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Bronco Send-off
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Archives for May 2025
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City council agrees to light proposal for downtown work
The Clarendon City Council approved an additional contract related to the Downtown Revitalization Project in the 200 block of South Kearney that aims to match the work that was done in the 100 block.
City Administrator Brian Barboza explained that because of new federal government rules, the city would be required to purchase the light posts for the 200 block in the United States if grant money was going to be used for that expenditure. The lights in the 100 block were purchased from Canada, however, and lights purchased from another vendor would not match.
To avoid having different lights, the city could use local tax funds for that expense, which would free up grant funds to be used for upcoming work in the 300 block, Barboza said. The price tag for eight lamp posts is about $19,000.
Council members agreed they wanted lights to look the same and be consistent downtown, and they asked if the Clarendon EDC could help cover the cost of purchasing the lights. CEDC board member Roger Estlack told the council the CEDC board was aware of the situation and had discussed it in previous meetings. CEDC members were scheduled to take action on supporting the purchase of the lights this week during their regular meeting.
The city council voted in favor of approving a separate contract with AAJ Concrete to order light poles to match the existing fixtures.
In other city business, the council approved a bid from Discount Fence to put fencing around the lift station at Goodnight and White streets and also approved a request from the Donley County Senior Citizens to close a portion of Fourth and Gorst streets for their 50th anniversary celebration in August.
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The council also canvassed the vote from the May 3 election and administered the oath of office to Mayor Jacob Fangman and Aldermen Ashlee Estlack, Chelsi Shadle, Tom Thompson, and Brittney Wolfe.
TxDOT to detour US 287 in Memphis May 19
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Childress District is notifying motorists of a temporary detour on US 287 in Memphis on next Tuesday, May 20, to accommodate railroad crossing replacement by BNSF Railway.
Lane closures will begin Monday, May 19, at 6 a.m. with the closing of both northbound lanes.
Traffic will be switched to the two southbound lanes as north/south single lanes to maintain traffic flow. On Tuesday, the two southbound lanes will be closed with traffic being switched to the two northbound lanes as north/south single lanes.
When the roadway is ready for installation of the new rails for the crossing, a complete shutdown of US 287 between Second Street and Harrison Street will be necessary to install the rails.
The full detour is expected to be in place approximately four to six hours. Crews will utilize message boards and flaggers to alert the traveling public of the work and detour.
To safely reroute traffic, the following detour will be in place for installation of the rail across the roadway:
Northbound US 287 traffic in Hall County will be detoured via FM 1619, four miles south of Memphis, to FM 3032 to SH 256, returning to US 287 in Memphis.
Southbound US 287 traffic will be redirected through Memphis using 2nd Street to Davis Street, rejoining US 287 thereafter.
Motorists should anticipate delays both days. TxDOT encourages drivers to plan ahead, obey posted signs, and exercise caution in the area. This temporary detour is necessary to ensure the safety of both workers and the traveling public while improving the condition of the railroad crossing.
Sales taxes grow in local municipalities
Donley County cities each saw increases in sales tax revenues this month with Comptroller Glenn Hegar delivered May allocations last week.
Clarendon’s May revenue was up 4.81 percent to $54,827.98 compared to the same period last year. The city is now running 4.8 percent ahead for the calendar year-to-date with revenue of $226,482.61.
Hedley was up 5.62 percent with revenue of $1,779.43 and is now up 24.78 percent for the year at $7,473.62.
Howardwick’s revenue was up 66.05 percent this period, totaling $2,204.74, compared to $1,327.72 for May 2024. The lakeside city is now up 32.55 percent for the calendar year-to-date at $10,111.48. Howardwick City Hall says extended hours at the local convenience store there, recent big events at the country club, and the start of the city’s mowing service season likely contributed to the increase in sales taxes.
Donley County Assistance District #1 in the corporate boundaries of Howardwick received $1,352.31 this month, bringing its total this calendar year so far to $6,235.22. The district began collecting taxes in October.
These allocations are based on sales made in March by businesses that report tax monthly and sales made in January, February and March by quarterly filers.
Statewide, Hegar delivered $1.3 billion in local sales tax allocations for May, 4.5 percent more than in May 2024.
Reverend Roy Shep Williams, Sr.
Reverend Roy Shep Williams, Sr., 71, of Clarendon went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Amarillo.
Home Going Celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon, Texas.
Reverend Roy Shep Williams Sr. was born on April 9, 1954, to Susie B. and Rev. O.L. Williams. He was 1 of 10 children. He was born in a family where hard work was a prerequisite; But even more so where strength of mind, body and spirit were the expectation and the standard.
At a young age, his work ethic was cultivated working alongside his brothers and father harvesting in the fields. He later found the love for basketball and played for Amarillo High School where he graduated as one of the students of the first African American class at the school after integration. During this time, Roy also worked for the railroad.
Instead of choosing to go to college, Roy began working at the trade that he would later learn would allow for him to make an immensely respectable name for himself – cement masonry. Anywhere you look in Donley County: various homes, Clarendon ISD, Robertson’s Funeral, Henson’s, as well as red brick that lies on the streets of old town Clarendon, you will see Roy’s expert craftsmanship. This rings true not just in the small town where he was born and raised, but also in many of the other towns in our beloved Texas Panhandle.
