This Week

A family member is being held in the Donley County Jail for the double murder of a Howardwick couple on February 18.

Thirty-year-old Jarvis Fierro was arrested last Friday, February 22, and is charged with capital murder for the shooting deaths of his brother James Edward Fierro, 34, and Candice Racheal Garrett, 33.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn is confident that his department, working with other area and state agencies, has the killer in custody.

“We got him,” Blackburn said. “No doubt.”
Blackburn has not released a motive for what he says was a premeditated homicide.

Law enforcement personnel discovered the couple’s bodies in their Howardwick residence at 113 Lakeview Lane after the sheriff’s office received a call at 10:09 p.m. last Monday night.

Working with other agencies, the sheriff’s office obtained a warrant for capital murder for Jarvis Fierro by Friday morning. Officers from several agencies then stopped the suspect about 12:30 that afternoon on Bell Street in Amarillo, removed him from his vehicle, and placed him under arrest.

“This could not have happened this fast without the help of the Department of Public Safety, the Oldham County Sheriff’s Office, the Carson County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI,” Blackburn said. “We also had the help of the Amarillo Police Department, and Amarillo SWAT.”

DPS officers involved in the investigation included Texas Rangers, Highway Patrol, and CID personnel.

Justice of the Peace Pam Mason arraigned Jarvis Fierro on Friday and set his bond at $5 million.

Blackburn said the four children at home at the time of the murder are under the control of Child Protective Services. The ultimate custody fate of those children, as well as two other kids, will be determined by CPS, the sheriff said.

Blackburn credited CPS, as well as the Associated Ambulance Authority, for assisting with caring for the couple’s children.

Preliminary autopsy results have been received, but as of Tuesday neither Blackburn nor Judge Mason’s office is releasing those preliminary findings.

Authorities have arrested the man believed to be responsible for the double murder at Howardwick Monday night.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said Jarvis Fierro was arrested and charged with capital murder in Amarillo today at about 12:30 p.m. on Bell Street. Fierro is the brother of James Edward Fierro, who was shot dead Monday along with Candice Garrett in Howardwick.

Blackburn said there appears to be no good motive for the crime at this time. He credited several agencies with assisting the Donley County Sheriff’s Office in making the arrest, including Amarillo Police Department and SWAT Team; the Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers, Highway Patrol, and CID; and the Carson and Oldham County sheriffs’ offices.

The bodies of Candice Racheal Garret, 33, and James Edward Fierro, 34, were discovered Monday night in the couple’s residence on Lakeview Lane after the sheriff’s office received a call at 10:09 p.m.

A double homicide in Howardwick Monday night has local and state investigators busy looking for clues to a suspect this week.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said the bodies of Candace Racheal Garret, 33, and James Edward Fierro, 34, were discovered Monday night.

“It was most definitely a homicide,” Blackburn said.

Law enforcement personnel discovered the bodies in the couple’s residence at 113 Lakeview Lane after the sheriff’s office received a call at 10:09 p.m.

Four children, who were home at the time, were being interviewed by The Bridge – Children’s Advocacy Center on Tuesday.

Blackburn said Texas Rangers were called in to assist with the investigation. Both the victims had been shot, and the bodies were sent to Lubbock for autopsies.

The sheriff’s office had no suspects and no warrants had been issued in this case. Blackburn asks that if anyone has any information, please call the Donley County Sheriff’s Office at 806-874-3533.

Also this week, an account has been set up at Herring Bank in Clarendon for the benefit of the couple’s children.

Voters will get to choose who will serve on the Clarendon school board and the Howardwick City Council after candidates’ sign-ups closed Friday, February 15.

Zack Robinson filed to run for the Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees and will face three incumbents on the ballot – Robin Ellis, Chuck Robertson, and Will Thompson. The top three candidates will be elected to that board.

In Howardwick, four people are running to succeed Mayor Greta Byars, who is not seeking re-election. Those candidates are Alderman Brice Hawley, Tony Clemishire, Coy Cooper, and Jeramy “J.D.” Kindle. Also on the Howardwick ballot, five people are running for two positions on the city council. Alderman Johnny Floyd will be joined on the ballot by Beverly McCaskill, Erica Mills, Tammy Jordan, and Jerry Mullanax.

Four other taxing entities did not have enough candidates file to have contested races.

In Clarendon, Mayor Mayor Sandy Skelton and Aldermen Nathan Floyd, Jacob Fangman, and Eulaine McIntosh filed for re-election.

Hedley Aldermen Tonya Metcalf and Alicia Hanes will be joined by Trisha Chambless on the city council.

Hedley ISD trustees Michael Metcalf, Billy Hall, and Susan Cosby are unopposed.

The Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors has Jeff Robertson and Melinda McAnear returning, and they will be joined by Rose Lemley.

Elections for Clarendon CISD and the City of Howardwick will be held Saturday, May 4, 2019.

Clarendon College’s spring enrollment is the highest spring enrollment in the school’s 121-year history.

Total enrollment settled at 1,477 following the 12th class day this semester. That’s up 1.79 percent from the spring 2018 enrollment of 1,451, and it marks the fourth spring semester in a row to show an increase.

“Our growth this semester is due to increased enrollment in our dual credit programs,” CC President Dr. Robert Riza said.

The Clarendon campus saw a slight drop in enrollment of 11 students compared to one year ago. Riza said that could have been due in part to a large December graduation.

Pampa enrollment was up slightly, and Childress enrollment was down by 22. That drop is attributed to low unemployment in Childress, which typically negatively impacts college enrollment.

The number of high school students taking dual credit in Childress was up by 18.

“The Mashburn Foundation is donating money to help students take dual credit classes in Childress,” Riza said.

“We hope to continue to provide opportunities for our service area and build on the success we’ve seen in the last few years,” Riza said.

Overall, dual credit enrollment is at 631 compared to 583 in spring 2018. Enrollment at the Jordan and Roach correctional units is at 158, up from 143 last fall; and distance education is at 126, down from 139.

Enrollment on the home campus in Clarendon is 294 compared to 305 last spring.

The Clarendon College Pampa Center has an enrollment of 208, down from 199; the Childress Center is at 21 students compared to 43 last spring; and the Amarillo Center stayed flat with 39 students.