Archives for February 2015

By Sandy Anderberg

The 2015 Clarendon Bronco basketball team finished second to Wellington in District 2A this season at 8-2. The Broncos cleaned up in Wheeler last week to solidify their playoff position. They slammed the Mustangs, 72-38.

Wheeler never had a chance as the Broncos stormed the court in the opening quarter and totally dominated every part of the game. Their huge scoring second quarter sealed the win as they put up 23 points to only 13 for their opponent. The second half of the game was much the same as the Broncos rode out the momentum from the first half of play.

“We came out and played really well on both ends of the floor,” coach Brandt Lockhart said.

“I thought we moved the ball well and did a good job getting offensive rebounds. I was pleased with our effort.”

Cedrick McCampbell, Junior Ceniceros, Colt Wood, and Chance Lockhart all finished in double figures for the night. Lockhart posted another double double adding 10 rebounds. McCampbell helped with six rebounds and Wood and Bryce Grahn had six and four assists on the night. Charles Mason nabbed three steals and Riley Shadle had three.

Scoring: McCampbell 15, Ceniceros 13, Wood 11, Lockhart 10, Shadle 8, Chesson Sims 7, Grahn 4, and Mason 4.

On Saturday, the Broncos played a warm-up game at Randall High Playoff Preview against Groom and defeated them 69-41. The Broncos took control early and held a 24-point lead at the break. Senior Charles Mason lit up the court with 15 points to lead the Broncos on the scoreboard.

Grahn grabbed eight rebounds, and Ceniceros had seven. Grahn also had six assists, and Lockhart had four. Ceniceros had three steals, and Grahn helped with two.

“We had a really good second quarter,” Lockhart said. “We were able to get turnovers and turn them into easy points.”

The Broncos played Gruver Tuesday night in a Bi-District game at Caprock High School in Amarillo. Clarendon came up short in that game, 50-56.

 

Former mayor Tex Selvidge was honored by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce with the 2014 Saints’ Roost Award for his lifetime of service and commitment to the community during the annual Chamber Awards Banquet last Thursday, February 12.

Man of the Year honors went to Jacob Fangman, and Denise Bertrand was named the Woman of the Year.

Selvidge grew up in Stinnett and joined the Clarendon College family in 1965. He served several positions but is best known for his two-decade stint as Dean of Students, until his retirement in 1998. Through the years he also ran a small business on Kearney Street, served as an adult probation officer, and has been elected to public office.

Selvidge is currently a member of the Clarendon College Board of Regents, but his first experience in politics was with the city. He first served on the Clarendon Board of Aldermen in 1976 and later served two stretches as mayor from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1997 to 2006. He served more time as mayor than any other person since the city was incorporated in 1901.

“I’ve always felt like if you’re going to live somewhere, you ought to give something to it,” Selvidge once said, and he has given Clarendon and Clarendon College more than it can repay.

The Man of the Year for 2014 is Jacob Fangman; and while he hasn’t lived in Donley County very long, he’s already made a name for himself as a go-to guy when help is needed. He moved to Clarendon in 2013 and has been active in practically every community event since then, serving in whatever capacity is needed. He’s a member of the Clarendon Lions Club and the Clarendon Economic Development Board and volunteers with any Lions project and has been a tremendous help with the Mulkey Block Party. He is always pleasant and friendly. He helps where ever he can with St. Mary’s Catholic Church and also helps with the College Ministry on Wednesday nights. Last year, he helped with July Fourth, the chili cookoff, and the courthouse lighting committee.

Denise Bertrand is the Woman of the Year for 2014 and is a life-long citizen of Donley County. In addition to many years serving with the Firebelles, she is known for her work with the Girl Scouts and with St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In 2010, she led a Tourism Committee and worked with NewsChannel 10 to put on the Summer Celebration. Later that year, she was elected to serve as the Justice of the Peace for Precincts 3&4. In late 2013, Bertrand presented a vision to then county judge Jack Hall and the Commissioners Court later gave her the approval to pursue that goal. Throughout 2014, she led a the Courthouse Lighting Committee as it raised funds and then executed a plan to put more than 10,000 lights on the trees on the Courthouse Square, making a huge impact on the holiday season, and laying the groundwork for bigger and better things to come.

The Chamber also recognized outstanding youth from Clarendon and Hedley.

The Young Woman of Year from Clarendon is Abby Johnson, the daughter of Scotty and Tina Ferris. She is a member of the National Honor Society, is a member of the CHS student council and has participated in UIL spelling and received Honor “C’s” in French, History, Physics, Algebra, and English. She’s on the honor roll and has participated in band for 4 years. This year she was named to the Senior Honor Band. She’s been a Bronco cheerleader for 4 years and served as head cheerleader. She’s a regional and state qualifier in both track and cross country. Our Young Woman of the Year attends the Church of Christ and gives back to her community through various community service project including the student council’s MS Walk and as a the Sweetheart of the Clarendon Lions Club.

