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Archives for October 2025
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Perry addresses water, energy, and education
State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) addressed a wide range of issues before a crowd of local citizens and officials as well as Clarendon College RFO students during a town hall at the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center Tuesday afternoon.
Perry is the main author of legislation that will help Texas develop water resources for the future if voters approve Proposition 4 on next month’s state constitutional election ballot. The effort would set aside $1 billion in state sales tax funds per year for 20 years starting in 2027.
“We’re 20 years late doing this, but it’s a start,” Perry said.
The senator also discussed the state’s efforts to increase public education funding in the last regular legislative session with teachers getting a substantial pay raise. He also discussed his work to improve discipline in schools, saying that some kids were ruining school for everyone. An example of how slow the political process can be, Perry said it took him three sessions to get his bill passed.
“Why would anyone be against removing kids from class for striking a teach?” he asked. “I don’t know, but that’s the world we live in.”
Perry addressed datacenters coming to Texas and said five such facilities are being planned or built in his district. Amidst public concerns about the energy and water usage of the facilities, Perry said the facilities will likely generate some of their own electricity and eventually sell some energy back to the grid, and he said the water usage could be limited if datacenters used closed-loop systems or took advantage of air-cooling methods.
Perry praised research going on at Abilene Christian University on new nuclear reactor technology that he says could help power data centers and also power future desalination projects to make brackish water usable.
The senator also touched on current events as well as the state’s roll in affecting local property taxes. He encouraged students to participate in government and not just go by what they hear on social media.
“You better be involved and engage, or our democracy won’t survive,” Perry said.
Discussing property taxes and the rise of appraised values, Perry said he will be filing a bill to try to control appraisals, but he said a bigger issue is the way the state has stepped in on local government.
“We’re on a dangerous path with the state stepping in to tell locals how they can tax,” Perry said. “What will happen is counties and cities eventually won’t be able to take care of roads and other things, and then it’s going to be a big issue and take a billion dollar bond to fix things.”
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The senator’s final political topic was on the dangers he sees with the unregulated hemp industry in the state, and he closed his statement by encouraging people to have faith and stand on principles in life.
Hedley plans 73rd festival this Saturday
Hedley will celebrate its 73rd Cotton Festival this weekend October 10 and 11.
To start the celebration, the annual Chili Supper will be held Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Lions Den.
Saturday will be the big day of the festival with more than 30 vendors coming to Hedley from around the Texas Panhandle. Kids will enjoy a bounce house and train rides, and there will be food and other activities as well.
Bingo games benefitting the Hedley FFA will run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Building.
The annual kids’ parade will start at 10:00 a.m. on Main Street followed by the big parade at 2:00 p.m. Lions will be serving barbecue chicken, pinto beans, and dessert for lunch at the Lions Den.
Hedley ex-students will reunite at the school at 3:00, and drawings for several fundraisers will be held at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for the bale of cotton are available for $5 each or five tickets for $20.
CC to host charity basketball game Oct. 14
The Clarendon community is invited to a slam-dunk evening of fun and fundraising at the fourth annual Old Dawgs vs Lady Bulldogs Charity Basketball game, benefiting cancer awareness and the Paws Against Cancer initiative.
The game will happen on Tuesday, October 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Bulldog Gym.
Even though the physical prowess of the college faculty and staff has of yet been unable to overcome the skills and speed of the Lady Bulldogs, the Old Dawgs spirit is still strong and their desire to compete viable.
This isn’t just a game. It’s a mission in motion. There is no charge for the event; however, donations will be accepted at the door and collected during half-time. All proceeds from the event will go toward the college’s cancer program called Paws Against Cancer, helping employees affected by cancer with resources and hope.
Organizers say every cheer, every laugh, every donation, every three-pointer brings us closer together in the fight against cancer.
Wayland launches fast-track certification pathways for future teachers in Texas
PLAINVIEW – Wayland Baptist University’s Don A. Williams School of Education is opening new doors for individuals who want to enter the teaching profession through innovative fast-track pathways.
Responding to a statewide shortage of certified teachers, the university is offering both an Alternative Certification Teacher Program (ACP) and flexible degree-based pathways designed to help future educators quickly move into classrooms.
“These programs give people who may never have considered teaching a clear path to certification,” said Dr. James Anderson, Interim Dean of the School of Education. “Whether you’re a recent graduate or someone with a degree in another field, Wayland has an option that can help you become a fully certified teacher.”
The ACP program provides a one-year route to teacher certification. Candidates complete 50 hours of classroom observation, online coursework, and supervised teaching experiences while working under an intern certificate. The program is structured in modules and can be completed entirely online, making it accessible across the state.
Wayland also offers a master’s degree pathway, which combines certification requirements with graduate coursework.
Students complete 19 hours of education classes in the first year – more than halfway to a Master of Education degree – while earning certification. By continuing for a second year, participants finish the full master’s degree.
