Ben Estlack

Premier Commercial Group was selected to lead a $3.1 million restoration project on the 1890 Donley County Courthouse last week during a called session of the Commissioners’ Court.

The County selected Premier to be the Construction Manager At-Risk for the new project based in part on the work the company did on the courthouse following damage caused by a 2021 freeze. Commissioners also considered a proposal by Phoenix One, the company that originally restored the building in 2003.

The new project will focus on exterior brick on the south wall, which is slowly pulling away from the building. Premier will also replace or conserve sandstone on the building that is spalling or flaking, but the scope of that work is secondary to repairing the brick wall.

The Texas Historical Commission’s Courthouse Preservation Program has awarded $2,594,974 for this project with the county matching the grant with $457,937 in its own courthouse maintenance fund.

The Donley County Courthouse is the oldest functioning courthouse in the Texas Panhandle.

Construction started on the building in the spring of 1890 at a cost of $35,000 and county offices moved into the building in February of 1891.

The building was one of the first courthouses restored by the Courthouse Preservation Program at a total cost of $4.2 million in 2003.

Clarendon College Regents met with architectural firm Parkhill during a called meeting May 14 to discuss bringing the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a project that could cost the college about half a million dollars.

CC President Tex Buckhaults said the meeting with Parkhill stems from a December 2023 ADA survey of the Clarendon campus, which found “overwhelming” ADA issues on campus.

“It was a 48-page report that we have been working through since 2024,” Buckhaults said.

While some issues were able to be addressed in-house, other issues will require substantial investment and the input of architects to meet federal standards. Buckhault said the college chose to focus on the fine arts center first because of how important it is to the community with so many events held there each year.

Parkhill will charge CC about $180,000 to create plans for renovations and oversee the project. Work would actually begin after the first of the year.

The project will focus on making the building accessible, improving accessibility of restrooms, and creating accessibility to the stage from the auditorium. Breeze-ways on the east and west sides of the building would either be completely or partially enclosed with matching brick to allow for expansion of the foyer restrooms and installation of a lift in the auditorium to the stage.

Another lift near the current southeast auditorium exit, would give accessibility to a new exterior sidewalk along the eastside of the building where a large planter box currently runs towards the front entrance.

Buckhaults says the college will be able to pay for the work with money currently in reserves and says the project is expected to take about 30 weeks when it gets underway next year, which would impact college and high school graduation exercises.

CHS alumni who are interested in an all-school reunion during Homecoming this fall are invited to a planning meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 16, at The Roost, the new event space at 214 S. Kearney which previously housed the Cowboy Church.

Organizers are considering a two-day reunion, starting with a meal prior to the homecoming football game, activities following the game and during the day on Saturday, and closing with a catered meal Saturday evening.

The Bronco football schedule has not been released, but Homecoming will be Sept. 5.

Clarendon College is among many community colleges across the nation raising concerns about the federal budget bill, referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and the effects it could have on student financial aid.

CC President Tex Buckhaults said students attending Clarendon College could receive about $471,000 less in federal Pell Grants if the US Senate approves the bill as passed by the House of Representatives.

The bill changes the definition of a full-time student from enrollment in 12 semester hours, which has been the standard for decades, to enrollment in 15 semester hours.

The bill also changes the definition of a part-time student and stipulates that students taking less than eight hours would not qualify for Pell money at all.

“About 150 of our kids would go from full time to half time,” Buckhaults said, which would significantly reduce the federal money they are eligible for.

Community college advocates say students must integrate college into their work and family lives. Many of them cannot manage 15 credits as full-time students.

Part-time students who are taking two courses frequently cannot take a third course, which they would now need to qualify for Pell Grants.

Buckhaults said supporters of Clarendon College and its students should contact their US Senators and ask them to reject the House’s eligibility cuts for Pell Grant recipients.

Bargain shoppers will be in for a treat during the 20th annual “Trash to Treasures” garage sale event that will be held in the Clarendon area this Saturday.

A total of 23 individual garage sales are scheduled to be held. A complete description of each sale is printed on the official Treasure Maps located on the last page of this week’s Enterprise.