Archives for June 2016

Two Clarendon Bulldogs have been drafted to play in Major League Baseball.

Clarendon College outfielder Hosea Nelson has been drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the the ninth round, 272nd overall. Nelson just completed his second season with the Bulldogs.

Also, former Bulldog Michael Cruz of Puerto Rico, was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 7th round, 224th overall. Cruz is currently a catcher playing at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Cruz attended Clarendon College in 2013-15.

The lights of Broncho Stadium were lowered to the ground this week, marking the end of 40 years of service.

The unique old standards have glowed over every home football game since 1976 when the Clarendon community worked together to upgrade the earlier antiquated lights.

Former Clarendon school superintendent Jeff Walker said the story of the lights began when the local manager of West Texas Utilities, the late Allen Estlack, told school officials he would no longer climb the four old wooden poles to service the original lights for safety reasons.

“When he said that, that left us with just one option to work on the lights,” Walker said. “We had to have the highway department use their bucket truck to change the bulbs, and that didn’t look very good.”

The old incandescent bulbs would blow out if they got rain or snow on them while they were burning, Walker said.

About that time, Dave Croslin, then president of the Broncho Booster Club, approached Darrell Leffew about the need for new lights. That led Leffew and the late Earl Ford to approach the school board at get permission to put up six new light standards.

“I think they probably thought we were crazy,” Leffew recalls, “but they let us go ahead.”

The project then took about a year to complete, and Leffew and Walker are both hesitant to try to name everyone who was involved.

“There were just so many people,” Walker said. “It was a true communitywide effort.”

Wayne Riggs got the pipe for the bases of the new lights from Texaco, and used pipe was also secured for the telescoping top sections, Walker said. Leffew’s local manufacturing shop then welded the pipes together and constructed the unique tops for the lights.

Leffew said Walt Knorpp led the drive to get citizens and businesses to buy individual lights to help pay for the project. The late Larry Green drove to Amarillo and hauled a crane to Clarendon that was owned by Consolidated Equipment Sales.

Walker says the highway department dug the holes for the foundations, and Leffew said the first concrete pour came sooner than expected when the late Bernie Green ordered ten yards of cement but couldn’t use it and donated it to the project.

After the poles were erected, Billy Jack Land ran the electric to the new lights, and West Texas Utilities used a system to aim each of the lights individually to give the best coverage on the field.

“I think the school paid about $12,000 in all,” Walker said. “About the same time, Stratford put up four new lights of similar design and paid about $26,000.”

The new lights were better than most other high schools had at the time.

“I remember that first game when we turned them on,” Leffew said. “It was with Childress, and I was in the press box, and the guy from Childress said, ‘Gosh! It looks just like West Texas State here!’”

But after four decades of service, the lights were showing the signs of age with electrical issues over the last couple of football seasons, and school officials were becoming increasingly worried about the old welds on the poles. Earlier this year, the Clarendon school board authorized the purchase of four new lights that will soon be installed.

The old lights, which are literally a product of the people of the community, won’t be discarded though. They will soon find new life at Clarendon’s softball field.

Leffew and Walker are both pleased that lights will continue to shine.

“I didn’t know they would last this long, but I hoped they would,” Leffew said.

 

Clarendon is gearing up for the 139th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration scheduled for July 1, 2, and 4 this year with most of the activities happening on Saturday, July 2.

Organizers are hoping that keeping the main celebration on a Saturday will allow more people to participate and enjoy the festivities.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will kick off the activities with the Ranch Rodeo opening on Friday night, July 1, at 7:30 at the COEA Arena followed by a dance at 9 p.m. featuring the music of Parker McCollum.

Saturday, July 2, will follow the schedule of activities set last year. The Chamber of Commerce will continue to hold the Herring Bank Parade at 10 a.m., a move that was met with much approval in 2015.

The Arts & Craft Fair on the square will start at 9 a.m. The Craft Fair is sponsored by the Donley County 4H, and booth space is $25. Booth space needs to be reserved by June 27 by calling 874-2141.

The Old Settlers Reunion and the Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade also begin at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Parade will line up and register at 8:30.

Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. on Sixth Street north of Prospect Park and begin at 10:00.

The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $200 available for the best float, $100 for the best car or truck entry, $100 for the best animal or riding unit, $100 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $100 for the best “other” entry. From those first place winners, judges will select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $250. Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m.

Entry forms for the Kids’ Parade and the Herring Bank Parade are available at the Clarendon Visitor Center at Mulkey Theatre.

Ed Montana will be handling the parade and celebration announcing and will also be performing live music during the festivities.

Following the parade, the Al Morrah Shrine Club will have its annual barbecue lunch at approximately 11 a.m. and will serve until the food is gone. Tickets will be $10.

