News

Jarod Bellar was named Wednesday night, December 4, as the lone finalist in the search for a new superintendent for Clarendon CISD.

School trustees made that unanimous decision in a called meeting following the third and final interview in a second round of meetings with top applicants this week, according to Interim Superintendent Mike Jackson.

Bellar is currently the superintendent of Baird ISD east of Abilene, Jackson said. He began his career as a teacher and coach in Clarendon in 1994. He later became a principal at Springlake-Earth before taking a principal’s position at Baird. He’s been the superintendent there since 2011.

“I think his prior experience here was a factor in his selection,” Jackson said. “When you have someone who knows the community, it says a lot.”

Jackson said Baird will start work here in January and will spend some time with him before that to learn more about the school.

Clarendon ISD must wait 21 days before formally hiring Bellar.

After a successful Small Business Saturday last weekend, Chamber of Commerce officials are hoping folks will continue to shop “Totally Locally” this month as merchants plan three nights of Late Night Shopping.

Saturday’s activities included a craft fair at the Arena of Life Cowboy Church from noon to 8 p.m. that was accompanied by VFW Auxiliary concessions and soup dinner. Santa arrived at the Courthouse at 5 p.m., and the courthouse grounds were lit at 6 p.m. following caroling from the audience and a group of elementary students.

Riley Lee was the winner of $250 in Clarendon Cash Saturday during the Chamber’s Christmas Bingo promotion.

Chamber coloring contest winners were kindergarten – first, Memory Farmer and second, Lincoln Smith; first grade – first, Journee and second, Kimmy Williams; second grade – first, Hayven and second, Haven; and third grade – first, Brilynn Bruce and second, Elika.
The Chamber’s Totally Locally Gift Ideas blog is now up on ClarendonTX.com and features gift ideas from about a dozen participating businesses. Each gift idea costs $50 or less and are available for sale and also are on the Prize Wheel to be given away over the next three Thursday nights, December 5, 12, and 19, during Late Night Shopping.

“Totally Locally” merchants participating at press time are A Fine Feathered Nest, Clarendon Outpost, Cornell’s Country Store, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Every Nook & Cranny, Floyd’s Automotive, Henson’s, J&W Lumber, Mike’s Pharmacy, Saye’s Tack Store, Studio E, and Turquoise & Rust.

Shoppers can register at any “Totally Locally” merchant during the season for a chance to spin the wheel for prizes and for a chance to win $500 in Clarendon Cash.

According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.

Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.

The Mulkey Theatre will present a “Big Band Christmas” concert in a live performance on Saturday, December 14, at 7 p.m.

The South Plains Dance Orchestra will return to the Mulkey stage to entertain everyone with popular holiday songs. The group previously performed at the opening gala of the theatre on May 25.

General admission for this Christmas concert is $15 per person, and VIP balcony seating packages are available for $150 for a set of four recliner seats with special refreshments and service.

General tickets are available online at MulkeyTheatre.com. General and VIP tickets may also be purchased in person at the Clarendon Visitor Center or by calling 874-SHOW.

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and all their friends are hitting the stage Thursday, December 5, as the Clarendon College Theatre Department presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” brings the beloved television special to life, complete with Charlie’s tree, Lucy’s psychiatrist booth and Linus’ blanket.

The show focuses on Charlie Brown, who complains about the overwhelming materialism he sees among everyone during the Christmas season – so Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but this proves to be a frustrating endeavor. When an attempt to restore the proper holiday spirit with a forlorn little Christmas fir tree fails, he needs Linus’ help to discover the real meaning of Christmas.

Show time is 7 p.m. in the Harned Sisters Auditorium in Clarendon, and admission $5 for adults, children 17 and under are free, and anyone with a Clarendon College ID is also free.

Clarendon College Regents met in a called session November 27 to consider naming an interim president following their November 21 action to end the contract of Dr. Robert Riza at the close of this month.

The board met with the college attorney for more than an hour and a half to discuss Riza’s contract before returning to open session for the matter of appointing an interim.
Regent Lon Adams said he thought the board needed to look to Vice President Tex Buckhaults to fill in until a proper interim could be named. Board Chairman Tommy Waldrop said he had mentioned to Buckhaults that the board would be “leaning on him” during the time of transition.

