This Week

The work of one of Clarendon’s most acclaimed talents will be celebrated next month in Canyon.

Clarendon artist H.D. Bugbee in his studio in about 1925.
Photo courtesy Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
 
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum will open a retrospective of the Southwestern artist H.D. Bugbee on September 9, 2000. 

To observe the 100th anniversary of Bugbee’s birth, the museum will bring together 100 of Bugbee’s finest works in oil, watercolor, pen-and-ink, and sculpture. 

Bugbee, who lived much of his life in Clarendon, portrayed historic and then-contemporary Southern Plains life, including cowboys, American Indians, and flora and fauna of the region.

At the suggestion of his cousin, cattleman T.S. Bugbee, Harold Dow Bugbee came to the Texas Panhandle from Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1914 with his parents.  He studied at Texas A&M College in 1917 and the Cumming School of Art in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1920.

Advised by cattlemen Frank Collinson and Charles Goodnight, Bugbee rendered the landscape and wildlife of the Texas Panhandle, as well as nostalgic paintings of Indians and cowboys.  Each fall, until the late 1930s, the artist traveled to Taos to paint with his fellow artists “Buck” Dunton, Frank Hoffman, Leon Gaspard, and Ralph Meyers, often packing into the mountains to paint with either Meyers or Dunton.

By the mid-1920s, galleries in Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, and New York handled Bugbee’s work.  With the Depression and decreasing picture sales, in 1933 Bugbee turned to magazine illustration, a practice he maintained for some eighteen years.  He did pen-and-ink illustrations for Ranch Romances, Western Stories, Country Gentleman, and Field and Stream, among others.  Additionally, Bugbee also illustrated a number of significant books on Western history including J. Evetts Haley’s Charles Goodnight: Cowman and Plainsman, Willie N. Lewis’s Between Sun and Sod, and S. Omar Barker’s Songs of the Saddleman and others.  He also continued to make easel paintings.

Under Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” Bugbee painted the first of five murals for the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum’s Pioneer Hall in 1934.  He later painted additional murals for the Amarillo Army Air Field and a set of murals on Native American life for the museum.

Bugbee exhibited at the Tri-State Fair at Amarillo, Fort Worth Frontier Centennial Exposition in 1936, the Greater Texas and Pan-American Exposition at Dallas in 1937, and in the annual West Texas art exhibitions at Fort Worth.  He also had numerous solo exhibitions in Texas and exhibited at Taos.

In 1951, Bugbee became the first Curator of Art of Panhandle-Plains, a position he held until his death.  Over two hundred thirty Bugbee works are part of the Museum’s art.  Exhibits of Bugbee’s illustrated letters, his work in Taos, NM, and his illustrations for J. Evetts Haley’s books will be ancillary to the larger retrospective.

H.D. Bugbee: 100 at 100 will include works from the museum’s collection as well as objects from public and private collections across the United States.  The exhibition will run through February 18, 2001.

AUSTIN – Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander last week allocated $275.5 million in sales tax revenue to 1,107 Texas cities and 119 counties.

Locally, Clarendon saw its rebate slip by nearly five percent from the same period last year for a total of $25,315.18. Hedley’s rebate was up 2.62 percent to $695.18, and Howardwick was down more than 43 percent to $916.40.

For the year to date, Clarendon’s rebates are up slightly while Hedley and Howardwick are running behind.

August sales tax rebates represent sales taxes collected in April, May and June and reported to the Comptroller in July.

For more details of August sales tax payments go to the Texas Comptroller’s website.

Trustees for the Charles E. and Thelma A. Bairfield Memorial Foundation awarded $8,000 to four local groups last week.

 
The Bairfield Foundation awarded a total of $8,000 to four different groups last week. Shown here are (back) Jimmy Swinney of the VFW, Clarendon FCA Choir co-sponsor Mike Ray, Bill Holden of the VFW, (front) Bairfield Foundation trustee Rev. James Ivey Edwards, Clarendon FCA Choir co-sponsor Michelle Ray, and Hedley Community Choir director Bruce Howard. Not pictured is Jack Moreman of the Adamson-Lane chapter of American Legion. 
Enterprise Digital Photo.
 
