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This Week

Ray Warner David

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Ray Warner David, 91, of Clarendon died Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Amarillo.
Services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Darrell Thames, officiating.  Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Ray Warner David

Viewing will be held Friday at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Ray was born February 9, 1932 in Clarendon to William Joseph and Evadeen Warner David. He married Velda Ruth Helton on November 5, 1986 in Clarendon.  Ray was a US Army veteran serving in the Korea War.  He had been a lifetime resident of Clarendon where he lived out on Kelly Creek, Northwest of Clarendon, and he was a heavy equipment operator prior to his retirement.  Ray and his oldest brother helped raise his other siblings and would do without to make sure they had what they needed.  He loved the nature, the country, living on the farm, and was a simple country gentleman.
Ray was an amazing storyteller and loved telling old stories to his family.  He also enjoyed Model A and Model T cars and loved driving his Model T in the 4th of July parades in Clarendon.  His Model T is on display at Saints’ Roost Museum in Clarendon.  Music was a big part of Ray’s life where he was an avid fiddle player, and came from a family heritage of playing the fiddle.  Ray won many fiddle contests during the 4th of July in Clarendon and the Bob Wills festival in Turkey.  He recently donated one of his fiddles to the Saints’ Roost Museum in Clarendon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, on September 6, 2019; his brothers, Jarrett, Merle, and Eldon David; and a sister, Jewell Millan.
Survivors include his sister, Rita Gonzalez and husband Tony of Amarillo; his sister in law, Aggie David of Crosby; and several nieces and nephews.
The family request memorials be sent to Saints’ Roost Museum / PO Box 781 / Clarendon, TX 79226.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Vera June Whaley Robinson

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Vera June Whaley Robinson passed away on July 12, 2023, in Amarillo, Texas. She was born June 9, 1939, to John William Whaley and Hazel Lois Coulter Whaley, in Stephens County, Oklahoma.

Vera June Whaley Robinson

A memorial service will be held at Clarendon Church of Christ on July 21, 2023, at 10:00 am with graveside service at 2:00 pm  at Claude Cemetery in Claude, Texas. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors in Clarendon.

June attended schools in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado, graduating from Plainview School near Griggs, Okla., in 1957. She attended Panhandle A & M College in Goodwell, OK where she met her soon-to-be husband Fred Edward Robinson. They married on June 14, 1959, in Adrian, Texas. Fred and June had three sons, Clay, Glen, and Scot Robinson. June also attended and graduated from West Texas State University in August 1970. Later at the age of 76, she graduated from Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock with an Associate Degree in Biblical Studies.

June’s careers were many and varied, representing her diverse interests. She worked in Civil Service, as an elementary school teacher, a secondary school teacher, home daycare provider, newspaper writer, librarian and author. Her hobbies included reading, crocheting, quilting and writing. She also spent time volunteering in Montezuma Creek, Utah with her brother Ray Whaley’s church.

June was preceded in death by a stillborn son, her parents, husband Fred, brothers Harry and Randell Whaley, brothers-in-law Eugene Robinson and Albert Formway, and sisters-in-law Tresa Whaley, Ellen Whaley, and Lynda Robinson.

Survivors include her sons and daughter-in-laws: Clay and Sherilyn Robinson, Glen and Renae Robinson, Scot and Sarah Robinson; grandchildren and spouses; Jesse and Jessica Robinson, Josiah Robinson, Janae and Casey Kreines, Joel Robinson and Kelsey Martin, Cody and Randi Glenn, Timothy and Courtney Robinson, Cassie and Stephen Dunn, Tressa Robinson, Logan Robinson and Sarah Grace Robinson; great-grandchildren Amos and Abigail Robinson, Ember Robinson, and Vera Kreines; as well as brothers and in-laws, Wayne Whaley and wife Karen, Ray Whaley and wife Oleta, and Larry Whaley, Shirley Robinson and Doris Formway and James Robinson. She was loved and cherished by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in numerous places. The family are eternally grateful to Rhinehart Elder Care in Clarendon for their loving, supportive care of June for the last 16 months.

The family suggests memorial gifts to be designated to the missions programs of Sunset International Bible Institute 3723 34th St. Lubbock, TX 79410 or online at https://www.sibi.cc/donate.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Clarendon okays Greenbelt agreement

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The Clarendon City Council authorized a supplemental contract with Greenbelt Municipal & Industrial Water Authority during a called meeting July 3 that will allow the water authority to proceed with an $18 million project to develop groundwater resources for its members cities.

