Roger Estlack

With the sign-up deadline coming up soon, it appears the City of Clarendon will be the only one out of six local governments that will be having an election this spring.

Clarendon had five people running for two positions Tuesday afternoon, while other local boards either only had enough candidates to fill the terms available or were still looking for candidates to sign up.

Clarendon has five positions available. Incumbent Aldermen Ashlee Estlack and Eulaine McIntosh are seeking re-election to two full terms and are being challenged by Jeremy Jeffers, Brittney Wolfe, and Richard Dzamko. As of Tuesday afternoon, no one had signed up to run for mayor or for either of the two unexpired terms that are also up on the council.

In Hedley, all three incumbent city aldermen have filed for re-election – Larry Ely, Tonya Gibson, and Jennifer Floyd.

Howardwick also has a full slate of candidates. Mayor Pro-tem Johnny Floyd has signed up to run for the vacant mayor’s position, while Alderman Jada Murray has filed to run again, and Matt Moore has also filed for the other available alderman’s position.

Incumbents Michael Metcalf and Bruce Howard have signed up for the two positions on the Hedley CISD Board, but only incumbent Robin Ellis has filed for the three positions on the Clarendon CISD Board.

The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has had two of three incumbents up this year running so far. Rose Lemley – Place One and Cindy Shelton – Place Three are seeking re-election. No one has signed up for Place Two as of Tuesday.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the board. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.

Filing continues through Friday, February 14. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 3, 2025.

One Donley County case was among three heard by the 100th Judicial District Court when it met in Childress County January 14.

District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Dale Rabe presiding.

Donny Lee Fair, 53, from Clarendon, was sentenced to 31 years in prison for the third-degree felony offense of failure to comply with sex offender registration enhanced to a first-degree felony, that occurred in Donley County on July 17, 2022.

Fair was originally placed on probation for the offense on December 14, 2023. On August 22, 2024, the State filed its motion requesting the Court to revoke Fair’s probation, alleging 19 violations of his conditions of probation.

Fair was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and $340 court costs.

Humberto Olascoaga, 44 from Childress, was placed on two years’ probation for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Olascoaga was arrested by Childress Police Officer Daniel Hill on September 30, 2024.

Olascoaga pleaded to an information filed by the State on December 12, 2024.

Olascoaga was also ordered to pay a $500 fine, $340 in court costs, $180 lab fee, and complete 100 hours of community service. If his probation is adjudicated, Olascoaga faces up to two years in prison.

Nia Tranise Moorer, 27 from Oakland, Calif., was placed on five years’ probation for the state jail felony offense of collision involving injury.

Moorer was arrested by Memphis Police Chief Rex Plant on February 8, 2024. Moorer was indicted by a Hall County Grand Jury on October 9, 2024.

Moorer was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $290 in court costs, and complete 100 hours of community service. If her probation is adjudicated, Moorer faces up to two years in prison.

Entering week two of the sign-up period, the cities of Clarendon and Hedley, along with the Donley County Hospital District, have had candidates step forward for the spring election period.

Incumbent Clarendon Aldermen Ashlee Estlack and Eulaine McIntosh and challengers Jeremy Jeffers and Brittney Wolfe have signed up for the two full terms expiring this year on city council. No candidates have signed up for mayor’s seat or the two partial terms on the council as of Monday morning.

In Hedley with three aldermen’s seats up this year, incumbent Jennifer Floyd has filed to run for re-election.

The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has had two of three incumbents up this year running so far. Rose Lemley – Place One and Cindy Shelton – Place Three are seeking re-election.

No change in Howardwick this week with Howardwick Alderman and Mayor Pro-tem Johnny Floyd has signed up to run for the vacant mayor’s position, while Alderman Jada Murray has filed to run again. Matt Moore has also filed for the other available alderman’s position.

Also no one has signed up for the three positions on the Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees or the two positions on the Hedley CISD Board as of Monday morning.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the board. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.

Filing continues through Friday, February 14. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 3, 2025.