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Archives for December 2019

Driver faces charges in death of local woman

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A Dallas man is in the Donley County Jail this week after a December 12 car wreck that caused the death of a Clarendon woman.

Fifty-one-year-old Delfino Frias-Aragonez is facing charges of first degree Intoxicated Manslaughter and third degree Intoxicated Assault, according Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Chase Overbeeke.

Frias-Aragonez was driving a 2005 Chevrolet pickup westbound on US 287 about two miles west of Clarendon last Thursday at about 8 a.m. when he abruptly crossed the median at an acute angle, Overbeeke said. The pickup spun once in the median before entering the eastbound lanes and colliding head-on with a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 25-year-old Amy Martinez of Clarendon.

Overbeeke said the pickup’s speedometer was stuck at 82 when it came to rest and he reported that witnesses said it was traveling faster than that before it entered the median.
The trooper said Frias-Aragonez showed signs of intoxication, and a blood draw was taken with consent from the man. Authorities believe Frias-Aragonez was impaired on heroin.

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department responded to the accident and worked with EMS personnel to extricate three people from the wrecked automobiles. All four were transported to Amarillo for medical treatment, including the drivers, pickup passenger Miguel Angel Zuniga-Artesan, 49, of Dallas and Malibu passenger Jose Morales, Jr., 26, of Clarendon.

Overbeeke said everyone involved suffered serious injuries, but Martinez suffered the most trauma. She underwent surgery but passed away at 12:44 p.m. on Friday, December 13.

The trooper said Frias-Aragonez has a long criminal history. He and Zuniga-Artesan are not US citizens and are believed to be in the country illegally. They have both been living in the Dallas area, but neither have a place of residence. The pickup they were driving was registered to a Wylie, Texas, man.

Responding to the accident in addition to the DPS and CVFD were the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Associated Ambulance Authority, and the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department.

Fire claims life of man last week

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A local man perished in an early morning house fire east of Clarendon last Thursday, December 12.

Mac Charles Dunham, age 42, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn. An autopsy later confirmed smoke inhalation was the cause of death, the sheriff said.

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched about 4:23 a.m. to a report of a structure fire on north FM 1260 with a person possibly inside. When firefighters arrived about 12 minutes later, they found a motor home fully involved and already burned up, Fire Chief Jeremy Powell said.

“You couldn’t even tell what it was really,” Powell said of the damage caused to the motor home.

Firemen extinguished the blaze and discovered Dunham’s remains.

Blackburn said Dunham had been living in the motor home with Cynthia Ann Shults, 60. The sheriff reported that the couple was woken by smoke. Shults was able to escape through a window, but Dunham was overcome by smoke before he could escape, the sheriff said.

The State Fire Marshall’s office investigated the scene and determined that an improperly set up propane heater was the cause of the fire, Blackburn and Powell said.

$500 Totally Locally drawing to be Dec. 19

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One lucky shopper will win $500 in Clarendon Cash this week to close out the Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 “Totally Locally” program.

Late Night Shopping lucky spinners last week were Jesus Hernandez, Cy Allen, Paula Lowrie, and Paulette Kidd. Courtesy Photo

The big winner will be drawn as the culmination of this year’s final Late Night Shopping this Thursday, December 19, at 8 p.m. at Saye’s.

You do not have to be present to win the $500 prize; but before that name is drawn, four lucky winners will get to spin the wheel for holiday prizes from Totally Locally participating merchants. Wheel spinners do have to be present to spin.

Last week, Jesus Hernandez, Cy Allen, Paulette Kidd, and Paula Lowrie were the lucky spinners. They each took home a prize featured on the Chamber’s Totally Locally Gift Ideas blog, which is posted on ClarendonTX.com and features gift ideas from about a dozen participating businesses. Each gift idea costs $50 or less and are available for purchase at participating merchants.

“Totally Locally” merchants participating at press time are A Fine Feathered Nest, Clarendon Outpost, Cornell’s Country Store, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Every Nook & Cranny, Floyd’s Automotive, Henson’s, J&W Lumber, Mike’s Pharmacy, Saye’s Tack Store, Studio E, and Turquoise & Rust. Shoppers can register at any “Totally Locally” merchant through December 19 for a chance to spin the wheel for prizes and for a chance to win $500 in Clarendon Cash.

According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.

Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.

A jolly old time

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Santa Claus made a special appearance at the Clarendon High School and Junior High Band concert Sunday afternoon. Santa read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” as the Bronco Band played a selection of holiday tunes. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Helping hands

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Members of the Clarendon Junior High Student Council delivered canned goods to the Lions Hall last week. The canned goods were assembled into the food baskets the Lions delivered this week to local families. CHS students also donated canned goods to the Lions project and helped meet the needs of those in our community. Courtesy Photo

Big Band Christmas

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The Mulkey Theatre hosted the South Plains Dance Orchestra for a return appearance Saturday night, December 14. The concert was the fourth and final live concert on the Mulkey stage for the 2019 season. The Mulkey is already making plans for the 2020 season to continue to bring live music to Clarendon. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Belinda Lee Caviness

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Belinda Lee Caviness, 65, of Pampa, passed away December 13, 2019, in Pampa.

