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Practice run
Connie Lynn McMahan
The family mourn s the sudden loss of their beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend Connie Lynn McMahan, 67, of Groom, which occurred on Friday, August 13, 2021.
Graveside services will be 1:30 PM Sunday, Aug, 22, 2021, in Groom Cemetery with Rev. Calvin Burrow, officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” – John 11:25
Connie Lynn McMahan was born in Tulia on February 9, 1954, to Mary Francis Noland and Jimmie Vanoy Purcell. She was the oldest of ten siblings across blended families.
Connie graduated from Plainview High School in May 1972, where she was a cheerleader, class favorite runner up multiple years, she was social and loved by many. Connie was a devoted wife and dedicated Christian. She led with her love of the Lord.
She was married to her best friend and soulmate Joseph Mathew McMahan on July 3, 1982. She loved her extended family, her three children and her stepson and her grandchildren.
When all her children left her home, she filled it with her neighbors, friends and her puppies. Anyone who knew her, knew how much those dogs offered companionship and meaning. She embraced technology, learning Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and even Tik Tok. She would make and share funny videos with her loved ones to stay connected.
When people speak of Connie, they talk of her amazing food, her kind heart, and her sense of humor. She found her tribe, and she loved them hard and laughed with them too. Life’s simple pleasures brought great joy to her. She loved to celebrate Christ and display her Christmas lights, loved growing her beautiful flowers, watching a gleaming sunrise on her porch, and having a coffee time with Joe.
Connie passed away surrounded by her husband Joe and her daughters Penny and Misty. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, brothers Todd, Terry and Jimmie.
She is survived by her husband, Joe McMahan of Groom; daughter Penny McMahan and fiance Nathan Catlett of Oklahoma City, daughter Misty and her husband Lance Price and her grandchildren Leigh-Ann, Landon and Landry Price of Dallas; her sisters in Florida, Patti O’Cain and husband Phillip, Vanan Hampton and husband Leon, Jody Bryant and husband Robert, and Kathy Bowen and her husband Craig, and Andrea Purcell; her brother Jimmie’s wife, and her Aunts Jackie Sue Harrell and Modene Moore and her husband Jerry, both of Texas.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Letter: ‘Senior Thang’ a great opportunity for community
Last Thursday evening, I attended the Music Night at the Donley County Senior Citizens Center. The music was great, and the barbecue and the rest of the meal were great. Unfortunately, there was very little attendance. Denise Bertrand is trying to build participation in the center. Clarendon is fortunate to have this fine facility to all the folks who live in this area.
On Saturday evening, August 21, That Senior Thang is open to our good people in Donley County. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and will be outside of the senior center at Fourth and Gorst streets. This even is sponsored by 12 businesses and people who do good things in our county.
This is another opportunity to bring people together and have a fun evening. You are invited.
Tom Stauder,
A Proud Donley County Resident
COVID cases double in one week
The active number of COVID-19 cases in Donley County has doubled since last week, according to the Clarendon Family Medical Clinic.
As of Tuesday, there were eight active cases of the disease, up from four one week ago.
Clinic spokesperson Marsha Bruce says there have now been 387 total positive cases of the disease since the pandemic began more than one year ago.
As always, it is important to note that those figures do not count Donley County residents who may 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 941 people – are fully vaccinated as of August 10. That’s an increase of only three people from last week.
School days ahead
Franks sets record in Dodge City
By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo
DODGE CITY, Kan. – There is a gleam on Cole Franks’ face that may not go away for a while.
The 20-year-old bareback rider has reason to be so happy. He’d just ridden Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Bar Code for 90 points to win the first round of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo and collect $3,385. Now, he’s set up for another ride of his life during Sunday’s championship round.
The rain began to fall just before bareback riding began, and by the time Franks nodded his head on Bar Code, it was pouring on Roundup Arena. It didn’t quite matter to the cowboy, nor the horse.
“It was wet,” Franks said with a grin across his face. “Right when it started raining, I was dreading it a little bit. Once it really got going, I realized there was no stopping the rain, so it was part of it. It’ll make a good story to look back on.”
It’s been a good week for Franks, who, heading into Saturday night’s fourth performance of Dodge City’s rodeo, was leading the rodeos in Carson, Iowa, with a 92-point ride, and Great Falls, Montana, with an 84.5.
When he arrived in Dodge City, he knew there might be something special with Pickett horse.
“He knew,” Franks said of Bar Code. “He had that same feeling I had that it was about to be a lot of fun.
“I’ve seen that horse three times. Kaycee Feild was 90 on him at the Riggin’ Rally in Weatherford (Texas in April), so I knew it was possible. I knew the horse was going to be a lot of fun and feel really good. I was excited. I knew it was going to be really good.”
