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Five Texas Panhandle communities have come together to host a multi-day, family friendly event along Highway 83 this summer.

The towns of Canadian, Wheeler, Shamrock, Wellington and Childress have each scheduled four days full of fun from Thursday, August 1, through Sunday, August 4.

Some of the things on tap for Wild & Free on 83 include live music, art exhibits, scavenger hunts, helicopter tours, clay shoots, cookouts, block parties, golf tournaments, star watching, wine tasting and much more.

Area residents are invited to discover the rich heritage of these communities by visiting points of interest in each town, while enjoying events scheduled throughout the day.

“It’s an easy drive over for most people in the Panhandle,” says organizer Kristen Moudy with the Wheeler Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Center. “We hope our friends from neighboring towns will come experience what we have to offer along highway 83 and learn not only about our rich history, but experience what makes up the fabric of our towns.”

A full calendar of events for the five towns is available at WildAndFree83.com. There, you can also find a full list of hotels, restaurants and shopping options.

Representatives from each town will spend the next two months visiting neighboring communities to help promote the event, with the goal of expanding it each year to include more stops along Highway 83.

The City of Howardwick this week approved a settlement with the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department bringing control of the city’s fire protection back under the authority of the City Council, and named former city alderman Brice Hawley as interim fire chief.

In special meeting Monday night, the city approved the terms of the agreed judgment by which all monies, titles, gear, vehicles, and other property of the department have been returned to the city.

Volunteer firemen in Howardwick formed their own non-profit organization on March 26, 2018, and had been at odds with city officials for several months. City officials said the HVFD displaced the official fire department as defined by ordinance and formally titled the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department.

The formation of the non-profit came about four months after a November 2017 special election in which Greta Byars was elected mayor.

Prior to that election, the fire department had a service agreement approved by the city council, establishing the department’s independence from the city.

In April of this year, the city filed suit against the HVFD, saying in part that the department had improperly transferred vehicle titles from the city to the non-profit department.

During its regular meeting last Tuesday, July 9, the city council approved a proposed settlement with the department, and firemen unanimously approved the offer in a special meeting on July 11.

This week’s agreement effectively dissolves the HVFD and reaffirms the function of the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department defined by the city’s code of ordinances.

“The City will move forward in operating the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department (CHVFD), which is an unincorporated department of the City that has been in existence for at least 33 years,” a statement from City Hall said. “The CHVFD will, at all times, remain under the authority, control, management and supervision of the City and its governing body, the City Council.”

In a 4-1 vote Howardwick, the council named Hawley as interim fire chief, with Alderman Mary Grady opposed.

Hawley said Monday that his immediate goals are to get advice from state and local officials, such as the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Amarillo Fire Department, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, the state fire marshal’s office, and others.

Howardwick residents age 18 and over, as well as those working in Howardwick or living within 20 miles of the city, are welcome to apply for membership on the fire department through City Hall.

The interim chief said a fish fry fundraiser is being planned for August 24 to help raise money for the department.

While the CHVFD is getting up and operational, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, Clarendon VFD, Hedley VFD, and Claude VFD will provide fire protection services to the community.

The city gratefully acknowledges the efforts and cooperation of these entities in keeping residents safe.

“This is all positive,” City Secretary Sandra Childress told the Enterprise. “The city is protecting our citizens and moving forward.”

Clarendon’s Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport will be receiving more than $80,000 worth of improvements after several donations have helped raise matching funds for a grant.

The city had initially planned to use $15,000 left over from a previous grant project to match the 50/50 Routine Airport Maintenance Program grant administered by the Texas Department of Transportation.

With the state funds, that would have paid for $30,000 for crack sealing and fog sealing of the runway; but the RAMP program was approved to match any amount up to $50,000 for a possible total of $100,000 worth of improvements. The city’s new airport board saw an opportunity to do more work that originally planned.

“I’m very pleased at the effectiveness of our airport board,” City Administrator David Dockery said. “This will help improve our airport runway, tarmac, and striping, and priorities have been identified for future improvements.”

The board, consisting of Chris Schollenbarger, Chancy Cruse, Bubba Newhouse, John Morrow, and Machiel Covey set about to raise an additional $25,000 through donations. They exceeded that goal by bringing in pledges totaling $25,250, of which $22,750 has been collected.

Covey said the airport board is greatly appreciative of the support it has received for improvements to the airport and credited Dockery with providing guidance for the project. Covey also said the board hopes to make radio upgrades at the facility its next priority.

