Archives for May 2003

Services were held Monday for former Donley County Judge William Roland “Billie” Christal, who died last Thursday, May 15, at the age of 92.

The sanctuary of the First Baptist Church was filled to near capacity as family members and friends gathered for the services. Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, and Christal’s grandson, Mike Word, officiated. Masonic graveside rites and interment followed in Citizens Cemetery with arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors.

Monday’s service was a celebration of Christal’s life and the way he impacted the lives of others. He was eulogized as a man of honesty, integrity, and fairness who was always willing to help his fellow man. He was known as a gentleman first and foremost, and many ladies will well remember how he would always tip his hat to them when passing by.

The portion of the service led by Word was, in accordance with Christal’s wishes, focused on the fun times he had had with his family. It was closed with a 40-year-old tape-recording of Christal’s singing grandchildren and a PowerPoint presentation of pictures chronicling Christal’s life from childhood to the present.

Christal was born Feb. 22, 1911, in Lelia Lake and had been a resident of Donley County all of his life. He married Thelma Gertrude Self on Nov. 27, 1930, in Portales, N.M.

He had been a farmer and rancher most of his life and served for 26 years as the Donley County judge before his retirement in 1997. While serving as county judge, he served in various capacities on many local and area boards and committees.

He had served on the Lelia Lake School Board and the Clarendon College Board of Regents for many years. He served on the PRPC Board and was very instrumental in the implementation of the county Emergency Medical Services System.

He was a member of First Baptist Church and had been a Sunday school teacher and a Deacon. He was a member and past master of Clarendon Masonic Lodge No. 700, a recipient of the Golden Trowel Award, a member and Past Patron of Clarendon Chapter No. 6 Order of the Eastern Star, and was well known for the elaborate Christmas lighting display at his home.

He was preceded in death by his wife on May 28, 1992; a sister, Marguerite Alderson; and a granddaughter, Kathryn Kuhrau.

Casketbearers were David Word, Tim Word, Brandon Word, Cameron Word, David Miller, Quentin Kuhrau, Clayton Kuhrau and Tyler Word. Honorary bearers were Robert Swerzinski, great-grandchildren, First Baptist Church deacons, and Clarendon Masonic Lodge members.

Survivors include two daughters, Jan Word of Amarillo and Janeice Kuhrau of Seattle; six grandchildren, Kimberly Miller, Mike Word, David Word, Timothy Word, Clayton Kuhrau and Quentin Kuhrau; and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to the Donley County Courthouse Restoration Project Fund or Harrington Cancer Center of Amarillo.

The CHS Student Council hosted the second-annual school-wide talent show Tuesday, May 6, to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

Those participating in the elementary division of the talent show included Summer Petrie, Maci White, Gentry Shadle, Bradley Watson, Trevela Dronzek, Cole Ward, Kenzie Perryman, Kae Lea Hewett, Austin Lowry, Brittany Sanchez, Keirstan Harlan, Kaleigh West, and Payge Petrie.  Secondary division participants included Abbie Massingill, Bailey Starnes, Philip Vorheis, Matt Aaron, and Eric Pitts.

Winners in the elementary division were Summer Petrie, fourth place Vocal Solo; Trevela Dronzek, Summer Petrie and Payge Petrie, third place Cheer Routine; Austin Lowry, second place Vocal Solo; and Kaleigh West, first place Vocal Solo.  Winners in the secondary division were Philip Vorheis, third place Stand-up Comedy; Abbie Massingill and Bailey Starnes, second place Skit; Matt Aaron and Eric Pitts, first place Martial Arts.

The Student Council appreciates all local businesses who made donations including Community Bank, Herring National Bank, B&R Thriftway, Every Nook and Cranny, Pizza Hut, Don Stone, Clarendon Post Office, Knorpp Insurance, Signs Plus, Donley County State Bank, and Duckwall’s, as well as everyone who participated in or attended the talent show.  Over $500 was raised for St. Jude’s.

The Hedley Board of Aldermen approved new street address ranges when they met on May 5.

The address changes are being made to bring the city into compliance with the Panhandle Regional 911 Network with the assistance of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission.

The board also submitted its top three choices for renaming three streets on the south side of US 287. The thoroughfare now known as South 3rd Street will be renamed Little St., Mesquite St., or A Drive. South 4th Street will be called Muddy Rd., Sage St., or B Drive; and South 6th Street will be dubbed Weatherly Drive, Yucca St., or C Drive.

In other business, the board amended the budget and voted to join the Association of Rural Communities in Texas on a one-year trial basis. The aldermen also adopted a resolution joining the lawsuit to intervene in Valor Telecom’s attempt to enact new Extended Local Calling surcharges.

Top students for the Class of 2003 were named last week at both Clarendon and Hedley High Schools. Valedictorians are Valerie Taylor and Lauren Hill, and Salutatorians are Lacey Anderberg and Lisle Rowland.

Valerie Taylor, daughter of John and Susanne Taylor, has been named Valedictorian of Clarendon High School with a GPA of 100.97.

Taylor has been involved in many extracurricular activities including Junior Historians for four years.  She has served as president of the local chapter.  She participated in National History Day all four years and submitted a first place paper at the State Junior Historian meet this year. 

Taylor has played the bassoon for the Bronco Band four years and qualified as an All-Region Band member for all four of those years.  She has also been a member of the Clarendon High School Science Bowl team.  She competed in UIL Literary Criticism, Journalism, and One Act Play while qualifying for regional and state competition and placing sixth in Literary Criticism at the State Meet.

