Archives for May 2006

The first ever “Trash To Treasures” citywide garage sale slated for Saturday, June 17, just got bigger and will include nearby communities of Howardwick, Hedley, and Lelia Lake.

The Clarendon Enterprise and A Fine Feathered Nest, Inc., have teamed up to sponsor “Trash To Treasures,” the first of what they hope will become an annual event to coincide with Father’s Day weekend.

Popular demand has led the Enterprise and A Fine Feathered Nest to agree to expand the event outside of Clarendon to other local communities.

“Dozens of families have garage sales scattered throughout the year,” said Enterprise publisher Roger Estlack. “The idea here is to coordinate those sales, have them on the same day, and try to draw the biggest possible crowds to the sales.”

Residents who wish to participate in this year’s “Trash To Treasures” are asked to come by the Enterprise before 5 p.m. on Friday, June 9, to sign up for the promotion. For just $20, each household will get 50-word advertisement in the Big-E Classifieds and the exclusive “Trash To Treasures” garage sale kit, which includes tips for holding a successful sale, price stickers, and two yard signs.

In addition, the Enterprise will print a city map the week of the event indicating the location of each sale and will promote the citywide garage sale in area newspapers and with local radio ads.

The two sponsors intend for “Trash To Treasures” to be something that not only will help residents earn more money at their garage and yard sales but will also bring people from out of town to Clarendon to spend the day visiting our neighborhoods and patronizing our local merchants and restaurants.

Local merchants are encouraged to plan special promotions or sidewalk sales to coincide with the event, and advertising space will be made available on the back of the “Trash To Treasures” map. A Fine Feathered Nest’s Chriss Clifford will be visiting local merchants to encourage them join in the event.

“Citywide garage sales have proven successful in other communities, and we believe Clarendon can benefit from the same kind of coordinated effort,” Estlack said.

Remember: The deadline for “Trash To Treasures” is Friday, June 9, at 5 p.m.

Call the Enterprise at 874-2259 today to sign up or come by the office at 105 S. Kearney in Clarendon.

Plans continue to take shape for the 129th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration to be held June 30 through July 4 in Clarendon.

Activities begin Friday, June 30, with a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stanley Auto Ranch, and that night at 7:30 the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will hold the first night of its annual ranch rodeo at the arena behind Stanley’s. An open-air dance will follow the rodeo.

COEA’s events continue Saturday, July 1, with a ranch horse competition at 10 a.m. and the second and final night of the ranch rodeo at 7:30 with another dance to follow. Downtown merchants will be open Saturday, and other activities include a Depression lunch downtown at 11 a.m. and the annual Henson’s turtle race at 3 p.m.

Sunday afternoon will be dedicated to the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department as it celebrates its centennial with an open house at the Fire Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.

Local merchants will be open all day Monday for your shopping convenience, and COEA will host a kids’ rodeo for cowpokes ages 16 and under at 7:30 p.m.

The big day this year will be Tuesday, July 4, as the celebration returns to its traditional date and traditional location on the Courthouse Square. The craft fair will begin at 10 a.m., and the Old Settlers Reunion will follow at 10:30 a.m. The Shriners’ Barbecue will begin at 11 a.m.

The Western parade will return to its 2 p.m. timeslot this year and will be followed by the Clarendon Lions Club’s annual Cowpatty Bingo contest at the Lions Hall.

COEA will close out the celebration with a ranch bronc riding competition at 7:30 p.m.

Prospective craft fair vendors should contact the Donley County Extension Office, and those interested in being in the parade should call the Chamber of Commerce. COEA will continue its traditional role of handling the publicity of the celebration in the form of posters and advertisements.

Those planning to host other activities during the 129th Saints’ Roost Celebration are asked to call the Chamber at 874-2421 to get on the calendar.

Hedley ISD is pleased to announce the valedictorian and salutatorian for the graduating class of 2006.

Benjamin Lee Shaw has been named valedictorian with an average of 95.5655.  He is the son of Randy and Ronda Shaw of Hedley and has attended Hedley schools since 1993. 

Ben is involved in UIL Academics – Current Events, Social Studies, and Literary Criticism, National Honor Society where he serves as president, FFA, Business Professionals of America, One Act Play, Student Director of OAP, Senior Class President, and Yearbook Staff.

He placed third in the State UIL Current Events Competition.  He was also voted by his classmates as Most Likely to Succeed. He was named the Young Man of the Year by the Donley County Chamber of Commerce.

Ben’s hobbies include reading books, playing video games, and watching movies. He is also involved in several community service projects including planting trees at Rowe Cemetery and helping the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department raise funds for a grant for a new fire truck.

