The Clarendon Bronco Parents will hold a football season Kick-off Celebration this Friday, August 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the high school. Food and games will be available for pre-game activities before the Broncos’ game against Seymore at 7:00 p.m. Burger meals will be sold for $8.
Back to class
And the winner is…
Loyd Dean Messer
Loyd Dean Messer passed away Thursday morning, August 19.
Loyd was born June 19, 1944 in Memphis. He was raised in Hedley by his parents L.D and Dorothy Messer along with his older brother Roger and younger sister Delores. Loyd enjoyed growing and harvesting peaches around Hedley in his early years farming with his father.
He later moved his young family to Morse, Texas, where he owned and ran a fertilizer business. Loyd then moved to Gruver and was employed by Dean Cluck where he took care of much of the farming operations for Dean Cluck Feedyard for many years. He then spent some time in Mountain View, Oklahoma, where he owned and operated a service station. He later returned to Gruver for a short time before moving on to Center Point, Texas, helping Monte Cluck again with odd and end jobs and owning his own pecan tree operation in the Hill Country. He finally retired and moved back to Wellington close to his old stomping grounds just a short time ago.
Loyd was a jack of all trades and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need.
He is preceded in death by his parents, L.D. and Dorothy Messer, his wife Connie Messer and his beloved son, Michael Messer whom he has missed dearly for 30 years.
He is survived by his brother Roger and wife Elloise of Memphis, a sister, Delores Crump of Clarendon, his son Darrell Messer and wife Lori of Gruver, daughter Deana Crump of Clarendon, son Loyd Ray Messer of Bellingham, WA. daughter Ashley Messer of Houston and Lindsay Messer of Anadarko, Oklahoma. Grandchildren, Matt and wife Shanae Messer of Gruver, Miles and Abbi Messer of Gruver, Mike and Julie Crump of Canyon, Chris Crump of Matador and Ethan Puerta of Anadarko. Great grandchildren, Knox Messer, Jack Messer, Hayes Messer, Fletcher Messer, Gray Messer, Scout Messer, Kyndall Crump, Waverley Crump, Keighen Crump and Carter Crump. Many nieces and nephews and many many friends.
Loyd trusted Christ and was baptized @ age 10 and became a member of Hedley Baptist Church… he was welcomed home and greeted by his son, Michael and all his many loved ones and friends.
Loyd will be greatly missed but can now breathe easy.
Graveside services were held at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley on Monday, August 23, 2021, with Scott Curry and Scotty Smith officiating.
The family request memorials be sent to Rowe Cemetery Association, PO Box 213, Hedley, Texas 79237.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Guest Column: Re-think COVID vaccine if you haven’t gotten it
Just when we thought we could turn the page on this horrible pandemic, it has reemerged as the more highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19. Hospitalizations in Texas, and in Amarillo, due to COVID are on the rise again. And with that, an increased number of ICU beds and ventilators are used to treat victims of a disease which now can largely be prevented. Yes, we now have a safe and effective vaccine. As few as 0.2% of Texas’ current COVID-19 hospitalizations are patients who have been fully vaccinated.
Vaccines have eliminated smallpox and virtually eradicated polio and a host of childhood diseases. Yet many who have taken these vaccines are reluctant to take the COVID vaccine for a variety of reasons. Some are concerned that it is a “new” vaccine or that “it was rushed through the approval process.” The m-RNA vaccine technology is not new. It was developed in the 1990’s and been increasingly used in the past decade. Yes, the approval process for this vaccine was accelerated – in response to a deadly worldwide pandemic which has killed over 4 million worldwide. But the good news is that this vaccine has been administered over 4.7 billion times! Medicines and drugs are often “fully approved” on the basis of clinical trials with as few as 3000 people. Full approval in this country for the COVID-19 vaccine is imminent.
The vaccine contains no virus. You cannot possibly get COVID-19 from the vaccine.
Some are reluctant to get the vaccine because “some people have died from the vaccine.” Any medicine, treatment, or vaccine, carries some risk. We always weigh risk versus benefit. Death following the vaccine – due to the vaccine (and this can be difficult to demonstrate) – is less than 0.002 percent. That is less than two thousandths of a percent. Death due to COVID is now more than 600,000 in this country – four million worldwide. There is a greater risk from the disease than there is from the vaccine.
Some are concerned that “the vaccine will change my DNA.” The m-RNA vaccine does not enter the nucleus of a cell, where your DNA is stored. It enters the muscle cells with a message for your ribosomes to create a protein – the protein found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. After your ribosomes make the protein, the m-RNA is broken down and gone. The protein your ribosomes make, however, stimulates your immune system to make antibodies which will attack the coronavirus. This is how the vaccine protects you and can keep you out of the hospital.
Some feel that “I probably already had COVID so I already have immunity.” Many who are currently in the hospital may have thought that as well. Cases are on the rise. At our clinic we went from zero cases in May, to 4 cases in June, and 9 cases in July, and 13 cases so far in August (as of Monday).
On Friday a third dose of the vaccine, a booster, was recommended for individuals with compromised immune systems. A recommendation for others is likely to follow. Now is the time to re-think the vaccine if you haven’t received it. In Texas, government will not require you to get it. It is your choice. Discuss it with your medical provider. Your choice can protect you and your family and drive the case numbers back down. Choose wisely and be well. (And don’t forget to cover your cough and wash your hands!)
DCSC to host ‘Senior Thang’ this Saturday
The excitement is building as “That Senior Thang” prepares to hit Clarendon this Saturday evening, August 21, with activities, food, and fun for people of all ages.
