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Archives for August 2021

Pump failure ends aquatic center’s season early

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The Clarendon Aquatic Center’s inaugural season came to an abrupt early end last week with the failure of the facility’s main pump.

Mayor Sandy Skelton said the construction company will have workers here this week to pull the pump and send it to the manufacturer for analysis. The pump failed last Thursday night, and city officials decided Saturday to end the 2021 season early since a replacement pump would not be available this week.

The aquatic center was already set to shift to a weekend-only schedule this week with school and college starting and lifeguards returning to classes. The final day of the 2021 season would have been Labor Day, September 5.

“We feel very good about the first season overall,” Skelton said. “We were serving between 300 and 350 visitors a week.”

The mayor said the aquatic center will end the year in the red, largely due to several first-time expenses associated with opening the facility. City officials will review the statistics for the pool over the next few weeks to make plans for the 2022 season.

Replacing the pump will be covered either by warranty or insurance, depending on the results of the analysis to determine why it failed.

Skelton said many communities keep a backup pump on hand for situations like this; and he said, since the pump only costs about $3,000, Clarendon will keep a backup in the future. City officials will also consider purchasing a backup for the pump that operates features at the center, such as the bucket dumps and spray pad.

City officials drained the pool Tuesday. The job took most of the day without the main pump.

Clarendon football fans must by advance tickets

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Clarendon CISD has announced that general admission tickets for all Broncos and Colts home football games may be purchased through Ticket Leap at www.ticketless.com.

All general admission tickets must be purchased online. No tickets will be sold at the booth.

Tickets for the first varsity home game against Seymour will go on sale Monday, August 23. Everyone will be required that present their ticket either in paper form or on their phone so the ticket can be scanned for admission. Reserved seating ticket holders will only need to show their pass upon entry.

Admission for home varsity Bronco games is adults $5 and students $3. Home JV Bronco and Colt games are Adults $3 and Students $2.

Library leaders

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A librarian reunion was held as part of the Burton Memorial Library’s celebration of its 40th anniversary in its current facility last Wednesday, August 11. Shown here are librarians Mary Green (1994-1999), Annis Stavenhagen (1982-1987), Carolyn Blackerby (1999-2003), Diane Skelton (1987-1991), and Jerri Shields (2003-present). Several citizens attended the celebration and enjoyed displays prepared by the Friends of the Library documenting the history of the facility over the last four decades, including the move of the library from the old City Hall building to temporary quarters in the Courthouse, and finally to its present location. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

New faces at CCISD

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New faculty members at Clarendon CISD this year includes John Moffett, CHS principal; Cheyenne Taylor, Cafeteria; Kim Harper, JH/HS English Teacher; Rachel Houston, JH Special Education Teacher; Tracy Huseman, HS Teacher & and Coach; Christopher Burrell, HS Theatre Teacher; (front) Max Paschall, Bus Driver; Monesha Griffith, Elementary Paraprofessional; Kayse Christopher, Elementary Paraprofessional; Shaylee Miller, JH Paraprofessional; and Lindsey Baker, JH Paraprofessional. Courtesy Photo / Lisa Grahn

Practice run

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The Bronco football squad scriammaged Stratford last Saturday afternoon at home. The Broncos will travel to Tulia to scrimmage this Friday at 5 p.m. The Broncos season will offically begin August 27 at home at 7:00 p.m. against Seymour. Courtesy Photo

Connie Lynn McMahan

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The family mourn s the sudden loss of their beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend Connie Lynn McMahan, 67, of Groom, which occurred on Friday, August 13, 2021.

Connie Lynn McMahan

Graveside services will be 1:30 PM Sunday, Aug, 22, 2021, in Groom Cemetery with Rev. Calvin Burrow, officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” – John 11:25

Connie Lynn McMahan was born in Tulia on February 9, 1954, to Mary Francis Noland and Jimmie Vanoy Purcell. She was the oldest of ten siblings across blended families.

Connie graduated from Plainview High School in May 1972, where she was a cheerleader, class favorite runner up multiple years, she was social and loved by many. Connie was a devoted wife and dedicated Christian. She led with her love of the Lord.

She was married to her best friend and soulmate Joseph Mathew McMahan on July 3, 1982. She loved her extended family, her three children and her stepson and her grandchildren.

When all her children left her home, she filled it with her neighbors, friends and her puppies. Anyone who knew her, knew how much those dogs offered companionship and meaning. She embraced technology, learning Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and even Tik Tok. She would make and share funny videos with her loved ones to stay connected.

When people speak of Connie, they talk of her amazing food, her kind heart, and her sense of humor. She found her tribe, and she loved them hard and laughed with them too. Life’s simple pleasures brought great joy to her. She loved to celebrate Christ and display her Christmas lights, loved growing her beautiful flowers, watching a gleaming sunrise on her porch, and having a coffee time with Joe.