Belinda Lee Caviness

Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 21, 2019, at Carpenter’s Church with Pastor Jim Sinyard, officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Belinda was born October 28, 1954, in Azle to Peggy and William Holmes. As a young girl her family moved to the Texas Panhandle where she lived and attended school in Clarendon and later in Pampa.

She worked in the service industry at Taylor Mart, Black Gold Restaurant and Hampton Inn. Belinda enjoyed music, puzzles, crafts, especially sewing, but what brought her the most joy was being with her family.

She is survived by two daughters, Brandie Wolfe and husband Chris of Oregon, and Megan Ferrell and husband Reid of Pampa; her significant other, Alex Ruiz; five grandchildren, Lyndon Wolfe and wife Katie of Hawaii, Nathan Mears, Natalea Worley-Whittley, Ashton Whittley and Zoie Whittley, all of Pampa; one great grandchild, Orion Wolfe; and nine siblings. She was known as Aunt BB to all her nieces and nephews.

Sign the online guest register at www.carmichael-whatley.com

Mac Charles Dunham

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Mac Charles Dunham, age 42, of Clarendon passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2019.

Services will be held Saturday, December 21, at 2 p.m. at the Body of Christ Church in Clarendon.

Mac is survived by his wife, Jamie Dunham of Dallas; one son, Quintin Dunham of Clarendon; three daughters, Kyla Dunham of Amarillo, Kinliegh Dunham of Clarendon, and Jaelyn Dunham of Lubbock; his father, Walter Dunham of Lubbock; a brother, Clay Dunham of Lubbock; and two sisters, Amber Dunham and Jodi Dunham, both of Clarendon. Also left behind are a host of family and friends.

Mac was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Dunham; and Chuck and Marylee Longan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christ’s Kids Ministries, PO Box 45, Clarendon, TX 79226.

Daniel “Danny” Stepp

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Daniel “Danny” Stepp, 65, of Sayre, Oklahoma died Tuesday, November 19, 2019, in Sayre.

Daniel “Danny” Stepp

Services were held on November 23, 2019, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Joe Neal Shadle, officiating. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Daniel was born April 6, 1954, in Eudora, Arkansas to Arlie Nile and Etta Jane Cotton Stepp. He was the baby out of seven children and was raised on the Mississippi River. He married Elizabeth Green on August 23, 1988, in Eudora, Arkansas. He had been a resident of Clarendon and Dalhart before moving to Sayre, Oklahoma in 2014. Danny was a truck driver and it was his love, passion, and way of life. He had worked for Crete Carriers, Jack B. Kelly, Affiliated Foods, Combined Transport, Groendyke, C&J Energy, Intregrity Ag., and Stepp Trucking. While trucking, he drove through blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and various other natural disasters. Danny drove 5 Million miles accident free, and hauled everything from eggs to nukes including hydrogen fuel for the space shuttle Discovery. He loved hunting, fishing, aviation hobby planes and drones, archeology, and paleontology. Danny was loved by his family and never had a bad thing to say about anybody.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Robert, Jody, Richard, and Bill Stepp.

He is survived by his wife Beth Green Stepp of Sayre, Oklahoma; two sons, Hoss Watts of Childress and Shelby Stepp of Elk City, Oklahoma; two daughters, Charolette Sandel of Plano and Amanda Stepp of Oak Grove, Louisiana; two sisters, Ann Bryant of Cassville, Missouri and Sue Cotner of Shreveport, Louisiana; 13 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Sign the online guest book at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Donald Odom

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Funeral Services for Donald Odom, age 83, of Como, were held on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Como with L.D. Baxley officiating. Mr. Odom passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at his home in Como.

Donald was born on May 17, 1936, in Jackson County, Oklahoma to Tom Brian Odom and Lillian Alberta Roberts Odom. He married Clara Joyce Conley in Hale Center, Texas on June 24, 1955. Mr. Odom was a farmer/rancher and a member and Deacon of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Como.

He is survived by his wife, Clara Joyce Odom; daughters: Patricia Diane Fouse and husband, Mackey and Helen Janice Moss and husband, Larry; 10 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; brother: Jimmy Odom and wife, June.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Tom and Lillian Odom; daughter: Donna Joy Thomas; son: Kenneth Ray Odom; brothers: Jesse Brian Odom, Tommy Odom; Billy Odom and baby George Odom; sister: Juanita Pettit.

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