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Hedley FFA honors
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Archives for May 2026
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Lady Broncos close out post-season play
By Sandy Anderberg
The Lady Broncos hoped for more playoff time as they went up against the Reagan County Lady Owls; but it was not to be as Clarendon took a 0-10 loss in six innings in the Regional Semi-Final game in Lubbock.
The Lady Broncos had several bright spots but could not put themselves in a position to stop the Lady Owls.
Courtesy Photo / JL Mankin
Once again, Freshman Laken Smith was at the helm for the Lady Broncos and did a good job on the mound against a strong-hitting RC team. Smith threw a total of 126 pitches in the six innings and was able to find the sweet spot over the plate as she faced the batters and had several strikeouts.
Offensively, the Lady Broncos were able to get some hits off of the Lady Owl’s pitcher, but a strong presence in the field added to their frustrations. The team was able to grab bases through walks and their three recorded hits from Jesslyn Guerra, L. Smith, and Shelby Christopher who pounded big hits for the Lady Broncos. However, they struggled to move runners around the diamond and find home plate.
Despite the early exit from the playoffs, the Lady Broncos had a good season and grew stronger fundamentally. The underclassmen will be able to regroup next season, but will greatly miss seniors Shelby Christopher, Elliot Frausto, and Presley Smith.
New Pantex Facility Strengthens National Security
Pantex, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s High Explosives Center of Excellence for Manufacturing, kicked off a new era of weapons maintenance and surveillance last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new High Explosives Science and Engineering (HESE) facility.
DOE/NNSA Photo / Michael Schumacher
“The HESE is yet another important upgrade in our continued investment in modern technology,” Pantex Production Operations Division Director Carl Beard said. “The facility serves as another critical piece in fortifying Pantex’s role within the Nuclear Security Enterprise.”
The structure opened in May 2026 for operations; just over five years after construction began in November 2020. The HESE allows Pantex to continue to fulfill its vital role today, while positioning itself for the future.
“The new High Explosives Science and Engineering facility is a landmark achievement, setting an unprecedented standard for high explosives research and development crucial to national security,” PanTeXas Deterrence President and General Manager Kelly Beierschmitt said. “This state-of-the-art facility not only exemplifies American ingenuity but also demonstrates our unwavering commitment to mission success. My sincere appreciation to all the Pantexans and others who made this happen.”
The new facility combines activities performed at 15 aging facilities and refines the space for the development of technology supporting the plant’s weapons maintenance and surveillance mission. The building consolidates several groups under one roof, allowing for more efficient collaboration.
“The HESE will enable Pantex to continue delivering on our mission to provide the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile to the Department of War in support of national and global security,” said Pantex Field Office Manager Jason Armstrong. “This facility will also allow us to optimize for tomorrow as we develop new and innovative ways to accommodate and meet future weapon modernization and production demands.”
Benson punches ticket to state
By Sandy Anderberg
Clarendon senior Madi Benson stunned the field and brought home a regional track championship in the 800m race in Canyon last weekend.
Benson’s time of 2:20.65 was just over two seconds in front of the other runners.
Benson is not new to running in the state meet in Austin on the UT campus as this is her fourth year to compete. In previous years, Benson has run not only the 800m but also the 400m dash at the state level. Her debut at state in 2023 was in the 400m dash where she finished sixth with an impressive time of 1:00.50. In 2024 and 2025, Benson made a name for herself in the 800m as the seventh fastest runner in that event with times of 2:24.46 in ’24 and 2:23.55 in 2025.
You can bet Benson will state her case for one of the best 800m runners in Texas when she runs the state meet May 15.
Also running at the regional meet was fellow athlete Addy Havens who ran fourth in the 3200m run at a time of 12:27.41 which was just under a minute off the winning time of 11:42.13. Havens has run well all year and will be a force to reckon with next season.
Benson also ran in the 1600m run and finished third in the race with a time of 5:37.26. Brilyn Bruce was a contender in the 200m dash and finished eighth with a time of 26.72 behind the winning time of 25.54. Don ‘Jae Orr competed for the Broncos in the 100m dash and finished 15th with a time of 11:57 in a tight race. The Bronco sprint relay ran the distance in a time of 43.56 and placed sixth. Kaleb Mays, Mike Randall, Brice Wagner and Orr were members of that relay.
Benson will run at the State meet which is scheduled for Friday, May 15, at 5:00 p.m.
Broncos end season in three games
By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Broncos ended a good season at the hands of West Texas last week.
The boys played three good games in the Bi-Distract round that went the full three games but fell short in the final game of the best two-out-of-three series finishing with a 12-14 record.
Courtesy Photo / Al Elam
The Broncos got a late start in game number one trailing 0-4 after two innings. But they were able to rally back in the third to put runs on the board thanks to singles from Caleb Herbert, Aiden Burnam, and Braylon Rice.
Parker Haynes was in control of the defense for two innings throwing three strike-outs and allowing two hits and four walks. Brentley Gaines took over the duties on the mound and finished the game with two strike-outs, five walks and three hits.
The Broncos came back in the last inning and scored three more runs but ran out of chances giving WT the 5-4 win.
Game two was a different story as the Broncos were determined to not go down in two. With Rice on the mound, the Broncos jumped all over the Comanches and held them to two runs in the opening inning while putting nine runs up at their turn at the plate.
