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Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) last week reintroduced the Wildfire Victim Tax Relief and Recovery Act. This legislation would exempt any income individuals received for fire relief from their overall tax burden, ensuring individuals and agricultural producers can focus on recovering from the wildfires that ravaged the Texas Panhandle last year.

Senator Ted Cruz sponsored a companion bill in the US Senate.

“The historic wildfires that tore through the Texas Panhandle last year have left a lasting mark on all the ranchers, families, and communities involved,” Jackson said. “I’m honored to reintroduce this critical legislation and am committed to making sure those hit hardest by this catastrophic disaster can use the assistance they’ve received to rebuild their farms, ranches, and livelihoods, not pay the federal government.”
“Last year, historic wildfires destroyed the Panhandle, taking the homes and livelihoods of thousands of Texans,” Cruz said. “This bill will deliver much needed tax relief to support these communities in their ongoing recovery efforts. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill without delay.”

Kent Bacus, Executive Director, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said last year’s wildfires highlighted the need for action.

“The Wildfire Victim Tax Relief and Recovery Act, introduced in the House and Senate, would allow taxpayers to exclude from gross income any disaster relief payments received from federally declared wildfires in Texas, Bacus said. NCBA thanks Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Ronny Jackson for leading this measure and calls for swift congressional passage.”

With the sign-up deadline coming up soon, it appears the City of Clarendon will be the only one out of six local governments that will be having an election this spring.

Clarendon had five people running for two positions Tuesday afternoon, while other local boards either only had enough candidates to fill the terms available or were still looking for candidates to sign up.

Clarendon has five positions available. Incumbent Aldermen Ashlee Estlack and Eulaine McIntosh are seeking re-election to two full terms and are being challenged by Jeremy Jeffers, Brittney Wolfe, and Richard Dzamko. As of Tuesday afternoon, no one had signed up to run for mayor or for either of the two unexpired terms that are also up on the council.

In Hedley, all three incumbent city aldermen have filed for re-election – Larry Ely, Tonya Gibson, and Jennifer Floyd.

Howardwick also has a full slate of candidates. Mayor Pro-tem Johnny Floyd has signed up to run for the vacant mayor’s position, while Alderman Jada Murray has filed to run again, and Matt Moore has also filed for the other available alderman’s position.

Incumbents Michael Metcalf and Bruce Howard have signed up for the two positions on the Hedley CISD Board, but only incumbent Robin Ellis has filed for the three positions on the Clarendon CISD Board.

The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has had two of three incumbents up this year running so far. Rose Lemley – Place One and Cindy Shelton – Place Three are seeking re-election. No one has signed up for Place Two as of Tuesday.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the board. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.

Filing continues through Friday, February 14. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 3, 2025.

An alleged cry for help resulted in an immigration round-up in Clarendon Saturday.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office received a call February 1 of a 19-year-old female who had come into the office of the Western Skies Motel, claiming she was being trafficked while traveling with a male and female person. She claimed their vehicle had broken down and while the other two were dealing with the vehicle, she had escaped.

Blackburn said further investigation revealed the woman was part of a group of seven, who were traveling in a vehicle that had indeed broken down. She and four others were illegal immigrants, and two people were involved in transporting the illegal immigrants.

“She just wanted out and away from them,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn’s office contacted the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Department and ICE, which responded quickly. ICE then took all seven individuals into custody.

The sheriff said one of the people involved in the transportation of the illegal immigrants had actually been deported on January 15 and was already back in the country.

“I want to express my appreciation for how quickly ICE and CID responded to help us,” Blackburn said.

The City of Clarendon will have an election this spring, but no other local governments have attracted enough candidates to hold elections as the filing deadline approaches next week.

Five people are now running for two full terms on the Clarendon City Council with incumbents Ashlee Estlack and Eulaine McIntosh facing challengers Jeremy Jeffers, Brittney Wolfe, and Richard Dzamko. As of Tuesday afternoon, no one had signed up to run for mayor or for either of the two unexpired terms on the council.

In Hedley, all three incumbent city aldermen have filed for re-election – Larry Ely, Tonya Gibson, and Jennifer Floyd.

Howardwick also has a full slate of candidates. Mayor Pro-tem Johnny Floyd has signed up to run for the vacant mayor’s position, while Alderman Jada Murray has filed to run again, and Matt Moore has also filed for the other available alderman’s position.

The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has two of three incumbents up this year running so far. Rose Lemley – Place One and Cindy Shelton – Place Three are seeking re-election.

Incumbent Michael Metcalf has filed for one of two positions on the Hedley CISD Board, but no one has filed for the three positions on the Clarendon CISD Board.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the board. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.

Filing continues through Friday, February 14. Elections are scheduled to be held May 3, 2025.

Clarendon College announced this week that the Bulldog Athletics program had a tremendous academic semester after the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) released Fall 2024 all-conference selections.

