Chamber awards
Archives for February 2011
Senior recognition
Clifford wins Chamber’s top award
Fred Clifford was honored with the 2010 Saints’ Roost Award for his lifetime of service to the community during the annual Clarendon Chamber of Commerce Banquet Saturday night.
Woman of the Year recognition went to Ashlee Estlack, and Bill Auvenshine was named the Man of the Year for 2010.
Clifford was born and raised in Donley County and has a long history of helping other people. He served in the United States Army for three years, and worked many years in the family grocery business.
He delivered groceries to just about every elderly widowed lady in town and was also known for helping them with everything from changing light bulbs to carrying out the trash. Later as a salesman for Chamberlain Motor Co., Clifford worked diligently to get people the best deals possible and helped people get to and from work or appointments while their vehicles were being worked on.
For 26 years, Clifford was the head of the Citizens Cemetery Association and kept it running smoothly. He spent countless hours just making sure there was someone out there to mow the grass and make sure things were kept up in addition to numerous additional hours sending out thank you notes for donations to the cemetery.
The Woman of the Year, Ashlee Estlack, was recognized for her devotion to her family, her job, and her community. She is an active member of Donley County Child Welfare Board and teaches Sunday School and children’s classes on Wednesday nights at the First United Methodist Church. She is a member of the Clarendon Lions Club and became the secretary of that organization last summer.
Estlack has been an award-winning writer for The Clarendon Enterprise, helped organize the 2006 West Texas Press Association convention in Clarendon, and has served as the secretary of the Panhandle Press Association since 2007.
As the marketing coordinator at Clarendon College, she has standardized the college’s logo and given CC a consistent professional appearance across its brochures, advertisements, website, billboards, and stationery. Her efforts have been part of the teamwork which has produced record-setting enrollments at Clarendon College.
In 2010 she led a joint effort between the college, the city, and the Economic Development Corporation that resulted in the new digital marquee being installed at the college, which now brightly promotes both college and community events to passers-by on US 287. She has served on the Chamber of Commerce board and provided design work for many things, including promotional materials for Summer Celebration last year.
She also designed the EDC website and the Clarendon Visitor’s brochure, which has been distributed far and wide. Estlack has also been very involved with the “Bring Back the Mulkey” campaign, planning the fundraising effort for the theatre and designing the campaign’s logo, posters, and other promotional material.
Bill Auvenshine was named Man of the Year for 2010 and was recognized for his personal and professional achievements and for his work as the former president of Clarendon College.
He is an educator with more than 40 years’ experience, and among his favorite hobbies are golf, music, and classic old cars. He is a devout Methodist and a student of Civil War history. He is an illustrious musician, having played his saxophone professionally as a young man and having taught band for four years in grades six through 12.
He also operated and managed a music store in the Texas Panhandle for six years.
He is the past president of the Texas Junior/Community College Association, is a former Lions Club district governor, and was the Clarendon Lion of the Year last year.
He spent more than 20 years at Hill College in Hillsboro where built financial reserves from $225,000 to $5 million, contributed to historical preservation, and had the honor of college’s library being named for him.
He then was president at Galveston College where he implemented marketing strategies for enrollment improvement. In his brief three-year tenure at Clarendon College, Auvenshine added technical programs and passed maintenance taxes in Gray and Childress counties. He oversaw construction of two vocational buildings in Pampa – one of which bears his name – and engendered a 35.9 percent increase in contact hours and a 28 percent increase in headcount enrollment.
The Chamber also recognized Denise Bertrand and MaryRuth Bishop as the Workhorses of the Year.
In addition to her ongoing work with the Girl Scouts and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bertrand last year led the Tourism Committee as it worked with NewsChannel 10 to put on the Summer Celebration. Bishop actually retired early last year but since that time implemented educational programs for people of all ages, organized several projects, and now heads up the Mulkey Advisory Committee, which is working with the Clarendon EDC to light up downtown.
Chuck Deyhle was named the Pioneer Man for 2010. He grew up in Fannin County in East Texas and served three years in the US Navy in World War II before graduating from Texas A&M, getting married, and moving to Clarendon to start practicing veterinary medicine. During his 48-year career, he received many awards and accolades, organized the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and was the 1989 Consultant of the Year.
