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Archives for July 2023

Ann Stepp

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Heaven found another angel. Ann Stepp went to be with the Lord at the age of 83 on July 17, 2023.

Ann Stepp

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John Wayne Stepp. Sister; Sue Gabbert. Daughters; Denise Pozzi (Zane). Carrie Spence (Jeff).

Grandchildren; Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi (Garrett), Travis Spence (Veronica), Brooke Pozzi-Smith (Blake). Great Grandchildren; Jaedynn, Haley, Chris, Bryce, Taylor, Aubrey Spence, Tinley Tonozzi, Sloan Smith and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her grandson Dillon Spence.

Funeral service were held on Monday, July 31, 2023 at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 US Hwy 87N, Victoria, Texas with Scott Weatherford, officiating. To leave a comforting message or to share a fond memory, please visit www.gracefuneralhome.net.

Samara Ann-Christine Johnson Best

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Samara Ann-Christine Johnson Best, of Comanche, Texas, died unexpectedly on July 18, 2023, due to a vehicle accident.

Samara Ann-Christine Johnson Best

Samara was born on December 7, 2001, and was 21 years old. She was the most amazing wife, daughter, granddaughter, sibling, and aunt anyone could’ve been blessed to have.

Graveside services were held Wednesday July 26, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon, where she was laid to rest near her beloved mother.

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

Samara was currently taking online college classes at Tarleton. She worked at Little Indians Daycare and loved her job. She attended Eastside Baptist and was strong in her faith with the Lord.

Samara spent most of her free time by Trenton’s side, whether fishing, hunting, or working on their house, they were always together. They were best friends, soulmates and loved their life together, even though it was cut short.

Everyone who knew Samara knew how stubborn, sassy, spirited, full of life and fun loving she was. She was ambitious, confident, fiercely competitive and forgiving almost to a fault. She loved her family and enjoyed spoiling her nieces and nephew.

She is survived by her husband Trenton Best; her parents, James and Julia Johnson; three brothers, Nathan Carson, Devin Lucero, and Matt Boyd; a sister Samara Duran; grandparents Mike and Cliftie Johnson, Melanie Thomas, and Sonyia Hill and many other family members and an abundance of friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother Alicia Carson, and though we rejoice that they will be reunited together in Heaven, we are devastated at the loss of her. We will miss Samara more than words can say.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.

County finishes upgrade to annex

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County Clerk Vicky Tunnell and County Tax Assessor Collector Kristy Christopher stand by their newly renovated spaces in the Donley County Courthouse Anenx.

The Donley County Courthouse Annex has an entirely new look inside following a renovation completed Monday.

Judge John Howard said the county spent about $50,000 with local designers and contractors A Fine Feathered Nest to update the space.

“The work returns the space to the architect’s original design with updated finishes,” Howard said. “I think it is more functional and more attractive.”

The project took about two weeks to complete and focused on the clerk and tax assessor offices as well as the main hallway in the building.

Asbestos in the original floor tile was abated and new flooring installed, new ceiling tiles were installed, and the space was painted throughout.

The biggest changes, however, came with the removal of a partition put up in front of the clerk’s office and the re-opening of the customer service wall of the tax assessor’s office. The result is a space that is more open, more accommodating, and more accessible, officials say. New countertops also make the space look even more attractive.

Visitors to the clerk’s office now are not trapped in a tight space between the counter and a partition, and folks renewing their vehicle tags or registering to vote at the tax assessor’s office can now be easily waited on two at a time since the long counter and service window is now fully restored to its original design.

While a roll down gate had continued to be used at the clerk’s office. The gate of the tax assessor’s office service window was sealed in the ceiling but still fully functional once the wall was removed.

Judge Howard said county officials are now considering what might be done to exterior of the 1970s annex building to make it look more complimentary of the 1890 Courthouse.

Bank trees come down for new sidewalks

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Trees were coming down at Herring Bank Monday as workers prepare for new sidewalks there as part of the Downtown Revitalization Project. The shallow roots of the trees had caused considerable damage to the old sidewalks, and the trees were removed to prevent similar damage from happening to the new sidewalks.

Clarendon’s Downtown Revitalization Project continued this week, moving to the east side of Kearney Street and the removal of trees in front of Herring Bank.

Taking down the shade trees has sparked some comments from residents, but it was necessary to protect the new sidewalks being installed and to give way to the light fixtures that will come with the project.

Jacob Fangman, who is Clarendon’s mayor and the head of the local Herring Bank, said the trees were causing problems with the existing sidewalks. The trees’ roots have lifted and cracked the sidewalks. One section of sidewalk had been raised about 2½ inches and the gutter was starting to lift out of the street in one spot.

“People have been tripping because of them,” Fangman said. “I’ve had at least two people tell me they’ve fallen because of the damage.”

Herring Bank planted the trees and installed the existing sidewalk in 1998, but Fangman said the way the trees were planted near the bank made that section of the sidewalk not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Fangman said if the city had not gotten the grant to install new sidewalks, the bank would have had to do it for their customers. New sidewalks would have ultimately been likewise damaged if the trees were not removed.

