Cleaning crew
Simple pleasures!
Enterprise Photo / Anndria Newhouse
Employee of the Month
Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack
CEDC okays downtown mural work
A new mural will soon be taking shape downtown following action by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation last week.
The CEDC board approved a design and engaged artist Malcolm Byars to paint a mural on the south side of the REFZ building. Byars plans to begin work on the mural next Monday, June 10, and hopes to be finished before July 4.
Byars has painted several murals across the country, including a buffalo mural just off the square in Claude. The CEDC Board first met with Byars almost a year ago and has been working with him on the design since that time.
The Clarendon mural will pay homage to the area’s ranching history and to one of the community’s most popular events. It will feature a Chuckwagon camp scene along with images of pioneer ranchers Col. Charles Goodnight, John and Cornelia Adair, and Alfred Rowe.
“The EDC is excited to partner with Malcolm Byars on the mural project to pay tribute to the ranching heritage of this community,” CEDC Vice President Taylor Shelton said. “We are hopeful the mural will attract attention to main street, drive additional foot traffic to downtown, and help support our downtown businesses.”
The ranch heritage mural will cost about $27,000 and will be paid for by Hotel Occupancy Tax funds administered by the CEDC.
Just two weeks ago, the CEDC erected a new sign at the corner of US 287 and Kearney Street designed to welcome visitors while also promoting the new REFZ Sports Bar & Grill and provide a promotional opportunity to downtown merchants. The CEDC and the Chamber of Commerce have also purchased seasonal banners for the new streetlights in the 100 block of Kearney Street.
CEDC officials hope the new mural will inspire property owners to consider taking on similar projects. In December, the CEDC authorized a Mural Grant Program to enhance Clarendon’s appearance, increase employment opportunities in the arts, raise awareness and appreciation of the value of art, create civic pride, reduce blight, and encourage tourism.
Grant recipients can be eligible to receive reimbursement for up to one-half of the mural project cost based on funds available each year.
The program rules were modeled on a similar program in Amarillo and stipulate that proposed locations for grant-funded murals must be high-traffic areas that are readily visible and must be in the Central Business District or along the US 287 corridor.
Mural grant applications are available online at ClarendonTX.com/CEDC.
‘Thang’ raises funds for senior citizens
The fourth annual That Senior Thang “FAM FEST” provided lots of family fun Saturday, June 1, while raising money for the Donley County Senior Citizens Center.
The annual chicken barbecue was again a big hit with 400 chicken halves prepared. Some frozen cooked chicken halves are still available for those who missed the event. They are $5 and can be picked up at the center during regular hours 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Center director Denise Bertrand said the event was successful thanks to the efforts of those who volunteered.
“We owe a huge thanks to everyone who helped,” Bertrand said. “We need to be proud of our kids from the high school who volunteered. If it wasn’t for them, there’s no way we could do this.”
The 50/50 Raffle grew to $10,250 with half the pot going to the winning ticket purchased by Clarendon Family Medicine. P.J. O’Keefe was the winner of the quilt raffle.
Winners of the Chicken Drop Bingo were Mary Green and Ronnie Edwards.
Jace and Huxley Schmidt (nine- and six-years-old) won the Cornhole tournament against much older competitors and playing under league rules. The Bell Boys – Jackie and Kyler – won the Two-on-Two basketball game, and the Water Dodgeball tournament championship was won by the “Pickles” team of Kate Shaw, Presley Smith, and Kyler Bell. The Newhouse brothers – Matthew and Monroe – won the Water Balloon Blast.
A special plaque was dedicated and will be hung in the center in memory of the late Don Stone and his many years of service to the organization.
Next year’s Senior Thang is scheduled for June 7, 2025.
Blood drive to be held here June 10
A Clarendon Community Blood Drive will be held Monday, June 10, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Lowe’s Family Center. The Bloodmobile will be available to take donations. Call 877-340-8777 or visit obi.org to make your appointment.
CRP sign-up period open
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now sign up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). The signup runs from today through June 28, 2024.
Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands and provide important conservation benefits for wildlife, soil health and carbon sequestration, all while continuing most grazing and haying practices.
More than 2.3 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners were accepted through the 2023 Grassland CRP signup. That signup reflects the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs. The current total participation in Grassland CRP is 8.64 million acres, which is part of the 24.8 million acres enrolled in CRP opportunities overall.
On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which generally extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, through Sept. 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including CRP, to continue operating.
Landowners and producers interested in CRP should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program before the June 28 deadline.
FSA is also accepting applications for the Continuous CRP signup, which opened in January 2023. Under this enrollment, producers and landowners can enroll in CRP throughout the year.
Contact the local FSA office for more information.
Senior Thang to be held this Saturday
The Donley County Senior Citizens will hold its fourth annual That Senior Thang “FAM FEST” this Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.
This event is designed to raise awareness of Donley County Senior Citizens Center and its needs with a fun-filled family night. The date of this event has been changed to avoid extreme weather of August and the back-to-school rush.
The day will kick off with BBQ chickens, which can be picked up at 1:00 p.m. and followed with loads of fun. The concession stand and country store will satisfy every taste bud. There will be plenty of good food and snacks to keep you fueled for all the games and activities.
There will be everything from free carnival games for the little ones to ladder ball and horse shoes for the kids at heart.
Competitions for those who want a challenge include Corn Hole, 2 on 2 Basketball, Water Dodge Ball, Texas Skis and Water Balloon Blast can be played for a small fee with the winner taking half of the entry fee as prize.
Be sure to get your raffle tickets on the quilt and the 50/50 drawing. Don’t forget to stop by the Estlacks’ table and pick a spot in the Chicken Drop Bingo. Local musicians will entertain those in attendance from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
This event has something for everyone so bring your own chair and come join the fun next Saturday afternoon. Check out the event on Facebook for more information.
22 garage sales this Saturday
Bargain shoppers will be in for a treat during the 19th annual “Trash to Treasures” garage sale event that will be held in Clarendon and Howardwick this Saturday, June 1. SEE MAP HERE.
A total of 22 individual garage sales are scheduled to be held. A complete description of each sale is printed on the official Treasure Maps located on the last page of this week’s Clarendon Enterprise.
From furniture to antiques, this weekend’s sales will feature hundreds of treasures just waiting to be uncovered at bargain prices. Sales generally start at 8 a.m. and run throughout the day.
“Trash to Treasures” is being promoted with advertising dollars in area communities thanks to the support of the official sales depicted on the maps. It is those official sales that make the Trash to Treasures event possible.
Thanks to the marketing paid for by those sales, many people from neighboring counties are expected attend this year’s event.
Memorial Day Service
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