Ben Estlack

The Donley County Sheriff’s Office will receive about $28,000 less from the City of Clarendon in fiscal year 2024, but the department’s overall budget won’t be hurt.

Clarendon is currently paying the sheriff’s department about $168,000 in fiscal year 2023, but that number will fall to $140,000 in the proposed new budget, which would take effect October 1.

City and county officials have been negotiating the contract for police services for about two months with the city trying to control costs while providing more money for city employees and the county trying to maintain the sheriff office’s funding.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said the cut in city funding this year will be made up in the county budget so his office will not see a net decrease.

“We’ve found a way to make it work this year,” Blackburn said, noting that county officials are exploring the creation of a countywide “improvement district,” which could use sales taxes to help fund the sheriff’s office.

While the improvement district is being explored, the county will be applying for a state grant that would bring $250,000 in funds for law enforcement to the county.

In order to qualify for the grant, Blackburn’s salary had to be increased and the county will have to provide for that expense until the grant comes through in January.

“The state says sheriff’s have to make at least $75,000, deputies have to make $45,000, and jailer/dispatchers have to make $40,000,” Blackburn said. “You can’t even apply for the grant if you don’t have that in your budget.”

Blackburn said the grant would be used primarily for equipment, which would relieve local taxpayers of some of their tax burden.

The City of Clarendon approved a new trash service for the city last week and authorized a 12 percent increase in garbage rates.

In a called meeting August 4, the city council formally approved assigning the contract of Diversified Waste Management of Amarillo to Waste Connections after haggling with the new company for several weeks.

Diversified has provided Clarendon’s trash services for three years; but earlier this year, the company sold its trash collection service to Waste Connections.

Diversified’s contract with the city gave it the ability to request rate increases annually, but it had never done so, according to City Administrator David Dockery.

“Waste Connections initially wanted a rate increase of 17.5 percent,” Dockery said. “If you look back at the Consumer Price Index over the last three years, that’s where that figure comes from. But the city felt like that was too big a jump all at once.”

Dockery said the city recognizes that the cost of services has risen due to inflation and the city also believes that trash collection is an essential service that no one wants to do without.

In assuming Diversified’s contract, the new company will also have the right to request rate increases annualy.

The Pantex Plant and the Y-12 National Security Complex, which are managed and operated by Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), along with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Production Office (NPO), were honored with all four of the annual NNSA security awards.

The following personnel and team were honored: Timothy Alvarado, NPO (Pantex) – NNSA Bradley A. Peterson Federal Security Professional of the Year; Steven Zuniga, CNS (Pantex) – NNSA Bradley A. Peterson Contractor Security Professional of theYear; Major Courtney Coker, CNS (Y-12) Safeguards and Security – NNSA Security Manager of theYear; and Y-12 Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) Team – NNSA Security Team of the Year.
NNSA Associate Administrator and Chief for the Office of Defense Nuclear Security (DNS) Lewis “Lew” Monroe told those assembled at an awards ceremony that he appreciated being where the work was getting done. “You are knocking it out the park,” he said. “There’s no way DNS would have the success it does without what you do every day.”
“We don’t often focus on all the work you get done,” said Teresa Robbins, NPO manager. Citing the importance of the mission, she added that she sleeps well at night because “I know you’ve got this.”
“I am so proud of the Security teams at both sites,” said Kristy McWilliams, CNS Vice President of Safeguards, Security, and Emergency Services. “The individuals honored with these awards are quite simply the best of the best and I congratulate each and every one of them. Their leadership, hard work, professionalism, and willingness to work as a cohesive team are to be commended.”

US Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) this week introduced the Government Off TikTok Act to prohibit Federal Government officials from maintaining official accounts on TikTok.

The bill also emphasizes that TikTok is a proven national security threat to the United States and that no US Official should be posting about official business through a media outlet controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

“We know that when you download TikTok, you willingly open the door for the CCP to access your data without restriction,” Jackson said. “Not only should government officials be setting a good example for all Americans to help deter the use of the Chinese-owned platform, but they should understand the major national security risks associated with using the application. The evidence is clear, TikTok is a major national security risk with numerous privacy issues associated, not to mention the negative social impacts occurring especially to our children. I am fully dedicated to confronting the threat posed by the CCP in every possible manner, and cutting off Chinese access to our data, especially for Government officials, is a top priority.” Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX), Ralph Norman (R-SC), and Josh Brecheen (R-OK) cosponsored Jackson’s legislation.