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Archives for July 2023
TxDot seeks public input on $100B plan
As the Texas population continues to boom, TxDOT is drafting a record-breaking 10-year transportation plan and now the public is invited to weigh in on the projects proposed in their communities.
To help guide transportation projects over the next decade, TxDOT is seeking public input on the draft 2024 Unified Transportation Program (UTP), the state’s 10-year transportation plan. The draft 2024 UTP totals $100 billion, which is $15 billion more than the 2023 plan. The increase primarily comes from growth in revenues from Proposition 1 (passed in the 2015 legislative session) generated by oil and gas severance fees dedicated to highway improvements.
“The UTP is TxDOT’s road map to developing projects across the state,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “It’s important to work with our transportation partners and hear from the public to guide transportation improvements that address congestion and enhance safety.”
Projects included in the UTP will improve safety, address congestion and connectivity, and preserve roadways for Texas drivers. The UTP also addresses public transportation, maritime, aviation, rail, freight and international trade, and bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.
The public is invited to learn about the UTP and participate in a virtual public meeting on July 6 at 2 p.m. (CST) and a virtual public hearing on July 25 at 2 p.m. The public may join the meeting and hearing by phone or online via TxDOT Public Involvement.
The draft 2024 UTP public comment period begins Friday, July 7, 2023, and ends Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at 4 p.m. (CDT). There are multiple ways to comment throughout the process, and they can all be found on the Public Involvement section of TxDOT.gov, along with recordings and presentations from each meeting and hearing. Comment forms are also available in English, Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese.
The UTP is updated annually.
Public comments and feedback are a very important part of developing the plan. The UTP is approve in August and published on TxDOT.gov.
Moving along
County okays new bridge on FM 1260
The Donley County Commissioners’ Court met in regular session Monday with a full agenda to consider.
The court approved a resolution for a TxDOT financed project to replace the FM 1260 bridge of the Salt Fork Red River.
A request from GreenLight Gas for an easement on CR W and CR 27 was approved.
A budget amendment was approved to allow the Extension Service to purchase a trailer for hauling small animals.
Commissioners appointed a Salary Grievance Committee, and the court also authorized the county judge to retain a civil law firm if the need arises.
A change order to install another door in the county barn at Hedley was approved.
No bids were received to move the houses on Third and Jefferson streets where the county recently purchased property.
The court approved a motion to authorize payment of $41,775 to Guardian Security for security cameras and authorize movement of money from the courthouse security fund to the courthouse checking account.
A policy prohibiting vaping on county premises was also considered and adopted.
Joe Frank Robinson, Jr.
Joe Frank Robinson, Jr., 70, died on July 6, 2023, in Junction, Texas, where he had been a resident for several years. A service will be held at a later date, arrangements are under the direction of Kerrville Funeral Home in Kerrville, Texas.
Joe was born in Lubbock, Texas on May 5, 1953, to Joe and Vemelle Robinson. While playing in the back yard in Tahoka when he was only three years old, his clothes caught fire and he received third degree bums on both legs. After several skin grafts and months in recovery, he regained use of his legs. His family moved to Clarendon in 1959 and Joe attended schools there.
Joe was a veteran, having served two years in the U.S. Anny. He worked most of his life in sales.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother of forty-five years, Ruth Robinson, and his brother, Jim Robinson. He is survived by his sister, Janny Longan (Ed) and his brother, Jack Robinson (Susan); his stepsister, Libby Talley (Billy); and step-brother, Bill Word, and many nieces and nephews.
Allen M. Turner
Allen M. Turner, 45, of Clarendon, Texas died Sunday, July 1, 2023, in Beaumont.
Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Jeff Riles, officiating.
Viewing will be held Monday morning at the funeral home.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Allen was born April 4, 1978, in Long Beach, California. He had been a resident of Clarendon most of his life. He enjoyed playing dominoes, dancing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and being around his momma.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ruth Turner; his grandparents, George and Jimmy Ruth Turner; an uncle, George Turner, Jr.; and his god brother, Billy Gardner.
Survivors include his god mother, Doris Gardner of Clarendon; his sisters, Angelia and Richard Miller of Plainview, Texas and Jacqueline and Dean Jackson of Dallas, Texas; his brother, Stanley Gardner and Corliss Fairley of Dallas, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Clarendon hosts 2023 Saints’ Roost Celebration
Clarendon’s 146th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration was a big success with several new events this year and weather that was almost picture perfect on Saturday, July 2, at the Donley County Courthouse.
After triple digit heat earlier in the week, temperatures began dropping Friday, and the area was blessed with a good rain Friday afternoon and evening with some precipitation falling even early Saturday morning.
Celebration organizers were undeterred, forging ahead with setting up in wet conditions but were rewarded when the sun came out.
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce introduced two major new events this year in addition to Herring Bank Parade and the Liberty Electric Kids Parade the Chamber has organized for many years. The Diversified Waste Lawnmower Race was held following lunch, and the Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon Exhibition was also added to the celebration. The Chamber also had fun games set up at its booth on the square. The results of the Chamber events are listed in a separate article here.
