Wounded warrior gets big adventure
Citizens want alcohol sales in Hedley
A group of Hedley citizens want to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages in that city as a way to bring more business to town.
Tonja Ruthardt, owner of Uncle Bob’s convenience store, published notice of her application for a local option petition in this week’s Enterprise and plans to circulate a petition this week calling for the legalized sale of alcoholic beverages and mixed drinks in Hedley.
The application has been signed by Ruthardt and nine other Hedley citizens.
“I know some people are against it, and I don’t mean any disrespect or want to cause any hurt feelings,” Ruthardt said, “but our town needs the money and I need the business.”
If the petition and later election are successful, Ruthardt said she wants to sell beer and possibly wine in her store to keep more business in Hedley.
“People are going to drink,” she said. “Now they are going to Estelline or Howardwick. Why not have it here?”
Hedley Mayor Dusty Wilkinson says he has mixed feelings on the issue but he looks at it from a revenue standpoint.
“We’re losing a lot of money now,” Wilkinson said. “We’re down 20 percent in our water revenue with the current drought restrictions, and it’s only going to get worse.”
The latest figures from State Comptroller Susan Combs also show Hedley is losing sales tax revenue, seeing its August allocation drop more than 15 percent and being down more than 13 percent for the calendar year-to-date.
“The city could use the money from alcohol sales,” the mayor said. “We’re trying not to raise utilities or taxes. We’ve got a big portion of people here on fixed incomes and Social Security. A small increase in utilities could mean a meal for them.”
Ruthardt says 35 percent of the people in Hedley who voted in the last governor’s election must sign the petition in order to call an election, and she believes she will have no trouble gathering the signatures.
New exhibit
Owls to scrimmage Silverton Friday
City considers private wells
The Clarendon Board of Aldermen took no action on the topic of restricting private water wells inside the city limits when they met last Tuesday, August 9.
About a dozen citizens were in attendance after word spread about the agenda item, which City Administrator Lambert Little said was not intended to be taken as a ban on water wells.
“I didn’t mean to cause this much consternation,” Little told the board, noting that he really had three concerns about water wells.
Safety was the administrator’s first concern. He said the city needed to be sure that there was no cross connections between private wells and the public water system. His second concern was the city’s ability to pay its responsibilities to Greenbelt Water Authority if everyone in town went to private wells. And he said infrastructure was his third concern, expressing his thoughts that everyone should pay at least a minimum water charge to the city for infrastructure and fire protection.
The board generally agreed with the first point that private wells did not need to be cross connected with the city water system, but Alderman Tommy Hill seemed to speak for the majority of the board in thinking that the second point would never be an issue.
“There are probably only five to ten people that can realistically afford to drill a well; and if the loss of five or ten accounts is a big deal to the city, then we have bigger financial problems,” Hill said.
Little asked the board if the city could at least explore permits or some method to keep up with wells, but board members including Hill said they believed the groundwater district already has rules for that.
In other water related news, the board approved a resolution stating the city’s intent to supply the volunteer fire department with adequate water for fire protection regardless of water restrictions or allotments in the drought contingency plan.
Aldermen also discussed bulk water sales prices. Little said he felt it was unfair to ask citizens to reduce their water usage but continue to sell bulk water for $4 per 1,000 gallons. Aldermen approved a motion to increase the price of bulk water to $10 per 1,000 gallons.
And in other business, the board approved contributing $3,500 to the Les Beaux Arts Festival from the city’s Motel Bed Tax Fund.
County proposes $2 million budget
Donley County Commissioners will seek a slight increase in property taxes to support their proposed $2 million budget for fiscal year 2012, according to documents on file in the County Clerk’s office.
The budget, which grows about 3.7 percent this year, requires a total tax rate of $0.573253 per $100 valuation, which is up from $0.557117 last year. The proposed rate would impose taxes of $286.63 on a $50,000 home compared to $277.56 under the current tax rate.
Information from the Donley Appraisal District reveals that the average taxable value of a residence homestead in Donley County last year was $31,055 compared to $32,105 this year.
The budget includes raises for county employees of about three percent and forecasts spending more than five percent higher health insurance premiums for employees.
Notable savings in the proposed budget include $10,546.82 less for the local Department of Public Safety office. The county previously paid the salary for a part time clerical position there, but the state is now paying that salary as a fulltime position. The county will still provide $1,320 for telephone and Internet services in that office.
One unusual expense in the proposed budget is a line item of $30,000 that is being set aside for the trial of accused child killer Robert Babcock.
The county expects to collect about $808,551.89 from ad valorem taxes, which is up from $744,159.33 in last year’s budget.
