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Motley County outscores Hedley, Owls outclass Motley Matadors

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By Fred Gray

The Hedley Owls hosted the Motley County Matadors last Friday, October 26, 2012. The game was a disappointment from the very beginning. Motley County, exhibiting a remarkable disdain for good manners and good sportsmanship, immediately commenced to crank-up their sound system to ear splitting decibels, potentially causing deafness to the people across the football field, where their speakers were aimed. There is no doubt in my mind that they used it as a weapon of intimidation against the Owl players. Even more disturbing, their choice of music was in poor taste.

I strongly suspect that their head coach missed the UIL Statement of Competition that is read before each game. Perhaps he is suffering from hearing damage that resulted from his high decibel speaker system.

Complicating this weird football experience, the Hedley head coach was thrown out of the game, after two unsportsmanship penalties for overzealously defending his players.

Assistant Coach Garret Bains was then cast into the center of the tempest, which was once supposed to be a football game. Coach Bains was able to keep his players focused, which was a minor miracle in itself, and they fought valiantly and hard for the rest of the first half, which ended with Hedley’s only score. With 35 seconds left in the first half, and ultimately the game, Brandon Evans sprinted 10 yards up the middle for the touchdown.

Motley County did finally lower the volume of their speakers with 2:33 left in the game, which was appreciated by all.

Even though Motley County led by large margin, their coach, Mike Bigham, continued to call upon his players to continue attempting onside kickoffs, rather than kicking the ball deep and playing defense, which would have been the sporting thing to do.

Final score: Motley County 62, Hedley 6.

Kindergarten classes receive free books

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On Monday, October 22, the Donley County Retired School Personnel Association presented books entitled There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed

The Hedley kindergarten class received books from the Donley County Retired School Personnel Association. Courtesy Photo

Some Books to the Kindergarten classes of Mrs. Potts in Hedley and Mrs. Starnes and Ms. White in Clarendon. Before receiving the books, the students enjoyed listening to Mrs. Hankins read to them the book, The Bumpy Little Pumpkin.

CC foes call Bulldog Gym the toughest place to play

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By Tony Starns, CC Men’s Basketball Coach

 In a small remote location deep in the plains of West Texas lies the home of one of the most unique and special environments in all of junior college basketball.

 For forty-four years the Dawg House, a name locals have coined, has been the home of the Clarendon College Bulldogs.

The Clarendon College Bulldogs are ready for a new season in the “Dawg House.” Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

 Over the years, the Dawg House has transformed into an incredible home court advantage due to the fact that it has many qualities most facilities lack.

 It possesses aura and character that are felt when opposing teams arrive in the confines. Each coach dreads the time of year they have to bring their team into the atmosphere that the many supporters create on game nights. Most importantly, the Dawg House instills a sense of fear and intimidation into opponents as they enter the place known as the toughest place to play in junior college.

 Clarendon College basketball programs have competed in the Dawg House since 1968 and there are many attributes and aspects that separate it from other facilities around the country.

 The size of the facility plays a major factor, and in a league where most of the facilities are considered too large to fill, the Dawg House fills easily.

 “Our fan base is great,” Clarendon College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tony Starnes said. “The local people really get involved in our College students’ lives and they really support our athletic teams. The student support is second to none. We are known for having the loudest and proudest fans.”

 The acoustics are a factor also.

 “It’s the loudest gym I have ever been in,” Rick Cooper, Head Coach at West Texas A&M University, said.

 Becoming the toughest place to play in junior college is a byproduct of having exceptional support from the faculty, administration, local community, and student body. And, each group is extremely important to the legacy of the Dawg House.

 “First and foremost, you have to mention the baseball, RFO, and judging programs,” Starnes said. “Over the years, these programs have played a big role in some of the biggest wins the Dawg House has ever seen. They are known as the most energetic cheering section in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.”

 Secondly, one must note the consistent support from the community.

 “There are numerous individuals and families who have not missed a game in years,” Starnes said.

 The Dawg House has an atmosphere that is unlike any other basketball facility in the country and some of the best coaches in junior college agree.

 “When I coached at Clarendon College back in the 80s, we were able to compete with anybody because of the sixth man otherwise known as the Dawg House,” Mark Adams, Howard College Head Coach and 2010 National Champion said. “The local people and the students make that facility the hardest place in the state at this level to play in.”

 The Dawg House has been feared by opposing teams and coaches for many decades.