The board then approved a motion to name Buckhaults as “part time interim president.”
Waldrop said this week that Regents are scheduled to meet again this Thursday, December 5, for a report from the attorney and further discussion on an interim president as well as other business.

Local merchants encourage you to shop “Totally Locally” this weekend as the community celebrates “Christmas in Clarendon” and the sixth annual lighting of the Donley County Courthouse.

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to shop local businesses, and the Chamber and its partners have lined up several activities to make shopping at home fun, including a downtown Christmas Craft Fair, a Christmas Bingo promotion, three nights of Late Night Shopping, and spinning the wheel for prizes.

As part of Small Business Saturday this weekend, a Christmas Craft Fair will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at the Arena of Life Cowboy Church. Everyone is encouraged to come downtown and check out what the vendors have available there. The VFW Auxiliary will have concessions all day at the craft fair and will host their annual Soup Dinner from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Serving will continue through the Courthouse Lighting until the food runs out.

The Mulkey Theatre will offer an open house for kids from 1 to 4 p.m., and activities on the courthouse lawn get underway at 5 p.m. with Santa Claus and caroling featuring local children’s groups. The formal lighting will be at 6 p.m.

Shoppers can play Bingo at participating merchants both Friday and Saturday. Pick up a Bingo card at any participating merchant and get it marked as you make your shopping rounds. Each person getting a “bingo” can redeem their card for a prize and be entered into a drawing for $250 in Clarendon Cash Saturday night at the Cowboy Church.

The Bingo prize redemptions and drawing will be held at the Cowboy Church following the Courthouse Lighting at 7:15.

Clarendon students who entered the Chamber’s coloring contest will have their artwork on display during the craft fair downtown, and winners of that competition will be announced at 7 p.m.

The Christmas celebration continues Sunday evening with a special showing of The Polar Express at the Mulkey Theatre, sponsored by Lowe’s Family Center. Admission will be a donation to the Donley County Community Fund, and attendees are encouraged to get into the spirit of the movie by wearing their pajamas to the show, which starts at 6 p.m.

The shopping fun continues with Late Night Shopping dates set up for December 5, 12, and 19 and the Spinning of the Wheel at Saye’s / Flying “A” Tack on Kearney Street.
Participating “Totally Locally” merchants are being featured on an online blog with gift ideas from each store. About a dozen gift ideas will be featured on the blog this week at ClarendonTX.com, and those items will be up for grabs on the Wheel during Late Night Shopping. Shoppers can register at any “Totally Locally” merchant during the season, but you do have to be present to spin on Thursday nights. Four lucky spinners will be drawn during each Late Night Shopping.

“Totally Locally” merchants participating at press time are A Fine Feathered Nest, Clarendon Outpost, Cornell’s Country Store, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Every Nook & Cranny, Floyd’s Automotive, Henson’s, J&W Lumber, Mike’s Pharmacy, Saye’s Tack Store, Studio E, and Turquoise & Rust.

Local merchants are ready to help you find something for everyone on your Christmas list with their Black Friday and Small Business Saturday specials on November 29 and 30.
Details on local sales are printed in the Holiday Gift Guide included in this week’s Clarendon Enterprise and also available at ClarendonLive.com.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 when it was founded by American Express to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.

Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.

Clarendon College Regents voted unanimously last week to end the contract of President Robert Riza at the end of this year.

Speaking during the board’s regular meeting Thursday, November 21, Chairman Tommy Waldrop said he saw three options for Dr. Riza’s contract, which was set to expire at the end of May 2020. Those options were to leave the contract as is, to extend the contract, or to end the contract and buy Riza out.

The chairman had suggested moving the meeting into closed session, but Riza preferred to keep it in open session.

Waldrop said the coming end of the semester and the lack of having people in key positions as reasons the board needed to address the contract issue.

Regent Darlene Spier said she was worried about an upcoming visit from SACS-COC, the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools – Commission on Colleges which accredits the college, and “putting the institution at more risk.”

Waldrop asked for a motion to extend the contract. There was none. He then asked for a motion to leave the contract in place, and there was again no motion. He asked for a motion to terminate the contract by December 31, 2019, and regents discussed needing to get an attorney involved.

Spier made a motion to end the contract, but there was no second only more discussion about how to engage the attorney. Regent Edwin Campbell said that he wanted the process to be fair to Dr. Riza.