Donley County Commissioners will hold hearings on the tax rate at 9 a.m. on September 6 and September 9.
A budget hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on September 12, and both the tax rate and the budget will be voted on by commissioners that day. The proposed county budget is available for public inspection at www.co.donley.tx.us.
Museum to hold Open House this Sunday
By Fredie Jo Moreman
What’s happening at the Saints’ Roost Museum? There are several things – like moving some displays and adding new ones.
An Open House will showcase new displays this Sunday, August 14, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and the Museum Board extends an invitation for everyone to come.
The Saints’ Roost Museum Board of Directors is delighted to have received an impressive operational miniature train display. The trains are displayed in the 1887 Ft. Worth & Denver Railroad Depot at the Museum. This generous gift was given by Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Harriman of Amarillo. Mr. Harriman has had his miniature trains as an on-going project for more than half a century. The Museum Board feels very honored to be the recipient of such a generous gift. You can view how the trains operate during the Open House, and you may also meet Mr. and Mrs. Harriman at that time.
The Museum has also received this past week a beautiful photograph taken by Sandy Skelton of Clarendon. He is also a Museum Board member, and the photograph was taken near Goodnight and shows the beauty of our sunrises in the Texas Panhandle. This photograph is a must see.
Earlier this year, the Museum received a gift of arrowheads and flint from the estate of Clayton Ferris. These items were collected in Donley County, and they are on display in the Indian Room.
In the near future the Museum will have another interesting display for you to come and see.
Services held for former CC president Vaughan
Funeral services for Kenneth D. Vaughan, President Emeritus of Clarendon College, were held Monday in Amarillo.
Vaughan, age 83, was responsible for the modern development of Clarendon College, overseeing its separation from the Clarendon school district in the 1960s and the move to its new campus in 1968.
“The great man – the man who built this college – has passed away,” CC President Phil Shirley told the Enterprise. “He was the genius loci – the spirit of this place.”
Vaughan died Friday, August 5, in Amarillo, and services were held Monday at Paramount Baptist Church with Dr. Gil Lain officiating. Inurnment will be in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon at a later date.
Vaughan was born in Highway Highlands, California, on June 6, 1928. He married Melba Ruth Grady in 1949 in Clarendon. Melba Vaughan passed away on November 1, 1983. Vaughan then married Billie L. Collins of Estelline, Texas on December 8, 1984.
He attended West Texas State University where he earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Education.
Mr. Vaughan served as a teacher in the Borger School District from 1949-1952 and came to Clarendon School District where he served the school district from 1952-1960. From 1962-1968 he served as both the Superintendent of Clarendon ISD and as the President of Clarendon College. He then continued as President of Clarendon College until his retirement in 1989.
Under Mr. Vaughan’s leadership, the new 107 acre campus of Clarendon College became a reality. He was known in the Texas Legislature as the “voice of the small colleges.” He was granted the title of President Emeritus by the Clarendon College Board of Regents in 1990.
Dr. Phil Shirley worked with Mr. Vaughan for three years as Dean of Instruction prior to Vaughan’s retirement, and he remembers the former president as man he admired.
“I looked up to him like a father,” said Shirley, who became president of CC in January. “I respected him deeply. He formulated my philosophy of higher education administration.”
Shirley said Vaughan literally built Clarendon College as it is now known but never wanted public attention for himself. He said Vaughan had a strict management style, which was needed for building up the college, and expected the best of every employee and of himself. He was also known for his conservatism with college finances.
“He told me once that if you watch the little things, the big things take care of themselves,” Shirley said. “Mr. Vaughan knew exactly to the penny what the college had, and he kept his finger on all college affairs.”
Shirley said Vaughan was always happy to share information and help the college when he could and said his death leaves a vacuum at Clarendon College.
“He was unique among all our presidents,” Shirley said. “He was inimitable – impossible to duplicate. I loved the man.”
Vaughan was preceded in death by his first wife, Melba Ruth Vaughan; and two brothers, Scott Vaughan of Albuquerque, NM and Carroll Vaughan of McQueeney, Texas.
Survivors include his wife Billie Vaughan of Amarillo; one brother, Dr. O. B. Vaughan of Corpus Christi; one daughter, Linda Vaughan of Fort Worth; five sons, Steve Vaughan and wife Jennie of Amarillo; Randy Collins and wife Kathy of Lubbock; Bob Collins and wife Janice of Estelline; Jon Collins of Amarillo; and Dan Collins and wife Melissa of Follett; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to the Kenneth D. Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund at Clarendon College, PO Box 968, Clarendon, TX 79226.
An online guestbook is available at www.schoolerfuneralhome.com.