 “When I was at Western Texas, we would bring our baseball team in to our practice to try to simulate the crowd, the noise, and the atmosphere that we were about to face at the Dawg House,” Jason Sauter, former Western Texas Head Coach, said.

 Steve Green, Head Coach for South Plains College and 2009 and 2012 National Champion echoed those sentiments.

 “The energy that is created within those four walls by the local fans and student body is as formidable as we will see all season long,” Green said.

 “In my 14 years of coaching at the junior college level, there is not a tougher place to play than at Clarendon College (Dawg House),” Chris Bauman, Trinity Valley Community Head Coach, said. “It is a 10 point advantage in my opinion.”

 Spud Webb, the former Midland College legend and NBA great, was quoted in The Amarillo Globe-News recently as saying “I remember in Clarendon the fans would pound those buckets. Your ears would be ringing all the way back to Midland.”

 The aura and perception of the Dawg House are known and feared by each opposing participant.

 “We have great fans, whether it is the local people or our student body,” Starnes said. “It is a great college basketball atmosphere and is a selling point in recruiting.”

 “It is a privilege to be a part of the Dawg House and I am very appreciative to all of the fans that have made the Dawg House a crazy, but special place to play,” Starnes said.

 The 2012-2013 Bulldog and Lady Bulldog basketball season has arrived and the excitement level is higher than ever.

 The Dawg House has always been a key component in the success of the men’s and women’s basketball program and this season is no different.

 Coach Starnes has always said the crazier the Dawg House gets the better chance the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs have at being successful.

 Each member involved with the CC basketball programs asks each of you to come out and support the Bulldogs this season. Let’s make sure that the Dawg House is rockin’ in traditional fashion during every home contest this upcoming season.

 For basketball schedules, click on “Athletics” at www.clarendoncollege.edu

Clarendon welcomes NIRA rodeo Oct. 25-27

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Get your cowboy hats and boots and get ready for the Clarendon College Stampede this week as CC welcomes more than 400 contestants to its NIRA rodeo.

With contestants from 16 colleges and universities in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association involved, qualifying events will be held all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 25-27, with nightly performances being held at 7 p.m. each evening.

Tickets for evening performance are $5 in advance from either Cornell’s Country Store or the Enterprise and will be $8 at the gate. All activities will be held under the roof of the CC Livestock & Equine Center.

Activities will include bull riding, barrel racing, bareback riding, saddlebronc riding, and more.

First year rodeo coach Cody Heck and nearly the entire staff at Clarendon College have been working for weeks to make sure the event comes off without a hitch.

Local and area sponsors have also lined up to support what promises to be one of the most exciting rodeos the town has seen in the last few years.

This region’s NIRA rodeo has traditionally rotated locations between Canyon and Perryton, but this year Clarendon has been given the opportunity to host the event. Heck says he looks forward to putting on a successful rodeo in front of his students’ peers and wants to see the rodeo do well on the local level by boosting local businesses.

“This event will really boost our community and bring money to our town,” Heck said. “It will also provide our students an opportunity to interact with the community.”

Local cowboys can also get in on the action by participating in the Open Double Mugging held each night. Just call Heck to sign up in advance at 806-874-4844.

If successful, Stampede supporters say the NIRA rodeo will return to Clarendon in two years, and there is a possibility that it could be held here annually at some point in the future.

The college is anticipating an attendance of about 1,000 to 1,200 over the three days.

Parking will be available near the arena, and Clarendon College will also be running buses from the parking lot in front of the Instructional Center.

For more information or to sponsor the event, call Heck at 806-874-4844 or Ashlee Estlack at 806-874-4808.

Opinion: Everyone Stampede and enjoy arts

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Fred Gray.

This weekend’s fiesta of cultural delights is shaping up to be one of those magical fall experiences that I love so much. Even Mother Nature is excited, and plans to come dressed in her finest autumn splendor.

In case you’ve been so enraptured by the presidential debates that you’ve lost track of our local happenings, this weekend promises to be a veritable feast of cultural experiences. You see, this is the weekend of the first ever Clarendon College Stampede NIRA Rodeo, majestically enhanced by the annual Clarendon Arts Festival, graciously presented by Les Beaux Arts Club.

The Clarendon College Stampede, which is a National Intercollegiate Rodeo, opens Thursday, October 25, and runs through Saturday, October 27. The Stampede will begin at 7:00 p.m. each night.