The Clarendon Lions Club will again have Bounce Houses and Water Slides at the Lions Hall from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A five-dollar wrist band will let kids bounce and slide to their hearts’ content all day.

Henson’s Turtle Race will be held on 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The COEA’s Ranch Rodeo will continue the celebration Saturday night at 7:30 with Flatland Cavalary headlining the dance at 9:00.

Rodeo box seating tickets are still available for all three nights of rodeo for $150. Contact Theresa Shelton for 654-2993.

Activities for Monday, July 4, will begin with a flag retirement ceremony hosted by the Clarendon Girl Scouts on the courthouse lawn at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to this solemn occasion.

The celebration will close out Monday night with the Junior Ranch Rodeo at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m.

To add your event or activity to this listing, contact the Enterprise at 874-2259.

 

Scores of members of the Saints’ Roost Museum sat in silence as they learned more about one of Clarendon’s most famous son’s during the annual Members Appreciation Dinner and Open House last Friday, June 3.

Michael Grauer, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs/Art and Western Heritage of the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum presented the program on Harold Dow Bugbee and the lasting impact his art has had.

Grauer, who has recently signed a contract with Texas A&M University to write a biography of Bugbee, will presented a triptych of Bugbee’s oil paintings, “The Chuck Wagon,” “The Rope Corral,” and “Branding.”

The three paintings were done in the late 1920s and were shown together on several occasions by the artist. They were planned out and meant to be viewed as part of a story.

Bugbee later donated “The Chuck Wagon” to the Adair Hospital in Clarendon, and it still hangs in that building, which now houses the Saints’ Roost Museum. The other two paintings are held by the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

“As best as we can determine, this is the first time these three paintings have been shown together since 1938,” Grauer said.

 

Clarendon College named 97 students to its spring honor lists this week.

Fifty-eight CC students were named to the President’s list for the Spring 2016 semester. Each achieved a grade point average of 4.0 while completing at least 12 credit hours.

The students are listed by hometown:

Chloe Kaye Abbott, Amarillo; Eliza Marie Bunney, Amarillo; Laura Duarte, Amarillo; Cindy Elena Graciano, Amarillo; Hana Ashley Nicole Herrington, Amarillo; Oakley J. Smith, Amarillo; Keeayra Jaylynn Thomas, Amarillo; Maria Angelica Velazquez, Amarillo; Monica Ward, Amarillo; Katy Bret Williams, Amarillo; Thachary Ray Mayer, Cameron; Felicia Leann Davis, Childress; Trini Nicole Quintero, Childress; James Kirk Swain, Childress; Abigail Nicole Johnson, Clarendon; Brant Baxter King, Clarendon; Zachary Jordan LaRoe, Clarendon; Jodie Denise Lockeby, Clarendon; Cedrick Jamal McCampbell, Clarendon; Skyler Rae White, Clarendon; Kathrine Nikole Adams, Hedley; Cynthia Nicole Lambert, Hedley; Lauren Burge, Hollis, Okla.; Kayla Rae Martin, Jacksboro; Ryata Koell Daniel, La Luz, New Mexico; Victoria Layne Cothrin, McLean; Anthony Shackelford, McLean; Deisy Karen Munoz, Memphis; Laricsa Pineda, Memphis; Hector Eulogio Saenz, Memphis; John Brayden Roberson, Miami; Jesse Gene Lazenby, North Zulch; Mario Armenta, Pampa; Robert Chancellor, Pampa; Natalia Conner, Pampa; Kathlyn R Cummins, Pampa; Jennifer Nicole Daughtry, Pampa; William Ryan Downs, Pampa; Ralph Fitzpatrick, Pampa; Sherrie Leigh Ann Frazier, Pampa; Misty Lee Dawn Garza, Pampa; Jonie Lee Griffith, Pampa; Jolene Grissom, Pampa; Tara Suzanne Hoganson, Pampa; Leticia Lopez, Pampa; Steven Ray Mitchell, Pampa; Diego Montelongo, Pampa; Jose Carlos Montelongo, Pampa; Juan C Salazar, Pampa; Molli Segura, Pampa; Woodie G Sons, Pampa; Zane Gregory Thomas, Perryton; Dusty DeAun Desmond, Shamrock; Kenna M. Faulkenberry, Stephenville; Shanna Marae James, Wellington; Jason Bryan Sain,Wellington; Makenzi Jordan Stiles, Wheeler; and Kaitlan Ann Perryman, White Deer.

CC named 39 students to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2016 semester. Each achieved a grade point average of between 3.6 and 3.99 while completing at least 12 credit hours.