Armored visitor
Helping Those Who Serve
It’s 2 a.m. when the peaceful silence in a local home is broken by the sound of an emergency pager going off. A man pulls himself from his slumber and quickly heads off to help someone he may not even know, while his wife remains behind to wonder what danger might await him.
This is the life of a volunteer fireman and his family – answering calls for help at all hours and facing unknown peril in the process. But they do it week in and week out as a way to serve their community and lend a hand to their fellow man.
They ask for nothing in return, but this month the community has an opportunity to express its appreciation to the members of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department at a fundraising dinner on August 27. The event, being organized by the Clarendon Firebelles, follows a February incident in which four firemen were very nearly injured while working an accident and one fire truck was totaled by a careless motorist.
Felicia Powell said she and other Firebelles are organizing the benefit dinner to recognize the firemen’s contributions to the community and to help raise funds for much needed equipment. For Felicia, supporting the fire department is nothing new. Her husband, Jeremy, has been a Clarendon fireman for 16 years.
“I’m very proud of him, and it’s something he loves,” Powell said. “I want people to realize that it is so important what our volunteer firemen do. They put their lives on the line every day for Clarendon and Donley County, and they are really just a bunch of great guys.”
Felicia’s role, like those of other firemen’s wives, is not an easy one, and she admits to worrying when the emergency calls come in, especially late at night.
“I wonder if he’s going to be okay, and I toss and turn worrying after he leaves,” she said. “I just make sure I wake up and tell him I love him and to be careful because I don’t want to not have said that in case he doesn’t come home.”
For his part, Jeremy Powell says he and his fellow firemen are on the fire department because it has to be done.
“We do it to fill a need for the community,” he said. “We do get something out of it… the satisfaction of a job well done. That’s something I enjoy and will continue to do as long as I can tell I’m making a difference.”
Jeremy, who is the First Assistant Chief of the Clarendon department, said many people have a misconception that volunteer firemen are there for a joyride or a thrill.
“Most of the stuff we do isn’t fun at all,” Jeremy
said. “When it’s 115° and you have to go battle a wildfire, that’s not fun. When you have to go out in the freezing cold, that’s not fun. When you have to wake up at 2 a.m. and then go to work all day, that’s not much fun.”
And then there is all the work that must be done outside of responding to calls. Jeremy said he tells all prospective volunteers that for every one hour they are responding to a call, there is two hours of work to be done at the fire station.
“We have guys who spend a lot of time on their own doing maintenance on the trucks, for example,” he said. “We try to do all the maintenance that is possible ourselves, so we don’t have to pay someone else to do it.”
And, of course, there is the danger that comes with the job. Responding to fires presents obvious hazards, but firemen also have to watch out not to get run over when responding to an accident. Which is what nearly happened in February.
The department responded to a two-vehicle accident west of Clarendon, and Powell and others were busy helping extricate the driver of a mini-van. Eastbound traffic on US 287 was reduced to one lane, and that lane had been stopped completely to get a wrecker into the scene of the accident.
Then an elderly driver came barreling down the closed lane, narrowly missing firemen Michael Newhouse, Jackie Bell, Chris Wilson, and Chuck Robertson all of whom managed to get out of the way before the man crashed into a 1998 model quick attack fire truck.
“We set that truck there for that purpose,” Jeremy said. “We try to set something like that up for that very reason – so that someone runs into a truck instead of running into where we are working. There is a lot of traffic on 287; and if you try to shut it down, it can be pretty hairy quickly.”
Because it was well cared for the truck probably would have lasted the department another 20 years, Jeremy said. But the accident totaled the vehicle, and it was not insured for replacement cost. Insurance paid about $20,000, but a new truck is likely to cost between $75,000 and $80,000.
A portion of the funds raised at the benefit dinner will go toward replacing the damaged truck, and other funds will go to help meet other expenses.
Jeremy said the city and county together provide more than $40,000 in funding for the department, but that is not enough to pay for everything. Fortunately, the department usually receives between $15,000 and $20,000 a year in donations. But this year has been harder than most.
“Last year was slow, but this year we’ve spent a lot,” he said. “The cost of diesel hurts us, too.”
Jeremy said the department is very grateful for the Firebelles and their efforts.
“They assist us when we’re on a call, they bring us food and water, and they work with EMS to help get us cooled off during these wildfires on hot days,” Jeremy said. “They do a good job, and we are grateful to them.”
The firemen’s benefit dinner will be held on August 27 at 6 p.m. in the Donley County Activity Center. The brisket dinner will be $20 per plate, and tickets must be purchased in advance by August 13. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
To purchase tickets or make a donation, stop by The Clarendon Enterprise or call a Firebelle at 806-477-2621, 806-220-8321, 806-663-1465, or 806-683-6311.
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