Clean-up crew
Donley County Social Hour 12
Ruth Raney McAdoo
Ruth Raney McAdoo, formerly of Clarendon, passed away in Pampa on Monday, June 29, 2020 at the age of 84.
Graveside services will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Ruth was born December 6, 1935, in Hedley, to Wallace and Elva Aufill Raney. She grew up in Clarendon and was a graduate of Clarendon High School and Clarendon College. She was always proud of her parents farming operation 10 miles southeast of Clarendon. While living in Raton, New Mexico, she worked as a Branch manager for a bank, and had part interest in race horses. She also taught school in Amarillo and was an owner of Panhandle Productions. Ruth one time was a primary fundraiser for the Texas Paralyzed Veterans Association, and also did fundraising for many Lions Clubs. She was a charter member of the High Plains Lighthouse for the Blind, and was a board member of the Texas Counsel for the Blind. Ruth loved to travel.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Kendra Lou Johnson; and sister Ann.
She is survived by a son, Rex Johnson of Clarendon; two daughters, Kristy Brandon of Amarillo and Ruthy Wright of Alma, Arkansas; seven grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Syble Lee Ervin Cook
Syble Lee Ervin Cook, 93 of Panhandle died June 4, 2020, of natural causes. She was born in Lavaca, Arkansas, February 19, 1927, to Earl and Olvie (Morris) Ervin.
Syble married Jack Clifton Cook on June 2, 1943 and from their marriage they had nine children. J. C. Cook (deceased), Linda Smallwood of Amarillo, Shirley Baker and husband Raymond of Panhandle, Sandra Bannister (deceased), Jackie Cook of Nashville, Tennessee, Tommy Cook (deceased), Betty Sanderson of Chandler, Arizona, Molly Brucker and husband Craig of Clarendon, and Marilyn Defries and husband Larry of Clarendon.
Syble leaves behind six children, 20 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren and 19 great- great grandchildren.
She worked at Marie Foundations in McLean for many years. She was a very gifted seamstress and made many dresses for her daughters. She also loved to quilt, crochet, garden and work jigsaw puzzles, but what she loved most was her family and all of their holiday gatherings.
She married V. E. Johns in 1964 and they moved to Panhandle in 1966. She worked at various places, including Filter Media and Bell Helicopter.
She married Jackie Miller in 1982, and divorced him in 2007, changing her surname back to Cook.
The family would like to thank BSA Hospice of the Southwest for their loving care of our mother.
Memorial services will be held July 4, 2020 at 2:00 pm, 4800 Greenbelt Way #1. Clarendon, TX 79226. Cremation was under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. Graveside memorial will be July 5, 2020, at 5:00 pm at Panhandle Cemetery, Panhandle, TX 79068.
Clarendon welcomes visitors to 2020 celebration
Clarendon is set to welcome visitors to the 143rd annual Saints’ Roost Celebration this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 2, 3, and 4.
The coronavirus pandemic has put most area July Fourth celebrations on hold this year, but the Panhandle’s oldest will still move forward this weekend.
Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s Junior Rodeo scheduled for Thursday night, July 2, and the Ranch Rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights, July 3 and 4, will be limited to 50 percent capacity with social distancing encouraged. All rodeo events will go on as usual, except for the dances afterward. COEA will also proceed with the usual kids’ events, including the calf scrambles.
The First Baptist Church confirms there will be no Depression Lunch downtown Friday this year.
The big day will be Saturday, July 4, beginning with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths must be reserved through the Donley County 4H by calling 806-874-2141.
Ed Montana will provide music and serve as master of ceremonies on the square.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade, sponsored by Shelton & Shelton Attorneys and Mike’s Pharmacy, will also begin at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Parade will line up at 8:30 at Keith Floyd’s shop at Third and Sully.
Kids’ Parade Chair Kim Fowler is asking all parents to register their kids for the parade online by using the form at ClarendonTX.com/ChamberEvents.
Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. with the parade taking off at 10:00. The theme for this year’s parade is “Texas Strong – United We Stand,” and entry forms are available in this week’s Enterprise as well as at the Visitor Center. Entry forms are also available at ClarendonTX.com/ChamberEvents.
