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Five garage sales this Saturday
Attention Garage Sale Fans: There are five sales going on in or near Clarendon this weekend with everthing from skis and clothes to furniture and toys to the ever popular “miscellaneous.” Don’t miss out on all the great bargains and be sure to tell them that you saw it on ClarendonLIVE.com!
SKELTON/SHELTON/THORNBERRY GARAGE SALE – 315 W. FIFTH STREET. Dresser, mirror, desk, file cabinet, sofa, skis & boots, men’s/ladies’ clothes, maternity clothes, space heaters, lots of household misc. Saturday, August 14, at 8 a.m.
YARD SALE – Saturday, August 14. 141 Saints Roost Drive, North of the Howardwick Entrance. Large Women’s Clothes.
WORD/THOMPSON GARAGE SALE @ 619 ALLEN ST. This Saturday August 14th at 8:00 a.m. 32” Television, toddler‘s bed, cd/dvd storage, power wheels, Cricut Scrapbooking machine, clothing for men/women/boys, Halloween costumes and other seasonal decor items, furniture, boys room decor, home décor, lots of toys, Chevy rims & auto parts, welding torch, lots of misc. items.
GARAGE SALE – Eads Furniture Building. Saturday, August 14 at 8 a.m. Lots of clothes and miscellaneous. Everything must go.
ESTATE SALE – 201 W. 4th, Clarendon. Friday, August 13; Saturday, August 14; and Sunday, August 15, from 9 a.m. to ? Please No Early Birds. Everything goes except appliances. 35-1tc
Signing up
City’s seal coat plan dies after estimate goes too high
A plan to seal coat the city’s newest streets died during a called session of the Clarendon Board of Aldermen last Tuesday, August 3.
The city had planned to seal coat ten blocks and had budgeted $20,000 for the work, but cost estimates came in higher than expected and reduced the number of blocks that could be done to nine.
City engineer Che Shadle encouraged aldermen to proceed with the work.
“You’re not doing a lot, but you’re doing something,” Shadle said.
Alderman Larry Hicks voiced concern about seal coating the best streets rather than focusing efforts on the worst ones.
“The damage (on the bad streets) is structural,” Shadle replied. “We’re trying to protect the good streets. It’s like water coating a fence.”
Shadle said the best way to repair Fourth Street, an example of a bad street, is to rip it up and start over.
Hicks asked if the city could do anything with $20,000 to make Fourth and Sixth streets better. Shadle replied, “No.”
Alderman Will Thompson said the city should plan to look at the worst streets in 2012, which is when tax notes on the 2005 paving project will be paid off.
Thompson moved to seal coat ten blocks for $22,000, but his motion died for lack of a second.
In other city business, Aldermen voted 3-1 to accept a proposal from Kyle Hill to create new office space in City Hall for a $4,340 contingent on available funds. Thompson opposed the measure.
The board also voted to purchase a 1998 pickup from Greenbelt Water Authority for $1,100; and aldermen discussed budget and tax issues.
A public hearing on the proposed 2010-2011 budget will be held August 24.
Jeffers leaves city post
Clarendon Interim City Administrator Phyllis Jeffers stepped down suddenly last Friday, August 6, due to health problems.
Mayor Chris Ford said he received a call from Jeffers Friday morning, and he immediately notified the Board of Aldermen and then met with city employees Friday afternoon.
“Phyllis has done an excellent job for us,” the mayor said.
Jeffers had served Clarendon since April following the forced departure of former administrator John Webb.
The city is under contract with Texas First Group to provide interim administrator services for $45 per hour. Ford said the group has a man on standby ready to serve Clarendon if aldermen want him.
At press time, the board was preparing to meet Tuesday night for its regular meeting to determine how to proceed – bring in another interim or move ahead with selecting a new fulltime administrator.
Ford said the city has nine applications for the position.
