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Archives for September 2024

Biologists to survey deer population

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Biologists will soon begin conducting white-tailed deer spotlight surveys on rural roads in northern Donley County.

A western route will follow County Road 9 to County Road I, and the eastern survey route will be from County Road 20 to County Road O to County Road 23 to County Road P to County Road 24.

These routes stay on public roads and are run after dark and always in a state truck. Local law enforcement and game wardens are always notified for the safety of the surveyors and the surrounding public. Data gathered from these surveys allows the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to set bag limits and season dates for white-tailed deer as well as monitor trends in the population.

All surveys should be completed by the end of October.

Editorial: Take time to fill out US 287 survey

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Communities along US 287 have just a few days left to fill out a state survey about possibly upgrading the highway to interstate standards. The deadline for the survey has been extended to September 27, and the link is at the bottom of this column. If you care about the long-term future of Clarendon and other small towns, you should definitely take five minutes and let the state know your thoughts.

Roger Estlack, Publisher
& Editor

Under consideration is a 671-mile stretch of US 287 running from Amarillo to Port Arthur. According to TxDOT, the comprehensive study will evaluate transportation needs and identify potential multimodal solutions to help improve safety and connectivity. The agency wants “to hear from communities, businesses, and the broader public what this corridor should look like and how it can connect communities and foster economic opportunities for Texans for years to come.”

Transportation access is critical to a community’s survival. Clarendon understood that in 1887. When the town learned that the Ft. Worth & Denver Railroad would not being coming through the community’s original location near present-day Greenbelt Lake, the entire town picked up and moved to be on the railroad. Many towns that were missed by the railroad simply disappeared or stagnated.

In the 20th century, what became known as US 287 also was important to the growth and success of Clarendon, providing a steady stream of revenue through the city for decades. Today, about 16,000 vehicles a day travel through town; and while many do not stop, those that do are vital for restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, and other businesses. From an economic development perspective, traffic count is one of the factors that certain businesses look at when considering locating in a community. The higher your traffic count, the more businesses you can attract.

The state is looking at the big picture of US 287. It must consider what is best overall for the state economy and the travelling public. US 287 is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Texas. Upgrading the highway to interstate standards with controlled access would increase the speed and efficiency of goods and people traveling on that road. However, it is safe to say that there is no good way to upgrade US 287 to an interstate through Clarendon – or Memphis or Hedley or Claude or Childress or a host of other small towns. That almost certainly means some form of bypass would be required.

We know what bypasses do to small towns. You can look at Groom and McLean and see what I-40 did for them when it supplanted old Route 66 and went around those little towns. Shamrock seems to have fared better, but there are still a lot of empty buildings that line the old highway.

South of here, US 287 already skips around places like Electra and Iowa Park. In Vernon, US 287 is practically already an interstate; you don’t even have to hit your brakes – just go 75 to 80 mph all the way through town.
For many years, Clarendon has been blessed by three things that keep our town economically stable – Clarendon College, Lake Greenbelt, and US 287. While the college is holding its own, the lake is struggling with the effects of prolonged drought. That makes it more important to hold on to and try to attract more revenue from US 287.

The state’s survey is just eight short questions. Most of it deals with when, how, and why you use US 287 and what concerns you have about the current highway as it is. The eighth and final question is open-ended and allows you to say whatever you want about the highway. The survey also allows you to “place a comment on the study map.” There you can drop a pin on a specific location and make your comment. If you think a place is a safety concern, drop a pin there and make your comment. You can also drop a pin in Clarendon and give your thoughts about the future.

Looking at the comments on the map this week is a little alarming. It appears that someone – or perhaps a bot – is making repeated comments in multiple locations, saying things like, “Please bypass Clarendon,” “Please bypass Memphis,” etc. Other comments are more thoughtful and unique, but many still are either open to or actively encourage bypassing our community. Traffic safety is usually the reason given for that stance.
Everyone’s opinion is valid, and everyone should go make their thoughts known. One thing that should be kept in mind, however, is the significant investment that has been made by existing businesses to locate in Clarendon and similar communities because of the highway. Those investments mean jobs and tax revenue for our towns. Moving the highway would put those businesses at risk and also make it harder to attract new businesses.

