Beautiful weather for 141st celebration

Beautiful weather greeted a patriotic crowd gathered on the Courthouse Square last Saturday, July 7, for the 141st 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 0-4 age group, Zaylee Jaramillo was first, Delaney Chambless was second, and Cohen Farris third. Kami Bartley won the 5-8 age group with Nevaeh Jaramillo second and Kolt Barrett third. The 9 and up age group was won by Haughton Bivens, Lindley Hill second and Aubrey Stidham third.

The Herring Bank Parade was bigger than last year with 46 entries this year.
The Khiva Mini-Vettes won the Grand Prize and the Other category. Community Fellowship Church was second in the Other category, and the Shamrock American Legion was third. Babe Ruth’s 1948 Lincoln Continental won the Vehicle division, followed by Floyd Baxter’s 1964 Buick Riviera and Ken Carden’s 1976 Lincoln Mark IV. Jim Hash of Canadian won the Farm Equipment division with his 1973 IH Farmall 666. Vincent Mayer of Canyon was second with a Minneapolis Moline, and Terry Costgrove of Canadian was third with a 1935 Alice Charmers.

In the Old Settlers Reunion, Johnny Leathers of Bonham was the earliest pioneer man present, born in 1921. Steve Reynolds of Clarendon was runner up as 1937 model. Jewel Judd of Clarendon was the earliest pioneer woman, having got her start in 1926. Joyce Jackson of Lubbock was runner up as 1938 original.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served 640 plates of barbecue, up from 600 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.

Several organizations held fundraisers during the celebration. Kristi Winfrey won the John Deere riding lawn mower given by the Junior Livestock Association in support of the Donley County Activity Center. Four lucky winners took home extra cash from the Penny Raffle sponsored by the Donley County Courthouse Lighting Committee. Tiny Alderson and Carol Richards each won $100.00 and Ruth Robinson and Cate Word each won $50.00. The winners of the Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo were Mark Luttrell and Ben Estlack, $250, and Nate Estlack and Eric Riddle, $50 each.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race was held Saturday afternoon. There were altogether 173 participants, which was down from the 189 terrapin handlers last year. The winners were Ryker Schwertner for the 0-4 division, Karli Jones for the 5-8 division, Wyatt Davis for the 9-14 division, and Amanda Mays for the adult division. Each child division winner received $50 in prizes. The adult division brought in $140, which was divided in half between the winner and the Donley County Child Welfare board.