Donley County Social Hour 10
Archives for June 2020
Claudine Pearson Wood
Claudine Pearson Wood came into this world during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-19, and left it during the recent coronavirus pandemic, June 7, 2020. She was the youngest of nine children, born at home, to John Thomas Pearson and Kathryn Lorena Hill Pearson of Hedley, May 14, 1919. Claudine, Dean to friends, Muchie or Mudgie to grandchildren, spent her early life on the family farm, picking cotton in the fields, riding a mule to school (she didn’t like mules), and helping her mother. Her mother passed away when Dean was eleven years old, and the next few years were chaotic for the youngest children in her family, especially during the Depression. Dean became the first in her family to attend college, having graduated from Clarendon Junior College. She married Arlie Lee Wood, a young rancher, of Clarendon in 1940. To this union was born five children.
In 1962, Arlie and Dean moved their four youngest children to Western Colorado to try to alleviate their youngest daughter’s asthma. Their oldest child, Carole, was already married, and stayed behind in Texas. In 1968, they moved to a farm in the Sargent Community in the San Luis Valley.
Arlie and Dean loved to spend time at Santa Maria Reservoir. Dean didn’t fish, but she was always ready for an adventure. In later years, they bought a Volkswagen camping van and visited all of the lighthouses on the West Coast because she loved lighthouses.
At the age of 90, Dean decided she was going to visit Ireland and that her daughter, Cheryl, was going to take her there. They were always lost, and had many hilarious misadventures, including Dean accidentally locking Cheryl out of the cottage where they were staying. Cheryl had to climb in through a window.
Dean was an accomplished seamstress, making much of her own clothing and that of her daughters. She had a keen sense of humor and a quick wit. Her advice to young brides was to never learn to milk a cow, because then you’ll have to milk the cow. Her mind was sharp up until the end. She was frustrated with her failing body and quipped that Walmart didn’t make parts like they used to. Dean was very disappointed at not getting to have her annual birthday celebration at Calvillos Mexican Restaurant this year. She liked wearing the sombrero.
She could trace her ancestors’ arrival on this continent to the 1630’s in Virginia. As a child of four years, she stayed at the legendary Colonel Charles Goodnight’s home at Goodnight, Texas. He was the co-founder of the Goodnight-Loving Cattle Trail, a former Texas Ranger, and the inspiration for Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. She said he slept with a revolver under his pillow. Her seventeen-year old brother, Jerry, worked as a cowboy for him.
Arlie passed away in 1988, and Dean sold their farm a few years later. After spending a few years in Albuquerque near her middle son, Randy, and a little time in Richmond, Virginia near her daughter, Carole, Dean moved back to the San Luis Valley for good in 2006.
She is survived by her five children: Carole Morris, Richmond, Virginia; Ron Wood (Clydean), Atlanta, Georgia; Cheryl Scherzer (Owen), Del Norte, Colorado; Randy Wood (Ruth), San Rafael, New Mexico; and Michael Wood (Anne Gimlin), Nederland, Colorado. Also, twelve grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and her first great great-grandchild, due August, 2020. Nieces, nephews, and many cousins remain.
She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband of 48 years, Arlie Wood, and her son in-law, Cam Morris.
Arrangements are under the direction of Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista. Private graveside services will be held at Monte Vista Cemetery, Saturday, June 13, 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. If in Texas, donations to Clarendon College are suggested. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com
Special thanks to the staff of River Valley Inn Nursing Home of Del Norte. They took such good care of her. Dean loved it there, and staff members became a second family to her.
2020 Saints’ Roost Celebration plans move forward
Clarendon is getting ready to host a glorious Independence Day as organizers of the 143rd annual Saints’ Roost Celebration are moving forward with the event.
Social distancing and other guidelines may make some of the celebration look somewhat different, but almost all of the traditional activities are on schedule for July 2, 3, and 4, and the Whistle-Stop Trade Days intends to be open July 4 and 5.
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce meeting last Thursday was attended by representatives of the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association (COEA) and the Donley County Extension Service, where the consensus was to move forward as normal as possible. On Monday, the County Agent Leonard Haynes also met with representatives of the Al Morrah Shrine Club about plans for the barbecue.
Haynes then met Tuesday with County Judge John Howard, MD, and reviewed plans for the celebration. Haynes said the judge was satisfied with plans by the parties involved to follow as best as possible the safety guidelines for outdoor events that that have been set out by the state government in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of those plans call for hand sanitizing stations to be placed at different points on the courthouse lawn and for craft fair vendors to be spaced out to allow for social distancing. Barbecue meals will be plated or boxed instead of having attendees go through a buffet line, and face masks are encouraged but not required.
COEA is moving forward with rodeo plans although a final decision will not be made until June 15. The organization already booked its rodeo teams last month and is largely ready to go. Dances will not be held following the rodeos this year.
The COEA Junior Rodeo tentatively will kick off the celebration Thursday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. followed by the first night of the Ranch Rodeo on Friday, July 3, at the same time.
