Archives for June 2017

Clarendon is ready to welcome visitors to the 140th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration and also the Whistle-Stop Trade Days with festivities to be held on Friday, June 30, and Saturday, July 1, as well as on Sunday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 4.

The celebration begins with a Depression Luncheon Friday, June 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crossties Ministry Center next to the Library on Kearney Street. The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will open its Ranch Rodeo Friday night, at 7:30 at the COEA Arena followed by a dance at 9 p.m. featuring the music of Luke Koepke & Indian Creek.

The big day will be Saturday, July 1, beginning with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths are $25 each and should be reserved through the Donley County 4H by calling 806-874-2141.

The Chamber of Commerce’s 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 at Keith Floyd’s shop at Third and Sully. Ed Montana will provide music and serve as master of ceremonies on the square.

Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. on Sixth Street north of Prospect Park. At 10:00, the parade will then take its usual route – north on Kearney to Third Street, west on Third to Sully, south in front of the Courthouse, and then wind back to the ball parks.

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. Pre-registration is required for entrants to be judged for the prize money, and entry forms are due in the Visitor Center by 5 p.m. on June 29. Entry forms are at the Visitor Center and on ClarendonTx.com.

Also this year, the Chamber and Cornell’s Country Store will hold a “Show Us Your Boots” contest as part of the parade. One grand prize winner will get a $100 Cornell’s gift card, and one second place winner will get $50 in Chamber Cash. More information is available on the entry form at the Visitor Center and at ClarendonTX.com.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club barbecue will follow the parade at about 11 a.m. Tickets are $12 each.

Following the parade antique cars and other vehicles are invited to gather on Third Street in front of Keith Floyd’s shop for a car show and light refreshments.

The Lions Club will not be having bounce houses this year but are instead bringing back their Cow Patty Bingo following the barbecue.

Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m. The Henson’s Turtle Race will follow at 3 p.m. And the Ranch Rodeo will close out the day at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. with the dance to follow with Dalton Domino providing the music.

Also happening during the celebration weekend, the Whistle-Stop will have its monthly trade days Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Chamberlain Motor Company property. The Whistle-Stop features more than 100 vendors as well as live music, food, and fun for the entire family.

COEA will hold a washer pitching contest Sunday afternoon. Two-person teams can sign-up beginning at noon with the pitching to start at 1 p.m.  The entry fee is $30.

Tuesday, July 4, will be celebrated with the Junior Ranch Rodeo that evening at the COEA Arena.  Team entries are still being taken for $125 each and can be made by calling 806-679-2738.

For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421 or visit ClarendonTX.com

 

The City of Clarendon is making progress in cleaning up the community, according to reports presented to the City Council during its regular meeting last Thursday, June 22.

Administrator David Dockery told the council that the citywide clean-up held June 5-10 was very successful with residents bringing in 75.3 cubic yards of trash and city crews bringing in another 40 cubic yards, the equivalent of almost three 40-yard roll off boxes.

“That’s a substantial amount,” Dockery told the Enterprise this week. “I think the clean-up was very well received by the residents, and the efforts of the community are evident when you drive around. We truly appreciate those who helped clean up.”

Dockery said the city’s half-price for dumping promotion saved residents $720 during the course of the week.

The administrator said the annual clean-up goes hand-in with the city’s ongoing code enforcements efforts, which encourages keeping properties clean and in good repair year round.

The demolition of one derelict property is one example of those efforts presented in last week’s code enforcement report to the board. Dockery said a trailer house located at 512 S. Sully was demolished last Tuesday, June 20.

City Hall also says it has two other properties that may have to be demolished soon.

Aldermen were also supposed to hear an update on phase two efforts to bring the former Neece residence at 602 S. Bugbee into compliance, but no one showed up to speak about the property, Dockery said.

In other city business, the council heard from Kathryn Wiegand of the Amarillo Area Foundation, who reported on funds held there for water recreation project and the services the foundation provides to the community through the local affiliate fund.

Micha Robnett addressed the board on behalf of the Clarendon Care Center, who discussed the nursing home facility and the services it provides. Robnett also reported that Raymond Garcia is now the local administrator of the center.

Aldermen approved a request for funding from the Donley County Senior Citizens, voting to give $2,000 to the Meals on Wheels program.

City Secretary Machiel Covey received her annual employee evaluation in closed session, after which she was compliments on her diligent work on behalf of the city.

The council approved an amendment to Ordinance 339 to establish new fees for certain items disposed of at the citizens convenience center.

Dockery also reported that the city’s annual Consumer Confidence Report on the municipal water supply had been mailed to each water customer and is also available for inspection at City Hall.

Clarendon College’s summer enrollment is showing impressive gains, according to information presented to the Board of Regents during their June 15 meeting in Pampa.

President Robert Riza said the college’s spring mini-session saw its enrollment shoot up 172 percent from 79 students to 215.

“This was the second time we’ve done this two-week mini-session, which is all online,” Dr. Riza told the Enterprise, “Our marketing is why that is so huge. We specifically marketed this session as well as marketed online classes and our online degree.”

The college also saw a big jump in its 12-week summer session for its career and technical classes. Those numbers are up 41 percent from 168 last summer to 238. Those numbers include students enrolled in cosmetology and nursing.

The traditional five-week Summer I session is up 53 percent, from 202 students last year to 309 this year. Riza said enrollment on the Pampa campus grew from 22 to 60, which the administration largely attributes to changes in the nursing program and encouraging those students to get prerequisites taken care of before the fall semester begins.

The Summer I growth also includes a rise in distance education, or online, classes from 159 last year to 229, which Riza said again reflects marketing efforts.

By comparison, Summer I traditional sessions at area colleges have been as follows: Amarillo College up 13 percent, West Texas A&M up 5.25 percent, and Frank Phillips College down 4 percent.

Enrollment for the Summer II session is ongoing with classes to start July 12, and Riza said the CC is already seeing growth in Pampa and Childress for that session.

“Our enrollment growth overall is a result of the hard work of a lot of people,” Riza said. “From getting the word out and doing things differently, it continues to pay off. We’ve also got a faculty and staff that are willing to get it done.”

In other business at the June meeting, Regents approved an extension of CC’s contract with Great Western Dining, set the tuition and fee schedule for 2017-2018, and authorized requirements for nursing degree and admission requirements.

The board also ratified the hiring of LaRoyce McAdoo as the high school equivalency / adult education and literary success coach, Angela Fennell as an administrative assistant in Pampa, Lukas Ziegler as the assistant livestock judging coach, and Lori Beesely as the GED instructor.