The students are listed by hometown:

Tiffany Michelle Jaramillo, Amarillo; Ja’lee Ja’nae Carver, Amarillo; BillyJo Leinen, Amarillo; Nigel Anthony Norcisa, Amarillo; Matthew William Reeves, Belmont North, Australia; Kristopher Drew Johnson, Big Horn, Wyo.; Erik Nyberg, Bremerhaven, Germany; Edy Swaesy Faye Brainard, Canadian; Coleman Jack Cleveland, Canadian; Selina Myriam Williams, Childress; Yeni Huerta, Childress; Ada J Patterson, Dodson; Noah Adam Maner, Dumas; Megan Marie McGuire, Georgetown; Kortney Trae Burton, Hedley; Cutter Z Smith Hereford,; Heather Dawn Benavidez, Hollis, Okla.; Quentin Eulogio Quintana, Keenesburg, Colo.; Wesley Troy Burnett, Lake Arthur, New Mexico; Marilyn Chanel Brackens, Levelland; Haley Elizabeth Rodriguez, McKinney; Hollie Gayle Parsons, McLean; KC Martin, McLean; Rance Allan Hargrove, Memphis; Sabrina Chantell Reeves, Mobeetie; Sara Rachelle Koepp, New Braunfels; Nancy Sue Mears, Pampa; Lakin Riley Cox, Pampa; Layne Hebert, Pampa; Leslie Ivy, Pampa; Kayla Marie Trusty, Pampa; Bryan Christian Yates, Pampa; Angela Chaney, Pampa; Johanna C Mears, Pampa; Carter Ham, Sahuarita, Ariz.; Cheyenne Hannah, Verden, Okla.; Edward Ibarra, Waco; Brittany Raye Crawford, White Deer; and Riley Blue Coleman, Winslow, Ariz.

 

Donley County high school graduates for 2016 have received $421,350 to further their education, according to announcements made last week.

Clarendon High School seniors are eligible for or have received $379,650, and the total for Hedley seniors is $41,700.

Students from both Clarendon and Hedley are eligible for $500 from Clarendon College. The Bulldog Bucks Tuition Assistance Program will help to defray the cost of tuition, fees, books, and housing costs. Bulldog Bucks can be used to cover any unpaid balance up to $250 per semester. That represents a $14,000 commitment to the youth of Clarendon and a $5,500 commitment to Hedley seniors.

CC President Robert Riza has also instituted a tuition cap so that Clarendon and Hedley graduates will never have to pay for more than 12 credit hours per semester no matter how many hours they take.

Additionally, there is also been a $60,000 commitment by the Clarendon College Foundation to fund the PEAK scholarship for Clarendon High School dual credit students while still in high school.

Individual recognitions for Clarendon were as follows:

Karlee Adams is a recipient of the $300 scholarship from the Donley County Retired School Personnel Association, the Les Beaux Art Club scholarship for $300 and The R.C. and Agnes Johnson Scholarship to WTAMU for $2,000.

Ana Araujo-Ana received the Betsy Ellerbrook Scholarship for $500 which is given to a band member who has exhibited good conduct and leadership throughout their high school career and has demonstrated a willingness to be involved in extra band activities.

Cooper Bilbrey is anticipated to receive a TLIF UIL Scholarship for state participation for an unspecified amount.

Junior Ceniceros was awarded a PEAK Scholarship for $2000 or $1000 per semester to Clarendon College. This scholarship is awarded through a local foundation and agreement between Clarendon CISD and Clarendon College.

Caleb Cobb has been awarded an academic scholarship to Abilene Christian University for an estimated value of $56,000 over four years in addition to a $1,000 Salutatorian Scholarship. It is anticipated that Caleb will receive a UIL TLIF scholarship for being a UIL state qualifier for an unannounced amount at this time. The Walter B. Knorpp Salutatorian Scholarship to Clarendon College with an estimated value of $4,000. Caleb’s last scholarship is the Thomas Lynch (Jack) Roach IV Memorial scholarship. This scholarship is for $500 per semester for two years or $2000.

Kendra Davis has received two Valedictory scholarships. The first is the Walter B. Knorpp scholarship valued at $4,000 and the last is the State of Texas tuition waiver valued at up to $5,000 dependent upon the choice of college. In addition, she has been awarded a $500 Lions Club Sweetheart Scholarship and a Cross Roads Peanut Scholarship for $500.

Blaine Ellis is the recipient of the Bill Talley Memorial Scholarship for $1000.

Bryce Hatley is the recipient of a $2000 PEAK scholarship.

Sterling King is the recipient of a $2000 PEAK Scholarship.

Kelsey McAnear-Kelsey is the recipient of a $2000 PEAK Scholarship and a $500 Herring National Bank Scholarship

Chesson Sims is the recipient of a $2000 PEAK Scholarship. Chesson is the recipient of The Welch Foundation Scholarship which supports college scholarships through the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation (TILF). Applicants must apply through TILF. The Foundation provides up to 20 scholarships annually up to $14,000 each, payable over four years. Chesson may be eligible for other TLIF scholarship money, but those have not been announced yet. Chesson has also received the Homer Estlack Memorial Scholarship for $250 to attend Clarendon College.

