Roger Estlack

Despite biting cold temperatures, approximately 200 residents assembled at the Donley County War Memorial to honor American veterans last Saturday.

The program of the third annual Veterans Day ceremony was scaled back because of the weather, but the solemnity of the occasion did not suffer.

Pastor Leonard Holt of the First Christian Church delivered the invocation. Boy Scout Troop 433 posted the colors, and singing groups from Hedley performed patriotic songs.

American Legion Post 287 Commander Jack Moreman spoke regarding the anniversary of the Korean War and the sacrifices made during that conflict.

Proclamations were read from Gov. George W. Bush and the Donley County Commissioners’ Court.

David McCoy, 100th District Judge, was the keynote speaker for the morning and called veterans his “passion.”

He spoke of the great battles of World War II, particularly Iwo Jima, and said the American veteran is the most important hero in our society. He said veterans often do not receive proper respect.

“There is something wrong in our country when a homeless Vietnam veteran sleeps in a cardboard box and a draft dodger sleeps in the White House.”

It is important for all Americans to remember the sacrifices that were made in those battles and to give all veterans the respect they are due, he said.

“When the need is over, we give them a medal. We give them a parade. We send them home, and we forget about them,” McCoy said of our nation’s treatment of veterans.

McCoy’s abbreviated his remarks because of the cold weather Saturday, but several people said later it was so good they wished he had delivered all of his address.

Following McCoy’s speech, Voice of Democracy contest winner Erica Smith, a junior at Clarendon High School, read her essay on the price of freedom.

The ceremony was closed with a benediction given by Brian Gochenour of the Church of Christ.

After the ceremony, the public placed flowers and flags near the names of loved ones at the memorial, and hot dogs were served to the community at the VFW Hall.

The holidays are almost upon us, and folks in Clarendon will be getting things kicked off this Thursday night.

The Clarendon Girl Scouts will host the lighting of the Christmas tree on the Courthouse Square at 6 p.m., and the girls will sing carols.

Immediately following, the Al Morrah Shrine Club will be drawing for a new Dell computer. Tickets are still available at Henson’s or from any Shriner. All proceeds go to the Shriners’ crippled children’s hospitals.

Downtown merchants are urged to get all their Christmas lights put up and have them turned on Thursday night.

The best party of the holiday season is planned for Saturday, December 2, and everyone is urged to get their tickets as soon as possible.

The Saints’ Roost Museum’s annual Christmas Party will be held in the Community Center, located behind Chamberlain Motor Co., from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Organizers plan to have live country music entertainment for the evening, and Bar H Dude Ranch will be preparing the brisket for the meal. Beverages will be provided by Budweiser.

Tickets are $50 per couple, and each ticket will go in the drawing to win $5,000. You do not have to be present to win.

Purchase your tickets today from any museum board member. They are also available at Henson’s and The Clarendon Enterprise office, both in downtown Clarendon. All proceeds benefit the museum.

The Saints’ Roost Museum is located in the old Adair Hospital and preserves the history of Donley County and the surrounding area. Each year, the museum holds only two fundraisers – the Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff and the annual Christmas Party – to support the expenses of carrying out its mission. Your support is encouraged and appreciated.

The Donley County Ministerial Alliance will hold a community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church.

The following ministers will join in leading the service: Jim Aveni of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Darrell Burton of Martin Baptist Church, James Ivy Edwards of First United Methodist Church, Leonard Hold of First Christian Church, Smiley Johnson of First Presbyterian Church, and Truman Ledbetter of First Baptist Church.

All people are invited to come and participate in thanksgiving to God for the gifts of life.

The voters of Donley County decisively chose Charles “Butch” Blackburn, Jr., to be their next sheriff when they cast ballots in the 2000 General Election Tuesday.

Capturing more than 77 percent of the vote, Blackburn, a Democrat, easily defeated his Republican challenger, William A. “Bill” Holden, by a margin of 1,305 to 386.