Clarendon College has been placed on Warning for 12 months by its accrediting agency, and a special committee will conduct an on-site evaluation of the college following a review of a complaint made against the CC Board of Regents.

The Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) met on June 13 and determined that CC had “failed to demonstrate compliance” with a core requirement and three standards set by the agency relating to governance by the regents, according to a public report on the commission’s website.

The agency said the rules in question expect the college to: “(1) Have a governing board that is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or institutions separate from it; (2) Have a governing board to ensure a clear and appropriate distinction between the policy-making function of the board and the responsibility of the administration and faculty to administer and implement policy; and (3) The institution’s governing board defines and addresses potential conflict of interest for its members.”
While the warning arose from issues of governance, the special committee will look at CC’s compliance with all the standards of SACSCOC.

“SACSCOC accreditation includes all components of the institution – all programs, branch campuses, off-campus sites, and distance learning programs as reported to SACSCOC; thus, the Warning status applies to the entire institution,” the commission’s website reports.

The review is to be completed before the SACSCOC board meets in June 2020. At that time, the agency’s board will pursue one of the following options: “(1) Remove the institution from Warning without an additional report; (2) Remove the institution from Warning and request a Fifth Year Follow-Up Report, (3) Continue the institution on Warning, request a monitoring report, with or without authorizing a Special Committee visit; (4) Place the institution on Probation, request a monitoring report, and authorize a Special Committee visit; and (5) Remove the institution from membership for failure to comply with the standards.”

CC President Robert Riza was in Austin this week, attending meetings at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and was unavailable for comment about the SACSCOC action.

SACSCOC notified the college in February that a complaint had been filed against CC’s Board of Regents stating that the board had repeatedly violated state law and college policy and that members of the board had “harassed college employees who were trying to uphold the law and institutional policy.”

The complaint and SACSCOC’s response came after almost two years of rising tensions between Regents Jerry Woodard and Darlene Spier and members of the college administration. In April, those tensions came to a head when the CC board voted down a motion to extend Riza’s contract, which prompted the resignation of Regent Jack Moreman.

A month later, Dr. Belle Wheelan, the president and CEO of SACSCOC, traveled to Clarendon to address the board in person and to define the role of the accrediting body, the necessity of accreditation, and particularly SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation as they apply to the Board of Regents.

Make your plans now to enjoy the 142nd annual Saints’ Roost Celebration on July 4, 5, and 6 in Clarendon.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will the festivities with a July Fourth Junior Rodeo. Junior team entries are $125 each and can be made by calling 806-679-2738.

The celebration gets under full steam on Friday, July 5, with merchant sales and the annual Depression Luncheon at the Downtown Ministry Center from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The cost for the beans and cornbread meal is 25 cents. That night, the COEA Ranch Rodeo opens at 7:30 at the COEA Arena followed by a dance at 9 p.m. featuring the music of Rhett Uhland opening for Mitchell Ford & The Volunteers.

The big day will be Saturday, July 6, beginning with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths are $25 each and should be reserved through the Donley County 4H by calling 806-874-2141.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Old Settlers Reunion and the Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade also begin at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Parade will line up and register at 8:30 at Keith Floyd’s shop at Third and Sully. Ed Montana will provide music and serve as master of ceremonies on the square.

Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. on Sixth Street north of Prospect Park. At 10:00, the parade will then take its usual route – north on Kearney to Third Street, west on Third to Sully, south in front of the Courthouse, and then wind back to the ball parks.

The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $200 available for the best float, $100 for the best car or truck entry, $100 for the best animal or riding unit, $100 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $100 for the best “other” entry.

From those first place winners, judges will select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $250. Pre-registration is required for entrants to be judged for the prize money, and entry forms are due in the Visitor Center by 5 p.m. on June 28. Entry forms are available at the Visitor Center and in this week’s Enterprise.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club barbecue will follow the parade at about 11 a.m. Tickets are $12 each and will be available at the Visitor Center and the Enterprise.

The Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo will follow the barbecue. Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m. The Henson’s Turtle Race will then take place at 1:30 p.m. And the Ranch Rodeo will close out the day at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. with the dance to follow with Luke Koepke providing the music.

Also happening during the celebration weekend, the Whistle-Stop will have its monthly trade days Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Chamberlain Motor Company property. The Whistle-Stop features more than 100 vendors as well as live music, food, and fun for the entire family.

For more information about the celebration, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.