- Proposition A will seek $1.8 million for safety and security upgrades and the school as well as two new buses.
- Proposition B would fund $6.9 million in improvements at Bronco Stadium including accessibility improvements, new home and visitor bleachers, a new press box, and $3.3 to 3.5 million for a new field house, restrooms, and concession stand.
- Proposition C would provide $3 million for a new vocational ag building.
News
Big activities ahead for Clarendon Saturday
The Clarendon College Invitational Judging Contest will attract a huge crowd and likely double the population of the town on Saturday as the biggest of three events that day.
As of Tuesday, more than 2,460 contestants were registered for the judging contest. The number of registrations doesn’t include the hundreds of parents and coaches who accompany the students to the contest. According to the 2020 US Census, Clarendon has a population of less than 2,000 people.
Past contests have had huge impacts on the local economy. Restaurants are typically packed for the event, and this year will hopefully be equally successful.
Also, the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and Donley County EMS will hold their annual pancake breakfast and hamburger lunch at the Fire Hall again Saturday morning beginning at 7 a.m. with lunch starting at 11 a.m.
Also at 11 a.m. Saturday, the Pony Parents will hold their annual Community Egg Hunt on the Courthouse lawn. Hundreds of kids will be gathering up thousands of eggs at that event.
TxDOT to begin overlay project in Clarendon
A $6.4 million overlay project is set to begin on US 287 in Clarendon on April 1.
The project will include all lanes in the city as well as the southbound lanes from Clarendon to the Armstrong County line. The contractor for the project is J Lee Milligan.
TxDOT spokesperson Ginger Wilson said the work in Clarendon will consist of grinding off the top surface of the asphalt and putting down a new finish.
Drivers can expect daily lane closures during the project and are reminded to use caution when traveling through the work zone. This includes reducing your speed, obeying all posted warnings, and avoiding all distractions. Fines double in work zones when workers are present.
Work in the town section is expected to take six weeks to complete, weather pending.
For more information, contact Ginger.Wilson@txdot.gov or (940) 937-7288.
County to hold town halls in Hedley and H’wick
Donley County has announced dates for town halls in Hedley and Howardwick to discuss the proposed sales tax-funded county assistance districts in those cities.
County Judge John Howard reports that the Howardwick meeting will be held Tuesday, April 16, at 5 p.m., and the Hedley meeting will be on Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m. The meetings will be held in the City Hall of each respective community.
Sheriff Butch Blackburn and Judge Howard will both be present to answer questions regarding the May 4 election to create three County Assistance Districts: District 1 – City of Howardwick, District 2 – City of Hedley, and District 3 – all of unincorporated Donley County outside of Howardwick, Hedley and Clarendon.
The districts, if created by election, will authorize a sales tax of 1.0 percent in Howardwick and Hedley and 2.0 percent in unincorporated Donley County.
Howard says the sales tax created will be used for support of law enforcement and allow the county to keep property taxes lower.
All residents are invited to attend either of these meetings.
“It is our hope that all voters will be informed on the issue when casting their ballots,” Howard said.
New nurse practitioner joins Clarendon clinic
A new Family Nurse Practitioner at Clarendon Family Medicine is no stranger to the community and is looking forward to serving the people here.
Sarah Ybarra, FNP-C, has been shadowing clinic personnel for a couple of weeks and began seeing patients Monday.
Ybarra is originally from Amarillo, but she spent a lot of time growing up with her relatives in the Holland family in Donley County. The small-town life appealed to her, and she and her husband J.J. moved to Groom about nine years ago to raise their children – Kaylynn, Tristen, Rose, and Hope – in a rural setting. J.J. worked on wind turbines and has since taken a job with the City of Groom, and Ybarra hoped to someday work for the clinic in Clarendon.
“My husband would come here for care, and I always thought if there was an opening, I would apply,” Ybarra said. “When I finally saw a job posting, I couldn’t believe it. I applied, and they called me in.”
Ybarra started her career in nursing 19 years ago, following a desire to help people after her mother – an X-ray technician – took her to work one day as a middle schooler.
“I just loved the environment of her job, and I liked taking care of people,” she said.
She started in nursing with a degree from Amarillo College and then furthered her education at West Texas A&M University and also served two years in a pediatric clinic, which she really enjoyed.
“I think that’s something I can add here in Clarendon,” she said. “I hope my willingness and ability to work with newborns and up will bring in more patients. I also think people already come here from Groom, and more might come now.”
Ybarra says the Golden Rule guides her philosophy of medicine.
“I want to take care of people the way I’d want my kids, parents, or grandparents to be cared for,” she said.
