2023 Lions Club 5K
Supporting first responders
State officials prepare for fire conditions
A combination of above-normal temperatures, low humidity, dry fuel and strong winds set the stage for extreme fire conditions across large portions of the state early this week.
As the Enterprise went to press Tuesday, conditions capable of producing large fires were expected across the Western Plains, including the Panhandle region.
On Tuesday, extreme fire weather was forecast in the Texas Panhandle with relative humidity values in the single digits and 40 mph sustained winds with gusts exceeding 60 mph.
“We have critically dry fuels, complex terrain and higher temperatures in the forecast for that area,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “These are prime fire conditions, and we’ve staged personnel and equipment in the area to facilitate an immediate response to requests for assistance.”
The conditions could lead to a dangerous fire weather phenomena known as a Southern Plains Wildfire Outbreak, or SPWO. Wildfires that ignite during SPWO events exhibit extreme fire behavior and rapid growth and are difficult to control.
Since 2005, SPWO fires have accounted for three percent of reported wildfires but nearly half of the acres burned.
Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize wildfire resources to support local officials in preparation for wildfire potential in the Panhandle, Southern Plains, Permian Basin and West Texas. Texas A&M Forest Service staged three Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) strike teams comprised of approximately 50 firefighters and 15 fire engines, seven single engine air tankers, two air attack platforms and heavy equipment such as bulldozers.
On Friday, Governor Abbott called for an additional TIFMAS strike team of 15 firefighters and five fire engines for wildfire response.
For current fire conditions, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/CurrentSituation/.
Tandie Cummins pitches win over Follett
Clarendon High School sophomore Tandie Cummins did not throw a no-hitter against Follett; however, the shutout was hers as the Lady Broncos demolished Follett 15-0 on Friday in four and a half innings.
Cummins went the distance on the mound recording 11 strikeouts, zero errors, zero walks, while allowing only two hits. Statistically, Cummins threw 41 strikes out of 58 total pitchers against 14 batters.
Not only was their defense strong, but the Lady Broncos’ offensive attack also was impressive. The ladies managed the 11 runs on only seven hits.
Senior Baylee Gabel led the way with two hits, two runs, four RBIs and got the Lady Broncos on the board first with a triple that score two runs.
Along with Gabel, Graci Wilkins was able to make some noise of her own with two RBIs, two walks, and two runs. Hayden Elam stormed the plate with two hits and four runs, and Kenidee Cummins was responsible for three runs. Tandy Blacksher and T. Cummins also were responsible for at least one run. Bailey Bruce, Gabel, K. Cummins, Blacksher, and Wilkins ran the bases well with six stolen bases in the game. Wilkins and Elam each grabbed stolen bases to lead the way.
Earlier in the week, the Lady Broncos suffered a disappointing loss to Fritch 7-14. The Lady Eagles got their bats going in the first inning with a homerun and added two more runs in the second. A big third inning for Fritch put the Lady Broncos in a hole they struggled to get out of. They were able to recover slightly in the fifth with hits by Gabel, T. Cummins, and Wilkins, but it was not enough. K. Cummins opened the game from the mound and lasted three innings, before T. Cummins came in to finish. K. Cummins, uncharacteristically allowed eight hits, 10 runs on eight hits with two homeruns, one base-on-balls, three errors, but had three strike-outs. T. Cummins finished with four hits, four runs, one walk, two errors, and one strike-out.
Elliot Frausto had two hits in four at bats.
The ladies will host Claude in another district game at home Thursday beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Broncos nab wins over Wellington; Claude
The Broncos stomped the Wellington Skyrockets 10-1 at home last week behind the pitching of Easton Frausto and Tyler Harper.
It was Frausto who earned the win in six innings with nine strikeouts. He allowed only two hits and Wellington’s only run of the game during his time on the mound. Harper came up in relief to throw one inning and posted two strikeouts.
Offensively, not only were the Broncos’ bats hot with 11 total team hits, their base running was unstoppable with 16 stolen bases. Frausto racked up four, while Jared Musick and Lyric Smith posted three each. Harrison Howard and Wilson Ward had two each, and Mason Sims and Harper helped with one apiece. The Broncos posted one run in the first, second, third, and fifth and marked three runs in the fourth and sixth. Their last at-bat was not needed.
Despite allowing the Claude Mustangs four runs, the Broncos won big at 18-4 in Claude March 31. Three runs were scored in the first inning off of Smith’s double in his opening turn at the plate. Strong hitting in the first inning gave the Broncos a big lead and set the pace for the following innings. Harper, Musick, Sims, Frausto, and Howard came through with heavy-duty bats in the game that resulted in 11 hits. The Broncos also used their speed to record 11 stolen bases. The third was the only inning the Broncos did not make a change on the scoreboard.
Howard was on the mound for two innings and only allowed one hit and two runs while striking out three. Harper came in for the next two innings and allowed four hits, two runs, and two strike-outs. Levi Gates took over in the fifth and posted two hits and one strike-out.
The Broncos will play Naz at home on April 6 at 4:00 p.m. and the Broncos will travel to Shamrock April 11.
Local Woman faces charge of child injury
A Clarendon woman is facing a third-degree felony charge for injury to a child following a grand jury indictment on March 21.
Taylor Danielle Schwertner, age 26, was arrested and booked into the Donley County Jail last Thursday, March 30, after she turned herself in on a warrant. She was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Sarah Hatley with bond set at $10,000.
Schwertner posted bond and was released Friday evening, according to Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn.
“It’s sad, but we work this type of case fairly often, at least once a year,” the sheriff said.
Blackburn said his office began investigating this case September 18 and finished and turned it over the district attorney’s office in early October.
