Archives for June 2011

A Donley County Grand Jury indicted Robert Monroe Babcock yesterday on the Capital Murder charge in the death of his four-year-old son, Chance Mark Jones.

District Attorney Luke Inman tells the Enterprise that the court will now proceed with scheduling the first court appearance and setting a pre-trial date, which he says could be in the next two to four weeks.

Babcock is accused of beating his son, who died on January 5. According to previous reports, preliminary results of an autopsy conducted the next day revealed that the boy died from blunt force trauma to the head and that he also suffered internal injuries from trauma to the torso.

The defendant remains in the Donley County Jail with bond set at $1.1 million.

Clarendon is all set to welcome visitors to its 134th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration this weekend with activities planned Friday, Saturday, and Monday, July 1, 2, and 4.

Some new activities have been added to the schedule in the last week, including a Summer Kick Off Thursday, June 30, at the Community Care Center of Clarendon. There will be food, games, and fun for those joining the residents, staff, and family at the center with donations being accepted for the residents’ activity fund.

A Watermelon Festival at the corner of US 287 and Gorst, sponsored by the Donley County Area Tourism Council everyday July 1-4. The festival will feature live music, craft booths, homemade ice cream, and more. See their ad in this week’s issue for complete details.

Time is growing short, but it is not too late to get your parade entries in, register for the turtle race, or secure a spot for your booth on the square.

If you want to have a booth at this year’s craft fair, contact the Donley County
Extension Service today at 874-2141; and if you want to be in the parade, fill out an entry form found in this week’s Enterprise or contact the Chamber of Commerce. Entries for the terrapin race should be made at Henson’s.

The official celebration begins at 11 a.m. Friday, July 1, when the First Baptist Church hosts a Depression Luncheon at its Downtown Ministry Center, and local merchants will be open for your shopping convenience.

The annual Ranch Rodeo will begin Friday night at the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s Arena with announcer Ed Montana. The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. with a dance at 9 p.m. featuring the Buster Bledsoe Band. Each night at the rodeo will begin with kids’ events including the Donkey Ride, Steer Ride, and Wild Calf Scramble.
A $200 beef certificate will also be drawn each night at the rodeo grounds.

On Saturday, July 2, Henson’s will host their annual Turtle Race downtown at 1:30 p.m., and local merchants will again have several specials to choose from.

The action will kick off at the rodeo grounds again at 7:30 with the final night of the Ranch Rodeo and a dance at 9 p.m. featuring Tommy Gallagher & Brimstone.
Independence Day will begin on Monday, July 4, at 10 a.m. with the Kids’ Tricycle/Bicycle Parade, and the Craft Fair on the Courthouse Square followed by the Old Settlers’ Reunion at 10:30.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club will hold their annual barbecue at 11 a.m., and serve until all the food runs out.

The Western Parade will begin at 2 p.m. followed by the Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo.
The COEA will close out the July Fourth celebration with a Junior Ranch Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. followed by a dance at 9 p.m. with music provided by Trevor Leeper.

Check next week’s Enterprise for official results from this year’s celebration, and have a safe and happy Fourth!

During the Independence Day Holiday, the Texas Highway Patrol will conduct focused DWI patrols in high-risk locations at times when alcohol-related crashes are most frequent. The enhanced patrols target impaired driving and are funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.

The increased patrols are scheduled for June 27 through July 6. All available DPS troopers will patrol during this time to keep the traveling public safer by keeping drunk drivers off the roadways.

“Highway travel increases during the Fourth of July holiday, and we want to make sure that everyone is driving sober and getting to their destinations safely,” said Chief David G. Baker, the DPS assistant director of the Texas Highway Patrol. “Anyone who plans on drinking, should also plan on having someone else drive them home.”

Troopers are also participating in Operation Holiday and Operation C.A.R.E. from July 1 to July 4, both of which provide increased patrol to make holiday travel safer. In addition to looking for drunk drivers, troopers will focus on seat belt violators and speeders.

Last year during the extended holiday weekend, DPS troopers made 617 DWI arrests, issued 8,882 speeding citations and ticketed more than 1,600 seat belt and child safety seat violators.

With the ongoing drought and the high-risk of wildfires, DPS asks that all drivers avoid tossing cigarettes out of their vehicle. Drivers should also avoid stopping or parking vehicles in grass, which can catch fire when it comes in contact with an automobile’s catalytic converter.