Julie Shields

Twenty-two Clarendon High School graduating seniors were awarded a combined total of more than $290,134, according to announcements made during the school’s annual commencement last Friday night.

CHS Principal Larry Jeffers made the following announcements of awards that the school had been made aware of prior to Friday night. He said this year’s class has received more than any other in his time as principal.

Billy Ceniceros received the first of seven given in memory of Onita Thomas.  Onita was a woman who loved her family, Donley County, and had compassion for all.  The scholarship is for $200.

Alton Gaines received a Southwestern Oklahoma State Tuition Waiver valued at $25,632, a scholarship for room and board valued at $6,000, and the Bettye J Wallace Scholarship for $500 for a total of $36,632.

Aaron Gordon received an athletic scholarship to WTAMU that is valued at $18,000.

Nathan Gribble is receiving a $200 Onita Thomas scholarship and $1,000 from the Clarendon FFA Boosters. Nathan’s last scholarship is a new scholarship. The Jimmy and Pat McAnear scholarship is designed for a graduate who is continuing their education in an ag or ranching field.  It was started in memory of Jimmy McAnear who was engaged in ranching and farming for most of his life and in honor of his wife Pat.  Jimmy took great pride in his work and his family. The scholarship is for $500 totaling $1,700 in scholarships for Nathan.

Jesus Hernandez is the recipient of a $100 Onita Thomas scholarship and a Masonic Lodge scholarship for $220.  Jesus final scholarship is the Homer Estlack Memorial Scholarship for $250.  This scholarship is given annually to a graduating Clarendon High School student who plans to attend Clarendon College.  It is given by the Estlack family in memory of Homer Estlack, who was a graduate of both CHS and Clarendon College.  He was a member of the Clarendon School Board and was a dedicated supporter of the public school system and its academic and athletic programs.  That is a total of $570 in scholarships to Jesus Hernandez.

Morgan Hysinger has been awarded the Don and Sybil Harrington Scholarship for $6,000, a WTAMU Institutional Scholarship for $4,000, a WTAMU Tuition Scholarship for $500, and the Onita Thomas scholarship for $100.  Morgan’s final scholarship is the Thomas Lynch (Jack) Roach, IV Memorial Scholarship.  Jack was a 2000 graduate of CHS.  The scholarship is funded through an endowment from Jack’s grandmother, his parents Tom and Annie, his brother McCollough, and other family members and friends.  This scholarship is for $500 per semester for two years, or $2,000.  Morgan’s scholarships total $12,600.

Audrey Jones has received a $200 Onita Thomas scholarship, a $500 Clarendon Lions Club Sweetheart Scholarship, a WTAMU music scholarship for $4,000.  Audrey’s last scholarship is the Betsy Ellerbrook Memorial Scholarship for $500 which is given to a band member who has exhibited good conduct and leadership throughout their high school career and has demonstrated a willingness to be involved in extra band activities.  Audrey’s total for scholarships is $5,200

Leigh Ann Layton has been awarded a $4,000 WTAMU scholarship, the Tom Butler Memorial Bronc Riding scholarship for $250, the Childress Old Settler’s Rodeo Association scholarship for $200, and the Leaders of Tomorrow scholarship from Pizza Hut and Pronews 7 for $500.  That is a total of $4,950 awarded to Leigh Ann.

Abbie Massingill is the recipient of $6,000 from WTAMU and $250 from the Clarendon Firebelles for a total of $6,250

Devin Noble has received $6,000 from WTAMU.

Leticia Powers is the recipient of a $2,400 cheerleading scholarship from Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Taylee Rice has received a $100 Onita Thomas scholarship.