There are over 400 rodeo contestants from 16 colleges and universities, including Clarendon College, West Texas A&M, Frank Phillips College, Texas Tech University, Tarleton State University, along with a nice assortment of colleges and universities from around the Southwest and Oklahoma.

Events will include bull riding, barrel racing, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and an open double mugging each night. So, come prepared to witness and enjoy an excellent rodeo.

The Stampede is produced by Bad Company Rodeo. If you’ve never witnessed a Bad Company Rodeo, you are in for rocking, rolling extravaganza. These people know how to produce memorable rodeo experiences, so come prepared for good music, good riding, big time thrills and big time spills.

After you’ve enjoyed yourself at the rodeo, watching the young college contestants test their skills against the rank rodeo stock, you can then head on over to the Clarendon Arts Festival and partake of the cultural delights offered by Les Beaux Arts Club of Clarendon. The festival will be held at Donley County Activity Center.

A preferred buyers’ reception kicks things off, and will be held on Thursday, October 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you are interested in buying excellent art at a discount, there is still time to get registered to attend the reception. Call Tommye Duncan at 874.2224. If she doesn’t answer, leave a message and she will get back to you. A $100 deposit is required if you want to buy great art at great prices. Entertainment for the reception will be provided by The Jazz Standard of Canyon, Texas.

This year, the Arts Festival will have 10 booths, presenting art in several different mediums, including water colors, acrylics, and oil paintings. Additionally, mesquite wood inlaid with turquoise will be exhibited. There will also be fine photography, unique jewelry, along with other assorted crafts, including colorful hair bows.

Les Beaux Arts Club wants to encourage our young artists to participate in the festival this year. A “Kids’ Corner” booth will offer our young artists, age’s k – 6, a chance to develop their interest in art at a young age. The festival’s presenters want to promote art to younger kids, especially those who like to draw.

Children are encouraged to bring their drawings and paintings with them to the festival. Their work will be exhibited in the “Kids’ Corner” this weekend. So, get your children busy drawing and painting, and encourage them to bring their work to the festival.

There will be refreshments available for sale. St. Mary’s Catholic Church will offer breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls Saturday morning. Sunday at noon, St. Mary’s will serve an enchilada dinner.

Saturday, October 27, hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, hours are from 11 a.m., to 4 p.m.

Doppler Dave says that Mother Nature will bless these events with a lovely fall weekend, with crisp, clean air and gentle breezes to add a touch of color to our cheeks.

So, let’s all get out and enjoy our cultural heritage this weekend, enjoy our beautiful autumn weather, and most importantly – enjoy each other as we celebrate life and learning.

Beaux Arts Club to host festival this weekend

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The fourth annual Clarendon Arts Festival will be held this week October 25-28 at the Donley County Activity Center located one mile north of the city on State Hwy. 70.

 The event, sponsored by Clarendon’s Les Beaux Arts Club, continues to grow each year and was recognized by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce last year with the prestigious Golden Nail Award.

 This year’s festival begins with the Preferred Buyers Reception held Thursday evening, October 25, where buyers will be delighted with the variety being offered at the Clarendon Arts Festival this year.

 Many art works were checked in this week at the Clarendon Arts Festival. Anyone is welcome at Thursday’s reception; and if you haven’t already pre-paid as a preferred buyer, you can pay that night at the door.

 As well as the large selection of art being offered, buyers will be treated to an elegant evening of live music by Jazz Standard and heavy hors d’oevres prepared by the ladies of Les Beaux Arts Club.

 Several students from the Texas Panhandle have submitted art, which will be judged for ribbons in time for the Student’s Free Fine Arts Day, Friday, October 26.

 Also on Friday, elementary and high school students will tour the show and experience demonstrations from storyteller Eldrena Douma and local artist Mary Selfridge.

 The Clarendon Arts Festival opens to the public Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and again at noon on Sunday. Those attending the Festival will be treated to food prepared by St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Saturday and their famous Annual Enchilada Dinner on Sunday. Live music is being offered by area talent on Saturday and a special performance by Jazz Standard will be held on Sunday.

 In addition to the art show, there are many artists setting up booths with only hand-constructed items for sale.

 The 2012 Clarendon Arts Festival is sponsored by the City of Clarendon, Clarendon Economic Development Corporation, Donley County Activity Center, and Clarendon Family Medical. With all the fine art and crafts showing here this weekend, everyone should be able to find a unique gift or treasure.