“I’m tickled to have it,” Sheriff-elect Blackburn said. “There is no way I could have done it without all the good support. I feel like I won and my supporters won. All I can say is ‘thank you.’

“I’d like to assure the public that I’ll do the job to the best of my abilities,” he said.

The campaign to be the successor of long-time sheriff William J. Thompson was a competitive one that was fought out by supporters on each side in the letters column of this newspaper. In the end, Holden had kind words for Blackburn.

“First of all, I want to congratulate Butch as our new sheriff,” Holden said. “He has my support, and I’ll help him in any way I can.

“I’d like to thank all of my supporters and ask that they now support Butch. It’s obvious that a large number of voters want change. I hope we can all work together for the best of Donley County.”

In other local races, incumbent Wilma Lindley fended off a challenge from Republican Wanda Smith to be the County Tax Assessor/Collector, 1,005 to 697. Precinct 1 County Commissioner Randy White was defeated by Democrat Ernest Johnston, 224 to 308; and Precinct 3 County Commissioner Andy Wheatly lost to Democrat Henry C. “Buster” Shields, 130 to 276.

Mike Wallendorff ran unopposed for the Constable position in Precincts 3&4 and received 480 votes.

Write-in candidate Jimmy Swinney won his bid to be the Constable in Precincts 1&2. He received 52 votes and will assume an office that has been vacant for about 30 years.

More than 77 percent of local voters preferred Gov. George W. Bush to be the next president. Less than 21 percent wanted to promote Vice President Al Gore to the presidency.

US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) won Donley County, 1,466 to 224, over Democratic challenger Curtis Clinesmith. At press time, reports had Thornberry leading his opponent to win a fourth term.

Donley County also voted by a wide margin in favor of Stuart Messer to be the next 100th District Attorney. The Republican County Attorney Pro-tem beat the incumbent Democrat, Randall Sims, by a local margin of 1,143 to 513. District wide results were not available at press time, but reports had Messer leading.

A total of 1,759 county voters cast ballots in the 2000 election – a more than 67 percent turnout. 684 early ballots were cast. Complete local results are printed on page 10.

Two men were arrested last week after they set two crosses ablaze “as a joke.”

Max C. Rippetoe and Joseph M. Shadle were arraigned on disorderly conduct charges Wednesday, November 1, in front of County Judge Jack Hall.

Chief Deputy Butch Blackburn said the Donley County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a possible grass fire at 9:24 p.m. Upon arrival, a deputy and emergency personnel discovered a burning cross leaning against a tree in the 200 block of N. Jefferson St.

“It looked like a big ball of fire,” said Dora Weatherton, whose house was across the street from the blaze. “We thought it was a grass fire.”

A deputy later told her the fire was a burning cross, she said. A 40-year resident of the city, Weatherton said she has never seen anything like this before.

A description of a vehicle believed to be involved in the cross burning was given by neighbors, and a second cross was subsequently found on S. McClelland St. leaning against a fence across from the car wash.

Both crosses were constructed of 2x4s and were eight feet high and four feet wide. Blackburn said the crosses were doused in a flammable liquid. The second cross only burned off the liquid and did not catch fire.

Blackburn said neighbors’ accounts and an investigation of tire tracks led to Rippetoe and Shadle. Warrants were obtained on October 31, and the two men were arrested that evening at 11:45 p.m. Both signed confessions, and one of the suspects reportedly stated that they did it as a joke and meant no harm to anyone.

But no one is laughing about the matter.

“That wasn’t funny at all,” Weatherton said. “It’s kinda scary.”

“I think it’s the poorest joke anybody could pull,” Blackburn said. “Jokes like this could tear up a community.”

Blackburn said he had lived here all his life and never heard of this type of incident happening before.

Local black businessmen agreed with the deputy.

“There’s never been an incident like that before,” said former city alderman Mack Smith, who has lived in Clarendon for 50 years.

