Lady Owls face faculty and friends
Johnny E. Leathers
On Tuesday, May 14, 2019, Johnny E. Leathers, 98, went to be with the Lord.
Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 18, 2019, in First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Brother Richard Leathers and Rev. Larry Capranica, officiating. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Johnny was born in Clarendon to D.E. and Grace Batson Leathers on April 11, 1921. He attended school at Lelia Lake before transferring to Clarendon, where he graduated from high school in 1939. As a high school student, he enjoyed showing calves and won many awards one of which was Grand Champion. His family won a contest sponsored by the Ft. Worth Star Telegram in 1940 to become known as America’s Most Typical All American family. He joined the US Navy during World War II, where he served as a Navy Corpsman with the 4th Division Marine Corps. After the war, he finished college at Texas Tech University in 1950. He married Betty Murray from Gatesville that same year. They were married until her death in 1981. He married Melba Brown in 1985.
Johnny was a school teacher and farmer. He began his career teaching Agriculture at Tulia, and then transferred to Hedley where he taught junior high science. Finally, he transferred to Clarendon ISD, where he taught junior high science for over 25 years. He truly cared for his students. He retired from teaching in 1985.
He was active with the Boy Scouts in the 1960s as an assistant Scout Master. He was a Christian who loved the Lord. He was very active in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon, where he was a Deacon, and Chairman of Deacons.
He loved his family and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his two sons, Richard and his wife Angela of Bonham, and David of Tulsa, Okla.; three grandchildren, Amber, Timothy and his wife Krystal, and Matthew; six great grandchildren, Antonio, Jackson, Emma, Ian, James, and Maddox. He also leaves behind many friends and family. We want to thank Gina and Karen from Heart to Heart Hospice for their wonderful care of Johnny during his last months.
He was preceded in death by his parents, D.E. and Grace Leathers; a sister, Jean Williams; first wife, Betty, second wife, Melba Brown, and daughter-in-law, Lorrie Leathers.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com.
Mulkey grand opening to be May 25
The grand opening of the Mulkey Theatre is just two weeks away, and workers are busy putting the finishing touches on the project to make it show ready on Saturday, May 25.
Tickets for the gala opening event will go on sale to the general public next Tuesday, May 14, for $50 each and a full evening of entertainment is being lined up.
In addition to a red carpet entrance and food and refreshments, organizers have planned a program to take attendees back in time to the opening of the 1946 theatre while also demonstrating the theatre’s new capabilities.
The Mulkey’s first live musical performance will be the South Plains Jazz Orchestra playing big band hits from the 1940s, and the artistic director from the outdoor musical “TEXAS” is preparing a live theatre act to follow the band.
The featured motion picture presentation for the grand opening will be a 1946 John Wayne and Claudette Colbert movie, “Without Reservations.”
Tickets for the May 25 grand opening must be purchased in advance of the show and are expected to sell out quickly.
Following Saturday night’s grand opening, the Mulkey will hold four free admission matinees on Sunday, May 27, and Monday, May 28. Two movies will be shown each afternoon with no admission charge on a first come, first served basis.
Mulkey fans have been asked this week to make suggestions for what those movies should be by commenting on a thread at facebook.com/MulkeyTheatre. Show times and movie selections for those matinees will be announced in the near future.
For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.
Letter: We support Riza, rodeo team
We are proud of Clarendon College. Tookie and I both attended classes there. We are very proud of Dr. Riza, who we believe has done a great job as President of Clarendon College.
We are also proud of Bret Franks and the rodeo team, who have won the Southwest Region Men’s Championship for the first time ever.
Don & Tookie Thornberry,
Clarendon
Opinion: Trump empowers border patrol
By Noab Elam
A new variable is coming to the illegal immigration stage. President Trump is reported to now be considering a procedure that would empower the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to determine whether asylum seekers can enter the next phase of immigration control after an interview.
According to The Washington Examiner, the Department of Homeland Security is hurrying towards a new policy that would “give federal law enforcement on the border the authority to conduct interviews with asylum seekers who fear returning to their home countries.”
These interviews, called “fear interviews”, are actually the first official step for asylum seekers trying to gain temporary citizenship status in the United States. In 2019 alone, there has been a bevy of asylum seekers arriving at the border, usually in the form of “migrant caravans.”
This new policy is supposedly going to help take some of the weight off Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by lowering the numbers of requests ICE agents have to attend to.
Given the policy is actually pronounced and put into action, CBP would make the decisions regarding asylum seekers. ICE would then manage those allowed by CBP. President Trump’s new plan would effectively change the way CBP and ICE process these individuals. Currently, CBP and ICE process each claim into the country one-by-one.