Valerie has also received many honors.  She is a member of the Clarendon High School National Honor Society and has served as president of the local chapter.  She was also chosen to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference as a sophomore and has been named a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student.

Valerie’s outside of school activities include membership in the First Baptist Church Youth, and she has served in the Children’s Church Ministry as a volunteer.  Valerie has also been an office assistant at the Clarendon Family Medical Center.

Valerie plans to attend Texas Tech University, where she plans to major in English.

Lauren Hill is the Valedictorian of Hedley High School.  She is the daughter of Bryan and Debbie Hill.  She has attended Hedley School for the past 13 years.  She has been on the ‘A’ Honor Roll and is graduating with a 97.65 average.

Hill was active in basketball, tennis, track, cross-country, UIL Academics, Choir, BPA, FFA, and One Act Play.  She received awards of First Team All-State and Player of the Year in 1A basketball.  She was a three-year regional qualifier in tennis and track.  She competed in Number Sense, Calculator Applications, and Mathematics at regional for four years, and Mathematics one year at state. 

Hill is also involved with the youth group at church and enjoys playing the piano. 

Lauren plans to attend a four-year college, play basketball, and graduate with an accounting degree.

Lacey Anderberg, daughter of Jeff and Sandy Anderberg, has been named Salutatorian for Clarendon High School with a GPA of 100.26.  She has received a full tuition scholarship to Oklahoma Baptist University, where she will major in general studies.

Lacey has also been very involved in extracurricular activities.  She has played basketball for 4 years, been a band member for four years while qualifying for State Solo and Ensemble on the trombone, and has been a student council member for four years serving as secretary her junior year and vice president this year.  Lacey has also been involved in UIL literary events for four years while winning state in Editorial Writing and qualifying for regional Persuasive Speaking.

Lacey has been a member of the National Honor Society and has served as vice president of the local chapter this year.  She has also received the Wendy’s Heisman nomination and has been awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award.  In addition she received the Lady Bronco Fighting Heart award her junior year.

Lacey is a member for the Calvary Baptist Church youth group.

Lisle Michael Rowland is the Salutatorian for Hedley High School and is the son of Mike and Linda Rowland. He has attended Hedley School for ten years.

Rowland played varsity football for three years and took a year off to be mascot.  He is a member of the National Honor Society and the UIL Math and Science teams.   He has earned his Eagle Scout rank and has participated in FFA and 4-H. 

Rowland’s favorite high school memories are of Boy Scout Camp, skiing at Greenbelt Lake, and Math and Science trips to San Antonio. 

Lisle plans to attend West Texas A&M and pursue a career in Nutritional Science.

The High Ranking Boy for the Class of 2003 is Kevin Green.  Kevin is the son of Alex and Penny McAnear.  Kevin plans on attending Amarillo College and majoring in pre-pharmacy.  His GPA is 96.56.

Kevin’ activities at CHS include two years of football, one year of basketball, one year of tennis, one year of baseball, and one year of golf.  Kevin has been named to the Academic All District Team.  He has also been a member of the student council, Gifted & Talented, UIL Accounting, UIL Calculator, UIL Science, the Bronco Band, the Spanish Club, the Future Farmers of America, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Kevin has also been a very active volunteer in his community.  He has served as a cafeteria volunteer, helped in food drives, aided in the rodeo clean up, and has been an assistant T-ball coach.

Kevin’s awards include All-Region Band, Pantex Outstanding Math Student, CHS Top Business Student, CHS Top Chemistry Student, and CHS Top Spanish Student.

Kevin is a member of the First United Methodist Church and its youth group.

Bobbie Kidd and Michael Tibbets were sworn in as members of the Clarendon Board of Aldermen Monday night after a ballot recount confirmed them as victors of the May 3 election. Meanwhile, Mayor Tex Selvidge says he’ll take the blame for any confusion about irregularities in the election.

Candidates Bob Watson and Allen Estlack filed a petition for a recount last Wednesday after the election produced a one-vote difference between three of seven candidates running for two places on the board. Kidd had gotten 125 votes, but Tibbets had received 81 votes, Watson 80, and Estlack 79.

When the votes were recounted Friday, Watson lost two votes, but Tibbets’ and Estlack’s totals remained unchanged. Mayor Tex Selvidge, who was unopposed, also lost one vote in the recount, as did candidate Carl Draper.

Other issues were also brought to light last week.

City officials discovered Wednesday that two people who voted on May 3 apparently were not registered for the municipal election. Those votes may have been lawful if those individuals are in fact living inside the city, but that question remained unanswered.

Mayor Selvidge has requested the Donley County Tax Assessor/Collector’s office to provide City Hall with a list of only city voters for next year’s election rather than the countywide list provided now. He also says state officials tell him its up to the candidates to protest the election results.

“If anybody wants to protest, then there is a process they can go through,” Selvidge said.

According to the Texas Secretary of State’s office, a losing candidate would have to file suit in district court to change the outcome. The district judge could compel any voters who cast invalid ballots to reveal who they voted for, or he could void the election entirely. Neither Estlack nor Watson have expressed any plans to take this step.

In another issue, questions were raised after Friday’s recount because city officials didn’t give 18 hours advance notice of the recount to the candidates before the fact. Mayor Selvidge announced the city would hold a second recount but called that off when he discovered Saturday that the ballots had been left unsecured.

“I wanted to do what was right,” he said, “but I felt I would be more wrong if we recounted an unsecured vote. If there’s any blame it falls on me. I’m the one in charge.”