Broncos suffer disappointing loss in OT

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By Sandy Anderberg

Two big plays made by the Panthers proved to be the line between winning and losing for the Broncos Friday night in Panhandle.

Finishing regulation at 28 all, the Broncos and Panthers headed for overtime in the District contest. According to head coach Gary Jack, the Broncos struck first and opted to kick the PAT to go up by seven. Down to third down with 15 yards to go, Panhandle neared the goal line in an attempt to get six. They got the score and chose to go for two on the conversion and earned the one-point win.

Broncos celebrate after scoring against Panhandle. Enterprise Photo / Matthew Martinez

“It was a good game,” Jack said. “It was a heartbreaker. The loss hit the guys pretty hard. We fought back from 0-15 deficit and played well after the first quarter. But we let them have two big pass plays that were both for scores; one in the game and one in overtime. We should have made the play, but didn’t.”

Several players contributed in the game and played great on both sides of the ball according to Jack. Trevor Cobb made some great catches and was solid on defense racking up 16 tackles, one sack, and big hits all night. Tyler Burch and Ryan Isbell made some big interceptions for the Broncos as well.

Offensively, Jack cited Cobb, Burch, Jonah Sell, and Diego Santos with making great catches and quarterback Chance McAnear with making great throws. Charles Mason also had a big game for the Broncos.

The Broncos will take the week and regroup as they prepare for another tough game against Stratford at home next Friday night. “Stratford will be tough,” Jack said. “It is turning into an interesting district race. But we are right in the middle of it.”

The Broncos will face off against the Elks Friday, October 26, at home in Bronco Stadium beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Opinion: Let’s become tolerant of intolerance

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Is there a way to overcome religious intolerance? In America, the question holds critical importance because American society is highly religious and remarkably diverse and – on religious matters – considerably more politically polarized than 25 years ago.

Fred Gray.

The United States prides itself on welcoming people of different faiths. The Bill of Rights begins with a guarantee of freedom of religion.

Over the last generation Americans have grown more comfortable talking about race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation, but not faith. It’s too personal and divisive – too explosive. We haven’t completely figured out how to conduct a productive conversation among people whose cherished religious beliefs – exclusive God-given truths – cannot be reconciled.

Many Americans harbor unfavorable attitudes toward those who harbor different beliefs, notably Muslims and Mormons, but also evangelical Christians, Catholics, Jews, and the most disdained group of all, atheists.

The Bill of Rights also promotes freedom of speech – even hateful speech. When it comes to free speech, it is always edifying to see how people deal with opinions, particularly religious opinions they despise.

Take for example, the members of the Westboro Baptist Church. That name always gets folks’ blood boiling. Anyway, this group is based in Topeka, Kansas, and their point of view may reasonably be described as loathsome to most people in America.

Westboro’s philosophy is rooted in Marxism – Groucho Marxism. “Whatever it is, I’m against it,” Groucho sang in “Horse Feathers.” That pretty much sums up this ugly, hateful group. It seems to be anti-everything and is conspicuously anti-gay and anti-Semitic, and has gone the extra mile to earn the scorn and contempt of most Americans by picketing the funerals of soldiers and Marines killed in combat. It calls those deaths God’s punishment for America’s acceptance of homosexuality.

Since being obnoxious and intolerant does not violate the Constitution, and since these people are clearly beyond reasoned argument, and since there are so few of them, you might have thought that a wise response would be to ignore them. That’s what prudent people have sensibly urged. However, good, decent citizens– and more than a few indecent ones – have started gathering around to taunt the Topekans.

They do so in a manner that makes America an inspiration to the world: They shout sexually charged vulgarities and other choice insults and threats. These are not exactly teachable moments. Free expression has been reduced to distasteful simultaneous monologues between the bigoted and the crude.

“A free society must oppose absurd attempts to silence people and to suppress ideas or to ban books that disagree with us,” according to Michael Meyers, executive director of a major metropolitan civil rights coalition. “The fable of ‘protecting’ our children from the ‘hate speech’ is exactly the cry of those who have long opposed positive social and cultural change.”

Even so, isn’t hate speech deplorable? Some people define hate speech as an opinion they dislike, Mr. Myers said. Besides, he said, “hate speech is not unconstitutional or illegal.”