She finds the medical field to be rewarding in terms of helping people, and she also says everyone at the clinic has been very welcoming. She’s enjoying being in the Clarendon community and is excited about working at the clinic here.
“Everyone here has been super nice. Dr. [Justin] Pratt keeps our happiness as employees in mind. I think he’s doing a great job.”
She is now seeing patients full time, and appointments can be made by calling 806-874-3531.
Jackson says District 13 to receive more than $200M in federal funds
Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) said last week that more than $200 million is designated for the 13th Congressional District in the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding package signed into law last week by President Joe Biden.
Jackson’s efforts led to the appropriation for the district, including key funding for nuclear modernization of the Pantex Plant, advancement of district-specific university programs, support for law enforcement, water resource improvements for the district, and more.
“I take extreme pride in securing more than $200 million for Texas’ Thirteenth Congressional District, benefiting our families, farmers, producers, local businesses, rural communities, and national security,” Jackson said. “Modernization of the Pantex Plant has been one of my top priorities in Congress and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Successfully securing over $184 million for major construction at the site is a huge accomplishment and will be key in our efforts to update such a key national security facility.
“This government funding package that was signed into law last week also departs from the wasteful and abhorrent spending levels seen in the Biden and Nancy Pelosi-era and instead prioritizes fiscal responsibility,” Jackson said.
“By drastically cutting unnecessary government spending, House Republicans are redirecting resources to where they have the most significant impact, including in places like Amarillo, Wichita Falls, and Runaway Bay. This funding will enhance our communities, bolster our infrastructure, enrich local education, fortify military operations, sustain our agriculture sector, and allocate funds for veteran healthcare.”
Jackson secured the following projects across District 13, including:
- $101.3 million for HE Science & Engineering Facility at Pantex;
- $83 million for HE Synthesis, Formulation, and Production facility at Pantex;
- $2.1 million for West Texas A&M’s Feedlot Educational Training Facility;
- $1.1 million for Texas Tech’s Infant Risk Center in Pampa;
- $1.2 million for Enhancement of STEM Capacity at Midwestern State University;
- $1.2 million for Texas Tech Veterinary School STEM Research Capacity;
- $242,000 for the Randall County Sheriff’s Office to get a Rapid DNA System;
- $1 million for the City of Amarillo to establish a real-time regional crime center;
- $1.75 million for critical repair to Runaway Bay’s Wastewater Infrastructure;
- $476,000 for Red River Authority Pump Station and Tank Renovations in Hall and Motley Counties;
- $1 million for Red River Authority Water Systems Improvement in Vernon;
- $3.8 million for Amarillo International Airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Training program;
- $2 million to initiate critical infrastructure for US 287 in order to support the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate and enhance regional trade;
- $2 million for the construction of an access road for public access to Cross Bar Ranch;
- and $2.2 million for the widening and upgrade of State Loop 335.
City signs deal with Sheriff; Proclaims April for Child Abuse Awareness
The Clarendon City Council ratified a new contract with the Donley County Sheriff’s Office during its regular meeting last Thursday, March 14.
The vote closes out about 11 months of haggling between the city and county, leaves in place the current fiscal year’s contract, and implements a new five-year deal between the two entities.
Under the terms of the agreement, which was also approved by county commissioners last Monday, the city will pay the county $170,000 for law enforcement services in fiscal year 2025, which starts October 1.
The cost will then go up 2.0 percent each year through fiscal year 2029.
Mayor Pro-tem Larry Jeffers said he was glad the city “at least got some negotiation” and noted that at one point the county wanted a contract for $180,000.
Alderman Tommy Hill said he still wants to see the county do more on its support of the Burton Memorial Library and asked for that matter to be on a future city agenda.
In other city business, Mayor Pro-tem Jeffers issued a proclamation naming April as Child Abuse Awareness Month in Clarendon. CASA of the High Plains representative Nita Williamson accepted the proclamation on CASA’s behalf and said that in 2023 there were 17 cases of child abuse or neglect reported in Donley County.
Street closures in front of City Hall were approved for the Community Egg Hut on March 23 and the Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K on April 27.
A request by Christ’s Kids Outreach Ministries for $1,000 was also approved.
The council discussed the possibly budget savings of closing the municipal court and contracting with the Justice of the Peace for those services.
It was noted that most of the court’s budget is actually attorney’s fees paid by the city and not the cost of employing the judge or running the court. No action was taken.
An amendment was approved to the city employee handbook governing per diem expenses, and also a waiver was granted by the city council to WTG Fuels, LLC, regarding certain restrictions in an industrial zone.