Howardwick has big Hoedown turnout

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Kids having fun at the Hoedown!

The annual Howardwick Hoedown was a big success with a great day of fun and fellowship last Saturday at McMorries Memorial Park.

City Secretary Sandy Lynn Childress said everything went perfect.

“It was just such a great year,” she said. “It was a great turnout and great weather. We sold out of everything, and the vendors did really well also.”

Judy Elliott won the riding lawnmower, and several other prizes were raffled off during the day. The Putting Contest winners were Rick Mooring, first; Donald Bland, second; and Judy Bland, third.

Corn Hole Tournament winners’ names were not available at press time.

Prior to Saturday’s event, six residents volunteered their time and mowers to mow the park area. Those men were Del Essary, Johnny Floyd, Butch Murray, Mike Willy, Landon Koening, and Tommy Morgan. Many other people helped during the day to make the event a big success.

CC alum dies following rodeo accident

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Lockney native and CC alumnus Jackson Taylor

An area contestant on the upcoming season of Ultimate Cowboy Showdown died on Saturday.

Jackson Taylor, a graduate of Clarendon College, died following an injury during a rodeo, according to an official news release from the INSP Network that airs the show.

On Sunday, the show’s host, Trace Adkins, took to Twitter to share his condolences.

“Jackson Taylor was a helluva cowboy. There was no ‘back down’ in him and I’m proud to have known him. Rest in peace, hoss. – Trace”

The network shared its own message via news release.

“Jackson was the quintessential cowboy,” said Doug Butts, EVP of Programming at INSP. “He was an exceptional horseman, rugged, talented, aggressive, experienced, a maverick, a tough competitor, and a devoted friend. Everyone at INSP feels a profound loss and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the cowboy community as you grieve his death and remember his life.”

Filming of season four of the show wrapped up in the spring. It’s an all-star season that brought together the top competitors from the previous three seasons, including Taylor who was initially featured in season two.

The fifth-generation cowboy was one of 14 contestants who came back to participate in season four. He was also one of just four contestants to return from his debut season.

On the season’s roster, which can be found at www.insp.com/shows/ultimate-cowboy-showdown/contestants/, his hometown is listed as Lockney. He’s one of seven Texas contestants.

A network spokesperson told The Herald the season is completely done and set to air in September. There will be no changes to the season since it’s complete so Taylor will definitely be featured.

After much discussion, the network decided airing the season as planned starting Sept. 6 is the best way to honor his legacy, the spokesperson noted.

Season four was filmed at the Flying E Ranch in Arizona, according to the teaser trailer on the INSP YouTube channel. Taylor is spotted throughout and speaks during the trailer.

Taylor grew up near Lockney and spent his childhood ranching with his family. The Clarendon College graduate spent his life ranching and competing in rodeos. During an interview with The Herald ahead of the season two premiere in 2021, he described himself as an adventurous person who loved meeting people, which is part of what drew him to take part in the show. Some friends let him know he had the personality for a reality TV show.

“I’ve been told by a lot of friends and family members that I was made for that kind of lifestyle,” Taylor said, later adding that he’s not loud, it just comes out loud, he told The Herald in 2021.

In the Ultimate Cowboy Showdown, cowboys compete in challenges like calf roping, sorting calves, herding cattle, to name a few contests. They’re tested on skill, knowledge, grit and heart, according to the show’s website. The winner gets $50,000 worth of cattle and a golden buckle.

While it wasn’t revealed how far Taylor made it in season four, the network did note that he’s a prominent presence in numerous episodes.

New Lions Club officers

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District Governor Ryan Monroe and the newly elected Clarendon Lions Club members, President David Dockery, First Vice President Richard Green, Second Vice President Mary Green, Third Vice President Corey Blaise, Secretary/Treasurer Roger Estlack, Lion Tamer Scarlet Estlack, Tail Twister Machiel Covey, Membership Chair Landon “El Jefe” Lambert, Service Chair Anndria Newhouse, Communications & 5K Chair Ashlee Estlack, and Song Leader Larry Capranica.

Editorial: Downtown trees made the news once before

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Roger Estlack, Publisher
& Editor

Progress often does not come without a twinge of pain as the old gives way to the new.

Such was the case in May of 1919 in downtown Clarendon when a crew of men laid low “one of the distinguishing landmarks of the past” – the trees of Kearney Street. Big locust trees were on both sides of Kearney, all the way down the business section, but they were in the way of progress and were cleared out to make room for brick paving.

One of the oldest trees was located at the corner of the Farmers State Bank, now known as Herring Bank. There stood what some said was the first locust tree planted in New Clarendon. It was said to have been planted in about 1887. It had withstood “two or three” fires but was still “vigorous” until it was brought down by the axe.

“It is with genuine regret that most of our citizenship sees [the trees] cut down and dragged off, although it is generally recognized that this is a necessary step,” The Clarendon News wrote.

