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This Week

Sarah Barber Nelson

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“I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my pain, and I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.”

Sarah Barber Nelson

On May 17, 2022, Sarah Barber Nelson traded the earthly life she had known for her eternal life in the joy and presence of the Lord.

Sarah Gladys Gentry was born on March 26, 1929, in Gulfport, Mississippi and where she grew up to Alvin and Teresa Gentry. She attended Gulfport High School where her primary interest was music. She was a soprano in the choir and had her focus on opera. In 1948, she met Flake Barber while he was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. They married and moved back to Texas where they raised their children in Friona and Hereford. They were married 31 years before Flake passed in 1979.

In 1987, she met James Marion Nelson. They were married on June 16, 1988, resided in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Belize City, Belize, and then later retired in Clarendon. They enjoyed all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and shared 21 years of love and companionship before James’ passing in 2009.

Sarah personified “joie de vivre” or an “exuberant enjoyment of life”. She loved making every person feel special and loved. She enjoyed family gatherings, entertaining, spending individual time with her grandchildren and many of her great-grandchildren.

Sarah leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love, kindness, generosity, talent and creativity.

Sarah was preceded in death by her husband Flake, her husband James, a son, Cary Thomas Barber, daughters Michelle Barber, Nicki Douglas, Beth Jennings, and Cheryl Robinson, and also a granddaughter, Ashli Chantel Barber Frock, and a grandson, Steven Jennings.

She is survived by her daughter Kelly Barber Beavers and husband David of Amarillo, son Charles Flake Barber and wife Samara of Friendswood, daughter Tracy Barber of Clarendon, daughter-in-law Denise Bouvier of Denham Springs, Louisiana, and son-in-law Joey Douglas also of Denham Springs. Her 15 grandchildren include Leslie Wagner of Amarillo, Amy Wagner Flores and husband Philip of Amarillo, Aaron Wagner and wife Melissa of Sahaurita, Arizona, Daniel Beavers of Amarillo, Matthew Coker of Clarendon, Anna Coker Lara of Amarillo, Paul Coker and wife Tiffany of Huntsville Texas, Thomas Carroll of Clarendon, Anthony Barber and wife Jennifer, and Ryan Barber and wife Barb, both of Friendswood, Blake Jennings and wife Kelly, Dusty Davison all of Denham Springs, Louisiana, Samantha Sartor and husband Kevin, and Megan Douglas all of New Orleans, and Natlie Ohrenberger of Little Rock, 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

A service of celebration is scheduled to be held in her honor at Arena of Life Cowboy Church on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in Clarendon.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory may do so to Samaritans Purse, Salvation Army, or High Plains Food Bank.

Hatley, Sawyer win Republican nominations

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Sarah Hatley and Dan Sawyer were the big winners when Donley County Republicans cast ballots Tuesday, May 24.

In a run-off election, Hatley beat Connie Lane, 107-87, to be her party’s candidate for Justice of the Peace in Precincts 1&2. Hatley and Lane had been the top vote earners in a four-woman race for the position in the March 1 primary.

In Precinct 4, incumbent County Commissioner Dan Sawyer defeated challenger Brad Dalton 58-43 in a re-vote of the March 1 primary. Voter registration irregularities cast doubt on the original election with both men ultimately agreeing that a new election was in order and the district court agreed.

Neither Hatley nor Sawyer will face an opponent in the November election, making them both the de facto winners of their respective positions.

 

Broncos beat Lockney for quarter final title

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The Clarendon Broncos celebrate their victory as the Regional Quarter Final Champions last weekend in Amarillo. Courtesy Photo / Adelita Elam

The Clarendon Bronco baseball team began the Regional Quarter-Final with a slow start in the opening game last week but rallied back in strong fashion to finish the best two out of three series as Champions.

