Magic science
Archives for December 2015
Services to be held Saturday for Gordons
A memorial service has been planned for this Saturday, December 5, for a Clarendon couple who died in automobile accident last week.
Rev. Lance Wood will officiate the service for Wayne and Colette Gordon at Clarendon’s First Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors.
The Gordons were traveling on Thanksgiving morning when the accident occurred.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), at approximately 9:05 a.m., Courtney Dewayne Scales, 35, of Dallas was driving a 2005 Volvo Truck Tractor towing a 2008 Kentucky semi-trailer traveling southbound down a steep incline on SH 70, approximately six miles south of Pampa.
Scales was traveling at a speed that was unsafe for the conditions of the roadway and lost control. The truck and trailer slid sideways traveling across both north and southbound lanes, and into the path of a 2013 Hyundai passenger car. The Hyundai, which was traveling northbound, and driven by Jerry Wayne Gordon, Jr., 51, was then struck by the Kentucky Trailer.
Gordon and wife, Colette Hope Pavelka Gordon, 50, were both pronounced dead at the scene by Gray County Justice of the Peace Kurt Curfman.
Both the driver and the passenger were wearing their seat-belts at the time of the accident.
Scales was transported to the Pampa Regional Medical Center with a possible injury.
The road conditions were wet due to the rain and no other vehicles were involved.
Mr. Gordon was born February 6, 1964, in Hillsboro to Nancy Alice Barnes and Jerry Wayne Gordon. He had been a resident of Clarendon since 2006 and was the owner of Cartridge World in Amarillo. He loved to play golf and have fun. He was preceded in death by his father.
Mrs. Gordon was born June 22, 1965, in Waco to Robert and Evelyn Pavelka. She had been a resident of Clarendon since 2006 and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon. She was a representative for Forney Industry. She was a fun, loving person and got along with everyone she knew. She was preceded in death by her parents.
The couple is survived by two sons, David Gordon of Perryton and Aaron Gordon of Muskogee, Okla.
Mr. Gordon is also survived by his mother, Nancy Alice Gordon of McGregor, and a sister, Waynette Ditto of China Springs.
Mrs. Gordon is survived by a brother, Shannon Pavelka of West; and two sisters, Dana Hoelscher of The Colony and Pam Story of Waco.
Opinion: The future of US college leadership
The AACC Commission on Leadership and Professional Development.
The name of the commission that met in Washington, DC, recently sure sounds impressive, and some of the people there were what I call “heavy hitters.” The first part of the meeting was spent discussing what exactly the charge of a new commission was and then what we would be doing.
I was waiting for someone to ask the question, and they obliged me, what is leadership? I looked around the room at 16 others and determined we would have 16 different definitions if we were honest. Our commission chair, recognizing the same thing, steered us away from that multi-day discussion.
We had a few presentations regarding various programs that function to expose people aspiring to become presidents. I did not participate in any of the programs prior to coming to Clarendon College. I was fortunate to work with presidents from whom I learned many things, what to do and what not to do.
The first priority we determined was to conduct a survey to review the relevancy of the AACC’s 12 Core Competencies for Presidents. This is something we will accomplish before our next meeting in April.
The issue I championed for was to establish some form of reference material I referred to as “President 101.” When we become presidents, we are expected to know everything when we sit in “the chair.” You can discuss some things with your Board Chair, but there are not many people you can call as a new president. I was fortunate to have built a network of sitting presidents and retired presidents I could call on for support and to talk things through. One of these, Dr. Roger C. Schustereit, agreed to move to Clarendon and serve as my Vice President of Instruction until we successfully completed the onsite visit from SACS. I expect, since I brought it up, that I may somehow be involved in the development of my idea. Our commission will meet again in January by conference call, and I expect to be “volunteered” to assist.
Some of you reading may ask the question, why is this commission so important? Why do we need to focus resources on leadership and professional development for presidents? Don’t we have enough development in doctoral programs and jobs on the way to the president’s office? The answer to that question is “no.”
Nothing prepares you to sit in “the chair” except actually sitting in it. On my desk is a copy of the US Constitution, a Bible open to Jeremiah 29:11, and a dollar bill tucked under them. I try to make decisions with integrity and consistency, and the dollar reminds me there is no one to pass the question to anymore. It is now my responsibility to make those decisions.
