Morning accident
Circus fun
Allsup’s stores selling to Yesway
Allsup’s Convenience Stores is being purchased by Yesway, according to reports Tuesday afternoon.
A Yesway press release said the Iowa-based company has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Allsup’s, which is based in Clovis, New Mexico, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
The manager of the Clarendon Allsup’s location was unavailable for comment at press time.
“Allsup’s founders, Lonnie and Barbara Allsup, were true pioneers, innovators, and visionaries of convenience store retailing,” said Thomas Nicholas Trkla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yesway. “They were the first to offer customers hot, cooked foods, self-serve gasoline sales, and 24-hour service. We could not be more pleased to be joining forces with such a strong, beloved company and talented team of employees.”
Trkla said Yesway looks forward to building on the Allsup’s heritage and plans to keep products customers are used to “including – without question – the world-famous Allsup’s Burrito.”
The Eastern New Mexico News in Clovis obtained a copy of a letter sent to Allsup’s employees, which said the stores will continue to operate under the Allsup’s name.
“It has not been a secret that we have been exploring a potential transaction over the past year or longer,” the News reported the letter saying. “Our top priority was to find a partner for this transaction that would be a good fit for our company, a responsible steward of the wonderful company that you and our family have built over the past 63 years.”
The News also said the letter states that longtime VP of Finance Barbara Allsup will retire, while Mark Allsup will stay on board in a management and advisory role to ensure a smooth transition.
“We are very excited to have selected Yesway as the acquirer of our company and the future custodian of our brand and legacy,” President Mark Allsup said in the Yesway release. “We chose Yesway as a partner because their values are truly aligned with ours. They share our commitment to support the local communities we serve, our unwavering pledge to our customers to provide them with a terrific shopping experience, and our dedication to the success and wellbeing of our employees.”
“Mark was very deliberate and selective in choosing a buyer for our company and we believe he has made an excellent choice in Yesway,” Barbara Allsup said in the release. “Lonnie and I opened our first store in Roswell, New Mexico in 1956 and have operated as a private, family-owned business eversince. We have always cared deeply about maintaining strong family commitments, having honest, hard-working employees, and partnering with helpful service providers, vendors and other professionals in the communities we serve. We believe that our legacy is in very good hands with Yesway.”
BW Gas & Convenience Holdings, LLC d/b/a Yesway is headquartered in Des Moines, IA and Abilene, TX. Yesway appears at #6 on the Convenience Store News “2019 Top 20 Growth Chains” list, is currently ranked #43 on the “CSP Top 202 Chains” list, was named a “2017 Chain to Watch” by Convenience Store Decisions, and was awarded a Bronze for Loyalty & Advocacy in the 2018 Loyalty360 Customer Experience Awards. Over the past three and a half years, Yesway has acquired over 150 conveniences stores located in Iowa, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Yesway plans to assemble a portfolio comprising more than 500 convenience stores in selected regions of the United States over the next several years. www.yesway.com.
Thornberry: ‘Time is right’ for a change
Congressman Mac Thornberry said Monday “the time is right” following his announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2020.
The Clarendon Republican referred to the people of the 13th District as his employers and, in his official statement, he expressed his gratitude for the people who had repeatedly elected him since 1994 and to those he worked with.
“It has been a great honor to serve the people of the 13th District of Texas as their congressman for the last 25 years,” Thornberry said in a statement released Monday. “We are reminded, however, that ‘for everything there is a season,’ and I believe that the time has come for a change. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for reelection in the 2020 election.”
Read Thornberry’s full statement here.
Thornberry sat down with The Clarendon Enterprise Monday afternoon and said there were three main points that led him to the decision not to seek a 14th term in office with the first reason being term limits.
“We did not get limits on terms in office, but we did put limits on committee leaderships,” Thornberry said. “You can’t serve more than six years.”
Thornberry became the chairman of the influential House Armed Services Committee in January 2015, the first Texan to hold the position. Even after the balance of power shifted to the Democrats in the 2018 election, Thornberry remained in a leadership role on the committee as the Ranking Minority Member.
“The rule applies whether you’re in the majority or the minority,” Thornberry said.
Secondly, the congressman said just the time in office itself makes him think it is time to step aside.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years,” he said. “It’ll be 26 years, and that’s longer than I expected.”
And the third reason? Politics.
“The political environment makes it more difficult to get things done,” he said.
Thornberry has seen a lot of changes over the years, but the biggest change has been the level of discourse in the nation’s capital. And the animosity is not just for show or publicity. This, he said, is “a time of personal vendettas,” and he doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
“It is different even behind closed doors,” Thornberry said. “Both parties have moved further into their ideological corners over time.”
The disappearance of conservative or “Blue Dog” Democrats and moderate Republicans has increased the level of partisanship, he said. That rancor has also crept into traditionally bi-partisan areas of policy making.
“For 58 straight years, the president, whoever it was, signed the defense authorization bill,” Thornberry said, “but this year we had a partisan vote in the House. Armed Services and Agriculture have been two of the most bi-partisan areas, but that’s changing now.”