The Hedley Community Choir and the Clarendon High School FCA Choir each received $3,000.

The Hedley choir will use its money to purchase ties and vests for its members, and the Clarendon choir plans to use the grant to help offset the cost of sending its kids to either a leadership camp or a mission camp.

The Donley County Memorial Post #7782 of the VFW received $1,500 to purchase flags for veterans’ graves around the county. Another $500 was awarded to the Adamson-Lane Chapter of the American Legion in Hedley for flags at the Rowe Cemetery.

The Bairfield Foundation was set up in 1993 and has awarded approximately $58,000 to just causes since that time. Previous recipients have included the Saints’ Roost Museum, the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, the “Something More” After School Program, Clarendon Little League, Clarendon Girl Scouts, the Donley County Capital Fund (for the courthouse project), and the City of Clarendon (for the City Park renovation).

An evening wreck near Clarendon sent two people to the hospital after an RV ran into a semi-truck last Friday.

 
This RV came to rest just a few feet from the BNSF railway about a mile west of Clarendon after it collided with a semi-truck late Friday night.
Enterprise Digital Photo.
 
The RV, driven by 74-year-old Alice Milner of Lake Dallas, Texas, was westbound in the right-hand lane of US 287 about 0.4 mile west of Clarendon. At the same time, Ronald Joe Bulger of Quiln, Missouri, was driving the semi-truck in the left-hand lane, passing Milner.

According to a Department of Public Safety official, Milner began to pull into the left-hand lane to turn around and come back to town when she ran into the semi-truck at approximately 8:42 p.m. The RV ran off the highway, coming to rest a few feet from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks.

Milner was transported by ambulance to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo where she was listed in stable condition, DPS Trooper Chris Ward said. Milner’s passenger, 67-year-old Bobbye Riney of Lake Dallas, was not injured.

Bulger was also uninjured, but his 22-year-old daughter, Melissa Bulger, suffered minor injuries. She was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital where she was treated and released.

A citation was issued to Milner for unsafe passing, Ward said.

The county food pantry had to turn away a family seeking help for the first time last week.

A sharp influx of people needing help has nearly tapped out the resources of both the local and area food banks, according to Robbie Hill, Center Coordinator of Panhandle Community Services.
 
“We have just about depleted our food bank,” Hill said. “It’s just taking more for people to live now between bills, sending their kids back to school, and the high price of gasoline.”

Last week, a family of eight came by Hill’s local office and were told they would have to wait a week before they could receive any assistance. Hill said that was the first time in more than ten years that the food pantry could not help someone.

The First United Methodist Church stepped in last week and has the pantry ready for the rest of the month, she said.

“The help from the Methodist Church has just been superb.”

Local community members have reportedly donated about $400 worth of canned goods to the food pantry and 48 ten-pound bags of chicken leg quarters have been donated. Hill also said B&R Thriftway has been very helpful.

“The way this town has responded has just been a blessing.”

But despite last week’s donations, Hill said more is needed if the pantry is to last until year’s end.

“There is just a bigger need now,” she said. “We’ve had triple the requests for assistance as we did this time last year.”

The Panhandle Community Services / Donley County Food Pantry serves 25 to 50 families each month, and last week they served 25 people in just one day. Hill said the food pantry is only used in emergency cases, and they have very few people come more than once.

The pantry receives funds from the county, and other local groups contribute annually also.

“The Lions Club pays for food baskets at Christmas, and the elementary school kids usually have a contest to see who can donate the most food. The Scouts also help us around Thanksgiving. But this year we’ve run out before those groups can help us.”

Items that are needed include canned goods (meat, vegetables, and fruit) rice, flour, dry beans, corn meal, sugar, tea, coffee, jelly, peanut butter, and two- or five-pound packages of frozen hamburger meat. Dry foods may also be purchased in bulk to be repackaged by Panhandle Community Services.

