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Lady Broncos defeated by last second shot
Calls for ambulance service rising
In 2004, the highest number of monthly calls was 49. This year, the highest number is 96 calls in September, and there are two other months that have received 95 calls.
“We’ve never seen this much activity,” Ambulance Administrator Anna Howard said. “We’ve steadily crept up on our number of calls, but nothing like this year. For unknown reasons, this year has had an amazing jump.”
According to Howard, there are a few more medical calls than trauma, but on average they are the same.
“We don’t have a good explanation because it’s not all one thing,” Howard said. “Our car accident calls have actually decreased since I came here in 2002. We see all sorts of different medical issues, like strokes and heart attacks as well as trauma, so it’s hard to pinpoint what the problem is.”
The average age of the patients varies as well.
“Some wonder if the increase has to do with the higher elderly rate in Donley County, but some of these patients aren’t elderly,” Howard said. “The average age of the patients is pretty much even because there is the same amount of people in each group.”
The majority of the calls are from Donley County citizens.
“We don’t get that many calls from people out of town or just passing through,” Howard said. “In fact in October, we had 56 calls from Donley County citizens and 17 from non-citizens. We thought that was impressive.”
One hypothesis Howard has is that people are putting off going to their primary physician.
“They wait until they start feeling really bad and then finally call the ambulance.”
The amount of calls frequently requires two ambulances running.
“We’re definitely staying busy,” Howard said. “We are fortunate to be able to run two ambulances in Donley County because a lot of small places are struggling to actually get a crew for their ambulance. We staff two trucks 24/7 with personnel, and with the increased calls we even have to staff a third truck at times, but it hasn’t affected the payroll yet.”
The two brand new ambulances received in March already have 24,000 miles on them.
“The old ambulances we replaced got 8.6-9.0 miles per gallon, while the new trucks get 10.9 so that’s good,” Howard said.
“We hope to keep these ambulances until they get at least 300,000 miles on them.”
Howard said the biggest issue with the increased calls is the fuel cost.
“We are still in budget as far as fuel, but if it keeps up like this I’m sure we’ll be over it soon,” she said. “We’ll be $4,000-$5,000 over the fuel budget if we keep up with the call volume of 80-90 calls a month.”
The amount of calls has not affected the care patients receive, though.
“We have a great crew,” Howard said. “If we need a third crew, someone is always going to be there. We have enough people willing to serve the community as EMTs who will even on the rare occasion act as a first responder when all three ambulances are out to provide immediate emergency care until one of our ambulances arrive. To me, that’s unheard of in a rural community.”
David Patterson
David Patterson, 75, of Canyon died Friday, November 19, 2010.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church in Canyon with the Rev. John McClean officiating. Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Arrangements were by Brooks Funeral Directors.
David Patterson was born July 29, 1935, in Doyle, Okla., to John and Clara Burton Patterson. He was a graduate of Groom High School and then graduated from West Texas State University.
He completed his graduate work at Oklahoma University and did additional graduate work at Texas A&M University. He married Jackie Estlack on November 11, 1956, in Clarendon. He taught school in Hereford from 1960 to 1964 and was a professor of Mathematics at WTSU for 31 years, retiring in 1995.
David was a veteran of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He loved antique cars, bluegrass and country music and enjoyed traveling.
He was the founder of Panhandle Council of Car Clubs and was a member of Amarillo Antique Auto Club, Early V-8 Ford Club, Studebaker Club, Porsche Club and First United Methodist Church.
He founded the Make-A-Wish Car Show in Amarillo which has been held annually for 27 years now and has raised $2 million for the Children’s Make-A-Wish Foundation.He will be remembered for his great sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife, Jackie; a daughter, Marcella Cropper and husband Chris of Fort Worth; a grandson, James Wilson, of Fort Worth; two sisters, Shirley Sustaire and husband T.C., and Charlotte Aldy and husband Roy, all of Groom; his mother-in-law, Ruby Estlack of Clarendon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials to Meals on Wheels, 2616 13th Ave., Canyon, TX 79015; Make-A-Wish Foundation, 411 S. Fillmore St., Amarillo, TX 79101; High Plains Food Bank, 815 Ross St., Amarillo, TX 79102; or a favorite charity.