Connie passed away surrounded by her husband Joe and her daughters Penny and Misty. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brothers Todd, Terry and Jimmie.

She is survived by her husband, Joe McMahan of Groom; daughter Penny McMahan and fiance Nathan Catlett of Oklahoma City, daughter Misty and her husband Lance Price and her grandchildren Leigh-Ann, Landon and Landry Price of Dallas; her sisters in Florida, Patti O’Cain and husband Phillip, Vanan Hampton and husband Leon, Jody Bryant and husband Robert, and Kathy Bowen and her husband Craig, and Andrea Purcell; her brother Jimmie’s wife, and her Aunts Jackie Sue Harrell and Modene Moore and her husband Jerry, both of Texas.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Letter: ‘Senior Thang’ a great opportunity for community

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Last Thursday evening, I attended the Music Night at the Donley County Senior Citizens Center. The music was great, and the barbecue and the rest of the meal were great. Unfortunately, there was very little attendance. Denise Bertrand is trying to build participation in the center. Clarendon is fortunate to have this fine facility to all the folks who live in this area.

On Saturday evening, August 21, That Senior Thang is open to our good people in Donley County. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and will be outside of the senior center at Fourth and Gorst streets. This even is sponsored by 12 businesses and people who do good things in our county.

This is another opportunity to bring people together and have a fun evening. You are invited.

Tom Stauder,
A Proud Donley County Resident

COVID cases double in one week

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The active number of COVID-19 cases in Donley County has doubled since last week, according to the Clarendon Family Medical Clinic.

As of Tuesday, there were eight active cases of the disease, up from four one week ago.
Clinic spokesperson Marsha Bruce says there have now been 387 total positive cases of the disease since the pandemic began more than one year ago.

As always, it is important to note that those figures do not count Donley County residents who may test positive for the disease at other facilities, such as regional hospitals or other clinics.
The Moderna vaccine is available at no charge at the local clinic for everyone ages 18 and over. The Pfizer vaccine is available in Amarillo for children ages 12 and over.

The Texas Tribune reports this week that overall only 28.2 percent of Donley County residents – a total of 941 people – are fully vaccinated as of August 10. That’s an increase of only three people from last week.

School days ahead

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Kristy and Lydia Balogh fill out paperwork during registration at Clarendon ISD Monday night. Classes begin next Thursday, August 19, in both Clarendon and Hedley. Enterprise Photo / Tara Allred

Franks sets record in Dodge City

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By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

DODGE CITY, Kan. – There is a gleam on Cole Franks’ face that may not go away for a while.
The 20-year-old bareback rider has reason to be so happy. He’d just ridden Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Bar Code for 90 points to win the first round of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo and collect $3,385. Now, he’s set up for another ride of his life during Sunday’s championship round.
The rain began to fall just before bareback riding began, and by the time Franks nodded his head on Bar Code, it was pouring on Roundup Arena. It didn’t quite matter to the cowboy, nor the horse.

Cole Franks rides Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Bar Code for 90 points to win the first round and set himself up well for Sunday’s championship round at Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. Courtesy Photo / David Seymore

“It was wet,” Franks said with a grin across his face. “Right when it started raining, I was dreading it a little bit. Once it really got going, I realized there was no stopping the rain, so it was part of it. It’ll make a good story to look back on.”

It’s been a good week for Franks, who, heading into Saturday night’s fourth performance of Dodge City’s rodeo, was leading the rodeos in Carson, Iowa, with a 92-point ride, and Great Falls, Montana, with an 84.5.

When he arrived in Dodge City, he knew there might be something special with Pickett horse.

“He knew,” Franks said of Bar Code. “He had that same feeling I had that it was about to be a lot of fun.

“I’ve seen that horse three times. Kaycee Feild was 90 on him at the Riggin’ Rally in Weatherford (Texas in April), so I knew it was possible. I knew the horse was going to be a lot of fun and feel really good. I was excited. I knew it was going to be really good.”

It’s been an exciting year for the cowboy from Clarendon, Texas. In June, he helped his hometown team – Clarendon College, which is coached by his dad, Bret Franks – to the men’s team national title at the College National Finals Rodeo. He dominated bareback riding to win that national crown, then added enough points in saddle bronc riding to be named the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s all-around champion.

Franks won the rodeo with an arena record 93-point ride during Sunday’s championship round on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire. He won $8,420, and he also won Carson, Iowa, with a 92. Franks is 11th in the world standings.

Heading into this week of rodeos, Franks sat 17th in the world standings with $39,341.
Franks will likely move up, but his end goal is to be among the top 15 when rodeo’s regular season concludes the end of September in order to earn his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. He also will be matched in Sunday’s championship round with Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, which is possibly the hottest bareback horse in ProRodeo this season.

“I like where I’m at,” he said. “I would rather be right here fighting for it than being in a secure spot. For the next week and a half, I’ve drawn really good money horses that can win and for sure help you place on.

“It’s looking really good.”

So is Cole Franks.

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