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Archives for March 2024

Big activities ahead for Clarendon Saturday

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The Clarendon College Invitational Judging Contest will attract a huge crowd and likely double the population of the town on Saturday as the biggest of three events that day.

As of Tuesday, more than 2,460 contestants were registered for the judging contest. The number of registrations doesn’t include the hundreds of parents and coaches who accompany the students to the contest. According to the 2020 US Census, Clarendon has a population of less than 2,000 people.

Past contests have had huge impacts on the local economy. Restaurants are typically packed for the event, and this year will hopefully be equally successful.

Also, the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and Donley County EMS will hold their annual pancake breakfast and hamburger lunch at the Fire Hall again Saturday morning beginning at 7 a.m. with lunch starting at 11 a.m.

Also at 11 a.m. Saturday, the Pony Parents will hold their annual Community Egg Hunt on the Courthouse lawn. Hundreds of kids will be gathering up thousands of eggs at that event.

Hedley receives new fire truck

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The Hedley Volunteer Fire Department received a new fire truck from the Texas Forest Service last week. Fire Chief Neil Koetting said the department started applying for the truck about seven years ago, but there have been several delays, the biggest of which was the pandemic. The new truck will serve double duty as the department’s Emergency Response Vehicle, carrying the Jaws of Life and other equipment, and as a quick attack truck that can be operated by just one firefighter. The forest service covered most of the cost of about $200,000 for the vehicle. Shown here are firemen Matt Glover, Neil Koetting, Clayton Beagle, Ernie Copelin, and Larry Ely. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

TxDOT to begin overlay project in Clarendon

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A $6.4 million overlay project is set to begin on US 287 in Clarendon on April 1.

The project will include all lanes in the city as well as the southbound lanes from Clarendon to the Armstrong County line. The contractor for the project is J Lee Milligan.

TxDOT spokesperson Ginger Wilson said the work in Clarendon will consist of grinding off the top surface of the asphalt and putting down a new finish.

Drivers can expect daily lane closures during the project and are reminded to use caution when traveling through the work zone. This includes reducing your speed, obeying all posted warnings, and avoiding all distractions. Fines double in work zones when workers are present.

Work in the town section is expected to take six weeks to complete, weather pending.

For more information, contact Ginger.Wilson@txdot.gov or (940) 937-7288.

County to hold town halls in Hedley and H’wick

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Donley County has announced dates for town halls in Hedley and Howardwick to discuss the proposed sales tax-funded county assistance districts in those cities.

County Judge John Howard reports that the Howardwick meeting will be held Tuesday, April 16, at 5 p.m., and the Hedley meeting will be on Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m. The meetings will be held in the City Hall of each respective community.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn and Judge Howard will both be present to answer questions regarding the May 4 election to create three County Assistance Districts: District 1 – City of Howardwick, District 2 – City of Hedley, and District 3 – all of unincorporated Donley County outside of Howardwick, Hedley and Clarendon.

The districts, if created by election, will authorize a sales tax of 1.0 percent in Howardwick and Hedley and 2.0 percent in unincorporated Donley County.

Howard says the sales tax created will be used for support of law enforcement and allow the county to keep property taxes lower.

All residents are invited to attend either of these meetings.

“It is our hope that all voters will be informed on the issue when casting their ballots,” Howard said.

New nurse practitioner joins Clarendon clinic

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Sarah Ybarra, FNP-C, (left) joined Dr. Dustin Pratt and nurse practitioners Peter Jones and Kathryn Broussard at Clarendon Family Medicine this week. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

A new Family Nurse Practitioner at Clarendon Family Medicine is no stranger to the community and is looking forward to serving the people here.

Sarah Ybarra, FNP-C, has been shadowing clinic personnel for a couple of weeks and began seeing patients Monday.

Ybarra is originally from Amarillo, but she spent a lot of time growing up with her relatives in the Holland family in Donley County. The small-town life appealed to her, and she and her husband J.J. moved to Groom about nine years ago to raise their children – Kaylynn, Tristen, Rose, and Hope – in a rural setting. J.J. worked on wind turbines and has since taken a job with the City of Groom, and Ybarra hoped to someday work for the clinic in Clarendon.

“My husband would come here for care, and I always thought if there was an opening, I would apply,” Ybarra said. “When I finally saw a job posting, I couldn’t believe it. I applied, and they called me in.”