“I’m well aware there’s prejudice around, but it’s never been directed toward me.”

Smith said he doesn’t think the incident is funny at all and said he didn’t think the young men got the attitude from home.

“Sometimes kids go astray through no fault of the parents,” he said.

Smith said he thinks the suspects deserve whatever the law does to them.

“I think it’s terrible,” said 71-year-old Clifford Alexander. “I’ve never heard of this. It’s bad for the town. Everybody here has been really getting along.

“I don’t think nothing like this is funny, especially since the community has always gotten along. I’ve never had any trouble with anybody.”

Rippetoe, 21, and Shadle, 20, were released last week on $1,500 bond each, Blackburn said.

Disorderly conduct is usually a Class C misdemeanor, but the nature of the act falls under the state hate crimes statute, which makes it a Class B misdemeanor, he said. That carries a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine and 180 days in jail.

The third annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held this Saturday, November 11, at the War Memorial on the Donley County Courthouse Square at 11 a.m.

The Donley County Memorial Post of the VFW 7782 and its Ladies Auxiliary is hosting the event again.

The schedule calls for the invocation to be delivered by First Christian Church pastor Leonard Holt, and Boy Scout Troop 433 will present the colors.

Various musical selections will be performed by the Hedley Ensemble and the Hedley Community Choir.

American Legion Post Commander Jack Moreman will speak on the anniversary of the Korean War, and VFW Post Commander Jimmy Swinney will deliver a Veterans Day speech.

The featured guest speaker for the day will be 100th District Judge David M. McCoy.

This year’s local Voice of Democracy winner, Erica Smith, will read her essay. Smith is a junior at Clarendon High School.

VFW services will be held, “Taps” will be played, and a wreath will be placed on the memorial.

Clarendon Church of Christ evangelist Brian Gochenour will offer the benediction.

Following the singing of “God Bless America,” the public may make presentations of flags, flowers, or mementos at the memorial.

Those wishing to donate food, time, or money to this year’s service should call Bill Holden at 874-3813.

By Joburta Helms

The community of Clarendon has been watching and waiting for the day this day to come.  And now it has arrived.  Saturday, November 11, 2000, will be the first day the Ministry Center will be opened to the community.

The vision of the Ministry Center grew from a need of more space to house the Clothes Closet into a place where many activities can be held to minister to our townspeople.

The First Baptist Church purchased the building in March.  Remodeling began with a grant given by the Amarillo Ministry Foundation. Many people of the community have donated building materials, furnishings and many hours of labor.

The Ministry Center hosted the community by serving the Depression Dinner on the 4th of July.  Even amidst the construction the community enjoyed friendly fellowship and feasted on beans and cornbread.   The Ministry Center also hosted a community wide Rummage Sale.

We would like to express our appreciation for the donated items. All the proceeds of these two events were used to purchase building materials for the center.

We would especially like to express our appreciation to Jim Shadle, Jason Web, and Larry Helms for the work done to texture and paint the walls.

The Ministry Center will house the Clothes Closet, an all ready established ministry of First Baptist Church.  Although the program began in First Baptist Church, the clothing truly comes from the community and is made available to members of our community as well as neighboring towns.  The clothing that is not readily used by our community is sent to another source for distribution.  Those who work in the Clothes Closet appreciate your support and donations.

You may begin bringing items to the Ministry Center on Saturdays and any evening you see someone in the center working.

As you enter the Ministry Center, you are welcomed into a meeting area furnished with couches and chairs.  This area is to be used for group meetings or Bible Studies.   We invite the community to use this facility.   The front windows will be used as a Community Bulletin Board, where announcements for community events may be posted.  

Future plans for the Ministry Center include a Food Pantry and special activities for children.  The greatest area of work is still in progress.  The back area of the building will be a large, all-purpose room.

Clarendon is blessed with many strong churches and people who want to reach out and help others.  The Ministry Center is available to be a place where these people can work together to meet the needs of our community.