He is a former city alderman, is active at the Methodist Church, and currently serves on the boards of Greenbelt Water Authority, Clarendon College, and Herring Bank. He is also a charter member of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
He is known as an innovator and has pioneered many of the concepts and procedures used in veterinary medicine today.
The Pioneer Woman for 2010 was Ismanell Gray, who has lived in Donley County for 76
years and has many friends and a large family counted in her bounty. She served for 12 years at Clarendon College as a dorm parent, helping educate many young women.
She is a mother of five, grandmother of 13, great-grandmother to 26, and great, great-grandmother to one.
Annie Patten was named the Young Woman of the Year from Clarendon and was recognized for her work in 4H, as a Sweetheart in the Clarendon Lions Club, and at the Clarendon nursing home. She has worked many hours to raise money for the new Donley County Activity Center.
She volunteers to help the elderly and is active in FFA and at the Presbyterian Church.
She has been a Clarendon High School athletic trainer for three years, taking care of whatever the boys needed, whether it was taping their ankles, fixing ice whirlpools, or just providing them with cold water. She is also the senior class treasurer and was nominated to the Homecoming Court.
The Young Man of the Year from Clarendon is Richard Nino, who was honored for his involvement in the school and the community.
As a member of the award-winning Bronco Band he has been named to all-region band and was a state qualifier in solo and ensemble. He was also been a member of the District Champion and Area Finalist Bronco Football Team where he received all-district honors as a center.
He has particpated in One Act Play and in UIL debate and speech. He has also participated in the Pantex Science Bowl.
He has served as vice-president and secretary of the Student Council. He is a member of the Spanish Club; and, as a member of the Junior Historians, he has helped as a docent in the museum during the Chuck Wagon Cook-off and has also helped decorate the nursing home at Christmas each year.
The Hedley Young Woman of the Year was Kaylee Shields, who was recognized for being goal-oriented and always striving to attain the highest degree of success. She has a 4.0 GPA and is well respected among her peers.
She is the vice president of the senior class and she has been active in basketball, cross country, tennis, and track. where she was selected Secretary of the sophomore class, Vice-President of the junior class, Vice-President of the senior class, and Vice-President of the National Honor Society. She is also currently serving as the Hedley Lions Club Sweetheart
The Hedley Young Man of the Year was Reid Copelin for excelling in all fields.
He ranks number one in his class with a 4.0 GPA and has won numerous UIL contests in the areas of science, social studies, and science. He has received awards in BPA contests and in One Act Play.
He earned the Star Greenhand Award, Star Chapter Farmer Award, Chapter Lonestar Award, and Lonestar Degree State FFA. He has held several FFA offices including Chapter President his junior and senior years.
He was nominated by Greenbelt Electric Cooperative to be a participant in the Washington, DC, Leadership Tour.
He is active in the Donley County 4H, participating Livestock Judging and Stock Shows where he received Special Recognition Awards for nine years.
He has been a participant in FFA stock shows and Horse Judging contests throughout his high school years as well. He cooked and served at the community chicken BBQ, helped plan and produce the Hedley Veteran’s Day Celebration, collected and distributed food to the less fortunate of the community during the Hedley Thanksgiving Food Drive, has been a Vacation Bible School Volunteer.
Also recognized during the banquet were incoming chamber directors Britton Hall, Chrissy Woodrum, and Tex Buckhaults. Outgoing board members were Ashlee Estlack, Jerome Martinez, Henry Hermesmeyer, Susan Word, and Regina Wootten.
Chamber officials estimate 215 people attended the “Night at the Movies” themed banquet, up from 172 last year and 182 the year before.
This year’s banquet was sponsored by Lowe’s, Clarendon College, Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, GreenLight Gas, J&W Lumber, Road Runner Home Care, Don Stone Signs, and Humalfa, LLC.
Firemen have close call at accident
Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Simpson said volunteer firemen Michael Newhouse, Jackie Bell, Chris Wilson, and Chuck Robertson were lucky to be alive after 82-year-old J.W. Noble of Claude sped past over half a mile of vehicles parked in the inside southbound lane of US 287 and narrowly missed the men.
