Fair weather greets annual July Fourth celebration

Beautiful, calm weather greeted a patriotic crowd gathered on the Courthouse Square last Friday, July 4, for the 137th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration.

The Kids’ Parade started the day with the youngsters peddling or driving from Third Street down Sully Street in front of the Courthouse. In the 1-4 age group, Braxton Gribble was first, Chloe Newton was second, and Justus McAnear was third. Kyndall Shields won the 5-8 age group with Lindley Hill second and Addison Mooring third. The 9 and up age group was won by Alexia Ralston, Jayde Gribble was second, and McKaden Lax was third.

The annual Craft Fair drew a big crowd to the courthouse square with an impressive number of vendors; and the Chamber of Commerce recognized several pioneer citizens during the Old Settlers gathering. The following honorees received t-shirts from the Chamber: Steve Reynolds, Don Smith, Jewel Judd, Mary White and Floy Smith.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served 750 plates of barbecue, up significantly from 543 last year. A portion of the proceeds from the annual barbecue are used in conjunction with the Khiva Shrine Temple in Amarillo to help pay for the transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals.

That afternoon, the Western Parade delighted kids of all ages as floats, riding units, emergency vehicles, and other entries wound their way from the baseball fields through downtown. The Donley County 4-H Club took first place among all parade entries, the Brumley Ranch was second, and the Clarendon Girl Scouts’ were third.

Several organizations held fundraisers during the celebration. The winners of the Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo were Jim Owens and Adenia Baird, $250 each, and Cobette Riza and Randy Crump, $50 each. Heather King won the John Deere riding lawn mower given by the Junior Livestock Association in support of the Donley County Activity Center. Walter Warner was the winner of the St. Mary’s Catholic Women Quilt Drawing. Rene Chandler won the lawnmowing from the Howardwick Fire Department, and Jay Hall won the department’s fireworks drawing. The winners of the Courthouse Lighting Committee Penny Raffle were Bunk Skelton, $100.00 and Joey Lee and S.E. Grider, $50 each.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association hosted a Junior Ranch Rodeo on July Third and an open Ranch Rodeo on July 4 and 5. Results of those events are listed in a separate article in this week’s edition.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race was held Saturday afternoon. There were altogether 261 participants, which was an increase from the 206 terrapin handlers last year. The winners were Mason Jackson for the 0-4 division, Aiden Word for the 5-8 division, Chasady Lowe for the 9-14 division, and Debbie Thompson for the adult division. Each child division winner received a coin bag full of gold dollars. The adult division brought in $275, which was divided in half between the winner and the Donley County Child Welfare board.