Ben plans to attend Clarendon College and eventually obtain a Master’s Degree in Architecture at Texas Tech.

Holly Joy Davis has been named salutatorian with an average of 93.944.  She is the daughter of Keith and Shari Davis of Wellington.  She attended Wellington ISD until her freshman year when she transferred to Hedley High School.

During high school, she was involved in cross country, basketball, track, tennis, gifted and talented, 4-H, National Honor Society, FFA, UIL Current Events, One Act Play, and United States Tennis Association. 

She has been awarded Who’s Who Among American High School Students Sports Edition, A Honor Roll, Academic All-District Cross-Country, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, National Honor Roll, The National Society of High School Scholars, Basketball – Academic All-District, Academic All-State, District Champs, Tennis – District Champ, Regional Runner-up, State Qualifier, FFA Secretary, Class Vice President, Outstanding Chemistry Student, One Act Play Zone Champs, Cross Country – 4th Place District, Regional Qualifier, Team District Champs, Basketball – Senior Captain, Team Tennis- Regional Runner-up, 11th Place State, and Tennis – District Champ.

Joy has served the community with the Nickel Drive for Local Troops, Thanksgiving food drive, Christmas gift baskets, Christmas bags, American Heart Association, and the Hedley Senior Citizens Banquet Door Prize.

She plans to attend college at Seward College and major in Chemistry.  After getting her bachelor’s degree in chemistry she plans to attend pharmacy school.

The top eighth grade boy and girl are Dylan Pettit and Kailee Burton.

Dylan is the son of Brian Pettit and Tanja Widener and the stepson of Jade Widener.  He is 13 years old and lives in Memphis.  He will attend Hedley High School next year.

After he graduates, he plans to attend UCLA or UT and major in criminal science investigation.  He is very interested in making the world a safe place to live. In Dylan’s spare time he enjoys playing sports and playing with his pets.

Kailee is the daughter of Blain and Tanya Burton of Hedley.  She received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Performance and was recently nominated for Education in Action – Lone Star Leadership Academy in Houston.  She placed first in the 400-meter dash at the District Meet in Silverton and will be a varsity cheerleader for the Hedley Owls during the 2006-2007 school year.

She is very active in the Youth Ministry at Hedley First Baptist Church.  She plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Clarendon Mayor Leonard “Tex” Selvidge stepped down Tuesday night after serving the city for 14 of the last 30 years.

“I just think it’s time for me to resign,” Selvidge said prior to Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen. “I could serve another year, but we need to start some more projects, and I don’t want to start one and not see it finished.”

The mayor said the completion of the 2005 street-paving project seemed to him like a good time for change.

Selvidge leaves office after leading the city longer than any other mayor since Clarendon was incorporated in 1901. He served a total of 12 years as mayor, taking the position first from 1977 to 1980 and returning to office in 1997.

Selvidge also served as member of the Board of Aldermen in 1976 and 1981.

He said serving his community was something he thought everyone should do.

“I’ve always felt like if you’re going to live somewhere, you ought to give something to it,” Selvidge said. “It would thrill me if every election we had 10 or 12 people running for every spot on every board in the county.”

Selvidge said he always tried to put the community’s interests first; and he said on the rare occasions he was called on to break a tie, he tried to vote for his convictions.

“I’m not saying I did a better job than anyone else would have, but I hope I contributed something to the community,” he said. “I’m sure some would disagree, but everyone is entitled to their opinions.”

Selvidge says he’s proud to have been a part of several moments during his times in office, including the recent street project, the numerous grants received to improve the city, the updating and codification of the city ordinances, and the development of the city-county library downtown.

City Secretary Linda Smith had kind words for the city’s outgoing chief executive.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Tex,” Smith said. “He’s always been good to me, and he’s been a good mayor.”

Alderman Mark White was chosen by the board to serve the remainder of Selvidge’s term and was sworn in as Clarendon’s 35th mayor, and his predecessor thinks he will do a fine job.

“I think the city will be in good shape,” Selvidge said.

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said Friday that the state collected $1.57 billion in sales tax revenue in April, up 17.2 percent compared to April 2005.

Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick were among Texas cities receiving higher sales tax receipts.

The City of Clarendon received a rebate of $29,120.99, up 4.08 percent from last April and pushing the year-to-date total ahead 8.4 percent.

Hedley was up 125.64 percent from $522.16 last April to $1,178.24 this year and is running 87.6 percent ahead for the year-to-date.

Howardwick is also up with 4.79 percent growth for the year-to-date and receiving $857.72 for 6.8 percent growth in April.

May’s sales tax allocations to local governments represent March sales that were reported to the Comptroller in April by monthly tax filers, and January, February and March sales reported to the Comptroller in April by quarterly tax filers.