Simpson said Newhouse had to run out of the outside lane to avoid being struck by Noble, who then ran through traffic cones set up to block the lane, and continued on a collision course with Bell, Wilson, and Robertson, who were standing behind a Clarendon fire truck. The three men also ran out of the way as Noble struck the fire truck, which was then knocked into a Nissan SUV driving by Michael Trevino of Weatherford, Texas.
“I’m so thankful that we didn’t lose four of our firemen Saturday morning,” Simpson said.
No one was injured in the accident, and Noble was charged with Failing to Control Speed.
About 30 minutes earlier, Marcus Washington, age 45, of Sulpher Springs was traveling southbound on US 287 as the sun was causing dangerous sight restrictions. Simpson said Washington was going an unsafe speed for the conditions when he struck the rear of an International truck driven by Gene Hommel of Clarendon.
Emergency personnel had to employ the Jaws of Life and a wrecking truck to free Washington from his vehicle. He was airlifted to Northwest Texas Hospital and was treated and released that evening.
Washington was also charged with Failing to Control Speed.
CC spring numbers increase
Clarendon College is continuing to grow with spring enrollment figures showing a 9.4 percent increase in headcount over last year.
Total enrollment settled at 1,485 following the 12th class day this past Wednesday. That’s up from the spring 2010 enrollment of 1,358, enrollment of 1,150 in spring 2009, and 1,043 in the spring of 2008.
“For the spring we’re up over 29 percent compared to two years ago,” Dean of Students Tex Buckhaults said. “We’re extremely pleased with this continued growth.”
College funding is based on contact hours, which is the time students actually spend in classrooms, and that figure is also going up. Contact hours this spring are up 11.3 percent over last spring.
“This growth is due in part to the addition of new workforce programs and expansion of
existing programs,” Buckhaults said.
The dean also credited new and updated facilities in Pampa and Childress with improving enrollment.
A team approach to attracting new students and meeting students needs is also credited with the college’s growth.
“We have a good group of people, from staff to instruction and administration, who work extremely well together,” Buckhaults said.
Enrollment on the home campus is 398 compared to 391 last spring. The college has grown considerably at the Pampa Center with enrollment at 454, up from 335. The Childress Center has almost doubled with 69 students compared to 37 last spring. A total of 411 students are enrolled through dual credit programs at area high schools, and the remaining 153 students are enrolled through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Janice Marie Pratt Johnston
Janice Marie Pratt Johnston, 73, died Saturday, February 5, 2011, in Clarendon.
Services were held Monday, February 7, at the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood, Pastor, officiating. Interment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon
Janice was born September 1, 1937, in Houston, Harris County, Texas, to John Henry and Marie Montaine Puckett Pratt. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star since the age of 18 thru Rainbows. She was an Educator working in both the Plainview ISD and Clarendon ISD. She organized and was the sponsor of the Maranatha Organization of Clarendon High School. Janice attended and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon where she taught Sunday School for many years. She will be remembered as epitomizing the true character of a Christian lady.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband, Billy Ray Johnston, of Clarendon; 3 daughters, Deborah Lynn Hemphill and husband Greg, of Allen, TX, Dyanne Marie Johnston, of Amarillo, and Mischelle Storseth and husband Gary, of Friendswood, TX; 2 brothers, John Howard Pratt and wife Connie, of Wimberley, TX, and William Donald Pratt and wife Rose, of Livingston, TX; and 9 grandchildren, Brandon, Jennifer, & Allison Hemphill, Lyz Moak, Shady & Talyn Johnston, Kirk, Gabriel, & Noah Storseth.
Her grandsons and nephews acted as her casket bearers.The family may be contacted
at 604 East Third in Clarendon.
The family suggests memorials be to Odyssey Hospice of Amarillo and Peak Scholarship Fund, C/O Clarendon CISD, PO Box 610, Clarendon, Texas 79226.
Broncos roll on in District
The Broncos continued their dominance of District 3-1A last week as they rolled to a 6-0 record in District play.