The Young Woman of the Year from Hedley is Kortney Burton, daughter of Blain and Tonya Burton. She’s been active in the One Act Play and National Honor Society. She’s played doubles tennis and received Academic All-District and Fighting Heart honors in basketball. She has been a class officer all four years in high school, was Hedley’s Homecoming Queen this year, and was recognized for having the prettiest eyes her junior year. She has helped with Hedley’s annual chicken barbecue and annual food and toy drives. She can always be seen with her constant companion, KorKee, a seizure alert service dog; and she is a person that young and old look up to as a role model. Our Young Woman of the Year from Hedley is.

The Young Man of the Year from Clarendon is Charles Mason, son of Ronda and Wes Williams. He has been involved in Boy Scouts, advancing to the BSA’s second highest rank of Life Scout, and he has been a member of the CHS Student Council for 4 years, serving as an officer and taking part in community service projects. He’s been very involved in Bronco football, basketball, track, and baseball for 4 years, received All District honors in football and basketball, and was named the Amarillo Globe News Football Player of the Week. He was a state qualifier in the long jump, and he attends the First United Methodist Church youth group.

The Young Man of the Year from Hedley is Wyatt Wheatly, son of Andy and Connie Wheatly. He has been involved in FFA for four years, showing animals and serving as a member of the state qualifying Plant ID team his freshman year. He participates in UIL events, qualifying for regional in History his junior year. He plays football and golf and has been a regional qualifier in tennis and received all district honors in basketball and served as basketball team captain. He’s been a class and FFA officer, and every year helps with the Hedley chicken barbecue, the food drive, and hauls wood for the elderly.

The theme of this year’s Chamber banquet was “Clarendon: Sweetheart of the Panhandle,” and 189 people attended the event at the Bairfield Activity Center. That’s up from 130 last year.

Dr. Don Newbury was the speaker for the evening and blended humor with the message of the importance of giving back to the community. Tables were sponsored by Clarendon College, Clarendon Family Medical Center, The Clarendon Enterprise, Herring Bank, the Hitchin’ Post, and L&L Tax Service. Dr. Newbury selected the Enterprise table as the best table decoration reflecting the banquet theme and the business. The award was then named The Ashlee Cup.

This year’s corporate sponsors were Best Western Red River Inn, The Clarendon Enterprise, Don Stone Signs, Greenbelt Rural Electric Cooperative, GreenLight Gas, HH&R Services, Lowe’s Family Center, and Pioneer General Contracting.

Chamber board members this year are President Roger Estlack, Vice President Derlene Graham, Manager Bonnie Campbell, Bob Weiss, Sharon Braddock, Kim Fowler, Cobette Riza, Tammy Jordan, and Lana Ritchie.

 

Clarendon’s sales tax revenue continues to grow in 2015 according figures released last week by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

The city’s sales tax allocation for February was $41,751.96, which is up 4.79 percent from the same period one year ago. For the calendar year-to-date, Clarendon is now at $71,390.21, an increase of 5.79 from this point in 2014.

The sales tax figures represent December sales reported by monthly tax filers as well as October, November and December sales by businesses that report tax quarterly.

Hedley saw an increase as well with an allocation this month of $996.06, up 9.33 percent from $911.01 last February. That city is now 1.12 percent ahead for the year at $1,234.04.

Howardwick’s revenue dropped 29.11 percent for the month to $1,051.77 and is now down for the year 17.84 percent at $1,886.78.

Hegar said statewide sales tax revenue in January was $2.56 billion, up 11.2 percent compared to January 2014.

“The growth in sales tax revenues was led by business spending,” Hegar said. “Receipts from the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors were up sharply. In spite of the recent decline in crude oil prices, tax receipts from the oil and natural gas mining sector also grew strongly.

“This allocation marks the 58th consecutive month of year-over-year growth and is indicative of a dynamic and diverse economy that continues to generate business investment and spending in Texas,” Hegar added. “My office will continue to carefully monitor the impact that lower oil prices will have on our state’s economy, but these sales tax allocation numbers are an encouraging sign of continued strength.”

 

Jack King was named the Interim Director of Tourism and Economic Development by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation last week.

The CEDC Board met in called session Monday, February 9, and interviewed King before voting to approve his appointment. King’s first day on the job was Monday, February 16, and says he sees several positives for Clarendon.

“The location is great as far as the Panhandle is concerned being on the way to Amarillo from Dallas and Ft. Worth,” King said. “We also have friendly folks, the college, and the lake. These are some strengths that towns would kill for, and we have them.”