Clarendon’s approval came after Greenbelt agreed to amendments to the contract, City Administrator David Dockery said. The most notable concession was that Clarendon will have the right to withdraw from the Greenbelt system after the current 1975 series bonds are paid off in 2027.

“Clarendon will can pull out of Greenbelt with one year’s notice at that time,” Dockery said. “It gives Clarendon a much stronger position in the future.”

Dockery said the city and the water authority are also working on possible changes to the contract under which Clarendon sells city groundwater to Greenbelt.

The Texas Water Development Board in April approved more than $18 million for a new water supply project for the Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority. The project would develop 2,800 acres of groundwater rights the water authority acquired in northern Donley County in 2017. Greenbelt would construct three water wells, well field piping, electrical distribution equipment, and a 12-mile transmission line to transport water to its existing water treatment plant. Ten million dollars of the project is fully funded by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and $8.11 million would be financed with Clarendon paying about six percent of that cost.

Pantex loans emergency vehicle to the City of Perryton

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Members of the Pantex Fire Department hand over the keys to the loaned ambulance to the City of Perryton.

On June 15th, the town of Perryton was hit by an EF-3 tornado, killing three people, injuring more than 120 residents, and causing millions of dollars in damage to homes and local businesses, including the Perryton Fire Department/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) station.

That night, Pantex received a call from Carson County officials, asking if emergency assistance could be sent to Perryton.
“We received the request a few hours after the tornado had hit,” said Pantex Fire Chief Mike Brock. “Even though Perryton is not in our mutual aid area, the request came from one of our mutual aid partners, and we responded with an ambulance. If able, we are always happy to assist when needed in any of our Panhandle area communities.”

Recently, Pantex emergency officials learned that Perryton’s tornado-damaged ambulance is considered unusable. So, Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) reached out to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Production Office (NPO), to determine if additional assistance for Perryton could be provided.

The Pantex ambulance dispatched to Perryton the night of the tornado had just replaced an older ambulance, which was scheduled to be excessed. CNS and NPO agreed to loan Perryton the excessed ambulance for up to a year through an Agreement in Principle with the state of Texas.

“Pantex began sending help the night of the tornado and continued by sending a damage assessment team to assist in the following days,” said Jason Armstrong, NNSA Production Office Pantex Manager. “When the question was raised about further assistance by getting an ambulance to them, everyone involved–from headquarters to the firefighters who dropped the ambulance off — never wavered in their commitment to help out neighbors across the region.”

The formal paperwork was completed and transfer of the loaned ambulance took place on June 28.

TxDot seeks public input on $100B plan

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As the Texas population continues to boom, TxDOT is drafting a record-breaking 10-year transportation plan and now the public is invited to weigh in on the projects proposed in their communities.

To help guide transportation projects over the next decade, TxDOT is seeking public input on the draft 2024 Unified Transportation Program (UTP), the state’s 10-year transportation plan. The draft 2024 UTP totals $100 billion, which is $15 billion more than the 2023 plan. The increase primarily comes from growth in revenues from Proposition 1 (passed in the 2015 legislative session) generated by oil and gas severance fees dedicated to highway improvements.

“The UTP is TxDOT’s road map to developing projects across the state,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “It’s important to work with our transportation partners and hear from the public to guide transportation improvements that address congestion and enhance safety.”

Projects included in the UTP will improve safety, address congestion and connectivity, and preserve roadways for Texas drivers. The UTP also addresses public transportation, maritime, aviation, rail, freight and international trade, and bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.

The public is invited to learn about the UTP and participate in a virtual public meeting on July 6 at 2 p.m. (CST) and a virtual public hearing on July 25 at 2 p.m. The public may join the meeting and hearing by phone or online via TxDOT Public Involvement.

The draft 2024 UTP public comment period begins Friday, July 7, 2023, and ends Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at 4 p.m. (CDT). There are multiple ways to comment throughout the process, and they can all be found on the Public Involvement section of TxDOT.gov, along with recordings and presentations from each meeting and hearing. Comment forms are also available in English, Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese.

The UTP is updated annually.

Public comments and feedback are a very important part of developing the plan. The UTP is approve in August and published on TxDOT.gov.

Moving along

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The Downtown Revitalization Project continues to make progress this week. Workers were busy Tuesday running the new curbing all the way from the Owen’s Boot Shop to the south side of Stocking’s Ice Cream Parlor. Forms are set for the new ramp at the Visitor Center and demolition and form construction will continue this week.