Bread and meats are reportedly the hardest items to get from the food bank in Amarillo.

“We can also use personal hygiene items,” Hill said, citing laundry soap, toothbrushes, and deodorant as examples.

To make a donation, send a check or money order to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 157, Clarendon, TX 79226. Checks should be earmarked or made payable to the Donley County Food Pantry. Donations can also be brought to the First United Methodist Church at 420 S. Jefferson or to the Panhandle Community Services Building at 416 S. Kearney.

Collection points for food items have been set up at the office of the Methodist Church, the Herring National Bank, and Panhandle Community Services.

If you have items you’d like to donate and would like them picked up, call the Methodist Church at 806-874-3667.

A town meeting will be held to discuss the development of nature and cultural tourism this Thursday, August 10, at 5 p.m. in the Bairfield Activity Center on the campus of Clarendon College.

Area residents are invited to attend and join in the effort to diversify the local economy by taking advantage of the area’s rich natural resources and Western heritage.

The meeting is being sponsored by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation. Panhandle Tourism and Marketing Council President Joann Harwell and Texas Prairie Rivers Region President Remelle Farrar will lead the workshop.

Harwell and Farrar work with regional land and businesses owners to help identify and attract visitors to the assets in the community.

In 2000, tourism has become the largest industry in Texas.

Speaking to landowners in Canadian recently, Farrar said nature and cultural tourists are generally from larger cities, are well educated, and are well off.

“They spend an average of $50 per day per visitor on food and lodging and an additional $200 shopping on an average two-day visit.

“Our region offers exactly what they are looking for – a chance to experience nature, experience the ‘real West,’ and an escape from the stress and traffic with a return to the nostalgia of small town life.”

The Texas Prairie Rivers Regional Initiative began in Canadian last year. Farrar will explain the program and highlight some of the success it has seen in bringing visitors to the area, as well as developing programs that combine the goals of retaining the town’s traditional lifestyle, broadening the economic base, and providing a financial incentive for conservation.

One development that shows good potential for the region is the funding of a $750,000 project to extend the Great Texas Coasting Birding Trail into the Texas Panhandle.

The map and highway signage project, which brought $2 billion into the coastal economy its first year, was sponsored by Texas Prairie Rivers, developed by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and funded by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Farrar will explain how Clarendon can capitalize on its position as a southern entry to the Texas Prairie Rivers Region.

Harwell, who has been a longtime proponent of the value of tourism to the Panhandle, is directing development of a tourism map project which will invite visitors to enjoy the historical, cultural, and natural highlights of the region through a series of “vacation trips” in the 26-county area.

The map will feature a historic ranch trail, Route 66 trail, and a nature trail. Plans are for an initial distribution of 350,000 maps. Harwell will explain how local people can join with the Panhandle Tourism and Marketing Council in this effort.

Everyone interested in seeing more dollars in the local economy is encouraged to attend this meeting.

By Cheryl Johnson, Clarendon Enterprise

Four local students recently received scholarships from the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation.

Hedley graduates Lowell Ellerbrook and Rachel Howard and Clarendon graduates Noel Devin and Lindy Helms received different scholarships for their participation at the UIL Academic State Meet and for compiling an outstanding record of academic and extracurricular achievement.

Lowell Ellerbrook and Rachel Howard each received a Robert A. Welch Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $12,800, payable $1,600 each semester for four years.  This year the Welch Foundation awarded a total of 20 grants to students who have participated in the University Interscholastic League Academic State Meet and who plan to major in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical engineering.

Ellerbrook placed second in Science at the 1999 and 2000 UIL Academic State Meet.  He also competed and placed in Mathematics and Number Sense at the 1999 and 2000 State Meets.  He participated in UIL One Act Play, Editorial Writing, Football, Cross-Country, Baseball, Basketball, and Track throughout his high school career.  He was involved in Future Farmers of America, and National Honor Society and was Salutatorian of his graduating class.  He was active in the community through Boy Scouts of America and volunteer efforts.