Sure that process works when the crossing rates are limited to a couple thousand a month. However, the recent appearances of migrant caravans have made it too overwhelming to approach it in that manner due to the border patrol custody holding time of 72 days. ICE simply cannot move fast enough to get immigrants out within the 72-day time limit. And if these immigrants reach the 72-day mark, they are released into the United States for two to five years until their hearing date, which many do not even attend.
While the proposed immigration policy could help these measures, there is some clear disadvantages. An example is that one interview makes it hard to determine intent of a person. Some would even say that allowing illegal immigrants into the immigration process before people looking to enter the country legally is unfair, and they would be right. Some would also say our aid should be focused on people in our own country, and they would be right. However, I believe that, as a country founded on Christian values, it is our duty as a country to help others. Given that, it is definitely a hard situation to manage.
Noab Elam is a senior at Clarendon High School.
Clemishire wins mayor at Howardwick; Robinson to join CISD board
Tony Clemishire will be the new mayor of Howardwick, a new face will join the Clarendon school board, and Clarendon residents approved a tax measure during voting last Saturday, May 4.
A total of 148 votes were cast in the race to determine who would succeed Howardwick Mayor Greta Byars. Clemishire easily carried the election with 105 votes followed by Alderman Brice Hawley 32, Coy Cooper 9, and J.D. Kindle 2.
Alderman Johnny Floyd won re-election to the Howardwick City Council with 130 votes, and former code officer Jerry Mulanax was also elected to the council with 89 votes. Others running for City Council were Beverly McCaskill 29, Tammy Jordan 12, and Ericka Mills 9.
Howardwick residents also voted in favor of reauthorizing a quarter-cent sales tax that raises money for street maintenance but a margin of 133-11.
Street maintenance was also before Clarendon voters, who voted 60-12 to abolish a half-cent sales tax that went towards property tax reduction and replace it with a quarter-cent sales tax for street maintenance and a quarter-cent tax for general revenue. The property tax reduction sales tax had been lowering the city’s ad valorem rate by about 20 cents per $100. The new tax will raise about $50,000 for street maintenance and $50,000 for general revenue.
A total of 126 ballots were cast in the city election, but only 72 people voted on the tax question.
Also on the city ballot, Mayor Sandy Skelton and Aldermen Jacob Fangman, Nathan Floyd, and Eulaine McIntosh were all up for re-election but faced no opposition.
A very close election added challenger Zack Robinson to the Clarendon ISD Board of Trustees. In the four-person race for three seats on the school board, Robinson received 117 votes and incumbents Chuck Robertson and Robin Ellis were returned to the board with 114 and 112 votes respectively. Incumbent Will Thompson fell just short of re-election with 111.
CHS names top students for 2019
Clarendon High School announced this week that Noab Elam and Gavin Word are the top students for the Class of 2019.
The valedictorian for this year’s graduating class is Noab Elam. He is the son of Brad and Adelita Elam and has a weighted GPA of 5.829.
Elam has been very involved in extracurricular activities while attending CHS. He has played football for four years, basketball for three years, and baseball for four years. He has been a regional and state qualifier in UIL Academics participating in Currents Issues and Events, Social Studies, and Editorial Writing. He is a member of the Clarendon High School Student Council and he has also been a columnist for The Clarendon Enterprise.
Elam has been the recipient of many honors. He has been elected class president two years including this year. He was elected first team all-district in football and baseball. He also served as team captain for the Bronco football team that went deep into the playoffs the last two years. He has been the recipient of multiple Honor C’s for academic performance. Elam is a member of the National Honor Society and was elected first team Academic All-State Football. He was named the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce’s Young Man of the Year for Clarendon.
Elam’s community service includes taking part in the Shattered Dreams program which provided students with education on the effects of impaired driving. He has helped in trash pickup on US 287 and has helped in the baseball field cleanup.
His hobbies include writing conservative opinion articles for The Clarendon Enterprise and playing video games. He plans on attending Sam Houston State and getting a law degree.
The salutatorian for CHS is Gavin Word, son of Tiffanie Word and Cameron Word. He has a weighted GPA of 5.637.
Word played football for one year, golf for four years, ran track for four years, was a member of the Bronco Band for three years, and played basketball for one year. He is a member of the Student Council.
Word has received many honors also. He ran cross country for four years where he was a regional medalist and state qualifier. He was a regional UIL Academic qualifier and participated in Number Sense and Computer Apps. Word also qualified for regional in golf. He was named freshman class president, sophomore vice president and junior vice president.
His community service has included the highway trash pickup by the student council, Teacher Appreciation Week, and Red Ribbon Week, and he helped with Powder Puff Football.
Word’s hobby is golf and he plans on attending West Texas A&M University where he plans to get a degree in mechanical engineering
Elam and Word will both be recognized during Clarendon High School commencement exercises on Friday, May 24, in the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center at Clarendon College.