Ybarra started her career in nursing 19 years ago, following a desire to help people after her mother – an X-ray technician – took her to work one day as a middle schooler.

“I just loved the environment of her job, and I liked taking care of people,” she said.

She started in nursing with a degree from Amarillo College and then furthered her education at West Texas A&M University and also served two years in a pediatric clinic, which she really enjoyed.

“I think that’s something I can add here in Clarendon,” she said. “I hope my willingness and ability to work with newborns and up will bring in more patients. I also think people already come here from Groom, and more might come now.”

Ybarra says the Golden Rule guides her philosophy of medicine.

“I want to take care of people the way I’d want my kids, parents, or grandparents to be cared for,” she said.

She finds the medical field to be rewarding in terms of helping people, and she also says everyone at the clinic has been very welcoming. She’s enjoying being in the Clarendon community and is excited about working at the clinic here.

“Everyone here has been super nice. Dr. [Justin] Pratt keeps our happiness as employees in mind. I think he’s doing a great job.”

She is now seeing patients full time, and appointments can be made by calling 806-874-3531.

Lady Broncos shut out Gruver

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By Sandy Anderberg

The Clarendon Lady Broncos beat Gruver before their opponents knew what was happening.

After Clarendon’s Elyza Rodriguez makes a great bunt that allowed Kennadie Cummins to get the first score of the game and then able to cross the plate on a wild pitch, Gracie Wilkins slammed a line drive to right field for an in the park homerun that also scored Tandie Cummins to go four up in the opening inning. Wilkins also recorded one sing, four RIBs, and three runs in the win.

The Lady Broncos went on to shut out the Lady Hounds at 18-0 in just two innings.

K. Cummins was on the mound for the win and allowed no hits or runs and struck out seven at the plate. Cummins went the distance and struck out the first three at bat in the opening inning and went three up three down in the second with help from Smith at first to continue her no-hitter.

The ladies took every opportunity to make good contact with the ball at the plate and posted 11 hits on the day.

Elliot Frausto had a good day hitting as she posted three doubles, two RBIs, and two runs.

Shelby Christopher was red hot as well and knocked down one double, one triple, two RBIs, and two runs, while Shelbi Coles had a single, two RBIs, one run, and one stolen base.

T. Cummins slammed a double and a triple with two RBIs and three runs. Cummins’ had a big hit in the second when she doubled on a line drive to left field scoring Rodriguez, Bruce, and K. Cummins. Rodriguez had one single, two RBIs, one run, and one stolen base in the win.

Bayleigh Bruce and Smith added one run and one RBI, and K. Cummins posted three runs.

The Lady Broncos will take on Booker at home on Friday, March 22, at 4:00 p.m. and travel to Fritch on March 26.

Jackson says District 13 to receive more than $200M in federal funds

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Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) said last week that more than $200 million is designated for the 13th Congressional District in the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding package signed into law last week by President Joe Biden.

US Rep. Ronny Jackson

Jackson’s efforts led to the appropriation for the district, including key funding for nuclear modernization of the Pantex Plant, advancement of district-specific university programs, support for law enforcement, water resource improvements for the district, and more.

“I take extreme pride in securing more than $200 million for Texas’ Thirteenth Congressional District, benefiting our families, farmers, producers, local businesses, rural communities, and national security,” Jackson said. “Modernization of the Pantex Plant has been one of my top priorities in Congress and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Successfully securing over $184 million for major construction at the site is a huge accomplishment and will be key in our efforts to update such a key national security facility.

“This government funding package that was signed into law last week also departs from the wasteful and abhorrent spending levels seen in the Biden and Nancy Pelosi-era and instead prioritizes fiscal responsibility,” Jackson said.
“By drastically cutting unnecessary government spending, House Republicans are redirecting resources to where they have the most significant impact, including in places like Amarillo, Wichita Falls, and Runaway Bay. This funding will enhance our communities, bolster our infrastructure, enrich local education, fortify military operations, sustain our agriculture sector, and allocate funds for veteran healthcare.”

