Morgan Wheatly

Clarendon Cub Scout Pack 437 closed its scouting year last Thursday, April 30, with a Pinewood Derby and awards ceremony at the First United Methodist Church.
Fourteen boys participated in the derby which races homemade cars on a slopped track. Nathan Estlack had the fastest car in Den 1 and was the

overall pack champion this year, Jacob Murillo was first place in Den 2, Ben Estlack, was first place in Den 3, and Haughton Bivens was fastest in Den 4. Three of the four dens spent the last two months earning their Texas Badge, an award that is received after learning about Texas history and culture. Those receiving the Texas Badge were Nathan Estlack, Kayden Cummings, Jacob Murrillo, Patrick Monds (not present), Steven Mills, Ben Estlack, Dan Estlack, Mason Allred, Kayden Early, Jaythan Green, Aiden Word (not present), Robert Powell, and Henry Bivens.
In addition, Dens 1, 2, and 4 received the following awards:
Den 4: Haughton Bivens – Collecting belt loop, Citizenship belt loop; Kaendan Moffett – Collecting belt loop, Citizenship belt loop; Mason Green- Collecting belt loop, Citizenship belt loop; and Asher Cason – Citizenship belt loop.
Den 2: Steven Mills – Computers, Astronomy, Geography, weather, reading, pet care, chess (pins and belt loops), Texas, No Trace Left Behind; Jacob Murrillo – Computers, Astronomy, Geography, weather, reading, pet care, chess (pins and belt loops), No Trace Left Behind; and Patrick Monds – Computers, Astronomy, Geography, weather, chess (pins and belt loops), and No Trace Left Behind.
Den 4: Nathan Estlack – bicycling.
Local Cub Scouts will take a break for summer baseball and attend Cub Scout day camp in July. Den meetings and sign-ups for new Scouts will resume in the fall.

AMARILLO – U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) has been named the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Texas State Council 2014 Legislator of the Year. Thornberry was presented the award today by members of the VVA North Plains Chapter 404.

“Congressman Thornberry’s district is home to hundreds of thousands of veterans and active duty personnel from each branch of the military,” said Charles Morris, VVA chapter 404 president. “His office assists thousands of veterans with coordination of their benefits, inquiries with federal agencies and record requests. Additionally, he focuses much of his legislative efforts on providing for the national defense of our nation.”
The group praised Thornberry for his efforts as vice-chairman of the House Armed Services Committee to protect TRICARE from proposed cuts; stop military pay raise reductions; establish a military compensation commission; and reject commissary cuts. Thornberry now serves as the chairman of the committee. He played a major role in expanding access to State Veterans’ Homes to parents whose children died while serving in the military. He also sponsored and co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation that help retired and active duty military and their families.
“Meeting our commitments to our veterans is essential,” Thornberry said. “These men and women have put their lives on the line to keep our country safe. They deserve our very best in return.”
The VVA is the nation’s only congressionally chartered veteran’s service organization. It is dedicated to the needs of Vietnam veterans and their families. VVA’s founding principle is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

Clarendon ISD Gifted & Talented students showcased their projects for the community last Tuesday, April 28, in the school cafeteria. GT classes focused on the Texas Performance Standards Project, which provides standards for students to conduct self-guided research on topics of their choice while challenging them to high levels of achievement. Through completion of the projects, students were able to demonstrate a deep level of understanding in at least one area of study.

The Showcase was a great opportunity for these students to share their area of interest and for the community to enjoy their quality work. CISD officials appreciate everyone for making the Showcase a success, including mentors and teachers that guided students through their projects and Mrs. Howard and the Family & Consumer Science students for preparing and serving refreshments.
Elementary projects under the supervision of Tashia Duncan included: Kindergarten – Ella Estlack, Do Your Part for Art; Second Grade – Gracie Clark, Johnny Appleseed; Ben Estlack, George Washington; Isabella Neal, Do Your Part for Art; Maloree Wann, Abraham Lincoln; Third Grade – Easton Frausto, TCU Gaming; Avery Halsey, Monopoly Zoo; Toby Leeper, The World’s Runner; Nicole Phipps, Do Your Part for Art; Fourth Grade – Britton Cottrell, Bermuda Triangle; Jace Cottrell, The Marfa Lights; Laney Gates, The Stonehenge; Taylor Halsell, The Loch Ness Enigma; Makenna Shadle, The Bermuda Triangle; Cate Word, The Queen of Loch Ness; Fifth Grade –Rhett Caison, Story Quilt- Hockey; Graci Drackley, Story Quilt- Fundraisers for Help; and Josiah Howard, Story Quilt- Kidnapped.
Junior High projects under the supervision of Lisa Grahn were: Sixth Grade – Sophia Bilbrey, History of Sculpting; Shylee Morrow, How History Has Affected Art; Callie Phipps, The Forgotten Event of WWII; Seventh Grade – Madisen Gay, Radio Waves; Jayden Monds, Lasers; Kira Weatherton, Rube Goldberg Project; Eighth Grade – Charlotte Craft, Gluten Free?; and Gavin Word, Study of Drones.
High School projects under the direction of Karissa Huffman included: Ninth Grade – Harley Jaurequi, Basic Animation; Philip Monds, Aspects of Photography; Trinity Stribling, Pompeii; Tenth Grade – Jack Moore, The Trojan War; Riley Shadle, Modern Uses of Droning; Eleventh Grade – Caleb Cobb, The Battle of Gettysburg; and Xavier Neal, Custom Wiki Project.

The old house at Sixth and Bugbee was again on the agenda when the Clarendon City Council held its regular meeting last Thursday, April 23.
The structure narrowly avoided condemnation by the city a little more than five months ago when the owner of the house, Linda Lewis, was given six months to address specific code concerns.
Lewis did not attend last week’s meeting, but sent Julie Russell to speak on her behalf.  Russell said removal of one old balcony on the house had gone smoothly but attempted removal of a second balcony had revealed an infestation of bees. Work on the house has since been hindered because of the risk of agitating the bees.
The aldermen took no action on the house last week. Mrs. Lewis has until May 18 to satisfy the city’s code department and its safety concerns.
In other business, aldermen approved amending the city’s employee handbook regarding when a new employee receives medical insurance and life insurance.
Aldermen considered proposals for a new heating and air-conditioning system at City Hall, but they took no action because the three proposals differed in the efficiencies of the units that would be installed. The city will look at this issue again but will ask contractors to give proposals based on the same efficiencies.
The council approved paying for a plumbing bill incurred at the residence of Dennis and Ruth Petty. The couple had a muddy spot appear in their yard and employed a plumber thinking they had a leak on their side of the water meter. The leak turned out to be coming from an abandoned meter not theirs.