Alysse Simpson was awarded the Jacob Dean Smith Memorial Scholarship for $500.

Samantha Spillers has received an full ride rodeo scholarship (no pun intended) to Colby Community College. This scholarship is valued at $27,456. She has also received the Tri-State High School Region I Aaron Cuter Memorial Scholarship for $1000, the Tri-State National Scholarship for $1000, the Amarillo Coors Cowboy Club Scholarship, and the Sid Richardson Scholarship for $500.

Emily Thompson will be the recipient of a UIL TLIF scholarship. Emily has also received financial assistance from the US Marines for her commitment of service. While on active duty she will receive $4,500 per year for tuition assistance. A five-year commitment will earn her the Post 911 GI Bill for three years with a value of up to $89,000. She will receive a basic allotment for housing for up to $43,000 and because she resides in Texas, she will receive the Hazelwood Act that will pay for up to 150 hours to any school in Texas with the value of $100,000. She will also receive a $1,000 book stipend. The total package of available money that Emilie is receiving from the US Marines is $255,700.

Amelia Weatherton has received a $26,000 ACU Merit Scholarship.

Hedley individual recognitions were:

Lane Cabler received a $1,000 scholarship to attend Clarendon College from Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700.

Clay King has also received a $1,000 scholarship from Clarendon Lodge #700.

Adam Bernal has received the $100 scholarship from the Hedley Lioness Club.

Heath McCleskey received a $32,000 scholarship from Oklahoma State University.

Kelsey Wells has been awarded a $300 scholarship from the Donley County Retired School Personnel Association. She has also received the Lila Kate Monroe Scholarship for $300, the Cross Road Peanut Company $500 scholarship, the Herring Bank Scholarship for $500, and the Hedley Lions Club Sweetheart scholarship for $500.

As the Valedictorian of Hedley High School Class of 2016 Kelsey has received the Highest Ranking Graduate award from the State of Texas. This award will exempt Kelsey from tuition fees for her first year of college.

Additional honors given to Clarendon graduates included Caleb Cobb, the Fighting Heart Award; Alysse Simpson, the Knorpp Cup; and Sterling King, the Best Girl Athlete.

Special recognitions at Hedley included Shaylee Chapman, Zachary Chapman, Johnathon Taylor, and Kelsey Wells, who all wore red honor cords to signify they have donated at least two units of blood while in high school.

 

The Mulkey Theatre project is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the Don & Sybil Harrington Foundation, according to an announcement made at the fourth annual Mulkey Block Party last Saturday.

The grant is intended to help complete Phase 3B of the ongoing rehabilitation of the 1946 theatre, specifically the installation of heating and air-conditioning.

As a condition of the grant, the remainder of the funds to complete Phase 3B, approximately an additional $100,000, will have to be secured by the end of 2016.

The Block Party marked the completion of Phase 3A of the project, which included a new stage for live performances and construction of a new handicapped accessible seating area as well as restored house and cove lights in the auditorium.

A good crowd attended the block party, which had perfect weather. Rev. Black Flowers opened the musical entertainment, and Insufficient Funds was again the main performance. The car show received several entrants and was won by Johnny Floyd – motorcycle division, Cal Thomas – truck division, and Redell Johnston – car division.

Kids enjoyed a cake walk, a giant bounce house, and cartoons in the theatre while adults danced, listened to music, and enjoyed several food vendors.

To keep up with developments on the Mulkey, check out facebook.com/MulkeyTheatre, and to make a tax deductible donation to the project, send a check or money order to Clarendon Community Fund, PO Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226.

 

Two local organizations were the recipients of grants from the Donley County Community Fund during the fourth annual Mulkey Block Party Saturday evening.

The Hedley Lioness Club and the Saints’ Roost Museum received $1,000 each for projects those organizations are undertaking.

The Lionesses are replacing the floor in their aging building, which also houses the American Legion Post.

The Museum will be making needed repairs to the exterior of the 1887 Clarendon Depot.

The Donley County Community Fund is working to build an Endowed Legacy to benefit charitable organizations for the entire county to benefit of future generations.

An affiliate of the Amarillo Area Foundation, the Community Fund is overseen by a local Advisory Board, which includes Jim Shelton, Diane Skelton, Shauna Herbert, Chris Matthews, Jacob Fangman, and Roger Estlack.

The Amarillo Area Foundation is a community foundation that serves the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Founded in 1957, the Foundation provides grants and services to strengthen nonprofit organizations and the services they deliver.

To support the efforts of the Community Fund, tax-deductible donations may be made to Donley County Community Fund, PO Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226.