The Texas Tribune reported that Thornberry’s announcement makes him the sixth Texas Republican to announce to announce an upcoming retirement from Congress. The Tribune called him “the last remaining Texas Republican from the class of 1994 and the dean of the GOP delegation.” It also said his retirement was not surprising due to committee term limits.
Asked about his thoughts on congressional term limits, Thornberry told the Enterprise that he’s always voted for it when it comes up.
“It only makes sense if it applies to everyone equally,” he said. “I think there are more benefits to it than not since people are so disillusioned with their government.”
The congressman did say, however, that it takes time to learn the processes in Washington.
“I served on the Armed Services Committee for several years before I went on the Intelligence Committee, and I was surprised by how much I didn’t know,” he said, “and I’m still trying to understand dairy policy.”
Thornberry chuckles when told that he made headlines with his announcement Monday.
“Some of the things that are being said… You’d think that I died,” he said.
The congressman’s term won’t expire until January 2021; and with 15 months left in office, he’s still got some things he wants to work on.
Not surprisingly, national defense is at the top of the priority list for the congressman who introduced a bill to create a National Homeland Security Agency six months before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
“We still have work to do to restore the readiness of our military and help the Pentagon be more innovative,” Thornberry said. “The private sector is leading on innovation in many areas, and there are a number of steps we can do along those lines.”
Close to home, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, and Sheppard Air Force Base play critical roles in the nation’s defense, and Thornberry said the people employed in those facilities are the ones who make their work significant.
“It will be important for my successor to be supportive of those roles,” he said.
Thornberry isn’t sure what he will do when his term comes to a close.
“I have a longer list of things I don’t want to do than things I want to do,” he said. “I’ll be looking for a job, but there are limits to how much of that I can do before I leave office. I hope to still have some connection to national security. I don’t see myself going back into practicing law. I wouldn’t want to have me as an attorney.”
Looking back on his service, Thornberry is reluctant to point his accomplishments in office or tout his legislative record.
“If people think I have fairly and honestly represented them, then I’m satisfied with that,” he said. “My main goal is to be the representative the people of this area deserve.”
And it is the people of the 13th District and the local community – his employers, he says – that he credits with his success.
“I have such gratitude for being born and raised in this community and for the values and support I have received and continue to receive from the people of Donley County,” Thornberry said. “It’s allowed me to do all I have been able to do.”
CC rodeo teams do well on the road
Clarendon College’s rodeo teams had a busy September posting good results at two rodeos.
The teams competed in Portales September 19-21 at the Eastern New Mexico University rodeo. The team fared well with five members of the men’s team competing in the finals.
Cole Franks, a freshman from Clarendon, qualified 5th in the Bareback Riding, 8th in the Saddle Bronc riding, and 10th in the Team Roping with partner Rafael Dominigo, a freshman from Citra, Florida.
In the Saddle Bronc Riding, Taylor Russell, a sophomore from Lipscomb, tied for second-third, Riggin Smith a sophomore from Winterset, Iowa, was fourth-fifth, and Keene Justesen a sophomore from St. Cloud, Florida, was 6th. Franks also placed fourth in the finals and finished 5th in the average in the Bareback Riding.
In the saddle Bronc Riding, Riggin Smith was 2nd in the finals and finished 2nd in the average, Taylor Russell finished 5th, Keene Justesen finished 6th, and Franks finished 8th.
In the Team Roping finals Franks and Dominigo placed 2nd, which was good enough for 2nd in the average.
The team finished in Portales with 305 points placing them 5th out of 17 teams in the Southwest Region.
Clarendon College teams traveled to Alpine, Texas, September 26-28 for the Sul Ross Rodeo with seven of the men’s team qualifying for the finals on Saturday night.
In the Bareback Riding, Justin Opatrny, a sophomore from Cochranton, Penn., split first-second in the first round, placed 6th in the finals, and was second in the average. Cole Franks split fourth-fifth in the first round, was second in the finals, and was in the average, and Josh Green, a sophomore from Wetumpka, Ala., placed 10th in the first round, 5th in the finals, and 8th in the average.
In the Saddle Bronc Riding, Riggin Smith placed 1st in first round, 1st in the finals and was the Champion Saddle Bronc rider of the rodeo.
Also in that event, Keene Justesen placed third-fourth in the first round, 3rd in the finals, and 3rd in the average. Taylor Russell placed 2nd in the first round and 7th in the average, while Brody Roessler, a freshman from Fairview, Alberta Canada, placed eighth-ninth in the first round and finished 9th in the average.
In the Bull Riding, Dawson Gleaves, a freshman from Amarillo, placed 5th in the first round and 5th in the average.
The men’s team placed 3rd overall with 405 points. The Women’s Team has had a rough start but continue to work hard for improvement.
The teams will travel to Vernon College October 3-5 and to Canadian for the Frank Phillips College Rodeo October 10-12, and finish the semester in Lubbock at Texas Tech on October 31- November 2.
C Bar C wins 25th annual cookoff
The C Bar C Ranch team from Hartley was the overall champion of the 25th annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff last Saturday, September 28, at the Saints’ Roost Museum.