Niki Roberts has received $14,000 from WTAMU, a $200 Onita Thomas scholarship, the Annie Ozella Jones Memorial Student Scholarship for $500, and the Les Beaux Art Club scholarship for $300.  Each year the valedictorian and salutatorian of Clarendon High School are awarded scholarships to Clarendon College.  These scholarships are provided by the Knorpp Insurance Agency and Donley County State Bank and are given in the name of Walter B. Knorpp, Sr., who spent many years promoting quality education as a member and president of the Clarendon School District Board of Trustees and sat on the Clarendon College Board of Regents.  This scholarship includes all books, tuition, and fees.  Niki is the recipient of the Salutatorian Scholarship valued at $3,000.  Niki’s last scholarship is the Jacob Smith Memorial Scholarship for $500.   The Jacob Dean Smith Memorial Scholarship is given to a band member that must have exhibited good conduct and leadership throughout their high school career and demonstrated a willingness to be involved in extra band activities such as All Region or All State Band, Solo/Ensemble contests and being a band officer.  She has also received $1,000 from the Senator Grady and Andrine Hazlewood Scholarship.  Niki has received scholarships valued at $19,500.

Kalli Sawyer received a $500 Herring Bank scholarship to Clarendon College for $500.

Derrick Shelton is the recipient of the local ATPE scholarship for $300, a tuition waiver to SWOSU valued at $25,632, and a residence hall scholarship valued at $6,000.   He also received a $600 scholarship in memory of Karen Simmons, which is the result of contributions made by many of Karen’s friends, co-workers, and family.  The seniors that applied for this scholarship were all students of Karen’s either through the gifted and talented program or through UIL.  She was a mentor to all of them in so many ways.  Each student shared a memory of those early years and told how Mrs. Simmons had influenced their life.  The contributions she made to the children and schools of Clarendon were tremendous. Derrick has a total value of $32,532 in scholarships.

Bailey Starnes has received the Mary Hardin Baylor Leadership Scholarship for $3,000

Brett Strobel has received the Donley County Retired School Personnel scholarship for $300 and he has also received $6,000 from WTAMU for a total of $6,300

Amelia Taylor is the recipient of the Knorpp Valedictorian scholarship to Clarendon College valued at $3,000  The state of Texas also gives a one year tuition scholarship to the valedictorian that is valued at up to  $6,800.  She has received the Texas Tech Presidential Endowed Scholarship for $30,000, the Cielo Wind Power Earth Stewardship Scholarship for $1,000, the Texas Tech Honors College Freshman Recruiting Scholarship for $2,000, and the KOH Family Engineering Scholarship for $80,000.  That is a total of $122,800.

Cortnee Thornberry has received the Texas Tech Alumni Scholarship for $2,000, the Texas Tech Merit Scholarship for $8,000, and a Panhandle Plains High Education Authority scholarship for $200 for a total $10,200

Janae White is the recipient of the Cross Road Peanut for $500 and the for a total of $700

Jenci White has received a Wellington Community Service Club Scholarship for $200

Dustin Willyard has received a $500 FFA scholarship.

In addition to those awards, Clarendon College has awarded $11,650 to Donley County seniors.

Clarendon seniors getting CC scholarships included Jesus Hernandez, $1,000 Drama Scholarship and $500 Hurn-Cox Scholarship; Leigh Ann Layton, $1,250 Cheerleading – room and board, $1,000 Cheerleading – Books, $250 Clarendon College Foundation Scholarship, and $250 RC & Agnes Johnson Scholarship; and Nathan Gribble, $165 Explorer Scouts Scholarship and $135 RC & Agnes Johnson Scholarship.

Hedley High School seniors receiving scholarships from CC included Kelby Shields, $1,000 Women’s Basketball – Books, $300 Ex-Students Julia Dean Endowed Scholarship, $100 Claude and Eddith Spivey Memorial, and $100 Ross Harwood Beville Memorial Endowed Scholarship; Isaias Ramirez, $1250 Men’s Basketball – Room and board, $1000 Men’s Basketball – Books, and $100 Clarendon College Faculty scholarship; Dustin Watson, $1,250 Men’s Basketball – Room and Board, and $1,000 Men’s Basketball – Books; and Elizabeth Garcia, $100 Clarendon College Faculty Scholarship.

