Proper recognition
June Price
June Price, 93, of Clarendon died Saturday, March 28, 2020 in Amarillo.
Graveside services were held on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood, officiating.
Arrangements are under the directions of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
June was born July 14, 1926, in Collingsworth County to August and Nannie Langley Davis. She married Harvie Newton Price on October 8, 1947, in Wellington. She had been a resident of Clarendon since 1954 where she was a homemaker. She was an avid reader and enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and quilting. She loved cooking, watching the Judge shows, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Bill Price; a daughter, Susie Shadle; and 12 brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her son, Rick Price and wife Tammy of Lubbock; her daughter, Cindy Caldwell of Pampa; a son in law, Jim Shadle of Clarendon; a daughter in law, Melody Price of Amarillo; 11 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and her caretaker, Paulette Kidd of Clarendon.
The family request memorials be sent to Citizens Cemetery Association / PO Box 983 / Clarendon, TX 79226.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Peggy Ruth Carter
Peggy Ruth Carter, 91, of Pampa died Sunday, March 29, 2020 in Pampa.
Memorial services will be held after the Coronavirus crisis is resolved.
Cremation and Arrangements are under the direction Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Peggy was born July 1, 1928, in Mobeetie to E.R. and Ruth Clark Ware. Peggy went to school at Mobeetie and later to Cosmetology School in Amarillo. Peggy married Carl Carter in Pampa in 1948. They were married 67 years when Carl passed away and Peggy went to live with her daughter Lynna Crockett in Shamrock.
Peggy took her job as a homemaker seriously. She made a home for Carl and her children wherever they lived and her family was her priority. She loved her friends and family with a passion and always stood ready to help them when she could. She ran the Clarendon College cafeteria for sixteen years in Clarendon, Texas and loved the many kids who came through the lines in the cafeteria.
Peggy was raised a farm girl and loved the land and the rural life. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a positive outlook on life. She was resilient and taught by example how to deal with life’s ups and downs without letting life make you bitter and defeated. She will truly be missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Carl; daughter Diane; and son Wayne.
She is survived by her sisters, Kitty Nincehelser of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Virginia Holwick and husband Bob of McLean, Texas; her son, Steve Carter and wife Tammy of McLean, Texas; her daughter, Lynna Crockett and husband Bill of Shamrock, Texas; six grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Second local COVID case confirmed
A second case of the COVID-19 virus has been confirmed in Donley County, Judge John Howard reported Wednesday afternoon, April 1.
The patient in question was not treated or tested locally but was instead hospitalized, tested, and discharged in Amarillo. Texas Department of State Health Services Region One office confirmed to Howard that the patient received a positive test result.
The patient is medically stable and recovering at their residence under medical quarantine, Howard said.
“Local government officials are now aware of this case and have taken steps to ensure public safety,” Howard said. “The patient is under a self-quarantine, and steps can and will be taken if someone violates a self-quarantine.”
The judge said the patient in the first local COVID-19 case announced yesterday is also doing medically well, is stable, and is improving at home under quarantine.
“Residents of Donley County are strongly advised to follow CDC guidance in order to prevent further spread of the disease in our community,” Howard said.
Test confirms first COVID-19 case in Donley County
Donley County reported its first case of the COVID-19 virus Tuesday morning, March 31.
Judge John Howard, MD, said his medical office received notification of lab results late Monday night showing a positive test for the disease and pledged that he would be as transparent as possible with information to protect the community.
Howard’s clinic Monday night notified the patient of the need to remain self-isolated and reported the test to the state health department.
On Tuesday, the judge urged citizens to help stop the disease from spreading.
“Now is our window of opportunity to mitigate the spread of this disease in our own community and keep it from becoming more deadly,” Howard said. “Don’t go out unless you have essential work to do.”
As of Tuesday, the state was reporting almost 43,000 residents had been tested for the disease with 3,266 of those being positive. Forty-one Texans had died from the disease.
Locally, Howard reported that a total of 13 people from Donley County had been tested for COVID-19 with one positive, three negative, and nine results pending.