All-Conference awards are designated at two levels, with the First Team recipients obtaining a 3.65-4.00 grade point average. This academic success is a testament to the college’s commitment to academic excellence. Students with a Fall GPA of 3.25-3.64 are named to the Second Team All-Conference list.

The Bulldogs had 73 student-athletes named to the First Team WJCAC All-Conference Team and 43 named to the Second Team. The 116 students represent students in the athletics program across seven sports.

Each of the seven programs at CC had at least five student-athletes who showcased impressive academic success this semester.

CC Athletic Director Mark James praised the college’s student athletes.

“I am extremely proud of not only these 116 student athletes but also each coach for making academic success a priority this semester, as each and every program had an overall team GPA above 3.0,” James said.

“I appreciate all the hard work each person puts forth toward ensuring our student-athlete’s success. I look forward to a successful Spring 2025 semester.”

The number of Clarendon College student athletes recognized in each program were Women’s Rodeo – First Team, 4; Second Team, 2; Men’s Rodeo – First Team, 6; Second Team, 10l; Volleyball – First Team, 9; Second Team, 8; Men’s Basketball – First Team, 6; Second Team, 4; Women’s Basketball – First Team, 15; Second Team, 4; Baseball – First Team, 30; Second Team, 10; and Softball – First Team, 3; Second Team, 5.

Fancy masks and fun times will be in store at the 2025 Clarendon Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Thursday, February 27, at the Bairfield Activity Center. “Clarendon Masquerade” will be the theme, and The Martinis will provide live music during the evening.

Tickets are on sale now for the event, which will recognize several outstanding citizens in Donley County. The awards to be given will be the Saints’ Roost Award for a lifetime of service to the community and the Man and Woman of the Year, the Volunteer Organization of the Year, and Business of the Year in addition to recognitions for outstanding youth from Clarendon and Hedley.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and reception, including the annual Chamber silent auction and gift box pull. The banquet, entertainment, and awards will follow at 7 p.m.

Those attending are encouraged to dress up in masquerade, and businesses are also invited to purchase blocks of tickets by sponsoring tables at the event. Table sponsors will get to decorate their tables to reflect their business and the theme of the banquet with a prize given for the best table decoration.

Corporate sponsorships and donations to the Silent Auction are also being accepted at this time at the Clarendon Visitor Center.

Tickets are $25 each and must be purchased in advance at the Visitor Center or online at ClarendonTX.com. For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.

One Donley County case was among three heard by the 100th Judicial District Court when it met in Childress County January 14.

District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Dale Rabe presiding.

Donny Lee Fair, 53, from Clarendon, was sentenced to 31 years in prison for the third-degree felony offense of failure to comply with sex offender registration enhanced to a first-degree felony, that occurred in Donley County on July 17, 2022.

Fair was originally placed on probation for the offense on December 14, 2023. On August 22, 2024, the State filed its motion requesting the Court to revoke Fair’s probation, alleging 19 violations of his conditions of probation.

Fair was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and $340 court costs.

Humberto Olascoaga, 44 from Childress, was placed on two years’ probation for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Olascoaga was arrested by Childress Police Officer Daniel Hill on September 30, 2024.

Olascoaga pleaded to an information filed by the State on December 12, 2024.

Olascoaga was also ordered to pay a $500 fine, $340 in court costs, $180 lab fee, and complete 100 hours of community service. If his probation is adjudicated, Olascoaga faces up to two years in prison.

Nia Tranise Moorer, 27 from Oakland, Calif., was placed on five years’ probation for the state jail felony offense of collision involving injury.

Moorer was arrested by Memphis Police Chief Rex Plant on February 8, 2024. Moorer was indicted by a Hall County Grand Jury on October 9, 2024.

Moorer was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, $290 in court costs, and complete 100 hours of community service. If her probation is adjudicated, Moorer faces up to two years in prison.

Entering week two of the sign-up period, the cities of Clarendon and Hedley, along with the Donley County Hospital District, have had candidates step forward for the spring election period.

Incumbent Clarendon Aldermen Ashlee Estlack and Eulaine McIntosh and challengers Jeremy Jeffers and Brittney Wolfe have signed up for the two full terms expiring this year on city council. No candidates have signed up for mayor’s seat or the two partial terms on the council as of Monday morning.

In Hedley with three aldermen’s seats up this year, incumbent Jennifer Floyd has filed to run for re-election.

The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has had two of three incumbents up this year running so far. Rose Lemley – Place One and Cindy Shelton – Place Three are seeking re-election.

No change in Howardwick this week with Howardwick Alderman and Mayor Pro-tem Johnny Floyd has signed up to run for the vacant mayor’s position, while Alderman Jada Murray has filed to run again. Matt Moore has also filed for the other available alderman’s position.

Also no one has signed up for the three positions on the Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees or the two positions on the Hedley CISD Board as of Monday morning.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the board. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.

Filing continues through Friday, February 14. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 3, 2025.