Information on other scholarships received by Hedley seniors was not available at press time.

Hedley celebrated its 55th Annual Cotton Festival this past weekend, and it was another successful year.  Downtown Hedley was crowded with locals and visitors.  Everyone enjoyed the many activities and events.

The Lioness Club started the festival with their Chili and Stew Supper on Friday night.  The ladies began cooking chili on Wednesday.  Helen Lambert spent her 90th Birthday preparing Chili along with Louise Stewart, Betty Morgan, Susie Shields, and Mary Ruth White.  The Lioness Club had a very good turn out this year.

The Lioness Club held a Quilt Show on Saturday.  Some of the quilts were provided by Geneva Thomas of Wellington, Anita Mitchell of Hedley, Susie Shields of Lelia Lake, Alma Lamberson of Hedley, Sandra Finchum of Amarillo, Kathy Spier of Hedley.

Both the tractor and car shows were held on Saturday morning.  There were many entries in both events.

Best of Show in the Tractor Show went to Blackie Johnson with a 1952 Farmall Cub.  Jimmie Cannon, from Amarillo, TX, received Best of Show in the Car Show with a 1934 Plymouth Coupe.

Other winners in the Tractor Show included: Blackie Johnson – First with a 1948 Allis Chalmers; Blackie Johnson – First with a 1952 Farmall Cub, Redell Johnston – Second with a 1950 TO-20 Ferguson; Leon Ward – First with a 1958 351 Case, Bob Hoggard – Second with a 1961 Ford 4000.

Winners in the Car Show also included: Mary Ruth White – First with a 1965 Ford Mustang, Chrisi Tucek – Second with a 1966 Ford Mustang; Bobby Hefner – First with a 1958 Chevy Impala;  Grady Milton- First with a 1946 Ford, Ken Carden- Second with a 1949 Hudson.

The Lions Club served about 225 plates for lunch this year.

The Parade began Saturday afternoon.  Entries included Hedley School Organizations such as the High School Spanish Club, High School Football Team and Cheerleaders, and Jr. High Football Team and Cheerleaders.  Civic Groups included Khiva Shrine Cycle Escort and Mule Skinners, Howardwick Fire Department, and Clarendon Fire Department.  Floats included the Lioness Club, Scooters, and The Lions Club Queen, Erika Brown.  The Lions Club’s Honorees received an Honorable Mention Award, and the Lioness Club received Best Over All. 

Tonya Ward and Kim King were both in charge of the Annual School Reunion.  There were approximately 75 ex-students who attended from five different states.  Kathy Spier prepared a school history book, which contains class pictures, and events that have happened through the years.  She is now working on book of the history of Hedley and Rowe.  Cookies and fruit were provided for the ex-students while they enjoyed visiting and catching up.  

Tim Herbert of Amarillo was the winner of the Bale of Cotton given away by the Lions Club.

The Lioness Club’s hand-made Quilt went to Dot Pointer.  The Hedley Senior Citizen’s shotgun went to Jared Naylor of Hedley.

Hedley ISD is pleased to announce the valedictorian and salutatorian for the graduating class of 2006.

Benjamin Lee Shaw has been named valedictorian with an average of 95.5655.  He is the son of Randy and Ronda Shaw of Hedley and has attended Hedley schools since 1993. 

Ben is involved in UIL Academics – Current Events, Social Studies, and Literary Criticism, National Honor Society where he serves as president, FFA, Business Professionals of America, One Act Play, Student Director of OAP, Senior Class President, and Yearbook Staff.

He placed third in the State UIL Current Events Competition.  He was also voted by his classmates as Most Likely to Succeed. He was named the Young Man of the Year by the Donley County Chamber of Commerce.

Ben’s hobbies include reading books, playing video games, and watching movies. He is also involved in several community service projects including planting trees at Rowe Cemetery and helping the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department raise funds for a grant for a new fire truck.