Keep in mind that this survey is just the first step in the long-term development of US 287. If the state decided tomorrow that it was going to bypass Clarendon, it would be many years – possibly decades – before it happens. Highway design, environmental impact studies, and right-of-way acquisition takes a lot of time, and then there’s got to be money appropriated. Think about how long we have been hearing about extending I-27 north of Amarillo and south of Lubbock. It’s been 30 years or more, and it still hasn’t happened yet. But it will someday.

Right now, you have a chance to speak, so don’t let the moment pass you by. Take five minutes and go fill out the survey. Here’s the link: https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/us287-corridor-interstate-feasibility-study.html.

Randal “Randy” Lynn Crump

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Randal “Randy” Lynn Crump, 56,  of Clarendon, TX passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2024 in Texola, OK.
Randal “Randy” Lynn Crump

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:30 PM Monday, September 9, 2024, at the Clarendon College Matlock Arena with Joe Neal Shadle, Josey Shadle, Ike Hanes, and Brad Shadle officiating. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Randal “Randy” Lynn Crump was born on April 12, 1968 to Janie Ivey Gibson and Morris Crump in Memphis, Tx. He graduated from Clarendon High School and went on to attend Clarendon College.
He married the love of his life, Buckie, on June 1, 2014 in Clarendon. They recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary. Randy and Buckie dated in high school, but were reconnected by fate many years later.
Randy worked in Hereford, Tx for Johnny Trotter as the cowboy boss before he moved to Clarendon to start his career at TXDOT. Randy retired from TXDOT in November of 2023 and began working at Bird Electric as a heavy equipment operator and was recently promoted to a safety professional.
Team roping was Randy’s life. He would rope with anyone, anywhere, any time and any age. He was a winner and has many buckles and saddles to show for it, but would give them away in a heartbeat. He enjoyed ranch rodeos, fishing and watching any kind of sport he could get on TV.
In addition to all of his rodeo activities, he loved spending time with his family, especially his grandkids. He was a protector, loving, the best hug giver, a man with the biggest heart, and he loved to tell jokes and stories.
Those left to cherish his memories and honor him are his wife, Buckie Crump; his 6 pack of children, Carissa Crump; Dustin Crump and wife, Jordan; Jacee Crump; Cody Crump and Charlie; Nash Baker and wife, Larissa; Cameron Baker and fiance, Ryder; his mother, Janie Ivey Gibson; his father, Morris Crump and wife, Linda; his brother, Ray Crump and wife, Mike; and his sister, Laura Bailey and husband, Jason.
He greatly cherished his soon to be, 8 grandchildren. Kitana, Vanessa, Wyatt, Kennedy, Eidynn, Tobias, Mercy, and new baby Crump.
He will be greatly missed and remembered by his numerous nephews and nieces, Mike Crump and wife, Julie; Chris Crump and fiance, Rebecca; Avery Bailey, and Ethan Bailey; cousins, friends and his large rodeo family.
The family request memorials be sent to the Dalton O’Gorman Scholarship Fund.

 

Bronco Buddies

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Landree Martinez enjoys a slice of watermelon with her adopted Lady Bronco, Mary Jo Dushay, last Thursday evening at Bronco Stadium. The Adopt-A-Bronco program pairs young students with high school athletes and encourages the older kids to serve as mentors.
Enterprise Photo / Ashlee Estlack

Sweetheart finalists

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Boss Lion Richard Green (right) stands with the finalists in the Clarendon Lions Club Sweetheart application process Tuesday afternoon. Clarendon High School seniors Lauren Ceniceros, Shelbi Coles, and Maloree Wann were interviewed by the club, and the three discussed community service projects and potential projects as part of the process.
Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Broncos drop season opener to Panhandle

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By Sandy Anderberg

The Clarendon Broncos fought hard against a good Panhandle team last Friday night but were defeated 64-0.

Game stats were not available by press time. The Broncos have been practicing hard under their second year under Coach Aaron Wampler at the helm and knew their pre-District schedule would be tough. They are rebuilding their team after losing several key players last year and are determined to be a contender in the District race.