They will take on Albany at Lubbock Christian University on Thursday, May 26 for the first game at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28 for the second game and third if needed. The Broncos lost the first game of the series 1-9. Lockney was able to rally in the third inning to score four runs after neither team put runs on the scoreboard in the opening two innings. Brock Hatley was on the mound and uncharacteristically allowed the Longhorns to score another run in the fourth and four more in the fifth. Hatley walked three hitters while striking out two. Wilson Ward came in as relief in the middle of the fourth allowing one hit.

Offensively, the Broncos collected two hits and three stolen bases in the game. Ward singled and Aiden Caudle doubled, and Jared Musick earned two of the three stolen bases.

Head Coach Yancy Molloy knew his team could come back after the first game.

“We were down in the dumps, and I said ‘Let it hurt for a couple hours until we get home,” he said. “I said, ‘When you get home, forget about it, and let’s go play.’ At the end of the day, it’s not a life-or-death situation. Just come out and play and have fun. That’s exactly what they did…We still didn’t play as good as we can, but we had fun and played well enough.”

The Broncos were able to let the loss go and turned the tables on Lockney in the second game winning 9-1. Harrison Howard pitched all six innings allowing only two hits, two walks, while striking out six batters. The Bronco defense played well behind him and got through the game with six hits and only one error. Tyler Harper racked up three assists in the game. The Broncos were able to get strategic hits when they needed them. Easton Frausto hit a single, triple, four RBIs, and scored a run and Musick had a single, an RBI, and one run. Hatley singled, and Lyric Smith hit a good double, had two runs, and one stolen base.

The third game was the icing on the cake for the Broncos as they won 6-0 with four hits to only one for the Longhorns. Molloy went with Howard on the mound after his success in the second game. Howard threw for two and a third innings and allowed no hits and had one strike-out before Caudle came in as relief and had four strike-outs and allowed one hit.

“Harrison went out and threw well enough for me in the first game that I was able to use him in the second game,” Molloy said. “He’s a sophomore for me that throws unbelievable..”

Hatley had a single, double, and one RBI while Howard had a single, two RBIs, and one run. Calder Havens added a single, three runs, and one stolen base in the win.

“These boys are resilient,” he said. “We weren’t even picked to make the playoffs. We were picked to finish sixth in our district and went in (the playoffs) as a three seed. Our boys put that chip on our shoulder and made everybody pay for it that we met and beat in the playoffs. These boys are very resilient, and I’m very proud to coach these boys. I’m very proud of them.”

2022 Memorial Day services planned

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The Adamson-Lane, Post 287 of The American Legion in Hedley will hold its annual Memorial Day service at the Rowe Cemetery, Monday, May 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

The Post members will place American Flags on the graves of 248 Veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery. The Flags will be places on the graves on Friday May 27, 2022, and remain till the end of the day Monday in Honor of those departed comrades that have served this Country.

The Memorial Day program will be conducted by members of the American Legion that will include the raising of the colors, the National Anthem, Pledge to the Flag and the ceremony honoring the missing in action and the prisoners of War still unaccounted for.

The Memorial Day address will be given by Garrett Bains, Superintendent of Hedley ISD. Carlton Turvaville will read the names of the 248 Veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery. The program will be concluded with the laying of the memorial wreath and the playing of “Taps.”

Sales tax revenue up in Clarendon, H’wick

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Sales tax revenues were up in Clarendon and Howardwick when Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar distributed May allocations to local governments last week.

Clarendon’s revenue was up 5.97 percent for an allocation of $51,740.08 compared to $48,824.23 one year ago.

The city’s calendar year-to-date sales tax revenues now tally $280,871.69, an increase of 9.07 percent compared to the same period last year.

Howardwick’s allocation of $1,945.47 was an increase of 19.78 percent compared to last May.
The lakeside city is now up 4.88 percent for the year-to-date at $5,087.13.

Hedley fell for the month 8.18 percent to $1,737.24. The total for the year-to-date there is now $5,193.46, which is down 2.04 percent compared to the same point in 2021.

