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Lady Broncos to play Colorado City May 2

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By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos have been strong all year and will play in the Area round May 2. The ladies overall record is an impressive 27-3-1. They will take on Colorado City in Lubbock with the first game starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thurs., May 2. Game two will be played on Fri., May 3 at 3:00 p.m. and game three, if needed, will be played following game two.

The Lady Broncos took care of Childress last week, defeating them 6-4 in a game that saw the Lady Broncos getting the lead in the second inning and holding it until the end. They had eight hits in the game for their six runs.

Tandie Cummins got the call on the mound and the win by throwing for five innings, posting four strike-outs and allowing five hits and four runs. Kennadie Cummins took over in the sixth and allowed one hit and struck out four batters.

Gracie Smith pounded one to right field in the second inning to earn the first run of the game for the Lady Broncos. Smith added another run in the top of the third when she slammed a single that scored Gracie Wilkins to go up by three. The ladies would go on to score two more runs in the fifth and gain another in the seventh to get the win on eight hits.

T. Cummins had a single, two doubles, three RBIs and one run and Smith had a homerun, one single, two RBIs. Wilkins had a single, one run, and one stolen base, while K. Cummins had a single and one run. Shelby Christopher had one single and Elyza Rodriguez helped with two runs.

Sims knocks down grand slam at Memphis

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By Sandy Anderberg

The Bronco baseball team is headed for the Bi-District round after shutting out Memphis 25-0 in their last regular season game. The Broncos have had a great season and are currently 14-1-2 overall.

Jared Musick took the mound in the game against Memphis and allowed no hits while throwing six strike-outs to get the win. Musick was assisted by Easton Frausto who took over the pitching duties in the final two innings posting five strike-outs while allowing only one run.

Junior Mason Sims mustered up one grand slam in the second inning to help the Broncos in their win and finish with five RBIs and three runs.

Frausto got the job done at the plate as well as he pounded two home runs in the game. Frausto’s first homerun came on the fourth pitch of the first inning to right field for the Broncos’ first scores of the game. The team was able to earn seven runs that inning. Frausto’s second HR came in the third that brought home Sims to put the game out of reach. The Broncos added six more runs in the fourth inning with big hits from Bryce Williams, Grant Haynes, Musick, and Harrison Howard.

Frausto collected four RBIs and five runs in the game, Levi Gates had one single, two doubles, two RBIs, and three runs. Howard claimed three singles, four RBIs, and two runs, while Williams had one single and was credited with four runs. Mason Allred posted one RBI and two runs, Musick had a double, one RBI, four runs, and the lone Bronco stolen base.

The Broncos added a game with Forsan in Floydada to prepare for post-season play and earned a 10-5 win. They were able to get 10 hits in the game while committing only one error.

Sims took the mound first for three innings throwing four strike-outs and allowing only one hit and one run. Musick took over in the fourth and allowed three runs and struck out seven batters and Frausto cleaned up finishing with two strike-outs, four hits, and one run.

Howard was solid at the plate posting a single, double, triple with four RBIs and one run and Haynes added two singles and two runs. Williams had a single, RBI, one run, and one stolen base while Frausto had a single, two runs, and two stolen bases in the win. Heston Seay had a double and one RBI and Sims was successful with one single, RBI, and run.

The Broncos got on the scoreboard first when Howard doubled to left field that scored Musick and Frausto. They went scoreless in the second but came out in the third with Williams knocking down a single to bring Howard home and Sim’s fly ball to center scored Williams. The Buffaloes marched back in the fourth inning with strong hits to score three runs to come within two runs of the Broncos. But the team still had more fire from the plate to extend their lead by four runs over Forsan. They topped it off by adding two more runs in the seventh inning. Frausto allowed them two hits in their turn at the plate, but they were unable to get a runner in scoring position. The game ended with a Forsan ground-out from Frausto to Gates at first base.

The Broncos will take on West Texas High at Palo Duro HS on Thursday, May 2, at 5:00pm in the first round of bi-district. The best two out of three series will continue on Saturday, May. 4, at 11:00 a.m. at PD, and if game three is needed, it will be played immediately following game two.

Gail Thomas

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Graveside services for Gail Elaine Eddleman Thomas, 79, of Dripping Springs, Texas, was held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Claude Cemetery in Claude.

Gail Thomas

Mrs. Thomas was born May 3, 1944 in Clarendon, Texas, the daughter of the late Otha Imadell (Koontz) and R.G. Eddleman, Jr. She passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2024 surrounded by members of her family.
Mrs. Thomas was a 1962 graduate of Claude High School where she was an All-State basketball Champion. She married her high school sweetheart, Albert Thomas, on August 4, 1962. She welcomed her sons Darren Brit in 1965 and Bradley Kent in 1968. Gail was a dedicated Christian wife and mother.