Lady Broncos opens District with win over Sunray
The Lady Broncos were ready for their district play to begin after a solid pre-district season. They slammed Sunray March 7 11-1 before a hometown crowd. Sophomore Kennedie Cummins went the distance pitching all five innings and posting the lone homerun for the Lady Broncos in the first inning. Cummins only allowed three hits, had zero walks, and struck out seven hitters.
The ladies were consistent at the plate, but a big six-run fourth inning sealed the win. Hadyen Elam, Cummins, and Tandy Blacksher each nabbed an RBI to put points on the board. Elam had three RBIs, K. Cummins, Blacksher, and Tandie Cummins had two each.
The Lady Broncos were error free in the game and T. Cummins, K. Cummins, Elam, and Baylee Gabel grabbed several stolen bases.
The Lady Broncos took part in the Randall Tournament held March 9-10. They went up against Canyon, Tulia, River Road, and Randall JV.
The ladies defeated Canyon 7-1 on Thursday. A huge opening inning gave the Lady Broncos the edge they needed for the remainder of the game.
K. Cummins was on the mound for six innings and only allowed two hits and gave up only one run. Fifty-six of her 70 pitches were strikes as she dismissed 11 hitters from the plate.
Offensively, the Lady Broncos found their mojo at the plate and gathered nine hits as a team with Gabel leading the way with three hits. Gabel also stormed the bases and finished the game with three steals. Frausto and Elam had two each, and Wilkins and Mya Edwards had one each.
The Lady Broncos also played Tulia and held on for a six inning win at 7-5. This time it was T. Cummins on the mound for the duration with seven strikeouts. The ladies had a scoring frenzy in the fourth putting six points on the board. RBIs by Elam, Gabel, and T. Cummins gave Clarendon the power they needed to finish the big inning with six runs to Tulia’s five.
Wilkins led the way at the plate hitting two for three. Base running made a big difference as five runners posted stolen bases in the game.
The last matchup with River Road finished up the tournament for the Lady Broncos. The ladies topped off a great tournament with a 15-0 shut out over the Lady Cats in only three innings. T. Cummins took the helm and only allowed one hit, no walks, and three six strikeouts.
Everything went the Lady Broncos’ way as they were able to score runs at will. They posted four hits, six RBIs, and seven walks. Elam led the way with three at bats, two runs, one hit, and one RBI.
The Lady Broncos will travel to Gruver March 17 for another district game beginning at 1:00 p.m. and be on the road at Amarillo High on Saturday, March 18, also beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Broncos defeat Caprock JV by fourteen runs
The Clarendon Broncos took their A game to Amarillo March 7 and defeated the Caprock Longhorn JV 15-1. The Broncos only posted eight hits in the game, but they were able to capitalize on big hits.
Levi Gates earned the win pitching two innings and allowed only one hit and no runs. Gates was able to strike out two hitters before Tyler Harper and Lyric Smith came in as relief.
Early in the game, Easton Frausto knocked a runner in with a single and the team was able to mark three runs in the first inning. They added runs in the second, third and fifth innings, while only allowing Caprock one run in the third.
Several players swung for the fence with Smith leading the way with two doubles and Jared Musick with one.
The Broncos were on their game around the bases as well and stole nine bases all together. Smith led the way with four.
Defensively, the Broncos were sharp and played solid in the field committing zero errors in the win.
On March 9, the Broncos traveled to Oklahoma to participate in the Hollis Tournament. They met up with Sayre in the first round and breezed to a 15-1 win in three innings.
With hot bats, they were able to post 12 hits in the game, tacked on 12 RBIs, and added four stolen bases.
Musick was on the mound for two innings and recorded only one hit, no errors, and two strike outs. Mason Sims came in and had two strike outs in his 14 pitches.
Several players had multiple hits and Ward, Howard, Sims, and Frausto nabbed stolen bases.
Next up for the Broncos was Shattuck and struggled at the plate in their 0-11 loss posting four errors in the game. Ward was able to slam a triple in the fourth inning but could not cross home plate for a run.
Ward was on the mound for four innings and gave up six hits and five runs. Gates pitched the final inning and gave up six runs on three hits.
The Broncos took on Granite in the final game and fell behind in the third inning after both teams went scoreless in the first. The Broncos scored another run in the fifth and one in the seventh but could not catch up. They ended the game at 3-6.
Howard and Frausto split the duties on the mound as Frausto came in after the third innings. Howard allowed three hits, four runs, and four errors, while Frausto allowed four hits, two runs with two errors.
The Broncos outhit Granite in the seven innings at bat but fell short bringing runners home with only one RBI by Caudle.
The Broncos left nine runners on base in the game.
The Broncos will host Claude on March 17 beginning at 1:00 p.m. On March 21, the Broncos will travel to Canute, Okla., before returning to take on Kress at home on March 24.
Lions welcome new member
Sales tax revenue drops for Clarendon
Clarendon and Hedley sales taxes dropped while Howardwick saw an increase when Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar delivered March allocations to local governments last week.
Clarendon’s revenue dropped 3.97 percent compared to this time last year with an allocation of $33,018.04. The city is still ahead 1.19 percent for the year-to-date collections at $123,270.08.
Hedley dropped 0.73 percent to $725.88 for the month but is running 24.58 percent ahead for the year at $3,381.55.
Howardwick posted a gain of 24.57 percent with an allocation of $1,890.87 and is now 18.95 percent ahead for the year-to-date at $5,901.81.
Statewide Hegar delivered $1 billion in local sales tax allocations for March, 9.9 percent more than in March 2022.
These allocations are based on sales made in January by businesses that report tax monthly.
Reader Comments