Campbell later offered a motion to end Riza’s contract by December 31, 2019, pending negotiations. Carey Wann seconded the motion, and the remaining regents present voted in favor: Waldrop, Spier, Campbell, Wann, Ruth Robinson, Lon Adams, and Jerry Woodard. Regent Susie Shields was absent from last week’s meeting.

Earlier in the meeting the board accepted the resignation of Regent Bill Sansing. He is the second board member to resign this year.

Jack Moreman resigned after the April board meeting, during which his motion to extend Riza’s contract following the president’s annual evaluation failed by a vote of 4-5.

At press time Monday, the Board of Regents were scheduled to meet Wednesday, November 27, in a called meeting to discuss Riza’s contract, possible action on an interim president, and a presidential search.

Clarendon officials have opened a debate regarding the cost of its annual service contract with the Donley County Sheriff’s Office.

The City Council discussed the matter during its November 14 regular meeting with members of the county commissioners’ court in attendance.

The current contract is several months away from expiring, but Mayor Sandy Skelton wanted both sides to get an early start on negotiations.

“Since the current contract expires September 30, 2020, I wanted Council members to begin the conversation early so that the City and County can work together to determine how much the City would contribute to law enforcement (sheriff department and jail) effective October 1, 2020,” Skelton said.

The city has had a contract with the sheriff’s office since 1981. The current agreement calls for a two percent annual increase, and the current price is $158,468.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn says he’s willing to negotiate the annual increase rate, but he says he won’t do the contract for less money.

“It’s been working very well for the city and the county since 1981,” he said. “It won’t be me who messes up what’s worked since 1981.”

Blackburn says the contract gives Clarendon 24-hour law enforcement coverage and that not having the contract would be bad for the city and the county.

Skelton feels like other municipalities should be helping with the cost.

“Howardwick and Hedley could possibly become partners if they chose to do so sometime in the future,” Skelton said. “According to the official 2010 Census, Clarendon makes up 73 percent of the population in the three cities, while Howardwick has 15 percent and Hedley 12 percent.”

The mayor said he has visited with Howardwick Mayor Tony Clemishire and Hedley Mayor Carrie Butler, both of who indicated to him they would discuss these issues with their respective councils.

Blackburn says what Hedley and Howardwick do is not relevant to Clarendon’s contract with the county.

“The contract is just between us… the city and the county,” he said.

The sheriff said the city cannot afford to fund a separate police department and that even if it could, his department would still have to provide 911 dispatching and jail services for the city.

Skelton says the city will continue to discuss the issue of law enforcement funding with the county.

“I feel certain that something can be worked out long before the current contract expires in September,” Skelton said. “It is my belief that law enforcement should be a high priority for any city regardless of its size.”

There is a growing crowd of candidates – ranging from political unknowns to a trusted adviser of President Donald Trump – who are looking to represent the 13th Congressional District after US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) retires at the end of his current term.

At least nine candidates have either declared their candidacy or are considering a run for the office. The list includes seven Republicans, one Democrat, and one Libertarian.

Greg Sagan is the declared Democrat running for the seat. He lives in Amarillo and previously ran for the seat in 2018.

Jack B. Westbook has been reported as a Libertarian candidate for Thornberry’s seat. He challenged State Sen. Kel Seliger for that office last year.

The crowded Republican field of declared candidates includes Jamie Cully; Chris Ekstrom of Dallas; Elaine Hayes of Amarillo; Vance Snider II of Amarillo; Josh Winegarner of Amarillo; and Monique Worthy of Wichita Falls.

Another candidate that sources have told the Enterprise is running is Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson, a US Navy officer who currently serves as Assistant to the President and Chief Medical Adviser in the Trump administration.

Although Jackson has not announced his candidates, a top member of the president’s political team in the White House told the Enterprise Tuesday afternoon that Jackson is definitely considering a run for the 13th Congressional District in Texas. Jackson is a Levelland native.

Rep. Thornberry, meanwhile, released a statement Tuesday afternoon that said in part:
“When I announced that I would not seek reelection to Congress, I expected that there would be a number of candidates in the race. I did not expect, however, that there would be candidates for the 13th District who do not live in the District, did not grow up in the District, or have any meaningful ties to the people they wish to represent.”
The Enterprise will have more on these candidates in the future.