She loved with her whole heart and was thrilled to be Nanny to Rob and Griffin. One of her passions was the Prodisee Pantry Food Bank in Spanish Fort, Alabama which she and Albert helped found. She made life-long friends in the many places they lived and vigilantly kept in contact with all of them. She was most happy visiting with family and friends whether in person, by phone, or handwritten letters and emails. The photo albums she created document the milestones and life events of the people she loved. Gail’s sharp wit, guidance, and interpersonal skills will be sorely missed by all of those who were graced with her presence.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Albert D. Thomas of Dripping Springs; sons and daughters-in-law, D.B. and Shannon of Mineral Wells, Texas and Brad and SueAnna of Dripping Springs; grandsons, Rob Thomas of Midland, Texas and Griffin Thomas of Mineral Wells; sisters and brothers-in-law, Karen and Bart Templeton and Kathi and Glyndol Holland; brother and sister-in-law Kenny and Danneva Eddleman; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who are loved like family.

She was preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law, Al and Billye Thomas.

Honorary pallbearers will be her nephews Craig Sandlin, Craig Thomas, John Thomas, Lynn Holland, Todd Templeton, Eric Eddleman, and family friend Ian Punches.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Prodisee Pantry in Spanish Fort, Alabama at https://www.prodiseepantry.org/.

CC women’s rodeo team qualifies for nationals

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CC’s Shaylee Warner rides in the breakaway roping. Holly Smith Photo

By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

For the first time in school history, the Clarendon College women’s rodeo program is taking a full team to the College National Finals Rodeo.

The Bulldogs wrapped up the 10-event Southwest Region season this past weekend at the Tarleton State University rodeo in Stephenville, Texas, by finishing second in the standings and earning the right to have four ladies compete at Casper, Wyoming, in June.

“It was a pretty exciting weekend to see us be able to pull through and get it done,” said Wyatt Smith, coach of the Clarendon’s women’s rodeo team. “We were 65 points behind going into Tarleton (State University), and Brenna Ellis made the short round in breakaway roping. She finished second in the short round and split second, third and fourth in the average, and that was enough to get us the points to secure second in the region.

“Brenna came in clutch for us.”

She did, and much of that had to do with handling the pressure of the moment.

“I tried not to feel any pressure,” said Ellis, a freshman from Clarendon. “I definitely knew it was up to me, but it didn’t feel any different from any other run. I knew to just go rope your calf and do your job, and the rest is up to chance.”

The Bulldogs shot past Cisco College to earn the right to compete as a team at the college finals, set for June 9-15. Smith will fill the team with three other breakaway ropers, Falyn Thomson of Clinton, British Columbia; Josie Draper of Fairfield, Texas; and Shaylee Warner of Rigby, Idaho, the last of whom was automatically in the field because she finished second in the individual standings.

In college rodeo, only the top two teams and the top three individuals in each event from each region advance to the championship event; all will compete in three rounds. The top 12 from there will advance to the final go-round, where the titlists will be crowned.

“I still can’t believe it happened,” Warner said of her qualification. “It was a really good year. I didn’t make a short go in the fall until the last rodeo; I had little gimmers of hope, then finally I made the short-go in Lubbock.

“It’s surprising, because I came into college rodeo with zero expectations. I came from a little town in Idaho, but I guess overall, it helped me. There was no target on my back; I was just seeing how it would all play out.”

Ellis was just hoping to feel this type of emotion.

“It’s amazing, and it’s a feeling I was thinking about all year,” she said. “Now that we get to do it, I hope we can make Clarendon proud.”

She had other options to further her education, but she knew something special has been brewing at her hometown college.

“I did not want to stay in Clarendon at first, but I looked at a few other schools,” Ellis said. “I thought that it would be stupid to not take advantage of the program right across the road. It’s one of the best programs in the state and in the country.”

The Clarendon men’s rodeo team is a two-time national champion. Both programs are coached by men who played the game at a high level. Smith, a steer wrestler and all-around cowboy, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 2014. Men’s coach Bret Franks is a three-time NFR qualifier in saddle bronc riding. In addition to the two Clarendon team titles, he coached his alma mater, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, to two team championships. Franks has also coached four national titlists in saddle bronc riders Wyatt Casper and Riggin Smith and bareback riders Weston Timberman and Cole Franks, who also won the all-around title in 2021.

“I’ve known Wyatt and his family for as long as I can remember,” Warner said of Smith, who also is from a small town in eastern Idaho.

“It was a no-brainer for me when he started talking about coming to school in Texas. I’m very lucky that he did.

“Wyatt helps me with my mindset. He’s helped me rope when the pressure’s on, where there are 200 girls roping just as good as me. In our daily meetings, he’s just there for us and makes sure we’re thinking like a winner. Horsemanship is also another big thing for Wyatt. He’s a competitor in every aspect.”

