing drops in enrollment this semester, and Shirley said that can be a sign that the economy is recovering.

“When the economy is good, college enrollment is down,” he said. “People are getting jobs, and that is directly influencing enrollment.”

Enrollment on the home campus this spring is 352, and the headcounts at Pampa and Childress were at 419 and 53 respectively as of last Wednesday, with the remainder of CC students taking online and dual credit classes.

Shirley said each CC campus has its own identity, and growth in Pampa comes from having a larger base to draw from.

“We don’t have the population to support a lot of commuter students in Clarendon, but we do in Pampa,” he said. “What Pampa doesn’t have is dormitories and athletics. In order to grow here, we have to recruit the students [to Clarendon] that we’re famous for – athletes and dorm students.”

Clarendon High School FCCLA attended the Regional meet in Lubbock February 3 and 4 where eight local students competed and each are advancing to the state competition.

The state contest will be in Dallas this April. Those competing were Competitive Events: Krista Reynolds and Amber Keeling 3rd place in Entrepreneurship; and Leadership Enhancement Opportunities (LEO): Skyler White – Gold, Jerah Luna – Gold, Bryce McCary – Gold, Shaydee Brown – Silver, Audra Thomas – Bronze, and Rhonda Olivas – Bronze.

Kelly Hill of Clarendon was one of 57 men and women who became Texas Highway Patrol troopers last week after reciting the state’s law enforcement oath and receiving their badges during a ceremony in Austin.

Texas State Representative Larry Phillips, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, was the keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony held at the LBJ Library Auditorium on the University of Texas campus.

“I congratulate the fine men and women who are graduating today and becoming Texas Highway Patrol Troopers. You have agreed to protect and defend the people of Texas, and we appreciate your service,” he told the graduates.

“Every day of the year, and every minute of the hour there is a Texas State Trooper combating crime and terrorism throughout this great state, and when you leave here today you will be joining them on the frontline of this important battle,” said Colonel Steven C. McCraw, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The troopers began the 18-week training academy in August. Instruction covered more than 100 subjects, including counter-terrorism, traffic and criminal law, arrest and control procedures, accident reconstruction, first aid and Spanish.

They also received extensive use of force, communication skills, firearms, driving, criminal interdiction, cultural diversity and physical fitness training.

In several weeks, the troopers will move to their new duty stations. They will spend the first six months in on-the-job training with a senior trooper.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a state trooper can call the toll-free line, 1-866-TXTROOP (898-7667), or visit the DPS Web site at www.joindps.com, for more information.