Lions welcome new member
Sales tax revenue drops for Clarendon
Clarendon and Hedley sales taxes dropped while Howardwick saw an increase when Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar delivered March allocations to local governments last week.
Clarendon’s revenue dropped 3.97 percent compared to this time last year with an allocation of $33,018.04. The city is still ahead 1.19 percent for the year-to-date collections at $123,270.08.
Hedley dropped 0.73 percent to $725.88 for the month but is running 24.58 percent ahead for the year at $3,381.55.
Howardwick posted a gain of 24.57 percent with an allocation of $1,890.87 and is now 18.95 percent ahead for the year-to-date at $5,901.81.
Statewide Hegar delivered $1 billion in local sales tax allocations for March, 9.9 percent more than in March 2022.
These allocations are based on sales made in January by businesses that report tax monthly.
Home Delivery
Asher Cruze Jaramillo will have a story to tell when he grows up after he came into this world in a most unusual way.
In the early morning hours of February 25, Asher was born in Clarendon… at home… in the bathtub.
“I should have known he would be a little firecracker and make a grand appearance,” his mother, Jessica Jaramillo, said. “I found out that I was expecting him on the 4th of July after all.”
The last recorded birth in Donley County was in 2010, and that event was believed to have been the first in about 20 years before that.
Most folks try to get to medical facilities in Amarillo or Childress to deliver their bundles of joy these days. And truthfully, Jessica also planned to deliver her third child in Amarillo. But things don’t always go according to plan.
“I woke up about 3:30 in the morning thinking I needed to go to the bathroom,” she recalled. “Then I felt one big contraction and thought the baby would come later that afternoon.”
Having had two other children, Jessica felt like she had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Her babies had always been early – 35 weeks each time before – but deliveries had not been quick.
Asher had already been different though. He tried to arrive much earlier, which gave the family a scare.
“My contractions had to be stopped, and I had to get steroid shots for his lungs and was guaranteed over and over that he would not make it past 33 weeks gestation,” Jessica recalled. “We asked for prayers on social media and received such an outpouring of love from the community and our church (the First Assembly of God).
“Each time I made it to another week, my doctor was in utter disbelief. She just couldn’t understand how it was possible. I can attest that it was because of God and all the prayers from the wonderful people in this town.”
God also was there to protect Jessica and Asher that early morning as she gradually realized after that first contraction that this baby wasn’t going to wait for long.
She and her husband Nathan tried to go to the car, but she decided instead to get in a bath to relieve some of her discomfort. Soon she told her husband to leave her alone in the bathroom and says her body just took over.
At 4:59, Asher entered the world, and his mother pulled him from the water, cooing and looking at her but not crying.
Associated Ambulance Authority arrived to help after the baby was born and took mother and child to BSA Hospital in Amarillo where they were released after a couple of days.
“It was the scariest time of my life, but it was also pretty neat,” Jessica said.
Asher was 20 inches long and weighed 8 pounds, 15 ounces.
“I am so proud that my sweet boy will get to tell people that he was born here,” she said.
Grant to pay $350k for Howardwick paving
A $350,000 award for street improvements in Howardwick is moving forward this week as city officials met Tuesday night to authorize the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission to administer the grant.
City Secretary Sandy Childress said the Community Development Block Grant is exciting for the people of Howardwick and comes after a lot of hard work for the last three years.
“It just a good, positive thing for the City of Howardwick and the people here,” she said.
The success of the city’s grant application hinged on Howardwick changing the how its level of low to moderate income household were reported. The 2010 US Census over-reported the income level of the community, so city officials surveyed residents personally and discovered that more than 70 percent of households were of low to moderate incomes.
“We always got beat in the past based on the points system,” Childress said of previous attempts to get grant funds.
CDBG grant funds are based on need, and part of how a city shows need is demonstrating that its residents are of low to moderate income. The City of Clarendon is currently trying to survey local households for the same reason – to improve the chances of getting more grant funds.
Starting in August 2020, Howardwick surveyed its households and found 70.56 percent were at low to moderate incomes. It also proved the 2010 Census has over-reported the city’s population.
With that new information in hand, the city began working on the grant application in April 2021 and finally received approval in February.
“It was like a feeling that we’ve done really good,” Childress said of the news the grant was approved. “Mayor Tony Clemishire was super proud for the city and its residents because his whole focus is on cleaning up, better water, and general improvements for the city.”