Benson, Bolin bound for state meet

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Two Clarendon High School athletes will run in the State Track Meet this spring after outstanding performances in the Regional competition.

Sophomore stand out runner Madi Benson is the current 2A Region 1 Regional Champion in the 800m run. She claimed the Regional Championship in Canyon at WTAMU and will run on May 2 at the Mike Myers Stadium on the UT campus in Austin at approximately 5:20 p.m.

Benson’s time of 2:25.71 topped the field by less than a second. Elliot Frausto ran the 800m and finished in seventh place with a time of 2:33.48. Benson also ran the 400m dash finishing seventh with a time of 1:04.80 and the 1600m run taking the eighth spot with a time of 5:50.03.

Kaleb Bolin ran a good race in the 400m and finished third with a time of 49.99. He got the wildcard to advance to the State Meet and will run May 3 at 5:00 p.m.

The Bronco mile relay competed in the regional meet and finished 13th in the prelims with a time of 3:38.13. Those running the relay were Bolin, Kaleb Mays, Shane Hagood and Brice Wagner. Mays was a runner in the 100m and finished ninth with a time of 11.41 in the prelims. Bryce Williams ran the 800m and placed 12th with a time of 2:11.04. Wagner ran the 200m and was 14th in the finals with a time of 23.58. Lyric Smith competed in the high jump taking seventh place with his best jump of 6’.

Photos courtesy https://cartershots.zenfolio.com/

Kaleb Bolin runs the 400m at the Regional Championship Saturday. Courtesy Photo / Carter pritle

Broncos are district champions

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2024 District Champions

By Sandy Anderberg

Senior Jared Musick was on the mound for the Broncos in their win over Wellington last week. The Broncos scored 17 runs on eight hits. Fellow seniors Easton Frausto and Harrison Howard were able to knock down two home runs in the game that accounted for five of the Broncos’ runs.

Musick pitched for three innings posting five strikeouts and no hits or runs. Another Bronco senior, Levi Gates stepped in for a bit in the fourth before Howard took over the duties on the mound to finish the game. Howard collected two strikeouts and allowed one run.

The lone runs in the first belonged to the Broncos when Gates hit a single which allowed Frausto to score and Mason Allred grounded out to score Musick.

After a three and out by Howard, the Broncos came to the plate with runs on their minds. With Mason Sims on first, two batters struck out, Frausto earned a walk that brought up Musick who got things rolling with a single to left field. Howard and Gates each then knocked down singles that scored Sims, Frausto, Howard, and Musick. Allred reaches base on an error and Bryce Williams doubled on a fly ball to center to score two. Grant Haynes hit a fly ball to left field at his at bat to advance Williams to third. The Broncos would go on and score three more runs with a double from Shane Hagood that scored two runs before Frausto slammed a home run that brought home Hagood and left the bases empty.

Another run in the third gave the Broncos security they needed to take the game. Howard put the final runs on the board with his homerun that scored Frausto and Musick.

The Broncos are currently at 12-1-2 and leading the district race with one district game remaining before post-season play.

They will travel to Floydada to face Forsan in a warm-up game on Friday, April 26 beginning at 5:00pm.

Lady Broncos win district title

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2024 District Champions

By Sandy Anderberg

Elyza Rodriguez and Tandie Cummins earned homeruns last week in the Lady Broncos’ 17-1 win over the Booker Lady Kiowas that helped the Lady Broncos win the district title at 263-1. They are preparing for post-season play.

Rodriguez struck first in the third inning with the score at 4-0. Cummins claimed her homerun in the sixth to bring home Rodriguez to go up 14-1. Cummins and Rodriguez were strong at the plate as the duo hit a triple apiece in the fifth inning that scored three runners. In the game, Cummins posted a homer, one triple with 4 RBIs and three runs, while Rodriguez slammed a single along with her homerun and accounted for three runs and two RBIs.

Kennadie Cummins was on the mound for four innings and claimed the win throwing nine strikeouts and allowing only two hits and no runs. T. Cummins took over in the fifth and allowed one hit, one run, and no strikeouts. K. Cummins racked up two stolen bases and T. Cummins added one.

All of the Lady Broncos were solid at the plate. Elliot Frausto collected a single, two doubles, and one RBI, and Gracie Wilkins finished with two doubles, one triple, two RBIs, and three runs. Laney Rummel posted a single, a double, and a triple, while Bayleigh Bruce added a double, one RBI, and one run. Maloree Wann helped with one RBI.