The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $200 available for the best float, $100 for the best car or truck entry, $100 for the best animal or riding unit, $100 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $100 for the best “other” entry. From those first place winners, judges will select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $250.
Pre-registration and adherence to the theme is required for entrants to be judged for the prize money, and entry forms are due in the Visitor Center by 5 p.m. on July 1. Parade winners will be announced at 1 p.m.
The Al Morrah Shrine Club barbecue will be set up on the west side of the Courthouse square this year instead of the traditional location on the east side as plans call for spreading booths and activities over the entire square. The Shriners are also making plans for curbside pick-up of barbecue plates on Jefferson Street for senior citizens and others who prefer to avoid the crowd on the Fourth.
Tickets will be $15 per plate, and food will be served to-go style starting about 11 a.m. or as soon as the parade is over. Advanced tickets are available at the Enterprise or may be purchased on the square July Fourth.
Henson’s Turtle Race will take place at 1:30 p.m. And the Ranch Rodeo will close out the day Saturday night at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30.
Commentary: Independence Day amidst COVID-19
By Donley County Judge John Howard, MD
Independence. As Americans we enjoy this blessing as our birthright. Yet, it was not given to us; we earned it. We have sacrificed much to preserve it for almost a quarter of a millennium. Independence is enshrined in our Constitution and embedded in our DNA. And none value independence more than Texans. We celebrate it every year with now familiar events here in Clarendon.
This year’s celebration comes in the midst of our battle against a deadly worldwide pandemic. The battle has seriously challenged our nation and affected every person in the land. Half a million worldwide have perished already. Over 127,000 of those were Americans – more than any other country. While only 2300 of those were Texans, the incidence of disease is on the rise in our state and the Governor on Friday imposed new restrictions on the re-opening of the state.
I am pleased, and proud, to report that our last case in Donley County was on June 3rd. And before that, the last case of community spread was on April 9th. The citizens of our community took seriously the threat which at one time characterized us as the “sickest county in Texas” and gained us some temporary notoriety. And we stopped it! But with cases on the rise around us, and the probability that some folks will come in from out of town, we must continue to exercise reasonable precautions to protect ourselves from further spread here.
Several communities have cancelled their traditional 4th of July celebrations this year. In Clarendon we will have our rodeo, parade, and gathering on the courthouse square. It will look different this year. We will not serve our own barbeque. The crafts will be spread out on the square to permit more distancing in the crowd. And there will be handwashing stations and sanitizer available.
Some of us will need to carefully consider whether we should be in a large gathering of people – where we know the virus spreads more easily. Those of us who are more vulnerable to serious problems from the virus (over 60 years old, heart, lung or kidney problems, diabetes, obesity, immune system disease – to name a few) will need to weigh the risk. All who attend should exercise well known prudent precautions to prevent contracting or spreading the virus. Wearing a mask reduces such risk when you will be closer than six feet from others. I know it is hard, but we really don’t need to shake hands and hug each other this year – and when we forget that, don’t forget the hand sanitizer.
Remember that the disease can be spread by those who have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. If you are serious about avoiding the virus then you also need to avoid close contact with those who have been in a crowd. The incubation period after exposure is around 4-5 days but can be up to 11 days. And those who contract the illness can continue to shed the virus for 3-4 weeks. While we may feel that we are at low risk from the virus ourselves, we must consider the impact of spreading to others. Ultimately it is the responsibility of each individual to protect themselves. Responsibility – the all-important corollary to Independence.
However you choose to celebrate our Independence I urge you all to have a great, and safe, weekend. And remember those who have provided it as our legacy. God Bless America.
National Guard to hold COVID testing
The Texas National Guard will hold a local drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Clarendon College on Tuesday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Donley County Judge John Howard, MD.
Those wishing to be tested for the coronavirus will need a valid ID (such as a driver’s license) and are urged to call ahead to get a testing time.
Howard said the guard will open a call center 48 hours prior to the testing, but details on that were not available at press time. Those who don’t call ahead will be able to register onsite for the test.
More information about this testing opportunity will be published as it becomes available.
