Archives for June 2012

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) made the following comments after the Supreme Court announced its decision on the health care law:

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is disturbing because it basically means that the Federal Government can require us to do anything it pleases and impose a tax on us if we fail to comply.

If that were true, there would be few limits on federal power, and the principle of limited powers is one of the basic tenets of our Constitution.

Now everyone who is concerned about a government with unlimited power to control our health care must join together to repeal this law through the political process and replace it with commonsense reforms that keep patients and doctors in charge of their care.  Many of the provisions of the new law will take effect by 2014, so we have limited time.

In addition, it is important to emphasize that there is a better way.  We have real problems in our health care system, and there are more limited, commonsense proposals to help solve those problems.  Further details are on my website.”

Clarendon is getting ready to roll out the red carpet for visitors to the 135th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration, which will be held next week July 4, 6, and 7.

Downtown will be the site of the first activities this year with all the happenings on Wednesday, July 4, at the Courthouse Square. The Craft Fair begins at 9 a.m. with the Kids Bicycle Parade starting at 10 a.m. followed by the Shriners’ Barbecue at 11 a.m.

The afternoon of the Fourth will see the Western Parade at 2 p.m. and the Lions Club’s Cow Patty Bingo.

That night the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will hold its junior ranch rodeo at 7:30 p.m. with a dance to follow on the slap at 9 p.m. with Trevor Leeper providing the music.

The Ranch Rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday, July 6 and 7, with rough stock provided by Bill Hext and Ed Montana announcing. Chris Clerihew & The West Coast Turnarounds will provide music for the dance on Friday and Buster Bledsoe Band will open for Tommy Gallagher & Brimstone on Saturday.

Other celebration favorites, including the Downtown Depression Luncheon and the Henson’s Turtle Race will be held on Friday this year.

Watch next week’s Clarendon Enterprise for more information about the celebration. For a booth on the square, contact the County Extension office at 874-2141, and for parade entries, call the Chamber at 874-2421.

This summer may be the perfect time for local folks to take an exciting vacation in… Donley County!

High gas prices and tight family budgets across the nation have many people looking for alternatives to the traditional summer vacation by looking for activities close to home, and Donley County and the surrounding area offer plenty of opportunities for families to have fun without breaking the bank.

“Stay-cations” became popular between 2007 and 2010, and the term refers to individuals or families relaxing at home or taking day trips to local attractions instead of traveling great distances and spending large sums on extended vacations. The term became so common that it was added to the Merriam –Webster Collegiate Dictionary in 2009.

Staycationers create the feel of a traditional vacation by avoiding their usual routines and spending quality time at local parks, museums, and other attractions that local folks may not visit every day.

Clarendon’s Saints’ Roost Celebration next week – July 4, 6, and 7 – is one obvious opportunity for all kinds of family activities right here at home, but there are even more nearby places to take your staycation this summer that you may not have thought about.

Get out of the house for a night or two and book a room at the Best Western Red River Inn to enjoy a relaxing time with excellent accommodations. In addition to the indoor pool and spa, the Red River Inn offers Jacuzzi suites for private in-room relaxation, and breakfast is a snap with the complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. Pet friendly rooms are available, and the hotel also has its own exercise facility. Call 874-0160 for more information.

While you’re out for a night or two, be sure to visit one of the most unique entertainment experiences in the area by taking in a movie at the Sandell Drive-In. Showing the latest Hollywood attractions with its new digital projection system, the Sandell also boasts having the best hamburger in town at its concession stand, so make it a night under the stars in your car and have a blast! Check the Enterprise each week for the coming weekend attractions.

If you want a uniquely Western experience for your staycation, spend some time at the Bar H Dude Ranch three miles west of Clarendon. Go for an afternoon of horseback riding or an evening meal or take a couple of days and stay in one of the Bar H’s family bunkhouses for the complete experience. It’s all good clean fun, and a great way to experience Clarendon’s cowboy heritage. Call 874-2634 for reservations.

Close to home but far from stress is a relaxing stay at the Wedding Ranch southeast of Clarendon. In addition to being a great location for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and reunions, the Wedding Ranch is also a great place just to go relax for an evening at the Honeymoon Cottage. Take a dip in the hot tub and admire the tranquility of the scenic countryside. To find out more about enjoying the amenities of the Wedding Ranch, give them a call at 874-0136.

A rustic ranch house and nearly a hundred years of family history await visitors to the Finch Ranch Lodge south of Hedley. This beautiful West Texas bed and breakfast is the perfect place to get away from it all for a night or a weekend. Rest, relax, and enjoy bird watching, backpacking, and hiking in one of the most pleasing locations in Donley County. You’ll be glad you discovered this hidden gem. For more information, call 856-5930.

And if you just want to get out of town for a day with the kids, it’s hard to beat a trip to Wonderland Amusement Park in Amarillo. Rides for kids of all ages, putt putt golf, and all kinds of “fair food” await thrill-seekers at the end of a short drive into the city. For more information, call 383-0832.

Details and information about all of these staycation possibilities are available on the back page of this week’s Enterprise. And there are plenty of other enjoyable activities right in our own backyard this summer. Read the Enterprise each week to keep up with events coming your way.

The Clarendon Enterprisereceived two first place plaques last Saturday during the Texas Press Association’s Summer Convention in San Antonio.

The Enterprise competed in Division 9 – Small-Medium Weeklies – this year, up from Division 10 last year, and also received three fourth place awards.

Editor Roger Estlack received first place in Feature Photos and also in Editorial Writing for his comments on the need for a strong, reorganized Chamber of Commerce and comments following the murder of Chance Jones.

News Photos by Kari Lindsey and Anndria Newhouse took fourth place. Judges said Lindsey’s picture from the 2011 Veterans Day service at Rowe Cemetery depicted the solemn tone of the occasion and said Newhouse’s picture of firefighters taking a break from battling a wildfire captured the heat of the day.

Judges awarded fourth place to the paper for News Writing and also gave the paper fourth place honors for its Back To School Special Section as a helpful tool for parents.

This year 169 newspapers submitted 1,703 entries in the Texas Better Newspaper Contest. The contest is broken down into 10 divisions in which newspapers compete against papers of similar circulation size. Twenty papers competed in Division 9.

Attending the convention and representing the Enterprise were Roger, Ashlee, Ben, and Ella Estlack

Three Hedley students were recently chosen to attend MASH Camp, sponsored by Panhandle AHEC. Scottie Jo Rodriguez, Austin Adams, and Sierra Wheatly were three of sixteen students from the Texas Panhandle who attended the first session.

 MASH Camp is designed for students in grades 9-12 who think they might be interested in the medical field as a career. They went to Amarillo Dental Hygiene, Quail Creek Surgical Hospital, BSA Radiology, Valmed Pharmacy, Pampa Regional Medical Center, MVP Big Animal Clinic, and the Nursing Simulation Lab at WTAMU.

Tammy Stamps, HCP Coordinator from AHEC commented, “We try to give the campers the opportunity to see different careers in the medical field, so if they think they might be interested in something, it will either confirm the decision or change it! The Campers get to see surgeries and do a lot of hands on activities. Many of our Campers come back year after year and later become Volunteers for the camp.”