The ladies continued their dominance at the plate and in the field with a win over Sanford-Fritch at 4-2 late last week. Fritch was able to get on the board first with a run second. It was a battle on the mound as both teams went three and out in the next two innings. K. Cummins got ahold of a pitch in the third and homered on a line drive to center with no one on to tie the game at one all. With only one out left Clarendon’s at bat, Wilkins singled and brought T. Cummins home to go up by one run before the inning ended.

The Lady Broncos were able to take advantage of a little momentum at the plate in the fourth inning. G. Smith got things moving with a single to left field before Bruce took a grounder the other direction to the outfield for a single. A single from K. Cummins put Smith and Bruce in scoring position. Rodriguez was able to muster a single to center that scored Bruce and Smith for the Lady Broncos’ final runs of the game. Fritch would score one more run in the final inning, but it was not enough to overtake the Lady Broncos.

Hedley hires new principal

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Brandi Moffett, shown here with her husband John, has been hired to be the new principal at Hedley ISD. Courtesy Photo

Hedley ISD School Board of Trustees approved the hiring of a new principal for the 2024-2025 school year during their meeting on April 15.

Brandi Moffett of Clarendon will be joining Hedley ISD as the principal.

Moffett was raised in Amarillo and has been married for ten years to her husband, John, who is the Clarendon High School principal. Together they share six kids and two daughters-in-law.

After an 18-year career in accounting and finance, Moffett started her education career in 2018 teaching third grade at Claude. She has taught in Claude, Amarillo and Clarendon.

Sheriff, prosecutor give raises with grants

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The Donley County Sheriff’s Department and County Attorney have received state grants that are helping boost salaries and purchase vehicles without putting additional burden on the local taxpayers.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced last week his office has delivered nearly $126 million in financial assistance to rural law enforcement and prosecutor offices as part of a grant program that is addressing challenges faced by these groups in counties with small populations. The Donley County Sheriff’s Department received $250,000, and the county attorney’s office received $100,000.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said local deputies and jailers/dispatchers saw the new money starting with their March 15 paychecks. County Treasurer Wanda Smith said dispatchers’ salaries went up almost $13,000 a year and deputies’ salaries went up $4,650 thanks to the grant.

“The dispatchers got to see a sizable increase, and they earned it,” Blackburn said “They should have been getting it all along. I appreciate the grant and appreciate the commissioners letting me use it this way.”

Blackburn said the grant will also allow his office to put about $100,000 per year toward vehicles.

“We won’t have our vehicle expenses on the I&S (interest and sinking) tax rate anymore,” the sheriff said.

County Attorney Landon Lambert said due to the terms and requirements of the grant, his office likely won’t be able to use the full $100,000, but he was able to create a full-time position for his assistant.

“We’re going to make that position a Victim Assistance Coordinator,” Lambert said. “We’ve never been able to offer that service in our office; we’ve always had to rely on an interlocal agreement with the district attorney’s office.”

Smith said the grant will give Lambert’s assistant a bump of $21,250 for this fiscal year, moving from a part-time position to a full-time Victim Assistance Coordinator.

“That position was $17,785, but will be $42,500 in the new budget year,” Smith said.

The grants will have to be renewed to keep the salaries at the new levels, but Blackburn said he thinks the state will keep providing the money.

Enacted by Senate Bill 22 during the 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, the program provides for qualified counties and prosecutor offices to apply for grants up to 30 days after the start of their fiscal year. But to jump-start the program in its 2024 inaugural year, the Comptroller’s office allowed all eligible counties to apply for grants from Jan. 1-31, regardless of their fiscal year start date.

The Legislature appropriated $330 million for the 2024-25 biennium to fund the program. The first year saw 502 grant applications.

“These brave men and women embody the grit, determination and spirit that built our state, and which are hallmarks of these rural communities,” Hegar said. “As a sixth generation Texan who grew up farming land in a rural community that relied on law enforcement personnel to wear a lot of different hats, I understand the pressures that these folks feel. It is a privilege to be able to support them through this program, and I’m grateful to the Legislature for trusting me with this.”

Lions to host annual Jones 5K Saturday

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Runners and walkers will gather in Clarendon this Saturday, April 27 to raise awareness about child abuse during the 12th annual Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K.

More than 70 people have registered for the event, which is hosted by the Clarendon Lions Club and coincides with Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Sign-ins start at 8 a.m. in front of the Donley County Courthouse. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. Race packets will be available for pick-up all day this Friday, April 26, at the Clarendon Visitor Center from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the race will benefit the charitable community activities of the Clarendon Lions Club. The race honors the life of four-year-old Chance Mark Jones, who died from abuse in 2011.
CASA of the High Plains reports in 2023 there were 17 cases of child abuse or neglect reported in Donley County.

For more information about this weekend’s Chance Mark Jones Memorial 5K, contact Lion Ashlee Estlack at 806-662-4687 or Lion Roger Estlack at 874-2259.

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