“We ask that citizens of Donley County to continue to be diligent in their efforts to reduce contact with others as much as possible,” Howard said. “Please follow the CDC recommendations for social distancing; eliminate non-essential activity outside your home even if you are well; avoid groups of people; practice good hand washing and sanitizing practices; and if you are feeling ill, please stay home and avoid others in your home as well.”
Federal law restricted the release of specific patient information, and officials did not give any information about the patient regarding the person’s gender, age, or place of residents other than inside Donley County.
“People just need to act like it is the person next door,” Howard said. “Take those precautions.”
Howard said the patient in question is believed to have contracted the virus from community spread (person to person contact contamination) and has not reported any significant travel.
On Monday the cities of Amarillo and Canyon issued orders calling for their residents to stay at home or “shelter in place” in response to COVID-19 cases in Potter and Randall counties.
Judge Howard did not issue a “shelter in place” order for Donley County, asking instead for residents to continue to follow guidelines already outlined for social distancing. He said he asked for and received voluntary compliance from beauty shops and barber shops to close their businesses after Tuesday for public health reasons.
Howard did encourage churches to continue to hold services only by remote broadcasting, online methods, or otherwise in consistent with established guidelines. He also said that while the worship service at the drive-in theatre was probably a good thing, he encouraged people to only ride in cars with their housemates and not to travel with friends.
The judge said that he hopes citizens will take the situation necessarily and follow the guidelines voluntarily, but he also said that he could issue further executive orders in the future as necessary.
“This situation is very fluid and changes from day to day,” Howard said.
For further information on the COVID-19 virus, you can visit the Center for Disease Control website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nov/index.html. For business’ and individuals that are concerned: please look at the Interim US Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with Potential COVID-19 Exposures.
Howard added that people should contact their health care provider if they have symptoms consistent with the Coronavirus (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to determine if additional evaluation, treatment or testing is appropriate.
Worship service draws large crowd to Sandell
Sunday’s community worship service at the Sandell Drive-In was attended by a large crowd and plans are being prepared for an even better service this weekend.
Howardwick Baptist Church pastor Jim Fox said 150 or more people attended the worship service.
“I had 100 bulletins and ran out,” he said. “Every car had two to four people in it and some dogs came, too.”
With most local churches having canceled services or relying on digital broadcasts, the community worship service at the Sandell allowed people a way to congregate while still staying in their personal vehicles.
A stage was set up in front of the drive-in’s big screen, and audio was piped through the Sandell’s FM broadcast system it typically uses for motion pictures.
“It was fantastic, and it’s going to be better this week,” Fox said. “Mr. [John] Morrow was excellent and provided a great facility.”
Fox said Kentucky Fried Chicken buckets were available for worshippers to drop donation envelopes in with their churches’ names written on them, and those funds will be distributed to the respective churches.
Worship will be held again this Sunday, April 5, at 10 a.m., and Fox says he hopes to have first responders there to have a special prayer time for them.
First United Methodist pastor Buddy Payne will have the opening prayer, Fox will have a message on 2 Chronicles 7:14, Church of the Nazarene pastor Allen Posey will preach, and Community Fellowship pastor Larry Capranica will close the service.
COVID-19 advice for Donley County
As I write this on March 27 many are wondering “what is next for us?”
I can tell you that cases are rising dramatically in the metropolitan areas of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. You may be inclined to think that they are far removed from us in West Texas. I would remind you how rapidly the disease has spread from China around the world. We are seeing more state confirmed cases, 23, in Lubbock. The number was 12 only two days ago. There was one death confirmed in Oldham County.
Statewide there are 1,731 cases with 23 deaths and confirmed cases in 105 of 254 counties as of today and the numbers are all rising.
Tests have been submitted from patients in Donley County, and to date have been negative, but several tests are still pending. The wait time for results has been extended to ten days, so we have found another resource to get results in two days. With positive cases in the panhandle it may only be a matter of time until it arrives here. By the time we get a confirmed case in Donley County it will undoubtedly have been passed to others here. I can think of dozens who would not do well if they contracted this disease. Some could die.
