Ben Estlack

UMC Needs Outreach will present a community program on the dangers of illicit drugs and synthetic substances Monday, October 20, at the Mulkey Theatre at 6 p.m.

This event is open to the entire community, and school officials encourage parents to attend the session, as all junior high and high school students will have the opportunity to attend the same presentation the following day.

This is a valuable opportunity to learn, prepare, and begin meaningful conversations with your children about the risks of vaping and drug use.

The program presented by Charlie Nichols, MSN, RN, will equip individuals with knowledge about these substances and their consequences and offer guidance to those who may be in need. Substances covered will include fentanyl, vaping, synthetic marijuana, and flakka.

This program is being sponsored by the Clarendon CISD HI-5 Engagement Committee. Free childcare will be available during the Mulkey presentation, provided by Clarendon High School students in the foyer of the Bronco Gym.

For information, contact Jen Bellar at CCISD at 806-310-7220.

The City of Clarendon received its highest October sales tax revenue when Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock distributed allocations to local cities last week.

Clarendon’s revenue of $40,621.12 set a new bar for the month, beating the previous record set last October by 3.57 percent. For the calendar year-to-date, Clarendon is now up 8.39 percent with total sales tax revenues of $455,576.49.

Hedley was off 35.71 percent this month with an allocation of $821.50 and is now down for the year 3.14 percent at $12,461.68.

Howardwick was down 23.96 percent for October to $1,764.89 but remains ahead 13.42 percent for the calendar year-to-date with revenues of $19,612.57.

Donley County Assistance District 1, still in its first year of sales tax collections to support law enforcement in Howardwick, brought in $1,144.63 for the month, pushing its total for the year-to-date to $12,879.17.

The City of Memphis saw a slight increase this October, up 4.6 percent to $30,420.83, nudging that city’s year-to-date collections up 1.39 percent to $325,778.71.

Boosted by nearby datacenter construction, Claude sales tax revenues are up 56.33 percent at $46,712.36 compared to $29,082.24 a year ago with the year-to-date figure up almost 21 percent at $242,901.05.

Statewide, Hancock distributed $1.1 billion in local sales tax allocations for October, 3.9 percent more than in October 2024. These allocations are based on sales made in August by businesses that report tax monthly.

The Donley County Health Fair will be held Thursday, October 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center.

This year’s health fair will include flu shots, blood screenings (fasting), blood pressure checks, STI screenings and treatment, and lots of health care resources from a variety of providers.

For more information, call the Extension at 806-874-2141.

The bridge replacement project on US 287 in Clarendon is nearing the end of Phase One, according to officials with the TxDOT Childress District.

The box and subgrade work is complete as of last week, and the contractor was anticipating the curb and gutter work would be completed by the end of last week with sidewalks being complete this week.

TxDOT says the plan is to begin pouring the concrete pavement by the week of October 20 with an anticipated date of moving to phase two the end of November.

Hedley will celebrate its 73rd Cotton Festival this weekend October 10 and 11.

To start the celebration, the annual Chili Supper will be held Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Lions Den.

Saturday will be the big day of the festival with more than 30 vendors coming to Hedley from around the Texas Panhandle. Kids will enjoy a bounce house and train rides, and there will be food and other activities as well.

Bingo games benefitting the Hedley FFA will run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Building.

The annual kids’ parade will start at 10:00 a.m. on Main Street followed by the big parade at 2:00 p.m. Lions will be serving barbecue chicken, pinto beans, and dessert for lunch at the Lions Den.

Hedley ex-students will reunite at the school at 3:00, and drawings for several fundraisers will be held at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the bale of cotton are available for $5 each or five tickets for $20.