Twelve wagons prepared food for 600 people for the sell-out event, and the C Bar C placed in three out of five food judging categories and placed third in Overall Cooking and third in Wagon & Camp to take home the custom cutting board designed by Clarendon artist Jack Craft.
The 12th annual Junior Cookoff the day before the big event drew six contestants, who were paired with experienced wagon teams to prepare potatoes for the cooks’ dinner Friday night. Haylin Bivens from Clarendon won first place and was teamed with the DT Wagon from Watertown, South Dakota.
McKenna Williams of Clarendon was second, working with the Honey-Do-Spoiler of Pampa; and Addy Havens was third and worked with the Crosstimber Ranch of Mustang, Okla.
Other junior participants included Haughton Bivens, Henry Bivens, and Chelsea Wright, all of Clarendon. The Junior Cookoff is sponsored each year by the American Chuckwagon Association.
Following the Junior Cookoff, 160 people enjoyed a delicious steak dinner Friday night on the museum grounds, compared to 165 the year before.
The invitation-only event was held exclusively for Chuckwagon teams and members of the Saints’ Roost Museum and their families as well as members of the Goodnight family.
The trade show was held throughout the day Saturday, and live entertainment was provided. Relatives of Chuckwagon inventor Charles Goodnight also were present for their annual reunion.
Competing wagons served a menu of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, beans, and cobbler. Wagons came from as far as Tennessee and South Dakota to attend this year’s cookoff.
Prizes totaling $3,250 were paid out to the winners. Complete results were:
Overall Wagon & Cooking: 1) C Bar C Ranch.
Overall Cooking: 1) Camp Cookie of Germantown, Tenn., 2) Cross Wagon, 3) C Bar C, and 4) J Bar D Ranch of Amarillo.
Best Wagon & Camp: 1) DT Wagon of Watertown, South Dakota, 2) J Bar D, 3) C Bar C, and 4) Crosstimber Ranch of Mustang, Okla.
Best Meat: 1) J Bar D, 2) Double Nichols of Amarillo, 3) C Bar C, and 4) Camp Cookie.
Best Beans: 1) Cross Wagon, 2) Camp Cookie, 3) Crosstimber, and 4) Cocklebur Camp of Odessa.
Best Potatoes: 1) Camp Cookie, 2) Cross Wagon, 3) Crosstimber, and 4) J Bar D.
Best Bread: 1) Honey-Do-Spoiler of Pampa, 2) Cross, 3) J Bar D, and 4) C Bar C.
Best Dessert: 1) Palo Duro Cowboy Church of Canyon, 2) C Bar C, 3) C4B Chuckwagon of
Amarillo, and 4) Honey-Do-Spoiler.
Following the chuckwagon cookoff, the Saints’ Roost Museum and the Mulkey Theatre hosted Red Steagall and his band. Steagall was the featured entertainment at the first cookoff in 1995. This year more than 200 people bought tickets to see Steagall perform on the Mulkey stage.
Totally Locally
Bronco Royalty
Hedley’s Queen and Court
Thornberry not seeking re-election
Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) announced Monday morning, Sept. 30, that he will not be seeking re-election in 2020.
Thornberry was first elected to represent the 13th Congressional District in Texas in 1994.
“It has been a great honor to serve the people of the 13th District of Texas as their congressman for the last 25 years,” Thornberry said in a statement released Monday. “They have given me opportunities to serve the nation in ways I could have never imagined, including as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
“We are reminded, however, that ‘for everything there is a season,’ and I believe that the time has come for a change. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for reelection in the 2020 election.
“As I make this decision, I realize how very fortunate I have been in my life in many ways, such as: being raised and supported by a loving family; growing up in a community where neighbor helps neighbor; having had mentors who helped guide me; and especially being blessed with a wife and children whose love and support during this “adventure” have far exceeded what anyone has a right to expect. I am very grateful to all of them.
“I am also grateful to those who have worked on my team over the years — both official and political — each of whom has a servant’s heart and has brought his or her considerable talents to help our work together be as effective as possible.
“I could not have asked for a better group of employers than the people of the 13th District. Their faith, common sense, and work ethic, along with a deep patriotism and devotion to our country, have encouraged and motivated me to do my best on their behalf. They continue to inspire me with their selfless efforts to make our communities stronger and to lend a hand to our fellow man. I can never thank them enough for the honor of representing them in Washington and also for allowing me the privilege of working on behalf of the men and women of our military, who, with their families, are the pride of our nation as they serve us every day.
“With over a year to go, I will continue to represent the people of the 13th District to the best of my ability. Our nation faces many difficult challenges, and none of us can relax our efforts to meet and overcome them, whether at home or around the world.
“When I first announced that I was running for Congress on Veterans’ Day 1993, I quoted the great minister, Dr. Peter Marshall, who said, “A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.” In January 2021, I will no longer have the honor of representing the people of the 13th District of Texas, but I will never be indifferent to the responsibility each of us has to serve and protect our beloved nation.”
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