Those trees had apparently separated Clarendon from other towns on the railroad. They were beautiful landmarks and something of which our citizens were very proud.

A former resident wrote the News that “my heart strings tightened and my faculties winced under the shock of the realization that Clarendon had lost her once most valued and valuable asset – her Kearney street shade trees.”

And yet, city leaders realized that the loss of the trees was necessary for progress to take place and for dirt streets to be turned to brick.

The News also said with cutting away the trees, “the worn and unkempt condition of most store fronts will be so exposed to the gaze and ridicule of the city that it will lead to a great movement of store front modernizing which is essential to the appearance of our town. We want to say it again – 1919 means progress in every line for Clarendon.”

Likewise, 2023 will be a year of progress.

The Downtown Revitalization Project is not without some inconvenience, and this week there have been some misgivings about the loss of the trees at Herring Bank. Most of us feel our “heart strings tightened” any time a tree is cut down in West Texas. But there are times when it is necessary. As much as we love trees, we can’t let them do damage to other structures or become a hazard for people.

The bank’s trees were in the city’s right-of-way, and they were lifting and breaking the existing sidewalks. The damage was causing a hazard for pedestrians, and leaving the trees in place would mean that the new sidewalks would also eventually be broken by the trees’ shallow roots. (Read more here.)

Just like in 1919, the end result will be worth the pain caused by the removal of the trees. The new sidewalks and lighting will be very attractive and make our downtown shine. And nothing prevents Herring Bank from planting new trees in the grassy area of their parking lot if that’s what they want to do.

Like all good projects, this one just needs to be given some time. The end result will be a huge improvement for our community.

Cub Reporter: Family vacation to New York, Boston

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The Cub Reporter and his family with the space shuttle Enterprise, which was the first shuttle in NASA’s fleet and was used to perform landing tests in the late 1970s.

Earlier this month, my family and I went on a vacation to New York to surprise my sister with tickets to “Hamilton” for her birthday.
When we first got there, we went and tried New York pizza and we walked down Broadway to see what it was like. Then we took a bus tour of many of the famous places in New York, like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building.

The next day we went and took a tour on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. This aircraft carrier has something very special on it – the space shuttle Enterprise, which was the test craft for the shuttle program. They also had a flight simulator that spun around, and we ended up doing it twice. Then they also had a simulator where you land the space shuttle for a score; and not to brag, but I set the high score. That evening we went and watched the Macy’s fireworks show over the East River, which was insane!

The next day my Dad and I spent the morning at the American Museum of Natural History, where we saw a bunch of fossils that are from Clarendon, which was really cool to see.

That evening we went and watched “Hamilton” for my sister’s birthday and got to eat at a fancy Italian restaurant for dinner.

The next day we took a train to Boston where we would spend the rest of our trip at the International Lions Club Convention. In Boston, we went to the USS Constitution, which is the oldest active vessel in the navy. Then the next day I went on a tour of MIT, which was really cool. It’s a very nice campus and the people there were very nice. Later that day we went and visited Paul Revere’s house and the Old North Church.

The next day was our last day in Boston, we spent the morning at the Lions Club International Parade which was fun to get to experience. That afternoon we went to the Boston Tea Party Museum and got to go through the Boston tea party experience. Then afterwards we went and threw tea in the harbor for fun while we were there.

In all, it was a very fun trip full of lots of different experiences. I enjoyed it and I hope we can keep going on awesome trips like this.

Howardwick Hoedown to be held July 22

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Howardwick residents and guests are in for a good time when the community hosts its fifth annual Hoedown Saturday, July 22, at McMorries Memorial Park.

Fun, music, games, and prizes will help celebrate the community and raise more money for street repairs, according to City Secretary and Hoedown organizer Sandy Childress.

Plenty of food will be available throughout the day, starting at 11 a.m., and dancing and music will continue throughout the day. Lunch will be available for $10 per person – pulled pork sandwiches, chips, drink, and dessert.

A John Deere Z330M 54” 23HP lawnmower is the big raffle prize for the day and you don’t have to be present to win, but a live on-site raffle with more than $1,000 in prizes will also be going on all day for those present with winners every hour.

The second annual Corn Hole Tournament hosted by the Clarendon Lions Club is accepting sign-ups and is offering cash prizes as well as the chance to win a custom corn hole set. The first place team wins $400, second place is $300, and third place is $100. All teams have a chance at the corn hole set. Entry is $50 per person for a two-person corn hole team. Call City Hall at 806-874-2222 for more information.

Other competitions include the second annual putting contest with more than $1,000 in prizes. Proceeds from the putting green contest benefit TX Helping Hand, which helps people with utility bills.

A slip-n-slide will be available for kids, and 14 vendor booths are currently signed up to be at the event.

Those attending the Hoedown should plan to bring their own seating and their own umbrellas or other shading if they desire. The weather forecast is calling for cooler temperatures and possible clouds for Saturday.

The official Hoedown activities wind down at 4 p.m., but an unaffiliated Karaoke After Party will be held in the park following the celebration.

For more information, call City Hall at 806-874-2222.

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