“We are actively seeking (a new administrator),” Ford said. “We’ve got one local applicant, a couple from as far away as Missouri and Colorado, and the others from around Texas.”
Donley County courthouse in state magazine
Clarendon is getting some good press as part of a “True, Texas” series in the September issue of Texas Highways.
The magazine calls True “a collective community of imagination” that features landmarks and icons from across the state that symbolize one idea of the authentic Texas.
The Donley County Courthouse is featured as an example of the buildings across Texas which “reflect the independence and fortitude of a resolute people determined to create order… out of a wilderness.” The Clarendon edifice “shines among the 230 historic Texas courthouses.”
Other landmarks in “True, Texas” include a water tower in Bandera, the Majestic theatre in Eastland, a café in El Paso, the town mascot in Muleshoe, and many others.
“These institutions and icons are fragile,” said editor Charles Lohrmann. “Each one reflects a sense of purpose and commitment to keep a locally focused vision alive.”
Broncos on schedule for a great year
Last year was a great year for the Bronco football team, and this year’s team is looking for things to go just as well or better as they continue with their pre-season practices.
According to head coach Gary Jack, the kids are tending to business and working hard.
“Things are going well for us,” Jack said. “Our Midnight Madness went well with about two to three hundred people in attendance. Things look very promising with about 45 kids on the team. The older kids look good and the younger kids are doing a great job.”
The Broncos will have a scrimmage at Bronco Stadium Saturday, August 14, at 10:00 a.m. against Nazareth to get a feel of how things are going.
“The scrimmage will tell us where we are at and what we need to get ready for,” Jack said.
The Bronco Boosters will be hosting Meet the Broncos Tuesday, August 17, at 7:00 p.m. at Bronco Stadium.
The Bronco football team and high school cross country teams will be introduced at this time. All Bronco fans are encouraged to attend and show their support for all Bronoco and Lady Bronco athletes.
SWEPCO sets new electric demand record
SHREVEPORT, La., – Extreme summer temperatures of 100 degrees and above and high humidity across Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas last week sent usage of electricity by customers of AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) to a new all-time high level.
A new peak customer demand was established Wednesday, August 4, 2010, with a record 4,990 megawatt (MW) load on the SWEPCO system, breaking the old mark of 4,950 MWs set August 4, 2008, when the Shreveport temperature was 102 degrees.
The record 4,990 MW load (0.8 percent over the previous all-time high for the summer) was set at 5:00 p.m. last Wednesday when the Shreveport temperature was 101 degrees. The SWEPCO peak load for 2009 was set on July 13, with a 4,750 MW load when the temperature in Shreveport was 102 degrees.
Many SWEPCO customers will see higher electric bills because of the hot weather, increased electricity usage in August, and higher natural gas costs. Company representatives will work on an individual basis with customers experiencing difficulty paying an electric bill.
Customers may want to take advantage of SWEPCO’s Average Monthly Payment (AMP) plan, which allows residential customers to pay approximately the same amount each month for their electric service.
Also, the company’s Neighbor To Neighbor energy assistance program helps families pay their electric bills during times of special need, such as extreme hot temperatures or financial emergencies. SWEPCO provides ongoing support by contributing annually to the program during the summer months ($50,000 was given across the company’s three-state service area in 2010). Since the program began in 1993, almost $1.9 million dollars in funds generated from SWEPCO and over 10,000 of its customers have helped some 18,500 families in SWEPCO’s service area.
Contact SWEPCO 24 hours a day toll-free at 1-888-216-3523 for details on these programs.
SWEPCO serves 474,000 customers within a 25,000 square-mile service area.
Night Owls
Clarendon interim administrator quits
The City of Clarendon’ Interim Administrator stepped down Friday morning for health reasons.
Mayor Chris Ford said Phyllis Jeffers called him and told him about her decision.
The Board of Aldermen will discuss the city’s next steps tomorrow evening as they debate bringing in another interim or just look for a permanent administrator.
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