It’s been an exciting year for the cowboy from Clarendon, Texas. In June, he helped his hometown team – Clarendon College, which is coached by his dad, Bret Franks – to the men’s team national title at the College National Finals Rodeo. He dominated bareback riding to win that national crown, then added enough points in saddle bronc riding to be named the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s all-around champion.
Franks won the rodeo with an arena record 93-point ride during Sunday’s championship round on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire. He won $8,420, and he also won Carson, Iowa, with a 92. Franks is 11th in the world standings.
Heading into this week of rodeos, Franks sat 17th in the world standings with $39,341.
Franks will likely move up, but his end goal is to be among the top 15 when rodeo’s regular season concludes the end of September in order to earn his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. He also will be matched in Sunday’s championship round with Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, which is possibly the hottest bareback horse in ProRodeo this season.
“I like where I’m at,” he said. “I would rather be right here fighting for it than being in a secure spot. For the next week and a half, I’ve drawn really good money horses that can win and for sure help you place on.
“It’s looking really good.”
So is Cole Franks.
County okays IT proposal
Donley County Commissioners accepted a proposal for new information technology services during their regular meeting Monday.
Judge John Howard said the commissioners court approved the proposal presented by CTSI because of that firms extensive experience with sheriffs offices, police departments, and the Texas Secretary of State.
“The will be able to provide us with a robust approach to cyber security,” Howard said.
The initial cost of the service will be $19,612 followed by an annual cost of $15,412.
Commissioners also inked an agreement with Hutson Gallagher for architectural services to oversee repairs to the 1890 Courthouse. The Jewel of the Plains suffered severe damage in February when a winter storm resulted in frozen water lines in the HVAC system in the building’s attic.
Howard said expects repairs will move more quickly now and said Hutson Gallagher will lead the county in applying for additional courthouse preservation funds from the state to do more restoration work on exterior stone of the building.
In other county business, commissioners approved a new social media policy for county employees and renewed an interlocal agreement for a regional public defender for capital cases at a cost of $2,128.
The county approved an order of election for November 2, 2021, for a state constitutional amendment election.
The court discussed redistricting following the 2020 census and will use the firm of Allison Bass of Austin to perform that service. Howard said the county will be looking to have all four precincts intersect at the courthouse. That would, Howard said, allow the county to have one polling site for elections that tend to have low turnouts, such as constitutional amendment elections.
Commissioners selected Shattuck National Bank to provide financing for a motor grader for Precinct 2 due to that bank providing the lowest interest rate.
Commissioners also put the final touches on their proposed budget for 2022 and proposed a tax rate of $0.612776 per $100 valuation to support that budget.
Aquatic center schedule changes for end of season
The Clarendon Aquatic Center will alter its days of operation next week with the opening of the public schools.
City Administrator David Dockery said since most the city’s lifeguards are high school and college students, it is necessary to reduce the hours of the aquatic center for the remainder of the season.
The pool will continue regular operation through August 18 and then be closed on weekdays. The pool will be open Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22, open again Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29, and then be open for the Labor Day weekend, Saturday-Monday, September 4, 5, and 6.
The city is still accepting private parties after hours at the pool, but residents are encouraged to get those requests in to City Hall soon by calling 874-3438.
Following Labor Day, the aquatic center will be closed until next season, and within a week of that closure, the city will begin the demolition of Kearney Street from Fourth Street the bridge at Fifth Street in preparation of new paving.
Paul Keith Dwight
Paul Keith Dwight, age 60 of Amarillo, passed away Wednesday, August 4, 2021, in Amarillo.
Graveside services will be held at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley, on Friday, August 13, at 10:00 a.m.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Paul was born on June 13th, 1961 in Dumas to Richard and Betty Dwight. He served in the Navy and worked in heating and air conditioning most of his adult life. Paul was a loving father, grandfather, son, and brother. He was a tech wiz, and a go to for all our computer problems. Paul loved his family and always remembered and acknowledged them on birthdays and holidays. He was a very devoted son! He will be so missed by all of his family and friends! He will forever be in our hearts.
He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Dwight; granddaughter, Madison Ann Powers; and his uncle, Jimmy Stout.
He is survived by his mother, Betty Dwight; two children, Tessa Lee Powers, and Christopher Dwight and family, Alicia and Kaylee; two brothers, Danny Dwight, and Kirk Dwight and wife Beverly; sister, Timber Lee Potts; nephew, James Lee Potts and wife Staci; two nieces, Kristen Dwight and Haley Dwight; great nephew, Chevey Miller; great niece, Eva Potts; and one sweet aunt, Sharon Stout.
The family request memorials to be sent to the Veterans Hospital, 6010 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
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