County okays new bridge on FM 1260

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The Donley County Commissioners’ Court met in regular session Monday with a full agenda to consider.

The court approved a resolution for a TxDOT financed project to replace the FM 1260 bridge of the Salt Fork Red River.

A request from GreenLight Gas for an easement on CR W and CR 27 was approved.

A budget amendment was approved to allow the Extension Service to purchase a trailer for hauling small animals.

Commissioners appointed a Salary Grievance Committee, and the court also authorized the county judge to retain a civil law firm if the need arises.

A change order to install another door in the county barn at Hedley was approved.

No bids were received to move the houses on Third and Jefferson streets where the county recently purchased property.

The court approved a motion to authorize payment of $41,775 to Guardian Security for security cameras and authorize movement of money from the courthouse security fund to the courthouse checking account.

A policy prohibiting vaping on county premises was also considered and adopted.

Joe Frank Robinson, Jr.

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Joe Frank Robinson, Jr., 70, died on July 6, 2023, in Junction, Texas, where he had been a resident for several years. A service will be held at a later date, arrangements are under the direction of Kerrville Funeral Home in Kerrville, Texas.

Joe was born in Lubbock, Texas on May 5, 1953, to Joe and Vemelle Robinson. While playing in the back yard in Tahoka when he was only three years old, his clothes caught fire and he received third degree bums on both legs. After several skin grafts and months in recovery, he regained use of his legs. His family moved to Clarendon in 1959 and Joe attended schools there.

Joe was a veteran, having served two years in the U.S. Anny. He worked most of his life in sales.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother of forty-five years, Ruth Robinson, and his brother, Jim Robinson. He is survived by his sister, Janny Longan (Ed) and his brother, Jack Robinson (Susan); his stepsister, Libby Talley (Billy); and step-brother, Bill Word, and many nieces and nephews.

Allen M. Turner

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Allen M. Turner, 45, of Clarendon, Texas died Sunday, July 1, 2023, in Beaumont.

Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 17, 2023, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Jeff Riles, officiating.

Allen M. Turner

Viewing will be held Monday morning at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Allen was born April 4, 1978, in Long Beach, California. He had been a resident of Clarendon most of his life. He enjoyed playing dominoes, dancing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and being around his momma.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ruth Turner; his grandparents, George and Jimmy Ruth Turner; an uncle, George Turner, Jr.; and his god brother, Billy Gardner.

Survivors include his god mother, Doris Gardner of Clarendon; his sisters, Angelia and Richard Miller of Plainview, Texas and Jacqueline and Dean Jackson of Dallas, Texas; his brother, Stanley Gardner and Corliss Fairley of Dallas, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Clarendon hosts 2023 Saints’ Roost Celebration

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Raegan Weldie enjoys bubbles on the courthouse lawn Saturday during Clarendon’s 146th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Clarendon’s 146th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration was a big success with several new events this year and weather that was almost picture perfect on Saturday, July 2, at the Donley County Courthouse.

After triple digit heat earlier in the week, temperatures began dropping Friday, and the area was blessed with a good rain Friday afternoon and evening with some precipitation falling even early Saturday morning.

Celebration organizers were undeterred, forging ahead with setting up in wet conditions but were rewarded when the sun came out.

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce introduced two major new events this year in addition to Herring Bank Parade and the Liberty Electric Kids Parade the Chamber has organized for many years. The Diversified Waste Lawnmower Race was held following lunch, and the Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon Exhibition was also added to the celebration. The Chamber also had fun games set up at its booth on the square. The results of the Chamber events are listed in a separate article here.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served about 500 plates of barbecue this year. A portion of the proceeds from the annual barbecue are used in conjunction with the Khiva Shrine Temple in Amarillo to help pay for the transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals.

The Donley County Junior Livestock Association raffled off a gun, and Rhett Renner won it.

The Clarendon Lions Club’s Cow Patty Bingo was won by Pam Phillips, Katy Tubbs, Terri Floyd, and Linda Crump.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race was also held Saturday afternoon in its traditional location at Third and Kearney. A total of 169 entries competed in four different age divisions. Winning turtle jockeys this year were: age 0-4, Mac Wann; age 5-8, Cutter Ashbrook; age 9-16, Jace Conway; and 17 and up, Riley Shadle.

The annual Depression Lunch was held Friday at the Crossties Ministry Center.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association hosted its ranch rodeos on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and those results are also listed in a separate article here.

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