Ben Estlack

A former Clarendon animal control officer was jailed Monday on a charge of Cruelty to Animals after a puppy was reportedly killed by her last week.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said 29-year-old Alexandra Armbrust turned herself in July 29 after a warrant for her arrest was issued that morning.

Armbrust was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Sarah Hatley with bond set at $10,000 for the third-degree felony. She was released on bond Monday.

Blackburn said according to his office’s investigation, the puppy was picked up last week by Armbrust and given to a local family. The sheriff said the puppy’s owners went to City Hall on July 25 and paid a fee to get their pet back. At that time, Armbrust allegedly returned to the family to whom she had given the puppy, shot the animal in the head, put it in a trash bag, and returned to City Hall to give it to the owners.

The sheriff said the family who had received the puppy from Armbrust also arrived at City Hall to report what had happened, and a sheriff’s deputy had to be called to calm the situation. The sheriff’s office began taking statements that day and continued the next day.

City Administrator Brian Barboza said Armbrust was fired Friday afternoon, July 26, following the incident on Thursday. He says the puppy, described on social media posts as a four-month-old chihuahua, was picked up July 23 and a picture of it was placed on the front of City Hall in accordance with city policy.

Barboza said he believed originally the dog had been put down Thursday morning because Armbrust had asked him that morning if it was okay to put down a dog because she wasn’t going to have time to take it to Pampa to be euthanized. But when the owners arrived at City Hall Thursday afternoon, he said Armbrust told different stories about whether the dog’s remains were in Pampa or Memphis.

When Armbrust was sent to get the dog, sometime before 2:30, Barboza said she apparently went to the home she had given the puppy to, shot it, and returned to City Hall. He said the family followed Armbrust back to City Hall and said she had shot the dog in front of their kids.

Barboza tells the Enterprise that city rules require a dog without identification to be held for three days before it can be euthanized on the fourth day.

“Her actions do not reflect was this city is about,” Barboza said.
Armbrust went to work for the city in mid-April and had just completed her basic animal control training and was scheduled to take euthanasia training this week.

Blackburn said the charge against Armbrust has a penalty of two to ten years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

The Clarendon CISD Trustees extended the contract of Superintendent Jarod Bellar during their regular meeting July 16 and continued to fill out the faculty roster for the coming school year.

The board met behind closed doors before returning to open session and taking action on personnel matters.

Bellar’s performance was evaluated, and trustees voted to extend his contract by one year through June 30, 2028.

Trustees also voted to accept Bellar’s recommendations to offer contracts of employment to Kathy Duniven, Rebecca Diggs, and Isaac Semans for the coming school year.

Bellar told the Enterprise Tuesday the school has just one spot remaining – a junior high special education position – in order to have a full staff for the coming year.

Classes begin August 14 at Clarendon CISD.

In other business, Bellar reported on the school’s roofing project, the status of the Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant, and the Lone Star Cup results.

The board voted to approve the Johnson and Sheldon, PLLC engagement letter to conduct the annual financial report.

Trustees also adopted resolutions authorizing certain individuals to possess firearms under Board Policy as discussed. More information on that will be reported in a future issue.

The sixth annual Howardwick Hoedown will be held this Saturday, July 20, in McMorries Memorial Park, and it looks like Mother Nature is going to keep things cool this year.

With temperatures in the 80s and chance of rain, it will be a great day to be outside to enjoy fun, food, and good company.

City Secretary and Hoedown organizer Sandy Childress says fundraised during this year’s event will go to the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department.

“Everyone come on out and have a great time,” Childress said. “It’s going to be a very special time.”

Food will be served starting at 11 a.m. and continue until it runs out, and dancing and music will continue throughout the day. Lunch will be $10 per person – hot dogs and hamburgers, chips, drink, and a cookie.

A pair of Coleman gas-powered Mini Bikes and a 5×8 trailer to haul them will be the big raffle prize for the day, and you don’t have to be present to win. Childress says a few tickets are still available and can be purchase by calling 806-874-2222. Only 350 tickets are being sold, and the cost is $20 each or six for $100.

A live on-site raffle with more than 40 prizes will also be going on all day for those present with winners every hour.

The third annual Corn Hole Tournament hosted by the Clarendon Lions Club is currently full of team and will be offering cash prizes as well as the chance for team with the best name to win custom cups. The first place team wins $600. Second place will get $350, and third place earns $150. Corn Hole teams will start warming up from 10 to 11 a.m. Call City Hall at 806-874-2222 for more information.

Other activities include the third annual putting contest, and a slip-n-slide will be available for kids.

Childress also says there will be 17 vendor booths at this year’s Hoedown, which is the most ever.

Those attending the Hoedown should plan to bring their own seating and their own umbrellas or other shading if they desire.

Hoedown activities will wind down at 4 p.m.

Garbage rates in the City of Clarendon will be going up following last week’s City Council meeting in accordance with city’s contract with Waste Connections.

The contract allows the company to receive an annual increase based on the consumer price index. The increase will be four percent and will go into effect with the August 20 through September 20 billing period, which will appear on residents’ city statements due in October.

Waste Connections representatives attended last month’s city meeting where they first requested the rate increase. City officials grilled the company about service problems affecting local residents, particularly delays in garbage being picked up.

In other city business last week, the council approved amending Ordinance 344 regarding animal control and accepted the annual report of the local housing authority. An interlocal agreement was approved regarding the Texas Municipal League’s Cyber Response Fund, and quarterly investment reports for the city were approved as presented.
Dr. Matthew Halsey was designated as the city’s rabies control authority.

In his report, City Administrator Brian Barboza said the city is working to move the city sewer line that runs underneath the old Family Dollar store at the request of O’Reilly Auto Parts.

The building was constructed in 2013 over an existing alley way with the city’s permission. Barboza said he received permission from the current property owner to relocate the line along the property line. Barboza said the city is doing the work in house with supplies on hand and told the Enterprise the work will probably only cost the city about $1,000.

Barboza also reported City Hall is working with Robertson Funeral Directors to improve accessibility on the public sidewalk in front of the funeral home.

Clarendon’s sales tax revenue rose again last week when Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar delivered July allocations to local governments.

Hegar sent $40,958.25 to Clarendon for the month, an increase of 7.09 percent compared to the same period in 2023. This city is now 2.93 percent ahead for the calendar year’s sales tax revenues with a total of $293,210.01.

Hedley’s allocation this month was up 63.83 percent from $723.89 last July to $1,186.02. That city is running 7.48 percent for the calendar year-to-date with $8,104.01 so far.

Howardwick received $1,610.88, down 1.93 percent from one year ago. The year-to-date figure there is now down 16.28 percent at $10,793.64. However, Howardwick also dropped its sales tax rate by one-quarter of one percent at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Statewide, Hegar sent $1.1 billion in sales tax allocations for July, 0.2 percent less than in July 2023. These allocations are based on sales made in May by businesses that report tax monthly.