HISD hires new administrators
Hedley ISD will be under a new administration next month after the Board of Trustees named a new superintendent and principal for the school at its most recent meeting.
Garrett Bains was named as Hedley’s new superintendent, and Eric Alston, a Hedley alumnus, will succeed Bains as the school’s principal.
Superintendent Terry Stevens was very pleased with the selections following the April 15 board meeting.
“I think these are two really good hires that will be here for the long term,” Stevens said.
Bains spent seven years as a coach and history teacher at Hedley before becoming the school’s principal two years ago. He’s a Clarendon native, and Stevens said he was a good fit for becoming superintendent.
“I think he’ll be a great superintendent,” Stevens said. “The main thing Hedley wants is a local person who wants to be here. He will be a good long term hire.”
Stevens said HISD posted the superintendent’s job but only Bains applied. The board then named him as the lone finalist for the position in March before formally selecting him for the job April 15.
After naming Bains the lone finalist, the school posted the principal’s position. Stevens said Alston was among four candidates the board interviewed before he was offered the position last month.
Stevens told the Enterprise the school has also hired Kim Harper to coach girls’ basketball. She is from Lelia Lake and has been coaching in Claude, he said. The school is now looking at candidates to succeed Alston as the boys’ coach, the superintendent said.
Bains and Alston are expected to begin their duties June 1, Stevens said.
Top athletes
Lady Bulldogs to play in regional tourney
Clarendon College’s Lady Bulldogs are the number two seed going into the NJCAA Region V West Tournament this Friday, May 10, in Lubbock.
CC finished the regular conference season last week, sweeping four games with Western Texas College at home. The Lady Bulldogs and number one seed Howard College will both get a bye in the opening round of the tournament. Clarendon will play at 6:30 p.m. at Lubbock Christian University against the winner of the Odessa College v. Western Texas match up earlier in the day.
Clarendon slipped one place in the national rankings last week, coming in at number 13 in the NJCAA poll released last Tuesday, April 30. The Lady Bulldogs are currently 47-7 for the season and 24-4 in conference play.
In last Saturday’s opening game at home against WTC, Clarendon’s Morgan Stevenson threw a gem on as the Lady Bulldogs beat Western Texas by a score of 7-0. Stevenson was the winning pitcher for Clarendon as she went seven innings, allowing zero runs on two hits and walking zero.
CC secured the victory thanks to five runs in the sixth inning. The offense was led by Regina Garza, Savannah Flinn, Mariyah Sandoval, and Shaylah Dominguez, who each had RBIs in the inning. The offense totaled 12 hits in the game. Dominguez, Claudia Telles, and Flinn each collected multiple hits. Flinn, Telles, and Dominguez each collected two hits to lead the Lady Bulldogs.
Saturday’s second game saw Devyn Yanello shut down WTC, throwing a complete game shutout and leading CC to a 12-0 victory. Yanello surrendered zero runs on five hits over five innings, striking out five and walking zero.
Clarendon got things started in the first inning with a single by Destinee Alvarez, a stolen base, and a single by Savannah Flinn, scoring one run. Shaylah Dominguez drew a walk as Sierra Wooley doubled to RF to score one, and Yanello singled to score two. The Lady Bulldogs also scored six runs in the third inning as Jasmin Marticorena, Destinee Alvarez, Claudia Telles, and Brie Worley all contributed in the big inning with RBIs.
The Lady Bulldogs racked up 14 hits on the day. Alvarez, Telles, Yanello, Flinn, and Wooley each managed multiple hits. Alvarez led with three hits in four at bats. The team stole five bases during the game as two players stole more than one. Alvarez led the way with two.
In day two of the series, CC won 13-0 as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. Morgan Stevenson took the win for Clarendon as she surrendered zero runs on one hit over four innings, striking out two and walking one. Dezire Garcia threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.
In the first inning, the CC got its offense started when Shaylah Dominguez doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring three runs. Clarendon collected 16 hits as Destinee Alvarez, Savannah Flinn, Jasmin Marticorena, Dominguez, and Regina Garza each managed multiple hits. Flinn and Alvarez had three hits to lead the team. The Lady Bulldogs were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Claudia Telles had the most chances in the field with seven.
The Lady Bulldogs delivered another shutout to close the series Sunday with an 11-0 win as three pitchers combined to throw a shutout.
Clarendon secured the victory thanks to eight runs in the third inning. The offensive onslaught by Clarendon was led by Mariyah Sandoval, Sierra Wooley, Jaylyn Hernandez, Savannah Flinn, and Claudia Telles, who each had RBIs in the inning. The Lady Bulldogs saw the ball well racking up 11 hits in the game. Telles and Flinn each collected multiple hits.
Dezire Garcia was credited with the victory as she surrendered zero runs on two hits over three innings, striking out two and walking zero. Devyn Yanello and Hope Arnold entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
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