The biggest problem facing community colleges in the near future? Depending on what report you read, as many as 50 percent of sitting presidents today will retire in the next five years. The second part of the problem is that as many as 50 percent of senior administrators, where presidents are recruited from, will be retiring as well. Where will the next generation of leaders come from? That was part of our initial conversation, and I fully expect it will continue to drive the Commission’s agenda as long as the group continues.
What does this mean to the College? It means it is my responsibility to identify those who have the talent and desire to move up in the organization, and to do what I can to help them to achieve their goals.
My definition of leadership? Too lengthy to discuss with the space I have remaining, maybe Mr. Estlack will let me write about it later.
Dr. Robert Riza is the president of Clarendon College.
Christmas plans are expanded
Plans for “Christmas in Clarendon” next Saturday, December 12, have gotten a lot busier since Mother Nature derailed several activities here last week.
Freezing rain and icy conditions starting Thanksgiving night led to low attendance at Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales as well as the eventual postponement of Saturday evening’s Courthouse Lighting Ceremony, Chamber of Commerce Chili Challenge, and VFW Ladies Auxiliary’s Soup Dinner.
All three of those events have now been rescheduled to coincide with the Chamber’s third annual bazaar billed as “Christmas in Clarendon” next Saturday, December 12.
Some details were still being finalized as the Enterprise went to press this week, but the Christmas Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday with specials at participating local merchants and vendors set up in the Arena of Life Cowboy Church on Kearney Street and other locations downtown.
Santa Claus will make an appearance during the day and be available for pictures with kids, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church will have lunch and concessions available in the Masonic Lodge Dining Hall.
Booth spaces for vendors are still available by contacting Bonnie Campbell at the Clarendon Visitor Center at 874-2421 or on her cell at 205-3150.
The Chamber invites everyone to visit merchants and vendors during the day, and also encourages everyone to participate in the third annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Challenge with a chance to win $250 in Clarendon Cash.
Chili Challenge ballots and a list of participating merchants will be available for $5 each from the Visitor Center at Mulkey Theatre during the day December 12, and the Challenge will run from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Chili tasters then visit each of the participating merchants to sample the chili in their stores, have their ballot stamped, and cast vote for their favorite chili.
The merchant with the most votes will get bragging rights and a handsome plaque, and the ballot of one lucky taster will be drawn to receive $250 in Clarendon Cash from the Chamber.
The highlight of the evening will be the second annual Courthouse Lighting Celebration, beginning at 5 p.m. with an appearance by Santa Claus and caroling featuring local children’s groups. The formal lighting will be at 6 p.m.
Following the lighting, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary will hold a soup and stew dinner at the Clarendon Lions Hall for $5 per person featuring homemade chicken noodle soup, potato soup, or stew and regular or jalapeno cornbread.
Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.
Childers to lead CC’s Industrial Maintenance program
Brent Childers’ passion for education has brought him back into the classroom as he takes the reins of Clarendon College’s new Industrial Maintenance Program.
With more than a dozen years of community college teaching experience and additional hands-on work experience in the field, Childers brings a unique perspective to his new job, and he’s ready to share that enthusiasm with students from all walks of life.
“I enjoy students, and I enjoy teaching,” Childers says. “We want to reach students, and we’re going to do training for adults as well wanting to hone their skills or start a new job. Maybe they’re tired of a dead-end job and want something better. The idea is to train a well-rounded industrial maintenance person in mechanical and electrical skills.”
Childers graduated from West Texas State University (West Texas A&M University) in 1979 with a degree in industrial technology and then spent 8½ years working for Asarco before finding his true love – teaching. He started with Texas State Technical Institute and then worked for Amarillo College and Frank Phillips College before stepping back and taking a non-teaching job with a public school in Amarillo for seven years to be closer to his three kids and six grandchildren.
But something was missing; and when Childers saw CC’s Facebook post about needing someone to lead its new program, he knew what he was supposed to do.
“I’m glad to be here, and I’m excited about it,” he says, noting that he’s ready to get into area high schools and talk to students.
“Not everyone needs a four-year degree, but everyone needs training,” Childers says “Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be two-year degree. Sometimes just some certificates is what you need to open some doors.”
The new program has been in the planning stages for a while, and CC President Robert Riza says Childers brings the qualities the program needs.
“The Industrial Maintenance program has been something we’ve been wanting to start for some time,” Dr. Riza said. “Mr. Childers has the experience and the energy we have been seeking for a program director. This program will enable it graduates to be employable in several fields, not one specific.”
Childers says he understands some high school students want to just get out and start making money but doesn’t want anyone to wind up in a job with no options. Clarendon’s Industrial Maintenance Program can put students to work right away as well as give them a launching pad to pursue additional certifications in wind energy, electrical maintenance, or heating and air-conditioning.