The Broncos will travel to Sanford-Fritch Friday night, September 6, to take on the Eagles at 7:00.

Mason Sims tries to escape the Panhandle defense last week.
Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

One death in Monday accident

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A Colorado man lost his life in a single vehicle accident near Ashtola Monday afternoon.

According to DPS Sergeant Cindy Barkley, the accident occurred about 4:10 p.m. on US 287, about seven miles northwest of Clarendon.

Samuel Houston, 30, of Basalt, Colo., was driving a 2011 Lincoln MKX SUV south on US 287 when, for an unknown reason, he lost control of the SUV.

The DPS reports said the vehicle traveled off the right edge of the roadway, entered the ditch, struck a road sign, traveled through a barbed wire fence, and rolled over at least two times.

Houston was not wearing a seat belt and, as a result, was ejected during the crash. He was later pronounced deceased on scene by Donley County Justice of the Peace Pat White.

The crash remains under investigation by the Department of Public Safety.

City council approves $2.78M budget for FY 25

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The Clarendon City Council approved its budget for fiscal year 2025 when they met in called session August 22.

The new budget of $2.87 million is just slightly bigger than the current budget of $2.8 million, according to City Administrator Brian Barboza. The new budget will take effect October 1.

Grant projects totaling more than $1.1 million will be a major focus in the new budget, Barboza said. The new budget includes about $135,000 for the city’s grant matches.

A Downtown Revitalization Project in the 200 block of Kearney Street will is a $500,000 project funded mostly by the Texas Department of Agriculture with the city providing about $98,800. Work will include replacement of sidewalks and installing ramping and lighting similar to what was done in the 100 block last year.

The other big project is a new wastewater lift station at Sully and Martindale funded by a federal Community Development Block Grant. The $500,000 project will include a match of $25,000 from the city.

A Texas Department of Transportation RAMP grant will fund most of a $111,000 project to maintain the runway and continue to improve runway lights and other projects at the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport. The city will provide about $11,000 for that project.

Other takeaways from the new budget include a three percent pay increase for city employees, improvements to the city’s animal shelter, and street maintenance projects.

In other city business, the council selected AW Broadband as the city’s new internet provider. The six-month trail period will be implemented to test out a hybrid fiber and wireless service. The type of service will depend on the location of the service (i.e. City Hall, the recycling center, etc.).

Aldermen also approved an addition to the tenant lease agreements for hangers at the airport to address storage of household items in those facilities.

US 287 survey still open thru Sept. 16

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The public has until September 16 to complete a survey for the Texas Department of Transportation to provide feedback on the feasibility of upgrading US 287 to interstate highway standards.

The study is focused on almost the entire length of US 287 in Texas, a corridor that spans 671 miles from Port Arthur to Amarillo and plays a major role in moving people and goods through Texas.

The comprehensive study will evaluate transportation needs and identify potential multimodal solutions to help improve safety and connectivity. TxDOT is asking the public to participate in a survey to share their experiences traveling along the corridor, challenges for safety and mobility, and provide insights into priorities for US 287.

TxDOT corridor planning branch manager Lorena Echeverria de Misi said the study is an opportunity for TxDOT to hear from communities, businesses, and the broader public what this corridor should look like and how it can connect communities and foster economic opportunities for Texans for years to come.

Childress District TxDOT public information officer Ginger Wilson says she wants as many people as possible to complete the survey and give their thoughts on what changes to US 287 could mean.

“Question eight – the last question on the survey – is open ended, and we encourage people to respond there with their thoughts and opinions.”

Wilson also said that if the study ultimately determines that upgrading US 287 is feasible, it would likely be many years or even decades before any changes would be made to the highway.

Members of the public are also encouraged to leave comments about specific locations along the corridor on an interactive map. Both the survey and the interactive map will be available through Sept. 16 on https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/us287-corridor-interstate-feasibility-study.html.

Guided by groups representing northwest, central, and southeast segments of the corridor, this study focuses on safety, movement of people and goods, connectivity with other key corridors in Texas, and new technology, and other priorities.

For more information, contact Ginger Wilson at 940-937-7288.

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