The big day will be Saturday, July 4, beginning with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths must 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. with the parade taking off at 10:00. The theme for this year’s parade is “Texas Strong – United We Stand,” and entry forms are available in this week’s Enterprise as well as at the Visitor Center. Entry forms are also available at ClarendonTX.com.
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 July 1.
The Al Morrah Shrine Club barbecue will follow the parade at about 11 a.m. Tickets are $12 each and will be available at the Visitor Center and the Enterprise.
Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m. The Henson’s Turtle Race will then take place at 1:30 p.m. And the Ranch Rodeo will close out the day at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m.
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. The Whistle-Stop features more than 100 vendors as well as live music, food, and fun for the entire family.
Other events will be added to the schedule as they are decided or announced. For more information about the celebration, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421. A current schedule summary is as follows:
Thursday, July 2
7:30 p.m. – Junior Ranch Rodeo, COEA Arena (tentative)
Friday, July 3
All Day – Merchants’ Sales
7:30 p.m. – Ranch Rodeo, COEA Arena (tentative)
Saturday, July 4
9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Whistle-Stop Trade Days
9:00 a.m. – Craft Fair, Courthouse Square
9:00 a.m. – Kids’ Tricycle/Bicycle Parade
10:00 a.m. – Herring Bank Parade
11:00 a.m. – Shriners’ Barbecue, Courthouse Square
1:30 p.m. – Henson’s Turtle Races
7:30 p.m. – Ranch Rodeo, COEA Arena (tentative)
Sunday, July 5
9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Whistle-Stop Trade Days
Fifty attend solidarity meeting here
More than 50 people attended a Solidarity Event Monday evening at the Donley County Courthouse as a call for unity and a memorial for George Floyd, who died in police custody last month in Minneapolis, Minn., sparking outrage across the nation and overseas.
The local event was the idea of four local young ladies – Rosie and Lillie Dale, Brianna Martin, and Kira Weatherton. The purpose, Weatherton told the Enterprise, was for the community to come together in prayer.
“Prayer is a way to unite a community,” she said. “It’s very powerful and helpful in situations like this.”
Weatherton said the event drew more people than she expected and said some folks did not understand what was going to happen.
“A bunch of people said we were going to start a riot and throw bricks and stuff,” Weatherton said, “but that wasn’t it. It was super peaceful and quite, and everyone was so attentive.”
Mary Ann Moreno was one of the first to speak Monday night and addressed past discrimination and how things are different now locally.
“Times have changed,” Moreno said. “We have a good sheriff.”
Moreno also said more needs to be done to bring homeownership to young people.
Martha Daohenang spoke of her love for the local community and the love that has been shown to her.
“The whole community – black, white, brown – helped me when I lost my son,” she said. “Recently, I had a flat tire and a highway patrolman changed my flat tire. We’re all children of God.”
Other speakers included Deb Dale, who encouraged voter registration and filling out Census information, and Latonya Wilson, who said her message was that “we will face our challenges but that we can win and succeed anyway.”
Several prayers were offered, and the highlight of the event was when those in attendance who were able and willing kneeled in silent prayer for eight minutes and 46 seconds. That’s the time that Floyd was pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on his neck.
Organizers thanked city and county officials for their support and also thanked local law enforcement who attended the event as well.
Prayer of solidarity
One new COVID-19 case here last week
Donley County’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 27 last week.
County Judge John Howard, MD, reported to the Enterprise last Thursday that he had been notified by state officials that a local individual was tested positive in Pampa on May 23.
Twenty-five of the 27 local cases have now been reported as being recovered. That leaves two cases presumably still active.
The Clarendon Family Medical Center late last week had three tests pending, but as of Tuesday, one of those had been confirmed negative. That brings the total negative tests conducted locally to 88.
Sandell Drive-In to open this weekend
The Sandell Drive-In will open its 2020 season this Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13, with Twister and The Wizard of Oz showing as a double feature.
The Sandell has been making adjustments to their concession stand to safely serve customers during the COVID-19 situation.
More information about their new order and pick-up window is available on their Facebook page along with information about other upcoming big events.
Gates will open at 7:30 p.m. this weekend, and admission will be $8. Twister will show first on Friday and second on Saturday.
Local man sentenced by district court
The District Court heard two pleas from one defendant when it met in Clarendon last Wednesday, June 3.
District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.
Timothy Don Lockeby pleaded true and was convicted for the state jail felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Lockeby was sentenced to two years in the State Jail Division of TDCJ.
Lockeby, age 40 from Clarendon, was arrested by former Donley County Chief Deputy Randy Bond for the offense that took place on March 20, 2019. Lockeby pleaded to an information filed by the State on May 9, 2019.
The state filed its motion to adjudicate on May 6, alleging nine violations of community supervision. Lockeby pleaded true to the allegations.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Lockeby is also required to pay a $2,500 fine, $1,000 in restitution and $488 in court costs.
In a separate case, Lockeby pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ for the third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated 3rd or more.
In this case, Lockeby was arrested in Donley County on April 26 by DPS Trooper Emily Ruhl. Lockeby pleaded guilty to an information filed by the State on May 28.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Lockeby is also required to pay $390 in court costs.
Donley County Social Hour 9
COVID recovered
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