He also hopes to expand his program’s dual credit offerings so high school students can have some certification when they graduate.
Courses in the Industrical Maintenance program will begin in January and enrollment is now open.
For more information about the program, contact Childers at 806-665-8801 or 806-223-9390 or visit www.ClarendonCollege.edu/IndustrialMaintenance.
CC expanding ADN program to Childress
Clarendon College is pleased to announce the expansion of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program to its Childress location.
The College has received approval to begin offering an LVN to ADN bridge program in Childress starting in May 2016.
“We are excited about the expansion of this program to the Childress area,” David Hall, Associate Dean of Career, Technical and Continuing Ed. said. “This is a great opportunity for current LVNs to go back to school and work towards becoming an RN.”
Students who successfully complete the LVN to ADN bridge program will sit for the NCLEX-RN examination, and CC has one of the top 10 pass rates in Texas on that exam. With an outstanding pass rate of 93.75 percent, Clarendon ranked number nine in Texas and was one of only 17 of the state’s 69 ADN programs to achieve at least a 90 percent pass rate.
“The ADN Program expanding into Childress is a response to a need in the community,” said CC President Robert Riza. “There are a number of our students from the Childress area that are driving to Pampa to take courses. This will allow us to serve these students in a more efficient manner. We appreciate the support of Childress Regional Medical Center as we expand this program.”
CC first started the ADN program in May 2014 at its Pampa location, and includes start dates for bridge students who currently hold Vocational Nursing licenses, and also those who are new to the healthcare field.
All courses in the expanded program will be at the CC Childress Center, and plans are to add a traditional ADN program in the future.
The deadline for admission and testing for the May 2016 ADN program is February 11. For more information, contact Cathryn E. Bailey, ADN Program Director, at 806-660-2014.
Broncos slam Rangers
By Sandy Anderberg
The Bronco basketball team made short work of the Perryton Rangers on the road last Tuesday night defeating them, 66-25. The Broncos’ outstanding defense caused several turnovers and their offensive teamwork spelled trouble for their opponent in the one-sided win.
Three players finished in double figures with senior Junior Ceniceros leading the way with 13 points. Freshman Bear Smith posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Keandre Cortez added 11 points in the win.
The Broncos busted out of the gate with a big start in the opening quarter. As the second period rolled around, the Broncos not only established a rhythm, they controlled the game in a dominating way.
“We did a good job of sharing the ball,” coach Brandt Lockhart said. “Whenever you have five guys with nine points or better and 24 assists as a team, you are always going to have a good night. I was also pleased with our half-court defense.”
Marshal Johnson and Chance Lockhart added nine points each to the win, and Colt Wood helped with five. Bryce Grahn had four and Damarjae Cortez put in three. Johnson and Grahn also added six rebounds each and Wood had eight assists and Grahn six. Grahn stole the ball four times and Wood grabbed three steals.
The Broncos will take their 2-0 record to the Claude Tournament December 3-5 with times to be announced.
Perryton defeats Lady Broncos
By Sandy Anderberg
The Lady Broncos’ third quarter against the Perryton Rangerettes proved disastrous as Perryton outscored them 16 points in a 53-71 loss.
The teams played the first half fairly even as the Lady Broncos only trailed by five at the break. But the ladies could not get anything going offensively in the third period and got behind on the scoreboard. Perryton took full advantage of the Lady Broncos’ struggles as they worked hard to find a rhythm. They were able to grab the momentum in the final quarter of play, and despite outscoring their opponent, were unable to make up the difference.
“It was by far our best performance of the year,” coach Kalen Grahn said. “We played eight girls, and all eight scored. We have been talking about that all season, getting everyone involved in the offense.”
Shaelyn Owiti took charge in the fourth quarter putting in 12 of her 17 points. She also hit two three-pointers and was two for two from the bonus line. Briana Butler had 10 points, and Hannah Howard and Briley Chadwick had eight points each. Jensen Hatley knocked down three free throws, and Sterling King had a three-pointer. Hannah Hommel and Berkeley Alexander added two points.
“We had a meltdown in the third quarter that cost us,” Grahn said. “The girls bounced back in the fourth and put up the biggest scoring quarter for the year. We had the opportunity to quit, but they did not. We are looking to build off this performance and keep moving forward.”
The Lady Broncos will participate in the Claude Tournament December 3-5.
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