County okays city contract for sheriff; Council to vote March 14
Donley County Commissioners approved new law enforcement agreement with the City of Clarendon during their regular meeting Monday, March 11.
Under the terms of the proposal, the city would pay the county $170,000 for law enforcement services beginning in fiscal year 2025, which starts in October. The five-year contract would go up two percent each year.
County Judge John Howard said the proposal was brought to the county by the city and drafted by the city’s attorney but also said the city council will not vote on the agreement until its regular meeting this Thursday, March 14.
In another matter regarding county law enforcement, commissioners approved an amendment to the current county budget and approved a supplemental budget related to a state grant to bolster the sheriff’s department. The $250,000 grant would provide about $127,000 for raises in the department – bringing deputies salaries up to $50,000 per year and dispatcher/jailer salaries up to $45,000 per year – with the remainder of the grant funds going to help purchase new patrol vehicles.
The commissioners’ court also approved trainings for Judge Pat White and Tax Assessor Kristy Christopher, authorized Judges White and Sarah Hatley to sign an interlocal agreement with the Texas DPS to deal with Failure to Appear cases; and voted to get prices to upgrade the lighting in the Courthouse Annex.
A rental lease on county-owned property at 301 W. Third was discussed. The tenant is finding a new place, and then the county will proceed to consider plans for that property.
The court approved purchasing two filter feeders for the Courthouse heating and cooling system.
Chriss Clifford elaborated on design ideas to give a facelift to county-owned buildings in the 300 block of Sully facing the Courthouse, and commissioners also discussed changing the color of the Annex building. Those improvements were all tabled until May, Howard said.
Clarendon sales tax up in March report
Clarendon’s sales tax revenues rose on January sales when Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar distributed monthly allocations to local governments last week.
The city saw its March sales tax revenue increase 13.47 percent from $33,018.04 one year ago to $37,467.05 this month. The city’s calendar year-to-date total is now up 3.48 percent at $127,694.33 compared to $123,270.08 at this point in 2023.
Sales tax revenues in Hedley were up 23.28 percent at $888.40 compared to $720.58 last March. Hedley’s year-to-date figure is now up 1.77 percent with collections of $3,441.56, up from $3,381.55 a year ago.
Howardwick’s sales tax revenue fell 19.20 percent, dropping from $1,890.87 last March to $1,527.64 this year. Howardwick is now down 21.26 percent on the year. Howardwick’s declining revenue can be attributed in large part to that city opting not to renew its street maintenance sales tax, which lowered its overall local sales tax rate from 1.25 percent to 1.0 percent effective October 1, 2023.
Statewide, Hegar delivered $980.9 million in local sales tax allocations for March, 2.2 percent less than in March 2023.
March sales tax allocations are based on sales made in January by businesses that report tax monthly.
Essary wins Precinct 1 race; Koetting, Wootten headed to runoff
One Donley County precinct will be getting a new commissioner, and another commissioner’s seat is headed to a runoff election following last week’s party primary elections.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mark White lost his reelection bid to challenger Del Essary in the Republican Primary, 104-76. Essary, a current Howardwick alderman and former mayor of that city, faces no opposition in the November general election and will take office next January.
In Precinct 3, Commissioner Neil Koetting came in second in a three-person race for the Republican nomination. Greg Wootten received 86 votes, Koetting had 68, and Sis Bond had 45.
Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates – Wootten and Koetting – will face each other in a runoff election May 28.
In the race for the GOP nomination for the State House District 88 seat, incumbent Rep. Ken King of Canadian vended off a challenge by Karen Post of Plainview, winning 498-130 in Donley County and also by a wide margin throughout the district.
King had been targeted to be “primaried” by some state Republicans who have labeled him as a RINO for not following some of the governor’s priorities.
Donley County Republicans followed suit with GOP voters across the state in backing former president Donald Trump. Locally, Trump received 599 votes; Nikki Haley received 66; Ryan Brinkley, Chris Christie, and Asa Hutchinson received two each; and Ron Desantis got six.
Local Republicans also voted in favor of all 13 non-binding resolutions on the Republican ballot.
On the Republican ballot with no opposition but of local interest were US Rep. Ronny Jackson, District Judge Dale Rabe, Jr., District Attorney Luke Inman, County Attorney Landon Lambert, Sheriff Butch Blackburn, and County Tax Assessor/Collector Kristy Christopher.
Bill Word was also unopposed for the county GOP chairman’s position.
In the local Democratic Primary, President Joe Biden received 25 votes and Dean Phillips and Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato each had two.
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