Last Wednesday the Broncos took down Wheeler 60-39 on the road. Seniors Johnny Gaines and Brayden Phillips teamed up and accounted for 44 of the Broncos’ total points.
The Broncos pulled ahead by 10 early in the game and held their point-spread until the final quarter of play. Their defense held the Mustangs to only seven points while they put in 18.
“We shot the ball well,” head coach Brandt Lockhart said. “We did a good job of causing turnovers that gave us easy baskets.”
Senior Johnny Gaines accounted for 30 of Clarendon’s points, and Brayden Phillips also finished in double figures with 14.
Also scoring: Mike Crump 6, Cole Ward 4, Justin Shillings 2, Daniel West 2, and Chris Crump 2.
On Friday, the Broncos wiped out another foe when they defeated Wellington at home 57-46. The Broncos jumped out to the lead in the first half of play, but the Rockets would not give up. Clarendon gained a little ground in the fourth period to seal the win. Gaines and M. Crump finished in double figures with 25 and 11 points.
“We got a lot of offensive rebounds, which helped us get more chances to score,” Lockhart said.
Also scoring: Shillings 7, Phillips 5, Ward 5, and C. Crump 4.
The Broncos will play Memphis at home February 11 and travel to Quanah February 15 to end their regular season. Games will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Deep Freeze
What’s cooking?
DWI, assault cases lead pleas
The 100th District Court heard six pleas resulting in convictions in cases ranging from Driving While Intoxicated to Assault on a Public Servant and Burglary when it met in Clarendon last Monday, January 24.
A total of $12,500 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on January 24. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $3,012 in court costs and $22,000 restitution.
District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.
John L. Louis was placed on probation for a period of five years for the third degree felony offense of assault on a public servant and driving while intoxicated 3rd or more. Louis was convicted and sentenced on both charges to ten years in the Institutional Division of the TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of five years.
Louis was arrested in Donley County on November 3, 2010, by Deputy Mike Spier and was later indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on January 13, 2011, for aggravated assault against a public servant and driving while intoxicated.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Louis is required to pay a $2,000 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $941 in court costs, along with DWI requirements.
Joe Wayne Clark Jr. pleaded true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Revoke Probation of Defendant. Clark was convicted and sentenced to 12 months in the State Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On July 24, 2009, Clark originally pleaded guilty to the state jail felony offense of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger that occurred on June 23, 2009 in Donley County.
The State filed the motion to revoke on January 13, 2010, alleging four violations of community supervision.
Clark pleaded true to all violations contained in the State’s motion and was sentenced to 12 months in the TDCJ. Clark is also required to pay $565 in court costs to Donley County and a $1,500 fine.
David Andrew Vinson was placed on probation for a period of one year for the Class A Misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated. Vinson was convicted and sentenced to one year in the Donley County Jail, but the sentence was probated for a period of one year.
Vinson was arrested in Donley County on September 5, 2010, by Deputy Mike Spier and was later indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on October 27, 2010 for driving while intoxicated.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Vinson is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $558 in court costs, along with DWI requirements.
Michelle Lucia Nemoede AKA Shelly Nemoede was placed on probation for a period of one year for the Class A Misdemeanor offense of driving while intoxicated.
Nemoede was convicted and sentenced to one year in the Donley County Jail, but the sentence was probated for a period of two years.
Nemoede was arrested in Donley County on May 30, 2010, by DPS Trooper Joe Cannon and was later indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 28, 2010, for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Nemoede is required to pay a $4,000 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $558 in court costs, along with DWI requirements.
Kyle Daniel Murray pleaded true to the allegations listed in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Probation of Defendant.
Murray was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice but the sentence was probated for a period of ten years.
On August 19, 2009, Murray originally pleaded guilty to the second degree felony offense of burglary of a habitation that occurred on June 3, 2009, in Donley County.
The State filed the motion to adjudicate on October 28, 2009, alleging ten violations of community supervision.
Murray pleaded true to all violations contained in the State’s motion and was sentenced to ten years in the TDCJ but the sentence was probated for ten years.
Murray is also required to pay $390 in court costs to Donley County, a $4,000 fine, and $22,000 in restitution.
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