The grant funds will be used to totally rebuild the city’s main road, Rick Husband Blvd. from about Porter Drive all the way to City Hall. Rick Husband is maintained from about Porter to Highway 70 by Greenbelt Water Authority.
Childress said when the work begins it may inconvenience some people, but the city will try to set up alternative routes where possible.
The city will provide matching funds of $17,500 for the project, and Childress says they are working on future grant applications.
The city also has used about $50,000 in COVID-relief funds to purchase a dozer and a dump truck to help work on other roads.
Childress is also still working on a petition drive to reverse a water rate increase from Red River Water Authority. Childress said residents have until March 31 to sign the petition and she encourages residents to come to City Hall to sign.
CHS UIL teams practice in Canadian
Seventeen Clarendon High School students competed in the Canadian academic practice meet February 11.
Adriana Araujo placed sixth in Prose Interpretation. Avery Halsey and Cate Word placed fifth and sixth respectively in Copy Editing. Millie McAnear tied for fifth in Ready Writing while Davin Mays wrote his way to a third-place finish in Feature Writing.
Cutter Seay rounded out the day with a silver medal in Informative Speaking.
Clarendon will compete at the district meet at Clarendon College on March 22.
Hedley OAP advances
CHS OAP advancing
Lady Broncos JV win Pampa Tournament
The Lady Bronco junior varsity team went 5-0 in the Pampa Tournament to claim the championship according to head coach Brad Elam. The ladies defeated Booker JV, Borger JV, Canadian JV, and Palo Duro JV. Their fifth win was a forfeit from Amarillo High JV.
The varsity team took second place in the tournament by tying Caprock JV, defeating Borger JV, Amarillo High JV, Claude and Bushland JV.
The ladies blasted Claude by the score of 14-1. No other stats for the games were available at press time.
On February 25, the Lady Bronco varsity team played Lubbock Christian in the Tulia Tournament and earned a big win at 7-3. The ladies had eight hits on the day, had three strike outs, and only committed one error. Tandie Cummins was on the mound and got the win.
Hayden Elam and Kennadie Cummins went to the plate three times with each of the players recording two runs. Baylee Gabel, T. Cummins, and Gracie Wilkins were responsible for the other three runs for the Lady Broncos. K. Cummins, Gabel, T. Cummins, Aleyah Weatherton, and Chelsea Wright. Wilkins was responsible for two RBI’s.
The Lady Broncos posted triples by Elam, T. Cummins, and Wilkins and Elam had four stolen bases and K. Cummins had two.
They also defeated New Deal 10-0 and Booker 12-1 but lost to Lubbock Cooper JV 6-10.
The Lady Broncos will be participating in the Randall High School Tournament March 9-10. They will play Amarillo High JV, Tulia, Randall JV, and Bushland.
CC chosen to participate in state grant
Clarendon College has been selected to participate in a new statewide economic mobility grant due to CC’s outstanding accomplishments and dedication to student success.
The Talent Strong Texas Pathways is a $16 million five-year statewide economic mobility grant administered by the Texas Success Center is designed to increase the number of credentialed Texans prepared for high-demand careers that offer a living wage.
CC President Tex Buckhaults said Clarendon College is excited and honored to be a part of the Texas Pathways Grant.
The state’s higher education strategic plan, “Building a Talent Strong Texas,” targets expanding the attainment of valuable postsecondary credentials. The intent is to increase employment opportunities and income for individuals while creating a deeper talent pool for employers.
“Texas higher education has unique responsibilities and roles to play in what comes next, to expand opportunities for all Texans and ensure our economic competitiveness on a global scale,” said Harrison Keller, Commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. “Now is the time to seize the vast, Texas-sized opportunities before us to achieve impact at scale and to dedicate ourselves to building a talent strong Texas.”
The Texas Success Center, working with the state’s community colleges, is supporting the scaling of inclusive talent pathways directing students through collaboratively designed programs beginning with short-term credentials and early workplace learning.
“Texas is very fortunate to have a set of funding partners willing to invest in the important work of the community colleges,” said Dr. Cynthia Ferrell, Vice President of the Texas Success Center. “We are very impressed by the college’s commitment to design and implement talent pathways. We are excited to work with Clarendon College as they continue to partner with local business and education leaders to provide valuable workforce and education opportunities.”
Fund established to help Cooper family
A fund has been established at the Donley County State Bank to receive donations to help the family of Coy Cooper as he battles cancer.
Plans are also in place for a Bake Sale to be held March 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Burton Memorial Library with the proceeds going to help the Cooper family.
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