Billie Ruth Gaines-Law
Billie Ruth Gaines-Law, 66, died Thursday, November 18, 2010, in Clarendon.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 21, 2010, at the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Elder Jeff Riles, Elder Roy Williams, Elder Harry Williams, and Elder Ella Bowser, officiating. Interment followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Billie Ruth was born August 3, 1944, in Gilmer, Texas, to Leroy Lee and Rosie Lee Childs Wilson. She married Alton Gaines, Sr., on August 23, 1962, in Clarendon.
She has been a lifelong resident of Clarendon where she worked at Western Skies and Lowe‘s. She loved her family, was a dedicated mother and grandmother, and was known as the neighborhood mom. She loved gardening and all else that God blessed her with. She was a member of the True Church of God in Christ in Clarendon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather; her husband, Alton Gaines, Sr. on April 25, 1974; her son, Ben Gaines; and three sisters.
Survivors include her six sons, Alton Gaines, Jr., and wife Gina of Clarendon, Johnnie Gaines of Clarendon, Danny Gaines and wife Angie of Clarendon, Randy Gaines of Amarillo, Brent Gaines and wife Tasha of Amarillo, and Richard Gaines of Clarendon; her daughter, Glenda Wilson and husband Billy of Clarendon; her brother, Dale Childs of Amarillo; five sisters, Dorothy Hawthorne and Othella Bowie, both of Amarillo, Norma Lee and Estella Mae both of Orange County, Texas, and Carolyn Polk of Amarillo; 21 grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.
Owls fall short
Services honor contributions of America’s veterans
The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion hosted a service in Rowe Cemetery Thursday with Rev. Lloyd Stice, pastor of Clarendon’s First United Methodist Church, delivering the keynote address, and special services was held for those Missing in Action and still held as Prisoners of War.
Dick Bode of Alanreed later spoke at the Hedley School. He lived through five years of German occupation and later served in the US Air Force. He said Americans are “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
That evening, more than 300 people were at Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center for a candlelight vigil that recognized both the men and women who have served and are currently serving the United States. Several community members helped with the program, and Dr. John Howard, who is also a captain in the US Navy, delivered the keynote, which honored the real heroes of America and called for support not just for the fallen but also for the families of those still overseas and for those who come home permanently changed. Howard also drew attention to the need for better treatment of American veterans, particularly noting issues of health care and homelessness.
Another program was held last Wednesday at the Clarendon school, and the local VFW post provided free breakfast to veterans on Thursday.
Shelton runs well at state
Audrey Shelton has worked hard for the reward and the payback came this past weekend in Round Rock. Shelton went through every obstacle she could to get there and not surprisingly ran in the State Cross-Country Meet Saturday, November 13 against 103 other runners.
Her time of 12:46 for the two-mile course was good enough for 25th place. Not bad for the sophomore’s first trip to state.
Shelton was among really good runners and against a course she had never faced before. She ran hard and gave it all she had and even though the results were not what she had in mind, the participation was a first for Clarendon’s cross-country
runners.
Shelton did not begin her training when school started this fall. She was dedicated throughout the summer and made it her goal to not only make it to the Regional meet, but advance to the top meet in the state. She practiced alone, with friends, and with her coaches and every ounce of fortitude and drive came from within. A great testimony to what someone can accomplish with the right determination.
“Audrey is one of the best high school athletes I have ever coached when it comes to determination, attitude, and work ethic,” coach Molly Weatherred said. “She is a great leader. She has worked extremely hard. Not only did Shelton run all of the scheduled practices, but she also ran on her own. Even through the weekends. She never took a day off from running. I am very proud of her.”
Shelton led her team in the District and Regional meet this season. The Lady Bronco team competed at the Regional meet and placed 7th overall. But Shelton is not finished running yet. She will be a very experienced presence in the spring when track season rolls around and then gear up for another cross-country season next fall as a junior.
You can bet that if there is a race to be run, Audrey Shelton will be the first in line to practice whenever and wherever she can. It’s in her blood.
Picnic
Honoring our veterans
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