Editorial: Take time to appreciate local history

Last week was not your regular edition of The Clarendon Enterprise. It never is when we change our press time to fit an election. It discombobulates our schedule, the lives of those who print our paper, and, of course, the weekly routine of readers like you.

It’s somewhat stressful for those of us on the production side of this venture, and stress sometimes brings forth a feeling of second-guessing of career choices. Certainly twiddling my thumbs at the Courthouse Annex for six hours waiting on election results was not what I was looking forward to when I studied journalism at Texas Tech. It is, however, part of the job from time to time.

But then something happens to make you reflect on the real reason for doing the job, and you remember there is more to it than just the occasional tediousness. In the case of the Enterprise, that “something” came in the form of a visit from Larry Lemmons, who chose this newspaper as the topic of one of his “In the Panhandle Spirit” series on Channel 7.

Larry wanted to focus on the Panhandle’s first newspaper and how it continues to serve the community in this day and age. There were several benefits Larry’s to story, not the least of which was that we had to clean up the office before he came. It was good publicity for the paper and our printer, but more importantly it was good for Clarendon because it showcased our rich history. It’s easy to overlook it when you’re right in the midst of it every day, but sometimes it’s good to step back and look at what we have here.

Every newspaper we publish is a continuation of a tradition that began 136 years ago, and that’s a legacy that we feel sure will continue long after our present crew takes up eternal residence in the peacefulness of Citizens Cemetery. Your humble editor feels like he’s been here forever after more than 18 years, but that’s not even half of the 45 years my great uncle, George Wayne Estlack, spent working at this paper.

We’re no different than many other folks in Donley County. Cowboys on the JA Ranch carry on traditions that date back to the 1870s. Educators at Clarendon ISD follow in the footsteps of early teachers from the 1880s, and Clarendon College continues its tradition as the Panhandle’s first college since 1898.

Each Sunday, pastors and parishioners fill churches established by pioneers, medical personnel follow in the footsteps of the Panhandle’s first doctor, Jerome Stocking, and county officials work in a historic Courthouse where the cornerstone bears the name of the legendary Charles Goodnight.

One of our cover stories features Robertson Funeral Directors, a business that can trace its origins to the 1890s and currently has three generations of one family working under one roof.

The Clarendon Masonic Lodge, the Lions Club, the Pathfinders, the Chamber of Commerce, and Fire Department are all some of the oldest of their types of organizations in this part of the state and their members continue on trails blazed many decades ago.

All around we can look and see where history has unfolded, and we marvel at what may come our way. The newspaper business alone has changed remarkably since we rebranded ourselves as the Enterprise in 1996. What will this venture look like in 2026 or 2036? Indeed, what will Clarendon look like at its bicentennial in 2078?

Many of us won’t be here to see what happens, but each step we take, each paper we publish is another link in our continuing story together. Donley County has an amazing story, and we’re happy to tell it… as it develops.

Meanwhile…

Setting aside the sentimental reflections, we really do not enjoy being kept up until the wee hours without good cause. Last week’s Republican Primary was one such circumstance where many people were kept out late and away from the comfort of their homes and the warmth of their beds for no good reason.

The competitive election was great. The lukewarm turnout – about 38 percent – was disappointing. But the wait… oh, my Lord, the wait… was just exhausting.

The polls closed last Tuesday at 7 p.m. Election officials could have been tabulating early votes all day but reportedly didn’t start until about 11 a.m. There were also other variables that could have allowed a quicker hand count of election day ballots. Instead we waited and waited. At 10:52 p.m., spirits soared for a moment when some election officials emerged from behind closed doors… to sharpen a handful of pencils. It would be another two hours before all the votes were tabulated, and another hour and a quarter after that before the paper could be sent to press.

All of this delay could be avoided. Donley County has machines that can count ballots in a fraction of the time humans can. So here’s a message for the Donley County Republican Party: For the love of Ronald Wilson Reagan, stop being so tight and use the blasted machines. You’ve got the money, and the time of your election officials, of your candidates, of the people in the clerk’s office, and of all the rest of us are worth something and it ought not be wasted.