Ellerbrook plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in Biochemistry. 

Howard competed in Science at the 1998, 1999, and 2000 UIL Academic State Meets, and was a member of the first place team in 2000.  She also participated in UIL One Act Play, Editorial Writing, Choir, and Basketball throughout high school.  She was National Honor Society President, Senior Class President, Business Professionals of America Area President, and Valedictorian of her graduating class.  She was active in the community through volunteer efforts.

Howard plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in Chemistry.

Noel Devin and Lindy Helms each received a Houston Endowment, Inc., Scholarship in the amount of $1,000, payable $500 each semester for the first year.  This year the Houston Endowment awarded  a total of 34 grants to students who have participated in the University Interscholastic League State Meet and who have an outstanding record of academic and extracurricular achievement.

Devin placed third in Editorial Writing and competed in Current Issues and Events at the 2000 UIL Academic State Meet.  She also participated in UIL Literary Criticism, One Act Play, Ready Writing, Golf, Band, and Solo and Ensemble competitions.  She was involved in National Honor Society, Yearbook, Spanish Club, and Student Council.  She was Valedictorian of her class and was active in the community through her various volunteer efforts.

Devin plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in History and Journalism.

Helms placed third in Feature Writing at the 2000 UIL Academic State Meet.  She participated in UIL News Writing, Editorial Writing, Cross-Country, Marching Band, and Solo and Ensemble competitions throughout her high school career.  She was involved in National Honor Society, Junior Historians, Yearbook Staff, and Texas Association of Future Educators and was active in the community through volunteer efforts.

Helms plans to attend Texas Tech University and major in Advertising/Journalism.

Clarendon College welcomed one new and one returning employee this week.

Dr. Jay Caldwell and Jewell Austin.
 
Dr. Jay Caldwell is the college’s new Dean of Students, and Jewell Austin has resumed her familiar position as CC’s librarian.

“It’s exciting to be back,” said Austin who had been the college’s librarian for two years before going to Frank Phillips College in Borger two years ago.

“I’d like to thank the community for their warm welcome.

“The president [Dr. Myles Shelton] has a clear vision for the college and for the library in particular,” she said, “and I wanted to be part of it.”

Austin grew up and graduated from high school in Memphis before getting a degree from Clarendon College. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and a master’s in Library Science from Texas Women’s University.

She is living in Clarendon now and has some plans for the library.

“We’re going to continue to incorporate technology in the library and do more library instruction to teach students how to use the library.”

Austin said the library will continue to have special programming for students and members of the community.

The CC Library is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday – Thursday; from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday; and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday. Community members are welcome at the library and can call 806-874-3571 for more information.

Jay Caldwell brings 26-years of higher education experience to Clarendon College. He retired in January 1997 as the Vice President for Student Services at Rogers State University in Clairmore, Oklahoma. He also previously served in that same position at Panhandle State University.

Most recently he was a clinical director for Wilmont, Inc., which provides mental health services for nursing home residents.

“I’m looking forward to working with the students and faculty,” Caldwell said of his move to Clarendon College.

Caldwell’s wife, Willa Dean, is a faculty member at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, and the couple has raised three sons.  He says he feels like he has “come home” with his new job.

“Education is where my heart is, and I believe especially in the community college. It gives young people a chance to see if college is for them, and it gives other people a second chance to have the life they want,” he said.

Caldwell grew up and graduated from high school in Tulsa, and he received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tulsa.

He earned a theology degree from Duke University and received master’s and doctorate degrees from Oklahoma State University.  He is also a licensed professional counselor.

CC President Myles Shelton said he was very pleased with the hiring of Austin and Caldwell.

“I think we have some outstanding people working for us,” he said. “Jewell is a proven individual and will be an invaluable asset as we move forward with plans for a new library.

“Dr. Caldwell comes to us having been both a Dean of Students and a Vice President of Student Affairs and has wealth of experience to help our students both in and out of the classroom.

“I’m proud to have both of them working for us.”