The Al Morrah Shrine Club served about 500 plates of barbecue this 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.
The Donley County Junior Livestock Association raffled off a gun, and Rhett Renner won it.
The Clarendon Lions Club’s Cow Patty Bingo was won by Pam Phillips, Katy Tubbs, Terri Floyd, and Linda Crump.
Henson’s annual Turtle Race was also held Saturday afternoon in its traditional location at Third and Kearney. A total of 169 entries competed in four different age divisions. Winning turtle jockeys this year were: age 0-4, Mac Wann; age 5-8, Cutter Ashbrook; age 9-16, Jace Conway; and 17 and up, Riley Shadle.
The annual Depression Lunch was held Friday at the Crossties Ministry Center.
The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association hosted its ranch rodeos on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and those results are also listed in a separate article here.
Chamber hosts new events during 2023 celebration
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce expanded this year’s Saints’ Roost Celebration, adding new events while still organizing the traditional parades.
Diversified Waste sponsored a Lawnmower Barrel Race, and a Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon Exhibition showcased outstanding cooks and quilters.
The theme for both parades was “Adventure Awaits” with entries focused on modes of travel, destinations, and types of vacations.
The Liberty Electric Kids Parade started things off Saturday morning with a more traditional “parade” of kids instead of a mass of kids to give the judges a better view of the entrants in three age categories plus a motorized division.
Winners were as follows: Motorized – first place Ashlynn White and Paisley Jones, second place Daegan Hall, and third place Oakleigh Douglass; Ages 0-3 – first place and Best of Show Dawson Hall, second place Madi Herndon, and third place Astrid Jaramillo; Ages 4-8: first place Zaylee and Asher Jaramillo, second place Kendall Danner, and third place Shaylee Hall; and Ages 9 and Up: first place Chloe Newton, second place Journee Morris, and third place Jay Scott.
In the Herring Bank Parade, the Lady Bronco Basketball Team won the first place Float, Summer Towing had the best car/truck entry, best Animal entry was the Behind the Chutes Cowboy Church, and the Tri-State Spyder Riders had the best other entry.
In the Diversified Waste Lawnmower Barrel Race, contestants drove a riding mower through an obstacle course, which included using a grabber to place a tennis ball on a traffic cone in multiple locations. Michael DeWeese was the champion with a time of 1:05, and second place was Nancy Kidd with a time of 1:14.
The Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon Exhibition had 56 entries among all the categories. Winners were:
Jellies: Class 10 Plum – first Place Butch Brown; Class 13 Other – first Place Dottie Newkirk, second Place Katie Dowdy, third Place Butch Brown; Class 2 BlackBerry – first Place Abby Lenz; and Class 9 Peach – first Place Charlene Brown. Best Overall Jelly was shown by Dottie Newkirk.
Jams: Class 1 Blackberry – first Place Katie Dowdy; Class 3 Cherry – first Place Amanda Askew; Class 5 Peach – first Place Abby Lenz; Class 7 Strawberry – first Place Charlene Brown; and Class 9 Other – first Place Frances Tillery, second Place Karen Shrader. The Best Overall Jam belonged to Abby Lenz.
Baked Goods: Class 1 Cakes – first Place Suzanna Hallmark, second Place Amanda Robertson, and third Place Amanda Robertson; Class 10 Sweet Bread – first Place Charlene Brown, second Place Suzanna Hallmark, third place Karen Shrader; Class 13 Candy – first place Martha Smith; Class 2 No Bake Pie – first place Amanda Robertson; Class 3 Baked Pie – first Place Amanda Robertson, second Place Amanda Robertson, third Place Shonda Martin; Class 4 Cookie – first Place Paula Goodpasture, second Place Martha Smith; Class 5 Brownie – first Place Karen Shrader; and Class 8 Pudding/Trifle – first Place Amanda Robertson. The Best Overall Bread was shown by Charlene Brown; and the Best Overall Baked Good was shown by Amanda Robertson.
Quilts: Class 10 Mixed Technique – first Dottie Newkirk, second Frances Tillery, and third Angela Blais; Class 13 Wall Hanging – first and second Frances Tillery, and third Dottie Newkirk; Class 14 Other – first Frances Tillery, second Kassie Askew, and third Sharlene Bordonaro; Class 1 Antique – first place and Best Overall Handmade Frances Tillery; Class 2 Baby Quilt – first Abby Lenz; Class 4 Embroidered Quilt – first Frances Tillery; Class 5 Quilt From Kit – first Amanda Askew; Class 8 Machine Quilted from Applique – first Frances Tillery; Class 9 Machine Pieced / Machine Quilted – first and Best Overall Machine Quilted Frances Tillery, second Jamie Simmons Mehlhaff, and third Dottie Newkirk.
Chamber officials appreciate everyone who participated in these events and are already discussing ways to improve those activities next year.
CHS Class of 2003 Reunites
Champion turtles
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