Jackson secured the following projects across District 13, including:

  • $101.3 million for HE Science & Engineering Facility at Pantex;
  • $83 million for HE Synthesis, Formulation, and Production facility at Pantex;
  • $2.1 million for West Texas A&M’s Feedlot Educational Training Facility;
  • $1.1 million for Texas Tech’s Infant Risk Center in Pampa;
  • $1.2 million for Enhancement of STEM Capacity at Midwestern State University;
  • $1.2 million for Texas Tech Veterinary School STEM Research Capacity;
  • $242,000 for the Randall County Sheriff’s Office to get a Rapid DNA System;
  • $1 million for the City of Amarillo to establish a real-time regional crime center;
  • $1.75 million for critical repair to Runaway Bay’s Wastewater Infrastructure;
  • $476,000 for Red River Authority Pump Station and Tank Renovations in Hall and Motley Counties;
  • $1 million for Red River Authority Water Systems Improvement in Vernon;
  • $3.8 million for Amarillo International Airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Training program;
  • $2 million to initiate critical infrastructure for US 287 in order to support the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate and enhance regional trade;
  • $2 million for the construction of an access road for public access to Cross Bar Ranch;
  • and $2.2 million for the widening and upgrade of State Loop 335.

City signs deal with Sheriff; Proclaims April for Child Abuse Awareness

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The Clarendon City Council ratified a new contract with the Donley County Sheriff’s Office during its regular meeting last Thursday, March 14.

The vote closes out about 11 months of haggling between the city and county, leaves in place the current fiscal year’s contract, and implements a new five-year deal between the two entities.

Under the terms of the agreement, which was also approved by county commissioners last Monday, the city will pay the county $170,000 for law enforcement services in fiscal year 2025, which starts October 1.

The cost will then go up 2.0 percent each year through fiscal year 2029.

Mayor Pro-Tem Larry Jeffers with Nita Williamson of CASA of the High Plains at last week’s city meeting. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Mayor Pro-tem Larry Jeffers said he was glad the city “at least got some negotiation” and noted that at one point the county wanted a contract for $180,000.

Alderman Tommy Hill said he still wants to see the county do more on its support of the Burton Memorial Library and asked for that matter to be on a future city agenda.

In other city business, Mayor Pro-tem Jeffers issued a proclamation naming April as Child Abuse Awareness Month in Clarendon. CASA of the High Plains representative Nita Williamson accepted the proclamation on CASA’s behalf and said that in 2023 there were 17 cases of child abuse or neglect reported in Donley County.

Street closures in front of City Hall were approved for the Community Egg Hut on March 23 and the Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K on April 27.

A request by Christ’s Kids Outreach Ministries for $1,000 was also approved.

The council discussed the possibly budget savings of closing the municipal court and contracting with the Justice of the Peace for those services.

It was noted that most of the court’s budget is actually attorney’s fees paid by the city and not the cost of employing the judge or running the court. No action was taken.

An amendment was approved to the city employee handbook governing per diem expenses, and also a waiver was granted by the city council to WTG Fuels, LLC, regarding certain restrictions in an industrial zone.

Madeline Bates

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Madeline Bates, 79, of Howardwick died on Friday, March 15, 2024.

Madeline Bates

Madeline was born November 18, 1944, in Slaton, Texas to Martin and Dolores Grabber Schuette. Growing up in Amarillo, Madeline had attended schools there and was a proud graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in 1962. She married Kenneth Bates on December 4, 1964, in Amarillo.

Prior to her retirement, Madeline had worked in Bushland as a bus driver, had a bookkeeping business, was the office manager of Crown Travel, as well as spending many years with Atmos as a call center quality control specialist. She loved to read and work crossword puzzles, enjoyed gardening and the outdoors. She and Ken moved from Amarillo in 2012 and she loved being at Greenbelt Lake. Madeline loved her dog, Roxie, however, her greatest joy of all were the friends she loved and her grandkids that she loved dearly. Madeline was a Catholic.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Dolores Schuette; and by a son, Jared Bates in December of 1988.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Bates of Howardwick; a son, Eric Bates of Lubbock; a daughter Melanie Hinson and husband Daniel of Groom; a brother Bill Schuette and his wife Carolyn of New Ulm, Texas; three grandchildren, Tucker, Nate, and Landree Hinson; and by her and Ken’s best friends, Dick Sims of Hereford and Don McAvoy of Howardwick.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Shriner Children’s Hospital or to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Building Fund in Clarendon.

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