The Broncos played solid offense and stellar defense to get the 16-5 win. Overall, they were able to get eight hits in the win. Rice had the hot hand with three hits that included a double and a triple. Hudson Howard, Burnam, Gaines and Kreed Robinson, and Hayden Moore had hits in the innings.
Coach Aaron Smith went back to Gaines for the pitching spot to start game three. Overall, four pitchers tried their hand from the mound to switch up the momentum and try to stop WT who held a 17-0 lead before the final inning where the Broncos were able to score two runs. In their last at-bat, Howard and Wilkins slammed a double each and Robinson had one stolen base.
With a new AD in charge at CHS, the underclassmen are determined to be strong in the coming season but will miss the seniors.
Lady Broncos’ Murillo snags big HR in battle with Tahoka
By Sandy Anderberg
Lady Bronco Josie Murillo does not stand very tall as a person, but as an athlete she is a giant. Murillo nabbed a left-field solo homerun over a tall fence in Floydada last week in the Lady Broncos’ Area round championship over the Tahoka Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Broncos outplayed and outlasted their opponent on both sides of the plate solidly defeating them 20-4. Freshman Laken Smith was on the mound and did a great job throwing approximately 102 pitches in the game.
Smith read the batterers well striking out nine and walking five. Smith allowed only three hits in the game.
Courtesy Photo
The ladies had their strong arms going as they were able to throw out several runners on the bases and grab fly balls for outs. At the plate, they racked up 20 hits for their 20 runs scored. 13 RBIs and six stolen bases as a team. Elliot Frausto and L. Smith nailed a triple each and the ladies hit serval doubles in the game to completely destroy the Lady Bulldogs.
Next up for the Lady Broncos is a match-up with Reagan County on May 7 in a one game; winner take all to stay alive in the playoffs and go to the regional finals. The game will be played at Lubbock Cooper at 3:00 p.m.
Clarendon voters pick two new aldermen
Two new members will join the Clarendon City Council, and all incumbents were re-elected to the Clarendon College board and the Hedley CISD board after election results were tallied Saturday, May 2.
With three positions available on the city council, citizens elected Pharabie Shadle with 94 votes, Brent Knowles with 79, and incumbent Tom Thompson with 78. Other candidates for city council included Ralph Graves with 57 votes, Ken McIntosh with 38, and former alderman Chris Topliff with 16 write-in votes.
All three incumbents on the Clarendon College Board of Regents were re-elected with Guy Ellis receiving 162 votes, Chris Matthews getting 129, and Carey Wann getting 82 as a write-in. Also running was George Hall, who received 58 votes.
Incumbent Shawn Willoughby was re-elected to the Hedley CISD Board of Trustees, beating out April Pierce, 27-8.
Less than eight percent of registered voters participated in this year’s local elections.
Donley County Tax Assessor/Collector Kristy Christopher, there are more than 2,700 registered voters in the county, and in the only county-wide election this year, 196 people cast ballots in the college district.
CEDC awards grant to improved 287 property
The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation presented a $2,000 grant for exterior improvements to a commercial property on US 287 last week.
Developer Wayne Hopper received $2,000 from the CEDC’s Traditional Façade Grant program for renovations to the former McKinney Motor Company building at the intersection of US 287 and Koogle Street.
Enterprise Photo
The project included removing covered parking in front of the main building, installing a new awning over the main entrance, and painting the main building and other exterior structures. Works has also been done to the interior of the building, which was not covered by the grant, in hopes of making the overall property more attractive to potential buyers.
Hopper is working with a commercial real estate agent to market the property and try to attract a new business to Clarendon.
The CEDC’s Traditional Façade Grant Program provides up to $2,000 in matching funds that can be used for almost any improvement to a storefront in the Clarendon Central Business District or along the US 287 corridor in Clarendon.
Examples of previously funded projects include a simple coat of paint to new signage to awnings to complete storefront renovations.
Prior approval by the CEDC board of directors must be received before a project begins. For information and an application, visit ClarendonTX.com/cedc/facade-grants.
Last week’s award bring the CEDC’s total for Traditional Façade Grants to $38,382.04 since 2008. A total of $9,200 has also been awarded since 2021 in the CECD’s Historic Façade Grant program, which focuses on rehabilitating historic commercial properties.
CCISD names new athletic director
Clarendon CISD Trustees hired Brenton Whitaker as the school’s new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach last week.
Whitaker is currently the assistant head coach and offensive line coach in Borger and has 14 years’ experience in coaching.
Pick up next week’s Enterprise for our interview with Coach Whitaker.
Garage sale event sign-ups now open
Mark your calendars for Clarendon’s 21st annual “Trash To Treasures” garage sale event, which will be held Saturday, June 6, this year.
The sign-up period is now open for garage sales in Clarendon, Hedley, Howardwick, and the surrounding area.
Residents who wish to participate in this year’s “Trash To Treasures” are asked to come by the Enterprise before 5 p.m. on Friday, May 28, to sign up for the promotion.
For just $25, each household will get a 50-word advertisement in the Big-E Classifieds and the exclusive “Trash To Treasures” garage sale signs.
For more information about the annual Trash To Treasures garage sale event, call 874-2259 or come by the Enterprise office at 105 S. Kearney.
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