Ben plans to attend Clarendon College and eventually obtain a Master’s Degree in Architecture at Texas Tech.

Holly Joy Davis has been named salutatorian with an average of 93.944.  She is the daughter of Keith and Shari Davis of Wellington.  She attended Wellington ISD until her freshman year when she transferred to Hedley High School.

During high school, she was involved in cross country, basketball, track, tennis, gifted and talented, 4-H, National Honor Society, FFA, UIL Current Events, One Act Play, and United States Tennis Association. 

She has been awarded Who’s Who Among American High School Students Sports Edition, A Honor Roll, Academic All-District Cross-Country, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, National Honor Roll, The National Society of High School Scholars, Basketball – Academic All-District, Academic All-State, District Champs, Tennis – District Champ, Regional Runner-up, State Qualifier, FFA Secretary, Class Vice President, Outstanding Chemistry Student, One Act Play Zone Champs, Cross Country – 4th Place District, Regional Qualifier, Team District Champs, Basketball – Senior Captain, Team Tennis- Regional Runner-up, 11th Place State, and Tennis – District Champ.

Joy has served the community with the Nickel Drive for Local Troops, Thanksgiving food drive, Christmas gift baskets, Christmas bags, American Heart Association, and the Hedley Senior Citizens Banquet Door Prize.

She plans to attend college at Seward College and major in Chemistry.  After getting her bachelor’s degree in chemistry she plans to attend pharmacy school.

The top eighth grade boy and girl are Dylan Pettit and Kailee Burton.

Dylan is the son of Brian Pettit and Tanja Widener and the stepson of Jade Widener.  He is 13 years old and lives in Memphis.  He will attend Hedley High School next year.

After he graduates, he plans to attend UCLA or UT and major in criminal science investigation.  He is very interested in making the world a safe place to live. In Dylan’s spare time he enjoys playing sports and playing with his pets.

Kailee is the daughter of Blain and Tanya Burton of Hedley.  She received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Performance and was recently nominated for Education in Action – Lone Star Leadership Academy in Houston.  She placed first in the 400-meter dash at the District Meet in Silverton and will be a varsity cheerleader for the Hedley Owls during the 2006-2007 school year.

She is very active in the Youth Ministry at Hedley First Baptist Church.  She plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Of the seven local governments scheduled to hold elections this year, only the City of Howardwick has contested candidates for office.

Six citizens are vying for three positions on the Board of Aldermen. Incumbents Lee Ann Cook and Sam Grider will be joined on the ballot by challengers Susie Langford, H.L. “Buster” Baird, Stanley Couch, and Milton Brown.

A horse race also developed to see who will serve out the term of former mayor Nancy Davis. Paul Bartlett and James McMorries have both filed to run for that office.

Other local entities reported only as many candidates as they had positions available.

The Clarendon College Board of Regents will see two new faces. John Howard filed for the unexpired term of Jimmy Blackerby, and Jerry Woodard will also be a new member. They join incumbents Doug Lowe and Delbert Robertson, who both filed for office again. Longtime member Mike Butts will not seek reelection.

Clarendon Aldermen Janice Knorpp, Mark White, and Tommy Hill file to return to their offices.

Hedley Mayor Janie Hill is seeking another term, and Aldermen Ricki Baker and Leon Ward have filed for their positions again. They are joined by Alderman Jim Lollar, who is serving out the unexpired term of Pamela Casteel and is seeking to continue that office.

The Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees has Joe Lemley and Wayne Hardin both running for reelection.

Offices at Hedley ISD were not open this week because of Spring Break, but at last report only incumbents Cary Don Neeley, Troy Monroe, and Blane Burton had filed for reelection.

Incumbents will also return to the Donley County Hospital Board with Gene Hommel in Place 4, Carolyn Moffett in Place 5, Onita Thomas in Place 6, and Bright Newhouse in Place 7.

Boards without contested races will likely cancel their elections after March 20.

Howardwick will hold its election on Saturday, May 13.