Statewide, Hegar sent $1.2 billion in local sales tax allocations for May, 11.8 percent more than in May 2021.

These May allocations are based on sales made in March by businesses that report sales tax monthly and sales made in January, February and March by quarterly filers.

CHS names top grads for class of ‘22

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Clarendon High School has announced Jentrye Bellar and Josiah Howard as its top students for the Class of 2022.

Josiah Howard
Jentrye Bellar

Bellar is the class Valedictorian, and Howard is the Salutatorian. They will be recognized along with their fellow seniors during commencement exercises this Friday, May 27, at 7 p.m. in the Clarendon College Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center.

Jentrye Annagale Bellar has GPA of 4.41 and a weighted GPA of 6.017. She is the daughter of Jarod and Jennifer Bellar and has attended Clarendon ISD since her sophomore year of high school. She has participated in track, cheerleading, basketball, softball, and golf. During her junior year of softball, she was named to the 3rd Team All-State softball team.

Bellar has maintained a 4.0 GPA in all of her dual credit college courses and will graduate with 36 hours. During her senior year, she qualified for the regional UIL academic meet in editorial writing and the regional golf meet.

During her junior and senior years, Bellar was an active member of the National Honor Society. She has been the president of her class all four years of high school and was the student council president her senior year.

Bellar plans to attend West Texas A&M University to major in Pre-Pharmacy.

Josiah Howard has a GPA of 3.75 and a weighted GPA of 5.698. He is the son of Bruce and Gwynne Howard.

Howard has participated in UIL academics all four years of high school, was the lead in the One Act Play the last three years and won best performer at district One Act Play competition.
Howard competed at the state level in UIL his freshman, junior, and senior years. As a freshman, he competed in UIL Science. As a junior and senior, he competed in Lincoln Douglas Debate.

Howard was recognized as a National Merit Commendation student for his PSAT score. Throughout high school, Josiah enjoyed being a member of First Baptist Church in Hedley.
Howard also worked throughout his junior and senior years as a sandwich artist at Subway, painting on a canvas of Italian Herb and Cheese Bread with Baja Style Chipotle Sauce.

Howard plans on attending Baylor University and studying philosophy followed by law school.

John William Butts

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John William Butts was born to William “Bill” Butts and Kathryn Butts in San Antonio, Texas, on June 14, 1949. He passed away at age 72 on April 26, 2022, at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio.

John William Butts

His father took the family to an Air Force duty assignment at Yakota Air Force Base, Japan, in 1960. There, through Kanto Plains Baptist Church, John and the family made lifetime friends with whom were shared regular reunions. John attended Johnson High School on base until 1965, returning to Texas to graduate from Robert E. Lee High School, San Antonio, in 1967.
John was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving from 1968-1971, stationed in Karamursel, Turkey and Misawa, Japan. Upon completing his tour of duty, he eventually worked as a Gas Controller forty years, starting with Valero Energy and ending with Enterprise Products.

He met the love of his life at Shearer Hills Baptist Church, marrying Melissa Marlene Estes on July 15, 1978, sharing forty-three years of marriage with her while raising their two sons.

John enjoyed sports all his life, starting with Little League baseball in Japan, football and snow skiing later during his Air Force days in Japan and Turkey, and adult softball leagues in San Antonio. He coached church youth basketball and softball and taught his son Kyle to play tournament golf.

John was a loving husband, wonderful father, proud grandfather, caring brother, friend, and devoted follower of Christ. He was a charter member of Shearer Hills Baptist Church where he was a teacher, choir member and participant in several productions of the Living Last Supper.

John was preceded in death by his parents, William and Kathryn Butts. He is survived by wife, Melissa; two sons, Eric (April) Butts and Kyle Butts; grandson Albus Joseph Butts; sister Martha (Mike) Fleming; nephew Atkins (Erica) Fleming; and grandniece Mattie Fleming.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 2, 10:00am-2:00pm, Alamo City Church, 6500 IH 35 N, San Antonio.

