Large crowd gathers to celebrate Fourth of July

Beautiful weather greeted a patriotic crowd gathered on the Courthouse Square last Saturday, July 2, for the 139th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration.

The Kids’ Parade started the day with the youngsters peddling or driving from Third Street down Sully Street in front of the Courthouse. In the 0-4 age group, Chloe Newton was first, Gunner Williams was second, and Leylin Henderson third. Haylin Bivens won the 5-8 age group with Makenna Williams second and Justus McAnear third. The 9 and up age group was won by Kennadie & Tandie Cummins, Henry Bivens second. The Herring Bank Parade delighted kids of all ages as floats, riding units, emergency vehicles, and other entries wound their way from the baseball fields through downtown. Saints’ Roost Museum took Grand Champion and best float, Shawn Barker won best car or truck, No Gutter Ranch of Canadian won best tractor or farm equipment, Doyle Littlefield family won best riding unit, and best “other” entry went to the Bronco boys’ basketball team.

The annual Craft Fair drew a big crowd to the courthouse square with an impressive number of vendors; and the Chamber of Commerce recognized Johnny Leathers age 95 as the Oldest Settler.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served 749 plates of barbecue, slightly down from the 771 plates served last 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.

Several organizations held fundraisers during the celebration. Sandy Thornberry won the John Deere riding lawn mower given by the Junior Livestock Association in support of the Donley County Activity Center. The winners of the Courthouse Lighting Committee Penny Raffle were Kate Word and Lori Baggett, $100.00 each and Brenda hill and Nathan Zongker, $50 each.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association hosted a Junior Ranch Rodeo on July 4 and an open Ranch Rodeo on July 1 and 2. Results of those events are listed in a separate article in this week’s edition.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race was held Saturday afternoon. There were altogether 189 participants, which was down from the 242 terrapin handlers last year. The winners were Grant Wilhelm for the 0-4 division, Josie Murillo for the 5-8 division, Kristi Gage for the 9-14 division, and Korey Conkin for the adult division. Each child division winner received $50. The adult division brought in $195, which was divided in half between the winner and the Donley County Child Welfare board.