“This option has been especially popular,” Anderson said. “Instead of just paying for certification, students are investing in a graduate degree that qualifies for financial aid and even TEACH grants. It’s a tremendous value.”
The School of Education also provides fast-track undergraduate programs that allow paraprofessionals, transfer students, and others to earn bachelor’s degrees in education while working full-time. Flexible online and evening classes make these programs accessible to a wide range of students.
“Many of our students are paraprofessionals already serving in schools or athletes planning to coach,” Anderson said. “These pathways let them complete the requirements for certification without putting their careers on hold.”
All programs are designed to be completed online, with Wayland faculty and certified mentors providing statewide support. Candidates are observed in their own classrooms, receive feedback from university supervisors, and take the required state exams. Upon completion, they become fully certified teachers ready to meet the demand across Texas.
“Our goal is simple,” Anderson said. “We want to equip more certified teachers for classrooms across Texas, and we want to do it in a way that works for people’s lives and careers.”
Interested candidates can learn more about Wayland’s teacher pathways by scanning the QR codes on program flyers, visiting wbu.edu, or contacting the School of Education directly.
REFZ Ride for Kids to be held Oct. 4
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce will host the annual REFZ Ride For Kids Fun Run on Saturday, October 4, at the Lions Hall.
Proceeds of the event will benefit the Christ’s Kids Ministry and the Clarendon Lions Club’s “Toys for Joy” toy drive.
Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. with breakfast. The Fun Run starts at 10:00 a.m. with lunch at noon and awards at 1:00 p.m.
This year’s 135-mile scenic ride starts and ends at the Lions Hall and travels to Turkey before returning to Clarendon.
Entry is $25 per person, and registration is available online at ClarendonTX.com/funrun or in person at the Clarendon Visitor Center.
For more information, call 806-205-0270.
Broncos play hard against the Longhorns
By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Broncos are having a learning season and are dealing with several season-ending injuries. Their latest loss came at the hands of Lockney. Despite scoring more points than they had all season, the Broncos still succumbed to the Longhorns.
Lockney took advantage of Bronco turnovers and penalties to gain the upper hand. The Longhorns put up 24 points before the Broncos found the endzone for six of their own when quarterback Kreed Robinson found Michael Randall from 11 yards out. Braylon Rice earned the bonus two points. An onside kick did not pan out, but senior Nolan Burrow was able to get his hands on a Lockney fumble, the first of two in the game. Kreed Robinson ran it in for the last six points, and Dakota Jameson converted the two-point bonus.
Defensively, the Broncos did a good job on the line. They collected several good tackles for losses and made good stops in the game.
The Broncos will have Friday, October 3, off and begin district play October 10 in Wellington beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Lady Broncos finish eighth in Lubbock
By Sandy Anderberg
Courtesy Photo
The Lady Bronco cross-country team has been running well all season and their meet up with their first real competition in the Lubbock Invitational last weekend at Mae Simmons Park.
Former State qualifier Madi Benson ran a good race in the two-mile and finished fifth out of 173 runners. Benson led the way for the Lady Broncos eighth-place finish in a field of 34 teams. Steadily improving sophomore Addy Havens finished in 11th place with a respectable time of 13:26.5.
Emmarie Holland has been running strong and finished 23rd at 14:44.1, while Lexi Phillips ran the course in a time of 15:47.8, and Laken Smith posted a time of 16:47.4.
Tristen Ybarra was the lone runner for the Broncos and did a great job in the 5K finishing 38th out of 144 runners at a time of 19:56.4.
The Broncos and Lady Broncos along with the Clarendon Junior High Colts and Lady Colts will run October 1 in the Wheeler Stampede and compete at the district level in Wheeler at Tom Britt Memorial Park.
Colts flex muscles against Lockney
By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Junior High Colts made a bold statement against the Lockney Shorthorns at home last week in Bronco Stadium and earned a 34-18 win.
They will have a week to rest until their next game in Wellington on October 9 at 5:00pm.
Courtesy Photo / Britney Fields Photography
Quarterback T.J. Smith gathered 315 all-purpose yards in the 16-point win and snatched all five touchdowns in the game. Even though Smith played strong, his defensive line helped throughout the game led by Kase Zongker who plays solid at the defensive tackle spot. Colton Madsen, who played the defensive end position with determination, also had a heavy-duty effort in the game. Zongker and Madsen worked together and had key sacks and tackles for losses in the game according to Coach Isaac Semans.
Despite trailing 14-18 at one point, the Colts pressed hard on the accelerator with fellow player Jaequan Weatherton on their minds. They were able to make up the ground they needed to take the lead with 20 unanswered points. And the touchdown that came late in the game capped off a gritty effort to put the game out of reach and defeat the Shorthorns.
“Coach Kelley and I are extremely happy with the progress we’ve made this year and the results we’ve gotten,” Semans said. “We wanted to dedicate this game to Jaequan Weatherton and knew we needed to get a victory. We couldn’t be more proud of how hard they work and how they’re growing as student athletes.”
Owls cross country winners
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