Funeral service will be held Friday, June 3, 11:30am, reception following, Shearer Hills Baptist Church, 12615 San Pedro, San Antonio.

Military Honors and Burial are at 1:45 p.m., Fort Sam Houston, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio.

Election Day to be held May 24 for JP, Commissioner

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Early voting is underway this week as Donley County Republicans decide who will be their party’s candidates for Justice of the Peace in Precincts 1&2 and County Commissioner in Precinct 4.

Other state races are also on the ballots of Republican as well as Democrats, and early voting in both party primary run-off elections will continue through Friday, May 20, at the Donley County Courthouse Annex from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Election Day for the runoffs as well as the “do over” election for Precinct 4 commissioner will be held next Tuesday, May 24.

Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with Republicans voting in the Courthouse and Democrats voting in the Courthouse Annex.

Precinct 1&2 Republicans will choose between Sarah Hatley or Connie Lane for Justice of the Peace.

Precinct 4 Republicans will also be getting a “do over” of the March Primary in their county commissioner’s race. Challenger Brad Dalton originally beat incumbent Dan Sawyer by one vote but inconsistencies were sufficient to warrant a new vote.

The winning Justice of the Peace and Commissioner candidates will face no opposition in November.

Hedley names top graduates for 2022

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Hedley High School has announced Isabella Martinez and Elijah Booth are the top students for the graduating Class of 2022.

Isabella Martinez

Martinez is the class Valedictorian, and Booth is the Salutatorian. The top students will be recognized along with other members of the senior class during commencement exercises in the Owl Gym on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

Martinez has a 90.556 GPA and is the daughter of Jerome and Gigi Martinez. She went to school in Clarendon for all of elementary school and junior high and then finished her last years in Hedley. While at Hedley, she was the mascot for one year, participated in one act play for two years, and was on the yearbook staff for three years. She was selected homecoming queen and prom queen by her peers.

After graduation from high school, Martinez is looking into a career in pet grooming.

Elijah Booth

Booth is the 18-year-old son of Janita Booth and has a 90.177 GPA. Throughout high school, he participated in football and basketball and participated in OAP for two years. During his free time, he likes to hang out with his friends, work, and play basketball.

Booth is currently working cleaning bricks in Memphis; and after high school, he plans to leave Texas for work.

Mayor Skelton resigns, Fangman takes over

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Mayor Jacob Fangman receives the gavel from former mayor Sandy Skelton during last week’s city council meeting.

Mayor Sandy Skelton resigned his office, and Alderman Jacob Fangman was appointed as his successor when the Clarendon City Council met last Thursday, May 12.

Skelton had served as mayor since 2016. Fangman will fill the remainder of the mayor’s current term, which will expire next year.

Aldermen Tommy Hill and Larry Jeffers receive the oath of office from Mayor Skeleton before his resignation.

Earlier in last week’s city meeting, the oath of office was administered to Aldermen Tommy Hill and Larry Jeffers, who, along with Alderman John Lockhart, were elected to office on May 7.

The council unanimously appointed Fangman to serve out the mayor’s term, which created a vacant alderman’s seat on the city council. The council voted to appoint former alderman Eulaine McIntosh, who lost the May 7 election, to fill out Fangman’s term on the council.

In other city business, the council accepted the resignation of Municipal Judge Tommy Waldrop effective May 18 and appointed Richard Green to that position.

The Junior Rodeo Cowboys Association requested free re-entry for its members to the Clarendon Aquatics Center during their event here this summer. The request was denied.

The council considered a lone bid for street repairs on Seventh Street at Koogle, but the bid exceeded the engineer’s estimate and was rejected.

The annual report of the Clarendon Housing Authority was received and accepted.

City Administrator David Dockery gave an update on the aquatic center and also said that the city will be placing a bid notice in the next 45 days to do the final water infrastructure improvements under the USDA project.

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