Mayor issues letter to allow July 4 events
Clarendon Mayor Sandy Skelton issued a letter last Friday authorizing local Saints’ Roost Celebration activities this weekend following the latest executive order of Gov. Greg Abbott.
The governor took several steps to respond to rising COVID-19 cases around the state, including closing bars and banning most public gatherings of 100 people or more. Rodeos were exempted, however, and Abbott allowed other events to proceed with the permission of local authorities.
Officials have urged, but not required, citizens to wear masks at this weekend’s events and to observe social distancing requirements.
Until this past weekend, Donley County had not had a confirmed new case of COVID-19 since June 3. Posts by family members on social media Sunday reported that another Donley County person had tested positive for the disease in an Amarillo hospital, which would bring the local COVID-19 count up to 28.
As of Tuesday, that case had not yet been reported to the county by the state, so the official tally remains at 27 for this week’s Enterprise.
Four more patients were tested at the Clarendon Family Medical Center since last Tuesday. Two of those tests were negative and two are still pending. That brings the total local tests to 129 with 107 negatives.
Garden tour to benefit Christ’s Kids Sunday
Folks with or without green thumbs are invited to join the Donley County Garden Club’s first annual Tour of Gardens this Sunday, June 28, from 3 to 5 p.m. to benefit the Christ’s Kids Ministry.
A total of six family gardens are on the tour for this inaugural event, and Judy Thomas says she and her fellow club members have two main goals with the benefit tour.
“First, we want to help support the Christ’s Kids, and second, we want to educate folks on what you can do with gardens,” she said.
The club just got started this year and has between 20 and 25 members, most of whom live in Donley County but gardeners from Memphis and Amarillo have been active as well.
Thomas said the Tour of Gardens will be self-guided with people being able to start and stop with which ever spot on the map they choose. Each location will have a donation bucket for the Christ’s Kids.
As it looked for a way to not only foster more interest in gardening but also to serve the community, the garden club felt that Christ’s Kids Ministry was a natural fit with its mission to feed local kids both spiritually and physically.
“It’s an outreach that ultimately feeds kids who may not get good nutrition otherwise,” Thomas said.
The Tour of Gardens will feature different styles of gardening. Thomas and her husband Gary utilize mostly raised beds in their garden where they grow tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro, zucchini, strawberries, and more.
“Raised beds are easy to care for and demonstrate what you can do in a small space,” Thomas said.
Gardening is not that difficult and used to be much more commonplace than it is today, Thomas said. Her own interest in the hobby was bolstered by a desire to be more self-sufficient in terms of the food supply.
“It’s not as much work as some people think,” Thomas said. “It’s also important to realize that you’re going to have fails, but don’t give up.”
Garden tour locations in Clarendon are at the residences of Gary and Judy Thomas at 508 W. Barcus Street, Che and Linde Shadle at 1013 W. 8th Street, Russell and Scarlet Estlack at 621 S. Collinson Street, and B.J. and Jennie Owens at 518 S. Bugbee Avenue as well as outside of town at Dale and Amanda Askew home at 4240 S. Hwy 70 and Bill and Deanna Cornell’s home at 4166 CR 13. A map is located on the back page of this week’s Enterprise. Click here for a map!
To learn more, contact Judy Thomas at 806-206-5278.
Early voting starts June 29 in runoff
Early voting begins Monday, June 29, for runoff elections for Texas Democratic and Republican party primaries.
Locally, the biggest focus is on the Republican race to be the candidate for the 13th Congressional District. Josh Winegarner received the most votes in the March primary but failed to get more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid the runoff. He will face Ronny Jackson to determine who will carry the Republican mantle in the November election.
Also of local interest on the Republican ballot, is the race of the Justice of the 7th Court of Appeals. Incumbent Larry Doss narrowly defeated challenger Steven Denny during the March primary. However, the race was left off ballots in Collingsworth and Cochran counties, so a court ordered the race be put in front of the voters again during the runoff election.
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted at the Donley County Courthouse Annex through July 10. The annex will be closed on July 3 for the holiday weekend. The primary runoff elections will be held July 14, 2020.
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