With proceeds benefiting the Donley County Senior Citizens Center, organizers have lined up live music, free games, food vendors, competitions, a country store, Chicken Drop Bingo, a 50/50 raffle, and more to have something to do for people of all ages.
“I’m excited,” DCSC Director Denise Bertrand said. “Our volunteers are coming in, we have a lot of items coming to our country store, and our 50/50 raffle is up to $2,200, which means we’ll give away more than $1,000!”
Bertrand also said the silent auction is generating a lot of cool items, including a Harold Bugbee print from the Saints’ Roost Museum and some collectible model cars.
“We have school athletes coming to help, the COEA is bringing in tables for us, the Lions Club will be volunteering, and so will the Christian Mothers from Saint Mary’s Catholic Church,” Bertrand said.
In addition to coverage in the Enterprise, Bertrand said she has talked to a reporter from NewsChannel 10 about the event and also been on the air on KLSR radio.
Saturday’s fundraiser starts with the sale of barbecue chicken halves from noon to 1:00 p.m. No advance orders are being taken for the chicken, Bertrand says. It will simply be a “first come, first served” sale with pick up and go. Any chicken halves that don’t sell from noon to 1:00 will be available at the country store that evening.
The “Thang” itself will start at 5:00 p.m. and run until 10 o’clock. Bertrand says people are welcome to wear face coverings at the event and masks will be available for free. Hand sanitizing stations will also be provided courtesy of the Donley County Extension Office.
Competitions will include water balloon volleyball, watermelon seed spitting, wheelchair races, jalapeno eating, red Solo cup stacking, a crazy bike challenge, and Texas skis.
Among the free activities will be water polo, ring toss, corn hole, ladder ball, horseshoes, a roping dummy, and dominoes.
Concessions will be available with barbecue beef sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, homemade ice cream, watermelon, and jalapeno poppers.
The entire community is invited and encouraged to attend and participate in That Senior Thang. A complete description and list of activities is available on “That Senior Thang’s” event page, which can be found at Facebook.com/DonleyCountySeniorCitizens.
Sponsors for “That Senior Thang” are A Fine Feathered Nest, Flying A Tack, Howard Farms, Road Runner Home Health, Broken Road Jr. Liquor Store, Shonda’s Snack Shack, Clarendon Bicycle Club, Estlack Bantams, VFW Post 7782 Auxiliary, Clarendon VFD, Trinity Steel, and Saints’ Roost Cottage.
Seven active COVID cases reported in Donley County
Seven people have active cases of COVID-19 in Donley County this week, according to the Clarendon Family Medical Center.
That figure is down one from last week, but officials say the total positive cases for August now stands at 16 as cases continue to rise in the Panhandle region.
Amarillo Public Health Director Casie Stoughton said last Tuesday that 98 patients were hospitalized for COVID in area facilities at that time, 50 of those patients were in the ICU, and 30 were on ventilators.
CFMC spokesperson Marsha Bruce says there have now been 395 total positive cases of the disease confirmed at the local clinic since the pandemic began more than one year ago. A total of 1,587 COVID-19 tests have been performed at the clinic with 1,192 negative results.
As always, it is important to note that those figures do not count Donley County residents who test positive for the disease at other facilities, such as regional hospitals or other clinics.
The Moderna vaccine is available at no charge at the local clinic for everyone ages 18 and over. The Pfizer vaccine is available in Amarillo for children ages 12 and over.
The Texas Tribune reports this week that overall only 28.2 percent of Donley County residents – a total of 944 people – are fully vaccinated as of August 17.
Pump failure ends aquatic center’s season early
The Clarendon Aquatic Center’s inaugural season came to an abrupt early end last week with the failure of the facility’s main pump.
Mayor Sandy Skelton said the construction company will have workers here this week to pull the pump and send it to the manufacturer for analysis. The pump failed last Thursday night, and city officials decided Saturday to end the 2021 season early since a replacement pump would not be available this week.
The aquatic center was already set to shift to a weekend-only schedule this week with school and college starting and lifeguards returning to classes. The final day of the 2021 season would have been Labor Day, September 5.
“We feel very good about the first season overall,” Skelton said. “We were serving between 300 and 350 visitors a week.”
The mayor said the aquatic center will end the year in the red, largely due to several first-time expenses associated with opening the facility. City officials will review the statistics for the pool over the next few weeks to make plans for the 2022 season.
Replacing the pump will be covered either by warranty or insurance, depending on the results of the analysis to determine why it failed.
Skelton said many communities keep a backup pump on hand for situations like this; and he said, since the pump only costs about $3,000, Clarendon will keep a backup in the future. City officials will also consider purchasing a backup for the pump that operates features at the center, such as the bucket dumps and spray pad.
City officials drained the pool Tuesday. The job took most of the day without the main pump.
Clarendon football fans must by advance tickets
Clarendon CISD has announced that general admission tickets for all Broncos and Colts home football games may be purchased through Ticket Leap at www.ticketless.com.
All general admission tickets must be purchased online. No tickets will be sold at the booth.
Tickets for the first varsity home game against Seymour will go on sale Monday, August 23. Everyone will be required that present their ticket either in paper form or on their phone so the ticket can be scanned for admission. Reserved seating ticket holders will only need to show their pass upon entry.
Admission for home varsity Bronco games is adults $5 and students $3. Home JV Bronco and Colt games are Adults $3 and Students $2.
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