A censorious streak runs stubbornly through this country that regards itself as a bastion of tolerance. It has led to the removal of a billboard that challenged immigration policies and of another that quoted a biblical passage condemning homosexuality. It kept an antiwar message from being put up in Times Square during the 2004 Republican National Convention. It stripped shelters of notices about a free health care information line for gay men and lesbians. Many other examples abound.

Besides being “lazy and disreputable,” censorship can boomerang, Mr. Myers cautioned. Let it prevail and there will be nothing to top other towns and cities from suppressing the speech that we revere – that in favor of pro-life, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-defense of marriage act, plus many other examples.

Even though we may hate each other’s hate speech, we must not become intolerant of intolerance. When we do that we get on that slippery slope that is a very real threat to our republic, and put democracy and the free exchange of ideas, regardless of how loathsome they may be, at great risk.

District Court hears several pleas

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The District Court heard seven please resulting in three convictions and four deferred adjudications when it met in Clarendon on Monday, October 1.

District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.

A total of $14,500 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on October 1. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $3,091.50 in court costs and $52,042.81 restitution.

Jacque Tonnette Martin was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated 3rd or more. Martin pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of three years.

Martin, 52-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County by Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Simpson for the offense that took place March 7, 2012. Martin was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on August 29, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Martin is required to pay a $3,000 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $558 in court costs, complete 200 hours of community service, and all DWI requirements under Chapter 49.

Isaias Ramirez was placed on probation for a period of six years for the third degree felony offense of unlawful restraint. Ramirez pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Ramirez, 22-year-old resident of Hedley, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place January 8, 2011, and was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on March 7, 2011.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Ramirez is required to pay a $6,000 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $383 in court costs. If Ramirez violates probation, he could face up to ten years in Institutional Division of the TDCJ.

Jerry Lynn Norwood was placed on probation for a period of two years for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Norwood pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Norwood, 47-year-old, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place December 1, 2011 and was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 27, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Norwood is required to pay a $500 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $443 in court costs. If Norwood violates probation, he could face up to 2 years in TDCJ.

Allen DeWayne Brown was placed on probation for a period of two years for the state jail felony offense of evading arrest. Brown pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

Brown, 26-year-old resident of Childress, was arrested in Childress County by Childress Police Sergeant Justin Hunter for the offense that took place March 10, 2012. Brown was indicted by a Childress County Grand Jury on June 25, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Brown is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Childress County, and is also required to pay $385.50 in court costs. If Brown violates probation, he could face up to 2 years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Clinton John Stevens was convicted for the state jail felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Stevens pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to six months in the Donley County Jail.

Stevens, 35-year-old resident of Wichita Falls, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place June 22, 2010 and pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on August 12, 2010.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Stevens is required to pay $473 in court costs.

Shayne Aric Spindler was placed on probation for a period of four years for the third degree felony offense of money laundering. Spindler pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.

The 26-year-old Spindler was arrested in Hall County by Estelline Chief of Police Mike Warren for the offense that took place May 23, 2012. Spindler pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on September 24, 2012.

Laura Hommel King was convicted for the third degree felony offense of aggregated theft. King pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ after a contested punishment hearing.

King, 33-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County by Donley County Sheriff Charles “Butch” Blackburn for the offense that took place June 7, 2011.

King was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on August 29, 2012.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, King is required to pay $473 in court costs and $51,902.81 restitution.

City sales tax revenue increases

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Clarendon’s sales tax revenue ticked up for the second month in a row when Texas Comptroller Susan Combs delivered September allocations last week.

The city showed an increase for the month of 10.21 percent for a total of $26,327.62 compared to $23,886.43 for the same period one year ago.

The September allocation keeps the city just slightly ahead for its year-to-date figure with $274,415.32 collected since January, which is up 0.97 percent from this same point in 2011.

Howardwick, which increased its sales tax rate last fall, posted an increase of 26.28 percent for the month with an allocation of $1,555.09; and that city is running 25.22 percent for the year-to-date at $14,134.31.

Hedley continued its trend of declining sales tax revenues, dropping 39.25 percent for the month to $174.58 and now reporting a 32.94 decline for the year-to-date at $4,035.62.

Statewide, Combs said sales tax revenue in September was $1.96 billion, up 11.6 percent compared to September 2011.

“Continued strength in the manufacturing and oil and natural gas sectors led to the sales tax revenue increase,” Combs said. “Collections were also boosted by improvement in consumer spending at restaurants and retail stores. State sales tax revenue has now increased for 30 straight months.”

The sales tax figures represent monthly sales made in August.

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