I am writing to say that now is our window of opportunity. The measures we take now can keep the disease from spreading. Most people will have a bad cold, but they could pass it to one who could die. Or they could pass it to those who fill critical functions in law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical providers. If they contract the disease, our ability to provide the necessary services to our community will be compromised. Our bench is not that deep. We need all hands to respond during this pandemic. We are all working to preserve our health and we need all of you to help us as you help yourselves and protect the most vulnerable among us.
I am so gratified that when I asked our restaurants to cease in house dining and move to takeout, they all voluntarily complied. (Later that day the Governor made it mandatory – but our local businesses decided to do their part first.) I encourage everyone to continue to support our local businesses.
All the guidance you have undoubtedly heard should be rigorously followed and I will remind you here. Let us remind each other and support each other. Together we can prevail, but it takes everyone to do their part.
If you are sick, stay home, keep away from others, and wear a facemask. If your condition worsens, contact your doctor.
Practice social distancing – six feet from others – and do not gather in groups larger than 10 people.
Cover your cough or sneeze.
Wash your hands frequently, 20 seconds, soap and water especially after blowing your nose or sneezing.
Use hand sanitizer, at least 70 percent alcohol.
Use a disinfectant to clean surfaces that are touched.
Editor’s Note: Judge Howard’s comments were written March 27 before the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Donley County on March 30.
Hunting for bears
City enacts Phase 3 of COVID plan, halts pool work
The City of Clarendon enacted Phase 3 of its COVID-19 response plan Tuesday afternoon following notification that a positive case of the disease was confirmed in Donley County that morning.
City Administrator David Dockery said City Hall was closed to the public and would be operated for the time being with a skeleton staff, probably just him. Payments may be made at the dropbox at the front of the building, which will be checked daily. The Burton Memorial Library will also remain closed.
The city recycling center was also closed, but residents may still use recycling dumpsters and designated grass and leaf dumpsters around the city. All sanitation services will continue although pick up times may take longer, Dockery said.
City utility workers will be dispatched from City Hall but will be home with their city vehicles unless they are called out.
Work on the city’s two main projects – the aquatics center and the USDA-funded water infrastructure project – will be suspended. Dockery said this decision was due to the fact that many of the workers on those projects are coming in from areas with high COVID-19 infection rates such as Dallas and Amarillo.
City officials were already concerned about how COVID-19 was going to affect the pool and USDA projects prior to the confirmed case this week. During last week’s city meeting, Dockery told the council the aquatics center could face issues with getting lifeguards trained during social distancing and said the USDA project was suffering from further delays because the some of the contractors workers were not showing up due to fears about the coronavirus.
“Everything is happening very fast,” Dockery said. “We are learning every day, and this is something we have never dealt with before.”
City council meetings in the near future will be conducted in a teleconference method such as Skype. Officials are still working out the details of that out but said they would follow the guidance set by the state to comply with the Open Meetings Act.
Dockery and Mayor Sandy Skelton both said they are not considering a shelter in place order like the one issued in Amarillo at this time, but the city is staying in close contact with the county judge’s office as things move forward.
“From a percentage standpoint, one case in Donley County is a higher percentage than 11 cases in Amarillo,” Dockery said.
City council extends disaster declaration
The Clarendon City Council approved extending the city’s disaster declaration for 60 days among other agenda items at its regular meeting last Thursday, March 26.
The declaration opens access to state and federal resources for the city and local businesses in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that is negatively impacting the nation and the entire world.
The city originally declared an emergency disaster declaration on March 19, but that order only lasted for seven days.
City Administrator David Dockery’s report to the council also reflected how COVID-19 is affecting other areas of city business. City utility income is suffering because students are not at the college and the public schools.
City officials also visited with Sheriff Butch Blackburn about the law enforcement contract between the city and the county, and authorized the mayor to negotiate with the county judge.
A request by Cornell’s Country Store was approved to abandon 150 feet of Orpe Street from US 287 to the alleyway. That street will be divided between Cornell’s on the east and West Texas Gas on the west with the city maintaining a utility easement.
The council voted in favor of increasing the fee to impound animals after hours to $100.
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