This Week
Babcock to appear in court next month
Accused murderer Robert Babcock was scheduled to appear in district court in Clarendon Wednesday morning, July 13, for a bond reduction hearing, but the district attorney’s office says a continuance was issued in case because one of Babcock’s attorneys had a death in the family.
DA Luke Inman tells the Enterprise that the bond reduction hearing, along with pre-trial matters and the setting of a trial date, is now scheduled to occur on August 18 at 8 a.m.
Babcock remains in the Donley County Jail with bond set at $1.1 million. He is charged with Capital Murder in the beating death of his four-year-old son, Chance Mark Jones, this past January.
Mildred Lorene Barker Tomlinson
Mildred Lorene Barker Tomlinson, 91, died July 4, 2011 in Dewey, OK.
Services were held Thursday, July 7 at Stumpff Funeral Home in Bartlesville, OK, with Reverend Craig Stinson, officiating. Interment was held at the Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mildred was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. She was one of eight children born to Nova Ann (Hinkle) and Carl Cleason Barker. She was born in 1920 in Ashtola, TX. In 1940, she and DW “Dub” Tomlinson were married in Clarendon, Texas. They later moved to Phillips, TX, and on to Bartlesville, OK in 1968. She has been a faithful member of Highland Park Baptist Church since that time. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband DW Tomlinson.
Survivors include her two sons Doug and wife Barbara of Bartlesville, and Phil and wife Pam of Mesa, AZ; five grandchildren Jason Tomlinson and wife Ryan of Bartlesville, Niki Tomlinson of Bartlesville, Laura Tomlinson and Greg Tomlinson of AZ, and Sean Harris of MI.; four great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Murff of Synder, Tx and Nova Mooring of Clarendon, Tx; and one brother, Don Barker of Amarillo, TX.
The family suggests that memorial donations be sent to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, or one’s favorite charity in Mildred’s honor.
James Wendell Kirby
James Wendell Kirby, 76, died July 2, 2011 in Muldrow, OK.
Services were held Wednesday, July 6 at Roland Church of Christ in Roland, OK, with Dr. Phil Smith officiating. Interment was held at the Akins Cemetery in Sallisaw, OK. Active pallbearers were Chris O’Bryant, John O’Bryant, Brad O’Bryant, Sean Reilly, Bryan Reilly, Joey Paquette, Andrew Paquette, and Christian Casey.
James was born January 21, 1935 in Olustee, OK to Amos and Louise Blair Kirby. He married Peggy Robinson in December 3, 1960 in Elko, Nevada. He was a retired ranch and oil rig worker. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Peggy; daughters Terri O’Bryant of San Antonio, Anne Reilly of The Woodlands; Kristy Paquette of Cleveland, OK, and Jenni Casey of Greenwood, AR; sister Wanda Beddingfield of Clarendon; and one brother and sister in law, Lloyd and Mary Kirby of Alma, AR.
Theola Leeper
Theola Leeper, 76, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011 in Clarendon.
Services were held Saturday, July 9, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, officiating. Internment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were held at Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Theola was born April 11, 1935, in Groom to Theo & Minnie Johnson Noble. She married Lloyd Leeper on October 7, 1953, in Clovis, New Mexico. She had been a resident of Clarendon for fifty-two years where she had worked at the Sandell Drive In and the old Mulkey Theater and was known for her delicious hamburgers. She had also worked for several years in the Cafeteria at Clarendon ISD. She was a past member of the Clarendon Jaycettes & First Church of the Nazarene in Clarendon. She was known as Nana to her loving grandchildren and several others.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd in 1995; and her son, Bobby Ray.
Survivors include her daughter, Nita Ellis and husband Steve of Clarendon; her son, Michael Leeper and wife Teresa of Arvada, CO; her daughter in law, Lacreta Leeper Watson of Amarillo; her grandchildren, Neil
Leeper and wife Catrina of Pampa, Nika Roser and husband Cole of Tucson, AZ, Tara Hutaff and husband Jeremy of Arvada, CO, Jeff Leeper and wife Melissa of Germany, Holly Leeper of Thailand, Chad Ellis and wife Kerri of Shamrock, Keena Ellis Jimenez and husband Hugo of Clarendon, and Jaclyn Benson and husband Robert of Clarendon; her great grandchildren, Kelsi and Toby Leeper, Cole and Jason Roser, Brylee Ellis, Grace Hutaff, Korban, Ian, and Sophie Leeper, Dalton, Jade, Colton, and Madi Benson.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the Donley County Senior Citizens or a favorite charity.
Clarendon enjoys big July Fourth
A large crowd gathered at the Courthouse Square to continue the tradition and celebrate this year’s 134th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration on Monday, July 4.
The Kids’ Parade started the day, and the winners were: Landon Stavenhagen and Mario Flores in the bicycle division, Tandie and Kennadie Cummings in the tricycle division, and Maloree Wann and Kai Floyd in the motorized division. Honorable mention went to Jayde and Braxton Gribble.
The annual Craft Fair drew a big crowd to the courshouse square, where the Al Morrah Shrine Club served 800 plates of barbecue this year. That is up from 597 last year.
Funds from the annual barbecue are used in conjunction with the Khiva Temple of the Shrine in Amarillo to help pay for the transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals.
