Archives for July 2014

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.

Cowboys from Wilson Cattle made a four-peat performance as they took top honors for the fourth year in a row during the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s annual Ranch Rodeo last Friday and Saturday.

Wilson Cattle’s scores beat out 29 other local and regional teams as working cowboys put their skills to the test as part of the 137th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration. The team was made up of Rody Wilson, Tyler Rice, Jody Satterfield, Jason Thomas, and Jesse Valdez.

The Crutch Ranch team finished second with Cody Heck, Jarryd Burris, Hegen Lamb, and Chad Smith, and the Huddleston Ranch was third this year with the team of Willie McClesky, Colby McClesky, Clayton McClesky, Heath McClesky, and Casey McClesky.

The Top Hand for the rodeo was awarded to Brady Clark, and the Top Horse award was won by Chance McAnear.

This year’s attendance for the two-day ranch rodeo was 1,436 and Thursday’s junior rodeo was 369.

The Junior Ranch Rodeo was won by Rockin’ JM with the team of Casey McClesky, Cooper McClesky, Trey Mitchell, Sterlin Mitchell, and Brianna McCleskey. The second place team was Bar H Ranch with the team of Brody Rankin, True Lacina, Quade Hiatt, Cutter McLain, and Garrett Fry. Wild Bunch was third in the junior rodeo with a team of Kade McClesky, Casey McClesky, Ryan McClesky, Brianna McClesky, Kayla McClesky.

Top Hand winner for the Junior Ranch Rodeo was Brody Rankin, and Casey McClesky rode the Top Horse.

Junior Calf, Donkey, and Steer Riding and Mutton Bustin’ were held all three nights. Overall Mutton Bustin’ champion for the three nights was Cooper Oles. Overall Calf Riding Champion was Cutter Seay, the Overall Donkey Rider was Reatta McLean, and Steer Riding champion was Jake Baca.

Nightly winners of the junior events were as follows:

July 3 – Calf Scramble – Cooper McClesky, Alice McAnear, and Ashley Yankee; Mutton Bustin’ – Heston Seay; Calf Riding – Cutter Seay; Donley Riding – Jake Baca; and Steer Riding – Jake Baca.

July 4 – Calf Scramble – Jade Benson, Tierra McKorkle, and Bogan Rankin; Mutton Bustin’ – Cooper Oles; Calf Riding – Eli Ritchie; Donkey Riding – Reatta McLean; and Steer Riding – Colby Pope.

July 5 – Calf Scramble – Jade Benson, Jackson Ramen, and Cooper McClesky; Mutton Bustin’ – Madeline Benson; Calf Riding – Cutter Seay; Donkey Riding – Bodee Bowman; and Steer Riding – Jake Baca.

Beef winners this year were Jake Craft, Shelley Baldridge, and Tylena Horton.