King brings 24 years of banking experience from around the Texas Panhandle to the job as well as his experience as the president of Chambers of Commerce in Dalhart, Borger, and Post. He also helped organize the Borger Economic Development Corporation.

Prior to going into banking, King spent 15 years as a school teacher. He has been a member of the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club for many years and has served as the Lions Club District Governor and the president of the Texas Lions Camp.

King and his wife, former Potter County district attorney Rebecca King, purchased a ranch northeast of Clarendon in 1997 and now spend most of their time residing and working in Donley County.

“We have enjoyed being a part of the town immensely,” he said.

King’s first priorities are learning more about what his new job calls for and gathering feedback from people in the community.

“I want people to share their experiences and their dreams, and I’m interested in what industries they would accept here,” King said.

King shares an office with the Chamber of Commerce Manager Bonnie Campbell inside the Clarendon Visitor Center at the Mulkey Theatre and will serve as an advisor to the Chamber.

 

Clarendon Cub Scout Pack 437 recognized the achievements of local boys during its annual Blue & Gold Celebration Monday night at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

Cubmaster Roger Estlack presented the Pack’s charter certificate to Pastor Kirk Watson and thanked the church for its continued support of Cub Scouting.

Cubs who sold popcorn for the Pack last fall were recognized with a patch, and Ben Estlack and Mason Allred were recognized as the top sellers in the Pack.

Den 1 Cub Scouts Damien Jaramillo, Kayden Cummings, and Nathan Estlack were recognized for receiving their Archery belt loops and the following Webelos activity pins: Forestry, Geology, and Outdoorsman.

Den 2 Cub Scouts Steven Mills, Jacob Murillo, and Patrick Monds advanced in rank to Bear, received a Gold Arrow Point for electives completed beyond the Bear rank, and also received their pins and belt loops for Computers. Den 2 members also displayed projects they had completed, including handmade toolboxes, model airplanes, and electrical projects.

Den 3 Cub Scouts Aiden Jaramillo, Jaythan Green, Daniel Estlack, Kayden Early, Aiden Word, Mason Allred, Henry Bivens, and Robert Powell all advanced in rank to Wolf and received a Gold Arrow Point representing electives completed beyond the rank of Wolf. Additionally, Green, Estlack, Estlack, Early, Word, Allred, Bivens, and Powell received their Collecting belt loops. Green, Estlack, Estlack, Early, Allred, Bivens, and Powell received their Basketball belt loops; and Bivens also received his Snow Skiing and Bicycling belt loops. Powell received his Bobcat badge.

Den 4 Cub Scouts Kaendan Moffett, Haughton Bivens, Asher Cason, and Mason Green were recognized for receiving their Tiger rank. Bivens also received belt loops for Snow Skiiing and Bicycling.

Clarendon Cub Scouts Damien Jaramillo, Aiden Jaramillo, Robert Powell, Henry Bivens, Haughton Bivens, Nathan Estlack, Daniel Estlack, Ben Estlack, and Steven Mills also attended the Golden Spread Council’s BB Gun Shoot-Out February 7 in Amarillo. Cubs received gun safety lessons and were scored in school grade divisions in three different shooting positions. All boys received either their BB belt loop or pin.

Of all the second graders participating in the daylong event from across the Council, Pack 437’s Daniel Estlack placed first and Ben Estlack placed third.

 

Four Clarendon College athletes were honored Monday night as All-Conference, All-Region and All-American athletes for the fall 2014 semester.

Isela Sandoval of Ennis earned All-Conference and All-Region in Cross Country. At regionals she finished 9th out 37 runners with a time of 20 minutes, 14 seconds. At nationals she finished 63rd out of 274 runners with a time of 19 minutes 42 seconds.

Walker Loyd of Stephenville represented Clarendon College in the Half Marathon National Meet. He finished 18th out of 48 runners with a time of one hour 17 minutes 1 second earning him the All-American Half Marathon honor.

Weronika Wiezik, a 6’1 outside hitter from Szcyrk-Silesia, Poland, started in all 125 sets for the 2015 season. She finished 2nd in the conference with 3.89 kills per set and totaled 20+ kills 8 times. In addition, she scored a season best of 22 kills in three different matches and finished 4th in the conference with 47 service Aces. She scored a season high of 6 aces verses Midland College.

Megan Chambers, a 5’5 Libero from Gatesville, started in all 125 sets for the 2015 season. She finished 2nd in the conference with 494 total digs and totaled 20+ digs 8 times. Her season best of 27 digs was against Seminole State Junior College and she finished 2nd in the conference with 62 service Aces. Megan scored a season high of 8 aces verses Lamar Community College.

CC President Robert Riza presented these honors during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Frank Phillips College Monday night at Clarendon College.