In the Western Parade Monday afternoon, the Girl Scouts won first place in the float division. In the Vehicles division of the parade, the Bronco Parents-Cheerleaders won first place. The Cars 2 Train by Paulette Kidd and Trisha Hewett won first place in the Miscellaneous division.
Several organizations held fundraisers during the celebration. The winners of the Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo were Danny Askew; $250, Nikki McGlaun; $50 and Linda Blucher of Burlington, Iowa; $50.
Russell Keown won the John Deere riding lawn mower given by the Friends of Donley County Activity Center that supported Donley County 4-H. Neva Spier was the winner of the St. Mary’s Catholic Women Quilt Drawing. Callie Hargrove won the BBQ grill given by the Clarendon FFA Scholarship Fund.
The Cash for Kids drawing fundraiser for the Donley County Child Welfare Board raised a total of $10,000, half of which went to the grand prize winner of $5,000, which was Courtney Newhouse. Kenny Black, Melinda McAnear, and Kathy Haggerman each won $200 in prizes. The community’s support towards this fundraiser was appreciated.
Henson’s annual Turtle Race was held on Saturday afternoon. There were altogether 73 participants; and the winners were two-year-old Pierce Wilhelm of Nazareth for the 0-4 division, eight-year-old Roxie Adams of Clarendon for the 5-8 division, and 12-year-old Kenzy Middleton of Memphis for the 9-14 division
Weather for this year’s celebration was more favorable that in recent weeks, and the community even received some light showers, which put everyone in good spirits. The community was very busy, and this year’s celebration was seen as a success.
New officers
Wilson Cattle wins annual ranch rodeo
Wilson Cattle took top honors during the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s annual Ranch Rodeo last Friday and Saturday.
This year’s total attendance for the two-day ranch rodeo and Monday’s junior rodeo was 2,135 people, which is up from last year’s attendance of 1,700.
Wilson Cattle’s scores beat out 20 other local and regional teams as working cowboys put their skills to the test as part of the 134th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration. The team was made up of Rodey Wilson, Tyler Rice, Ky Sinck, Jason Thomas, and Jesse Valdez.
The Salt Fork Ranch finished second with the team of Whit Akins, Herman Elam, Henery Elam, Chase Pope, and Darin Bell.
The Conley Ranch was third with the team of Shay Aaron, Chance Johnston, Chad Conley, Remington Smith, and Levi Garcia.
The Top Hand for the rodeo was awarded to Trey Paul, and the Top Horse award was won by Rody Wilson.
Junior Calf, Donkey, and Steer Riding was held all three nights. Overall Calf Riding and Donkey Riding champion was Colby Mason. Overall Steer Riding champion was Dalton Benson.
The Overall Junior Rodeo winners from Monday night were Smith SJ, first; Hat Ranch, second; and Red Mud Cattle, third.
The Top Hand winner for the Junior Ranch Rodeo was Chance McAnear and the Top Horse went to Brody Rankin.
Beef winners for all three nights include Bradley Watson, Emily McCary, and Lance
Covence.
Aldermen tap Huey for vacancy
A former Clarendon alderman will return to office following a vote at last Tuesday’s regular city meeting.
The Board of Aldermen appointed Ann Huey, whose term of office expired in May, to return to the board to finish out the vacant term of Jeremy Powell, who resigned earlier
this year after moving outside of the city limits.
The board also elected Alderman Will Thompson as the city’s mayor pro tempore.
Mayor Larry Hicks administered the oath of office to Huey on Friday.
In other city business, aldermen: approved a motion to set their regular meetings at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month; approved an agreement with the City of Hedley to receive stray animals on an occasional basis; authorized paying utility bills for the Mulkey Theatre; transferred $10,000 from the improvement fund to the street department to purchase patching material; and removed charges for limbs, leaves, and
grass clippings at the recycling center.
In his report, Administrator Lambert Little said the board would have a long-term planning session on August 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. He also said the city’s airport board had met but recommended that no money be spent on improvements at the airport until the city streets were fixed.
Mayor Hicks reported that the city was in contact with a new firm to perform engineering services.
Brace Leonard Hicks
Brace Leonard Hicks, 81, died Tuesday, June 28, 2011, in Clarendon.
Services were held Saturday, July 2, in First Baptist Church in Howardwick with Rev. Dave Stout, Pastor, officiating. Interment was held at Panhandle Cemetery in Panhandle. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Brace was born October 4, 1929, in Nolanville, Texas to Brace Larkman and Lula Pearl Kirkpatrick Hicks. He married Joy Oden on June 21, 1949, in Whitharral. He had been a longtime resident of Panhandle before moving to Howardwick in 1993. He loved fishing, camping, and sports. He also loved dominoes and was a great 42 players. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Howardwick.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary Jo Harrell; and a daughter in law, Joan Hicks.
Survivors include his wife, Joy Hicks of Howardwick; 3 sons, Tony Hicks of Marion, Terry Hicks of Weatherford, and Toby Hicks of Howardwick; two daughters, Lynn Legate of Panhandle and Cheryl Peterson of Lebanon, IL; a brother, Kenneth Dean Hicks of Kileen; ten grandchildren; and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society or the Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department.
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