While many would have seen that as the calling on Roy’s life, God had much greater plans for him. As he began working to build a life for himself and his family in the early 1980’s, Roy decided to turn his life over to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He not only came to be a strong believer in his faith, soon also became a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout his 40 plus years of servitude, Elder Williams led countless souls to be saved, and through his own walk, continued to do so until the Lord called him home. He was the lead pastor of Ephesians Church of God in Christ, True Church of God and Christ, and finally St. Stephen’s Baptist Church.
On July 28, 1978, Roy was Married to Barbara Shadle of Clarendon. Both strong believers and followers of Christ, they worked tirelessly to build a life centered around the same principles of hard work and faith.
Roy was preceded in death by both his mother and father, his sisters Barbara, Pamela, and Lois, his brother Ellis, his Mother-in-law Cherrye Shadle Howard, and his beloved puppy, Fanci.
Those left to carry on his most cherished memories and legacy are Roy’s wife Barbara, his children Roy Jr. and wife Milka, Alexia, Roy III and Wife Renda, Joshua Blake, James and wife Elizabeth, and Angel and husband Jerry. These also include 20 beloved grandsons and granddaughters, along with brothers Reverend Harry Williams, Billy, and Dwight, as well as sisters Sandra and Peggy and his beloved puppy, Joy.
The Funny Life
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Personal best
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College thespians
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Broncos close out their season
By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Broncos have had a good season, and it unfortunately ended too soon with two close losses to West Texas High at the Tascosa High School baseball field last weekend in Amarillo.
The Broncos narrowly lost the first game 2-3 in seven innings. Overall, the Broncos had three hits and one error while WT had three runs on three hits. Senior Colton Caudle was on the mound and allowed three hits, three runs, and four walks while striking out six batters. Caudle threw 54 strikes out of 84 pitches and faced 28 batters.
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The Broncos struggled to get any big hits in the game. Caudle, Klay Wilkins, Bryce Williams accounted for the three hits with singles in the game. Caudle claimed an RBI while Wilkins had two base-on-balls. Kreed Robinson, Mason Allred, Shane Hagood, and Braylon Rice also earned a free base with walks. Allred and Rice claimed the two runs of the game, and Allred racked up three stolen bases with Rice and Mason Sims earning one each.
The Broncos were defeated 3-7 in the second game. Bronco Nation will miss all of the seniors who have given so much to CHS athletics.
Lady Broncos are still in it to win it
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By Sandy Anderberg
The Lady Broncos are determined, focused and on fire as they add another golden glove to their 2025 softball post season. They were able to knock off a solid Hale Center team by big numbers to advance to the next round which will be played against Bangs at the end of the week. They took the first game 11-0 and won the second 12-1.
The Lady Broncos will be ready to play the Bangs Lady Dragons for the Regional Semi-Final championship. Game one will be Thursday at 4 p.m. in Holiday, and game two will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday with game three to follow if necessary.
Senior Kennadie Cummins has not weakened all year and turned in a great performance last week from the hill in game one. Cummins pitched a no-hitter striking out eight of the 17 batters she faced in the five innings. Forty-seven of her 68 pitches hit the sweet spot and she gave up zero walks. Cummins’ pitching along with a great in field and out filed behind her added up to an unstoppable defense and just as impressive was the clinic they put on at the plate in both games.
Cambree Smith came through like a freight train for the Lady Broncos hitting a grand slam to center field in the last inning of the game and a double in the previous inning to drive in one run to add five runs to the scoreboard.
Courtesy Photo / Al Elam
Tandie Cummins swung the bat ‘Cummins style’ and slammed a homerun in the bottom of the fourth that went straight to the fence in center field. Elliot Frausto got the scoring started in the first inning on a ground out that scored Hayden Elam.
The Lady Broncos took off in the fourth and fifth innings to score 10 big runs. Riley Jantz, Maloree Wann, Cummins, and Elam all posted one single and Smith, Jantz, and Shelby Christopher added a double each in the game. Overall, the Lady Broncos had nine hits, 11 RBI and 11 runs and two stolen bases in the win.
On Friday, the Lady Broncos never let up or backed down and earned the 10-run win with T. Cummins on the mound for the duration. Cummins threw 36 of 54 strikes allowing only one run and one walk and struck out two. The 26-5-1 Lady Broncos had seven hits, 11 RBI, and seven stolen bases in the game. Shelbi Coles was on fire on the diamond and accounted for two of their overall free bases.
A Lady Bronco quick start in the first inning sent a message to the Lady Owls that they were ready to win and were not going to let up. K. Cummins got ahold of the fourth pitch of the game and sent a message to the outfield that the ladies meant business.
With two outs in the opening inning, Jantz took first base when she was hit by a pitch that allowed Elam to score with Frausto and Wann advancing one base with Frausto in scoring position. Christopher walked and Frausto snuck home before the inning was up. Frausto was also credited with a triple in the third that scored Smith, Elam, and T. Cummins.
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